The Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 brings more speed to a reliable laptop brand that eschews cumbersome design for practical functionality and solid specs The coolest feature, however, is that the laptop features wireless earbuds housed in the keyboard

The new ThinkBook 15 is slightly more compact than its predecessor and is powered by AMD's latest Ryzen 4000 chip and Intel's new Tiger Lake processor

Here's what you need to know about the Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2:

Lenovo has priced the Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 to sell well, with prices starting at $549 for the entry-level model AMD and Intel processors are expected to increase this price as they become more powerful and as memory and storage increases

The ThinkBook 15 with AMD and Intel chip options will be available in October Expect to see a large number of other notebooks with the latest AMD and Intel processors around the same time

However, the aforementioned headphones will not be available on the ThinkBook 15 G2 until November, only on "select models"

The ThinkBook 15's most unique feature is the pull-out tray that houses the wireless headphones Like AirPods made for laptops, they automatically pair with the laptop when removed

Additionally, the earbuds charge automatically Double-tapping them during a call mutes them, which is handy for video chatting at home; according to Lenovos, the earbuds have dual microphones and "ambient noise cancellation," but don't expect active noise cancellation like the AirPods Pro

Lenovos said

Unfortunately, this feature is not available on all models and will not be available on the ThinkBook until November 2020

If you were expecting a major redesign of the ThinkBook, you will be a bit disappointed here The new Lenovo ThinkBook 15 is a more refined version of a machine that has received solid (if not critical) reviews

Measuring 141 x 93 x 07 inches, it is a bit more compact than its predecessor, but the same thickness This is not a bad thing, not only because this space may give room for a new Intel chip, but also because the ThinkBook 15 has ports worthy of a laptop in 2020

There is a Thunderbolt 4 port, two USB-C 32 ports, two USB 32 Type-A ports, HDMI, and a 4-in-1 card reader It also has a 35mm combination audio jack No surprise since this is a laptop, not a 2020 smartphone

Lenovo's ThinkBook 15, covered in a misty gray aluminum body, is a reasonably attractive, if unattractive, machine I can't attest to its quality, as I haven't actually touched it, but Lenovo generally makes solidly built laptops

The Lenovo ThinkBook 15 has a 156-inch display and comes in several variations The entry level has a 1920 x 1080 non-touch TN panel For those who want more, there is an IPS panel with anti-glare, an IPS panel that covers 100 percent of the sRGB color gamut, and a full HD touchscreen IPS display

Laptops tend to avoid TN panels because IPS tends to have better viewing angles, color, and brightness Also, touchscreens are nice to have, but some people may find them an unnecessary feature

As mentioned earlier, the new Lenovo ThinkBook 15 will be powered by AMD's latest Ryzen 4000 chip and Intel's 11th generation Tiger Lake processors Lenovo has not disclosed details of the chips, but has noted that the Intel models will be equipped with Core i7 processors

On the AMD side, this means that it will likely have up to an 8-core CPU and Radeon graphics Intel models will also have access to quad-core processors and Intel's new Xe integrated graphics, and while the Ryxen 4000 series of chips have delivered impressive performance, Intel's new Tiger Lake CPUs will also offer more performance and are expected to offer significantly enhanced integrated graphics

Because the ThinkBook 15 is not as slim as some ultra-portable notebooks, we expect it to have enough thermal headroom for the Core i7 processor to breathe and the Xe GPU to run at full capacity for extended periods This means that, at moderate settings, a little modern gaming is possible, as well as the potential for more intensive video and photo editing on the go

Backing up the CPU is up to 40 GB of dual-channel DDR4 RAM running at 3,200 MHz Storage will be up to 1TB of M2 PCIe Gen4 or Gen3 SSD space, or a 1TB 7,200rpm HDD or 2TB 5,400rpm HDD As for connectivity, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 are available

Overall, the Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 looks to be a great upgrade over its predecessor, with improved specs and a slightly more refined design It also comes with unique headphones

With the refreshed Dell XPS 13 laptop and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 expected to arrive in October, there will be a lot of laptop competition this fall However, where Lenovo could potentially outpace its rivals is by offering a strong balance of price and performance, and given the choices available in the Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2, there is a good chance that the right specs for the right user can be had depending on the configuration