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 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 value.

Lenovo unveiled its “rollable” laptop at CES two years in the past as a wild proof of idea that turned heads, however left shoppers skeptical. Properly, 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 filled with premium design parts, stable {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 is officially available to buy – know this before you do

I have been utilizing the ThinkBook Plus for over every week 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 form, it’s miles from good. There are a handful of trade-offs because of the laptop computer’s kind, and the sky-high value invitations a vital eye to each aspect 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 enterprise, that includes a metallic, two-tone design. It is not my favourite aesthetic, nevertheless it’s actually sturdy and resists fingerprints manner higher than all of the matte black designs on the market. 

Upon first look, the laptop computer seems to be 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, rising the display measurement to 16.7 inches.

The result’s a big, portrait-style show that goes far past some other commonplace laptop computer display measurement in the marketplace. The shiny, OLED display delivers a incredible 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 case you rotate the shiny show to replicate the sunshine. It is a bit of 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 massive display. 

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

Additionally: I tried Lenovo’s infamous ‘rollable’ laptop at CES – it’s more practical than I thought

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 massive, full-screen desktop, however you too can put two home windows, one on prime of the opposite, for 2 16:9 desktops. 

To maximise actual property, I set the size in Home windows to 125%, bringing the UI all the way down to a extra manageable measurement that ends in a crisp and environment friendly interface. Nevertheless, if you’d like a bigger UI, it nonetheless feels extra roomy than a daily laptop computer show. 

Should you’re a programmer, you may respect 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 all the way down to the atomic degree. 

Even fundamental internet 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 cellular format, which is finally extra scrollable. 

Rolling the display up will 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 enjoying an animation (completely different ones are selectable in settings) with some thematic music, then reloading your desktop as soon as it reaches the specified measurement. The music generally is a little a lot in a quiet workplace, so fortunately, all of those options will 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 record, and a calendar at a look. You’ll be able to pin this to remain completely on or have it cover behind your different apps. 

There’s truly numerous content material right here, together with brief movies that present easy methods to use gesture controls to boost and decrease the show and a few options on easy methods to set up the display extra successfully. 

Past the show, the remainder of the laptop computer’s core parts are fairly good. The keyboard is a bit of 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 regardless 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 might need some hassle with the pad recognizing your fingers, particularly in the event that they’re chilly.

Additionally: The Lenovo ThinkPad streak is over: This model I tested bucks a decade-long trend (for the better)

Additionally word that the laptop computer’s kind 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 gadget, which is likely to 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 a bit of chunky), and even with out the rollable show, it could be a stable workplace laptop computer. The fingerprint reader on the ability key, together with assist for Wi-Fi 7 seal the deal as a contemporary enterprise gadget. 

Beneath 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 every day use. 

Should you’re trying to sport on this laptop computer, it may well deal with some mainstream titles, nevertheless it’s not precisely constructed for working top-tier gaming content material. In “regular” laptop computer mode, you’ve got received a 2000 x 1600 decision, commonplace fare for a 14-inch. But when your sport helps a 2000 x 2350 decision, you possibly can play with the display totally prolonged, which undoubtedly looks like a singular 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 assist that decision, effectively, the sport will merely revert to the standard decision, leading to empty area 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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Concerning battery life, the show expectedly cuts into the 66Whr battery’s longevity, though not as a lot as you would possibly 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 cut back to a trickle when not in use, and it fees quick: about 80% in an hour. In our video playback check, we received a bit of 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 effectively conscious that this laptop computer will not be for everybody. In truth, it is most likely probably the most area of interest product I’ve reviewed all 12 months. As an alternative, it is extra about proving a degree. 

Additionally: I’ve tested dozens of ThinkPads: Here’s the Lenovo model I keep coming back to

Lenovo needs to mission a fame of innovation, however extra importantly, it needs to show it may well ship mentioned merchandise to market. This gadget displays that mission, incomes it an essential 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 will not be fairly as polished as you’d discover in Lenovo’s different high-end laptops, just like the ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition 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 totally prolonged, you overlook about them. The battery is not the most effective, 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 purported to: ship a incredible person expertise within the workplace, with an expansive, versatile show that appears nice, pairs properly with a premium haptic touchpad, and simply the correct quantity of energy beneath the hood. 

Additionally: I switched to the Dell 14 Premium for two weeks, and it made my XPS laptop look bad

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

The fact is which you could get nearly something for much less: a MacBook Pro 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 case you’re in love with the large display, I can say that it is a productiveness game-changer within the workplace.