Lenovo has updated its most unique laptop yet. With this model, Lenovo has doubled down on the e-Ink display that makes the Gen 2i so unusual among current laptops.

The ThinkBook Plus Gen 2i, unveiled at CES 2021, not only has a larger e-Ink screen, it is also faster. Other parts of the laptop have also been improved, with a thinner and lighter chassis. Lenovo has also further shaved the bezel on the Plus' main screen. Is this enough to make our Best Laptops list?

The ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 will arrive in Q1 2021, or before April. Prices start at $1,549.

This is the most expensive ThinkBook announced today (January 12), with three other models coming in Q1 2021. In order of price, they are the ThinkBook 14p for $849, the ThinkBook 13x i for $1,199, and the ThinkBook 16p for $1,29. The model with the "i" is Intel-only, while the "p" indicates it is an AMD model.

The ThinkBook Plus Gen 2's e-Ink display isn't just bigger. It is more functional. While the original screen was meant for taking notes, reading documents, and checking the calendar, this new version lets you watch presentations, check email and the weather, and view reminders. You can also reply to others from the e-Ink screen; it is also compatible with Microsoft Office.

As for the ThinkBook's main screen, it is a 13.3", 2560 x 1600 pixel (the same dimensions as the e-Ink screen) touchscreen panel with Dolby Vision. It has a brightness of 400 nits, a 3.9 mm bezel, and a screen-to-body ratio of 90%.

In other good news, Lenovo has sped up the refresh rate of the e-Ink screen and redesigned the panel's user interface. We'll have more details on all of that when we get our hands on one.

As you might expect, battery life is longer on the e-Ink panel, which Lenovo rates at 24 hours on its own. Conventional LCD panels are rated at 14 hours on a single charge. [At 0.5 inches thick and 2.9 pounds, the ThinkBook Plus is thinner and lighter than its predecessor (0.7 inches thick and 3.1 pounds). And since these screens are ideal for pens, it makes sense that the ThinkBook Plus' stylus can now be stored inside the chassis.

Lenovo has reduced one internal fan while still using ITS 5.0 technology, so expect quieter performance.

Also in the mix are new standards and wild new options. A pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports and Wi-Fi 6 are no surprise, but the optional ThinkBook Charging Mat is something else entirely. capable of charging an entire computer.

At 0.5 inches thick, the ThinkBook 13x i is quite compact; think ThinkBook Plus, but without the e-ink display. The screen and sound should be great, thanks to Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

The laptop runs on a low-power 11th generation Intel Core CPU, is durable, supports the aforementioned charging mat, and can be easily and frequently refueled.

Not all new ThinkBooks are Intel-powered. These 14- and 16-inch ThinkBooks have sharp screens (2.2K and 2.8K on the 14-inch and 2.5K on the 16-inch) and "the latest generation of AMD Ryzen mobile processors" (which means "AMD has not yet announced a new chip") to It runs.

These laptops have the excellent privacy and security measures that Lenovo business laptops require: a ThinkShutter camera cover for privacy, a fingerprint reader built into the power button, both fTPM and dTPM, IR camera with Windows Hello support.

The ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 has the difficult task of being novel without being novel. We look forward to seeing it in action to see if the larger e-ink screen will be a valuable asset. The effort expended to improve the screen, both in size and performance, suggests that Lenovo believes this is more than a gimmick.