The new Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 3 (aka ThinkBook Plus G3 IAP) is pitched by Lenovo as an “epic multitasker.” It options two built-in shows and an e-Pen, making it one of the progressive laptops of 2022. This design may very well be a boon to somebody that travels so much however principally work at a desk, in a resort (no exterior monitor), or at a consumer’s facility.
Specs Highlights
Our particular unit configuration got here with an Intel i5-12500H (16 cores), 16GB of LPDDR5-4800 RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. As such, it is among the extra inexpensive SKUs, beginning at $1,927 on the official Lenovo website.
The increased CPU choice could be the Intel Core i7-12700H (20 cores), and each choices permit as much as 32GB of RAM. The reminiscence is soldered to the motherboard, so that you’ll should resolve at order time. When unsure, I like to recommend prioritizing the RAM over the CPU improve, particularly for those who’re not doing one thing that saturates the CPU. 16GB is okay, however not all that a lot.
The most order-time SSD capability is 1TB (), and just one single M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot exists. I’ve not opened the again cowl, however Lenovo often tries to make the SSD as accessible as potential in case you need to exchange it later.
Industrial Design
The ultrawide kind issue of the ThinkBook Plus Gen 3 opens new potentialities. This time, Lenovo brings two glorious productiveness options: the ultrawide 17.3” main show and a secondary 8” show to the keyboard’s proper. We’ll get again to each shows intimately shortly, however for now, let’s check out the remainder of the chassis design.
This laptop computer has a unibody-type design which appears to be manufactured from CNC aluminum. It, due to this fact, feels extraordinarily inflexible when closed or open. The show has little or no flex, and I just like the design’s total “Premium” really feel.
The laptop computer can also be barely rugged and is licensed to endure a battery of MIL-STD-810H army transport endurance exams that almost all laptops don’t even try. On that notice, the keyboard can also be spill-resistant, which coffee-goers would notably respect.
The backside cowl is detachable for simple servicing and includes a meshed space for chilly air consumption. The sizzling air comes out from the again by way of massive exhausts, and the general cooling seems to be fairly environment friendly, which leads to the pc being low noise. Most of the time, the followers are completely quiet.
The Power button is above the F7 key and doubles as a fingerprint reader. The built-in ePen is neatly tucked at the back of the laptop computer the place it fees. This successfully means the pen is at all times charged and prepared. You might get an non-obligatory Lenovo Pen which is greater and extra ergonomic for those who sketch so much, however the built-in pen is snug sufficient for informal use.
Finally, I discover the 4.4 Lbs weight glorious for a twin 17.3” + 8” shows laptop computer. So far, it’s one of the best “productivity per weight” setup I’ve seen, and that’s an enormous deal for a lot of customers.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The keyboard is paying homage to what Lenovo makes use of in its high-end shopper laptops. It seems to be and feels just like the Lenovo Slim 7i Pro X, which we lately reviewed. If you’re seen older fashions, such because the Lenovo Yoga 9i, it’s comparable.
Typing feels nice, and I just like the agency key tactile suggestions. Fair warning: that is fairly totally different from the ThinkPad keyboards, which generally have a barely deeper key journey and softer key floor (paint). I exploit each extensively, and maybe, the ThinkBook’s keyboard is nearer to what you could discover in non-Lenovo high-end laptops. The ThinkPad keyboard stays a novel expertise.
Ports
Despite its massive dimension, the variety of ports isn’t as spectacular as anticipated. There are two USB-C (TB4 and USB 3.2 Gen 2), two USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 3.2 Gen 2), one full HDMI, and the standard 3.5mm audio port. Most of the ports are tucked at the back of the laptop computer, which is a superb location.
The relative thinness of the decrease a part of the chassis in all probability explains the unremarkable variety of ports. The beveled Left/Right sides are too skinny for full-size ports. It seems to be gorgeous, however I’d counsel that Lenovo have a non-beveled space with at the least a multi-card reader (Ethernet could be good too).
Sound
The dual-speaker system of the ThinkBook Plus Gen 3 delivers good sound for watching motion pictures and likewise for video-conferencing. However, it’s not on the degree of Lenovo’s greatest laptop computer sound system outfitted with a sound bar or up-firing quad audio system.
Instead, the 2 audio system are bottom-firing, and a few sound power is misplaced. The Dolby Atmos software program does job with spatial audio, however total, the sound might have had extra physique and energy with a costlier speaker setup.
Still, the laptop computer is pleasing when watching motion pictures on a desk or your lap, particularly since its show reclines to nearly 180 levels.
Display
The shows are definitely the highlights of the ThinkBook Plus Gen 3, beginning with the first 17.3” one. It includes a 3K (3072×1440) decision: a superb steadiness between pixel density and battery life. The 99% DCI-P3 colour gamut makes it very appropriate for color-sensitive artistic work.
For most individuals, 4K is overkill on a laptop computer, and for those who want 4K, it’s best to know exactly why and settle for the battery life tradeoffs that include that alternative. The 3K choice seems to be noticeably higher than a 1080p-equivalent show for everybody else. You can see the advantages, and also you’re not paying an excessive amount of for it (in cash or autonomy).
This display is massive sufficient to have a 2-split horizontal setup that genuinely works for productiveness duties similar to doing analysis or engaged on a doc whereas having your emails on one facet. The combos are infinite, however it’s like having at the least two utterly practical side-by-side home windows.
The secondary 8” display seems like an actual second Windows monitor. You can set it up identical to another “external” monitor, making it appropriate with all Windows apps. What you do with it’s as much as you, however since it’s Pen-compatible (the massive show isn’t), that’s the place you’ll take notes, for instance.
I like to make use of that second monitor for apps like Calculator, Notepad, YouTube, Visual Studio Code output, Cat apps, and extra! I wager my accountant would set up a digital NumPad on this laptop.
The solely restrict is the comparatively small dimension of the fonts, however you may change the PPI scale within the Windows settings. To me, it’s a superb show for issues that won’t require my focus however that I’d verify typically.
I discover it way more versatile to most customers than some Creative laptops’ elongated secondary show above the Keyboard. While these are nice for video-editing timelines, Lenovo’s portrait mode show is genuinely useful, extra typically, to extra folks.
When it involves exterior shows, this laptop may be related to three exterior displays by way of HDMI, USB-C, and Thunderbolt.
- HDMI as much as 3840×2160@60Hz
- USB-C as much as 5120×3200@60Hz
- Thunderbolt as much as 5120×3200@60Hz
Webcam
The 2 Megapixel digital camera has a large angle and could be appropriate for a video name with a few folks within the body, sitting subsequent to one another. Depending in your video name software program, you would possibly have the ability to body the picture additional.
The digital camera is noticeably higher than your typical 0.7 Megapixel digital camera however stays effectively under most midrange smartphone selfie cameras. That’s how issues are within the laptop computer world.
There’s additionally an infrared sensor to unlock the laptop computer utilizing a face detection algorithm securely, and I like setting that up along with the fingerprint reader. There’s additionally a bodily privateness shutter, which is at all times good to have.
Performance
Running key benchmarks similar to Geekbench, Cinebench R23, 3DMark, and GFXBench, Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 3 (17” Intel) reveals itself as a superb productiveness laptop computer because it options superb CPU efficiency as demonstrated by Geekbench and Cinebench.
The comparability with the Lenovo Slim 7i Pro X reveals what to anticipate if you choose the i7-12700H CPU as an alternative of our i5 mannequin.
From a graphics perspective, the efficiency is first rate, however the lack of a discrete GPU choice retains this laptop from being a gaming machine or a system optimized for GPU-accelerated workloads similar to heavy video processing.
It’s a pity since this type issue could be incredible for video modifying, however Lenovo does have 17” laptops with discrete graphics choices. In the meantime, this degree of efficiency is greater than sufficient for any workplace work, gentle artistic duties, and improvement.
On the SSD entrance, we famous that the learn speeds are akin to different high-end Lenovo laptops just like the X1 Carbon Gen 10, however the write speeds had been barely slower. Most customers received’t discover, however it’s good to know for those who’re doing one thing that requires intense disk writes.
Battery Life
The 69Wh capability of the battery is sweet, however we’ve seen laptops this dimension with 99Wh batteries. That mentioned, I believe the capability has been tuned to maintain the laptop computer’s weight to 4.41 Lbs, which can also be a vital issue.
This system isn’t optimized for extra-long battery endurance because of the show dimension and the very fact you now have two of them. But this battery ought to get you ~5-6hrs of workplace work, relying on the display brightness.
and will, in principle, final for ~7-8 hours of native video playback (150 NITs brightness) if in case you have beforehand downloaded motion pictures.
When you’ll want to replenish the battery, it does use Lenovo’s quick charging, and it seems to be just like the 100W PSU (USB-C) helps the laptop computer cost quicker than the X1 Carbon’s 65W charger. Charging pace may be much more necessary than the battery capability if in case you have easy accessibility to energy retailers. The cellphone market has confirmed that, and the identical logic applies to laptops.
Conclusion
The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 3 options a superb chassis design and dual-display setup, and that’s its most important power and the principle motive folks need to get one. Looking at Google Search knowledge, it’s evident that persons are not even evaluating it with another 15.6” competitor as a result of there’s nothing prefer it.
The query is: is it quick sufficient on your job, and is the consolation price it? Hopefully, we’ve given you sufficient efficiency knowledge, and most productiveness customers will probably be glad by the efficiency degree.
This laptop computer will enhance your every day life if you’re a cellular employee who tends to work at a desk with out easy accessibility to an exterior monitor. The main show alone could be akin to having two 13.3” shows facet by facet, and the additional 8” monitor can brighten your day for those who always should be on Slack or desire a digital numeric pad.
If I needed to do prolonged journey with a single laptop, that’s the one I’d go for. The 4.41 Lbs weight makes it gentle sufficient that weight isn’t a difficulty, and the productiveness enhance is just too good to move. Finally, the licensed MIL-STD sturdiness and the spill-resistant keyboard enhance survivability throughout journey.
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