Lenovo ThinkPad P51 - Mobile WorkStation

Lenovo ThinkPad P51 - Mobile WorkStation

The ThinkPad P51 is aimed mainly at professional graphic designers, as well as developers working in electronics and artificial intelligence research.

Lenovo ThinkPad P51 Design

The ThinkPad P51 looks largely unchanged from the P50. The chassis is reinforced with a magnesium-aluminum alloy for a solid, durable build. The lid is also coated with a synthetic carbon fiber layer that keeps fingerprints to a minimum during everyday use. A recessed "Lenovo" logo gives the machine a subtle accent.

The laptop uses a two-sided hinge design with thick, sturdy hinges that open a full 180 degrees. The speaker strip sits right up against the screen, maximizing the audio experience for users.

A Worthwhile Performance Upgrade

The ThinkPad P51 offers a range of CPU options, from the Core i7 6820HQ up to the Xeon E3 1535 v6. Most options are Kaby Lake CPUs with 12% more processing power than the previous generation. Even so, Lenovo kept the Core i7 6820HQ as the entry-level option, which shows it is still a durable, powerful CPU that meets a wide range of work needs.

Graphics work is backed by two graphics card options, the Quadro M1200M and M2200M. The graphics options on the P51 are 20% faster than on the previous version, so users can run 3D software comfortably.

Display

The laptop comes with a Full HD IPS display with decent color coverage, 65% sRGB and 47% AdobeRGB, which works well for graphic design. Colors are neutral rather than overly vivid, which suits most users.

A 4K display option is also available, with color coverage of up to 90% sRGB and 76% AdobeRGB, suited to professional graphic designers. The 4K version also includes a Pantone color calibration sensor, which makes accurate color calibration convenient.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The laptop has a full-size keyboard with a number pad for users who do a lot of data entry. Key travel is deep, at 1.95mm, for a bouncy, solid typing feel. The function keys are laid out sensibly and are easy to use.

The touchpad has a textured surface, yet the cursor glides smoothly and the pad grips the finger well. Gestures are responsive thanks to the Windows Precision Driver. The mouse buttons are separate, with good travel and fast response.

The TrackPoint is domed higher than on its siblings, and it moves with responsive precision. Because of the higher dome, it helps you avoid hand pain during use. The accompanying mouse buttons are integrated with the keys and click softly and responsively.

Ports and Connectivity

The ThinkPad P51 is equipped with up to 4 USB Type-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports, 1 USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 2 port with Thunderbolt 3 support, 1 mini DisplayPort video output, 1 SD card slot, 1 RJ-45 network port, 1 HDMI 1.4b port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Security

The ThinkPad P51 offers good security. It has a highly sensitive one-touch fingerprint sensor, now smaller and more refined than on the P50. It also integrates the latest dTPM 2.0 chip, which maximizes drive encryption and requires a password for BIOS access as well as at Windows startup.

Is the ThinkPad P51 a Worthwhile Upgrade?

Lenovo was wise to keep this design for the P51, thanks to the sensible internal component layout and good heat dissipation. That also becomes an unintended drawback, since the machine is so similar to its predecessor. Even so, with worthwhile upgrades in performance and security, it remains a powerful machine.