When choosing between the ASUS ROG and the Lenovo ThinkPad, consider that the ASUS is built for high-end gaming and demanding tasks, offering robust performance and a high refresh rate display, but it can be heavy and have shorter battery life. The ThinkPad, on the other hand, is designed for business users with a focus on durability, better battery longevity, and a more professional look, yet it might not match the ASUS in raw graphical performance, making it less favorable for gaming or graphics-intensive software. Select based on whether your priority is gaming/engineering power or balanced performance with business features. 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 G18 (2024)
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
6.7/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
240Hz
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 G18 (2024) is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 boasts a high-end GPU and a screen with a faster refresh rate, ensuring smoother visuals and better performance for gaming and 3D applications; whereas the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, while still providing competent gaming capabilities through a capable GPU and a quality screen, focuses more on a balance between performance and other business-friendly features.
Engineering and Design
9.2/10
8.4/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 boasts top-tier CPU, abundant RAM, and a powerful GPU tailor-made for demanding engineering software and 3D rendering, complemented by superior screen quality for detailed visuals, but it is less portable and might be noisier under load. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 offers solid performance, but with slightly less focus on graphics-heavy tasks, and advantages in portability and a quality keyboard, making it a well-rounded option for those who value mobility and typing comfort along with the capability to handle engineering applications.
Screen Quality
8.7/10
8.5/10
18.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 for gaming and AI, software development, and content creation, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers a high-resolution screen with good brightness, making it suitable for general use and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate limits its appeal for gaming and 3D applications where smooth visuals are crucial. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, with a similar high resolution and brightness, excels in engineering and design due to its superior color accuracy, covering a wider range of the color spectrum, but like the ASUS, falls short for gaming and 3D due to a less-than-ideal refresh rate. Overall, both laptops are strong contenders for productivity and professional design tasks but may not satisfy users looking for the best gaming experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 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
Poor
Good
18.0in
SIZE
16.0in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,249
$1,120
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has a price of $2,249 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 costs $1,120.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 are both very good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18, with its powerful CPU and high RAM, excels in performance for demanding tasks and games but is less portable and has a shorter battery life, making it less ideal for on-the-go use. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 provides a balance with good screen quality, longer battery life, and increased portability, while still offering adequate power for general use, making it more suitable for users who prioritize mobility and all-day use.
Content Creation
8.8/10
8.5/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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.
Software Development
8.5/10
8.2/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 are both very good for software development.
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.
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 G18 (2024) 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 G18 (2024) and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 compare to other laptops
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
"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 G18 (2024) 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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