Lenovo LOQ 2024 Review: The Ultimate All-Rounder Laptop?

In a world where laptops have become essential tools for work, play, and everything in between, the Lenovo LOQ 2024 has emerged as a strong contender in the all-rounder category. With a powerful Intel 13th Gen 13450HX processor, a capable NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, and thoughtful design improvements, this laptop promises to meet the needs of a diverse user base, from students and gamers to creative professionals. In this comprehensive review, we’ll delve into every aspect of the Lenovo LOQ 2024, from design and build quality to performance, display, audio, battery life, and beyond. Let’s find out if this laptop truly lives up to the hype and stands as the best all-rounder of 2024.

Design and Build Quality: Practicality Meets Aesthetics

The Lenovo LOQ 2024 showcases a design that balances practicality with aesthetics. Lenovo has taken a minimalist approach with this model, focusing on functionality while ensuring the laptop retains a sleek and modern look. The matte finish on the exterior not only gives it a professional appearance but also reduces fingerprints and smudges, keeping the laptop looking clean and polished.

Port Placement and Accessibility

One of the significant design improvements in the Lenovo LOQ 2024 is the strategic placement of ports. The laptop features a combination of ports located on the sides and at the back. This design choice is particularly beneficial for users who prefer a clutter-free workspace. By placing most of the ports at the back, Lenovo has minimized the number of cables and peripherals visible on the desk, contributing to a more organized and ergonomic setup.

• Side Ports: The sides house essential ports like USB-A and a 3.5mm audio jack, making them easily accessible for connecting peripherals like a mouse, keyboard, or headphones.
• Rear Ports: The rear of the laptop includes additional USB ports, HDMI, and the power connector. This placement is ideal for users who connect to external monitors or power sources regularly, as it helps keep the cables out of sight and reduces desk clutter.

Ventilation and Cooling System

Thermal management is a critical aspect of any high-performance laptop, and Lenovo has paid special attention to this in the LOQ 2024. The ventilation system has been redesigned with larger vents and a new honeycomb structure at the back, allowing for better airflow and improved cooling efficiency.

• Rear Vents: The shift from side to rear vents is a significant improvement over previous models. In earlier versions, side vents would often blow hot air onto the user’s hands, especially during prolonged gaming or intensive tasks. By moving the vents to the back, Lenovo has enhanced the overall comfort of the laptop, making it more user-friendly during extended sessions.
• Thermal Chamber: The laptop features a new Hyper Chamber cooling system that enhances heat dissipation, allowing the laptop to handle higher wattages without overheating. This is particularly important for users who push the laptop to its limits with demanding applications or games.

Durability and Build Quality

Despite its relatively lightweight design (around 2.4 kg), the Lenovo LOQ 2024 does not compromise on durability. The laptop is built with a robust chassis that can withstand the rigors of daily use. Whether you’re a student carrying it around campus or a professional using it on the go, the LOQ 2024 is designed to handle the wear and tear of everyday life.

• Hinge Design: The hinges are sturdy and allow for smooth opening and closing of the lid. The laptop’s screen can be tilted back to a comfortable angle, making it versatile for various usage scenarios, from typing to watching videos.

Performance: Intel 13th Gen 13450HX and NVIDIA RTX 3050 in Action

When it comes to performance, the Lenovo LOQ 2024 is a powerhouse. At its core, the laptop is equipped with the Intel 13th Gen 13450HX processor, a high-performance CPU designed to handle a wide range of tasks with ease. Coupled with the NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, this laptop is well-suited for everything from everyday productivity tasks to gaming and content creation.

Processor: Intel 13th Gen 13450HX

The Intel 13th Gen 13450HX processor is one of the standout features of the Lenovo LOQ 2024. With 10 cores (6 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores) and a boost clock of up to 5.4 GHz, this CPU is designed to deliver top-tier performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded applications.

• Single-Core Performance: In everyday tasks like web browsing, word processing, and video streaming, the single-core performance of the 13450HX ensures smooth and responsive operation. Applications open quickly, and multitasking is seamless, with no noticeable lag even when switching between multiple tabs and programs.
• Multi-Core Performance: The multi-core performance is equally impressive, making the Lenovo LOQ 2024 a great choice for more demanding workloads like video editing, 3D rendering, and software development. In benchmarks like Cinebench R23, the laptop scored around 14,500 points in the multi-core test, putting it on par with other high-performance laptops in its class.

Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 3050

The Lenovo LOQ 2024 comes equipped with the NVIDIA RTX 3050, a capable mid-range GPU that strikes a good balance between performance and power efficiency. With a TGP (Total Graphics Power) of 95 watts, the RTX 3050 is well-suited for gaming, content creation, and other graphically intensive tasks.

• Gaming Performance: The RTX 3050 delivers solid gaming performance at 1080p resolution. In games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077, the laptop maintains a steady 40-70 FPS on medium to high settings. While it may not be able to handle the latest AAA titles with ray tracing enabled at ultra settings, it provides a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience for most games.
• Creative Work: For content creators, the RTX 3050 offers enough power to handle tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, and graphic design. In Adobe Premiere Pro, for example, the laptop can handle 4K video editing with multiple layers of footage, effects, and transitions without any noticeable slowdown. Rendering times are competitive, making it a good option for creative professionals on a budget.

Memory and Storage

• RAM: The Lenovo LOQ 2024 comes with 16GB of DDR5 RAM, clocked at 4800 MHz. This is more than sufficient for most users, ensuring smooth multitasking and fast application loading times. For power users who need more memory, the RAM is expandable up to 32GB, providing ample headroom for future upgrades.
• Storage: The laptop features a 512GB Gen 4 SSD as its primary storage device. This SSD offers fast read and write speeds, ensuring quick boot times and rapid access to files and applications. Additionally, there is an extra M.2 slot available, allowing users to expand the storage up to 2TB if needed.

Real-World Usage Scenarios

While benchmark scores and specifications are important, what truly matters is how the laptop performs in real-world usage scenarios. The Lenovo LOQ 2024 excels across a variety of tasks, making it a versatile option for different types of users.

Creative Professionals: A Capable Tool for Content Creation

For creative professionals, the Lenovo LOQ 2024 offers a compelling blend of power and portability. Whether you’re editing videos, working on graphic design projects, or creating digital art, this laptop has the tools you need to get the job done.

• Video Editing: The combination of the Intel 13th Gen 13450HX processor and NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU makes the LOQ 2024 well-suited for video editing. In tests using Adobe Premiere Pro, the laptop handled complex projects involving multiple 1080p video files, several audio tracks, and intricate animations with ease. The timeline navigation was smooth, and the preview playback was fluid even at 100% resolution. When it came to rendering, the laptop completed a 10-minute 4K video in just over an hour, which is impressive for a laptop in this price range.
• Graphic Design: For graphic designers, the laptop’s 15.6-inch IPS display with 100% sRGB color gamut ensures accurate color reproduction, making it ideal for tasks that require precise color work. Programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator run smoothly, even when working with large, high-resolution files.

Gamers: Solid Performance at 1080p

While the Lenovo LOQ 2024 may not be a dedicated gaming laptop, it holds its own when it comes to gaming performance. The RTX 3050 GPU, combined with the 144Hz display, offers a smooth and responsive gaming experience, particularly at 1080p resolution.

• Gaming Experience: In Red Dead Redemption 2, one of the most demanding games available, the laptop managed to maintain a frame rate between 40-70 FPS on medium to high settings. For more competitive titles like Call of Duty: Warzone or Fortnite, the laptop easily reaches higher frame rates, providing a competitive edge. The G-Sync compatibility ensures that the gameplay remains smooth, free from screen tearing or stuttering.
• Thermal Management: Even during extended gaming sessions, the Lenovo LOQ 2024’s cooling system performs admirably. The Hyper Chamber cooling system keeps temperatures in check, ensuring the laptop remains comfortable to use. While the fans do get louder under load, they are not overly intrusive, and the laptop remains relatively cool to the touch.

Students and Professionals: A Reliable Companion for Everyday Tasks

For students and professionals who need a reliable laptop for everyday tasks like word processing, web browsing, and video conferencing, the Lenovo LOQ 2024 offers more than enough power.

• Productivity: The laptop’s Intel 13th Gen processor ensures that everyday productivity tasks are handled with ease. Programs like Microsoft Office run smoothly, with no lag when switching between applications. The laptop’s keyboard is comfortable to type on, with good key travel and a responsive feel, making it ideal for long typing sessions.
• Web Browsing: With Wi-Fi 6E support, the Lenovo LOQ 2024 offers fast and stable internet connectivity, ensuring smooth web browsing even with multiple tabs open. The laptop handles streaming video in 4K resolution without any buffering, and the dual-array microphones ensure clear audio during video calls.
• Battery Life: The Lenovo LOQ 2024’s battery life is another strong point. The laptop can last up to 8 hours on a single charge with moderate usage, making it a good option for students and professionals who need a laptop that can last through a full day of classes or meetings. When it does come time to recharge, the laptop supports fast charging, which can restore up to 50% of the battery in just 30 minutes.

Display: A Feast for the Eyes

The Lenovo LOQ 2024 features a 15.6-inch IPS display with FHD resolution (1920×1080), offering vibrant colors and sharp details. Whether you’re gaming, editing photos, or watching movies, the display provides an immersive visual experience.

Color Accuracy and Brightness

The display boasts 100% sRGB color gamut, ensuring accurate color reproduction, which is essential for creative professionals who need precise color matching for their work. The brightness levels are also commendable, with the display reaching up to 300 nits. While this may not be the brightest display available, it is sufficient for most indoor environments, even in well-lit rooms.

• Anti-Glare Coating: The display is also equipped with an anti-glare coating, which reduces reflections and makes it easier to use the laptop in bright conditions. This is particularly useful for users who work in environments with a lot of natural light, as it minimizes eye strain and allows for better visibility.

Refresh Rate and Response Time

For gamers, the display’s 144Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time are significant advantages. The higher refresh rate ensures smoother gameplay, particularly in fast-paced games where quick reactions are essential. The response time is also impressive, reducing motion blur and ghosting, which are common issues in lower-end displays.

• G-Sync Compatibility: The display is also G-Sync compatible, which helps eliminate screen tearing and provides a more fluid gaming experience. This is especially important for gamers who play competitive titles, where even minor stutters or tearing can affect performance.

Viewing Angles

The IPS panel offers wide viewing angles, ensuring that the display remains clear and vibrant even when viewed from the side. This is particularly useful for collaborative work, where multiple people might need to view the screen simultaneously.

Audio: Enhanced Sound Experience

Lenovo has made significant improvements to the audio quality in the LOQ 2024. The laptop features a dual-speaker system tuned by Harman Kardon, providing a more immersive audio experience than previous models.

Speaker Quality

The speakers deliver clear and balanced sound, with enough volume to fill a small room. While the bass response is not as deep as you might find in larger laptops or dedicated external speakers, it is still impressive for a laptop of this size.

• Dolby Atmos: The Lenovo LOQ 2024 also supports Dolby Atmos, which enhances the spatial audio experience, making it more immersive, especially when watching movies or playing games that support the technology.

Microphone and Webcam

The laptop’s built-in dual-array microphones provide clear audio for video calls, with effective noise cancellation to reduce background sounds. The 720p webcam is adequate for video conferencing, offering decent image quality in well-lit environments. However, it would have been nice to see a 1080p webcam, especially given the growing importance of video communication in remote work and online learning.

Battery Life and Charging: Long-Lasting Performance

Battery life is a critical factor for many laptop users, and the Lenovo LOQ 2024 does not disappoint in this area. With a 60Wh battery, the laptop can last up to 8 hours on a single charge with moderate usage, making it a reliable companion for a full day of work or classes.

Fast Charging

When it comes to recharging, the Lenovo LOQ 2024 supports rapid charging technology, which can restore up to 50% of the battery in just 30 minutes. This is particularly useful for users who need to quickly top up their battery during short breaks.

Battery Optimization

The laptop also includes Lenovo’s Smart Battery Management system, which helps optimize battery life by adjusting power consumption based on usage patterns. This ensures that the laptop delivers the best possible battery performance in various scenarios, whether you’re working on documents, streaming videos, or playing games.

Conclusion: Is the Lenovo LOQ 2024 Worth It?

The Lenovo LOQ 2024 is a well-rounded laptop that offers a lot of value for its price. With a powerful Intel 13th Gen 13450HX processor, capable NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, a vibrant display, and long battery life, it is a versatile machine that can handle a wide range of tasks. Whether you’re a student, professional, gamer, or content creator, the Lenovo LOQ 2024 has something to offer.

Pros:

• Powerful performance with Intel 13th Gen processor and NVIDIA RTX 3050.
• Sleek design with practical port placement and excellent build quality.
• Vibrant display with 100% sRGB color gamut and 144Hz refresh rate.
• Improved cooling system for better thermal management.
• Long battery life with fast charging capabilities.

Cons:

• 720p webcam could be better, especially for those who frequently engage in video calls.
• Speakers are decent but may not satisfy audiophiles seeking deeper bass.

Overall, the Lenovo LOQ 2024 stands out as an excellent all-rounder, offering a compelling mix of performance, design, and features at a competitive price. Whether you’re looking for a laptop for work, study, gaming, or content creation, the LOQ 2024 is a solid choice that won’t disappoint.