Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2 review: A few ports short of greatness

Price When Reviewed

$1,873.80

Best Prices Today: Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2

The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2 is an odd duck. It’s an ultra-portable enterprise laptop computer that appears nice on paper. It’s skinny, mild, has a fantastic display screen, and good extras like Windows Hello help for its webcam and a fingerprint sensor. And, with its AMD Ryzen 7 Pro processor, it’s no slouch.

But it’s additionally lacking different issues that you simply may anticipate in a enterprise laptop computer like an abundance of USB ports or a microSD card reader. And, for the worth of the mannequin we examined, it’s arduous not to consider Lenovo’s excellent ThinkPad X1 Carbon as a possible various. Ultimately, this ThinkPad is likely to be finest in comparison with its traditional pink “nub.” You’ll both like it or hate it. But should you’re simply the fitting kind of enterprise one who travels often, it is likely to be the fitting laptop computer for you.

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

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2: Specs

The ThinkPad Z14 Gen 2 is available in a wide range of configurations, however most of that revolves across the typical suspects: quantity of RAM, storage, processor selection, and kind of show and determination. The top-of-the-line model we examined is configured with an AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U processor, 32GB of (sadly soldered) RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 2880×1800 OLED touchscreen show. If you’re prepared to step all the way down to 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a 1920×1080 IPS non-touch (or contact!) show, you’ll be able to spend much less. But it’s arduous to suggest a contemporary Windows 11 laptop computer with 16GB of RAM or 256GB of storage.

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U
• Memory: 32GB
• Graphics/GPU: AMD Radeon 780M graphics
• Display: 13-inch, 2880×1800 OLED 400 nits, contact
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Webcam: 1080p
• Connectivity: Two Type-C USB4 ports, combo audio jack
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: IR facial recognition, fingerprint reader
• Battery capability: 51.5 Watt-hour
• Dimensions: 11.6 x 7.0 x 0.55 inches
• Weight: 2.62 kilos
• MSRP: $1,873.80 as examined ($1,241.40, base)

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2: Build high quality and appears

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Have you ever seen a ThinkPad earlier than? If so, then the Z1, with its gray chassis and pink nub in the midst of the keyboard, will probably be immediately recognizable to you. And that’s not a destructive factor! This is a enterprise laptop computer that you simply need to take to the workplace or onsite, the very last thing you’d need for that state of affairs is one thing gaudy, unnecessarily glitzy, or ugly. The ThinkPad Z13 is an expert wanting laptop computer and general simple on the eyes.

As typical, Lenovo went with a glossy matte black design with just a few pink highlights. The dot above above the ThinkPad emblem is a vivid pink together with the traditional nub on the keyboard. And the again of the lid additionally has a bit deal with, the I within the ThinkPad emblem lights up when the laptop computer is on. We have the aluminum lid model in for testing, however Lenovo additionally affords a flax fiber with a woven cloth look. In footage it seems good, however that’s all we will say since we didn’t get our palms on that mannequin.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Overall, the bezels are small, however that results in a jut out for the webcam part. But Lenovo does a fantastic factor right here and turns an issue into a chance. The webcam bar form is a wedge that serves as the right spot to grip and open your laptop computer. It’s not a bug, it’s really a characteristic! The system is skinny, mild, and positively constructed for journey. That could also be working towards it, as I seen the followers operating extra usually that I’d want and the system increase warmth even throughout mundane duties like internet searching.

The Z13 can be a contact on the heavier aspect for an ultrabook in its class. It even weighs greater than the ThinkPad Carbon X1, surprisingly. But that’s an excellent factor. At a bit over two and half kilos, it’s not so heavy that you simply’ll remorse lugging it round greater than most different ultrabooks. But the texture of the system is stable. It doesn’t creak, squeak, or groan, and that’s all the way down to the fabric decisions. They weigh extra, however really feel higher.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2: Keyboard and trackpad

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

I’m sorry to say I’m not as massive a fan of the keyboard and trackpad. When it involves the keyboard, Lenovo made some robust decisions and never all of them are nice. The arrow keys, as an illustration, are very squashed—significantly the up and down buttons. You lose devoted web page up and web page down keys as effectively, these are secondary features of the tiny up and down keys. Travel could be very shallow, although the keys do give a satisfying click on. But I’ve examined quite a lot of ThinkPad fashions and the Z13 options among the many shallowest, if not the shallowest journey I’ve skilled. It left my fingers aching some after typing extensively.

On the plus aspect, Lenovo mounted its CTRL and Fn key placement. Past fashions put the left aspect FN key to the left of the ctrl key, however that’s clearly backwards. Thankfully this mannequin places the Ctrl key on the skin edge the place it belongs. I additionally respect the FnLock possibility discovered on escape, and the fingerprint sensor is a welcome addition.

The Z13 affords keyboard backlighting as effectively, and since is an expert laptop computer, it’s simply the one shade: white. Thankfully you’ll be able to disable it, and you’ll alter by two ranges of brightness. Honestly, I discovered the decrease brightness degree sufficient, and the upper degree fortunately not too vivid. It’ll do precisely what you want: mild the way in which whenever you’re working late within the darkness and get out of the way in which whenever you don’t need it.

But regardless of my complaints in regards to the quick journey, it isn’t tough to get forward of the keyboard. Type too shortly and a keyboard may lose your inputs. The ThinkPad beeps when that occurs to let and as quick as I kind that occurred usually sufficient to catch my consideration for this overview. In each case, I didn’t appear to be lacking any letters both, so the habits felt odd.

As for the trackpad, there’s one other bundle of adjustments right here. The trackpad itself is responsive sufficient and the clicks are clicky sufficient. But gone is the standard higher button that pair with the pink nub. Instead, you get a clicky button bar, primarily a devoted portion of the monitor pad. It’s smaller, and a bit more durable to make use of than ThinkPad’s typical answer. The keystone button, used for scrolling remains to be there, however it’s now not distinguished. It’s hidden within the middle of the higher button bar, and also you’ll simply need to faucet and belief it labored.

Speaking of the nub (Lenovo calls it the TrackPoint), it really works in addition to ever and has a trick up its sleeves. Double-tap it (and set up some software program when prompted the firs time) and you’ll open a customized menu with microphone choices, a voice typing characteristic, and extra. Personally, I want you might reprogram the double faucet to do different issues probably extra helpful (like a mouse click on) however one thing is healthier than nothing.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2: Speakers and show

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

What are you able to say about built-in audio system, actually? They’re seldom superb, however these are only a hair under good. I’ve tried watching motion pictures, listening to music, and labored with each dialog-heavy content material and dialog-absent content material. Muddy might be the nicest phrase I can supply. Competent might be an in depth second.

In each case, I may select the dialog effectively sufficient to know it however strained a bit. And get primarily no bass, so don’t plan to take heed to something that requires it. Every time I used the audio system, I discovered myself wanting to succeed in for my headphones. These audio system will do in a pinch, they’re higher than nothing. But should you can, plug in some headphones.

The show, however, is a very totally different story. The laptop computer I’m testing has a 2880×1800 OLED touchscreen and it’s excellent. Colors are vibrant sufficient for a enterprise class laptop computer and, because of OLED, you get lovely inky blacks. Next to a different laptop computer with a pleasant show (maintain a watch out for the upcoming Acer Swift Go 14 overview!), the Lenovo was the superior possibility and everybody in my family seen it. The decision and scaling are excellent, too. I can match the fitting an excellent quantity of content material on the show and the textual content isn’t too small with default scaling. With a 60Hz refresh fee, I wouldn’t need to use it for gaming, however that’s not the purpose of this laptop computer anyway.

The touchscreen works effectively, too. The solely limitations you’ll discover are these out of Lenovo’s management and that’s Windows 11’s contact performance. But my contact makes an attempt all the time registered and scrolling labored advantageous. It’s a pleasant choice to have, even when it’s not completely needed.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2: Webcam, microphone, biometric choices

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

At the highest of the show, you’ll discover a 1080p webcam encased in a jut-out bar. In addition to being handy grip level to open the laptop computer, the bar leaves loads of room so as to add in an IR digicam for Windows Hello login. You don’t have to make use of that after all because of the fingerprint reader. But I attempted each biometric login strategies and the digicam was usually the sooner of the 2. Alas, the digicam doesn’t have a bodily privateness shutter to lock issues down, one thing that some companies may require. Instead, you’ll use a operate key to electronically disable the digicam. When you do, a pleasant little icon pops as much as notify you if it labored. But whereas I’m certain that’s a safe methodology, a bodily shutter all the time feels higher.

The 1080p digicam is serviceable and a pleasant step up from numerous built-in webcams. It’s ok you in all probability gained’t really feel the necessity to lug round a devoted webcam and it helps Windows Studio Effects. That contains Automatic Framing to maintain your face in body whenever you transfer round, eye contact to make it seem as if you’re wanting on the digicam whenever you take a look at the display screen, and background blur. I attempted the attention contact characteristic and it’s bit unsettling. I’ve darkish brown eyes, however with eye contact on, I seem to have jet black eyes.

The built-in microphone array does the job as effectively. Good sufficient for many Zoom or Google Meet calls until you’re in a loud atmosphere, so possibly keep away from Starbucks. Of course, you might all the time use Bluetooth earbuds, which might internet you higher audio and microphone with out taking on one of many few ports the laptop computer affords.

If you favor, the fingerprint sensor does work effectively, if a contact slower than the webcam login. It exists as a key close to the fitting management button, although it doesn’t have any give. You’ll additionally discover the facility on the fitting aspect of the laptop computer now close to the USB-C port.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2: Ports

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

This is the place we discover one of many largest weak factors for this enterprise laptop computer. Let’s begin with the excellent news. When it involves wi-fi options, the ThinkPad Z13 might be futureproof sufficient. True, you gained’t discover Wi-Fi 7 as an possibility, however you gained’t discover Wi-Fi 7 on many different units both. As it’s, Windows 11 simply added help on the Insider monitor that’s nonetheless in testing. Wi-Fi 6E might be already forward of what most houses and companies supply, and as that rolls out you’ll be set to benefit from higher speeds and vary.

Likewise, Bluetooth 5.3 is only a contact behind the newest and best Bluetooth 5.4, however you seemingly gained’t know the distinction. Chances are, not one of the units you personal help Bluetooth 5.4 (a minimum of not but). If you want connectivity on the go, you’ll be able to decide a mannequin with a Nano-SIM card slot, although clearly mobile information charges will apply. Our check mannequin didn’t have a SIM card slot, so we couldn’t check speeds and functionality.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Therein ends the excellent news. Do it’s essential to join an Ethernet cable? You’ll want an adapter for that, as you gained’t discover an Ethernet port. How about an SD or microSD card? Sorry, you’ll want an adapter for that too. If you’re hoping to attach an HDMI monitor, that’s a no go with out adapters, since there’s no HDMI port to be discovered. And if you wish to join any kind of storage that depends on a USB-A port, you’ll want an adapter for that as effectively. You gained’t even discover a Kensington safety slot to lock down your laptop computer.

What do you get? Exactly two USB-C kind USB4 ports and a combo audio jack for headphones and microphone. Think about that for a second. Do it’s essential to cost your laptop computer? Well, there goes half your ports. Do you need to plug in a second monitor? If you discover one which helps USB-C USB4 ports (admittedly frequent amongst transportable displays), you are able to do that. But should you cost your laptop computer and plug right into a monitor, you then’re out of ports. You’re going to want dongles, adapters, hubs, or all of the above. That makes this laptop computer much less journey pleasant. If you don’t ever join something to your laptop computer, that may not matter. But for everybody else, it’s an enormous compromise.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2: Performance

The ThinkPad Z13 opts for an AMD processor and our check mannequin rocks the Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U. This CPU has eight bodily cores and 16 threads, and the Pro marker denotes an inclusion of on-chip safety to guard towards bodily and firmware assaults. As is frequent with AMD, it’s designed to be a worker-bee processor, not essentially the most highly effective on the market, however sufficient to get the job finished.

This overview unit got here with 32GB of LPDDR5X reminiscence and a 1TB SSD. You additionally get AMD Radeon 780m graphics.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

The first check we run is PCMark 10, which helps decide general efficiency. We run with laptops plugged in and that’s vital to bear in mind as AMD processors are sometimes identified for throttling when unplugged. What you’re seeing is a best-case state of affairs and is probably not what you get when out within the subject. But that’s in all probability advantageous, as most unplugged journey work doesn’t name for excessive duties.

The ThinkPad Z13 manages an excellent rating, even surpassing the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, if simply barely. Don’t put an excessive amount of inventory in that, the distinction is lower than a margin of error, and if we re-ran the checks 10 extra occasions on each machines, you’d in all probability see them flip-flop for finest rating. If we take a more in-depth take a look at the person scores, it’s clear the place this sturdy result’s coming from: speedy storage. The ThinkPad Z13 scores significantly excessive in PCMark’s App Startup benchmark.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

After that, we ran Cinebench R20, which is a multithreaded CPU check. That’s an space the place AMD processors ought to thrive as a consequence of their excessive core and thread counts, and that proves to be the case right here. The Z13 takes the silver medal among the many varied laptops we’ve examined, even seeming to outshine the ThinkPad Carbon. But remember this is only one explicit check and whereas AMD does very effectively at multi-threaded duties, that doesn’t translate to extra energy in each program. That’s why we run a number of checks protecting various capabilities. Still, it’s an excellent exhibiting for the ThinkPad Z13.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Handbrake, the following check we run, delivers on that time. Video encoding is a multi-threaded process that requires sustained efficiency. And as soon as once more, because of its Ryzen 7 processor, the Z13 performs admirably, coming in on the second quickest encode velocity. At round 21 minutes, we felt compelled to run this check just a few extra occasions than typical simply to substantiate the consequence. But it’s a testomony to AMD’s route with its processor structure, although Intel will shine in different areas.

To check graphics functionality, we run 3Dmark’s Time Spy benchmark and it’s right here is the place AMD struggles. It’s no shock that the Z13 couldn’t sustain with the Lenovo Slim Pro 9’s devoted GPU, however it even fell behind the ThinkPad X1 Carbon’s Intel built-in graphics. Not by a ton, thoughts you, however sufficient to point out up. Overall, it nonetheless carried out admirably sufficient for a laptop computer with out a devoted GPU. The Z13 ought to do advantageous for video streaming and possibly even quite simple gaming. Just don’t anticipate to throw down within the newest triple-A sport on excessive graphics settings.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2: Battery life

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

IDG / Josh Hendrickson

We check battery life by placing the laptop computer in airplane mode and looping a 4K copy of the Tears of Steel movie till the system dies. The Z13 homes a barely smaller battery, however it additionally sports activities a barely smaller 13.3-inch OLED panel. And the AMD processor does a good job at sipping the battery. It pulled off a close to eleven-hour rundown time with medium brightness and keyboard backlighting turned off. Other laptops with larger (and heavier) batteries lasted longer on the identical check whereas others from earlier years gave up the ghost a lot sooner. It’s a good final result.

But you in all probability don’t watch movies in airplane mode at medium brightness and options like keyboard backlighting off, do you? You’ll be glad to know, the Z13 made it by a day of labor writing articles, watching movies, listening to music, and had loads of juice left to spare for the commute dwelling. And with speedy charging that’ll get you again to round 80 p.c in an hour, the Z13 must be as much as process to allow you to keep unplugged for many common duties whereas touring. That’s good, contemplating the restricted port choice.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2: Conclusion

If you requested for a verdict primarily based on efficiency, construct, and battery life alone, it’d be simple to suggest the Z13 as an immediate purchase. In these areas, Lenovo has as soon as once more delivered every little thing we’ve come to know and love a couple of ThinkPad. The nub is there, the keys work (though they’re too shallow), and you’ve got good extras like a good battery life, an (non-obligatory) contact OLED, and each digicam and fingerprint biometric choices. For enterprise and journey, that’s the full package deal.

As reviewed, $1,800 is loads to spend to get a tool with simply two USB-C ports. That means you’ll absolutely need to spend extra to finish this package deal. You might have USB-A dongles, an SD card reader, and extra. It’s seemingly you’ll need to decide on an costly journey hub that may improve your port choice and get you the SD card reader. But that’s extra to hold round, extra to spend, extra weight to take care of. And what occurs whenever you by accident go away dwelling with out these elements?

If you don’t want an SD card reader and exterior storage, then possibly these sacrifices gained’t hassle you. Some individuals can stay with only one useable port (remember you’ll want one free for energy), and for them the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is a stable purchase. But for everybody else, assume lengthy and arduous, as a result of it’s in all probability value it to spend extra up entrance and get all the ports you want.