Finally, a ThinkPad model that checks all the boxes for me as a working professional
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Lenovo’s sixth-generation ThinkPad T14s is on the market now, beginning at $1,598.
- It is is a strong workhorse due to the brand new AMD Ryzen AI chipset and assist for the speedy Wi-Fi 7 customary.
- Its show, then again, is not all that spectacular contemplating its price ticket.
Every time Lenovo is not pushing the boundaries of laptop computer design, the model is creating high-quality private work computer systems like the brand new ThinkPad T14s Gen 6. On the floor the T14s seems like your common ThinkPad with a light-weight, matte black physique and a very good keyboard. However in the event you look at it intently, you will discover small variations that set it aside from the group.
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For one factor, it homes a wide variety of ports, together with an HDMI 2.1 enter and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, supporting energy supply and DisplayPort. These final two inputs help you ship a video sign to an exterior monitor and cost the machine on the identical time.
Nevertheless, I discovered the show a little bit disappointing. It outputs at a decision of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels with the glass coated in an anti-glare coating, making certain visibility underneath brilliant circumstances. It is usually Eyesafe certified, that means the show emits low blue mild to guard your eyes from pressure. Whereas that is all nice, given its worth level, I’d’ve preferred a 2K show as a substitute.
I additionally need to shout out the 5MP webcam. It helps video calls as much as 1440p, enabling sharp, brilliant pictures. This laptop computer ensures you will all the time look your greatest throughout these necessary calls. Your voice can be heard loud and clear due to a mix of Dolby Voice and the dual-array mics. To be higher hear your viewers, the speaker system helps Dolby Atmos for crisp sound.
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As nice because the exterior {hardware} could also be, the true star of the present here’s what’s contained in the ThinkPad T14s. My overview unit got here with the Ryzen AI 7 Professional 360 processor, an AMD Radeon 880M graphics card, and 32GB of RAM. That new Ryzen chipset has made this mannequin one of many best-performing Lenovo laptops I’ve examined.
Benchmark scores are excessive throughout the board, particularly in PCMark 10’s Important Productiveness exams, incomes 9,310 and 9,452 within the respective classes. These numbers point out that apps open rapidly and the {hardware} can multitask with ease. Cinebench outcomes reveal the Ryzen AI 7 Professional is able to quick picture rendering.
A significant component on this expertise is the neural processing unit (or NPU, for brief). It makes use of synthetic intelligence to take a few of the load off the primary processor so it might function unencumbered. I had round 50 tabs on Google Chrome operating dwell streams on YouTube, movies on social media, and extra alongside a number of open apps. Not as soon as did I expertise a modicum of lag.
The one space the place the benchmarking faltered is digital content material creation, receiving its lowest scores in video modifying, which is not shocking. As a result of built-in GPU and subpar show, this laptop is not actually meant for content material creators. However for businesspeople, it is the proper companion. Battery life was stable, though nothing mindblowing. On common, the pc ran for about 12 hours straight underneath the Greatest Energy Effectivity mode. Beneath Greatest Efficiency, the quantity dropped all the way down to 7.5 hours.
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These are nonetheless stable run occasions. Customers can take pleasure in multiday longevity, however the machine is not as power environment friendly as different laptops housing a Qualcomm Snapdragon X chipset. The AMD processor could also be too power-hungry to supply the identical expertise. Happily, the battery recharges rapidly. A one-hour cost restored the battery to about 70%.
Two distinctive options stood out to me as they assist futureproof the ThinkPad. It helps each Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The 2 behave equally by providing sooner, safer connections for his or her respective requirements.
Although each requirements have been round for a few yr every, they nonetheless have not been broadly adopted. Few routers actively assist Wi-Fi 7, for instance, though that number is slowly increasing. To harness these nascent networks, you will want a trailblazing machine, and the ThinkPad T14s is simply that.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
Costs for the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 begin at $1,598, which is about what you’d count on from a ThinkPad with this degree of {hardware}. I extremely advocate the laptop computer to professionals (or anybody actually) who desire a light-weight powerhouse that may deal with a big selection of workplace and productiveness workloads.
You may also configure this machine with higher-end parts, together with a 1TB SSD, however that may convey the worth as much as round $1,600. If you happen to choose one thing cheaper with a stable chipset, Lenovo is promoting the ThinkPad T14s with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chipset, beginning at $1,181.
