The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 4 is positioned at the perfect intersection of the business-class laptop market, providing a harmonious balance of power and portability. It is slimmer and lighter than the standard ThinkPad T14, yet still shares many of the same advantages as the sleeker and more expensive ThinkPad X1 Carbon.

Design:

The ThinkPad T14s is designed to be familiar and comfortable for potential customers. Lenovo has maintained the current ThinkPad look and feel, offering it in the classic ThinkPad deep black or the somewhat unconventional storm grey. The premium magnesium alloy chassis is both lightweight and features a pleasantly comfortable wrist rest. However, the wrist rest and keyboard deck can attract skin oil smudges, and the device may show smudges on the top of the display lid and bottom. While noticeable from certain angles and in specific lighting, they do not bother many users. The ThinkPad T14s maintains the standard, beloved ThinkPad features, including a full-sized keyboard, dual-pointing system, and military-grade durability. Though the top and bottom display bezels may seem tall, there’s a positive side effect—ample room for the webcam and sensors without requiring a “reverse notch” found on many other Lenovo laptops.

Display:

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 4 offers a choice of several 14.1-inch displays with a 16:10 aspect ratio, ranging from Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) resolution to a 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED panel. Most of these displays are non-touch, and optional PrivacyGuard display is available for enhanced security. The review unit featured a Full HD+ IPS panel with multitouch and antiglare capabilities that provided a reasonable 300 nits of brightness, suitable for typical workloads.

Internal Components:

The ThinkPad T14s houses 13th Gen Intel Core U-series processors, including Core i5-1335U, Core i5-1345U with vPro, Core i7-1355U, and Core i7-1365U with vPro. Additionally, the device can be configured with up to 32 GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 2 TB of PCIe SSD Gen 4 storage. The review unit was equipped with a Core i7-1365U processor, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage, providing excellent performance and reliability in various working environments.

Connectivity:

As expected of a business-class solution, the ThinkPad T14s offers comprehensive connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, and optional LTE 4G or 5G cellular connectivity. The unit reviewed lacked cellular connectivity but consistently maintained connection with Wi-Fi 6E, showing reliable performance.

Ports and Expansion:

The device offers a variety of expansion capabilities, with a minor quibble about limited USB-C port options. Ports include two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI 2.1 port, USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, combo headphone/microphone jack, and a Kensington nano security slot. A USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, nano SIM card slot, and smart card reader are also available, depending on configuration.

Audio and Video:

The device provides Dolby Audio for built-in stereo speakers and Dolby Vision HDR capabilities for the OLED display panel option, offering a compelling multimedia experience. Though the sound quality is generally good, it may lack depth and punch in certain instances. Nevertheless, the Dolby Access app offers customization options for optimal audio experiences.

Hybrid Work:

The T14s is well-equipped to meet the needs of hybrid and remote workers, featuring a Full HD (1080p) webcam with excellent video quality in low-light conditions. Lenovo also includes a suite of video and collaboration customization capabilities, along with Dolby Voice-supported microphones for enhanced collaboration, privacy, and noise suppression.

Keyboard, Touchpad, and ThinkPoint:

The notable backlit, full-sized ThinkPad keyboard with scalloped keys and short, punchy key throws provides an excellent typing experience. However, some may find the inverted Fn and Ctrl keys and the small inverted-T arrow key area to be minor issues, though they do not detract from the keyboard’s overall excellence.