TOP PICK 
BEST GAMING
BEST 2 IN 1
BEST CHROMEBOOK
BEST PORTABLE
Model
BLW's Score
96
94
90
87
86
82
MSRP
$940.00
$969.84
Price not available
$65.00
$399.00
Price not available
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i7-7500U 2.7 GHz
Core i7-8750H 4.1 GHz
Intel Core i7-8550U 1.80 GHz
Intel Celeron N3060 1.6 GHz
MediaTek MT8317T 1.2 GHz
Intel Celeron N3350 1.10 GHz
RAM
8GB DDR4
16GB DDR4
16GB DDR4
4GB DDR3L
4GB DDR3L
4GB DDR3L
Hard Disk
256GB SSD
1TB HDD + 256GB SSD
512GB SSD
16GB eMMC
16GB eMMC
1TB HDD
Display
14" FHD (1920 x 1080)
15.6” FHD (1920 x 1080)
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080)
14" FHD (1366 x 768)
11.6" HD (1366x768)
11.6" HD (1366 x 768)
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 620
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 940M
Intel HD Graphics
PowerVR SGX531
Intel HD Graphics 500
OS
Windows 10
Windows 10
Windows 10
Chrome OS
Chrome OS
Windows 10
Weight
5.65 pounds
5.17 pounds
3.09 pounds
3 pounds
3 pounds
3.2 pounds
TOP PICK
Model
BLW's Score
96
MSRP
$940.00
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i7-7500U 2.7 GHz
RAM
8GB DDR4
Hard Disk
256GB SSD
Display
14" FHD (1920 x 1080)
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 620
OS
Windows 10
Weight
5.65 pounds
BEST GAMING
Model
BLW's Score
94
MSRP
$969.84
More Information
Processor
Core i7-8750H 4.1 GHz
RAM
16GB DDR4
Hard Disk
1TB HDD + 256GB SSD
Display
15.6” FHD (1920 x 1080)
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
OS
Windows 10
Weight
5.17 pounds
BEST 2 IN 1
Model
BLW's Score
90
MSRP
Price not available
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i7-8550U 1.80 GHz
RAM
16GB DDR4
Hard Disk
512GB SSD
Display
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080)
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 940M
OS
Windows 10
Weight
3.09 pounds
BEST CHROMEBOOK
BLW's Score
87
MSRP
$65.00
More Information
Processor
Intel Celeron N3060 1.6 GHz
RAM
4GB DDR3L
Hard Disk
16GB eMMC
Display
14" FHD (1366 x 768)
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics
OS
Chrome OS
Weight
3 pounds
BEST PORTABLE
BLW's Score
86
MSRP
$399.00
More Information
Processor
MediaTek MT8317T 1.2 GHz
RAM
4GB DDR3L
Hard Disk
16GB eMMC
Display
11.6" HD (1366x768)
Graphics
PowerVR SGX531
OS
Chrome OS
Weight
3 pounds
Model
BLW's Score
82
MSRP
Price not available
More Information
Processor
Intel Celeron N3350 1.10 GHz
RAM
4GB DDR3L
Hard Disk
1TB HDD
Display
11.6" HD (1366 x 768)
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 500
OS
Windows 10
Weight
3.2 pounds
When you intend to purchase a new laptop from a store or online retailer there are so many to choose from and you’ll want to make the correct choice.
Whether you’re looking for a budget machine to use at college or a high specification 2-in-1 laptop, it’s well worth looking at the range of Lenovo laptops.
Before you purchase any laptop you should calculate your budget so you know how much you can afford to spend. Once you have decided on how much you’re prepared to spend, you’re in a better position to compare the laptops in your price range.
Even some of the cheapest Lenovo laptops have all the features that you’ll need. The company has something to suit everyone’s pocket, and expensive doesn’t always mean better.
It’s also important to think about what you need to use your laptop for, to make sure you select a suitable machine.
If you only need a laptop for occasional web browsing or listening to music, then you should be looking at one of the budget machines. If you need a high-speed laptop with tons of storage, it’s worth considering a Lenovo 2-in-1 machine.
When you need to move around with your laptop you’ll want one that’s as portable as possible. Check the weight and size. Choose a laptop which is easy to carry around and has a long battery life. That’s also an important feature when you’re on the move.
Lenovo is a reasonably new tech company and was originally part of IBM. In 2005, IBM sold their laptop branch to Lenovo for $1.75 billion and the company now manufactures machines under their own name.
We’ll look at six Lenovo laptops across a range of prices and specifications to help you choose the right machine. We’ll review each laptop in detail and point out the main features, as well as looking at the best use for each model.
Best Lenovo Laptop By Category
Overall Top Pick:
Lenovo Yoga 910
This 2-in-1 machine from Lenovo is fitted with the 7th generation Intel Core i7-7500U processor with a speed of 2.7GHz, which may be boosted to 3.5GHz. Internal storage is provided by the 256GB SSD, and external storage can be used if you need extra space.
The laptop is capable of running multiple tasks at the same time without any glitches, thanks to the 8GB RAM it has installed.
Specs
Benefits
We particularly like Lenovo’s Yoga 910 because of its 14-inch full HD IPS 10-point multi-touch screen which has a good resolution that delivers clear images.
The slimline Yoga is extremely portable and great for people on the move, weighing in at 5.6 lbs. Battery life is excellent and up to 9 hours of power is possible following a full charge.
A great feature on this laptop is the backlit keyboard which allows you to type accurately in even the darkest of rooms. The machine is fitted with a webcam that has a pair of built-in microphones for video calling.
The audio quality is good and is delivered by the JBL stereo speakers with Dolby Audio.
Drawbacks
The screen can be operated by touch or you can use a stylus which needs to be purchased separately. Including the stylus in with the price would have been better and more cost-effective for the customer.
The laptop is equipped with the usual ports, but an extra USB would have been useful, for a machine in this price bracket, to improve connectivity.
Extra Features
- Slim and stylish
- Good battery life
- Easy to use touchscreen
Buying Advice
This great looking 2-in-1 laptop is our overall pick as the best Lenovo laptop for a number of reasons. The machine is versatile, portable and efficient, whether you’re using it for work or play.
The laptop is well-built and has a greater number of features than some of its more expensive rivals. If you need a functional machine for everyday tasks, the Lenovo Yoga laptop is well worth checking out for the price it's on offer.
Best Lenovo Chromebook:
Lenovo 14" IdeaPad N42-20 Chromebook
The Lenovo IdeaPad N42-20 is equipped with the Intel Celeron N3060 processor with a base speed of 1.6GHz; this can be turbo boosted to 2.48GHz.
Internal storage is limited to 16GB so it’s worth having an external HDD or flash memory handy. 4GB RAM is installed and is enough for a laptop in this category to handle most tasks with speed and efficiency.
Specs
Benefits
The 14-inch LED screen is full HD and features anti-glare technology which is useful in brightly lit rooms or when using the machine outdoors. The graphics processor delivers clear images and screen resolution is adequate for a laptop in this price range.
This laptop is 0.6 inches in thickness and weighs just 2.48 lbs, making it perfect for travelers, students and others on the move. 10 hours of battery life will see most users through the day without having to plug in and charge. The laptop is well-equipped with ports, allowing you to connect your external drives, flash drive or wireless mouse.
The IdeaPad features a non-backlit keyboard that’s solid and makes typing easy. Navigation of menus is courtesy of the standard Lenovo touchpad, which is smooth and responsive. The laptop features a webcam with integrated microphone, and the built-in speakers deliver decent audio.
Drawbacks
One of the downsides with a Chromebook is that they are equipped with the Chrome operating system, which is not for everyone.
There are some annoying parts of this OS that could be improved, such as getting rid of the pop-up notification every time you want to go into full-screen mode.
The speed of this laptop is adequate but if you try to run a number of programs at once it is likely to become sluggish.
Extra Features
- Slim and portable
- Adequate number of ports for a Chromebook
- Long battery life
Buying Advice
This compact and lightweight laptop is our choice for the best Lenovo Chromebook.
When you’re moving around it’s a great machine for browsing, checking emails, listening to music or chatting on social media.
The reasonably-priced laptop is compact and does everything that you need it to do in one small package.
Best Portable:
Lenovo Flex 11 Chromebook
The Lenovo Flex 11 Chromebook is powered by the MediaTek Dual-Core MTK 8173C processor, with a speed of 2.1GHz.
Internal storage is not great as there’s only 32GB, but saying that, this is adequate for a decent amount of music and other files. 4GB RAM keeps the laptop running smoothly when carrying out various tasks.
Specs
Benefits
The 11.6-inch anti-glare screen is mounted on a 360-degree hinge. This allows you to turn the laptop into a tablet, which is useful in confined spaces. The touchscreen technology works well and is responsive. Images are clear and crisp across a range of viewing angles.
A slim design and the lightness of this laptop make it the obvious choice when you're looking for a portable machine. With a 10-hour battery life, it means you don’t have to be near a power point. Furthermore, the laptop is drop resistant and the ports are reinforced, making the machine durable.
The keyboard and touchpad are sturdy and the keyboard doesn’t flex when typing. It’s water-resistant, so it’s able to cope with accidental spills or rain showers.
Drawbacks
Sound quality is average and is delivered by the built-in speakers. In order to get decent audio, you’ll need to use external speakers or a decent pair of headphones.
An extra USB port would also be useful as you’re limited to two, which is inadequate for some users. If you need an external HDD due to lack of storage it only leaves one free port.
Extra Features
- Touchscreen
- Reinforced ports
- Water resistant keyboard and touchpad
Buying Advice
Looking at all the features on this machine it’s the best portable Lenovo laptop by a long way, and comes with an attractive price to boot.
It’s versatile to use indoors or when on the move, and it has the protection to handle outdoor conditions.
It’s so light and thin that it can be easily popped in your laptop bag or rucksack, and you’ll hardly know it’s there.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 320 is fitted with the Intel Celeron N3350 Dual-Core processor with a base speed of 1.1GHz that can be boosted to 2.4GHz. There’s plenty of internal storage for your movies, music, documents and other files, thanks to the 1TB HDD.
The 4GB RAM is adequate and keeps the laptop running smoothly even when multiple tasks are running.
Best For Gaming:
Lenovo Y7000
The Lenovo Y7000 gaming laptop is equipped with the 8th generation Intel Core i7-8750H with a speed of 2.2GHz and this can turbo-boosted to 4.1GHz.
Internal storage is more than adequate with a 1TB HDD plus the 128GB SSD. 16GB RAM is what you’d expect on a gaming laptop and the machine is super fast and smooth.
Specs
Benefits
The 15.6 HD inch screen is smaller than on many other gaming laptops but the anti-glare display is clear and sharp. The graphics are superb and are delivered to the screen by the GeForce GTX 1060 GPU.
A great feature on this laptop is that it’s thermal cooled to prevent overheating when gaming.
At just over an inch thick and weighing 5.72 lbs, this is not the most portable of laptops but if you’re buying it for gaming it’s not a major issue. This machine has all the ports you’ll need to connect a joystick or other game controller, as well as the HDMI output.
This laptop has a backlit keyboard, which you may find useful if you play games at night, and the brightness level is adjustable. Sound quality is exceptional thanks to the built-in JBL speakers and Dolby Audio home theater technology.
Drawbacks
Considering the power that the machine uses, a battery life of 4 to 5 hours is decent but still a little on the low side. You’ll probably need to carry the charger with you and plug in for long gaming sessions.
Some gamers may find the screen too small on this laptop and will need to use the HDMI port to connect to a larger screen.
The cooling fans on this laptop are quite loud when they’re running, which is a distraction when gaming.
Extra Features
- FHD IPS display
- Effective thermal cooling
- Backlit keyboard
Buying Advice
This stylish machine is the best gaming Lenovo laptop and it will handle most things you throw at it, for a price.
It looks great, it’s fast and it can be used for other tasks other than gaming.
When not in gaming mode, the laptop processes tasks quickly and it has tons of internal storage. Browsing and downloading are carried out with ease, making it a versatile machine.
Best Lenovo 2 in 1:
Lenovo Flex 5 15 2-in-1
This 2-in-1 laptop from Lenovo is fitted with the Intel quad-core i7-8550U processor with a base speed of 1.8GHz, which can be turbo boosted to 4.0GHz. Internal storage is adequate and the solid state drive gives you 512GB of space.
This machine is fast and slick when performing tasks, thanks to the 16GB RAM.
Specs
Benefits
The 15.6 inch IPS LCD screen is LED is backlit and offers superb clarity. It’s a great laptop for watching your favorite movies. The screen is mounted on a 360-degree hinge.
Graphics are sharp thanks to the high-resolution screen and the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX performs well when playing games or viewing images.
This machine is very slim at 0.75 inches thick and it weighs less than 4.5 lbs so you’ll have no problems carrying it around when traveling or commuting. A full charge will give you 5 hours of battery life depending on usage, which is average.
The laptop features an adequate amount of USB ports and the media card reader is useful. The laptop also features a fingerprint reader, and the keyboard is backlit, which is always useful when you’re using the machine in dimly lit rooms.
Sound quality is good when listening to music or watching video, and the stereo speakers perform well.
Drawbacks
When you fold this laptop to use it in “tent” mode, the hinge doesn’t feel as sturdy as it could be. A stronger hinge or improved folding mechanism would give more support.
The 5-hour battery life is adequate but when in heavy use, the laptop may only give 2- 3 hours.
The machine can sometimes be noisy when it’s running.
Extra Features
- Backlit keyboard
- Fingerprint reader
- Slim and stylish
Buying Advice
If you’re planning to buy a versatile machine this is the best Lenovo 2-in-1 laptop.
It’s reasonably priced and can be used as a standard laptop, stand, tablet or tent, which makes it good value for money.
The high-resolution screen and fast speeds all contribute to making it our choice in this category.
Lenovo ThinkBook 14 Gen 2
Lenovo’s ThinkBook is what they call an ultrabook, a laptop made to go one step beyond even gaming laptops into the world of graphics editing, programming, and web hosting, arguably some of the most intensive tasks to which any computer can be applied; while a gaming laptop needs to track every part of a game, the ultrabook needs to write everything else as well. Not everyone needs an ultrabook, but for those who do, there are few substitutes.
In terms of hardware, the ThinkBook gives you an Intel Core i7 quad-core chip set running Windows 10 Pro and backs it up with 16 gigabytes of RAM. That much memory tends to be enough to leave even the most demanding of gaming titles in the dust, and is still a robust number for ultrabook applications.
Default storage is a 512 gigabyte hard drive for quick boot and read/write times, which is user-serviceable in case you want to bump it up a little. There are several USB ports and a card reader as well, making external storage an easy way to give yourself room for hefty programming or video editing projects and archives.
Because it is not intended for gaming, this model does not sport a graphics card, making do instead with integrated Intel Iris graphics - a respectable GPU for most purposes, but not quite on the level of a discrete graphics card. Arguably more important to this machine is what isn’t there - there is a second hard drive bay available, allowing you to install either a much larger storage unit or even an entirely separate machine in the same frame.
The main detraction for this model is the price - at well over a thousand dollars, it is out of reach for most pedestrian users, and is daunting for anyone who does not intend to use it as some kind of investment that will pay its cost back. Another shortfall is the aforementioned lack of a graphics card; while the large RAM can make up for that in some manner, it still leaves much to be desired when gaming or rendering animations.
Lenovo V14
This laptop is made for the professional user and the modern workplace, with both hardware and software selected for a member of the modern workforce. Although it shares the same 14” screen as the ThinkPad, this computer has traded the flexibility of that platform for the forward-thinking abilities needed to excel in your place of business.
On the hardware side, there is no doubt that this laptop has been slimmed down considerably from the ThinkPad base; several ports have been eliminated to acclimate to the more common wireless workplace, making the V14 thinner and lighter than other models. The remaining ports are limited to those you need most around the office - USB 2 and 3, audio, and a memory card reader.
One aspect of the physical design that is worth noting on its own is the sturdy rubber feet that prop the laptop up and away from the surface of the desk for maximum heat regulation across the computer’s entire surface. Unlike other brands, these are kept thick enough to actually keep the laptop from sliding around during use; additionally, they will not dig into either your lap or desk like the metal props used in some other laptops.
The memory and storage have been improved to meet the needs of a high-speed office as wel, with eight gigabytes of high-bandwidth RAM and 256 gigabytes of storage on a blazing-fast solid state drive. This computer runs Windows 10 PRo, the version of the OS specifically intended for the business environment, on a fairly zippy Intel Core i5 chipset.
There is a small downside in all of this - the demands for an office computer are actually on the lower end of the scale as far as computing power goes, which leaves this computer behind recreational or gaming models. You’ll need a few upgrades to get this laptop onto the cutting edge of gaming or high-definition video work.
Best Budget:
Lenovo IdeaPad 320
Specs
Benefits
The full HD 15.6 backlit screen feature anti-glare technology and the display is crystal clear when viewed from a range of angles. Onboard is an Intel HD Graphics 500 processor which does its job well and produces sharp images.
There are plenty of ports on this machine as well as the DVD drive, which many machines, these days, are lacking. This laptop is a little on the chunky side at just under an inch thick but it weighs just 4.84 pounds so is still portable and can be carried easily.
The full-sized keyboard looks stylish due to the contrasting color and there’s a separate numeric keypad on the right-hand side. Sound quality is good and comes from the built-in stereo speakers, which are front facing.
Drawbacks
The short battery life is a little disappointing and you’ll need to carry the charger with you when you’re on the move.
The laptop tends to be slow when multitasking which limits its uses.
An extra USB port would be useful to improve connectivity as you’re limited to two on this laptop.
Extra Features
- Numeric keypad
- Contrasting keyboard color
- DVD drive
Buying Advice
If your finances are limited this is the best budget Lenovo laptop. The machine punches above its weight due to its features, including excellent storage and a decent sized screen.
This is a good all-round laptop that’s reasonably priced and very well-made.
It’s light enough to carry around without too much effort and it will handle most run of the mill tasks.
Lenovo ThinkPad E14
ThinkPad has long been one of Lenovo’s workhorses, providing a robust platform that can be turned to nearly any application with little effort. Older models can still be found in full service in educational institutions and libraries, a testament to the durable nature of the model and the ease with which it either upgrades or is adapted to new and different functions over the years.
The current model maintains a similarly flexible standard, offering plenty of ports to maximize accessory connectivity and modular hardware connectors to allow users to upgrade their computer without any delicate tools or procedures. The familiar 14” screen from earlier models is back, giving the same reduction in weight from the standard 15.6” screens that made it popular to begin with.
Not all of this ThinkPad is a golden oldie, though - Lenovo has in particular upgraded the screen, using LED instead of the older LCD models and adding antiglare treatment that makes it far more realistic to use this mode outdoors. Some of the ports are new as well, such as the headset jack instead of a separate mic and speaker jack and the inclusion of several generations of USB ports.
Although it is not included, it is certainly worth noting that this ThinkPAd can also support newer solid state drives; this relatively simple upgrade will give the user a noticeably improved boot time and read and write speeds. This can combine with the included Windows 10 system to make for a vastly improved experience over the Windows 7 that many last-generation ThinkPads run.
Something to keep in mind while considering this model is that with all the upgrades you are likely to add to it, it will need extensive driver modification to keep serviceable - without the proper drivers, you can end up with a computer that is not only unusable, but actually causes damage to itself if used. Upgrades can give you a better computer, but they can also leave you without one at all.
Lenovo Legion Y540
Gaming laptops are the top of the range for any brand, bringing the very best that any manufacturer has to offer in nearly every aspect of the computer. Lenovo’s Legion gaming computer holds true to this pattern with a larger screen than other models and hefty allotments of memory for all portions of the system.
The operating system is Windows 10, running on Intel Core i5 with a ninth-generation processor that skims through the heaviest games in a hurry. A full size keyboard, numerical pad, and backlit keyboard are included to make your gaming setup as comfortable as possible.
Storage on the Legion includes a spacious 512 gigabyte solid state drive that allows games to load and save far faster than conventional hard drive, and is user-serviceable should you decide that that’s not enough space. 12 gigabytes of RAM ensure that this computer has enough processing power to handle anything you throw its way.
Heat can be a real problem in most gaming computers, especially more powerful models that The chassis sits comfortably above the desk surface on a set of rubber feet, with additional ventilation provided by a series of heat vents around the back of the machine to keep it cool while running demanding titles.
At the heart of any gaming computer is the GPU, or graphics processor unit, a dedicated processor that does nothing but move the millions of pixels that make up the image you see on the screen. This component determines how smoothly a game or video runs on any given device, and the Legion includes one of the better models available - the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, recognized throughout the gaming community as a high-end option for a laptop graphics card.
Your Lenovo Legion has the same Achilles heel as any gaming laptop - its size and weight prevent it from being particularly portable, and the battery life is mediocre at best. This particular model is also a few ports short of average, making it harder to attach eternal storage and accessories.
Final Thoughts
The six Lenovo laptops that we looked at are all well-made, reliable and perform well when carrying out tasks.
Each machine we’ve chosen is portable and all of them are worth looking at if you need a laptop for when you’re out and about.
Lenovo continues to be one of the leading manufacturers due to the range of machines they offer, and you are sure to find one to suit you.
If you need a quality laptop, that also offers value for money, you should consider Lenovo.
