Lenovo LaVie Z review

Since Intel's Ultrabook initiative kicked off a few years back, manufacturers have made great gains in pushing for thinner and lighter laptops. But even so, every Ultrabook I've picked up since has felt light for sure … for a laptop. That was before today, when a Lenovo representative handed me the Lenovo LaVie Z.
The first fruits of Lenovo's joint venture with Japanese computer firm NEC - to land in the US - are two NEC-built, Lenovo-branded laptops: the LaVie Z HZ550, a 1.72-pound notebook, and the LaVie Z HZ750, a 2.04-pound 2-in-1 laptop. Here, I'll focus on the HZ550, because it's so lightweight that I had to ask the Lenovo rep to turn the thing on to confirm it wasn't a mock up sample.


Holding it with one hand feels like you're holding an iPad … only this is a Broadwell Intel Core i5-packed laptop running full Windows behind a 13.3-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 IGZO panel. This is thanks to a unique magnesium-lithium alloy chassis developed by NEC that's 50% lighter than aluminum and as strong as any pure magnesium-built laptop, according to Lenovo.

Built by NEC, and it shows

NEC was the top computer vendor in Japan before Lenovo nabbed a 51% stake in the company back in 2011, and if you remember back many moons ago, NEC used to release products in the US. They no doubt got the job done, but they didn't look very nice - of course, that was before style even mattered in the computing space.
Unfortunately, that's exactly the case here. It's natural to expect the "world's lightest" laptop to be super sleek, but the LaVie Z looks rather dull. I was told that the model shown here at CES is not final, with the Lenovo branding amounting to a sticker on the shell and a pasted-on chrome logo underneath the screen.

However, I was also told that the design ID is final, which is a letdown. (Frankly, it has an unremarkable look to it.) Surely the ultimate goal here was the number "1.72" and that this is essentially Phase One for this project. But regardless, you should come out of the gate strong on all fronts with a claim like this.
Finally, because this is an NEC-built device, don't expect to see Lenovo's famed keyboards on either of these laptops. In fact, the device I was shown still sported the Japanese keyboard.
A Lenovo rep regretfully told me that, because they keyboards are built directly into the frame of the device, implementing a Lenovo AccuType or Precision keyboard might not even be possible. The keyboard and nondescript touchpad are just fine, but they're not Lenovo, and that's something I just can't get over.

A sprinter, not a marathoner

A full-fat Intel chip inside a sub-2 pound laptop alone is a feat to behold, but not necessarily at the expense of other key components. Take, for instance, the battery: a 29.6-Whr juice pack that I'm told lasts up to 6 hours.
For such a thin (just 0.66 inches) and light machine, it sure won't last you very long on your travels. And while I'm sure Lenovo and NEC have run up against physics, longevity is exactly the sort of thing you'd want out of something so damned portable. (However, a Lenovo rep told me that this number was quoted based on the WQHD, or 2,560 x 1,440, model, so standard FHD might net some lasting time.)

In this regard, it's tough to peg the LaVie Z as an answer to a competitor. This was the result of Lenovo and NEC on a quest: the lightest machine possible with the best performance possible. And that much they have here in spades.
Rounding out the internals are 4GB of RAM and a 128GB solid-state drive. As for connectivity, you'll enjoy two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI out, an SD card reader, headphone jack, 720p webcam, 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.
This all will cost you approximately $1,299 (about £852, AU$1,605) to start when the LaVie Z hits US shores this May. (No word on further availability just yet.)

Early verdict

I'll be frank: that's a lot of money for a laptop that only lasts 6 hours, especially considering that - in my experience - the advertised figure rarely ever syncs up with the real-world result. On the other hand, you're getting a laptop that feels as light as a 10-inch tablet.
But how much should that matter when the thing won't last an entire work day? Also, while it might be shallow, this laptop isn't much of a looker - not like Lenovo's Yoga or ThinkPad lines. And finally, the lack of Lenovo-made inputs leaves me wanting. Regardless of whether it was built by NEC, the LaVie Z will come Lenovo-branded in the US, and along with it certain expectations. (Like a fantastic keyboard.)

None of this should undermine that the Lenovo LaVie Z is an incredible feat, a proof of concept-level device that's actually coming to market. However, owning the lightest laptop in the world is going to cost you in more ways than the dollar. Stay tuned to this space for our full review later this year.