Review: Lenovo ThinkBook 13s

by Parm Mann on 11 February 2020, 14:01

Tags: Lenovo (HKG:0992), Intel (NASDAQ:INTC)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qaeiia

Add to My Vault: x

Conclusion

...its purpose is to offer small businesses a visually attractive package blending performance and reliability at an affordable fee.

The ThinkBook is a curious addition to Lenovo's catalogue. Designed to slot in between the well-established ThinkPad and IdeaPad product lines, its purpose is to offer small businesses a visually attractive package blending performance and reliability at an affordable fee.

Sounds useful, but the ThinkBook 13s needs to be approached with tempered expectations befitting the £650 entry point. Enterprise customers expecting military-grade toughness, a best-in-class keyboard and long warranty cover will be disappointed, and as far as business-class laptops go, the nascent ThinkBook is ultimately a distant second to the classic ThinkPad.

ThinkBook is best viewed as a step-up from entry-level IdeaPads, with Lenovo now offering SMB customers a chance to equip 'generation next' with a stylish ultra-portable that won't break the bank. The absence of a touchscreen or USB-C charging options are unfortunate compromises, however while we'd like to see higher-end ThinkBook offerings that better align with the Think feature set, this initial 13in model is a safe albeit uninspired start.

Bottom line: a ThinkPad it ain't, yet at £650, the 13s does just enough to suggest that the ThinkBook product line has more to come.

The Good
 
The Bad
Keen pricing
Decent battery life
Good everyday performance
Enjoyable keyboard and trackpad
Sleek aluminium chassis
 
No touchscreen option
Proprietary charging port
Single-channel memory
Fan noise can be bothersome



Lenovo ThinkBook 13s

HEXUS.where2buy

The ThinkBook 13s is available to purchase from Amazon and Lenovo.

HEXUS.right2reply

At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.



HEXUS Forums :: 1 Comment

Login with Forum Account

Don't have an account? Register today!
Any idea how upgradable this laptop is? The 256Gb of storage would probably be OK for my needs now, but in a few years time it would likely feel too small. Do you know if you can just remove a cover and swap the M.2 SSD for a larger one?