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The 5 Best Lenovo Laptops of 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best Lenovo Laptops

Lenovo is a Chinese company and one of the largest manufacturers of consumer electronics, including products like personal computers (desktops and laptops), tablets, monitors, computer peripherals, and smartphones, among many others. In 2005, they acquired IBM's personal computer division, where the ThinkPad and ThinkCentre lines of computers originated. Lenovo's current laptop lineup is vast and includes popular brands like IdeaPad, Legion, Yoga, and ThinkBook. Lenovo's laptops are often among the best value models you can get, whether you're looking for a cheap Chromebook or a premium mobile workstation.

Updates

Best Lenovo Laptops


  1. Best Lenovo Laptop

    The best Lenovo laptop we've tested is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 (2023), a 14-inch ultraportable. With a mix of aluminum, magnesium, carbon fiber, and plastic, this thin and light laptop feels sturdily built. It has Lenovo's much-beloved keyboard as well as a tactile and responsive touchpad. There's also a Trackpoint nub—situated in the intersection between H, G, and B keys—and dedicated buttons right below the space bar, which some may find more convenient to use when typing, as you can keep your hand closer to the keyboard. You get an excellent 1080p webcam (with a privacy cover), tons of ports, and Wi-Fi 6E. Biometrics include a fingerprint sensor and a facial recognition camera.

    Configuration-wise, this laptop is available with Intel 13th Gen U- or P-series CPUs. These processors can easily handle general productivity tasks like text processing, web browsing, video playback, spreadsheets, and presentations. You can even do more intensive tasks like programming on models with the high-end Core i7-1370P. Graphically intensive workloads are a no-go, though, as you can only get this laptop with integrated graphics. Multiple display options are available, including a 2.8k OLED panel with full DCI P3 coverage. The storage drive is user-upgradeable, but not the RAM.

    If you need a device with a bit more processing power, the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 (2023) is a good option. You can configure it with an AMD Ryzen 5 7735HS or Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 discrete GPU. We recommend getting the Ryzen 7 7840HS, as it's noticeably faster than the Zen 3-based 7735HS. As for the GPU, the RTX 3050 is a few years old, but it can still handle relatively heavy workloads like video editing and 3D graphics. The downside is that you can only get up to 16GB of soldered RAM. Also, this laptop has been discontinued, so it may be hard to find.

    See our review

  2. Best Mid-Range Lenovo Laptop

    If you prefer a cheaper, mid-range model, check out the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023), one of the best Lenovo laptops we've tested in 2023. This 16-inch 2-in-1 convertible is available with Intel 13th Gen U- and P-series CPUs, which are plenty fast for general productivity tasks like text processing and spreadsheets. Its 16-inch display gives you ample room for split-screen multitasking and supports pen input. Depending on the region, you can get a bundle with a stylus; otherwise, you'll have to buy it separately. There are two display options: a FHD+ and a QHD+ panel. We recommend the latter, as it looks sharper and gets brighter to combat glare.

    The battery lasts around 12 hours of light use and charges quickly over USB-C. Regarding ports, you get two USB-As, two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4s, an HDMI, and a MicroSD card reader. There's Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity, and biometrics include a fingerprint sensor and a facial recognition camera. The keyboard gets a little warm under load, but thankfully, the fans remain quiet, and thermal throttling is minimal. The webcam's video quality is decent; the image looks reasonably detailed but has an unnatural tint, and the microphone picks up some background noise.

    See our review

  3. Best Budget Lenovo Laptop

    The best budget Lenovo laptop we've tested is the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 (2023). This 15.6-inch Windows ultraportable is available with various Intel 13th Gen CPUs, from a Core i3 to i7, and up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The Intel CPUs are low-power processors, so while they're fast enough to handle light productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing, they aren't ideal for demanding workloads like video editing. For the display, the cheaper configurations come with a low-quality TN panel—you'll have to spend more if you want to upgrade to an IPS display.

    The keyboard feels comfortable to type on, and the touchpad is small but responsive. Ports include two USB-As, a USB-C, an HDMI, and an SD card reader. The USB-C supports video output and charging but not Thunderbolt 4, which is unfortunate but expected for a budget-friendly model. It has a fingerprint sensor built into the power button for quick logins. Its biggest flaw is its short battery life of around six to seven hours of light use.

    See our review

  4. Best Cheap Lenovo Laptop

    Our best cheap pick is the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023). This 14-inch model is a great option for younger students or anyone needing a simple device for light productivity tasks. In many ways, this model provides a better user experience than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 (2023) above. It's more portable since it's a smaller 14-inch device, and it has a brighter display to combat glare. Battery life is also better at around 13 hours of light use. However, the keyboard feels mushier and causes some fatigue over an extended period, and the touchpad isn't quite as responsive.

    The most notable difference is that it runs Chrome OS, which is more limited than Windows, as you can only use web-based and Android apps (and Linux apps with some tweaking). As such, it isn't ideal if your work or school program requires specific Windows software. You can configure this laptop with an Intel N100, N200, or a Core i3-N305 CPU; we recommend the latter, as the N100 and N200 are much slower and only suitable for those with an extremely light workload. Unfortunately, there's no fingerprint sensor or facial recognition camera.

    See our review

  5. Best Lenovo Gaming Laptop

    The best Lenovo gaming laptop we've tested is the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 15 (2023). This 16-inch model is available with AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40-series GPUs, up to a 4070 running at a whopping 140W TGP (Total Graphics Power) with Dynamic Boost. You can choose between a 165Hz or a 240Hz display; both have a QHD+ resolution and support VRR to reduce screen tearing. Every CPU and GPU configuration can push high frame rates, but if you want to play all your games at 1440p, getting a model with an RTX 4060 or 4070 is best. RAM and storage max out at 32GB and 1TB, respectively, though both are user-upgradeable.

    As for the build, it isn't the most premium-feeling laptop since it's a mid-range model, but it still feels sturdy and well-built with a mix of metal and plastic. Its bulky design makes it hard to carry around, and the battery lasts less than five hours of light use. It has a tactile keyboard, Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity, and a wide port selection, including an HDMI 2.1 and Ethernet. Neither the CPU nor the GPU throttles under load, but the fans get pretty loud. Unfortunately, there are no biometrics for quick logins.

    See our review

Compared To Other Brands


  • Wide selection of laptops.
    Lenovo has a large selection of laptops, from cheap Chromebooks to premium mobile workstations.
  • Linux options.
    Lenovo is one of the few manufacturers that offer laptops with Linux (Ubuntu) installed.
  • Online database.
    Lenovo has an online database with detailed specifications for most of its laptops.
  • Well-built budget models.
    Lenovo's budget models tend to have a sturdier build than those of its competitors.
  • Model names can be confusing.
    Lenovo sometimes uses different names for the same product, confusing consumers.
  • Large number of configuration options can be overwhelming.
    Although the choice is good, the large number of available configurations for a single laptop can make purchasing decisions harder.

Lenovo vs Dell

Lenovo and Dell offer similar types of laptops. However, Lenovo is more competitive in the budget and mid-range tiers, while Dell focuses more on their premium brands like XPS and Alienware.

Lenovo vs Apple

Lenovo and Apple are very different laptop companies. Lenovo offers models in every price tier, while Apple only makes premium models. Also, Lenovo makes laptops for various operating systems like Windows, Chrome OS, and Linux, while Apple only makes laptops with macOS. See our best Apple laptop recommendations here.

Lenovo vs Microsoft

Lenovo and Microsoft are very different companies. Lenovo has a much larger portfolio, including productivity laptops, gaming laptops, and Chromebooks, while Microsoft only makes Windows productivity laptops. Microsoft's laptops feel more sturdy but are also more expensive.

Like Dell, ASUS, Acer, and HP, Lenovo makes a wide variety of laptops. Although some of their high-end models are among the best on the market, their mid-range and budget models tend to stand out more, as they typically have a sturdier build and offer a better overall user experience than the competition. However, shopping for a Lenovo laptop is sometimes hard as they tend to use different names to refer to the same product or have many configuration options, some of which are only available in select regions.

Lineup

Although some Lenovo laptop brands are clearly defined, like ThinkPad and Legion, the company uses names to denote a particular feature or price tier. Lenovo sometimes uses different names to refer to the same product, confusing customers. For example, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is also called the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet. Below are some of Lenovo's laptop brands:

  • ThinkPad: High-end business-oriented laptops and mobile workstations.
  • ThinkBook: General productivity laptops.
  • Yoga: Mid-range and high-end 2-in-1 convertibles.
  • Flex: Budget 2-in-1 convertibles.
  • Slim: A slimmer version of an existing model, like Lenovo Legion Slim 7i.
  • IdeaPad: Mid-range and budget models.
  • Legion: Mid-range and high-end gaming laptops.

Lenovo tends to make laptops with multiple configuration options. While choice is good, knowing which features are present in a particular SKU is sometimes hard. If you need more information on a Lenovo laptop, you can find it through Lenovo's online database.

Recent Updates

  1. Mar 25, 2024: Replaced the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 (2023) with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 (2023) because the Slim Pro 7 14 is discontinued and harder to find.

  2. Jan 25, 2024: Replaced the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 (2021) with the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 (2023) because the Slim 3i performs better and is cheaper. Replaced the Lenovo Chromebook C340 15 (2020) with the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) because the C340 is near the end of its OS support.

  3. Sep 25, 2023: Replaced the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 (2021) with the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 (2023) because the Slim Pro 7 has a sturdier build, faster CPUs, and better performance over time. Removed the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 (2023) because the Slim Pro is better and cheaper overall. Added the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023) as the 'Best Mid-Range' pick. Moved the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 (2021) to the 'Best Budget' category and the Lenovo Chromebook C340 15 (2020) to the 'Best Cheap' category. Replaced the Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021) with the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 16 (2023) because the Pro 5 performs better.

  4. Jul 27, 2023: Replaced the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (2021) with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 (2023) because the X1 Carbon is better overall. Replaced the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 (2022) with the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 (2021) because the Flex 5i 14 is hard to find.

  5. May 30, 2023: Verified that the picks are still valid. No change in recommendations.

Conclusion

Lenovo makes many laptops every year, so whether you're looking for something for school, work, gaming, or media consumption, you can find something that suits your needs and budget. Their laptops are often among the best value models, offering a good user experience while remaining affordable. However, finding the right model is sometimes hard, as Lenovo isn't always consistent in their laptop naming scheme.

Test Results