Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 1 review
The Lenovo Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 1 ranks as the #108 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 80. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #123-ranked features among 610 laptops. Consider the Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 4 or Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 marks a significant departure from the traditional ThinkPad design. The aluminum chassis is sleek and durable, with a slim 15.8mm profile and 1.81kg weight. While the keyboard remains unchanged, typing is comfortable due to clicky feedback. Performance is exceptional, thanks to an AMD Ryzen 7 Pro CPU and Radeon RDNA 2i GPU. Battery life reaches up to 20 hours of web browsing or 18 hours of video playback. The Z16 is a radical shift in ThinkPad design, but it justifies its existence with outstanding performance and battery life, making it worth considering for those seeking a powerful and efficient laptop.
Build
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16's design marks a significant departure from traditional ThinkPads. The aluminum chassis is sleek and slim at just 15.8mm thick and 1.81kg in weight. A glossy finish adorns the sides, while the lid and base feature a matte finish. Durability is top-notch, with no signs of flex or twisting in either the lid or body. The keyboard, however, remains unchanged, offering the same backlit spill-resistant unit as before. Despite its slim profile, typing is comfortable thanks to clicky feedback. The build quality overall is impressive, making a bold statement for Lenovo's premium offerings. If you're after top-notch build, consider Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 5.
Display
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16's display is a highlight of the laptop. The FHD+ IPS panel offers excellent color accuracy, covering 98% of the sRGB color gamut. With a peak brightness of 455 nits and high contrast ratio, it's suitable for content creation. While not the most modest option, the display still performs well in various lighting conditions. The Creator qualities are top-notch, making it ideal for professionals who require precise color representation. Overall, the Z16's display is a strong point, delivering impressive visuals for its users. It’s worth checking out Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 5, delivering remarkable display.
Performance
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 1 boasts impressive performance credentials. Powered by the Ryzen 7 Pro 6850H CPU, it delivers stable clock speeds and maintains high temperatures even during stress tests. The new RDNA 2i GPU provides smooth gaming capabilities, capable of running AAA titles at low settings. With up to 32GB of soldered LPDDR5 RAM, multitasking is a breeze. While the CPU can get hot, the fans work hard to keep it cool, albeit producing noticeable noise. Overall, the Z16 Gen 1's performance is a significant leap forward for ThinkPads. Give Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 a try—it’s designed to provide an unparalleled performance.
Battery and Charging
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16's battery life is a notable highlight, lasting up to 20 hours of web browsing or 18 hours and 31 minutes of video playback. This impressive performance is made possible by the 72Wh battery pack and efficient Ryzen 7 Pro 6850H processor. A single charge provides sufficient power for a full day's work, making it an ideal choice for professionals on-the-go. The laptop's charging speed is also commendable, allowing users to quickly top up their device when needed. Overall, the Z16's battery life is a significant strength of this business laptop.
Connectivity
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 boasts an impressive array of connectivity options. It features two USB4 ports, one Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, an SD card reader, and an audio jack. The device's front panel includes a notable absence of clutter, giving users a clean and organized workspace to focus on their tasks. This thoughtful design makes it easy to stay connected and productive. Consider discovering the power of Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 1, featuring the latest advancements in connectivity.
Features
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 boasts an aluminum chassis with a slim 15.8mm profile and weighs 1.81kg. It features a backlit spill-resistant keyboard, two USB4 ports, one Type-C port, SD card reader, and audio jack. The laptop offers either an FHD+ IPS or 4K UHD+ OLED display, with a peak brightness of 455 nits. You might prefer Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5, designed with an upgraded features for a better experience.
Support and Maintenance
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 1 boasts impressive durability and maintenance capabilities. The aluminum chassis is sturdy with no twists or flexes, while the keyboard remains unchanged from previous models. This laptop's sleek design comes with an FHD webcam, IR face recognition sensor, and spill-resistant backlit keys. Its slim profile makes it ideal for portability, further emphasizing its reliability as a business notebook.
Pros
1. The laptop comes with an aluminum chassis that is a total 180 degree turn from regular ThinkPads, it has a slim 15.8 millimeters profile and a weight of 1.81 kilograms.
2. The battery pack lasts for 20 hours of web browsing or 18 hours and 31 minutes of video playback, which was genuinely shocking.
3. The new rdna 2i GPU on the inside can game pretty well with even AAA games running at stable frame rates at low settings.
4. The laptop comes with up to 32 gigabytes of soldered LPD dr5 Ram that runs at 6400 megahertz in Quad Channel mode.
Cons
1. The keyboard has not been updated, and typing is comfortable thanks to the clicky feedback but it doesn't have very long key travel due to the slim chassis.
2. The touchpad doesn't have a clicking mechanism instead using a haptic motor to mimic a click for both the missing buttons for the Red Dot and the pad itself.
3. The laptop's design has seen changes, but some things on the outside weren't looking that good either as the base reaches 48 degrees Celsius
4. The fans do produce a fair amount of noise as they do their best efforts in cooling down the chip
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