Lenovo ThinkPad 16" P16s Gen 4 Black Review

The Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 is a workhorse that's all about the CPU. If you're a developer or a creator who needs a ton of processing power in a portable package, this is your laptop. Just don't expect it to be a gaming machine or have the best screen.

That AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 CPU is a monster, sitting in the 99th percentile. It chews through code compiles and renders without breaking a sweat. The discrete AMD Radeon 860M GPU, however, is just okay at 55th percentile. It's fine for driving the display and light graphical work, but it's not going to handle serious gaming or 3D rendering.

At around $2200, it's a lot of money for a laptop with a mediocre screen. You're paying almost entirely for that phenomenal CPU and the ThinkPad build. If your workflow is purely CPU-bound, it's worth it. If you need a balanced machine, it's a tougher sell.

Compared to an Apple MacBook Pro, you get more ports and a better keyboard, but the MacBook's screen, battery life, and GPU performance are in another league. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i offers far better graphics power for similar money, but it's heavier and less professional looking. The ASUS Zenbook Duo is more innovative and portable, but can't touch this ThinkPad's raw CPU muscle.

Buy this if you're a developer or data scientist who lives in the terminal and needs the absolute fastest multi-core CPU you can get in a laptop. For everyone else, especially creators who need a good screen or anyone who games, look at the MacBook Pro or a gaming laptop like the Legion instead.