Lenovo unveiled a new model in the ThinkBook Plus series at CES 2023, featuring a dual rotating display with an OLED panel on one side and an e-Ink screen on the other. This design reimagines Lenovo’s twistable form factor with a unique twist. The company also introduced the ThinkBook 16p Gen 4 laptop, equipped with high-performance components such as 13th Gen Intel Core processors and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 discrete graphics card. The laptop boasts an innovative Magic Bay modular accessory design with a magnetic pin connector for easy expansion with optional Magic Bay 4K Webcam, Magic Bay LTE, or Magic Bay Light accessories.
In addition to the new ThinkBook models, Lenovo has also introduced the ThinkBook 13x Gen 2 Wireless Dock, a unique docking and charging solution that utilizes multiple wireless technologies to eliminate the need for cables. The company has also unveiled the ThinkCentre neo 50q, a compact 1L desktop designed for small and medium-sized businesses.
A New Spin on Hybrid Computing
Since its launch in 2020, the ThinkBook Plus series has gained a reputation for offering unique and innovative devices for small and medium-sized businesses. The series includes the ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 with an e-Ink display and the ThinkBook Plus Gen 3 with a secondary 8-inch display next to the keyboard. Lenovo has a long history of innovation with twist form factors, dating back to the ThinkPad X41 tablet in 2005 and the ThinkPad Twist in 2012. The new ThinkBook Plus Twist takes this innovation to the next level with its rotating dual display, providing users with versatile multimode capabilities and an enhanced user experience. This unique laptop is designed for the next generation of users.”
The ThinkBook Plus Twist builds on the core features of the ThinkBook Plus Gen 2, incorporating numerous improvements and innovations based on customer feedback and user insights. Some of these improvements include:
- 13th Gen Intel Core processors
- 13.3-inch 2.8K OLED display with narrow bezels, touch glass, and a twist hinge
- 12-inch front-lit e-Ink display on the top cover with a 12Hz refresh rate and touch glass
- Intel Wi-Fi 6E1 for improved wireless connectivity performance and stability on supported networks
- Full-size pen support on both the OLED and e-Ink displays with a battery life of up to 18 months.
The ThinkBook Plus Twist is highly versatile, offering multiple modes that can be configured into either a clamshell or tablet format. Its unique twist hinge allows users to prioritize either the OLED display or the colorful e-Ink display, depending on their needs.
The ThinkBook Plus Twist is ideal for frequent business travelers who can take advantage of its versatility and use the e-Ink display in either “typewriter” laptop mode or “e-paper” tablet mode to draft, edit, and proofread documents using the keyboard or the pen. The e-Ink display can reduce eye strain from prolonged use and also uses less power, allowing for longer periods of use between charges. For a more advanced document or image workflows, users can switch to the OLED tablet mode and interact with the vivid 400nit 2.8K display using the pen.
While on the go, users can quickly check calendar appointments and emails on the e-Ink display and then switch to OLED laptop mode with a twist and press a key to participate in high-definition video conferences using the FHD camera and dual-microphones with smart noise cancellation to reduce ambient noise. In OLED laptop mode, users can take full advantage of the 13th Gen Intel Core processors and Windows 11 to achieve high levels of productivity. At the end of the day, users can switch to OLED tablet mode to relax with their favorite streaming service or twist to e-Ink tablet mode to read a few chapters of a bestseller.
The ThinkBook Plus Twist offers a boost for power users with its unique Lenovo Magic Bay accessory.
The ThinkBook 16p Gen 4 is a powerful and productive laptop that includes optional Lenovo Magic Bay accessories. It features the latest 13th Gen Intel Core H-series processors with optional discrete graphics up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, display options up to a 165hz 3.2K 16-inch panel with Dolby Vision support, DDR5 memory, and dual SSD support with up to 2TB of storage. This makes it the most powerful ThinkBook yet, ideal for high-intensity workloads, image and video processing, and gaming.
In addition to its technical specifications, the ThinkBook 16p Gen 4 has been redesigned with a focus on user experience, offering more versatility and mobility through the Lenovo Magic Bay solutions. It has a higher capacity 80Whr battery with fast charging capability, a larger glass touchpad, an FHD camera, and four Harman Kardon user-facing speakers for video conferencing and immersive audio. It also has dual noise-canceling microphones to ensure that the user’s voice can be heard clearly above ambient noise.
A unique feature of the ThinkBook 16p Gen 4 is the magnetic pogo pin connector at the top of the display, which can be used to attach modular Lenovo Magic Bay accessories. These accessories, which can be optionally included in select configurations of the ThinkBook 16p Gen 4, can turn the laptop into a video streaming home studio or offer the added benefit of 4G LTE connectivity. The integrated FHD camera can also work in conjunction with the detachable Lenovo Magic Bay 4K Webcam, using Lenovo View software to automatically track faces and recognize whiteboards, among other functions.
The three new Lenovo Magic Bay accessories are easy to use with their pogo pin connection, offering simple extensibility without the need for extra cables, dongles, or power packs.
Lenovo Magic Bay 4K Webcam
The Lenovo Magic Bay 4K Webcam is designed for high-resolution video conferencing and streaming. It features autofocus, auto framing with a selectable field of view, auto ambient light adjustment, and a maximum resolution of up to 4K at 30fps. It also has an electronic privacy shutter for added security and a 270-degree hinge that allows the camera to rotate through various angles, giving users the flexibility to use it in either front-facing or world-facing mode. In front-facing mode, users can capture themselves, while in the world-facing mode, they can demonstrate products or capture other participants or locations.
Lenovo Magic Bay Light
The Lenovo Magic Bay Light is designed to address one of the most common challenges with video conferencing or streaming: poor lighting. It delivers up to 200-lux of adjustable brightness with minimal power consumption and can be easily connected to the ThinkBook 16p Gen 4. When the built-in camera is activated, the light will automatically turn on, allowing users to achieve professional-looking videos from virtually any location.
The Lenovo Magic Bay LTE is designed to improve connectivity and allow users to work (or play) from anywhere. It offers 4G LTE speeds for greater flexibility on the move and includes an LED indicator for connection status and a USB Type-C port with cable for compatibility with other laptops. This can help users stay connected in remote locations or when using unsecured public Wi-Fi hotspots.
Wireless is the Future of Docking
Lenovo has also introduced its first full-feature wireless charging solution for the ThinkBook 13x Gen 2. The ThinkBook Wireless Dock for ThinkBook 13x Gen 2 utilizes Wi-Fi 6, Power-by-Contact, and universal wireless charging technologies to simplify the docking process and eliminate the need for multiple cables. The dock allows users to easily “put and play” rather than “plug and play.” This new wireless docking solution was introduced at CES 2023, following the release of the ThinkBook 13x Gen 2 in 2022, which offered an optional accessory for 65W wireless laptop charging and charging of other mobile devices.
“The ThinkBook Wireless Dock for the ThinkBook 13x Gen 2 utilizes Power-by-Contact technology to wirelessly charge the laptop through conductive electrodes connected to a receiving circuit and the receiver’s battery. It also includes a wireless charging pad that provides up to 10W for universal wireless charging of supported smart devices and accessories placed in the dock’s dedicated wireless bay.
Using the high-performance Wi-Fi 6, the wireless dock allows users to easily connect to the charging pad and retrieve connection information automatically. When the laptop is removed from the dock, the connection is automatically terminated after a few seconds to prevent any potential security risks. The wireless dock also enables users to experience low-latency dual display with up to 4K at 60Hz resolution and fast data transfer speeds. It includes three USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and a Lenovo slim-tip connector for a true wireless docking solution.
The Wireless Dock will be exclusively bundled with select 2023 models of the ThinkBook 13x Gen 2.
Business-essential productivity made for modern spaces – New Tiny ThinkCentre neo
Lenovo has introduced the ThinkCentre neo 50q Gen 4, a small and powerful desktop PC that prioritizes productivity, collaboration, and sustainability for SMBs and enterprises. It features the latest 13th Gen Intel Core processors in a compact 1L chassis with cleverly hidden ventilation and is available with either Windows 11 or IGEL OS pre-installed.
The IGEL version is validated as IGEL Ready Advanced level, meaning it has been continuously tested and validated by IGEL with the latest versions of the operating system. It also offers an enhanced level of security through Lenovo ThinkShield and is made with eco-conscious materials, including a bezel made with 85% post-consumer recycled content and packaging made from ocean-bound plastic and paint-free raw materials.
The Lenovo CO2 Offset Service can also be added to offset the carbon emissions produced during the average lifecycle of the product and support one of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s projects.
Quote:
ThinkBook has quickly become a well-known brand for premium laptops that cater to the needs of modern small business users,” said Eric Yu, Senior Vice President of Lenovo’s SMB and Commercial Product Center in the Intelligent Devices Group. “The latest ThinkBook laptops and Magic Bay accessories showcase the technological innovations and enhanced user experiences that ThinkBook aims to provide.
