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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, with its higher price, offers a larger screen, significantly more storage and RAM, and a more powerful processor and GPU, making it better suited for intensive engineering tasks, demanding software, and 3D/machine learning applications. Its OLED display provides exceptional color accuracy and contrast, which is beneficial for professional creative work. However, it has a shorter battery life and is heavier, meaning it's less portable than the LG Ultra 13. The LG Ultra 13 is more affordable and lighter with longer battery life, making it more portable and suitable for general use. Its smaller screen size and lower performance components limit its capability for intensive tasks, but for everyday activities such as browsing, office applications, and media consumption, it will be quite adequate. If portability and budget are your primary considerations, the LG Ultra 13 may be the better choice for you. 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 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
Advantages of the LG Ultra 13
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.6
7.2
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
393.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for general use, while the LG Ultra 13 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a more powerful CPU, more RAM, and a superior OLED screen, making it very good for a variety of demanding tasks and offering a vivid display, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life compared to the LG Ultra 13, which offers good general-use performance with its sufficient processing power and a lighter, portable design with longer battery life. While both laptops are equipped for general use, the ThinkPad’s larger, high-resolution screen and robust build might make it a go-to for power users, whereas the LG Ultra is more suited for users who prioritize mobility and battery life over raw performance.
Gaming and AI
6.7
6.1
4.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and LG Ultra 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is equipped with a dedicated AMD RX 6500M graphics card, which is more powerful than the integrated Vega 7 graphics in the LG Ultra 13, thus offering better performance for gaming and 3D applications. Both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, but the ThinkPad's superior GPU plays a crucial role in making it a better choice for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.4
6.6
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
4.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for engineering and design, while the LG Ultra 13 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 stands out for engineering and design with its high-end CPU, substantial RAM, dedicated GPU, and a high-resolution OLED screen, which are very important for performance and visual accuracy. In contrast, the LG Ultra 13, with its fair performance for engineering and design, offers lesser storage, RAM, an integrated GPU, and a lower resolution IPS screen while being more portable and lighter, which might benefit users who prioritize ease of carrying over intensive work capabilities.
Content Creation
8.5
7.2
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for content creation, while the LG Ultra 13 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
8.2
7.2
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for software development, while the LG Ultra 13 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
8.5
6.9
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
393.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen than the LG Ultra 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, with its high-resolution display and strong color accuracy, is excellent for engineering and design, lending itself to precise visual work, but isn't suited for gaming due to a standard refresh rate that won't be as smooth. The LG Ultra 13's good resolution and color representation make it satisfactory for general tasks and capable enough for design work, though it too falls short for gaming with a less than ideal refresh rate. Gamers typically look for high refresh rates, which neither laptop prioritizes, making them less optimal for fast-paced gaming experiences where screen fluidity is crucial.
Battery
7.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has 7 hours of battery life. The LG Ultra 13 has 10 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
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
2.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The LG Ultra 13 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.0
7.4
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has very good build quality, while the LG Ultra 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,120
$529
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a price of $1,120 and the LG Ultra 13 costs $529.
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How the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and the LG Ultra 13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 | LG Ultra 13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,120 | $529 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.4'' x 0.62'' | 12.1'' x 8.1'' x 0.6'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.27 lbs | 2.16 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.95" | 12.08" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 8.14" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6850H | AMD Ryzen 7 4700U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 2048 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 72 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 393 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.9/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | September 2022
"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."
LG Ultra 13
See more
Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Joshua Goldman | April 2017
"The 13.3-inch LG Gram is a fine fit if you need to travel as light as possible for as long as possible without spending a fortune to do it. It might not be particularly sturdy or have an eye-catching design and its webcam is less than ideal, but with its sharp touch display, comfortable backlit keyboard, responsive touchpad and a fingerprint reader for extra security, the Gram makes a respectible everyday laptop for business or school work."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 or the LG Ultra 13
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.
About LG
LG is a South Korean conglomerate company. While LG is mainly known for various products outside of technology, LG also develops laptops. Within the laptop industry, they are known for their thin-and-light Gram series, as well as their value-oriented Ultra series. LG laptops offer very thin and light laptops with phenomenal battery life, and are often on sale.
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