The first ThinkPad laptop came out in 1992. At the time it was an incredible accomplishment, despite being the size of a suitcase. But times have changed. Today’s users expect notebook-sized PCs far more powerful than that original ThinkPad, and they expect them at a price lower than a flagship smartphone.
That’s been a problem for the ThinkPad brand. It has a strong line-up, but its best systems are traditionally priced out of the average user’s hands. The bulky but powerful ThinkPad P50 starts at about $1,500. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon and Yoga sell for $1,150 and above. Even a ThinkPad T-Series starts around $800, and rapidly goes up from there.
Lenovo has made attempts to address the low-end market over the years. Usually, the systems are relatively bulky, aimed entirely at workers who never work outside the office. At CES 2016, though, Lenovo revealed a product that looked both affordable and portable — the ThinkPad 13, which starts around $600.
This is an up-to-date, if modest, collection of hardware. There’s an Intel 6th Generation Core processor, but it’s the low-tier i3-6100 at 2.3GHz. There’s a solid state drive, but it only offers 128GB of storage. And there’s just 4GB of 2133MHz DDR4 memory. None of that’s spectacular, but it’s all in an attractive ThinkPad, that weighs just a tad over three pounds.
Is this mid-range laptop the ThinkPad for everybody?
Light like an ultrabook, sturdy like a ThinkPad
ThinkPads are usually black, but from time to time Lenovo decides to go a different direction. The ThinkPad 13 is the latest example, available in black for the purists, and silver for everyone else. While it might be heresy to some, we quite like the silver model, which gives a modern look to a classic design.
- Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
- Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
- Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
- Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Another modern touch is the form factor. The ThinkPad 13 is an ultrabook, measuring only .75 inches thick while shut, and weighing only 3.17 pounds. Bulky it is not. But don’t let the color, or the size, fool you. This is still a ThinkPad – and like most ThinkPads, the case is tough. There’s no detectable flex, even if you go out of your way to abuse it.
This laptop is tough, but it also has great design features. The material texture is perfect, and the chassis feels balanced if you hold it in one hand. The hinge can do some acrobatics, letting the display turn a full 180 degrees from the closed position until the entire unit lies flat on your desk or table. Another nice touch is the red dot over the “i” in the “ThinkPad” logo. It’s an indicator light that can tell you if the system is asleep, or charging.
Overall, the design offers ThinkPad toughness in an ultrabook form factor. There’s nothing to complain about, with the possible exception of the large plastic bezel surrounding the display. Still, that’s minor compared to the many, many benefits.
Lots of ports, and a dock can add more
The ThinkPad 13 offers three USB 3.0 ports, one of which can charge your phone even when the computer itself is asleep. There’s also a USB 3.1 Type-C port. An HDMI output and headphone jack handle your external audio and video needs, respectively. Wireless capability is handled by an Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 826 card. It brings 802.11ac Wi-Fi along with Bluetooth 4.1 for connecting peripherals.
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