The ThinkPad P14s’s appeal isn’t restricted to trade consumers. Whilst its SmartCard slot and faraway upkeep choices for the Ryzen Professional processor make it nearly predestined as a piece fleet laptop, the instrument’s complete focal point on prime computing energy even for graphically difficult duties, its sensible lengthy battery lifestyles and its tough construct will attraction to quite a lot of computer customers.
A have a look at conceivable competition yields the ThinkPad T14s G4, which is moderately extra compact and in a different way very equivalent, and the HP EliteBook 845 G10, which has additionally positioned its guess at the potency of the tough iGPU AMD Radeon 780M. In finding out the place the ThinkPad P14s plays higher or worse and the way large the adaptation is in comparison to Intel’s growing old iGPU Intel Iris.
The outside of the ThinkPad P14s is somewhat unspectacular. Its matte darkish grey floor in conjunction with the lit-up dot at the i place it as a ThinkPad. Instead of that, the primary impact is that of a strong and top of the range chassis.
The show will handiest warp minimally; the bottom unit certainly not. The hinges are pleasantly tight at each opening attitude; when closed, the lid is flush with the bottom unit and sits tightly. The whole lot seems like it will resist day by day tension over a protracted time period.
The chassis is a somewhat thick, particularly whilst you know that it does not include a devoted GPU and the RAM and Wi-Fi modules are soldered on. Instead of that, the ThinkPad P14s is compact and light-weight, weighing just one.3 kg. That is spectacular bearing in mind the instrument’s durability. The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Professional will not be as tough, but it surely illustrates simply how narrow a 14-inch pocket book will also be.
The whole lot vital is there: USB-A ports on each side, two USB-C ports, two video outputs, and a LAN port. The community connector is not self-evident for a 14-inch pocket book, and the USB4 port guarantees simple use of a docking station.
Not like the in a similar fashion situated Intel laptops, then again, our ThinkPad options just one instant USB-C port, which might typically be used to glue the docking station or the AC adaptor. The second one USB-C port additionally helps charging and will output video. The prime switch charges of as much as 40 Gbit/s are handiest to be had on one port. We might have additionally most popular seeing 10 Gbit/s for the USB-A ports, as an alternative of handiest 5 Gbit/s – a velocity many exterior SSDs can simply succeed in this present day.
Qualcomm’s Wi-Fi module didn’t succeed in optimal knowledge throughput when sending knowledge in our check. When receiving knowledge, then again, the module reached the anticipated degree. With greater than 1500 Mbit/s, wi-fi transmission with Wi-Fi 6 can obviously outperform the LAN port if the space is brief sufficient.
The whole lot is ready for a 5G/LTE module, with each the SIM card slot and the cables for antennas in position.
The ThinkPad P14s’s webcam is totally geared up. It has a prime solution and permits main points to be known and transmitted right through video meetings, for instance. The handbook shutter allows the person to reliably close off the lens when no longer in use. Different options come with the IR sensor for face reputation and a dual-array microphone.
The colour deviation and symbol noise scale back the whole symbol high quality – however thankfully, this performs subsequent to no position in video calls. Then again, the great illumination of darkish scenes, the extent of element and the excellently functioning microphone actually come into their very own. Voices are recorded obviously and at a constant quantity from other instructions and distances.
As is standard for a workstation computer, all vital safety purposes are built-in. The whole lot has been considered, from the fingerprint scanner and facial reputation to the SmartCard reader and the Kensington lock.
There aren’t any different equipment with the exception of the 65-Watt USB-C energy provide unit. It’s value citing that no useless plastic used to be used for the packaging and all padding is comprised of recycled cardboard.
Because of USB4, maximum docking stations with USB-C or Thunderbolt must be totally suitable.
The screws within the base are simply obtainable and will also be loosened the usage of same old equipment. We propose the usage of a lifting instrument to take away the bottom plate, however this isn’t vital. The plastic clips will also be opened with out equipment and will also be closed once more later simply as simply.
Disposing of the bottom plate offers customers get right of entry to to the battery, the M.2 SSD and the not obligatory WWAN card. The RAM and WLAN modules are soldered on and can’t be expanded. It will were preferable so to exchange or extend the RAM specifically. That is one thing a workstation computer, particularly one that’s not in particular skinny, must be capable of be offering.
Lenovo grants 365 days of “Premier Improve” via its personal webshop. This comprises on-site upkeep at the subsequent running day and will also be prolonged to a few years for a charge.
The keyboard meets the anticipated prime same old. The quite roughened and curved keys permit for actual and instant typing. The uniform backlight guarantees optimal legibility always.
The 1.5 mm shuttle (our dimension) is also too quick for speedy typers and the slight flexing of the keyboard body isn’t very best. However do not get us fallacious: The keyboard is superb for a pocket book – the small weaknesses are simply no longer essentially what you may be expecting from a ThinkPad.
The touchpad and trackpoint display few weaknesses. Their enter precision is spectacular and the actuating force is definitely aligned with the keys.
The show is completely suited to conventional workstation computer duties. It has a good solution of 1920 x 1200 pixels with a 16:10 facet ratio.
The IPS panel presentations colours appropriately and has solid viewing angles – a characteristic to not be underestimated, particularly when a gaggle of other people is viewing the ThinkPad P14s’s display screen from other angles.
The matte floor and quite above-average brightness make sure that the computer is simple to make use of open air. The black price is excellent and the prime distinction ratio additional improves the display screen’s legibility. We handiest spotted minimum backlight bleeding, principally within the backside proper nook.
The body fee of handiest 60 Hz and below-average reaction charges must be beside the point as maximum customers won’t require the fast-moving content material to be displayed completely.
The show covers all the sRGB colour house and is well-equipped to show multimedia content material. Skilled symbol processing will require a bigger colour house, however once more, this might not be related to maximum ThinkPad P14s customers.
Colours are displayed nicely out of the field. Our measurements point out that the colour house deviation is solely above what’s perceptible. This principally impacts a number of grey tones and is rarely noteworthy even there. We have been ready to additional make stronger the colour show via calibrating the panel, even though this may not be vital for many customers. Even skilled eyes won’t be able to peer vital variations within the colour show without or with calibration.
The prime most brightness and excellent distinction ratio are put to excellent use when the usage of the ThinkPad P14s open air. Whilst seeing the sky mirrored within the display screen will also be stressful, there may be not anything to prevent you from running open air so long as the sunshine does not fall immediately at the show.
As anticipated from an IPS panel, colours and brightness stay solid even at vulnerable viewing angles.
The ThinkPad P14s G4 is provided with an AMD Ryzen 7 Professional 7840U, which incorporates the built-in GPU AMD Radeon 780M. The CPU is characterised via prime computing energy, excellent graphics on par with a small devoted graphics card and its Professional sequence improve for faraway upkeep. Any other configuration is to be had with the quite weaker AMD Ryzen 5 Professional 7540U and a Radeon 740M.
There are a number of RAM choices to be had, starting from 16, 32 to 64 GB of DDR5 RAM with 6400 MHz. Since the modules are soldered on, we might suggest opting for the extra beneficiant possibility if unsure.
The efficiency modes are controlled via Home windows. You’ll choose from “Perfect Efficiency”, “Balanced” and “Power Saving” modes within the calories tab of the settings. The Lenovo Business Vantage device is ready to the absolute best efficiency as a normal. Total, the adjustments to the CPU’s energy limits are minimum.
Because of this the pocket book’s efficiency is comparably prime in balanced mode. Whilst the loss in velocity is measurable, customers will rarely really feel the adaptation in on a regular basis use. The fan stays audible at complete load, albeit at a decrease degree. Issues are extra at ease in energy-saving mode, even though the efficiency continues to be comparably prime. The fan stays unobtrusive even right through the strain check on this mode.
The pocket book routinely switches to balanced mode whilst you disconnect it from exterior energy provide, however customers can simply transfer the efficiency mode again to their most popular environment. Our checks and benchmarks have been all carried out in best possible efficiency mode.
The AMD Ryzen 7 Professional 7840U is an impressive CPU that still prioritizes potency. Because of its 8 cores and 16 threats, it supplies enough computing energy for advanced packages and multitasking, whilst concurrently restricting calories and cooling wishes via a TDP of 28 W.
The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U has the similar fundamental construct and function however lacks the extra safety chip of the Professional sequence. This chip helps a lot of faraway purposes together with centralized updates and control purposes.
Our CPU beats Intel’s Thirteenth-generation cellular CPUs very easily. Whilst the Intel Core i7-13700H has a lot better options on paper and achieves a equivalent efficiency to our check unit, it can’t be offering the similar potency, eating between 20 and 30 p.c extra electrical energy than our ThinkPad P14s, relying at the computer style.
The ThinkPad P14s obviously fulfills its promise of efficiency and potency.
You’ll to find extra benchmark comparisons in our CPU benchmark checklist.
The PCMark 10 effects are exceptional and underline the ThinkPad P14s G4’s excellent efficiency. It could possibly simply beat the Schenker Imaginative and prescient 14 2023, whose built-in GPU can’t stay up in relation to media advent.
Operating on battery in balanced mode limits efficiency via 20 p.c. However even then, the lengthen when operating, putting in or uninstalling systems is handiest slightly noticeable. The workstation computer supplies a good efficiency always.
The result of our LatencyMon check are not rather as compelling. Customers will have some difficulties when seeking to procedure audio and video in real-time. That is in large part because of the DirectX motive force – one thing a long run replace would possibly make stronger.
A metamorphosis within the motive force configuration can at all times result in primary adjustments in both route.
The SK Hynix SSD is firmly glued onto a copper warmth sink and provides a solid prime efficiency even underneath steady load. On the other hand, the consequences diminish when the SSD is charged with writing massive volumes of information or has to take care of parallel get right of entry to.
This has little to no affect at the customary use of systems – even difficult ones.
The built-in graphics unit AMD Radeon 780M can’t carry out miracles, but it surely does impressively illustrate how an iGPU can simply succeed in the extent of a Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 – with a fragment of the facility intake.
Within the workstation phase, the graphics efficiency is especially related for pro packages and CAD/CAM device. SPECviewperf can provide a good suggestion of the GPU’s suitability for those packages – and the built-in graphics unit plays nicely, coming as regards to devoted GPUs such because the RTX A1000, which can be constructed for those skilled duties. The latter achieves 50 p.c extra efficiency with considerably larger effort. The efficiency of the Radeon 780M could also be 30 p.c upper than that of its predecessor, the Radeon 680M.
Evaluating the Intel Iris Xe Graphics 96EUs with our Radeon 780M is especially spectacular: The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Professional with this iGPU handiest reaches part the volume of issues throughout all 3DMark checks.
Extra numbers, checks and tests are to be had on our GPU benchmark page.
The great artificial benchmark effects are mirrored when enjoying present and in particular moderately older video games. Many titles can simply be performed at medium or prime settings and Complete HD solution.
The GPU does succeed in its limits when enjoying very advanced video games corresponding to Starfield, then again, the place the ThinkPad fails to show 30 FPS even at minimal settings. However, the sport continues to run easily in spite of the low framerate.
Our steady Witcher 3 loop displays no abrupt jumps or spontaneous drops in efficiency. The slight drop is hooked up to the day and evening rhythm within the recreation. This displays that the instrument’s most efficiency stays solid even underneath long-term load.
The Lenovo pocket book stays nearly totally silent right through on a regular basis use. The fanatics slowly accelerate when extra efficiency is needed, for instance right through a long set up procedure or intensive rendering. The fan noise will increase as much as a obviously audible murmur.
Customers will hardly ever be troubled via the fan because it handiest reaches this noise degree in remarkable scenarios, as showed via the common price underneath load. Whilst 26 dB(A) is audible, it’s scarcely or certainly not worrying. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 G4, geared up with the similar CPU, has a mean fan noise of 35 dB(A), which feels two times as loud and isn’t very best for calm running environments.
The low noise construction has a destructive impact on temperature construction. The ground of the bottom unit nearly at all times heats up noticeably, attaining a most temperature of 48 °C. That is substantial, in spite of related units attaining equivalent temperatures. The warmth produced via the sturdy CPU has to head someplace, finally.
This floor temperature must no longer be a large factor when running at a table, even though the producers will have put extra effort into lowering temperatures at the keyboard, which is able to additionally succeed in over 40 °C every now and then.
As promised, the CPU’s most energy intake stays consistent at 40 W for roughly 30 seconds. After that, the worth drops to a solid 32 W. The measured temperatures typically stay under 70 °C, which signifies very efficient warmth transportation.
The common capability right through the strain check, in the meantime, is sort of at all times at 100%. The GPU will also be used at most capability on the identical time. To measure this, we activated FurMark after 10 mins and deactivated it once more sooner than finishing the strain check.
The ThinkPad P14s does no longer display any indicators of throttling or over the top warmth era. In different phrases, not anything stands in the best way of constant use.
The audio system are respectable however no longer excellent. Bass and decrease mids are slightly audible and the drivers lack energy.
The standard is excellent sufficient for video calls, the occasional video circulation and for enjoying tune within the background. The sound is balanced and stays delightful through the years. Distortion can handiest be heard at very prime frequencies, which is the case for many pocket book audio system.
The workstation computer’s energy intake may be very low whilst idling, with the instrument drawing underneath 3 W every now and then. At complete load, then again, energy intake can build up to as much as 60 W.
This is a perfect state of affairs for cellular units. Little or no calories is needed right through breaks or whilst surfing the internet or studying a file, but if the device is underneath load, it has 60 W to be had, which the 65-Watt energy provide too can supply at any time.
The remarkably low energy intake right through much less difficult duties is mirrored within the battery lifestyles. The computer helps to keep going for over 11 hours in our internet surfing check, which is longer than the common instrument. Expanding display screen brightness does, then again, have an important have an effect on on battery lifestyles. Nonetheless, our best possible price used to be reached at nearly 70% brightness, which is typically enough when running at a table.
The battery lifestyles used to be similarly excellent in our video check, attaining nearly 10 hours. It is a adequate end result, particularly whilst you believe that the battery is not very massive at 52 Wh.
Since the workstation pocket book supplies numerous energy even if operating on battery, the battery lifestyles drops to only underneath 1 hour underneath load.
So long as graphics do not play a big position, the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s G4 AMD gives remarkable traits for a conveyable workstation. Its CPU and GPU efficiency is spectacular. The Radeon 780M can simply exchange a small devoted GPU. As well as, the instrument is extremely environment friendly and its battery lasts a complete day.
Numerous security measures, together with face reputation, make sure that the protection of your knowledge. The tough building and faraway upkeep choices upload additional coverage.
Moderately bland with suboptimal ports however quite a lot of energy, a robust iGPU and more-than-decent battery lifestyles: Objectively talking, the ThinkPad P14s is an excellent selection.
There may be room for development within the house of connectivity. A powerful webcam, the entire major connectors and USB4 make the instrument flexible, with the choice of including 5G/LTE along with the already to be had LAN port. The presence of just one actually instant USB port subsequent to the 2 dated USB 3.0 connectors quite dampens the great impact. Related Intel notebooks have extra to provide. And a workstation computer actually must permit customers to switch and/or extend the RAM module.
However, the P14s G4 AMD is a wonderfully well-equipped instrument that does with out fancy extras or a classy look in desire of being inexpensive. Customers in search of much more portability would possibly believe the in a similar fashion geared up ThinkPad T14 G4 a excellent selection. The HP ZBook Energy G10, in the meantime, brings extra energy to the desk, particularly in relation to graphics.
A number of configurations of the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s G4, together with our check unit geared up with a Ryzen 7 PRO 7840U, are to be had from the Lenovo webshop.
Allow 48h for review and removal.