Lenovo ThinkBook Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G8 IRL 21SH0001US 16" Review

If you're looking for a 16-inch touchscreen laptop for work that won't break the bank, the Lenovo ThinkBook G8 is a solid contender. It's built for business users who need a big screen for spreadsheets or presentations and want the convenience of a touchscreen without paying a premium. With an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, it's got the specs to handle everyday office tasks and multitasking smoothly. The 16-inch 1920x1200 IPS display is crisp and bright enough for most indoor settings, and at 1.7kg, it's reasonably portable for its size.

Performance-wise, this ThinkBook is squarely in the middle of the pack. The Intel Ultra 7 155H CPU lands in the 54th percentile, which means it's perfectly capable for office software, web browsing, and video calls. You won't be waiting around for things to load. The integrated Intel graphics are exactly what you'd expect, scoring in the 50th percentile. This is not a laptop for gaming or video editing, and our benchmark score of 17/100 for gaming confirms that. But for its intended business use, the performance is more than adequate. The 16GB of DDR5 RAM also hits the 50th percentile, which is plenty for having dozens of browser tabs open alongside your work apps.

The value proposition here is the large touchscreen at a reasonable price. You can find this laptop priced between $799 and $950 depending on the vendor, so it's worth shopping around. At the lower end of that range, it's a compelling option if you specifically want a 16-inch touchscreen for business. If you don't need the touch functionality, you might find better overall specs or build quality in a traditional clamshell laptop at a similar price.

Compared directly to others, the ThinkBook G8 carves out a niche. The ASUS Zenbook Duo is a more innovative dual-screen touch device but costs more. The gaming laptops like the MSI Vector 16 or Gigabyte AORUS 16 are in a different league for power but are heavier and have worse battery life. The most interesting comparison might be to a base model Apple MacBook Pro. The MacBook has a far superior screen, battery life, and performance, but it costs significantly more and you lose the touchscreen and Windows environment. For a Windows business user who wants a big touchscreen on a budget, the ThinkBook G8 makes a case for itself where the others don't.

So, should you buy it? If you're answering 'yes' to these two questions, then probably. Do you need a large 16-inch touchscreen for your work? And is your budget around $800-$900? For that specific user, the Lenovo ThinkBook G8 is a good fit. It handles business tasks reliably, the screen is nice for interactions, and the build is sturdy. But if you don't care about the touchscreen, you can get a faster or more portable laptop for the money. And if you need to do anything graphically intensive, or if battery life is a top priority, you should look elsewhere.