Is Lenovo a Good Laptop Brand? [2024 Update]

Lenovo is one of the largest and most successful OEMs in the world.

In fact, it’s been in the first place (in regards to market share) for years, and, by the looks of it, that isn’t going to change any time soon — in no small part due to stellar design choices and overall business savviness.

Answering the opening question this early on doesn’t really make a lot of sense (for a multitude of reasons) but, in a nutshell, Lenovo is about as good a laptop brand/manufacturer as they come.

Image Credit: Lenovo

And that, in short, is quite a tremendous feat given the sheer amount of competition.

This legendary OEM seemingly covers all possible categories, demographics, and use-cases: businesses both large and small, content creators, productivity workers, gamers, software engineers, Linux users, students, and so on and so forth.

And so, with such a wide gamut of products on offer — most of which are pristinely built and designed with care — it should really come as no surprise that so many people have been leaning towards Lenovo for all of their computing needs.

Are Lenovo Laptops Worth It?

They absolutely are — especially if you can snag your model of choice while it’s on sale.

Lenovo hasn’t gotten nearly as much bad press for quality control issues as, say, ASUS or Dell which doesn’t, however, mean that its products and laptops are exempt from bad batches.

Laptops are manufactured at insanely large volumes and, unfortunately, issues in production do occur; this invariably affects the end user — and only the end user.

That’s why it’s always a good idea to buy your laptops (or other components and hardware, for that matter) from reputable sources and retailers like Amazon or Best Buy as they have incredibly lenient return policies.

In any case, Lenovo has a very respectable track record, and, needless to say, its best offerings are truly phenomenal and are about as well-rounded as it gets.

Lenovo Laptop Portfolio — Full Breakdown

As already mentioned, Lenovo targets many different users and use-cases, which means that a deeper dive into its laptop portfolio is basically a must.

As with so many other OEMs, Lenovo, too, is often in a hurry to create distinct and wholly unique products out of thin air, all in an attempt to boost sales and generate buzz.

This, on the one hand, gives us ample stuff to talk about; on the other, it also makes Lenovo’s product stack a fair bit more chaotic than we’d like.

This does produce, at times, wholly unique products, but it also blurs the lines between certain laptop sub-brands and, more likely than not, introduces a fair bit of confusion with would-be buyers.

Be that as it may, Lenovo, at least more often than not, nails the fundamentals and, whenever possible (given the price segment) adds a few truly unique bells and whistles on top to “sweeten the deal.”

ThinkPads — A Cut Above the Rest

ThinkPads have long been the go-to choice for productivity workers, business users, and businesses alike. They’re some of the best, most durable laptops on the market — and are definitely worth the asking price.

Image Credit: Lenovo

They might not be the prettiest (a subjective thing, to be fair), but that’s by no means a negative — they were designed as ultimate tools for the on-the-go professional, not to wow someone at your local coffee shop.

A large number of people swear by these laptops and, frankly, with good reason.

If you’re a consummate professional, you simply cannot afford any unwanted downtime.

You need a laptop that’ll deliver the right kind of performance and not break down in any which way once you start lugging it around during your commutes, flights, and whatever else.

ThinkPads are designed with this in mind. They have just the right amount of ports (both contemporary and legacy ones), bright displays (depending on the SKU), and a keyboard to die for.

Nothing beats a ThinkPad keyboard — and, frankly, it’s not even up for debate.

These legendary laptops also come in many different shapes and sizes and, as such, cater to a fairly wide audience.

Take the ThinkPad P series, for instance; those laptops (or mobile workstations, rather) are purpose-built for CAD professionals and those who need consistent performance, top-notch internals, and absolute peace of mind.

These venerable laptops also have stellar Linux support and are generally built like a tank (which means they’re designed to last for many a year), with bigger models offering a fair bit of upgradeability.

If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, they’re definitely worth taking a look at.

If not, then there’s still a plethora of options out there for you to choose from.

Moreover, there are some pretty abysmal ThinkPads out there — ThinkPads only in name but not in quality or performance — so make sure to read and watch as many reviews on the particular model you’re interested in before making any kind of investment.

Lenovo ThinkBooks — For a More Casual Audience

Despite the nomenclature, ThinkBooks have very little (if anything) in common with regular ThinkPads.

They are, for the most part, slightly more premium IdeaPads. That’s the best and most succinct (if a bit flawed) way of explaining it.

Certain models do stand out for their incredible I/O, premium build quality, and upgradeable RAM, but they’re definitely in the minority. This is, without a doubt, the hardest sub-brand from Lenovo to define.

ThinkBooks are not bad per se but, when compared to Lenovo’s other offerings, they do seem a bit out of place.

Be that as it may, some of them come with both stellar looks and a fairly respectable spec sheet, so definitely give them a look if they seem like a good fit for your needs.

Lenovo Laptops for Content Creators

As weird as it might sound, Lenovo doesn’t really have a line of laptops that is specifically marketed towards content creators — something like a Zenbook Pro/StudioBook/Vivobook from ASUS, for instance or the AERO line from GIGABYTE.

Instead, it offers multiple different “jack-of-all-trades” kinds of laptops that just so happen to be killer content-creation machines.

Depending on the type of content you’re creating, a gaming-grade LEGION model might be worth considering; it’ll not only come imbued with some mighty powerful internals but also a bright, color-accurate display.

Image Credit: Lenovo

This obviously varies from one model to the next, so do make sure to read the spec sheet before making any kind of investment.

If you don’t need that much horsepower, one of Lenovo’s newest YOGA/Slim Pro laptops would no doubt do the trick — the Slim Pro 9i, in particular, stands out in all the right ways.

It might look like an ultrabook, but it’s actually packing some mighty impressive internals underneath its shiny enclosure.

It has a stunning Mini-LED display, a 13th Gen H-series processor from Intel, an NVIDIA RTX 4000 series GPU, up to 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM (running at 6400Mhz), and, perhaps best of all, full coverage of the sRGB, AdobeRGB, and DCI-P3 color gamuts, including a Delta E average of less than one, making it a worthy competitor to even the best MacBook Pros which Apple has to offer.

The “regular” Slim Pro 7 is also a stellar choice if you don’t need as much GPU power and can make due with a few cut corners.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Slim Pro 9i (or YOGA Pro 9i, depending on the region), make sure to watch the following video:

Lenovo Laptops for Students

If you’re a student on a budget, Lenovo’s IdeaPad line is no doubt worth taking a look at.

These laptops range in their specifications but are, for the most part, pretty well-rounded and should definitely get the job done for any regular task you might throw their way.

They’re not premium devices by any stretch of the imagination, but they do cut the “right” corners so as to keep the price down. You shouldn’t, however, expect any miracles performance-wise.

They’re slim, well-designed, sturdy, and capable enough for general productivity tasks like browsing the web, consuming content, typing out documents, and the like.

There’s also the IdeaPad Flex line that contains a few interesting 2-in-1 convertibles, for those who’d like to take notes and do a bit of drawing on the side.

Those with a bigger budget can obviously go with a Slim/YOGA model — if they need more horsepower for their work (or play).

Lenovo Laptops for Gaming

As far as gaming is concerned, Lenovo’s LEGION line-up is renowned for both its subdued aesthetics and its tremendous power. We’re talking about some of the best, most well-rounded — and most popular — gaming laptops on the market.

They don’t necessarily have the most bells and whistles when compared to the Razer Blades of the world but are nonetheless incredibly well-tuned and, more often than not, adequately priced for what they offer.

Perhaps best of all, they have some of the best, brightest, and most color-accurate displays when compared to their competition.

Those things are of the utmost importance as gaming on a dim, washed-out display simply cannot result in an enjoyable experience (an understatement, if ever there was one).

Lenovo also recently announced the LOQ line that is geared toward gamers on a budget. They’re not necessarily cheap, but they do omit a few features and cut a few corners in order to come in at a lower price when compared to their LEGION brethren.

There are also a few relatively affordable options that fall under the IdeaPad Gaming umbrella. These are essentially the lowest-end that Lenovo has to offer as far as gaming laptops as concerned.

They’re in no way awe-inspiring as Lenovo had to cut too many corners in order to get their MSRPs well below a thousand dollars, but they’re nonetheless a good enough option for those who don’t need the latest and greatest components money can buy.

Which Lenovo Laptop Should You Go For?

That really depends on your preferences and, well, budget.

Some of Lenovo’s laptops offer incredible value. Others tend to sell at a slight premium. Others still are some of the finest and most expensive laptops on the market. There’s a wide gamut of options, in other words.

ThinkPads are always a safe choice; they’re incredibly sturdy, capable, and built to last.

The latest (and most powerful) Slim/YOGA Pro models are also stellar for all sorts of different workloads and use-cases, including content creation, programming, gaming, CAD, 3D modeling, and so on.

If you’re a student or tend to focus most on general productivity tasks like browsing the web, typing out emails, watching videos, and the like, you can always go with a mid-tier Lenovo Slim (or YOGA, as they are called in certain regions) — these come with incredibly powerful processors and integrated graphics cards which, in tandem, will provide you with the kind of performance you need.

ThinkBooks are also a good (if, at time, pricey) option, especially for those who want the business vibe but not the archaic aesthetics.

If you’re a gamer — or want to game during your downtime — a LEGION model (or an LOQ one) should definitely be atop your list of priorities.

Conclusion — Are Lenovo Laptops Any Good?

Lenovo’s best laptops are absolutely stellar. And, frankly, even the entry-level ones offer an incredible amount of performance for the asking price.

They’re not all great, of course, but it’s quite easy to find a gem amidst Lenovo’s vast portfolio, especially if you’re open to buying last year’s models or, say, scouring the second-hand market.

ThinkPads are beloved across the globe and have been the go-to choice for businesses and business users for more years than we can count.

ThinkBooks are a slightly more contemporary take on a very similar formula.

LEGION laptops, too, are some of the most popular on the market when it comes to gaming and 3D work, whereas Lenovo’s Slim/YOGA laptops offer tremendous performance in sleek and light chassis — and are a killer option for creatives and creative professionals.

All in all, there’s an option for every kind of user and demographic.

FAQ

Let’s go over a few potential questions you might have regarding Lenovo and its entire portfolio of laptops:

Are Lenovo Laptops Any Good?

Absolutely! In fact, some of its models are downright phenomenal, although it obviously depends on the sub-brand/line it belongs to and a myriad of other factors as well.

Still, you really can’t go wrong with Lenovo, regardless if you’re after a thin-and-light ultrabook, a spec’d-out gaming beast, or, say, a business-oriented laptop that’ll stand the test of time and deliver the kind of performance you need on the daily.

Is Lenovo a Reputable Brand?

Lenovo is about as reputable a brand and manufacturer as they come.

This venerable company has actually been the market leader for many a year and, by the looks of it, it’s not going to lose that prestigious position any time soon.

Despite selling millions upon millions of laptops on a yearly basis, there hasn’t been any overly bad press — nothing too egregious and, therefore, worth reporting on.

This obviously varies from one model and generation to the next, but the sentiment stands nonetheless. With that being said, QC issues can happen, so make sure to buy your Lenovo laptop of choice from a reputable source (one with a lenient return policy).

Which Lenovo Laptop Should I Buy?

ThinkPads (and ThinkBooks to a lesser degree) are stellar choices if you’re a business user and want a dependable laptop that’ll last you for many a year.

If you’re a content creator or software developer — or, say, work in CAD — one of Lenovo’s Slim Pro models (or YOGA, depending on the region) should be right up your alley.

Gamers should obviously go with the LEGION line of laptops as they offer incredible performance and very respectable build quality (amongst other things).

Students are also spoiled for choice with a myriad of different Slim/YOGA (non-Pro) models with powerful processors, integrated graphics, great inputs, well-rounded I/O, and respectably bright and color-accurate displays.

Those with a more modest budget can also (with great ease, one might add) find a laptop worth purchasing from the IdeaPad line.

And, last but certainly not least, those who need a portable workstation laptop will find many appropriate options under the ThinkPad P umbrella — those laptops come with the best specs, the most RAM, professional graphics cards, and so on and so forth.

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme is also a great choice for those in need of more powerful internals.

Over to You

Have you ever used any of Lenovo’s most prominent laptops and, if so, what was that experience like? Let us know in the comment section down below and, in case you need any help, head over to our forum and ask away!