Lenovo LOQ 15i (2024)

Lenovo LOQ 15 (2024)
Lenovo LOQ 15IRX9
Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9

Manufacturer	Lenovo
Release date	January 2024 (2024-01)
Introductory price	USD
Discontinued	No
Operating system	Windows 11 Pro Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Home Single Language No preload operating system
CPU	Intel Core i5-12450HX Intel Core i5-13450HX Intel Core i7-13650HX Intel Core i7-14700HX
Memory	Up to 32 GB DDR5-4800 or DDR5-5600, dual-channel capable
Memory slots	2 DDR5 SO-DIMM slots
Storage	Up to 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Storage slots	2 user accessible
Removable storage	No card reader
Display	Screen size: 15.6 inch Panel type: IPS Coating: Anti-glare Resolution: 1920 x 1080 or 2560 x 1440 PPI: Aspect ratio: 16:9 Refresh rate: 144 Hz or 165 Hz Brightness: 300 to 350 Nits Contrast Ratio
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 Laptop 4 GB GDDR6 65 W w/ Dynamic Boost Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop 6 GB GDDR6 95 W w/ Dynamic Boost Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop 6 GB GDDR6 105 W w/ Dynamic Boost Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop 8 GB GDDR6 115 W w/ Dynamic Boost
Sound	Stereo speakers, 2W x2, optimized with Nahimic Audio
Camera	Front: HD 720p or FHD 1080p with E-shutter
Touchpad	Buttonless Mylar surface multi-touch touchpad, 2.95 inches (7.5 cm) x 4.72 inches (12.0 cm)
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6, 802.11ax 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.2, M.2 card
Mass	Starting at 2.38 kg (5.25 lbs)
Power brick	135W, 170W, or 230W slim tip AC adapter
Battery	Integrated Li-Polymer 60Wh battery
Keyboard	4-Zone RGB backlit or White backlit
Chassis	Color: Luna grey Materials: PC-ABS (top and bottom)
Number pad	Yes
Fingerprint reader	No
Facial recognition	No
Website	Lenovo

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The Lenovo LOQ 15i (2024) is a budget-friendly gaming laptop designed to offer a balance between performance and affordability. It features a range of Intel processors and Nvidia GPUs, making it suitable for both gaming and productivity tasks. The laptop is available in Luna Grey and comes with various configurations to meet different user needs.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The Lenovo LOQ 15i (2024) can be configured with the following processors:

• Intel Core i5-12450HX with 8 cores (4 P-cores + 4 E-cores) and 12 threads, 12 MB cache, and a max frequency of 4.4 GHz.
• Intel Core i5-13450HX with 10 cores (6 P-cores + 4 E-cores) and 16 threads, 20 MB cache, and a max frequency of 4.6 GHz.
• Intel Core i7-13650HX with 14 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) and 20 threads, 24 MB cache, and a max frequency of 4.9 GHz.
• Intel Core i7-14700HX with 20 cores (8 P-cores + 12 E-cores) and 28 threads, 30 MB cache, and a max frequency of 5.5 GHz.

The Intel Core i7-14700HX processor is particularly powerful, offering high clock rates and excellent performance for both gaming and productivity tasks. However, it could benefit from a better cooling system to fully utilize its capabilities. The Core i5-13450HX also performs well, maintaining high clock rates under load and offering good performance for a budget gaming laptop.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R23:
  • Core i7-14700HX: ~21,272 pts (multi-core), ~1923 pts (single-core)
  • Core i5-13450HX: ~17,234 pts (multi-core), ~1746 pts (single-core)

Graphics

The LOQ 15i (2024) offers the following discrete GPUs:

• Intel Arc A530M GPU with 4 GB GDDR6 memory, 1200 MHz boost clock, and 65 W TGP with Dynamic Boost

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 Laptop GPU with 4 GB GDDR6 memory, 1575 MHz boost clock, and 65 W TGP with Dynamic Boost.
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU with 6 GB GDDR6 memory, 1732 MHz boost clock, and 95 W TGP with Dynamic Boost.
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU with 6 GB GDDR6 memory, 2370 MHz boost clock, and 105 W TGP with Dynamic Boost.
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory, 2370 MHz boost clock, and 115 W TGP with Dynamic Boost.

The RTX 4060 provides excellent performance for 1080p gaming at high to maximum settings, with the ability to double frame rates using DLSS 3. However, it may require turning down settings in more intensive titles. The RTX 3050 also offers significantly better gaming performance and stability compared to the Intel Arc A530M, making it a more reliable choice for gamers.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Time Spy:
  • RTX 4060: ~11,340 pts

Memory

The LOQ 15i (2024) comes with DDR5 memory, available in the following configurations:

• Up to 32 GB DDR5-4800
• Up to 32 GB DDR5-5600

The memory is dual-channel capable and can be upgraded post-purchase, offering flexibility for users who need more RAM.

Benchmarks:

• AIDA64 Memory Read: ~68,109 MB/s

Storage

The LOQ 15i (2024) can be configured with the following storage options:

• Up to 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

The SSDs offer good performance, with transfer rates up to 4.4 GB/s. However, some thermally induced throttling was noted during extended use.

Benchmarks:

• CrystalDiskMark 5/6:
  • Read Seq Q32T1: ~4426 MB/s
  • Write Seq Q32T1: ~3403 MB/s

Co-processors

The LOQ 15i (2024) includes an AI Chip: LA1, which provides additional processing power for AI-enhanced applications.

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The LOQ 15i features a 6-row chiclet keyboard with either 4-zone RGB backlighting or white backlighting. The keyboard includes a numeric keypad and multimedia Fn keys. The key travel is 1.5 mm, and the keyboard is well-spaced, making it comfortable for typing.

Touchpad

The laptop comes with a buttonless Mylar surface multi-touch touchpad, measuring 2.95 inches (7.5 cm) x 4.72 inches (12.0 cm). The touchpad is responsive and supports Precision TouchPad (PTP) technology, although it feels obviously plastic.

Webcam

The LOQ 15i is equipped with either an HD 720p or FHD 1080p webcam, both with an E-shutter for privacy. The webcam provides average results, suitable for video calls and basic usage.

Microphone

The laptop includes a dual-microphone array, which offers clear audio quality during calls and recordings.

Output Devices

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Display

The LOQ 15i (2024) features a 15.6-inch IPS display, available in the following configurations:

• FHD (1920x1080), 300 nits, 144Hz refresh rate
• WQHD (2560x1440), 350 nits, 165Hz refresh rate

The display supports Advanced Optimus, NVIDIA G-SYNC, and TÜV Low Blue Light (Software). It offers good color accuracy, covering 100% of the sRGB color gamut. However, the maximum brightness is slightly low, making it more suitable for indoor use.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum brightness: ~310 cd/m²
• Contrast ratio: 1457:1
• ΔE Color: 2.25
• ΔE Greyscale: 2.4

Audio

The LOQ 15i comes with stereo speakers, 2W x2, optimized with Nahimic Audio. The speakers produce an acceptable soundscape overall, though a little more bass would be beneficial.

Connectivity

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WiFi

The laptop is equipped with a Wi-Fi 6 module, which provides stable and fast wireless connectivity.

Benchmarks:

• iperf3 transmit AXE11000: ~830 MBit/s
• iperf3 receive AXE11000: ~978 MBit/s

Bluetooth

The LOQ 15i includes Bluetooth 5.2, offering improved connectivity and range.

SD Card Reader

The laptop does not include an SD card reader.

USB

The LOQ 15i is equipped with the following USB ports:

• 3 x USB-A (USB 5Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 1)
• 1 x USB-C (USB 10Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 2), with Lenovo PD 140W and DisplayPort 1.4

Display Outputs

The laptop includes the following display outputs:

• 1 x HDMI 2.1, up to 8K/60Hz

Case

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The LOQ 15i (2024) features a plastic chassis with a matte-gray (Luna Grey) finish. The design is minimalistic and professional, with a 180-degree display hinge. The build quality is decent, with minimal flex to the keyboard or lid. However, the plastic construction is prone to fingerprints.

Maintenance

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The bottom panel is held on by 10 Phillips head screws, making it easy to open and access the internals. The RAM and SSD can be swapped out or expanded, offering good upgradeability.

Cooling System

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The LOQ 15i uses a cooling system that includes two fans with a heat pipe shared between the CPU and GPU. The air intake vents are directly above the fans, and exhaust is at the back. This design helps maintain good temperatures, although the fans can get loud under load.

Heat

The laptop maintains good temperatures, with the GPU running at an average of 80W in many games and the CPU temperatures staying under 80-85 degrees C most of the time. However, the laptop can get noticeably warm under load, surpassing 50°C at times.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum temperature on the upper side: ~47°C
• Maximum temperature on the bottom: ~58°C

Noise

The fans are audible at idle and get loud in performance mode, reaching up to 54 dB(A). The fan control is inconsistent, causing the fans to run permanently or pulsate in idle mode.

Benchmarks:

• Idle: ~26 / 34 / 36 dB(A)
• Load: ~48 / 50 dB(A)

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The LOQ 15i ships with a 135W, 170W, or 230W AC adapter, depending on the configuration. The power consumption is normal for the installed hardware, although the 170W charger may limit performance during extended periods of full load.

Benchmarks:

• Idle: ~13 / 18 / 24 Watt
• Load: ~85 / 232 Watt

Battery Life

The laptop comes with a 60 Wh Li-Polymer battery. The battery life is below average, lasting about 4-5 hours of use before needing to charge. The fast-charging technology can top up the battery to 50% in 30 minutes.

Benchmarks:

• WiFi Websurfing (Edge 126): ~5h 20min

Biometrics

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The LOQ 15i does not include a fingerprint reader or facial recognition.

Software

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The LOQ 15i ships with Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Home Single Language, or no preload operating system, depending on the configuration.

Preinstalled Software

Lenovo Vantage

The Lenovo Vantage software acts as the primary control center for the LOQ 15i. It allows usersto manage performance profiles, monitor system status, and customize RGB lighting. The software also includes features for overclocking, fan control, and enabling the MUX switch for better GPU performance.

Other Preinstalled Software

The laptop comes with a trial version of McAfee antivirus software, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft OneNote.

Linux Support

The LOQ 15i has been tested with Ubuntu 23.10 live CD. The keyboard, touchpad, camera, speakers, ethernet, and Wi-Fi all worked fine. All keyboard shortcuts for adjusting screen brightness, changing keyboard lighting profile, volume control, and performance modes were functional.

Accessories & Warranty

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The LOQ 15i comes with a slim tip AC adapter (135W, 170W, or 230W depending on the configuration) and standard paperwork. The laptop is covered by a one-year limited manufacturer warranty if purchased in the US.

Reviews Summary

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Overall Sentiment

The Lenovo LOQ 15i (2024) is well-regarded for its balance of performance and affordability. It is praised for its good build quality, decent display, and strong performance, especially with the higher-end configurations. The laptop is considered a solid choice for budget-conscious gamers and productivity users. However, some drawbacks include inconsistent fan control, below-average battery life, and the lack of Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 and an SD card reader.

Problems Summary

• Inconsistent fan control, causing fans to run permanently or pulsate in idle mode.
• Below-average battery life.
• Lack of Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 and an SD card reader.
• Plastic construction prone to fingerprints.
• Loud fan noise under load.
• Slightly low maximum brightness on the display.
• Thermally induced throttling during extended use.

Links

Intel Core i5-12450HX, RTX 2050, 12 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD: Matthewmoniz

Intel Core i5-13450HX, RTX 3050, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD: Jarrodstech

Intel Core i7-13650HX, RTX 4060, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: Notebookcheck

Intel Core i7-14700HX, RTX 4060, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: Beebom