The Workhorse with Warts: It's Built Like a Tank, But It's Not Built for Travel
After a month of using the Lenovo ThinkPad E16, I'm ready to share my in-depth consumer experience. This is not a paid review - just honest feedback on what it's like to live with this business machine day-to-day.
The Good & The Sturdy: Design and Build
The ThinkPad E16 offers a classic, solid feel, but it comes with a few trade-offs.
- Build Quality: One of the E16's strongest points is its sturdiness and durability. Compared to some of the Lenovo Yoga laptops I’ve reviewed, this machine feels far more solid.
- Portability (or lack thereof): Be warned - the E16 is a bulky and heavy laptop. If mobility is your top priority, this is not the laptop for you. I consistently felt the weight in my backpack, making it less than ideal for constant travel.
- A Fingerprint Magnet: The chassis, particularly the top lid, is a true fingerprint magnet. Be prepared to wipe it down frequently if you want to keep it looking clean.
Performance: Core Ultra 155H and Integrated Graphics
My unit is equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 155H processor and integrated 8-core Intel ARC graphics, along with 32 GB of RAM.
- General Productivity: For standard office work, browsing, and communication apps like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, the performance is more than fine. The 32 GB of RAM handled all my projects without issue.
- Creative Work: I tested it with Adobe Creative Cloud programs (Premiere Pro, Photoshop). It manages medium-level graphic tasks, but it's certainly not a happy experience when you push it.
- Heavy Workloads: Crucially, this laptop is not intended for heavy graphic editing, such as processing large 4K video files. The integrated video performance will struggle in those scenarios.
- Cooling: The cooling performance is average for a laptop of this size. The first-generation Core Ultra processor also contributes to it running a bit warmer than expected.
Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 First Look Review: Did They Fix the Flaws?
The User Experience: Keyboard, Trackpad, and Display
The input devices are a mixed bag, with one notable disappointment.
- Keyboard: The signature ThinkPad keyboard is present, and it's comfortable and not too loud. However, I would rank it "somewhere in the middle" of all the keyboards I've used—I can recall more comfortable keyboards on some Dell models.
- Trackpad: The trackpad is the weakest link. It feels outdated, is not precise, and seems like it was "taken out probably from a laptop like 10 years ago." This is a serious point of friction for a modern business laptop.
- Display: The display lacks very high resolution or top-tier brightness. The good news is that it is usable in direct sunlight, which is a significant improvement over some cheaper Lenovo business models that are completely unusable outdoors.
Multimedia and Connectivity
The E16 is laser-focused on its role as a business machine, which is clear in its multimedia and port selection.
- Audio: The two Harmon-tuned speakers deliver a very flat sound that is not particularly loud. Watching movies or clips is not a pleasure, and this confirms the E16 is strictly an office laptop, not a multimedia device. You will want to connect a Bluetooth headset or external speakers immediately after purchase.
- Webcam: The camera is decent, sitting "somewhere in the middle." It performs relatively well even in low light and provides a clear picture for video calls like Teams meetings.
- Ports: Connectivity is okay, offering a good selection of modern and legacy ports:
- Left Side: Two USB Type-C (one Thunderbolt), one USB Type-A, HDMI, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Right Side: One additional USB-A, Ethernet connection, and a Kensington lock.
- The Missing Card Reader: For a large laptop (above 15 inches) marketed for business, the absence of a card reader is a major oversight. This felt like a real joke and limits the workflow for many professionals.
Final Thoughts: Battery Life and Overall Value
- Battery Life: This was a disappointment. I observed a maximum battery life of around 4 to 5 hours, which is not best in class. This is largely due to the first-generation Core Ultra processors, as newer models are boasting significantly better endurance (10-20 hours).
- Conclusion: The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 is an average business laptop. It sits above the low-end ThinkPad series due to its sturdy build, but it's far from the best-performing models on the market today. It’s a workhorse for standard office tasks, but its weight, outdated trackpad, and poor battery life hold it back from being a top recommendation.
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