Lenovo Thinkpad P1 Gen 6 Review

One of the best devices is the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6, which packs several high-end components into a comparatively light and thin chassis. In order to justify their sometimes very expensive price, workstations typically come with higher, more sophisticated setups and superior cooling.

Lenovo Thinkpad P1 Gen 6 Specs

Furthermore, the ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 is a pricey device. Our review setup, which isn’t the most expensive one on offer, comes with a price tag of $5,394. For creators and other professionals, it would need to have exceptional performance to warrant this type of expense. Unfortunately, it didn’t, and for a lot less money, you can obtain comparable or better performance by purchasing a high-end consumer or gaming laptop.

Pros:

• Excellent performance
• Stunning OLED display
• Multiple configuration options for various demands

Cons:

• Too expensive
• Small touchpad
• Dated design

 Performance review

The ThinkPad, which weighs 3.81 pounds and is somewhat heavier than the ZBook Studio G9 and Precision 5680, is just a few tenths of an inch larger. It is made of aluminum and glass-fiber-reinforced plastic. The laptop has passed MIL-STD 810H stress testing for shock, vibration, and severe temperatures. If you grip the edges of the screen, there is little flex, but if you push the keyboard deck, there is none. There are two methods to use Windows Hello without entering passwords: either the camera or the fingerprint reader included in the power button.

The ports on the P1 will suffice if you’re ok using Wi-Fi 6E rather than cable Ethernet. Two USB4 Thunderbolt 4 ports, an audio jack, and an HDMI output for an external display join the power connection on its left side. Two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, an SD card slot, and a security lock slot are located along the right side.

The camera can record 30 frames-per-second films or 2,560-by-1,440-pixel (16:9 aspect ratio) or 2,592-by-1,944-pixel (4:3 ratio) still images in addition to faces. Its photos are clear, bright, and free of static or audible noise. If you’d like, it may automatically blur your backdrop or frame your face. When the camera is not in use, your privacy is protected by a little sliding shutter.

Keyboard

ThinkPad keyboards are among the best available for laptop typing. The P1 is no different, with a crisp backlight and a comfortable but responsive typing experience. At the bottom left, the Fn and Control keys are positioned in relation to one another (if you can’t modify them, you may shift them using the Lenovo Vantage program that comes with the device). The rest of the layout is flawless, with specific keys for Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down, in addition to system shortcuts in the top row that include buttons for initiating and terminating Microsoft Teams conversations.

Dual pointing devices, a midsized touchpad, and the TrackPoint tiny joystick inserted in the mid-keyboard with three mouse buttons below the space bar are another ThinkPad legacy. (Many CAD and other ISV programs come in useful with the center button.) The TrackPoint combines speed and accuracy, while the pad glides smoothly and clicks with responsiveness.

You may adjust the 4K OLED display for sRGB, Adobe RGB, DCI-P3, Rec.709 (HDTV), DICOM (medical imaging), or default color palettes using the X-Rite Colour Assistant program. Regardless of your preference, it’s a sight to see, with intense contrast and vibrant, rich colors. Viewing angles are broad, blacks are India ink, and white backgrounds are as pristine as driven snow (albeit the touch glass catches a few reflections). There is no pixelation around the letter borders, and the details are as crisp as ever. There is plenty of brightness, and you can tilt the screen back as much as you’d like. Web pages and notepad messages look great, but technical drawings and images appear like posters.

Display

Playing a locally saved 720p video clip (the Blender movie Tears of Steel, which is open-source) with the audio level at 100% and the display brightness set to 50% is how we evaluate the life of a laptop battery. Before the test, we ensure the battery is completely charged, and the keyboard backlighting and Wi-Fi are off.

We also measure a laptop screen’s color saturation—the percentage of sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 color gamuts or palettes the display can show—as well as its 50% and peak brightness in nits (candelas per square meter) using a Datacolor SpyderX Elite monitor calibration sensor and software to assess display quality.

For this class, the P1’s over nine-hour runtime is fantastic battery life, but the Dell’s 13 hours is just outstanding. The panels on all five systems have eye-catching, vibrant colors and plenty of brightness. While we prefer an IPS mobile workstation to have brightness levels of 400 or 500 nits or more, anything over 350 nits is acceptable due to OLED’s very strong contrast.

Verdict

Right now, our favorite kaiju-class mobile workstation is Lenovo’s ThinkPad P16, but the ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 is a great addition to the somewhat more moderately portable category. It’s a winning laptop for the most demanding business activities. Still, it doesn’t quite take home the Editors’ Choice title from the Dell Precision 5680 due to the latter’s longer battery life and more powerful Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada professional GPU (a P1 option; our test model was merely differently configured).

 FAQ

What are the key specifications of the Lenovo ThinkPad P1?

The specifications may vary depending on the specific model and configuration, but the ThinkPad P1 typically features high-end components, including Intel Core processors, NVIDIA Quadro graphics, up to 64GB of RAM, and various storage options, such as SSDs.

What is the display size and resolution?

The ThinkPad P1 typically comes with a 15.6-inch display with various resolution options, including Full HD (1920 x 1080), 4K UHD (3840 x 2160), and OLED options.

Is the ThinkPad P1 suitable for professional tasks, such as 3D rendering and CAD work?

Yes, the ThinkPad P1 is designed for professionals who require a powerful laptop for tasks like 3D modeling, CAD, video editing, and more. It is equipped with Quadro graphics, which are optimized for such tasks.

What is the battery life like on the ThinkPad P1?

Battery life can vary depending on usage and configuration, but typically, you can expect around 6-8 hours of battery life with normal usage. Heavy tasks like 3D rendering will drain the battery faster.

Is the ThinkPad P1 durable and well-built?

Yes, ThinkPads are known for their durability and build quality. They often meet MIL-STD 810G standards for durability and undergo rigorous testing for reliability.

Can I upgrade the RAM and storage in the ThinkPad P1?

Yes, many configurations of the ThinkPad P1 allow for RAM and storage upgrades. It’s a good idea to check the specific model you are interested in for the exact upgrade options.

Does it come with a fingerprint reader or other security features?

Yes, the ThinkPad P1 typically includes security features like a fingerprint reader, IR camera for facial recognition, and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for hardware-based security.

What operating system does the ThinkPad P1 come with?

The ThinkPad P1 often comes with Windows 10 or later versions pre-installed, but it is also compatible with Linux if you prefer an alternative operating system.

Is the ThinkPad P1 lightweight and portable?

While it’s not as lightweight as some consumer laptops, the ThinkPad P1 is relatively thin and portable for a mobile workstation, making it suitable for professionals on the go.

What is the warranty and support like for the ThinkPad P1?

Lenovo typically offers a standard one-year warranty with options to purchase extended warranties and on-site service plans. The exact warranty terms may vary by region.

Lenovo P1 build quality?

Lenovo ThinkPad P1 build quality is good. Aluminium bottom, carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic top. Although the display and keyboard deck flex, the gadget seems robust.

Are ThinkPads tough?

One of the strongest laptops is Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon.

What is Lenovo P1 maximum RAM?

The storage capacity of the laptop is 64GB.