Lenovo ThinkPad L16 G1, Ultra 5 125U

It is undeniable to say that when it comes to the simple-looking ThinkPad L16 Gen 1, appearance simply plays no role. Well, this turns out true for both, its case as well as its display. As far as its design and build is concerned, this business laptop feels robust, but as it does not feature any aluminium or even magnesium, it misses out on making a high-quality impression. However, it is worth mentioning that the fingerprint marks are not that visible on the slightly roughened surface of the display lid. Even then, its stability suffers. This is quite evident with the display lid, bottom plate and keyboard frame all yielding, even if only a small amount. Furthermore, the base unit and the display can be slightly twisted too. In contrast, the display's hinges are good. While they stay tight at every angle, they also prevent users from being able to open the lid with one hand. This leads to the laptop's maximum opening angle which is 180 degrees. The absence of the usual, contrasting "ThinkPad" lettering catches the eye immediately. Instead, this time there is an indentation in the same shape that will likely attract dirt over time. As for its connectivity, this device carries options which are particularly extensive. This includes a whopping five USB port in which comprises of three USB-A. This simply means that one can connect a variety of external devices without having to rely on a docking station. In addition, there is a fast USB4 port situated at the front on the left-hand side of the device, which may result in users intuitively plugging the charger into the second and slower USB-C port that also supports a charging function.

This model has also been incorporated with a 5-megapixel webcam which comes with all the features one would want to see. Well, right from a mechanical cover and a dual-array microphone to an infrared camera for logging in via facial recognition, everything is on board. Despite that, one should not expect particularly high-quality shots, as the camera has been optimized for video calls. But, it manages to lighten the face enough that the person on the other end of the call always has perfect visibility, no matter how dark the room is. The microphone is also impressive as the voices are recorded clearly and at a consistent volume regardless of the direction of speech and distance. In terms of its keyboard, it is well suited for intensive working, and it leaves a great impression on the users while typing. Furthermore, the keys have an air inlet, which further enhances the precise typing experience and dampens the noise they produce. Similarly, the TrackPoint and touchpad are equally comfortable to be used. As for the processor,  there are either Ryzen 5 Pro 7535U or the Ryzen 7 Pro 7735U from the AMD side. From Intel, one can pick between the Core Ultra 5 125U, Ultra 7 155U and the Ultra 7 165U vPro. Apart from that, the ThinkPad L16 Gen 1 relies on DDR5-4800 RAM which includes two full-featured installed memory banks are installed which can be upgraded easily. On purchase, users get to choose between 8, 16 or 32 GB with a maximum of 64 GB. In a nutshell, it is a great device to be explored, depending on the need and preference of the users.

Hands-on article by Jagadisa Rajarathnam