Lenovo’s commitment to innovation in the laptop arena takes a bold turn with the ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2. Breaking away from the conventional corporate aesthetic, this high-performance desktop replacement offers a sleek alternative with sustainability at its core. While the devil might be in the details, the ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 is a commendable fusion of power, style, and eco-friendliness.
Table of Contents
ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 Eco-Friendly Design: Beyond Convention
- Crafted with an eco-conscious mindset, the ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 stands out with a silvery arctic gray aluminum shell, departing from the standard matte black magnesium chassis.
- The laptop is a statement for nonconformists and tree-huggers alike, using recycled aluminum and arriving in plastic-free, compostable packaging.
- Starting at $1,225.26, the base model features an AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 7640HS processor, 16 GB of memory, a 512 GB NVMe solid-state drive, a 1,920-by-1,200-pixel non-touch IPS display, and Windows 11 Home.
Top-of-the-Line Configuration: Unleashing Power
- Our $2,488.85 review unit, the pinnacle of the Z16 lineup, boasts an eight-core, 16-thread Ryzen 9 Pro 7940HS chip, 64 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD, Windows 11 Pro, and a 4 GB AMD Radeon RX 6550M discrete GPU.
- The 16-inch 4K touch screen with OLED technology raises the visual experience.
- The Z16’s dimensions of 0.63 by 14 by 9.4 inches and weight of 3.99 pounds contribute to its portability despite being slightly heavier than some competitors.
Connectivity Concerns: A Major Drawback
- While the Z16 impresses with its use of Wi-Fi 6E, the connectivity options leave a lot to be desired.
- Limited to three USB Type-C ports and an SD card slot, the lack of HDMI and USB Type-A ports feels like an oversight.
- The Z16’s slim bezels and a webcam with a privacy toggle enhance its modern appeal, but the lack of traditional ports may pose challenges for users with various connectivity needs.
Keyboard and Trackpad: A Step Backward?
- Known for its exceptional keyboards, Lenovo introduces several changes with the Z16.
- While maintaining a snappy typing feel, the arrangement of the cursor arrow keys may irk long-time ThinkPad users.
- The absence of the three traditional mouse buttons for the TrackPoint controller is compensated by a haptic strip along the top of the buttonless touchpad.
- This change, however, received mixed reviews, with occasional responsiveness issues being reported.
ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 Display Delight: OLED Brilliance
- The ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2’s standout feature is undoubtedly its high-resolution OLED touch display.
- Boasting vibrant colours, wide viewing angles, and sky-high contrast, the 4K screen with a resolution of 3840 by 2400 pixels delivers a visual feast.
- The only downside of the display is a slightly limited tilt range.
- The laptop’s overall color saturation, brightness, and contrast shine in line with expectations of OLED technology.
Performance Prowess: Ryzen 9 Challenges Core i9
- Brimming with power, the Z16 impresses in productivity tests, demonstrating its suitability for processor-intensive workloads.
- The Ryzen 9 Pro 7940HS competes admirably against its Intel counterparts, with the Z16 excelling in such benchmarks as Cinebench R23 and Geekbench 5.5 Pro.
- Its prowess extends to graphics tests, where the AMD Radeon RX 6550M keeps its ground for casual gaming and multimedia applications.
Battery Life and Beyond: OLED Magic
- Despite the power under the hood, the Z16 surprises with commendable battery life.
- Playing a 720p video at 50% brightness, the laptop displayed stamina that aligns well with its desktop replacement category.
- The color reproduction, brightness, and contrast abilities of the OLED display contribute to an immersive visual experience.
ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 Specification Table:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Business, Desktop Replacement |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 Pro 7940HS |
| Processor Speed | 4 GHz |
| RAM (as Tested) | 64 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 1 TB |
| Screen Size | 16 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 3840 by 2400 |
| Touch Screen | Yes |
| Panel Technology | OLED |
| Variable Refresh Support | None |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | AMD Radeon RX 6550M |
| Graphics Memory | 4 GB |
| Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 0.63 by 14 by 9.4 inches |
| Weight | 3.99 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
| Tested Battery Life | 10 hours and 44 minutes |
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Verdict: Eco-Friendly Elegance with Quirks
The ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 earns praise for its eco-friendly design, innovative choice of materials and powerful performance. However, certain design changes, including the shift in the keyboard layout and the touchpad’s responsiveness, may not resonate with long-time ThinkPad enthusiasts. The lack of traditional ports also poses a limitation in terms of connectivity. Despite these quirks, Lenovo’s build quality and commitment to sustainability secure the Z16 a 3.5-star rating, making it a commendable option for those looking for a powerful and eco-conscious desktop replacement.
