T15 vs X13

[Seweryn]

Hi All,

I am selecting my working machine and about to decide between the two. I understand the major differences (size, keyboard, etc.). Which one would you take? The laptop would be plugged into the large screen(s) most of the time, usually with a separate keyboard. Not much travelling, but some times will have to move or work remotely.
I like the 16:10 screen ratio in the X13. Are there any other things to consider (external ports)? The machine will be specified with the i7 processor and Windows 10. Are they similar build quality / materials?

Thanks.

[dr_st]

X13 has a smaller keyboard with no native Insert key (if anyone cares).

Screen ratio does not matter as much as screen resolution, IMO.

If most of the time (90%+) it's going to be docked and used with external peripherals, all these differences are less important. But if it's more like 50%-50% docked and mobile, then they are.

[mikemex]

Seems like you're more of a Desktop PC person, than a laptop traveler.

I'd get the T15 if you don't mind the larger profile. Laptops are quite thin and light already, so the difference is not that great as it used to be.

[ZaZ]

If it's going to be docked most of the time, I'd buy on price or value, not screen size.

[Seweryn]

Thanks for the responses.

The screen resolution would be similar in both, 1920 x 1080 (1200 for X13). Not sure if the screen quality is similar. I assume yes. After checking the sizes I see there is not that much between them. Identical thickness and about 10-20 mm width and length in the difference.

[mikemex]

If it's going to be docked most of the time, I'd buy on price or value, not screen size.

That's what I once thought. But after years of owning an X220, I realized that I didn't use it that much because the jump from a large desktop monitor to the tiny 12.5 screen was sometimes unbearable. I guess it'd be a sightly different situation with the X13, as it has the same screen size as my X301 (which I still use), but still, if you're used to working on a large monitor, the jump to a small one will always make it uncomfortable.

Even Lenovo agrees with me, as they discontinued the 12.x" x2x / X2xx line and replaced it with the X13.

[ZaZ]

Even Lenovo agrees with me

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer, only a matter of preference.

[mikemex]

Even Lenovo agrees with me

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer, only a matter of preference.

Yes and no. I think that screen real state, like battery life, RAM and such, is usually non controversial: you always want as much as possible, until you hit some limit imposed by practicality. That's why phone screen sizes have been steadily increasing over time to around 6.5", which is the largest size the average person can hold in hand. They even switched to longer screen ratios in order to provide larger screens without making the phone too wide.

With laptops, the practical limit seems to be around 14" for a device you can use on your lap / not sitting in front of a desk. That's why that format has always been the bread and butter of the laptop world. A 15" laptop begins to feel cumbersome for that kind of use. Overall, there are basically three categories of computers: fixed, transportable and portable. Phones, tablets and laptops up to about 14" are the only portable devices. The rest of the laptops are just transportable / only meant to move from one desk to another.

For the kind of use the OP described, the 13.3" screen format would offer benefits he's unlikely to need; namely, to be able to use the laptop on the go comfortably. And he would lose quite a bit screen real state, which is probably a feature he will actually need.