Lenovo LOQ (12th Gen Intel Core i5) 2024 Review: The Lenovo LOQ series has become a popular choice for gamers and content creators seeking an affordable yet reliable laptop. Introduced last year, it continues to offer excellent value without breaking the bank.
Powered by a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA’s RTX 3050 (6GB), this device aims to deliver solid gaming performance while maintaining a budget-friendly profile. We have tested the device in terms of design, performance, display, and other aspects and here is an in-depth review.
Lenovo LOQ (12th Gen Intel Core i5) 2024 Review
Design and Build
The design of the Lenovo LOQ draws inspiration from Lenovoโs higher-end Legion series, featuring sharp lines and a durable plastic chassis. While it sits in the budget category, the overall build feels solid and dependable, despite some minor flex in the chassis and a slightly wobbly hinge. Moreover, it can flip up to 180 degrees. Nevertheless, the Lenovo LOQ offers excellent quality for professionals and gamers looking for a reliable, well-built laptop at a reasonable cost.
Its 2.38 kg weight might feel less convenient for frequent travellers. However, for a gaming laptop, this weight is fairly standard, as the hardware is typically more robust compared to regular laptops.
The laptop’s design exudes a premium feel, and its matte finish on the back adds a sleek touch thatโs sure to catch your eye. There are two external air vents on the backside which expells hot air out. A camera on/off button on the right side lets you access your webcam instantly.
Display
The Lenovo LOQ packs a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate – which is a notable feature in this budget segment. While the display delivers decent colours and brightness for gaming, the colour accuracy might not be the best for content creators or professionals requiring precise colour grading. The 144Hz refresh rate, however, ensures smooth gameplay, particularly in fast-paced games where high frame rates are key.
The brightness is good enough for indoor usage. When it comes to outdoors, it seems somewhat low, but it is decent enough to use.
| Display | Specifications |
| Type | IPS, Non-Touch |
| Size | 15.6-inch |
| Brightness | 300-Nits |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 pixels |
| Refresh rate | 144 Hz |
| Certifications and other features | Anti-glare display, 100% sRGB coverage |
Keyboard, Trackpad and I/O Ports
The Lenovo LOQ features a full-sized, backlit keyboard with decent key travel and feedback. While it may not match the tactile feel of mechanical keyboards found on premium gaming laptops, it offers a comfortable typing experience for a budget device.
The backlighting is a nice addition, but it lacks customization options in other models at this price range. The button-less trackpad is large and responsive, supporting multi-touch gestures, but its plasticky feel can make it slightly less satisfying to use. However, the off-centre positioning helps minimize accidental touches while typing, which is a thoughtful design choice.
Speaking of connectivity and I/O port options, here is a breakdown
| Ports (Back Side) | Charging Port, 1x HDMIยฎ 2.1, up to 8K/60Hz , 1x Ethernet (RJ-45), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, |
| Ports (Right side) | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x Headphone/microphone combo jack (3.5mm) |
| Connectivity Options | Wifi 6E 11ax (2×2), Bluetooth 5.2 |
Performance
In this ever-evolving AI era, Lenovo has made this an AI-powered Gaming laptop. Powered by the LA1 AI chip, the Lenovo AI+ engine simplifies your gaming and productivity experience.
Now, onto the core specsโthis laptop is powered by a 12th-generation Intel Core i5-12450HX processor paired with an NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU with 6GB of VRAM, providing a noticeable boost to the gaming experience. While the RTX 3050 is considered an entry-level GPU in the NVIDIA RTX series, it delivers more than enough power to handle most modern games at medium to high settings, all at a smooth 1080p resolution.
| Lenovo LOQ 2024 | Hardware Specifications |
| Chipset | Intel Core i5-12450HX, Speed: 2.4GHz (Base) – 4.4GHz (Max), 8 Cores,12 Threads, 12MB Cache |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5-4800MHz (SODIMM) – (2 x 8 GB) |
| Storage | 512 GB SSD M.2 PCIe 4ร4 NVMe |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 (6GB GDDR6), Boost Clock 1732MHz, TGP 95W |
The RTX 3050 leverages NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture, which includes DLSS and ray-tracing capabilities, enhancing the gaming experience with better visuals and performance, especially in supported titles.
In real-world usage, the laptop breezed through normal tasks like Chrome browsing with multiple tabs open, highlighting its capability to manage multitasking effortlessly. When it comes to gaming, the Lenovo LOQ maintains smooth frame rates in graphically demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Call of Duty: Warzone on medium settings. For less intensive games such as Valorant, the laptop excels at high settings, where its 144Hz display truly shines, providing a fluid and responsive gaming experience. With 16GB of RAM, the system also handles multitasking and heavier applications like Adobe Premiere without hiccups.
The RTX 3050 doesn’t just benefit gamersโitโs also a great option for budget-conscious creative professionals. Its power extends to video editing, 3D modelling, and other GPU-accelerated tasks, making it a versatile tool for creators. The 512GB SSD offers fast load times, although storage may feel limited for users with large game libraries or extensive creative projects.
Lenovo LOQ does a decent job of managing heat. The dual fans and ventilation system work efficiently, though, during prolonged gaming sessions, you may notice some heat buildup near the WASD keys and the palm rest area. Despite this, the fans perform well overall, and our tests showed minimal thermal throttling, ensuring that the laptop maintains consistent performance under pressure.
For optimal performance, itโs recommended to game in a room with air conditioning or a cool temperature to help manage heat more effectively. For users who plan to game extensively, investing in a cooling pad could be beneficial to maintain peak performance. Cooling pads provide additional airflow, which helps keep the laptopโs temperature in check, ensuring consistent performance and prolonging the laptopโs longevity during demanding gaming tasks.
In short, the Lenovo LOQ delivers impressive performance for both gamers and creatives, with the RTX 3050 GPU driving the system’s ability to handle demanding workloads at a competitive price.
Features and Audio
The Lenovo LOQ comes equipped with a 720p webcam featuring a physical privacy shutter, a welcome feature in today’s laptops. However, the webcam’s quality is only decent and struggles in low-light conditions, appearing grainy unless youโre in a well-lit environment like a hotel room. Itโs fine for basic video calls or casual streaming, but donโt expect stellar performance in dim settings.
The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro features Nahimic Audio by Steelseries, delivering immersive 3D audio with surround sound, night mode, sound tracker, and sound-sharing capabilities. While the built-in 2 x 2W speakers with Nahimic Audio provide decent sound quality for general use, they may not match the depth and richness offered by external speakers or headphones, especially for critical listening or gaming. For gamers seeking the best audio experience, headphones are highly recommended.
One standout feature is the inclusion of 3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, allowing access to hundreds of games. New titles are added weekly, with Black Ops 6 and Indiana Jones expected to join the Game Pass later this yearโtwo of the most anticipated AAA releases. This adds great value for gamers looking to explore a wide variety of games without extra cost.
Battery Life and Charging
The battery performance on the Lenovo LOQ is typical for a gaming laptop. While it charges fairly quickly, battery life is less impressive. During light usageโlike browsing the web, streaming, or working on documentsโit performs reasonably well, lasting around 4 to 5 hours. However, during gaming sessions, the battery drains much faster, often dropping significantly in just 30 minutes of gameplay. Even when plugged in while gaming, the battery barely charges, increasing by just 1% to 5% during intensive sessions.
For non-gaming tasks, like internet use or streaming, the battery holds up better, but if you’re gaming, expect to rely heavily on the 170W charger for extended play. The Lenovo LOQ features rapid charging, which can boost the battery from 0 to around 70-80% in just 30 minutes, and a full charge takes about 60 minutes. You can enable or disable this feature in Lenovo Vantage, and if rapid charging is turned off, the charging process may take a bit longer.
Pros:
- The affordable price point for a gaming laptop
- 12th Gen Intel Core i5 and RTX 3050 offer strong gaming and productivity performance
- 144Hz refresh rate for smooth gameplay
Cons:
- Battery life is short during gaming
- Excessive hotspots are built around the keypad area during long gaming sessions.
- Audio Quality could be better.
Verdict
The Lenovo LOQ is an excellent option if you’re looking for a gaming laptop under โน55K that offers great value. With its 144Hz refresh rate display, NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU with 6GB VRAM, and 12th Gen Intel i5 processor, it delivers solid performance for both gaming and creative work. Moreover, the laptop has been bought for Rs 51K during the Great Indian Festival Sale.
However, there are some drawbacks to consider. The laptop tends to overheat in a room without AC, and the webcam’s quality is subpar, especially in low-light conditions. Additionally, the audio quality is average and may not meet the needs of gamers who typically rely on headphones.
Despite these limitations, the Lenovo LOQ is a well-rounded, budget-friendly choice for casual gamers and creative professionals. Its performance and features make it a strong contender in its price range, offering excellent value for those on a tight budget.
Lenovo LOQ 12th Gen i5-12450HX/ 144Hz 300Nits FHD Gaming Laptop (16GB/512GB SSD/Win 11/ RTX 3050 6GB Graphics/3 Mon Game Pass/Grey/2.4Kg), 83GS003UIN
