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MagyarLenovo ThinkPad T15p Gen 1 laptop review: Powerful but inefficient
T ThinkPads with the "p" suffix have been around for a long time. The very first ThinkPad laptop that Notebookcheck was able to review was an IBM ThinkPad T41p in 2005, which was the workstation variant back then. After the Lenovo ThinkPad T61p (2007), the workstations were rebranded to the ThinkPad W series, and today, they go by the name of the ThinkPad P series. However, the T ThinkPads with the small "p" at the end had the chance to celebrate a comeback once again: In 2013, The Lenovo ThinkPad T440p and ThinkPad T540p were launched - here, the focus was on the higher CPU performance compared to the ultrabooks that were new at the time. However, after Intel upgraded its ultrabook CPUs to quad-core chips in 2018, things were over again after the ThinkPad T470p.
Not only did 2020 bring the Corona pandemic but also the return of the "p" suffix in the T series. This time, exclusively with a 15-inch display in the form of today's review unit, the Lenovo ThinkPad T15p Gen 1. It's a variant of the P series, because the equally built ThinkPad P15v is a workstation sibling model. Compared to the latter, the Lenovo ThinkPad T15p packs the GeForce GTX 1050 instead of an Nvidia Quadro GPU. Besides this graphics chip, our test model includes 16 GB of RAM, a 512 GB SSD, a Core i7 with six cores, and an LTE module as well as a 4K UHD display. This corresponds to the top configuration of this series and costs around 2,040 Euros (~$2,473) in Lenovo's Education program. For non-eligible buyers, it costs around 2,260 Euros (~$2,739).
Possible contenders in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86.6 % | 02/2021 | Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE i7-10750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile | 2.2 kg | 22.7 mm | 15.60" | 3840x2160 | |
| 87.2 % | 07/2020 | Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 i7-10510U, GeForce MX330 | 1.8 kg | 19.95 mm | 15.60" | 3840x2160 | |
| 85.9 % | 11/2020 | HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA R5 PRO 4650U, Vega 6 | 1.7 kg | 19.2 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | |
| 90.1 % | 01/2021 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 i7-10750H, GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q | 1.7 kg | 18.7 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | |
| 83.6 % | 01/2021 | Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW i5-10400H, UHD Graphics 630 | 1.9 kg | 25 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 |
ThinkPad case: Plastic with a magnesium core
Externally, the Lenovo ThinkPad T15p isn't different from the ThinkPad T15. Both are black, have silver hinges, a keyboard with a number pad, and speakers between the hinges. However, the Lenovo ThinkPad T15p is visibly thicker, and the case is also a bit more angular and boxy.
A look at the spec sheet reveals further differences in materials. In fact, the entire outer chassis of the Lenovo ThinkPad T15p is made of simple PC/ABS plastic instead of fiberglass plastic like on the ThinkPad T15. In this respect, the Lenovo laptop's case is on par with that of the inexpensive ThinkPad L15.
Nevertheless: Workmanship is absolutely spotless. The base unit's stability is also far above reproach; it's even sturdier than the thinner T ThinkPads. The magnesium frame inside the case is responsible for this. The display lid is less stable, and it looks a bit flimsy. In addition, the feel is poor. The classic rubber coating is missing; the LCD lid and palm rest have a smooth coating. The bottom is made of roughened plastic, which feels cheap.
So, it's evident where Lenovo has cut corners. Fortunately, the hinges aren't a part of this: The two drop-down hinges have a good grip on the display and allow an aperture angle of 180 degrees. The monitor can be opened with one hand.
The comparison of dimensions shows that the Lenovo ThinkPad T15p is exactly as long and wide as the ThinkPad T15, but it's almost three millimeters thicker and weighs half a kilogram more.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T15p is also heavier compared to the other rivals, especially compared to the HP EliteBook 855 G7. It's slightly thinner than the Dell Latitude 5511, which is more compact in return and has narrower display bezels.
Connectivity: Lenovo laptop without USB-C Power Delivery
Connectivity is almost identical to that on the ThinkPad T15. There are a few differences: Instead of an additional USB-C port, Lenovo installs a proprietary slim-tip charging port - the single USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 port can't be used to charge the laptop. Furthermore, Lenovo provides the ThinkPad T15p with a full-size SD card reader. All other current T ThinkPads have microSD card readers, so this is a unique feature of the ThinkPad T15p. This is also the case with the ports, since most of them are located on the right side. The fan outlet is on the left in this model.
SD card reader
The performance of the SD card reader was measured with the 64 GB Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC UHS-II reference memory card. The ThinkPad was faster in reading than in writing. Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad T15p has to admit defeat to the Dell Latitude 5511 in this discipline.
| SD Card Reader | |
| average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Average of class Multimedia (18.4 - 201, n=58, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Average of class Multimedia (25.8 - 266, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II) | |
Communication
The ThinkPad T15p has the full package: Wired (RJ45 Ethernet), local wireless (Wi-Fi 6 in the form of Intel's Wireless AX201), and wireless via mobile networks (WWAN with the Fibocom L850-GL LTE card). This provides maximum flexibility, and the 2x2 AX Wi-Fi card leaves nothing to be desired in terms of performance.
However, WWAN is not available in every model out of the box - such models might be WWAN-ready if the antennas and SIM slot are installed. Some versions, however, might lack this setup.
Webcam
Security
As usual with proper business laptops, the Lenovo ThinkPad T15p has many security features. These include the Kensington lock, a fingerprint scanner in the palm rest, a smart card reader, and an infrared camera for Windows Hello. There is also the "ThinkShutter" mechanical webcam shutter for privacy.
Accessories
Only the relatively compact 135-watt power adapter with a slim-tip connector is included in the box. Lenovo no longer offers mechanical docks with the more powerful ThinkPads, but there's still a special solution: The ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Workstation Dock Gen 2, which combines the proprietary slim-tip connector with Thunderbolt 3. This is the only dock that Lenovo officially offers for the ThinkPad T15p. Normal USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 docks can't charge the ThinkPad laptop.
Maintenance
Under the bottom panel, which is secured with nine screws and a few clips, we find the large fan with two long heat pipes and the internal battery. Both components are replaceable. One of the two RAM slots is free; the same goes for one of the two M.2 2280 slots. The soldered Wi-Fi card (Intel CNVi) can't be upgraded. In return, the WWAN module (M.2 2242 format) is installed. A very nice feature is the keyboard that can easily be replaced from the top - this is no longer possible on many modern laptops. Lenovo offers a detailed disassembly guide.
Warranty
Like all ThinkPad laptops from the T/X/P series, the Lenovo ThinkPad T15p has a 36-month warranty straight out of the box, in this case with "Pickup & Return" service. On-site repairs cost extra; the same applies to Accidental Damage Protection, Premier Support or a five-year warranty.
The ThinkPad input devices convince in the Lenovo laptop
Keyboard
Lenovo installs a chiclet keyboard with six rows of keys, a two-stage backlight, and a number pad in the ThinkPad T15p. This shifts the entire keyboard slightly to the left. In return, the number pad is very useful in some applications, especially when entering data. Overall, the keyboard has a good layout, with grouped F keys, comfortably sized arrow keys, and dedicated navigation keys. Only the four keys to the left of the Enter key are slightly smaller.
The typing experience on the ThinkPad keyboard is excellent and worthy of the series' good reputation. The smooth keys have an ample travel of 1.8 mm and a generous stroke. The rounded, slightly concave shape of the keys also conforms pleasantly to the fingers. This keyboard is perfectly suited for users who type a lot.
Touchpad and TrackPoint
The combination of the touchpad and the TrackPoint pointing stick, which is installed in almost all ThinkPads, is called UltraNav. The ThinkPad T15p's components come from Synaptics. The touchpad has an adequate area of 10 x 7 cm - not huge but with an appropriate size. It's made of plastic, which is convenient but not really high-quality. You can definitely have expectations for a glass touchpad in a 2,000-Euro (~$2,424) laptop. Apart from that, the hardware of the ClickPad with an integrated click mechanism is good, and software-wise, the touchpad is implemented flawlessly.
The TrackPoint allows you to control the mouse without having to take your hands off the keyboard. This is extremely practical and works perfectly on ThinkPads, because the TrackPoint works very accurately. The three associated buttons also do their job, and the center button can be used for scrolling.
The 4K UHD display convinces with high brightness
Lenovo offers customers a total of three different display options for the ThinkPad T15p Gen 1. All LCDs offered are matte 15.6-inch displays in the 16:9 format:
- Full HD (1920x1080), 250 cd/m², 45% NTSC color space
- Full HD (1920x1080), 300 cd/m², 45% NTSC color space, on-cell touch
- 4K UHD (3840x2160), 600 cd/m², 100% NTSC color space
As the high-end variant, our test device contains the 4K UHD LCD. We were already able to test this display in the ThinkPad P15s; it's currently the brightest panel in a ThinkPad laptop. The average brightness value of 594 cd/m² is just below the targeted 600 mark. Nevertheless, the screen is almost 100 cd/m² brighter than the 4K UHD LCD in the ThinkPad T15.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 94 %
Center on Battery: 591 cd/m²
Contrast: 1859:1 (Black: 0.32 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.2 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.95, calibrated: 1
ΔE Greyscale 1.4 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
99.2% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
85.3% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
98.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
99.3% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
86.8% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.1
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE MNF601EA1-1, IPS LED, 3840x2160, 15.6" | Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 NE156QUM-N66, IPS LED, 3840x2160, 15.6" | Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW BOE0869, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6" | HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA ChiMei CMN1512, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6" | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 N156HCE-GN1, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | -4% | -51% | -48% | -25% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 86.8 | 80.7 -7% | 39.56 -54% | 41.73 -52% | 61 -30% |
| sRGB Coverage | 99.3 | 98.1 -1% | 58.3 -41% | 62.3 -37% | 89.9 -9% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 98.5 | 95.5 -3% | 40.87 -59% | 43.18 -56% | 62.2 -37% |
| Response Times | -2% | -29% | 0% | 7% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 41.6 ? | 42 ? -1% | 48 ? -15% | 36 ? 13% | 33.6 ? 19% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 21.2 ? | 21.6 ? -2% | 30 ? -42% | 24 ? -13% | 22.4 ? -6% |
| PWM Frequency | 1000 ? | 26040 ? | |||
| Screen | -45% | -104% | -137% | -36% | |
| Brightness middle | 595 | 489 -18% | 268 -55% | 265 -55% | 518 -13% |
| Brightness | 594 | 501 -16% | 241 -59% | 234 -61% | 513 -14% |
| Brightness Distribution | 94 | 91 -3% | 79 -16% | 83 -12% | 88 -6% |
| Black Level * | 0.32 | 0.35 -9% | 0.34 -6% | 0.33 -3% | 0.38 -19% |
| Contrast | 1859 | 1397 -25% | 788 -58% | 803 -57% | 1363 -27% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.2 | 3 -150% | 4.64 -287% | 4.46 -272% | 2.1 -75% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 2.5 | 5.1 -104% | 7.11 -184% | 18.23 -629% | 4.5 -80% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 1 | 0.8 20% | 3.67 -267% | 4.12 -312% | 1.3 -30% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.4 | 4 -186% | 2.96 -111% | 1.59 -14% | 2.7 -93% |
| Gamma | 2.1 105% | 2.24 98% | 2.37 93% | 2.27 97% | 2.35 94% |
| CCT | 6492 100% | 7400 88% | 6343 102% | 6496 100% | 7042 92% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 85.3 | 84.7 -1% | 37 -57% | 40 -53% | 57.7 -32% |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 99.2 | 98.1 -1% | 52 -48% | 62 -37% | 90.4 -9% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -17% /
-32% | -61% /
-85% | -62% /
-103% | -18% /
-29% |
* ... smaller is better
Out of the box, the display has a good calibration, which we measured with CalMan and the X-Rite i1 Pro 2 colorimeter. Our calibration still led to minor improvements. The very good impression of the panel also extends to the image sharpness, contrast (1859:1), and color space. Around 100% of sRGB and 85% of AdobeRGB are strong rates that also enable the display for image editing.
The ThinkPad laptop scores points with a matte surface and high display brightness in outdoor use. You don't have to be concerned about indirect sunlight either.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 21.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 8.4 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 12.8 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 42 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.1 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 41.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 19.6 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 22 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 63 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.1 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected |  | ||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17271 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
We can't find any complaints regarding the viewing-angle stability of the IPS screen.
Performance: Lenovo ThinkPad T15p with fast components
The Lenovo ThinkPad T15p Gen 1 is sold with Intel Comet Lake-H CPUs. The Core i5-10300H, i5-10400H, i7-10750H, i7-10850H, and i7-10875H are available - but the latter is explicitly not available in EMEA. In terms of graphics, Intel's UHD Graphics 630 is always on board, alongside Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1050 in most models. As for memory, there's up to 64 GB of DDR4-2933 RAM - it's not soldered but upgradeable with two RAM slots instead. Two slots are also available for mass storage, since the ThinkPad T15p can accommodate two M.2 2280 SSDs.
Processor
The Intel Core i7-10750H is a processor from the "Comet Lake-H" series that has six cores (12 threads with Hyper-Threading). The nominal TDP of this chip is 45 watts. The base clock speed is 2.6 GHz (Boost: 5 GHz). For more detailed comparisons with other CPUs, please refer to our CPU comparison list.
In the Lenovo ThinkPad T15p Gen 1, the Intel chip can consume twice the TDP with up to over 91 watts, but this value is only valid for a few seconds. In the long run, the ThinkPad laptop can allow the CPU up to 50 watts, which means clock rates of around 3.4 GHz on all cores.
In terms of CPU performance, the T15p is a very clear upgrade compared to the "normal" ThinkPad T15. Especially in the multi-core test, the difference between Comet Lake-U and Comet Lake-H is indisputable. However: The more compact and lighter HP EliteBook 855 G7 with the AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650U achieves almost the same multi-core performance. Only under load on one core does the Intel processor have an advantage, but the higher efficiency of the Ryzen 4000 series is visible.
A limitation in performance was not found on battery power with the ThinkPad T15p.
Cinebench R23: Multi Core | Single Core
Cinebench R15: CPU Multi 64Bit | CPU Single 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 -mmt1 | 7z b 4
Geekbench 5.5: Single-Core | Multi-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
| Cinebench R20 / CPU (Multi Core) | |
| Average of class Multimedia (1795 - 11768, n=88, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (1749 - 3325, n=43) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| Cinebench R20 / CPU (Single Core) | |
| Average of class Multimedia (341 - 812, n=88, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (431 - 504, n=43) | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA | |
| Cinebench R23 / Multi Core | |
| Average of class Multimedia (4624 - 30789, n=100, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (4807 - 8585, n=16) | |
| Cinebench R23 / Single Core | |
| Average of class Multimedia (878 - 2110, n=91, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (1136 - 1271, n=16) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| Cinebench R15 / CPU Multi 64Bit | |
| Average of class Multimedia (1057 - 4703, n=92, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (804 - 1418, n=50) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| Cinebench R15 / CPU Single 64Bit | |
| Average of class Multimedia (99.6 - 310, n=90, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (184 - 213, n=45) | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA | |
| Blender / v2.79 BMW27 CPU | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW | |
| HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (322 - 587, n=43) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| Average of class Multimedia (107 - 502, n=86, last 2 years) | |
| 7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 -mmt1 | |
| Average of class Multimedia (3398 - 7163, n=81, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (4504 - 5470, n=43) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW | |
| HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA | |
| 7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 | |
| Average of class Multimedia (27677 - 119900, n=81, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (26040 - 37345, n=43) | |
| HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core | |
| Average of class Multimedia (891 - 2342, n=88, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (1114 - 1333, n=43) | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA | |
| Geekbench 5.5 / Multi-Core | |
| Average of class Multimedia (3828 - 23059, n=88, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (4443 - 6674, n=43) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 / 4k Preset | |
| Average of class Multimedia (5.26 - 30.5, n=80, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (5.54 - 11.6, n=43) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| LibreOffice / 20 Documents To PDF | |
| HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (43.1 - 99.2, n=43) | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW | |
| Average of class Multimedia (6.7 - 146.7, n=82, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| R Benchmark 2.5 / Overall mean | |
| HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-10750H (0.578 - 0.708, n=42) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| Average of class Multimedia (0.3826 - 0.947, n=81, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
System performance
The Lenovo ThinkPad T15p scores very well in PCMark, which is in line with the flawless system performance in everyday use.
| PCMark 8 | |
| Home Score Accelerated v2 | |
| Average of class Multimedia (4484 - 5583, n=10, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| Work Score Accelerated v2 | |
| Average of class Multimedia (3115 - 6078, n=10, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| PCMark 10 Score | 5130 points | |
Help | ||
DPC latencies
| DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
* ... smaller is better
Storage
The PCIe NVMe SSD from Western Digital in the ThinkPad T15p has a capacity of 512 GB, and it scores very well in our storage benchmarks. In comparison, the M.2 2280 SSD can outperform all its rivals.
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE WDC PC SN730 SDBQNTY-512GB | Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 Toshiba XG6 KXG6AZNV1T02 | Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW Micron 2200S 256GB | HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA SK hynix BC511 HFM256GDJTNI-82A0 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 Toshiba XG6 KXG6AZNV1T02 | Average WDC PC SN730 SDBQNTY-512GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6 | -6% | -30% | -40% | 2% | -7% | |
| Write 4K | 141.8 | 159.1 12% | 72.6 -49% | 72 -49% | 159.5 12% | 140.9 ? -1% |
| Read 4K | 47.39 | 55.6 17% | 43.41 -8% | 34.01 -28% | 53.1 12% | 45.6 ? -4% |
| Write Seq | 2404 | 1435 -40% | 1098 -54% | 1723 -28% | 2066 ? -14% | |
| Read Seq | 2124 | 1435 -32% | 1770 -17% | 2164 2% | 2014 ? -5% | |
| Write 4K Q32T1 | 637 | 512 -20% | 465.8 -27% | 390.2 -39% | 469.2 -26% | 472 ? -26% |
| Read 4K Q32T1 | 414.8 | 541 30% | 374.9 -10% | 347.7 -16% | 543 31% | 453 ? 9% |
| Write Seq Q32T1 | 2706 | 2682 -1% | 1104 -59% | 793 -71% | 3055 13% | 2433 ? -10% |
| Read Seq Q32T1 | 3319 | 2902 -13% | 2921 -12% | 2143 -35% | 3296 -1% | 3237 ? -2% |
Continuous load read: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
Graphics card
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 is a GPU based on the "Pascal" architecture that is now several years old. Lenovo provides the graphics chip with 768 shader units (maximum clock speed: 1,139 MHz) and 3 GB of GDDR5 memory. Benchmark comparisons are possible with the GPU benchmark list.
GPU performance is clearly better compared to the Nvidia GeForce MX330 of the ThinkPad T15, but with the MX450, the GTX's advantage should soon be history. However, it can still beat current iGPUs easily.
The GPU performance was also fully available on battery power.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 7791 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 5447 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 2074 points | |
Help | ||
Gaming performance
The Nvidia GeForce won't win any prizes for its gaming suitability. The GPU can stably deliver its performance, and we couldn't determine a performance drop in our The Witcher 3 test - however, the chip is fundamentally only good enough for medium details and Full HD resolution in newer games.
| The Witcher 3 - 1366x768 Medium Graphics & Postprocessing | |
| Average of class Multimedia (23 - 327, n=46, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE | |
| Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile (46.7 - 77.3, n=25) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 | |
| HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA | |
| low | med. | high | ultra | 4K | |
| The Witcher 3 (2015) | 118 | 70 | 39.2 | 22.1 | 14 |
| Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 124 | 113 | 103 | 96.9 | 38.3 |
| X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 94.9 | 77.8 | 66.7 | 35.7 | |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) | 85.5 | 37.2 | 33.8 | 29 | 9.08 |
| Total War: Three Kingdoms (2019) | 124 | 36.8 | 24.4 | 15.2 | 2.81 |
Emissions: The Lenovo laptop gets loud and hot
Noise emissions
When the Lenovo ThinkPad is idle, the fan either runs very quietly or not at all - this is also true when browsing the web. However, when the system is put under load, the cooling system reaches a maximum noise level of 42.7 dB(a). That is significantly louder than most other ThinkPads and also very audible.
We didn't notice any coil whine in the Lenovo ThinkPad T15p.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 29.3 / 29.3 / 30.6 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 42.7 / 42.7 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Audix TM-1, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 29.3 dB(A) | ||
Temperature
Under maximum load, the case heats up to 56.6 °C (~134 °F) at the bottom. The palm rest also gets noticeably warm at 38.6 °C (~102 °F). The Lenovo ThinkPad T15p also gets warm in our The Witcher 3 test, but not nearly as excessively: We measured a maximum of 48.9 °C (~120 °F) here.
In the stress test, the CPU of the Lenovo ThinkPad T15p can initially consume up to 88 watts for a few minutes, which puts the processor's temperature at about 100 °C (~212 °F). At the same time, the GPU's clock rates have to be throttled significantly. Over the course of the test, the CPU consumption drops to up to 26 watts, while the graphics chip can simultaneously ramp up its clock rates again. Performance fluctuates for the remainder of the stress test, with the CPU and GPU clock speeds having an inverted trajectory.
The temperature-induced throttling shouldn't affect everyday use; running 3DMark11 after the stress test produces a normal result.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 53.8 °C / 129 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 56.6 °C / 134 F, compared to the average of 39.2 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.9 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 31.3 °C / 88 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 37.1 °C / 99 F, compared to the device average of 31.3 °C / 88 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 38.6 °C / 101.5 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (-9.8 °C / -17.7 F).
Speakers
The stereo speakers above the keyboard lack bass. Therefore, you should rather use an external solution; the 3.5 mm output intended for this works without issues.
Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (74.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (29.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 94% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 4% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 85% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 12% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA audio analysis
(-) | not very loud speakers (67.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 20.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 20% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 73% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 27% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 65% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Energy management: ThinkPad laptop pays tribute to Intel Comet Lake and Nvidia Pascal
Energy consumption
In view of the rather inefficient components, the high power consumption is no surprise. The 4K UHD display in particular is likely to drive it up.
The maximum power consumption under load remains below the power adapter's capacity of 135 watts.
| Off / Standby | 0.1 / 0.63 Watt |
| Idle | 6 / 12.8 / 16.1 Watt |
| Load |
95.6 / 131.1 Watt |
   
| |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE i7-10750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, WDC PC SN730 SDBQNTY-512GB, IPS LED, 3840x2160, 15.6" | Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 i7-10510U, GeForce MX330, Toshiba XG6 KXG6AZNV1T02, IPS LED, 3840x2160, 15.6" | Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW i5-10400H, UHD Graphics 630, Micron 2200S 256GB, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6" | HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA R5 PRO 4650U, Vega 6, SK hynix BC511 HFM256GDJTNI-82A0, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6" | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 i7-10750H, GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q, Toshiba XG6 KXG6AZNV1T02, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6" | Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile | Average of class Multimedia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 23% | 47% | 54% | 11% | 9% | 8% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 6 | 4.3 28% | 3 50% | 3.6 40% | 5 17% | 6.99 ? -17% | 7 ? -17% |
| Idle Average * | 12.8 | 13.8 -8% | 5.9 54% | 6.6 48% | 9 30% | 10.7 ? 16% | 11.3 ? 12% |
| Idle Maximum * | 16.1 | 16.2 -1% | 8.8 45% | 9.5 41% | 12.2 24% | 12.7 ? 21% | 13.8 ? 14% |
| Load Average * | 95.6 | 66 31% | 39 59% | 27.6 71% | 94.4 1% | 82.9 ? 13% | 72.7 ? 24% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 84 | 53 37% | 89 -6% | ||||
| Load Maximum * | 131.1 | 67.4 49% | 95 28% | 36.4 72% | 133.9 -2% | 115.3 ? 12% | 119.8 ? 9% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery life
With 68 Wh, the internal battery currently has the largest capacity in a T-series ThinkPad laptop. However, the 11 watts of additional capacity in comparison to the ThinkPad T15 don't lead to better battery runtimes in the Wi-Fi test due to the higher consumption - 7:41 hours is not a terrible rate, but it is below average. Battery life should be better with a Full HD display, but you have to put up with the poorer display quality in return.
| Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE i7-10750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 68 Wh | Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Gen1-20S7S02U00 i7-10510U, GeForce MX330, 57 Wh | Dell Latitude 15 5511-VNJNW i5-10400H, UHD Graphics 630, 68 Wh | HP EliteBook 855 G7-23Y52EA R5 PRO 4650U, Vega 6, 56 Wh | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen3-20TLS0UV00 i7-10750H, GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q, 80 Wh | Average of class Multimedia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 5% | 61% | 67% | 49% | 54% | |
| H.264 | 461 | 483 5% | 803 74% | 731 59% | 788 ? 71% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 436 | 426 -2% | 774 78% | 734 68% | 693 59% | 602 ? 38% |
| Load | 64 | 72 13% | 92 44% | 101 58% | 83 30% | 97.5 ? 52% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict: The ThinkPad T15p is a good laptop - but for whom?
The Lenovo ThinkPad T15p is neither the thinnest nor the most powerful ThinkPad laptop in its class. It may be lighter and thinner than the bulky ThinkPad P15, but the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is even more compact. And it can't compete with these models when it comes to graphics performance in particular.
However, the ThinkPad T15p also has its strengths. Compared with the regular Lenovo ThinkPad T15, it represents a significant performance upgrade. It also has a full-size SD card reader. The keyboard, touchpad, and TrackPoint are beyond reproach, and the selection of connectivity functions and security features is broad - this includes the availability of LTE out of the box. Lenovo didn't skimp on the display either: The 4K UHD display performs strongly in every respect. The ThinkPad T15p is also upgradeable, and the model with the "p" suffix offers more expansion options compared to the T15. We draw a mixed verdict when it comes to the case: Although it's sturdy, it feels relatively cheap compared to the other ThinkPad laptops.
Battery life is rather weak. This is where the inefficient components and the 4K display take their toll. Speaking of tolls: The ThinkPad T15p "dazzles" with a combination of high temperatures and high fan volume under load. The cooling system seems to be rather underpowered. We find it odd that Lenovo has completely omitted the possibility to charge the laptop via USB-C. We don't see a reason why this function should be left out.
A tough case: Viewed on its own, the Lenovo ThinkPad T15p Gen 1 is a good, powerful work laptop for the desk at home. However, the in-house competition makes life difficult for the ThinkPad laptop.
We can't advise against the ThinkPad T15p, but we also have a hard time making a recommendation. A clear purpose is missing, and the in-house competition is too strong. The T15p isn't cheap either, and if you're willing to pay over 2,000 Euros (~$2,424), you might as well buy the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3. It lacks many of the ThinkPad T15p's weak points. Apart from RJ45 Ethernet and the numeric keypad, the T15p has no real advantages over it.
Price and availability
The Lenovo ThinkPad T15p Gen 1 is available on Lenovo's online store in several configurations; at the time of writing our review (mid-February), all models of the T15p Gen 1 are currently discounted. The base model starts at around $1,200 (Intel Core i5-10300H, 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of PCIe SSD storage, Full HD display at 250 nits, integrated graphics only). A version with our same CPU, the Intel Core i7-10750H, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050, and the same display as the base model currently costs about $1,600. The only model that comes with a 4K display also upgrades the CPU to the i7-10850H and the storage space to 1 TB for a price of around $2,100.
Lenovo ThinkPad T15p-20TN0006GE
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02/09/2021 v7 (old)
Benjamin Herzig
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