Lenovo LOQ 17 Series 17.3" LOQ Review

Looking for a big-screen gaming laptop that won't completely break the bank? The Lenovo LOQ 17 with its Intel 13450HX CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU is a solid contender. It's a 17-inch machine built for playing modern games at solid frame rates, and it throws in a 165Hz screen and 1TB of fast storage to sweeten the deal. While the price hovers around $1370, it's aiming to deliver solid performance for the money. If you're a gamer or creator who needs a large canvas and decent power, this LOQ model is worth a close look.

For gaming, the RTX 4050 8GB is the star here. It lands in the 78th percentile for GPU performance, which means it's faster than most laptops out there. In practice, you can expect to run most AAA titles at 1080p on high settings and hit that 165Hz refresh rate in competitive games like Valorant or Fortnite. The 10-core Intel 13450HX CPU is no slouch either, sitting in the 70th percentile. It handles game physics and multitasking well, though it's not the absolute top tier. The 1TB NVMe SSD is also quick, matching the GPU's 78th percentile ranking, so load times are snappy.

At around $1370, the LOQ 17 sits in an interesting spot. You're getting a large screen and capable gaming hardware (RTX 4050, 165Hz) for less than many premium 17-inch models. The main trade-off is portability and some premium build materials. If your budget is strict and screen size is a priority, it's good value. If you can spend a bit more or want something lighter, there are compelling alternatives.

Compared directly to the more premium Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, the LOQ gives up some GPU power, build quality, and likely cooling for a lower price and that touchscreen. Against something like the MSI Vector 16 HX, you might find similar performance in a slightly more portable 16-inch chassis, but possibly at a higher cost. The most stark contrast is with an Apple MacBook Pro. For pure creative work, the MacBook's efficiency and screen are unbeatable, but for Windows gaming under $1500, the LOQ is the clear choice. The ASUS Zenbook Duo is a different beast entirely, focused on multitasking, not gaming.

So, should you buy the Lenovo LOQ 17? If you want a dedicated, large-screen gaming laptop for your desk and have a budget around $1400, yes. The RTX 4050 and 165Hz screen make it a great 1080p gaming machine. But if you need to travel with your laptop frequently, the poor portability and battery life are real drawbacks. Also, if your work is more about color-accurate design than gaming, the average screen might disappoint. It's a focused tool for a specific job, and it does that job well for the price.