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| Front |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-edges-1.jpg)| The Gen 6 is notably "chunkier" here, along with the "Magic Bay"[^magic-bay] connector. |
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| Back |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-edges-2.jpg)| The Gen 6 is very different here, with absolutely massive air vents, and the very sensible decision to have an HDMI connector here instead of 2x USB, and move it further away from the proprietary power port since it was extremely easy to confuse them (they look identical at a glance!). |
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| Left |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-edges-3.jpg)| The Gen 6 has kind of "swapped" left and right, with the 3x USB-C & 2x USB-C ports now being entirely on the sides. Interestingly, the side vents have disappeared, presumably because of the giant rear vents. |
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| Right |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-edges-4.jpg)||
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| Front 2 |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-edges-5.jpg)| Side by side, the _chunky_ Gen 6 clearly has far more space for hardware inside! It is slightly elevated due to the "Magic Bay"[^magic-bay] keeping it off the table, but there's still a distinct difference. |
| Front |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-edges-1.jpg)| The Gen 6 is notably "chunkier" here, along with the "Magic Bay"[^magic-bay] connector. |
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| Back |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-edges-2.jpg)| The Gen 6 is very different here, with absolutely massive air vents, and the very sensible decision to have an HDMI connector here instead of 2x USB, and move it further away from the proprietary power port since it was extremely easy to confuse them (they look identical at a glance!). |
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| Left |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-edges-3.jpg)| The Gen 6 has kind of "swapped" left and right, with the 3x USB-C & 2x USB-C ports now being entirely on the sides. Interestingly, the side vents have disappeared, presumably because of the giant rear vents. |
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| Right |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-edges-4.jpg)||
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| Front 2 |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-edges-5.jpg)| Side by side, the _chunky_ Gen 6 clearly has far more space for hardware inside! It is slightly elevated due to the "Magic Bay"[^magic-bay] keeping it off the table, but there's still a distinct difference. |
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[^magic-bay]: Lenovo's very underused [modular connector system](https://www.lenovoshowcase.com/popup/ces/accessories/magic_bay.html), with only a webcam, light, or light available, all of which could be used with a USB port instead!
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### Top-down
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In these photos, the Gen 2 is **on the left**, therefore the Gen 6 is **on the right**.
| Top || A fairly similar design (besides the branding swap), although as a running theme the Gen 6 looks more modern. |
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| Top (Partially open) || The keyboard is mostly the same, but the clutter above the backspace has been replaced with a sensible Home / End / Delete / brackets, and additional Page Up / Down buttons have appeared next to the arrow keys. I don't use the keyboard much, but I approve of the utility keys replacing gimmicky shortcuts (except the Copilot key!). |
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| Top (Fully open) || No additional comments, note that the pattern in the speaker is just a reflection. |
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| Normal view || The Gen 6 screen is noticeably higher (a bit better for posture), otherwise about the same. |
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| Bottom || The Gen 6 footpads are noticeably larger, and the vent shape has changed. I would guess this is to avoid dust blocking the vents. |
| Top |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-top-1.jpg)| A fairly similar design (besides the branding swap), although as a running theme the Gen 6 looks more modern. |
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| Top (Partially open) |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-top-2.jpg)| The keyboard is mostly the same, but the clutter above the backspace has been replaced with a sensible Home / End / Delete / brackets, and additional Page Up / Down buttons have appeared next to the arrow keys. I don't use the keyboard much, but I approve of the utility keys replacing gimmicky shortcuts (except the Copilot key!). |
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| Top (Fully open) |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-top-3.jpg)| No additional comments, note that the pattern in the speaker is just a reflection. |
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| Normal view |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-top-4.jpg)| The Gen 6 screen is noticeably higher (a bit better for posture), otherwise about the same. |
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| Bottom |[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-top-5.jpg)| The Gen 6 footpads are noticeably larger, and the vent shape has changed. I would guess this is to avoid dust blocking the vents. |
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## Additional comparisons
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Not noticeable in these images is a small improvement to the webcam privacy shutter: It now "sticks" to either side via magnets! Previously it would freely slide, meaning it often ended up pointlessly half-covered.
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- Webcam slider now magnetised
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- Keyboard buttons much more modern
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- Charging & ventilation improvements, now fits under desk
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- USB ports now accessible
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### Mounted
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## References
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This is only relevant to my under-desk mounting setup ([documented here](/improving-my-triple-monitor-dual-laptop-standing-desk/#after)), the Gen 6 is a _far_ better fit.
|[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-mounted-1.jpg)|[](/assets/images/2025/thinkbook-mounted-2.jpg)|
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With the new laptop mounted the other way round (back facing outwards) purely for USB-C port access, I gained multiple other benefits!
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- The laptop no longer pokes out a bit (very annoying!), although the power cable is still technically sticking out.
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- The heat ventilation is drastically improved. Previously it vented out the bottom (fine), and the back / sides where only a small amount of space was available before the desk infrastructure, so overheating was common. Now, it vents entirely into the room uninterrupted.
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- There is now a very accessible USB-A port next to where the USB-C monitors are connected, plus a couple more fairly accessible USB-A ports on the other side.
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## Documentation
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- Gen 2 tech spec: <https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/ThinkBook/ThinkBook_16p_G2_ACH/ThinkBook_16p_G2_ACH_Spec.pdf>
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- Gen 6 tech spec: <https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/ThinkBook/ThinkBook_16p_G6_IAX/ThinkBook_16p_G6_IAX_Spec.pdf>
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