Today at MWC, Lenovo showed off the latest updates to their business-oriented ThinkPad and IdeaPad lines. The focus is on better performance from modern chips across the board, increased use of more eco-friendly materials, and more.
While I’m impressed by Lenovo’s many offerings, there are a few standouts for me, namely the fifth generation ThinkPad E14 and the first generation E16, as well as the IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook. From higher performances to punchier audio, I really like what upgrades the manufacturer has made to certain engines. Let’s get into it.
Lenovo ThinkPad E14 and E16
Lenovo
When it comes to business-oriented laptops, a strong display can make a world of difference, especially when it comes to productivity tasks. Lenovo made a really smart move here by increasing the size of the ThinkPad E14’s display. The aspect ratio is now 16:10. The taller display makes scrolling through documents easier, which is perfect for those who primarily use a laptop for work. The touchpad is also larger at 115mm, making it a more comfortable user experience. Now, let’s talk about what’s going on under the hood.
The E14 has either a 13th-gen Intel Core or an AMD Ryzen 7000 Series processor, up to 40GB of DDR4 RAM (wow), and double SSD storage up to 2TB. That’s a considerable amount of power, especially for work-related tasks. The 14-inch display has a touch option and, according to Lenovo, a maximum brightness level of 300 nits.
Lenovo also added the new ThinkPad E16 to their lineup, with a larger display and the same 16:10 aspect ratio. However, for the top-tier configuration, the maximum brightness level can be obtained up to 400 nits. The hardware is almost identical to the E14. The E16 features the latest Intel or AMD processors, up to 40GB of RAM, and dual SSD storage up to 2TB.
The E14 and E16 will launch in May 2023 with a starting price of $739 and $759.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook
Lenovo
It’s no secret that I love Chromebooks. They are simple, cheap, and safe. They have good battery life, too.
Lenovo has updated its IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook with better speakers, brighter screen options, and more. The Chromebook will now feature front-facing speakers with Waves MaxxAudio tuning as well as a 14-inch touch-enabled 1080p display with a maximum brightness of 300 nits. These upgrades add a great deal of versatility, as it is ready for work and play.
The Chromebook has a MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, up to 8GB of RAM, and up to 128GB of eMMC storage. It’s not the most powerful Chromebook we’ve seen, but it should be fine for basic day-to-day use. Port selection is also varied. You get a MicroSD card slot, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and a combo audio jack.
The IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook will be available for purchase in May 2023 with a reasonable starting price of $340.