Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 review

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2

The Lenovo Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 ranks as the #661 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 67. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #482-ranked features among 465 laptops. Consider the Huawei MateBook 14 or HP 470 G9, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.

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Key takeaways
The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 provides capable performance for everyday tasks and office applications smoothly.
The ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 boasts an excellent build quality, making it perfect for frequent use.
The display is a highlight of the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2, but could be slightly improved.
The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 boasts an impressive array of features and excellent build quality.

Is it Worth it?

The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 is an excellent convertible for price-conscious businesses or individuals. Its durable chassis, typical ThinkPad built quality, and generous number of ports make it a solid choice. The updated Tiger Lake processor and Thunderbolt 4 are welcome upgrades. However, the maximum 16GB soldered-on RAM may not be enough for power users, and battery life is above-average but not class-leading. Overall, this 2-in-1 laptop offers outstanding value, making it worth considering for those seeking a reliable and feature-rich device at an affordable price.

Build

The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 boasts a sturdy and durable chassis, typical of ThinkPads. The lid can be opened to full positions without worry, showcasing its reliability. The build quality is excellent for a two-in-one device, making it perfect for frequent use. A generous number of ports are also available, including USB Type-A, USB-C, HDMI 2.0, and a micro SD card reader. Overall, the ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2's build is a major highlight, offering solid value for its price point. Lenovo ThinkBook 13s Gen 4 might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded build.

Display

The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2's display is a highlight of the device. With a brightness of 300 nits, it's perfect for indoor use, but could be improved with a slightly brighter screen for those who work near windows or outdoors. The display itself is decent, suitable for general usage and everyday tasks. However, it may not be ideal for heavy users who require more vivid colors and higher contrast ratios. Overall, the display is a solid aspect of the ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2, but could benefit from some tweaks to make it truly shine. For an improved display, Lenovo Yoga 6 is worth considering.

Performance

The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 boasts a capable performance thanks to its Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor. Paired with integrated Iris Xe graphics, it handles everyday tasks and office applications smoothly. However, it may struggle with demanding games or resource-intensive programs, requiring lower settings for optimal performance. The laptop's memory is soldered on, capping at 16GB, which might not be sufficient for power users who require more resources for heavy apps like Adobe Premiere Pro or Photoshop. Overall, the ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 provides a good balance of performance and battery life, making it suitable for office work and casual use, but may not excel in resource-intensive tasks. You might want to check out Huawei MateBook D 15, featuring an upgraded performance for a superior experience.

Battery and Charging

The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2's battery life is above average but not class leading, offering around five to six hours general usage or eight hours video playback. A 60-minute charge can yield up to 80% battery life. Rapid charging is a convenient feature, but the battery may not last a full day at the office. Overall, the trade-off between performance and battery life makes sense, given the device's price point.

Connectivity

The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 boasts an impressive array of ports for its compact size, including two USB-A, two USB-C, HDMI 2.0, and a micro SD card reader. This generous connectivity suite is rare in smaller laptops, making it ideal for users who need to connect multiple devices or peripherals. If you're after top-notch connectivity, consider HP ProBook x360 435 G8.

Features

The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 is a sturdy two-in-one device with excellent build quality and typical ThinkPad keyboard. It features a 300-nit display, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, up to 16GB soldered RAM, and a plethora of ports, including USB-C, HDMI, and a micro SD card reader. It’s worth checking out Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 3, delivering remarkable features.

Support and Maintenance

The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 is a solid convertible laptop for business users. It boasts a durable chassis, excellent keyboard, and plethora of ports. However, it's marred by limited support for power users, with soldered-on memory that can't be upgraded. Battery life is also above average but not class-leading, making it suitable for four-day workweeks but not longer. Overall, this laptop offers good value for its price point, but may not meet the needs of more demanding users.

Pros

1. The convenience of having a stylus pen mounted inside the corner of the chassis is useful.

2. The laptop has a durable chassis with typical ThinkPad built quality.

3. There are plenty of ports for a 13.3-inch laptop, including two USB Type-A and two USB Type-C ports.

4. The business-oriented ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 has several security features to keep your data safe.

5. The stylus pen is not perfect for long periods but useful nonetheless.

6. The ThinkPad keyboard is excellent, a hallmark of Lenovo's laptops.

7. You get the 2-1 modes to work with and a convenient garage ThinkPad pen pro stylus.

8. Overall, outstanding value for business two-in-one laptop.

Cons

1. There's no option for a 4G SIM slot, which can be a compromise if your work takes you on the road.

2. The battery life is above average but not class leading, a trade-off with performance over battery life.

3. Better brightness would have helped if you work near a window or need to take the yoga outside to work on.

4. Maximum 16 gigabytes of soldered-on RAM might not be enough for heavyweight apps like Adobe Premiere Pro or Photoshop.

5. The stylus pen is not perfect and can't be used for long periods, only occasionally useful.

6. The maximum 16 gigabytes of memory can't be upgraded, a disadvantage if you're a power user.

7. Disappointingly, the battery won't last a full day at the office, especially with heavy use.

8. Older games will struggle to run smoothly even on low-medium settings.

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