Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 (2024)

Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 is a 2024 16-inch business laptop featuring a numeric keypad, upgradable RAM up to 64GB, and MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability standards. The device comes in two platforms: the Intel version uses Intel Core Ultra (Series 1), while the AMD version uses AMD Ryzen 7035 series, such as the Ryzen 5 7535U or Ryzen 7 7735HS. This article compares the options for both versions so you can choose the right configuration for your work.

Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 16-inch aluminum chassis design

Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 features an aluminum lid and a base made of either PC-ABS plastic or aluminum depending on the version, finished in the signature ThinkPad black. It measures 356.1 x 247.7mm, is 20.2mm thick, and starts at a weight of 1.78kg for the plastic base version; the aluminum base version is slightly thinner (19.85mm) and starts at 1.81kg. The bezels are thin, achieving a screen-to-body ratio of 90.7%.

Both the Intel and AMD versions share the same chassis and both pass MIL-STD-810H durability tests for vibration, temperature, and humidity. Some configurations include a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, allowing you to log in simply by pressing the button to wake the machine. At 1.78kg, this laptop is better suited for a fixed office setup or being carried a few times a week rather than constant all-day travel.

Display on the ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 (2024)

With a 16-inch 16:10 display, Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 offers four anti-glare IPS panel options with a 60Hz refresh rate, which are the same for both Intel and AMD versions: WUXGA 1920 x 1200 300 nits with 45% NTSC (with or without touch), WUXGA 1920 x 1200 400 nits with 100% sRGB, and WQXGA 2560 x 1600 400 nits with 100% sRGB.

The 300 nits version is sufficient for text, Excel, and online meetings in a room, but colors are somewhat washed out, making it unsuitable for photo editing. The two 400 nits versions are brighter, have more accurate colors, and feature Eyesafe 2.0 certification, which reduces blue light at the hardware level without making the screen look yellowish. The WQXGA 2.5K version provides sharper text, making it ideal for designers or those viewing multiple spreadsheets simultaneously.

ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 Performance: Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen

The biggest difference between ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 configurations comes down to the processor, with Lenovo offering a choice of both Intel and AMD platforms across multiple tiers. On the Intel side, options include the Core Ultra 5 125U, 135U, 125H and Core Ultra 7 155U, 165U, 155H paired with DDR5-5600 RAM. On the AMD side, you can choose between the Ryzen 3 7335U, Ryzen 5 7535U, Ryzen 5 7535HS, Ryzen 7 7735U, Ryzen 7 7735HS, alongside two rebranded processors, the Ryzen 5 150 and Ryzen 7 170 (sharing the same specs as the 7535HS and 7735HS), paired with DDR5-4800 RAM. The table below compares the most common processors to help you gauge the performance differences.

Average reference data sourced from Notebookcheck; individual laptop results vary based on performance mode.

The ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 AMD Ryzen 5 7535U configuration (6 cores, 12 threads, up to 4.55 GHz boost) easily handles Word, multi-sheet Excel workbooks, accounting software, Zoom, Teams, and dozens of Chrome tabs at once. Stepping up to the Ryzen 7 7735HS yields an approximately 34% bump in multi-core scores, giving you enough headroom for programming, running lightweight virtual machines, or editing Full HD video. The Core Ultra 7 155H tops the lineup as the most powerful chip, outperforming the 7735HS by about 24% in multi-core performance.

Beyond raw processing power, the two platforms differ in their AI capabilities. Intel Core Ultra chips feature a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU), the Intel AI Boost rated at up to 11 TOPS, which powers features like video-call background blur with minimal battery drain. AMD Ryzen 7035-series processors lack an NPU, leaving those tasks to the CPU and graphics instead. Both versions include a Copilot key but do not qualify as Copilot+ PCs (which require an NPU with at least 40 TOPS); ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini still run normally.

Integrated graphics also vary by chip. The Radeon 680M on Ryzen 7 models and Intel Arc on Core Ultra H chips are noticeably faster than the Radeon 660M and Intel Graphics found on the remaining processors: 3DMark Time Spy scores reach roughly 2,303 and 3,270 points respectively, versus 1,535 on the Radeon 660M. Both of these faster options can handle League of Legends, Valorant, or Dota 2 at 1080p on low settings. Note that Intel Arc graphics only activate when the laptop has at least 16GB of dual-channel RAM (2 sticks).

Easy RAM and SSD Upgrades on the ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 AMD and Intel

Upgradability is a major advantage of the ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 compared to many laptops with soldered memory today. Whether you choose Intel or AMD, the machine provides two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 64GB and dual-channel operation when both slots are populated; the only difference is speed, with Intel models using 5600 MHz RAM and AMD models running at 4800 MHz. The laptop also features two SSD slots: one M.2 2280 slot and one M.2 2242 slot, both running at PCIe 4.0 speeds and accepting drives up to 1TB each.

For example, take the AMD configuration (model 21M5000GUS) equipped with a Ryzen 5 7535U, 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, a WUXGA display, and Windows 11 Pro. It comes with a single 16GB DDR5-4800 stick, meaning it runs in single-channel mode out of the box. Adding a second 16GB DDR5-4800 stick bumps the system to 32GB in dual-channel mode, smoothing out multitasking when multiple apps are open and providing extra memory bandwidth for the integrated graphics. While the 256GB drive is relatively small, the vacant M.2 2242 slot allows you to install a second drive without having to reinstall Windows.

ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 Keyboard & Touchpad

The keyboard on the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 features a 6-row spill-resistant layout, complete with a dedicated numeric keypad and a Copilot key. Key travel measures 1.5 mm (except for the function row and the G, H, and B keys, which measure 1.35 mm), delivering crisp tactile feedback that prevents fatigue during extended typing sessions. A backlit keyboard is optional and available on select configurations.

The touchpad measures 68 x 115 mm with a Mylar surface, supports Windows multi-touch gestures, and includes three physical buttons along the top. In the center of the keyboard sits ThinkPad's iconic red TrackPoint nub, letting you navigate the cursor without lifting your hands from the keys; double-tapping the TrackPoint brings up a quick menu to adjust sensitivity or mute and unmute the microphone.

Audio and camera for online meetings

The speaker system features two 2W speakers tuned by HARMAN and supports Dolby Atmos, providing sufficient volume for small meeting rooms and watching movies. A dual-microphone array with intelligent noise cancellation helps voices sound clearer during Zoom or Teams calls in noisy environments.

The camera comes with three options: 720p HD, 1080p Full HD, and 1080p Full HD with an infrared sensor for facial recognition unlocking (Windows Hello). All versions include a physical camera shutter; the 1080p version adds image noise reduction for low-light environments. The 21M5000GUS configuration uses a 1080p camera with a shutter.

Battery and cooling on the ThinkPad E16 Gen 2

Battery life is quite similar across both platforms since they share the same battery and charger. The machine features a 47Wh battery supporting Rapid Charge Pro (50% charge in 30 minutes) or a 57Wh battery supporting Rapid Charge (80% charge in 1 hour), coming with a 65W USB-C adapter. According to Lenovo's MobileMark 25 testing, the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U version lasts up to about 11.6 hours, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS 57Wh version lasts up to about 12.7 hours; actual usage with high brightness and multiple applications will be shorter.

The cooling system on the ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 keeps the machine quiet during office work. With H and HS chips like the Core Ultra 7 155H or Ryzen 7 7735HS, the fans will spin faster and become more audible during long video exports or code compilation, in exchange for higher performance than the U-series versions.

Slots & Connectivity on the ThinkPad E16 Gen 2

Connectivity is where the two platforms differ most, even though the number of ports and their locations are the same. The Intel version has one 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 port, one 20Gbps USB-C port (supporting both charging and video output), one 5Gbps USB-A port, one 10Gbps USB-A port that provides power to charge phones while the machine is off, HDMI 2.1, an RJ-45 LAN port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Moving to the AMD version, the machine still retains the USB-A, HDMI, LAN, and audio jack ports, but the two USB-C ports only reach 5Gbps and 10Gbps and lack Thunderbolt. For needs like connecting a mouse, an external monitor, or charging via USB-C, this difference has almost no impact.

Both versions can output to up to 4 displays simultaneously (the laptop screen plus 3 external monitors); the HDMI port supports 4K 60Hz, while the 10Gbps and 20Gbps USB-C ports support up to 5K. Wireless connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E with Bluetooth 5.2 or 5.3. The machine does not have an SD card reader, so those who frequently transfer photos from cameras should prepare a USB card reader.

Verdict and Review: Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 (2024)

The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 is a great fit for businesses, accountants, developers, and students who need a large screen, a number pad, and a durable laptop built for long-term use. AMD configurations like the Ryzen 5 7535U offer an accessible price point with plenty of power for everyday office work, while the Intel Core Ultra versions add Thunderbolt 4, an NPU, and faster RAM speeds. Both allow easy RAM and SSD upgrades and come well-equipped with full-size LAN and HDMI ports.

Things to consider: the laptop has a starting weight of 1.78 kg, the base display tops out at 300 nits and 60 Hz, the AMD version lacks Thunderbolt and an NPU, there is no SD card slot, and neither variant qualifies as a Copilot+ PC.

Where to Buy the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 (2024) at the Best Price

If you need a durable 16-inch ThinkPad laptop with a number pad and easy upgrade options for long-term productivity, the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 (2024) - in either Intel or AMD configurations - is a compelling option in its price segment.

At Hung Phat Laptop, our team will help you pick the right processor, screen, and RAM capacity for your workflow, with on-the-spot RAM and SSD upgrade services available at purchase. Every machine is a genuine product backed by full VAT invoices, clear warranty policies, and nationwide shipping.