Sitting in my hotel room, juggling work on a single laptop screen during the chaos of CES 2025, I can’t help but feel like the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 was made for me. With a press of a button, this laptop’s screen extends upward, creating a nearly 17-inch display perfect for multitasking or watching vertical videos.
It’s an impressive feature, but it comes with a hefty $3,500 price tag and a few drawbacks that caught me off guard. So, is Lenovo’s latest innovation a true productivity booster or just a flashy gimmick? Here’s my take after trying it out.
Keep on rollin”g”
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 looks straight out of a sci-fi movie. With a press of a button on the function row, its 14-inch OLED screen expands into a 16.7-inch vertical display, providing extra space for multitasking or detailed viewing. Using Lenovo’s rollable display tech, the screen expands and retracts smoothly every time. Even fully extended, it feels sturdy and shows no noticeable bumps or creases, unlike many foldable screens. The vibrant purple wallpaper adjusts beautifully as the screen stretches upward.
After a few minutes with the new ThinkBook, its practical uses became clear. I could stack two browser windows vertically and still see enough content on each — perfect for splitting time between writing and checking notes. The taller display was also great for watching YouTube Shorts in full screen. Sure, most people won’t binge mobile videos on a laptop, but with so many clips online, it’s nice to have the extra space to enjoy them properly.
All the usual Lenovo perks (with one big drawback)
The retractable display caught my attention right away, but Lenovo’s usual standout features also impressed me. The responsive keyboard made browsing smooth and enjoyable, and the webcam includes a physical shutter for added privacy. Powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra processors and Wi-Fi 7, it’s ready to handle multiple apps on its large screen. Plus, the 120Hz display ensures scrolling feels fluid.
However, there’s one big downside for such an expensive laptop: it only has two USB-C ports. That’s acceptable for entry-level laptops like the MacBook Air or Dell XPS, but for a business-focused device, more connectivity options would be expected. You’ll likely need a USB-C hub to connect all your accessories. Even the more affordable Lenovo Yoga Slim 2-in-1 offers three USB-C ports. Additionally, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 is quite heavy at nearly 4 pounds. While understandable given its capabilities, it’s something to consider if you travel frequently.
The takeaway
The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 is one of the most unique laptops showcased at CES 2025, priced at $3,500. While that may put it out of range for most people, it could still attract power users who want a larger display with just one click or those willing to splurge on its standout feature.
This laptop might save you from needing a separate portable monitor while traveling, but there are cheaper alternatives. Lenovo’s own Yoga Book 9i and the Asus ZenBook Duo offer dual-screen designs that can stack vertically, fold into a tablet, or detach the keyboard to create a mini desktop. However, those don’t offer the seamless, single vertical display that expands and retracts without moving parts. If that feature excites you and money isn’t an issue, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 could be worth considering when it launches early this year.
Other multitasking laptops to consider
Asus ZenBook Duo (2024)
Our favorite dual-screen laptop yet, the Asus ZenBook Duo’s wild design has plenty of practical benefits — and costs about as much as a typical mainstream laptop.
Lenovo Yoga Book 9i
The Yoga Book 9i works well overall and wins in the style department, but we found it to have a frustrating amount of bugs in our testing.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x
If you just want a great Lenovo laptop and don’t need a foldable or expanding screen, the Yoga Slim 7x is our favorite overall Windows notebook out there.