Considering the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, they cater to different needs despite being similarly priced. The ThinkPad Z16 is built more robustly, offers a brighter and higher-resolution OLED display, and boasts a stronger processor and graphics card, making it well-suited for intensive tasks like engineering, 3D work, or gaming. However, it's heavier and thicker, which may affect its portability. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop 5 is lighter and slimmer, offering greater portability and a high-quality IPS display with a unique aspect ratio ideal for productivity tasks. Its processor is sufficient for general use, but less suitable for heavier workloads. The ThinkPad may run louder under load and the Surface Laptop has a shorter battery life. Your choice depends on whether performance or portability and design are your priorities. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.6/10
7.4/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
393.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 shines in general use with a stronger CPU and more RAM, leading to better performance for multitasking and demanding applications; it also boasts excellent screen quality but is less portable and has a good battery life. Conversely, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 has a good balance of performance for general use with an adequate CPU and sufficient RAM, a high-quality IPS display, and excellent portability, enhanced by its longer battery life, but it may not handle intensive tasks as smoothly as the Lenovo.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
6.1/10
4.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
7.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a stronger CPU and GPU, more RAM, and a higher-quality OLED screen, making it very good for demanding engineering and design work where these features are pivotal; additionally, it has a larger screen with higher resolution, which is ideal for detailed projects.
Content Creation
8.5/10
7.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 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
8.2/10
7.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 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
8.5/10
7.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
13.5in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
393.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16's display offers higher resolution and brightness which enhances clarity and detail for everyday tasks and professional engineering or design work, with color accuracy that ensures precise color work in these fields. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" provides ample resolution and brightness for general and engineering use, but the color gamut may not be as wide, slightly limiting professional color work. Both models, however, lack high refresh rates, which makes them less suitable for Gaming and 3D applications where smooth visuals are crucial.
Portability
Good
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.5in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,120
$1,200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a price of $1,120 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has 7 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 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.
Build Quality
8.0/10
7.8/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 to have very good build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
"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."
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 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 Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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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