Lenovo ThinkPad T480S

Lenovo ThinkPad T480S

New design – New experience

At first glance, the Lenovo ThinkPad T480s does not look significantly different from the T470s. However, the chassis has been redesigned, providing a sturdier feel. The T480s is about 0.35mm thinner than its predecessor—a subtle change that shows the design team has refined both weight and dimensions. The machine still utilizes a magnesium alloy for the chassis, while the lid uses a carbon fiber blend, finished with a smooth, premium carbon fiber coating.

The bezels remain unchanged, but the Lenovo ThinkPad T480s is equipped with ThinkShutter to enhance privacy. The hinge design also remains consistent. The fingerprint sensor has been made smaller, optimizing sensitivity during use.

Performance – Beyond expectations

The Lenovo ThinkPad T480s utilizes the powerful Kabylake-R CPU series. This generation of CPUs has changed user perceptions of Intel laptop processors; previously limited to 2 cores and 4 threads, they have now been upgraded to 4 cores and 8 threads, offering superior performance. However, the machine still offers 2-core, 4-thread options like the Core i5 7200U and Core i5 7300U for basic office needs, while versions from the Core i5 8250U up to the Core i7 8650U are equipped with higher core and thread counts. Despite using power-efficient CPUs, Lenovo has tuned the power limit of this machine to 25W, helping to maximize performance while maintaining stability.

The laptop offers two graphics options: integrated Intel graphics and the Nvidia MX150. It seems Lenovo learned from experience by including an optional dedicated graphics card for this machine, rather than cutting it out as seen on the T470s.

Lenovo ThinkPad T480s Display

The Lenovo ThinkPad T480s is equipped with a Full HD IPS display with wide viewing angles. The brightness is modest at 250 nits for both the standard and touch screen versions. The color gamut on this display version is also not extremely high, at 62% sRGB and 40% AdobeRGB, which is sufficient for office environments. Overall, at this resolution, the screen meets most standard needs.

Additionally, there is a 2K display option with up to 95% AdobeRGB color coverage, providing sharp and realistic images suitable for photo editing professionals. The machine also offers an HD resolution option, ideal for those looking to optimize costs while still using a stable business laptop.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The Lenovo ThinkPad T480s keyboard features excellent key travel and high tactile feedback; the curved keycaps significantly reduce hand fatigue during long typing sessions. The key spacing is well-arranged, and while the arrow keys are smaller than usual, they still perform well during use.

The touchpad is coated with a matte plastic layer, which helps prevent fingerprints during use. The mouse buttons have good responsiveness and operate quite quietly. Equipped with Windows Precision Drivers, gestures and touchpad feedback are both smooth and accurate.

The Trackpoint remains a standout feature of the ThinkPad laptop line. It offers high precision and easy one-handed operation. The three accompanying mouse buttons have clear tactile points, sufficient travel, and quiet operation.

Connectivity

The machine features a comprehensive range of ports, including 2 USB Type A 3.1 Gen 1, 1 HDMI 1.4b port, 1 RJ-45 network port, 1 SD card slot, and 2 USB Type C ports; however, only one port supports Thunderbolt 3, while the other supports the 3.1 Gen 1 standard but supports fast charging and video output.

Battery Life

The machine is equipped with a 57Wh battery, providing up to 8 hours of continuous use, making it suitable for those requiring long-lasting performance.

ThinkPad T480s – A Premium Business Laptop

With a redesigned build, powerful configuration, and impressive battery life, the T480s is a machine well worth its price. However, using only a single 57Wh battery might result in slightly lower battery life compared to some current competitors.