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.