Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
MSRP $2,250.00
“The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is quick and long-lasting, with a novel look.”
Professionals
- Stable and engaging construct
- Glorious efficiency
- Lengthy battery life
- Excellent keyboard and touchpad
- ThinkPad-level safety
Cons
- Costly
- Restricted port choice
Lenovo enjoys proudly owning some of the iconic laptop manufacturers within the ThinkPad line of business-oriented machines. Holdovers from IBM, ThinkPads are usually recognizable from throughout the room due to a black-on-black aesthetic with rigorously positioned purple accents. There have been exceptions, such because the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga which sports activities a silver chassis, however in any other case, Lenovo has maintained the ThinkPad as a definite model.
The brand new ThinkPad Z laptops signify a extra vital departure. The ThinkPad Z16, which I’m reviewing right here, appears much more like a Dell XPS 15 with the lid closed than it does the ThinkPad X1 Excessive. Open it and also you’ll discover extra of a ThinkPad-like keyboard deck, however what stands out most in regards to the machine isn’t seen — it’s Lenovo’s deal with utilizing sustainable supplies. The ThinkPad Z16 finds a option to stay a ThinkPad within the issues that matter most with out feeling caught up to now.
Specs
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 | |
| Dimensions | 13.95 inches x 9.35 inches x 0.63 inches |
| Weight | 3.99 kilos |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 Professional 6650H AMD Ryzen 7 Professional 6850H AMD Ryzen 9 Professional 6950H |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon Graphics AMD Radeon RX6500M |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5 32GB LPDDR5 RAM |
| Show | 16-inch 16:10 WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) IPS non-touch 16-inch 16:10 WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) IPS low energy contact 16-inch 16:10 WQUXGA (3,840 x 2,400) OLED |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD 2TB PCIe Gen4 SSD |
| Contact | Non-obligatory |
| Ports | 2 x USB-C 4.0 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 1 x full-size SD card reader 1 x 3.5mm audio jack |
| Wi-fi | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Webcam | 1080p with infrared camera for facial recognition |
| Working system | Home windows 11 |
| Battery | 72 watt-hours |
| Value | $3,039+ |
The ThinkPad Z16 is a premium laptop, with just a few configurations listed on the Lenovo web site working from $1,975 as much as $2,800. The least costly machine sports activities an AMD Ryzen 5 6650H CPU, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, a 16-inch WUXGA IPS show, and an AMD Radeon RX 6500M GPU.
On the excessive finish, you’ll get an AMD Ryzen 7 6850H, 32GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, a WQUXGA OLED show, and a discrete GPU. There’ll probably be different configurations obtainable, however for now, these are the principle picks.
Sustainable supplies in a quasi-ThinkPad design
Mark Coppock/Digital Traits
Lenovo has made a concerted effort to assemble the ThinkPad Z16 from sustainable supplies. That features 75% post-consumer recycled aluminum within the chassis, 97% recycled plastic within the speaker enclosure and battery, and 90% recycled and/or sustainable supplies within the packaging.
That locations the machine among the many leaders within the laptop market, but it surely doesn’t detract from the machine’s design. The ThinkPad Z16 is simply as stable as the remainder of the ThinkPad line and as well-built as the perfect, together with the Dell XPS 15 and the Apple MacBook Professional 16.
Regardless of its all-aluminum chassis, the ThinkPad Z16 is surprisingly mild at 3.99 kilos. That’s lower than most 15-inch or 16-inch laptops and it’s completed with out feeling low cost. The laptop’s additionally skinny at simply 0.62 inches, which beats the XPS 15 by a substantial margin. It’s a fairly sized chassis that’s surprisingly comfy to hold round given the massive 16-inch 16:10 show.
Mark Coppock/Digital Traits
As talked about above, the ThinkPad Z16 doesn’t look rather a lot like a ThinkPad, particularly with the lid closed. On the skin, it’s a darkish silver coloration with strains which can be paying homage to Dell’s lineup. The normal ThinkPad emblem adorns the lid with an LED mild behind the dot on the “i,” however in any other case the aesthetic is extra consistent with the everyday laptop.
Open the lid and also you’ll discover a black palm relaxation with a purple TrackPoint nubbin within the heart of the keyboard, together with a subdued ThinkPad emblem within the nook. However even the same old TrackPoint buttons are lacking, with the highest layer of the haptic touchpad, or “ForcePad,” dedicated to the enter machine.
That’s not a knock towards the laptop. It’s a gorgeous machine, for certain, and even the inverted notch on the prime of the show offers it some panache. That notch, dubbed the Communications Bar, homes a high-quality 1080p webcam with infrared and dual-array microphones, and together with small bezels contributes to the best screen-to-body ratio in a ThinkPad at 92.3%.
As soon as once more there’s an XPS 15 vibe when considered from straight on, though the bezels are lined with plastic that detracts from the fashionable look. The notch additionally supplies one thing to seize onto when opening the lid, which the hinge permits you to do with one hand.
Mark Coppock/Digital Traits
To my eye, the ThinkPad Z16’s keyboard is a combination between the closely sculpted ThinkPad model and the one you’ll discover on different Lenovo manufacturers. It’s a big keyboard with properly sized keys, and its change mechanism feels just like the one on different ThinkPads with a lighter contact and a quick really feel. It’s a superb keyboard that ranks up there with the perfect you discover on Home windows laptops.
The massive ForcePad haptic touchpad is easy and supplies a sensible click on throughout its whole floor. As talked about above, the highest layer mimics the TrackPoint nubbin’s three buttons, and the TrackPoint itself works in addition to at all times for these ThinkPad followers preferring it.
Connectivity is a bit mild for a big laptop. There are two USB-C 4.0 ports, a single USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a full-size SD card reader.
I’m used to seeing HDMI and USB-A ports on a 16-inch machine, so these are lacking, after which that is an AMD chipset and so there’s no Thunderbolt 4 help. Wi-fi connectivity is updated, although, with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
AMD inside means stable efficiency and superior longevity
Mark Coppock/Digital Traits
AMD isn’t new to Lenovo’s lineup, but it surely’s not as frequent in a ThinkPad. The ThinkPad Z16 makes use of AMD’s Ryzen Professional chip, which provides further safety features consistent with the road’s enterprise focus. Talking of that, you’ll discover the same old self-healing BIOS, Match-On-Chip fingerprint reader (situated as a keyboard button), and webcam shutter (an digital model). I reviewed the AMD Ryzen 7 Professional 6850H configuration, which is an eight-core/16-thread CPU working at 45 watts and as much as 4.75GHz. Mine was restricted to built-in AMD Radeon Graphics, however there’s an possibility for the quicker discrete AMD Radeon RX 6500 GPU.
The ThinkPad Z16 was a stable performer in our benchmark suite, maintaining with the Dell XPS 15 working Intel’s Core i7-12700H CPU and the Lenovo Slim 7 Professional X with an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS. The Radeon Graphics limits efficiency in artistic apps that may make the most of a discrete GPS, however the laptop can deal with demanding productiveness workflows and reasonable creativity duties.
It did effectively within the 3DMark Time Spy check and hit 30 frames per second (fps) in Fortnite at 1200p and epic graphics, quicker than Intel’s built-in Iris Xe graphics and aggressive with some machines working Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3050. That makes it a satisfactory entry-level gaming laptop.
| Geekbench (single / multi) |
Handbrake (seconds) |
Cinebench R23 (single / multi) |
PCMark 10 Full |
|
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 (Ryzen 7 Professional 6850H) |
Bal: 1,360 / 8,648 Perf: 1,365 / 8,679 |
Bal: 88 Perf: 87 |
Bal: 1,376 / 10,938 Perf: 1,374 / 11,553 |
6,260 |
| Dell XPS 15 9520 (Core i7-12700H) |
Bal: 1,470 / 9,952 Perf: 1,714 / 11,053 |
Bal: 100 Perf: 77 |
Bal: 1,509 / 11,578 Perf: 1,806 / 13,313 |
5,559 |
| Lenovo Slim 7 Professional X (Ryzen 9 6900HS) |
Bal: 1,493 / 8,914 Perf: 1,493 / 9,288 |
Bal: 99 Perf: 86 |
Bal: 1,552 / 12,139 Perf: 1,548 / 13,164 |
6,493 |
| Asus ZenBook Professional 14 Duo (Core i7-12700H) |
Bal: 1,829 / 10,819 Perf: N/A |
Bal: 94 Perf: 82 |
Bal: 1,793 / 12,046 Perf: N/A |
6,242 |
| LG Gram 16 2-in-1 (Core i7-1260P) |
Bal: 1,682 / 9,035 Perf: 1,686 / 9,479 |
Bal: 137 Perf: 113 |
Bal: 1,524 / 6,314 Perf: 1,663 / 8,396 |
5,404 |
| Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (Ryzen 7 6800U) |
Bal: 1,417 / 6,854 Perf: 1,404 / 7,223 |
Bal: 112 Perf: 111 |
Bal: 1,402 / 8,682 Perf: 1,409 / 8,860 |
5,647 |
AMD’s Ryzen chips are typically extra environment friendly than their Intel equivalents, and that’s on show with the ThinkPad Z16. Regardless of simply 72 watt-hours of battery capability, which is mild for a 16-inch laptop, and with a big 16-inch show, the ThinkPad nonetheless managed an above-average lead to our net shopping check and a spectacular rating in our video check.
It’s stronger than the XPS 15 and the remainder of our comparability group, and nearly ensures a full day of battery life with typical productiveness duties. Like a number of AMD machines I’ve reviewed, the ThinkPad Z16 wouldn’t full the PCMark 10 Functions battery check.
| Internet shopping | Video | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 (Ryzen 7 Professional 6850H) |
12 hours, 4 minutes | 23 hours, 2 minutes |
| Dell XPS 15 9520 (Core i7-12700H) |
9 hours, 38 minutes | 12 hours, 40 minutes |
| Lenovo Slim 7 Professional X Ryzen 9 6900HS) |
7 hours, 49 minutes | 11 hours, half-hour |
| Asus ZenBook Professional 14 Duo (Core i7-12700H) |
3 hours, 10 minutes | 5 hours, 18 minutes |
| LG Gram 16 2-in-1 (Core i7-1260P) |
11 hours, 31 minutes | 17 hours, 58 minutes |
Talking of battery life, my ThinkPad Z16 review machine outfitted a low-power 1,920 x 1,200 IPS non-touch show, which probably contributed to the laptop’s longevity. The show supplied common colours and accuracy for a premium show, with a superb 485 nits of brightness and excessive distinction for an IPS show at 1,520:1. When you’re a creator who craves glorious colours and even deeper distinction, you’ll need to go for the three,840 x 2,400 OLED panel.
Mark Coppock/Digital Traits
Twin audio system present satisfactory sound that’s nowhere close to the standard of the XPS 15’s quad audio system. The quantity will get fairly loud and mids and highs are advantageous, however there’s not a ton of bass.
A ThinkPad that’s not a ThinkPad, and that’s okay
The Thinkpad Z16 breaks out of the everyday ThinkPad mode and introduces a brand new, extra up to date machine to the road. It proves that Lenovo is keen to take some dangers, and it was value it. The ThinkPad Z16 is a well-built, engaging, quick, and long-lasting laptop with a superb keyboard and haptic touchpad.
The largest drawback with the machine is that it’s costly. I want the identical rules that Lenovo utilized to the smaller ThinkPad Z13 may apply right here. However even then, it’s consistent with laptops just like the Dell XPS 15 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Excessive, and it prices lower than extra highly effective laptops just like the MSI Creator Z16P and the MacBook Professional 16. The ThinkPad Z16 is value a glance when you’re out there for a bigger machine.
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