Lenovo LOQ 2024 Review: A Reliable RTX 4060 Mid-Range Gaming Laptop!

In an effort to introduce quality gaming machines to novice gamers throughout India, Lenovo introduced a range of new LOQ laptops in 2023. The Lenovo LOQ series has received a 2024 update, featuring the latest specifications such as the Intel 14th Gen CPU built on the Raptor Lake Refresh architecture. Additionally, it incorporates RTX 40-series GPUs from Nvidia, enhancing its gaming capabilities and performance.

Despite being an experienced gamer myself, I was intrigued by the prospect of testing a LOQ laptop to evaluate its suitability for first-time gamers. Therefore, I reached out to the Lenovo team and acquired a 2024 LOQ 15IRX9 laptop, which I rigorously tested over the course of a week. Given its promising features, I subjected the machine to various tasks to gauge its performance and overall usability. Here are my findings on the Lenovo LOQ 2024 laptop.

Specifications & Variants

On Lenovo’s website, you have the option to customize your own LOQ (2024) gaming laptop, with prices starting from Rs. 85,900. The base model features an Intel Core i5-13450HX processor from the 13th Gen series. However, there are other CPU options available, such as the Intel Core i7-13650HX (13th Gen) and the Intel Core i7-14700HX (14th Gen), offering users flexibility based on their performance requirements.

For the GPU, users can choose between several options including the RTX 3050 (6GB GDDR6), RTX 4050 (6GB GDDR6), and RTX 4060 (8GB GDDR6), allowing for varying levels of graphical power to match different gaming needs.

The Lenovo LOQ 15IRX9 (2024) gaming laptop we’re reviewing today is priced at Rs 1,22,990 on Amazon. Users purchasing this laptop also receive a 3-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Additionally, certain models come with a trial of Microsoft 365 and Office 2021.

For the most affordable variant of the Lenovo LOQ (2024) with the RTX 4060, you can configure one with an i5-13450HX CPU and 16GB DDR5 RAM (2x8GB) for Rs. 102,200 on Lenovo’s website at the time of scripting this. Let’s dive in.

Design & Build Quality

The Lenovo LOQ 2024 features a super minimalistic design, departing from the typical aesthetic of gaming laptops that often scream ‘gamer!‘. Instead, Lenovo has opted for a more understated approach with a grey finish that not only looks sleek but also feels premium to the touch. This muted tone extends throughout the entire laptop, enhancing its suitability for professional environments as well as gaming scenarios.

The display lid features the Lenovo LOQ logo with a shiny metal-like finish. Similar to its Legion series, the company has positioned the laptop’s ports at the back, making cable management effortless.

Upon opening the lid, you’ll find a 180-degree display hinge with minimal flex and a sturdy feel. The wide-angle hinge made it convenient for me to share content with friends sitting across from me. Additionally, I could adjust the hinge to avoid glare from our office lights, which was quite helpful.

While there was a slight anticipation for the keyboard to be adorned with vibrant RGB lighting, the Lenovo LOQ laptops opt for a more understated approach. However, the keyboard does boast 4-zone backlighting and exhibits solid construction, which proved to be quite appealing. Positioned at the top of the keyboard, beneath the screen, is the power button.

Weighing in at 2.38 KG (5.24 lbs), the Lenovo LOQ 2024 falls within the typical range for 15.6-inch gaming laptops. Despite featuring a plastic body, it feels sturdy and substantial, with a robust construction that’s notable. Although the laptop may accumulate a few scuffs over time, they tend to be inconspicuous due to the finish.

The LOQ 2024 strikes a balance between portability and durability, making it suitable for everyday use. Whether for work, gaming, or binge-watching your favorite shows like “Suits,” the laptop offers comfortable usability. It’s also reasonably comfortable to place on your lap for extended periods. While placing the laptop on a table may cause some heat to transfer to the keyboard deck, it’s not overly excessive.

Overall, the Lenovo LOQ 2024 features a distinctive yet subtle design that is consistent with the company’s previous IdeaPad offerings. It strikes a balance between standing out stylishly and blending in seamlessly, making the LOQ 2024’s aesthetic quite appealing.

Display Performance

Our unit features a 15.6-inch display with a Full HD (FHD) resolution, boasting a refresh rate of 144 Hz and a brightness of up to 300 nits. Using SpyderX, we verified these specifications and measured a peak luminance of 304.3 nits. I found the display to be adequately bright for both content consumption and gaming purposes. Additionally, the display supports G-Sync, which I enabled for both fullscreen and windowed applications to ensure seamless performance across various games.

The advertised 15.6-inch display boasts 100% sRGB color space coverage. To confirm this claim, I utilized the SpyderX and obtained a result of 98%, which closely aligns with the company’s specifications. Furthermore, the Lenovo LOQ’s display impressively covers 84% of the DCI P3 color space and 82% of the Adobe RGB color space, showcasing its versatility and color accuracy.

With a contrast ratio of 1340:1 and an IPS panel, the display’s performance was thoroughly tested. I observed deep black tonality across various content, accompanied by relatively uniform backlighting.

In summary, the display of the Lenovo LOQ 2024 is deemed decent, offering users a satisfactory experience at Full-HD resolution. However, Lenovo does provide an alternative option with a QHD 350 nits panel, suggesting that the visual experience may be slightly improved with that configuration.

Day-to-Day Performance

The gaming laptop delivers smooth performance in day-to-day usage.. Throughout my time using it, I experienced no slowdowns, even when opening multiple apps and engaging in power-intensive tasks. While I did manage to overwhelm the 16GB DDR5 RAM at one point, it was only after having an exceptionally high number of apps open.

It’s worth noting that my “general usage” tends to be heavy compared to most people, with a large number of Chrome tabs open during peak research hours. These tabs often included photo editing tools, YouTube videos, and resource-heavy websites.

Regardless of your usage patterns, whether you’re a gamer or a productivity user, the Lenovo LOQ 2024 can handle all your gaming and work needs with ease. Now, let’s delve into some gaming benchmarks, which is something you’ve been eagerly waiting for.

Gaming Benchmarks

As a dedicated gamer with a diverse playstyle that spans across various genres, including favorites like Helldivers 2, I embarked on a mission to test the Lenovo LOQ 2024 with 10 of the best AAA and esports titles available. Below, I present a comprehensive overview of the detailed results and the laptop’s performance across these games.

Forza Motorsport

Achieving optimal performance in Forza Motorsport required adjusting the graphics settings due to the game’s demanding nature. With full ray-tracing enabled at high settings and DLSS quality, the Lenovo LOQ 14th Gen gaming laptop delivered an average frame rate of 67.1 FPS. While there were occasional dips, with FPS dropping to 61.6 at its lowest and peaking at 73.7 at its best, the overall experience remained consistent, surpassing the crucial 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is a well-optimized title, and playing it at maximum settings was smooth on the Lenovo LOQ (2024) gaming laptop, even at native settings with DLAA enabled. DLAA, or Deep Learning Anti-Aliasing, is a setting that enhances image quality without reducing resolution. With DLAA enabled, we achieved an average FPS of 87, with a minimum of 68.2 and a maximum of 105.

Enabling DLSS Quality further improved the image quality and increased the FPS to an average of 112.6. However, we wanted to push the performance even further.

By enabling DLSS 3 frame generation, we experienced a significant boost in perceived gaming performance through AI-generated frames. Despite some minor input lag, the game felt incredibly smooth. With an average FPS of 147.5, playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III on the Lenovo LOQ (2024) gaming laptop was a delightful experience.

Tekken 8

Tekken 8, the latest sensation in fighting games, ran smoothly on the Lenovo LOQ (2024) gaming laptop, maintaining a solid 60FPS at maximum settings.

However, when I increased the resolution to 4K, the FPS dropped below 40-50, causing the game to slow down. This indicates that the RTX 4060 may struggle at resolutions higher than 1080p. To address this, I enabled DLSS Balanced and lowered the settings to Medium, which resulted in a smooth experience at 4K.

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077, renowned for its demanding graphics, posed a challenge for the Lenovo LOQ in its maximum settings configuration. Running the game at these settings resulted in an average FPS of 22.8, which understandably detracted from the gaming experience. However, by employing DLSS set to the Quality preset, the FPS improved slightly to a more playable 34.2.

Implementing RT Overdrive proved taxing for the RTX 4060 GPU. Yet, with the exclusive DLSS 3 frame generation feature enabled, the Lenovo LOQ 2024 laptop achieved an impressive average FPS of 63.7, with a minimum of 40.7 and a maximum of 70.2. The graphical fidelity was outstanding, thanks to DLSS 3’s contribution.

Alternatively, users can opt for a less demanding setup by lowering certain presets, such as Ray-Tracing to High, and utilizing DLSS 3 AI Frame generation alongside DLSS Quality. This adjustment allows for smooth gameplay, with Cyberpunk 2077 running at above 100 FPS on the Lenovo LOQ 2024.

Hogwarts Legacy

In Hogwarts Legacy, performance on the RTX 4060 initially presented challenges, particularly with noticeable drops below 30 FPS on settings higher than those mentioned. However, with settings adjusted to high and no ray-tracing enabled, I observed an average FPS of 74.3 during densely crowded sections. The minimum FPS recorded was 42.3, while the maximum peaked at 93.1 FPS.

To enhance performance further, DLSS 3 frame generation was implemented at the same high settings without ray-tracing. This optimization resulted in a significant boost, with an average FPS of 126.4 and a maximum reaching 158.8 FPS. Even at its lowest point of 84.5 FPS, the gameplay remained highly satisfying overall.

Starfield

Starfield proved to be another demanding title, even with DLSS enabled. At native 1080p resolution and maxed-out settings, the laptop achieved an average FPS of 42.5, with a peak of 56.8 FPS. Enabling DLSS Quality provided a slight improvement, raising the average FPS to 47.5, though occasional dips into the 34-40 FPS range were still observed.

However, introducing DLSS 3 frame generation significantly enhanced performance. With this feature enabled, the average FPS surged to 74, even at maximum settings. The minimum FPS remained at a respectable 63.1, while the maximum peaked at 93.9, delivering a consistently smooth gameplay experience. Furthermore, the game’s performance fell within the G-Sync range of the laptop display, ensuring artifact-free visuals through variable refresh rate technology.

Red Dead Redemption 2

It’s no surprise that Red Dead Redemption 2 is a demanding game, often pushing machines to their limits. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised to see the Lenovo LOQ laptop achieve a solid performance with an average FPS of 61.8 on maximum settings at 1080p. While there were occasional dips to 34.2 FPS, the game also reached impressive peaks of up to 122.2 FPS, as confirmed by the in-game benchmark. Enabling DLSS Quality further improved the performance, resulting in an average FPS of 70.7. Overall, it was a satisfying performance from the Lenovo LOQ laptop.

Valorant

Embarking into the competitive multiplayer arena, Valorant serves as an ideal starting point. The Lenovo LOQ 2024 equipped with the Core i7-14700HX demonstrates its prowess in this CPU-intensive game. Running at 1080p High Settings with 2X MSAA, the laptop achieves an impressive average FPS of 297.9, with minimal dips to 221.8 FPS at its lowest point. At its peak, the FPS soars to an impressive 401.1.

My personal gaming experience at these settings was highly satisfactory. However, for competitive gamers seeking maximum FPS for reduced input latency, optimization is crucial.

Switching to low settings in Valorant, the laptop delivers an average FPS of 340.3, with a notable increase in both minimum (259.1) and maximum (439.1) FPS. Throughout the gameplay, I encountered no stutters, resulting in an exceptional overall experience with Valorant.

Counter-Strike 2

Enumerating all the features of Counter-Strike 2 would result in a lengthy list. However, its demanding nature, particularly due to the upgrade to the Source 2 engine, is worth noting. Running at high settings with 2X MSAA, the Lenovo LOQ 2024 achieves an average FPS of 193.7 in Counter-Strike 2. The minimum FPS recorded was 138.5, while the maximum reached 261.3.

Switching to low settings, the laptop delivered a slightly increased average FPS of 223.1. The minimum FPS observed was 145.3, with the maximum peaking at 326.4 FPS. Overall, the Lenovo LOQ 2024 provided a smooth gaming experience with Counter-Strike 2 throughout my testing period.

Synthetic Benchmarks

Now is the moment to delve into some synthetic numbers. While I personally believe that real-world performance in day-to-day usage is more significant, I acknowledge that some individuals prefer these numerical benchmarks. Therefore, I conducted tests on what I deemed to be the most reputable benchmarks. Please review the results below:

Cinebench 2024

In Cinebench 2024, the Lenovo LOQ 15IRX9 (2024) gaming laptop achieves 9906 points on the GPU (RTX 4060). The multi-core CPU score stands at 1080 points, while the single-core CPU score reaches 119 points. Equipped with the Intel 14th Gen Core i7-14700HX processor boasting 28 threads and 20 cores, this laptop demonstrates impressive performance across both graphics and processing capabilities.

Cinebench R23

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i7-14700HX in the Lenovo LOQ 2024 scored 21,272 points. This processor has a PL1 (power limit 1) of 90W and a PL2 (power limit 2) of 167W. While it rarely reaches 167W during extended heavy usage, this higher power limit allows for short bursts of performance. The single-core score for this processor is 1923 points.

Comparing this to the desktop Intel 14th Gen i5-14600K, which has PL1/PL2 set to 180W, the desktop processor scored 22,955 points. Therefore, the i7-14700HX in the Lenovo LOQ performs admirably and has a score comparable to the 14th Gen Core i5 desktop CPU.

In comparison to the Intel 13th Gen Core i7-13700H (non-HX, reaching up to 115W power) found in another Lenovo Legion gaming laptop, the 14th Gen i7 outperforms it significantly, scoring 17,507 points.

3DMark Time Spy

In 3DMark Time Spy, the Lenovo LOQ with its RTX 4060 GPU and i7-14700HX CPU scored 11,340 points. This benchmark was conducted at 1440p resolution. The CPU specifically scored 15,038 points.

PCMark 10

PCMark 10 assesses the laptop across a range of scenarios including work, video conferencing, browsing, and others. The Lenovo LOQ gaming laptop achieved a score of 7,470 points, indicating its capability to seamlessly handle everyday tasks without any issues.

Thermal Performance

Lenovo’s LOQ features a hyperchamber thermal design with dual fans that expel hot air outward from the back of the laptop, ensuring that the user’s hands remain cool. The cooling system includes two heat pipes extended across the i7-14700HX and RTX 4060. According to Lenovo, the fans are quieter by 2 decibels due to a ‘sealed chamber.’

When the system is under stress, the dual fans in the LOQ 2024 can be loud. However, they are not as loud as those in the Acer Nitro V, and they take some time to ramp up. While wearing headphones, the fans were reasonably silent during my session. Nonetheless, users should still expect the classic jet engine sound from gaming laptops during extended gameplay sessions!

The 14th Gen Core i7-14700HX on the Lenovo LOQ gaming laptop boasts a PL2 limit of 167W. However, during long gaming sessions with combined CPU and GPU loads, the laptop typically runs the CPU at 65-80 watts, rather than consistently at high wattages.

Despite this, the laptop can provide short bursts of CPU performance thanks to the high power limit and the use of an HX-class CPU instead of the H series. During these brief boosts, one of the cores of the i7-14700HX can reach near 100 degrees Celsius. This is within the expected operating parameters for these high-performance Intel chips, but users can use the Lenovo Vantage software to control power consumption and temperature limits as desired. This flexibility is a key advantage of the Intel HX series chips, so users should consider utilizing it!

I didn’t notice much throttling with the RTX 4060 GPU. In many games, it ran at an average of 80W, but it can go up to 108.4W in certain titles, like Red Dead Redemption 2.

Lenovo states that the RTX 4060 GPU has a maximum Total Graphics Power (TGP) of 115W, while the RTX 4050 and RTX 3050 GPU variants have a 95W TGP. Throughout testing, both the CPU and GPU temperatures generally stayed under the 80-85 degrees Celsius range. However, the CPU can reach 100 degrees Celsius when there is thermal headroom available and it aims to achieve the 5.50 GHz P-Core boost frequency.

Extended stress tests in the Cinebench R23 synthetic benchmark reveal a drop in performance, with scores falling below 19,000 points after a 10-minute run or repeated executions of the benchmark.

Despite this, the i7-14700HX on the laptop could potentially perform better if operating under less constrained power limits. However, the 14th Gen CPU delivers satisfactory performance, outperforming the Core i7-13700H, given the thermal constraints within the Lenovo LOQ gaming laptop.

Software Experience

As usual, Lenovo has bundled the LOQ with its renowned Lenovo Vantage software. To its credit, Vantage on the laptop boasts a plethora of features. The standout feature here is the array of different thermal modes. I conducted all the aforementioned benchmarks using the Performance mode to ensure a consistent reference point.

If you choose the Lenovo LOQ, you’ll discover numerous customization options available for the CPU and GPU within the Custom section of Thermal modes. I conducted experiments with these options and successfully achieved the desired results.

It’s important to note that Lenovo cautions users that some of these options may pose risks, so caution is advised. With Vantage, you can customize the maximum temperature limit of the Intel Core i7-14700HX CPU, setting it as high as 100 degrees Celsius or as low as 85 degrees Celsius. Additionally, you have the ability to customize the maximum CPU and GPU wattage.

The Lenovo LOQ also features a MUX Switch. When not gaming, users can configure the MUX switch to Hybrid-iGPU mode, deactivating the RTX 4060 and utilizing the CPU instead.. This feature offers a significant level of versatility.

Additionally, there’s a Hybrid-Auto mode available. If you frequently switch between gaming and on-the-go work on the laptop, this mode is ideal. The Lenovo LOQ laptop automatically switches to integrated graphics-only mode when unplugged, and both the Nvidia GPU and Intel GPU remain active when the charger is plugged in.

However, for optimal performance, the recommended configuration for the MUX is dGPU mode. In this mode, the integrated Intel GPU is disabled, and the RTX 4060 is utilized for all applications and games. The benchmarks included in this review were conducted using the dGPU MUX Switch mode.

Another option available in the Thermal mode is Balanced.In this feature, Lenovo utilizes an L1 AI chip to dynamically adjust CPU and GPU settings according to your ongoing tasks. However, I encountered throttling issues with this mode enabled and found it to be less useful. Instead, I achieved the most favorable results by setting lower maximum CPU and GPU temperatures (85 degrees Celsius for both) in the Custom mode of the Lenovo LOQ profiles.

You can activate the Adaptive Refresh Rate for the 144Hz display using the Lenovo Vantage software. Additionally, the software includes a Network Boost feature, allowing you to prioritize network traffic for your chosen games, which can significantly reduce lag—a gamer’s worst nightmare.

Finally, the Vantage software offers customization options for the microphone, including various noise-canceling effects, as well as the ability to customize the keyboard’s 4-zone RGB lighting. Overall, I found the Lenovo Vantage software to be highly useful.

Keyboard & Touchpad

The Lenovo LOQ (2024) gaming laptop boasts a full-sized keyboard complete with a numpad, offering ample space that I found to be incredibly comfortable. I could type for extended periods without any discomfort. The key switches, with a 1.5mm travel, delivered deep and satisfying keystrokes, enhancing the typing experience. Additionally, the keyboard supports 100% anti-ghosting technology, ensuring precise and accurate input even during intense gaming sessions.

It was disappointing to find that the LOQ does not feature a per-key RGB keyboard. However, it does offer a 4-zone RGB setup, which is still appreciated. Despite this, I found the keyboard design reminiscent of Thinkpad, and I greatly appreciate Lenovo’s implementation.

While I’m still adjusting to a mechanical keyboard with linear switches and haven’t reached my peak typing speed despite using it for over a month now, I easily achieved typing speeds of 140WPM+ on Monkeytype with the Lenovo LOQ 2024 laptop. The same experience translated to my work tasks.

In gaming, I found my counter-strafing to be on point when playing Valorant or Counter-Strike 2. Navigating complex sections of the map efficiently, especially in games like ‘The Finals,’ requires precise feedback, and I experienced no issues using the gaming laptop’s keyboard for this purpose.

I found the touchpad to be sufficiently spacious and appreciated its seamless support for Windows gestures. Whether multitasking, switching to a different Windows desktop, or scrolling while browsing the web, I encountered no consistency issues. The texture also offers ample grip, providing a smooth glide for your fingers when using the touchpad of the Lenovo LOQ gaming laptop.

Ports and Connectivity

The Lenovo LOQ 15IRX9 is equipped with Intel Wi-Fi 6, and I experienced no difficulties connecting to WiFi access points throughout my home. Despite occasional downtime of the main access point, I consistently enjoyed stable connectivity with Airtel AirFiber, which operates on a 5G SIM-based network and is located several floors above my ground-floor residence. Despite the distance, I still received relatively good signal strength with stable speeds.

Additionally, Bluetooth v5.1 connectivity is available, allowing seamless connection with multiple devices such as two DualSense controllers and a Bluetooth speaker. These devices worked flawlessly when connected to the gaming laptop, facilitating multiplayer split-screen PC gaming experiences in games like Road Redemption or Tekken 8.

Regarding port selection, the Lenovo LOQ features three onboard USB-A ports, all of which are USB 3.2 Gen 1, allowing for the connection of numerous peripherals such as an external keyboard, mouse, and headphones. Additionally, there is a Type-C port onboard with USB 3.2 Gen 2 support, offering speeds of up to 10Gbps. This Type-C port can also serve as a charging port for the laptop on the go when used with a compatible 140W power-delivery adapter.

Furthermore, the laptop is equipped with an HDMI 2.1 port, capable of supporting resolutions up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 120Hz, along with an Ethernet port. Other ports include a 3.5mm jack and Lenovo’s proprietary power connector.

Most of the ports are located at the back, with one Type-A and the sole Type-C port situated on the right side. The left side of the laptop is free of ports, contributing to a clean aesthetic. Although accessing ports at the back may require a bit of effort, I appreciate this layout as it simplifies cable management. Additionally, plugging peripherals behind the laptop, such as a wired gaming mouse, reduces cable-related interruptions during gaming sessions.

Webcam & Microphone

This laptop is equipped with a 1080p webcam onboard. However, it’s worth noting that the starter variants come with a 720p webcam, and to access the higher resolution, you either need to configure the laptop accordingly or opt for a more expensive variant. I found the webcam quality to be quite decent, representing a welcome improvement over many other laptops currently available. The increased resolution notably enhances the overall experience.

You can assess the webcam quality below. While various text on the monitors belonging to AzMo Tech’s video team is clearly visible, the ‘ProArt‘ text on the monitor positioned to the left appears somewhat smudgy.

Additionally, there is a software-based privacy switch located on the right side of the laptop. While this provides some level of privacy control, in my opinion, it’s not as reassuring as a hardware switch in terms of user peace of mind. However, with the e-shutter Webcam switch off, no apps can access the webcam, and Windows provides a notification confirming its status.

Regarding the microphone on the Lenovo LOQ, I found it to be mediocre at best. Feedback from individuals in my Discord channel was not positive, with many suggesting that I use headphones as soon as possible due to the audio quality.

The AI noise reduction features can be toggled through the Lenovo Vantage app and Discord Krisp noise suppression to help improve the clarity of microphone audio. However, it’s worth noting that the laptop’s onboard microphone is only satisfactory for gaming sessions. For meetings, the quality is acceptable.

Speaker Audio Quality

The speakers on the Lenovo LOQ 2024 gaming laptop, rated at dual 2W speaker, do not particularly stand out in terms of audio fidelity. While I’ve experienced better quality from certain mid-range laptops in this price range, I find the audio output to be acceptable.

The laptop supports Nahimic audio, allowing for sound customization. I personally found the Music profile with Dynamic EQ to be the most suitable across various genres such as pop, instrumental, and rock. Additionally, switching to the Heavy Bass EQ profile enhanced the listening experience for genres like rap, techno, and phonk. The inclusion of 3D audio support also effectively emphasizes positional audio when activated.

The speakers can reach a decent volume and provide an enjoyable experience for content consumption. For instance, while watching Lupin on Netflix earlier this week, I found the sound stage to be sufficient. However, it’s important to manage expectations; while the speakers do offer an enjoyable experience, the overall quality is average or slightly above average at best.

Battery & Charging

The Lenovo LOQ 2024 is equipped with a 60 Whr battery. Through our testing, we found that using the MUX switch and configuring the laptop to iGPU-only mode provided the best battery life extension. In my personal usage, I found that the Lenovo LOQ 2024 gaming laptop typically lasts for 3-4 hours under this configuration. This was achieved while operating in battery-saving mode with the screen brightness set at 50% and no keyboard backlighting enabled.

A 4-hour battery life may be considered decent for a laptop not primarily focused on portability, but personally, it remains somewhat disappointing for me.

Lenovo asserts that the LOQ 2024 laptop incorporates fast-charging technology known as Super Rapid Charge Pro. According to their specifications, this technology allows the laptop’s 60Wh battery to rapidly charge to 40% in just 10 minutes. Within 30 minutes, it can reach 80% capacity, and in 60 minutes, it will be fully charged at 100%.

Upgradability

The Lenovo LOQ (2024) offers easy RAM upgrades, allowing users to enhance the laptop’s memory capacity effortlessly. Furthermore, the device features 2x PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD Slots, enabling users to install an additional M.2 NVMe storage drive. It’s worth noting that while the SSD already installed in the device is of a shorter size, only the second slot supports longer-length NVMe SSDs.

It’s reassuring to note that the RAM is not soldered, allowing for easy memory upgrades with higher capacities in the future. Additionally, the presence of thermal pads ensures effective cooling for the DDR5 memory modules.

Lenovo LOQ 2024: Should You Buy It?

The Lenovo LOQ 14th Gen (2024) gaming laptop is a solid choice for its price range and target audience, offering well-performing gaming laptop to play today’s games at 1080p. The RTX 4060 allows for high-fidelity gaming, especially with DLSS 3 AI frame generation. However, there are some areas for improvement, such as the battery life, microphone, and speakers. While the 1080p panel is decent, upgrading to a QHD panel may enhance the visual experience.

Lenovo’s entry into the latest gaming laptops with Intel 14th Generation processors is notable, especially since not all manufacturers have released new laptops in India yet.

In the price range of Rs 120,000 to Rs 130,000, the Lenovo LOQ (2024) stands out as one of the few options with the latest i7-14700HX processor. However, the HP Omen 16 with Ryzen 7 7840HS & RTX 4060, priced at Rs 1,17,490, offers strong competition. The Omen features a 165 Hz display and a 140W RTX 4060, which is higher than the LOQ. If you prefer an AMD chip and a higher TGP GPU, the Omen is a compelling choice.

It’s worth noting that a higher TGP won’t always result in significant performance gains if the GPU is already operating above 100W. Additionally, Lenovo’s LOQ 2023 lineup has seen discounts, making variants like the Ryzen 7 7840HS with RTX 4060 (115W) available for Rs 99,990. With major OEMs not yet releasing machines with the latest Intel chips, the Lenovo LOQ (2023/2024) lineup stands out in the gaming laptop space with its compelling features.

In the Rs 100,000 range, you can configure the LOQ 2024 on the Lenovo website with a Core i5-13420HX, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and an RTX 4060. Alternatively, you could consider the MSI Sword 15, which comes with an Intel i7 12th-Gen CPU and RTX 4060 at the same price of Rs 99,990.

While the MSI may seem to have the edge with an i7 processor, both chips offer similar performance, featuring 10 cores & 16 threads. The Lenovo LOQ has the advantage of a newer CPU paired with its 100% sRGB display (IPS), while the MSI features a more average IPS-level display with 45% NTSC color space coverage.

Overall, I’m quite pleased with the value proposition of this RTX 4060 laptop, especially considering its price point. The performance and features are impressive, particularly if you opt for the QHD display variant available on the company’s website. It’s promising to see the RTX 4060 laptop market in India expanding, and I anticipate even fiercer competition in the coming weeks.

Lenovo’s LOQ 2024 stands out as the top gaming laptop option around the Rs 1,00,000 price range in India. While it may not excel in every aspect and has a few drawbacks, the Lenovo LOQ (2024) is undeniably a solid choice for those seeking an RTX 4060 gaming laptop.

Pros and Cons

Final Verdict

The new Lenovo LOQ (2024) features Intel’s latest 14th Gen HX series processors, with the Core i7-14700HX delivering plenty of power. However, its performance could be further optimized with a more robust cooling system. Nonetheless, it outperforms the 13th Gen i7. The Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU offers solid performance, and DLSS 3 can double your frames, although it may not always deliver optimal performance. Overall, this combination is excellent for 1080p gaming at maximum settings, but you might need to lower settings in some demanding titles like Forza Motorsport and Hogwarts Legacy.