If you prioritize a premium build and higher storage capacity, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 might match your needs, especially for business-related tasks, as it also features a higher-resolution OLED screen, which is great for tasks that require color accuracy, and it overall outperforms in general use due to better battery life. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Flow X16 is less expensive and offers superior performance for 3D, machine learning, and engineering tasks due to its more powerful GPU, and it is better for gaming with its higher refresh rate screen, despite having lower battery life. Both devices have similar portability, and users seeking a balance between cost and performance for demanding applications would likely prefer the ASUS ROG Flow X16. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Flow X16
Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
Very good for software development
Good battery life
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
8.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
502.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and ASUS ROG Flow X16 are both very good for general use, though the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 offers twice the storage and double the RAM of the ASUS ROG Flow X16, plus its OLED screen delivers better screen quality with higher resolution and contrast, enhancing the experience for general use. While both laptops have solid CPUs for general tasks, the ThinkPad Z16 stands out with its excellent keyboard quality and slightly better battery life, making it more suitable for productivity and longer use away from a power source.
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
6.7/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Software Development
7.7/10
8.2/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.5/10
8.5/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
502.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the ASUS ROG Flow X16 and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 offer sharp, bright displays with resolutions that make text and images crisp and clear, which is essential for a variety of daily tasks. In engineering and design, the ThinkPad Z16 excels with superior color range, reproducing more accurate shades that professionals need for precise work, whereas the ASUS is just shy of that level. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, despite having decent resolution and panel types, resulting in less fluid motion and responsiveness which gamers and 3D designers typically require.
Battery
5.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has 7 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Cost
$1,300
$1,120
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a price of $1,300 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 costs $1,120.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and ASUS ROG Flow X16 are both very good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.5/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and ASUS ROG Flow X16 are both very good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and ASUS ROG Flow X16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
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How the ASUS ROG Flow X16 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 compare to other laptops
"Above all else, the Asus ROG Flow X16 is one thing - versatile! It is a thin, mobile work device, it's a 2-in-1, tablet, a powerful workstation and even a gaming PC. But something even more surprising: It does all of these things really well without making any big blunders. It's anything but a lazy compromise. Because, despite its compact dimensions and 2-in-1 functionality, the hardware isn't throttled and boasts, at least in turbo mode, above-average performance."
"Lenovo’s ThinkPad Z16 tries has some success in its effort to tweak the ThinkPad formula. The laptop is attractive, yet still tame, and material quality is on par with the best Windows competition. I also like the smooth, responsive haptic touchpad and the wide range of modern connectivity. Yet the Z16 doesn’t fix ThinkPad’s typical weakness: value. Starting around $1,550, and more typically near $1,700, the Z16 finds itself facing alternatives that have better performance or an improved display for the same price, or less."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Flow X16 or the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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