Lenovo ThinkPad P16 16" Gen 3 2025 Review

This thing is an absolute monster for creative work thanks to the Core Ultra 9 and a gorgeous 800-nit 4K display. It's one of the best-specced mobile workstations we've tested, but it weighs over 4kg and costs anywhere from $6,749 to an eye-watering $169,599 depending on where you look. If you need desktop-class power you can occasionally move, it's fantastic; if you need a laptop you'll actually carry every day, this ain't it.

The ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 is Lenovo's answer for professionals who need serious firepower in a portable(ish) form factor. With a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, 64GB of RAM, and NVIDIA's RTX PRO 2000 Blackwell GPU, it's built to chew through rendering, simulation, and data analysis without breaking a sweat. The 16-inch 4K IPS display hits 800 nits and covers 100% DCI-P3, so color-critical work looks incredible, and the port selection is the best we've seen in this class.

But "portable" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. At 4.04kg (nearly 9 pounds), this is a desktop replacement that you'll dread hauling through airports. The 60Hz refresh rate is fine for static design work but feels sluggish next to the 120Hz+ panels popping up on rivals. Still, if raw CPU performance and connectivity are your top priorities, this machine delivers in spades.

The Core Ultra 9 285HX scores in the top tier of our laptop database, landing in the 98th percentile for CPU muscle. Paired with 64GB of DDR5, multitasking is effortless, even with heavy VMs or large datasets. The RTX PRO 2000 sits at the 82nd percentile for GPU performance—solid, but not chart-topping. It'll handle most CAD, 3D modeling, and moderate rendering loads without issue, but if you're doing real-time ray tracing or massive 8K video effects, you'll notice the ceiling sooner than you would with the M4 Max in the MacBook Pro. The 2TB SSD is fast and spacious, though its 91st percentile rank puts it well above average but not class-leading.

Pricing for this configuration is a rollercoaster. Some vendors list it around $6,749, which is reasonable for a mobile workstation with these specs. Others have it listed at a laughable $169,599, which we can only assume is a placeholder error or includes a solid gold chassis. At the lower end, you're getting a lot of power for the money, but make absolutely sure you're not paying anywhere near six figures before clicking buy.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max, the P16 Gen 3 wins on raw CPU multithreading and connectivity but loses on battery life, GPU grunt, and weight. The ASUS ROG Flow GZ302EA-XS99 and MSI Stealth A16 AI+ are far more portable and pack higher-refresh screens, though they don't match Lenovo's port selection or RAM ceiling. The HP ZBook Ultra G1a is a closer rival with similar workstation DNA but typically comes in cheaper for comparable specs. For pure desk-bound number-crunching, the Lenovo pulls ahead; for any kind of travel, the Surface Laptop 7th Edition crushes it on weight and battery alone.

Skip this if you need more than a couple of hours away from a wall outlet or if you actually plan to travel more than a few times a year. The weight and mediocre battery life make it a desktop that sometimes moves, not a true laptop. Creatives who need high refresh rates for animation previews will also be let down by the 60Hz display.

If you're a 3D artist, data scientist, or engineer who wants a single machine to replace a desktop and only occasionally moves between offices, the ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 is a powerhouse. It's fast, expandable, and built like a tank. But if you need a machine you'll actually carry in a backpack every day, look at lighter options—this thing will punish your shoulders.