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ThinkPad Z Series Ushers in a New Look and Recycled Materials for the Iconic Brand

LAS VLAS VEGAS – January 4, 2022 – Lenovo™ is thrilled to announce a new series of ThinkPad laptops featuring stunning progressive designs that break the mold and introduce new colors and materials for our premium business laptop portfolio.

The all-new ThinkPad Z13 and Z16 embark on a contemporary design philosophy targeting a different business user audience. The new striking design reflects changing attitudes towards technology, its impact on the environment and the origins of raw components. Not only is the design meant to provide individualistic premium color accents such as bronze and arctic grey, but it also features more sustainable materials such as recycled aluminum1, or recycled black vegan leather2. Sustainability extends to the packaging which is made from 100% recyclable and compostable bamboo and sugarcane, and the AC power adapter uses 90% Post-Consumer Content (PCC).

ThinkPad Z13 and Z16 will be amongst the first laptops powered by the very latest AMD Ryzen™ PRO 6000 Series processors for mobile with the Microsoft Pluton security processor. Performance and security features go hand in hand and Lenovo’s secure-by-design methodology is enhanced through its cooperation with AMD and Microsoft. Building on AMD PRO security’s layered approach, AMD Ryzen 6000 Series are the first x86 processors to integrate the Microsoft Pluton security processor for powerful security from chip to cloud on Windows 11 PCs. The Microsoft Pluton Security Processor is designed and updated by Microsoft and hardens new Windows 11 PCs with protection for user identity, data, and applications.

Exclusive Lenovo and AMD Collaboration

Furthermore, Lenovo and AMD have collaborated to deliver cutting edge platform design, streamlining all aspects of the system from silicon to hardware and software. The ThinkPad Z13, coupled with the exclusive AMD Ryzen™ 7 PRO 6860Z processor3, delivers a supreme collaboration experience. The processor is optimized to deliver seamless audio and video performance, maximize responsiveness, and deliver incredible battery life in applications like Teams and Zoom. ThinkPad Z16 can also be configured with the new AMD Radeon™ RX 6500M discrete graphics with AMD smart technologies boosting productivity, enabling advanced content creation, and casual gaming. When paired with the Ryzen processors, AMD Smart Shift Max offers an instantaneous power boost for both CPU and GPU, and Smart Shift Eco is designed to maximize battery efficiency.

Form Meets Function

As we begin celebrations for the 30th anniversary of ThinkPad, we are incredibly proud of the legacy and heritage that ThinkPad has earned and our dedication to innovating for the benefit of the end user will continue for decades to come. We are very excited about the significant design evolution in ThinkPad Z series, but above all the ThinkPad Z13 and Z16 continue to echo the core foundational design and engineering tenets that the brand has become synonymous with.

Key design and technology features have been integrated into ThinkPad Z series to boost the individual user experience. Minimalism is purposefully sophisticated and desirable. Displays have been optimized with ultra-narrow bezels and productive 16:10 aspect ratios. Audio and video conferencing is enhanced through a new Communications Bar that houses a better FHD webcam with a larger 1.4µm sensor and dual-array microphones. A larger 120mm glass haptic ForcePad that flows seamlessly with the all-glass palm rest is introduced for rapid and easy input and those familiar with the iconic red TrackPoint will witness a new functionality: Double tap the TrackPoint to launch a Communication QuickMenu for quick access to common camera and microphone settings.

Our goal is to delight end users with a distinctive look and feel using recycled materials and delivering on our promise for an exceptional experience; and reassure IT departments with enterprise-class performance, security, reliability, and manageability.

Make no mistake, Z13 and Z16 are ThinkPad laptops after all and as such are tested to MIL-Spec 810H standards and undergo the same stringent quality controls as all ThinkPad laptops, a fundamental step in ThinkPad product development and especially when using new materials.

Cutting Edge Technologies

We build our products around our customers’ needs. Every single detail is there for a reason and ThinkPad Z13 and Z16 excel at offering a better outcome for end users. Highlights include:

    Recycled black vegan leather and aluminum, and recyclable bamboo and sugarcane packaging
    Communications Bar integrating an FHD camera with a larger sensor, electronic e-Shutter for privacy and dual-array microphones
    Highest screen-to-body (STB) ratio in ThinkPad portfolio – 91.6% (Z13) and 92.3% (Z16)
    Larger 120mm haptic ForcePad
    Vivid display options including touch-enabled 2.8K OLED on Z13 and 4K OLED on Z16, both with Dolby Vision® support and low blue light
    Dolby Atmos® Speaker System and Dolby Voice® AI noise cancellation technology
    New double-tap function on TrackPoint launches Communication QuickMenu for rapid access to camera and microphone settings
    Z13 is powered by AMD Ryzen PRO U-Series processors with integrated AMD Radeon graphics plus Microsoft Pluton security processor. Z13 is also available with an exclusive AMD Ryzen PRO 6860Z processor
    Z16 is powered by AMD Ryzen PRO H-Series processors with integrated AMD Radeon graphics or optional AMD Radeon RX 6500M discrete graphics, and include the Microsoft Pluton security processor
 AMD Ryzen PRO 6000 Series processors with Qualcomm® FastConnect 6900 offer advanced manageability and industry leading Wi-Fi connectivity on Z13 and Z16. Additionally, Qualcomm® 4-stream Dual Band Simultaneousi (DBS) on AMD Ryzen™ PRO 6000 Series processors enables sustained low latency potential of Wi-Fi Dual Station, natively supported on Windows 11
    Preloaded with Windows 11
    Match-on-chip fingerprint reader integrated into keyboard for security convenience

Quotes

“We are immensely proud of our ThinkPad heritage but there is little time to reflect, and we will also strive to delight new customers as well as existing ones. Innovation is in our DNA from design and development to engineering and supply chain. We will continue to push the boundaries, make changes, and work with close partners like AMD and Microsoft to deliver innovative and more secure products like ThinkPad Z13 and Z16 that are designed to exceed the needs of customers, current and future.” Jerry Paradise, vice president, Global Commercial Product Portfolio, Lenovo PC and Smart Devices.

”AMD PRO technologies delivers a complete set of features that are essential for the modern business. We are delighted to be working with Lenovo to deliver the world’s first x86 processors integrating the Microsoft Pluton security processor into the newest member of their ThinkPad portfolio. ThinkPad Z series with AMD PRO technologies will ensure users have the confidence to navigate our new hybrid working world quickly, reliably and with security in mind.” Jason Banta, CVP and General Manager, OEM Client Computing, AMD.

”Hybrid working is the new norm, and users seek new levels of collaboration and security. For the first time in a business laptop, the Microsoft Pluton security processor integrated on AMD Ryzen PRO 6000 Series processors in the ThinkPad Z13 and Z16 with Windows 11 will help protect user identity, data and apps from the chip to the cloud. The powerful combination of these technologies will help users augment their productivity and engagement with peace of mind from the sophisticated attacks of today and tomorrow.” – David Weston, Partner Director of Enterprise and OS Security, Microsoft Corp.