{"id":215,"date":"2024-10-11T08:12:46","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T08:12:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/?p=215"},"modified":"2024-10-11T08:12:46","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T08:12:46","slug":"lenovo-thinkpad-t14s-gen-6-snapdragon-review-21-hours-of-battery-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/2024\/10\/11\/lenovo-thinkpad-t14s-gen-6-snapdragon-review-21-hours-of-battery-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Lenovo ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6, Snapdragon) review: 21 hours of battery life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

First ThinkPad with a Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite X sticks the landing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Verdict<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 21 hours of battery life, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s will last you all day and then some while also providing strong productivity performance and great usability in a lightweight package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pros<\/strong>
+Extraordinary battery life
+Bright screen
+Great keyboard and navigation
+Solid performance
Cons<\/strong>
-Expensive
-Slower SSD than competitors
-Windows on Arm still not compatible with all software<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>>>related\uff1aL20C4P72 Battery for Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the release of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X series processors earlier this year, a new crop of laptops have focused on power efficiency and AI features. Lenovo\u2019s ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6 with Snapdragon) is the first ThinkPad powered by the chip and it specifically runs on a 12-core, Snapdragon Elite X1E-78-100 with a powerful NPU with 45 TOPS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting at $1,666 (current street price and the price of our review unit), the ThinkPad T14s is not only one of the best Snapdragon-powered laptops on the market, but one of the best ultraportable laptops you can buy with any processor. It lasted an incredible 21 hours on our battery test \u2013 one of the longest marks of any system we\u2019ve ever tested \u2013 and yet it offers all the best features you can find on a ThinkPad. It has a world class keyboard, an accurate pointing stick, a bright and colorful screen, good performance and a sturdy, sub-3 pound chassis. So, though it\u2019s not cheap, if you\u2019re willing to commit to an Arm-powered laptop, the T14s is a fantastic system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>>>L23D3P72 Battery for Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Design of the the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6, Snapdragon)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


The ThinkPad T14s is thin, light and very consistent with Lenovo\u2019s time-tested ThinkPad aesthetic. Like most other ThinkPads, it has a matte, raven black color with a red pointing stick in the middle of the keyboard, a red status light on the lid and some red accents on the TrackPoint buttons.
The lid and deck have a luxurious soft-touch feel that\u2019s really pleasant, particularly when I put my wrists on the palmrest. Many other ThinkPads, including the X1 Carbon (Gen 12) don\u2019t have a finish that feels quite this soft so it\u2019s a real plus. The lid itself is made of 50 percent recycled carbon-reinforced plastic while the deck is made from 90 percent recycled magnesium alloy.
At 2.72 pounds, the T14s is really light, but some competitors are even svelter. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12) is just 2.42 pounds (1.24 kg) and the Dell XPS 13 (9345), which has a 13-inch display, is 2.62 pounds. The T14s is 12.35 x 8.64 x 0.67 inches (313.6 x 219.4 x 16.9 mm), but the X1 Carbon (Gen 12) is just a tad smaller at 12.31 x 8.45 x 0.59 inches and the HP OmniBook X (12.32 x 8.8 x 0.56 inches) and Dell XPS 13 (11.63 x 7.84 x 0.60 inches) are also quite a bit smaller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The T14s manages to pack in all the ports you\u2019ll need, including two Thunderbolt 4 \/ USB-C ports, two USB 3.2 Type-A Ports (5 Gbps), a 3.5-inch audio jack and a full-size HDMI 2.1 port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>>>L21L4P73 Battery for Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 3<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6, Snapdragon) Specs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CPU<\/strong><\/td>Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100<\/td><\/tr>
Graphics<\/strong><\/td>Qualcomm Adreno GPU<\/td><\/tr>
Memory<\/strong><\/td>32GB LPDDR5x-8448<\/td><\/tr>
Storage<\/strong><\/td>1TB M.2 2242 SSD<\/td><\/tr>
Display<\/strong><\/td>14-inch, 1920 x 1200 IPS<\/td><\/tr>
Networking<\/strong><\/td>Qualcomm Wi-Fi 7 NCM825A, Bluetooth 5.3<\/td><\/tr>
Ports<\/strong><\/td>2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB Type-A (5 Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5 audio<\/td><\/tr>
Camera<\/strong><\/td>FHD 1080p + IR<\/td><\/tr>
Battery<\/strong><\/td>58 Whr<\/td><\/tr>
Power Adapter<\/strong><\/td>65-watt USB-C<\/td><\/tr>
OS<\/strong><\/td>Windows 11 Pro<\/td><\/tr>
Dimensions (WxDxH)<\/strong><\/td>12.35 x 8.64 x 0.67 inches (313.6 x 219.4 x 16.9 mm)<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td>2.72 pounds (1.24 kg)<\/td><\/tr>
Price (as configured)<\/strong><\/td>$1,666.56<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Keyboard, Touchpad and Trackpoint on the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6, Snapdragon)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lenovo
Like most other ThinkPads, the T14s has a world-class typing experience, complete snappy keys have curved keycaps that make them easier to locate by feel. There are also raised lines on the Enter, Fn, Down Arrow and F + J keys so you find these markers in the dark (or if you\u2019re visually impaired). The F + J keys have had these marks on prior ThinkPads but the others are new additions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tapping away on the T14\u2019s keyboard was a pleasure as I managed a strong 100 words-per-minute on the 10 Fast Fingers typing test, along with a 3 percent error rate. Those are both good marks for me on any laptop, and I was able to achieve them because I was comfortable typing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using the built-in Lenovo Commercial Vantage control panel software, you can configure the F12 key to launch any program, open a website or enter any text you want. Unfortunately, you can\u2019t use the app to remap F12 into another key such as Print Screen, but you can do that with a third-party utility such as SharpKeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For navigation, the T14s has both a TrackPoint pointing stick and a 2.4 x 4.53-inch glass (non-haptic) touchpad. I always prefer the TrackPoint because it gives me the most accurate navigation around the desktop and I don\u2019t have to lift my hands off of the home row and disrupt my typing position to use it. Double-tapping the TrackPoint brings up the TrackPoint Quick Menu, which gives you easy access to Microphone, Audio Playback and Camera settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t like pointing sticks \u2013 and really, you should give them a try \u2013 the touchpad has a lot to offer. In my tests, it offered smooth navigation with just the right amount of friction. It also responded flawlessly to multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom and three-finger swipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audio on the ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6, Snapdragon)<\/strong>
The ThinkPad T14s\u2019s dual speakers, located on either side of the keyboard, provide sound output that\u2019s loud enough to fill a small conference room and is accurate, though not rich. When I played AC\/DC\u2019s “Back in Black,” there was some separation of sound between the drums on the right side and the vocals \/ guitar on the left. And the percussion, while not layered, was mostly free from tinniness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using the included Dolby Access app, I was able to choose among different sound output profiles for Music, Movies, Games and Dynamic. I found that Dynamic, which automatically predicts the kind of output you need, to be not only the best but the loudest choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upgradeability of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6, Snapdragon)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lenovo
While you can\u2019t upgrade the RAM, which is soldered to the motherboard, you can change out the SSD, but you\u2019ll pay a premium for the replacement. While most computers and laptops use 2280 length SSDs, the T14s requires a 2242 drive, which is less common and costs more. 
To upgrade the laptop, you need to loosen the five captive Philip\u2019s head screws and pry open the rear panel, an easy process that takes just a couple of minutes. The SSD is located underneath a copper heatsink in the upper right corner of the motherboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Battery LIfe on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 6, Snapdragon)<\/strong>
We need only one word to describe ThinkPad T14s\u2019s battery life: wow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On our battery test, which involves surfing the web and streaming videos with the screen set at 150 nits of brightness, the T14s endured for 21 hours and 3 minutes. That time is the longest we\u2019ve seen on a laptop. The Dell XPS 13 (9345), which uses the same Snapdragon Elite X CPU, came close to matching this mark, hitting a time of 19 hours and 31 minutes, though that\u2019s with a smaller display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heat on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 6, Snapdragon)<\/strong>
The ThinkPad T14s stayed cool throughout our testing . It never got particularly warm, even when we pushed it to its limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I ran Cinebench 2024 and took the temperatures after 15 minutes, the middle of the keyboard was a mere 92 degrees Fahrenheit and barely felt warm to the touch. The touchpad was a cool 77 F, which is barely room temperature. However, like most laptops under load, the bottom got toasty, hitting 114 F.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Software and Warranty on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 6, Snapdragon)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lenovo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The ThinkPad T14s comes blissfully free of unwanted bloatware and has just a bare minimum number of utilities. Lenovo Commercial Vantage is the company\u2019s major control panel software and it allows you to do everything from downloading updated drivers to configuring the power settings from one place. However, for many of the settings \u2013 Camera and Display settings for example \u2013 Commercial Vantage simply links you to the appropriate part of Windows 11\u2019s Settings app. That\u2019s probably for the best, because in most cases, you don\u2019t need a proprietary settings panel in lieu of the one that\u2019s built into the operating system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Vantage does provide some extra settings such as the ability to configure whether the USB ports can still charge devices even when the computer is asleep or powered off. In addition to Vantage, there\u2019s the Dolby Access app which lets you change sound profiles, choosing among Movie, Music Game or Dynamic settings. On the Start Menu, there\u2019s also User Guide which is nothing more than a link to an online manual for the T14s, located at Lenovo.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It almost goes without saying that Microsoft has some Windows 11 preloaded apps on here such as Clipchamp and Spotify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a Copilot+ PC, so Windows comes with a few extra local AI features you can\u2019t get on older PCs, but will soon come to on Ryzen AI-powered and Intel Lunar Lake-powered laptops. These include Cocreate, a feature of Windows Paint that draws AI images locally and Windows Studio Effects, which allow you to get background blur and a few other webcam special effects. There\u2019s also Live captions with real-time translation and, in the near future, Recall, which will allow you to query all your past screen activity to remember things you\u2019ve done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the T14s has an Arm processor, there are a few Windows programs, including Adobe After Effects, Google Drive for Desktop and many games that won\u2019t run on it. And there are many other apps such as Discord and Audacity that will run but only in emulation mode, which makes them slower. A site called windowsonarm.org tracks which apps are and are not compatible with Arm and it\u2019s clear that most of the key productivity programs do work on Arm. So, while it\u2019s possible you could find an app that won\u2019t work, most knowledge workers will find that their most-used apps, including Microsoft Office, Chrome browser and Visual Studio, all run well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bottom Line<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lenovo
There\u2019s a lot to love about the ThinkPad T14s (Snapdragon, Gen 6). It has incredible battery life, which is useful when you have a 2.72-pound system and want to spend a long time away from power outlets while you get things done. And, with this system, you will get a lot done. It has the awesome ThinkPad keyboard we\u2019ve come to expect from Lenovo, it has all the ports you might want and a screen that\u2019s bright enough to help you work near a window with sunlight streaming in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ThinkPad T14s has solid performance and the promise of even more help when local AI workloads become even more useful and pervasive than the gimmicky Copilot+ features Windows has today. Its only serious drawbacks are its relatively high price) and the unlikely possibility that you\u2019ll want to use a program that doesn\u2019t run or run well on Arm processors. If you\u2019re concerned about compatibility, consider waiting for the ThinkPad T14s with AMD Ryzen AI processor that will be out in a few weeks or the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) that will be out in November. However, if you\u2019re willing to get an Arm-powered laptop, the T14s (Gen 6) is a fantastic choice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

First ThinkPad with a Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite X sticks the landing. Verdict With 21 hours of battery life, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s will last you all day and then some while also providing strong productivity performance and great usability in a lightweight package. Pros+Extraordinary battery life+Bright screen+Great keyboard and navigation+Solid performanceCons-Expensive-Slower SSD than competitors-Windows on … Continue reading Lenovo ThinkPad T14s (Gen 6, Snapdragon) review: 21 hours of battery life<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lenovo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=215"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":216,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215\/revisions\/216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}