Lenovo ThinkPad T450s Ultrabook Review

Lenovo has already only carefully changed the design and build of the T400 series in the past. It even appears that they did not change anything in this generation: Weight and size are almost the same as the T440s' and it does not look different, either. At a first glance, the functional design might have the dubious charm of plain plastic, but the case is based on a high-end light metal skeleton made from aluminum and magnesium. The lid was even reinforced by carbon fibers.

As a result, the T450s belongs to the stablest devices of its class. Localized pressure and twisting attempts do not have an effect on base unit and display, although we would not have expected this from the delicate ultrabook at first. In addition, the ThinkPad should be able to withstand other environmental hazards like temperature and air pressure changes, vibrations, moisture, or dust, which has been tested to military standards according to Lenovo. However, many competitors also lure buyers with this.

We are especially delighted by the functionality of the case, which you will only gradually discover during everyday usage. For example, the smooth surface is very resistant against fingerprints and scratches. In contrast to soft touch surfaces, dust can be easily removed. Extremely flexible metal hinges allow opening the display by above 180 degrees. The manufacturer optimized the resistance in such a way that the lid neither wobbles nor the base unit lifts up when the laptop is opened. We did not find any workmanship flaws, at least not in our test model.

While only a few modules include an integrated UMTS/LTE module, all T450s models support Bluetooth 4.0 and WLAN. The Wireless AC 7265 from Intel masters the Wi-Fi standards 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and is capable of dual stream (2x2) and dual-band. In our test, we recorded data rates of just under 28 MB/s (802.11 ac, 5 GHz) and a good 10 MB/s (802.11 n, 2.4 GHz) in short distances. While this is not a bad result, we already recorded significantly higher values with the same module and our TP-Link Archer C7 router in the past. However, range and connection stability are above average, which is often more important in everyday life.

In contrast to smartphones, which make conventional compact cameras more and more obsolete, the webcam quality of notebooks has remained low for years. Unfortunately, our ThinkPad is not an exception. The sensor can only record a few details with its poor resolution of 0.9 MP. In addition, the image is visibly noisy, especially in low light scenarios. In contrast, its array microphone was considered more important and convinces with clear voice quality.

Security

If a company's laptop is stolen, it is not the loss of the device itself, but the sensitive data that causes the biggest damage. Therefore, the T450s not only comes with physical protection mechanisms like a Kensington lock, but it also delivers features like a hard drive with hardware encryption. Passwords for BIOS and system start as well as a Smartcard reader and a fingerprint reader should bring extra security to the computer featuring TPM (TCG 1.2). In case the device is lost anyway, you can remotely locate it or format its drive with Anti-Theft/Computrace (additional, fee-based contract required).

Accessories

If you buy a ThinkPad model without operating system, the manufacturer does not include any driver CDs. However, drivers for Windows 7 Professional (or Windows 8.1) can be downloaded from Lenovo's website. Apart from the laptop, we only found a few leaflets and the small 65-Watt power adapter in the box. So, the scope of delivery is meager, yet sufficient.

Maintenance

Even without reading the included hardware maintenance manuals, many service tasks can be quickly and easily performed. First of all, remove a total of ten Phillips screws from the underside. Afterwards, take off the underside carefully and you will get to the RAM (one slot, occupied), drive (2.5-inches, height of 7 mm), Wi-Fi module, internal battery as well as the only fan of the device. There is a free M.2 slot for retrofitting a WWAN adapter or connecting a second SSD.

Warranty

Typical for a business device, the T450s includes a three-year manufacturer's warranty, which even includes on-site service in Germany and Austria. Once you entered the serial number, you can check the current warranty status or buy an upgrade for a fee. The prices appear to be reasonable in view of the laptop's price. An extension of one year is available for 83 Euros (~$92). For a 5-year warranty you have to pay at least 168 Euros (~$188).

Depending on the model, the 14-inch display of the T450s either has a resolution of 1600x900 or 1920x1080 pixels, which means a pixel density of 131 or 157 ppi, respectively. Because of the extra screen real estate alone, we would recommend the Full HD model reviewed here, which also boasts of other advantages: According to the data sheet, the more expensive display is brighter (300 vs. 250 cd/m²) and has a higher contrast (700:1 vs. 400:1). In addition, the IPS panel (the WXGA++ model is based on TN technology) promises wider viewing angles. A touchscreen version of the same Full HD display is also offered, but it is over 2 mm thicker, 200 grams heavier and slightly darker (264 cd/m² according to the manufacturer).

We measured 268 cd/m², which is slightly lower than the maximum brightness listed by Lenovo. However, this should not pose a big problem, since more than 250 cd/m² is hardly needed indoors and the competition also does not perform better. A uniform brightness distribution without disturbing bleeding is much more important, and at least subjectively we can say that the ThinkPad delivers such. The slight clouding on the adjacent picture is virtually invisible to the naked eye.

As already mentioned above, the display made by LG uses the contrast-rich IPS technology. Black areas do not even appear grayish or pale at maximum brightness, which gives rich pictures. The quality of the displays in the Latitude 14 E7450 or the Toshiba Tecra Z40t is comparable, but we only reviewed a TN model of the EliteBook 840 G1 (a Full HD IPS display is optionally available) so far.

Colors (DeltaE: 4.35) and gray levels (DeltaE: 3.7) do not give much reason for complaint in factory state. Our usual calibration especially improves the RGB balance and brings the color temperatures closer to the desired 6500 K, but also the DeltaE deviation decreases even further. However, the representation of a few yellow and orange colors remains problematic. Because of the limited color coverage (54.7% AdobeRGB, 84% sRGB - (Correction 20.5.2015 due to a wrong sRGB-reference-profile)) an external display is required for professional graphics design and picture editing, anyway.

Thanks to the IPS technology, the image also remains contrast-rich and unchanged from flat angles. This gets particularly handy when several users look at the screen simultaneously and you do not want to change the opening angle after each head movement. Color inversions and other image errors get immediately visible on many cheaper TN panels upon vertical movements.

At the time of writing, the Intel Core i7-5600U introduced in early January is the fastest 15-Watt processor. Thanks to its advanced 14 nm lithography, the dual-core CPU reaches an impressive base clock of 2.6 GHz, which is 500 MHz higher than the previous Core i7-4600U (Haswell) top model's. With Turbo Boost, the clock rate can even increase to 3.2 GHz (one core) or 3.1 GHz (two cores). Apart from a roughly 5% higher per-MHz performance, the Broadwell architecture brings only a few new things. Intel neither changed the cache levels nor most of the features, which include the Hyper-Threading technology among others. Thus, the manufacturer calls it a "Tick," i.e. a slightly optimized revision of the previous generation with a reduced production process.

The HD Graphics 5500 integrated into the processor features 24 Execution Units with a clock rate of 300 to 950 MHz. So, an especially big performance gain compared to the HD Graphics 4400 of the predecessor (20 EUs, 200 to 1100 MHz) is not to be expected. At least the GPU supports the current DirectX 11.2 standard now. Lenovo's datasheets also mention an optional dedicated GeForce 940M. As the latter has not been officially introduced by Nvidia yet, we will have to wait for such configurations.

4 GB of the 12 GB DDR3L-1600 in our test device is soldered. The other 8 GB is in the single RAM slot of the notebook. This solution has two disadvantages: First of all, you cannot upgrade beyond the already available 12 GB RAM, and the memory controller only partly works in dual-channel mode, because of differing capacities. However, you should hardly notice a performance loss due to this in practice. A 360 GB SSD is available for applications and user data.

Just like the smaller ThinkPad X250, the T450s also houses a 2.5-inch SSD with a capacity of 360 GB from Intel. It belongs to the SSD Pro 2500 series and is based on the no longer absolutely new Sandforce-Controller SF-2281 combined with MLC-NAND (20 nm) from SK Hynix.

If only performance is considered, the SSD is a mixed bag: While the sequential read (490 MB/s) and write rates (265 MB/s) are quite good, the drive's 4K performance is weak. Several competitors from Samsung write small files partly five or six times faster than the Intel model, which only achieved 14.6 MB/s in this test.

The SSD Pro 2500's strengths can be found elsewhere: A 5-year warranty at a write level of 20 GB per day promises a high level of reliability. Security features like hardware-based 256-bit AES encryption (including support of TCG Opal 2.0 and Microsoft eDrive) emphasize the laptop's focus on business customers.

Despite of a performance gain of about 20 to 30% compared to the HD Graphics 4400 (Haswell), the new HD Graphics 5500 hardly achieves the level of dedicated low-end graphics cards. Even a GeForce GT 730M, which is optionally offered with the ThinkPad T440s, is about 30% faster in the synthetic 3DMark. The GeForce 940M promised for the T450s might even be twice as fast as the integrated GPU.

Anyhow, we do not want to make the HD 5500 sound worse than it really is: Contrary to previous years, Intel's graphics solution can cope with usual desktop programs and can also run several 3D applications with satisfying speed. Even simple CAD projects in Catia or SolidWorks are no longer a problem due to partly amazing performance gains (up to 125% compared to the HD 4400). In addition to the hardware, the drivers apparently improved greatly, too.

The multimedia capabilities of the GPU are not limited to smooth playback of high-res 4K trailers. With Quick Sync, the chip can also greatly accelerate encoding and transcoding of videos. This reduces CPU load and helps decrease power consumption. Unfortunately, Broadwell can only handle H.265 material with shader units. A more efficient fixed function decoder will presumable first be available in Skylake.

The integrated fan turns off and the notebook works silently (green curve) when the CPU temperature falls below roughly 60 °C. This limit is usually neither exceeded during office tasks nor during light web surfing.

During longer periods with full load (yellow curve), the system noise increased to just above 34 dB(A), which is still quite quiet. Our measurements reveal medium to high frequency fan characteristics with a peak around 2 kHz, which is slightly shifted upwards when the "Turbo Boost+" mode is activated in Lenovo's energy manager (red curve). However, this option does not bring more performance or significantly lower hardware temperatures, but it only makes the system much louder with just above 40 dB(A).

Note: The noise levels in the adjacent frequency diagram cannot be compared with the values of our system noise measurements due to a different measurement setup.

It is impressive that even after a one-hour stress test (Prime95 and FurMark) none of the parts of the case exceeded 37 °C. In view of the low system noise, this hints on a highly efficient cooling system.

The Core i7-5600U also does not suffer from critical core temperatures and reaches a maximum of 65 °C (stress test) to 75 °C (only Prime95). Nevertheless, the chip needs to throttle slightly during combined CPU and GPU load (CPU clock: 1.5 GHz, GPU clock: 750 MHz) because of its low TDP, but this is normal in the ULV range. A benchmark ran immediately afterwards did not show any performance loss.

It is better not to expect too much from the stereo speakers of the T450s. They neither shine with high volume (max 77 dB(A) at 15 cm distance) nor with balanced sound. The pink-noise frequency characteristics recorded by us (light blue: medium volume, dark blue: maximum volume) show that already the volume of frequencies below 1 kHz is much lower. Frequencies lower than about 250 MHz are virtually non-existing. But the speakers also perform poorly in the high frequency range and remain far off the desired linear curve. Subjectively, we would call the sound flat and weak. The sound quality is sufficient for accompanying videos, but you would not like to listen to music with them.

For comparison, we added a cheap 2.1 system (Logitech X-230, red curve) to our diagram.

With the ThinkPad T450s, Lenovo launched a worthy successor of the successful T440s, which hardly offers real innovations, however. Whether case, keyboard, or connectivity - it apparently inherited many parts unchanged from its predecessor.

Even if this initially sounds like criticism, this is not necessarily what it is: Neither the stable and lightweight chassis nor the excellent ThinkPad keyboard required a revision. Just like we are used to, the T450s also performs flawlessly in other aspects, including many security features, the contrast-rich display, and the impressively low noise and temperature emissions. Nevertheless, the 14-incher does not lack performance and is even capable of demanding applications or multitasking.

The modified UltraNav unit consisting of a TrackPoint and a touchpad might still be controversial, but it is better than the previous solution. We still wish that the coming T460s will have only dedicated mouse buttons. In addition, Lenovo should incorporate two fully fledged RAM slots in a high-end product. A maximum of 12 GB could put many enthusiasts off.

Despite the mentioned points of critique, the T450s is a more than convincing bundle, which is finally rewarded with a "very good" total rating. Unfortunately, the steep price dampens the euphoria a little bit. Thus, not only the competition but also the soon-to-be-discontinued predecessor might be worthwhile considerations for bargain hunters.