I tried Lenovo’s $3,000 rollable ThinkBook and can’t go back to regular-sized laptops

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Lenovo unveiled its “rollable” laptop computer at CES two years in the past as a wild proof of idea that turned heads, however left shoppers skeptical. Properly, the corporate has since proved its level: the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable is now accessible to shoppers for an eye-watering $3,300, however filled with premium design components, strong {hardware}, and a 120Hz OLED show that extends to virtually 17 inches on the press of a button. 

(Editor’s notice: On the time of publishing, it seems the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable is now not in inventory on Lenovo’s web site, although which will change with time.)

I have been utilizing the ThinkBook Plus for weeks now as my foremost laptop computer, and I’ve to confess, I am enamored by the extendable display, notably as a productiveness machine for work. 

However as the primary of its type, it’s miles from good. There are a handful of trade-offs as a result of laptop computer’s type, and the sky-high worth invitations a essential eye to each ingredient of its design. That being mentioned, it’s finally a well-engineered laptop computer. Let’s take a better look. 

Like all ThinkBooks, the laptop computer exudes a enterprise aesthetic, that includes a metallic, two-tone design. It isn’t my favourite aesthetic, nevertheless it’s definitely sturdy and resists fingerprints manner higher than all of the matte black designs on the market. 

Upon first look, the laptop computer seems like some other. One of many first issues to face out is the thick bezels framing the show, however as your eye attracts to the underside, you discover one thing unusual: there isn’t any backside bezel — the display simply continues under the keyboard. 

The remainder of the rollable display is parked beneath, ready to be unfurled. With the push of a button, the standard-sized show extends upwards, growing the display measurement to 16.7 inches.

The result’s a big, portrait-style show that goes far past some other normal laptop computer display measurement in the marketplace. The shiny, OLED display delivers a incredible image, with no flickering or dimming across the edges, though there’s some seen creasing that appears like what you’d see on a foldable telephone’s show. 

That is very true should you rotate the shiny show to replicate the sunshine. It is a bit extra seen than I anticipated and positively one thing of notice (given the worth), however finally, it does not actually overshadow the good thing about the big display. 

For instance, you cease noticing the creasing when your consideration is concentrated on what you are truly doing. It is a kind of issues that is an inevitable a part of its mechanics — it took foldable telephones a number of years to scale back the creasing on their shows — and though it does not precisely scream “premium”, it does not cancel out the advantages the display gives. 

So what are the mentioned advantages? First off, the additional room is a breath of contemporary air. It permits for a spacious workspace that I’ve to confess, makes for a really good person expertise. Personally, I like working one giant, full-screen desktop, however you may also put two home windows, one on prime of the opposite, for 2 16:9 desktops. 

To maximise actual property, I set the dimensions in Home windows to 125%, bringing the UI right down to a extra manageable measurement that ends in a crisp and environment friendly interface. Nonetheless, in order for you a bigger UI, it nonetheless feels extra roomy than an everyday laptop computer show. 

Should you’re a programmer, you may recognize the prolonged portrait orientation, however anybody who works with paperwork will love with the ability to see a 3rd extra content material on the display at a look. 

As an editor, it drastically improves working in Google Docs and my browser-based CMS, each of which profit from extra visibility with out having to squint at a UI that is been scaled right down to the atomic stage. 

Even primary internet searching is improved, with extra of the web page on the display directly, and extra content material seen with much less scrolling. In that sense, the show mirrors the cellular format, which is finally extra scrollable. 

Rolling the display up could be performed by urgent the related key or with a hand gesture in entrance of the webcam. Whereas it is extending, the display defaults to taking part in an animation (totally different ones are selectable in settings) with some thematic music, then reloading your desktop as soon as it reaches the specified measurement. The music generally is a bit too loud in a quiet workplace, so thankfully, all of those options could be turned off. 

When totally prolonged, the underside third of the display is occupied by the Lenovo widget panel, which exhibits reminders, your to-do record, and a calendar at a look. You’ll be able to pin this to remain completely on or have it disguise behind your different apps. 

There’s truly numerous content material right here, together with quick movies that present tips on how to use gesture controls to boost and decrease the show and a few ideas on tips on how to arrange the display extra successfully. 

Past the show, the remainder of the laptop computer’s core parts are fairly good. The keyboard is a bit shallow, however the keys really feel nice, with a satisfying click on that is crisp and responsive. 

I used to be additionally thrilled to seek out the haptic trackpad to be simply as well-engineered, with a uniform click on regardless of the place you press down on the pad, and a delicate enter for swipe gestures. One factor to notice, nevertheless, is that in cooler temperatures, you may need some bother with the pad recognizing your fingers, particularly in the event that they’re chilly.

Additionally notice that the laptop computer’s type issue limits its I/O entry, with simply two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports and a headphone jack. All three ports are positioned on the left facet of the gadget, which may be problematic for some customers, however is an anticipated trade-off for the options. 

All in all, the laptop computer’s core bodily construct feels premium (if a bit chunky), and even with out the rollable show, it could be a strong workplace laptop computer. The fingerprint reader on the facility key, together with assist for Wi-Fi 7 seal the deal as a contemporary enterprise gadget. 

Underneath the hood, the Intel Core Extremely 7 “Lunar Lake” processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage make for the standard {hardware} loadout corresponding to any variety of mid-to-upper vary enterprise laptops. The large show is powered by an built-in Intel Arc 140V GPU with 16GB of inside reminiscence, supplying greater than sufficient energy for each day use. 

Should you’re trying to recreation on this laptop computer, it may deal with some mainstream titles, nevertheless it’s not precisely constructed for working top-tier gaming content material. In “regular” laptop computer mode, you have got a 2000 x 1600 decision, normal fare for a 14-inch show. But when your recreation helps a 2000 x 2350 decision, you’ll be able to play with the display totally prolonged, which undoubtedly seems like a singular expertise, however due to all of the display house, it is not precisely optimized for high-APM gaming. 

Should you’re taking part in an older recreation that does not assist that decision, effectively, the sport will merely revert to the standard decision, leading to empty house under the window and negating the entire level of the prolonged show. The underside line right here: gaming generally is a bonus for this laptop computer, however not what it is made for. 

Relating to battery life, the show expectedly cuts into the 66Whr battery’s longevity, though not as a lot as you may count on. Throughout regular use, you will get a full work day of use out of it with the display prolonged, nevertheless it’s chopping it shut. Should you add in videoconferencing and extra demanding workloads, you won’t make it via the day with out a energy top-up. 

That being mentioned, the Lunar Lake chip does enable for the battery loss to scale back to a trickle when not in use, and it expenses quick: about 80% in an hour. In our video playback check, we received a bit over 11 hours at half brightness in balanced mode over Wi-Fi. 

So let’s deal with the elephant within the room: the worth. Lenovo is effectively conscious that this laptop computer will not be for everybody. In actual fact, it is most likely probably the most area of interest product I’ve reviewed all 12 months. As an alternative, it is extra about proving a degree. 

Lenovo goals to challenge a status of innovation, however extra importantly, it seeks to show it may ship these merchandise to market. This gadget displays that mission, incomes it an essential place in Lenovo’s portfolio, even when it is not the 12 months’s prime vendor. 

It is also the primary iteration of this rollable idea, and as such, the bodily design will not be fairly as polished as you’d discover in Lenovo’s different high-end laptops, just like the ThinkPad X9 Aura Version or the X1 Carbon. These laptops come from a product line backed up by a long time of design and engineering, with the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 having room to enhance in subsequent mannequin variations. 

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 is a powerful product, even contemplating its trade-offs. The show has seen creases and thick bezels, however when it is totally prolonged, you neglect about them. The battery is not the perfect, nevertheless it’s removed from the worst. It isn’t a stellar gaming rig, however that is not why you purchase a ThinkBook, anyway. 

It is area of interest, and it is costly, nevertheless it does what it is imagined to: ship a incredible person expertise within the workplace, with an expansive, versatile show that appears nice, pairs properly with a premium haptic touchpad, and simply the correct amount of energy underneath the hood. 

At $3,200, this is not a mainstream laptop computer, and I would not suggest it until you are completely offered on the extendable show and are dedicated to the shape think about the long run. 

The fact is you can get virtually something for much less: a MacBook Professional M4 with 24GB of RAM, or the brand new brand-new Dell 14 Premium with the identical processor and an upgraded Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU for $1,000 much less. However should you’re in love with the large display, I can say that it is a productiveness game-changer within the workplace.