Despite what some may believe, entering the realm of PC gaming doesn’t necessarily have to break the bank. Lenovo is demonstrating this by introducing a new line of gaming laptops and desktops, called ‘LOQ’ that are relatively affordable, with prices starting at $899.99. While this isn’t considered budget territory, it’s still significantly less expensive than boutique systems that can cost upwards of $2,000 or even more than twice as much.
Lenovo LOQ 15 And 16 Gaming Laptops
The configurations of these systems are not underpowered, as they are built with modern hardware. For instance, the LOQ gaming laptops from Lenovo come in both 15-inch and 16-inch sizes and can be equipped with either a 13th Gen Intel Core processor or an AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPU. They also have an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, which is ideal for gaming and graphics.
Lenovo boasts several features of its LOQ line, including a MUX switch that enables the discrete GPU to bypass the integrated GPU via NVIDIA Advanced Optimus, allowing for increased performance and lower latency when gaming, and extended battery life when not gaming. In terms of cooling, the laptops feature up to four heatpipes, dual 85mm 12V high-speed fans, and extra-large air intakes and outlets, totaling up to 135W TDP.
The LOQ 15i model can be configured with up to a Core i7-13700H processor, while the LOQ 15 (non-i version) offers up to a Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU. Both models can be equipped with up to 16GB of DDR5-5600 RAM, a mobile GeForce RTX 4060 GPU with 8GB of GDDR6 memory (115W, 2,370MHz boost clock), 512GB or 1TB SSD options, and up to a 2560×1440 IPS display with a 165Hz refresh rate and G-Sync support.
The LOG 16i and 16 are almost identical, except for the fact that the LOG 16i supports Wi-Fi 6E and has a resolution of up to 2560×1600. All of the models have several features in common, including a USB Type-C port, an audio combo jack, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, an e-shutter button, a Novo hole, GbE LAN, and HDMI 2.1.
Lenovo’s new products will be released in stages, with the LOG 15IRH2 (Intel Core) coming out in April at a starting price of $899.99. Next up, the LOQ 15APH8 (AMD Ryzen) and 16IRH8 (Intel Core) will be available in May, starting at $899.99 and $1,149.99, respectively. Finally, the 16APH8 (AMD Ryzen) will be released in June, with a starting price of $959.99.
Lenovo LOQ Tower Desktop PC
Lenovo has also introduced a desktop gaming option called the LOQ Tower 17IRB8 for those who prefer that over a gaming laptop. It has a sleek design that reminds us of a workstation, but it’s perfect for gamers who don’t want to spend too much.
Lenovo hasn’t disclosed all of the LOQ Tower 17IRB8’s configuration options, but they did reveal that it can be equipped with an impressive Core i7-13700 processor. This chip is based on Intel’s latest generation Raptor Lake architecture and has 16 cores and 24 threads.
You can also add a powerful GeForce RTX 40 series graphics card, up to 32GB of DDR4-3200 RAM, and up to 1TB of NVMe SSD and 2TB HDD storage (there’s one slot for SSD and two for HDD) to the LOQ Tower 17IRB8. It all rests on an Intel B760 foundation in the micro-ATX form factor.
While it’s a bit disappointing that DDR4 memory is used instead of DDR5, it helps keep the cost affordable for new PC gamers. We’re curious to see which GPUs will be available, but we expect they won’t be too powerful since Lenovo is also configuring them with up to a 500W PSU.
The front of the LOQ Tower 17IRB8 has two USB 3.2 Type-A ports (one Gen 2 and one Gen 1), a USB 3.2 Type-C (Gen 1), and an audio jack combo. On the back, there are two USB 2.0 ports, a 2.5G LAN port, VGA and HDMI 1.4b outputs, and an audio output. Lenovo has also equipped the LOQ Tower with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connectivity.
The LOQ Tower 17IRB8 will be available in this fall starting at $979.99.
Via HotHardware