Tag: Lenovo ThinkBook

  • Lenovo 16-Inch Laptop: 120Hz Display, 32GB RAM, Intel Panther Lake

    Lenovo 16-Inch Laptop: 120Hz Display, 32GB RAM, Intel Panther Lake

    Key Takeaway

    – The ThinkBook 16 Gen 9 IPL uses Arrow Lake-based Core Ultra 5/7 CPUs and lags behind Gen 8 with Arrow Lake in performance benchmarks; entry variant starts at £1,099.99/€1,288–€1,458 for 16 GB RAM + 256 GB storage.
    – Upgradable RAM and storage: supports 16/32 GB DDR5-5600 and both M.2 2242 and 2280 slots for easy upgrades.
    – Flexible power and display options: 48 Wh or 71 Wh battery, Wi‑Fi 6 or Wi‑Fi 7, with optional fingerprint reader; two display configurations (5 MP webcam standard or upgrade to 1080p with IR, and 60 Hz 400 nit 45% NTSC or 120 Hz 400 nit 100% sRGB).

    Lenovo has finally started selling a new version of the ThinkBook 16 Gen 9. To recap, the company has already launched AMD Hawk Point and Intel Raptor Lake-powered versions of its 16-inch ThinkBook. Then in February, we noticed that the ThinkBook 16 Gen 9 IPL had been added to Lenovo’s PSREF website with newer Panther Lake processors.

    ThinkBook 16 Gen 9 IPL performance and configuration options

    Despite the name, the ThinkBook 16 Gen 9 IPL actually trails older Gen 8 models with Arrow Lake processors (curr. $1,199 on Amazon). In fact, the Core Ultra 5 325 and Core Ultra 7 355 perform worse in our benchmarks than the Core 7 240H with which the ThinkBook 16 Gen 9 IRL is available. Setting that aside, the new ThinkBook 16 can also be configured with 16 GB or 32 GB of DDR5-5600 RAM. This RAM is user-upgradeable, as is storage thanks to the inclusion of M.2 2242 and M.2 2280 slots.

    Hardware choices and display options

    Additionally, Lenovo offers the laptop with 48 Wh or 71 Wh batteries, Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and an optional fingerprint reader. The ThinkBook 16 Gen 9 IPL features a 5 MP webcam by default too, although Lenovo allows this to be swapped out for a 1080p equivalent for a small surcharge with infrared for Windows Hello login purposes. Moreover, the 60 Hz, 400 nit and 45% NTSC IPS display can be swapped for a 120 Hz, 400 nit and 100% sRGB equivalent. Both are 1200p and 16:10 IPS panels, though.

    Pricing and availability

    The ThinkBook 16 Gen 9 IPL starts at £1,099.99 in the UK with a Core Ultra 5 325 processor, 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. Meanwhile, the same configuration retails for between €1,288 and €1,458 in the Eurozone, with pricing set at AUD 1,690 in Australia. Lenovo has not yet revealed when it will begin selling its new 16-inch ThinkBook in North America, nor for how much.


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  • Lenovo ThinkPad X14 Leaks with Magic Bay Accessories Modules

    Lenovo ThinkPad X14 Leaks with Magic Bay Accessories Modules

    Key Takeaways

    1. The UltraBay system and optical drives in laptops are no longer a focus for Lenovo’s ThinkPads.
    2. Lenovo has introduced a new accessory system called Magic Bay with their ThinkBook series.
    3. Magic Bay accessories attach to the webcam bump and include items like a high-quality webcam, light, 4G modem, and a second screen.
    4. Lenovo is planning to bring Magic Bay accessories to the ThinkPad line, starting with the upcoming ThinkPad X14 Gen 1.
    5. The ThinkPad X14 Gen 1 will feature a port for Magic Bay accessories and is expected to be powered by Intel’s Panther Lake CPUs.

    IBM and Lenovo ThinkPads were once known for being among the most modular laptop lines available. In the past, they featured the UltraBay system, allowing users to easily swap out the optical drive for a secondary battery or extra storage.

    The End of an Era

    However, the time of optical drives in laptops has passed, as has the UltraBay system. Since that period, Lenovo hasn’t really focused on modular designs for ThinkPads, except for a brief experiment with the original ThinkPad X1 Tablet.

    New Innovations in the ThinkBook Line

    Instead, Lenovo has introduced a fresh idea with their ThinkBook series, called Magic Bay. Magic Bay consists of accessories that attach to the webcam bump, with the Lenovo ThinkBook 16p (which you can find on Amazon) being one of the primary models that support these add-ons. These accessories range from a high-quality webcam and light for video calls to a 4G modem and even a second screen. Recently, Lenovo has also allowed third-party manufacturers to join the Magic Bay ecosystem.

    Exciting Developments for ThinkPad Users

    This hints at more developments on the horizon, as Lenovo appears to be bringing Magic Bay to the iconic ThinkPad line. A new model, the Lenovo ThinkPad X14 Gen 1, has emerged on the iF Design Award website, and it hasn’t even been officially announced yet. This laptop seems to be closely related to the smaller ThinkPad X13 and the ThinkPad T14s, but designed to be even more portable than the T14s. Importantly, it includes a port for Magic Bay accessories right on the lid.

    As for when the Lenovo ThinkPad X14 Gen 1 will hit stores, there’s no clear timeline. However, reports suggest it will be powered by Intel’s Panther Lake CPUs. Design-wise, it closely resembles the X13 but sports the larger keyboard from the ThinkPad T series.

    Which accessories do you think Lenovo should create for Magic Bay? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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