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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, consider your priorities. The ASUS Zenbook, priced lower, is equipped with an Nvidia RTX graphics card and offers good general use and gaming performance. Its battery life is longer and it's slightly more portable due to its lighter weight. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, with a higher price tag, has more storage, higher RAM, and a more powerful processor, making it better suited for engineering and professional creative work. It also features a higher-quality display with richer colors and resolution, though with a shorter battery life. If budget is a concern and you require all-around performance with gaming capabilities, go for the ASUS. If you need a workstation with a focus on high-fidelity graphics and performance for tasks like 3D rendering, the ThinkPad would be a better choice despite being less budget-friendly and having a shorter battery life. 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 Pro 15
- Excellent battery life
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 display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7
8.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
346.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
12.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 outshines the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 in general use due to its higher quality screen, which benefits from superior resolution and color coverage, more RAM for better multitasking, and a more robust CPU for faster processing. However, the Zenbook Pro 15 has the advantage of longer battery life and is slightly more portable due to its lighter weight, which may be conducive to users frequently on the move.
Engineering and Design
7.5
8.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.8/10
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 Pro 15 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is better suited for engineering and design because it has a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a higher quality GPU than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15, which is key for demanding tasks such as 3D modeling and data simulations. Additionally, the ThinkPad Z16 boasts a higher resolution screen with better color accuracy, which is crucial for detailed design work, though the ASUS has slightly longer battery life and is a bit lighter, offering somewhat more portability.
Content Creation
7.7
8.5
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
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 Pro 15 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
7.5
8.2
7.4/10
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 Zenbook Pro 15 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
7.6
8.5
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
346.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15's impressively high resolution and brightness offer a crisp and vibrant display, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has similar qualities but stands out with slightly superior sharpness and color accuracy. In engineering and design tasks, both laptops excel by providing wide color gamuts ensuring precise color representation, but the ThinkPad Z16 edges ahead with its exceptional coverage of DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, which are crucial for professional color work. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion is key, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, which can make fast-paced visuals less smooth compared to laptops designed specifically for gaming with higher refresh rates.
Battery
12.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has 12.5 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.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.7
6.7
4.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is better suited for gaming and 3D applications primarily because it has a more powerful GPU, the AMD RX 6500M, compared to the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15's Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti. Although both laptops feature similar screen refresh rates, the ThinkPad Z16 offers higher screen quality with better resolution and color accuracy, which enhances the visual experience for gaming and 3D work.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
8.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 to have very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,109
$1,120
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has a price of $1,109 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 costs $1,120.
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How the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 | Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,109 | $1,120 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.9'' x 9.4'' x 0.7'' | 14'' x 9.4'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.41 lbs | 4.27 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.94" | 13.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.37" | 9.35" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | AMD Ryzen 7 6850H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 2048 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 12.5 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 96 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 346 nits | 393 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 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 | 1 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook Pro 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2022
"The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 offers a strong CPU, chassis, and display. One of the most popular 15.6-inch prosumer or multimedia laptops out there is the Dell XPS 15. Thus, comparisons between it and the Asus Zenbook Pro 15 are inevitable. Asus has a couple of tricks up its sleeve that XPS users are still missing out on including 1080p OLED and an AMD Ryzen CPU which help separate the Zenbook Pro 15 from the XPS 15. It also integrates a numpad and a few more port options albeit at the cost of a larger chassis size."
Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
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Dig into reviews and images
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."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 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.
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Why trust us
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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