The HP Envy 17 is often less expensive and offers a larger screen size, which might be preferable for media consumption and general use. It's heavier, though, which could affect portability if you plan to carry it frequently. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is more expensive but comes with a sharper and more color-accurate display, better for professional creative work, and a more powerful processor suited for intensive tasks like 3D rendering or engineering software. The ThinkPad also has a better build quality and more modern ports, but it has a smaller screen which may not be ideal for multitasking or media. Both have touchscreens, but different aspect ratios, with the ThinkPad opting for a taller display which benefits productivity tasks. Choose the HP for a budget-friendly, larger-screen option for general use, and the ThinkPad if you need higher performance, better portability despite its higher cost, and a more premium build for professional work. 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 HP Envy 17
The HP Envy 17 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16.
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
7.5/10
8.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
329.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for general use, while the HP Envy 17 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is favored for general use over the HP Envy 17 because it offers a higher resolution OLED screen, more memory and storage, and superior speaker and keyboard quality, which contribute to a better overall user experience. However, the HP Envy 17 is less expensive, slightly larger with a 17.3-inch screen compared to the 16-inch screen on the ThinkPad, and still provides a solid performance with a good quality IPS display and capable CPU, making it a viable option for users seeking good performance at a more economical price point.
Engineering and Design
7.4/10
8.4/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.8/10
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 HP Envy 17 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
7.5/10
8.5/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for content creation, while the HP Envy 17 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
7.5/10
8.2/10
9.0/10
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 HP Envy 17 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
6.8/10
8.5/10
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
329.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen than the HP Envy 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The HP Envy 17, with its good resolution and brightness, meets daily tasks comfortably, but its color coverage may be limited for professional design which demands vibrant and precise colors, and its lower refresh rate hinders fast-paced gaming visuals. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 excels with superior color accuracy essential for engineering and design work, alongside high resolution and brightness, enhancing both work and casual viewing experiences, while similarly falling short for gaming due to lower refresh rates. For gamers, neither laptop is ideal; those focused on design or general use would benefit more from the Lenovo's advanced display features despite a higher price point.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The HP Envy 17 has 8 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
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
5.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and HP Envy 17 both have good portability, though the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has very good build quality, while the HP Envy 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$1,120
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The HP Envy 17 has a price of $1,000 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 costs $1,120.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and HP Envy 17 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The HP Envy 17 is equipped with an integrated GPU which is less powerful for gaming and 3D tasks compared to the dedicated AMD GPU found in the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16. Although both have screens with the same refresh rate, which is important for smooth visuals, the ThinkPad Z16's screen provides higher resolution and quality which enhances the gaming and 3D experience.
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How the HP Envy 17 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 compare to other laptops
"In our test, the HP Envy 17-cr0079ng presents itself as a balanced multimedia laptop. Thanks to its solid CPU performance and dedicated entry-level GeForce, it can also be used for playing video games, as long as the demands aren't too high. Those looking for more can find it in the Dell XPS 17 for example."
"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 HP Envy 17 or the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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