Lenovo LOQ 15 Review: Is It the Best Gaming Laptop on a Budget?

Budget-friendly gaming laptops come with a compromise, and that is the hard truth that gamers with tight cash should understand before expecting too much. However, some gaming laptops provide a reasonable price-to-performance ratio, and LOQ 15 is one of those. In this Lenovo LOQ 15 review, you will delve into the features, advantages, and disadvantages of this gaming laptop. 

Tech Specs 

• Display: 15.6-inch Full HD 
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7
• GPU: RTX 4050 
• RAM: 8 GB
• Storage: 512 GB
• Dimensions: 14.2*10.4*1 inch
• Weight: 5.3 pounds

Pros

• Decent gaming at 1080p 
• Excellent keyboard 
• Affordable 

Cons 

• Dim display
• Cheap construction 
• Heavy 

Design and Feel

I have used laptops with plastic construction, and they did well. However, the Lenovo LOQ falls short of the sturdiness that gamers look for. It is heavy, in fact, a bit too for a budget-friendly gaming laptop, which makes it an inconvenience to carry around.

When I first saw the blue-colored laptop (other colors are also available), I was pleased enough to make it a part of my desktop. However, things changed when I first touched it. Its construction is too clunky and cheap. When you open it, the hinges make sounds that further confirm its low-cost build. However, port selection is adequate. There are 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, USB-A 2.0, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, and audio jack. 

Display

Lenovo LOQ gaming laptop is equipped with an FHD IPS display with 144 Hz of frequency. The screen is dull with low color accuracy and sub-par brightness. You will only get 44.4% on the DCI-P3 color gamut, and you can certainly not use this laptop in sunlight.

I wanted to enjoy winter’s sunlight while web browsing on a sunny Sunday, and I thought, why not test the brightness of this laptop? Everything was visible but the glare was there to disturb, but the display somewhat managed it. I could see the contents of the screen, but the experience was uncomfortable. However, its 400 nits of brightness works great in dimly lit and indoor environments. 

Keyboard

One of the notable features of this laptop is its keyboard. Being a professional writer, I can tell when a keyboard types great, and you can feel the accuracy while typing and gaming. The keys are quick and tactile, which enhances both the gaming and typing experience. However, the touchpad has a bit of softness to it that sometimes makes the navigation too slippery. 

Gaming Performance

Lenovo did a great job internally. The AMD Ryzen 7 and RTX 4050 bring a pretty good gaming performance at 1080p. If you don’t expect too much from this budget-friendly laptop, you will be satisfied with its game handling. You can get decent frame rates on all PC games at 1080p. In my tests, the laptop was able to pull Red Dead Redemption at 52 fps, while Grand Theft Auto at 71 fps.

The best thing about this gaming laptop is it does not get too hot even after a long gaming session. You can easily place it on your lap without feeling too much heat. The fans also work quietly, which is a blessing for gamers. 

As far as multitasking is concerned, you can open multiple tabs and browse the internet without any lags. The 8 GB RAM works well, but you can also get a Lenovo LOQ RAM upgrade with a 16 GB variant.

Moreover, you can also edit 4k videos and RAW images on Photoshop (but my only concern is the pics might feel too warm because the display somehow ditches the true colors of the image, and you can’t be certain if your photos are color-perfect). Overall, the Lenovo LOQ has better performance than it’s built. There are other variants as well. You can choose one according to your budget and needs. 

Battery Life

Another thing that I would like to highlight review is the battery life, which is its worst feature. I think Lenovo has cut enough of the cost margin in the build and quality that they should have compensated gamers with a little better battery life.

Lenovo LOQ 15 has 6 hours and 30 minutes of battery life, which works well if you are web surfing or doing light productivity tasks. While watching Netflix, you can get nearly 5 hours of juice. However, if you are playing a game without a plugin, the battery will drain in less than an hour. Even MSI Cyborg 15 provides 1 hour and 50 minutes of battery longevity. Lenovo should have done better, at least a little.

Lenovo Legion Slim 5 vs Lenovo LOQ 15

Now, let’s compare LOQ 15 with Legion Slim 5. Both laptops are good but mid-range gaming laptops. The major difference is in performance. Legion Slim 5 handles gaming and other CPU-intensive tasks better. The battery life of Slim 5 is also longer, with 7 hours of juice. 

Bottom Line 

Lenovo LOQ 15 works satisfactorily if you ignore its build quality. It is a budget-friendly laptop that provides decent gaming. However, you must keep in mind the cons when deciding to buy it. If a cheaply built and dim display does not bother you, you can give it a try and enjoy day-to-day gaming. 

FAQs

1. What does LOQ mean in Lenovo?

Lenovo explains “LOQ” as the bond between gamers when they embark on the journey of virtual worlds. The word “LOQ” is pronounced as “LOCK”

2. Is LOQ better than Legion?

It depends on the type of gamer you are. If you are a beginner, Lenovo LOQ is suitable, but for more intensive games and productivity tasks, choose Legion.

3. Is the Lenovo LOQ 3 good for gaming?

Yes, it is a good gaming laptop for casual gaming at 1080p. You can choose between multiple display options and internal components depending on budget. 

4. Is the Lenovo LOQ military grade?

Yes, Lenovo LOQ is military-grade and meets the MIL-STD-810H standards, which ensures it can handle anything you throw at it.