With most of their mainstream consumer devices announced at CES 2023, Lenovo is taking to MWC 2023 with business in mind. With remote work still remaining the norm to some extent, their updated ThinkPad Z and X series laptops are designed to meet the needs of companies and employees operating in a hybrid work environment.
The new lineup of PCs, which includes the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and Z16 (Gen 2), and ThinkPad X13 and X13 Yoga (Gen 4), features hardware and software upgrades designed to boost users’ productivity, along with some nice add-ons for mobile workers and IT staffs.
One of those new accessories is the ThinkPad Professional Sleeve, made for frequent travelers — that might be why it’ll only fit the smaller 13- or 14-inch models. Lenovo also announced their TruScale Device as a Service (DaaS) model, which gives businesses access to structured payments and the ability to scale their IT infrastructure with workplace solutions from Lenovo.
ThinkPad Z13 and ThinkPad Z16 (Gen 2)
The ThinkPad Z13 and ThinkPad Z16 laptops lean hard on AMD hardware. Lenovo has included the AMD Ryzen 7000 Series mobile CPU with integrated AMD Radeon graphics, support for up to 64 GB of dual channel RAM, up to a 2 GB PCIe SSD, and Wi-Fi 6E.
The PCs also have an FHD camera with Dolby Voice for better audio and visuals for remote workers who need to collaborate with teammates through video calls. They come in a thin, light form for easy portability, and narrow bezels give the PCs a modern look.
The PCs retain Lenovo’s signature red TrackPoint joystick feature, which provides users with an alternative method of controlling the cursor whenever they don’t want to use the trackpad. Lenovo also announced personalization features for the TrackPoint joystick, which users can configure for easy access to laptop settings and controls.
Lenovo is also continuing their use of sustainable packaging and construction materials, which we saw in their ThinkPad X1 devices ahead of CES 2023. In addition to using more recycled materials and cutting down on plastic in packaging, Lenovo is using an optional woven flax fiber top cover bonded to aluminum, giving the laptops their own unique look and feel.
The ThinkPad Z13 (Gen 2) will be available for purchase from July 2023 at a starting price of $1,249, while the ThinkPad Z16 (Gen 2) will launch in August 2023 at a starting price of $1,749.
ThinkPad X13 and X13 Yoga (Gen 4)
There will be both Intel and AMD options in the Lenovo ThinkPad X series. The ThinkPad X13 or the ThinkPad X13 Yoga can be kitted out with an AMD Ryzen 7000 Series mobile CPU with integrated AMD Radeon graphics or a 13th-Gen Intel Core CPU with Intel vPro and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. The Yoga isn’t quite as flexible as some other Lenovo machines that bear the name, with a display that can only lay flat at a 180-degree angle.
Users who purchase the ThinkPad X13 Gen 4 will also have the option of configuring their device with a 2.8K 13.3-inch OLED display with Dolby Vision support and Eyesafe low blue-light certification. Whichever display option you spring for, you’ll get narrower bezels compared to last year’s models.
One of the biggest quality of life upgrades is no doubt the speakers. Laptop speakers that face away from the user rarely turn out great, and that was certainly the case with last year’s models. This year, Lenovo has made Dolby Audio speakers user-facing on the ThinkPad X series, which makes a world of difference. With the optional 5 MP forward-facing infrared camera, the ThinkPad X series promises to serve as solid videoconferencing machines. And, if those conferences are meant to be private, as they usually are, Lenovo has added extra security using an ultrasonic human presence detection feature that protects against spying when users work in public.
The ThinkPad X13 Gen 4 will be available for purchase from May 2023 at a starting price of $1,099, while the ThinkPad X13 Yoga Gen 4 will be launched in May 2023 at a starting price of $1,379.