Console gaming was given new life with the launch of the Nintendo Switch. Since then, it seems like the new normal for consoles is to walk the tightrope between being portable and being a full-fledged console. Only recently, we saw Valve announce a competitor to Nintendo’s most popular console with the Steam Deck. It seems like the Switch may have another competitor coming its way with the Lenovo “Legion Play”.
I know, I know – we don’t usually cover leaks here at techENT but this was too good to ignore.
We’re all familiar with Lenovo’s Legion brand. It’s the company’s lineup made for gamers. They have been releasing some of the best performing and looking laptops since their inception and, of course, the Legion Phone Duel lineup. It seems like they are looking to include hand-held consoles to their repertoire as well.
The Lenovo Legion Play was accidentally uncovered by users over at GBAtemp.net on Lenovo’s MWC 2021 website. That said, the Legion Play was never officially announced at MWC 2021 or Lenovo’s Tech World. Instead, the images that were discovered were pretty well hidden and their links lead to a blank page.
The Lenovo Legion Play seems to be an Android-powered handheld console. However, the write up indicates that this console may not support any physical media. Instead, it’s referred to as a “cloud-gaming console”. This could mean that Lenovo isn’t developing this alone. In fact, one of the renders features NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW front and centre. However, this clearly indicates that Lenovo is looking to take on the Steam Deck with cloud gaming.
While we don’t really know the full specs of the device, from what was stumbled upon, it looks like quite the machine. It comes with a 7-inch FHD display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The display has HDR10 support and the Legion Play itself seems to have built-in controllers, dual speakers and dual vibration motors. It’s also powered by a 7,000mAh battery.
Source: Liliputing
From the renders, we can make out a D-pad, two analogue sticks, the A, B, X, Y buttons, and shoulder buttons. There may possibly be a few more buttons on the face of the console. The overall design looks really sleek – reminiscent of a PS Vita. Renders also show a custom interface atop Android. The interface seems to take a few cues from the Nintendo Switch. With games being front and centre while other apps take the backseat under them.
While we don’t really know much else, the Legion Play could have been a really interesting device to have in the market. It could also be priced more affordably than their Legion Phone Duel. However, we can’t be sure if the machine will ever see the light of day. Lenovo could choose to forgo launching the Legion Play indefinitely or we could see it launched in the next few months.
Lenovo is no stranger to creating solutions for mobile work. Their new ThinkVision lineup takes a step in empowering working from anywhere. The new lineup is not just made of traditional monitors but also mobile ones that allow users to complement their workflow with an extra display. In fact, the new lineup could be the perfect complement for the new ThinkPad X1 Extreme.
Their biggest champion for work from anywhere is the new ThinkVision M15 mobile monitor. It’s the most portable and versatile monitor from Lenovo to date. The monitor comes with 15.6 inches of visual real estate. It has a 13.3-inch, Full HD resolution display. The ThinkVision M15 can also be height adjusted for ergonomics. It connects with a single USB type C cable. The monitor also doesn’t take away from connectivity; in fact, it extends it with 2 USB Type C on the body. It can be powered by a 65W power source via USB Type C or simply with a single USB-C cable from a laptop. The external monitor weighs only 0.86kg.
Together with the portable monitor, Lenovo also announced a larger, fixed monitor built for those who want a fixed workspace. The Lenovo ThinkVision T24m-20 is a one cable monitor solution. It can connect via a single USB-C cable and supports power delivery of up to 90W via USB-C. It comes with an array of ports that can be used to daisy chain monitors or extend your connectivity. The 23.8-inch ThinkVision comes with Full HD resolution. It also features Lenovo’s Colour Display Centre software – ThinkColor – which allows you to customise your experience via a simple point-and-click interface.
To complete the line up, Lenovo also announced a new ThinkVision webcam. The new Lenovo ThinkVision MC50 Monitor Webcam is a Full HD solution with built-in microphones. It’s built to complete your setup with a versatile webcam for your video conferencing needs. It comes with dual noise cancelling microphones to ensure that audio pick up is crisp. It also has an red light to indicate if it is turned on. The webcam is plug-and-play not requiring any additional software. It’s also able to tilt and swivel allowing you to adjust just the camera for your setup.
Lenovo has been one of the only manufacturers actively releasing tablets in the Android space. This year, the company is updating and diversifying their offerings with a slew of new tablets. Each line up addresses a unique niche with features that not not only address the need but also up their design ante.
Entertain, Create and Be Productive with the New Lenovo Yoga Tab Lineup
The Lenovo Yoga Tab series has always been Lenovo’s go to when it comes to pushing the boundaries of entertainment. The new lineup of the Yoga Tab series continues to inherit the sleek design and curves of the Yoga Tabs of the past. However, this year, the new entries: the Yoga Tab 11 and Yoga Tab 13 come with the lineup’s signature design which resembles a folded magazine or book. This year it’s paired with a large display and specifications which gear the tablets to be one of the most versatile tablets in the Yoga Tab lineup.
The Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 comes packed with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 mobile platform paired with 8GB of RAM. The Octa-core processor is able to process data at up to 3.2GHz of speed. It also has 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. It comes with a Dolby Vision certified 13-inch LTPS display with a WQHD resolution of 2160×1350 pixels. The display has a 60Hz refresh rate with 400 nits peak brightness. The screen is complemented with Quad JBL speakers with a 5cc audio chamber and Dolby Atmos certification and Lenovo’s Premium Audio Solution. It has 3 microphones for video calling and recording audio. The Tab is powered with a 10,000mAh battery with up to 12 hours of video playback at 1080p. Topping up charge shouldn’t be a problem with 30W quick charge.
The smaller Yoga Tab 11 comes with a smaller 11-inch LCD display with a WUXGA resolution of 2000×1200 pixels. It comes in two memory configurations: 8GB RAM and 256GB onboard memory and 4GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard memory. Both run on the MediaTek Helio G90T processor. Similar to its larger sibling, the Yoga Tab 11 comes with Quad JBL speakers and all the extras. However, it comes with a dual-mic configuration. It also comes with a 7,500mAh battery with up to 15 hours of video playback and support for 20W quick charge. Both support the Lenovo Precision Pen 2. You’ll be able to use the built-in kickstand to get the tablets in the best orientation for your artistic endeavours.
Versatility with the New Lenovo Tab P11 Plus & 3rd Generation Tab M series
Lenovo is buffing up its Tab portfolio with the new Lenovo Tab P11 which is powered by the same MediaTek Helio G90T which powered the smaller Yoga Tab 11. It comes paired with up to 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal memory. The front is emblazoned by an 11-inch IPS LCD display with a 2K resolution and 60Hz refresh rate. It has a dual microphone array with Smart Voice DSP with Dolby Atmos optimised speakers. It also comes with up to 12 hours of video playback powered by a 7,500mAh battery with 20W quick charge support.
Together with the Pad 11 Plus, Lenovo is introducing the third generation of the Lenovo Tab M7 and Tab M8. The two new entries into Lenovo’s mainstream tablet lineup bring a new, empowered approach to their tablets. They make one of the best entertainment experience on a tablet available at a more affordable price. They come with a 7- and 8-inch IPS screen respectively. The smaller M7 comes with an resolution of 1024×600 pixels while the M8 HD resolution of 1280×800 pixels. Both are powered by MediaTek processors.
Pricing & Availability
MalaysiaAvailability
MalaysiaPrice starting from
Global Availability
Global Price from (VAT included)
Yoga Tab 13
TBC
TBC
June 2021
€799
Yoga Tab 11
TBC
TBC
July 2021
€349
Lenovo Tab P11 Plus
Sept 2021
RM1,799
July 2021
€299
Lenovo Smart Clock 2 with Google Assistant
TBC
TBC
August 2021
€89.99
Lenovo Tab M7 (3rd Gen)
July 2021
RM549
June 2021
€119
Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen)
January 2022
TBC
January 2022
TBC
Official Specifications
Lenovo Yoga Tab 13
Processor
Snapdragon 870 Mobile Platform, Octa-Core, up to 3.2GHz
The Lenovo Smart Clock was one of the simplest ways for you to get started on a smart home ecosystem. Right next to Google’s NEST speakers, the first iteration of the Lenovo Smart Clock is the best smart home peripheral you might be able to put on your nightstand. It does not look totally invasive as a home tech; it looks like a regular bedside clock. It is also powered by a Google Assistant. How could the Lenovo Smart Clock be better?
Lenovo has the answer to that in the new Lenovo Smart Clock 2 though. If it is not obvious enough with the naming scheme, the Lenovo Smart clock2 is the follow up to the original Lenovo Smart Clock. It shares all the great design cues that made the Lenovo Smart Clock a great one. Lenovo added a few more things to make it even better though.
Source: Lenovo
The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 still has a 4-inch display. This time though it is an LCD display that you can use to display your photos and clock. It even has a night mode that turns down its display brightness just enough that it does not hurt your eyes when you see it first thing in the morning. While the display remains the same size, the entire device got a bigger compared to before though. That also means that it stands a little more upright than before.
While it is also still powered by a MediaTek processor that you find on the previous Lenovo Smart Clock, the larger body allows Lenovo to hide 3W front-firing speakers just below the display. The new Smart Clock 2 rocks a 1GB RAM to work with Google Assistant and to display your gallery. With 8G of storage, you can even store some music in the clock alongside photos you want to display.
Like the original Lenovo Smart Clock, the Smart Clock 2 does not have a camera to work with, or to spy on you. The new Smart Clock to also includes a button that a mute toggle to turn off the microphone at the back of the device. There are no USB charging ports on the clock itself though.
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To remedy that is a secondary plate dock that you can use with the Smart Clock 2. The base adds an additional wireless charging pad that sits right beside the clock. The charges at up to 10W, which also means that it should quickly charge your smartphones, including the Apple iPhone. The base also adds a USB-A port behind the entire clock assembly for wired charging too.
The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 will be available globally September 2021 onward. It will be available in three colours – Abyss Blue, Cloud Grey, and Shadow Black. It will retail for US$ 89.99 (MYR 373*) onward. There is no word on whether we will see the Lenovo Smart Clock 2 coming to Malaysia though.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.14 as per xe.com as of 28/06/2021
About two months ago, Lenovo dropped their brand-new Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2. The new gaming smartphone replaces their old Lenovo Legion Phone Duel. It also came with a whole slew of updates that makes it one of the most compelling gaming smartphones in the current market.
There was no solid release date for the smartphone in Malaysia though, until today that is. The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is finally released in Malaysia. It is available now and it will set you back MYR 3,299 for the lesser 12GB + 256GB variant and MYR 3,899 for the 16GB + 512GB variant. It also comes to Malaysia with a Maxis and Hotlink special deal at that. A little more on that later.
Source: Lenovo
The Legion Phone Duel 2 is built to be the ultimate gaming phone in the market with its horizontal first orientation approach. Even its pop-up selfie camera pop’s up from the side if you are holding the device like you normally would. When you game, it is a more natural position too. At the same time, a pop-up camera allows for a fuller display real estate for a more immersive experience.
It also packs the most powerful processor the Android market has seen so far, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G System on a Chip (SoC). With up to 16GB of RAM, the spec sheet looks more like a powerful gaming laptop than a gaming smartphone. To keep the device running as optimally as possible, the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 packs a very innovative cooling solution to keep things running as comfortably as possible.
To keep the powerful internals running for the entire day, there are two batteries inside the device that adds up to 5,500 mAh capacity. Two batteries also means that the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 charges faster and safer at 90W. The approach allows the device to be properly optimised for a comfortable horizontal use of the device too. To ensure that you really conquer your games, there is the touch-sensitive trigger buttons.
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The internals are encased in mix of glass and aluminium, fronted by a 6.92-iunch AMOLED Full HD+ display that refreshes at 144Hz and 720Hz Sampling rate for a near instant touch response time. The pop-up camera is also a very powerful 44-Megapixel sensor with ultra-wide angle lens that ensures that you look good in that mobile gaming stream.
The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is now available in Malaysia from any Lenovo Exclusive Stores nationwide and online official stores on Lazada and Shopee. You can get the Legion Phone Duel 2 in two colour options – black or white. There are also two variants of the smartphone, a 12GB + 256GB variant and a 16GB + 512GB variant, to choose from. The device will set you back MYR 3,299 onward and if you are a Maxis and Hotlink user, you are entitled to claim a complementary Lenovo 500 Bluetooth headphones worth MYR 189 between 28th June to 31st July, 2021.
Working on-the-go comes with a lot of compromises. When you are on the move, you want a companion that is fuss-free, easy to work with, reliable, and most importantly light and compact. The trade-off to that is always power.
You see this in modern laptops made for the working professionals. When you get super lightweight, super compact laptops, they usually do not come with a discrete GPU. That also means that if you need your PC to do more than just word processing, or browsing the web, or even create presentations, you are going to have to compromise a little bit.
It is 2021 though. In that sense, we should not have to compromise that much when it comes to portability and power, especially if your work relies on that kind of power. Of course, you want something industrial, durable and reliable too in your work notebook PC. The one name you can associate with all the things mentioned above in a professional notebook is Lenovo’s ThinkPad.
Source: Lenovo
Specifically, we are looking at the most powerful ThinkPad in their line-up; we are looking at Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Extreme. In its Gen 4 clad, it is the most powerful Lenovo ThinkPad ever; or at least it can be.
Within the very familiar all-metal body of the ThinkPad lives an Intel Core i9-H series 11th Generation processor (up to). The most powerful mobile processor that Intel has to offer is accompanied by a very powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (up to) for good measure. With up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM at 3200MHz, the new ThinkPad X1 Extreme is an extremely powerful machine that can chew up 3D rendering work, eat video workflow for lunch, and drink photo editing work for tea-time without breaking a sweat, especially with Lenovo’s reworked and patented cooling technology.
You can pair the powerful internals to a 4K+ (up to) 16-inch display to ensure that you get every detail exactly right. You see more too with a unique 16:10 display ratio. With 10-bit colours, HDR 400 and up to 600nit in brightness, you will get every colour for your projects right too. If you are working with a lot of Audio, the Dolby Atmos certified speakers should do that job for you.
Source: Lenovo
While a lot laptops stop at 720p video webcam, the Lenovo ThinkPad goes beyond that to make this your ultimate work laptop anywhere you may be working from. It packs a Full HD 1080p webcam as standard with a physical shutter. For added security with Windows Hello, you can spec it with a Full HD 1080p Infrared Hybrid webcam. Of course, the ThinkPad also comes with the a fingerprint reader as standard.
The familiar all-metal chassis is even more durable than ever too. It is MIL-STD 810H certified, which also means that it can withstand more than just the regular bumps and nicks. You can be sure that it will survive a drop from your desks too, just in case you are that clumsy that day. The build standard is not really to allow you to be clumsy and rough with the laptop though, it is just to ensure that you do not lose your important work data in case the inevitable happens.
Everything above might make the laptop sound like a chunky block of aluminium slab that you would dread to carry in your backpack. That is not the case though. It only weighs 1.82kg; and at 17.7mm, it is not exactly thick either. It might come with a chunky power brick though to ensure that the powerful processors get enough power.
Source: Lenovo
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The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 is expected to be available in select markets from August 2021 onward. Prices for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 starts at EUR€ 2,099 (MYR10,431*). There is no word on availability and official pricing of the device in Malaysia just yet. They did say that the availability and pricing for Malaysia will be announced soon though, so watch this space.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of EUR€ 1 = MYR 4.97
Mobile World Congress 2021 (MWC 2021) is upon us. The conference is set to happen in Barcelona next month and it is where some of the world’s electronics giants meet to introduce new products or new concepts for 2021. It is a place where we might get to see new smartphones being launched as well.
Last year’s MWC was cancelled for obvious reasons. While MWC has kicked-off as a physical event for 2021, a lot of people still think it is a bad idea to attend the conference in-person. One of those people who recently decided that it was not a good idea is Samsung. Lenovo joined that boat soon after.
Samsung cited health and safety reasons for not attending MWC 2021 in-person. This does not mean that they are not participating in the conference though. Samsung will still be present at MWC remotely. In other words, MWC 2021 will still happen for Samsung, but taken completely online.
Samsung and Lenovo join several high-profiled giants in their physical absence in Barcelona for MWC 2021. Among the big names that announced their physical absence at Barcelona includes Sony, Nokia, Ericsson, Oracle, and even Google. All of them cited health and safety concerns for their staffs for not attending MWC 2021.
All of this is not particularly unexpected though. The COVID-19 pandemic that started in 2020 is still a major global concern with new strains discovered every other month or so. The current infection numbers are not particularly encouraging as well, leading governments to close their borders and restrict movements and employing tighter regulations to curb the pandemic. The decision to bring events online is also inline of Apple, Google, and E3’s decision to bring their conferences and events completely online and completely free to attend for people around the world.
While the numbers are dwindling, there are still some key attendees yet to announce their physical absence for MWC 2021 though. Among some of those names are LG and Xiaomi. LG though has announced that they are pulling out from the smartphone business recently.
GSMA claims that they have anticipated the move from manufacturers to back out of being physically present in MWC 2021. In light of the pandemic and their cancellation in 2020, GSMA has also developed their own virtual platform to ensure that participating brands can still have their MWC presence. The online platform also ensures that attendees still get to experience MWC 2021, albeit in a more personal and private manner.
[UPDATE 25/06/2021] The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is now available in Malaysia via Lenovo Exclusive Stores nationwide and via online official stores on Lazada and Shopee with prices starting from MYR 3,299 (12GB +256GB) and MYR 3,899 (16GB + 512GB).
Lenovo’s first gaming smartphone, the Legion Phone Duel was quite an eccentric device. Just like the ROG Phone, it was made to make gaming on a smartphone as comfortable and as optimised as possible. It was also made with some practicality in mind, with two smaller batteries instead of the usual one larger one. It also has an interestingly positioned pop-up selfie camera that acts as more of a streaming camera when you game than just a regular selfie camera. Of course, the first gaming smartphone from Lenovo’s Legion division had to pack the most powerful hardware of its time.
It did not seem too long ago that Lenovo released its gaming smartphone in Malaysia though. Now, there is a new one. Technically, Lenovo just announced it with no mentions of local (Malaysia) availability yet.
Source: Lenovo
The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2, they call it. In our opinion, the name is still quite a handful. But enough on the name, more on the device.
The new second generation Legion gaming smartphone packs a lot of similarities to the older generation Legion Phone Duel. For one, it has a similarly placed pop-up selfie camera. It also has two batteries, like the older device. It is also supposed to pack more bite within its aluminium and glass silhouette though.
The main rear cameras are placed differently this time too. Instead of the regular top placement of the device, the main cameras are now at the mid-section of the smartphone. The layout change does give way to additional space for Lenovo to fit two cooling fans into the device though. That also means that the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 does not need an external cooling fan like the ROG Phone. But that also means that the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is a little on the thick side. We would not know yet though, we have not had a hands-on with it.
Source: Lenovo
The cameras are still the same 64-Megapixel main and 16-Megapixel ultra-wide shooter at the back though. There are dual USB Type-C ports as well still with up to 90W in fast-charging capabilities. Hardware wise, these are where the similarities end.
The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 gaming smartphone packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 System on a Chip (SoC), the most powerful 5nm SoC you can find in a smartphone today. That powerful SoC is paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The powerful internals help push Android 11 along the 6.92-inch 144Hz Full HD AMOLED display.
The same display supports HRD10+ and up to 720Hz of touch sampling rate. 720Hz touch sampling rate, at its availability, makes the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 the fastest responding smartphone in the current market. To make gaming even more immersive with the device too, you get dual haptic feedback system for a more precise response and feel to your games. With up to 8 virtual programmable keys, including four ultrasonic shoulder buttons, you are automatically getting a competitive advantage just on the Legion Phone Duel 2.
Source: Lenovo
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The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is available in China April onward in Black and White color schemes. It will be available in Europe May 2021 onward with prices starting at EU€ 799 (MYR 3,933*) for the 12GB + 256GB variant or EU€ 948 (MYR 4,667*) for the 16GB + 512GB variant. That is about US$ 950** and US$ 1,128** respectively. There is no information on its availability in the North American region and South East Asian region for now. For more information on Lenovo’s new gaming smartphone, you can visit Lenovo’s press room.
*Based on approximate exchange rate of EU€ 1=MYR as of 09/04/2021 on xe.com
**Based on approximate exchange rate of EU€ 1=US$ 1.19 as of 09/04/2021 on xe.com
We like Lenovo notebooks; we never make that a secret. We think that they really know how to make great notebook PCs. In fact, we own Lenovo notebook PCs ourselves.
We thought that one of their most interesting products was their ThinkBook. It was made with productivity and durability in mind. The excellent keyboard is a bonus too.
Lenovo has launched the new generation ThinkBook in Malaysia. This is technically the second generation of the brilliant notebook series. The last generation was two years ago.
This time as well, they launched three new notebooks in their ThinkBook series. They launched the ThinkBook 13s Gen 2 i, the ThinkBook 14s Yoga i, and ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 i. Yes, they are all in three different sizes.
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s Gen 2 i
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s Gen 2 i comes packing Intel’s 11th Generation Core processors. It will also come with Intel’s new Iris Xe Graphics, which also means that it should be one powerful notebook PC. Of course, these things also mean that the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is an Intel EVO certified platform.
True to its name, it has a 13.3-inch display. You can opt for a an WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) display. The display is also a unique 16:10 ratio, which also means that it is somehow just a little more compact than before.
To make the notebook even more of a productivity beast, Lenovo packs Thunderbolt 4 so you can connect to an external display when you need to. You can also opt for a 4th Generation PCIe storage unit for a quicker workflow. Of course, it has all-day battery to keep you running through your workday.
Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga Gen 2 i
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If you need something even more flexible to work with, there is the Yoga variant of the ThinkBook series. The Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga will be the perfect device for you to work with in any situation.
Of course, this 14-inch convertible packs Intel’s latest generation Core processors. It also packs Intel’s Iris Xe Graphics to boot as well. That mostly means that you can get more than just word processing or powerpoints done with the notebook.
Convertible also means that you get a nice touch display and the benefit of a stylus on the Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga. The Smart Pen, as Lenovo calls it, docks with the device as well so you do not risk losing your stylus in the abyss of your bag or misplacing it in a coffee shop somewhere.
Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 i
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The largest ThinkBook in the series is the ThinkBook 15. The Gen 2 device packs a large 15.6-inch display as per its name. While this looks like a plain notebook, it is more than that though. It comes packing integrated wireless earbuds which can be stored within the notebook.
The notebook acts as a charging case too in this case. The moment you pull the earbuds out, the earbuds connect to the notebook instantly. This could really help when you need to take your video calls on the go.
Of course, it packs Intel’ 11th Generation Intel Core processors and Intel’s Iris Xe Graphics for all the modern power you need in a mobile platform. For more flexibility, you get to opt for a combination of an HDD and SSD, or just go with two SSDs to get the best out of the notebook. Of course, because of the larger footprint, you have a full-sized keyboard with number keys.
Price and Availability
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s Gen 2 i, ThinkBook 14s Yoga i, and Think Book 15 Gen 2 i will be available in Malaysia April 2021 onward at all Lenovo exclusive stores nationwide. The ThinkBook 14s Yoga i will come with a limited-edition Abyss Blue variant, while stocks last. Lenovo’s ThinkBook 13s Gen 2 i will start at MYR 3,599. The ThinkBook 14s Yoga i starts at MYR 3,819, while the ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 i starts at MYR 2,519. For more information, you can visit Lenovo’s website.
CES 2021 is well under way and every other manufacturer is kicking off the year 2021 with a bang. After a bad year in 2020, we kind of need this. CES 2021 then, is the time that we see tech giants waking up from a bad slumber in 2020. Of course, as the world’s largest PC maker, Lenovo has to be a part of the biggest electronic show in the first half of the year.
Lenovo introduces their follow up to one of their most popular notebook PC line-ups in their stables. They have updated their IdeaPad line-up. First off, they changed the naming scheme to be more in theme with the rest of their devices since the Lenovo Legion 7 and such. They now call it the IdeaPad 5 series.
IdeaPad 5G
Source: Lenovo
They kick off the year with 5G connectivity though, with a Qualcomm powered IdeaPad 5G. The new IdeaPad 5G made for 2021 packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx System on A chip (SoC) with 5G compute capabilities. Within the all-in-one chip is also a powerful Qualcomm Adreno 680 GPU for all kinds of graphical needs. You can also opt for a 4G/LTE variant powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8c, if you feel that you are not ready for 5G just yet.
The Qualcomm processor package powers a 14-inch IPS display that pushes 1080p Full HD with 100% sRGB colour gamut. You get up to 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage to go with the device too for good measure. It also comes with an IR sensor with its webcam to fully utilise Windows Hello’s facial recognition feature.
Source: Lenovo
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With Dolby Audio speakers, entertainment should be ideal on the IdeaPad 5G. Imagine taking Netflix with you even when there is no WiFi. Imagine also watching Netflix hours on end with 51WHr of battery. Running out of power? Maybe quickly charge it via Rapid Charge Express via the USB Type-C port.
IdeaPad 5 Pro & IdeaPad 5i Pro
But it is not all Qualcomm and 5G that Lenovo is bringing to the table. Of course, there is the regular notebook PCs that we are used to. Lenovo is also launching their AMD variant at the same time as the Intel variant. They are the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Pro.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
Source: Lenovo
We start with their AMD variant, because we honestly feel that AMD powered notebooks are getting less attention than they deserve. Still, at least this one is launched at the same time with its Intel counterpart. It is also packing quite a lot of punch.
You get to choose from AMD’s next-gen Mobile Processors. We are guessing the Ryzen 4000 series processors, but Lenovo is not telling. That kind of hints the arrival of AMD’s Ryzen 5000 series for notebooks and mobile PCs, but there has not been reports of the Ryzen 5000 series hitting notebooks just yet at this time. We could be wrong.
The new Ryzen processors will power either a 14-inch or 16-inch display with up to 1.8K (14-inch) resolution. Both displays at IPS panels that stretches 16:10 display ratio offering up to 120Hz (16-inch) in refresh rate. You get up to 400 nits (14-inch) in brightness too, from these panels.
Source: Lenovo
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Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
With the 14-inch You get up to an NVIDIA GeForce MX450 GPU that should be available from NVIDIA soon. It is not a gaming notebook and you should not expect it to be one. Still, the MX450 is NVIDIA’s most powerful discreet GPU for mobile platforms to date.
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
On the 16-inch variant, you can technically kit it out as a gaming PC. Lenovo says that the new IdeaPad 5 Pro with AMD power will pack NVIDIA’s next-gen RTX 30 series GPUs to boot. That also means gaming class performance in a body that works even in the meeting rooms.
You also get up to 32GB in DDR4 RAM (16-inch) and up to 1TB of PCIe M.2 SSD storage for good measure. The notebook PC comes packing either a 56.5WHr (14-inch) or 75WHr (16-inch) in battery capacity with Rapid Charge Boost technology for a quick plug-and-dash.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Pro
Source: Lenovo
Then we come to the Intel variant, which we all expect. You get up to an Intel Core i7 from their 11th generation stable of capable processors. That is also paired to up to an NVIDIA GeForce MX450 GPU that should allow the PC to process 4K videos properly and even play some games.
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
You also get to choose between a 14-inch display that boasts 2.8K in resolution out of a 16:10 screen ratio. That 14-inch of IPS goodness refreshes at 90Hz and can punch your face at 400 nits in brightness. Or you can go bigger at 16-inch. The 16-inch display is also a 16:10 type display but only produces 2.5K in resolution. You get 120Hz in refresh rate though at a still impressive 350 nits in brightness.
You get up to 16GB in DDR4 RAM and up to 1TB in PCIe M.2 SSD storage too for both size variants. Like the AMD variant, the 14-inch only gets 56.5WHr in battery size with Rapid Charge Boost while the 16-inch variant gets a 75WHr battery with Rapid Charge Express via a Thunderbolt 4 port.
Lenovo Tab P11
Source: Lenovo
The Android tablet market is quite stale these days with the usual offering from the likes of Samsung. There are some other offerings from Acer as well, but they are made for a completely different purpose and sense. Until now, there is no competing tablet to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series.
We said until now because Lenovo has announced their Lenovo Tab P11. The Lenovo Tab P11 is an 11-inch tablet that is supposed to also come with a keyboard case and stylus pen of its own. Its 11-inch IPS panel also boasts 2K (2,000 x 1,200) in resolution. All that goodness can be pushed to 400 nits. But the 400 nits should not hurt your eyes too much with TÜV Rheinland certified Eye Care technology.
The 11-incher packs a Qualcomm’s power efficient Snapdragon 662 platform with LTE connectivity. While it does not pack as much power as Samsung’s high-end Exynos powering the Galaxy Tab S7 series, the Snapdragon 662 is still a capable enough SoC on its own. The SoC is partnered with 6GB of RAM for plenty of multitasking and smooth browsing when needed.
The Lenovo Tab P11 is made to be a family friendly tablet you can enjoy at home though. It has something called Kids Space made by Google for curated lists of apps, books, and even videos to motivate learning in kids under 9 years of age.
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
The 8MP selfie camera is also perfect for video calls. For meetings you need to take at home, you can even turn on Smart Privacy mode to blur out your background. That, or when you want to hide the mess that is behind you or mask your whereabouts. It is an entertainment powerhouse with Dolby Atmos certified quad speakers for the best possible aural experience when you want movies or videos in whichever orientation you prefer.
Price and Availability
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5g is expected to hit selected markets only. There are no mentions on its release date or even which markets will get it first. Lenovo only mentions that the Lenovo is not bringing it to the North American market currently. We are not even sure it if it is going to make it into Malaysia at all, there are no plans currently.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro (16-inch) with AMD’s latest H-Series processors and next-gen NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs will be available in North American markets starting May 2021. The retail price is expected to start from US$ 1,149.99 (MRY 4,650*). The 14-inch variant will not be available in the North American region but is supposed to launch in EMEA region in March 2021 with a retail price starting EU€ 799 (MYR 3,933**). Again, there are no word on its availability in Malaysia specifically.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Pro (16-inch) with Intel’s 11th generation Core processors will not be available in North America yet. It will be launched in the EMEA markets starting March 2021 with prices starting from EU€ 899 (MYR 4,425**). The 14-inch in variant is also supposedly launched in EMEA at around the same time with prices starting from EU€699 (MYR 3,440**). Its availability in Malaysia is also not yet confirmed by Lenovo Malaysia.
The Lenovo Tab P11 is now available in the North American region at US$ 229.99 (MYR 930*). Like the other things that has been announced, there are no confirmation on the device’s availability in Malaysia just yet. Of course, we are keeping our ears to the ground and keep you posted on any changes in any of this, keep watch of this space.
*Approximately based on Conversion Rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.04 as of 11th January 2021 (xe.com)
**Approximately based on Conversion Rate of EU€ 1 = MYR 4.92 as of 11th January 2021 (xe.com)
