The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 (Intel) is the non-2-in-1 version of the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4 (Intel). That's why the former costs less because it lacks transforming capabilities. Both devices are almost similar in terms of specs. This means that the non-Yoga model is offered with Intel Raptor Lake U CPUs, and you can rely only on the iGPU inside of the processor since there are no dGPU options. Which sounds pretty normal for a light and thin 13-incher. There is no sign of TN panels and that's great. All five display variants are 1200p IPS units (one of them supports touch function). So, if you need a compact laptop with a high-res screen you have to look somewhere else. For example, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 4 (Intel) can be ordered with a 13.3" 2.8K OLED screen. The upgradability here is limited and that's kind of expected given the dimensions of this machine. The security features look good, especially if you pick a notebook with all optional goodies such as an IR Web camera, vPro CPU, and a fingerprint reader. On the bright side, the privacy shutter, the dTPM 2.0 module, the self-healing BIOS, and the Kensington Nano Security slot are default extras for all devices. The I/O seems up-to-date but the precious USB4 port will be unavailable when the AC adapter is connected because the laptop supports Type-C charging. For connectivity, you get Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3 (option) and you can pick a machine with 4G functionality. You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/lenovo-thinkpad-l13-gen-4-intel/ Specs, Drivers, What's in the box Drivers All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-l-series-laptops/thinkpad-l13-gen-4-type-21fg-21fh/downloads What's in the box? Inside the package, you'll find a bit of paperwork and a 45W or 65W USB Type-C charger depending on the CPU power. Design and construction The visual changes of the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 (Intel) compared to the Gen 3 version are almost non-existent. This is a light (1.26 kg) and thin (17.23 mm) machine with an aluminum lid and a glass fiber-reinforced plastic body. Just like the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4 (Intel), the rigidity is nothing to write home about. The lid is averagely flexible. The same can't be said for the base - the zone around the keyboard (if you don't count the top one) plus the two palm rest areas feel spongy. There is visible flex during typing, especially in the bottom rows of keycaps. If you try to open the lid with a single hand, you'll see that it's possible (but you have to do it slowly) a bit before reaching the 90-degree mark. After that, the base will be raised up alongside the lid because the hinges are stiff. This device looks a bit old-school because of the not-so-thin bezels around the panel. Above the display is placed a 720p or 1080p (option) Web camera with a privacy shutter. You can also get an optional Full HD IR model for Windows Hello. Thanks to the 180-degree hinge, the notebook can lay flat on your desk. The lid doesn't act as a lever and it'll not lift the back of the base even when the angle of opening is very wide. The keyboard here is spill-resistant and the backlight is optional. The board is comfortable for typing - the keycaps are big and they have long travel and clicky feedback. The optional fingerprint reader is integrated into the Power button. Since that's a business Lenovo notebook, the well-known Trackpoint (that works in a duo with the three buttons above the touchpad) is here and it's positioned between the "G", "H", and "B" keys. The pad size (56 x 115 mm) is okay considering the small form factor of the machine. The Mylar surface allows smooth gliding and good accuracy. Everything on the bottom plate is standard - three rubber feet, two cutouts for the speakers, and a ventilation grill. The heat is being exhausted through a vent on the back of the laptop. Yes, a bit of hot air makes its way to the display when the CPU is stressed at 100%. Ports On the left, there is an optional Nano-SIM card slot, a Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps port, a USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port, and an Audio combo jack. On the right side, you get a Kensington Nano Security Slot, a USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 2) port, a USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port with an Always On function, and an HDMI 2.1 connector for up to 4K 60Hz external displays. Both Type-C connectors support data transfer, Power Delivery 3.0, and DisplayPort 1.4. The slot for the optional Smart Card reader is on the front. Display quality, Health impact (PWM), Sound Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 (Intel) is equipped with a WUXGA (Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array) IPS panel, model number Chimei Innolux N133JCA-EEK (LEN41A0). It comes with a 60Hz refresh rate. Its diagonal is 13.3" (33.8 cm), and the resolution - 1920 x 1200p. Additionally, the screen ratio is 16:10, the pixel density – 170 ppi, and their pitch – 0.15 x 0.15 mm. The screen can be considered Retina when viewed from at least 51 cm (from this distance, the average human eye can’t see the individual pixels). Viewing angles are comfortable. We offer images at different angles to evaluate the quality. Also, a video with locked focus and exposure. The maximum measured brightness is 313 nits (cd/m2) in the middle of the screen and 300 nits (cd/m2) average across the surface with a maximum deviation of 13%. The Correlated Color Temperature on a white screen and at maximum brightness is 6960K (average). In the illustration below you can see how the display performs from a uniformity perspective. The illustration below shows how matters are for operational brightness levels (approximately 140 nits) – in this particular case at 73% Brightness (White level = 141 cd/m2, Black level = 0.11 cd/m2). Values of dE2000 over 4.0 should not occur, and this parameter is one of the first you should check if you intend to use the laptop for color-sensitive work (a maximum tolerance of 2.0 ). The contrast ratio is good – 1230:1. To make sure we are on the same page, we would like to give you a little introduction to the sRGB color gamut and the Adobe RGB. To start, there’s the CIE 1976 Uniform Chromaticity Diagram that represents the visible specter of colors by the human eye, giving you a better perception of the color gamut coverage and the color accuracy. Inside the black triangle, you will see the standard color gamut (sRGB) that is being used by millions of people on HDTV and on the web. As for the Adobe RGB, this is used in professional cameras, monitors, etc for printing. Basically, colors inside the black triangle are used by everyone and this is the essential part of the color quality and color accuracy of a mainstream notebook. Still, we’ve included other color spaces like the famous DCI-P3 standard used by movie studios, as well as the digital UHD Rec.2020 standard. Rec.2020, however, is still a thing of the future and it’s difficult for today’s displays to cover that well. We’ve also included the so-called Michael Pointer gamut, or Pointer’s gamut, which represents the colors that naturally occur around us every day. The yellow dotted line shows Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 (Intel)'s color gamut coverage. Its display covers 54% of the sRGB/ITU-R BT.709 (web/HDTV standard) in CIE1976 and 42% of DCI-P3. Our “Design and Gaming” profile delivers optimal color temperature (6500K) at 140 cd/m2 luminance and sRGB gamma mode. We tested the accuracy of the display with 24 commonly used colors like light and dark human skin, blue sky, green grass, orange, etc. You can check out the results at factory condition and also, with the “Design and Gaming” profile. Below you can compare the scores of the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 (Intel) with the default settings (left), and with the “Gaming and Web design” profile (right). The next figure shows how well the display is able to reproduce really dark parts of an image, which is essential when watching movies or playing games in low ambient light. The left side of the image represents the display with stock settings, while the right one is with the “Gaming and Web Design” profile activated. On the horizontal axis, you will find the grayscale, and on the vertical axis – the luminance of the display. On the two graphs below you can easily check for yourself how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display, the calibration, the viewing angle, and the surrounding light conditions. Response time (Gaming capabilities) We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and vice versa. We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 19.9 ms. After that, we test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “Gray-to-Gray” method from 50% White to 80% White and vice versa between 10% and 90% of the amplitude. Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering) Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is an easy way to control monitor brightness. When you lower the brightness, the light intensity of the backlight is not lowered, but instead turned off and on by the electronics with a frequency indistinguishable to the human eye. In these light impulses, the light/no-light time ratio varies, while brightness remains unchanged, which is harmful to your eyes. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM. Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 (Intel)'s display doesn't flicker at any brightness level. This makes the screen pretty comfortable for long periods of use. Health Impact: Blue light emissions Installing our Health-Guard profile not only eliminates PWM but also reduces the harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate. If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light. Health Impact: Gloss-level measurement Glossy-coated displays are sometimes inconvenient in high ambient light conditions. We show the level of reflection on the screen for the respective laptop when the display is turned off and the measurement angle is 60° (in this case, the result is 48.7 GU). Sound Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 (Intel)'s Dolby Audio Premium speakers produce a sound of relatively good quality. However, the low, mid, and high tones all have some slight deviations from clarity. Buy our profiles Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 (Intel) configurations with 13.3" Innolux N133JCA-EEK (LEN41A0) (1920 x 1200) IPS. *Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at bg.laptopmedia@gmail.com. Read more about the profiles HERE. Performance: CPU, GPU, Gaming Tests All benchmarks and tests were conducted with the “Best performance” preset activated in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu. Also, the "Scheme for AC" in the BIOS is set to "Maximize Performance". CPU options You can choose among five U-series CPUs - Intel Core i3-1315U, Core i5-1335U, Core i5-1345U, Core i7-1355U, and Core i7-1365U. GPU options You get what's inside of the CPU - ergo, the iGPU. Gaming tests CS:GO HD 1080p, Low (Check settings) HD 1080p, Medium (Check settings) HD 1080p, MAX (Check settings) Average FPS 140 fps 106 fps 72 fps DOTA 2 HD 1080p, Low (Check settings) HD 1080p, Normal (Check settings) HD 1080p, High (Check settings) Average FPS 127 fps 78 fps 44 fps [eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT your Laptop Temperatures and comfort, Battery Life Max CPU load In this test we use 100% on the CPU cores, monitoring their frequencies and chip temperature. The first column shows a computer’s reaction to a short load (2-10 seconds), the second column simulates a serious task (between 15 and 30 seconds), and the third column is a good indicator of how good the laptop is for long loads such as video rendering. Average P-core frequency; Average E-core frequency; CPU temp.; Package Power Intel Core i5-1335U (15W TDP) 0:02 - 0:10 sec 0:15 - 0:30 sec 10:00 - 15:00 min Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 (Intel) 3.24 GHz @ 2.34 GHz @ 79°C @ 33W 3.12 GHz @ 2.29 GHz @ 89°C @ 32W 1.72 GHz @ 1.39 GHz @ 65°C @ 15W HP EliteBook 640 G10 3.78 GHz @ 2.88 GHz @ 83°C @ 50W 2.75 GHz @ 1.96 GHz @ 77°C @ 26W 2.35 GHz @ 1.77 GHz @ 76°C @ 23W Acer TravelMate P4 (TMP413-51) 3.52 GHz @ 2.67 GHz @ 77°C @ 44W 3.27 GHz @ 2.45 GHz @ 82°C @ 41W 2.16 GHz @ 1.67 GHz @ 64°C @ 22W HP EliteBook 650 G10 3.73 GHz @ 2.87 GHz @ 88°C @ 49W 2.81 GHz @ 2.09 GHz @ 90°C @ 29W 2.50 GHz @ 1.88 GHz @ 81°C @ 24W HP 250 G10 3.33 GHz @ 2.46 GHz @ 73°C @ 40W 3.08 GHz @ 2.23 GHz @ 85°C @ 35W 2.11 GHz @ 1.76 GHz @ 76°C @ 22W ASUS Vivobook 17 F1704 (X1704) 3.10 GHz @ 2.14 GHz @ 71°C @ 30W 3.09 GHz @ 2.16 GHz @ 89°C @ 30W 1.97 GHz @ 1.67 GHz @ 70°C @ 18W ASUS Vivobook 15 F1504 (X1504) 2.99 GHz @ 2.07 GHz @ 66°C @ 28W 2.94 GHz @ 2.07 GHz @ 81°C @ 28W 2.02 GHz @ 1.68 GHz @ 75°C @ 18W Acer Aspire 5 (A515-58M) 2.05 GHz @ 2.74 GHz @ 61°C @ 47W 1.81 GHz @ 2.54 GHz @ 64°C @ 40W 1.22 GHz @ 2.23 GHz @ 61°C @ 28W HP ProBook 440 G10 2.39 GHz @ 2.93 GHz @ 93°C @ 50W 1.51 GHz @ 2.29 GHz @ 92°C @ 30W 0.94 GHz @ 1.87 GHz @ 72°C @ 19W HP ProBook 450 G10 3.41 GHz @ 2.79 GHz @ 94°C @ 48W 2.80 GHz @ 2.17 GHz @ 94°C @ 31W 1.87 GHz @ 2.04 GHz @ 81°C @ 23W Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-71) 3.29 GHz @ 2.46 GHz @ 65°C @ 45W 3.06 GHz @ 2.37 GHz @ 71°C @ 42W 1.80 GHz @ 1.98 GHz @ 61°C @ 28W Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga Gen 3 1.91 GHz @ 1.20 GHz @ 63°C @ 19W 1.86 GHz @ 0.90 GHz @ 74°C @ 14W 1.83 GHz @ 0.90 GHz @ 60°C @ 13W The Core i5-1335 inside this laptop can sustain decently high clocks in short and medium loads at the expense of high CPU temperature (in the second column). This isn't an issue in the long run but the frequencies and the power limit are low. Comfort during full load Just like many other business-oriented Lenovo devices, the power modes are integrated into the base Windows Power presets for faster switching. In idle, the fan is quiet and its speed is around 2400 RPM. During CPU full load, the fan is rotating with ~ 4100 RPM and surprisingly the noise is fairly low. In this case, the keyboard feels a bit warm to the touch which is okay since it's not too hot for normal work. Battery Now, we conduct the battery tests with Windows Better performance setting turned on, screen brightness adjusted to 120 nits and all other programs turned off except for the one we are testing the notebook with. The 46Wh battery lasts for 12 hours and 30 minutes of either Web browsing or video playback. To achieve that, you have to apply the “Balanced” preset in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu and set the “Scheme for Battery” to "Balanced" mode in the BIOS. Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance To open this laptop, you have to undo 8 captive Phillips-head screws. After that, pry the bottom plate with a thin plastic tool starting from the back of the notebook. Don't pry the front, tilt the panel, and when you hear a slight click sound this means you can lift away the plate safely from the chassis. This is how the bottom panel looks on the inside. The battery is a 46Wh variant. To remove it, unplug the connector from the mainboard, and undo the four Phillips-head screws, that keep the unit in place. The capacity lasts for 12 hours and 30 minutes of either Web browsing or video playback. The result is very good! Expectedly for such a thin device, the RAM is soldered. At least, the max amount is 32GB of LPDDR5-4800MHz memory in dual-channel mode. Due to platform limitations, the memory works at 4800MHz but the chips are rated at 6400MHz. Storage-wise, there is just one M.2 slot for 2242 Gen 4 SSDs. There is a metal plate that covers the NVMe. The shroud has a small thermal pad on the inside. A second pad is placed below the SSD. Next to the NVMe slot, you can see the WWAN slot for optional LTE connectivity. The cooling system is basic - one fan, a top-mounted heat sink, a decently-sized heat pipe, and a heat spreader. Storage performance Our notebook has a 512GB SAMSUNG MZAL4512HBLU-00BL1. Below you can see some benchmarks of this Gen 4 SSD. Its temperatures under load are low - 46°C. Verdict We can conclude that the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 (Intel) is a business-oriented device that is meant for people who value comfort over performance. Here, the CPU fan is quiet even when the CPU is under maximum stress. In this scenario, the processor temperature is low as well as the frequencies. Still, in short and medium loads, the clocks are high enough for normal office work. The rigidity of the chassis isn't great. You can't open the lid with a single hand and there is a visible amount of flex on the base even during typing. Speaking of which, the keyboard and the touchpad are comfortable. Expectedly (because of the compact form factor), the only thing that you can upgrade is the NVMe. The memory is soldered but the maximum possible amount of 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM should be enough for most users. The battery life is long enough for a whole working day and a half away from the charger - more than 12 hours of either Web browsing or videos. That is a very good result given the small capacity of just 46Wh. The IPS display (Innolux N133JCA-EEK (LEN41A0)) is all you need for usual daily or office tasks. The unit is PWM-free and the viewing angles are wide. The main con of the panel is the low sRGB coverage (54%). The port selection is rich and it includes four USBs and an HDMI 2.1. The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 (Intel) is a thin and light business device that impresses with a PWM-free IPS display, long battery life, quiet fan under full CPU load, and modern port selection. You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/lenovo-thinkpad-l13-gen-4-intel/