Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 (21E6000QGR) Review: A Solid Workhorse

Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 (21E6000QGR) Review: A Solid Workhorse

The Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 (21E6000QGR) is a mid-range laptop aimed at professionals and students seeking a reliable and durable machine for everyday tasks. This review delves into its performance, features, and overall user experience, helping you decide if it’s the right fit for your needs.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 boasts a robust build, a comfortable keyboard, and decent performance for everyday productivity tasks. It’s a solid choice for users who prioritize reliability and practicality over cutting-edge features. In this review, we’ll explore its strengths and weaknesses, examining its performance, design, and overall user experience.

Key Features

The Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 comes equipped with:

Feature Specification
Processor Intel® Core™ i5-1235U, 10C (2P + 8E) / 12T, P-core 1.3 / 4.4GHz, E-core 0.9 / 3.3GHz, 12MB
Graphics Integrated Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics Functions as UHD Graphics
Chipset Intel® SoC Platform
Memory 8GB Soldered DDR4-3200
Memory Slots One memory soldered to systemboard, one DDR4 SO-DIMM slot, dual-channel capable
Max Memory Up to 40GB (8GB soldered + 32GB SO-DIMM) DDR4-3200
Storage 512GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe® 4.0×4 NVMe® Opal 2.0
Storage Support Up to two drives, 2x M.2 SSD • M.2 2242 SSD up to 1TB
Storage Slot Two M.2 slots • One M.2 2242 PCIe® 3.0 x4 slot • One M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
Card Reader No card reader
Optical None
Audio Chip High Definition (HD) Audio, Realtek® ALC3287 codec
Speakers Stereo speakers, 2W x2, Dolby® Audio™, audio by HARMAN
Camera FHD 1080p with Privacy Shutter
Microphone 2x, Array
Battery Integrated 45Wh
Power Adapter 65W USB-C® (3-pin)
Display 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080) IPS 300nits Anti-glare, 45% NTSC
Touchscreen None
Keyboard Non-backlit, Arabic
Case Color Black
Case Material Aluminium (Top), PC-ABS (Bottom)
Dimensions (WxDxH) 365 x 240 x 18.9 mm (14.37 x 9.45 x 0.74 inches)
Weight Starting at 1.7 kg (3.75 lbs)
Operating System Windows® 11 Pro, Arabic / English
Bundled Software None
Ethernet 100/1000M (RJ-45)
WLAN + Bluetooth Wi-Fi® 6E, 11ax 2×2 + BT5.1
WWAN None
SIM Card None
NFC None
Standard Ports 1x USB 2.01x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Always On)1x Thunderbolt™ 4 / USB4® 40Gbps (support data transfer, Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort™ 1.4)1x HDMI® 2.1, up to 4K/60Hz1x Ethernet (RJ-45)1x Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm)

Performance

Equipped with the Intel Core i5-1235U processor, the ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 delivers solid performance for everyday tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and light video editing. The 8GB of RAM is sufficient for multitasking, but users who frequently work with demanding applications may find it limiting. The 512GB SSD ensures fast boot times and smooth application loading.

The integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics is capable of handling casual gaming and basic graphic design tasks. However, for demanding graphics-intensive workloads, a dedicated graphics card would be preferable. While the battery life is decent, it could be better. It easily lasts for a full workday with moderate usage but falls short for extended work sessions.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Durable and reliable build quality
  • Comfortable keyboard with dedicated numeric keypad
  • Solid performance for everyday tasks
  • Good display with decent color accuracy
  • Adequate port selection
  • Affordable price point

Cons:

  • Limited RAM may be insufficient for demanding workloads
  • No card reader included
  • Battery life could be better
  • Integrated graphics might be limiting for graphics-intensive tasks

Final Verdict

The Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 (21E6000QGR) is a solid and reliable workhorse that ticks the boxes for many users. Its durable build, comfortable keyboard, and decent performance make it a suitable option for everyday productivity tasks. However, the limited RAM and average battery life might be drawbacks for certain users. If you’re looking for a reliable and affordable laptop for basic computing, the ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 is a solid choice.