Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga G4 AMD Laptop Review: Quiet Ryzen convertible for students

As the only AMD ThinkPad convertible, the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4 is a singular model. At the same time, it is still a ThinkPad L series, a budget series for institutional customers – no high end model. This combination leaves its mark on this review.

Advantage AMD: The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga G4 is barely audible in terms of fan noise, yet it still delivers a good level of performance. In this instance, the technically obsolete Ryzen 7030U series shows how efficient it still can be. At the same time, the notebook has good input devices as typical for a ThinkPad as well as a good port selection. The repairability is better than many more expensive laptops, thanks to the user-replaceable keyboard.

The cost savings that are part and parcel with the lower price also have negative consequences. For one, the base unit of the L13 Yoga G4 is much less stiff and stable compared to other ThinkPad; not ideal for a mobile convertible model. USB4 and PCIe 4.0 are not supported by the Ryzen 7030 platform. More expensive competitors have those features. Also, the battery life is rather limited, thanks to the smallish battery. 

The affordable convertible with AMD: The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga G4 AMD is a great fit for the education market, thanks to its integrated stylus.

Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga G4 AMD just managed to reach a “very good” rating, thanks to the high fan-noise (or lack thereof) sub-rating. Buyers should suffer no illusions though: The L13 does not reach the level of quality of more expensive convertibles models like the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Yoga Gen 3, especially in terms of build quality. For customers who want to save some money, this model still is an interesting choice, especially if it mostly sits on a table. For students who need a device for digital note-taking, the L13 also seems like a great buy, thanks to the integrated Wacom stylus. Intel alternatives for a similar price, like the Acer Aspire 5 Spin 14, do offer Thunderbolt 4, unlike the ThinkPad, but they also tend to have much louder cooling fans.