Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 3 hands-on

Lenovo has introduced the brand new ThinkBook Plus Gen 3, which has two (two!) screens. There’s one 17.3-inch main display screen (like, the common one), and there’s one other eight-inch display screen on the keyboard deck. Varied different fashions which have tried this way issue (specifically, Asus’ gaggle of Duo merchandise) have put the secondary display screen behind the deck and pushed the keyboard to the entrance. However Lenovo has as an alternative put the keyboard on the proper aspect of the chassis, smushing the keyboard to the left.

Whereas the ThinkBook Plus Gen 3’s look takes a little bit of getting used to, I undoubtedly want this format to these of the Duos. You don’t have to purchase a separate palm relaxation, and also you don’t feel and look like a T. rex if you’re typing. (I do know that members of the Keyboard In The Entrance Membership will disagree with me on this, however so be it.)

The first display screen is… nicely, it’s very broad. Particularly, it has a 21:10 side ratio, which could be very uncommon to see on a laptop computer. I’ve by no means used a pocket book this broad and can be loath to attempt to carry it round too many locations, but it surely actually affords fairly a little bit of display screen house for multitasking. The eight-inch secondary show has 800 x 1280 decision and helps a stylus that comes built-in within the chassis.

It’s a large one.

Lenovo confirmed off a pair neat use circumstances for the secondary display screen throughout my temporary demo. You’ll be able to write notes on it (in case you’re proper handed, lefties may need some points), and it syncs immediately with OneNote. There’s a cool factor the place in case you’re, say, modifying a photograph on the primary display screen, you should utilize the stylus to blow a small a part of it up on the secondary display screen. You’ll be able to dump distractions like Twitter and Spotify down there, you’ll be able to pull up a calculator, you’ll be able to mirror sure smartphones, or you’ll be able to simply lengthen no matter app you’re taking a look at on the first display screen.

The software program doesn’t look as elaborate as Asus’ is (although which may be for one of the best, as determining tips on how to use Asus’ is a complete factor). Lenovo, additionally not like Asus, doesn’t seem like making an attempt to get builders to make issues particularly for this way issue — they famous that it has loads of makes use of already.

Right here’s the ThinkBook 14 Gen 4.

The Plus, which begins at $1,399 and ships in Might, is (like the remainder of the ThinkBook household) focusing on small and medium companies that will not have the finances for Lenovo’s top-of-the-line ThinkPads. Twin-screen gadgets are typically costly, and a price ticket of $1,399 may make this expertise accessible to a brand new swath of enterprise clients.

The ThinkBook Plus additionally comes with twelfth Gen Intel Core processors, as much as 32GB of RAM, and as much as 1TB of storage, in addition to an FHD infrared digicam with a bodily privateness shutter. However come on — the screens are the thrilling half.

(*3*)

And right here’s the ThinkBook 13X.

Lenovo introduced updates to some different ThinkBooks as nicely. We’ve now acquired the ThinkBook 13X Gen 2, the ThinkBook 14 Gen 4 Plus i, and the ThinkBook 16 Gen 4 Plus i. (The names are loads, I do know — Lenovo does this generally.) These will all be obtainable in April, with beginning costs of $1,099, $839, and $859 respectively.

All three fashions will characteristic Intel’s twelfth Gen processors. The 13X now comes with an non-obligatory wi-fi charging mat, which might cost a appropriate cell machine alongside it. The ThinkBook 14 and ThinkBook 16 have thinner designs from their predecessors, with 16:10 shows and bigger glass touchpads.

And right here’s the ThinkBook 16 Gen 4.

I’m a fan of the ThinkBook line basically, and I’m glad to see it getting some funky options. Given how outrageously costly enterprise laptops have a behavior of being, it’s good to see that fashions at extra accessible costs are maintaining with the most recent {hardware}. These fashions are all sturdy, engaging, and nicely made, and (assuming the efficiency is as much as snuff) I’d haven’t any drawback bringing one into the boardroom. I say the extra innovation at this worth level, the higher.

Pictures by Monica Chin / The Verge