Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 vs Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 Comparison

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Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2

16 inches | February 2023

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Lenovo LOQ 16APH8

16 inches | March 2023

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Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 vs Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 Comparison Overview

Lenovo ThinkPad Z16...

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Lenovo LOQ 16APH8

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Lenovo ThinkPad Z16...

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Lenovo LOQ 16APH8

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In this review, we will be comparing ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 and LOQ 16APH8, two laptops by Lenovo. Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 was introduced to market in February 2023 and Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 was launched in March 2023. There is only 1 months difference between ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 and LOQ 16APH8 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 and Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 Key Specs

Launched in February 2023
16.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS
GPU: Radeon 760M
16GB Ram
354.4 x 237.4 x 15.8 mm (13.95 x 9.35 x 0.62 inches)
Weight: 1.81 kg (3.99 lbs)

Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 Key Specs

Launched in March 2023
16.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 6GB
8GB Ram
359.6 x 277.59 x 21-25.9 mm (14.16 x 10.93 x 0.83-1.02 inches)
Weight: 2.6 kg (5.73 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 and LOQ 16APH8 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 over Lenovo LOQ 16APH8

Weight	1.81 kg vs 2.60 kg	0.79 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~88.2% vs ~74.4%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	4.9 mm vs 7.5 mm	2.6 mm thinner bezels
Max Brightness	400 nits vs 350 nits	Brighter Screen
GPU Fabrication Process	6 nm vs 8 nm	Newer Generation GPU
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5.2	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Easy login with fingerprint
Number of USB-C Ports	3x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Faster USB-C connection
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader
Touchpad Size	12.0 x 8.0 cm vs 12.0 x 7.5 cm	Larger Touchpad Area

Reasons to choose Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 over Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2

Refresh Rate	144 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
GPU FLOPS	7.12 TFLOPS vs 4.06 TFLOPS	Dedicated GPU unit
GPU Type	Dedicated vs Integrated	More RAM Options
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs No	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.1 vs No	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No	Better typing feel
Key Travel	1.5 mm vs 1.35 mm	Lower Price (*may change depending on config, seller, location, and time)
Avg. MSRP Price	$800-1200 vs $1600-2000

Common Strengths of Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2

Launch Dates	February 2023 vs March 2023	Both laptops are recent models
Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6E	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
HDR Support	No vs No	No HDR Support

Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 vs Lenovo LOQ 16APH8: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 and the Lenovo LOQ 16APH8.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.81 kg (3.99 lbs)	2.6 kg (5.73 lbs)
Surface Area	841 cm2 (130.4 inches2)	998 cm2 (154.8 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~88.2%	~74.4%
Side Bezel Thickness	~4.9 mm	~7.5 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.11 kg/inch	0.16 kg/inch
	0.242 lbs/inch	0.352 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Gray	Gray

Comparison of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 and the Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 External Dimensions

Weight

ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 weighs 1.81 kg (3.99 lbs), whereas the LOQ 16APH8 weighs 2.6 kg (5.73 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. The weight difference between the two laptops is not significant.

Weight Comparison

Displays size 16.0-16.9 inches

Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 1.81 kg

Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 2.60 kg

Min 1.17 kg

Average 2.07 kg

Max 3.00 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size 16.0-16.9 inches

Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 15.80 mm

Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 25.90 mm

Min 12.30 mm

Average 20.35 mm

Max 30.80 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 is 0.11 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 is 0.16 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 vs Lenovo LOQ 16APH8: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS	AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS
Base Frequency	4.3 GHz	4.3 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5 GHz	5 GHz
Number of Cores	6	6
Number of Threads	12	12
L3 Cache	16 MB	16 MB
Integrated GPU	Radeon 760M	Radeon 760M
CPU Fabrication Process	4 nm	4 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1861	1861
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	10224	10224
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1669	1669
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	14048	14048

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 and Lenovo LOQ 16APH8.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPU ( AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS ) and compare them:

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Radeon 760M	GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB
Base Clock Frequency	1500 MHz	1530 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	2800 MHz	1740 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	15 W	95 W
Type	Integrated	Dedicated
FLOPS	4.06 TFLOPS	7.12 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	6 GB
Memory Type	LPDDR5X	GDDR6
Memory Speed	6.4 Gbps	12 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	384	2048
TMUs	24	64
ROPs	16	40

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 has a FLOPS value of 4.06 TFLOPS whereas the Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 ' has a FLOPS value of 7.12 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB 64GB	8GB 16GB 32GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	1x8 GB
RAM Clock	6400 MHz	5200 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR5X	DDR5
Upgradable	No	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

With a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, the ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the LOQ 16APH8's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2	Lenovo LOQ 16APH8
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✔ Good performance.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	72 Wh	60 Wh 80 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left	Left, Bottom
Charge Power	135 W	135 / 170 / 230 W
Full Charging Time	1:30 hr

Moreover, the ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 boasts a larger battery capacity of 72 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the LOQ 16APH8's60 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size 16.0-16.9 inches

Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 72 Wh

Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 60 Wh

Min 38.00 Wh

Average 74.15 Wh

Max 100.00 Wh

STORAGE
Both laptops, the ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 and the LOQ 16APH8 have similar max. storage capacities of 2 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	1	2
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 vs Lenovo LOQ 16APH8: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 and Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Both ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 and LOQ 16APH8 screens have the same size of 16.0".The total usable screen area of the ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 is 742cm² / 115inch² whereas the LOQ 16APH8's total usable screen area is 742cm² / 115inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Both ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 and LOQ 16APH8 feature the same pixel density with 142 pixels per inch (PPI).

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size 16.0-16.9 inches

Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 142 ppi

Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 142 ppi

Min 137 PPI

Average 169 PPI

Max 283.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
The LOQ 16APH8 offers a higher refresh rate of 144 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
The ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 offers a higher maximum brightness of 400 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Displays size 16.0-16.9 inches

Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 400 nits

Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 350 nits

Min

40 nits

Average 413 nits

Max 1250.00 nits

Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 vs Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6E), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
LOQ 16APH8 is equipped with 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 does not have USB-A ports.
Both ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 and LOQ 16APH8 have USB Type-C ports. ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 has 3x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while LOQ 16APH8 has 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Neither ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 nor LOQ 16APH8 has Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
LOQ 16APH8 features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. LOQ 16APH8 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 and LOQ 16APH8 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6E	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.3	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	No	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	3x USB 4.0	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	No	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	No	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	Yes
SD CardReader	Yes	No
Proprietary Charging Port	No	Yes