The Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop 2023 is a formidable machine designed to cater to the needs of both casual and avid gamers, who demand high performance and reliability. Boasting an array of impressive specifications, from its potent AMD Ryzen processor to its high-refreshing display and gaming-focused features, this laptop is a true powerhouse in a sleek and stylish package.
Considering the features, the laptop looks like an impressive deal for the price. But how does it fare in real-life use? Let’s find out in this Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop 2023 review.
Lenovo’s LOQ Gaming Laptop strikes a balance between sophisticated design and gaming charisma. With a nod to the IdeaPad Gaming 3 and hints from the Legion lineup, the LOQ offers a unique fusion that captures attention.
The design is notably subtle, fitting seamlessly into professional settings while retaining the gaming spirit. The lid features a modest LOQ emblem, eschewing excessive RGB lighting for a tasteful appearance. Turquoise accents, borrowed from the IdeaPad Gaming 3, add a touch of color that appeals to users seeking versatility in both work and play.
The full-sized keyboard, a hallmark of Lenovo gaming laptops, ensures comfortable typing. While key travel distance might vary by preference, the keys are well-spaced and responsive. The absence of extravagant RGB lighting outside the backlit keyboard contributes to a cohesive and understated look.
Though not directly from the Legion family, the Lenovo LOQ inherits design influences. The LOQ Gaming Laptop chassis, akin to a more affordable Legion 5 15, replaces metal components with PC-ABS plastic, without sacrificing durability. Despite slightly weaker rigidity in the palm rest and keyboard center areas, the laptop maintains solid overall construction.
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The keyboard on the Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop maintains the design from the IdeaPad Gaming 3 15, delivering a sense of familiarity to those accustomed to Lenovo’s laptop lineup. If you’ve ever typed on an IdeaPad or Yoga laptop in the past, you’ll feel right at home with the keyboard on the Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop.
Subjectively, the keys on the Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop’s keyboard offer a pleasant change – they feel firmer and clickier compared to the norm, contributing to an improved typing experience. This stands in contrast to cheaper alternatives like the Asus VivoBook or HP Pavilion 15, where typing can lack that satisfying tactile feedback.
Alongside the comfort of the typing experience, the keyboard is equipped with a white backlight. For a gaming laptop, I would’ve preferred an RGB backlit keyboard. But unfortunately, it was unavailable with the model I reviewed. There is another variant of the Lenovo LOQ 15 2023 with RGB backlit keyboard, which you can consider if that’s a deal breaker for you.
Moreover, Lenovo has incorporated some thoughtful features into the keyboard layout. These include a NumberPad for numerical input, generously sized Arrow keys that enhance navigation, and a balance between the key travel and clicky feedback that contributes to comfortable typing over extended periods.
Transitioning to the trackpad, the Lenovo LOQ 15’s trackpad is slightly smaller compared to the IdeaPad Gaming 3 15 from the previous year. However, the trackpad on the Lenovo LOQ Gaming 15 distinguishes itself with a firmer and clickier feel, surpassing its predecessor in terms of tactile satisfaction. While the sharper feedback results in a slightly louder clatter, the overall interaction with the trackpad becomes more rewarding.
The display of the Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop brings a mix of functionality and visual appeal, catering to both gaming enthusiasts and creative professionals. The laptop comes equipped with a Full HD IPS panel, specifically the BOE NE156FHM-NX3 (BOE0AE3) model. This 15.6-inch screen boasts a resolution of 1920 x 1080p, rendering images with a pixel density of 142 pixels per inch. With a 16:9 aspect ratio, the display’s dimensions contribute to a balance between widescreen viewing and portability.
The standout feature is the impressive 144Hz refresh rate, offering smoother visuals compared to the standard 60Hz monitors. This enhancement is particularly noticeable when gaming, contributing to an immersive experience free from motion blur and judder.
While the display’s color capabilities are commendable for its purpose, they may warrant consideration based on individual needs. For gamers and general users, the IPS panel provides vibrant colors and wide viewing angles, enhancing the overall visual experience. However, for those involved in graphics editing or requiring precise color reproduction, investing in an external monitor with superior color accuracy might be advantageous.
The Full HD resolution of the display provides a sweet spot, offering a balance between high-quality visuals and a manageable GPU load. This means you can elevate your graphics settings while gaming without putting undue strain on the system.
It’s important to note that the color coverage of the display varies based on the panel version. The Full HD panel covers approximately 45% of the NTSC color space and around 63% of the sRGB color space. For tasks demanding more accurate color reproduction, such as graphics work, the QHD panel variant, which covers 100% of the sRGB color space, is a recommended upgrade.
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The Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop brings impressive performance to the table, driven by the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor. Although slightly trailing behind the Ryzen 7 7745HX by a mere 5 percent in terms of performance, this doesn’t deter its capabilities. In essence, it offers performance akin to the 12th gen Core i7-12700H, which powered numerous gaming laptops last year (2022).
The selection of the Zen 4 CPUs for the LOQ series is a welcome sight. This choice, as opposed to rebranded Zen 3 alternatives like the Ryzen 7 7735HS, ensures a notable performance improvement. The latter, noticeably slower and less impressive, underscores the advantage of the Zen 4 CPUs in the LOQ series.
For those considering the Intel variant of the Lenovo LOQ Gaming 15, the Core i7-13700H promises to elevate CPU performance by approximately 20 percent. This enhancement, based on experiences with similar models like the Aorus 15X, implies an even more robust gaming experience for enthusiasts.
When it comes to gaming benchmarks, the LOQ Gaming Laptop doesn’t disappoint. During gameplay, Apex Legends shines at ultra settings, averaging around 116 fps. Switching to the sprawling worlds of Assassins’ Creed Valhalla, the laptop handles ultra settings with an average of 69 fps, while High Settings yield a commendable 133 fps.
Battlefield V’s frenetic action performs at 96 fps on ultra settings and an impressive 185 fps on High Settings. Venturing into the cyberpunk realm of Cyberpunk 2077, the laptop maintains its prowess, managing an average of 70 fps on ultra settings and 133 fps on High Settings. In the rich fantasy landscape of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, ultra settings yield around 85 fps, while High Settings achieve a robust 164 fps.
In short, the Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop embraces a formidable AMD Ryzen processor that delivers on the gaming front with flair. Its competitive performance, whether in CPU-intensive tasks or graphically demanding games, ensures an exhilarating experience for both casual gamers and dedicated enthusiasts alike.
The Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop boasts a 60 Wh battery, relatively smaller compared to its 15-inch gaming peers which usually pack 70 Wh batteries or larger. Nevertheless, the laptop delivers respectable runtimes, managing nearly 7.5 hours of real-world WLAN browsing, a figure in line with the Cyborg 15.
When it comes to charging the battery, the Lenovo LOQ 15 doesn’t waste time. Charging from 0 to 100% with the included AC adapter takes a mere 45 minutes, effectively doubling the speed of many other gaming laptops. This accelerated charging owes its efficiency to Lenovo’s Rapid Charge, enabled by default through the Vantage software.
While the laptop supports USB-C charging, compatibility with various USB-C AC adapters doesn’t come with the laptop. Lenovo offers its 140 W USB-C AC adapter, designed to be compatible with most Lenovo laptops.
In battery tests conducted under the Windows Better performance setting, with screen brightness at 120 nits and other programs inactive, the laptop’s 60 Wh battery endures for 6 hours and 25 minutes of web browsing. For video playback, the duration extends to 6 hours and 15 minutes.
Charging the Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop is a remarkably swift process. The laptop supports Super Rapid Charge via a 230W charger and accommodates USB-C charging up to 140W. The speed of the charging process is impressive: it takes just 10 minutes to charge from 0 to 30% capacity, 30 minutes to reach 70% capacity, and 80 minutes to hit full capacity from zero.
In terms of real-world application, the Lenovo LOQ Gaming 15 positions itself respectably in terms of display and battery life among budget gaming laptops. Runtime of 5 hours and 17 minutes places it behind the newer models, which often benefit from larger batteries and typically offer over 6 hours of usage.
Notably, the Lenovo LOQ 15 outlasts some counterparts like the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16. However, it’s worth mentioning that the battery performance might be slightly disappointing, especially given the display’s relatively dim performance during the battery test. With peak brightness at just 44.3 nits when set to 50%, the laptop can realistically manage about 3 hours of usage when set to maximum brightness.
The Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop introduces an enhanced Full-HD webcam, a significant upgrade from the HD webcams seen in the older Legion 5 15 and IdeaPad Gaming 15 series. This transition promises improved clarity and precision during video calls, catering to the demands of modern communication.
While the LOQ embraces an upgraded webcam, the absence of an IR sensor might be notable for some users. Despite this, the webcam offers a sophisticated e-shutter feature, providing an additional layer of control over privacy and security.
Another intriguing feature is the integration of Tobii Horizon, enriching the webcam’s capabilities. This technology opens the door to intuitive interaction, potentially altering how users engage with the laptop and applications.
The Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop, while offering an accessible price tag, required a few adjustments in connectivity options to achieve this balance. While some features might be streamlined, the laptop still manages to maintain a functional and practical range of connectivity choices.
On the left side of the laptop, you’ll find a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port. While this might seem limited, it’s a versatile port that supports DisplayPort 1.4 and offers the convenience of 140-watt charging. This ensures that even with a single port, you can achieve multiple tasks efficiently.
In conjunction with the USB-C port, there’s a combo headset jack, a simple yet valuable addition for audio needs. Moving to the right side, the inclusion of a USB 2.0 port provides a basic connection option, albeit not the fastest in terms of data transfer.
Shifting the focus to the rear of the laptop, you’ll discover a selection of essential ports catering to various needs. The inclusion of two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port for display connectivity, an Ethernet jack for wired networking, and Lenovo’s proprietary power input port ensures a well-rounded set of connectivity options.
While the Lenovo LOQ Gaming 15’s connectivity arrangement is certainly functional, it’s important to note that certain features, like Thunderbolt 4, are absent.
In comparison to higher-end models that offer more expansive connectivity choices, this might be seen as a limitation. Notably, some competitors, like the Aorus 15 BMF by Gigabyte, manage to squeeze in a Thunderbolt 4 port, which might be seen as a drawback for the Lenovo LOQ 15 Gaming Laptop.
Despite these considerations, the LOQ 15 Gaming Laptop does embrace the support of Wi-Fi 6, providing a silver lining in terms of wireless connectivity. This ensures that even though wired options might be trimmed, you can still enjoy fast and reliable wireless communication.
Considering its price and the level of performance it offers, the Lenovo LOQ 15 emerges as a noteworthy contender among affordable gaming laptops. While certain considerations such as temperatures and missing features come into play, the LOQ 15 manages to find a sweet spot for many users.
In terms of a pure gaming experience, the absence of features like an SD card slot or a Thunderbolt 4 port might not significantly impact the regular user’s usage. The focus on gaming prowess is evident, and this aligns well with the laptop’s intended purpose. However, a notable inclusion is the MUX switch, catering to enthusiasts who seek control and customization in their gaming setups.
The laptop’s IPS panel impresses with Full HD resolution, wide viewing angles, and a commendable contrast ratio. An added bonus is the absence of PWM for brightness adjustment, a feature that enhances user comfort.
On the downside, the panel does fall short in terms of color coverage, encompassing only half of the web’s color gamut. Additionally, slightly sluggish pixel response times might be a point of consideration for fast-paced gaming scenarios.
Battery life, unfortunately, doesn’t shine as brightly. While providing around 6 and a half hours of web browsing or 6 hours of video playback, it lags behind alternatives such as the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 FX507 2023. This is a trade-off to keep in mind, especially for those who prioritize prolonged unplugged usage.
However, where the LOQ 15 truly excels is in its upgradeability. With two SODIMM slots, users have the flexibility to expand memory capacity, a feature that enhances the laptop’s longevity. On the storage front, the presence of two M.2 PCIe x4 slots, both supporting Gen 4 SSDs, presents a forward-looking approach to storage expansion and speed.
In the backdrop of rising prices in the gaming laptop market, the LOQ 15 stands out as an option for gamers on tighter budgets. It acknowledges certain limitations, such as build materials and CPU performance, yet offers a compelling choice that strikes a balance between affordability and gaming performance.
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