This ThinkPad is as durable as it is practical, and it’s my go-to for working remotely

Lenovo has seven distinct ThinkPad categories on its website, each with a unique style. The T Series, for example, specializes in “highly durable” business laptops with long battery lives. No other model exemplifies this concept than the fifth-generation ThinkPad T14s.

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When I took the device out of the box, the first thing I noticed was how hefty it was. It’s not a heavy machine – the computer weighs a little over three pounds – but for a ThinkPad, it is uncharacteristically thick. Lenovo seemingly decided to give this model an especially durable form factor, one that reminds me of rugged laptops like the Panasonic Toughbook 40 Mk2. While it’s not as durable as that beast, it’s tougher than your average mobile computer.

The model’s chassis is entirely aluminum, and according to Lenovo, it has been “tested against twelve military-grade certification methods and over 26 procedures.” It can survive intense vibrations, extreme temperatures, sand, and, apparently, fungi. I wasn’t able to beat the laptop up during my testing, but you can feel comfortable knowing that the ThinkPad will pull through tough spots.

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Regarding other design aspects, it has a wonderful-feeling keyboard. The keys are slightly indented, guiding your fingers toward the center, and are evenly spaced. These two factors work together to create a comfortable experience. I also appreciate the placement of the speakers; They sit on either side of the keyboard facing up so the audio output won’t be muffled.

Additionally, I want to shout out ThinkPad’s brushed metal aesthetic. There’s nothing super unique about it, I just like how it looks, and gives the device a distinct look that sets it apart from other models in its line.

There are a few issues. Sadly, it did not pass the one-finger test. Lifting the lid lifts the entire laptop. You have to hold down the lower half to open it. And the trackpad is pretty small. I didn’t have too much trouble operating the cursor, but I anticipate some users will.

Its battery life is quite solid. During my test runs, the ThinkPad lasted a little under 11 hours on a single charge. That is a decent runtime as you can be confident it’ll survive a full day’s work. Lenovo’s device makes up for its average battery life with fast recharge times. It goes from zero to a 50% charge in about 30 minutes.

Lenovo gave the ThinkPad an Intel Core Ultra 125U processor, a chipset designed to prioritize energy efficiency over performance. As seen in the tablet below, this is not particularly powerful hardware. The model falls significantly behind the Gen 6 ThinkPad T14s.

The fifth-generation laptop may struggle with heavy workloads, although it can tackle lightweight tasks. As part of testing, I opened 50 browser tabs running multiple videos, GIFs, music tracks, web pages, and a Netflix movie simultaneously. Everything ran without a hitch; load times were almost non-existent. 

Also: Why I recommend this budget Lenovo ThinkPad over laptops that cost twice the price

In addition to my usual tests, I’ve begun a new one: Geekbench AI, which measures a laptop’s ability to run machine learning models. Lenovo’s ThinkPad earned a top quantized score of 10,860. This number appears to be on the lower end. According to Geekbench’s logs, the score indicates the laptop’s AI output is similar to the performance found on midrange laptops like the Dell Inspiron 16 7640, yet it isn’t priced as one (more on this later).

Other notable features include a 5MP webcam and a WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) touchscreen. The camera is quite nice — a must for anyone on virtual meetings all day — with a peak resolution of 144op at 30FPS. The frame rate was smooth, and Windows Studio Effects ensures your face stays in the middle of the screen. On-screen colors looked rather pale, however, but I think that’s more of an issue with the display.

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Speaking of which, the screen is fine for what it delivers. Thanks to the high resolution, images are crystal clear, but it’s not supported by any picture-enhancing software, so visual output is not particularly vibrant. There is a silver lining – the glass is covered in an anti-glare coating, helping maintain visibility under direct sunlight.

ZDNET’s buying advice

Prices for the ThinkPad T14s Gen 5 start at $1,919, with the configuration I reviewed starting at Best Buy for $2,119. In my opinion, this price is a rather big ask. Luckily, there are plenty of options: The sixth-generation ThinkPad T14s is much cheaper and performs better. Best Buy also has the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G12 available for $1,760 and boasts similar specs to the T14s Gen 5. 

These two devices aren’t quite as durable, however, since they integrate carbon fiber in their designs in order to be more lightweight. If you’re looking for sheer durability and battery power, the ThinkPad T14 is a solid choice. Otherwise, some of the other ThinkPads might get you more bang for your buck.