Key Takeaways
1. Target Audience: Lenovo’s ThinkBook series is aimed at personal users and small to medium-sized businesses, while ThinkPads are primarily business-focused devices.
2. Design Similarities: Both the ThinkBook 14 G8 and ThinkPad E14 G7 share similar designs and features, with modern aesthetics for the ThinkBook and an option for an aluminum base in the ThinkPad.
3. Display Quality: The ThinkPad E14 G7 offers a superior display option with a 2.8K IPS screen and 120 Hz refresh rate, outperforming the ThinkBook 14’s 1080p display.
4. Performance Differences: The ThinkBook 14 has better CPU performance due to higher power limits, while the ThinkPad E14 performs better in battery life and quiet operation.
5. Key Consideration: For users prioritizing display quality, the ThinkPad E14 G7 is recommended, especially if relying on the internal screen rather than an external monitor.
Most people who use laptops are familiar with the ThinkPad name, knowing it’s synonymous with business devices. However, Lenovo also offers a range called ThinkBook, which caters to both personal users and businesses, mainly targeting small to medium-sized companies. We have recently evaluated the latest 14-inch models: the ThinkBook 14 G8 and the ThinkPad E14 G7. Both models are comparably priced and feature the Core Ultra 7 255H along with Arc Graphics 140T.
Design and Build Quality
When you examine the design, including maintenance options, ports, and keyboard layout, there isn’t a significant difference between the two laptops. Each has an aluminum lid paired with a plastic base, although the ThinkPad can also be purchased with an aluminum base. The most noticeable distinction lies in their aesthetics—the ThinkBook presents a more modern look with its silver finish. Both laptops boast two slots for memory and SSD upgrades, as well as a good number of USB ports, including Thunderbolt 4. Notably, only the ThinkBook features a card reader. The keyboards are quite similar, yet the ThinkPad has a slight edge, but it’s not a major difference.
Display and Battery Life
The ThinkPad E14 G7 is particularly impressive regarding its display, as our test unit came with an optional 2.8K IPS screen that features 120 Hz refresh rate. This screen clearly outperforms the standard IPS display on the ThinkBook 14, which has less than 300 nits brightness, 1080p resolution, 60 Hz refresh rate, and a limited color range. Despite having a superior display, the ThinkPad also achieves better battery life, thanks to its larger battery (64 Wh compared to 45 Wh).
Performance Comparison
In terms of raw CPU performance, the ThinkBook 14 comes out ahead with higher power limits (50/38 Watts compared to 45/28 Watts), whether under short bursts of activity or extended workloads. The graphics performance on the ThinkPad suffers due to a single-channel memory setup, but this can be easily remedied by adding a second memory module if necessary. However, the higher performance of the ThinkBook 14 does lead to slightly louder fan noise when under load.
In summary, Lenovo has two very closely matched devices. The ThinkBook 14 is aesthetically more pleasing and offers greater CPU performance, while the ThinkPad E14 has a slight edge in chassis quality (especially with the aluminum base) and quieter operation with extended battery life. The standout feature, however, is the 120 Hz screen. If you frequently rely on the internal display rather than solely using an external monitor, the ThinkPad E14 G7 is undoubtedly the better option.
