Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
Typing comfort was once paramount on any ThinkPad, although Lenovo has experimented in recent years with shallower, less comfortable keyboards on thin models like the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga. Typing purists will be glad to find none of those experiments on the X13 Gen 2, which offers a version of the classic, finger-pleasing keyboard that has graced ThinkPads for decades. (Photo: Molly Flores) Screen-wise, the ThinkPad X13 Gen 3 holds its own. It’s not the brightest but is close enough to the 400 nits we like to see in this class. Its color coverage is competitive, though the Dell’s OLED screen outdoes them all.
Strong build quality is an X-series hallmark. The ThinkPad X13 Gen 3’s magnesium shell feels cool to the touch and makes an enticing scratchy sound when you run your fingertips across it. No parts of the chassis flex, and the lid is extra stiff. It should stand up to travel and other abuse well. I find the basic FHD+ non-touch version to be well suited for most people just going about regular work. I measured with my SpyderX Pro colorimeter 100% sRGB, 79% AdobeRGB, and 81% DCI-P3 color reproduction, all solid results. Colors are full and good contrast helps remove any washed appearance. I had no issues using it for photo editing, and for standard productivity work it will be more than enough. If you foresee a lot of work outdoors, something with more brightness is recommended. The key sacrifices you’d be making in opting for an X13 over more expensive competitors would be the screen and the battery life - but those are two of the most important parts of a business notebook. The X13’s display (at least the 300-nit model we tested) is unfortunately dim and less vivid than all of its competitors (save for the X1 Carbon having a slightly narrower color spectrum), and the laptop also scored 2 hours less battery life than its nearest competitor on our benchmark. The webcam is also unflattering, though the audio quality is much higher than expected.
Classic ThinkPad X Series on the Outside
This view also shows the ThinkPad’s single large cooling fan, which ran frequently and audibly throughout testing. I can only speculate, but perhaps the fan wouldn’t run so much if the X13 is equipped with a less powerful Intel U-series processor, which should produce less heat. Either way, even with the P-series chip, the X13 doesn't get too warm for general use. Using it in your lap shouldn’t be a problem. I've appeared on CBS News, in USA Today, and at many other outlets to offer analysis on breaking technology news. Regardless of how much RAM and storage you select, you get more than just a run-of-the-mill Core i5 notebook. The X13 Gen 2 has nearly everything that businesses have come to expect from modern ThinkPads, especially the reliability and manageability features. For starters, the chassis has been significantly redesigned, resulting in a slimmer size that still feels eminently sturdy if not particularly thin. (Photo: Molly Flores) Battery: These systems do not support batteries that are not genuine Lenovo-made or authorised. Systems will continue to boot, but may not charge unauthorised batteries. Lenovo has no responsibility for the performance or safety of unauthorised batteries, and provides no warranties for failures or damage arising out of their use. **Battery life is based on the MobileMark® 2014 methodology and is an estimated maximum. Actual battery life may vary based on many factors, including screen brightness, active applications, features, power management settings, battery age and conditioning, and other customer preferences. The X1 Nano proves faster in Geekbench, but that test takes only a few minutes to run. The Nano falls behind the X13 in the long-running Cinebench and Handbrake tests despite its theoretically stronger Core i7, suggesting the X13 has a more effective cooling system. Graphics and Gaming Tests
The ThinkPad X13 gets somewhat warm during use, though its touchpoints didn’t reflect this during my testing. After streaming YouTube videos for 15 minutes, the underside registered 98.5 degrees Fahrenheit (36.9 degrees Celsius), which made it the hottest area. The second hottest area was the center of the keyboard (between the G and H keys), which was 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit (34.2 degrees Celsius). The touchpad was the coolest area we measured, only hitting 83.5 degrees Fahrenheit (28.6 degrees Celsius). Before I joined the tech-journalism ranks, I wrote on topics as diverse as Borneo's rain forests, Middle Eastern airlines, and Big Data's role in presidential elections. A graduate of Middlebury College, I also have a master's degree in journalism and French Studies from New York University. Port selection on the ThinkPad X13 Gen 3 satisfies for a 13.3-inch ultraportable. There are two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) on the left edge, the leftmost of which is used to charge the laptop with its 65-watt adapter. The AMD ThinkPad X13 has a USB 4 and a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port in their place. Lenovo's odd pricing system sees laptops have a "standard price" that's generally hovering somewhere on the edge of outer space. Then, thanks to ecoupons and sales events, it can advertise thousands of dollars off the regular price. However, when those sales aren't active it can be tough to figure out just what to recommend. The Core i7 chips in the others have 96 execution units running at 1.25GHz for U-class or 1.45GHz for P-class chips. Nonetheless, the 30.8 frames per second the X13 can muster in Aztec Ruins indicates it should be able to play some basic modern games at reduced settings. (See our feature: Can You Play Today's Biggest Games on Laptop Integrated Graphics?) Battery and Display Tests
Testing the ThinkPad X13 Gen 3: 'X' Marks the Spot
The all-aluminum chassis adds some weight, but the return on rigidity and durability is well worth it. Our first test is UL's PCMark 10, which simulates a variety of real-world productivity and office workflows to measure overall system performance and also includes a storage subtest for the primary drive. We look for 4,000 points in the main test as a sign of competency for the tasks that test simulates. To test the screen, I watched the Bill & Ted Face the Music trailer in both normal and low light conditions. Regardless of how much light was on the screen, the viewing angles were almost complete. I also didn’t notice much glare, even when holding the screen directly next to my lamp. Meanwhile, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 (0.6 by 12.4 by 8.8 inches, 2.48 pounds) is only marginally larger despite using a 14-inch screen. Both it and the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 are thinner than the X13, too. The AMD-powered ThinkPad X13, like most ThinkPads, has plenty of customization options. Our configuration has a Ryzen 5 Pro 4650U with integrated Radeon graphics, 8GB of DDR4-3200 MHz memory, a 256GB M.2 PCIe SSD and a 1920 x 1080 IPS touchscreen. If you don't like the results we got from our screen, there's also a 500-nit, 1080p screen option.
Great Deal 
New Comment