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Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024· Prices updated 24 hours ago
If you plan to use your laptop for gaming or graphics-intensive tasks, the ASUS TUF Gaming A15, with its higher-end graphics card, would be a better fit, despite being less portable due to its larger weight and size. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is lighter and slimmer, making it more portable, and its higher resolution OLED screen can be preferred for better color accuracy and tasks like photo editing. The ThinkPad Z16 also offers more storage and memory, which can be crucial for multitasking and professional workloads, despite having less graphical power than the ASUS model. Keep in mind that the ThinkPad operates on Windows 11 Pro, offering additional features over the more commonly used Windows 11 Home in the ASUS, and the ThinkPad's battery is smaller which may mean less usage time between charges. Both are newer models, but you'll pay more for the ASUS, so consider if gaming performance or portability and screen quality matters more for your needs. Give Feedback
At the time of writing the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 cost $1,490 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 cost $1,339. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has dropped in price by $219.
Advantages of the ASUS TUF Gaming A15
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9
8.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
271.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for general use, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 excels in general use with its high-resolution OLED screen, which offers superior color accuracy and brightness, more RAM for better multitasking, and a more premium build with better keyboard and speaker quality. Contrastingly, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 provides ample performance through its CPU and a generous amount of storage, it falls short on portability with its heavier build and slightly lower screen quality and battery life, though it remains a robust option for general tasks and gaming.
Gaming and AI
8.0
6.7
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 is very 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.
Content Creation
8.0
8.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and ASUS TUF Gaming A15 are both very good for content creation, though the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is somewhat better.
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
7.6
8.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 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
7.2
8.5
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
271.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15, having respectable resolution and brightness, makes it a solid choice for general tasks like browsing and video streaming. Despite this, professionals in engineering and design will appreciate the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 more for its superior display that covers a wider range of colors, enhancing the accuracy and vibrancy needed for their detailed work. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications due to their lower refresh rates, which can't deliver the smooth visuals that fast-paced, immersive experiences require.
Battery
11.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has 11 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
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and ASUS TUF Gaming A15 both have good portability, though the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
8.0
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has very good build quality, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$1,120
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has a price of $1,650 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 costs $1,120.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.4
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and ASUS TUF Gaming A15 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 is equipped with a robust AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU, making it well-suited for engineering and design tasks that require high performance, but with a standard IPS screen, it may fall short for those prioritizing screen quality. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, though less powerful with an AMD RX GPU, boasts a superior OLED screen with higher resolution and color accuracy, along with a higher-quality keyboard and speakers, catering to professionals needing exceptional visual detail and longer periods of typing.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 compare to other laptops
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Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS TUF Gaming A15 | Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $1,120 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.9'' x 9.9'' x 0.93'' | 14'' x 9.4'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.85 lbs | 4.27 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.94" | 13.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 9.35" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7940HS | AMD Ryzen 7 6850H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 2048 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 271 nits | 393 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.8/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
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ASUS TUF Gaming A15
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$1,650
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NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2023
"With the release of the TUF Gaming A15, Asos have concentrated on the essentials: gaming performance. Our base version, which can be had for around $1,169, already provided enough power to play current games smoothly in a native resolution of 1080p and with maximum details - thanks to its new Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop. If you utilize upscaling, then you can even manage to run ray tracing."
Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
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PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | September 2022
"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."
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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.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.