Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 1, Core i7-10610U, 16GB, 256GB SSD, Black

A used ThinkPad with 16GB of RAM and a touchscreen for $270 USD is a steal for students and typists. Just don't expect it to game or impress anyone with its screen.

The Core i7-10610U is a 4-core chip from 2020, and our database puts it in the bottom third for CPU performance among laptops. That's not a shock for a used ultrabook, but what surprised us is how well the rest of the package holds up. 16GB of DDR4 means you can actually run a dozen browser tabs and a few apps without wanting to throw the thing out a window. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics are a weak spot, landing near the bottom of the charts, so don't expect anything beyond light photo editing or very old games. The 256GB SSD is on the small side, but it's NVMe, so boot times and app launches feel snappy.

Against the Apple MacBook Pro MWP72LL/A, the X13 loses on screen quality, performance, and battery life, but it costs a fraction of the price and runs Windows natively. The HP OmniBook X Flip and ASUS Vivobook TP3407SA are newer 2-in-1s with better displays and CPUs, but they're also several times more expensive. If you want a cheap, durable typing machine, the X13 is the pick. If you need a bright screen or any GPU muscle, look at a used MacBook Air M1 or a newer Ryzen ultrabook instead.

At $270 USD, this is a solid deal if you need a reliable, portable Windows laptop for school or office work. You're not paying for performance you won't use, and the 16GB of RAM is the real value here. Just don't expect to upgrade the storage or fix the weak screen without spending more than the laptop is worth.

The ThinkPad X13 Gen 1 is a used business laptop that still punches above its weight for students and anyone who needs a compact machine without spending real money. At $270 USD, you're getting a 13.3-inch touchscreen, 16GB of RAM, and that legendary ThinkPad keyboard in a 1.27kg package. The one thing to know: this is a portability and typing machine first, and a performance machine a distant second.

If you're looking for a bright, color-accurate screen or any kind of gaming performance, this isn't it. Go get a used MacBook Air M1 or a newer Ryzen ultrabook instead. You'll pay more, but you won't be squinting at a dim panel or waiting on integrated graphics.

Buy it if you're a student or office worker who wants a light, tough laptop with a great keyboard and enough RAM to keep things smooth. Skip it if you care about screen quality, gaming, or future-proofing. For $270 USD, the X13 Gen 1 is a smart used buy that does the basics better than most new budget laptops.