Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 review
The Lenovo Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 ranks as the #14 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 84. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #52-ranked performance among 507 laptops. Consider the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon or Huawei MateBook X Pro, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 is a surprisingly solid laptop at an affordable price point. It boasts a good keyboard, trackpad, and build quality, making it a great option for daily tasks and productivity. While the screen may not be ideal for photo editing, its colors are fine overall. With upgradable storage and memory, this laptop offers excellent value for those on a budget. For around $380 USD, it's hard to find a better deal - making it well worth considering for anyone in need of a reliable everyday machine.
Build
The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 boasts excellent build quality, rivaling more expensive models. The laptop's sturdy construction and solid keyboard provide a comfortable typing experience. The trackpad, although unremarkable, performs its duties adequately. The 1200p screen is fine for everyday tasks but may not satisfy professionals requiring superior color accuracy. Overall, the ThinkPad E14 Gen 5's build quality and feature set justify its relatively low price point of around $380 USD. It's an impressive value proposition that sets it apart from similarly priced laptops in its class. A better alternative might be Lenovo Yoga Slim 6i, featuring a next-level build.
Display
The display on the Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 is a 12-inch 1200p panel, which provides clear visuals and decent color accuracy. However, it's not a professional-grade screen, lacking in-depth color gamut and saturation. The brightness is adequate for indoor use, but might struggle in extremely bright environments. Overall, the display is serviceable, but not particularly impressive. It gets the job done for everyday tasks like browsing, email, and office work, but might not be ideal for graphics or video editing professionals. You may find Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i a better fit, thanks to its superior display.
Performance
The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 delivers impressive performance for its price point. The Intel Core i3 processor handles daily tasks with ease, making it suitable for productivity and coding workloads. In Cinebench R23, the laptop scored 8500 on multi-core and 1450 on single core, indicating its capability to handle demanding tasks. Thermal management is also commendable, with no thermal throttling or warnings during intense usage. The included NVMe storage, while not the fastest, provides sufficient capacity for an operating system and programs. Overall, the ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 offers reliable performance for its budget-friendly price tag. If you’re after a better performance, Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 5 could be the ideal option.
Battery and Charging
The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 delivers impressive battery life, with up to 10 hours on idle at 100% brightness. In real-world testing, it achieved 7 hours of 1080p YouTube playback, despite a significant increase in power consumption. The laptop's battery life is easily sufficient for an all-day use case, making it a great option for those who need a reliable device without breaking the bank. The included NVMe drive also ensures fast storage performance.
Connectivity
The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 boasts an impressive array of connectivity options. It features Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, and a range of ports including two USB-A, one USB-C, HDMI, and an SD card reader. Additionally, the laptop has a built-in webcam with high refresh rate, although it lacks saturation. Overall, its connectivity suite is comprehensive and should meet most users' needs. For an improved connectivity, Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is worth considering.
Features
The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 boasts a range of features, including a 1200p touchscreen display, dual-core processor, upgradable storage and memory, keyboard and trackpad with TrackPoint navigation, as well as a built-in webcam and speakers. The laptop also offers great battery life, making it an excellent value for its price. You might want to check out Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, featuring an upgraded features for a superior experience.
Support and Maintenance
The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 offers reliable support and maintenance features. With robust build quality and good keyboard, it provides a hassle-free experience. Upgradable storage and memory options make it easy to extend its lifespan. Additionally, the battery life is excellent, making it suitable for all-day use. Overall, this laptop delivers on reliability and value.
Pros
1. The build quality is very good
2. The keyboard is great, same as most other ThinkPads
3. The trackpad is exactly the same as other ThinkPads, with TrackPoint
4. Good screen with fine colors (not ideal for photo editing)
5. Great battery life, up to 10 hours on idle and 7 hours on YouTube playback
6. Very low cost, around $380-$400 USD
Cons
1. The screen is not ideal for professional photo editing due to color accuracy issues
2. The included NVMe storage is not the fastest, but sufficient for OS and other basic needs
3. The webcam lacks saturation, appearing pale and ghostly
4. The mic quality is not mentioned as a particular strength or weakness
5. The laptop's specs are a couple of generations old, which may affect performance in demanding tasks
6. The screen size is not specified (only 1200p resolution is mentioned)
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