Lenovo ThinkBook Plus G2 i brings a bigger and faster e-Ink display on its back

Lenovo Thinkbook Plus G2
Lenovo Thinkbook Plus G2 (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Lenovo announced the ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i at CES 2021.
  • The laptop features an improved e-Ink display on its back.
  • The ThinkBook Plus G2 i will be available in Q1 2021 with a starting price of $1,299.

Lenovo announced the ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i at CES 2021. We've seen plenty of new laptops at CES, including several from Lenovo, but we haven't seen anything like the ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i this year. The laptop features an e-Ink display on its back in addition to its traditional display. The ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i will be available in Q1 2021 with a starting price of $1,549.

Lenovo announced the first generation ThinkBook Plus last year at CES 2020. This year's ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i has a bigger and faster e-Ink display. The display bumped up from a 48 percent screen-to-body ratio up to a 68 percent ratio, which results in a 12-inch usable area. The e-Ink display also got a resolution bump up to 2560 x 1600, which matches the laptop's main display. The e-Ink display also has a better refresh rate and user interface than last year's model.

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CategoryLenovo ThinkBook Plus (Gen 2)
OSWindows 10 Pro
ProcessorUp to 11th Gen Intel Core i7
RAM16GB LPDDR4xDual-channel
GraphicsIntel UHD (UMA)Integrated
StorageUp to 1TB M.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD
Display13.3 inches (Main)2560x1600IPS, Touch, 400 nits, Dolby Vision12 inches (E-Ink)2560x1600Monochromatic, Touch
PenLenovo Integrated Pen
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 43.5mm audio
AudioDual 2W speakersDolby AtmosFour microphones
ConnectivityWi-Fi 6Bluetooth 5
CameraFront-facing 720pThinkShutter
SecurityFingerprint reader
Battery53Wh
Dimensions11.73 x 8.22 x 0.54 inches(298mm x 209mm x 13.9mm)
Weight2.86 pounds (1.30kg)
ColorStorm Gray

In addition to an improved e-Ink display, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i has a taller 16:10 aspect ratio, Dolby Vision HDR, and Dolby Atmos support on select models. It runs on up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processors. The laptop also has a new garaged pen that can automatically launch select applications.

Like its e-Ink counterpart, the main display of the ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i has a better screen-to-body ratio than its predecessor. It now has a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio compared to last year's 78 percent. The laptop has two Thunderbolt 4 ports and supports Wi-Fi 6.

As if an e-Ink display on a laptop wasn't already unique, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i also has an optional ThinkBook Charging Mat. The mat allows you to wirelessly charge the laptop, which gets up to 15 hours on a charge, according to Lenovo. That battery life bumps up to 24 hours, according to Lenovo, if you only use the e-Ink display.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_. 

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