My confession at the beginning of this article is that I am a MacBook user since I started using the MacBook Air about three years ago. One feature on the MacBook that Windows laptops still can't match is the best-in-class haptic touchpad. The era of unresponsive and flabby touchpads ended shortly after I started using the MBA.
So a few weeks ago I was given a Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 1 which is a premium Windows work computer. Before going to the MacBook, I ranked the ThinkPad series as the best work laptop I've ever used because of the combination:
The best keyboard for typing.
unmatched durability and waterproof capabilities
Very satisfactory specifications.
With the ThinkPad Z16, Lenovo is trying to pull me back into the realm of Windows. The question is will they succeed?
Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 1
Screen 16″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200), IPS, Touch,
400 nits
AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H processor
Eight Core Chip
Graphics Radeon RX 6500M 4GB GDDR6
RAM 32GB LPDDR5
Internal Load 1TB SSD M.2 PCIe Gen4
1080P Primary Camera with IR
I/O 2x USB-C 4, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 3.5mm audio jack, SD card reader.
72 Wh battery
135W USB-C charging
SIM/Telephony None
WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/6E
Audio Jack Yes
Waterproof The keyboard is splash-proof
Scan System Fingerprint scanner, Windows Hello face scan
Sale Price Starts at RM7239
Model reviewed – RM9240
Screen
One thing I miss on the MacBook is the touchscreen. The touch screen on the Z16 is 16″ with resolution support up to 4K and from the OLED panel type. This reviewed model is simply equipped with an IPS LCD panel with WUXGA resolution which is still high enough to offer a display that not only looks sharp but also with good color reproduction.
The screen detects every touch precisely and zooming in applications like Photoshop is easier than using the touchpad. Bezels on all four sides of the screen are also thin and do not distract attention while working. A brightness of up to 400 nits can be achieved and when used outdoors it is still clear enough to see the content on the screen. The viewing angle is also good with the screen still visible even when viewed from the side.
The screen opening angle is up to around 110 degrees which although ok is not as good as the one I used on the ThinkPad X1 Nano which can be opened up to 180 degrees. However, the screen opening angle provided is sufficient for me to find the best angle for typing on a desk or placed on a lap.
With a screen ratio of 16:10, it is satisfactory for watching video content but more suitable for those who produce a lot of paperwork. With high resolution support, the image looks sharp and does not hurt the eyes after working all day.
Processor And Specifications
On the reviewed model, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H chip is paired with a Radeon RX 6500M 4GB GDDR6 graphics chip, 32GB LPDDR5 RAM memory and up to 1TB SSD M.2 PCIe Gen4 storage. There are options for AMD Ryzen 5 Pro and Ryzen 9 Pro chips. Make sure the RAM selection is done from the start because the RAM is soldered directly to the motherboard which makes it impossible to upgrade after purchase. All of this is put into a frame that is only 15.8 x 355 x 238 mm and weighs 1.9 kilograms.
Shape
The design of the Z16 is completely different from the ThinkPad I've reviewed before. First of all it is not black with silver lid and black bottom panel. A two-tone design that gives a different reaction in the office.
Among the average ThinkPad fan, this dual-tone design seems like a sin because it violates the tradition of black charm. Among the simpler writers this is a breath of fresh air because they feel that the ThinkPad's black color has been boring.
I'm in the group that doesn't like this brand new design. But this design is due to the fact that aluminum panels are made from recycled aluminum materials. This is a current trend that may save the turtles but again fails to impress old me.
One classic element retained on the cover is the red LED light on the ThinkPad logo. The new element introduced is that there is a logo panel that protrudes slightly from the cover which makes it easier to open with one hand. This design element again gives a different reaction in the office because it is not like the previous ThinkPad design.
With a large body size, the Z16 is equipped with 2x USB-C 4, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, SD card reader, Kensington lock and 3.5mm audio jack. What's missing is HDMI and USB-A which is disappointing as there's a big enough space to put both.
Lenovo includes one USB-C to USB-A adapter and one USB-C to HDMI adapter with every purchase. I'm not a fan of the adapter but wouldn't complain if it was given as it was better than me buying it myself.
The power button is also placed on the right side with a light that shows the battery that has power. Meanwhile, a fingerprint scanner is placed next to the left arrow button with a relatively large surface size. I prefer this design because it is in a neater location than on the touchpad or to the right of the touchpad as other manufacturers do.
The 1080P web camera is placed on the top bezel of the screen and it is unobtrusive as it is well hidden. It is paired with an IR sensor that allows the Windows Hello facial scanning system to be used in the dark. There's no ThinkShutter camera cover this time but there is a physical camera off button built into the keyboard if Z16 owners want to use it.
The matte-finish cover and base don't get dirty easily, but the black keyboard surround surface traps dirt quite brilliantly. Often I also have to wipe the inner surface of the Z16 because it looks smudged too quickly.
Keyboard
ThinkPad keyboards have a reputation for being among the best on laptops. This reputation continues on the Z16 with good vertical movement and a very satisfying pressure response. What I've noticed is that the ThinkPad keys are the friendliest to those who type more aggressively. No need to worry about damage because it passes the MIL-STD 810H standard.
With the Z16's large body size, there is enough space to place your hands comfortably while typing. The experience of using it is similar to my experience of using a MacBook Pro 16″.
When used on a desk surface, the typing process is very comfortable. On the thigh is still comfortable because of the surface to place the palm of the hand. The only issue is that the laptop is big, feels heavy on the thighs and depending on the work being done the thighs can feel like they're being smoked while I'm still on life lag. For maximum typing comfort use the Z16 on a desk.
What I like most about the Z16 is that the Fn and Ctrl buttons are no longer upside down like other ThinkPads I've reviewed. On the model reviewed it is in line with other Windows laptop configurations. No more need to enter the BIOS just to change the position of these two important buttons.
Touch Pad
The touch pad is of the haptic type. It's a little odd to use it on a ThinkPad that has kept the three physical buttons at the top of the touchpad intact. Let's start with the positives first where the size of this contact pad is quite large. The process of scrolling the 16″ screen becomes more accurate. Doing more precise photo editing is also easier. As a MacBook user, the experience provided by the Z16 touchpad is almost the same after a slight tweak from the Windows settings screen.
The top still has a touch zone that replaces the three physical buttons that are no longer included. From the point of view of a MacBook user, the absence of these three buttons is not a big issue but from the point of view of a former ThinkPad user it is another change that could cause a bit of controversy.
I quite like the haptic feedback it provides. The natural feel of the pad with its glass surface is comfortable on the fingertips. It is sensitive enough to detect finger movement and applied pressure. Various Windows 11 gestures are also fully supported.
The iconic red TrackPoint nipple of the ThinkPad is still there and has not yet dared to be removed like the three buttons on the touchpad. I would again like to say that it is impossible to get used to using the TrackPoint nipple buttons to move the mouse. The provided touch pad is more than adequate and I find it easier to use than the TrackPoint.
TrackPoint now has a secondary function. If you press twice the Communications Quick Menu will be displayed on the screen. Through this menu the description of the webcam, the contrast of the webcam, mute the microphone, activate the microphone mode, and activate the typing mode using voice can be launched quickly. The same menu can be launched by pressing the Fn+G button. In a world where the use of teleconferencing applications is already the norm, this quick menu for webcam and microphone control is quite helpful.
Usage And Benchmarks
Usage is very satisfactory. The performance of the Z16 is very fast, consistent and does not disappoint. The model I reviewed is equipped with an AMD Ryzen Pro 7 chip, 32GB LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB M.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD storage. No task thrown at the Z16 could make this laptop choke or crash. As a work computer it operates quite brilliantly.
When opening large Photoshop files for example, the process takes almost an instant thanks to the fast M.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD. It's twice as fast as the base model MacBook Air M2 I reviewed a few weeks ago and faster than the Huawei MateBook X Pro. A large RAM size helps to ensure that many applications can be used simultaneously.
In the heaviest use the temperature of the Z16 gets a little warm but not so much that it feels like your thighs are being roasted alive. The fan starts to sound with a sound reaching around 53 dB which is not loud but will be noticed by co-workers at the next desk. The hot air is blown to the back so there is no issue because the hot air hits the body.
However, the Radeon RX 6500M 4GB GDDR6 GPU can only run previous generation video games at moderate resolutions. I cannot recommend you to use Z16 as a gaming computer because it is not powerful enough unless you are a player of old games like CS:GO, Dota and Diablo III only.
In Geekbench 5, a score of 1440 was recorded for the single-core test and 8474 for the multi-core test. Almost comparable to the score recorded by Apple M2 (1891/8736 score).
In the SSD test, the X1 Nano recorded a reading speed of 3039 Mb/s and 4108 Mb/s for writing. As I said above the Z16 SSD is faster than the MacBook Air M2 and MateBook X Pro.
Meanwhile, in the PCMark10 test, the Z16 recorded a high score of 6440 when compared to normal gaming and work computers. In the Time Spy Extreme test 2196 marks were recorded and in Fire Strike Extreme it was 5897 marks.
Audio
Stereo speakers are placed at the top near the keyboard. The audio quality is good because the sound can be directed directly to the ear and not reflected to that like the majority of WIndows laptops. The sound is loud enough to watch videos and attend teleconference sessions while working from home.
Battery
The included 72 Whr battery is advertised to last up to almost 21 hours on a single charge. Pretty extreme battery life for a laptop. Throughout the review I was able to use the Z16 for almost two working days or the equivalent of 16 hours with moderate use. Your usage will probably differ from mine as I use Photoshop a lot, stream video/music a lot and like to use the screen at high resolution.
I'll admit this isn't a very scientific test but a laptop that can last up to two days is pretty good by 2022 standards. Recharging takes almost 90 minutes using a 135W USB-C charger that has a moderately large power box.
In the box
Here's what you get with every device purchase in Malaysia.
1x Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 1.
1x 135W USB-C charger cable.
1x 3 pin plug cable.
1x USB-C to USB-A Adapter.
1x USB-C to HDMI Adapter.
1x Manual.
Conclusion
Looking for a professional work computer with enough power, a beautiful screen and best-in-class battery life? The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 1 is the laptop for you. It still has ThinkPad DNA such as a keyboard that's really comfortable for typing, TrackPoint and durability beyond the MIL-STD 810H standard that sets it apart from other laptops on the market.
But Lenovo still dared to introduce innovations such as a haptic touch pad and an infrared camera system for fast facial recognition. No issues doing all day work with the Z16.
The only drawback is that the design brings changes that may disappoint fans of the classic ThinkPad design. It is also quite large and heavy to carry every day to the office, making it a computer that is a little difficult to carry anywhere comfortably.
With prices starting at RM7239 apiece it may seem a bit expensive but with a variety of features, good capabilities, a solid keyboard and good battery life it offers a worthwhile package.
PROs and Advantages
Bright touchscreen with good viewing angles.
Excellent performance for multi-program use.
The keyboard is really comfortable to type on.
On an interesting haptic touch.
Fast Windows Hello face scan system and fingerprint scanner.
Fast 135W USB-C charger.
Long battery life.
CONS and Cons
RAM soldered directly to the motherboard cannot be upgraded on its own.
Speakers that are not loud enough despite their large size.
Only USB-C port is provided without USB-A.
The size is quite large to carry anywhere.
The modern design is not for fans of the classic ThinkPad.