Lenovo Thinkpad T470 Review
I got a $260 USD refurbished 2017 Lenovo Thinkpad T470 from Amazon for 4 weeks now as a budget laptop, and came with great satisfaction. The Thinkpad line of laptops by Lenovo are quality business-oriented computers that are modular, practical, reliable, and rugged to the point of military-grade. These adjectives are mostly what makes Thinkpads stand out as far as I’m concerned.
I was drawn to Thinkpads because of its seemingly legendary status among enthusiasts online. I went with an older Thinkpad in particular because I got drawn by the hype, truth be told. Older Thinkpads are laptops that despite having older hardware, are still viable machines because they are seriously built to last, especially when upgraded. They are also prevalent in the secondhand market making it easier to pick one up. Coupled with the fact that laptops depreciate as they age, it seems like getting an older Thinkpad looks like a wise choice for a budget laptop.
Specifications
This refurbished 2017 Lenovo Thinkpad T470 comes with…
- A Dual Core Intel Core i5-6300U processor.
- 8GB of DDR4 RAM.
- 240 GB SATA SSD.
- A TN Panel 1366x768 Display at 60 Hz.
- A 65 W Charger.
- Windows 10.
- 3 USB 3.0 ports (1 always on), USB-C Thunderbolt, HDMI, an audio combo jack, and Ethernet.
- Wifi, Bluetooth, backlit keyboard, Express Card slot, Kensington Lock, a SIM card slot for data, and a fingerprint reader.
Initial Troubles
This particular unit was bought off Amazon U.S. and sent to the Philippines by way of my relatives. To my dismay, the first thing that greeted me was a loose keyboard. Reattaching the keyboard didn’t work, which then pointed towards the screws having an issue. The refurbishers probably used the wrong screws, which were too short to secure the keyboard to the chassis. Luckily two replacement screws were salvaged out of a parts machine and were used instead, so now the keyboard is properly secured. No problems right now.
Not long afterwards, the C5 power cable that came with the charger suddenly stopped working and I also had to find a replacement for it, so no problems right now. Such are the risks of buying refurbished.
The laptop is entirely plastic, but of the better quality that is firm, rigid, and assured. The laptop is clad in a clean, non-intrusive black that is minimal, professional, and discreet. The monitor hinges felt really satisfying to manipulate with it being really nice metal and can even be flushed flat. In this particular laptop at least, I personally like the precision of the Trackpad in this laptop. Thinkpads are renowned to have among the best laptop keyboards on the market and I can attest to that with its incredibly satisfying, almost no-compromise key travel.
The Thinkpad line of laptops all bear the brand’s signature Trackpoint; That red nub on the keyboard that is essentially a mouse pointer used in conjunction with the trackpad buttons. The trackpoint is useful when a trackpad nor external mouse in not viable, especially when scrolling or dragging. I personally use the trackpoint on-and-off with the trackpad depending on the situation. The Trackpoint negates the need for a mouse at times, and is arguably one of the reasons why people prefer Thinkpads over other laptops.
The built-in webcam is mediocre, but will do the job just fine. The keyboard lighting is okay and definitely helps typing in the dark. The built in speakers are average at best, and them being at the bottom does not help, but again, it does the job if you want audio. The monitor could be better, as the TN panel is just not ideal as colors are bastardized at awkward viewing angles, thus the need to look at the monitor straight on to get the best results. It does the job well for what it is at least.
It’s definitely not a graphically-intensive laptop as it’s just rocking Intel HD 520 Integrated Graphics, but it’s serviceable as long as you adjust expectations. 8GB of RAM will serve well for most, and you are able to upgrade if not. The 240 GB SATA SSD storage may be sufficient to others or lacking to some, myself included. Fortunately, storage is upgradable as well.
There are peripherals aplenty, inspite of the trend of waning ports. Battery evaluations are harder to report because of their tendency to fluctuate, but I am getting more or less 10 hours of battery life in Windows 10. Weighing in at 1.6 kg/3.5 lb, this laptop is at a midweight and I can handle it with one hand if need be.
Conclusion
Despite this particular laptop having notable issues all of which I eventually resolved, I am ultimately satisfied with it because I think it’s a good laptop.
The Lenovo Thinkpad T470 holds up quite well in 2022 despite it being 5 years old; Maybe it could hold up a bit better so if you upgrade it a bit. There are downsides that may cause reconsideration, such as the lesser integrated graphics and admittedly lacking display and speakers; But looking past that, you getting a laptop with one of the best keyboards in its class, the legendary trackpoint, and a seriously rugged machine that could take on whatever’s brought to it.
The Lenovo Thinkpad T470 is for someone that is looking to be productive and practical on the go. I would recommend this laptop if you want a no-nonsense laptop on a budget for casuals, professionals, and students like myself.
Useful Hyperlinks
Refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad T470 from Amazon
Lenovo Thinkpad T470 User’s Guide