This Lenovo laptop that turns into an Android tablet is the smartest device I’ve ever tested
Key points of ZDNET
- ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 hybrid from Lenovo runs both Windows 11 and Android 13.
- It lets you enjoy the best of both worlds, backed by great hardware.
- The device’s high cost (over $3,500) and few ports will scare off most interested users.
Lenovo’s ThinkBook Plus series is an interesting line of laptops. Each generation does something completely different from the previous generation. the fourth generation has an e-ink screen, and the previous one had a small screen next to the keyboard. The Gen 5 Hybrid is doing something out of left field again, with Lenovo taking the idea of a “2-in-1 laptop” quite literally.
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Most 2-in-1s tend to be just a laptop with a fully curved touchscreen. the ThinkBook Plus 5th generation hybridOn the other hand, it is two devices combined into one. It consists of a tablet and a keyboard, each containing different hardware.
This isn’t a big device, featuring a vibrant 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen. However, the tablet houses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoC running Android 13, while the keyboard houses the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor running Windows 11. So you have two different ecosystems on the same devices and you can switch between them by pressing the Super key next to F12.
The two sides do not operate completely separate from each other. You can send files from one system to another through Combined Folders.
For example, let’s say you have a large work project. You can do intensive workloads on Windows 11, then send files over to the Android side for further editing, image creation, or whatever you need.
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The Android side works similarly to one Chromebooks — you get all the G Suite apps as well as some YouTube apps. You can detach the display from the keyboard at any time to use it as a tablet, although you’ll need to pull it with a little force (the connecting magnets are quite strong).
I initially had a great time using the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid. However, the more I use it, the more I wonder who would want to do it so often. It’s a niche product that I can’t imagine will see widespread adoption.
My main issue is that the integration of both systems is only surface level. They are not deeply intertwined. Each half has its own storage space, RAM, processor, etc. It’s not that you can install an app on the Windows side and access it on the Android side.
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Lack of cohesion aside, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 works quite well as both a laptop and a tablet. I can navigate the internet, write, and handle multiple open pages without experiencing any major delays.
Benchmark tests for the Intel Core Ultra 7 show that it performs at a similar level to other laptops with the same hardware. The benchmark tests I performed on the Android tablet showed the device performed below the Galaxy S23, but better than the Galaxy S23. Galaxy Z Fold 4. Very good, but not great.
Even though it has two batteries, Lenovo’s device doesn’t last long. With the two halves connected and running Windows 11 in Best Performance mode, the ThinkBook Plus ran for nearly eight hours. In the Best Power Efficiency plan, usage time is slightly longer: about 8.5 hours.
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I was surprised to see this because I thought Power Efficiency would increase battery life significantly, but it didn’t. I also tested the Android tablet’s battery separately from the keyboard and the results were much better. It ran continuously for nearly 10 hours.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to use Windows 11 just on a tablet — you have to use Android.
ZDNET Buying Tips
the Lenovo ThinkBookPlus Gen 5 hybrid starting at $3,518. Due to the high price and unorthodox dual system, I cannot recommend this to most people. The fifth-generation ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 doesn’t deliver a compelling laptop experience beyond its, admittedly fun, gimmick.
Not only is it expensive, but its design also makes it difficult to use. This model has only four ports: three USB-C ports and one for headphones. There’s nothing for USB-A or HDMI. For most users, I recommend buying something dedicated for Windows 11 or Android, such as Lenovo Slim 7.
