Lenovo updates the 16:10 IdeaPad S540-13 laptop with AMD Ryzen 4000

For many years, Apple's MacBooks were the only laptops available with the taller 16:10 aspect ratio. Most Windows laptops switched to the wider 16:9 ration in 2010. In the last few years however, the old ratio has been making a return, especially in the high-end market.

Lenovo chose a different approach with the Lenovo IdeaPad S540-13API. The first modern 16:10 laptops from Lenovo was launched was not a high-end laptop, but a modestly priced midrange device. And it was available with Intel and AMD CPUs.

This device was a potential flagship-killer. This years version might be even deadlier in this regard, as Lenovo has quietly updated the 13.3 inch laptop with AMD Ryzen 4000. The design and the rest of the specifications remain identical to the 2019 model, including the 16:10 IPS panel with a QHD (2.560 x 1.600) resolution.

The problem: This device was never on sale in North America with the older AMD CPUs. And by the looks of it, it may also not go on sale in the US with the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U and the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U. Lenovo's PSREF site does not list any models of the IdeaPad S540-13ARE for North America. It will be available in Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America.

North American customers can still buy a 16:10 laptop from Lenovo, but only with Intel CPUs: The identical (design-wise) Lenovo IdeaPad S540-13IML.