NOPE, You Cant Buy It - Lenovo ThinkBook 16+ (2024) Review

Summary

The video provides an in-depth review of the Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Plus, focusing on its gaming performance, build quality, and display features. The laptop is equipped with an AMD 8845HS APU, capable of running demanding games like *Baldur's Gate 3* and *Ghost of Tsushima* at reasonable settings (1200p to 1600p). The review emphasizes the laptop's strong cooling system, quiet operation, and premium all-metal design. The screen offers a 1600p resolution with 100% sRGB coverage and a 120Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for both gaming and daily use. While not available in Canada, it's a solid option for those seeking performance and style.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Plus features an all-metal design with a high-quality screen (100% sRGB, 1600p, 120Hz refresh rate).
• 😀 The laptop provides solid gaming performance, especially in games like *Baldur’s Gate* and *Ghost of Tsushima* at 1200p and 1600p resolutions.
• 😀 At medium settings, the laptop achieves good frame rates, around 60 FPS in less demanding areas of *Baldur's Gate*.
• 😀 The AMD 8845 HS processor, combined with the GPU, allows the laptop to run demanding titles with medium or high settings and balanced FSR.
• 😀 The laptop performs well in indoor areas but struggles with very demanding environments, such as the city areas in *Baldur’s Gate*.
• 😀 Even with high-demand scenarios, the system can push up to 65 watts for performance, with Silent Mode reducing power consumption by approximately 10%.
• 😀 In terms of graphics quality, 1600p with balanced FSR provides a good gaming experience without significant image degradation.
• 😀 The Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Plus is not currently available in Canada, but it can be imported from China with English settings.
• 😀 The laptop features great cooling and is capable of handling extended gaming sessions without excessive noise.
• 😀 For users in the West, ThinkBooks often have lower-quality screens, which is a significant downside for those considering similar models.
• 😀 The ThinkBook 16 Plus offers a good value for mid-tier gaming laptops, with features like a good screen, powerful processor, and solid design, but may not be the best choice for 4K gaming.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video review?

The main focus of the video review is the ThinkBook 16 Plus laptop, particularly its gaming performance, display quality, and overall build, including testing different settings for demanding games.

How does the ThinkBook 16 Plus perform in gaming scenarios?

The ThinkBook 16 Plus performs reasonably well in gaming scenarios, especially with titles like *Baldur's Gate* and *Ghost of Tsushima*. With medium settings and 1200p resolution, it achieves playable frame rates, with a focus on balancing between performance and visual quality.

What settings were used for testing *Baldur's Gate* on the ThinkBook 16 Plus?

For *Baldur's Gate*, the reviewer tested at 1200p with medium settings initially, then moved to 1600p with balanced FSR. The performance was good in less demanding areas, but more challenging areas in the game required lowering settings to maintain smooth gameplay.

Why is the city area in *Baldur's Gate* so demanding for the laptop?

The city area in *Baldur's Gate* is demanding because it hits both the GPU and CPU hard, putting heavy load on the entire APU (CPU+GPU). This makes the system struggle to maintain high frame rates, requiring lower settings for better performance.

What are the performance differences between the silent and performance modes?

In performance mode, the laptop draws more power and maintains higher frame rates, while in silent mode, the performance drops slightly (around 10%), but the laptop operates much quieter, making it ideal for less demanding tasks or quiet environments.

What is the overall impression of the ThinkBook 16 Plus in terms of its build and display?

The ThinkBook 16 Plus is praised for its premium build, featuring an all-metal design, good cooling system, and a quality keyboard. The display is a highlight, offering 100% sRGB coverage, 1600p resolution, and a 120 Hz refresh rate, which are rare for laptops in this range.

How does the display of the ThinkBook 16 Plus compare to other ThinkBooks available in Western markets?

The display of the ThinkBook 16 Plus stands out because it offers a high-quality screen with 100% sRGB and a 120 Hz refresh rate, while many ThinkBooks available in the West feature lower quality screens with poor color accuracy and lower resolution.

What are the potential limitations of the ThinkBook 16 Plus for gamers?

While the ThinkBook 16 Plus handles many modern games well, it is not suitable for 4K gaming or the most graphically demanding AAA titles. It can perform well with older games and most new titles at medium to high settings but may struggle in the most challenging areas of certain games.

What power consumption does the ThinkBook 16 Plus use during gaming?

During gaming, the ThinkBook 16 Plus draws significant power, with the CPU and GPU consuming up to 65 watts. In performance mode, this may increase further, but it remains fairly efficient compared to higher-end gaming laptops.

Is the ThinkBook 16 Plus available for purchase in North America?

No, the ThinkBook 16 Plus is not available for purchase in Canada or the US. The reviewer imported it from China, but it is not officially sold in North America. Users in these regions would need to consider alternatives or import the device.