New Lenovo wireless keyboard charges itself, concept mouse transforms into four devices

[Daniel Sims]

Something to look forward to: Battery life is the main drawback of using wireless keyboards. However, Lenovo claims that a unique device in its CES 2025 exhibit will never require users to replace or recharge batteries. Meanwhile, another new input device from the company aims to fill multiple roles.

Lenovo has unveiled a wireless keyboard that charges itself using light and never relies on batteries. The device, designed for sustainability, is one of several oddities the company brought to CES this year.

Simply named the Self-Charging Bluetooth Keyboard, the accessory features photovoltaic cells and fast-charging supercapacitors that absorb and store ambient light. Lenovo manufactured the product from 95 percent recycled plastic to further minimize environmental impact.

Image credit: Harley Maranan/Android Authority

The keyboard includes a full-size layout, media buttons, adjustable tilt legs, and a three-zone layout with on-screen brightness indicators. Although Lenovo claims it doesn't require batteries, it still features a front-mounted USB-C port, possibly for emergency charging or an optional wired connection.

The Self-Charging Bluetooth Keyboard begins shipping in May, starting at $69.99.

The company also showcased a proof-of-concept mouse that can switch between two form factors and substitute for multiple accessories. The AdaptX Mouse's base unit, which resembles the front half of a compact mouse, transforms by attaching to one of five snap-on pieces.

A similar-looking rear module turns the accessory into a compact mouse, while a larger option can make it feel like an ergonomic mouse. The other components can turn the AdaptX into a travel hub, memory card holder, SIM card case, or power bank. It's too early to tell how well it fulfills those roles or whether it will become a commercial product, but the modularity could help frequent travelers save pocket space.

The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6, which features a rollable screen, is another strange item Lenovo brought to CES. Users can extend the 14-inch landscape OLED display into a 16.7-inch portrait mode using keyboard inputs or hand gestures, which are detected by the webcam.

The laptop includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, 32GB of RAM, Wi-Fi 7 support, and a 120Hz display. The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 will be available in June, starting at $3,499.

Lenovo's presentation also showcased the Lenovo Legion Go S handheld gaming PC, which will enable users to install Valve's Steam Deck OS.

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New Lenovo wireless keyboard charges itself, concept mouse transforms into four devices

 

[Axeia]

I always wondered why no-one bothered to make a wireless keyboard that would never need a change of batteries, surely it can't be hard when there's keyboards that last multiple years on double AAs.
Cool to see that someone finally did it, although I would have preferred one long strip rather than this hump. Or using the kinetic energy from typing or one of those things that turns a wireless signal into electricity.

(Same for doorbells btw, they both seem like devices that shouldn't require battery swaps)

 

[TheBigT42]

I always wondered why no-one bothered to make a wireless keyboard that would never need a change of batteries, surely it can't be hard when there's keyboards that last multiple years on double AAs.
Cool to see that someone finally did it, although I would have preferred one long strip rather than this hump. Or using the kinetic energy from typing or one of those things that turns a wireless signal into electricity.

(Same for doorbells btw, they both seem like devices that shouldn't require battery swaps)

Exactly...My 3 year old Samsung remote has a solar panel on it and I have never had to plug it up to charge it. My wireless mouse needs to be recharged 10 times as much as my keyboard.
I can't remember the last time I changed the two AA batteries in my wife's keyboard.

 

[Dimitriid]

Yes look this might seem like a really innovative idea but am I the only one old enough to remember like 35 years ago or so where most calculators were solar powered? Wasn't even a few it was pretty much the bulk of them that were solar powered never actually needing batteries anymore.

Now granted, this was basically so rudimentary people have made mechanical calculators hundreds of years ago but it's been over 3 decades, you would think someone would have figured out a relatively low power device like a keyboard (And a mouse for that matter) should be light/solar charged and not even depend on batteries.

At the very least I wouldn't take the boasty tone Lenovo is taking here for reinventing the wheel.