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Updated March 21, 2024·
If you're looking for a versatile device at a lower price, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 with its touchscreen and 2-in-1 design is suitable for everyday tasks and media consumption, but it may not be as robust or offer the same professional features as the ThinkPad X13, which is built for durability and business use. The ThinkPad X13 is typically favored for its better build quality and keyboard, making it a preferred choice for intensive work environments, though it may come at a higher cost. Consider whether your priority is saving money with a flexible laptop or investing in a sturdy, business-oriented machine. 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 Lenovo Flex 5 16
- Good overall display quality
- Very good battery life
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
- Very good portability
- Good speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6
8.4
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
11.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16, with its adequate CPU and RAM, offers a commendable balance for everyday tasks, with a touch screen that's versatile for casual use and decent battery life, making it suitable for on-the-go users. In comparison, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while also portable, generally provides a more robust CPU and RAM setup for smoother performance, higher screen quality for better visual clarity, and superior keyboard quality which is valuable for heavy typing, justifying its edge in general use despite a possibly higher price.
Engineering and Design
7.2
8.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16, with its robust CPU, ample RAM, and dedicated GPU, handles engineering tasks and design work smoothly, while its high-quality screen displays sharp and accurate visuals. Meanwhile, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, known for its exceptional keyboard, durable build and less operating noise, also delivers on performance with a capable CPU and sufficient RAM, though its integrated GPU might lag behind in graphics-intensive applications, yet offers better portability making it suitable for professionals on the move.
Content Creation
7.6
8.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 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
8.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
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 Lenovo Flex 5 16 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
7.3
6.9
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 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.
For general use, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and ThinkPad X13 offer clear, high-resolution displays with adequate brightness, making everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming enjoyable. Those in engineering and design can appreciate the wide color gamuts on these laptops, ensuring accurate colors for detailed projects. However, gamers and 3D designers may find the lower refresh rates on both models limiting, as they make for less smooth visuals in fast-paced games or in working with 3D applications.
Battery
11.5 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 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
Good
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good portability, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
8.5
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$779
$1,459
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a price of $779 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 costs $1,459.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.7
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 offer adequate graphics performance for moderate gaming and 3D applications, but their GPUs might fall short for high-end gaming experiences which require faster refresh rates. While both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, neither is tailored for the demands of hardcore gaming, where top-tier GPUs and high refresh rate screens are highly beneficial.
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How the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Flex 5 16 | Lenovo ThinkPad X13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$779 | $1,459 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | September 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.74'' | 11.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 2.87 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.09" | 11.88" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.99" | 8.46" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11.5 Hours | 8.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.5 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 321 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1440p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Lenovo Flex 5 16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | April 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a solidly equipped, 2-in-1 in the lower price segment. Performance is definitely sufficient for everyday tasks and in tests the battery proved itself to be very economical. That aside, there is a lot of standard fare on show and a search for real highlights ends in vain. The low color coverage and reflective display can be avoided by going for an optional 2.5K display but this also presumably results in poorer battery life. The cooling uses only one fan and leads to a raised temperature on one side of the device under load. Additionally, there is very loud fan noise, also under load or when gaming. On top of that, we also occasionally noticed electronic noises."
Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | September 2023
"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 Lenovo Flex 5 16 or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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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