The 16 core Panther Lake variant of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 7 is the one to get

It is always nice when you can look at the same product two times. After all, with a second look at a slightly different configuration, it is sometimes possible to produce some interesting new finding.

Case in point: We already reviewed the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 7 in the summer, but only were able to test a very basic configuration, which included an Intel Core Ultra 5 325, one of the most basic CPUs of Intel's Panther Lake series. Recently, we were able to review Lenovo's mainstream business laptop for a second time. This time, it was a more expensive variant that contained the Intel Ultra 7 366H. And based on our second review, it is quite clear which CPU one should choose when buying the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 7.

For starters, the Core Ultra 5 325 only has eight CPU cores, while the Core Ultra 7 366H has sixteen. It should come as no surprise then that the Ultra 7 quite easily beats the Ultra 5 325 in terms of multicore performance. 18,290 points in Cinebench R23 Multicore instead of 10,487 points means the 366H is around 74 percent faster. But the bigger CPU is also better when it comes to single core loads, beating the Ultra 5 by around 10 percent.

Intel Panther Lake enables use of H class CPU without many compromises

One might expect compromises in terms of battery life and fan noise, as well as higher temperatures. However, Intel's Panther Lake platform has proven to be one of the most efficient platforms Intel ever made, which means that despite the much stronger H class CPU, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 7 barely gets much warmer or louder. And while the battery life suffers, this is likely more due to the OLED screen of the Ultra 7 model.

When buying the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 7, there is a quite obvious choice: Get the Ultra 7 model. And make sure it is an H class CPU with sixteen cores, like the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, Core Ultra 7 366H or the Core Ultra X7 358H, with the Ultra X7 also featuring the stronger ARC iGPU. While the Core Ultra 5 325 is fine for basic web-surfing and office tasks, avoid the Core Ultra 7 355 or Ultra 7 365, which bring little practical benefit.