The ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED offers a vibrant OLED display with a higher resolution and pixel density, ensuring crisp visuals, which is excellent for general use and media consumption. It's also more affordable, lighter, and has a more compact design, making it a strong choice for portability and everyday tasks. However, its performance is more suited for general use rather than intensive tasks like gaming or engineering work, and it lacks the durability and advanced security features of the ThinkPad.
On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is a powerhouse designed for professionals who need robust performance for demanding tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering applications, thanks to its superior CPU and GPU, and ample RAM. It also boasts a touchscreen, better color accuracy, and a higher contrast ratio, which is beneficial for creative work. The ThinkPad line is known for its exceptional build quality, keyboard, and security features like facial recognition, making it ideal for business users. However, it's pricier, heavier, and has a shorter battery life compared to the ASUS.
In summary, if you prioritize portability, a stunning display for media consumption, and a lower price point, the ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED is the way to go. But if you need a laptop that can handle heavy workloads, offers a touchscreen, and comes with the renowned ThinkPad build and security features, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is the better investment, despite its higher cost and weight. 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 Vivobook S 16 OLED
Very good portability
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.6/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
600.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Screen Quality
8.6/10
8.5/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
600.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen for engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
PerfectRec’s screen quality scores take into account various important factors that are relevant for different use cases.
Battery
9.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$999
$1,120
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED has a price of $999 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 costs $1,120.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED are both only fair for gaming and AI.
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.
Engineering and Design
7.9/10
8.4/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 to be very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED is good.
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
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED 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
7.8/10
8.2/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 to be very good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED to have very good portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 compare to other laptops
"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 Vivobook S 16 OLED 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
98,595
Recommendations made
21,363
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
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.