[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Japan's NEC has unveiled the LAVIE BM94C, an ultralight business laptop weighing 999 grams. It features a 99.9Wh high-capacity battery in a device that weighs under 1 kg and supports up to 30.5 hours of video playback.

TechRadar reported on July 31 that the LAVIE BM94C is a flagship model representing NEC's new LAVIE business lineup. It will launch first in Japan, with a starting price set at 584,100 yen (about 5.1 million won).

The product's biggest feature is that it achieves an ultralight design and a high-capacity battery at the same time. NEC introduced this as the result of “Project 999.” It said it optimized the design to fit a large battery typically used in heavier business laptops while keeping the weight under 1 kg.

The chassis uses aerospace-grade laminated carbon fiber supplied by Toray. The lid uses an ultralight core technology to increase rigidity, and a special coating that reduces fingerprints and wear has been added to boost durability for work environments that require frequent travel.

Battery performance is also aimed at users who value portability. Under the JEITA 3.0 standard, it can play video for up to 30.5 hours and run for up to 50.8 hours in an idle state. It is also designed to run for about 8 hours on a 30-minute charge, allowing work to continue without a charger during short business trips or external appointments.

An artificial intelligence function is also applied to power management. Its “Long Battery Mode” analyzes applications that consume a lot of power and suggests ways to extend battery life. NEC said its intelligent charging technology can reduce long-term battery degradation and keep battery performance at about 72.7 percent even after regular charging for 5 years.

Hardware options include Intel Core Ultra 5 322, Core Ultra 5 335 and Core Ultra 7 355 processors. Memory options are 16GB and 32GB, and storage offers 256GB, 512GB and 1TB SSD options. The display is a 14-inch WUXGA (1920x1200) panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio, and it runs Windows 11 Pro.

It also boosts expandability for business use. It comes with 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, HDMI and gigabit ethernet, and it supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. It also includes a full HD webcam that supports Windows Hello authentication, strengthening video conferencing and security features.

NEC emphasized that this port configuration supports various work environments, including an external monitor, wired network and external storage, without a separate hub.

The LAVIE BM94C is a flagship model in a new line of business products introduced after NEC integrated its commercial PC business under the single LAVIE brand. The company said it is targeting professionals who travel frequently but need desktop-level connectivity and long battery life.

The industry is watching what response the LAVIE BM94C will get in Japan's premium business laptop market, backed by a sub-1 kg design, a high-capacity battery and strong expandability.