Lenovo’s Hybrid Tablet Combines Windows and Android Operating Systems

Lenovo has developed a 2-in-1 hybrid tablet system that integrates both Windows and Android, although it does have a few limitations.

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 hybrid utilizes both laptop and mobile technology, making it a versatile device that can run on either Android or Windows. This product was first unveiled at CES 2024 as a proof-of-concept, but it was not explicitly stated whether it would be released for the market.

Lenovo is now launching this distinctive hybrid tablet in the Chinese market, with plans to expand its availability to other regions in the future.

At its core, it is an Android tablet that can be transformed into a Windows device by simply attaching a keyboard. However, this is not just any keyboard, but a dock that houses an additional Intel CPU.

It is not required to separate the tablet from the keyboard dock. Both systems can be utilized simultaneously, with the option to display them side-by-side on the same screen if desired.

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 hybrid — Lenovo, Pexels

Despite its advantages, there are also some limitations to this approach. While the two systems do share a dedicated 10GB storage module and camera module, they are not fully integrated. As a result, users are required to log in separately to both systems.

The absence of complete integration could be seen as a positive. For example, in the event of a Windows update issue or a worldwide outage such as Crowdstrike, a user could easily switch to the alternative system.

Despite being separate, the Android and Windows sides have distinct specifications. The keyboard section of the Windows side houses an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H Meteor Lake CPU, accompanied by 32GB of LPDDR5X-7467 RAM and a 1TB M.2 SSD.

The tablet section features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor that powers a 14-inch 2.8k OLED display. It has a memory of 12 GB LPDDR5X RAM and storage capacity of 256GB UFS 3.1.

This hefty price tag amounts to a significant sum. The current listing is priced at 15,999 RMB, equivalent to approximately $2000.