How to open Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 5 – disassembly and upgrade options

LaptopMedia.com Guides How to open Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 5 – disassembly and upgrade options

From: Dimitar Stalev 25 March 2025 / 09:43 | 0

#CommissionsEarned

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 5

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
VideoCard: Intel Graphics (4-Cores)
RAM: 16GB RAM
STORAGE: 256GB SSD

Detailed review

$1313^.13

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 5

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 155U
VideoCard: Intel Graphics (4-Cores)
RAM: 16GB RAM
STORAGE: 512GB SSD

Detailed review

$1472^.17

View all results

Opening the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 5

Hint: Ensure the laptop is powered off and unplugged before starting.

Undo the eight captive Phillips-head screws securing the bottom panel to the chassis.
Optionally, eject the SIM card tray for easier disassembly, although it’s not mandatory.
Use a thin plastic tool to pop the top two corners of the panel.
Pry along the back and sides to release the clips.
Lift the rear until the front clips disengage, then remove the bottom cover entirely.

More info: The inside of the panel gives access to the battery, storage, and connectivity components.

Battery Removal

Caution: Use a plastic tool and wear gloves to avoid static damage or accidental short circuits.

Use a lever tool to pop up the front of the battery connector.
Gently push the back of the connector toward the SSD to disengage the small plastic feet from the housing.
Undo the four Phillips-head screws securing the 46Wh battery to the base.
Lift and remove the battery from the laptop.

More info: The 46Wh battery provides up to 11 hours of video playback, suitable for long office sessions.

You can find compatible batteries here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Memory Details

Note: The RAM is soldered and not user-upgradeable.
More info: The laptop supports up to 32GB of LPDDR5 memory. While the chips are rated at 7500MHz, they operate at 6400MHz due to platform limitations—still plenty for business and productivity use.

Storage Upgrade

Hint: Handle SSD components carefully to avoid static damage.

Locate the single M.2 slot, which is compatible with 2280 Gen 4 NVMe SSDs.
The drive is coated with a nylon film on top for protection and is cooled by a long thermal pad underneath.
Insert the SSD at an angle, secure it, and ensure thermal contact is preserved with the cooling pad.

More info: The Gen 4 interface offers fast storage performance, suitable for office and professional tasks.

You can find compatible SSDs here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Connectivity Options

More info:

The WWAN slot on the right supports optional 4G LTE connectivity.
The Wi-Fi 6E card is soldered and cannot be replaced or upgraded.

Cooling System Overview

More info: The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 5 features a basic cooling solution optimized for office use.

One fan provides airflow across the internal components.
A single heat pipe transfers heat from the processor.
A heat sink and a heat spreader help dissipate thermal buildup during prolonged use.

Tip: Clean the fan and vents periodically to ensure stable cooling performance.

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 5 (Intel) in-depth review

The manufacturer describes the ThinkPad L13 Gen 5 as "portable with lightweight, compact design & maximized connectivity". Yes, this is a thin and light 13-inch gadget that also offers a pretty good port selection for its size. We also have reviewed the 14-inch sibling which may look almost the same, but both laptops aren't that similar when the bottom plates are opened. The L13 model is offered just with 15W Intel Meteor Lake CPUs. The 28W variants are reserved for the bigger models. Also, the memory here is soldered while the L14 comes with a pair of SODIMMs. Still, all that sounds norma[...]

Read the full review

Pros

Solid metal build
Light and thin (1.23 kg / 17.23 mm)
Feels snappy for normal work
The fan isn't noisy during long max CPU loads in "Best Performance" mode
PWM-free display (LEN41A0)
Comfortable viewing angles + 16:10 aspect ratio (LEN41A0)
330 nits of max brightness (LEN41A0)
Web camera with a privacy shutter
Modern port selection with 4x USB ports
Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
Up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM
vPro CPU, IR Web camera, fingerprint reader, Nano-SIM card slot, Smart card reader, NFC (all are optional)
The Core Ultra 5 125U sustains a 2.32 GHz / 2.06 GHz P and E-core clock in longer loads
3.52 GHz / 3.18 GHz P and E-core clock in medium CPU loads
The bottom plate can be popped easily
Well-cooled SSD (KIOXIA KBG6AZNV512G)
The fan doesn't spin if the CPU temperature is below 50°C
180-degree hinge