Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 2025, Ryzen 5 7535U, 16GB, 256GB SSD

The ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 is reliable but slow and overpriced at $1,499 USD. Its CPU and GPU rank in the 14th percentile, and the 256GB SSD is painfully small. Buy it only if you find a steep discount and just need a basic, dependable office laptop.

The Ryzen 5 7535U is a six-core chip that handles everyday office work fine, but it's not winning any races. In our database, this CPU lands in the 14th percentile, which means most laptops in this category run circles around it. The Radeon integrated graphics are equally underwhelming at the 14th percentile, so don't expect much beyond light photo editing or very casual gaming. The 16GB of RAM is adequate for multitasking, though it sits at the 37th percentile. The 256GB SSD is the real sore spot, landing at the 16th percentile. That fills up fast with Windows 11 Pro, a few apps, and some work files. You'll be reaching for an external drive sooner than you'd like.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro, this ThinkPad gets embarrassed on performance, screen quality, and storage. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and HP OMEN Transcend 14 both offer far better GPUs and faster CPUs for similar or slightly more money, though they lean gaming. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition beats it on portability, screen, and overall polish. The MSI Raider is a different beast entirely, aimed at raw power. The ThinkPad E16's only real edge is its business-focused reliability and the bundled bag. That's not enough to close the gap.

At $1,499 USD, this is a tough sell. You're paying premium business laptop money for components that rank in the bottom fifth of our database. The reliability is there, and the 16-inch screen is nice, but the slow CPU, weak GPU, and cramped 256GB SSD make this feel like a $700 machine wearing a $1,500 price tag. If you can find it on sale for significantly less, it becomes more interesting. At full price, you're better off looking elsewhere.

The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 is a business laptop that gets the basics right but stumbles on the details. You get a 16-inch WUXGA display, a Ryzen 5 7535U, 16GB of RAM, and Windows 11 Pro in a bundle that even throws in a laptop bag. On paper, that sounds like a solid workhorse for spreadsheets, email, and video calls.

But our database tells a different story. The CPU and GPU both sit in the 14th percentile, storage is at 16, and ports are at 20. That's rough for a machine priced at $1,499 USD. The reliability score is the one bright spot at the 81st percentile, so it probably won't die on you. It just won't impress you either.

Skip this if you need any real performance. Creators, developers, and anyone doing AI work should look elsewhere, the AI score is a dismal 11.8 out of 100. If you want a portable machine, this isn't it either, the compact score sits at the 20th percentile. And if you're expecting a premium experience for $1,499 USD, you'll be disappointed. Get a MacBook Air or Surface Laptop instead.

This laptop is for someone who needs a reliable, no-frills Windows machine for basic office work and doesn't care about speed, storage, or portability. If you're a business buyer who values durability over performance and you can get this at a discount, it's worth a look. Everyone else should keep scrolling.