It's been a bit more than two decades since IBM stopped making ThinkPad laptops, but Lenovo has carried the "Think" torch since it took over the brand. PCMag, of course, was reviewing Windows laptops long before that. With more than 40 years as an authority in the field, over that time, we've tested just about every notable Lenovo laptop for performance, usability, design, and value using repeatable, rigorous benchmarks. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is our current choice as the best Lenovo productivity laptop for most people. It's a premium-built, 15-inch midrange laptop with a sublime screen. We've reviewed loads more Lenovo notebooks, though, and have winnowed them down to the best models in all the relevant categories of laptop, including business and gaming. Read on for those picks, plus a detailed explainer to help you untangle Lenovo's many laptop lines.
Overview
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![Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition]()
Best Lenovo Productivity Laptop for Most PeopleLenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition
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![Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9]()
Best Lenovo Gaming Laptop for Most PeopleLenovo Legion 7i Gen 9
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![Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus]()
Best Lenovo Chromebook for Most PeopleLenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
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![Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition]()
Best Lenovo Business Laptop for ExecutivesLenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition
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![Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6]()
Best Lenovo Business Laptop for FleetsLenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6
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![Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition]()
Best Lenovo Small-Business LaptopLenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition
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![Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2]()
Best Lenovo Mobile WorkstationLenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2
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![Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9]()
Best Lenovo Detachable 2-in-1 ChromebookLenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9
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![Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 Gen 10]()
Best Lenovo Laptop for High-End DesignLenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 Gen 10
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![Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15]()
Best Budget Lenovo LaptopLenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15
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![Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14]()
Best Extreme-Budget Lenovo LaptopLenovo IdeaPad 1 14
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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![Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition]()
Best Lenovo Productivity Laptop for Most PeopleLenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
You won't mistake its keyboard for a ThinkPad's, but Lenovo's 15.3-inch Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition laptop has a gorgeous touch screen and lengthy battery life for a fair price.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Desktop Replacement Dimensions (HWD) 0.6 by 13.5 by 9.3 inches Graphics Processor Intel Arc Graphics 140V Native Display Resolution 2880 by 1800 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 256V RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 15.3 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 24:34 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support Manual Weight 3.2 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition Review -
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![Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9]()
Best Lenovo Gaming Laptop for Most PeopleLenovo Legion 7i Gen 9
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
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Lenovo's Legion 7i Gen 9 pushes punchy gaming performance and premium features in a reasonably slim chassis with a luminous display for less than $2,000.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 0.78 by 14.1 by 10.3 inches Graphics Memory 8 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 2560 x 1600 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core i9-14900HX Processor Speed 2.2 RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 240 Screen Size 16 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 6:23 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 4.9 Wireless Networking 802.11ax Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Learn More Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9 Review -
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![Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus]()
Best Lenovo Chromebook for Most PeopleLenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
Lenovo's Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is an affordable 2-in-1 that showcases the Chromebook Plus generation with speedy performance and flashy features at a reasonable price.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 128 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Budget Class Chromebook Class Convertible 2-in-1 Dimensions (HWD) 0.72 by 12.4 by 9 inches Graphics Processor Intel UHD Graphics Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1200 Operating System Chrome OS Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core i3-1315U RAM (as Tested) 8 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 11:43 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 3.52 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E Learn More Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus Review -
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![Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition]()
Best Lenovo Business Laptop for ExecutivesLenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition
Pros & Cons
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Sure, you'll pay for the privilege to carry it, but make no mistake: Lenovo's refreshed, lighter-than-ever ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is a stellar achievement. This is the world's best laptop.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Business Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.56 by 12.3 by 8.5 inches Graphics Processor Intel Arc Graphics 140V Native Display Resolution 2880 by 1800 Operating System Windows 11 Pro Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 258V RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 19:49 Variable Refresh Support Manual Weight 2.17 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 -
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![Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6]()
Best Lenovo Business Laptop for FleetsLenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
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While its price fluctuates wildly, Lenovo's T14s Gen 6 brings all the ThinkPad goodness to Qualcomm's Snapdragon AI platform to great effect for trendsetting enterprise users.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Business Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.67 by 12.4 by 8.6 inches Graphics Processor Qualcomm Adreno GPU Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1200 Operating System Windows 11 Pro (64-bit ARM) Panel Technology IPS Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78-100) RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 33:33 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 2.72 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 -
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![Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition]()
Best Lenovo Small-Business LaptopLenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
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Lenovo targets Apple's MacBooks with an ultraportable work laptop for small offices that can't afford the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Overall, the ThinkPad X9 14 succeeds in design, pricing, and display quality.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Business Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.51 by 12.3 by 8.4 inches Graphics Processor Intel Arc Graphics 130V Native Display Resolution 2880 by 1800 Operating System Windows 11 Pro Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core Ultra 5 226V RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 19:31 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support Dynamic Weight 2.74 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition Review -
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![Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2]()
Best Lenovo Mobile WorkstationLenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
Lenovo's flagship mobile workstation, the ThinkPad P16 Gen 2, is a heavyweight performer for demanding professional apps in every sense of the word.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Business Class Workstation Dimensions (HWD) 1.19 by 14.3 by 10.5 inches Graphics Memory 12 Graphics Processor Nvidia RTX 4000 Ada Native Display Resolution 2560 by 1600 Operating System Windows 11 Pro Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core i7-14700HX RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 165 Screen Size 16 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 9:50 Variable Refresh Support Manual Weight 6.5 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E Learn More Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2 Review -
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![Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9]()
Best Lenovo Detachable 2-in-1 ChromebookLenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
The latest Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a low-cost ChromeOS detachable 2-in-1 for students, younger users, and budget buyers. It feels surprisingly well built for the money; just don't plan on quick performance.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 128 Boot Drive Type eMMC Flash Memory Class Chromebook Class Detachable 2-in-1 Dimensions (HWD) 0.30 by 10.1 by 6.6 inches Graphics Processor ARM Mali-G57 MC3 Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1200 Operating System Chrome OS Panel Technology IPS Processor MediaTek Kompanio 838 RAM (as Tested) 8 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 10.95 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 6:01 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 1.12 Wireless Networking 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) Wireless Networking Bluetooth Learn More Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9 Review -
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![Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 Gen 10]()
Best Lenovo Laptop for High-End DesignLenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 Gen 10
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
Lenovo's super-spendy Yoga Slim 9i is one of the prettiest ultraportables you can buy—and a thoroughly capable one, if you set aside its lack of ports and some keyboard quibbles.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.61 by 12.3 by 8 inches Graphics Processor Intel Arc Graphics 140V Native Display Resolution 3840 by 2400 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 258V RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 15:46 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support Dynamic Weight 2.76 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 Gen 10 Review -
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![Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15]()
Best Budget Lenovo LaptopLenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 delivers acceptable everyday usability and generous RAM and storage for the price, but its short battery life and middling CPU performance limit its appeal.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Budget Dimensions (HWD) 0.7 by 14.2 by 9.4 inches Graphics Processor Intel Arc Graphics Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1080 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core 5-120U RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 15.6 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 9:42 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 3.57 Wireless Networking 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.1 Learn More Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 Review -
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![Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14]()
Best Extreme-Budget Lenovo LaptopLenovo IdeaPad 1 14
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
Lenovo's IdeaPad 1 14 proves that you can have a decent, and even enjoyable, Windows 10 experience on an under-$300 laptop, as long as you don't need USB-C ports and can make do with a basic processor.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 128 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Budget Dimensions (HWD) 0.78 by 12.88 by 9.25 inches Graphics Processor AMD Radeon Graphics Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1080 Operating System Windows 10 S Panel Technology TN Processor AMD Athlon SIlver 3050e Processor Speed 1.4 RAM (as Tested) 4 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 12:01 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 3.09 Wireless Networking 802.11ac Wireless Networking Bluetooth Learn More Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14 Review -
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5.0 Exemplary |
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Best For | Best Lenovo Productivity Laptop for Most People | Best Lenovo Gaming Laptop for Most People | Best Lenovo Chromebook for Most People | Best Lenovo Business Laptop for Executives | Best Lenovo Business Laptop for Fleets | Best Lenovo Small-Business Laptop | Best Lenovo Mobile Workstation | Best Lenovo Detachable 2-in-1 Chromebook | Best Lenovo Laptop for High-End Design | Best Budget Lenovo Laptop | Best Lenovo Productivity Laptop for Most People | Best Lenovo Gaming Laptop for Most People | Best Lenovo Chromebook for Most People |
Class | Desktop Replacement | Gaming | Chromebook, Convertible 2-in-1, Budget | Business, Ultraportable | Business, Ultraportable | Business, Ultraportable | Workstation, Business | Chromebook, Detachable 2-in-1 | Ultraportable | Budget | Desktop Replacement | Gaming | Chromebook, Convertible 2-in-1, Budget |
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 256V | Intel Core i9-14900HX | Intel Core i3-1315U | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78-100) | Intel Core Ultra 5 226V | Intel Core i7-14700HX | MediaTek Kompanio 838 | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Intel Core 5-120U | Intel Core Ultra 7 256V | Intel Core i9-14900HX | Intel Core i3-1315U |
Processor Speed | 2.2 | 2.2 | |||||||||||
RAM (as Tested) | 16 | 32 | 8 | 32 | 32 | 16 | 32 | 8 | 32 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 8 |
Boot Drive Type | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | eMMC Flash Memory | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD |
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 1 | 1 | 128 | 512 | 1 | 512 | 1 | 128 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 128 |
Secondary Drive Type | |||||||||||||
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) | |||||||||||||
Optical Drive | |||||||||||||
Screen Size | 15.3 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 10.95 | 14 | 15.6 | 15.3 | 16 | 14 |
Native Display Resolution | 2880 by 1800 | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 by 1200 | 2880 by 1800 | 1920 by 1200 | 2880 by 1800 | 2560 by 1600 | 1920 by 1200 | 3840 by 2400 | 1920 by 1080 | 2880 by 1800 | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 by 1200 |
Touch Screen | |||||||||||||
Panel Technology | IPS | IPS | IPS | OLED | IPS | OLED | IPS | IPS | OLED | IPS | IPS | IPS | IPS |
Variable Refresh Support | Manual | None | None | Manual | None | Dynamic | Manual | None | Dynamic | None | Manual | None | None |
Screen Refresh Rate | 120 | 240 | 60 | 120 | 60 | 120 | 165 | 60 | 120 | 60 | 120 | 240 | 60 |
Graphics Processor | Intel Arc Graphics 140V | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Intel UHD Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics 140V | Qualcomm Adreno GPU | Intel Arc Graphics 130V | Nvidia RTX 4000 Ada | ARM Mali-G57 MC3 | Intel Arc Graphics 140V | Intel Arc Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics 140V | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Intel UHD Graphics |
Graphics Memory | 8 | 12 | 8 | ||||||||||
Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1, 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth |
Dimensions (HWD) | 0.6 by 13.5 by 9.3 inches | 0.78 by 14.1 by 10.3 inches | 0.72 by 12.4 by 9 inches | 0.56 by 12.3 by 8.5 inches | 0.67 by 12.4 by 8.6 inches | 0.51 by 12.3 by 8.4 inches | 1.19 by 14.3 by 10.5 inches | 0.30 by 10.1 by 6.6 inches | 0.61 by 12.3 by 8 inches | 0.7 by 14.2 by 9.4 inches | 0.6 by 13.5 by 9.3 inches | 0.78 by 14.1 by 10.3 inches | 0.72 by 12.4 by 9 inches |
Weight | 3.2 | 4.9 | 3.52 | 2.17 | 2.72 | 2.74 | 6.5 | 1.12 | 2.76 | 3.57 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 3.52 |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Chrome OS | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro (64-bit ARM) | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro | Chrome OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Chrome OS |
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 24:34 | 6:23 | 11:43 | 19:49 | 33:33 | 19:31 | 9:50 | 6:01 | 15:46 | 9:42 | 24:34 | 6:23 | 11:43 |
Buying Guide: The Best Lenovo Laptops for 2026
Which Series of Lenovo Laptops Is Best?
Because Lenovo makes every one of its laptops with a specific set of customers in mind, we can't point you to one line of Lenovo laptops as the absolute "best" for every situation. With that in mind, we've listed and covered each of Lenovo's laptop series below to help you decide which type of Lenovo laptop is best for you.
Lenovo's conventional laptops include ThinkPads (business laptops), ThinkBooks (small-business work machines), and IdeaPads (general-use laptops). Gaming machines fall under Lenovo's Legion (higher-end) and LOQ (budget) lines, while 2-in-1 hybrids come in Yoga (premium) and Flex (budget) varieties. First, let’s look at the laptops that started it all: the ThinkPads.
Professional Classics: ThinkPads and ThinkBooks
Lenovo ThinkPads are classically styled, business-oriented laptops with a wide range of configurable features: touch screens, cellular connectivity, biometric login hardware, and docking options. Their primary commonality? They almost always come colored in Lenovo's classic matte black.
These machines tend to provide IT-friendly features for monitoring, management, and business-oriented wired and wireless connectivity. To help position certain models within the larger laptop market, Lenovo divides its ThinkPads into a host of sub-classes indicated by a letter. These include the ultraportable ThinkPad X and top-of-the-line X1 lines, the entry-level ThinkPad L family, and the ThinkPad P mobile workstations. The 14-inch X1 Carbon is the company's executive flagship, joined by the 13-inch X1 Nano, which is the lightest ThinkPad at 2.13 pounds.
Lenovo's newest addition to the ThinkPad family is the X9 series, ultraportable laptops aimed at discriminating consumers and trendy small businesses as a direct competitor to Apple's MacBook Air line. Most notably, they're thin-and-lights with fan-cooled processors.
The bread-and-butter ThinkPads, though, are the T series, widely deployed business laptops that deliver a decent balance of cost, durability, and feature set, along with the famous ThinkPad keyboard. Current T-series models include 14- and 16-inch notebooks, which have replaced the 13- and 15-inch models of old. Some configurations feature an "s" suffix after their model numbers to indicate a slimmer and lighter system.
Beyond L, P, T, and X, Lenovo has also pushed two additional lines: E and Z. The E series is more of a hodgepodge than most, resolutely budget-minded, with CPUs from both Intel and AMD and models in 14- and 16-inch screen sizes, which have replaced the traditional 13- and 15-inch sizes. The newest ThinkPad expansion, the Z line, emphasizes aesthetics and sustainability and employs AMD Ryzen processors. You can still find 13-inch screens within the Z series and a more contemporary 16-inch size.
You'll need a quick decoder to ThinkPad model numbers, whose logic changes every few years according to the moods of Lenovo's marketing brain trust. Current models carry letters such as E, T, or X, plus two digits marking the screen size. So, a ThinkPad E15 is a budget-minded model with a 15.6-inch screen, while the ThinkPad T14 is the classic business fleet machine with a 14-inch panel. The premium ThinkPad X1 models don't indicate a screen size in their model names since most of them are 14 inches.
Meanwhile, Lenovo ThinkBooks are a distinct line from ThinkPads. They serve small and medium businesses (SMB), and most lean toward the value end of the spectrum. (See our picks for the best business laptops overall.) Like most, the ThinkBook line has consolidated to 14- and 16-inch screen sizes, but even further down to solely normal-thickness variants—no more "s" models here. ThinkBooks simply use two digits in their names for the screen size.
The IdeaPad Line: Consumer Clamshells
Lenovo IdeaPads, on the other hand, are aimed mainly at consumers, though design-forward business users and entrepreneurs may gravitate toward using an IdeaPad as a primary PC. You'll find some preloaded apps on many IdeaPad systems, particularly those bought from big-box stores.
Current IdeaPad models range from the extreme-budget IdeaPad 1 series to the IdeaPad 3 and IdeaPad 5 at the high end of this midrange lineup. The higher the number, the more premium the laptop. An "i" in the model name denotes an Intel processor, while some models have "Gaming," "Slim," or "Pro added to their names to indicate their intended uses. Screen size isn't specified; for example, you can find IdeaPad 5 models with both 14- and 16-inch displays, and Lenovo has also dropped the 15.6-inch screen size.
Lenovo also sells a host of IdeaPad Chromebooks, popular choices for buyers on a budget. Google's ChromeOS is simple to manage and use since it centers on the Chrome web browser and related apps. Lenovo's Chromebook lineup includes inexpensive IdeaPad consumer models and more rugged ThinkPad-branded Chromebooks for businesses and schools. Lenovo is part of the Chromebook Plus program that Google launched to elevate budget Chromebook laptops with better specs and features as a baseline. (See our picks for the best Chromebooks.)
Yoga and Flex: Lenovo's Hybrids (and Sometimes Clamshells)
Under the larger ThinkPad and IdeaPad umbrellas fall most of Lenovo's wide range of touch-screen hybrids, which can function as both laptops and tablets: the Yoga and Flex laptops. Introduced in 2012, the first Yoga pioneered the 2-in-1 convertible laptop concept. Yoga laptops' 360-degree screen hinges let you flip and fold the system into four positions: a conventional laptop mode, an easel-like stand mode for presentations, an A-frame or tent mode for viewing videos or using touch apps on an airline tray table, and a tablet mode for reading or for scribbling and sketching with a stylus.
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In addition to high-end consumer systems called simply Lenovo Yogas, you'll find ThinkPad Yogas and ThinkBook Yogas that target a business audience. They follow the naming and numbering schemes for the lines they fit into, such as the ThinkPad X1 series.
However, Lenovo has also started using the "Yoga" name to cover some of its premium clamshell (that is, non-convertible) laptops. These are often called out by the word "Slim" in the name to indicate their traditional laptop nature, like the Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition seen below.
The Flex models, meanwhile, are broadly similar but tend to be cheaper than Yogas. At various times, the Flexes have been their own brand, though they're marketed under the IdeaPad banner at this writing. The latest Yogas and Flexes generally follow the single-digit naming scheme of the IdeaPads.
The screen stays attached to the keyboard with these machines, meaning they're 2-in-1 convertibles instead of detachables—Windows tablets with removable keyboards akin to Microsoft's Surface Pro slates. Lenovo also sells a ThinkPad X12 Detachable tablet, a business device with one of the best detachable keyboards on the market. The other prominent detachable 2-in-1s we've seen of late from Lenovo are the company's consumer-oriented Chromebook Duet tablets.
Legion and LOQ: Meet Lenovo's Gaming Brigade
Finally, to keep up with the growing popularity of PC gaming, Lenovo launched an all-new laptop line, the Legion family, in 2017. It did this to differentiate its gaming systems from the main IdeaPad line, where the gaming rigs were until then known as "IdeaPad Y"-family models. The Legion brand includes both gaming laptops and desktops, as well as gaming handhelds.
Current models bear single digits (a "5," a "7," or a "9") that indicate a range from mainstream gaming to flagship gaming. Legions with an "i" suffix on the number use Intel Core processors, while others rely on AMD Ryzen CPU power. Given the models' specs and feature sets, the Legion family's pricing has been attractive. Today, you'll see Legion laptops in the more modern 14- and 16-inch screen sizes and in a mix of distinctive designs.
Lenovo also has a budget line of gaming laptops known as LOQ. Most of these laptops contain entry-level graphics and processing hardware focused on fast, responsive 1080p play. They're one of the more attractive budget gaming laptop lines, but it will take another generation or two of updates to see whether LOQ can rise to the top.
Which Lenovo Laptop Is Most Durable?
According to Lenovo's website, "ThinkPad products are currently tested for 12 total methods and 20 procedures" under the US Department of Defense’s MIL-STD 810G standards. These include tolerance for mechanical shock, humidity, sand, dust, and even fungus, among other hazards and contaminants. Like most laptop brands, Lenovo doesn't emphasize durability to the same degree in its general-use, budget, ultraportable, hybrid 2-in-1, and gaming laptop categories.
However, Lenovo isn't known for producing "true rugged" machines that resist significant damage and weather exposure. Dell, Durabook, Getac, and Panasonic are players in that market. For those, check out our buying guide for the best rugged laptops.
Which Lenovo Laptop Is Best for Students?
While we often recommend students consider a MacBook Air for school, or a Dell Premium laptop if they're set on Windows, Lenovo has comparable Yoga and Slim models that would serve much of the same function. Likewise, the new ThinkPad X9 series seems like a shoo-in for college campuses, being directly aimed at Apple's thin-and-light titans.
If you're on a tighter budget or your coursework doesn't require such a well-equipped machine, Lenovo's IdeaPad line would serve you better. This series provides budget-to-midrange systems for basic workloads and entertainment needs.
Finally, Lenovo's ThinkPad and ThinkBook lines feature laptops with top-end processing hardware and even professional-grade parts for academic workloads in computer science, software engineering, and media editing, to name a few. (High-end engineering work is best reserved for workstation models in the ThinkPad P line.)
Ready to Buy the Right Lenovo Laptop for You?
We hope our explainer and product picks here have simplified things. For more of our favorite laptops (that is, including ones outside the Lenovo-sphere), check out our roundup of the best laptops overall, as well as our guides to the best cheap laptops and business laptops. But for our current, ever-evolving list of Lenovo favorites, check out our detailed spec breakout, and don't forget to check back as we test and add new models.