The inexpensive Lenovo ThinkPad E14 G4 AMD performs as well as a business laptop in almost all categories: the eight-core processor produces a lot of power, the fan is restrained and the keyboard is even better than in the current ThinkPad T-series. Nevertheless, real innovations are almost completely lacking.
Marvin Gollor (translated by Jacob Fisher), Published ??
The price-performance ratio of the Lenovo ThinkPad E14 G4 AMD is just right. In our review, the 14-inch business laptop convinces in many respects, such as in strong CPU performance thanks to AMD’s Ryzen 7 5825U. At the same time, the cooling system is mostly restrained, while surface temperatures remain cool.
A particular highlight for us is the keyboard, whose travel of 1.8 mm is longer than in most other ThinkPads, including the upcoming Gen 5 of the ThinkPad E series. This will undergo complete design overhaul after 3 years, while our fourth generation review sample is still based on Gen 2 in principle, which is reflected in the ports: although a 1080p webcam is finally onboard and Gigabit RJ45 is optionally included, one of the two USB-A is still in version 2.0, while HDMI 1.4b and DisplayPort 1.2 (via USB-C) do not correspond to modern standards either.
Together with the missing WWAN option, the fingerprint-prone but otherwise very robust case, the lack of a fast-charging function and the slightly higher dimensions and weight, these are some, albeit not necessarily serious, drawbacks you have to live with. Of course, 60% sRGB is also suboptimal, but there is also a display option with 100% sRGB, while the brightness of the matte FHD IPS display is a usable 330 cd/m². On the other hand, there is the low price, which starts at less than EUR 700 (~US$700), depending on the equipment.
Read our thorough review of the Lenovo ThinkPad E14 G4 AMD for more detail and in-depth information.
My fascination with computers began as a preschooler. After Windows 95 and the 486, I quickly got into the Internet, which has now completely taken hold of me – and never quite let go. At the age of 11 I built my own PC, but since 2016 I have completely switched to notebooks: Because it allows me to have my entire PC with me everywhere as a traveling freelancer. Still, I’m not a full-time N3rd and passionately play drums, lift weights and love being in our Finnish log cabin!
Translator: Jacob Fisher – Translator – 217 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2022
Growing up in regional Australia, I first became acquainted with computers in my early teens after a broken leg from a football (soccer) match temporarily condemned me to a predominately indoor lifestyle. Soon afterwards I was building my own systems. Now I live in Germany, having moved here in 2014, where I study philosophy and anthropology. I am particularly fascinated by how computer technology has fundamentally and dramatically reshaped human culture, and how it continues to do so.
Marvin Gollor, 2023-06-17 (Update: 2023-06-17)