14-inch Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid Launching with OLED Display at CES 2024
At CES 2024, Lenovo introduced an unusual new hybrid laptop called the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid. This device combines a Windows laptop base with a detachable 14-inch Android tablet.
The ThinkBook Plus has two separate compute modules. The laptop base (Hybrid Station) runs Windows 11 with an Intel Core i7 processor, up to 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD storage, and a 75Wh battery.
The detachable 14-inch tablet (Hybrid Tab) on top runs Android 13 with its own Snapdragon processor, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, and 38Wh battery.
When docked, the Android tablet becomes the Windows laptop's display. Undocked, you can use the tablet standalone to run Android apps. So the ThinkBook Plus works as both a regular clamshell laptop and detachable tablet.
This hybrid design gives you the best of both worlds. The Windows laptop base provides performance for productivity. The detachable Android tablet gives you a touch interface and mobile apps. You can switch between modes for different needs.
The 14-inch tablet has an OLED screen with pen input. Lenovo added features like app streaming and file sharing between Windows and Android. You can run Android apps in a window on the Windows desktop. Or use the laptop's keyboard and touchpad to control the tablet.
Still, using two processors and operating systems adds cost. The ThinkBook Plus Hybrid starts at a high $2000 when launching in Q2 2024. For that price, separate laptop and tablet may be cheaper.
But Lenovo believes there is demand for an integrated, seamless two-in-one device. The hybrid design enables instant switching between laptop and tablet modes, without syncing data across devices.
The ThinkBook Plus Hybrid highlights Lenovo's ambition for innovative products. But it's unclear if consumers want this dual-natured laptop-tablet hybrid, or prefer distinct laptop and tablet devices.
14-inch Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid Specs
| Spec | Hybrid Station (Windows) | Hybrid Tab (Android) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | None | 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen |
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra i7 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Graphics | Intel Arc | Qualcomm Adreno |
| OS | Windows 11 | Android 13 |
| RAM | Up to 32GB LPDDR5 | Up to 12GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | Up to 1TB PCIe SSD | Up to 256GB UFS 3.1 |
| Battery | 75Wh | 38Wh |
| Cameras | None | 13MP + 5MP rear, FHD + IR front |
| Speakers | 2 x 2W Harman Kardon | 4 x 1W |
| Ports | 2 x Thunderbolt 4, 1 x Audio jack | 1 x USB-C |
| Wireless | WiFi 6E, BT 5.2 | WiFi 6E, BT 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 314 x 235 x 9mm | 314 x 224 x 7mm |
| Weight | 970g | 785g |
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Images
– Jim Miller
Jim's passion for Apple products ignited in 2007 when Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone. This was a canon event in his life. Noticing a lack of iPad-focused content that is easy to understand even for “tech-noob”, he decided to create Tabletmonkeys in 2011.
Jim continues to share his expertise and passion for tablets, helping his audience as much as he can with his motto “One Swipe at a Time!”