CHECK THAT COUPON
The base model of the ThinkPad X13 has a quad-core
Ryzen 3 Pro CPU, a too-small 128GB solid-state drive,
and a deal-breaking 1,366-by-768-pixel screen
resolution that would be acceptable only on an 11-inch
Chromebook priced at $149. Stepping up to my $1,004
review unit brings the Ryzen 5 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, a
256GB NVMe SSD, and a 300-nit full HD (1,920-by-
1,080-pixel) touch screen, along with niceties such as
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and a backlit keyboard.
Speed demons can opt for an eight-core Ryzen 7 Pro
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data can pick a 500-nit PrivacyGuard display that
blocks the view of airline seatmate snoops. There is no
4K screen choice, so if you want more than 1080p,
you’re out of luck. The memory and storage ceilings are
32GB and 1TB, respectively.
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a dual-core Core i3 and a Thunderbolt 3 port (a
technology exclusive to Intel). The prices quoted here
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discount coupons; the coupon was missing one
weekend during my review, which sent my machine’s
price soaring to a considerably less attractive $1,674.
Clad in classic ThinkPad matte-black, the X13 measures
0.69 by 12.3 by 8.6 inches, which is no burden in a
briefcase but slightly larger than the same-weight Asus
ZenBook 13 (0.7 by 11.9 by 7.5 inches) and XPS 13 (0.58
by 11.6 by 7.8 inches). Like all ThinkPads, it has passed
MIL-STD 810G torture tests against shock, vibration,
and environmental extremes, though it’s not as tough as
more costly semi-rugged and rugged notebooks.
Lenovo ThinkPad
X13 (AMD)
PROS Immaculate
design and
construction.
Splendid keyboard.
Speedy six-core AMD
Ryzen 5 Pro CPU.
CONS No 4K screen
option. Base model’s
1,366-by-768 display
should be avoided. No
Thunderbolt 3 port.
Merely good battery
life.
BOTTOM LINE You
should shun its base
models that lack full
HD screen resolution,
but the Lenovo Ryzen
Pro-based ThinkPad
X13 is an otherwise
well-built, perky
alternative to the
company’s ultra-
deluxe X1 Carbon.