Hands-On Review of the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4: OLED + E Ink
In recent years, innovation in the laptop market has led to the introduction of several creative designs and unique features aimed at enhancing productivity and user experience. One of the latest entries in this space is the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4. Aimed at professionals and creatives alike, this laptop stands out with its dual-display design—combining a traditional OLED screen with a secondary E Ink panel.
In this hands-on review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 to explore the functionality, performance, and user experience of this device. From its sleek design to its performance capabilities, this laptop is meant to offer more than just the standard computing experience. Does the dual-screen feature add value to users’ daily workflows? Read on to find out what makes this laptop a unique addition to the market.
Key Features of the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4
Before diving into the detailed analysis, it’s important to understand the key features of this device. The ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 is equipped with an OLED screen that promises high-quality visuals, paired with a secondary E Ink panel. Here’s a breakdown of the major specifications and features:
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Display Technology:
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OLED Display: The main 13.3-inch OLED display delivers vivid colors and deep blacks. With a resolution of 2880 x 1800, it offers sharp visuals, ideal for watching movies, editing photos, and even multitasking with several apps open at once.
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E Ink Display: The secondary 12-inch E Ink display is primarily used for reading and note-taking. It’s not just a gimmick; it’s designed to offer a more comfortable, paper-like experience for users who spend a lot of time reading or annotating documents.
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Performance:
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Powered by a 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor paired with 16GB of RAM, the laptop is capable of handling most professional tasks with ease, from running productivity software to light media editing.
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It also features integrated Iris Xe graphics, which are sufficient for tasks that do not demand heavy GPU performance.
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Battery Life:
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The device boasts a moderate battery life, with the OLED display consuming more power under typical usage. However, the E Ink screen helps save battery, especially during reading or note-taking tasks.
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Design and Build:
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The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 has an aluminum chassis, offering a premium feel with a solid build. The rotating hinge enables flexible use, switching between traditional laptop mode and tablet mode.
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Software and Usability:
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The laptop runs Windows 11 Pro, offering a user-friendly interface and compatibility with most software applications. However, there are occasional stutters when switching between the two screens, which might need optimization for better fluidity.
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Display: OLED and E Ink Panel Combined
The dual-display setup of the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 is the standout feature of this device. This combination of an OLED screen and an E Ink screen provides a new way of interacting with your content, but how does it really work in practice? Let’s explore both displays in detail.
OLED Display: Vibrant, Color-Rich Visuals
The OLED screen is the heart of this laptop’s visual appeal. OLED technology, known for its vibrant colors, deep blacks, and higher contrast ratios, makes this display an excellent choice for multimedia consumption. With a resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels, it offers excellent sharpness and clarity. Whether you’re working on spreadsheets, watching videos, or editing photos, this display ensures rich, detailed imagery.
One of the significant advantages of the OLED panel is its color accuracy. For professionals in creative fields such as graphic design or video editing, this display provides a near-perfect representation of colors. The screen supports 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, making it ideal for color-sensitive tasks.
However, there’s a slight downside when it comes to brightness. While the screen can reach up to 400 nits, it’s not the brightest on the market, especially compared to other flagship laptops. This makes it slightly less suitable for use in direct sunlight or very brightly lit environments. Still, in most indoor settings, the screen performs admirably.
E Ink Display: Ideal for Reading and Note-Taking
The secondary E Ink display is what really sets the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 apart from other laptops. The 12-inch display offers a paper-like experience, ideal for extended reading sessions or annotating PDFs and documents. E Ink is known for its low power consumption and legibility, making it a great choice for tasks that don’t require vibrant colors or fast refresh rates.
While the screen is not suitable for fast-paced tasks (e.g., video editing or gaming), it shines in its primary use case—reading. For professionals who often need to read reports, documents, or e-books, the E Ink screen reduces eye strain compared to traditional backlit displays. Additionally, it’s extremely power-efficient, allowing users to conserve battery life while engaged in long reading or note-taking sessions.
However, there are some limitations. The refresh rate of the E Ink screen is only 12Hz, which means that while static text looks crisp, any interaction (such as scrolling or drawing) can feel sluggish and less responsive. This is a minor inconvenience for users who are accustomed to more interactive displays but doesn’t detract from the core functionality of the device.
Performance: Power and Efficiency
Equipped with the 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 offers solid performance for a wide range of tasks. With 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, multitasking is smooth, and the device can handle typical office work, web browsing, and media consumption with ease.
The Intel Iris Xe graphics provide enough power for tasks that do not demand intensive GPU resources. However, for gaming or heavy graphical workloads, the laptop falls short, as it lacks a dedicated graphics card.
In terms of day-to-day use, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 performs well. Applications load quickly, and there is minimal lag when switching between the OLED and E Ink displays. However, users may experience a slight delay when transitioning between the two screens, particularly when using high-powered applications on the OLED display.
Battery Life: Managing Power Efficiently
One of the key concerns with any laptop, especially one with a dual-display setup, is battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 strikes a balance between performance and battery efficiency, but how does it handle daily use?
OLED Display Power Consumption
The OLED screen, while delivering stunning visuals, is also one of the more power-hungry components of the laptop. In typical usage, with the OLED display engaged for tasks like web browsing or document editing, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 sees its battery drained at a moderate pace. Under these conditions, users can expect to get around 6-7 hours of usage on a single charge. This figure is on par with many similarly sized laptops that feature OLED displays, which are known for their higher power consumption.
While 7 hours is sufficient for a day of work or study, heavy users—such as those who run multiple programs simultaneously or engage in graphic-intensive tasks—may find themselves needing to charge the laptop more frequently.
E Ink Display Power Efficiency
Where the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 really shines is in its secondary E Ink display. This panel is incredibly power-efficient, drawing very little energy when it’s in use. For tasks like reading e-books, taking notes, or viewing static content, the E Ink display can be utilized for long hours without significantly impacting battery life.
In fact, with the E Ink screen active, users can easily extend the laptop’s battery life by several hours—up to 12-14 hours, depending on the intensity of usage. This is a fantastic feature for professionals who need to work for long periods without access to a power outlet.
Overall Battery Life
When both screens are used in tandem, the battery life of the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 falls somewhere between 7-10 hours. The trade-off is that while the OLED display offers superior image quality, the battery drain is more noticeable compared to the E Ink screen, which offers superior battery efficiency.
Design and Build: A Premium Look and Feel
The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 boasts a sleek, premium design that’s built to last. Constructed with a high-quality aluminum chassis, the laptop feels solid and sturdy without being overly heavy. At around 1.4 kg (3.09 lbs), the laptop strikes a good balance between portability and durability. It’s light enough to carry around in a bag without feeling like a burden, but heavy enough to feel substantial when typing or using the trackpad.
Display and Rotating Hinge Design
One of the most notable aspects of the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 is its rotating hinge. The hinge allows the laptop to transition from a traditional clamshell laptop mode to a tablet-like experience. This rotating hinge is particularly useful when using the E Ink display, as it allows users to flip the laptop into a mode where the E Ink screen is positioned at the top for easy reading or note-taking.
In laptop mode, the primary OLED screen is perfect for productivity tasks, and the keyboard is well-spaced for comfortable typing. The keyboard itself is responsive, offering a satisfying typing experience with just the right amount of key travel.
Ports and Connectivity
The laptop is equipped with a good range of ports, making it versatile for different use cases. On the left side, you’ll find a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support, which enables faster data transfer and charging. There’s also a USB-A port and an HDMI port for external displays. On the right side, the device features an SD card reader and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Wi-Fi 6 support ensures fast and reliable internet connectivity.
Software and Usability: A Smooth Experience, with Some Limitations
Running on Windows 11 Pro, the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 provides a smooth and familiar user interface. The operating system is well-optimized for multitasking, which is ideal when switching between the laptop’s OLED and E Ink screens. The addition of Windows Ink also enhances the usability of the E Ink screen, allowing users to jot down notes and annotate documents with ease.
Dual Screen Experience
Switching between the two displays can be a bit tricky. While Windows 11 does support the dual-display setup, there are occasional lags when transitioning between screens. For instance, when switching from the OLED screen to the E Ink display, users may notice a slight delay in display recognition, especially when switching between apps.
That being said, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 is generally well-optimized for professional and creative tasks. For those who need to read a lot of content or take handwritten notes, the E Ink display provides an excellent paper-like feel that is easier on the eyes than a traditional backlit display. However, the 12Hz refresh rate of the E Ink display means that interactions are slower than what users might be accustomed to with standard displays, and this can be frustrating during more dynamic tasks.
Is the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 Worth It?
The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 offers an innovative take on laptop design with its unique dual-screen setup. The combination of an OLED screen and an E Ink display presents users with a device that balances powerful visuals with low-power functionality.
For professionals, creatives, and readers who value having a laptop that can handle both intensive tasks and long reading sessions, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 is a promising option. The OLED screen delivers exceptional image quality, making it ideal for media consumption and creative work, while the E Ink screen offers a unique, battery-efficient solution for reading and note-taking.
That being said, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 may not be for everyone. The device comes with a premium price tag, and the performance of the E Ink screen—with its 12Hz refresh rate—might not appeal to those who are used to quicker interactions. The laptop also falls short in terms of gaming and heavy GPU tasks, as it lacks a dedicated graphics card.
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