The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 offers a vivid OLED screen but comes with less RAM and a slightly less powerful CPU compared to the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, which may affect multitasking and general performance. Although the Zenbook has a larger battery capacity, the ThinkBook 13s compensates with better portability due to its lighter weight and a more compact size, along with higher quality keyboard and better heat management.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.8/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for content creation, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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.
Screen Quality
8.3/10
7.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook 14's high resolution and brightness make for a crisp and vibrant display, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s offers a slightly less brilliant but still commendable visual experience. In engineering and design tasks, the Zenbook's wider color gamuts ensure more accurate color representation, a key factor for professionals working with visual media, which the ThinkBook also manages well but not as extensively. However, for 3D tasks and gaming, where smooth motion is crucial, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, though their resolutions and panel types are adequate for moderate use.
Cost
$300
$1,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a price of $300 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 is better suited for gaming and 3D tasks due to its higher screen refresh rate, compared to the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s which has a lower refresh rate. However, both laptops rely on integrated graphics, which are less powerful than dedicated gaming GPUs, making them only fair choices for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
7.5/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 with its powerful Intel i5 processor, ample RAM, and OLED screen delivers a vibrant and fluid experience ideal for engineering applications, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, equipped with a higher-tier Intel i7 processor and more RAM, excels at multitasking and complex designs, although its IPS display may not be as color-rich as the Zenbook's OLED. Both notebooks offer good portability, but the Zenbook's larger battery could impact mobility favoring the lighter ThinkBook, which also provides a higher-quality keyboard and lower operating noise, adding to its appeal for extended use in professional environments.
Software Development
7.2/10
7.7/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both 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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has 8 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
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkBook 13s to have excellent portability, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.6/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s both have 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 Zenbook 14 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s compare to other laptops
"Users who travel frequently and are looking for a portable laptop are in the right place with the Asus ZenBook 14. The sleek case is extremely light (1.2 kg) and surprisingly thin (1.5 cm). Outdoor use is also enjoyable thanks to the bright Full HD display, which is something that can rarely be said about laptops with TN or IPS panels. The excellent battery life complements this as well. Longer trips are no problem with the ZenBook 14. Another plus point is the high-performance Ryzen 7 5700U, which often leaves the Intel competition in the dust thanks to its large number of cores."
"The best thing about the ThinkBook 13S is that it’s a good deal. Business buyers looking for ThinkPad-level performance and software without ThinkPad pricing will probably find the ThinkBook a solid option. While nothing about it is really spectacular, it’s certainly unusual to see the ThinkBook’s screen resolution at a sub-$1,000 price, and its performance will be more than adequate for most office tasks. The generous port selection, 16:10 aspect ratio, physical webcam shutter, and clear audio are certainly icing on the cake."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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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