Lenovo LOQ 17 Series 17.3" LOQ Review

The Lenovo LOQ 17 is a big, heavy laptop that makes a clear trade-off. You're getting a 17.3-inch screen and solid mid-range gaming power from the RTX 4050, but you're also carrying around a 2.9kg machine that scores in just the 3rd percentile for compactness. It's a desktop replacement in the truest sense. Under the hood, the Intel 13450HX CPU and 16GB of DDR5 RAM are a capable pairing, landing in the 70th and 58th percentiles respectively. This isn't a subtle machine, it's a statement piece for budget-conscious power users who don't mind the heft.

Let's talk about what this thing can do. The star is the RTX 4050, which puts the GPU performance in the 78th percentile. That means you can comfortably play modern games at 1080p with high settings, and it's a great match for the 165Hz screen. The Intel 13450HX is no slouch either, sitting in the 70th percentile for CPU tasks. It'll handle streaming, coding, and moderate creative work without breaking a sweat. Just don't expect miracles from the 512GB SSD, which is below average at the 46th percentile. You'll likely need to upgrade that storage pretty quickly if you install a few big games.

At around $1210, the value proposition is straightforward. You're paying for a large screen and competent 1080p gaming hardware, while Lenovo cuts corners on portability, battery, and storage capacity. It's a classic 'get what you pay for' scenario. If your priority is big-screen gaming performance per dollar and you don't care about weight, this math works. But if any of those compromises are deal-breakers, the price suddenly feels less compelling.

Stacked up against its rivals, the LOQ 17 carves out a specific niche. The MSI Vector 16 HX or Gigabyte AORUS 16 will crush it in raw CPU and GPU power for a higher price, but they're also heavy. The real trade-off is with machines like the ASUS Zenbook Duo or a base MacBook Pro. Those are far more portable and have better batteries and screens, but you'll sacrifice gaming performance and pay more. The LOQ 17 says, 'Forget thin and light, give me a big screen and frames for my money.' It's a focused choice.

The Lenovo LOQ 17 is a one-trick pony, but it does that trick well. If you want the biggest screen possible for under $1300 and your main goal is 1080p gaming, this is a solid, reliable pick. The 78th percentile GPU performance backs that up. But you have to accept the baggage: terrible portability, short battery life, and a small SSD. It's not a laptop for students or travelers. It's a portable gaming rig for your desk that you might move twice a year. If that fits your life, it's a good buy. If not, look at a 16-inch Legion or something more balanced.