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I find the basic FHD+ non-touch version to be well suited for most people just going about regular work. I measured with my SpyderX Pro colorimeter 100% sRGB, 79% AdobeRGB, and 81% DCI-P3 color reproduction, all solid results. Colors are full and good contrast helps remove any washed appearance. I had no issues using it for photo editing, and for standard productivity work it will be more than enough. If you foresee a lot of work outdoors, something with more brightness is recommended. This view also shows the ThinkPad’s single large cooling fan, which ran frequently and audibly throughout testing. I can only speculate, but perhaps the fan wouldn’t run so much if the X13 is equipped with a less powerful Intel U-series processor, which should produce less heat. Either way, even with the P-series chip, the X13 doesn't get too warm for general use. Using it in your lap shouldn’t be a problem.
The Core i7 chips in the others have 96 execution units running at 1.25GHz for U-class or 1.45GHz for P-class chips. Nonetheless, the 30.8 frames per second the X13 can muster in Aztec Ruins indicates it should be able to play some basic modern games at reduced settings. (See our feature: Can You Play Today's Biggest Games on Laptop Integrated Graphics?) Battery and Display TestsAs for wireless connectivity, you get the cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6E standard as well as Bluetooth 5.2. There are also optional 4G and 5G LTE modems, compatible with either a nano SIM or an eSIM. And IT departments with strict user access control protocols can outfit the ThinkPad X13 Gen 2 with an optional SmartCard reader or a fingerprint reader built into the keyboard. Strong build quality is an X-series hallmark. The ThinkPad X13 Gen 3’s magnesium shell feels cool to the touch and makes an enticing scratchy sound when you run your fingertips across it. No parts of the chassis flex, and the lid is extra stiff. It should stand up to travel and other abuse well. The X13 ThinkPad has two bottom firing speakers that, despite the laptop’s small size, get quite loud and have robust sound quality to match.
The ThinkPad X13 (Gen 2) isn't easy to recommend when prices are similar to or more than those of X1 laptops. To test the screen, I watched the Bill & Ted Face the Music trailer in both normal and low light conditions. Regardless of how much light was on the screen, the viewing angles were almost complete. I also didn’t notice much glare, even when holding the screen directly next to my lamp. Battery: These systems do not support batteries that are not genuine Lenovo-made or authorised. Systems will continue to boot, but may not charge unauthorised batteries. Lenovo has no responsibility for the performance or safety of unauthorised batteries, and provides no warranties for failures or damage arising out of their use. **Battery life is based on the MobileMark® 2014 methodology and is an estimated maximum. Actual battery life may vary based on many factors, including screen brightness, active applications, features, power management settings, battery age and conditioning, and other customer preferences.
A Serious ThinkPad for Serious Work
Typing comfort was once paramount on any ThinkPad, although Lenovo has experimented in recent years with shallower, less comfortable keyboards on thin models like the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga. Typing purists will be glad to find none of those experiments on the X13 Gen 2, which offers a version of the classic, finger-pleasing keyboard that has graced ThinkPads for decades. (Photo: Molly Flores) I've appeared on CBS News, in USA Today, and at many other outlets to offer analysis on breaking technology news. Meanwhile, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 (0.6 by 12.4 by 8.8 inches, 2.48 pounds) is only marginally larger despite using a 14-inch screen. Both it and the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 are thinner than the X13, too.
The ThinkPad X13 gets somewhat warm during use, though its touchpoints didn’t reflect this during my testing. After streaming YouTube videos for 15 minutes, the underside registered 98.5 degrees Fahrenheit (36.9 degrees Celsius), which made it the hottest area. The second hottest area was the center of the keyboard (between the G and H keys), which was 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit (34.2 degrees Celsius). The touchpad was the coolest area we measured, only hitting 83.5 degrees Fahrenheit (28.6 degrees Celsius). The ThinkPad X13 we tested has a 13.3 inch FHD IPS screen that, despite having wide viewing angles, doesn’t live up to the color accuracy and brightness that IPS is known for. Limits: Limit 5 per customer. Offers valid from Lenovo in the US only. Lenovo may increase or decrease these limits, from time to time, for certain offerings.Swappable parts in the ThinkPad X13 Gen 3 include its battery, M.2 2230 wireless card, and M.2 2280 PCI Express storage drive. The RAM is soldered-down LPDDR5 that can’t be changed out, so configure the laptop with as much as you need from the get-go. The ThinkPad X13 Gen 3 universally trails in graphics performance, unfortunately. Though all these laptops use Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics silicon, it’s configured differently depending on the processor. The Core i5-1240P in our X13 has the weakest implementation, with 80 execution units running at 1.45GHz. Lenovo has been shifting its laptop displays to a taller aspect ratio with recent refreshes; the ThinkPad X13 (Gen 2) is included in the upgrade. It's now 16:10 with a 1920x1200 (FHD+) resolution that looks crisp and clear at 13.3 inches. This is the most basic display available, with anti-glare finish, IPS panel, and a measured 354 nits at peak brightness. It's almost bright enough to work outdoors, at least on a cloudy day.
Our other three benchmarks focus on the CPU, using all available cores and threads, to rate a PC's suitability for processor-intensive workloads. Maxon's Cinebench R23 uses that company's Cinema 4D engine to render a complex scene, while Primate Labs' Geekbench 5.4 Pro simulates popular tasks ranging from PDF rendering and speech recognition to machine learning. Finally, we use the open-source video transcoder HandBrake 1.4 to convert a 12-minute video clip from 4K to 1080p resolution (lower times are better). Screen-wise, the ThinkPad X13 Gen 3 holds its own. It’s not the brightest but is close enough to the 400 nits we like to see in this class. Its color coverage is competitive, though the Dell’s OLED screen outdoes them all. Battery: These systems do not support batteries that are not genuine Lenovo-made or authorized. Systems will continue to boot, but may not charge unauthorized batteries. Attention: Lenovo has no responsibility for the performance or safety of unauthorized batteries, and provides no warranties for failures or damage arising out of their use. Battery life (and recharge times) will vary based on many factors, including system settings and usage. At 0.71 by 12.04 by 8.56 inches (HWD), the ThinkPad X13 Gen 3 is similar to the EliteBook 830 G9 (0.76 by 11.81 by 8.46 inches, 2.8 pounds) and has more depth than the 16:9-screened Dell Latitude 7330 (0.66 by 12.07 by 7.87 inches, 2.67 pounds for its aluminum-bodied model). Lenovo's odd pricing system sees laptops have a "standard price" that's generally hovering somewhere on the edge of outer space. Then, thanks to ecoupons and sales events, it can advertise thousands of dollars off the regular price. However, when those sales aren't active it can be tough to figure out just what to recommend.The X1 Nano proves faster in Geekbench, but that test takes only a few minutes to run. The Nano falls behind the X13 in the long-running Cinebench and Handbrake tests despite its theoretically stronger Core i7, suggesting the X13 has a more effective cooling system. Graphics and Gaming Tests However, even had it lasted longer off the plug, Lenovo’s own ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 would still be a rosier choice. It has superior features and battery life and can be nearly the same price dependent upon Lenovo’s ever-changing sales. Port selection on the ThinkPad X13 Gen 3 satisfies for a 13.3-inch ultraportable. There are two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) on the left edge, the leftmost of which is used to charge the laptop with its 65-watt adapter. The AMD ThinkPad X13 has a USB 4 and a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port in their place. Our first test is UL's PCMark 10, which simulates a variety of real-world productivity and office workflows to measure overall system performance and also includes a storage subtest for the primary drive. We look for 4,000 points in the main test as a sign of competency for the tasks that test simulates. Before I joined the tech-journalism ranks, I wrote on topics as diverse as Borneo's rain forests, Middle Eastern airlines, and Big Data's role in presidential elections. A graduate of Middlebury College, I also have a master's degree in journalism and French Studies from New York University.
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