Product test
Matebook X Pro review: a lightweight, powerful notebook
by Jan Johannsen
The collaboration between Lenovo and iFixit has not yet reached its goal
3.12.2024
Translation: machine translated
This notebook is a dream for anyone who wants to replace or repair components themselves - but it's still just the beginning.
Lenovo has teamed up with the repair experts from iFixit for the Thinkpad T14 Gen 5. They were actively involved in the development of the notebook and provide instructions and spare parts. I take a look at what they have come up with for the simple replacement of the components.
However, the notebook is only the first step. Christoph Blindenbacher from Lenovo already knows what will soon be even easier to repair and has a big vision.
A hidden screw as an obstacle
To open the Thinkpad T14, I have to turn it over. I can see five Phillips screws on the underside. I can loosen them with a standard screwdriver. Nevertheless, I can't get the keyboard or the underside off as promised.
The mostly simple way to replace components
I only need a screwdriver to remove the underside of the Thinkpad T14. Once all the screws have been loosened, my fingernails are enough to hook underneath the lid hinges and remove the cover without any problems.
On the plus side, I notice that the six screws are fixed in the thread. So they stay in the cover and don't get lost.
Lenovo has labelled the components that I as a user can replace without affecting the warranty and the like: SSD, DIMM 1 and 2 and the wireless module (WWAN). The battery is not labelled separately, but is clearly recognisable.
I would like to see instructions in the style of Ikea. iFixit doesn't have them yet either. The page for the Thinkpad T14 Gen 5 is still a yawning void. I only get confirmation that it is very easy to repair with 9/10 points - and could create a manual myself.
Then I dare to use my knowledge to build the components myself. I recognise two screws on the accumulator that I still have to loosen. It is also held in place by two screws on the housing cover. Once the screws - which are also anchored in the thread - have been loosened, I manage to remove the battery with careful movements. Its plug connection to the mainboard is insensitive and uncomplicated for me as a user.
The SSD - a single M.2 2280 - is fixed in place with a screw. I can loosen it quickly. Afterwards, however, I would like to have a short guide that tells me where to start to loosen the SSD: Lift slightly at the end of the screw, don't get irritated by the "rubber mat" underneath it and then carefully pull it out. Once you know this, it's easy to insert afterwards.
The screw for the mobile radio module is clearly labelled "WWAN", but I wouldn't dare go near it without instructions. The same applies to a number of other screws that I see, but according to Lenovo, these are primarily intended to make work easier for trained service personnel and are not intended for home use. These are, for example, the screws for the touchpad, which are no longer hidden under the mainboard, but only under the battery.
I can easily access the components intended for replacement. The keyboard and battery are the two components that customers most frequently want to replace, according to Lenovo. However, I lack instructions and ordering options for spare parts. Both were promised and would make repairs easier for non-experts.
Correct colour reproduction may not be important
My Thinkpad T14 Gen 5 test device has an anti-glare, 14-inch IPS display. With an aspect ratio of 16:10, it is not quite as narrow as models with 16:9 displays, which I find more comfortable for employees. The resolution of 1920 × 1200 pixels ensures a sharp display and as the notebook is not intended for gaming, the refresh rate of 60 Hertz is fine. Lenovo also offers a version of the T14 with an OLED display and higher resolution.
One of many equipment variants: the office computer
The following performance values only apply to the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 with the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U - including integrated Radeon 780M graphics chip - and 16 gigabytes of RAM. The notebook with this processor is currently only available from us with 32 gigabytes and a CH keyboard.
Well equipped for office work
With its CPU and GPU, the Thinkpad T14 is well equipped for office work. Video calls, complex Excel files and simple image editing are no problem. However, if you are constantly dealing with large files or amounts of data, you will have shorter waiting times with other chipsets.
Especially when multiple computing cores are required, Geekbench and Cinebench measure between 18 and 39 per cent more performance for the Core Ultra 9 and the Ryzen AI 9. In single-core mode, however, the maximum increase is 10 per cent. In Geekbench, the Intel chip performs even worse than the AMD in the ThinkPad.
When it comes to graphics performance, the Radeon 780M graphics chip lags behind the integrated chips of the other processors. The Intel Arc and the AMD Radeon 890M perform between 9 and 42 per cent better, depending on the graphics interface.
PCMark 10 simulates various office tasks and uses the entire computer. I mainly look at the sub-values for productivity (spreadsheets and writing) and digital content (photo editing, rendering and visualisation as well as video editing). This shows that the Thinkpad is a powerful office computer that only lags behind slightly when it comes to creating and editing content.
Many connections
When it comes to connections, the Thinkpad offers more than the average notebook as a business device. It has two USB-A and two Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB-C). There is also HDMI 2.1 and a LAN socket for the network cable with
1 Gbit/s. The smart card reader and SIM slot round off the range. Wirelessly, the Thinkpad T14 offers Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6.
The battery is small
In comparison with the Matebook X Pro and the Zenbook S 16, the Thinkpad T14 Gen 5 has a significantly shorter battery life. PCMark's "Modern Office" battery test shows a difference of over three and a half hours. At 7:13 hours, the performance of the Lenovo notebook's removable battery is not enough for a full working day.
However, on closer inspection, the Thinkpad's battery is not so bad, but above all smaller. It has a capacity of 52.5 watt hours (Wh). The laptops from Asus and Huawei both have 78 Wh. That's almost 50 per cent more - which roughly corresponds to the additional runtime.
According to Lenovo, the battery charges to 80 per cent of its capacity in 60 minutes using a standard 65-watt power supply unit.
In a nutshell
A step in the right direction, but still a long way from the finish line
The Thinkpad T14 Gen 5 scores many points for its repairability. The keyboard, battery, RAM and SSD can be replaced with minimal knowledge and few tools. However, I would like to see instructions that are easier to find so that even newcomers can get started.
Apart from the easy replacement of a few components, the Thinkpad T14 Gen 5 is a typical office notebook with enough power for everyday office work. However, I wouldn't use it for graphics work where colours are important due to the low colour space coverage - and the computing power is also not ideal for rendering large files.
The battery is small and doesn't have the longest runtime. It won't last an 8-hour day without recharging. The many ports, keyboard and touchpad are positive features. The red cursor button typical of ThinkPads and the two buttons above the touchpad are very pleasant after a short period of familiarisation.
Pro
- Easy replacement of keyboard, battery, SSD and RAM
- Many connections
- Keyboard and touchpad
Contra
- a hidden screw
- Low colour space coverage of the display
- Short battery life
Header image: Jan Johannsen
Jan Johannsen
Senior Editor
Jan.Johannsen@galaxus.deAs a primary school pupil, I used to sit in a friend's living room with many of my classmates to play the Super NES. Now I get my hands on the latest technology and test it for you. In recent years at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, now at Digitec and Galaxus.
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