Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and Z16 Gen 2 hands-on: Slick updates for hybrid work

Again at CES, Lenovo confirmed off an enormous portfolio of recent gadgets together with a true dual-screen laptop and a desk lamp that doubles as a webcam. However now, Lenovo is again at Cell World Congress with just a few extra refreshed notebooks and tablets headlined by two attention-grabbing updates to the ThinkPad Z household.

Designed to be supreme companions for hybrid employees, the brand new ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2 and Z16 Gen 2 characteristic an all-AMD setup. You’ll be capable to select from a spread of Ryzen 7000 processors and even an optionally available Radeon 6650M graphics card on the bigger Z16, together with as much as 64GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage. Nonetheless, for people who find themselves consistently hopping on and off video calls, the ThinkPad Z13 and Z16’s new communication options may be the larger draw.

That’s as a result of along with new full HD webcams, you’ll additionally get assist for Wi-Fi 6E and Dolby Voice-enabled microphones, so you need to look and sound good on Zoom conferences. However my favourite new characteristic is the TrackPoint Fast Menu that may be summoned by merely double-tapping the corporate’s signature purple nub. This opens a window that permits you to shortly alter issues like digicam settings, mic quantity, voice dictation, noise suppression and extra. You possibly can even customise which settings you need to see so you may have quick entry to the belongings you have a tendency to alter most frequently and I believe it’s a good way of including new performance to a traditional part just like the TrackPoint.

Different specs embrace as much as a 13.3-inch 2.8K OLED show on the Z13 Gen 2 or a bigger and better decision 16-inch 4K OLED panel on the Z16 Gen 2. Lenovo has additionally retained helpful options like an digital shutter for the webcam, along with twin audio system with Dolby Atmos, two or three USB ports relying on the system, and a devoted SD card reader on the Z16.

In the meantime, to assist enhance your mousing expertise, each the Z13 and Z16 Gen 2 characteristic a Fusion FX touchpad from Sensel, which provides extra refined haptics, higher palm rejection and extra. On prime of being bodily bigger (120mm throughout), long-time Trackpoint followers may also recognize that Sensel’s touchpad helps three digital haptic buttons that run throughout the highest of the touchpad, so that you’ll nonetheless have quick access to left and proper mouse clicks with out having to achieve too far.

Lastly, the final massive change for the Z13 is that alongside the default aluminum end, as a part of its dedication to sustainability, Lenovo can also be introducing a brand new flax fiber lid which is created from waste materials collected in the course of the harvesting course of. This materials is one thing we’ve seen earlier than on a handful of idea automobiles from corporations like Porsche and Polestar, however Lenovo says that is the primary time this strengthened flax fiber materials will probably be out there on a client digital system.

Admittedly, this isn’t for everybody, however I sort of prefer it as a result of it appears virtually like a futuristic tackle wooden paneling. Not solely does this add a bit of heat to the laptop computer’s look, identical to a pleasant piece of furnishings, every flax fiber lid contains a distinctive grain, which provides the entire system a little bit of added persona. On prime of that, Lenovo says the lid is bonded to a prime cowl created from 75 p.c recycled aluminum.

Whereas their designs aren’t altering a ton (apart from that new lid possibility on Z13), the addition of speedier parts, bigger touchpads and higher conferencing options ought to make the second-gen ThinkPad Z-series laptops even higher at getting work achieved – each at dwelling or within the workplace. And due to its optionally available flax fiber lid, the Z13 Gen 2 may be probably the most fashionable and sustainable ThinkPad but.

The ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2 is predicted to go on sale someday in July beginning at $1,249, with the ThinkPad Z16 Gen arriving a bit later in August beginning at $1,749.