A force in business laptops, Lenovo also makes mainstream models, 2-in-1s, and gaming machines in a wide range of prices and styles. See the top-rated models we've tested from the maker of the IdeaPad, ThinkPad, Legion, and Yoga lines.
ByJohn Burek
John Burek
Executive Editor and PC Labs Director
My Experience
I have been a technology journalist for almost 30 years and have covered just about every kind of computer gear—from the 386SX to 64-core processors—in my long tenure as an editor, a writer, and an advice columnist. For almost a quarter-century, I worked on the seminal, gigantic Computer Shopper magazine (and later, its digital counterpart), aka the phone book for PC buyers, and the nemesis of every postal delivery person. I was Computer Shopper's editor in chief for its final nine years, after which much of its digital content was folded into PCMag.com. I also served, briefly, as the editor in chief of the well-known hardcore tech site Tom's Hardware.
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&Joe Osborne
UpdatedMarch 20, 2024
Table of Contents
It's been more than 15 years since IBM stopped making ThinkPad laptops, yet you're still likely to see them in the halls of industry, virtual or actual. That's thanks to Lenovo.
The company formerly known as Legend Computers of Beijing, China still produces the well-regarded laptop line, with its beloved AccuType keyboard. Indeed, a big part of the ThinkPad's longevity is those rugged, inimitable keyboards. But Lenovo machines nowadays range well beyond the classic black ThinkPad slabs. (For one thing, you can get some of them in silver.)
Rather, year after year, Lenovo continues to innovate with radical designs. For instance, the 2-in-1 Yoga laptop family influenced other major PC manufacturers—like Dell, HP, and Acer—to adopt its basic mechanism in their own 2-in-1 convertible laptop designs. Lenovo's high-concept devices also include the first foldable-screen PC, a ThinkPad. Here, we’ve gathered our top picks for the best Lenovo laptops for 2024, followed by some additional buying advice for navigating Lenovo's line.
Our Experts Have Tested 130 Products in the Laptops Category in the Past Year
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Our Top Tested Picks
Best Lenovo Laptop for Most People Jump ToDetails Best Lenovo Gaming Laptop for Most People Jump ToDetails Best Lenovo Chromebook for Most People Jump ToDetails Best Budget Lenovo Laptop Jump ToDetails Best Extreme-Budget Lenovo Laptop Jump ToDetails Best Lenovo Detachable 2-in-1 Chromebook Jump ToDetails Best Lenovo Mobile Workstation Jump ToDetails Best Lenovo Business Laptop for Executives Jump ToDetails Best Lenovo Small-Business Laptop Jump ToDetails Best Lenovo Business Laptop for Fleets Jump ToDetails Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8
Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 (2023)
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook
Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 4
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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- Best 2-in-1 Laptops
Best Lenovo Laptop for Most People
Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8
4.0 Excellent
- Excellent performance from new Intel "Raptor Lake" silicon
- Superb OLED touch screen with pen support
- Fantastic sound with sophisticated design
- Pen and carrying case included
- All-metal design looks sharp, feels even better
- Battery life is decent, but not long
- Extra function keys aren't customizable
ClassConvertible 2-in-1
ProcessorIntel Core i7-1360P
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)16 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)512 GB
Screen Size14 inches
Native Display Resolution2880 by 1800
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyOLED
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate90 Hz
Graphics ProcessorIntel Iris Xe Graphics
Graphics Memory
Wireless NetworkingWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
Dimensions (HWD)0.6 by 12.5 by 9.1 inches
Weight3.09 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)14:05
Lenovo's Yoga 9i Gen 8 delivers leading performance and a combination of features and design that makes it the premium 2-in-1 laptop to buy.
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Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 Review
Best Lenovo Gaming Laptop for Most People
Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8
4.0 Excellent
- High-TDP GPU
- Well-cooled for its thickness
- Sharp and fast display
- Excellent keyboard layout
- Sturdy build
- Cheaper than a lot of competitors
- No USB4 or Thunderbolt 4
- Still fairly long front to back
ClassGaming
ProcessorAMD Ryzen 7 7840HS
Processor Speed3.8 GHz
RAM (as Tested)16 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)512 GB
Screen Size16 inches
Native Display Resolution2560 by 1600
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyIPS
Variable Refresh SupportG-Sync
Screen Refresh Rate165 Hz
Graphics ProcessorNvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
Graphics Memory8 GB
Wireless Networking802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.1
Dimensions (HWD)0.92 by 14.16 by 10.25 inches
Weight5.17 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)6:20
With the Legion Slim 5 Gen 8, Lenovo shrunk its mainstream gaming laptop while maximizing performance. It's also aggressively priced, making its souped-up GPU and ace display that much more appealing.
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Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 Review
Best Lenovo Chromebook for Most People
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
4.0 Excellent
- Sturdy 2-in-1 design mixes durability, flexibility
- Above-average ChromeOS performance
- Crisp display with touch and pen support
- Backlit keyboard
- Decent variety of ports
- Budget-feeling plastic construction
- Merely average battery life
- Stylus pen not included
ClassChromebook, Convertible 2-in-1, Budget
ProcessorIntel Core i3-1315U
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)8 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)128 GB
Screen Size14 inches
Native Display Resolution1920 by 1200
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyIPS
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz
Graphics ProcessorIntel UHD Graphics
Graphics Memory
Wireless NetworkingWi-Fi 6E
Dimensions (HWD)0.72 by 9 by 12.4 inches
Weight3.52 lbs
Operating SystemChrome OS
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)11:43
Lenovo's Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is an affordable 2-in-1 that showcases the Chromebook Plus generation with speedy performance and flashy features at a reasonable price.
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Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus Review
Best Budget Lenovo Laptop
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 (2023)
4.0 Excellent
- Strong application performance
- Right-size screen for 2-in-1 versatility
- Crisp, accurate 1080p webcam
- Varied and useful port selection
- Long runtime
- No CPU or screen upgrades
- Display's color coverage is lacking
- Gray keys clash with deep blue chassis
ClassConvertible 2-in-1
ProcessorIntel Core i5-1335U
Processor Speed1.3 GHz
RAM (as Tested)16 GB
Boot Drive TypeHard Drive
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)512 GB
Screen Size14 inches
Native Display Resolution1920 by 1200
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyIPS
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz
Graphics ProcessorIntel Iris Xe
Graphics Memory
Wireless Networking802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2
Dimensions (HWD)0.78 by 12.3 by 8.9 inches
Weight3.5 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)13:32
Lenovo's IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 provides enough performance and build quality to deliver strong value for shoppers seeking a budget convertible.
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Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 (2023) Review
Best Extreme-Budget Lenovo Laptop
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14
4.0 Excellent
- Crisp 1080p display
- Comfortable keyboard
- HDMI port
- Multiple color options
- Lightweight
- Long battery life and snappy storage
- No USB-C ports
- Dim 220-nit screen backlight
- Uses relatively slow AMD Athlon Silver processor
ClassBudget
ProcessorAMD Athlon SIlver 3050e
Processor Speed1.4 GHz
RAM (as Tested)4 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)128 GB
Screen Size14 inches
Native Display Resolution1920 by 1080
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyTN
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz
Graphics ProcessorAMD Radeon Graphics
Graphics Memory
Wireless Networking802.11ac, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)0.78 by 12.88 by 9.25 inches
Weight3.09 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 10 S
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)12:01
Lenovo's IdeaPad 1 14 proves that you can have a decent, and even enjoyable, Windows 10 experience on an under-$300 laptop, as long as you don't need USB-C ports and can make do with a basic processor.
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Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14 Review
Best Lenovo Detachable 2-in-1 Chromebook
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook
3.5 Good
- Compact, totable design
- Keyboard cover offers good typing feel
- Handy kickstand
- Great flexibility for Chrome and Android apps
- Solid performance from Qualcomm CPU
- No headphone jack
- Pen sold separately
- Short battery life
ClassChromebook, Detachable 2-in-1, Budget
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2
Processor Speed2.55 GHz
RAM (as Tested)4 GB
Boot Drive TypeeMMC Flash Memory
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)64 GB
Screen Size10.95 inches
Native Display Resolution2000 by 1200
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyIPS
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz
Graphics ProcessorQualcomm Adreno GPU
Graphics Memory
Wireless Networking802.11ac, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)0.31 by 10.2 by 6.5 inches
Weight2.09 lbs
Operating SystemChrome OS
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)6:01
Shedding the stigma of small, cheap Chromebooks, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 is a compact 2-in-1 detachable Chromebook that offers both laptop and tablet functions, though its battery life is disappointing.
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Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook Review
Best Lenovo Mobile Workstation
Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1
4.5 Outstanding
- Blazing fast performance
- Gorgeous high-resolution screen
- World-class keyboard
- Impeccable build quality
- Bulky and heavy
- No Ethernet port
- Quite expensive
ClassWorkstation, Business, Desktop Replacement
ProcessorIntel Core i9-12950HX
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)64 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)2 TB
Screen Size16 inches
Native Display Resolution3840 by 2400
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyIPS
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz
Graphics ProcessorNvidia RTX A5500
Graphics Memory16 GB
Wireless NetworkingWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)1.2 by 14.3 by 10.5 inches
Weight6.4 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Pro
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)7:44
Its price will scare off all but the most demanding design and engineering professionals, but—on sheer muscle and usability—Lenovo's ThinkPad P16 is a tough mobile workstation to top.
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Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1 Review
Best Lenovo Business Laptop for Executives
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
4.5 Outstanding
- Elegant and light design
- Fabulous keyboard
- Sharp, vivid OLED screen
- USB-A, HDMI, and USB-C ports
- Sky-high price
- Decent but not class-leading performance and battery life
- No SD or microSD card slot
ClassBusiness, Ultraportable
ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 7 155H
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)32 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)1 TB
Screen Size14 inches
Native Display Resolution2880 by 1800
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyOLED
Variable Refresh SupportManual
Screen Refresh Rate120 Hz
Graphics ProcessorIntel Arc Graphics
Graphics Memory
Wireless NetworkingWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)0.59 by 12.3 by 8.5 inches
Weight2.47 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)13:51
You'll still find no finer business ultraportable than Lenovo's 12th-generation ThinkPad X1 Carbon, but the latest model suffers from terminal sticker shock for simply decent performance.
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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 Review
Best Lenovo Small-Business Laptop
Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5
4.0 Excellent
- Reasonably priced
- Long battery life
- Gold standard ThinkPad keyboard
- Thunderbolt 4 uncommon for the price
- Just $50 for touch-screen upgrade
- Three-year warranty as tested
- Middling performance, even with Core i7
- Screen needs more color
- Tinny speakers
ClassBusiness
ProcessorIntel Core i7-1355U
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)16 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)512 GB
Screen Size14 inches
Native Display Resolution1920 by 1200
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyIPS
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz
Graphics ProcessorIntel Iris Xe Graphics
Graphics Memory
Wireless Networking802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2
Dimensions (HWD)0.7 by 12.3 by 8.6 inches
Weight3.11 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Pro
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)11:53
Lenovo’s 14-inch ThinkPad E-series is an impressive productivity laptop for the money, with long battery life, a lengthy warranty, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity.
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Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 Review
Best Lenovo Business Laptop for Fleets
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 4
4.0 Excellent
- Exemplary build quality
- World-class keyboard
- Long battery life
- Ample ports
- Lots of configuration options including mobile broadband
- No SD or microSD card slot
- IPS screen is just okay compared with OLED
ClassBusiness, Ultraportable
ProcessorIntel Core i7-1365U
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)16 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)512 GB
Screen Size14 inches
Native Display Resolution1920 by 1200
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyIPS
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz
Graphics ProcessorIntel Iris Xe Graphics
Graphics Memory
Wireless NetworkingWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)0.66 by 12.5 by 8.9 inches
Weight2.69 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Pro
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)17:27
It's no longer thinner and lighter than the T14, but Lenovo's ThinkPad T14s is a superb business ultraportable with the brand's trademark build quality, keyboard, and connectivity.
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Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 4 Review
Buying Guide: The Best Lenovo Laptops for 2024
Which Series of Lenovo Laptops Is Best?
Because Lenovo makes every one of its laptops with a specific set of customers in mind, we can't point you to one line of Lenovo laptops as the absolute "best" for every situation. With that in mind, we've listed and covered each of Lenovo's laptop series below to help you decide which type of Lenovo laptop is best for you.
Lenovo's conventional laptops include ThinkPads (business laptops), ThinkBooks (higher power work machines), and IdeaPads (general-use laptops). Gaming machines fall under Lenovo's Legion (high-end) and LOQ (budget) lines, while 2-in-1 hybrids come in Yoga (premium) and Flex (budget) varieties. First, let’s look at the laptops that started it all: the ThinkPads.
Professional Classics: ThinkPads and ThinkBooks
ThinkPads are Lenovo's classically styled, business-oriented laptops, with a wide range of configurable features: touch screens, cellular connectivity, biometric login hardware, and docking options. Their primary commonality? They almost always come colored in Lenovo's classic matte black.
These machines tend to provide more in the way of IT-friendly features for monitoring, management and business-oriented wired and wireless connectivity. To help position certain models within the larger laptop market, Lenovo divides its ThinkPads into a host of sub-classes indicated by a letter. These include the ultraportable ThinkPad X and top-of-the-line X1 lines, the entry-level ThinkPad L family, and the ThinkPad P mobile workstations. The 14-inch X1 Carbon is the company's executive flagship, joined by the 13-inch X1 Nano, which is the lightest ThinkPad at 2.13 pounds.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The bread-and-butter ThinkPads, though, are the T series, widely deployed business laptops that deliver a decent balance of cost, durability, and feature set, along with the famous ThinkPad keyboard. Current T-series models include 14- and 16-inch notebooks, which have replaced the 13- and- 15-inch models of old, and they often feature an "s" suffix after their model numbers to indicate a slimmer and lighter system.
Beyond L, P, T, and X, Lenovo has also pushed two other, newer lines: E and Z. The E series is more of a hodgepodge than most, resolutely budget-minded, with CPUs from both Intel and AMD and models in both 14- and 16-inch screen sizes, which have replaced the traditional 13- and- 15-inch sizes. The newest ThinkPad expansion, the Z line, emphasizes aesthetics and sustainability and employs AMD Ryzen processors. You can still find 13-inch screens within the Z series in addition to a more contemporary 16-inch size.
You'll need a quick decoder to ThinkPad model numbers, whose logic changes every few years according to the moods of Lenovo's marketing brain trust. Current models carry a letter such as E, T, or X plus two digits marking the screen size. So a ThinkPad E15 is a budget-minded model with a 15.6-inch screen, while the ThinkPad T14 is the classic business fleet machine with a 14-inch panel. The premium ThinkPad X1 models don't indicate a screen size in their model names, since most of them are 14 inches.
Meanwhile, Lenovo ThinkBooks are a distinct line from ThinkPads. They serve small and medium business (SMB) customers and also lean toward the value end of the spectrum. (See our picks forthe best business laptops overall.) Like most, the ThinkBook line has consolidated down to 14- and 16-inch screen sizes, but even further down to solely normal-thickness variants—no more "s" models here. ThinkBooks simply use two digits in their names for the screen size.
The IdeaPad Line: Consumer Clamshells
Lenovo IdeaPads, on the other hand, are aimed mainly at consumers, though design-forward business users and entrepreneurs may gravitate toward using an IdeaPad as a primary PC. You'll find some preloaded apps on many IdeaPad systems, particularly those bought from big-box stores.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Current IdeaPad models range from the extreme-budget IdeaPad 1 series to the IdeaPad 3 and IdeaPad 5 at the high end of this midrange lineup. The higher the number, the more premium the laptop. An "i" in the model name denotes an Intel processor, while some models have "Gaming," "Slim," or "Pro added to their names to denote their intended uses. Screen size isn't specified; for example, you can find IdeaPad 5 models with both 14- and 16-inch displays, Lenovo having also dropped the 15.6-inch screen size.
Lenovo also sells a host of IdeaPadChromebooks, which are popular choices for buyers on a budget. Google's ChromeOS is simple to manage and use since it centers on the Chrome Web browser and related apps. Lenovo's Chromebook lineup includes inexpensive IdeaPad consumer models, as well as more rugged ThinkPad-branded Chromebooks for businesses and schools. Most recently, Lenovo joined the Chromebook Plus program that Google launched to elevate budget Chromebook laptops with better specs and features as a baseline. (See our picks for thebest Chromebooks.)
Yoga and Flex: Lenovo's Hybrids
Under the larger ThinkPad and IdeaPad umbrellas fall most of Lenovo's wide range of touch-screen hybrids, which can function as both laptops and tablets: the Yoga and Flex laptops. Introduced in 2012, the first Yoga pioneered the 2-in-1 convertible-laptop concept. Yoga laptops' 360-degree screen hinges let you flip and fold the system into four positions: a conventional laptop mode, an easel-like stand mode for presentations, an A-frame or tent mode for viewing videos or using touch apps on an airline tray table, and a tablet mode for reading or for scribbling and sketching with a stylus.
In addition to high-end consumer systems called simply Lenovo Yogas, you'll find ThinkPad Yogas and ThinkBook Yogas that target a business audience. They follow the naming and numbering schemes for the lines they fit into, such as the ThinkPad X1 series.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
The Flex models, meanwhile, are broadly similar but tend to be cheaper than Yogas. At various times, the Flexes have been their own brand, though at this writing they're marketed under the IdeaPad banner. The latest Yogas and Flexes generally follow the single-digit naming scheme of the IdeaPads, though you'll find occasional exceptions, like the Yoga 6.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
With these machines, the screen stays attached to the keyboard, meaning they're 2-in-1 convertibles as opposed to detachables—Windows tablets with removable keyboards akin to Microsoft's Surface Pro slates. Lenovo also sells a ThinkPad X12 Detachable tablet, a business device with one of the best detachable keyboards on the market. The other prominent detachable 2-in-1s we've seen of late from Lenovo are the company's consumer-oriented Chromebook Duet tablets.
Legion and LOQ: Meet Lenovo's Gaming Brigade
Finally, to keep up with the growing popularity of PC gaming, Lenovo launched an all-new laptop line, the Legion family, in 2017. It did this to differentiate itsgaming systemsfrom the main IdeaPad line, where the gaming rigs were until then known as "IdeaPad Y"-family models. The Legion brand includes both gaming laptops and desktops. (Note: Some IdeaPad Gaming models continue to be offered for players on tight budgets.)
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Current models bear single digits (a "5," a "7," or a "9") that indicate a range from mainstream to flagship gaming, respectively. Legions with an "i" suffix use Intel Core processors, while others rely on AMD Ryzen CPU power. The Legion family's pricing, given the models' specs and feature sets, has been attractive. Today, you'll see Legion laptops in the more modern 14- and 16-inch screen sizes and in a mix of distinctive designs, with more features specifically aimed at a gaming audience than the IdeaPad Gaming models offer.
Last year, Lenovo also began to sell a revamped budget line of gaming laptops known as LOQ, most of which contain entry-level graphics and processing hardware focused on fast and responsive 1080p play. They're one of the more attractive lines of budget gaming laptops, but it will take another update generation or two to see whether LOQ can rise to the top.
Which Lenovo Laptop Is Most Durable?
According to Lenovo's website, "ThinkPad products are currently tested for 12 total methods and 20 procedures" under the US Department of Defense’s MIL-STD 810G standards. These include tolerance for mechanical shock, humidity, sand, dust, and even fungus, among other hazards and contaminants. Like most laptop brands, Lenovo doesn't emphasize durability to the same degree in its general-use, budget, ultraportable, hybrid 2-in-1, and gaming laptop categories.
However, Lenovo isn't known for producing "true rugged" machines that can resist significant damage and weather exposure. Dell, Durabook, Getac, and Panasonic are players in that market. For those, check out our buying guide for the best rugged laptops.
Which Lenovo Laptop Is Best for Students?
While we often recommend students buy a MacBook Air for school, or a Dell XPS laptop if they're set on Windows, Lenovo has comparable models in its Yoga and Slim series that would serve much of the same function. Currently, these are the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i.
If you're on a tighter budget, or your coursework doesn't require such a well-equipped machine, Lenovo's IdeaPad line would serve you better. This series serves up budget-to-midrange systems for basic workloads and entertainment needs.
Finally, Lenovo's ThinkPad and ThinkBook lines feature laptops with top-end processing hardware and even professional-grade parts for academic workloads in the areas of computer science, software engineering, and media editing, to name a few. (The high-end engineering stuff is best reserved for workstation models like the ThinkPad P line.)
So, What Is the Best Lenovo Laptop to Buy?
For more of our favorite machines (that is, the ones outside the Lenovo sphere), check out ourfavorite laptops overall, as well as our guides to the bestcheap laptopsandbusiness laptops. But for our current, ever-evolving list of Lenovo favorites, scroll down for a detailed spec breakout of our picks up top.
Compare SpecsThe Best Lenovo Laptops for 2024
Our Picks | Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8See It$1,147.99 at Lenovo | Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8See It$1,069.99 at Lenovo | Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook PlusSee It$349.00 at Best Buy | Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 (2023)See It$739.99 at Lenovo | Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14See It$144.00 at Amazon | Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 ChromebookSee It$279.00 at Lenovo | Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1See It$4,599.00 at Lenovo | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12See It$1,499.40 at Lenovo | Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5See It$725.40 at Lenovo | Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 4See It$1,426.80 at Amazon |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Editors'Rating | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | 4.0Editor Review | 4.0Editor Review | 3.5Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.5Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.5Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | 4.0Editor Review |
Class | Convertible 2-in-1 | Gaming | Chromebook, Convertible 2-in-1, Budget | Convertible 2-in-1 | Budget | Chromebook, Detachable 2-in-1, Budget | Workstation, Business, Desktop Replacement | Business, Ultraportable | Business | Business, Ultraportable |
Processor | Intel Core i7-1360P | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | Intel Core i3-1315U | Intel Core i5-1335U | AMD Athlon SIlver 3050e | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 | Intel Core i9-12950HX | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel Core i7-1355U | Intel Core i7-1365U |
Processor Speed | 3.8 GHz | 1.3 GHz | 1.4 GHz | 2.55 GHz | ||||||
RAM (as Tested) | 16 GB | 16 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB | 64 GB | 32 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB |
Boot Drive Type | SSD | SSD | SSD | Hard Drive | SSD | eMMC Flash Memory | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD |
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB | 512 GB | 128 GB | 512 GB | 128 GB | 64 GB | 2 TB | 1 TB | 512 GB | 512 GB |
Screen Size | 14 inches | 16 inches | 14 inches | 14 inches | 14 inches | 10.95 inches | 16 inches | 14 inches | 14 inches | 14 inches |
Native Display Resolution | 2880 by 1800 | 2560 by 1600 | 1920 by 1200 | 1920 by 1200 | 1920 by 1080 | 2000 by 1200 | 3840 by 2400 | 2880 by 1800 | 1920 by 1200 | 1920 by 1200 |
Touch Screen | ||||||||||
Panel Technology | OLED | IPS | IPS | IPS | TN | IPS | IPS | OLED | IPS | IPS |
Variable Refresh Support | None | G-Sync | None | None | None | None | None | Manual | None | None |
Screen Refresh Rate | 90 Hz | 165 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
Graphics Processor | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU | Intel UHD Graphics | Intel Iris Xe | AMD Radeon Graphics | Qualcomm Adreno GPU | Nvidia RTX A5500 | Intel Arc Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
Graphics Memory | 8 GB | 16 GB | ||||||||
Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1 | 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 6E | 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2 | 802.11ac, Bluetooth | 802.11ac, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth | 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth |
Dimensions (HWD) | 0.6 by 12.5 by 9.1 inches | 0.92 by 14.16 by 10.25 inches | 0.72 by 9 by 12.4 inches | 0.78 by 12.3 by 8.9 inches | 0.78 by 12.88 by 9.25 inches | 0.31 by 10.2 by 6.5 inches | 1.2 by 14.3 by 10.5 inches | 0.59 by 12.3 by 8.5 inches | 0.7 by 12.3 by 8.6 inches | 0.66 by 12.5 by 8.9 inches |
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 5.17 lbs | 3.52 lbs | 3.5 lbs | 3.09 lbs | 2.09 lbs | 6.4 lbs | 2.47 lbs | 3.11 lbs | 2.69 lbs |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Chrome OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 10 S | Chrome OS | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro |
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 14:05 | 6:20 | 11:43 | 13:32 | 12:01 | 6:01 | 7:44 | 13:51 | 11:53 | 17:27 |
Where to Buy | $1,147.99 at Lenovo | $1,069.99 at Lenovo | $349.00 at Best Buy | $739.99 at Lenovo $849.99 at Walmart | $144.00 at Amazon | $279.00 at Lenovo $279.00 at Best Buy | $4,599.00 at Lenovo | $1,499.40 at Lenovo | $725.40 at Lenovo | $1,426.80 at Amazon $1,355.46 at Walmart |
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About John Burek
Executive Editor and PC Labs Director
I have been a technology journalist for almost 30 years and have covered just about every kind of computer gear—from the 386SX to 64-core processors—in my long tenure as an editor, a writer, and an advice columnist. For almost a quarter-century, I worked on the seminal, gigantic Computer Shopper magazine (and later, its digital counterpart), aka the phone book for PC buyers, and the nemesis of every postal delivery person. I was Computer Shopper's editor in chief for its final nine years, after which much of its digital content was folded into PCMag.com. I also served, briefly, as the editor in chief of the well-known hardcore tech site Tom's Hardware.
During that time, I've built and torn down enough desktop PCs to equip a city block's worth of internet cafes. Under race conditions, I've built PCs from bare-board to bootup in under 5 minutes.
In my early career, I worked as an editor of scholarly science books, and as an editor of "Dummies"-style computer guidebooks for Brady Books (now, BradyGames). I'm a lifetime New Yorker, a graduate of New York University's journalism program, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
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After starting my career at PCMag as an intern more than a decade ago, I’m back as one of its editors, focused on laptops and desktops. I have been on staff and been published in technology review publications including PCMag (of course!), Laptop Magazine, Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, and IGN. I’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of laptops along the way, and helped develop testing protocols, too. I’m also well-versed in video games coverage.
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