Lenovo's ThinkPad laptops gain 5G, taller screens, and more with massive refresh

ThinkPad T15 Hero Front Facing Right
ThinkPad T15 Hero Front Facing Right (Image credit: Lenovo)

ThinkPad L14 Gen 2 Hero Left 180 Degree Intel

Source: Lenovo (Image credit: Source: Lenovo)

What you need to know

  • Lenovo announced several updates to its ThinkPad laptop portfolio.
  • Lenovo completely redesigned the X13 and X13 Yoga and updated its T and L series.
  • The company also announced refreshes the P14s and P15s mobile workstation laptops.

Lenovo announced a refresh to its ThinkPad laptop lineups, including updates to its X13, X13 Yoga, T series, L series, and P series. The updated laptops focus on modern connectivity, including optional 5G support and Wi-Fi 6E, though 5G support is only on some models. Depending on the device you choose, you'll have an option of 11th Gen Intel Core vPro processors or AMD Ryzen 5000 series mobile processors. Only some of the laptops have options for AMD, which are noted in the spec tables below.

The updated laptops range from budget-friendly options like the L14 and L15 all the way up to mobile workstations like the P14s and P15s.

ThinkPad L14 and L15

The ThinkPad L14 and L15 are more affordable ThinkPad laptops. They have starting prices of $689, which is around half the price of many other ThinkPad laptops. The ThinkPad L1 i and L15 i run on 11th Gen Intel Core vPro processors, and the ThinkPad L14 and L15 run on AMD Ryzen 5000 series mobile processors.

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CategoryLenovo ThinkPad L14Lenovo ThinkPad L15
ProcessorUp to 11th Gen Intel
Core i7 vPro
AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile
Up to 11th Gen Intel
Core i7 vPro
AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile
RAMUp to 64GB
DDR4-3200MHz
Dual channel
Up to 64GB
DDR4-3200MHz
Dual channel
GraphicsIntel Iris Xe
Intel UHD
NVIDIA MX450 (optional)
Intel Iris Xe
NVIDIA MX450 (optional)
StorageUp to 2TB HDD
Up to 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD
Up to 2TB HDD
Up to 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD
Display14 inches
HD, TN, 220 nits
FHD, IPS, 250 nits
FHD, IPS, touch, 300 nits
FHD, IPS, Low power, 400 nits
15 inches
HD, TN, 220 nits
FHD, IPS, 250 nits
FHD, IPS, Touch, 300 nits
PortsTwo USB-A 3.2
USB-C 3.2
Thunderbolt 4
HDMI 2.0
Ethernet
microSD reader
3.5mm audio
Two USB-A 3.2
USB-C 3.2
Thunderbolt 4
HDMI 2.0
Ethernet
microSD reader
3.5mm audio
AudioDolby AudioDolby Audio
ConnectivityWi-Fi 6
LTE CAT12
NFC
Wi-Fi 6
LTE CAT12
NFC
SecurityFingerprint reader
Webcam shutter
dTPM 2.0
Fingerprint reader
Webcam shutter
dTPM 2.0
Battery45Wh
65W AC adapter
45Wh
65W AC adapter
Dimensions13.03 x 9.25 x 0.75 inches
(331mm x 235mm x 19.1mm)
14.43 x 9.84 x 0.83 inches
(366.5mm x 250mm x 21mm)
WeightFrom 3.49 pounds (1.58kg)From 4.39 pounds (1.99kg)
ColorBlackBlack
AvailabilityMay 2021May 2021
Starting price$689$689

ThinkPad P14s and P15s

The ThinkPad P14s, P14s i, and P15 laptops are mobile workstations that can handle more demanding workloads while remaining mobile-friendly. Lenovo highlights that they can run programs like AutoCAD LT, Autodesk Revit, and SolidWorks despite their more compact form factors. The P14s runs on an AMD Ryzen 5000 series mobile processor with integrated AMD Radeon graphics. There are also options for P series laptops with 11th Gen Intel Core processors with NVIDIA T500 discrete graphics.

These laptops also have X-Rite factory color calibration, meaning they're color accurate out of the box.

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CategoryLenovo ThinkPad P14sLenovo ThinkPad P15s
OSWindows 10 Home
Windows 10 Pro
Ubuntu Linux 20.04 LTS
Red Hat Linux
Windows 10 Home
Windows 10 Pro
Ubuntu Linux 20.04 LTS
Red Hat Linux
ProcessorUp to 11th Gen Intel
Core i7
AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile
Up to 11th Gen Intel
Core i7
RAMUp to 48GB
DDR4-3200MHz
Dual channel
Up to 48GB
DDR4-3200MHz
Dual channel
GraphicsIntel Iris Xe
NVIDIA T500 (4GB)
Intel Iris Xe
NVIDIA T500 (4GB)
StorageUp to 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSDUp to 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Display14 inches
1920x1080 (FHD)
500 nits, ePrivacy
400 nits, Low power
300 nits, Touch
IPS, 300 nits
3840x2160 (UHD)
IPS, 500 nits
HDR400
Dolby Vision
X-Rite Color
15 inches
1920x1080 (FHD)
Touch, non-touch
300 nits
3840x2160 (UHD)
IPS, 600 nits
HDR 400
Dolby Vision
X-Rite Color
PortsTwo USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1)
Two Thunderbolt 4
HDMI 2.0
Ethernet
3.5mm audio
microSD reader
Two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1)
Two Thunderbolt 4
HDMI 2.0
Ethernet
3.5mm audio
microSD reader
ConnectivityWi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth 5.2
LTE CAT12, CAT16
NFC
Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth 5.2
LTE CAT12, CAT16
CameraFront-facing 720p
IR camera
Front-facing 720p
IR camera
SecurityFingerprint reader
Camera shutter
dTPM 2.0
Fingerprint reader
Camera shutter
dTPM 2.0
Battery50Wh
65W AC adapter
57Wh
65W AC adapter
Dimensions12.95 x 8.94 x 0.70 inches
(329mm x 227mm x 17.9mm)
14.4 x 9.76 x 0.75 inches
(365.8mm x 248mm x 19.1mm)
WeightFrom 3.24 pounds (1.47kg)From 3.87 pounds (1.76kg)
ColorBlack
Storm Grey
Black
Storm Grey
AvailabilityMarch 2021 (i)
May 2021
March 2021
Starting price$1,389 (i)
$1,169
$1,389

ThinkPad T series

The ThinkPad T series focuses on productivity and comes in a variety of sizes and configurations. The lineup includes the T14s, T14, and T15 powered by 11th Gen Intel vPro processors and the T14s and T14 powered by AMD Ryzen 5000 series mobile processors.

You can get up to a 14-inch UHD HDR Dolby Vision display that can reach up to 500 nits of brightness or up to a 15.6-inch UHD HDR Dolby Vision display that can reach up to 600 nits. The displays should be bright enough for most settings, including outdoor use, depending on how much sunlight you're dealing with.

The T14s models integrate a fingerprint reader into the power button and feature Human Presence Detection.

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CategoryLenovo ThinkPad T14Lenovo ThinkPad T14s
ProcessorUp to 11th Gen Intel
Core i7 vPro
AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile
Up to 11th Gen Intel
Core i7 vPro
AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile
RAMUp to 48GB
DDR4-3200MHz
Dual channel
Up to 32GB
LPDDR4x-4266MHz
GraphicsIntel Iris Xe
Intel UHD
NVIDIA MX450 (optional)
Intel Iris Xe
StorageUp to 2TB M.2 PCIe SSDUp to 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD
Display14 inches
FHD, IPS, 250 nits
FHD, IPS, 300 nits
FHD, IPS, Touch, 300 nits
FHD, IPS, Low power, 400 nits
FPD, IPS, Touch, PrivacyGuard, 500 nits
UHD, IPS, Dolby Vision, 500 nits
14 inches
FHD, IPS, 300 nits
FHD, IPS, Touch, 300 nits
FHD, IPS, Touch, PrivacyGuard, 500 nits
UHD, IPS, Dolby Vision, 500 nits
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 4
HDMI 2.0
Ethernet
SD card reader
3.5mm audio
Two Thunderbolt 4
Two USB-A 3.2
HDMI 2.0
3.5mm audio
AudioDolby AudioDolby Audio
CameraFront-facing 720p
IR camera
Front-facing 720p IR hybrid
Front-facing 1080p IR hybrid
ConnectivityWi-Fi 6E
LTE CAT12, CAT16
LTE CAT4 (PRC)
NFC
Wi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 6E
4G LTE CAT 12
5G LTE CAT20
LTE CAT4 (PRC)
NFC
SecurityFingerprint reader
Webcam shutter
dTPM 2.0
Fingerprint reader
Webcam shutter
dTPM 2.0
Battery50Wh
65W AC adapter
57Wh
65W AC adapter
Dimensions12.9 x 8.9 x 0.70 inches
(329mm x 227mm x 17.9mm)
12.89 x 8.82 x 0.64 inches
(327.5mm x 224mm x 16.14mm)
WeightFrom 3.23 pounds (1.47kg)From 2.83 pounds (1.28kg)
ColorBlack
Black (antimicrobial)
Storm Grey
Black
Storm Grey
AvailabilityMarch 2021 (i)
May 2021
March 2021 (i)
May 2021
Starting price$1,389 (i)
$1,159
$1,499 (i)
$1,279

ThinkPad T15

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CategoryLenovo ThinkPad T15
ProcessorUp to 11th Gen Intel
Core i7 vPro
RAMUp to 48GB
DDR4-3200MHz
Dual channel
GraphicsIntel Iris Xe
Intel UHD
NVIDIA MX450 (optional)
StorageUp to 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD
Display15.6 inches
FHD, IPS, 300 nits
FHD, IPS, Touch, 300 nits
UHD, IPS, Dolby Vision, 600 nits
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 4
Two USB-A 3.1
HDMI 2.0
Ethernet
3.5mm audio
SD card reader
AudioDolby Audio
ConnectivityWi-Fi 6E
LTE CAT12, CAT16
NFC
CameraFront-facing 720p
IR camera
SecurityFingerprint reader
Webcam shutter<br<dTPM 2.0
Battery57Wh
65W AC adapter
Dimensions14.4 x 9.76 x 0.75 inches
(365.8mm x 248mm x 19.1mm)
WeightFrom 3.86 pounds (1.75kg)
ColorBlack
Black (antimicrobial)
Storm Grey
AvailabilityMarch 2021
Starting price$1,379

ThinkPad X13 and X13 Yoga

The ThinkPad X13 and X13 Yoga are lightweight laptops that prioritize portability. They feature a 16:10 aspect ratio, which allows you to see more on a screen at once without bulking up the body too much. They have always-on always-connected technology, which makes it quicker to jump right into work.

The ThinkPad X13 i and X13 Yoga are powered by 11th Gen Intel Core vPro processors, and the ThinkPad X13 runs on an AMD Ryzen 5000 series mobile processor.

The X13 is a traditional clamshell laptop, though it can open flat, which is useful for presenting. The X13 Yoga is a flexible 2-in-1 that can flip around into different modes, including working as a tablet.

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CategoryLenovo ThinkPad X13Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Yoga
ProcessorUp to 11th Gen Intel
Core i7 vPro
AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile
Up to 11th Gen Intel
Core i7 vPro
RAMUp to 32GB
LPDDR4x-4266MHz
Up to 32GB
LPDDR4x-4266MHz
GraphicsUp to Intel Iris XeUp to Intel Iris Xe
StorageUp to 2TB M.2 PCIe SSDUp to 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD
Display13.3 inches
16:10 aspect ratio
FHD+, IPS, 100% sRGB, 300 nits
FHD+, Touch, 100% sRGB, 300 nits
FHD+, IPS, PrivacyGuard, 500 nits
QHD+, IPS, Low power, 400 nits, Low blue light
13.3 inches
16:10 aspect ratio
Touch
FHD+, 300 nits
FHD+, 300 nits, Anti-reflective
FHD+, PrivacyGuard, 500 nits
QHD+, 400 nits, Low blue light
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 4
Two USB-A 3.2
HDMI 2.0
3.5mm audio
Two Thunderbolt 4
USB-A 3.2
HDMI 2.0
3.5mm audio
AudioDolby AudioDolby Audio
ConnectivityWi-Fi 6E
Wi-Fi 6
4G LTE CAT12
5G LTE CAT20
LTE CAT4 (PRC)
NFC
Wi-Fi 6
LTE CAT 12
LTE CAT4 (PRC)
NFC
CameraFront-facing 1080p IR hybrid
Front-facing 720p IR hybrid
Up to 720p IR hybrid
SecurityFingerprint reader
Webcam shutter
dTPM 2.0
Fingerprint reader
Webcam shutter
dTPM 2.0
Battery41Wh or 54.7Wh
65W AC adapter
52.8Wh
65W AC adapter
Dimensions12.04 x 8.55 x 0.72 inches
(305.8mm x 217.06mm x 18.19mm)
12.01 x 8.42 x 0.61 inches
(305mm x 213.9mm x 15.39mm)
WeightFrom 2.62 pounds (1.19kg)From 2.65 pounds (1.2kg)
ColorBlack
Storm Grey
Black carbon fiber
AvailabilityMarch 2021 (i)
May 2021
April 2021
Starting price$1,299 (i)
$1,139
$1,379

Many of the new ThinkPad laptops start rolling out in March 2021, though you'll have to wait until as late as May 2021 to purchase some of them.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott brings nearly a decade of experience covering Microsoft and Windows news to Windows Central. He joined our team in 2017 as an app reviewer and now heads up our day-to-day news coverage. If you have a news tip or an app to review, hit him up at sean.endicott@futurenet.com.