Lenovo ThinkBook 13s review: the price-performance winner?
A TEST REPORT from David Haydl 
on August 28, 2019, 12:00 pm | Write a comment
The ThinkPad series is already known from Lenovo and is more familiar Pro-User directed. Now Lenovo introduced the first ThinkBook with the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s. What can this do?
So far, the ThinkBook 13s is the first device in the new series. If you just look at the internal components, you would think that the device easily costs 1.500 euros. But this is not the case. But more about that in the course of my review.
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Unboxing and initial setup
Even if I received my test device in its own packaging, the scope of delivery is the same as that of the version for sale. This means that there is the notebook itself, a 65-watt power adapter and several leaflets in the pack. So you shouldn't expect anything special here.
Even with the initial setup, there shouldn't be any surprises if you've already set up a Windows 10 PC. After booting up for the first time, you have to confirm the language and the region. Then log in to Microsoft and create a user account. In addition, you are asked if you want to log in with a Lenovo account, which I skipped. There follows a short wait, after which the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is ready for use. The whole thing should take about 20 minutes.
Design, workmanship and connections
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is definitely one of the more compact notebooks on the market. It is 30,8 inches long, 21,6 inches wide and 1,59 inches high. The weight is 1,32 kilograms. So it should pretty much fit in every pocket and backpack. Lenovo sells the device in a single color, which is space gray.
The housing is so compact, among other things, due to the comparatively small display. It measures 13 inches diagonally and has a Full HD resolution (1.920 x 1.080 pixels). A nice bonus is the anti-glare coating, which allows you to work even in slightly brighter environments procan work without problems. In return, the display does not respond to any touch inputs. The only major downside is that the panel isn't really bright at maximum brightness, which makes it advisable to stay indoors on particularly sunny days. Otherwise, I really liked the screen.
I find it commendable that Lenovo built in a physical shutter for the webcam. So you can really become a hundredprobe absolutely sure that no app can access the camera. We already know all of that Lenovo Smart Display. Everyone should find something suitable for the connections. There is a Lenovo own charging plug, a USB-C (3.1, second generation) and HDMI port, a headphone jack and two additional USB plugs (3.1, first generation).
The ThinkBook 13s display can even be folded back. (Image: TechnikNews)
I also want to talk briefly over the loudspeakers. These were coordinated with Harman & Kardon and belong to the group of better laptop speakers. That Razer Blade Stealth It sounds better with Dolby Atmos, but the speakers in the ThinkBook are by no means too bad for enjoying movies and music.
I did not find any defects in the processing. Everything looks very stable and solid. Not even the display flap wobbles when typing.
Keyboard and trackpad
Now let's talk about a component that you use as soon as you open the ThinkBook. Here is a little disclaimer: My test device had a QWERTY keyboard, but Lenovo only offers models with the usual QWERTY keyboard. I can't complain about this one. The keys have a pleasant click and are nice and soft when typing. You can easily work on it for several hours without your fingers starting to hurt. Already at Lenovo Yoga C930 I liked this keyboard a lot and I hope it will be used for a few more years.
The power button, which hides a fingerprint sensor for logging in with Windows Hello, is installed right next to the keyboard. What I particularly liked about this is that the finger is scanned when the button is pressed, so that the login takes place immediately after a successful start-up. In this regard, Apple can still learn a lot with Touch ID. I found it strange that the power button never worked on my first try.
The trackpad is a bit small, but I liked the keyboard. (Image: TechnikNews)
A trackpad is also required to operate the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s. I have mixed feelings about this, let's start with the positive things. The device recognizes the familiar Windows gestures without difficulty, and they are always implemented quickly and quickly. The touchpad recognizes all other inputs even without stuttering. However, it is very small, which can be very annoying when using it. If the gaps between the keys on the keyboard weren't so large, the touch surface could easily have been enlarged a little.
Specifications
Lenovo sells a total of four different versions of the ThinkBook 13s. Of these, two versions have an Intel Core i5-8265U (optionally 8 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of memory or 16 gigabytes of RAM and 512 gigabytes of memory), while the other two models have an Intel Core i7-8565U (8 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of memory, respectively 16 gigabytes of RAM and 512 gigabytes of memory). In my test device, the Core i5 worked together with 8 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of main memory. The Intel HD Graphics 620 is available as a graphics unit in all devices.
Gaming and complex editing of videos is therefore less popular with the machine. edit photos and Proprogramming, on the other hand, can be done without any performance obstacles. The same applies to surfing the web and writing emails. In benchmarks, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s achieves the following results:
- CrystalDiskMark: 1597,7 MB pro Second (read), 857,1 MB pro second (write)
- Cinebench R15: 162 points (single-core), 557 (multi-core)
- PCMark: 3630 points
I also got along quite well with the battery. With a running time of around seven hours, it did not last a full working day (just under), but that was manageable for me personally. Charging takes 1,75 hours from the stage - thanks to the 65 watt power supply.
Software
Windows 10 version 1809 runs on the ThinkBook. This is not the latest version of the operating system (that would be 1903), but from Lenovo I am used to the fact that it takes a few months for the latest software to arrive on the devices. In addition, there are hardly any new features in 1903, so it is bearable.
The only thing that annoyed me about the software is the bloatware. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s comes with a LOT of software preinstalled, most of which I never used anyway. The pop-ups that come from McAfee and take up half the screen are also very annoying. Lenovo could clearly have solved that better.
Prices and availability
The Lenovo ThinkBook is currently already on Amazon and soon at Lenovo in the store available. There are four different configurations in total:
- Core i5-8265U, 8GB RAM, 256GB: 869,00 Euro (RRP)
- Core i5-8265U, 16GB RAM, 512GB: 999,00 euros (RRP, my test device)
- Core i7-8565U, 8GB RAM, 256GB: 999,00 Euro (RRP)
- Core i7-8565U, 16GB RAM, 256GB: 1.099,00 Euro (RRP)
Picture: TechnikNews
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s: Conclusion
In my opinion, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is actually a price-performance winner. For as little as 869 euros you can get a Core i5 from Intel with eight gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes. Even the top model is comparatively not particularly expensive, but can still offer something that is often enough for most consumers. The good keyboard, the excellent speakers and the reliable performance sweeten the use every second. In addition, thanks to its light weight, it can always be with you.
Sure, you have to accept some compromises in terms of price, but I also believe that the average consumer will notice very little of this. Lenovo could still install less bloatware in the future.
Thank you for providing the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s.