ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Lenovo’s ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid runs each Home windows 11 and Android 13.
- It permits you to get pleasure from the most effective apps from each environments, powered by nice {hardware}.
- The system’s excessive price (over $3,500) and few ports will scare away most customers.
Lenovo’s ThinkBook Plus sequence is an attention-grabbing household of laptops. Every technology does one thing utterly totally different from the final. The fourth generation had an e-ink show, and the one earlier than that had a small display screen subsequent to the keyboard. The Gen 5 Hybrid is doing one thing out of left discipline once more, with Lenovo taking the concept of a “2-in-1 laptop computer” fairly actually.
Additionally: This inexpensive laptop brings back a buzzword that was once the talk of the tech industry
2-in-1 computer systems, for probably the most half, have a tendency to only be a laptop computer with a touchscreen that bends all the way in which again. The ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid, then again, is 2 units rolled into one. It consists of a pill and a keyboard, every housing totally different {hardware}.
It is not a big system, sporting a vibrant 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen. Nonetheless, the pill homes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoC working Android 13, whereas the keyboard homes an Intel Core Extremely 7 155H processor working Home windows 11. So, you’ve gotten two totally different ecosystems on the identical system, and you may hop between them by urgent the Tremendous key subsequent to F12.
The 2 sides do not function utterly individually from one another. You may ship information from one system to a different through the Hybrid Folder.
For instance, as an example you’ve gotten a giant work undertaking. You are able to do the intensive workloads on Home windows 11 after which ship the information over to the Android aspect for additional modifying, picture creation, or no matter you want.
Additionally: The ThinkPad I recommend for hybrid workers is not Lenovo’s newest model.
The Android aspect capabilities equally to a Chromebook — you get all of the G Suite apps in addition to a few YouTube apps. You may take away the show from the keyboard at any time to make use of it as a pill, though you have to to tug on it with a little bit of power (the connecting magnets are fairly robust).
I had a good time utilizing the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid, at first. The extra I used it, nevertheless, the extra I puzzled who would wish to achieve this usually. It is a area of interest product that I am unable to think about getting widespread adoption.
My predominant downside is that the combination of each methods is simply floor degree. They don’t seem to be deeply intertwined. Every half has its personal space for storing, RAM, processor, and extra. It is not like you’ll be able to set up an app on the Home windows aspect and entry it on the Android aspect.
Additionally: Lenovo’s new $749 ThinkBook may be the best-value Windows laptop of 2024. Here’s why
Pushing the dearth of cohesion apart, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 does fairly properly as each a laptop computer and a pill. I used to be capable of navigate the web, write, and deal with a number of open pages with out experiencing any main slowdown.
The benchmark exams for the Intel Core Extremely 7 revealed it performs at an identical degree to different laptops with the identical piece of {hardware}. The benchmark exams I ran on the Android pill revealed the system performs under the extent of a Galaxy S23, however higher than the Galaxy Z Fold 4. So good, however not wonderful.
Regardless of having two batteries, Lenovo’s system would not have an extended runtime. With the 2 halves related and working Home windows 11 on Finest Efficiency mode, the ThinkBook Plus ran for nearly eight hours. On the Finest Energy Effectivity plan, it lasted a little bit longer: round 8.5 hours.
Additionally: How we test laptops at ZDNET in 2024
I used to be shocked to see this as a result of I assumed the Energy Effectivity would enhance the battery life by a great quantity, however that simply wasn’t the case. I additionally examined the Android pill’s battery individually from the keyboard, and it did significantly better. It ran for nearly 10 hours straight.
Sadly, there is not a method to make use of Home windows 11 on simply the pill — it’s important to use Android.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The Lenovo ThinkBookPlus Gen 5 Hybrid begins at $3,518. On account of its excessive price ticket and unorthodox twin system, I am unable to suggest this to most individuals. The fifth-generation ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 simply would not provide an enticing laptop computer expertise past its, admittedly enjoyable, gimmick.
Not solely is it costly, however its design makes it tough to make use of. This mannequin has solely 4 ports: three USB-C and one for headphones. There’s nothing for USB-A or HDMI. For many customers, I like to recommend getting one thing that focuses on both Home windows 11 or Android, such because the Lenovo Slim 7.
