Lenovo has announced the local availability of its ThinkBook laptops, designed to accelerate small and medium-sized businesses in South Africa.

At the event held at the Park, House of Events on 7, in Hyde Park, attendees learned how the company’s latest sub-brand – ThinkBook, is tailored towards demand for more aesthetically pleasing, yet agile and powerful devices.

According to statistics from government agency, Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), there are about 2 251 821SMEs in South Africa (with 667 433 being in the formal sector, and the remaining 1 497 860 participating in the informal sector). In total, SMEs employ about 14% of the South African workforce. Lenovo believes that access to affordable, yet efficient technology is a crucial factor in aiding business success and contributing towards the success of the nation.

Within its R&D efforts, Lenovo uncovered that a growing percentage of the ‘new workforce’ grew up working, creating and communicating online with stylish devices that make a statement. Comprised of Millennials and Gen Z, these two generations of workers crave meaningful employment and expect company devices that blur the lines of work, life, passion and purpose.

In a constantly online world, modern workers require streamlined laptops which can be used to collaborate from any remote location, and no other group leverages smarter technology to enhance productivity quite like the smartphone-literate workers of the next generation.

Backed by customer research, ThinkBook is specially designed for SMEs, who typically purchase consumer laptops for perceived design and price advantages but can no longer rationalise their lack of extended services and warranties – core needs of any business. ThinkBook allows growing firms to keep a competitive edge in attracting today’s young tech-savvy execs with trendy yet cost-effective devices.

“With the capacity SMEs have to grow and upskill the country’s workforce, they are perfectly positioned to bridge the gap between the public sector and large enterprise. Bearing in mind the demands of the digital economy, this sector needs skills and resources in order to compete, and that is where devices such as the ThinkBook come in”, said Thibault Dousson, General Manager, Lenovo EMEA region.

Beginning with the End-User

Across the globe, growing companies are embracing a trend termed Choose Your Own Device (CYOD). According to Lenovo’s field research with 8,000 global respondents, the new workforce cares a lot about how their computing device looks, e.g. colors and materials, but still prefers to choose from a curated list that the organisation provides.

In South Africa, ThinkBook laptops are available in 13, 14 and 15-inch variants. The flagship ThinkBook 14 and ThinkBook 15 devices are powered by Windows 10 Pro and up to 10th Gen Intel Core processing, combining high performance with intuitive, time-saving features. Options include Intel Optane memory, WiFi 6, and discrete graphics.

The ThinkBook 15 comes at just 18.9mm thin, while the ThinkBook 14 is a mere 17.9mm – each easy to slip into a backpack, briefcase or under one’s arm. With FHD displays and two Dolby Audio speakers, users have full visibility and clarity when working. Dual-array, Skype certified microphones make conference calling easier than ever before and a USB 3.1 (Gen2, Type-C) port ensures large data transfers and heavy media files are managed with speed.

Designed for ultimate portability, Lenovo has also introduced the ThinkBook S series, including the elegant 13.3-inch ThinkBook 13s. The sleek and light device is constructed of a metallic finish on an all-aluminium chassis, alongside a narrow bezel display. As with the ThinkBook 14 and 15, the ThinkBook 13s also features advanced Intel processing and an FHD display. Dolby Vision and Harman speakers with Dolby Audio ensure users remain engaged and immersed in their content.

ThinkBook laptops are ideal for business buyers unwilling to make trade-offs in essentials such as, security, reliability, and support services, while satisfying the demand for sleek-looking devices that bring the familiar smartphone experience to PCs.

Perfect for any business, they combine modern style and consumer-oriented design elements, with the business-grade and built-in security features that consumers expect from the Think family PCs.

Stylish and More Secure

ThinkBook laptops have a premium feel, can lay flat at 180°, and feature ultra-narrow bezels to pack a larger display into a small portable package. Wrapped in aluminium and magnesium metals in a Mineral Grey finish, each laptop is light-weight and has a slim body for use at the office, from home or on-the-go.

ThinkBook ultra-slim laptops incorporate business features not often included in their pricier alternatives. All laptops are available with single-step authentication and power-on with the touch fingerprint reader, in addition to a physical ThinkShutter camera cover for privacy control.

In addition, each ThinkBook undergoes durability and reliability tests to ensure it can withstand knocks, drops, spills, dusts, and extreme temperatures.

Rapid Response

With Intel Optane memory or a solid-state drive on the ThinkBook 14 and 15, everything runs far faster – from booting up apps to saving and downloading files. All ThinkBook laptops come with the option of an integrated fingerprint reader on the Smart Power Button to enable instant login.

On the ThinkBook 13s, users can use hot keys to answer or hang up when making Skype calls. Music can be played while the system is still in standby mode, resuming to full working capacity in less than 0.5 seconds.

RapidCharge technology brings the battery life of each ThinkBook laptop up to 80% charge in just 60 minutes, allowing users to power up between meetings and stay mobile for longer.

Business-grade Support

In business, PC downtime can have a cascading effect, resulting in poorer customer satisfaction that affects brand reputation. ThinkBook is supported by a range of business-grade services including Lenovo Premier Support, warranty extensions and upgrades, such as onsite next business day support and International Warranty Service to minimise any downtime.

ThinkBooks also come with built-in self-management features, especially useful for smaller companies without dedicated onsite support teams. Among these, the preloaded Lenovo Vantage software offers tools for preventive hardware diagnostics, personalised hardware settings and auto-install of critical updates.

RSA pricing and availability:

ThinkBook 13s starting at R14 999

ThinkBook 14 starting at R16 299

ThinkBook 15 starting at R12 499

(Prices include VAT)

Available from major electronics retailers.