Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Review Unveils Power-Packed Business Laptop with Ryzen 7 Performance

Description

Design and Build Quality

The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 G2 Business Laptop immediately stands out with its sleek, professional design. The black finish, typical of the ThinkPad series, gives it a modern yet understated look. At just 3.9 pounds, it’s lightweight enough to carry around without much hassle, despite being a 16-inch laptop. Its compact dimensions—14.02 x 9.75 x 0.78 inches—make it surprisingly manageable for a device of this size. The keyboard feels solid, with a backlit feature that’s perfect for working in low-light settings. I found the fingerprint reader integrated into the power button to be both convenient and reliable, adding an extra layer of security. However, I noticed that the plastic casing doesn’t quite give the premium feel you might expect from a business laptop in this range, though it’s sturdy enough for everyday use.

Performance and Multitasking

Equipped with the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor, this laptop is a multitasking beast. With 8 cores and 16 threads, it handled everything I threw at it—from running multiple browser tabs to editing videos on Adobe Premiere Pro—without breaking a sweat. The 64GB DDR5 RAM is nothing short of impressive, ensuring that even resource-heavy applications run smoothly. The 1TB PCIe SSD is incredibly fast, reducing boot times and making file transfers almost instantaneous. That said, the integrated AMD Radeon 680M Graphics is suitable for light gaming and multimedia tasks but struggles with high-end gaming or intensive 3D rendering. For most business users, though, the performance is more than satisfactory.

Display and Visuals

The 16-inch WUXGA (1920×1200) IPS display delivers sharp visuals and vibrant colors. While the anti-glare coating makes it easier to work under bright lights, I couldn’t help but notice that the 300-nit brightness is just average. It’s fine for indoor use, but if you’re working outdoors or in a highly lit environment, the screen might not be bright enough. The 45% NTSC color gamut is another limitation, particularly for professionals in graphic design or video editing who require more color accuracy. However, for office tasks, streaming, and everyday productivity, it gets the job done.

Key Benefits

• Exceptional multitasking capability thanks to 64GB DDR5 RAM.
• Lightning-fast 1TB SSD for efficient file storage and retrieval.
• Fingerprint reader enhances security and convenience.
• Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 ensure modern, reliable connectivity.
• Backlit keyboard is great for low-light work environments.

Disadvantages

• Display brightness of 300 nits feels inadequate for outdoor use.
• Plastic build material lacks a premium feel.
• Integrated graphics limit its potential for high-end gaming or professional-grade graphics work.

Connectivity and Ports

One of the highlights of this laptop is its extensive connectivity options. With two USB-C ports, both supporting DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery, and two USB-A ports, it’s easy to connect multiple peripherals. I particularly appreciated the HDMI 2.1 port, which supports up to 4K at 60Hz, making it ideal for presentations or connecting to external monitors. The inclusion of an Ethernet port is a rare and welcome feature for those who prefer a stable wired connection. Additionally, the 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack and Wi-Fi 6E compatibility round out the package.

However, I found it odd that one of the USB-C ports only supports 5Gbps speeds, while the other offers 10Gbps speeds. This inconsistency can be a minor inconvenience when transferring large files.

Challengers

In its category, the ThinkPad E16 G2 is up against strong competitors like the Dell XPS 15 and HP Spectre x360. The Dell XPS 15 offers a more premium build with an OLED display, making it a better option for creatives. However, it lacks the extensive port selection found here. The Spectre x360, on the other hand, stands out with its 2-in-1 functionality and stylus support, but it’s pricier and doesn’t match the raw multitasking power of the ThinkPad’s 64GB RAM. What sets the ThinkPad apart is its business-focused design and practicality, though it doesn’t quite match its competitors in terms of display quality and overall aesthetics.

Cost-Effectiveness

In terms of price-to-performance ratio, this laptop offers excellent value for its features. The 64GB RAM and 1TB SSD alone make it a powerhouse for productivity, and the fingerprint reader and IR camera for Windows Hello add a layer of modern convenience. While it doesn’t have the flashy design or high-end display of some rivals, it’s a smart investment for professionals who prioritize performance and connectivity over aesthetics. It’s not cheap, but when compared to other laptops with similar specs, it holds its own quite well.

For a business laptop that can handle demanding tasks with ease, this one strikes a good balance between power and price. However, if you’re someone who needs top-tier graphics performance or a vivid, color-accurate display, you might need to look elsewhere.

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