Lenovo’s new ThinkBook has modular accessories that add LTE, a webcam light, and more

The fourth technology of Lenovo’s ThinkBook 16p laptop arrives with a exclusive attribute: the potential to insert modular add-ons. Applying the magnetic pin connector at the top rated of the display screen, you can connect the products from Lenovo’s lineup of modular Magic Bay add-ons, which include the 4K wireless webcam, webcam light-weight, and even an accent that enables LTE connectivity.

The machine, which commences at $1,349 with out the components, comes with a 16-inch IPS display working at both 120Hz or 60Hz. It also features up to a 13th Gen Intel Core H-collection processor and offers an optional discrete graphics chip from Nvidia’s most the latest GeForce RTX lineup. There are a great deal of storage selections, too, with Lenovo furnishing up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM, together with up to 2TB of room split across two PCIe 4. SSDs.

The Magic Bay modules are created exclusively for the ThinkBook 16p and appear to be like handy small accessories if you are wanting to free of charge up some USB ports or are just worn out of dealing with cables. The 4K webcam attachment, for just one, offers vehicle-framing to preserve the digicam on you in the course of video phone calls (just like Center Phase), car ambient gentle adjustment, and a 270-diploma hinge that makes it possible for you to rotate the webcam.

In the meantime, the Magic Bay Light-weight features up to 200-lux of adjustable brightness and quickly switches on when the webcam’s active. There is also the Magic Bay LTE attachment for mobile connectivity on the go, which will come with a USB-C cable in situation you want to use it on one more laptop computer. It does not search like you can use two modules at once, nevertheless, which is a bit of a bummer if you ended up looking to blend the Magic Bay Light-weight with the 4K webcam module.

In accordance to Lenovo, the Magic Bay accessories can only be purchased with the ThinkBook 16p. While the 4K webcam provides $149.99 to the laptop’s price, the Magic Bay Light provides $19.99, and the Magic Bay LTE attachment adds $99.99.

When modular devices might appear like a good strategy, they do not normally get the job done out — particularly when they’re not executed thoroughly. Motorola, which is owned by Lenovo, notably attempted to upend the mobile sector by launching Moto Mods, components that you could add to Moto Z equipment.

The procedure by no means seriously took off, as customers experienced to spend for the price of the include-ons in addition to an presently-expensive cell phone. It also confined Motorola’s means to update the design of the Moto Z in the foreseeable future due to the fact the modules are supposed to operate across all generations. The Magic Bay procedure faces the very same worries, as spending for a $149.99 webcam that is compatible only with just one (now expensive) unit does not appear to be all that logical. The Framework notebook, on the other hand, is an example of a modular system finished ideal, as you can swap out and improve just about all the things on the system — not just insert accessories that could ultimately turn into obsolete.

Even if you do not end up paying for Lenovo’s webcam module, the ThinkBook 16p however comes with a created-in whole High definition webcam with a privacy shutter. The laptop has a useful fingerprint reader on the electricity button as perfectly, along with lots of ports: two for USB-A, two for USB-C, 1 for HDMI, a single SD card reader, and a person headphone jack. The Lenovo ThinkBook 16p will develop into available for buy setting up in May 2023.