Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Two-minute overview
I don’t know that I’ve ever been as confused by a laptop computer as I’ve by the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid. It takes the 2-in-1 idea to an entire new degree – one which not many have in all probability requested for. It’s a strong laptop computer, by Ultrabook requirements, with a display screen that may be pulled off and used as a pill. To make issues much more fascinating (see additionally: complicated), you’ll be able to press a button to make use of the Android OS with out eradicating the pill, basically interacting with the Android pill portion as if it was an Android laptop computer. AND, there’s just a few hybrid capabilities that work throughout each units in a approach {that a} individually bought laptop computer and pill simply couldn’t.
Confused but? Hopefully, you received’t be by the top of this overview. However, to be honest, whereas the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 has the bona fides to match favorably to each the best 2-in-1 laptops and the best Android tablets, it’s not a product that’s proper for everybody.
Its distinctive type issue is most ideally suited for those who like working particularly within the Home windows and Android ecosystems. So, in case your pill wants are met by one thing made by Apple, this isn’t going to be for you except you need to transition over to Android.
That stated, it’s a cool idea for those who work in each these operating systems. And, so long as Lenovo retains the worth “discounted,” it’s value it. Even when it’s not completely carried out – there’s no headphone jack on the pill (the ports are considerably sparse generally) and the mechanism to dock the pill again on the hybrid base station is a bit tough. It’s distinctive, as each the Home windows and Android parts of the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid equation are highly effective, and it has a vibrant, sharp 14-inch display screen. Plus, it comes with a stylus and it’s type of cool to sort one thing up (say, perhaps this text) on the hybrid station with a monitor whereas retaining YouTube open for some distraction and procrastination on the pill.
Confused nonetheless?
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Worth and availability
- How a lot does it price? Beginning at $2,040.44 / £1,399.99 (about AU$2,710.00)
- When is it accessible? Accessible now
- The place are you able to get it? Accessible within the US and UK
Contemplating how uncommon the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid is and the truth that it not solely provides two separate units that can be utilized collectively or individually however two completely different working methods, its listed worth of $2,040.44 / £1,399.99 will not be that dangerous. It’s what Lenovo marketed after we first covered this device.
What’s so irritating is that, for a time, particularly after I first seemed on the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus gen 5 Hybrid, it was listed at a a lot greater worth, particularly $3,518.00 / £2,199.98 (about AU$4,260). These costs are nonetheless listed because the “estimated worth,” which is, frankly, insane.
First, you may get a top quality Android pill and laptop for that authentic $2,000 worth. Second, the truth that it’s proven as a reduced worth implies that Lenovo might probably take away the low cost infrequently to promote on the greater price ticket.
Now, on the present, “discounted” worth, it’s nonetheless loads expensive, but it surely’s not a tough promote. In case you have been to get a Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage – the identical because the one which the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid comes with – you’d spend $1199.99, to not point out you’d have a smaller 12.4-inch display screen. After all, greater isn’t at all times higher with tablets as too massive might be unwieldy.
Getting one thing equal to the Home windows aspect of the Lenovo in a laptop computer with an Intel Core Extremely 7 CPU, 32GB of RAM, and an 1TB SSD, to not point out that the display screen (which can also be the pill) is an OLED panel with a 2.8K decision, goes to price not less than $1,000 if no more.
Assuming that Lenovo actually retains the worth at round its present discounted worth, it’s value it should you depend on Android tablets and Home windows PCs and need one thing succesful on each fronts for work.
It’s value noting that it additionally comes with the Lenovo Tab Pen Plus and an easel stand for the pill. Sadly, it’s not at present accessible in Australia.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Specs
The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid solely is available in one configuration. The bottom, which homes the Home windows-related parts, comes with a strong Intel Core Extremely 7 155H CPU and Intel Arc built-in graphics. Whereas there are not any RAM and SSD customizations, not less than Lenovo provides up a very good quantity with 32GB and 1TB, respectively.
The pill can also be suitably souped up with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ cellular CPU, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. That’s on par with probably the most highly effective Android tablets available on the market proper now.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid laptop computer configuration | Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid pill configuration | Header Cell – Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worth: | $2,040.44 / £1,399.99 (about AU$2,710.00) | $2,040.44 / £1,399.99 (about AU$2,710.00) | Row 0 – Cell 3 |
| CPU: | Intel Core Extremely 7 155H | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ | Row 1 – Cell 3 |
| Graphics: | Intel Arc Built-in | Qualcomm Adreno | Row 2 – Cell 3 |
| RAM: | 32GB LPDDRX5 | 12GB LPDDR5X | Row 3 – Cell 3 |
| Display screen: | NA | 14″ 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED touchscreen | Row 4 – Cell 3 |
| Storage: | 1TB SSD | 256GB UFX 3.1 | Row 5 – Cell 3 |
| Ports: | 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 1x 3.5mm audio jack | USB-C | Row 6 – Cell 3 |
| Wi-fi: | Wi-Fi 6E / BlueTooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E / BlueTooth 5.3 | Row 7 – Cell 3 |
| Digital camera: | NA | Entrance: 1080p FHD & infrared (IR)Rear: 13MP autofocus & 5MP broad with flash | Row 8 – Cell 3 |
| Weight: | 0.97kg / 2.14lbs | 0.78kg / 1.73lbs | Row 9 – Cell 3 |
| Dimensions: | 9.4mm x 313.5mm x 234.5mm / 0.37″ x 12.3″ x 9.2″ | 6.6mm x 313.5mm x 224mm / 0.26″ x 12.3″ x 8.8″ | Row 10 – Cell 3 |
Likewise, there are not any customizations on the outside both. No less than you get a pointy 14-inch OLED panel with a 2.8K (2880 x 1800) decision and 100% DCI-P3 coloration protection, although at 60Hz. It’s additionally accessible simply within the one commonplace aluminum grey that almost all modern laptops are available.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Design
- Restricted ports together with no headphone jack on pill
- Display screen might be eliminated to make use of individually as a pill, whereas base nonetheless works as a Home windows machine
- Comes with an correct and delicate stylus
When the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid is in its commonplace laptop computer mode with the display screen hooked up, it’s surprisingly regular wanting. Actually, it’s a bit thick when closed because the hybrid station is a bit over a 3rd of an inch thick and the display screen is just below a 3rd. It nearly appears a bit dated should you’re not wanting carefully.
In case you do look carefully nevertheless, you’ll begin to see the variations. For one, the keyboard has its personal button to change between Home windows and Android working methods – one thing you received’t discover anyplace else. Actually, there’s an entire hybrid system that I’ll focus on in efficiency.
You’ll see the big vents on the edges of the hybrid station in addition to the one USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports on both sides, to not point out a mic/headphone jack on the left aspect. The pill itself simply has a USB-C port that’s hidden when hooked up to the hybrid station – there’s sadly no headphone jack on it, even should you can join a pair by way of Bluetooth.
You’ll in all probability discover, like I did, that the show is kind of stiff. It’s so stiff, in reality, that I assumed I used to be going to interrupt it the primary time I attempted to shut it (I didn’t). That is in stark distinction to many 2-in-1 laptops, the place the hinge is a bit too free so the display screen generally sags, all within the identify of constructing it simple to fold into one of many different modes.
Picture 1 of 3
The place it actually units itself aside is whenever you pull the show off the bottom. When eliminated, the hybrid station can nonetheless be used as a Home windows machine – you simply have to plug it right into a monitor by way of one of many USB-C ports.
The keyboard is ok sufficient to make use of and the trackpad is correct sufficient that irrespective of the way you’re utilizing this laptop, you received’t really feel the necessity to seize an exterior something. I received’t say that they’re the most effective I’ve used on a laptop computer, however they do the job and do not appear to have any noticeable shortcomings.
The pill itself is a bit cumbersome as you’re nonetheless holding what’s principally a 14-inch display screen, although it’s a sharp one with a 2.8k decision and a 100% DCI-P3. That’s adequate for some modifying work. Plus, as a touch-screen, it’s very correct.
In addition to its massive dimension, which generally is a boon for some and cumbersome for others, the one different challenge is the truth that it has only one USB-C port and no enter jack for headphones, even should you can hook up with it by way of Bluetooth. No less than it has 4 1-watt audio system (the hybrid station has an extra two 2-watt ones for a complete of six audio system in common laptop computer mode).
This bundle does include an easel stand and stylus to make it a bit simpler to make use of. A fast word on the stylus, which is the Lenovo Tab Pen Plus. It’s very correct in addition to delicate, because it has “4,096 ranges of strain and tilt detection,” to not point out the truth that it has very palm rejection. Lastly, the stylus can magnetically clip onto the again or aspect of this machine.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Efficiency
- Each units are highly effective in their very own proper
- Cross-integration between units is exclusive
- Can be utilized as an Android laptop computer
Whether or not you employ it as a laptop computer, pill, or some type of in-between cross-pollinated system, the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid is pretty highly effective.
The hybrid station homes all the interior parts associated to the Home windows portion of the expertise, with an Intel Core Extremely 155H CPU, 32GB of RAM and 1 TB of strong state storage. Some discrete graphics would have taken this even additional, however as it’s, it will possibly deal with every thing this aspect of video video games and video modifying. I used to be capable of open 15 tabs, together with 4 streaming movies on YouTube, with none slowdown in loading and even switching between tabs. I used to be even capable of do some gentle gaming, however nothing all that taxing. It’s highly effective sufficient to do some picture modifying.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Benchmarks
3DMark: Hearth Strike: 7798; Time Spy: NA; Port Royal: 1584
GeekBench 6.3 1702 (single-core); 10693 (multi-core)
PCMark10: 6826
Handbrake 1.8.1: 3:52
CrossMark: Total: 1629 Productiveness: 1559 Creativity: 1822 Responsiveness: 1328
PC Mark 10 Battery Take a look at (Workplace): 9:55
PC Mark 10 Battery Take a look at (Video): 5:43
The pill with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ cellular CPU, 12GB RAM, and 256 SSD of storage is fairly highly effective for an Android pill. It has no drawback taking part in demanding video games like Actual Racing. Opening a bunch of tabs in Chrome (I ended at ten) is speedy. Actually, it will possibly deal with something you possibly can ask of an Android pill. It even has a 1080p front-facing and 13MP back-facing digital camera. The entrance going through digital camera can be utilized with Home windows for video conferencing and the like. It additionally has a bodily shutter – at all times a pleasant contact.
Having the ability to use the hybrid base station and Android pill as two units is fairly cool, however what really elevates the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid previous simply proudly owning a Home windows and Android machine bought individually – past the truth that they mix like a Transformer – is how the 2 units nonetheless combine on a software program degree.
The principle approach that they work together is thru the Hybrid Folder that they share. You possibly can put recordsdata of all types in there and they’re going to sync to the opposite machine, whether or not they’re bodily hooked up or not.
Picture 1 of 3
There’s additionally Hybrid Stream, which requires the pill for use as the one monitor, that allows you to open a window to work together with the Android OS, whereas nonetheless utilizing the Home windows OS. It does run at a really slight delay, however is a cool solution to entry some Android-specific options with out having to seize a second monitor to maintain toiling away within the land of Invoice Gates and Paul Allen.
Freestyle is an app that takes this cross-platform integration in a special course, permitting you to reflect or prolong your show, should you’re utilizing an exterior one, to the pill, principally turning right into a second monitor. It’s fairly cool, although extending the show is a bit laggy. The app additionally means that you can share recordsdata immediately between the 2 units should you do not need to go the Hybrid folder route, in addition to stream apps from one machine to the opposite. After all, the display screen mirroring and extension might be an important performance with this app.
One other approach to make use of the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid is by urgent the Insert button, which additionally capabilities as a solution to change between the 2 working methods with out pulling out the display screen, which means that you may basically use this machine as an Android laptop computer. And it really works pretty seamlessly for navigating so long as you’re not launching apps that want you to carry the pill in your hand, akin to a online game the place you’re tilting the display screen.
As talked about earlier than, there are lots of audio system constructed into this machine in order that the hybrid station and the pill can each emit sound. On their very own, they do the job however are pretty skinny. When used as a laptop computer, the Lenovo will use all six audio system. It’s not an audiophile expertise by any means, but it surely’s a lot louder and fuller than you typically get with laptops. There’s nonetheless a small quantity of hollowness, in all probability on account of the truth that all of the audio system are fairly small.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Battery life
- As much as ten hours of battery life in hybrid station
- Pill has about eight hours of battery life
The battery life on the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid will not be going to wow anybody. However contemplating the distinctive type issue on show right here, getting ten hours of use is fairly good, to not point out that the pill itself can go eight. That stated, it solely bought about ten hours within the PC Mark10 Workplace Battery check. Within the PC Mark 10 Battery Take a look at specializing in video, the outcomes have been 5 hours and 43 minutes. Relying on how you employ it, you won’t get a full day’s value of battery with out charging again up.
Since it may be charged by way of USB-C, it will possibly cost again up comparatively shortly. It’s value noting that the pill will hold itself charged up when docked to the hybrid station.
Ought to I purchase the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid?
| Attributes | Notes | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Worth | It’s an honest worth if you may get it at its present “discounted” worth. It’s not value it at MSRP. | 4 / 5 |
| Design | The 2-devices-in-one type issue is basically distinctive, although it might use extra ports, significantly a headphone jack on the pill. | 4 / 5 |
| Efficiency | Each the hybrid station and pill have loads of energy for most individuals’s wants. Plus, they combine in a pair distinctive methods. | 4.5 / 5 |
| Battery life | The battery life is nice sufficient, although you received’t make it via a full day of labor with out some charging. | 4 / 5 |
| Common score | This actually distinctive machine is basically fascinating, but it surely suits a necessity that not many individuals have. Plus, the worth is a little bit of a flip off. | 4 / 5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
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How I examined the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid
- Examined for 4 weeks
- Used it for work, gaming, and streaming
- Examined the hybrid options
I used the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid for 4 weeks, performing some gentle gaming, watching some on-line content material, and dealing on it. I used it in its varied types, whether or not as a laptop computer, pill, Android laptop computer, or hooked up to an exterior monitor. I spent a while with its options as effectively, most notably the hybrid ones which are distinctive to this machine.
The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid is an fascinating machine because it’s for a really choose group of people that use Home windows laptops and Android tablets and are on the lookout for a solution to put money into one machine that may cowl each wants.
I’ve spent the previous few years reviewing tech gear for gaming and in any other case, the place I’ve gotten a really feel for what to search for and the best way to put a bit of equipment via its paces to see whether or not it’s definitely worth the advice.
- First reviewed February 2025
For extra Lenovo units, we have reviewed and rounded up the best Lenovo ThinkPad laptops.