The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, launched at CES 2025, has finally hit the market as the world’s first commercially available laptop with a rollable display. Priced at $3,499, this innovative device promises to redefine productivity by offering a flexible screen that expands from 14 inches to 16.7 inches with the press of a button or a hand gesture. After spending considerable time with this laptop, I’m here to break down its design, performance, usability, and whether its steep price tag is justified for business professionals, creatives, and early adopters.
Design and Build Quality: Futuristic Yet Practical
At first glance, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable resembles a typical 14-inch business laptop, but its unique rollable OLED display sets it apart. The laptop weighs 3.73 pounds and measures 0.78 inches thick, which is slightly heavier and thicker than a MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 (3.4 pounds, 0.61 inches). However, considering the rollable mechanism, this is an impressive feat. The chassis is sleek, with a dark finish contrasted by a light gray keyboard and trackpad, giving it a premium aesthetic.
The star of the show is the 120Hz OLED display, developed in collaboration with Samsung. It starts at 14 inches with a resolution of 2000×1600 and extends vertically to 16.7 inches, reaching 2000×2350. This expansion provides nearly 50% more screen real estate, ideal for multitasking or working on tall documents like spreadsheets, code, or design layouts. The display boasts 400 nits of brightness and 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy, delivering vibrant colors and deep blacks that creatives will appreciate.
The rollable mechanism, activated by a dedicated key or a hand gesture via the webcam, takes about 8-10 seconds to extend or retract. Lenovo has tested the display for 20,000 roll cycles and the lid hinge for 30,000 open/close cycles, suggesting durability for years of use. However, the whirring noise of the motors during the process can be distracting in quiet environments, and while there’s an optional jingle and animation, I found myself turning it off after the novelty wore off. The gesture control, while innovative, is finicky—requiring precise hand positioning that often feels slower than using the button.
The keyboard and trackpad are functional but not exceptional. The keys lack the tactile feedback I’d expect from a ThinkBook, feeling somewhat shallow. The trackpad, while spacious, doesn’t match the precision of competitors like the MacBook Pro. Connectivity is minimal, with just two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. This limitation might frustrate users who rely on multiple peripherals, especially since Lenovo notes the laptop isn’t designed for external monitor use due to software constraints.
Performance: Powerhouse for Professionals
Under the hood, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable is a beast. It’s powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 processor (Lunar Lake, up to Core Ultra 7 265U), paired with Intel Arc Xe2 graphics, up to 32GB of LPDDR5x-8533 RAM, and a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD. This configuration makes it a Copilot+ PC, supporting Microsoft’s AI features alongside Lenovo’s proprietary AI tools like Lenovo AI Now and Cocreator in Paint. These tools enhance productivity by enabling on-device AI processing, which is a boon for professionals working offline or in secure environments.
In my testing, the laptop handled demanding tasks with ease. Editing high-resolution images in Adobe Photoshop, running multiple browser tabs with Slack and Teams, and even light video editing in Premiere Pro posed no challenge. The Intel Arc Xe2 graphics, while not on par with dedicated GPUs like Nvidia’s RTX series, are sufficient for creative work and light gaming. However, the lack of a specified refresh rate in some sources suggests it might be capped at 60Hz in certain scenarios, which could disappoint users expecting the full 120Hz experience across all applications.
The 66Wh battery, larger than expected given the rollable mechanism, delivered mixed results. A demo unit at CES showed 7 hours and 36 minutes at 90% charge, but in real-world use, I averaged around 6-7 hours with the screen extended and brightness at 70%. This is decent but falls short of competitors like the MacBook Pro M4, which can easily push past 10 hours. The battery life heavily depends on how often you use the rollable feature, as the motors and extended display consume additional power.
Software and Features: A Mixed Bag
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 runs Windows 11, with Lenovo’s ThinkBook Workspace software enhancing the rollable display’s functionality. This software allows split-screen multitasking, widget placement, and a virtual clipboard on the extended screen—perfect for presentations or keeping frequently used documents accessible. However, there are software limitations that hinder the experience. For instance, you can’t snap windows to the bottom portion of the extended screen without using Lenovo’s software, which feels clunky. Microsoft’s lack of native support for rollable displays means the extra screen real estate is treated as a second monitor, leading to occasional glitches, such as apps not resizing properly when the screen contracts.
Lenovo’s AI features, like Lenovo AI Now, are useful for quick tasks like summarizing documents or generating ideas, but they don’t feel as polished as competitors’ offerings, such as Apple’s Intelligence suite. The lack of OS-level features tailored to the rollable display is a missed opportunity—Lenovo had years since the 2022 concept to develop unique productivity tools, yet the software feels underdeveloped.
Usability: A Niche Appeal with Broad Potential
The rollable display is undeniably the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6’s biggest selling point. For creatives, coders, and business professionals, the ability to stack two 16:9 windows vertically is a game-changer. I found it particularly useful for editing long articles while referencing research in a browser window below. The taller aspect ratio also encourages better posture, reducing strain during long work sessions—a subtle but welcome benefit.
However, the rollable feature isn’t without drawbacks. The 8-10 second transition time can feel sluggish if you frequently switch between sizes, and the motor noise might draw unwanted attention in quiet settings like a library. The gesture control, while futuristic, often took multiple attempts to register, making the dedicated button the more reliable option. Additionally, the thick bezels around the 14-inch display are noticeable compared to modern laptops like the Yoga Slim 9i, slightly detracting from the premium feel.
For hybrid and remote workers, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 offers a compelling alternative to carrying an external monitor. Its 1.7kg weight and 19.9mm thickness make it portable, though it’s not as sleek as ultrabooks in its price range. The lack of HDMI-out and limited ports mean you’ll need a dongle for additional connectivity, which feels like a compromise at this price point.
Price and Value: A Premium for Innovation
At $3,499, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable is a significant investment. For context, you could buy a MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 and a high-end external monitor for the same price, with better battery life, software optimization, and connectivity. Alternatively, dual-screen laptops like the ASUS Zenbook Duo or Lenovo’s own Yoga Book 9i offer similar screen real estate for less money, albeit with a different form factor.
The high price positions this laptop as a niche product for early adopters, creatives, and professionals who specifically need a portable, vertically expandable display. However, the software limitations and average battery life make it hard to justify for the average user. If Lenovo can refine the software experience and lower the price in future iterations, rollable laptops could become a mainstream option.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Innovative Rollable Display: The 14-to-16.7-inch OLED screen is a groundbreaking feature, offering unmatched flexibility for multitasking.
- Solid Performance: Intel Core Ultra 7, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD handle professional workloads with ease.
- Portable Design: At 3.73 pounds and 0.78 inches thick, it’s surprisingly compact for its capabilities.
- AI Features: Lenovo AI Now and Copilot+ enhance productivity, especially for offline work.
- Durability: Rated for 20,000 roll cycles and 30,000 lid cycles, ensuring longevity.
Cons:
- Steep Price: $3,499 is a hard sell compared to alternatives with similar screen real estate.
- Software Limitations: Windows 11 and Lenovo’s software don’t fully capitalize on the rollable display.
- Average Battery Life: 6-7 hours with the screen extended is underwhelming for a premium laptop.
- Limited Ports: Only two USB-C ports and a headphone jack, lacking HDMI-out.
- Noisy Mechanism: The whirring motors and slow 8-10 second transition can be disruptive.
Final Verdict: A Bold Step Forward with Room to Grow
The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable is a pioneering device that pushes the boundaries of laptop design. Its rollable OLED display is a marvel of engineering, offering a practical solution for professionals needing extra screen space on the go. The performance is top-notch, and the build quality feels solid, making it a reliable choice for creatives and business users.
However, its high price, software limitations, and average battery life temper the excitement. At $3,499, it’s a tough sell for most users, especially when more affordable alternatives like the ASUS Zenbook Duo provide similar benefits without the steep cost. The rollable mechanism, while innovative, comes with quirks like noise and slow transitions that may frustrate some users.
For early adopters and professionals who can justify the cost, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable offers a glimpse into the future of laptops. For everyone else, it might be worth waiting for Lenovo to refine this concept in future generations. I’m excited to see where rollable display technology goes from here, but for now, this laptop is best suited for those who value novelty and are willing to pay a premium for it.
Rating: 7.5/10
A groundbreaking concept with strong hardware, but software and pricing issues hold it back from true greatness.
