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Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 Laptop Review: A Solid Workhorse with Room for Improvement

The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 is a well-rounded business laptop that delivers solid performance and a comfortable typing experience. It’s a great option for professionals who need a reliable machine for everyday tasks, productivity, and light creative work. However, it does have some drawbacks that prevent it from being a top contender in its class.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Key Features
• Performance
• Pros & Cons
• Final Verdict

Introduction

The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 is a 16-inch laptop designed for productivity and everyday use. It features a powerful Intel Core i7-13700H processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Its 16″ WUXGA display offers crisp visuals, and the backlit keyboard ensures comfortable typing in low-light conditions. The laptop also includes a range of ports for connectivity and a decent battery life.

Key Features

The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 is packed with features that cater to professionals and students alike. Here are some of its key highlights:

• Intel Core i7-13700H Processor: Delivers ample power for multitasking, productivity apps, and light gaming.
• 16GB DDR4 RAM: Smoothly handles multiple applications and tasks.
• 512GB PCIe SSD: Provides fast boot times and quick application loading.
• 16″ WUXGA IPS Display: Offers vibrant colors, crisp visuals, and wide viewing angles.
• Backlit Keyboard: Enables comfortable typing in low-light environments.
• Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics: Capable of handling basic graphics tasks and casual gaming.
• Multiple Ports: Includes USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, and a headphone jack.

Performance

The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 delivers a satisfying performance. The Intel Core i7-13700H processor easily handles multitasking, productivity applications, and even light gaming. The 16GB of RAM ensures smooth operation, even with multiple applications open simultaneously. The PCIe SSD offers fast boot times and quick loading of applications, making the laptop feel responsive and snappy.

The integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics is sufficient for basic graphics tasks and casual gaming. However, it’s not suitable for demanding games or high-end video editing.

Pros & Cons

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1:

Pros

• Powerful Intel Core i7-13700H processor.
• Ample 16GB of RAM for multitasking.
• Fast 512GB PCIe SSD for quick boot times and application loading.
• Comfortable and responsive backlit keyboard.
• 16″ WUXGA IPS display with vibrant colors and wide viewing angles.
• Decent battery life.
• Good selection of ports for connectivity.

Cons

• No dedicated graphics card, limiting gaming performance.
• No card reader for convenient file transfers.
• The build quality feels a bit plasticky, especially compared to higher-end ThinkPads.
• No Thunderbolt port, limiting external display and device connectivity options.

Final Verdict

The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 is a solid workhorse that delivers decent performance and a comfortable typing experience. It’s a good option for professionals who need a reliable laptop for everyday tasks, productivity, and light creative work. However, the lack of a dedicated graphics card and some design compromises may disappoint users looking for a more powerful and premium experience.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop with decent performance, the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 is a good choice. But if you’re willing to spend a bit more, you can find laptops with better performance and features in the same price range.

Specifications

Feature	Specification
Processor	Intel® Core™ i7-13700H, 14C (6P + 8E) / 20T, P-core 2.4 / 5.0GHz, E-core 1.8 / 3.7GHz, 24MB
Graphics	Integrated Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics Functions as UHD Graphics
Chipset	Intel® SoC Platform
Memory	16GB Soldered DDR4-3200
Memory Slots	One memory soldered to systemboard, one DDR4 SO-DIMM slot, dual-channel capable
Max Memory	Up to 48GB (16GB soldered + 32GB SO-DIMM) DDR4-3200
Storage	512GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe® 4.0×4 NVMe® Opal 2.0
Storage Support	Up to two drives, 2x M.2 SSD • M.2 2242 SSD up to 1TB
Storage Slot	Two M.2 slots • One M.2 2242 PCIe® 3.0 x4 slot • One M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
Card Reader	No card reader
Optical	None
Audio Chip	High Definition (HD) Audio, Synaptic® CX11880 codec
Speakers	Stereo speakers, 2W x2, Dolby® Atmos®
Camera	FHD 1080p with Privacy Shutter
Microphone	2x, Array
Battery	Integrated 57Wh
Power Adapter	65W USB-C® (3-pin)
Display	16″ WUXGA (1920×1200) IPS 300nits Anti-glare, 45% NTSC
Touchscreen	None
Keyboard	Backlit, Arabic
Case Color	Graphite Black
Case Material	Aluminium (Top), Aluminium (Bottom)
Dimensions (WxDxH)	Starting at 356.1 x 247.7 x 19.85 mm (14.02 x 9.75 x 0.78 inches)
Weight	Starting at 1.81 kg (3.99 lbs)
Operating System	None
Bundled Software	None
Ethernet	100/1000M (RJ-45)
WLAN + Bluetooth	Wi-Fi® 6, 11ax 2×2 + BT5.1
WWAN	None
SIM Card	None
NFC	None
Standard Ports	1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Always On), 1x USB-C® 3.2 Gen 2 (support data transfer, Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort™ 1.4), 1x Thunderbolt™ 4 / USB4® 40Gbps (support data transfer, Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort™ 1.4), 1x HDMI® 2.1, up to 4K/60Hz, 1x Ethernet (RJ-45), 1x Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm)