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

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 is accessible 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 worth.

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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 customers skeptical. Nicely, the corporate has since proved its level: the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable is now obtainable to customers for an eye-watering $3,300, however full of premium design components, stable {hardware}, and a 120Hz OLED show that extends to nearly 17 inches on the press of a button. 

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

Additionally: The most effective Lenovo laptops of 2025: Skilled examined and reviewed

I have been utilizing the ThinkBook Plus for weeks now as my predominant 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 sort, it’s miles from excellent. There are a handful of trade-offs as a result of laptop computer’s type, and the sky-high worth invitations a crucial eye to each ingredient of its design. That being mentioned, it’s finally a well-engineered laptop computer. Let’s take a more in-depth look. 

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

Upon first look, the laptop computer seems to be like another. 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. 

Additionally: How one can purchase a laptop computer for college, work, or gaming (and our prime picks for every)

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 another commonplace laptop computer display measurement in the marketplace. The shiny, OLED display delivers a implausible 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 should you rotate the shiny show to mirror the sunshine. It is somewhat extra seen than I anticipated and definitely one thing of word (given the worth), however finally, it would not actually overshadow the advantage of 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 would not precisely scream “premium”, it would not cancel out the advantages the display offers. 

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

So what are the mentioned advantages? First off, the additional room is a breath of recent 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, if you would like a bigger UI, it nonetheless feels extra roomy than a daily laptop computer show. 

Should you’re a programmer, you will recognize the prolonged portrait orientation, however anybody who works with paperwork will love having 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 degree. 

Even fundamental net searching is improved, with extra of the web page on the display without delay, and extra content material seen with much less scrolling. In that sense, the show mirrors the cell format, which is finally extra scrollable. 

Rolling the display up will be accomplished by urgent the related key or with a hand gesture in entrance of the webcam. Whereas it is extending, the display defaults to enjoying 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 is usually a bit too loud in a quiet workplace, so thankfully, all of those options will be turned off. 

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

There’s truly a number of 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 ideas on tips on how to arrange the display extra successfully. 

Additionally: The Lenovo ThinkPad streak is over: This mannequin I examined bucks a decade-long development (for the higher)

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, nonetheless, 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 word 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 situated on the left facet of the machine, which is perhaps 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 could be a stable workplace laptop computer. The fingerprint reader on the facility key, together with help for Wi-Fi 7 seal the deal as a contemporary enterprise machine. 

Underneath the hood, the Intel Core Extremely 7 “Lunar Lake” processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage make for the standard {hardware} loadout akin 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 inside reminiscence, supplying greater than sufficient energy for each day use. 

Should you’re seeking to sport on this laptop computer, it could possibly deal with some mainstream titles, nevertheless it’s not precisely constructed for working top-tier gaming content material. In “regular” laptop computer mode, you might have a 2000 x 1600 decision, commonplace fare for a 14-inch show. But when your sport helps a 2000 x 2350 decision, you may play with the display absolutely prolonged, which undoubtedly seems like a novel expertise, however due to all of the display area, it is not precisely optimized for high-APM gaming. 

Should you’re enjoying an older sport that does not help that decision, properly, the sport will merely revert to the normal decision, leading to empty area under the window and negating the entire level of the prolonged show. The underside line right here: gaming is usually a bonus for this laptop computer, however not what it is made for. 

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Concerning 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 reducing it shut. Should you add in videoconferencing and extra demanding workloads, you won’t make it by means of the day with no energy top-up. 

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

So let’s handle the elephant within the room: the worth. Lenovo is properly conscious that this laptop computer is just not for everybody. The truth is, 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 a degree. 

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

Lenovo goals to venture a popularity of innovation, however extra importantly, it seeks to show it could possibly ship these merchandise to market. This machine displays that mission, incomes it an necessary place in Lenovo’s portfolio, even when it isn’t the 12 months’s prime vendor. 

It is also the primary iteration of this rollable idea, and as such, the bodily design is just not 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 formidable product, even contemplating its trade-offs. The show has seen creases and thick bezels, however when it is absolutely prolonged, you neglect about them. The battery is not the very best, nevertheless 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, nevertheless it does what it is speculated to: ship a implausible 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 unhealthy

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

The truth is 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 should you’re in love with the massive display, I can say that it is a productiveness game-changer within the workplace.