Did you know that Lenovo comprised 24.1 percent of the total PC shipments in the Q2 of 2022?
Needless to say, Lenovo isn’t just a credible brand name when it comes to getting the best laptops out in the market. Instead, the company relies on striking the perfect balance between price, performance, and productivity.
While there are 100s of Lenovo laptops in the market, I have decided to enlist only a handful, thereby making the entire list concrete and well-researched. In due course, I have touched upon select business laptops, potent gaming laptops, convertibles, mobile workstation units, and more.
Lenovo laptops are often masterfully crafted. They are mostly stacked with resourceful traits like a fingerprint reader, backlit keyboard with excellent travel, Dolby vision display configuration, Wi-Fi 6 standard, and more. But then, finding the right laptop is the matter of concern here as zeroing in on the requisite specs sheet is what makes or breaks your professional and personal competence.
Best Lenovo Laptop: Expert Recommendation
After reviewing several laptops across diverse parameters, I feel that the Lenovo ThinkPad x1 Carbon is the best gadget to invest in, courtesy of the 10th generation Intel Core processor, military-grade chassis, and handy security features to keep user privacy intact.
Coming back to the discussion concerning Lenovo laptops, you can expect the list to feature a few premium models with NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs, some standard mid-range models, and also a few relevant budget variants with decent battery life and other functional attributes.
Minimum Specifications
Note: Although I am only enlisting 5 notebooks, it is still necessary to talk about the minimum specifications, before going further into this discussion. You must ensure that the every machine that you consider has at least the following features:
Here Are the 5 Best Lenovo Laptops – Individual Reviews
Best lenovo laptops are hard to come by, more so when there are other OEMs to consider. However, I have ensured that you get to work with 5 of the best products in the market. Also, I have kept the usuals like the Lenovo Ideapad and Yoga C940 out but trust me that I have factored in every other aspect before putting together this short yet comprehensive list.
1. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
PROS
- Light and slim
- Sharp display
- Battery exceeds expectations
- Powerful speakers
- Durable form factor
CONS
- Basic webcam
- No SD card slot
- Processor: 10th generation Intel Core i7
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 14-inch FHD+
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe
- Battery Life: 7+ Hours
Review
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon tops the list by a significant margin, courtesy of the powerful processor, epic battery backup, and top-of-the-line keyboard. Although the 720p webcam disappoints, there are enough thrills to keep the users interested.
Design and Display
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is one premium device, featuring a metal-clad form factor and a cumulative weight of 2.5 pounds. The FHD+ screen is adequately bright, boasting an overall resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels.
The design-specific innovations keep rolling in, courtesy of the military grade structure, exceptional keyboard with class-leading typing experience, and stealthy aesthetics.
Internals
This laptop brings in 16GB of RAM but you can even consider spending a few extra bucks to get your hands on the 32GB variant, provided you seek a more powerful and portable workstation. The 1TB solid-state drive does push the price tag higher than expected but the Windows 10 boot-up speeds make it worth investing in.
Productivity
The 11th gen processor is strictly performance oriented and capable enough of handling tasks like content creation, music processing, and even accounting without breaking a sweat. The Intel Iris Xe GPU handles the visuals to perfection and even helps you manage some online games with perfection.
To sum it up, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon also boasts excellent battery support, which is quite a rarity considering the elevated price point. Plus, the quad-speaker setup makes it good enough for most video-intensive tasks.
1. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
2. LenovoYoga (ThinkPad X1)
PROS
- Fast processor
- Portable business laptop
- Sharp visuals
- Excellent battery backup
CONS
- Thicker bezels
- Not a regular gaming laptop
- Processor: 10th generation Intel Core i7
- RAM:16GB
- Storage:512GB SSD
- Display: 14-inch 4K
- GPU: Intel UHD
- Battery Life: 7+ Hours
Review
The Thinkpad X1 Yoga is one of my favourite convertibles on the list, courtesy of the exceptional heat dissipating technology, reliable webcam that covers you during pandemic, and obviously, the multi-mode operability.
Design and Display
If you are evaluating the best lenovo laptops based on the aesthetics, the X1 Yoga comes forth as a resourceful addition, courtesy of the aluminum-clad chassis. The aesthetic distinctiveness is perfectly complemented by the 4K display. However, if you aren’t invested in UHD panels, the 1080p screen also works just fine.
Coming to the hinges and the multi-mode functionality, the X1 Yoga boasts pretty durable joints and ensures the availability of an added grip that lets you carry the laptop without much trouble.
Internals
This variant features 16GB of high-speed RAM followed by a 512GB solid state drive. However if you are pressed for funds, the 256GB SSD model is also up for grabs.
Productivity
If you are sold on performance, the 10th gen chipset doesn’t disappoint. Plus, the UHD graphics support ensures better visual renders. Not to mention the availability of a high-end keyboard, despite this being a convertible that only weighs 3 pounds.
2. LenovoYoga (ThinkPad X1)
3. Lenovo 9i (Yoga)
PROS
- One of the best lenovo laptops in terms of aesthetics
- 16GB RAM is good for most business-related work
- Excellent visual performance
- Reliable OS
- Lenovo Yoga boasts a rotating speaker
- Wi-Fi 6 support
CONS
- Lenovo Yoga 9i is pricey
- This Lenovo Yoga variant doesn’t offer an IR camera
- Processor: Intel Core i7
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB
- Display: 14-inch FHD
- GPU: Iris Xe
- Battery Life: 11+ Hours
Review
The Yoga 9i from Lenovo is an excellent business laptop, best known for the snappy performance, excellent display, and the interactive Windows 10 functionality.
Design and Display
The Yoga 9i is one of the better looking notebooks on the list that weighs 3 pounds and still manages to put together a durable form factor. The existing screen measures 14 inches and exhibits 1920 x 1080 pixels, as the standard resolution. This eventually results in accurate color and visible improvement in the quality of renders.
Internals
The 16GB RAM is more than adequate considering the role of the Lenovo Yoga 9i in improving multitasking performances. Not just that, you also have a resourceful 512GB SSD to rely on.
Productivity
The Lenovo Yoga 9i has you covered when graphic-centric performances are concerned, courtesy of the Intel Core i7-1185G7 chipset. There is also an Intel Xe GPU to rely on for better visual quality. What works in favor of this laptop though is the soundbar-like acoustic setup and the brilliant keyboard that makes life easier for the copywriters.
3. Lenovo 9i (Yoga)
4. Lenovo Legion Y545
PROS
- Excellent gaming hardware
- Durable chassis
- Powerful GPU
- Existing OS is faster than any Chrome OS
CONS
- Low on storage space
- Subpar battery support
- Processor: Intel i7
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti
- Battery Life: 6+ Hours
Review
If you are deep into gaming and not willing to spend a fortune on your next laptop, the Lenovo Legion Y545 seems like a pretty good choice. Besides offering a competent specs sheet, this product also makes room for exceptional acoustics and brilliant typing experience.
Design and Display
At 5.3 pounds, the Legion Y545 is quite a heavy notebook to carry around. While the design still seems elegant enough, the 15.6-inch screen adds to the vividness of the same. As seen from the naked eye, this is quite a hefty gaming laptop as compared to the likes of Yoga C940, Carbon, and even some ideaPad models.
Internals
The 16GB RAM complements the gaming prowess on display. However, the storage gets a snaring glare with a mere 128GB to spare. Still, it is better than some of the products running the Chrome OS and just to mention the fact, the Legion Y545 offers Windows 10, right out of the box.
Productivity
The Intel i7 processor is a tough nut to crack when processing performances are concerned. Plus, it works in tandem with the GTX 1660Ti GPU, which is at least 12 percent better as compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650.
Overall, this laptop is one of the better bets in the market if you want to invest in gaming laptops under $1500 and planning to settle with a GPU, more powerful than the GTX 1650Ti.
4. Lenovo Legion Y545
5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3
PROS
- Fast SoC
- Mid-range GPU
- Massive storage capacity
- 4K panel
- Anti-glare screen
CONS
- Costly
- Subpar battery life
- Processor: Intel i7
- RAM: 32GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 15+-inch 4K
- GPU: GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q
- Battery Life: 4+ Hours
Review
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme is still a decent gaming notebook that only offers 4 hours of battery life but explores your professional inclinations to the core with a loaded processing setup.
Design and Display
This device is one of the lighter options to persist with, despite the class-leading specs sheet. At 3.8 pounds, this product continues to be light and is further bolstered by the inclusion of the 4K display.
Internals
However, it is the memory allocation that needs to be revelled in, courtesy of the 32GB RAM and even a 1TB solid state drive. Therefore, more than gaming, you are better off using this product for multitasking and myriad business processes.
Productivity
The i7 SoC holds the key to excellent performances. However, the X1 Extreme also gets a reasonable name in the gaming circuit, courtesy of the GTX 1650 GPU, best known for returning excellent refresh rates, regardless of the game you wish to invest in.
5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3
Buyer’s Guide
There are quite few aspects that need to be taken care of if you want to choose machines as per your convenience and requirements. Here are the factors that you must consider before investing in notebooks:
Usage
You might want to invest in a gaming lenovo laptop or even a business laptop from the same company. The investment and choice of laptop should take these factors into account. For instance, if you are a content creator or a designer, you might be tempted to invest in convertibles with support for detachable keyboard, active pen support, and long battery life.
Gamers though need to prioritize a 15.6-inch laptop for ample field of view, followed by excellent refresh rate and top-notch graphics performance. Finally, if you want a business laptop, you must look for the Windows 10 operating system that would allow you to install and use several business apps with ease.
Portability
For globetrotters, it is advisable to consider the best lenovo laptops that feature long battery life, light yet durable chassis, Max-Q GPU for keeping the footprint to a minimum. Also, you might need to use the laptop outdoors, which then calls for a vibrant screen with a minimum native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
For starters though, portability seekers must refrain from 15.6-inch screens and should prefer something in the 13-inch ballpark to optimize gadget performance further. Not to mention the importance of Wi-Fi 6 standard, which allows you to connect seamlessly with any network, while on the move.
Hardware
Your choice of processing setup also depends on the tasks you wish to handle. For instance, if you seek a mobile workstation, it is pertinent to look for at least a 10th generation Intel i5 processor and UHD or Iris graphics.
Graphics Performance
Finally, if you are a gamer, graphic designer, or even a CAD evangelist, you would want to look at lenovo laptops that bring in power-packed graphics cards, preferably the RTX 20-series modules, including the RTX 2080, RTX 2080 Super Max, GTX 2080 Super Max-Q, and more. However, the choice of device comes down to the budget that you are willing to shell out.
Final Verdict
Finding the most suitable laptop from Lenovo can be a bit tricky if you aren’t aware of your preferences. However, each of the mentioned notebooks clearly fits the bill and allows you to manage almost every task. While, I have purposely kept out models with Intel Core i5, MediaTek Helio P60T SoCs, and even the basic ARM g72 MP3 GPUs to keep the list clearly high-end, if you are still confused, I would recommend going for the most comprehensive, X1 Carbon.