Category: Lenovo

A robust business laptop with solid overall performance and fantastic battery life

Verdict

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 is a reliable business laptop that excels in battery life and durability. Despite a less impressive display, it offers a great typing experience and sufficient performance for everyday tasks.

>>>>L23D4P71 Battery for Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5

Pros

• +Thin, lightweight, and durable
• +Solid performance
• +Great battery life
• +Excellent keyboard

Cons

• -Dull display
• -Not as powerful as competing systems

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 continues the trusted and loved ThinkPad lineup of laptops that Lenovo continues to create with business users in mind. It is yet another durable and reliable business laptop with a robust build, impressive battery, and great ports for connectivity.

While this laptop is designed for business professionals, it also focuses on more than use in the office. Like so many of the best business laptops we’ve reviewed – particularly the best Lenovo ThinkPads out there, the T14 Gen 5 is light and portable, perfect for remote and hybrid workers and those constantly moving within a large corporate building. Despite some drawbacks, such as a less vibrant display, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 proves to be a solid performer that can handle everyday tasks with ease.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5: Unboxing & first impressions

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 comes well packaged in eco-friendly packaging. The laptop, a 65W USB-C charger, and the documentation that Lenovo sends with all laptops are in the box. Right away, setup throughWindows 11on this laptop was easy, and thanks to the SSD, booting up to the start screen was quick and painless.

Moving the laptop around, I quickly realized that Lenovo had built this laptop very well. Finding the balance between thin and durable is lovely—which is always hard to do with laptops. Some super thin devices are incredibly light but snap if you type too hard. The T14 Gen 5 strikes the balance quite nicely. It’s slim, but it has a slightly thicker plastic casing that gives a sense that it can take a hit or two and be fine. It makes it feel less premium.

The laptop’s design stays true to the classic ThinkPad aesthetics I’ve seen with laptops such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11. It’s simple, functional, minimal, and sleek—excellent design. The keyboard offers a familiar ThinkPad experience with tactile feedback, and the trackpad is large and responsive. The signature red TrackPoint is also present for those who prefer it, paired with the easy-click buttons at the top of the trackpad.

My ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 is grey, but the black colorway would be perfect if you want a sleeker, more minimalist design that blends in a bit more.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5: Design & build quality

Specs

as tested

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 155U
Memory: 16GB
Battery: 52.5Whr
Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-A, 1x RJ45, 1x HDMI,

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 is lightweight and compact, especially for the ports and power. This laptop weighs 2.96 pounds and is less than an inch thick, at 0.70 inches, making it easy to move around and use as a portable machine. The casing comprises recycled plastic and aluminum to help provide a durable yet eco-friendly computer.

The ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 has a wide range of ports, including 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-A, 1x HDMI, and 1x RJ45 Ethernet. A headphone/mic combo jack ensures versatile connectivity. There is also a smart card reader for those who need an extra level of security.

The keyboard is standard for Thinkpads. It feels the same as all of the other ThinkPads I have used, and it has the same TrackPoint in the middle for easy, quick navigation while keeping your hands on the keyboard. The only change in this model and some of the newer models, in general, is the presence of theMicrosoftCopilot key for easily integrated enhanced AI productivity. No matter what you are doing, if you press that key, you launch your AI assistant, which can help with anything from changing settings on your computer to helping create content.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5: In use

This laptop has been a powerhouse over the last few months. I’ve worked with it for the previous 90 days, and I am pretty impressed. The keyboard is fantastic, especially for long typing sessions (such as this review). The audio is solid. While it won’t blow anyone away, it is suitable for a laptop. The T14 Gen 5 balances durability and a sleek, lightweight design. It’s easy to carry, throw into my bag, and carry on its own, yet I don’t feel like I need to baby it. I will admit that the plastic casing can give a “less than premium” false narrative by looks alone. Still, as soon as I open the laptop and start working, that narrative is immediately dismissed because this computer is powerful enough for day-to-day work.

One other important aspect of the design is the fantastic battery life. I have been able to go to coffee shops, attend offsite meetings, and work around the house without worrying about finding a power cable. It’s been fantastic.

Part of the reason this laptop has a great battery probably has to do with the fact that the display could be more impressive; however, while using this laptop for business uses, I never really felt like I was missing out. I could get everything without feeling held back, limited, or even noticing that it wasn’t a great display.

I have been able to knock out all admin tasks and heavy tracking spreadsheets; I’ve used this to render 3D models for my 3D printers; it’s helped test and drive some of the best business monitors I have tested, helped set up and program some of the other gear I am testing, and has been an all-around fantastic computer. What has been great, too, is utilizing Microsoft Copilot (albeit tastefully) to modify settings so I don’t have to go through pages of clicks to give me ideas, answer questions, research, and do conversions, all started with a simple click of a button. It’s been super powerful and a massive asset for getting work done efficiently.

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	Simple and minimal design	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease of use	Easy to set up and use	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Practicality	Highly practical for professionals	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Well priced	⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5: Final verdict
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 is a reliable choice for business professionals who prioritize durability and battery life over high-end performance and display quality. Its robust build and extensive connectivity options make it a practical tool for productivity on the move. If you’re looking for a dependable workhorse with a great keyboard and long battery life, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 is worth considering — especially if you want Copilot baked in.

First ThinkPad with a Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite X sticks the landing.

Verdict

With 21 hours of battery life, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s will last you all day and then some while also providing strong productivity performance and great usability in a lightweight package.

Pros
+Extraordinary battery life
+Bright screen
+Great keyboard and navigation
+Solid performance
Cons
-Expensive
-Slower SSD than competitors
-Windows on Arm still not compatible with all software

>>>>related：L20C4P72 Battery for Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2

With the release of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X series processors earlier this year, a new crop of laptops have focused on power efficiency and AI features. Lenovo’s ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6 with Snapdragon) is the first ThinkPad powered by the chip and it specifically runs on a 12-core, Snapdragon Elite X1E-78-100 with a powerful NPU with 45 TOPS.

Starting at $1,666 (current street price and the price of our review unit), the ThinkPad T14s is not only one of the best Snapdragon-powered laptops on the market, but one of the best ultraportable laptops you can buy with any processor. It lasted an incredible 21 hours on our battery test – one of the longest marks of any system we’ve ever tested – and yet it offers all the best features you can find on a ThinkPad. It has a world class keyboard, an accurate pointing stick, a bright and colorful screen, good performance and a sturdy, sub-3 pound chassis. So, though it’s not cheap, if you’re willing to commit to an Arm-powered laptop, the T14s is a fantastic system.

>>>>L23D3P72 Battery for Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 2

Design of the the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6, Snapdragon)

The ThinkPad T14s is thin, light and very consistent with Lenovo’s time-tested ThinkPad aesthetic. Like most other ThinkPads, it has a matte, raven black color with a red pointing stick in the middle of the keyboard, a red status light on the lid and some red accents on the TrackPoint buttons.
The lid and deck have a luxurious soft-touch feel that’s really pleasant, particularly when I put my wrists on the palmrest. Many other ThinkPads, including the X1 Carbon (Gen 12) don’t have a finish that feels quite this soft so it’s a real plus. The lid itself is made of 50 percent recycled carbon-reinforced plastic while the deck is made from 90 percent recycled magnesium alloy.
At 2.72 pounds, the T14s is really light, but some competitors are even svelter. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12) is just 2.42 pounds (1.24 kg) and the Dell XPS 13 (9345), which has a 13-inch display, is 2.62 pounds. The T14s is 12.35 x 8.64 x 0.67 inches (313.6 x 219.4 x 16.9 mm), but the X1 Carbon (Gen 12) is just a tad smaller at 12.31 x 8.45 x 0.59 inches and the HP OmniBook X (12.32 x 8.8 x 0.56 inches) and Dell XPS 13 (11.63 x 7.84 x 0.60 inches) are also quite a bit smaller.

The T14s manages to pack in all the ports you’ll need, including two Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports, two USB 3.2 Type-A Ports (5 Gbps), a 3.5-inch audio jack and a full-size HDMI 2.1 port.

>>>>L21L4P73 Battery for Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 3

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6, Snapdragon) Specs

CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100
Graphics	Qualcomm Adreno GPU
Memory	32GB LPDDR5x-8448
Storage	1TB M.2 2242 SSD
Display	14-inch, 1920 x 1200 IPS
Networking	Qualcomm Wi-Fi 7 NCM825A, Bluetooth 5.3
Ports	2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB Type-A (5 Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5 audio
Camera	FHD 1080p + IR
Battery	58 Whr
Power Adapter	65-watt USB-C
OS	Windows 11 Pro
Dimensions (WxDxH)	12.35 x 8.64 x 0.67 inches (313.6 x 219.4 x 16.9 mm)
Weight	2.72 pounds (1.24 kg)
Price (as configured)	$1,666.56

Keyboard, Touchpad and Trackpoint on the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6, Snapdragon)

Like most other ThinkPads, the T14s has a world-class typing experience, complete snappy keys have curved keycaps that make them easier to locate by feel. There are also raised lines on the Enter, Fn, Down Arrow and F + J keys so you find these markers in the dark (or if you’re visually impaired). The F + J keys have had these marks on prior ThinkPads but the others are new additions.

Tapping away on the T14’s keyboard was a pleasure as I managed a strong 100 words-per-minute on the 10 Fast Fingers typing test, along with a 3 percent error rate. Those are both good marks for me on any laptop, and I was able to achieve them because I was comfortable typing.

Using the built-in Lenovo Commercial Vantage control panel software, you can configure the F12 key to launch any program, open a website or enter any text you want. Unfortunately, you can’t use the app to remap F12 into another key such as Print Screen, but you can do that with a third-party utility such as SharpKeys.

For navigation, the T14s has both a TrackPoint pointing stick and a 2.4 x 4.53-inch glass (non-haptic) touchpad. I always prefer the TrackPoint because it gives me the most accurate navigation around the desktop and I don’t have to lift my hands off of the home row and disrupt my typing position to use it. Double-tapping the TrackPoint brings up the TrackPoint Quick Menu, which gives you easy access to Microphone, Audio Playback and Camera settings.

If you don’t like pointing sticks – and really, you should give them a try – the touchpad has a lot to offer. In my tests, it offered smooth navigation with just the right amount of friction. It also responded flawlessly to multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom and three-finger swipe.

Audio on the ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6, Snapdragon)
The ThinkPad T14s’s dual speakers, located on either side of the keyboard, provide sound output that’s loud enough to fill a small conference room and is accurate, though not rich. When I played AC/DC’s “Back in Black,” there was some separation of sound between the drums on the right side and the vocals / guitar on the left. And the percussion, while not layered, was mostly free from tinniness.

Using the included Dolby Access app, I was able to choose among different sound output profiles for Music, Movies, Games and Dynamic. I found that Dynamic, which automatically predicts the kind of output you need, to be not only the best but the loudest choice.

Upgradeability of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6, Snapdragon)

While you can’t upgrade the RAM, which is soldered to the motherboard, you can change out the SSD, but you’ll pay a premium for the replacement. While most computers and laptops use 2280 length SSDs, the T14s requires a 2242 drive, which is less common and costs more. 
To upgrade the laptop, you need to loosen the five captive Philip’s head screws and pry open the rear panel, an easy process that takes just a couple of minutes. The SSD is located underneath a copper heatsink in the upper right corner of the motherboard.

Battery LIfe on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 6, Snapdragon)
We need only one word to describe ThinkPad T14s’s battery life: wow.

On our battery test, which involves surfing the web and streaming videos with the screen set at 150 nits of brightness, the T14s endured for 21 hours and 3 minutes. That time is the longest we’ve seen on a laptop. The Dell XPS 13 (9345), which uses the same Snapdragon Elite X CPU, came close to matching this mark, hitting a time of 19 hours and 31 minutes, though that’s with a smaller display.

Heat on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 6, Snapdragon)
The ThinkPad T14s stayed cool throughout our testing . It never got particularly warm, even when we pushed it to its limits.

When I ran Cinebench 2024 and took the temperatures after 15 minutes, the middle of the keyboard was a mere 92 degrees Fahrenheit and barely felt warm to the touch. The touchpad was a cool 77 F, which is barely room temperature. However, like most laptops under load, the bottom got toasty, hitting 114 F.

Software and Warranty on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 6, Snapdragon)

The ThinkPad T14s comes blissfully free of unwanted bloatware and has just a bare minimum number of utilities. Lenovo Commercial Vantage is the company’s major control panel software and it allows you to do everything from downloading updated drivers to configuring the power settings from one place. However, for many of the settings – Camera and Display settings for example – Commercial Vantage simply links you to the appropriate part of Windows 11’s Settings app. That’s probably for the best, because in most cases, you don’t need a proprietary settings panel in lieu of the one that’s built into the operating system.

However, Vantage does provide some extra settings such as the ability to configure whether the USB ports can still charge devices even when the computer is asleep or powered off. In addition to Vantage, there’s the Dolby Access app which lets you change sound profiles, choosing among Movie, Music Game or Dynamic settings. On the Start Menu, there’s also User Guide which is nothing more than a link to an online manual for the T14s, located at Lenovo.com.

It almost goes without saying that Microsoft has some Windows 11 preloaded apps on here such as Clipchamp and Spotify.

This is a Copilot+ PC, so Windows comes with a few extra local AI features you can’t get on older PCs, but will soon come to on Ryzen AI-powered and Intel Lunar Lake-powered laptops. These include Cocreate, a feature of Windows Paint that draws AI images locally and Windows Studio Effects, which allow you to get background blur and a few other webcam special effects. There’s also Live captions with real-time translation and, in the near future, Recall, which will allow you to query all your past screen activity to remember things you’ve done.

Because the T14s has an Arm processor, there are a few Windows programs, including Adobe After Effects, Google Drive for Desktop and many games that won’t run on it. And there are many other apps such as Discord and Audacity that will run but only in emulation mode, which makes them slower. A site called windowsonarm.org tracks which apps are and are not compatible with Arm and it’s clear that most of the key productivity programs do work on Arm. So, while it’s possible you could find an app that won’t work, most knowledge workers will find that their most-used apps, including Microsoft Office, Chrome browser and Visual Studio, all run well.

Bottom Line

There’s a lot to love about the ThinkPad T14s (Snapdragon, Gen 6). It has incredible battery life, which is useful when you have a 2.72-pound system and want to spend a long time away from power outlets while you get things done. And, with this system, you will get a lot done. It has the awesome ThinkPad keyboard we’ve come to expect from Lenovo, it has all the ports you might want and a screen that’s bright enough to help you work near a window with sunlight streaming in.

The ThinkPad T14s has solid performance and the promise of even more help when local AI workloads become even more useful and pervasive than the gimmicky Copilot+ features Windows has today. Its only serious drawbacks are its relatively high price) and the unlikely possibility that you’ll want to use a program that doesn’t run or run well on Arm processors. If you’re concerned about compatibility, consider waiting for the ThinkPad T14s with AMD Ryzen AI processor that will be out in a few weeks or the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) that will be out in November. However, if you’re willing to get an Arm-powered laptop, the T14s (Gen 6) is a fantastic choice.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 review

2-in-1 convertible versatility at a price you can afford

Verdict

Lenovo’s latest 2-in-1 convertible laptop is hugely versatile and has good battery life, but it’s a little short on memory.

Pros

• +Great 2-in-1 feature set
• +Strong battery life
• +USB-C charging support

Cons

• -Screen is a bit dim
• -Only 4GB RAM
• -Portability is marginal

>>>L21C3PE0 Battery for Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IRU8 14ABR8 16IRU8 16ABR8

Two-minute review

Lenovo’s ‘Flex’ series of laptops are affordable 2-in-1 convertible systems that offer claimed all-day battery life. That’s a simple and appealing proposition.

In practice, it’s all a bit more complicated. You see, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5, to give it its full name, is available in both 14-inch and 15-inch variants and with both AMD and Intel CPUs. And with various iterations of those CPUs.

It’s all a bit baffling if you’re buying, but the specific model showcased here is the 15-inch Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 powered by Intel’s latest 10th Gen processors, in this case an Intel Core i3-1005G1 chip.

Arguably, AMD’s laptop CPUs offer both better value and more performance right now. But given the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 remains pretty keenly priced and isn’t being pitched primarily on performance, that needn’t be an automatic deal-breaker.

>>>L21M3PE0 Battery for Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 16IAU7 16

Indeed, this laptop offers a very compelling all-round proposition. Along with that Intel CPU, the highlights kick off with a 15.6-inch touchscreen. It offers a FullHD 1,920 by 1,080 pixel resolution and IPS panel technology. As a ‘Flex’ model, that screen is hooked up to the IdeaPad’s chassis via a full 360-degree hinge and thus supports operation in full Tablet mode. Next up is a 128GB SSD. OK, that’s not a huge amount of storage, but it is a M.2 drive supporting the latest NVMe control protocol.

Other details include a decent 65 watt charger and claimed battery life of over 10 hours. You get it all at a great price on an attractive chassis with a high quality feel from one of the biggest brands in the industry, which is impressive. But inevitably, it’s not the whole story.

At this price point something inevitably has to give and as reviewed the most obvious weakness is the meagre 4GB of RAM. It doesn’t have a huge impact on your benchmark numbers. But if you’re partial, say, to running loads of browser tabs while you edit images – or some other typical multitasking scenario – you’ll quickly run out of system memory with only 4GB at your disposal, especially as some of that is pinched by the integrated graphics.

That’s a pity because in most other regards, this is a pretty nice portable. It’s good for that 10 hours-plus of claimed battery life, for instance. And the screen is accurate and pleasant to use, if a little dim. The keyboard is firm, crisp and pleasant to use.

Yes, there are a few tell tales of corning curing beyond the 4GB of RAM. The trackpad is a little small for this class of portable. The sound quality from the integrated speakers is fairly poor. The supplied charger is a barrel type rather than USB-C despite the fact that the Flex 5 has a USB-C port that supports charging (further connectivity includes two USB-A ports, HDMI and a full-size SD card reader). That’s sort of both a plus and a minus, but you get the broader point. This is a nice machine for the money.

Spec Sheet

CPU:1.2GHz Intel Core i3-1005G1 (dual-core, 4MB cache, up to 3.5GHz with Turbo Boost)
Graphics:Intel UHD Graphics
RAM:4GB DDR4
Screen:15.6-inch, 1,920 x 1,080, IPS, touch
Storage:128GB M.2 NVMe SSD
Ports:USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI, SD Card
Connectivity:Lenovo AC Wifi, Bluetooth
Camera:720p webcam
Weight:4.4 pounds (2 kg)
Size:14.08 x 9.37 x 0.7-0.8 inches (357.6 x 237.9 x 17.9-20.35 mm; W x D x H)

Design and features

Entry-level systems from the bigger brands have stepped up their game in design and quality terms in recent years and the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is no exception. Granted, it’s not going to put the frighteners on an Apple MacBook Pro for sheer material class.

The 15.6-inch 1080p touch-enabled display, for instance, sports IPS panel technology and is housed in a high-quality metal enclosure with slim side bezels and a shuttered 720p webcam up top.The 360-degree hinge feels robust and the keyboard is stable and firm with only traces of flex and bounce.

Ports wise, Lenovo likewise has you well covered. On the left side of the chassis, you’ll find a full-sized HDMI socket, a barrel-type power connector, headphone jack and a USB-C port. The latter supports charging the laptop itself, mitigating the slight disappointment of the barrel connector. While we’d prefer the Flex 5 came bundled with a USB-C charger, support for USB-C charging at least means you can carry a single charger to keep multiple devices juiced up.

On the right, a pair of USB-A ports and situated next to a 4-in-1 card reader that supports full sized SD cards, plus MMC, SDHC and SDXC cards. That’s one less plug-in adapter you’ll need to carry, in other words. Other features worthy of mention are the 720p webcam located on the top bezel and complete with a physical shutter and support for an optional digital input pen.

It’s also worth noting that the Flex 5 ships as standard configured withWindows 10Home in S Mode. The sales pitch for S Mode is that it boosts performance and improves security. The latter is almost certainly true given it only allows software from theMicrosoftapp store to be installed. The downside, of course, is that it only allows software from the app store to be installed, excluding the vast majority of the huge ecosystem of Windows compatible apps and software that’s accrued over the years. That includes noAdobesoftware, no Apple apps, no non-Microsoft video conferencing apps, none of those handy little legacy apps.

S Mode is also streamlined to reduce CPU and memory usage, the latter being especially relevant for a laptop with just 4GB. Long story short, S Mode can make a lot of sense for schools and businesses, but is probably too restrictive for more general home and business users. However, it is the work of around five minutes to turn S Mode off via the Microsoft Store, so it shouldn’t be an impediment to anyone considering this system.

Performance

As a content consumption device, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 usually gets the job done. The combination of the dual-core Intel Core i3-1005G1 chip, 128GB M.2 SSD and 4GB of RAM delivers a responsive experience within certain confines. With a few tabs open in a browser and editing a text document, for instance, all is well.

Up the tab count and run some image editing in parallel, however, and you can run out of memory and into relative trouble. Of course, having a modern M.2 SSD helps enormously when that happens and files are being swapped to main storage. But we’d still prefer to have 8GB in this class of device.

By other metrics, performance is about as mixed as you might expect given the market positioning. The 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display has good colours and viewing angles, but lacks brightness. The dual 2 watt Dolby-powered speakers, meanwhile, deliver weak, thin audio lacking in much by way of dynamic range. And for the record, don’t expect to go gaming with the entry-level Intel integrated graphics.

Benchmarks

Here’s how the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 performed inour suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Sky Diver:3,761;Fire Strike:919;Time Spy:N/A
Cinebench CPU: 743 points
GeekBench 5:1,058 (single-core); 2097 (multi-core)
PCMark 10 (Home Test):3237 points
PCMark 10 Battery Life:9 hours and 43 minutes
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test):11 hours and 50 minutes

Battery life

At this price point, battery life can often fall victim of cost cutting. Happily, the Flex 5 is configured with a fairly hefty 52.5Wh battery. 

That translates into nearly 12 hours of video playback and nearly 10 hours in the more demanding PCMark battery test. That’s enough for all-day operation at school or the office or plenty of movies on a long-haul flight. Support for charging via USB-C also makes it easy to ‘borrow’ some power should you find yourself running low.

Buy it if…

You want a versatile all-rounder at a reasonable price
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 offers a very wide range of features and functionality, including USB-C connectivity and multi-format memory card reading, at an attractive price point.

You want touchscreen, 2-in-1 functionality on a large screen
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 combines touchscreen and 2-in-1 tablet convertible functionality with a large 15.6-inch screen. It truly is a jack of all trades that does it all, albeit with a few compromises.

You need all-day battery life
At nearly 12 hours of video playback, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 certainly has long legs. Even running more demanding applications, you can expect nine to 10 hours of battery life.

 >>>L22B4P70 Battery for Lenovo Thinkpad X13 Gen 4

Ryzen and Lenovo ThinkPad laptops – not an easy relationship when it comes to the 2024 generation of ThinkPad laptops. Many of the newest ThinkPad laptops are not available with AMD CPU. In previous years, things very different. An example is the Lenovo ThinkPad X13. The smallest variant of the mainstream Lenovo business series ditched AMD this year, the new ThinkPad X13 Gen 5 features Intel’s Core Ultra Series 1 exclusively.

  That is the reason why we are taking a look at the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 4 AMD with Ryzen 7000 today, the newest model with an AMD processor.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 4 21J3001VGE (ThinkPad X13 G4 Series)

Processor

AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7840U8 x 3.3 – 5.1 GHz, 30 W PL2 / Short Burst, 20 W PL1 / Sustained, Phoenix (Zen 4)

Graphics adapter

AMD Radeon 780M

Memory

32 GB , LPDDR5X-6400, on-board, quad channel

Display

13.30 inch 16:10, 1920 x 1200 pixel 170 PPI, R133NW4K R0, IPS LED, glossy: no, 60 Hz

Mainboard

AMD Promontory/Bixby FCH

Storage

Samsung PM9B1 512GB MZVL4512HBLU, 512 GB 

, M.2 2280, NVMe PCIe 4.0, 410 GB free

Weight

1.25 kg ( = 44.09 oz / 2.76 pounds), Power Supply: 301 g ( = 10.62 oz / 0.66 pounds)

Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

Chassis: Compact carbon/magnesium construction

With the ThinkPad X13 Gen 4, Lenovo has introduced a new design last year that already foreshadowed many new features of the 2024 ThinkPads. An example is the webcam bump, a rather controversial design choice. In any case, it makes opening the screen easier. Other design elements still follow the more classic ThinkPad design ethos, such as the silver hinges. With the 2024 ThinkPads, Lenovo has changed the hinge color to black – same for the ThinkPad logo.

Typical for the X13 series are the materials used here: Magnesium and aluminum for the lower half of the laptop, plastic with carbon-fiber reinforcement for the screen. Stability is great, as the whole device is well-made and almost completely painted black.

The two small drop down hinges do not allow for one-handed opening, but they securely hold the screen. There is no display-wobble. The maximum opening angle is 180 degrees.

The 13.3-inch business laptops in our comparison are all similarly heavy and have a similar footprint. Only the Dell Latitude 7350is smaller and a little bit more lightweight than the competition.

    The 13.3-inch business laptops in our comparison are all similarly heavy and have a similar footprint. Only the Dell Latitude 7350is smaller and a little bit more lightweight than the competition.

     Size comparison

      Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G3 21CM002UGE  1.3 kg 2.86 lbs

      Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 4 21J3001VGE  1.3 kg 2.76 lbs

      HP EliteBook x360 830 G10 7L7U1ET  1.3 kg 2.97 lbs  

      Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE    1.2 kg 2.69 lbs

      Dell Latitude 13 7350         DIN A4❌  1.1 kg 2.37 lbs

     Security

Despite the ThinkPad X13 Gen 4 being so small, Lenovo manages to put in quite a few security features into this compact ThinkPad laptop. The subnotebook has a Kensington lock slot for theft protection, a fingerprint reader and an infrared camera for Windows Hello as well as a Smartcard reader – a secure log-in option for enterprise customers. Additionally, the ThinkPad has a dedicated TPM security chip and a mechanical privacy shutter for the webcam.

    Accessories

Aside from the 65 W GaN charger with a USB-C connector, Lenovo does not include any other accessories with the ThinkPad X13 Gen 4 AMD.

   Maintenance

Lenovo makes it for the user: Five screws and a few clips at the back edge of the system have to be loosened to remove the bottom cover and uncover the internals. Unfortunately, the ThinkPad laptop does not provide many upgrade options, as the RAM and Wi-Fi module are soldered down. At least, the 4G/LTE module can be added later, and the SSD is modular too. Positive: The internal battery is secured with a few screws and the fan is easily accessible too. On the other hand, changing the keyboard necessitates removing all other components – this used to be easier with theThinkPad X13 Gen 3 AMD.

   Sustainability

Some chassis parts of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 4 consist out of recycled materials. The keyboard frame, for example, is made out of 90 percent recycled magnesium. Completely compostable are the packaging materials that Lenovo uses for newer ThinkPads like the X13 Gen 4. As usual for business laptops, Lenovo produces spare parts for a few years, same is true for software updates. Also, Lenovo supplies video tutorials and the hardware maintenance manual that explain how the device can be disassembled and reassembled.

   Warranty

As with most ThinkPads above the cheaper E and L models, Lenovo gives the X13 Gen 4 a three-year warranty that also applies world-wide. If the device stops working, it has to be sent in. Optionally, the warranty can be upgraded to on-site service as well as prolonged for an up to five-year period.

  Input devices: ThinkPad X13 G4 with a 95 % keyboard

As usual with 13.3 inch ThinkPads, Lenovo integrates a smaller keyboard. The key size is equal to a 95 percent keyboard, meaning each key is times 0.95 as big as on a full-size keyboard. The difference: Roughly one millimeter in both length and width. Also, some keys on the right side of the keyboard are additionally squished, and the dedicated insert key is nowhere to be found. The F keys are also shorter than with bigger ThinkPads. Otherwise, the backlit keyboard (two levels) does not differ too much from a typical ThinkPad keyboard. Key travel sits at 1.5mm, with the typing feel being very comfortable – typing on this keyboard is a nice feeling. One change on newer 2024 ThinkPads that did not hit the X13 series yet: The FN key still has its “normal” position here, to the left of the Ctrl key. The newer designs switch those keys around.

The touchpad and TrackPoint are similar to what Lenovo uses in other recent ThinkPads, with the touchpad being a little bit smaller here. The surface is made out of Mylar plastic, as with most ThinkPad laptops. It offers smooth gliding, but it gets dirty fast and does not feel as nice as a comparable glass surface. Usability is very good despite that. Other than the fact that its size is limited, it is a good touchpad. For some tasks, like drag and drop or when using the laptop in a tight space, the TrackPoint can be the better option for moving the cursor. In the X13 Gen 4, the TrackPoint worked flawlessly. The same is true for the dedicated TrackPoint buttons between the keyboard and touchpad.

  Connectivity: WWAN is upgradeable

As an enterprise laptop, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 4 sports a good amount of ports, despite its small size. Among the connectors are two USB-A ports and full-size HDMI. Compared with Dell’s offering, the ThinkPad has one USB-A port more.

left: 2x USB4, USB A 3.2 Gen 1, 3.5mm Audio, Smartcard reader

right: nanoSIM slot, USB A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI, Kensington Lock Slot