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| The e-ink screen display: A Double-Edged Sword for this Laptop |
Lenovo, recognized for its enduring ThinkPad brand and other established lineups like the Slim Pro and Yoga, has embarked on an innovative journey with its ThinkBook series. The ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 2-in-1 laptop is a striking example of this endeavor, featuring a swivel design reminiscent of early Windows Tablet PCs and incorporating a color e-ink display into its lid.
In its conventional 2-in-1 laptop guise, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 boasts impressive specs on paper, including a high-resolution OLED display and an Intel 13th-gen CPU. However, its premium price tag raises the question of whether it justifies the cost, especially for the small business audience Lenovo targets. Moreover, the laptop's most innovative feature, the color e-ink display, suffers from a significant drawback that diminishes its usability.
Specifications and Configurations:
Dimensions: 11.69 inches x 8.62 inches x 0.62 – 0.70 inches
Weight: 2.98 pounds
Processor: Intel Core i7-1355U
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5x
Display: 13.3-inch 16:10 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800) OLED, 12-inch 16:10 WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) color e-ink
Storage: 512GB SSD
Touch: Yes
Ports: 2 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1
Webcam: 1080p
Operating system: Windows 11
Battery: 56 watt-hour
Price: $3,039
Lenovo offers a single configuration of the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4, which is relatively expensive at $3,039. This configuration includes an Intel Core i7-1355U CPU, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and both a 13.3-inch OLED display and a 12-inch color e-ink panel. The high price may deter potential buyers who don't have a compelling need for the e-ink display. While Lenovo suggests more configurations may be available in the future, the lack of variety at launch is somewhat disappointing.
A Novel Yet Familiar Design:
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 4's display employs a swivel design that lets users switch between the OLED and e-ink touch displays in tablet mode. This design, reminiscent of early 2-in-1 laptops from the early 2000s, adds complexity but allows both screens to function as a tablet. Despite its moving parts, the laptop feels robust, boasting MIL-STD 810H certification. The device's black minimalist aesthetic is modern, and the swivel design adds a unique touch to its appearance.
The laptop's keyboard features sculpted keycaps with ample spacing, offering a comfortable typing experience. The touchpad, although slightly small, remains responsive. In terms of connectivity, the laptop includes two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, a 3.5mm audio jack, and up-to-date wireless options.
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 incorporates a 1080p webcam, though it lacks an infrared camera for Windows 11 Hello facial recognition. Instead, it relies on a fingerprint reader embedded in the power button for security. Users can also cover the webcam with a physical slider for added privacy.
The Focus on Displays:
The standout feature of the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 is its e-ink display, which is integrated into the laptop lid. This display, boasting a sharp 2,560 x 1,600 resolution and limited color support, is the first color e-ink screen of its kind. However, it disappoints with noticeable ghosting issues, hindering its usability. Even with the anti-ghosting feature set to refresh every 10 seconds, remnants of the previous page often lingered, making reading challenging. The e-ink screen offers two modes: Reading for better clarity and Dynamic for a higher refresh rate, but neither provides a satisfactory experience, especially when compared to the OLED display on the opposite side of the lid.
The OLED display, a 16:10 13.3-inch 2.8K panel, shines with vibrant colors and deep blacks. It supports pen input and is well-suited for tasks like reading e-books, except for late-night use when blue light is best avoided. In terms of color accuracy and contrast, the OLED panel excels, making it ideal for media consumption and productivity.
Performance and Battery Life:
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 is powered by 13th-gen Intel U-series processors, designed for a balance between productivity and efficiency. While it handles mainstream productivity tasks smoothly, it falls short for gaming and demanding creative work. In various benchmarks, it performs as expected, but the high-resolution OLED display consumes considerable power.
Battery life is a concern, with the laptop lasting approximately 5.25 hours in web-browsing tests, slightly below average. The PCMark 10 Applications battery test yielded just over eight hours, and the vide0-looping test lasted 12.5 hours, both falling short of average. The e-ink screen theoretically shouldn't consume power when not in use, but in practice, the laptop's battery life falls behind.
Conclusion:
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 stands out as an innovative laptop, featuring a color e-ink display and a swivel mechanism. However, the e-ink display's significant ghosting issue limits its usability for most users. Moreover, the laptop's steep price tag, twice that of other premium 13-inch laptops, may deter potential buyers. Even for those who appreciate a color e-ink display, the high cost is hard to justify. While it has its merits, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 faces challenges in finding a mainstream audience at its current price point.
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