Lenovo is stepping into the competitive gaming laptop market with its LOQ series—designed to offer value and performance, especially during sizzling summer sales. The video “Lenovo LOQ Ryzen Gaming Laptops | 7235HS – 7435HS – 8845HS | Summer Sale” gives a sneak peek into these offerings. In this in-depth review, we’ll break down each Ryzen configuration, benchmark their real-world performance, weigh pros and cons, and help you decide if a LOQ laptop deserves a spot in your gaming setup.
Overview of the Lenovo LOQ Lineup
Lenovo LOQ includes configurations powered by three Ryzen CPUs:
- Ryzen 5 7235HS – entry-level, 4 cores/8 threads
- Ryzen 7 7435HS – mid-tier, 8 cores/16 threads, dGPU only
- Ryzen 7 8845HS – high-end, 16 cores with advanced Zen4 architecture
These laptops feature NVIDIA RTX 3050, 4050, or 4060 GPUs, dual-channel DDR5 memory, upgradeable storage, vivid 144 Hz (up to 165 Hz) displays, and smart thermal systems aided by AI-powered chips and MUX switch technology amazon.com+15news.lenovo.com+15youtube.com+15blogs.workwithstyle.innews.lenovo.com.
1. Ryzen 5 7235HS + RTX 3050/4050 – Affordable 1080p Gaming
- Specs: 4C/8T @ 3.2–4.2 GHz, integrated Radeon 660M + RTX 3050/4050
- Performance: Smooth 1080p medium settings across eSports and many AAA titles blogs.workwithstyle.in+1reddit.com+1
- Value: Priced at $799–$899, a compelling entry for budget-conscious gamers blogs.workwithstyle.in
Strengths
- Great value
- Integrated graphics for light computing
- Good for students and casual users
Drawbacks
- Lower core count limits future-proofing
- Noisy fans under load
- Mid-range battery life
2. Ryzen 7 7435HS + RTX 4060 – The Sweet Spot
- Specs: 8C/16T @ up to 4.5 GHz, RTX 4060 GPU
- Real-World Performance: 1080p/High settings deliver ~60+ FPS in demanding games like Metro Exodus youtube.com+13blogs.workwithstyle.in+13reddit.com+13
- Benchmark Insight: Comparable to bench averages; thermals around 68°C
Strengths
- Strong multicore performance
- Ideal GPU for high-FPS 1080p gaming
- Upgrade-friendly RAM and SSD
Drawbacks
- No integrated graphics → less efficient on battery
- Slightly underwhelming battery life (~4h video playback) bestbuy.com+3reddit.com+3m.youtube.com+3
3. Ryzen 7 8845HS + RTX 4050/4060 – The High-End Beast
- Specs: 16C/32T Zen4 @ up to 5 GHz, RTX 4050/4060 GPU
- Heat & Power: Efficient 140W power draw vs Lenovo Legion’s 240W lenovo.com+10reddit.com+10techradar.com+10
- Use Cases: Ideal for gaming, creative work, and light ML tasks
Strengths
- Multithreaded speed shines under professional workloads
- Cooler & quieter thermals
- Proven Intel-beating performance reddit.com+4techradar.com+4gaming.lenovo.com+4
User Feedback & Longevity Reddit users are vocal:
“Clean look, built well, good cooling and the 4060 is great 1080p card” reddit.com
From a 10-month review:
“The laptop is a beast… handling gaming, editing or training some tiny ML models constantly” youtube.com+4reddit.com+4blogs.workwithstyle.in+4
BestBuy reviews (7435HS + RTX 4060, 16GB):
- 4.6/5 rating, praised for graphics and performance
- Noted cons: battery life and fan noise lenovo.com+9bestbuy.com+9blogs.workwithstyle.in+9reddit.com+2bestbuy.com+2bestbuy.com+2
Cooling & Power Efficiency
- AI-Optimized Thermals: Lenovo LA AI Engine+ adjusts thermals and wattage based on usage youtube.com+4news.lenovo.com+4youtube.com+4
- Thermal Design: 4 heat pipes and dual 85mm fans keep performance stable under load lenovo.com+7news.lenovo.com+7bestbuy.com+7
- Efficiency: Ryzen-powered LOQ consumes ~140W vs higher-draw Legion systems techradar.com+3reddit.com+3youtube.com+3
Upgradeability & Battery Insights
- Expandability: Dual RAM slots (up to 32GB) and dual PCIe slots for easy upgrades
- Battery: 60–80 Wh for 6–7 h video playback; Super Rapid Charge available news.lenovo.com
- MUX Switch: Enables dGPU bypass for better gaming FPS and improved battery life via Lenovo Vantage bestbuy.com+1news.lenovo.com+1
Display & Build Quality
- Panoramic Viewing: 15″ 16:9 WQHD or 16″ 16:10 WQXGA panels with 165 Hz refresh and VRR support news.lenovo.com
- Build: Rugged MIL-STD 810H-tested chassis with optional 4-zone RGB keyboard news.lenovo.com
Choosing Your LOQ Model
Use Case | Recommended Model | Why It Works |
Budget entry gamer | Ryzen 5 7235HS + RTX 3050 | Affordable 1080p gaming |
Balanced gamer/streamer | Ryzen 7 7435HS + RTX 4060 | Strong gaming performance |
Heavy multitasker/creator | Ryzen 7 8845HS + RTX 4060 | Best CPU for content and AI workloads |
Pros & Cons Summary
✅ Pros
- Excellent performance-to-price ratio
- Effective cooling and upgrade options
- AI optimization and MUX support improve usability
⚠️ Cons
- Below-average battery life off-plug
- Noticeable fan noise under load
- Lacks premium chassis materials
Final Verdict
Lenovo LOQ laptops deliver impressive gaming performance, strong thermals, and attractive pricing—especially during summer sales. The 7435HS + RTX 4060 model hits the sweet spot for gamers seeking longevity without breaking the bank, while the 8845HS variant adds muscle for power users. The 7235HS model offers a solid entry path for casual players and students.
If you can overlook battery limitations and noise, the LOQ represents a smart buy for gamers and creators alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does the battery last?
Approximately 4–7 hours of light use; gaming knocks it down to ~1–2 hours youtube.com+2youtube.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2gaming.lenovo.com+8reddit.com+8blogs.workwithstyle.in+8lenovo.com+2blogs.workwithstyle.in+2youtube.com+2bestbuy.com+1news.lenovo.com+1amazon.comm.youtube.com+3youtube.com+3amazon.com+3bestbuy.com.
Q: Is the RTX 4060 smooth at 1080p high settings?
Yes—expect 60+ FPS in most titles like Metro Exodus blogs.workwithstyle.in+1notebookchat.com+1.
Q: Can I upgrade RAM and storage?
Yes, dual slots support up to 32GB RAM and additional PCIe SSDs .
Q: Is it better than Lenovo Legion?
LOQ runs cooler (~140W) than Legion (~240W), while delivering similar or better performance news.lenovo.com.
Q: Does it need additional cooling?
A cooling pad helps sustain peak gaming performance in hot environments