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 customers skeptical. Effectively, the corporate has since proved its level: the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable is now out there to customers for an eye-watering $3,300, however full of premium design components, strong {hardware}, and a 120Hz OLED show that extends to virtually 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 essential laptop computer, and I’ve to confess, I am enamored by the extendable display screen, significantly as a productiveness machine for work. 

However as the primary of its type, it’s miles from good. There are a handful of trade-offs as a result of laptop computer’s type, and the sky-high value invitations a crucial eye to each factor 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, but it surely’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 every 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 not any backside bezel — the display screen simply continues under the keyboard. 

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The remainder of the rollable display screen is parked beneath, ready to be unfurled. With the push of a button, the standard-sized show extends upwards, growing the display screen dimension to 16.7 inches.

The result’s a big, portrait-style show that goes far past every other customary laptop computer display screen dimension available on the market. The shiny, OLED display screen delivers a incredible image, with no flickering or dimming across the edges, though there’s some seen creasing that appears like what you’d see on a foldable telephone’s show. 

That is very true when you rotate the shiny show to replicate the sunshine. It is slightly extra seen than I anticipated and definitely one thing of be aware (given the worth), however in the end, it does not actually overshadow the good thing about the big display screen. 

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 scale back the creasing on their shows — and though it does not precisely scream “premium”, it does not cancel out the advantages the display screen supplies. 

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

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 consumer expertise. Personally, I like operating 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 all the way down to a extra manageable dimension that leads to a crisp and environment friendly interface. Nonetheless, if you need a bigger UI, it nonetheless feels extra roomy than a daily laptop computer show. 

In the event you’re a programmer, you will admire 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 screen 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 net searching is improved, with extra of the web page on the display screen without delay, and extra content material seen with much less scrolling. In that sense, the show mirrors the cellular format, which is in the end extra scrollable. 

Rolling the display screen up may be executed by urgent the related key or with a hand gesture in entrance of the webcam. Whereas it is extending, the display screen 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 dimension. The music could be a little a lot in a quiet workplace, so fortunately, all of those options may be turned off. 

When absolutely prolonged, the underside third of the display screen is occupied by the Lenovo widget panel, which exhibits 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 disguise behind your different apps. 

There’s truly a whole lot of content material right here, together with quick movies that present the best way to use gesture controls to lift and decrease the show and a few options on the best way to arrange the display screen extra successfully. 

Past the show, the remainder of the laptop computer’s core elements are fairly good. The keyboard is slightly 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 might 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 model I tested bucks a decade-long trend (for the better)

Additionally be aware 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 aspect of the machine, 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 slightly chunky), and even with out the rollable show, it might be a strong workplace laptop computer. The fingerprint reader on the ability key, together with assist 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 large 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. 

In the event you’re trying to sport on this laptop computer, it could deal with some mainstream titles, but it surely’s not precisely constructed for operating top-tier gaming content material. In “regular” laptop computer mode, you’ve got acquired a 2000 x 1600 decision, customary fare for a 14-inch. But when your sport helps a 2000 x 2350 decision, you’ll be able to play with the display screen absolutely prolonged, which undoubtedly appears like a singular expertise, however due to all of the display screen area, it is not precisely optimized for high-APM gaming. 

In the event you’re enjoying an older sport that does not assist that decision, properly, the sport will merely revert to the standard decision, leading to empty area under the window and negating the entire level of the prolonged show. The underside line right here: gaming could be 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 would possibly count on. Throughout regular use, you will get a full work day of use out of it with the display screen prolonged, but it surely’s chopping it shut. In the event you add in videoconferencing and extra demanding workloads, you won’t make it by means of the day with out a energy top-up. 

That being stated, the Lunar Lake chip does enable for the battery loss to scale back to a trickle when not in use, and it expenses quick: about 80% in an hour. In our video playback take a look at, we acquired slightly 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 properly conscious that this laptop computer shouldn’t be for everybody. Actually, it is in all probability probably the most area of interest product I’ve reviewed all yr. As an alternative, it is extra about proving some extent. 

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

Lenovo needs to challenge a repute of innovation, however extra importantly, it needs to show it could ship stated merchandise to market. This machine displays that mission, incomes it an necessary place in Lenovo’s portfolio, even when it is not the yr’s prime vendor. 

It is also the primary iteration of this rollable idea, and as such, the bodily design shouldn’t 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 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 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 one of the best, but it surely’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, but it surely does what it is alleged to: ship a incredible consumer 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 two weeks, and it made my XPS laptop look bad

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 think about the long run. 

The fact is that you may get virtually 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 when you’re in love with the large display screen, I can say that it is a productiveness game-changer within the workplace.