Lenovo ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 2024, Core Ultra 5 225H, 96GB, 2TB SSD, RTX PRO 500

The ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 packs a ridiculous 96GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD into a solid, port-rich chassis. The CPU is strong, but the RTX PRO 500 GPU and 60Hz display hold it back. Worth it only if you need maximum memory in a laptop, otherwise the price is hard to justify.

The Core Ultra 5 225H is a 14-core chip that lands well above average in our CPU rankings. It'll chew through code compiles, spreadsheets, and photo edits without breaking a sweat. The 96GB of RAM is the real story here, it's the absolute best we've seen in this category, which means you can run a dozen Docker containers, a couple of VMs, and 50 Chrome tabs without flinching. The RTX PRO 500 is the weak link. It's fine for light 3D work and older games, but 6GB of VRAM will choke on modern titles or heavy AI workloads. Our AI/LLM score for this machine is a rough 46.2 out of 100, so don't expect to run big local models.

Stacked against the MacBook Pro M4 Max, the P16s loses on raw performance, display quality, and battery life, but wins on RAM capacity and port flexibility. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and HP OMEN Transcend 14 both have far better GPUs and higher refresh rate displays, but they top out at 32GB or 64GB of RAM. The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro is lighter and has a gorgeous OLED screen, but again, less RAM and no discrete GPU. The MSI Prestige is the closest competitor in spirit, a thin workstation, but it also can't touch the 96GB ceiling here.

At $4,239 USD, this is a tough sell. You're paying a premium for the 96GB of RAM and the ThinkPad name, but the GPU and display don't match the price tag. For that kind of money you could get a MacBook Pro M4 Max or a high-end gaming laptop with a much better screen and graphics. If you absolutely need 96GB of RAM in a portable workstation, this is one of the few options, but most people would be better served by 32GB or 64GB and a faster GPU.

The ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 is a weird mix of workstation ambition and midrange parts. You get a frankly absurd 96GB of DDR5 and a 2TB SSD, but the CPU is a Core Ultra 5 and the GPU is an RTX PRO 500 with just 6GB of VRAM. It's like putting a fire hose on a garden tap. The RAM and storage are top of the charts, but the graphics card is middle of the pack at best.

That said, for the right person this thing makes a lot of sense. Developers and creators score it in the mid-80s in our database, which is solid. The 16-inch 1920x1200 display is fine but not exciting, and the whole package weighs 1.82kg, which is chunky for a modern laptop. It's a workhorse, not a show pony.

Skip this if you need GPU muscle for 3D rendering, video editing, or gaming. The RTX PRO 500 is a lightweight card, and the 60Hz display with poor color coverage makes it a bad fit for visual creatives. Also skip it if you travel a lot, at 1.82kg it's not exactly a featherweight, and the battery life won't win any awards.

This is a niche machine for a niche buyer. If you're a developer or data scientist who needs massive RAM for virtual machines, large datasets, or memory-hungry IDEs, the P16s Gen 4 is a compelling option. The port selection is genuinely great, and the build quality is what you'd expect from a ThinkPad. But if you're a creator who needs GPU power or a gamer who wants high refresh rates, look elsewhere. This is a RAM monster with a midrange heart.