Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 2024, Core Ultra 7 255H, 16GB, 512GB SSD, RTX PRO 500, Black

The Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 is a 16-inch mobile workstation with a strong Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU and excellent port selection, but a mediocre display and limited 16GB of RAM hold it back. It's a good pick for developers and business users who need Windows and connectivity, not for creators or gamers. Shop around, because prices vary by over $800 between vendors.

The Core Ultra 7 255H is a strong performer, landing in the 85th percentile for CPU performance in our database. That puts it among the better laptop chips we've tested, and for everyday productivity, code compilation, and multitasking, it's going to feel snappy. The 16-core configuration handles parallel workloads well, and the NPU adds some future-proofing for AI-accelerated apps, though 13 TOPS is modest compared to what newer chips are pushing.

The RTX PRO 500 sits at the 76th percentile for GPU performance, which is respectable but not thrilling. With 6GB of GDDR7 VRAM, it'll handle light 3D work, video editing at 1080p, and some casual gaming at medium settings. But don't expect it to chew through 4K renders or run modern AAA titles at high frame rates. The 16GB of RAM is middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, and the 512GB SSD is about average too. For a workstation, that RAM ceiling is the bigger concern, especially if you're running multiple VMs or heavy creative apps.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max, the ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 loses on raw performance, display quality, and battery life, but it wins on port selection and Windows compatibility. The MacBook's mini-LED display and M4 Max chip are in a completely different league, though you'll pay significantly more for that privilege. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a more interesting comparison. It's smaller and lighter, with a better display and a GPU that's actually meant for gaming, but it gives up the Ethernet port and some of the workstation credentials. The HP OMEN Transcend 14 is another alternative that offers a better screen and more gaming-oriented performance in a similar price bracket. If you need Windows and want a machine that can do light creative work plus serious productivity, the ThinkPad holds its own. But if display quality or gaming matters, those competitors pull ahead.

Pricing on the ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 is all over the place depending on where you look. In the US, we're seeing listings from $1,891 to $2,729 across three vendors, and the best deal we found is at Newegg. That's a spread of $838 for what appears to be the same core configuration, so shopping around actually matters here. In Canada, the range runs from CAD 2,968 to CAD 3,717, again with Newegg offering the lowest price. For a machine with this CPU and GPU combo, the lower end of that range is reasonable. At the higher end, you're getting into territory where machines with better displays and more RAM start looking very tempting.

The Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 is a 16-inch mobile workstation that sits in that interesting middle ground between a thin-and-light and a full desktop replacement. It's built around Intel's Core Ultra 7 255H, a 16-core chip with a built-in NPU for AI tasks, paired with an NVIDIA RTX PRO 500 with 6GB of GDDR7 VRAM. You get 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD, which is a solid baseline for a work machine, though not exactly generous for the price bracket this thing lives in.

People searching for a ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 review usually want to know one thing: is this a real workstation or just a business laptop with a fancy GPU sticker? The answer is somewhere in between. The RTX PRO 500 is an entry-level professional GPU, not a gaming card, and the 60Hz 1920x1200 display with 45% NTSC color coverage tells you this is aimed at productivity and light creative work, not color-critical design or high-refresh gaming.

At 1.82kg with a 75Wh battery, it's portable enough to carry around without feeling like you're hauling a cinder block. The port selection is genuinely impressive for this class of machine, and Windows 11 Pro comes standard. But the display and RAM configuration hold it back from being a true creator powerhouse.

Skip the ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 if you do color-critical creative work, since the 45% NTSC display won't cut it for photo or video editing. Gamers should also look elsewhere, as the 60Hz panel and entry-level RTX PRO 500 aren't meant for high-refresh gaming. If you need more than 16GB of RAM for VMs or heavy multitasking, this configuration will frustrate you. For creators, the MacBook Pro M4 Max or a machine with a better display makes more sense. For gamers, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or HP OMEN Transcend 14 are better fits at similar prices.

Should you buy the Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4? If you're a developer, engineer, or business user who needs a reliable Windows workstation with great connectivity and solid CPU performance, yes, especially if you can snag it at the lower end of the price range. The port selection alone is a legitimate selling point, and the Core Ultra 7 255H is a genuinely capable chip.

But if you're a creator doing color-sensitive work, or you want to game on the side, this isn't the machine for you. The 45% NTSC display is a real limitation, and 16GB of RAM feels stingy for a workstation in 2025. The RTX PRO 500 is fine for light tasks, but it's not going to replace a proper creator GPU. At the right price, this is a solid workhorse. At the wrong price, it's a compromise you'll feel every time you open a color-accurate project or try to run a demanding game.