Pros
- Competitive pricing – laptop now sells for $799
- Robust in terms of construction along with ample ports being provided
Cons
- Overheating laptops do not lead to exceptional performance along with an average CPU
- Average battery life
- Subpar quality for dim displays
Verdict
Upon thorough testing and comparing the product to its counterparts, it can be concluded that Lenovo LOQ 15 does fall short on ideal benchmarks, but the performance is modestly good at a competitive price. However, the performance compromises that were made due to cost minimization become more glaring in the TVs and displays.
Overview
With budget constraints in mind, the Lenovo LOQ 15 operates on the bare minimum required to run modern games, to be more precise, the Lenovo LOQ 15 is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 alongside an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, and has an acceptable 144Hz display. With all these specs combined, this laptop would cost approximately $799 and would easily be at its peak with low gaming settings. This construction paired with the use of low tier equipment makes this laptop easily extractable for low hardcore gamers.
Primary Features
- Model Number: LOQ 15ARP9
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS microprocessor with 4 cores
- RAM: 12 GB DDR5
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 with 6 GB of VRAM
- Storage: 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 Solid State Drive
- Display: 15.6 inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920×1080 and 144Hz refresh rate
- Battery: 60 watt hour capacity, and about 3 hour’s worth of runtime while playing videos
- Ports: One USB-C port and three USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, an ethernet port, and a combo audio jack
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3
Quality of Build and the Design
When it comes to the aesthetic design of the Lenovo LOQ 15 laptop, it has maintained a conservative minimalist design since it doesn’t possess any flashy gamer characteristics. Although its body is made up of plastic, it still provides a hearty construction and great value for its price. Weighing 5.39 pounds, it is somewhat heavier than most laptops, but it does not experience any flexing or creaking.
Another great advantage is the smooth designed hinge which enables the laptop to open very easily using just one hand. Moreover, positioning the ports at the rear of the cabin reduces the clutter and makes cable setup simpler and more elegant.
Performance
As far as performance per dollar goes, LOQ 15 is fairly acceptable. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU with 6GB of VRAM can run casual games at lower to medium settings while the AMD Ryzen 5 CPU along with 12GB of RAM aids in smooth multitasking. Still, with only 4 cores, and an entry level GPU, this is not meant for heavy usage or gaming.
Benchmarks
- PCMark 10: 6,059 points indicate an average system performance.
- Cinebench R20: The score of 2763 shows the lack of CPU performance.
- 3DMark Time Spy: It manages a score of 5511 which shows low level gaming capabilities.
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p): Highest settings reach an average of 76 FPS.
- Metro Exodus (1080p Extreme): Only reaches 23 FPS which shows the limits of this for demanding games.
Display and Audio
The 15.6 inch, 1080p and 144Hz display is suitable for gaming even though it reaches a max of only 300 nits. This brightness can be considered low for well lit areas. Color reproduction isn’t the best either and can be considered usable at best.
Speakers are quiet and flat which don’t produce the best audio quality which can be disappointing. External speakers or headphones can enhance the experience greatly.
Trackpad and Keyboard
The keyboard’s size is commendable and encompasses a simple white backlit number pad. Although the keys aren’t particularly of a premium grade, typing is an enjoyable experience as the keyboard is still designed in a comfortable manner. The size of the trackpad must be praised further, as it not only has a smooth surface but is also responsive which is remarkable for a laptop that is within this price range.
Battery Timing
Battery life can be considered as one of the glaring limitations of the Lenovo LOQ 15. The RTX 3050 is an absolute beast and poses to be a power-hungry device, and without the GPU present, hard to survive with only a 60 Wh battery. All things considered, the laptop averages out at 3 hours during playback tests which is not ideal, and even for gaming or heavier tasks, the battery timing will fall short.
Connectivity Options and Other Features
A mixture of ports and features is available on the laptop. Some being Three USB-A ports, Ethernet, HDMI 2.1 and USB-C. One good feature is that there is a physical webcam shutter which increase privacy and peace of mind. The features that are lacking are quite understandable given the price point, which include an IR camera.
Conclusion
If its price is taken into account, Lenovo LOQ 15 emerges as a very competitive and high-quality entry-level gamer laptop. Its great hardware build coupled with decent gaming performance leaves room for its casual users or serving as a secondary device. Still, Acer Nitro V 16 is a much more powerful option in case you are willing to pay a little bit extra.
