Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Rollable evaluate: A sci-fi laptop computer you should buy

Greatest Costs As we speak: Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable is a 14-inch laptop computer that unrolls right into a tall 16.7-inch show once you press a button on the keyboard. Lenovo proudly proclaims that is the world’s first rollable laptop computer. You’ve got a bunch of additional display screen actual property constructed into your laptop computer, and you’ll entry it on the press of a button.

I’m shocked how cool that is: Lenovo has taken the type of product you’d see as a tech demo at CES and turned it into an actual, solidly engineered laptop computer that anybody should purchase. Sure, it’s costly, however the truth that you may get this type of one-of-a-kind expertise at just a few thousand bucks is simply superior.

Lenovo has been delivering plenty of wild laptop computer ideas, just like the dual-display Yoga E book 9i. Given the worth, these laptops aren’t for most individuals. However if you happen to like the thought, they’re the one actual sport on the town. Lenovo must be applauded for delivering these ideas as actual, buyable merchandise. Machines like these display why PCs are superior.

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: Specs

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable is offered in a single single configuration. This laptop computer consists of an Intel Core Extremely 7 258V CPU — that’s a Lunar Lake CPU, which suggests it has glorious battery effectivity and spectacular built-in graphics efficiency alongside an NPU highly effective sufficient for Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC options.

Nonetheless, Lunar Lake solely has eight cores — 4 efficiency cores and 4 low-power environment friendly cores — so CPU-heavy multithreaded workflows will lag in comparison with different CPU architectures. Alongside that, Lenovo features a beneficiant 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage.

• Mannequin quantity: Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable
• CPU: Intel Core Extremely 7 258V
• Reminiscence: 32GB LPDDR5X
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc 140V
• NPU: Intel AI Enhance (48 TOPS)
• Show: 14-inch 2000×1600 OLED show that unrolls right into a 16.7-inch 2000×2350 show, 120Hz refresh fee
• Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
• Webcam: 1440p digital camera
• Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Kind-C), 1x combo audio jack
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
• Biometrics: Fingerprint reader and IR digital camera for facial recognition
• Battery capability: 66 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 11.95 x 9.08 x 0.75 inches
• Weight: 3.72 kilos
• MSRP: $3,299 as examined

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable has nice construct high quality, truly! This doesn’t really feel just like the world’s first rollable laptop computer — it appears like a sophisticated second or third era model of the idea.

At a look, the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 seems like a silver Lenovo ThinkBook laptop computer that’s only a bit bulkier than regular. It has a serious-looking hinge, which seems just like the type of hinge you’d see on a 2-in-1 machine.

Other than the slight additional bulk — it’s solely a bit thicker than regular, and at 3.72 kilos, it’s not even that a lot heavier than a traditional laptop computer — this might go for the standard Lenovo laptop computer — till you see the display screen. Fairly than the display screen ending in a bezel, the display screen continues previous a seam down into the laptop computer, beneath the keyboard.

To unroll the laptop computer, you simply have to make sure it’s on the proper angle — 90 levels works, or a bit additional again — after which press the important thing to the correct of F12. A motor kicks into motion and unrolls the display screen, making the laptop computer taller because the rollable OLED show unrolls from beneath the keyboard. To roll it again up, you’ll press the important thing once more. (In case your display screen isn’t at a very good angle for rolling, the important thing gained’t do something.)

The motor and hinge really feel extremely dependable. Time would be the actual take a look at, however this feels strong. In truth, it feels extra dependable than my foldable Galaxy Cellphone, as I’m folding that with my arms utilizing varied levels of stress, whereas this machine has a motor that unrolls and rolls it properly.

Lenovo consists of its personal software program that handles decision switching when the display screen rolls and unrolls, in addition to a “ThinkBook Workspace” pane designed to stay on the backside space of the display screen when it’s unrolled. Workspace works nice, however I most popular to stay with my normal Home windows software program.

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: Keyboard and trackpad

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable has a nice keyboard. Lenovo tends to be good at keyboards, and this feels on the shallow aspect in comparison with different Lenovo keyboards I’ve used. A barely shallow keyboard isn’t any shock: This machine, in any case, has a show that rolls up and matches beneath the keyboard. It’s not mushy, however it’s a tad rubbery and doesn’t really feel as “snappy” as I’d like. This isn’t even a criticism — in fact a rollable laptop computer gained’t have essentially the most keyboard journey.

In case you like the thought of a rollable laptop computer, you shouldn’t let the keyboard cease you. In case you’re questioning whether or not different high-end Lenovo laptops just like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon have snappier keyboards, although: Sure, sure they do.

This machine has a touchpad that’s a very good measurement. It’s a haptic trackpad, too — which means you may customise the motion and use the entire touchpad floor to click on down. Mixed with the dimensions, it’s an awesome touchpad with easy motion. Nonetheless, the floor feels just a little rubbery, and a glass touchpad all the time feels just a little smoother beneath the finger to me.

These actually aren’t criticisms — I’m simply relaying what the expertise of utilizing the laptop computer is like. The keyboard and trackpad work effectively, and also you’ll be happy with them if the rollable show is your essential draw right here.

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: Show and audio system

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable’s show is its star function. It’s a rollable OLED show with a 120Hz refresh fee and as much as 400 nits of brightness. When rolled up, it’s a 14-inch show with a 2000×1600 decision. When unrolled, it’s a tall 16.7-inch show with a 2000×2350 decision.

In case you’ve used a foldable telephone, you’ll be acquainted with the “crease” in the course of the show, the place it folds. Because it’s a rollable, it doesn’t have a single crease, nevertheless it does have some crease-look visible artifacts the place it folds. They’re very effectively hidden — it’s important to take a look at it from simply the correct angle in simply the correct lighting to see something that appears uncommon.

The display screen seems good, however make no mistake: The rollability is its essential function. I’ve seen laptops with high-end OLED shows which are brighter with extra vivid colours. However, for a rollable show with such an uncommon measurement and backbone, that is a formidable exhibiting.

This isn’t a touch-screen show, nonetheless. In case you’re in search of a contact display screen, this isn’t the machine for you.

This machine’s Harman Kardon audio system sound unusually nice. I take a look at each laptop computer I evaluate by enjoying Steely Dan’s Aja and Daft Punk’s Get Fortunate. That they had loads of quantity, and the audio high quality was crisp with first rate instrument separation in Aja. The sound was balanced sufficient in Get Fortunate that, even with no ton of bass, the sound sounded nice — nothing tinny and sufficient bass to be enjoyable. We’re grading on a scale since these are laptop computer audio system, in fact — however these are unusually good.

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable has a 1440p 5MP webcam that provides a transparent picture with out visible noise even in lighting situations that weren’t essentially the most splendid. Lenovo didn’t lower any corners right here, and that is the type of webcam that can make you look skilled in on-line conferences. Additionally, since this machine meets Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC necessities, it has entry to Home windows Studio Results for real-time webcam results like faux eye contact and background blur. And it has a privateness shutter swap, too.

The twin-array microphone setup sounds glorious, and it picked up my voice in prime quality. The ThinkBook line of PCs is marketed for enterprise customers, and Lenovo has delivered {hardware} that works very effectively for on-line conferences.

This machine gives each a fingerprint scanner and an IR digital camera, so you may signal into your PC and authenticate with Home windows Howdy utilizing whichever you like. The fingerprint reader is a part of the facility button on the correct aspect of the laptop computer. Each labored effectively.

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: Connectivity

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable skimps on the ports. On the left aspect, you’ve received a combo audio jack for headphones and a microphone and two Thunderbolt 4 (USB Kind-C) ports. That’s it.

This machine costs by way of USB-C, so a kind of ports on the left can be utilized by the facility cable whereas it’s charging. On the whole, it might be good to have extra ports or no less than a Thunderbolt 4 port on each side. Nonetheless, this machine features a rollable show and a motor whereas not being a lot thicker than the common laptop computer, so clearly there wasn’t as a lot room for ports — it is sensible.

Nonetheless, keep in mind that you could be want a dock or a dongle. It’s just a little humorous — this machine guarantees quick access to extra display screen actual property so that you gained’t need to deliver a transportable monitor with you. However it has fewer ports — so, relying on what number of peripherals you want, you could end up bringing a dongle or dock with you as a substitute.

Because of Lunar Lake, this machine helps each Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. I had no issues with wi-fi connectivity.

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: Efficiency

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable has an Intel Lunar Lake chip — particularly, the Intel Core Extremely 7 258V. Lunar Lake has all the time delivered snappy efficiency in desktop productiveness apps, and it does the identical on this machine.

As all the time, although we ran the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable by means of our normal benchmarks to see the way it performs.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

First, we run PCMark 10 to get an concept of total system efficiency. With a median total PCMark 10 rating of seven,703, Lenovo’s rollable laptop computer delivers strong Lunar Lake-powered efficiency.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Subsequent, we run Cinebench R20. This can be a closely multithreaded benchmark that focuses on total CPU efficiency. Because it’s closely multithreaded, CPUs with extra cores have an enormous benefit.

With a median Cinebench R20 multi-threaded rating of 4,060, the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Rollable delivered efficiency according to different Lunar Lake-powered laptops. They simply don’t have as many cores as different chips, together with Intel’s previous-generation Meteor Lake chips and AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 sequence.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

We additionally run an encode with Handbrake. That is one other closely multithreaded benchmark, nevertheless it runs over an prolonged interval. This calls for the laptop computer’s cooling kick in, and lots of laptops will throttle and decelerate beneath load.

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable took a median of 1,599 seconds to finish the encode course of — that’s over 26 and a half minutes. It was a bit slower than even different Lunar Lake-powered machines, which means that the thermal profile of this machine is impacted by the extra show and motor mechanism — in different phrases, it may possibly’t cool itself in addition to another Lunar Lake-powered machines and throttles extra beneath load. That’s no shock.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Subsequent, we run a graphical benchmark. This isn’t a gaming laptop computer, nevertheless it’s nonetheless good to examine how the GPU performs. We run 3Dmark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU efficiency.

With a 3Dmark Time Spy rating of 4,483, Lenovo’s rollable laptop computer supplied nice built-in graphics efficiency, solely falling brief to laptops with discrete graphics. That’s an awesome rating.

General, Lenovo’s ThinkBook Plus delivered the outcomes we’d hope to see: Good Lunar Lake efficiency that solely struggles with closely multi-threaded workloads. The marginally slower Handbrake outcome isn’t a problem — if you happen to plan on doing closely multi-threaded CPU-hungry workloads, a machine like this one isn’t the one for you. It’s a transportable productiveness machine with a number of additional show.

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: Battery life

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable has a 66 Watt-hour battery, which is a good measurement however not the biggest. It’s battery life fell wanting different Lunar Lake machines. Shows are usually a giant contributor to energy utilization, this implies that the massive rollable OLED show is unusually energy hungry in comparison with the common laptop computer’s show.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Metal on Home windows 11 with airplane mode enabled till the laptop computer suspends itself. We set the display screen to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks. This can be a best-case state of affairs for any laptop computer since native video playback is so environment friendly, and actual battery life in day-to-day use is all the time going to be lower than this.

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable lasted for a median of 761 minutes — that’s over 12 and a half hours. That quantity sounds good, nevertheless it’s hours shorter in comparison with different Lunar Lake-powered techniques. (For instance, the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Professional hit almost 24 hours in our benchmark — nevertheless it’s not a rollable laptop computer.) You’ll need to plug this machine in a bit extra usually than the common Lunar Lake laptop computer. However, if you happen to love this laptop computer, you’ll make it work.

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: Conclusion

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 is unbelievable. The rollable show and motor motion really feel extremely strong, and I used to be by no means frightened about them. You get a show that provides you a number of additional display screen actual property on the press of a button, and all of it rolls up on the keyboard once you need portability.

For this reason PCs are superior — as a result of machines like this may exist for the individuals who need them.

If you would like a rollable laptop computer, this one delivers. Is that this the correct machine for the common laptop computer purchaser? After all not — the $3,300 worth is each spectacular for bleeding-edge first-of-its-kind product and above the common laptop computer purchaser’s worth vary. Even if you happen to do need to spend this a lot, you’ll have to contemplate the trade-offs — like much less battery life in comparison with different Lunar Lake techniques — and determine what you worth.

However it’s an superior machine, and it really works in addition to I’d hoped. If it is a little too wealthy on your blood, although, think about a transportable monitor. It doesn’t really feel like a sci-fi product the way in which a rollable laptop computer does and also you’ll have to hold two issues, nevertheless it’s a a lot inexpensive approach to have additional display screen actual property on the go.