Ultraportables are generally meant for productivity, not gaming. These laptops
are best restricted to casual or browser-based games.
Battery rundown test: After fully recharging the laptop, we set up the
machine in power-save mode (as opposed to balanced or high-performance
mode) when available and make a few other battery-conserving tweaks in
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screen brightness set at 50 percent and volume at 100 percent until the
system quits.
The Acer and Dell tied for the win, lasting almost seven hours longer than the
Lenovo. The latter will get you through a full day of work or school, but it’s a
little short on stamina by modern ultraportable standards.
A WINNING ALTERNATIVE TO INTEL
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X13 is a worthy successor to the ThinkPad X390 it replaces. AMD’s “Renoir”
Ryzen 4000 series mobile CPUs have proven to be overachievers in several
laptops we’ve tested (and one desktop), and this one is no exception. And the
ultraportable’s keyboard and engineering uphold the brand’s stellar reputation.
The lack of a 4K screen option is regrettable, but 4K isn’t all that practical for
13.3-inch displays, and underwhelming results in our battery life and
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performance. In a crowded, competitive market, this ThinkPad is a solid
contender.
ERIC GREVSTAD
PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION (^) I SUBSCRIBE (^) I NOVEMBER 2020