A gaming favorite gets upgraded
Lenovo's Y-series gaming laptops get new CPUs, plus gamer-centric accessories.
- Author of the award-winning, NY Times-reviewed nonfiction book The Tetris Effect; Longtime consumer technology expert for CBS Mornings
While not known as a company that makes high-end gaming computers, Lenovo's Y-series of laptops and desktops have slowly built up a cult fanbase of PC gamers. Previous systems such as the Y50 Touch have impressed with sharp designs, features such as 4K resolution and touchscreens and excellent prices.
The latest is the IdeaPad Y700, which takes the red-accented design of last year's models and upgrades it with the latest Intel sixth-generation Core i7 processors, as well as newer Nvidia GeForce mobile graphics cards. A handful of AMD processor options are also available.
Both 15-inch and 17-inch models will be available, with Intel's RealSense 3D camera as an option in the 15-inch version. The graphics cards, as in previous Lenovo gaming laptops, hit the mainstream, not the high end, and now feature the Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M. That's fine for most casual to serious gamers, but the most hard-core players will want access to the Nvidia 980M, which is not available here.
Lenovo is also adding a couple of gaming desktops, the IdeaCentre Y700 and Y900. Both support sixth-gen Skylake Intel processors, but the Y700 can fit in a single graphics card, while the larger Y900 can fit in dual cards.
The Y-series laptop and desktop, along with some of Lenovo's gaming accessories.
The Y series has always had a distinctive look, and now Lenovo is offering accessories to match. All share the same red-on-black aesthetic, some with light-up accents, and they include the Lenovo Y Surround Sound Headset, with virtual 7.1 surround sound; the Lenovo Y Gaming Precision Mouse; and the Lenovo Y Gaming Mechanical Switch Keyboard. For the completist, you can also pick up a Y-series backpack and mouse pad. The accessories will be available in the US in September and run from $10 for the mousepad to $140 for the keyboard.
The Y700 laptop will be available in the US in October, starting at $949. The Y700 and Y900 desktops are coming in November, starting at $999 and $1,599. We'll update with international price and release details when we have them.