When you think of a 2-in-1 laptop, it's probably a device whose screen and keyboard are detachable, but what if we told you that it could also mean a laptop with Windows 11 and Android operating systems? That would be wild, right? This CES, Lenovo has gone to the wild side of creativity and returned with the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid which offers two kinds of 2-in-1 functionality in what looks outwardly like a normal laptop.
Wait, What?
Lenovo's ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid is a traditional 2-in-1 laptop with Windows 11, which can be detached from the keyboard and used as a tablet. However, once detached, it becomes an Android tablet with all the benefits of the Play Store.
The keyboard houses the high-end Windows hardware, which consists of an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, an Intel Arc GPU, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a big 75WHr battery. The Android hardware is housed in the generous 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen panel consisting of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 12GB of RAM, 256GB storage, and a 38WHr battery.
Possibly, the one sticking point of the device is that the two operating systems work independently of each other, with files needing to be manually transferred between them. Lenovo's ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid isn't a dual-booting device, but there is a button that you can press to use the Android OS with the keyboard attached, which could prove useful in certain scenarios.
We've embedded the specifications of the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid below for your perusal. Overall, it seems a good match of components that are very capable with few, if any, noticeable compromises.
| Hybrid Station | Hybrid Tab | ||
| Processors | Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8+ Gen 1 | |
| OS | Microsoft Windows 11 | Android 13 | |
| Memory | 32GB LPDDR5x | 12GB LPDDR5x | |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD | 256GB UFS3.1 | |
| Graphics | Intel Arc GPU | Qualcomm Adreno™ | |
| Display | 14-inch 2.8K OLED Touch/Pen, DCI-P3 100% | ||
| Audio | 2x 2W Harman/Kardon speakers | 4x 1W Super-linear speakers | |
| Camera | Front: FHD+IR Back: 13MP + 5MP (MIPI) | ||
| Battery | 75Whr; 100W power adapter | 38Whr | |
| Security Chip | dTPM 2.0 | ||
| Physical | Fingerprint Reader Kensington Nano lock slot | IR Camera Camera Privacy E-Shutter | |
| Ports | 2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4) 1 x Combo Audio Jack | 1 x USB-C | |
| Wireless Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E | |
| Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.3 | ||
| Dimensions | 313.5 x 234.5 x 9.4mm | 313.5mm x 224mm x 6.6mm | |
| Weight | 970g (2.14 lbs) | 785g (1.73 lbs) |
Versatility Isn't Cheap
When the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid goes on sale later during Q2 of 2023, with pricing starting from around $1,999. It's not cheap, but it's certainly a versatile device we'd love to spend some time with. As we've seen in previous years, Lenovo isn't scared to let its engineers run with their imagination, and this year's CES continues that philosophy. It's the sort of creativity we'd like other brands to reach for, and for that, I'm directing my gaze towards Asus in the hopes that the company develops a new PadFone using the latest technology.
What do you think of the 2-in-1 ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid? Is it overkill, or does it offer the versatility you need? Let us know in the comments below.
