Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4 laptop review: Bend it like Business

Price When Reviewed

$1,359.99

Best Prices Today: Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4

Lenovo’s been a pioneer within the 2-in-1 house for the higher a part of a decade and its Yoga design nonetheless has a number of attraction. It may be propped up with its keyboard out of the way in which shortly and with out finnicky magnetic attachments or kickstands. It’s much less of a pill and extra of a laptop computer, however with regards to getting work achieved that’s not a nasty factor with the ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4. This new 2-in-1 blends the design and ergonomics of a ThinkPad with the flippy display screen of a Yoga.

While it’s not the sleekest mannequin accessible (the X1 Yoga line retains that title), what you get here’s a barely cheaper price, with an incredible choice of ports, a technique to retailer the included lively stylus, and a taller keyboard too. If you’re purchasing for a pro-grade laptop computer that can be utilized for handwritten annotation and drawing, ought to this be in your radar or is it too buttoned-up to be helpful outdoors the workplace? Maybe.

Looking for extra choices? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops accessible proper now.

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4: Specs

Our evaluation unit got here geared up with an Intel Core i7-1355U CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. For extra data, try the complete spec record under.

• CPU: Intel Core i7-1355U (10 cores, 12 threads, 2 efficiency cores, 8 effectivity cores)
• Memory: 16GB LPDDR5 6400MHz (non-upgradeable)
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• Display: 13.3-inch 1920×1200 IPS LCD, 300 nits peak brightness   
• Storage: 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
• Webcam: 1080p IR digicam with bodily cowl
• Connectivity:  1x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (1x always-on charging), 1 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm headset jack
• Networking: Intel AX201 with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, optionally available 4G LTE mobile modem
• Biometrics: Fingerprint scanner and IR digicam for Windows Hello
• Battery capability: 61Wh
• Dimensions: 11.66 W x 8.52 L x 0.46 H inches
• Weight: 2.92 kilos, 3.6 kilos with AC adapter
• Price as Reviewed: $1,359.99

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4: Design and construct high quality

Lenovo’s business-minded ThinkPad laptops have a number of issues in widespread and it’s straightforward to inform them aside from rivals. The draw back is that may make them troublesome to tell apart from one another since they’re principally slab-shaped, gray, and serious-looking. The L13 Yoga’s defining characteristic is its 360-degree hinge, making it stand out from the opposite ThinkPads. The good factor is that it’s not as finnicky to make use of as another tablet-y Windows laptops with magnetic covers. For all intents and functions, the Yoga design allows you to fold the hinges how they finest give you the results you want, and once you’re achieved the L13 Gen 4 turns into simply one other pocket book PC.

While it’s not fairly as solid-feeling as a traditional laptop computer, the L13 Yoga makes use of a mixture of steel and plastic to bolster its two halves. With its tight hinges and high quality supplies, some customers may not even suspect that this laptop may be propped up in just a few totally different helpful methods. Plus, it has a helpful port that stashes an lively pen for sketching and notetaking, one thing different computer systems would possibly make optionally available or omit fully. It’s clear that greater than a decade of creating Yoga-style machines has paid off within the high-quality engineering of the Yoga L13.

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4: Connectivity

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Lenovo managed to maintain the Yoga L13 slim whereas retaining a bunch of ports which can be helpful. With its two USB-C ports (one geared up for Thunderbolt 4 speeds), you’ll be able to cost or hook up high-speed peripherals on both aspect of the pc. Both sides even have a full USB-A port, too, which is helpful in case you nonetheless depend on a number of older equipment with out the newest connector.

Finally, you’ll discover a full-size HDMI on the best aspect, to be used with projector or TVs in convention rooms with out the use for adapters. There’s additionally a wired headset jack for 3.5mm gadgets. On paper, this mixture of ports may not appear that spectacular nevertheless it’s a helpful combine that desk jockeys and highway warriors will recognize.

For wi-fi, the ThinkPad Yoga L13 packs Intel’s barely older AX201 chip for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. It would have been good to see a quicker, 6E-grade adapter used on this machine however provided that many networks are nonetheless on older protocols, the laptop computer wouldn’t profit company customers, a lot much less distant employees at dwelling.

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4: Keyboard and trackpad

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

It’s virtually a tech writing cliché however right here we’re once more. The ThinkPad model makes a number of the most satisfying keyboards round. The keyboard within the Yoga L13 Gen 4 is a godsend to these of us who write or bang out emails, giving an extended throw, with a crisp actuation level that allows you to know once you’ve appropriately pressed a key. It’s not too clicky, not too mushy–excellent. Above the keyboard is the Yoga L13’s normal fingerprint pad that’s additionally the ability change, so you’ll be able to log in to Windows 11 with the contact of a finger.

The spacious touchpad works nice too, with a agency however responsive bodily click on once you press down on it. I discovered that it’s not too awkwardly positioned or too huge, with pretty good palm rejection. And if that’s not your cup of tea, the old-school, cult-classic TrackPoint nubbin sits in the midst of the keyboard, with three buttons under the spacebar. It takes some getting used to however lets contact typists shortly shift between typing and mousing with out shifting a hand to the underside of the Yoga’s prime deck.

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4: Display, audio system, and webcam

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

The normal show is pretty good for on a regular basis use, with wealthy colours and a sharp-enough decision. If there’s just one slight draw back it’s that in case you’re in a brilliant open workplace, its max brightness of round 300 nits struggles to chop by way of glare. Being a 2-in-1 design, the show has a glass contact layer to be used together with your fingers, and the show additionally has lively pen help for the included stylus.

The audio system usually are not so spectacular right here, which is disappointing. The considerably tinny audio makes the human voice appear fainter and thinner than it ought to, making the L13 Gen 4 a poor alternative for placing out bumpin’ tunes. It’s additionally most likely a good suggestion to make use of headphones whereas on calls with coworkers, so you’ll be able to hear what they are saying as clearly as potential.

The 1080P webcam the Yoga L13 Gen 4 comes normal with is pretty good, and saved my face wanting clear in a well-lit café. If you’re in a darker room, you’ll discover that you simply look softer with the addition of noise discount, however in any other case this can be a completely competent digicam. It’s nice that Lenovo features a built-in bodily shutter that covers the digicam with a crimson dot, vital for workplaces with excessive safety wants. Finally, the L13 consists of infrared with the intention to log in with Windows Hello facial recognition.

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4: Performance

Featuring a 13th technology Intel Core i7-1355U, the Lenovo Yoga L13 Gen 4 demonstrated very competent efficiency for many duties. Obviously, it’s no gaming powerhouse however when known as upon, this chip revs as much as 5 GHz and speeds by way of intensive duties with its 10 cores and 12 threads. Thankfully, when doing lighter duties, the Yoga L13 barely makes a sound and retains battery life going for hours of labor.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

We benchmark each laptop computer we evaluation with PCMark 10. This software program offers us a sensible baseline, utilizing on a regular basis duties in a gauntlet. We measured fairly middle-of-the-road efficiency from the L13 Gen 4. It’s clear that the cutting-edge Intel Core Ultra chips, as seen within the Acer Swift Go right here, present a number of further enhance in a skinny laptop computer (if that’s what you’re after).

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

In this check, we use Cinebench R20 to judge a laptop computer’s rendering efficiency by assessing how its a number of processor cores collaborate. In our assessments, the ThinkPad Yoga L13 Gen 4 did a mediocre job inside the thin-and-light crowd, however there are a number of laptops on the market with extra cores or stronger efficiency in an identical bundle.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Modern PCs require 3D capabilities and never only for gaming, which is why we check each laptop computer with 3DMark’s Time Spy benchmark. In this check, the ThinkPad Yoga L13 Gen 4 did decently for a machine with Intel’s built-in Xe Graphics, nevertheless it’s behind what AMD has to supply. It additionally was trounced by Intel’s newest and biggest Arc graphics, as seen within the Acer Swift Go. If graphics are essential to you, maintain a watch out for brand new machines with the Intel Ultra moniker.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

We check each laptop computer by re-encoding a high-def Blu-ray rip right into a small file meant for a pill. Unfortunately, the Yoga L13 Gen 4 was the slowest system we’ve seen in fairly a while, nevertheless it’s clearly not a pc supposed for artistic professionals, both. You ought to go for a mannequin with a P- or H-class Intel chip, or higher but, one of many great-performing AMD processors that beat the ThinkPad on this check. 

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4: Battery Life

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Intel’s 13th gen U-class chips are designed to steadiness efficiency and effectivity. In the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga L13 Gen 4, you get good efficiency with fairly respectable battery life, too. In our looping video battery check, this 2-in-1 made it to virtually 9 and a half hours on a single cost. If you’re cautious sufficient together with your display screen brightness, this can be a machine that may work for many of a day earlier than it must be charged.

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4: Conclusion

Sometimes the flexibleness of a 2-in-1 laptop computer is very nice to have and the ThinkPad Yoga L13 Gen 4 proves that you simply don’t must fuss with a removable keyboard to get tablet-like comfort. 

If you not often fold the display screen again right into a tent, or flat into pill mode, you’ll be able to nonetheless have an incredible ultrabook with numerous energy and a pleasant keyboard. The solely actual weak level with this laptop is its so-so display screen that’s simply not fairly brilliant sufficient. And, because of the ThinkPad pedigree, it’s hardly the decide for value-minded consumers with a excessive MSRP. Because of these points, it’s most likely finest that this mannequin keep within the enterprise world.

Otherwise, the Yoga L13 is value a glance whether or not you’re a solo skilled with a penchant for scribbling away on paperwork or a company IT one that needs to offer their firm one mannequin that may match a bunch of wants, the Yoga L13 Gen 4 suits the invoice fairly properly.