Lenovo ThinkPad T470s Review: A Slim And Nimble Workhorse


Lenovo's ThinkPad T470s - A No-Nonsense Business Powerhouse

Lenovo has carved out quite a business for itself in the laptop space over the years, led more recently by premium machines like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. However, there are obviously many more models in the ThinkPad family of products, beyond just the top-shelf X1 Carbon line. In the more affordable ThinkPad T470s (starting price of $959), you will find a thin, light ultrabook with many of the features Lenovo is known for, including the usual fantastic keyboard setup and solid performance.

At just 2.9 pounds, you’d be forgiven for thinking it doesn’t pack much punch, but this Kaby Lake powered ultrabook can get the job done. The T470s is available with a 14-inch 1920x1080 (HD) screen and a choice of a silver or black carbon fiber chassis. The ultra-thin lid hides shaped key caps with backlighting, the traditional red trackpoint mouse and a rather sizable trackpad with two button control above it.

thinkpad 470s hero
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s
Specifications & Features

Processor Intel Core i5-7300U
OS Windows 10 64-bit Home edition
Display 1920x1080 HD 14-inch display
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 620
Storage NVMe SSD 256GB
Memory 8GB
Camera 720p HD camera with Mic
Networking Intel Dual Band Wireless AC(2x2) 8265, Bluetooth Version 4.1
Ports: Left Power, USB 3.0, headphone, SD card slot
Ports: Right Smart card reader, Thunderbolt 3, 2 USB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet, SIM card
Battery Two for a combined 49.5WH
Extras None
Weight 2.9 pounds
Dimensions 13 x 8.9 x 0.7 inches
Warranty 1-year depot or carry-in
Price $1,319 as tested, starting at $959


At 13 x 8.9 x 0.7 inches, the 2.9 pound T470s is lighter and a hair thinner smaller than the regular T470 (3.5 pounds, 0.8 inches thick) and fits easily in a backpack that won’t make you work up a sweat carrying it around. For reference, Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon is 2.49 pounds and is only 0.6 inches thick, but costs $200 to $300 more, so there's one of the trade-offs.
side shot
side shot 2

Lenovo was able to pack in quite a few IO port options in the T470s. The left side features the power jack that looks similar to a USB port, a USB 3.0 port, a headphone jack and an SD card slot. The right side, though, is really loaded: it has a Smart Card reader, a Thunderbolt 3 port, a pair of USB 3.0 ports, HDMI output, an Ethernet jack, a microSD card slot and a space for a Kensington lock.

ThinkPad T470s bottom

There is also a proprietary docking port on the bottom of the T470s, something the X1 Carbon does not have.


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