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MagyarLenovo ThinkPad T14s G3 Intel reviewed: quiet mobile companion with great performance
The latest Lenovo ThinkPad T14s G3 not only showcases a brand new design with a 16:10 display and a compact footprint, but also features a surprisingly fast and yet highly efficient Alder Lake-U CPU. This also marks the very first time an OLED option is available for the T series.
We took an in-depth look at the ThinkPad T14s G3 equipped with an Intel Core i5-1235U, 16 GB of soldered RAM (max. 32 GB), a 512 GB PCIe 4.0 SSD and a low-power FHD+ display, and were thoroughly impressed by the device. The U-series CPU performs better than even a Core i7-1270P (like the one in the ThinkPad X1 Yoga G7) and is in no way inferior to a Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U. Moreover, the ThinkPad T14s G3 is more efficient than the ThinkPad T14 with an AMD processor.
Cinebench R15 Multi Sustained Load
Power consumption
| Lenovo ThinkPad T14s G3 21BR00CDGE i5-1235U, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, IPS LED, 1920x1200, 14.00 | Lenovo ThinkPad T14s G2 20WM003TGE i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 14.00 | Lenovo ThinkPad T14 G3-21CF004NGE R7 PRO 6850U, Radeon 680M, IPS, 1920x1200, 14.00 | Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G1 21BWS00200 i5-1240P, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, IPS, 1920x1200, 16.00 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G10 21CC001RGE i5-1250P, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, IPS LED, 1920x1200, 14.00 | HP EliteBook 845 G9 6F6H9EA R5 PRO 6650U, Radeon 660M, IPS, 1920x1200, 14.00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -7% | -6% | -18% | -5% | -14% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 2.3 | 2.2 4% | 2.4 -4% | 2.9 -26% | 2.9 -26% | 3 -30% |
| Idle Average * | 4.6 | 5.5 -20% | 5.3 -15% | 6 -30% | 4.9 -7% | 5 -9% |
| Idle Maximum * | 5.6 | 6.1 -9% | 5.6 -0% | 6.9 -23% | 6 -7% | 9 -61% |
| Load Average * | 37.1 | 41.3 -11% | 39.7 -7% | 27.3 26% | 29.3 21% | 41 -11% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 32.8 | 34.5 -5% | 42.8 -30% | 42.6 -30% | 36.6 -12% | 32.6 1% |
| Load Maximum * | 65.8 | 67.3 -2% | 50.6 23% | 81.53 -24% | 63.3 4% | 50 24% |
* ... smaller is better
The low-power display has excellent contrast and colour accuracy, but it isn't without its flaws: the panel doesn't get very bright at just 300 nits and falls short of the 400 nits peak brightness claimed by Lenovo. We also noticed severe clouding when dark images were shown on the screen as well as very obvious ghosting. That said, the ThinkPad T14s G3 doesn't have any real drawbacks other than the soldered RAM and Wi-Fi 6E module.
Advantages of the laptop include its spill-resistant full-size ThinkPad keyboard with 1.5 mm of key travel and its precise touchpad with a glass-like surface. But we are particularly impressed by the fan. It mostly sits completely still and often remains quiet even under load. In spite of this, the laptop's surfaces practically don't get warm at all. The chassis is also very sturdy thanks to the use of carbon and aluminium. Nothing really bends or flexes on the chassis.
Although the laptop has 50% better performance and lower emissions than its predecessor, battery life hasn't suffered at all and remains largely the same as on the previous T14s (9.5 hours for web browsing). Overall, the T14s has become more like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G10 because it is now essentially just as compact and some configurations of the T14s are also not much heavier than the X1. Not to mention the T14s has superior performance.
It's also worth highlighting that the laptop is well equipped with features such as Thunderbolt 4 ports and optional 5G. Both the built-in speakers and the Full HD webcam with IR and ThinkShutter have been improved over the previous gen.
Display measurements
| Lenovo ThinkPad T14s G3 21BR00CDGE MNE007JA1-1, IPS LED, 1920x1200, 14.00 | Lenovo ThinkPad T14s G2 20WM003TGE NE140FHM-N61, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 14.00 | Lenovo ThinkPad T14 G3-21CF004NGE LP140WU1-SPB2, IPS, 1920x1200, 14.00 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga G7 21CE002HGE MNE007JA1-1, IPS, 1920x1200, 14.00 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G10 21CC001RGE B140UAN02.1, IPS LED, 1920x1200, 14.00 | HP EliteBook 845 G9 6F6H9EA AUOA49A, IPS, 1920x1200, 14.00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | -4% | 1% | 2% | 6% | 7% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 67.8 | 68.1 0% | 69.2 2% | 69.3 2% | 74.6 10% | 75.4 11% |
| sRGB Coverage | 98.6 | 91.7 -7% | 97.4 -1% | 99.7 1% | 98.6 0% | 100 1% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 70.1 | 67.1 -4% | 71.5 2% | 71.3 2% | 76.5 9% | 76.6 9% |
| Response Times | -45% | 15% | 9% | 1% | -20% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 41.4 ? | 68 ? -64% | 41.4 ? -0% | 42 ? -1% | 45.5 ? -10% | 58.8 ? -42% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 27.2 ? | 34 ? -25% | 19.2 ? 29% | 22.4 ? 18% | 24 ? 12% | 26.7 ? 2% |
| PWM Frequency | 22730 ? | 53050 ? | ||||
| Screen | -46% | 7% | 17% | -15% | 4% | |
| Brightness middle | 312 | 422.9 36% | 451 45% | 371 19% | 372 19% | 408 31% |
| Brightness | 301 | 397 32% | 435 45% | 363 21% | 362 20% | 402 34% |
| Brightness Distribution | 93 | 91 -2% | 94 1% | 92 -1% | 94 1% | 92 -1% |
| Black Level * | 0.16 | 0.32 -100% | 0.21 -31% | 0.21 -31% | 0.18 -13% | 0.24 -50% |
| Contrast | 1950 | 1322 -32% | 2148 10% | 1767 -9% | 2067 6% | 1700 -13% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.2 | 4.8 -118% | 2.4 -9% | 1.3 41% | 3.4 -55% | 2.09 5% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 5.6 | 8.7 -55% | 4.1 27% | 2.6 54% | 6.7 -20% | 5.09 9% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 1.3 | 1.9 -46% | 1.3 -0% | 0.8 38% | 1.8 -38% | 1.56 -20% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.7 | 6.1 -126% | 3.3 -22% | 2.1 22% | 4.3 -59% | 1.7 37% |
| Gamma | 2.11 104% | 2.23 99% | 2.13 103% | 2.15 102% | 2.13 103% | 2.138 103% |
| CCT | 6196 105% | 7635 85% | 6848 95% | 6759 96% | 6158 106% | 6628 98% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -32% /
-37% | 8% /
7% | 9% /
13% | -3% /
-8% | -3% /
1% |
* ... smaller is better
In Germany, our review model (21BR00CDGE) usually costs €1,865 (US$1,980) but is currently available for €1,699 (US$1,803) after student discount. Alternatively, you can get an AMD version with the speedy Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U for around €50 (US$53) less. Campuspoint even offers an OLED model. For those on a budget, there is a cheaper AMD model with 8 GB of RAM for roughly €1,600 (US$1,699).
For US residents, you can head over to Lenovo US to configure your ThinkPad T14s G3. Discounts are likewise available for students and educators.
For more information and detailed analyses, you can read our in-depth review of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s G3 Intel.
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