The ASUS ROG Strix G16 typically costs less and is better suited for gaming and intensive engineering tasks due to its higher-end GPU, higher refresh rate display, and a gaming-focused design. However, it's heavier and has a lower quality OLED screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, while usually pricier, offers a better OLED touchscreen, superior color accuracy, and a lighter, thinner design, making it ideal for professionals seeking portability and top-notch screen quality for graphic design and video editing. Despite its fewer gaming features, it still handles general use and engineering tasks very well. Consider the ASUS for gaming and specialized tasks where GPU is crucial, and the Lenovo if you prioritize screen quality and portability. 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 Strix G16
Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
291.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 outperforms the ASUS ROG Strix G16 in general use, thanks to its superior screen quality with an OLED display, a higher resolution, and touchscreen capability. It also boasts twice the storage, double the RAM for better multitasking, and a more lightweight, thinner frame enhancing portability, despite a slightly shorter battery life compared to the ASUS model.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
6.7/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is tailored for gaming with its higher refresh rate screen and a powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, which makes it well-suited for fast-paced games and 3D rendering. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, while still capable for gaming, prioritizes screen quality with its OLED display and also comes with a capable AMD RX 6500M GPU, though its lower refresh rate may not be as optimal for high-speed gaming scenarios.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.5/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good.
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.
Software Development
7.7/10
8.2/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 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
7.5/10
8.5/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
291.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix G16 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering laptops for general use, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16's display provides crisp visuals and vibrant colors due to its high resolution and brightness, making it better suited for tasks like browsing and video streaming compared to the ASUS ROG Strix G16. For engineering and design professionals who need accurate color reproduction for their work, the Lenovo's ability to cover a wide range of color gamuts ensures more precise and true-to-life color representation than the ASUS. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast and fluid motion is crucial, neither laptop is ideal as their screens do not prioritize high refresh rates, which are essential for a smooth visual experience in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
9.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has 9 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.
Portability
Fair
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,374
$1,120
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has a price of $1,374 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 costs $1,120.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and ASUS ROG Strix G16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is equipped with a high-performance CPU, dedicated Nvidia GPU, and a quality IPS screen suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks, though its portability is compromised by its weight and thickness compared to the lighter Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, which boasts a superior OLED screen with higher resolution for detailed design work, doubled RAM for multitasking, and a powerful AMD CPU with integrated graphics, making it a prime choice for engineers needing mobility without sacrificing screen quality and processing power. Both have ample storage, but the ThinkPad Z16's keyboard, speaker quality, and operating noise are rated higher than the ASUS ROG Strix G16, offering a more pleasant user experience in professional environments.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 to have very good build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix G16 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 compare to other laptops
"With the mobile Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, the Asus ROG Stix G16 hits the sweet spot between performance and cooling. The G16 also does not have to shy away from direct comparison with its supposedly stronger family member, the ROG Strix Scar 18 with its RTX 4090, as most benchmarks of the two laptops are very close to each other. Moreover, the G16 should be significantly cheaper. Depending on the supplier, the price difference here could be almost US$ 2,000. In the 2023 model series, Asus has significantly leveled out the differences between the two high-end lines."
"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 Strix G16 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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