Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: An In-Depth Review
Lenovo continues to impress with its sixth-generation ThinkPad T14s, a modern powerhouse designed for demanding business environments. Starting at $1,598, this laptop is built with the new AMD Ryzen AI chipset and supports Wi-Fi 7—the latest advancement in wireless technology. While the ThinkPad T14s excels in performance, some aspects, like the display, leave room for improvement considering its premium price tag.
Aesthetics and Design
The exterior of the ThinkPad T14s adheres to Lenovo’s signature design principles with its lightweight, matte black chassis. It retains the renowned tactile keyboard, offering a familiar typing experience. Upon closer inspection, subtle new features set this model apart from its predecessors, meticulously balancing style with functionality.
Connectivity and Port Selection
The ThinkPad T14s offers a robust array of connectivity options, crucial for professionals on the go. It includes an HDMI 2.1 input and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, both of which support power delivery and can handle DisplayPort connections. This means you can connect to external displays and simultaneously charge your laptop, enhancing productivity without compromising convenience.
Display and Webcam Features
Despite praised design aspects, the display on the ThinkPad T14s falls short. Operating at a 1,920 x 1,200 pixel resolution with anti-glare capabilities, it meets only basic expectations. The Eyesafe certification is a bonus, diminishing blue light exposure. At its price range, however, a 2K display would have been more fitting. Conversely, the built-in 5MP webcam is noteworthy, supporting up to 1440p video calls, pairing with Dolby Voice and dual-array mics for crystal-clear communication.
Performance and Internal Specifications
The true highlight of the ThinkPad T14s lies in its internal components. It houses the Ryzen AI 7 Pro 360 processor, paired with an AMD Radeon 880M graphics card and 32GB of RAM, showcasing impressive performance benchmarks. High scores in PCMark 10 productivity tests confirm its adeptness at multitasking. The neural processing unit (NPU) serves as a cornerstone, enhancing performance by offloading tasks from the main processor. Testing included managing 50 Chrome tabs and multiple applications without lag, emphasizing its robust capability for business multitasking.
Challenges in Content Creation
While the T14s excels in productivity, it faces challenges in digital content creation. Benchmarks reveal lower scores in video editing performance, largely due to the integrated GPU and display limitations, suggesting it might not be ideal for creative professionals.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery performance is solid but unspectacular, delivering around 12 hours on Best Power Efficiency and 7.5 hours under Best Performance settings. Despite not matching the efficiency seen in laptops with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chipsets, the T14s compensates with a fast-charging battery, reaching 70% in just an hour.
Future-Ready Features and Connectivity
Future-proofing is a significant draw for the ThinkPad T14s, supporting the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 standards, which offer faster, more secure connections. Despite their limited current use due to slow adoption but growing support, they ensure the device remains relevant as new technologies emerge.
Pricing and Overall Value
Priced from $1,560, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 offers excellent value for business professionals seeking a powerful, versatile machine. Configurations are available for more budget-conscious individuals or those looking to maximize storage and performance with higher-end components, such as a 1TB SSD. For those preferring other chipset options, Lenovo also offers variants with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chipset starting at $1,181.
| Model | Amazon Price | B&H Photo-Video Price |
|---|---|---|
| Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 | $1,511.85 | $1,659.95 |
Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is an excellent choice for anyone in need of a reliable, high-performance laptop capable of handling extensive productivity tasks with future-ready technology. Its advanced features and robust build make it a worthwhile investment for modern professionals.
