Lenovo’s new ThinkPad Z13 features a woven Flax cover made from plant fibers
Lenovo’s new ThinkPad Z13 and Z16 stand out due to their internals and unique externals.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
What you need to know
Lenovo unveiled several new laptops and devices today, many featuring the latest internals. But The ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2 is unique due to its externals. The laptop features an optional top cover with woven Flax material made by harvesting plant fibers.
Windows Central first reported on Lenovo’searly concepts of using natural materials in its Z-series laptopslast year.
The new ThinkPad Z13 was announced alongside its larger sibling, the ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2. Both laptops feature AMD Ryzen 7000 Series processors and AMD Radeon 700M Series graphics. They’re also configurable with up to 64GB of memory and up to 2TB of storage.
Lenovo highlights the specs inside the laptops, such as Wi-Fi 6E and Dolby Voice microphones, but the company also noted the unique material of the PC’s top cover.
The woven Flax fibers are bonded to a 75% recycled aluminum top cover. The result is a cover that looks and feels different from other devices. The device’s color isn’t standard either, as the unique finish creates a specific shade of brown.
Moving to the inside of the laptop, the new ThinkPads have haptic touchpads, which our Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubinocovered in depth. The Z13 and Z16 are the first all-Sensel technology touchpads, meaning they feature Sensel tech for touch-sensing, force-sensing, and haptics.
These touchpads have several advantages, including removing moving parts from the equation. They’re also thinner, meaning PC makers can pack more components in laptops using the space usually reserved for mechanical touchpads.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
The ThinkPad Z13 and ThinkPad Z16 launch in July and August, respectively. The smaller ThinkPad Z13 will start at $1,249 while the ThinkPad Z16 will cost $1,749.
Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
