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, it 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, a high-performing gaming laptop, or a premium mobile workstation.
Updates
- 10/27/2026Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 16 (2026) reviewed
- 10/02/2026Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition (2026) reviewed
- 07/30/2026Lenovo IdeaPad 5a 2-in-1 14 (2026) reviewed
- 08/29/2025Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9 11 (2024) reviewed
- 05/27/2025Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition 15 (2024) reviewed
Since 2021, we've tested dozens of laptops every year. We buy our laptops to avoid bias and, following a rigorous methodology, test nearly every part of the laptop so we can deliver results you can rely on. We use a wide range of equipment to perform our tests, including a colorimeter, a Mecmesin MultiTest-i System Test Stand, and various performance benchmarking suites.
Want to know more? Check out our How We Test Laptops article, where we give you a broader overview of our review process, from the moment we purchase the product to the final review.
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Best Lenovo Laptop
General ProductivityMultimediaGamingWorkstationBuild Quality:Portability:Maximum Brightness:cd/m²Typing Quality:Touchpad:Webcam & Microphone:See all our test resultsBattery:The best Lenovo laptop we've tested is the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition (2025). This premium ultraportable comes in 14- and 15.3-inch sizes. Our tested 15-inch model combines a sturdy aluminum chassis with a sharp 120Hz OLED display, a comfortable keyboard, a large haptic touchpad, and an excellent 1440p webcam with facial recognition. Its battery lasts around 15 hours of light use, making it a great option for working on the go.
Intel's Lunar Lake processors handle everyday work easily, and our unit stays reasonably cool and quiet. The 15-inch model has a USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and HDMI. The smaller 14-inch version lacks USB-A and has a smaller battery; its base OLED is also a lower-resolution 60Hz panel, with a 120Hz option available. Both sizes have up to 32GB of non-upgradeable RAM. Our tested display's 480Hz flicker may bother sensitive users.
Consider the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition (2026) if low weight, a TrackPoint, or an IPS display is a priority. Our IPS configuration lasted nearly 18 hours of web browsing, though its base screen is less sharp and smooth than the X9's 120Hz OLED, and you pay a premium for its business features.
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Best Mid-Range Lenovo Laptop
GamingSchool & WorkMedia ConsumptionHeavy WorkloadBatteryBuild QualityGraphics PerformanceProcessing PerformanceChassis Quality:Portability:Maximum Brightness:cd/m²Typing Quality:Touchpad:Webcam & Microphone:See all our test resultsBattery:For a more affordable everyday laptop, we recommend the Lenovo IdeaPad 5a 2-in-1 14 (2026). This 14-inch convertible has a 360-degree hinge and pen support, so you can fold it into a tablet for handwritten notes or prop it up for watching videos. It feels less premium than the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition (2025) above, and its small, plasticky touchpad is a compromise, but you still get a great keyboard, a good 1080p webcam, and plenty of ports. Our IPS configuration lasts around 11 hours of light use.
Its AMD Ryzen AI 5 430, or Ryzen AI 7 445, processor is suitable for web browsing, documents, and spreadsheets. The Ryzen AI 7 provides more headroom for CPU-heavy work, but both use modest Radeon 840M graphics, so this isn't a machine for demanding games or 3D work. RAM and storage are replaceable, with two slots for each. Display options include 60Hz FHD+ IPS and OLED touchscreens. The IPS panel gets bright but has washed-out, inaccurate colors; choose OLED if image quality is a priority, while keeping the higher price and potential flicker in mind. Check whether your configuration includes the pen, as not all of them do.
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Best Budget Lenovo Laptop
General ProductivityMultimediaGamingWorkstationBuild Quality:Portability:Maximum Brightness:cd/m²Typing Quality:Touchpad:Webcam & Microphone:See all our test resultsBattery:The best budget Lenovo laptop we've tested is the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 (2023). Our review unit has a Core i3-1315U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, which is enough for basic tasks like web browsing, documents, and spreadsheets, although 8GB quickly slows down when you have just a few tabs open. Otherwise, it's a straightforward 15.6-inch Windows laptop with a useful number of ports, including USB-C charging and display output. We recommend an IPS screen over the lower-quality TN option and 16GB of RAM if you regularly multitask.
As the 2023 model is harder to find, it's worth shopping for a newer version at a budget price. For example, the Gen 10 model has a 15.3-inch screen with a taller 16:10 aspect ratio, giving you more vertical space than our unit's 16:9 display. The Core 3 100U version remains in the same general everyday-performance class as our tested Core i3. It also adds a RAM expansion slot and a second SSD slot, unlike our unit's soldered RAM and single storage slot.
We haven't tested these newer versions, so our display, performance, and battery results don't apply directly. Check the exact processor, screen, and storage rather than relying on a retailer's advertised model year, and favor an IPS panel, 16GB of RAM, and an SSD with at least 256GB. Some similarly named models use much weaker Intel N-series processors, so try to avoid those if performance matters to you.
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Best Cheap Lenovo Laptop
SchoolGamingMultimediaWorkstationBusinessBuild Quality:Portability:Maximum Brightness:cd/m²Typing Quality:Touchpad:Webcam & Microphone:See all our test resultsBattery:Our best cheap pick is the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021). Despite its age, you can still buy it new, and its 13.3-inch OLED touchscreen remains a highlight, producing rich colors and deep blacks for watching movies and shows. It's a tablet with a kickstand and an included detachable keyboard, so you can switch between entertainment and light work without buying a separate keyboard. Battery life is around 10 hours of light use or eight hours of video playback, and it charges over USB-C.
The compromises are mostly on the productivity side. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon processor is only suitable for simple tasks, and ChromeOS won't run Windows desktop programs. The keyboard feels cramped and uncomfortable for long typing sessions, while the small touchpad sometimes misses inputs. You also only get two USB-C ports and no headphone jack. We recommend the 8GB RAM configuration for extra multitasking headroom over our tested 4GB model. It's best for browsing, streaming, and occasional documents, with automatic ChromeOS updates scheduled through June 2031.
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Best Lenovo Gaming Laptop
GamingSchool & WorkMedia ConsumptionHeavy WorkloadBatteryBuild QualityGraphics PerformanceProcessing PerformanceChassis Quality:Portability:Maximum Brightness:cd/m²Typing Quality:Touchpad:Webcam & Microphone:See all our test resultsBattery:The best Lenovo gaming laptop we've tested is the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 16 (2026). This high-end 16-inch machine has a sharp QHD+ OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate and G-SYNC support, delivering deep blacks, clear motion, and less screen tearing. You can configure it with Intel Core Ultra HX processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, 5080, or 5090 Laptop GPUs. Our Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and RTX 5080 unit delivers high frame rates in demanding games, including titles with ray tracing, and maintains strong performance during long sessions.
The aluminum chassis feels sturdy, the keyboard is comfortable with per-key RGB lighting, and there are plenty of ports for accessories and external displays. RAM and storage are replaceable, with two slots for each. Its main drawbacks are heat, noise, and portability: the keyboard gets hot, the fans are loud under load, and the laptop is heavy and bulky. Our unit lasts under five hours of web browsing and around an hour and a half when gaming, so plan to keep it plugged in for play.
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Best Lenovo Workstation Laptop
General ProductivityMultimediaGamingWorkstationBuild Quality:Portability:Maximum Brightness:cd/m²Typing Quality:Touchpad:Webcam & Microphone:See all our test resultsBattery:The best Lenovo workstation laptop we've tested is the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 (2024). It combines a relatively portable 16-inch design with Intel Meteor Lake processors, up to a Core Ultra 9 185H, and NVIDIA GeForce or professional RTX Ada Generation graphics. Choose a discrete GPU configuration for demanding 3D work; models with integrated graphics won't provide the same performance. You can get up to 64GB of replaceable RAM and 8TB of storage. Display options include FHD+ and QHD+ IPS panels and a 4k+ OLED with full DCI-P3 coverage.
You get a comfortable keyboard, a large haptic touchpad, a TrackPoint, and an excellent 1440p webcam. Ports include one USB-A, three USB-Cs (two Thunderbolt 4s), HDMI 2.1, and an SD Express 7.0 card reader. Our QHD+ IPS configuration lasts around 12 hours of light use; don't expect the same runtime from every configuration, especially the OLED. The keyboard stays reasonably cool, but the fans get loud and the CPU throttles under sustained loads. Select configurations offer Ubuntu or Fedora preinstalled; Red Hat is certified rather than preinstalled.
Compared To Other Brands
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Wide selection of laptops.Lenovo has a large selection of laptops, from cheap Chromebooks to premium mobile workstations.
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Linux options.
Lenovo is one of the few manufacturers that offer laptops with Linux (Ubuntu) installed.
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Online database.Lenovo has an online database with detailed specifications for most of its laptops.
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Well-built budget models.
Lenovo's budget models tend to have a sturdier build than those of its competitors.
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Model names can be confusing.Lenovo sometimes uses different names for the same product, confusing consumers.
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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 its high-end, premium models. See our recommendations for the best Dell laptops.
Lenovo vs Apple
Lenovo and Apple are very different laptop companies. Lenovo offers models in every price tier and in multiple categories, including productivity and gaming models, while Apple only makes productivity models. Also, Lenovo makes laptops for various operating systems like Windows, ChromeOS, and Linux, while Apple only makes laptops with macOS. See our best Apple laptop recommendations.
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 sturdier but are usually more expensive.
Lenovo vs HP
Lenovo and HP are both major laptop manufacturers that produce a wide range of laptops. Lenovo usually has better value with its budget and mid-range offerings, and its gaming laptops are generally more popular than HP's. It also experiments more with newer form factors like dual-screen laptops and offers a wider range of OS configurations for Linux users. HP makes excellent high-end productivity laptops as well, but its budget and mid-range offerings tend to be of lower quality. See our best HP laptop recommendations.
Lenovo vs ASUS
ASUS and Lenovo offer similar products, ranging from affordable Chromebooks to premium laptops. Lenovo is often recognized for the value of its budget and mid-range offerings, while ASUS is better known for its high-end ROG gaming laptops and upper-mid-range Zenbook productivity lineup. Lenovo usually has more workstation and business laptops, and it also offers more configuration options for Linux users. The build quality is about the same between the two manufacturers, though Lenovo laptops tend to be more stable on the software side. See our best ASUS laptop picks.
Lenovo vs Acer
Lenovo typically has a wider selection of laptops than Acer, as it produces many more models in the premium range and makes more workstation and business laptops. It also produces more laptops with Linux compatibility and regularly experiments with newer form factors. Both companies have a large footprint in the budget and mid-range segments, though Lenovo's laptops typically feel sturdier and provide a better user experience overall. Shopping for a Lenovo laptop can be frustrating, as their laptops often have multiple names and far more configuration options. On the other hand, Acer tends to announce laptops with multiple configurations, but many of them aren't available, even months after the initial release. See our best Acer laptop picks.
Like Dell, ASUS, Acer, and HP, Lenovo makes a wide variety of laptops. Although some of its high-end models are among the best on the market, its 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 the company tends 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 ultraportables.
- Flex: Budget 2-in-1 convertibles.
- Slim: Thin-and-light laptops across several families, including IdeaPad and Yoga.
- IdeaPad: Mid-range and budget models.
- Legion: Mid-range and high-end gaming laptops.
- LOQ: Cheap 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 difficult. If you need more information on a Lenovo laptop, you can find it via Lenovo's online database.
Recent Updates
Nov 03, 2026:
We've refreshed our Lenovo laptop recommendations with updated picks and revised the text throughout, including buying advice for newer models and configurations.
May 20, 2025:
We've added the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition (2025) as the 'Best Lenovo Laptop'. We also moved the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 (2024) to the 'Best Lenovo Workstation Laptop' category.
Mar 03, 2025:
Verified that all picks are valid and available. No change in recommendations.
Jan 09, 2025:
Replaced the Lenovo Yoga 6 13 (2023) with the Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 14 (2024) because the Yoga 6 is no longer available. Removed the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Gen 11 (2023) because it's an older model that's getting harder to find, and it doesn't offer significantly more than the Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 14 (2024) for the price increase.
Nov 11, 2024:
Added comparisons with HP, ASUS, and Acer. 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. Its 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.