I tried Lenovo’s new rollable ThinkBook and can’t go back to regular-sized screens

ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 is offered now, beginning at $3,300.
• The 120Hz, OLED, portrait-style 16.7-inch show delivers an expansive workspace, supported by a haptic touchpad.
• It has restricted I/O, has some seen creasing on the rollable show, and has a sky-high value.

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. Effectively, 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 full of premium design components, strong {hardware}, and a 120Hz OLED show that extends to nearly 17 inches on the press of a button. 

Additionally: Lenovo’s $3,000 rollable ThinkBook laptop computer is formally that can be purchased – know this earlier than you do

I have been utilizing the ThinkBook Plus for over every week as my most important 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 variety, it is from good. There are a handful of trade-offs as a result of laptop computer’s type, and the sky-high value invitations a important eye to each component of its design. That being stated, it’s in the end a well-engineered laptop computer. Let’s take a more in-depth look. 

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

Upon first look, the laptop computer appears 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 is no backside bezel — the display simply continues beneath the keyboard. 

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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 dimension to 16.7 inches.

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

That is very true in the event you rotate the shiny show to replicate the sunshine. It is somewhat extra seen than I anticipated and positively one thing of notice (given the worth), however in the end, it does not actually overshadow the good thing about the massive display. 

For instance, you cease noticing the creasing when your consideration is concentrated on what you are really 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 cut back the creasing on their shows — and though it does not precisely scream “premium”, it does not cancel out the advantages the display gives. 

Additionally: I attempted Lenovo’s notorious ‘rollable’ laptop computer at CES – it is extra sensible than I believed

So what are the stated 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 operating one massive, full-screen desktop, however you may also put two home windows, one on high of the opposite, for 2 16:9 desktops. 

To maximise actual property, I set the dimensions in Home windows to 125%, bringing the UI all the way down to a extra manageable dimension 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. 

For those who’re a programmer, you will 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 all the way down to the atomic stage. 

Even fundamental net shopping 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 cell format, which is in the end extra scrollable. 

Rolling the display up might be completed 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 dimension. The music generally is a little a lot in a quiet workplace, so fortunately, all of those options might be turned off. 

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

There’s really numerous content material right here, together with quick movies that present tips on how to use gesture controls to lift and decrease the show and a few strategies on tips on how to set up the display extra successfully. 

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

I used to be additionally thrilled to search out the haptic trackpad to be simply as well-engineered, with a uniform click on irrespective 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: The Lenovo ThinkPad streak is over: This mannequin I examined bucks a decade-long development (for the higher)

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 system, 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 somewhat chunky), and even with out the rollable show, it will be a strong workplace laptop computer. The fingerprint reader on the ability key, together with help for Wi-Fi 7 seal the deal as a contemporary enterprise system. 

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

For those who’re seeking to sport on this laptop computer, it might probably deal with some mainstream titles, however it’s not precisely constructed for operating top-tier gaming content material. In “regular” laptop computer mode, you have received a 2000 x 1600 decision, commonplace fare for a 14-inch. But when your sport helps a 2000 x 2350 decision, you may play with the display totally prolonged, which undoubtedly looks like a singular expertise, however due to all of the display house, it is not precisely optimized for high-APM gaming. 

For those who’re taking part in an older sport that does not help that decision, nicely, the sport will merely revert to the normal decision, leading to empty house beneath 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. 

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Relating to battery life, the show expectedly cuts into the 66Whr battery’s longevity, though not as a lot as you may anticipate. Throughout regular use, you may get a full work day of use out of it with the display prolonged, however it’s slicing it shut. For those who add in videoconferencing and extra demanding workloads, you may not make it by way of the day and not using a energy top-up. 

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

So let’s tackle the elephant within the room: the worth. Lenovo is nicely conscious that this laptop computer will not be for everybody. Actually, it is most likely probably the most area of interest product I’ve reviewed all 12 months. As a substitute, it is extra about proving some extent. 

Additionally: I’ve examined dozens of ThinkPads: Here is the Lenovo mannequin I hold coming again to

Lenovo needs to challenge a repute of innovation, however extra importantly, it needs to show it might probably ship stated merchandise to market. This system displays that mission, incomes it an necessary place in Lenovo’s portfolio, even when it is not the 12 months’s high 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 many years 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 overlook about them. The battery is not one of the best, however it’s removed from the worst. It is not a stellar gaming rig, however that is not why you purchase a ThinkBook, anyway. 

It is area of interest, and it is costly, however it does what it is imagined to: ship a improbable 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 below the hood. 

Additionally: I switched to the Dell 14 Premium for 2 weeks, and it made my XPS laptop computer look dangerous

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

The truth is which you can get nearly 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 in the event you’re in love with the large display, I can say that it is a productiveness game-changer within the workplace.