If you prioritize saving money and still want a solid performance for everyday tasks, the Asus Zenbook 13 is a good choice; it's also lighter, making it easier to carry around. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 typically offers better build quality and keyboard comfort, which might be preferable if you type a lot or need a more rugged device. Consider the Lenovo if your work involves more demanding software or you appreciate extra durability, otherwise, the Asus provides a balance of features at a typically lower cost. 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 Zenbook 13
Good overall display quality
Excellent portability
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
378.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
The ASUS ZenBook 13, with its solid CPU and RAM, offers a good balance for everyday tasks, complemented by a high-quality, portable design and long battery life, making it a strong option for users who prioritize mobility and screen quality. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 stands out with superior CPU performance for more demanding applications, and is known for a great keyboard and reliable build, appealing to those who need a robust machine for intensive work, albeit at a slight tradeoff in portability and battery life compared to the ZenBook.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with its dedicated GPU, offers better graphical processing power for gaming and 3D applications than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, which typically prioritizes CPU performance and durability over high-end graphics. However, both models may have screens with lower refresh rates than those preferred by gamers, affecting the smoothness of fast-paced visuals despite the quality of their displays.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
8.0/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 with its powerful CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality GPU excels in demanding tasks and provides a vibrant screen for detailed design work, but it may be less portable due to its build. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while also offering a robust CPU and sufficient RAM for engineering software, is renowned for its durable, lightweight design, comfortable keyboard, and quieter operation, though its screen and speakers may not match the Zenbook's.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.2/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 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
7.3/10
8.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 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
7.8/10
6.9/10
13.3in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
378.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Zenbook 13's screen boasts a high resolution and bright display, making it sharp and clear for general use, while its wide color gamut ensures precise color representation essential for engineering and design work. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 also offers a good resolution and brightness that's suitable for everyday tasks and professional design, but its color gamut isn't as extensive as the ASUS, which may affect color-sensitive work. For gaming and 3D applications, however, both the ASUS Zenbook 13 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which can lead to less smooth visuals during fast-paced scenes compared to laptops with higher refresh rates.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$890
$1,241
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a price of $890 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 costs $1,241.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 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
Excellent
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
13.3in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook 13 to have excellent portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 compare to other laptops
"The Asus ZenBook 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
"The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 13 or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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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