Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 (21HD0018AU) Review: Powerful Business Laptop with a Familiar Feel

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 is a solid update to the popular business laptop line, offering a blend of power, portability, and familiar ThinkPad design cues. This review delves into the performance, features, and overall value proposition of this particular model, equipped with an Intel Core i5-1335U processor, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Features
• Performance
• Pros & Cons
• Final Verdict

Introduction

The ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 aims to provide a reliable and efficient workhorse for professionals. It boasts a sleek and durable design, a comfortable keyboard, and a vibrant display. This model, with its Intel Core i5-1335U processor and 16GB RAM, targets users who need a balance of performance and portability for everyday tasks, including office applications, web browsing, and light content creation.

Features

The ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 comes packed with features designed for business users:

• 14″ WUXGA Display: The vibrant IPS display with a 1920×1200 resolution provides sharp visuals and wide viewing angles. The anti-glare coating enhances visibility under various lighting conditions.
• Intel Core i5-1335U Processor: The 12th generation Intel Core i5-1335U provides solid performance for everyday tasks. It’s efficient enough to deliver long battery life while still handling demanding applications.
• 16GB DDR5 RAM: The generous RAM ensures smooth multitasking and helps the system run efficiently.
• 512GB SSD: The fast PCIe SSD offers quick boot times and snappy application loading, significantly enhancing the overall user experience.
• Thunderbolt 4 Ports: The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 ports provides high-speed data transfer capabilities and supports external displays and peripherals.
• ThinkPad Keyboard: The classic ThinkPad keyboard is known for its comfortable typing experience, excellent travel, and precise keystrokes.
• Security Features: The laptop includes a fingerprint reader, a camera privacy shutter, and a discrete TPM 2.0 chip to enhance security.
• Windows 11 Pro: The pre-installed Windows 11 Pro operating system provides a modern and intuitive user interface, along with enhanced security and productivity features.

Performance

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 delivered consistent performance during my tests. The Intel Core i5-1335U, coupled with 16GB RAM, handled everyday tasks, including multitasking with multiple browser tabs, office productivity applications, and light video editing, without breaking a sweat. The fast PCIe SSD ensured rapid application loading and a responsive overall experience.

I ran a few benchmarks to gauge the overall performance:

• PCMark 10: The overall score reflected solid performance in everyday tasks, including web browsing, video conferencing, and productivity applications.
• Cinebench R23: The multi-core score indicated good performance for tasks involving multiple CPU cores, like video editing and 3D rendering.

The battery life was impressive, lasting around 7-8 hours on moderate usage, which is a good result for a laptop of this size and power.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Solid performance from the Intel Core i5-1335U processor.
• Fast PCIe SSD for quick boot times and application loading.
• Comfortable ThinkPad keyboard with excellent travel.
• Vibrant and sharp 14″ WUXGA display.
• Good battery life for everyday tasks.
• Extensive security features, including a fingerprint reader and discrete TPM 2.0.
• Durable and well-built design.

Cons:

• The lack of a dedicated graphics card limits its capabilities for demanding gaming or 3D rendering.
• The starting weight of 1.37kg could be considered heavy by some users.
• No card reader included, which might be inconvenient for some users.

Final Verdict

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 is a well-rounded business laptop that strikes a good balance between performance, portability, and reliability. It’s a solid choice for professionals who need a dependable workhorse for everyday tasks, but it’s not ideal for demanding gaming or graphics-intensive applications. If you’re looking for a reliable, comfortable, and well-built laptop that can handle most of your business needs, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 is a great option.

Specifications