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Lenovo ThinkPad T460p (Core i7, GeForce 940MX) Notebook Review

Small hot-head. Quad-core processor and a discrete GeForce GPU implemented into a compact 14-inch case – the ThinkPad T460p is definitely not your regular business notebook. The good performance does, however, also result in high temperatures.

For the original German review, see here.

Thin is in: Ultrabooks are not only getting more popular in the consumer segment, business notebooks have also been focusing on mobility for a couple of years now. Even though modern low-voltage processors actually reached a decent performance level, not every user likes this development – if you often use well-parallelized software, you will prefer a more powerful quad-core CPU.

Lenovo offers the ThinkPad T460p for these customers. We already reviewed it a couple of weeks ago, and we want to add our impressions of the much better equipped high-end version: Our review unit today has the designation 20FXS05500 and is equipped with a fast Core i7-6700HQ, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD storage as well as a discrete Nvidia GeForce 940MX. You also get a high-resolution IPS display with 2560x1440 pixels, while the base model only had an FHD panel. This obviously comes at a price: Even the education model (available for students and teachers) without operating system currently retails for around 1,400 Euros (~$1579).

We just reviewed the T460p very comprehensively, so we will not cover the sections Case, Connectivity and Input Devices in this article. The corresponding information is available in our first review, where we also took some of the following pictures from (except for the pictures of the PSU and the components).

Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Processor
Intel Core i7-6700HQ 4 x 2.6 - 3.5 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1176 MHz, Memory: 1000 MHz, DDR3, ForceWare 359.23, Optimus
Memory
8 GB 
, 1x 8 GB DDR4-2133, 1 of 2 slots free
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 2560 x 1440 pixel 210 PPI, VVX14T058J00, IPS-Panel, LED-Backlight, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Skylake QM170 (Skylake PCH-H)
Storage
Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN512HCHP, 512 GB 
, 440 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Skylake PCH-H High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: Headset port (3.5 mm stereo jack), Card Reader: 4-in-1 (MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC), 1 SmartCard, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Intel Ethernet Connection I219-LM (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 24.4 x 344 x 239 ( = 0.96 x 13.54 x 9.41 in)
Battery
48 Wh Lithium-Ion, 6 cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, 2x 1 Watt, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 135-Watt power adapter, Quick-start guide, Warranty information, 36 Months Warranty
Weight
1.856 kg ( = 65.47 oz / 4.09 pounds), Power Supply: 550 g ( = 19.4 oz / 1.21 pounds)
Price
1400 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Display

Subpixel arrangement
Subpixel arrangement
Brightness distribution
Brightness distribution

We already mentioned that the T460p is available with two different display options: A Full HD panel with 1920x1080 pixels (250 cd/m², contrast 600:1 according to Lenovo) as well as the WQHD panel with 2560x1440 pixels of our review unit (300 cd/m², contrast 700:1 or 800:1 according to Lenovo). Both panels are based on the IPS technology and ensure wide viewing angles, so the higher pixel density of 210 PPI is the main argument for the 1440p panel besides the nominally slightly higher luminance. Our review unit actually convinces with sharp images, and high-resolution pictures as well as movies in particular look really good. If you have good eyesight and are sitting close to the display, you might even consider using it without scaling: You can easily display three PDF or Word documents next to each other at 100% and therefore increase productivity significantly.

The T460p also performs very well in respect of the luminance and manages up to 280 cd/m², which is very evenly distributed across the panel – the result cannot quite match the claimed value, but it is still more than sufficient in practice. Similar to the T460s, however, the display is dimmed via PWM (220 Hz), which will be visible as slight flickering for very sensitive users. There is just one solution in this case: get the Full HD model without PWM. The black value is decent at 0.31 cd/m², so we get a high contrast ratio of 935:1, which is typical for an IPS panel.

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 220 Hz

The display backlight flickers at 220 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) .

The frequency of 220 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18100 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

280
cd/m²
286
cd/m²
279
cd/m²
281
cd/m²
290
cd/m²
283
cd/m²
269
cd/m²
269
cd/m²
283
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
VVX14T058J00 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 290 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 280 cd/m² Minimum: 3 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 93 %
Center on Battery: 290 cd/m²
Contrast: 935:1 (Black: 0.31 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.88 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 5.47 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
96.64% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
63.3% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
68.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
96.5% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.9% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.33
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
2560 x 1440 IPS-Panel
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FW000DGE
1920 x 1080 IPS-Panel
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
2560 x 1440 IPS-Panel
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
1920 x 1080 TN-Panel
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
2560 x 1440 IPS-Panel
Display
-41%
2%
-26%
0%
Display P3 Coverage
66.9
38.78
-42%
68.7
3%
48.93
-27%
67.2
0%
sRGB Coverage
96.5
58.3
-40%
98.1
2%
73.7
-24%
95.9
-1%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
68.8
40.08
-42%
70.4
2%
50.5
-27%
69.3
1%
Response Times
10%
-4%
-7%
-17%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
38.4 ?(14.8, 23.6)
30.8 ?(14.8, 26)
20%
35.6 ?(17.2, 18.4)
7%
43 ?(20, 23)
-12%
48 ?(15, 33)
-25%
Response Time Black / White *
24.8 ?(10.8, 14)
24.8 ?(6.8, 18)
-0%
29.2 ?(14.4, 14.8)
-18%
25 ?(9, 16)
-1%
27 ?(7, 20)
-9%
PWM Frequency
220
220 ?(90)
0%
204 ?(90)
-7%
Screen
-3%
-5%
-48%
17%
Brightness middle
290
269
-7%
257
-11%
366
26%
380
31%
Brightness
280
255
-9%
248
-11%
336
20%
354
26%
Brightness Distribution
93
91
-2%
94
1%
87
-6%
81
-13%
Black Level *
0.31
0.24
23%
0.26
16%
0.65
-110%
0.26
16%
Contrast
935
1121
20%
988
6%
563
-40%
1462
56%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.88
4.27
-10%
4.59
-18%
10.26
-164%
3.11
20%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
8.19
8.82
-8%
9.72
-19%
6.73
18%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
5.47
2.95
46%
6.38
-17%
11.51
-110%
4.35
20%
Gamma
2.33 94%
2.12 104%
2.51 88%
2.4 92%
2.37 93%
CCT
6469 100%
7049 92%
6238 104%
12725 51%
6771 96%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
63.3
37
-42%
65
3%
47
-26%
62
-2%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
96.64
58.2
-40%
98
1%
74
-23%
96
-1%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-11% / -9%
-2% / -3%
-27% / -35%
0% / 9%

* ... smaller is better

AdobeRGB-coverage (63.3%)
AdobeRGB-coverage (63.3%)
sRGB-coverage (96.6%)
sRGB-coverage (96.6%)

Despite comparatively low DeltaE deviations, we could not recommend the T460p from our first review for photographers and graphics artists. The reason: The color gamut of the FHD model is just too small at 58% sRGB. Our WQHD model is much better in this respect and almost covers the whole sRGB reference (96.6%) and the more demanding AdobeRGB color space at least by 63.3%. Thanks to very accurate colors and grayscale – all measurements are at a DeltaE of 2.0 or lower after the calibration – the ThinkPad should be sufficient for (semi) professional applications.

Grayscale (pre-calibration)
Grayscale (pre-calibration)
ColorChecker (pre-calibration)
ColorChecker (pre-calibration)
Saturation Sweeps (pre-calibration)
Saturation Sweeps (pre-calibration)
Grayscale (post calibration)
Grayscale (post calibration)
ColorChecker (post calibration)
ColorChecker (post calibration)
Saturation Sweeps (post calibration)
Saturation Sweeps (post calibration)

The maximum luminance of 280 cd/m² is not reduced on battery power, so the ThinkPad T460p with its anti-glare panel surface can be used outdoors very comfortably. Only direct sunlight is a challenge, so you should either adjust the display position or look for a place in the shade.

Outdoor use (overcast)

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
24.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 10.8 ms rise
↘ 14 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. » 52 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
38.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14.8 ms rise
↘ 23.6 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 52 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).
Viewing angles Lenovo ThinkPad T460p
Viewing angles Lenovo ThinkPad T460p

It does not matter if you look at the panel from above, below or the sides: You can see the display content of the ThinkPad from pretty much any position without annoying color distortions or gamma changes. Only the contrast ratio will drop gradually at extreme angles, but this is completely normal even for a high-quality IPS panel. We cannot find any noticeable differences compared to the Full HD model; both can be looked at with multiple people.

Performance

3.5 GHz maximum Turbo Boost
3.5 GHz maximum Turbo Boost

Besides the Dell Latitude E5470, the ThinkPad T460p is currently the only 14-inch business notebook you can get with powerful quad-core CPUs. You can choose between the Core i5 models 6300HQ and 6440HQ as well as the i7 chips 6700HQ and 6820HQ. All four are based on Intel's Skylake architecture and are manufactured in a 14 nm process.

Clocked at 2.6 up to 3.5 GHz (2 cores: 3.3 GHz; 4 cores: 3.1 GHz), the Core i7-6700HQ is exactly on par with the previously reviewed i5-6440HQ, but it also supports Hyper-Threading for the simultaneous execution of up to eight cores. All ULV models, which are available in the sibling T460s, for example, only have up to two cores and four threads. Those U-chips have a lower TDP of just 15 Watts in return, while the quad-core CPUs have a TDP of 45 Watts, even though this value can be adjusted by the notebook manufacturer (within certain limits).

Core i5-6200U Core i7-6600U Core i5-6440HQ Core i7-6700HQ

Cores/Threads

2/4 2/4 4/8 4/8

Nominal clock

2.3 GHz 2.6 GHz 2.6 GHz 2.6 GHz

1-Core Turbo

2.8 GHz 3.4 GHz 3.5 GHz 3.5 GHz

Maximum load Turbo

2.7 GHz 3.2 GHz 3.1 GHz 3.1 GHz

L3-Cache/eDRAM

3 MB 4 MB 6 MB 6 MB

GPU

HD 520 (1.0 GHz) HD 520 (1.05 GHz) HD 530 (0.95 GHz) HD 530 (1.05 GHz)

TDP

15 W 15 W 45 W 45 W

In addition to the integrated HD Graphics 530 (24 EUs, 350-1050 MHz), our review unit is also equipped with the discrete Nvidia GeForce 940MX, which is automatically activated in demanding applications via Optimus. Even though the name suggests a higher performance, the differences compared to the predecessor GeForce 940M are actually limited to a slightly higher clock of now 1122 MHz (940M: 1072 MHz). Boost (1176 MHz) and memory clock (1000 MHz DDR3) on the other hand are identical, just like the technical specifications of the GM108 chip (384 shaders, 64-bit interface).

Our model is equipped with 8 GB RAM, more precisely one 8 GB module (DDR4-2133). A secondary slot makes upgrades very easy, although our model only runs in a single-channel configuration in return. However, this primarily affects the performance of the processor graphics, so we do not think it is a problem. Files can be stored on a 2.5-inch SATA-SSD.

Processor

Consistent 3.5 GHz for single-thread...
Consistent 3.5 GHz for single-thread...
...and 3.1 GHz for multithread operations.
...and 3.1 GHz for multithread operations.
35-Watt limitation
35-Watt limitation

We start this section with one important note or correction, respectively: Contrary to the manufacturer's specification of 45 Watts, Lenovo configured the T460p with a 35-Watt limit for longer periods – probably because they do not want to stress the cooling solution too much. The Skylake processor is fortunately very efficient and can even maintain its maximum Turbo Boost of 3.1 GHz when we stress all four cores. The integrated sensors show exactly 35 Watts in Cinebench R15 Multi. The TDP limit is no problem in single-core scenarios, where 15 Watts is sufficient for the full 3.5 GHz. Except for synthetic stress tools like Prime95 as well as simultaneous load for the CPU cores and iGPU (only important for configurations without GeForce GPU), this design decision is therefore no problem.

Thanks to the perfectly utilized Turbo Boost range both on mains as well as battery power, the CPU can always maintain its full performance. The Core i7-6700HQ can beat the i5-6440HQ by 25 up to 30% in applications that are optimized for multiple cores and is almost twice as fast as the ULV top model Core i7-6600U. However, all three chips are basically on par when the application only uses one or two cores. You should definitely consider that when you are deciding between the ThinkPad T460s and T460p.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
147 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p
Intel Core i5-6440HQ
145 Points -1%
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
Intel Core i7-6600U
142 Points -3%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U
141 Points -4%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440p 20AN-006VGE
Intel Core i7-4700MQ
134 Points -9%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
Intel Core i7-6500U
119 Points -19%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20F9003SGE
Intel Core i5-6200U
116 Points -21%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
662 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T440p 20AN-006VGE
Intel Core i7-4700MQ
532 Points -20%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p
Intel Core i5-6440HQ
513 Points -23%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U
347 Points -48%
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
Intel Core i7-6600U
334 Points -50%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
Intel Core i7-6500U
322 Points -51%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20F9003SGE
Intel Core i5-6200U
288 Points -56%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
1.67 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p
Intel Core i5-6440HQ
1.66 Points -1%
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
Intel Core i7-6600U
1.61 Points -4%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U
1.57 Points -6%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440p 20AN-006VGE
Intel Core i7-4700MQ
1.51 Points -10%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20F9003SGE
Intel Core i5-6200U
1.31 Points -22%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
7.42 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p
Intel Core i5-6440HQ
5.91 Points -20%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440p 20AN-006VGE
Intel Core i7-4700MQ
5.86 Points -21%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U
3.83 Points -48%
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
Intel Core i7-6600U
3.58 Points -52%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20F9003SGE
Intel Core i5-6200U
3.18 Points -57%
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0
Pass 1
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
147.4 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U
120.4 fps -18%
Pass 2
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
41.83 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U
22.62 fps -46%
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
8276
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
20010
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5527
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
7.42 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
38.34 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.67 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
147 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
662 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
38.08 fps
Help

Storage Devices

AS SSD Benchmark
AS SSD Benchmark

Considering the generous 512 GB SSD, users can easily get over the fact that the T460p does not have a secondary 2.5-inch slot for an additional HDD. You get at least one free M.2-2242 slot, which can either be used for an LTE module (necessary antennas are already integrated) or another SSD (SATA 6 Gbps). Corresponding drives are, however, pretty limited and hard to get right now.

The SSD in our review unit is a Samsung PM871 (MZ7LN512HCHP), an upper-mainstream OEM model. The technology should be very similar to the retail 850 Evo, which is known for its high performance and reliability. We can at least confirm the former by our measurements: Read and write rates around 500 MB/s are excellent for a common SATA SSD, but the 4K and 4K64 results are convincing as well. 

Even higher transfer rates are managed by configurations with SATA-Express SSDs, which are mentioned by Lenovo in the spec sheet. Thanks to the PCIe x2 interface, those drives could reach transfer rates of around 2 GB/s.

Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN512HCHP
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20F9003SGE
Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
AS SSD
168%
-55%
-12%
-6%
Seq Read
510
2039
300%
471
-8%
505
-1%
495.5
-3%
Seq Write
448.3
1407
214%
163.3
-64%
231.6
-48%
283.7
-37%
4K Read
23.3
45.41
95%
14.18
-39%
25.24
8%
30.91
33%
4K Write
74
114.4
55%
34.38
-54%
72.4
-2%
85.1
15%
4K-64 Read
338
968
186%
85.4
-75%
362
7%
336.1
-1%
4K-64 Write
286.8
366
28%
33.4
-88%
190.6
-34%
170
-41%
Copy ISO MB/s
285
1135
298%
119.9
-58%
Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN512HCHP
Transfer Rate Minimum: 86.2 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 319.9 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 304 MB/s
Access Time: 0.1 ms
Burst Rate: 131.2 MB/s
CPU Usage: 2.1 %

System Performance

Probably the most important question for users is whether you can also notice the power of the quad-core with normal workloads. Our verdict: Not really – two cores with Hyper-Threading are easily sufficient for browser, PDF reader and office applications. A responsive system mainly requires (besides an SSD) a good performance per core, which is also offered by the frugal ULV chips. There are still reasons to get the much heavier and thicker T460p instead of the T460(s): Extensive multi-tasking or complex simulation applications will bring dual-cores much faster to their limits compared to more powerful quad-cores.

This is not really visible in the synthetic PCMark, so the T460p is hardly ahead of its dual-core competition.

PCMark 7 - Score
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
GeForce 940MX, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN512HCHP
5585 Points
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
5194 Points -7%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
5190 Points -7%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p
HD Graphics 530, 6440HQ, Toshiba MQ01ACF050
3002 Points -46%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
3542 Points +8%
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
3344 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
GeForce 940MX, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN512HCHP
3292 Points
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
3231 Points -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p
HD Graphics 530, 6440HQ, Toshiba MQ01ACF050
3088 Points -6%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20F9003SGE
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS
3024 Points -8%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
4338 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
GeForce 940MX, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN512HCHP
4241 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20F9003SGE
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS
3644 Points -14%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
4543 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
GeForce 940MX, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN512HCHP
4463 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
4442 Points 0%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
4275 Points -4%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20F9003SGE
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS
4121 Points -8%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p
HD Graphics 530, 6440HQ, Toshiba MQ01ACF050
4072 Points -9%
PCMark 7 Score
5585 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3292 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4241 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4463 points
Help

GPU Performance

GeForce 940MX: Successor to the 940M
GeForce 940MX: Successor to the 940M

Considering the almost identical specs, we did not expect the GeForce 940MX to be a real upgrade over the existing GeForce 940M. The slight additional performance is mainly a result of driver optimizations, but the older model would benefit from them as well. Looking at the T450s, however, we also have to mention that its 940M runs slightly below the reference clocks.

The 940MX still beats the integrated HD Graphics 530 by the factor two depending on the gaming configuration – or better illustrated: 3D calculations the GeForce manages smoothly in Full HD would be limited to the WXGA setting with the Intel GPU. You should still be aware that the GeForce 940MX is a lower mainstream GPU and therefore not suitable for demanding 3D applications. The GPU performance is fortunately not reduced on battery power.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
2636 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
2313 Points -12%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440p 20AN-006VGE
Intel Core i7-4700MQ, NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M
1713 Points -35%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
1416 Points -46%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
Intel Core i7-6500U, Intel HD Graphics 520
1327 Points -50%
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
1264 Points -52%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p
Intel Core i5-6440HQ, Intel HD Graphics 530
1162 Points -56%
3DMark - 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
1718 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
1627 Points -5%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440p 20AN-006VGE
Intel Core i7-4700MQ, NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M
1053 Points -39%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
935 Points -46%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
Intel Core i7-6500U, Intel HD Graphics 520
800 Points -53%
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
744 Points -57%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p
Intel Core i5-6440HQ, Intel HD Graphics 530
672 Points -61%
SPECviewperf 12
1900x1060 Catia (catia-04)
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
11.62 fps +11%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
10.47 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
9.71 fps -7%
1900x1060 Creo (creo-01)
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
10.15 fps +27%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
7.97 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
6.68 fps -16%
1900x1060 Energy (energy-01)
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
0.32 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
0.08 fps -75%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
0.06 fps -81%
1900x1060 Maya (maya-04)
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
13.68 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
10.89 fps -20%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
2.09 fps -85%
1900x1060 Medical (medical-01)
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
6.28 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
5.72 fps -9%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
1.7 fps -73%
1900x1060 Showcase (showcase-01)
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
6.91 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
6.05 fps -12%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
6.05 fps -12%
1900x1060 Siemens NX (snx-02)
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
2.95 fps +33%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
2.22 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
1.81 fps -18%
1900x1060 Solidworks (sw-03)
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
22.64 fps +38%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
16.4 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
14.65 fps -11%
3DMark 06 Standard Score
14195 points
3DMark 11 Performance
2805 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
41687 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
8503 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1537 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Contrary to the HD Graphics 530, the GeForce 940MX is powerful enough for acceptable frame rates around 30 fps in modern 3D games like Fallout 4 or Rise of the Tomb Raider, but you will have to live with the lowest resolutions and settings in return. Older or less demanding titles like FIFA 16, The Sims 4 or Counter Strike: Global Offensive can sometimes also be played with higher settings and in Full HD (1920x1080 pixels). The GPU is, however, not powerful enough for the native display resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, even for these games.

Tomb Raider
1024x768 Low Preset
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
141.2 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
130.8 fps -7%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
83.1 fps -41%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p
Intel Core i5-6440HQ, Intel HD Graphics 530
65.1 fps -54%
1366x768 Normal Preset AA:FX AF:4x
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
68.4 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
66.1 fps -3%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
41.1 fps -40%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p
Intel Core i5-6440HQ, Intel HD Graphics 530
33.5 fps -51%
1366x768 High Preset AA:FX AF:8x
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
37.4 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
36.4 fps -3%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
Intel Core i7-6600U, Intel HD Graphics 520
25.7 fps -31%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p
Intel Core i5-6440HQ, Intel HD Graphics 530
20 fps -47%
low med. high ultra
Diablo III (2012) 125.6 103 83.4 50.6
Counter-Strike: GO (2012) 182 156.8 107.2 57.9
Crysis 3 (2013) 44.3 26.1 19.6 7.3
Tomb Raider (2013) 141.2 68.4 37.4 18.5
BioShock Infinite (2013) 98.7 55.7 44.8 15.5
Metro: Last Light (2013) 52.5 39.8 24 12
Battlefield 4 (2013) 67.9 47 31.7 12.1
Thief (2014) 37.5 24.8 20 9.9
Sims 4 (2014) 173.4 68.7 38 29
Dirt Rally (2015) 145.4 57.3 29.7 13
FIFA 16 (2015) 126.8 68.6 43.5
Fallout 4 (2015) 36.5 22.9 12.3
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 29.1 18.7 11.3

Emissions

System Noise

Frequency response fan (idle, partial load, maximum load)
Frequency response fan (idle, partial load, maximum load)

After the T460p with Core i5 CPU and integrated graphics was not really restrained, we had pretty low expectations for the high-end configuration – but quite the contrary: Thanks to a second heat pipe, our new model is even slightly quieter under load than before with 33.5 up to 38.8 dB(A). The idle noise also drops to 29.2 dB(A); this is not the result of a lower fan speed, but the replacement of the HDD with a silent SSD. The notebook is passively cooled while idling in general, but the fan will be quickly activated even under light workloads. The lowest rpm levels are only audible at a low distance, so this is no big deal in practice.

Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
6700HQ, GeForce 940MX
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FW000DGE
6440HQ, HD Graphics 530
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20F9003SGE
6200U, HD Graphics 520
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
6600U, HD Graphics 520
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
6600U, HD Graphics 520
Noise
-11%
2%
0%
-1%
off / environment *
29.2
30
-3%
29.1
-0%
29.2
-0%
31.2
-7%
Idle Minimum *
29.2
33.7
-15%
29.1
-0%
29.2
-0%
31.2
-7%
Idle Average *
29.2
33.7
-15%
29.1
-0%
29.2
-0%
31.2
-7%
Idle Maximum *
29.2
33.7
-15%
29.1
-0%
29.2
-0%
31.2
-7%
Load Average *
33.5
36.2
-8%
32.3
4%
33.7
-1%
31.9
5%
Load Maximum *
38.8
41.9
-8%
36.6
6%
38.5
1%
31.9
18%

* ... smaller is better

Noise Level

Idle
29.2 / 29.2 / 29.2 dB(A)
Load
33.5 / 38.8 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   ECM8000 + Voltcraft SL-451 (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 29.2 dB(A)

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test
Prime95
Prime95

Lenovo unfortunately buys this surprisingly low noise development with very high temperatures – at least under maximum load. We can measure temperatures above 40 °C at many spots after our one-hour stress test, and even more than 50 °C at the fan exhaust. Even though the stress by Prime95 and FurMark is not that common in practice and represents a worst-case scenario, the results are still too high; there is hardly any headroom for a dusty fan or high ambient temperatures.

We can also see high temperatures of the processor and the graphics card inside the notebook, because the sensors show core temperatures of up to 89 °C (GPU) and 98 °C (CPU), respectively. The Core i7 already throttles a bit, even though the nominal clock is just barely missed: Individual cores can occasionally drop to 2.4-2.5 GHz, while the GPU can maintain 1176 MHz. We did not notice the clock reductions when we performed normal applications or played games on the ThinkPad, but it also gets pretty warm and does not really seem to handle the heat very well.

Max. Load
 44.9 °C
113 F
41.1 °C
106 F
34.9 °C
95 F
 
 51.6 °C
125 F
45.8 °C
114 F
35.1 °C
95 F
 
 41.1 °C
106 F
41.1 °C
106 F
36.9 °C
98 F
 
Maximum: 51.6 °C = 125 F
Average: 41.4 °C = 107 F
33.7 °C
93 F
36.2 °C
97 F
42.2 °C
108 F
34.7 °C
94 F
48.1 °C
119 F
55.2 °C
131 F
35.1 °C
95 F
45.1 °C
113 F
43.8 °C
111 F
Maximum: 55.2 °C = 131 F
Average: 41.6 °C = 107 F
Power Supply (max.)  46.4 °C = 116 F | Room Temperature 21.4 °C = 71 F | Fluke 62 Max
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 41.4 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 29.5 °C / 85 F for the devices in the class Office.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 51.6 °C / 125 F, compared to the average of 34.2 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 55.2 °C / 131 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.6 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(-) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 41.1 °C / 106 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (-13.4 °C / -24.1 F).

Speakers

Frequency response speakers (off, 50%, maximum volume)
Frequency response speakers (off, 50%, maximum volume)

We already talked about the quality of the integrated stereo speakers in our previous review – in short: The quality is actually decent for an office notebook and you get a good maximum volume with clear high tones and powerful medium range. You should, however, not expect too much bass due to the lack of a subwoofer. An external sound system via 3.5 mm stereo jack or HDMI/DisplayPort can help in this case.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

It is a bit surprising that the T460p-20FXS05500 (5.0-10.8 Watts) does not consume much more power while idling than the previously reviewed Core i5 configuration (6.3-10.6 Watts) – it seems the frugal SSD and the modern Windows 10 OS (the i5 model was reviewed with Windows 7) can compensate for the higher consumption of the display and the faster components.

As expected, the differences are bigger under load: Instead of 42.7 up to 66.7 Watts (i5 model), our measurement device shows 52.4 up to 89.8 Watts (75 Watts with throttling). The shipped 135-Watt PSU, which is very bulky, seems to be too powerful considering these results, but it will at least quickly charge the battery even when you really stress the device.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.28 / 0.48 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 5 / 9.9 / 10.8 Watt
Load midlight 52.4 / 89.8 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Runtime

Contrary to the T460(s) or X260, for example, the T460p only has one battery with either 23, 48 or 72 Wh. Most configurations are equipped with the medium-sized model ex-works, which is also the case for our review unit.

Even though the capacity is not really generous considering the power consumption, the T460p still performs pretty well and manages runtimes between 1 and 11 hours depending on the scenario. Users can expect between 5-6 hours in practice (150 cd/m² display brightness, Wi-Fi browsing or video playback). The bigger 72-Wh battery should therefore easily be on par with the 100-Wh module of the T440p. Interesting side note: Despite the ULV platform, the ultra mobile T460s does not last much longer on battery.

Reader's Test
Reader's Test
Wi-Fi Test
Wi-Fi Test
H.264 Test
H.264 Test
Classic Test
Classic Test
Charging
Charging
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500
48 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FW000DGE
48 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad T440p 20AN-006VGE
100 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
49 Wh
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
55 Wh
Battery Runtime
-16%
58%
13%
50%
Reader / Idle
660
494
-25%
887
34%
833
26%
H.264
357
289
-19%
508
42%
397
11%
WiFi v1.3
298
265
-11%
340
14%
346
16%
Load
61
55
-10%
121
98%
62
2%
112
84%
WiFi
602
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
11h 00min
WiFi Websurfing
4h 58min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
5h 57min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 01min

Pros

+ robust chassis
+ taut hinges
+ very good input devices
+ excellent IPS display
+ numerous security features
+ very high application performance
+ limited gaming capabilities
+ 3-year warranty

Cons

- no USB Type-C
- inconvenient maintenance
- bulky 135-Watt PSU
- high temperature development
- mediocre battery runtimes

Verdict

In review: Lenovo ThinkPad T460p. Test model courtesy of Campuspoint.
In review: Lenovo ThinkPad T460p. Test model courtesy of Campuspoint.

There are currently not many alternatives if you are looking for a compact office notebook with a lot of CPU performance. Besides the Dell Latitude E5470, the ThinkPad T460p is currently the only 14-inch device which can also handle demanding multithread software thanks to quad-core CPUs. This might be reason enough to buy it for some users – but the ThinkPad also has other advantages like the robust chassis, excellent input devices or the very good IPS display. The dedicated GeForce GPU is definitely worth the additional charge, since it is twice as fast as the integrated processor graphics. Smaller issues like the missing USB Type-C port, the bulky power adapter or the average battery runtimes are therefore not such a big deal.

One point cannot be compensated for that easily: With aging thermal paste and dusty fans, there can be throttling as well as inconveniently warm surface temperatures even when you do not use synthetic stress tools. You might argue that this problem is much smaller in practice – but who buys a device like the T460p if you do not want to use the performance?

CPU temperatures close to 100 °C show what users can expect during the summer.

If you can live with the high temperatures, there is no reason to avoid the T460p, but it might be a good idea to use tools like TPFanControl to tune the fan control in this case.

Lenovo ThinkPad T460p-20FXS05500 - 04/18/2016 v5.1(old)
Till Schönborn

Chassis
85 / 98 → 86%
Keyboard
94%
Pointing Device
84%
Connectivity
65 / 80 → 82%
Weight
65 / 20-67 → 96%
Battery
83%
Display
89%
Games Performance
64 / 68 → 95%
Application Performance
89 / 92 → 97%
Temperature
80%
Noise
94%
Audio
64%
Camera
50 / 85 → 59%
Average
77%
87%
Office - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo ThinkPad T460p (Core i7, GeForce 940MX) Notebook Review
Till Schönborn, 2016-04-16 (Update: 2019-04-30)