The Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 serves as a standard mobile workstation. It provides sufficient processing power while being notably large, heavy, and costly. When measured against mainstream consumer devices, its capabilities seem underwhelming, especially as upcoming Panther Lake components challenge its relevance across various applications.
Lenovo has introduced the ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 as a substantial workstation featuring a premium OLED screen. Constructed to withstand multiple MIL-STD 810H standards for ruggedness, it offers diverse hardware choices, such as dedicated graphics cards and advanced processors. However, its workstation status drives up the cost significantly, creating challenges for buyers who might forgo features like ISV approvals in favor of more affordable alternatives with greater performance.
Available configurations for the Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 start at $1,599, potentially lower through Lenovo's ongoing web promotions, and reach up to $4,680 for the highest-end setup. Options differ by vendor. The reviewed unit includes the listed specs and was priced at $4,009 from B&H or $4,218 from CDW during a sale. Although listed with PCIe Gen 5 storage, testing revealed speeds matching the upper limits of PCIe 4.0 x4 performance.
Via Lenovo's online builder, processors range from the Core Ultra 5 225H to the Core Ultra 9 285H, with vPro and standard variants available. Discrete graphics compatibility varies by processor, as the highest-end one lacks dGPU support. For those that do, choices include the RTX Pro 500 or RTX Pro 1000. Memory options are 16GB, 32GB, or 96GB, while storage comes in 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB capacities.
Screen choices include a basic 1920x1200 non-glossy panel at 400 nits brightness, a 500-nit low-power option with expanded color range, or the tested 3840x2400 touch-enabled OLED, which achieves full DCI-P3 coverage, 400 nits brightness, and Dolby Vision compatibility. Additional features encompass 4G support and a smart card slot. Battery variants are 75Wh or 57Wh.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 prioritizes robustness over portability. As a 16-inch mobile workstation, its size accommodates effective thermal management and a spacious screen. Screen borders remain reasonably slim, limiting further size reduction without shrinking the display. Overall thickness measures one inch including bottom rubber pads, which may complicate fitting into certain bags. Despite the dimensions, it weighs just 4.27 pounds.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 boasts a durable, tank-like construction.
It follows classic ThinkPad aesthetics in a matte black finish. Unlike many models using carbon-fiber composites, this version employs aluminum for the lid and chassis. The keyboard area retains a soft-touch coating. Both surfaces tend to reveal fingerprints readily.
The expansive keyboard surface accommodates a nearly full numeric keypad and shifted arrow keys, which stay compact. The trackpad appears undersized given the available room. Speakers remain bottom-mounted behind front-edge vents, despite space for upward-facing ones above the keys.
Bottom vents for the dual fans include mesh covers to block dust. Exhaust vents from hot air emerge through narrow seams near the hinge and keyboard base.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 demonstrates robust build quality, confirmed by rigorous testing. The keyboard area and lid resist flexing. The hinge shows minor play after adjustment and slight movement during typing, but remains stable. The base's weight and lid's edge lip enable effortless single-hand opening.
The laptop's larger footprint allows for practical internal expandability. It typically ships with one M.2 SSD but includes room for another at PCIe 4.0 x4 speeds. It uses SODIMM RAM for easy upgrades. Access requires removing eight screws.
Consistent with ThinkPad tradition, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 features an excellent keyboard with reliable illumination and spill protection, avoiding sticky residues. Keys offer firmer feedback for enhanced tactility, which may challenge light typists but proves gratifying overall.
Testing on Monkeytype yielded up to 112 words per minute with 98% accuracy following adaptation. The compact, offset arrows risk hitting Page Up or Down keys unintentionally. The full keypad aids numerical input but requires habituation due to its near-full extent.
The central TrackPoint may irritate some, yet it offers precise control with minimal hand shifts as a trackpad substitute. The trackpad performs adequately, with a smooth mylar surface and reasonable dimensions, though top buttons reduce usable space. On this sizable device, it feels constrained, and right-handed operation often leads to unintended right-clicks from overreaching.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4's screen impresses with its size and clarity, rendering fine details sharply. Touch response is responsive but limited by the 60Hz refresh rate. The digitizer is largely unnoticeable, except in bright areas at close range. Brightness peaked at 402 nits in tests, enhanced by OLED's perfect contrast and full DCI-P3 vibrancy. Color accuracy was strong, with a maximum dE1976 of 2.03.
Notably, the minimum brightness dipped to 0.9 nits for a white point. Reflection handling via the anti-glare layer is moderate, less effective than a fully matte surface.
Audio output from the speakers is respectable, delivering ample volume and clear mids ideal for voices. Music reveals sharper tones and sibilance, reducing enjoyment, with limited low-end response.
For calls, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 performs reliably. The 5MP webcam appears grainy in suboptimal light but offers superior sharpness and natural exposure overall. A mechanical privacy cover provides clear status indication.
It includes effective far-field microphones enhanced by Dolby Voice noise cancellation, which engages automatically. Voice transmission sounded natural without compression, and intense background sounds vanished entirely. A test recording ignored a fan's erratic high-pitched whine, capturing speech clearly.
Biometric access includes dependable Windows Hello face unlock and somewhat variable fingerprint scanning. The sensor's small, inset design limits finger contact, affecting consistency.
Wired ports are adequate but not outstanding for the size. The left side hosts two Thunderbolt 4 ports for versatile connectivity and charging, plus a 5Gbps USB-A, audio jack, and HDMI 2.1. The right adds another 5Gbps USB-A, Ethernet, and a security lock. Select models include SIM and smart card slots, absent here. Given the space, the lack of a third USB-A or SD reader surprises.
Wireless options are reliable, featuring an Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE201 module for speedy, consistent connections. Bluetooth 5.4 has shown stability in evaluations.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 delivers consistent output, though not groundbreaking. Its Intel Core Ultra 7 265H processor performs steadily, aided by the chassis's cooling capacity. The 6GB Nvidia RTX Pro 500 boosts visual tasks and light AI work but lacks raw power and ample VRAM for demanding scenarios.
In the comprehensive PCMark 10 test, it handles everyday office duties effectively, including spreadsheets, meetings, and light editing. The generous RAM supports multitasking with numerous applications open.
CPU results highlight capable single- and multi-threaded speeds, sustained by cooling. However, it trails competitors like the Dell 16 Premium with its Core Ultra 7 255H and the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9 16IAH10 with a superior chip. It edges the Panther Lake-based MSI Prestige Flip 14 AI+ in standard mode, but the gap closes in performance settings.
The Handbrake video encoding test reveals sustained capabilities, taking over 12 minutes for a large file—a solid result. It lags behind the Yoga Pro 9 and Dell 16 Premium, indicating suboptimal processor and thermal design. It surpasses the Acer Swift Go 16 and MSI Prestige Flip 14 AI+ in balanced modes, which cap extended efforts.
Graphics expectations from the RTX label go unmet with the RTX Pro 500's modest showing.
In 3DMark Time Spy, it falls far behind the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Gen 10's RTX 5050 and Dell's RTX 5070, with less dramatic differences than anticipated. Even budget gamers like the $900 Acer Nitro V 16 AI with RTX 5050 exceed it. It tops Intel Arc-integrated devices like the Acer Swift Go 16 in current setups.
Panther Lake introduces advanced Arc graphics, such as the B390 in the MSI Prestige Flip 14 AI+. Initially lagging, the MSI surges to 7,233 points in performance mode, outpacing the Lenovo from its slim 3-pound frame.
Despite its high-resolution OLED and dedicated GPU, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 achieves decent endurance. In a 4K video loop test at 250-260 nits, it endured nearly six hours—better than many gaming rigs. A 99Wh battery might extend this, as the 75Wh feels modest for the scale.
Yet, other productivity laptops outlast it. The performance-leading Lenovo Yoga Pro 9 16IAH10 adds four hours, while the Dell 16 Premium with a matching OLED goes further.
Panther Lake's MSI Prestige Flip 14 AI+ dominates with over 34 hours in video playback and doubles the Lenovo's time in PCMark 10 battery runs. Though not a direct rival to the bulky Lenovo, it underscores generational efficiency gains that disadvantage this model.
Daily usage aligns with about six hours in tests, a reasonable drop from playback without the sharp decline seen elsewhere.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 stands as a resilient workstation with durable construction, excellent typing experience including numpad and trackpad, and a stunning screen. For its footprint, enhancements like additional ports or a bigger battery would help. Its core issue lies in competitors offering superior specs at lower costs, and Panther Lake's efficiency boosts render it less competitive.
Thus, it suits only those requiring certified professional features like ISV and MIL-STD 810H compliance. Without such needs, better choices abound.