By The Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 lacks pixel-perfect OLED panels, powerful AI-accelerated chipsets, and amazing graphics processors seen in today’s most proficient laptops. In addition, it is costly. It has a 16-inch IPS screen, a last-generation Intel Core Ultra 5 125U processor, and up to 32GB of RAM. In this pricing bracket, you even get some surprising goodies like an IR webcam for biometric logins and Thunderbolt 4.
Although I would not recommend the cheapest model of the ThinkBook 16, this business-oriented laptop can be a wonderful deal because it starts at less than $800. The Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 undoubtedly made some compromises to maintain the affordable price, but did it make the correct ones?
Specs and features
You should disregard the base model of the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7; Lenovo has introduced other variants. This laptop, which costs less than $800, only includes 256GB of SSD storage and 8GB of RAM. The version I have been testing, which has a Core Ultra 5 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, costs roughly $100 extra (when not on sale).
You can upgrade to the Core Ultra 7 155U for an additional $200, however, the two less expensive variants use the Core Ultra 5 125U. There is also an AMD version of the ThinkBook. The laptop comes with 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. The ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 costs slightly more than $1,000, even when fully equipped.
- CPU: 125U Intel Core Ultra 5
- 16GB LPDDR5 memory; Intel Arc graphics
- 16-inch 1920 x 1080 LCD
- 512GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD storage
- 1080p infrared webcam
- Connectivity: 1x USB-C (10Gbps), 1x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps) Ethernet, 3.5mm audio jack, HDMI 2.1, two USB-A (5Gbps), and an SD card reader
- Networking: Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6
- 45Whr of battery capacity
- Measurements: 14.01 x 9.98 x 0.69 inches, or 356 x 253.5 x 17.5 mm.
- 1.7 kg (3.75 lbs) in weight
- Tested MSRP: $829
Design and build quality
The ThinkBook 16 Gen 7’s elegant aluminum cover, which has the two-tone finish that most modern ThinkBooks are known for, creates a positive first impression. Lenovo’s ThinkPad PCs are in this line. Therefore, the remaining elements are not as good. Although the lid provides much-needed stiffness when the machine is closed, the majority of the body is made of plastic. The majority of the ports, including both USB-C ports and one that supports Thunderbolt 4, are located on the left edge. Additionally, there is a 3.5mm jack, HDMI, and USB-A. The ThinkBook on the other side features a Kensington lock, Ethernet, an SD card port, and another USB-A.
Although the bezel surrounding the screen is not as thick as it would be on a high-end laptop, it is still somewhat small. A webcam may fit comfortably on top of the device without protruding too much into the recognizable Lenovo lid handle. The 1080p camera supports IR for Windows Hello biometric login and offers good video quality for meetings. I also like that the camera has a privacy shutter. This is the biggest ThinkBook footprint you will ever see, measuring 16 inches. This implies that you will have a large screen and enough space for a keyboard. The Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 is difficult to open with one hand due to its somewhat stiff hinge. But even if you move the machine while using it, the screen remains fixed.
There is hardly much internal structure to support the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7’s plastic bottom half. When you push on the plastic chassis, the casing flexes substantially, and when you take it up by one side, it sags. However, as long as you are not constantly shoving it into a jumbled bag, the body should hold up well and there are no creaks or cracks. For a computer that costs a lot less than $1,000, the build seems about right. The ThinkBook is not light despite all that plastic. It weighs 3.75 pounds, which is comparable to more expensive laptops of the same size.
Display and speakers
If you are used to a smaller device, a laptop with a 16-inch screen can be a welcome change. You can split-screen apps on the ThinkBook 16 without feeling crowded because of its large touchscreen. There is still enough screen real estate for those who are visually impaired even if they increase the text size. With a resolution of only 1080p, the display is below average for a 16-inch laptop. Nonetheless, the sharpness is sufficient at typical viewing distances, and it will not use as much power as a display with a higher resolution.
Lenovo Thinkbook 16 Ultra 7 155H Premium Laptop Computer Intel 16-Core 16
The brightness, which peaks at 300 nits, is likewise disappointing. With the help of the matte screen, that is sufficiently light for the majority of interior environments. Bright ambient light in some offices or outdoors will make the screen difficult to read, however reflections will not be a big problem. However, if you view the LCD from an angle, you will observe inconsistent dimming.
Like the majority of 2024 laptops, the Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 has speakers hidden beneath the left and right edges of the device. The ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 is one of the few computers that can produce clear audio even when sound is directed downward. Music becomes muddy before you even reach 50% volume, although it is okay for the odd YouTube video.
Performance
The purpose of PCMark 10 is to evaluate a computer on a range of metrics, including web surfing, video chat, and photo editing. In this test, the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 lags behind, but not significantly. Even though machines with more recent CPUs can achieve significantly higher results in this test, their overall productivity performance is strong.
A CPU-focused test called Cinebench illustrates how well a computer manages demanding but short multi-core workloads. Cinebench results increase with the number of CPU cores, although cooling has little bearing. Another lagging score for the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 is displayed by Cinebench. A year ago, this score would have placed in the middle of the pack, but multi-threaded performance has been prioritized in the most recent designs from AMD and Intel.
Though it is a longer-duration test where thermals are more important, the Handbrake test is comparable to Cinebench in that it illustrates how a computer manages multithreaded operations. Here, the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 gains some traction and surpasses several devices with comparable specifications. Lenovo’s cooling system appears to be effective in maintaining the Core 5 Ultra chip’s speed under load.
Battery life
The ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 may be charged using either of its two USB-C connectors. You are not required to utilize the large 65W charger that comes with the machine. Additionally, any third-party USB-PD charger with a 65W or greater capacity can charge it at full speed. This machine was never likely to break any longevity records with its 45Whr cell. A 4K video is continuously played at a certain brightness until the device dies as part of our battery rundown test. In this test, the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 ran for over nine hours (532 minutes), which is not a very good performance. But considering the little 45Whr battery—small by 2024 standards—it makes a lot of sense.
The ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 may be charged using either of its two USB-C connectors. You are not required to utilize the large 65W charger that comes with the machine. Additionally, any third-party USB-PD charger with a 65W or greater capacity can charge it at full speed. Considering the plastic construction, this makes a little more sense. This laptop is designed to spend the majority of its time plugged in and stationary on a desk. You can bring it to a conference, of course, but it will not hold up as well as a more expensive and robust laptop.
Conclusion
Lenovo’s ThinkBook lineup aims to deliver value, not blow you away with brute power. The ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 is the epitome of that legacy. Given its mediocre build quality and performance, it would be simple to write off Lenovo’s new ThinkBook, but given its price, it is worth considering. For far under a thousand dollars, this is a pretty good productivity machine. However, you should be aware of its limitations. The base model lacks sufficient RAM and is powered by a last-generation processor. Other issues include the small battery and poor build quality.
Lenovo’s “estimated value” reductions are deceptive, and its prices are subject to frequent changes. The prices are still competitive, though, particularly if you are purchasing in quantity for a business. The fully specced-out version and the base model are not what I advise. The least expensive ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 has 8GB of RAM, which is insufficient for tasks beyond simple office work. Right now, the 16GB RAM model is available for $749, which is an amazing price. There are better options if you are willing to spend $1,000 on a laptop, but the upgraded model still has the same mediocre build quality and display. The sweet spot is the middle tier that I have tested.
