Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 Review: Power, Security & Speed—All Under $900

Looking for a laptop that can keep up with your workday without draining your wallet? The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 might just be it. Powered by a fast Ryzen 7 processor, packed with 32GB DDR5 RAM, and loaded with Windows 11 Pro, this business-ready machine delivers serious performance—at a price that’s hard to beat.

But does it live up to the ThinkPad name? Let’s find out if this under-$900 laptop is the smart choice for work, school, or your next big project.

Quick Specs at a Glance

Before diving into the details, here’s a quick look at what the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 brings to the table:

Design and Build Quality: Classic ThinkPad Feel with a Modern Touch

The ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 stays true to the ThinkPad legacy—solid, professional, and built to last. With its matte black finish and minimalist design, it looks right at home in any office or meeting room.

Despite its 16-inch size, the E16 remains slim and portable at just 0.78 inches thick, making it easy to carry between workstations or travel with. The chassis feels sturdy and well-made, giving you confidence that it can handle daily wear and tear.

Lenovo also improved this model’s build compared to its ThinkBook siblings. The hinge is tight and smooth, the keyboard deck feels firm, and the layout is spacious—ideal for long typing sessions. Add in a precision backlit keyboard and responsive fingerprint reader on the power button, and you’ve got a machine designed for serious productivity.

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Display and Visual Experience: Sharp, Spacious, and Easy on the Eyes

This laptop features a 16-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS display, giving you more vertical space than traditional 1080p screens—perfect for reading documents, editing spreadsheets, or multitasking across windows.

With 300 nits of brightness and an anti-glare coating, it performs well indoors, even under bright office lighting. While it may not be the brightest panel for outdoor use, it’s more than capable for most professional environments.

Graphics are handled by integrated AMD Radeon 680M, which provides smooth visuals for everyday tasks, streaming, and even light content creation. Whether you’re watching videos, joining a Zoom call, or working on a design file, the display delivers crisp, clear visuals with minimal eye strain.

🖼️ More screen space, better clarity—designed to boost your productivity without distractions.

Performance Deep Dive: Ryzen 7 Power That Means Business

The AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor is a beast. With 8 cores and 16 threads, it chews through tasks like coding, video calls, and heavy spreadsheets without breaking a sweat. Paired with 32GB DDR5 RAM, I juggled 20+ browser tabs, Slack, and Excel without a hiccup. The 1TB PCIe SSD boots Windows 11 Pro in seconds and stores all your files with room to spare. Upgrading is easy too, thanks to dual M.2 slots.

The integrated Radeon 680M graphics surprised me. It handled light video editing in Premiere Pro and even ran games like Among Us or Rocket League smoothly at medium settings. Need to connect to a 4K monitor for presentations? No problem—the Radeon 680M delivers crisp visuals. This Ryzen 7 laptop outpaces Intel’s Core i7-1355U in most tasks, making it a steal for the price.

Keyboard, Fingerprint & Audio: Built for Business Comfort

Its full-size, backlit keyboard offers deep key travel and tactile feedback, making it a pleasure to use during long work sessions or late-night tasks. You also get a dedicated number pad, which is perfect for data entry or finance-related tasks.

Security is seamless thanks to the fingerprint reader integrated into the power button—just tap to log in instantly, no password needed. It’s fast, secure, and ideal for professionals who value privacy.

Audio-wise, the HD stereo speakers are crisp and clear for video calls or casual streaming. Paired with the 1080p webcam and a built-in privacy shutter, you’re fully equipped for Zoom meetings or online collaboration—without worrying about unwanted camera access.

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Ports and Connectivity: Ready for Any Work Setup

The Lenovo ThinkPad doesn’t hold back when it comes to connectivity. Whether you’re working at a desk with multiple monitors or on the move with peripherals, this laptop has the ports to keep you plugged in and productive.

Here’s what you get:

• 2 x USB-C (one with Power Delivery & DisplayPort 1.4)
• 2 x USB-A (one Always-On for charging devices)
• 1 x HDMI 2.1 (supports up to 4K @ 60Hz)
• 1 x Ethernet (RJ-45) for wired internet
• 1 x 3.5mm combo audio jack

On the wireless side, it’s equipped with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, offering faster speeds, lower latency, and more stable connections—especially useful for video calls or file sharing in crowded network environments.

Battery Life and Thermals: Power That Lasts Without Overheating

It balances strong performance with impressive battery endurance. Under typical mixed-use—including browsing, video calls, and document editing—it delivers around 7 to 9 hours of battery life. This means you can work a full day without scrambling for a charger.

Thanks to Lenovo’s efficient cooling system, the laptop stays cool and quiet even during demanding tasks. The ventilation design prevents overheating, so you won’t experience throttling or uncomfortable heat buildup during long work sessions.

This makes it a great choice for professionals who move between meetings, work remotely, or travel often.

ThinkPad E16 vs. ThinkBook 16 G7: Which Wins?

How does the ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 stack up against the Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G7? The ThinkPad’s tougher build and better keyboard make it a go-to for heavy typists and corporate users. Security features like TPM 2.0 give it an edge for business. But the ThinkBook, starting at $788, offers a sharper display and sleeker look for less. If style and screen quality matter more, the ThinkBook pulls ahead. For durability and performance, the ThinkPad’s your pick.

Pros and Cons: A Quick Verdict

Who Should Buy the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2?

This laptop is an excellent choice if you:

• Are a business professional needing reliable, fast performance for office apps, video calls, and multitasking.
• Work remotely or travel often and want a sturdy, portable laptop with long battery life.
• Are a student or freelancer who requires a powerful machine for multitasking and moderate creative work.
• Prioritize security features like fingerprint login and webcam privacy.
• Need plenty of RAM and storage without paying a premium price.
• Want a Windows 11 Pro system with business-grade software capabilities.

If you’re looking for a laptop that balances power, security, and value under $900, the ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 should be at the top of your list.

Final Verdict: is the Best Laptop Under $900?

The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 packs impressive performance, security, and durability into an affordable package under $900. With its powerful Ryzen 7 processor, generous 32GB DDR5 RAM, and speedy 1TB SSD, it handles demanding business tasks and multitasking with ease.

Add to that the reliable build quality, comfortable keyboard, and thoughtful security features like fingerprint login and webcam privacy shutter, and you’ve got a laptop designed to boost productivity every day.

While the display isn’t the brightest for outdoor use and the integrated graphics aren’t meant for heavy gaming, this machine excels where it counts most—for professionals, remote workers, and students who want serious power without overspending.

If you need a dependable, well-rounded business laptop in 2025, the ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 is hard to beat.

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