Lenovo's 16-inch ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 laptop for students and professionals gets a big July discount using this special…

Buying a new laptop can be tricky at times. As well as choosing the right brand and model, you also need to decide whether an Intel or AMD processor is the better fit for your needs.

Lenovo has reduced the price of its excellent ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 laptop. The AMD model has fallen to $1161 (was $1264), while the E16 Gen 3 Intel version is down to $1494 (was $1614). Use coupon code THINK2SAVEJULY for the best price.

You can build the config you need direct from the site, so the ones below have the specs I think deliver the best value for money.

Today's top Lenovo laptop deals

The AMD configuration offers the best value and pairs a Ryzen 5 230 processor (3.50 GHz up to 4.90 GHz) with 16GB of DDR5 memory and a 1TB PCIe Gen4 TLC Opal SSD. If you want a bit more power, you can switch to a Ryzen 7 250 chip (3.30 GHz up to 5.10 GHz) for an extra $30.

Anyone chasing maximum processor performance should opt for the Intel version instead. This comes with an Core Ultra 7 255H processor (E-cores up to 4.40 GHz P-cores up to 5.10 GHz) matched with 16GB of DDR5 memory and a 1TB SSD, making it a very capable choice for demanding workloads.

I would suggest you view 16GB of RAM as the minimum amount of memory. Although 8GB is an option and will save you money, it's really not enough in 2026.

Both E16 Gen 3 laptops share the same feature set, including a 16-inch WUXGA IPS display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, anti-glare finish, 300 nits of brightness, and a comfortable 16:10 aspect ratio for working with documents and spreadsheets.

You'll also get integrated graphics, a 5MP webcam with a privacy shutter, Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth support, and a full-sized keyboard with a number pad.

Those features suit working from home, studying, and everyday office tasks equally well.

Both models in Lenovo's understated Eclipse Black finish include a 48Wh battery, and ship with Windows 11 Home (you can switch from Home to Pro for an extra $40).

The familiar ThinkPad design continues to focus on durability, comfort, and practicality without unnecessary extras.

Choosing between Intel and AMD ultimately comes down to your personal preference, although it's nice to know that both ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 configurations are currently discounted right now.

For more top-performers, see our guides to the best ThinkPad laptops and the best laptops for engineering students

Shop all ThinkPads at Lenovo

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Wayne Williams is a freelancer writing news for TechRadar Pro. He has been writing about computers, technology, and the web for 30 years. In that time he wrote for most of the UK’s PC magazines, and launched, edited and published a number of them too.