The Lenovo Flex 5 16 offers a large 16-inch screen, making it suitable for comfortable viewing, but less portable than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, which has a smaller 13.3-inch display but is lighter, so it's easier to carry. Both have similar storage and memory, equally capable processors, and touchscreen functionality with high-resolution displays. The ThinkBook 13s has a slightly larger battery, yet the difference in battery life may not be substantial. If portability and a more professional look matter more, opt for the ThinkBook 13s; if a larger screen for multitasking or creative work is a priority, consider the Flex 5 16. 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
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.3/10
7.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has a better screen than the Lenovo Flex 5 16 for software development.
If you prioritize a crisp, clear display for everyday tasks like browsing the web and working with documents, both the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the ThinkBook 13s would serve you well due to their high-resolution panels and adequate brightness. For engineering and design where color accuracy matters, both laptops offer decent coverage of professional color spaces, ensuring that your designs and models look vibrant and true to life. However, neither is suited for high-end gaming or intense 3D work, as their refresh rates are low compared to gaming-specific laptops, which can hinder the smoothness of fast-paced visuals.
Battery
11.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 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
Good
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has excellent portability, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo Flex 5 16 both have good build quality, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$779
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a price of $779 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.4/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s offer similar performance for gaming and 3D tasks because they both have Intel Iris Xe graphics and 60Hz screen refresh rates. However, the Flex 5 has a larger screen which may benefit visual clarity, while the ThinkBook 13s boasts a more portable design and slightly better CPU, which could lead to marginally improved performance.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is suitable for engineering and design due to its larger 16-inch display with good color coverage and brightness, combined with a potent CPU and ample RAM; its 2-in-1 convertible form allows for versatile use as a laptop or tablet.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.8/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both good for content creation.
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
7.7/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo Flex 5 16 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.
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How the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s compare to other laptops
"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."
"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 Lenovo Flex 5 16 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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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