There are plenty of laptops that can double as tablets, but it’s rare that those two-in-ones run both Windows and Android. That’s exactly what the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid, just announced at CES 2024, promises to deliver.
Watch this: Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid Can Switch Between Android and Windows
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Lenovo’s new hybrid device can switch between the two operating systems depending on how you’re using it. Want to use it as a tablet? Just detach the 14-inch 2.8K OLED screen from its base and it turns into an Android tablet. Reattach it to the keyboard base and it kicks back into Windows mode. The ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid launches in the second quarter and is expected to start at $2,000.
Lenovo’s Thinkbook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid can function as a Windows computer and an Android tablet. The tablet portion is detached in this photo, while the base is powering Windows on an external display.
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid jumped between Windows and Android seamlessly during my brief time trying the device. Once I pulled the Tab off its base (which admittedly took a little bit of force at first), the Windows interface I had been browsing just a moment ago switched to Android after a brief pause.
The Tab itself is slim and relatively light for a tablet of its size, weighing roughly 1.7 pounds compared with the 1.5-pound, 12.9-inch iPad Pro. But at 14 inches, the Lenovo feels cumbersome to hold for more than just a few moments. It’s likely best suited for those who want to use their tablet with a kickstand while they’re watching movies or playing games.
When I snapped the Hybrid Tab back onto the Hybrid Station, the screen briefly went blank before Windows once again appeared on the screen almost instantly. The process seems smooth and simple so far, but it’s difficult to tell how well it will hold up without extended use.
