Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 9 Arctic Gray 2025

The 91st percentile port selection and a bright, 120Hz touchscreen are the stars here. The Intel Core 7 240H is a solid performer for work, but the integrated graphics lead to a dismal 18.3 gaming score. The 48Wh battery is a real concern for a 16-inch laptop, so plan on staying plugged in.

The Intel Core 7 240H is a 10-core chip that does its best work in short, intense bursts. In our benchmarks, it lands in the 75th percentile overall, making it a strong performer for business apps and development tasks. Our developer score of 67 out of 100 reflects that. You'll fly through Docker containers and VS Code projects, and the 16GB of DDR5 RAM gives you enough headroom for serious multitasking. Just don't expect it to keep up with the absolute top-tier HX-series chips from AMD or Intel's own Core i9 line. It's a capable engine, not a race car.

The integrated Intel Graphics are the bottleneck. A 54th percentile GPU score is about average for a laptop without a dedicated card, which means it handles display output and light photo editing just fine. But our gaming score of 18.3 is a blunt reminder that this isn't the machine for anything beyond casual 2D games or very old titles. The 512GB SSD is another middle-of-the-pack component at the 38th percentile. It's fast enough for booting and loading apps, but 512GB fills up quickly if you're working with large media files. You'll likely need an external drive sooner rather than later.

Stacked against the competition, the ThinkBook's identity becomes clearer. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro will obliterate it in CPU and GPU performance and battery life, but it costs significantly more and lacks the same port variety. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a gaming and performance monster with a dedicated GPU, making the ThinkBook's integrated graphics look like a toy, but the Zephyrus has a smaller 14-inch screen. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition is a more direct competitor with a premium build and better portability, but you'll likely pay more for similar specs and get fewer ports. The ThinkBook's main weapon is its connectivity. If you live in a world of dongles and docks, this laptop's 91st percentile port ranking makes it a simpler, cleaner choice than any of those sleeker rivals.

Pricing on this model is all over the map, with a spread from $1019 to $1827 across vendors. At the low end, around that $1019 mark, you're getting a lot of laptop for the money, especially considering the excellent port selection and a screen that punches above its weight. At $1827, it's a much harder sell. You're creeping into territory where you can find laptops with dedicated GPUs, faster CPUs, and more storage. If you're shopping, hunt for the deal closer to the floor. The value proposition hinges entirely on finding it at a discount.

The Lenovo ThinkBook 21US0001US carves out a specific niche: it's a workhorse for people who need a big, color-accurate touchscreen and solid connectivity without a dedicated GPU. The 16-inch WUXGA panel hits 400 nits and covers 100% sRGB, landing in the 79th percentile for screens in our database. That's a standout feature at this price, especially with the smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The Intel Core 7 240H provides a 75th percentile CPU score, which means it's well above average for crunching through spreadsheets, code compiles, and multiple browser tabs. But the integrated graphics and a middling 512GB SSD keep this firmly in the 'productivity' camp, not the 'play' camp. Our gaming score of 18.3 out of 100 tells you everything you need to know there.

Port selection is where this ThinkBook really flexes. It lands in the 91st percentile, which translates to best-in-class connectivity. You get Thunderbolt, two USB-C, two USB-A, HDMI, and even Ethernet. For a modern 16-inch laptop, that's rare and genuinely useful for desk setups. The 1.70kg weight is reasonable, though the 32nd percentile compact score means it's not the slimmest machine out there. The biggest head-scratcher is the 48Wh battery. Paired with a power-hungry H-series Intel chip and a bright 120Hz display, we expect real-world battery life to be a weak spot. Keep the charger in your bag.

Gamers and creative pros should look elsewhere without a second thought. The 18.3 gaming score and integrated graphics are a dead end for anything GPU-intensive. If you need to render video, work with 3D models, or play any modern title, this machine will frustrate you. Frequent travelers who work unplugged all day should also be wary. The combination of a small 48Wh battery and a power-hungry H-series chip means you'll be a slave to the power adapter, which defeats the purpose of a 1.70kg laptop.

The Lenovo ThinkBook 21US0001US is a purpose-built machine for professionals who prioritize screen quality and a no-dongle lifestyle over raw power and portability. The 120Hz, 100% sRGB touchscreen is a genuine highlight, and the port selection is best-in-class. But you have to accept the trade-offs: weak gaming performance, a cramped 512GB SSD, and a battery that will have you hunting for outlets by mid-afternoon. If you can find it at the lower end of its price range and your workflow doesn't involve a GPU, it's a smart, reliable work companion. Just don't expect it to moonlight as a gaming rig.