Choosing between the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s depends on your specific needs. The ThinkPad P16 is better suited for intensive tasks like engineering, 3D rendering, or machine learning due to its more powerful processor and dedicated graphics card. However, it is heavier and less portable than the ThinkBook 13s, which is lighter and offers longer portability with its more compact size and slightly longer battery life. The ThinkBook 13s is more affordable and still capable for general use and multitasking. If you prioritize a balance of price, portability, and decent performance for everyday tasks, the ThinkBook 13s is a strong choice. If you need more robust performance for professional-grade applications and can manage a less portable device, then the ThinkPad P16 is a better fit. Both have high-quality displays, but the P16's screen is larger and offers a higher resolution, which might be beneficial for detailed 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 Lenovo ThinkPad P16
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
Very good battery life
Excellent speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
Excellent portability
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
7.5/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is favored for engineering and design due to its high-end CPU and GPU, which ensures excellent performance for demanding tasks, and a top-tier screen that offers high resolution and color accuracy. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, while still performing well with a capable CPU and integrated graphics, and offering a quality screen, is more portable and slightly less powerful, making it a good choice for those prioritizing mobility alongside competent engineering and design capabilities.
Software Development
8.4/10
7.7/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is very good for software development, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
8.2/10
7.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
569.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 typically features high-resolution displays with robust brightness and panel quality, delivering sharp visuals and clarity for general use and detail-oriented tasks such as engineering and design, where accurate color reproduction is crucial. However, its lower refresh rates are less suitable for gaming and 3D applications, which demand smoother motion and faster screen updates for an optimal experience. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s similarly offers satisfactory resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and supports decent color spaces for professional work, but it doesn't prioritize the high refresh rates gamers need for fluid graphics.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has 10 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
Poor
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
6.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has excellent portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,449
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a price of $1,449 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad P16 to be very good for general use, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is well-suited for general use due to its powerful CPU, high RAM capacity, superior screen quality, and ample battery life, but its portability is compromised by its weight and size; conversely, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s offers good general performance with a less powerful CPU and adequate screen quality, delivering better portability and satisfactory battery life, making it a versatile choice for users on the move.
Gaming and AI
6.9/10
6.4/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is better for gaming and 3D applications due to its dedicated Nvidia RTX A1000 GPU, which is superior to the integrated Iris Xe graphics of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s. While both have the same screen refresh rate, the ThinkPad P16's GPU is much more capable of handling higher-end graphics tasks, making it more suitable for these demanding uses.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.8/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad P16 to be very good for content creation, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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.
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How the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s compare to other laptops
"It's only a few months since we gave the MSI CreatorPro X17 one of our rare 4.5-star ratings and our top mobile workstation honor, but the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1 matches that achievement in a more premium overall build. Ultimately, its build quality, screen, and keyboard give our latest Editors' Choice nod to the Lenovo—it's enough of a monster on almost all fronts that it simply cannot be ignored."
"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 ThinkPad P16 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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