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 shoppers skeptical. Nicely, the corporate has since proved its level: the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable is now obtainable to shoppers for an eye-watering $3,300, however filled with premium design parts, stable {hardware}, and a 120Hz OLED show that extends to nearly 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 principal laptop computer, and I’ve to confess, I am enamored by the extendable display screen, notably as a productiveness machine for work. 

However as the primary of its variety, it is from excellent. There are a handful of trade-offs as a result of laptop computer’s kind, and the sky-high value invitations a essential eye to each factor of its design. That being mentioned, it’s in the end a well-engineered laptop computer. Let’s take a better look. 

Like all ThinkBooks, the laptop computer exudes enterprise, that includes a metallic, two-tone design. It is not my favourite aesthetic, nevertheless it’s actually sturdy and resists fingerprints approach higher than all of the matte black designs on the market. 

Upon first look, the laptop computer appears to be like like another. 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, rising the display screen dimension to 16.7 inches.

The result’s a big, portrait-style show that goes far past another customary laptop computer display screen dimension available on the market. The shiny, OLED display screen delivers a unbelievable 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 in case you rotate the shiny show to mirror the sunshine. It is somewhat extra seen than I anticipated and positively one thing of be aware (given the value), however in the end, it would not actually overshadow the good thing about the massive 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 cut back the creasing on their shows — and though it would not precisely scream “premium”, it would not cancel out the advantages the display screen gives. 

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

So what are the mentioned advantages? First off, the additional room is a breath of recent air. It permits for a spacious workspace that I’ve to confess, makes for a really good person expertise. Personally, I like working one massive, full-screen desktop, however you can even 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 ends in a crisp and environment friendly interface. Nevertheless, if you need a bigger UI, it nonetheless feels extra roomy than a daily laptop computer show. 

For those who’re a programmer, you will recognize 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 primary internet 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 cell format, which is in the end extra scrollable. 

Rolling the display screen up could be completed by urgent the related key or with a hand gesture in entrance of the webcam. Whereas it is extending, the display screen defaults to taking part in an animation (completely 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 could be turned off. 

When totally prolonged, the underside third of the display screen is occupied by the Lenovo widget panel, which reveals 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 conceal behind your different apps. 

There’s truly quite a lot of content material right here, together with quick movies that present learn how to use gesture controls to boost and decrease the show and a few options on learn how 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 somewhat 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 regardless 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 kind issue limits its I/O entry, with simply two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports and a headphone jack. All three ports are positioned on the left facet of the machine, which could 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 somewhat chunky), and even with out the rollable show, it might be a stable 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. 

Beneath the hood, the Intel Core Extremely 7 “Lunar Lake” processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage make for the standard {hardware} loadout corresponding to any variety of mid-to-upper vary enterprise laptops. The massive show is powered by an built-in Intel Arc 140V GPU with 16GB of inside reminiscence, supplying greater than sufficient energy for day by day use. 

For those who’re trying to sport on this laptop computer, it could deal with some mainstream titles, nevertheless it’s not precisely constructed for working top-tier gaming content material. In “regular” laptop computer mode, you have received a 2000 x 1600 decision, customary fare for a 14-inch. But when your sport helps a 2000 x 2350 decision, you possibly can play with the display screen totally prolonged, which undoubtedly looks like a singular expertise, however due to all of the display screen house, it is not precisely optimized for high-APM gaming. 

For those who’re taking part in an older sport that does not assist that decision, effectively, the sport will merely revert to the standard decision, leading to empty house 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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Concerning battery life, the show expectedly cuts into the 66Whr battery’s longevity, though not as a lot as you may count on. Throughout regular use, you may get a full work day of use out of it with the display screen prolonged, nevertheless it’s reducing it shut. For those who add in videoconferencing and extra demanding workloads, you may not make it via the day with out a energy top-up. 

That being mentioned, the Lunar Lake chip does permit for the battery loss to cut back to a trickle when not in use, and it costs quick: about 80% in an hour. In our video playback take a look at, we received somewhat over 11 hours at half brightness in balanced mode over Wi-Fi. 

So let’s handle the elephant within the room: the value. Lenovo is effectively conscious that this laptop computer just isn’t for everybody. The truth is, it is in all probability essentially the most area of interest product I’ve reviewed all 12 months. As a substitute, it is extra about proving a degree. 

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

Lenovo desires to challenge a status of innovation, however extra importantly, it desires to show it could ship mentioned merchandise to market. This machine displays that mission, incomes it an essential place in Lenovo’s portfolio, even when it is not the 12 months’s prime vendor. 

It is also the primary iteration of this rollable idea, and as such, the bodily design just isn’t 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 totally prolonged, you overlook about them. The battery is not the very best, nevertheless it’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, nevertheless it does what it is imagined to: ship a unbelievable person 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 beneath 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 offered on the extendable show and are dedicated to the shape consider the long run. 

The truth is you can get nearly 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 in case you’re in love with the large display screen, I can say that it is a productiveness game-changer within the workplace.