Review of the Lenovo LOQ 15: A Budget Gaming Laptop with a Twist
The Legion series from Lenovo has long been a dominant force in the gaming industry, enjoying a solid reputation among major players. I thus approached Lenovo’s newest product line, the LOQ series, with considerable interest. A Lenovo LOQ gaming laptop, which I tested out, revealed the obvious differences between the old and new Lenovo gaming brands before I could go further into the reasoning for this new addition.
The Lenovo LOQ 15 (IRH8) is the subject of the investigation. Before we go into the details, let’s clarify what distinguishes LOQ from Legion. The main difference in this case is price. The new LOQ laptops are intended to be cost-effective, offering only the essential features required for gaming AAA titles while making some concessions that may or may not worry the gaming community as a whole. While Legion laptops offer a wide range of options, including high-end models packed with premium features like mini LED panels with 4K resolution and the most powerful mobile GPUs on the market. Consider it the top OnePlus for gaming laptops.
With that difference in mind, let’s discuss the Lenovo LOQ 15, the main attraction. Despite being reasonably priced, it serves customers looking for a powerful gaming laptop for their gaming setup. The cost and details are as follows:
Price: ₹99,990
Specifications:
Intel Core i7-13620H processor
Graphics: 6GB GDDR6 Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050
16GB DDR5-5200 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM) of memory
Storage: two M.2 SSD slots with 512GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 4.04 NVMe.
Speakers: Two stereo (2W) speakers.
1080p with an electronic shutter
Integrated 60Wh battery
170W Power Adapter
15.6-inch WQHD (2560×1440) IPS, 350-nit, 165-Hz G-SYNC display.
4-Zone RGB Backlit Keyboard
Over 2.4 kg in weight
System of operation: Windows 11 Home
The design of the Lenovo LOQ 15 (IRH8) was influenced by Lenovo’s current array of high-end gaming laptops. Even while it has the distinctive looks of a gaming machine, it does so subtly, making it aesthetically attractive to those who are not explicitly looking for a gaming laptop. Every aspect reveals the superior polish, and the LOQ insignia on the lid adds a charming finishing touch. The power button, which has a power indicator light, is positioned securely above the keyboard, and a number of connectors are arranged thoughtfully towards the rear to ensure functionality and a tidy look.
The size of the laptop, with its significant chin and wide bezels around the screen, is a negative. The weight of this laptop, above 2.4 kg, as specified by the specs, makes it unsuitable for everyday travel. This device needs a consistent power source and is intended to be stationary on a desk.
This brings up the battery life, a glaring flaw. Even with just a few Chrome tabs open along with Slack and the native WhatsApp Windows client, the 60Wh battery struggles to last 5 hours when working in an office environment. The Lenovo LOQ is designed to be permanently connected into its high-speed charger while attached to a desk. The back charging port does a good job of hiding the cables, however. When there are power outages, the battery may keep you going, but it can also give you some concern, particularly if you periodically need to carry the laptop with you. In the end, the Lenovo LOQ urges you to focus mostly on your workstation.
This laptop has a variety of connectors that allow it to smoothly integrate into a desk setting in terms of connectivity:
1x RJ-45 Ethernet
1x HDMI 2.1
1x 3.5mm combination headphone/microphone jack
a single power connection
1 × USB 3.0 Gen 1
Data transport, Power Delivery, and DisplayPort 1.4 are supported via 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 technology.
2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports
The Lenovo LOQ’s full-sized keyboard is a delight to use. While key travel might be a little bit shorter, the switches’ quality, key feedback, and key spacing are all great for fast type. The keyboard has RGB illumination, which has three settings to fit your interests, whether for gaming or productivity: multicolor breathing, multicolor static, or blue static. You won’t mistakenly hit the unique, LOQ-inspired circular power button since it is outside the keyboard. Although there is no fingerprint scanner, the attractive power button is a pleasant substitute. Consider an external keyboard for serious gaming, but not because the built-in keyboard is inadequate. We will go into further detail soon.
Let’s concentrate on the 15.6-inch WQHD screen of the Lenovo LOQ before exploring CPU and GPU performance. Although there are laptops with better screens available, the LOQ competes well in its price category. The 165Hz refresh rate is a useful improvement, and the colors and viewing angles are excellent. It provides the bare minimum brightness needed for pleasant office work next to a window with a peak brightness of 350 nits. Although an update is advised for a better experience, the laptop’s speakers are sufficient for content consumption without the need for headphones or external speakers.
On to the performance now. The 13th generation Intel Core i7-13620H CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 6GB GDDR6, 16GB DDR5-5200 RAM, and 512GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 4.04 NVMe storage are all included in the Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8.
The CPU has 10 cores (6 for performance, 4 for efficiency), 16 threads, and a total of 5,179 Geekbench points, with a single-core performance score of 1,544 and a multi-core performance score of 5,179. These results, however, fall short of what the 8GB GDDR6 RAM-paired 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H or AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPUs can do. The 13th Gen Core i7 CPU in the LOQ really has a more 12th Gen chipset-like feel to it.
With an emphasis on key gaming capabilities, the Lenovo LOQ 15 offers a cost-effective gaming laptop choice. It may not be perfect in every way, but it delivers a good gaming experience, a colorful display, and a chic look. If you can get beyond its size and short battery life, the LOQ 15 is an appealing alternative for gamers looking for a low-cost model.
