When you think of Lenovo, you think of innovation when it comes to Windows laptops & computers. They've done /w the Yoga line, to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, to their Horizon desktop line. It continues this year w/ a new line of product this year w/ the LaVie Z.
We got a quick look at their latest laptop, earlier this year at CES. It enters the market as the world's lightest 13.3inch laptop. We got a chance to play w/ it a lot more in-depth over the last few months. We're ready to report the good and bad behind the LaVie Z.
Design/Build
The LaVie Z weighs in at only 1.87lbs - which isn't much for a 13.3inch laptop. If feels like a dummy demo laptop like its missing something but everything is in there. Lenovo partnered up w/ NEC to create this as you might see some differences like not the typical keyboard design.
At quick glance, it resembles a standard Windows laptop. But at a closer look, the devil is definitely in the details. The frame is crafted from magnesium-lithium which helps it remain on the skinny side of things. FYI: it is the same material NASA has used on some of their rockets. You're looking at the lightest PC out on the market right now.
Display
Handling all of the viewing duties for the LaVie Z is a 13.3inch QHD anti-glare display w/ 2560 x 1440 resolution. The screen has a matte finish so you won't get the most vibrant display compared to an Apple, Dell, Samsung, or even other Lenovo laptop offerings. I'm sure this was done to help out from murdering the battery life. It is still a pretty good display nonetheless.
Performance/Battery Life
It is powered by an Intel 2.4GHz Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The combination of these 3 features make for a powerhouse on top already being super-lightweight. This is capable of handling everything from light gaming, photo & light video editing, and everything else in-between like web browsing, productivity, etc. So glad they didn't skimp out on the chipset this time around.
On the battery side of things, it is suggested to get anywhere from 6-9 hours on a single charge. During my time w/ it, I spent the majority of my time using up to 10 Chrome browsing tabs, Hangouts, along w/ a taking in a bunch of YouTube content (interviews, audiobooks, etc.). I also dabbled w/ Audio Director playing around w/ software for an upcoming podcast idea. All went well w/ zero lag and can definitely stand by it.
Fast, Lightweight, & Zero Compromises For What We Consider The Best Windows Laptop.
TG 2 Cents
The LaVie Z has the right amount of ports, the best choice in chipsets, RAM, and storage. There isn't really a lot not to like about it. When you compare this up against other laptops like the Dell XPS 13 or the latest MacBook, it is still a great value from everything you get from it but I would love a longer-lasting battery though.
There are only 2 points to consider if you're thinking about picking this up: battery life and pricing. The battery life isn't terrible for a starting price point of $1200, you would want to at least get 10 hours or more on a single charge. Something to consider if you plan on spending MacBook $$$ on a Windows laptop. I am curious to see if they will do a 2nd-generation of this next year. Whatever the case, Lenovo still retains my spot for me as the best Windows manufacturer.
