Beijing, China – Three new Lenovo laptops available to U.S. consumers in June include an entry-level Ideapad 100 with 14- and 15-inch screen options starting at $249 and two step-up Z series models starting at $499.
Prices go up with options. All run Windows 8.1.
The products were unveiled on the eve of Techworld, the company’s first global technology event here.
All are designed for “customers who want simple and functional design,” said Bai Peng, VP/GM of Lenovo’s notebook business unit. But the entry-level Ideapad is targeted to entry-level users looking for an all-around device, while the step-up 14-inch Z41 and 15-inch Z51 are targeted to multimedia users, he said.
The 14- and 15-inch Ideapads are only 20.2mm (0.79 inches) and 22.6mm (0.89 inches) in thickness, respectively. Processor options run up to Intel BayTrail-M N3540, RAM options run up to 8GB, and hard disk drive options range up to 500GB. SSD options run to 128GB.
The Ideapads also feature Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/, Bluetooth 4.0, 0.3-megapixel webcam, up to 4-hour battery life, 1366 by 768 HD display, one 1.5-watt speaker, integrated Intel graphics, one USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, HDMI output, and 4-in-1 card reader.
The Z41 and Z51 feature FullHD 1920 by 1080 displays and will be available with up to fifth-generation Intel Core i7 processor, up to 16GB RAM, and up to 1TB hard drive or up to 1TB SSHD. They also come with optional 2×2.5-watt JBL speakers, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/c, 1-megapixel web cam, and up to 4-hour battery life. Both come with integrated Intel graphics, but the Z41 offers graphics processor options up to AMD R7-M360, while the Z51 offers options up to AMD R9-M375.
The Z51 also adds an optional 3D camera that raises the starting price to $599, which includes 8GB RAM and Core i5 processor. The 3D camera captures depth for video chats, scanning, printing, and letting consumers use gestures to control the laptop.
The two Z series models are 0.96 and 0.97 inches in depth, respectively.