Lenovo ThinkPad 14" T470S Review

A $300 tank. This refurbished ThinkPad T470S is slow and old, but built like a brick. Perfect as a disposable workhorse for basic tasks, terrible as your main computer.

Let's be real upfront: this Lenovo ThinkPad T470S is a refurbished business laptop from 2017. It's not new, it's not fast, and it's not for everyone. But here's the one thing to know: for just over $300, you get a shockingly well-built, ultraportable machine that's perfect for one very specific person. If you need a no-fuss, durable laptop for basic tasks and you're on a tight budget, this is a compelling deal. Just don't expect it to keep up with modern software demands.

The performance story is a tale of two extremes, and the CPU is the main character. That 6th-gen Intel Core i5-6300U lands in the 8th percentile in our database, which is a polite way of saying it's one of the slowest processors we see in modern use. It'll handle web browsing, documents, and emails, but you'll feel it chug on anything more. The surprising bright spot? The integrated Intel HD 520 graphics somehow scored in the 97th percentile. Don't get excited—this just means it's better than other ancient integrated graphics, not that you can game on it. It's still dead last for gaming.

At $303, the value is entirely situational. If you need a bulletproof portable for word processing and web tasks, and every dollar counts, it's absolutely worth it. If you need any semblance of speed or future-proofing, it's a hard pass. You're paying for the tank-like build quality, not the internals.

This isn't competing with new laptops. Its real competition is other refurbished deals. Compared to a newer refurbished business ultrabook with an 8th-gen or later Intel chip, this T470S will feel much slower. Against a new budget laptop in the $400-$500 range, you'll get a better screen and faster CPU, but you'll lose the ThinkPad's legendary keyboard and MIL-SPEC durability. The Apple MacBook Pro listed is in a different universe price-wise, so that's not a fair fight. Think of this as the used Toyota Corolla of laptops: not flashy, but it'll run forever.

If you're looking for a fast, modern laptop for multitasking or any creative work, this isn't it. Go get a refurbished model with at least an 8th-gen Intel Core i5 or a modern Ryzen 3 instead. Gamers, just look away.

We recommend the ThinkPad T470S with major caveats. This is a specialist's tool. Buy it if you are a student on a strict budget, a business needing a fleet of durable basic machines, or someone who just needs a second laptop for travel that you won't cry over if it gets lost. For anyone else, especially if you multitask or plan to use this as a primary machine for years, save up a little more for a model with a newer CPU.