Thinkpad Z13 Gen 2 Laptop Review: Lenovo’s Answer To The Dell Xps 13

The ThinkPad Z13 G2 is an replace to final ’s ThinkPad Z13 G1 with more moderen Zen 4 CPU choices. The chassis is in a different way visually an identical and with equivalent show choices between them. We advise testing our evaluate at the ThinkPad Z13 G1 as maximum of our feedback at the machine nonetheless observe right here for the ThinkPad Z13 G2.

Our evaluate unit is a high-end configuration with the Ryzen 7 Professional 7840U CPU, 1800p 60 Hz OLED touchscreen, and 32 GB of RAM for about $1800. Different SKUs with the Ryzen 5 Professional 7540U, 1200p IPS show, 16 GB RAM, and not obligatory WWAN also are to be had.

The ThinkPad Z13 G2 competes with different business-centric 13-inch subnotebooks just like the HP Dragonfly G4, Dell Latitude 13 7340, XPS 13, Toshiba Portege collection, or the MSI Summit collection.

Extra Lenovo critiques:

Our Gen 2 unit comes with the MediaTek Wi-Fi 6E MT7922 as an alternative of the Qualcomm WCN685x on final ’s Gen 1 style. There are in a different way no noticeable variations because the MediaTek module helps each Wi-Fi 6 and 6E connectivity.

Although the Lenovo style ships with a 2 MP webcam, the Home windows digital camera app can most effective make a selection as much as 0.5 MP as proven by way of the screenshot to the best. We encountered a equivalent factor at the contemporary HP Pavilion Plus 14 which used to be additionally powered by way of an AMD Zen 4 CPU.

There aren’t any main interior variations between the Gen 1 and Gen 2 fashions.

The bottom guaranty length can also be both three hundred and sixty five days or relying at the configuration if bought in the USA while different high-end enterprise laptops from competing producers like Dell have a tendency to be as usual.

The Samsung ATNA33AA02-0 1800p OLED touchscreen on our ThinkPad Z13 G2 is similar to the only to be had at the authentic ThinkPad Z13 G1. The panel covers DCI-P3 and HDR400 for richer colours than maximum IPS panels on different subnotebooks, however it is unlucky that there aren’t any new show choices for this ’s Z13 G2 style. The 60 Hz refresh price is starting to really feel out of date when 90 Hz or 120 Hz choices are turning into not unusual.

Most brightness is usual at 400 nits. HP is still one of the most most effective main producers to supply considerably brighter 1000-nit panels on lots of its competing subnotebooks just like the 14-inch EliteBook 840 collection. If out of doors visibility is a priority, then one thing just like the Elite Dragonfly generally is a affordable selection to the ThinkPad Z13.

The show comes well-calibrated out of the field with reasonable grayscale and colour deltaE values of just one.2 and nil.88, respectively. Alternatively, colours are set to sRGB by way of default even supposing the OLED panel helps complete DCI-P3 colours.

Pulse-width modulation or flickering is provide on all brightness ranges as with maximum different OLED panels. The frequency is solid at 238.6 Hz from 0 to 52 p.c brightness prior to converting to 60 Hz from 53 to 100% brightness.

We set Home windows to Efficiency mode previous to operating the benchmarks underneath. The pre-installed Lenovo Industrial Vantage tool contains no separate energy profile choices with the intention to streamline the selection of settings.

Cell Zen 4 CPUs were very spectacular so far and the octa-core Ryzen 7 Professional 7840U isn’t any exception. The AMD CPU is as rapid or sooner than any competing Intel thirteenth gen Core-U or Core-P processor together with even the Core i7-1370P. It additionally outperforms the uncommon Ryzen 7 Professional 6860Z in final ’s ThinkPad Z13 G1 by way of about 15 to twenty p.c in each single- and multi-threaded a lot.

Efficiency sustainability is superb as properly regardless of the small 13-inch shape issue. When operating CineBench R15 xT in a loop, rankings would stay constant from starting to finish to signify solid clock charges when operating hard a lot.

Downgrading to the hexa-core Ryzen 5 Professional 7540U configuration is anticipated to affect processor efficiency about 20 to 30 p.c.

PCMark rankings are noticeably upper than on final ’s Ryzen 5-powered ThinkPad Z13 G1 particularly regarding the Virtual Content material Advent subtest the place GPU efficiency issues maximum.

LatencyMon finds each DPC problems and dropped frames when taking part in 4K video content material at 60 FPS. The latter is especially disappointing because the dropped frames would happen in common periods to signify an underlying motive force factor. Maximum Intel-based laptops would go back 0 dropped frames when compared when operating this identical take a look at.

Our unit ships with a midrange SK Hynix HFS001TEJ4X164N PCIe4 x4 NVMe SSD. Most switch charges are stable at about 4600 MB/s in comparison to >7000 MB/s at the better Samsung PM9A1 collection. The pressure reveals no throttling conduct even if wired for a number of mins.

The Radeon 780M is a vital bounce ahead by way of about 60 to 70 p.c when in comparison to the lesser Radeon 660M or 740M possibility. It is probably not the quickest iGPU answer anymore, but it surely nonetheless trounces any selection as much as past due 2023. Common or hard titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 or Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands play properly at 1080p with maximum settings on Low.

Observe that there are bigger-than-expected efficiency variations between Balanced mode and Efficiency mode as proven by way of our 3DMark 11 effects desk underneath. It would be best to double-check that you are on Efficiency mode when operating hard duties to completely exploit the CPU.

There’s a important distinction in fan noise between the Balanced and Efficiency energy profiles. Operating Witcher 3 on Balanced mode, as an example, would lead to a fan noise of simply 37 dB(A) vs. 44.8 dB(A) if on Efficiency mode. This correlates with the wider-than-expected efficiency variations between the 2 energy profiles as famous above. Another way, the machine is most commonly quiet at 28.3 dB(A) in opposition to a silent background of 25.1 dB(A) when operating undemanding a lot like browsers or movies.

Floor temperatures can also be very hot when operating hard a lot because of the compact design and steel chassis. Sizzling spots can achieve over 46 C and 48 C at the keyboard heart and underside, respectively, in comparison to simply 39 C to 41 C at the HP Dragonfly G4 with the slower Core i7-1365U.

When underneath Prime95 pressure, the CPU would spice up to 4 GHz and 51 W prior to temporarily falling and stabilizing at 3.3 GHz, 35 W, and 86 C. That is hotter than on maximum different subnotebooks such because the Dragonfly G4 the place core temperature would stabilize at 76 C when operating the similar take a look at.

If the CPU and GPU are absolutely wired underneath Prime95 and FurMark on the identical time, heavy throttling would happen with biking clock charges as proven by way of the screenshot underneath. This fortunately does no longer happen when operating real-world a lot. Witcher 3, as an example, would have a lot more solid clock charges and extra constant efficiency effects.

Energy intake is upper around the board when in comparison to the ThinkPad Z13 G1 which contributes to the shorter battery lifestyles within the subsequent segment. Operating Witcher 3, as an example, would eat 55 W in comparison to simply 30 W on final ’s style. In fact, the upper efficiency from our Radeon 780M when in comparison to the Radeon 660M way the upper intake ranges are not for naught.

The OLED panel on my own calls for numerous energy when in comparison to IPS. Merely idling at the most brightness environment and on a brilliant white display screen comparable to a standard webpage would eat virtually 13 W in comparison to lower than part at the ThinkPad Z13 G1 IPS configuration.

We are ready to measure a most draw of 62 W from the small (~10.8 x 4.8 x 2.9 cm) 65 W USB-C AC adapter when the CPU is at 100% usage. Charging will subsequently sluggish to a move slowly if operating hard a lot concurrently. A bigger 100 W adapter would possibly were extra suitable particularly for energy customers.

Runtimes fall sharply because of the upper answer OLED panel. Our ThinkPad Z13 G1 with the bottom 1200p IPS panel, as an example, would final for over 14 hours in comparison to slightly below 8 hours on our ThinkPad Z13 G2.

Charging from empty to complete capability is slower than anticipated at virtually 2.5 hours in comparison to 1.5 hours on maximum different laptops.

The primary distinction between the ThinkPad Z13 Gen 1 and Z13 Gen 2 is that the latter contains AMD Zen 4 CPU choices. If the additional efficiency is not wanted, then the Z13 Gen 1 can be offering an necessarily an identical person revel in because it carries the similar show choices and bodily options. Ultimate ’s Zen 3+ processors are not even sluggish first of all and so the more moderen Zen 4 choices must attraction most commonly to energy customers and graphics editors somewhat than gentle browsers or spreadsheet knowledge entries.

As for the OLED panel, patrons must understand that it could actually lower battery lifestyles considerably by way of up to 6 hours in our WLAN assessments when in comparison to the bottom IPS panel. Its deeper colours, sooner reaction occasions, HDR reinforce, and denser answer unquestionably include drawbacks on this regard.

The AMD Zen 4 Professional CPU upgrades are commendable, however the 60 Hz show and a pair of MP webcam are beginning to really feel dated particularly for a high-end subnotebook.

For a possible ThinkPad Z13 Gen 3 one day, we want to see up to date show choices with upper refresh charges and brighter backlights to higher compete in opposition to the Asus Zenbook collection or HP Dragonfly collection the place 120 Hz and 1000-nit presentations are to be had, respectively. Less assailable comments from the keyboard keys and clickpad may additionally persuade conventional ThinkPad customers to check out out the Z collection. Another way, the steel chassis nonetheless feels contemporary and aggressive in opposition to the Dell XPS or HP Elite choices.

Lenovo is now transport its ThinkPad Z13 G2 beginning at $1300 USD for the bottom Ryzen 5 and 1200p IPS configuration. B&H will quickly be transport our evaluate configuration for $1800.