The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is less expensive, with good all-around features suitable for general use; it has a reasonable battery life, comfortable keyboard, and is relatively lightweight, making it fairly portable. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 comes with a higher price tag but offers more advanced features, such as a larger and higher resolution OLED screen, better build quality, higher performance suited for more demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering software. The ThinkPad Z16 also comes with a better webcam and speakers, and it's catered more towards professional use, but it is heavier and may not be as easy to carry around as the IdeaPad 1. 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 IdeaPad 1 15"
Very good 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
7.3/10
8.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 excels in general use due to its higher RAM capacity, more advanced processor, superior OLED screen with higher resolution and better color representation, as well as reliable heat management and an excellent keyboard. In comparison, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" offers an adequate balance for general activities with sufficient RAM and a capable CPU, plus excellent portability and a respectable IPS display, but it doesn't match the ThinkPad Z16's performance features, which are reflected in its higher price.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 typically has a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing fluidity and detail in gaming and 3D applications, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" offers more modest performance that may not handle intensive tasks as smoothly. Additionally, the ThinkPad Z16 generally comes with a superior CPU and screen quality, which contribute to a better overall experience for demanding software and visual fidelity.
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
8.4/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
12.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is better for engineering and design tasks than the IdeaPad 1 15" as it comes with a more powerful CPU, more RAM for handling complex projects, a higher-performance GPU for graphics-intensive applications, and an OLED screen with superior resolution, which is beneficial for precise design work. While both have good build quality and operating noise levels, the Z16 excels with an excellent keyboard and better overall portability, despite being slightly heavier, making it ideal for professionals who need high performance and mobility.
Content Creation
7.4/10
8.5/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
12.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 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
7.3/10
8.2/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
12.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 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
6.4/10
8.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1's screen provides sufficient clarity, resolution, and brightness, although it doesn't stand out; meanwhile, the ThinkPad Z16's higher resolution and brightness offer a clearer and more vibrant display. The ThinkPad Z16 excels in engineering and design due to its superior color accuracy and broader color gamut coverage, which are crucial for professional creative work, whereas the IdeaPad 1's display doesn't quite measure up in these areas. While both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications as neither offers high refresh rates essential for smooth motion, their resolutions and panel types are only moderately suitable for these tasks.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has 10 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.
Build Quality
6.0/10
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$741
$1,120
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has a price of $741 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 costs $1,120.
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is affordable and pretty efficient. At the end of the day, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (15″, 2023) is one of the better affordable laptops money can buy right now. It has a decent performance, albeit coming from a CPU that is based on old architecture. Playing low-intensity games is possible but at low to medium settings. We are really happy with the cooling setup, but the main event here is the battery life. We got 9 hours of either Web browsing or video playback, which is a great result. Especially if you compare this device with the ASUS E410."
"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 Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" or the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
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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