Lenovo recently released the super-svelte LaVie Z laptop, offering Windows fans a clamshell that’s just as lightweight as Apple’s new 12-inch MacBook. As promised during CES, the new laptop is available in two different flavors: the standard LaVie Z and the LaVie Z 360 convertible.
At 1.87 pounds, the standard model of the LaVie Z is a little heavier than the promised 1.72 pounds when we saw it in Las Vegas in January. Nevertheless, it still weighs less than Apple’s 2.03-pound, 12-inch MacBook, and Lenovo’s LaVie Z comes with a larger 13.3-inch screen.
The key to the LaVie Z’s lighter weight is the laptop’s Magnesium-Lithium (Mg-Li) alloy chassis, which is supposed to weigh half as much as aluminum but as strong as standard magnesium alloy.
When it comes to pixels, the new MacBook has the LaVie Z slightly beat, at least when it comes to density. Apple’s MacBook has a Retina display with 2304-by-1440 resolution at 226 pixels per inch. The LaVie Z has a higher resolution at 2560-by-1440, but a lower ppi count at 220. The difference should be imperceptible in daily life, however.
The MacBook is also a little thinner. At its thickest point the MacBook measures 0.52-inch, compared to the LaVie Z’s 0.67-inch.
But enough about the MacBook comparisons! We’re here to learn about the lightweight LaVie Z laptop.
Under the hood, both the basic laptop and the convertible are packing a 2.40GHz Intel Core i7-5500U, integrated Intel graphics, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. You also get two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI-out port, and an SD card reader. The convertible 360 comes with a touchscreen
The LaVie Z is available directly from Lenovo for $1500 or $1700 for the convertible model.
The impact on you at home: The best Windows laptop I ever owned was a MacBook running Windows via Boot Camp. If the 12-inch MacBook’s style appeals to you then it’s still a solid choice—as long as you like Windows 8.1. If, however, you’re looking for something that comes built for Windows but is still ridiculously light and thin, then the LaVie Z is worth a look.