Lenovo expands LOQ gaming range with Core Ultra, RTX graphics and easier upgrades

Lenovo has expanded its LOQ gaming PC family with new entry-level laptops and a compact gaming desktop aimed at buyers taking their first steps into PC gaming.

Announced on 25 August 2026, the latest additions include the Lenovo LOQ Essential 15IPH11, LOQ Essential 15IRH11 and LOQ Tower 17IRH11. The three machines take notably different approaches: one relies on Intel’s latest integrated Arc graphics, another retains an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU, while the desktop stretches up to an RTX 5060 Ti.

The launch also clarifies where LOQ sits in Lenovo’s gaming portfolio. LOQ targets more accessible gaming machines, while the company’s Legion range remains positioned above it for enthusiasts, creators and competitive players.

TechnologyBlog.co.za has not tested these new Lenovo LOQ systems. This article therefore focuses on their announced specifications and intended use rather than providing a performance review.

Lenovo LOQ is no longer just one type of gaming laptop

The LOQ name now covers a broad collection of gaming laptops and desktop PCs rather than a single fixed specification.

Existing systems include models such as the LOQ 15IRX10, which can combine Intel HX-series processors with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs. Lenovo’s specifications list RTX 5050, RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 options on that machine, depending on configuration and region.

The latest LOQ Essential systems move further down the range. Lenovo describes its Essential configurations as the most accessible products in the LOQ family, making them relevant to students and first-time PC gamers who may not need the performance or price of a higher-tier Legion system.

That distinction matters when shopping for a Lenovo LOQ. The name alone does not tell buyers which processor, GPU, screen, memory or battery they will receive.

LOQ Essential 15IPH11 takes an integrated-graphics approach

The most unusual new model is the Lenovo LOQ Essential 15IPH11.

Instead of using a separate NVIDIA GPU, Lenovo pairs an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor with up to Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics. The processor and graphics share a common pool of high-speed system memory rather than giving the GPU its own dedicated VRAM.

Lenovo says this unified-memory arrangement can dynamically allocate available memory between CPU and graphics workloads. Intel Arc also provides hardware ray tracing and XeSS upscaling support.

This architecture could make the 15IPH11 interesting to students who want one relatively portable PC for coursework, media, creative applications and lighter gaming.

It should not, however, be treated as equivalent to a gaming laptop with a high-end dedicated GPU. Actual gaming performance will depend on the title, resolution, graphics settings, cooling and memory configuration.

A 15.3-inch 165Hz screen targets both work and gaming

The LOQ Essential 15IPH11 uses a 15.3-inch 16:10 IPS display with a 1920 × 1200 resolution.

Lenovo lists configurations with up to a 165Hz refresh rate, 300-nit brightness and 100% sRGB colour coverage. The taller 16:10 aspect ratio provides more vertical screen space than a conventional 16:9 gaming panel, which can also be useful for documents, web browsing and development work.

Lenovo says the new chassis is about 10% lighter and slimmer than its predecessor, with weight starting at roughly 2.1kg.

This still makes it considerably heavier than many conventional thin-and-light student notebooks, but portability is clearly more important to the design than on larger gaming machines.

Battery life is a headline claim, but it needs context

Lenovo rates the LOQ Essential 15IPH11 for up to 21 hours of battery life under its own testing conditions. The system carries a 60Wh battery.

That figure should not be interpreted as 21 hours of gaming.

Gaming places a much heavier load on the processor and graphics hardware than typical light productivity testing. Lenovo itself notes that real battery life varies according to configuration, software, wireless use, screen brightness, power settings and other factors.

TechnologyBlog.co.za has not independently verified the battery claim.

Thunderbolt 4 gives the 15IPH11 useful expansion options

Connectivity is another difference between the two new Essential laptops.

The 15IPH11 includes Thunderbolt 4 over USB-C alongside three USB-A connections, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet and a combined audio jack. Lenovo also lists support for USB-C charging between 65W and 100W.

The ability to use USB-C power could be useful when carrying the machine for classes or office work, although demanding gaming will generally require the supplied 135W power adapter to give the system access to its intended power envelope.

The machine also includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3.

LOQ Essential 15IRH11 sticks with dedicated RTX graphics

The second new laptop, the LOQ Essential 15IRH11, follows a more traditional gaming-PC formula.

Lenovo combines Intel Core 200-series processors, including configurations up to a Core 7 230H, with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU carrying 6GB of GDDR6 memory. Lenovo specifies the GPU at up to 75W including boost power.

The RTX 3050 is an older GPU architecture than the RTX 50 Series hardware available elsewhere in the current LOQ family. Buyers should therefore not assume that a newer LOQ model number automatically means newer graphics technology.

Its role is instead straightforward: provide dedicated NVIDIA graphics at the more affordable end of Lenovo’s gaming range.

Both new Essential laptops share the same basic display format

The 15IRH11 also uses a 15.3-inch, 1920 × 1200 IPS panel with configurations reaching 165Hz and 100% sRGB coverage.

Memory support differs substantially between the machines.

The integrated-graphics 15IPH11 uses up to 16GB of 9600MT/s LPDDR5x memory, while Lenovo lists the 15IRH11 with up to 32GB of DDR5-5200 across two 16GB modules. Both support up to a 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD in Lenovo’s announced configurations.

The 15IRH11’s conventional SO-DIMM memory arrangement could therefore appeal more to buyers who value memory capacity.

The LOQ Tower 17IRH11 moves the range onto the desktop

Lenovo is also introducing the LOQ Tower 17IRH11, a 17-litre desktop aimed at gamers who prefer an upgradeable system rather than a laptop.

It uses Intel Core 200-series processors and supports graphics configurations reaching the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti desktop GPU. Lenovo’s announced configuration lists the RTX 5060 Ti with 8GB of GDDR7 memory.

Memory reaches 32GB of DDR5, while storage configurations include a PCIe Gen4 SSD. Lenovo has also designed the chassis with what it calls Easy Upgrade Access to simplify component changes.

For buyers who expect to replace storage, memory or graphics hardware over time, a desktop LOQ can make considerably more sense than a laptop.

Wi-Fi 7 arrives on the new LOQ desktop

The LOQ Tower 17IRH11 can be configured with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, while wired Gigabit Ethernet is also available.

Wi-Fi 7 support does not automatically produce Wi-Fi 7 speeds. Buyers also need a compatible router or access point, suitable network conditions and support within their local network.

The desktop supports up to a 500W power supply in Lenovo’s announced configurations.

For comparison, Lenovo’s existing larger LOQ Tower 26ADR10, which appears on Lenovo’s South African website, uses a 26-litre chassis and can be configured with AMD Ryzen 7 hardware and graphics reaching an RTX 5070 Ti.

Current Lenovo LOQ models can differ dramatically

The wider LOQ range illustrates why buyers need to check model numbers closely.

For example, Lenovo’s LOQ 15IRX10 supports configurations reaching a 14th-generation Core i7-14700HX and GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, while its display options include a 2560 × 1440 165Hz IPS panel. It also provides two memory slots and dual SSD support.

That is a substantially different computer from an LOQ Essential 15IRH11 with an RTX 3050.

Likewise, Lenovo South Africa currently lists machines such as the older LOQ Essential Gen 9 and AMD-powered LOQ models alongside newer desktop products.

A retailer advertising simply “Lenovo LOQ” is therefore not providing enough information for a buying decision.

Latest Lenovo LOQ specifications

Model	LOQ Essential 15IPH11	LOQ Essential 15IRH11	LOQ Tower 17IRH11
Type	Gaming/student laptop	Gaming/student laptop	Gaming desktop
Processor	Intel Core Ultra X7 358H	Up to Intel Core 7 230H	Up to Intel Core 7 230H
Graphics	Up to Intel Arc B390 integrated	RTX 3050 Laptop GPU 6GB	Up to RTX 5060 Ti desktop GPU
Display	15.3-inch 1920 × 1200 IPS	15.3-inch 1920 × 1200 IPS	External display required
Maximum refresh rate	165Hz	165Hz	Depends on monitor
Memory	Up to 16GB LPDDR5x	Up to 32GB DDR5	Up to 32GB DDR5
Storage	Up to 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD	Up to 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD	Up to 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD listed
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3	Up to Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Battery	60Wh	60Wh	Not applicable
Starting weight	About 2.1kg	About 2.1kg	About 6.08kg
Operating system	Windows 11	Windows 11	Windows 11

Specifications refer to Lenovo’s announced configurations. Availability can differ by country and SKU.

Lenovo LOQ versus Lenovo Legion

The most useful way to understand LOQ is as Lenovo’s more accessible route into its gaming ecosystem.

Lenovo explicitly positions LOQ Essential at the entry end, LOQ above it, and Legion as the range aimed at more demanding enthusiasts, creators and competitive gamers.

That does not mean every Legion laptop will outperform every LOQ configuration. Exact CPU and GPU choices still matter far more than the badge on the lid.

However, Legion machines generally provide the path towards higher-end graphics, more sophisticated cooling and premium gaming features, while LOQ concentrates more heavily on price-to-specification balance.

Who should consider a Lenovo LOQ?

LOQ makes the most sense for buyers who want a gaming-capable PC without immediately moving into Lenovo’s higher-end Legion range.

The 15IPH11 is the more unusual option. Its Core Ultra processor and integrated Arc graphics favour portability and shared-memory efficiency over a traditional discrete GPU.

The 15IRH11 provides a more conventional entry-level gaming setup with an RTX 3050, while higher-end LOQ laptops such as the 15IRX10 offer RTX 50 Series graphics for buyers who need considerably more GPU performance.

Desktop buyers have another option in the LOQ Tower family, where easier component upgrades can extend the useful life of the machine.

The important buying rule is simple: check the full Lenovo model number and configuration. “Lenovo LOQ” can now describe everything from an integrated-graphics student laptop to an RTX 50 Series gaming desktop.