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Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023) Laptop Review

Tested using Methodology v0.8.2
Reviewed Feb 29, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Latest change: Writing modified Oct 04, 2024 at 08:39 am
Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023) Picture
6.8
School
8.7
Gaming
6.6
Multimedia
9.2
Workstation
7.5
Business

The Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023) is a 15-inch budget gaming laptop. It's available with an AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS or Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU and various NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs, up to an RTX 4060 Laptop GPU with a TGP (total Graphics Power) of 115W. RAM and storage max out at 16GB and 1TB, respectively; both are user-replaceable. Display options include two FHD panels (60Hz and 144Hz) and a 165Hz QHD panel. It has a full-size keyboard with a Numpad, a 1080p webcam, Wi-Fi 6 wireless connectivity, and a 60Wh battery. Its port selection comprises three USB-As, a USB-C, an HDMI 2.1, an Ethernet, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The USB-C port supports DisplayPort and charging (up to 140W).

See our unit's specifications and the available configuration options in the Differences Between Variants section.

Our Verdict

6.8 School

The Lenovo LOQ is okay for school use. It has a large, decently bright display, a spacious keyboard, and a large and responsive touchpad. It's available with AMD Ryzen CPUs and NVIDIA 40-series GPUs, which are fast enough to handle light productivity tasks and demanding workloads, making it suitable for students in fields like programming and 3D animation. Its wide port selection includes an HDMI 2.1 and plenty of USB ports, so you likely won't need a dock; however, its USB-C port doesn't support Thunderbolt or USB4. Unfortunately, it isn't very portable, as it's rather bulky and heavy. The battery lasts around eight hours of light use, so depending on your usage, you may need to plug it in to get through the day.

Pros
  • Large display for multitasking.
  • CPU and GPU can handle demanding workloads.
  • Display gets bright enough for use in indoor settings.
  • Spacious keyboard with Numpad.
Cons
  • Bulky and heavy.
  • Battery might not last through a typical 8-hour day depending on your usage.
  • No USB4 or Thunderbolt 4.
8.7 Gaming

The Lenovo LOQ is an excellent gaming laptop. Its AMD Ryzen CPU and NVIDIA GPU can push high frame rates, delivering a smooth gaming experience at 1080p or 1440p. There are multiple display options, including a 144Hz FHD and 165Hz QHD panel; both support VRR to reduce screen tearing. There's no thermal throttling on the CPU or GPU, so you won't experience any performance loss when gaming for an extended period. RAM and storage are user-replaceable if you want to upgrade later on. The battery lasts less than an hour when gaming, though it charges quickly.

Pros
  • Delivers smooth gameplay with high, consistent frame rates.
  • High-refresh displays with VRR support.
  • User-replaceable RAM and storage.
  • Minimal thermal throttling.
  • Doesn't get overly hot or loud.
Cons
  • Display response time is on the slower side.
6.6 Multimedia

The Lenovo LOQ is okay for media consumption. It isn't very portable because it's bulky and heavy, and its battery lasts less than four hours of video playback, so you'll have to bring the charger with you. Its 144Hz FHD display looks reasonably sharp and gets bright enough for use in most indoor settings; however, its narrow color gamut makes highly saturated colors look washed out. You can get a sharper QHD display with better color reproduction but at the cost of an even shorter battery life. Unfortunately, none of the displays are ideal for dark room viewing, as their low contrast makes blacks look gray. Also, while the speakers get reasonably loud, they sound unnatural, with almost no bass.

Pros
  • Display gets bright enough for use in indoor settings.
  • QHD display option with 100% sRGB coverage.
  • Flicker-free display.
  • Speakers get reasonably loud with minimal compression.
Cons
  • Bulky and heavy.
  • FHD displays look washed out due to narrow color gamut.
  • Speakers sound boxy with no bass.
  • Battery lasts less than four hours of video playback.
  • Blacks look gray in dim settings due to display's low contrast.
9.2 Workstation

The Lenovo LOQ is outstanding for use as a workstation. It's available with AMD Ryzen 7040 CPUs and NVIDIA RTX 40-series GPUs, which are fast enough to handle demanding tasks like video editing, programming, and 3D rendering. You may need an external monitor for your color-correction work, as even the top-end QHD display only has full sRGB coverage. RAM and storage are user-replaceable, so you can add more later. There's no thermal throttling on the CPU or GPU, and while the fans are loud, they aren't overly annoying. Its wide port selection includes an HDMI 2.1 and plenty of USB ports; however, the USB-C doesn't support Thunderbolt or USB4.

Pros
  • CPU and GPU can handle demanding workloads.
  • Wide port selection.
  • User-replaceable RAM and storage.
  • Minimal thermal throttling.
  • Doesn't get overly hot or loud.
Cons
  • No wide gamut display option.
  • No USB4 or Thunderbolt 4.
7.5 Business

The Lenovo LOQ is good for business use. Its AMD Ryzen CPU and NVIDIA GPU can easily handle productivity tasks like web browsing, text formatting, and spreadsheets. You can even do more intensive tasks like photo and video editing, which is great for small business owners needing to do a bit of everything. The display provides plenty of room for multitasking, the keyboard feels spacious, and the touchpad is large and responsive. It has a great 1080p webcam for video calls and a wide port selection for peripherals and external displays. The downside is that it's hard to carry around because it's bulky and heavy. You can likely get through a typical 8-hour day on a full charge, but it's close, so depending on your usage, you may need to plug it in for a quick charge.

Pros
  • Large display for multitasking.
  • Display gets bright enough for use in indoor settings.
  • Spacious keyboard with Numpad.
  • Wide port selection.
  • Decent 1080p webcam.
Cons
  • Bulky and heavy.
  • Battery might not last through a typical 8-hour day depending on your usage.
  • No USB4 or Thunderbolt 4.
  • 6.8 School
  • 8.7 Gaming
  • 6.6 Multimedia
  • 9.2 Workstation
  • 7.5 Business
  1. Updated Oct 04, 2024: Added mention of the MSI Katana A15 AI (2024) as an alternative with NVIDIA 40-series GPUs in the GPU section.
  2. Updated Feb 29, 2024: Review published.
  3. Updated Feb 21, 2024: Early access published.
  4. Updated Feb 07, 2024: Our testers have started testing this product.
  5. Updated Feb 02, 2024: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  6. Updated Jan 26, 2024: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the Lenovo LOQ 15 (82XT001TUS) with a 144Hz FHD display, an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. The display, CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage are configurable; the available options are in the table below.

Note: There's a Lenovo LOQ 15 with Intel 12th and 13th Gen processors (model 15IRH8). Most of our results (build, display, keyboard, touchpad, speakers, webcam) also apply to the Intel version, except for the performance benchmarks, thermals, and battery life.

Screen
  • 15.6" IPS 1920 x 1080 60Hz (45% NTSC)
  • 15.6" IPS 1920 x 1080 144Hz (45% NTSC, FreeSync)
  • 15.6" IPS 2560 x 1440 165Hz (100% sRGB, FreeSync)
CPU
  • AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS (6 cores, 12 threads, up to 5.0GHz, 16MB L3 cache)
  • AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS (8 cores/16 threads, up to 5.1GHz, 16MB L3 cache)
GPU
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU 6GB GDDR6 VRAM (discrete, 95W TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU 6GB GDDR6 VRAM (discrete, 95W TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR6 VRAM (discrete, 115W TGP)
Memory
  • 8GB DDR5 5600MHz (1x 8GB)
  • 16GB DDR5 5600MHz (2x 8GB)
Storage
  • 512GB M.2 2242 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD
  • 1TB M.2 2242 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD
Color
  • Storm Gray

See our unit's label here.

Compared To Other Laptops

The Lenovo LOQ is an excellent budget gaming laptop. It performs well, delivering a smooth gaming experience with high, consistent frame rates. The build is decent compared to other laptops in its class, and its battery life in light use is among the best despite having a relatively small 60Wh battery.

For more options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming laptops, the best budget and cheap gaming laptops, and the best workstation laptops.

HP Victus 16 (2021)

The HP Victus 16 (2021) and the Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023) are both budget gaming laptops. The HP is better regarding the user experience, meaning it has a sturdier build, a better keyboard, and a more responsive touchpad. The Lenovo will provide smoother gameplay since it's a newer device with more powerful CPUs and GPUs. If you can afford to stretch your budget, it's worth getting the Lenovo, as its NVIDIA 40-series GPUs support frame generation, a feature that can dramatically boost performance by inserting A.I.-generated frames.

Dell G15 (2022)

The Dell G15 (2022) and the Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023) are both 15-inch budget gaming laptops that provide a similar user experience. The Dell is available with Intel 12th Gen CPUs and NVIDIA 30-series GPUs, while the Lenovo is available with AMD Ryzen 7040-series CPUs and NVIDIA 40-series GPUs. In terms of raw performance, the Dell model's top-end RTX 3070 Ti GPU and the Lenovo laptop's RTX 4060 GPU are very similar; however, it's worth noting that the RTX 40-series GPUs support frame generation, a feature that can dramatically increase frame rates by inserting A.I.-generated frames (in supported games).

HP Victus 15 (2022)

The Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023) is better than the HP Victus 15 (2022) for most uses. The Lenovo is available with newer and faster NVIDIA 40-series GPUs that can push higher frame rates. It also has variable refresh rate support to reduce screen tearing, two M.2 storage slots (the HP has one), and longer battery life. Lenovo has a QHD display option, while HP only has FHD displays.

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021)

The Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023) is better than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021) for most uses. The LOQ 15 is available with faster Ryzen CPUs and NVIDIA 40-series GPUs, resulting in much better gaming performance with higher and more consistent frame rates. It has more ports, longer battery life, and variable refresh rate support to reduce screen tearing. Additionally, the LOQ 15 stays cooler and quieter under load and doesn't throttle as much as the IdeaPad Gaming 3.

Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024)

The Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023) and the Apple MacBook Air (2024) are very different devices. The Lenovo is a budget gaming laptop, while the MacBook is a premium productivity-focused ultraportable. You'll get better performance out of the Lenovo since it's available with faster CPUs and discrete GPUs, but if you only perform light tasks, the MacBook is a better option because it provides a superior user experience overall.

ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023)

The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023) is marginally better than the Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023) for most uses. The ASUS has a sturdier build, a better keyboard and touchpad, a faster SSD, and a longer battery life in light uses. It also has a higher-end 240Hz QHD display option with full DCI P3 coverage, making it suitable for color-critical work. However, the LOQ 15 has a better webcam and doesn't get as hot under load.

ASUS TUF Dash F15 (2022)

The ASUS TUF Dash F15 (2022) and Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023) are very similar budget gaming laptops, but the Lenovo comes out ahead. The Lenovo comes with newer and better performing AMD 7000 series CPUs and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4000-series GPUs than the ASUS' 12th gen Intel CPU and RTX 3000-series GPU options. That said, the ASUS comes with a better range of displays, including 300Hz FHD and 165Hz QHD IPS options. The Lenovo has a 60Hz panel, but we don't suggest choosing this if you plan on gaming while using the laptop's display. Both laptops get quite loud and hot, but that's normal for this kind of laptop.

Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 16 (2023)

The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 16 (2023) is better than the Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023). The Legion feels more sturdily built, and it has better configuration options, like a 240Hz QHD display, faster Ryzen HX CPUs, and a higher-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. It also has a wider port selection, a better webcam, and a faster SSD. On the other hand, the LOQ 15 is a smaller, more portable device, and its battery lasts much longer in light uses.

Dell XPS 14 (2024)

The Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023) and Dell XPS 14 (2024) are very different devices. The Lenovo is a budget 15-inch gaming laptop, while the Dell is a premium 14-inch thin and light workstation. Depending on how you configure the Lenovo, its performance and user experience will drastically change. Its base 60Hz 1080p IPS isn't suited for gaming, and its entry-level RTX 3050 is fine for light or esports titles but can't deliver consistent performance for modern AAA games without significantly tweaking the settings. By contrast, the Dell model offers powerful hardware, outstanding build quality, and a 3.2k OLED display option with DCI P3 coverage; it's suited for performing workstation tasks on the go.

MSI Katana A15 AI (2024)

The MSI Katana A15 AI (2024) and the Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023) are both budget gaming laptops that provide a similar user experience overall. The main difference is that the MSI has a more powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU option, whereas the Lenovo tops out at an RTX 4060. On the other hand, the Lenovo has a much longer battery life for light use, making it a better option for school or work.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Form Factor
Traditional (Clamshell)

The Lenovo LOQ is only available in a Storm Gray color scheme. See the bottom of the laptop here.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

The Lenovo LOQ 15APH8's build quality is decent. It's entirely plastic, which is typical for a budget-friendly laptop. There's a fair amount of flex on the lid and keyboard deck, and the display twists a bit; however, these issues aren't bad enough to be dealbreakers. The laptop feels otherwise well-assembled, except for the display, which isn't lined up with the body when opened, turning the display slightly to one side. The finish doesn't scratch or pick up fingerprints easily, and the feet are solid.

8.2
Design
Hinge
Range
160°
Stability
Decent
One Finger Lift
Yes

The hinges feel smooth, and while they have a lot of resistance, you can still easily open the laptop with one hand. That said, there's a fair amount of screen wobble when moving the laptop or touching the screen.

5.7
Design
Portability
Size
15.6"
Thickness
1.3" (3.2 cm)
Width
14.2" (36.0 cm)
Depth
10.4" (26.5 cm)
Volume
186.3 in³ (3,052.8 cm³)
Weight
5.3 lbs (2.4 kg)
Charger Size
18.3 in³ (300.0 cm³)
Charger Weight
1.3 lbs (0.6 kg)
7.6
Design
Serviceability
Ease Of Access
6.0
RAM Slots
2
Storage Slots
2
Replaceable Battery
Yes
Replaceable Wireless Adapter
Yes

The Lenovo LOQ has many user-replaceable parts, but accessing the internals is challenging. First, you need to remove a few screws holding a panel at the back of the laptop (where the RGB lighting and ports are) and remove the panel. You then need to remove more screws to remove the main bottom panel. There are 13 screws in total, and they're of different sizes, so it's best to keep them organized to make the reassembly easier. A prying tool is necessary to undo the clips, and you'll have to be careful, as the clips feel fragile and can break easily.

See the hardware maintenance manual here.

Design
In The Box

  • 170W power adapter and cord
  • Documentation

Note: Models with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU have a 230W power adapter.

Display
Display
Screen Specs
Resolution
1920 x 1080
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Pixel Density
141 PPI
Panel Type
IPS
Touch Screen
No
Screen-To-Body Ratio
78%

The Lenovo LOQ is available with the following displays:

  • 15.6" IPS 1920 x 1080 60Hz
  • 15.6" IPS 1920 x 1080 144Hz
  • 15.6" IPS 2560 x 1440 165Hz

A 1080p resolution looks decently sharp on a 15.6-inch screen. You can see individual pixels up close, but this isn't an issue at typical viewing distances. The QHD display is noticeably sharper with a pixel density of 188 PPI, though you'll have to pair it with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU to get the most out of it.

8.9
Display
Refresh Rate
Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
FreeSync

As specified in the screen specs section, you can get this laptop with a 60Hz, 144Hz, or 165Hz display. For gaming, getting a model with a 144Hz or 165Hz display is best, as they'll deliver a clearer image and provide better responsiveness. The 144Hz FHD panel doesn't have the best response time, so expect to see some ghosting behind fast-moving objects. There isn't a significant difference in responsiveness between the 144Hz and 165Hz panels, though the latter likely has a slightly faster response time. The 60Hz panel will probably perform like any other 60Hz display on productivity laptops and is the only one that doesn't support variable refresh rate.

7.9
Display
Contrast
Native Contrast
1,738 : 1

The 144Hz FHD display's contrast ratio is good and within the typical range for most IPS panels. However, it's still relatively low compared to other display technologies like VA and OLED. This contrast level makes blacks look gray in dim settings. The other panels likely have the same contrast ratio.

7.4
Display
Brightness
Maximum Brightness
335 cd/m²
Minimum Brightness
2 cd/m²

The 144Hz FHD display gets bright enough for use in most indoor environments but is too dim for outdoors in broad daylight. It gets very dim at the lowest brightness settings, which is great for dark room viewing, as it causes less eye strain. The 165Hz QHD display has the same advertised brightness (350 cd/m²), while the 60Hz FHD display has a slightly lower advertised brightness of 300 cd/m².

7.0
Display
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
5.19%
Indirect Reflections
1.95%
Calculated Direct Reflections
3.24%

The display's reflection handling is decent. Its matte coating works well against mirror-like reflections; however, it doesn't do much to reduce the intensity of bright light sources and creates a hazy, halo effect in other areas of the screen, making dark-color content hard to see. Bright reflections are visible when viewing light-color content with the screen at maximum brightness, but they aren't overly distracting.

8.6
Display
Black Uniformity
Uniformity (Std. Dev.)
0.726%
6.8
Display
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
26°
Color Washout From Right
26°
Color Shift From Left
50°
Color Shift From Right
47°
Brightness Loss From Left
27°
Brightness Loss From Right
28°
Black Level Raise From Left
60°
Black Level Raise From Right
60°
Gamma Shift From Left
30°
Gamma Shift From Right
31°

The display's horizontal viewing angle is okay. The image dims and washes out relatively quickly as you move to the side, so you need to be more or less directly in front of the screen to get the best accuracy.

6.6
Display
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
22°
Color Washout From Above
22°
Color Shift From Below
26°
Color Shift From Above
45°
Brightness Loss From Below
26°
Brightness Loss From Above
26°
Black Level Raise From Below
45°
Black Level Raise From Above
45°
Gamma Shift From Below
25°
Gamma Shift From Above
25°

The display's vertical viewing angle is okay. Like the horizontal viewing angle, the image dims and washes when viewing from above and below, so you need to look at the screen more or less straight on to see an accurate image, which can be challenging in tight places where you don't have much room to tilt the screen, like on a bus or airplane.

6.2
Display
Out-Of-The-Box Color Accuracy
Avg. White Balance dE
3.27
Avg. Gamma
2.14
Avg. Color dE
4.72
Avg. Color Temperature
6,416.6 K

The display's accuracy is mediocre out of the box. The white balance inaccuracies are relatively minor and hard to spot; however, many colors are visibly off due to the panel's narrow color gamut, especially the highly saturated greens, reds, and blues. The gamma is closer to a flat 2.2 rather than following the curve, making dark scenes too dark and bright scenes too bright.

4.4
Display
Color Gamut
sRGB xy
67.05%
sRGB uv
57.12%
Adobe RGB xy
50.05%
Adobe RGB uv
49.41%
DCI P3 xy
49.75%
DCI P3 uv
45.87%
Rec. 2020 xy
35.72%
Rec. 2020 uv
33.44%

The 144Hz FHD display has a poor color gamut. It doesn't even have full coverage of the commonly used sRGB color space, making most content look slightly washed out. The 60Hz FHD display has the same color gamut as the 144Hz panel, while the 165Hz QHD display has 100% sRGB coverage.

10
Display
Flicker
Flicker-Free
Yes
Flicker Frequency
No Flicker
Flicker Active Below
0%
Interface
7.8
Interface
Keyboard
Typing Quality
7.5
Numpad
Yes
Backlighting
Adjustable
Operating Force
66 gf
Actuation Force
30 gf
Pre-Travel
1.07 mm
Total Travel
1.54 mm

The Lenovo LOQ laptop has a good keyboard. Its layout feels spacious and is easy to get used to. The keys have a decent amount of key travel and don't require much force to actuate; however, they provide very little tactile and audio feedback, so it's sometimes hard to know if you've actuated a key. Also, key stability is inconsistent, as some keys wiggle more than others. Depending on how you type, you might find that the touchpad is in the way, causing you to rest your wrist in an awkward manner. The backlighting is white, leaning on the cooler side. There are models with a 4-zone RGB backlighting, although these variants are only available in specific regions. The backlight shines through the legends but is a little too dim.

7.8
Interface
Touchpad
Tracking Quality
8.0
Size
14.0 in² (90.0 cm²)
Material
Plastic
Dedicated Buttons
No

The Lenovo LOQ has a good touchpad. Its size is decent, and it tracks all movements and gestures well. However, dragging and dropping doesn't always work because it’s hard to keep the button pressed while dragging over a long distance. You can only click in the bottom half of the touchpad, which is typical for a non-haptic touchpad, though the buttons feel cheap and plasticky. The touchpad's placement is very much to the left, which can be uncomfortable for some people, as it leaves little room to rest the left wrist.

7.3
Interface
Speakers
Max Volume
77 dB SPL
Standard Error @ Normal Vol. (65 dB)
6.2 dB
Slope @ Normal Vol. (65 dB)
-0.9
Bass Extension (Low-Frequency Ext.)
375 Hz
Treble Extension (High-Frequency Ext.)
17 kHz
Dynamic Range Compression @ Max Vol.
2.0 dB

The speakers get decently loud with minimal compression at higher volume levels. They sound clear but boxy and unnatural, with very little bass.

7.0
Interface
Webcam & Microphone
Video Quality
7.0
Resolution
1080p
Position
Top Center
Privacy Cover
No
Face Unlock
No

The Lenovo LOQ has a decent webcam. The image has a fair amount of fine detail, but the colors and tint are slightly off. As for the audio, while voices sound loud and clear over the microphone, there's some background static noise, and sibilants are slightly over-accentuated. There isn't a physical privacy cover; however, there's an E-shutter switch on the right side of the laptop that turns off the camera. Some models have a 720p webcam, so check the specifications if this matters to you.

Connectivity
8.0
Connectivity
Ports
USB-A Ports
3
USB-C Ports
1
Thunderbolt
No
USB-C Charging
Yes
USB-C Display Out
Yes
HDMI
2.1
DisplayPort
No
3.5mm Jack
Combo mic/headphone
Card Reader
No
Ethernet
Yes
Proprietary Port
Lenovo Power Connector
Security Lock
No

The Lenovo LOQ has a great port selection. The USB-A port on the laptop's right side supports USB 2.0 data transfer speed of up to 480Mbps, while the two on the back support USB 3.2 Gen 2 data transfer speed (up to 10Gbps). The USB-C port also supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 data transfer speed. You can charge the laptop via USB-C, but it can only take up to 140W of power, meaning the battery will discharge when plugged in if you do something intensive, like gaming. The HDMI is a true HDMI 2.1 port that can output a 4k @ 120Hz signal.

Connectivity
Wireless Communication
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Bluetooth
5.1

The Lenovo LOQ 15 2023's wireless adapter is a MediaTek Wi-Fi 6 MT7921.

Configuration
Configuration
CPU
Brand
AMD
Model
Ryzen 7 7840HS
Core Count
8
Thread Count
16

The Lenovo LOQ 15 is available with the following CPUs:

  • AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS (6 cores, 12 threads, up to 5.0GHz, 16MB L3 cache)
  • AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS (8 cores/16 threads, up to 5.1GHz, 16MB L3 cache)

Both are high-performance CPUs typically found in workstations and gaming laptops, but unlike the more common H-series processors, they run at a lower wattage of 35W. These CPUs can handle fairly demanding tasks like video editing, programming, and gaming. The Ryzen 7 7840HS is noticeably faster than the Ryzen 5 7640HS in multi-threaded applications, up to 30% faster in some workloads.

Configuration
GPU
Brand
NVIDIA
Model
GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
Dedicated/Integrated
Dedicated
VRAM Size
6 GB

The Lenovo LOQ 15 is available with the following GPUs:

  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU 6GB GDDR6 VRAM (95W TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU 6GB GDDR6 VRAM (95W TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR6 VRAM (115W TGP)

All three GPUs can handle 1080p gaming; you just have to tweak the settings a bit more on the lower-end RTX 3050 to get over 60 fps in highly demanding games. Models with a QHD display are only configurable with an RTX 4050 or 4060. Naturally, the RTX 4060 is the better option for 1440p gaming, though you might still need to tweak the settings a bit in the most demanding games. The main difference between the 30-series and 40-series GPUs (other than raw performance) is the addition of Frame Generation, a feature that boosts frame rates by inserting A.I.-generated frames. Few games currently support this feature, but as we've seen with DLSS, that number will grow quickly. Regarding the RTX 4050 and 4060's TGP (Total Graphics Power), although they aren't as high as we've seen on other laptops, like the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 16 (2023), the performance difference isn't significant because the power scaling usually plateaus around 90W to 95W on the 40-series GPUs, so anything above that has minimal effect. If you want a similar budget gaming laptop available with NVIDIA 40-series GPUs, which support Frame Generation, check out the MSI Katana A15 AI (2024).

This laptop has a MUX (multiplexer) switch, a feature that allows the GPU to send information directly to the display without going through the integrated GPU, resulting in better performance than on laptops without this feature. The performance difference can be anywhere from 10% to 25%, or more in some cases.

Configuration
RAM
Capacity
16 GB
Modules
2
Type
DDR5
Speed
5,600 MHz

You can configure this laptop with 8GB or 16GB of RAM. The memory is user-replaceable.

Configuration
Storage
Advertised Capacity
1,000 GB
Usable Capacity
953 GB
Drive 1
Micron MTFDKCD1T0TFK
Drive 1 Type SSD
Drive 2
No 2nd Drive
Drive 2 Type No 2nd Drive

You can configure this laptop with 512GB or 1TB of storage. The storage is user-replaceable. There are two slots, one for an M.2 2242 and another for an M.2 2280 SSD.

Performance
9.8
Performance
Geekbench 5 (Synthetics)
CPU Single-Thread
1,954 points
CPU Multi-Thread
11,354 points
GPU Compute
89,339 points

The Lenovo LOQ has an outstanding overall score in Geekbench 5. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS has strong single- and multi-thread performance, making it suitable for general productivity tasks and highly demanding workloads. That said, there are significantly faster CPUs on the market, like AMD's own Ryzen 9 7845HX in the Dell Alienware m18 (2023). The Ryzen 5 7640HS is slower in multi-threaded workloads, as it has fewer physical cores. As for the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU performs well and is suitable for intensive tasks; just know that there are much faster GPUs.

9.9
Performance
Cinebench R23 (CPU Rendering)
Single-Thread
1,796 points
Multi-Thread
16,456 points

The Lenovo LOQ's AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU performs remarkably well in the Cinebench R23 benchmarks. It has no problems handling demanding multi-threaded applications and general heavy multitasking. The AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS CPU has weaker multi-thread performance but can handle fairly intensive tasks.

9.3
Performance
Blender (3D Rendering)
CPU Render Time
2.6 min
GPU Render Time
0.4 min
GPU Render Time (Optix)
12 s

The Lenovo LOQ is outstanding for 3D rendering work in Blender, as the NVIDIA discrete GPUs render images very quickly.

9.6
Performance
Basemark GPU (Game Scene)
Overall Score
105,826

The Lenovo LOQ's NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU performs well in the Basemark GPU benchmark, scoring almost identically to the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 (2023) equipped with a 140W version of the same GPU. A GPU overclock feature boosts performance slightly, raising the score to 111933 (a little over 5% performance increase). Among the three available GPUs, the RTX 3050 is the slowest. It's mainly designed for 1080p gaming with medium or low settings. The RTX 4050 is also for 1080p gaming but can handle some games at 1440p, especially in games that support DLSS and Frame Generation. The RTX 4060 can handle most games at 1440p with some tweaks in the settings.

9.3
Performance
Storage Drive Performance
Sequential Write Speed
723.6 MB/s
Sequential Read Speed
2,816.7 MB/s
Random Write Speed
147.2 MB/s
Random Read Speed
59.9 MB/s
5.9
Performance
Battery
Capacity
60 Wh
Battery Life (Web Browsing)
8.3 hrs
Battery Life (Video Playback)
3.8 hrs
Battery Life (Gaming)
0.9 hrs
Charge Time
1.7 hrs

Models with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU and/or 60Hz display will likely have longer battery life, while models with a QHD display and/or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU will likely have shorter battery life.

7.8
Performance
Borderlands 3
Avg. FPS
91 fps
1% Low
61 fps
0.1% Low
39 fps
1% Low Delta
5 ms
0.1% Low Delta
15 ms
Avg. FPS On Very Low
190 fps

The Lenovo LOQ 15APH8 with a Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU and RTX 4050 GPU runs Borderlands well. The gameplay is mostly smooth; there are some noticeable stutters, but they don't happen all that often. Turning on the GPU overclock boosts the frame rate to 99 fps at 1080p with high settings, roughly a 9% performance increase.

8.8
Performance
Civilization VI
Avg. FPS
149 fps
1% Low
96 fps
0.1% Low
92 fps
1% Low Delta
4 ms
0.1% Low Delta
4 ms
Avg. FPS On Minimum
318 fps
Avg. Turn Time
6.27 s

Civilization VI runs very smoothly. Every configuration can handle this game with no issues. Turning on the GPU overclock feature boosts frame rates slightly to 157 fps at 1080p with high settings.

8.7
Performance
Counter-Strike 2
Avg. FPS
196fps
1% Low
80fps
0.1% Low
50fps
1% Low Delta
7 ms
0.1% Low Delta
15 ms
Avg. FPS On Low
217fps

Counter-Strike 2 runs well. Except for some occasional stutters, the gameplay is very smooth. Every CPU/GPU configuration can push high frame rates in this game at 1080p; you can even play at 1440p with no issues. The GPU overclock feature boosts the average frame rate to 210 fps at 1080p with high settings.

8.4
Performance
Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
Avg. FPS
124 fps
1% Low
78 fps
0.1% Low
42 fps
1% Low Delta
5 ms
0.1% Low Delta
16 ms
Avg. FPS On Lowest
145 fps

Shadow of the Tomb Raider runs well on the Lenovo LOQ. Except for some occasional stutters, the gameplay is smooth. You can even play this game at 1440p with only a few tweaks in the settings, especially on models with an RTX 4050 or 4060. The RTX 3050 can handle 1440p, but you'll have to lower some settings and use DLSS to get high frame rates. Turning on the GPU overclock feature boosts the frame rate to 130 fps at 1080p with high settings, roughly a 5% performance increase. The large frametime spikes are scene changes and aren't representative of the performance.

7.2
Performance
Thermals And Noise
Keyboard Temp While Idle
33 °C (91 °F)
Keyboard Temp Under Load
43 °C (110 °F)
Fan Noise While Idle
25.0 dBA
Fan Noise Under Load
48.5 dBA
Power & Fan Control App
Yes

The keyboard deck doesn't get uncomfortably hot under load, and the hot spots are near the top of the deck, away from where most people rest their hands. The fans are loud, but the noise isn't annoying, as it's only the sound of whirring fans, not a high-pitch whine. You can change the fan profile, though the other profiles don't seem to do much.

10
Performance
Performance Over Time
CPU Temp (Cinebench)
85 °C
CPU Perf. Loss (Cinebench)
0% loss
GPU Temp (Heaven)
61 °C
GPU Perf. Loss (Heaven)
0% loss

The higher-wattage NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU probably runs hotter, but considering the RTX 4050's low temperature, it's unlikely to throttle, as there's a fair amount of headroom.

Additional Features And Software
Additional Features And Software
Software
Operating System
Windows 11
Additional Software
Yes

The Lenovo LOQ has many pre-installed software applications, including:

  • AMD Software: Lets you tweak the performance and power settings, check for updates, change the display's color profile, create hotkeys, monitor system status, and view system information.
  • Lenovo Hotkeys: Lets you create keyboard macros.
  • Lenovo Now: Ads for Lenovo Support Services, like Accidental Damage Protection and Smart Lock (remote lock and data wipe). Also contains ads for Amazon Music, Dropbox, Adobe Acrobat, and Lenovo accessories.
  • Lenovo Vantage: Lets you check for drivers/BIOS updates, view system status, change power and audio settings, and view warranty information.
  • McAfee: Antivirus and anti-malware application.
  • Nahimic: SteelSeries-branded audio customization and configuration utility.
  • Solitaire and casual games: Solitaire, FreeCell, Spider, Mahjong, Sudoku, and other casual games.
  • Spotify: App for the music streaming service.

Additional Features And Software
Extra Features
RGB Illumination
No
Touch Pen
No
Secondary Display
No
Biometrics
No