Latest news with #ThinkPad
Mint
a day ago
- Mint
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 review: Classic workhorse with a few quirks
When I first unboxed the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6, I was expecting all the familiar comfort, durability, and that signature 'this is a real business laptop' vibe. And for the most part, it delivered. But as someone who's used several ThinkPads over the years, and had it as their first laptop ever, I had higher expectations. If you're looking for a solid, no-nonsense workhorse that gets the job done without drama, this might just be your new favourite sidekick. What are the hits? Does it miss something? And how serious are the misses? Here is all I thought about it. I got a solid 7+ hours of battery life during a typical workday that included emailing, Zoom calls, some spreadsheet magic, and even a few video renders in the background. That's not bad for a mid-range business laptop, but it doesn't blow you away either. Still, it's enough to get through a day without needing an outlet. I took it to a client meeting where I forgot my charger and still made it through the whole day with some juice left. So if you're always on the go and don't want to be tethered to a wall socket, this is a decent pick. This thing is no slouch. I had 10+ tabs open in two different browsers, plus three Windows running heavy tasks like Adobe apps, a Python script, and a live coding session, and it handled everything without stuttering or slowing down. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 processor does its job quietly and efficiently. And yes, it stayed cool and silent under load. No throttling, no fan noise loud enough to ruin a meeting. Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 review: Classic workhorse with a few quirks Even when I ran multiple VMs and had Docker containers spinning in the background, the system remained stable. Obviously it's not a gaming beast, but it holds on its own for productivity. The 14-inch WUXGA IPS display is sharp and crisp, making it perfect for reading long emails and watching videos. But when it comes to peak brightness, it struggles in direct sunlight. I tried using it outside once, and it felt like trying to read a document under a desk lamp while standing in the sun. Not ideal if you're into outdoor productivity. That said, the colour accuracy and viewing angles are solid, and it looks great in low-light environments. Just don't expect to take notes at the park unless you bring a flashlight. It's a classic ThinkPad build, plastic, lightweight, and easy to carry. But for the price tag, I expected a bit more heft. It feels functional, sure, but maybe just a little too plastic-y for what I paid. It's not flimsy, but it's not premium either. If you're used to the heavier, sturdier builds of older ThinkPads, this one might feel a bit underwhelming. But if you value portability over tactile satisfaction, it's still a solid choice. The red dot trackpoint is there, just like always. It works, but it didn't feel as accurate or responsive as previous models. If you're a die-hard ThinkPad user who lives by the pointer, you might miss the old snappiness. On the plus side, the keyboard is still fantastic. It's clicky, tactile, and comfortable for long typing sessions. Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 review Also, kudos to Lenovo for keeping the right Ctrl key and adding the Copilot key. This is a nice touch for AI-powered workflows, setting it apart from competitors. One minor gripe? The lid didn't open with one hand. If you're trying to flip it open while juggling a coffee, a notebook, and your phone, you'll need to put something down. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's worth noting. The lid opens smoothly, but not one-handedly. If you're trying to flip it open with one hand while juggling a coffee, a notebook, and your phone, you'll need to put something down. It's not a major caveat, but it's worth noting. Despite its classic look, the T14s Gen 6 isn't stuck in the past. It has modern security features like fingerprint reader, IR camera for facial recognition, and AMD Memory Guard for added protection. For enterprise users, these are big pluses, especially in environments where data security is a top priority. Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 review The inclusion of the Copilot key is a smart move from Lenovo, especially for those who rely on AI tools for writing, coding, or research. It's a small addition, but it makes a big difference in how quickly you can access help. If you're looking for a reliable, powerful, and quiet business laptop that can handle a full day of work without breaking a sweat, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is a solid choice. It's fast, efficient, and built for the office—or at least the modern home office. But if you want a brighter screen, a slightly more premium feel, or a trackpoint that feels like it belongs to a newer era, you might want to wait for the next gen. Still, for what it is, it gets the job done. And honestly? That's exactly what a business laptop should do. Disclaimer: Mint has an affiliate marketing partnership, which means we may get some commission on purchases you make through the retailer sites links provided. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, which is free from any bias or marketing pitch. We strive to provide accurate and unbiased information to help you make informed decisions. We recommend verifying details with the retailer before making a purchase.
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Intel Stock (NASDAQ:INTC) Slides on New Developments, Old Faces
Today turned out to be an oddly mixed day for chip stock Intel (INTC). It brought out some exciting news about the upcoming Battlemage CPU lineup, and some new bits about its role in a high-powered laptop, or rather, a laptop with high battery power in it. It also lost some names in its sales force that might be concerning. All of this together added up to concern from investors, as Intel shares slid over 2% in Friday afternoon's trading. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter First, there's the Arc B770, a development that is proving a surprising winner for Intel as it gets more into the graphics processing unit (GPU) market space. The B770, the latest in the series, is still expected to hit in the fourth quarter of this year. This should be particularly good news if it can lean toward the front half of the fourth quarter as opposed to the back, which would make the B770 one doozy of a Christmas shopping item. Second, there is the boost from Lenovo (LNVGY), by way of the ThinkPad T14s, Gen 6. Reports note that this laptop comes with a hefty 21 hours of battery life, and a lot of that is thanks to Intel's Lunar Lake processors, which serve as the underpinnings of this laptop. Reports call it an '…ideal balance between great everyday performance and efficiency.' And Then, The Losses This was all good news for Intel, but not all the news was so pleasant. Intel lost two fairly major names in its operation: its data center sales leader, and its public sector sales leader. Both Uday Yadati, who ran the data center sales, and Cameron Chehreh, who handled public sector, left the company recently. Yadati's departure was unexpected, reports note, and Chehreh first announced his departure on LinkedIn late Wednesday, reports noted. Yadati was, apparently, made a better offer elsewhere as he left to '…pursue another opportunity,' reports noted. And Chehreh was leaving to return to his 'software roots,' serving as president and general manager at a startup. Is Intel a Buy, Hold or Sell? Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on INTC stock based on one Buy, 26 Holds and four Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. After a 33.11% loss in its share price over the past year, the average INTC price target of $21.29 per share implies 5.76% upside potential. See more INTC analyst ratings Disclosure
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Forbes
Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition: A New Take On The ThinkPad
The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14-inch laptop When I met with Lenovo at CES 2025, one of the most notable devices I saw was the ThinkPad X9. In my opinion, it takes the ThinkPad family in a new direction, one that is still true to the ThinkPad identity but also offers a sleeker and thinner profile, with the ability to charge on either side to go along with ample performance and battery life. Much of the redesign of the ThinkPad in this model comes from the creation of the Engine Hub, a technical design element that centralizes and compresses the compute for the entire system into a single PCB with a pair of fans that spans the width of the notebook while also creating a thermal gap to allow for airflow. 'Aura Edition' laptops also use Intel Core Ultra 200V series processors, and they benefit from co-engineering by Lenovo and Intel to maximize the user experience in terms of performance, battery life and responsiveness. At its core, the ThinkPad X9 is very similar to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon because both laptops are powered by the Core Ultra 200V series (codenamed Lunar Lake) with up to 32GB of RAM. Both also ship with gorgeous 14-inch 2880 x 1800 120-hertz OLED displays. These enhance the user experience, albeit with a bit of a hit to battery life. But that's about where the similarities end. The ThinkPad X9 starts with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, while the X1 starts with an Ultra 7. (This has minimal impact on performance, as I'll explain below.) The ThinkPad X9 also lacks a USB-A port, while both laptops have HDMI ports. The good news is that the ThinkPad X9 addresses a key drawback of the X1 Carbon by having USB-C ports on both sides of the laptop, making it easier to charge in any scenario. (This is a particular focus of mine, because I can't tell you how many times my work on an airplane or in some other constrained environment has been hampered by having a charging port on only one side of the machine.) The X1 Carbon is slightly lighter at 2.17 pounds, although the 2.8-pound weight of the ThinkPad X9 is still very good. This is especially relevant when you consider the lower entry price of $1,226.61 (according to Lenovo's site) for the X9, compared to the X1 Carbon's premium starting price of around $2,000. As touched on above, the ThinkPad X9 addresses one of my biggest complaints about the X1 Carbon — just one charging port. In the bigger picture, the X9 makes the ThinkPad line more price-accessible without too many compromises. I also love the wavy texture on the bottom, which makes it easy to hold even though it's such a thin laptop. The overall design and thinness are sleek and impressive thanks to the new Engine Hub, which adds a bit of elevation to create airflow. In my experience, the thermal design was good enough to not spin up the fans very often. I also tested the performance and found it to be on par with the other Lunar Lake systems I tested, including the X1 Carbon. Speaking of performance, I was a little disappointed to see a much slower SSD in this laptop, around 5 GB/s. This is in older Gen 4 SSD territory, and not even close to the Gen 5 speeds I measured on the X1 Carbon. While I understand that this is likely part of Lenovo's effort to hit a more affordable price point, I would've at least liked to see a 7 GB/s or faster drive. That said, there aren't too many applications that require faster transfer speeds yet. Battery life was all-day, but unfortunately not multi-day as with some other platforms. That said, the ThinkPad X9 got me through the whole day without needing a charge and did provide multi-day standby power. I would love to see Intel and Lenovo improve the standby power on future laptops. One of the major points of contention for some users of the ThinkPad X9 is the elimination of the red TrackPoint controller that ThinkPads are famous for. That aside, I thought the keyboard was very good for typing, and the touchpad felt like it was well matched to the quality of the keyboard and chassis. I can't really say that I miss the TrackPoint at all, and frankly for me it's almost always been an aesthetic thing more than a necessary tool. Touchpads have improved so much over the years that a TrackPoint feels unnecessary today. I did find that the fingerprint sensor location on the ThinkPad X9 wasn't as good or as natural as it was on the X1 Carbon, so I'd love to see that improved in the next generation. Speaking of biometrics, I did really enjoy the speed and accuracy of the Windows Hello login, along with how well the presence detection that locks and turns of the screen works. It's a great way to save power while maintaining security. The display on the X9 is as impressive as it was on the X1 Carbon, which makes photo editing and video watching more enjoyable. I encountered a flickering issue with the display when plugged into power, but it went away after the latest drivers and firmware were installed. The display is also mounted on a great hinge that allows for a full 180-degree articulation. While this isn't a 2-in-1 design, it offers enough flexibility for what I need and want. I did experience a bit of paint rubbing off the back of the camera bump that protrudes from the display when I stored the laptop in my backpack. I believe that this is because the camera bump sticks out more from the rest of the laptop both in the Y and Z axes. So, I would be careful about carrying this with another laptop or tablet in the same bag. I believe the ThinkPad X9 is a great addition to the ThinkPad line and offers a more accessible ThinkPad premium experience. While I do think there will be lots of people who prefer the X1 Carbon for its premium materials and weight, there are still going to be a lot of users who want access to Lenovo's hardware and software capabilities while also getting a ThinkPad experience — at a more accessible price point. I strongly believe that this will be a popular laptop with many users, especially considering the Lunar Lake chip and OLED display. It is still extremely portable, comfortable and sleek, which a lot of people like when looking for a new laptop. All in all, this is a successful first run at a new ThinkPad product tier, and I'm glad that Lenovo offers it in both 14- and 15-inch sizes, which gives people a bit more choice.
Mint
20-05-2025
- Mint
Trying to choose the right laptop? It depends on what you want it for
Deciding which laptop to buy is a hell of a confusing task in 2025. Let alone the fact that you simply have too many choices out there, personal considerations reign supreme, and unlike smartphones, we tend to focus more on the features and specs rather than the brand when it comes to buying a new laptop (accepting that there are two camps – Macbook lovers and Windows afficionados – to begin with). For most of us, the budget is the first consideration. Then it's whether you're a gamer, a student at a university, working in a corporate environment, or someone who edits movies on the fly. Laptops tend to last at least 4-5 years, and then the decision to upgrade from that can take another 6-12 months. The plethora of models and combinations, from chipsets to form factors and from display choices to types of keyboards, can confuse anyone. I'm here to cut through the clutter and give you the best of the best from a range of categories. I won't delve into the MacOS vs. Windows debate, so there'll be a separate category for Apple laptops. Without further ado, let's get to it. Laptops with the longest battery life For many years, battery anxiety has been a serious concern for consumers. In recent years, smartphone manufacturers have beefed up their batteries (smartphones with battery capacities of 5,000mAh and over are now commonplace), and chipset manufacturers have optimised their SoCs. For 2025, it's the turn of laptop manufacturers to double down and ease consumers' battery anxiety concerns. That's something each one of us can get behind. Asus Zenbook A14 When I got the Zenbook A14 for review, I wanted to test Asus' claims of 'up to 32 hours of battery life'. While I didn't get to that number (I tried replicating it in a few different scenarios), the laptop boasted 17-18 hours of battery life. It truly is a battery champion in a sea of laptops that disappoints. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X (or X Elite) processor and is one of the lightest CoPilot PCs on the market. Price: ₹99,990 MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro) Even though Windows manufacturers have caught up with Apple in the battery department and surpassed it (in some cases), the MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro) stands tall. Apple has always touted battery life (and chipset efficiency) as its USP, and the MacBook Pro 16 is no different. Price: ₹2,49,990 (16-inch) Best business laptops Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition Lenovo's ThinkPad range has always been the top choice for business consumers. For 2025, you can't go wrong with the ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition. It's a 15-inch ultraportable with everything you need to be efficient and help you get through your day. Its thin and light design makes it a boon for travellers. It has many ports (one USB-A, two USB C/Thunderbolt 4s, and even a full-size HDMI). The gorgeous 120Hz 2.8K OLED display is the icing on the cake, as it provides vivid and punchy colours and crisp text. The keyboard, which is at the heart of every ThinkPad consumer, is comfortable, and there is a large haptic touchpad. With a brilliant 1440p webcam, all your video conferencing needs are taken care of. Last but not least, Intel's Lunar Lake Chip is under the hood for a smooth experience no matter what task you throw at it. Price: ₹1,44,067 HP EliteBook Ultra G1q If you're an enterprise consumer looking to maximise battery life, look no further than the HP EliteBook Ultra G1q. Yes, it's on the expensive side, but we're sure you can convince your office to get a bulk order. The big USP of this laptop is HP Wolf Security for Business, which adds extra layers of protection (anti-malware, anti-phishing) and the HP AI Companion. Price: ₹1,68,999 Best Ultrabooks Dell XPS 13 The last of its ilk before the rebranding, the Dell XPS 13 (with the power of Intel's Lunar Lake) is one beast of a laptop. It's got a svelte design with an invisible trackpad. It's meant as a head-turner but can also wow consumers with its excellent performance. With a battery life of 12 hours in real-world usage, the Dell XPS 13 is no slouch. Price: ₹1,82,389. Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) The Asus Zenbook S 14, launched in September 2024, hits all the right notes. No one laptop ticks all the boxes, and user preferences vary. Nonetheless, the Zenbook S 14 comes mighty close. It's got an Intel Core Ultra 200V series processor, a 14-inch 3K OLED display, 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, and all the ports you'd need. It's made from scratch-resistant Ceraluminum, which also keeps the chassis lightweight. It comes in at just 1.1 cm thin and 1.2 kg light. One of the USPs of this laptop is its battery life. Yes, it's not the best in the business (and we'll get to that later), but it provides a real-world usage of around 14 hours. Price: ₹1,34,990. Best Apple laptop MacBook Air M4 If you've already decided on a MacOS laptop, you've only got one manufacturer to choose from. For me, and most people, the MacBook Air M4 (more portable while sacrificing some power) is the way to go. It's got a new chipset, more memory and a much better webcam than its predecessor. Price: ₹99,900. MacBook Pro M4 If you need more power (for complex tasks) or are a video editor, the MacBook Pro M4 is your default choice. That's it. Price: ₹1,69,900 (14-inch) Best budget laptops Acer Swift Go 14 (2024) The Swift Go 14 from Acer has to be one of the most value-for-money offerings in the market currently. It has an excellent OLED display, is lightweight and portable, and has enough computing power for daily tasks. The only downside is that battery life is a tad bit short of what we expect today. Price: ₹59,990. Infinix Zero Book Ultra AI PC You're getting a lot of bang for your buck at the current price (on Flipkart) of ₹59,990 and an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor. It has a 15.6-inch display and weighs in at 1.8kg. It isn't the sleekest or lightest, but it's powerful enough for everything but gaming and video editing. This could be the best buy for a student or even someone who needs to make presentations and showcase them daily. Price: ₹59,990. Best mid-range laptops ASUS Vivobook S14 (M5406) At just ₹89,990, you're getting an AMD HX 370 processor that completely steals the show here. With a stunning OLED display (14-inch and 3K resolution), an RGB keyboard, powerful performance, and excellent battery life (upwards of 11 hours on a single charge), you can't go wrong at this price. Price: ₹89,990. Moto Book 60 Yes, I'm recommending a Motorola product in the laptop category—the Moto Book 60. It's got an Intel Core 7 series processor, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for just ₹78,990. Add to that the gorgeous OLED display, and it's an outstanding laptop for those with a light workload. The display steals the show, and you can binge the Indian Premier League with your friends without anyone complaining. Price: ₹78,990 Best 2-In-1 Tablet Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024) Microsoft has been the king of this segment ever since the first Surface device was released. The 11th edition features a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor, a sleek design, a detachable display, and the best battery life of any Surface product. This device has many AI features and many more ARM-compatible apps than before. The only downside is that the Flex Keyboard must be separately purchased. Price: ₹1,13,990. Best 2-in-1 Laptops Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (14-Inch, 2024) Lenovo practically came up with, and subsequently dominated, the 2-in-1 laptop category. I remember buying, owning, and then returning the original model back in the day. Lenovo's come a long way and the Yoga 9i (14-inch, 2024) model is my pick for this category. That's only because the Aura Edition (unveiled at MWC in Barcelona) hasn't come to India yet. It's got top notch performance, an improved webcam, and great speakers. Price: ₹1,81,990 HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) The HP Spectre x360 is another 2-in-1 that has been on the scene for quite some time. The design has been reined it, but it's still a handsome fellow. The 14-inch display is gorgeous and the icing on the cake. You get an Intel Core Ultra processor, some AI features, up to 32GB and 2 TB of storage. Price: 1,62,499. Best gaming laptops Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 For this category the winner has to be an Asus ROG laptop. Yes, the Republic of Gamers line from Asus has some of the best products money can buy for the professional gamers out there. The ROG Zephyrus G16 is a professional-meets-casual gamer heaven. It's got the looks to be used when out and about and the guts to amp up your gaming needs. It's surprisingly compact and lightweight. Just don't go and play games when on battery power. It's built on AMD Ryzen AI Strix Point hardware and comes with Nvidia RTX 5000 series graphics card (up to RTX 5080 on the highest-tier model). Price: ₹2,79,990 Razer Blade 16 (2025) The Razer Blade 16 is a close second when it comes to the gaming category. This one hasn't yet launched in India but should arrive within the next few months. It's more powerful than the Asus ROG model listed above and has a beautiful design that'll win you over. Price: N/A Also read: Lumio Vision 9 review: Does it live up to its 'fast TV' claims?
The Verge
19-05-2025
- The Verge
Huawei's new foldable laptop might be the thinnest yet
Huawei just launched a super sleek folding laptop that might be as thin as your phone. The MateBook Fold, which consists of a single OLED display, is just 7.3mm (~0.3 inches) thick when unfolded and 14.9mm (~0.6 inches) when closed, as spotted earlier by Android Headlines. To compare, Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Fold measures 8.6mm (0.34 inches) thick unfolded and 17.4mm (0.68 inches) when folded. But unlike Lenovo's device, the MateBook Fold is only available in China for now, with a price of around $3,300. The MateBook Fold's 18-inch display folds at a 90-degree angle to form a 13-inch upper screen, mimicking a traditional laptop with a digital keyboard instead of a physical one. The device weighs just 1.16kg (~2.6lbs), with its tandem OLED offering a 3.3K (3296 x 2472) resolution and a peak brightness of up to 1600 nits. The laptop also comes with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. This also marks the debut of Huawei's in-house operating system, called HarmonyOS 5, on PC. Huawei first launched HarmonyOS on Android, but it has since brought its operating system to PCs after losing access to Microsoft Windows in March due to US sanctions. In addition to coming with the MateBook Fold, the system is available on the new MateBook Pro as well.
