Lenovo’s lineup of ThinkPad laptops has largely stood the test of time. Laptops have changed a lot over the last few decades, but the ThinkPad brand has been a pinnacle of consistency — for better or worse. From the famous (or infamous) trackpoint to the rugged and practical design language, it’s easy to point out a Lenovo ThinkPad in the crowd. While I wouldn’t recommend a great ThinkPad to everyone, the legacy of ThinkPads — which were initially made by IBM but have been under Lenovo’s stewardship for nearly two decades — lives on in mainstream Lenovo laptops.
I’ve reviewed many laptops from Lenovo this year, ranging from thin-and-light convertibles to budget gaming laptops, all the way up to flagship machines costing thousands of dollars. They’re consistent, even across sub-brands and product lines. I think that consistency, in part, derives from the character of ThinkPads. These five ThinkPad attributes help make mainstream Lenovo laptops some of the easiest to recommend.
5
Battery life
ThinkPads are known for their big batteries and reliable battery life. That was true even before the company debuted the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x with a Snapdragon X processor packing all the efficiency and battery life benefits of Arm architecture. Every time I use a Lenovo laptop, I’m impressed by the battery. That includes one of my daily-drivers: the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i. Despite having two screens that eat up power like nothing else, I can reliably get a few hours of dual-screen work productivity done before needing to find an outlet.
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4
Durability
Lenovo laptops stand the test of time — just like ThinkPads
I don’t do drop tests with my review units, but I do treat every product with the exact same level of care I would a personal device. That means I toss them in bags, take them with me on the go, and generally put them through their paces. It also means I’ve broken or damaged a review unit or two in my time as a reviewer. Usually, that goes to show that a product wouldn’t survive daily usage if you bought it, either.
Lenovo laptops have stood the test of time in terms of durability, and there are a few reasons why that’s impressive. It’s relatively unsurprising that Lenovo’s all-metal laptops, like my Yoga Book 9i and the Lenovo Yoga 7 I reviewed earlier this year, hold up well. However, it’s the company’s plastic laptops that impress me. They’re made of cheaper materials to hit a lower price point, but even those models have minimal deck flex and overall provide a sturdy chassis. And unlike my MacBook Air, the Yoga Book 9i isn’t covered in unsightly scratches.
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3
Repairability and upgradability
Just like ThinkPads, many Lenovo laptops are designed with repairability in mind
Moreso than any other laptop manufacturer, Lenovo seems to be holding onto repairability and upgradability as long as possible. Make no mistake, it won’t last forever. But for now, many Lenovo laptops offer upgradable RAM and storage options, which are incredibly valuable. A few years down the road, you can upgrade your laptop’s memory and storage without paying a premium upfront. Plus, Lenovo laptops are so popular that replacement parts and shops are easy to find. These laptops can stay up and running for a long, long time.
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2
Value
Lenovo laptops typically give you excellent value for your money
Speaking of value, Lenovo laptops typically give you a lot of bang for your buck, just like ThinkPads. I reviewed a $750 gaming laptop from the company earlier this year, the LOQ 15, and it was downright impressive. It costs less than all of my thin-and-light laptops, yet provides ample performance for light gaming. You can trace this theme throughout Lenovo’s lineup, all the way up to the $2,000 Yoga Book 9i. For a bleeding-edge laptop, I could stomach that price tag.
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1
Keyboards
Whether you’re using a gaming laptop or a thin-and-light, you’ll get the same great keyboard
Above all, I love a Lenovo keyboard. They’re all about consistency. You’ll get the same general typing experience whether you’re using an ultra-budget laptop, a ThinkPad, or a high-end gaming laptop. That’s incredibly important, because the keyboard is the part of a laptop you’re bound to interact with the most. If it’s bad, nothing else matters. Not only is the Lenovo keyboard good, it’s consistent and timeless. Being that ThinkPads are famous for their keyboards, I think it’s safe to say Lenovo learned a thing or two from the brand in this area.
Should you buy a Lenovo laptop?
There are a ton of great options when it comes to buying a laptop. We’ve got an entire buying guide dedicated to helping you choose the best laptop for your needs. What I like about Lenovo as an OEM is that its core pillars of reliability, durability, and upgradability seem to permeate through its entire brand. I’ve spent time testing Yoga, IdeaPad, Legion, and LOQ laptops, and they’ve all scored relatively high in my reviews.
On top of that, I’ve put my money where my mouth is and spent $2,000 on a Yoga Book 9i. Still, you should weigh your options and always consider other brands. It’s just nice to know that you can get many of the benefits of a ThinkPad laptop without having to buy a ThinkPad specifically.
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