Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 3 review
The Lenovo Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 3 ranks as the #464 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 72. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #96-ranked connectivity among 545 laptops. Consider the Lenovo Slim 7 or Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Yoga Gen 2, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 3 is a mid-range office device that excels at its job. While it may not offer top-of-the-line performance, its rich input/output options and upgradeability make up for this. The laptop's durability and comfort are also notable strengths, with a good weight and profile. However, the display is only suitable for office work, lacking in color accuracy. Considering its price point, the ThinkPad L14 Gen 3 is worth considering for those who value practicality and don't mind a slight performance compromise. Overall, it's a reliable option that gets many things right.
Build
The Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 3 boasts a sturdy build with multiple configuration options for the lid (aluminum or plastic) and bottom portion (plastic or carbon fiber). The laptop's durability is impressive, with good weight distribution and a profile of 19.8mm. The plastic base and aluminum lid provide excellent protection against daily wear and tear. Overall, the ThinkPad L14 Gen 3's build quality is solid and reliable, making it a great choice for those seeking a dependable office device. Give Lenovo 14e Chromebook Gen 3 a try—it’s designed to provide an unparalleled build.
Display
The display on the Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 3 is a mixed bag. While it's great for office work, it's not suitable for professional use due to its limited color accuracy. The FHD IPS panel has excellent viewing angles, peaks at 262 nits in terms of brightness, and boasts a high contrast ratio. However, it falls short in sRGB coverage and Delta E value. Thankfully, there's no PWM usage, which is a welcome feature. The display performs well for everyday use, but creative professionals may find it lacking. Get your hands on Lenovo 14e Chromebook Gen 3 if you're looking for better display.
Performance
The Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 3 delivers mixed results in terms of performance. With the Core i5-1235U, it lags behind competitors like the Dell Latitude 5430 and MSI Modern 14 in both CPU and GPU benchmarks. Integrated graphics also score lower. The laptop's simple cooling system, featuring two heat pipes, one fan, and a heat sink, maintains high clock speeds for a short while before dropping below 2 GHz at the 15-minute mark. While not the most powerful device, its performance is still sufficient for office work, but may fall short in demanding tasks. Consider discovering the power of Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro, featuring the latest advancements in performance.
Battery and Charging
The ThinkPad L14 Gen 3 boasts an impressive battery life, with the larger 57Wh option lasting 11 hours and 15 minutes in web browsing and 10 hours and 18 minutes in video playback. The laptop's charging capabilities are also noteworthy, offering a quick charge that gets you back to 80% battery in about an hour. While not exceptional, the ThinkPad's battery performance is solid and should meet the needs of most users, making it a reliable choice for those on-the-go.
Connectivity
The ThinkPad L14 Gen 3 boasts an impressive array of connectivity options, including two USB-A 3.2 ports, a Thunderbolt 4 port, and a USB-C 3.2 port, as well as an HDMI 2.1 output, LAN port, audio jack, micro SD card reader, smart card reader, and SIM card slot, making it ideal for office work. For a superior connectivity, Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 could be the right choice.
Features
The Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 3 is a mid-range office device that excels at its job. It offers multiple configurations for the build with aluminum or plastic lids and bottom portions. The laptop features a keyboard, touchpad, and trackpoint with long key travel and clicky feedback. It also has an impressive array of ports, including two USB-A 3.2, Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1. A better alternative might be Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5, featuring a next-level features.
Support and Maintenance
The ThinkPad L14 Gen 3 excels in support and maintenance aspects, offering rich input/output options, ample upgradeability, and long battery life. Two SODIMM slots provide up to 64GB of DDR4 memory, while a single M.2 slot supports Gen 4 drives. The laptop's design ensures easy access for upgrades, making it a reliable choice for business users who value stability and security.
Pros
1. The company makes good devices at all price points
2. Most of their offerings have been great
3. The laptop excels at its job as a mid-range office device
4. The keyboard has Long Key travel, clicky feedback, backlight, and spill resistance
5. The touch pad is smooth and accurate
6. The device is an input/output champ with multiple ports
7. The battery life lasts for 11 hours and 15 minutes of web browsing or 10 hours and 18 minutes of video playback
Cons
1. There have been some stumbles, looking at you IdeaPad gaming 3i
2. The display isn't suitable for professional work with colors
3. It has a relatively low brightness of 262 nits
4. The laptop performs significantly less compared to other laptops with the Core i5 1235u
5. The cooling is very simple and might not be sufficient in demanding situations
6. The laptop gets outperformed when put against its competitors
7. The display has a relatively low sRGB coverage of 53%
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