If you prioritize high performance for engineering tasks or 3D/machine learning and are willing to invest more, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 may be more suitable with its higher RAM and storage. However, the ASUS Zenbook 14X, while providing lower performance, is more budget-friendly and offers greater portability. The ThinkPad Z16 has a better battery life and is tailored for intensive workloads. In contrast, the Zenbook 14X is lighter, which may be advantageous if you travel often, although you'll compromise on battery life and screen size. Each has an OLED touchscreen display, but the ThinkPad Z16 has a higher resolution. 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 14X
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 for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
8.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
339.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 stands out for general use by offering a higher RAM capacity and more powerful CPU for better multitasking and performance, along with superior screen resolution and quality, which enhances visibility for a variety of tasks. Despite its good portability, the ASUS Zenbook 14X has lower RAM and a less powerful CPU than the Lenovo, which might restrict performance on more demanding tasks, but it compensates with a lighter weight and a solid battery life for on-the-go usage.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
8.4/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 outshines the ASUS Zenbook 14X in engineering and design thanks to its superior CPU, double the RAM, and a more powerful GPU, all of which contribute to handling complex tasks and software with greater ease. Additionally, the Z16 boasts a higher resolution and larger screen, further enhancing its ability to display detailed designs and graphics, although it is heavier and less portable than the sleeker, lighter Zenbook 14X.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.5/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X 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
7.4/10
8.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X 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
8.3/10
8.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook 14X for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both laptops have screens with ample resolution and brightness, which make daily tasks and media consumption a pleasant experience. In engineering and design, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16's display offers wider color coverage, which is crucial for accuracy in color-intensive tasks. Whereas for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, which are key for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals.
Battery
5.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 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
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has very good portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$777
$1,120
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 costs $1,120.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X, equipped with an Nvidia MX550 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 90Hz, will handle gaming and 3D applications decently; however, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 comes with a more powerful AMD RX 6500M GPU, which offers better performance for such tasks even though it has a lower refresh rate of 60Hz. The higher GPU capability of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, despite a less smooth refresh rate, ultimately provides a better gaming and 3D experience.
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 Zenbook 14X 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 Zenbook 14X and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 compare to other laptops
"With the Zenbook 14X, Asus has a 14-incher in its range that is - mostly - a joy to use. First, there is the colorful OLED panel with 3K resolution that displays the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. The Zenbook is also at the forefront in terms of workmanship, input devices and connections with 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports and a generous keyboard layout. A pleasure to use, the Zenbook 14X is a solid, very well-built subnotebook that sits well on the table. A runtime of five hours, however, is below average for a high-end subnotebook nowadays. The OLED screensaver causes increased power consumption when in idle mode."
"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 Zenbook 14X 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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