Laptops

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus: Gimmicky but gets the job done

A plus for the right person

Published

November 16, 2020

Lenovo’s never been shy to try new things on their notebooks and laptops. Their whole Yoga line is a testament to this. But they’re also applying that line of thought to their other notebooks. Specifically, the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus.

They don’t say it outright but that Plus, I’d wager, refers to the e-ink screen on the laptop’s hood. Dual screen laptops are slowly on the come up — most of which targeted towards the multimedia-heavy users. The ThinkBook Plus is more deliberate.

The ThinkBook Plus has a 10.8-inch e-ink screen. It’s meant for taking notes, reading e-documents and seeing notifications while the laptop is closed.

Yes, the ThinkBook Plus comes with a stylus out of the box.

It magnetically attaches to the sides of the notebook.

The e-ink screen is fun, except for someone like me who has terrible handwriting

What happens when you’re not using the e-ink screen? You get this default screen.

Or you can customize it with any image saved on the laptop.

Now isn’t that so much better?

That image acts as a wallpaper when you’re using the ThinkBook plus, making it truly personalized.

I even tried a quick 10-minute sketch on the thing.

But after a while, the novelty of the e-ink screen really wears out. It doesn’t help that I’ve mostly been working at home so there aren’t any opportunities to be in physical meetings and really take down notes.

Using the e-ink screen is also a hit or miss. It’s not readily responsive when you want to use it. But it the stylus to screen experience drastically improves once you’ve launched the notepad app. It also has great palm rejection so you don’t have to worry about placing your palm on the display as your write.

I can imagine how this can be useful in certain situations for certain people. However, unless you’re the type who actually likes to take notes, the e-ink screen will feel like a pricey gimmick.

The ThinkBook is a performer

While the e-ink screen may be what gets you to turn your attention to the ThinkBook Plus, it’s not the only thing it has going for it.

It’s powered by an Intel Core i7 10th gen processor accompanied by Integrated Intel UHD Graphics, 16 GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM, and 512 GB PCIe SSD onboard storage.

That is to say, any productivity task you can think of, this thing can handle without breaking a sweat.

It’s been particularly useful in my daily tasks which include a lot of writing and copy-editing.

As well as basic image editing.

And of course, it’s useful when it’s time to put those words and images together on the website.

Quick side note: The more I go through my daily tasks, the more I realize how Core i7 laptops are completely overpowered for what I usually do. Especially since I still prefer to do my video editing on Final Cut Pro which only runs on Mac.

That said, working on the ThinkBook Plus has been as smooth an experience as can be. There was just a lot to love about it as a steady work machine.

The backlit keyboard was super easy to transition to.

The trackpad was also pretty darn good.

But as is the case with most trackpads on Windows machines, they still can’t hold a candle to MacBook trackpads. That’s just a crying shame but it is what it is.

After soldiering for a day to use only the trackpad, I gave in and turned to the comforts of a mouse.

The webcam is located on the top-bezel.

This actually feels like a throwback as it doesn’t have the shutter or a built-in way to cover the camera. One time, I had to put an electrical tape over it during a zoom call as I wanted to show only the virtual background, without me in the shot.

There’s also no shortage of ports. This isn’t the thinnest of laptops so you get a decent amount of physical connectivity.

On the left are the HDMI Port, a USB-C port, and the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Over to the other side you have two USB-A ports and the power button.

Also a leisure companion

In between work or while I have lunch I like to watch a few videos. The 13-inch FHD display is more than enough for these quick breaks.

I’m either watching a few K-Pop fancams…

Risky risky wiggy wiggy this is an emergency

Or indulging in a quick anime episode on Netflix.

Anime title: Ahiru no Sora

My room is pretty dark most of the time so the 300 nits of brightness is more than enough. You might encounter some glare and visibility issues, though, if you whip this out under broad daylight.

The audio by Harman sounds okay and works as expected during zoom calls. However, it does feel like it’s lacking in the overall volume department. It just doesn’t get loud enough in certain situations or for certain videos that already had a low volume to begin with. But it’s passable and the quality is generally okay.

It also comes with a carrying case inside the box.

This is a low-key really good inclusion. It adds an extra layer of protection and makes you feel safe about carrying the ThinkBook Plus even if you’re only using a tote bag.

The carrying case itself feels pretty premium and matches the overall price tag of the product.

Is the ThinkBook Plus your GadgetMatch?

At PhP 104,950/ US$ 1,529, it might feel pricey. You’re paying extra for that 10.8-inch dual screen so unless you see yourself really taking advantage of that feature, it’s best to steer clear.

However, as I mentioned earlier, for anyone who does make it a habit to jot down notes, the e-ink screen on the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus can be a valuable tool. And it’s not like you’re only paying for that additional screen.

The ThinkBook Plus can be relied upon to handle your daily tasks without any sort of hiccup. It feels sturdy and can certainly be your work companion for years. It’s hard to recommend to everyone, but for the right person, this notebook is indeed a plus.

Features

DUO more with the ASUS Zenbook DUO 2024

Make things easy

Published

April 25, 2024

GadgetMatch

We are fans of what ASUS did with their latest dual screen offering — the ASUS Zenbook DUO 2024. The Zenbook Duo isn’t exactly new. ASUS has been adding extra screens to their laptops whenever they can — but never quite like this.

You see, ASUS managed to put a literal second display but still make it compact enough to fit most bags with provision for 14-inch laptops. As cliché as it sounds, the Zenbook DUO 2024 is an engineering marvel.

However, it’s more than just a gimmick. In our review, we noted how the form factor lent to a slight boost in productivity despite us not maximizing the product just yet. With that, let us share with you our favorite things about the ASUS Zenbook DUO 2024.

A unique mode for every scenario

A built-in, sturdy kick-stand unlocks the many possibilities available to the Zenbook DUO 2024. Some of the modes are: Laptop, Dual Screen, Desktop, and Sharing.

Each one lends itself nicely to different work and media consumption scenarios. Don’t feel like showing off? Keep things discreet and save some battery life with laptop mode.

Need two screens? Switch to either Dual Screen or Desktop mode to take advantage of more screen real estate.

Presenting something to someone across the table? Sharing mode lays the laptop flat allowing for easier viewing.

The ability to morph to different modes depending on your needs is astounding. The best thing is that it is both functional and can serve as an ice breaker.

TWICE Momo and LE SSERAFIM Chaewon <3

Oh and we’ll never tire of sharing how the Desktop mode is perfect for watching two K-Pop fancams at the same time.

Screen Xpert for the dual displays

This form factor won’t work without the right software support backing it. To that end, ASUS made Screen Xpert. What it does is essentially let you adjust the layout of the apps according to your needs.

You can have up to four (4) apps live viewed at the same time. For our part, we usually only divided the screen to two, using one to reference a review guide or press release while writing news articles and/or reviews.

But if you’re monitoring certain things, this will be pretty helpful having multiple windows laid out right away to get a quick overview of things is a godsend.

The best thing is that a lot of these functions work intuitively. There’s a single button you can press to easily switch what’s displayed on the two screens.

If you want more granular control, you can have the Screen Xpert floating bar ready at your disposal. Here you can control the brightness level of each screen individually. You also have the ability to change the orientation of each screen to your liking.

There are also App Switcher and App Navigator functions to give you a better, more seamless way to layout the apps you use so that it’s most efficient for your needs.

AI, Copilot, and more

Something we didn’t mention much in the review is how the laptop is built with the AI age in mind. Powered by Intel Core Ultra 7 155-H, this thing is equipped with an NPU chip to aid in on-device AI tasks.

There’s stuff that happens in the background like making sure the AI-related tasks are processed with the NPU while the main CPU handles the rest. In the simplest terms, the Intel Core Ultra 7 is smart enough to delegate a task to the chip that will best execute it. That results in a more optimized overall performance.

Copilot is one of the biggest AI additions to any Windows machine. The possibilities are close to limitless. For our part, we’ve only really played around with Copilot Designer. But there’s so much more that you can do with it. Just remember to always check the results. Every AI output still needs a human touch.

AI is also present in other functions like noise cancellation and the camera. AI Noise Cancellation makes sure you can hear and be heard no matter what scenario you’re in. It’s perfect for remote workers who do not exactly have control over their immediate surroundings.

Meanwhile, AiSense Camera works not only as a Full HD IR camera. It also automatically detects the lighting levels in your environment and adjusts brightness levels accordingly. You also get functions like auto-framing and background blur. Lastly, there’s the slightly creepy Eye Contact feature that locks your gaze to the camera. It can be a bit disorienting so maybe pick the occasions when you’ll use it.

GlideX

Working beyond this dual screen laptop? ASUS also made sure to equip the Zenbook DUO 2024 with software that makes adding even more screens a no-sweat task.

With GlideX you can easily connect your Zenbook DUO 2024 with smartphones, tablets, or even another PC. Even better, it’ll give you the option to control everything from a single device.

DUO more

For a first-of-its-kind device, the ASUS Zenbook DUO 2024 is pretty darn polished. That’s thanks largely to the company experimenting with dual screens long before releasing this dual screen machine.

The Zenbook DUO 2024 literally lets you do more, providing options for flexibility that will help you optimize your workflow so you can finish your tasks more efficiently. This is more than just a gimmick device, it’s actually helpful and that’s because ASUS took the time to fit it with the proper software support.

More on the ASUS Zenbook DUO 2024 here.

This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and ASUS Philippines.

Laptops

Qualcomm announces Snapdragon X Series laptop processor

High performance, fast responsiveness, better power efficiency

Published

April 24, 2024

GadgetMatch

Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon X Elite laptop processor in a bid to match competitors like Intel, AMD, and Apple. It is the flagship platform as part of the Snapdragon X series, which also includes the X Plus variants.

The X Elite processor focuses not only on high performance and fast responsiveness, but also power efficiency for multiple days of battery use. Additionally, it is AI-ready, harnessing the power of the Qualcomm AI Engine and integrated Qualcomm Hexagon NPU.

Game-changing performance, efficiency

The Snapdragon X Elite processor has a 4nm SoC architecture and 12-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU to optimize demanding workloads. The processor also features up to Dual-Core boost for fast responsiveness. Qualcomm will also integrate its Adreno GPU so laptop brands can deliver stunning graphics for immersive entertainment. Moreover, the processor also has a low-power consumption mechanism to support multi-day battery life on just a single charge.

Built for AI

Next, the Snapdragon X Elite platform is tailor-made for today’s laptops that utilize AI. The processor leverages the Qualcomm AI Engine and an integrated Qualcomm Hexagon NPU. These shall work together to deliver transformative experiences for creativity, video conferencing, and more. The processor is capable of running Generative AI LLM models over 13B parameters on-device at blazing-fast speeds. The AI Engine also supports Windows Studio Effects, and many other AI-accelerated applications to support users’ various needs.

Furthermore, an updated Micro NPU inside the Qualcomm Sensing Hub will allow for enhanced security, login experience, and privacy. It also has the ability to wake the device up when in sleep mode. Sensitive data, meanwhile, can stay on the laptop with increased security.

Smarter user experiences

To give users a better idea of how capable the processor is, here are a few benchmarks. Laptops running on the Snapdragon X Elite can seamlessly play UHD graphics at 120fps, and up to 5K content at 60fps. It will let you record yourself at 4K HDR with up to a 64MP built-in camera. It will work hand in hand with up to 64GB of DDR5 memory, and can support download and upload speeds of up to 10Gbps and 3.5Gbps, respectively.

In terms of connectivity, the platform supports Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7 with HBS Multi-Link for seamless connectivity. Snapdragon Seamless also lets users to easily switch between devices.

Snapdragon X Plus

Alternatively, Qualcomm is also soon introducing the Snapdragon X Plus processors. They have just two less cores at 10 Qualcomm Oryon CPUs, and offer up to 3.4GHz of processing power.

Much like the X Elite, Qualcomm promises the X Plus to deliver topnotch processing across CPU, GPU, NPU, and Micro NPU for the PC class that will be housing them.

Moroever, these platforms fortify AI processes to make it easier for users, whatever their computing needs may be.

Release date

There aren’t concrete reports yet about its official release date and what PC brands have already committed to use the platform. But there is an interesting Reddit thread here that connects the dots and also mentions when Windows 12 is expected to release. For now, what Qualcomm intends to do with the Snapdragon X Elite processor sure sounds promising. It’s definitely meant for higher tier, gaming and creator-level laptops.

Features

LOQ and LOAD: The Lenovo LOQ 2024 is for gaming and more

Your entry to PC Gaming

Published

April 23, 2024

GadgetMatch

Get your game on with the Lenovo LOQ 2024. This capable laptop is your entry point to PC Gaming and a lot more.

It comes an absolutely affordable price point: PhP 48,995.

You get capable hardware and the hood to support gaming and more. The Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9I runs on the 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and Intel Arc Graphics.

Those are key to bringing unreal graphics to this segment. Supporting latest tech like DirectX 12 Ultimate, players are able to enjoy high frame rates on the Lenovo LOQ.

Creating content? It comes with AI Advantage to help boost performance. Engines and accelerators boost the media processing workloads especially for creatives. It also works with Intel’s X Super Machine Learning, Leading to images that are as close to reality.

The laptop supports a configuration of up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD Storage.

As for its display, the device has a large 15.6-inch, Full HD panel that is more than enough for gaming, video editing, content consumption, and whatever else you do on a laptop. This display has 144Hz refresh rate, 300 nits brightness, and anti-glare.

Videos come out clear, crisp, and realistic. Audio is punchy and as loud as it gets. Windows Sonic elevates it more when you use headphones. And it just takes a few minutes to render HD videos on editing software.

As it runs on Windows 11, if you are going to use it for work, you can take advantage of various features. The Lenovo Vantage Widget is there for constant reminders, Copilot will help you organize your tasks, and Microsoft Edge is there for casual browsing.

There is an assortment of ports at the back for easy connectivity. And as this is meant for gaming, we put it to the test. Racing that looks better with high frame rate? Check. Shooting titles that require heavy work? Not a problem. You can play all your favorites and not worry about performance.

Best of all, it takes less than an our to juice up this laptop all the way to 100%.

So, whether you’re looking to get started with PC Gaming, or an upgrade for work and entertainment needs, the Lenovo LOQ has you covered.

This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and Lenovo Philippines.