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日本Lenovo ThinkPad T16 Gen 2 (Intel) review – Great Display, Quiet Workhorse
Design and construction
The design of the Lenovo ThinkPad T16 Gen 2 (Intel) is typical for the manufacturer – clean with minimal branding on the lid. There aren’t many differences compared to the Gen 1 device. The machine is available in two color variants that differ in size and build materials. The Storm Grey devices are made of aluminum and they stop the scales at 1.71 kilos. The Thunder black laptops have a carbon fiber lid and a (PPS) plastic base which results in a 1.68 kg weight. The dGPU notebooks are heavier (1.74 kg) and thicker (21.1 mm) than the iGPU-only notebooks (20.5 mm).
We got the black version of the device. The lid can’t be opened with a single hand and the unit is a bit flexible while the base is (almost) solid. The zone below the keyboard can be flexed slightly if you apply some pressure on purpose. That’s not an issue during normal usage such as typing. The matte finish feels pleasantly soft and rubberized to the touch which is really cool. Also, the surface is grippy and that’s good news for all users.
The bezels around the 16-inch panel aren’t among the thinnest we’ve seen.
Above the display is placed a Web camera with a privacy shutter. The default version is a 720p model, but you can opt for a 1080p IR or a discrete 5MP IR version for Windows Hello. The optional models support the Human-presence detection tech.
The laptop can lay fully flat on an even surface thanks to the 180-degree hinge. The lid lacks a lever mechanism.
Below the display, we can spot a long grill that is for the two front-firing 2W Dolby Audio speakers. The power button doubles as a fingerprint reader (option). The optional backlit spill-resistant keyboard with a NumPad and decently sized Arrow keys is comfortable for work because of the long key travel and clicky feedback. The Trackpoint is positioned in the middle of the board and it works in a duo with the three dedicated buttons above the touchpad. The latter has a smooth Mylar surface. The accuracy is also good.
On the bottom plate, we can spot four small rubber feet, two ventilation grills, and an emergency reset hole. The heat is guided via a vent on the left side.
Ports
On the left, we can see a LAN, two Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps ports that support data transfer, Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.4, an HDMI 2.1 for up to 4K@60Hz external displays, a USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port with an Always On function, and an Audio combo jack. On the other side, you get a Kensington Nano Security Slot, another USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port, and an optional Smart card reader. The optional Nano-SIM card slot is placed on the rear side.
I have similar T16 Gen 2, only with i7-1355U and 1920 x 1200, 300 nits, 45% NTSC display. My display is good for office work but not great for someone who would use laptop for multimedia. Display in reviewed unit must be much better for that. If i could change something i would go for bigger 86 Wh battery because this 52.5 Wh doesn’t go much further than 4 hours for me while browsing and using MS Office when display is near that 300 nits. Speakers are also considerably worse than on my P1 Gen 6.