While the colorful 12-inch e-ink display relieves some eye strain, the benefits largely end there.
Enjoy the main OLED display; avoid the e-ink panel at all costs.
More on that later, though.
Sergio Rodriguez / MakeUseOf
Onto the overall look and feel.
A quality case and a little planning can go a long way in protecting your multi-thousand-dollar investment.
OLED Display: Full of Life
The main 13.3-inch OLED display is where this 2-in-1 truly shines.
While the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 2-in-1 laptop has some redeeming qualities, it ultimately falls short in delivering features to match the $3,000 price point. Enjoy the main OLED display; avoid the e-ink panel at all costs.
E-Ink Display: Who You Gonna Call?
Seriously, this thing is almost impossible to use for productivity.
Scrolling down to read the paragraph after it?
Sergio Rodriguez / MakeUseOf
I hope you’re ready for long refresh times and dizzying ghosting effects as you scroll.
And, isn’t e-ink meant to save significant battery life?
As I discuss later in the review, that simply isn’t the case.
Sergio Rodriguez / MakeUseOf
That was quickly overshadowed by clear, punching audio that bellowed out and grabbed hold of my attention.
This makes it a great option for ambient music during holidays or family get-togethers.
Dolby Atmosis to thank for the rich, full audio quality available on the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4.
Sergio Rodriguez / MakeUseOf
They do the job with the usual blur and graininess you find on most integrated laptop webcams.
You won’t shoot the next feature film using Lenovo’s ThinkBook.
But you absolutely can get through a video meeting with a group of coworkers.
Sergio Rodriguez / MakeUseOf
As for the dual-mic array, you’ll see a noticeable improvement over the webcam quality.
Keyboard and Trackpad: Stiff and Cramped
When it comes to business laptops, typing is key.
Which is exactly why I wish the ThinkBook Plus Gen 4’s keyboard wasn’t so cramped.
Sergio Rodriguez / MakeUseOf
Typos followed by frustrated backspaces were a common occurrence.
Worse yet, the typing feel of the keyboard leaves something to be desired.
Unfortunately for the trackpad, many of the same complaints transfer over.
Sergio Rodriguez / MakeUseOf
It’s a decent size, and I had no problems scrolling and using the tap gesture to left-click.
Pressing the trackpad down, however, is where the annoyance begins.
That’s not even a full day of work, let alone enough battery for some after-work relaxation.
If you want to stay productive, keep your charger nearby.
Luckily, it’s easy enough to expand on this connectivity selection.
