The Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 (Intel) is a device that will not try to impress you with its design because it's a typical business laptop that is meant for work. Expectedly, the security is on point - a fingerprint reader, Intel vPro CPUs, a Web camera with a privacy shutter, a Security Lock Slot, and a dTPM module (the first two extras are optional). Some models are certified as a Microsoft 11 Secured-core PC so they offer an extra layer of protection against advanced malware. Good connectivity is a must for such a machine and that's why this notebook has (optional) 4G connectivity, NFC, and Wi-Fi 6E. We are also happy to see a Thunderbolt 4 port and a microSD card reader. The hardware seems standard for a 2023 office machine. You can choose among nine CPU options including Raptor Lake U and P-series chips. At least on paper, we don't have any complaints in terms of power. For those who need additional graphics capabilities, there is one optional dGPU so you can even play some Dota 2 in the lunch break. Two display variants are available, both are 1080p IPS panels but the optional one is a touchscreen unit. Interestingly, the manufacturer provides three battery models with different capacities. If battery life is the thing that matters the most to you, maybe you should get the biggest variant. You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/lenovo-thinkpad-l15-gen-4-intel/ Specs, Drivers, What's in the box Drivers All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-l-series-laptops/thinkpad-l15-gen-4-type-21h3-21h4/21h3/downloads What's in the box? The packaging is business as usual - some paperwork, and a 65W USB Type-C charger. You can also find a 45W or even a 100W adapter in the box depending on the CPU and GPU under the bonnet. Design and construction The design of the laptops hasn't changed much compared to its predecessor. This means we got a Thunder black color for the chassis and a plastic build. Contrary to that, the sturdiness is rather nice for such material. We spot a very little amount of flex on the lid, and you can bend the base slightly between the two hinges as well as in the upper left section of the right palm rest area. The notebook isn't super light and thin but the dimensions are okay for a 15-incher - 19.93 mm profile thickness and 1.77 kg of weight. You can't open the lid with one hand. The bezels surrounding the display are narrow except for the upper one. There, you'll find a Web camera with a privacy shutter. The base model is a 720p unit and there are two optional 1080p variants (the top-tier one has an IR functionality). The hinge mechanism allows an angle of opening up to 180 degrees. The two 2W Dolby Audio speakers are hidden beneath a long grille placed in between the two hinges. Next to the right one, you can spot the Power button that has a built-in fingerprint reader (option). The spill-resistant keyboard is comfortable for typing because it has long key travel and clicky feedback. The board boasts a full-sized NumPad which is great for work but keep in mind that the backlight is optional. The TrackPoint is placed between the "G", "H", and "B" keys and it works together with the three buttons above the touchpad. The latter is big enough for normal usage, it has a smooth Mylar surface, but the accuracy could be better. The bottom plate houses two ventilation grilles and four rubber feet. The hot air is pushed through a vent on the right side of the laptop. Ports The left side is literally crowded with ports - LAN, a USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 2) port that supports data transfer, Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 functions, a Thunderbolt 4 connector, an HDMI 2.1 connector (for up to 4K 60Hz external displays), a USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port with Always On function, an Audio combo jack, and an optional Smart Card reader. On the right, there is the Kensington Nano security lock slot, another USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port, and a MicroSD card slot. The SIM card tray is on the back of the device. Display quality, Health impact (PWM), Sound Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 is equipped with a Full HD IPS panel, model number Innolux N156HCA-E5B (LEN40BA). It comes with a 60Hz refresh rate. Its diagonal is 15.6" (39.6 cm), and the resolution - 1920 x 1080p. Additionally, the screen ratio is 16:9, the pixel density – 142 ppi, and their pitch – 0.18 x 0.18 mm. The screen can be considered Retina when viewed from at least 60 cm (from this distance, the average human eye can’t see the individual pixels). Viewing angles are comfortable. We offer images at different angles to evaluate the quality. Also, a video with locked focus and exposure. The maximum measured brightness is 257 nits (cd/m2) in the middle of the screen and 239 nits (cd/m2) average across the surface with a maximum deviation of 12%. The Correlated Color Temperature on a white screen and at maximum brightness is 6420K (average). In the illustration below you can see how the display performs from a uniformity perspective. The illustration below shows how matters are for operational brightness levels (approximately 140 nits) – in this particular case at 72% Brightness (White level = 142 cd/m2, Black level = 0.09 cd/m2). Values of dE2000 over 4.0 should not occur, and this parameter is one of the first you should check if you intend to use the laptop for color-sensitive work (a maximum tolerance of 2.0 ). The contrast ratio is very good – 1620:1. To make sure we are on the same page, we would like to give you a little introduction to the sRGB color gamut and the Adobe RGB. To start, there’s the CIE 1976 Uniform Chromaticity Diagram that represents the visible specter of colors by the human eye, giving you a better perception of the color gamut coverage and the color accuracy. Inside the black triangle, you will see the standard color gamut (sRGB) that is being used by millions of people on HDTV and on the web. As for the Adobe RGB, this is used in professional cameras, monitors, etc for printing. Basically, colors inside the black triangle are used by everyone and this is the essential part of the color quality and color accuracy of a mainstream notebook. Still, we’ve included other color spaces like the famous DCI-P3 standard used by movie studios, as well as the digital UHD Rec.2020 standard. Rec.2020, however, is still a thing of the future and it’s difficult for today’s displays to cover that well. We’ve also included the so-called Michael Pointer gamut, or Pointer’s gamut, which represents the colors that naturally occur around us every day. The yellow dotted line shows Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4's color gamut coverage. Its display covers 52% of the sRGB/ITU-R BT.709 (web/HDTV standard) in CIE1976 and 41% of DCI-P3. Our “Design and Gaming” profile delivers optimal color temperature (6500K) at 140 cd/m2 luminance and sRGB gamma mode. We tested the accuracy of the display with 24 commonly used colors like light and dark human skin, blue sky, green grass, orange, etc. You can check out the results at factory condition and also, with the “Design and Gaming” profile. Below you can compare the scores of the Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 with the default settings (left), and with the “Gaming and Web design” profile (right). The next figure shows how well the display is able to reproduce really dark parts of an image, which is essential when watching movies or playing games in low ambient light. The left side of the image represents the display with stock settings, while the right one is with the “Gaming and Web Design” profile activated. On the horizontal axis, you will find the grayscale, and on the vertical axis – the luminance of the display. On the two graphs below you can easily check for yourself how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display, the calibration, the viewing angle, and the surrounding light conditions. Response time (Gaming capabilities) We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and vice versa. We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 20.8 ms. After that, we test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “Gray-to-Gray” method from 50% White to 80% White and vice versa between 10% and 90% of the amplitude. Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering) Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is an easy way to control monitor brightness. When you lower the brightness, the light intensity of the backlight is not lowered, but instead turned off and on by the electronics with a frequency indistinguishable to the human eye. In these light impulses, the light/no-light time ratio varies, while brightness remains unchanged, which is harmful to your eyes. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM. Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4's display doesn't flicker at any brightness level. This makes the screen pretty comfortable for long periods of use. Health Impact: Blue light emissions Installing our Health-Guard profile not only eliminates PWM but also reduces the harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate. If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light. Health Impact: Gloss-level measurement Glossy-coated displays are sometimes inconvenient in high ambient light conditions. We show the level of reflection on the screen for the respective laptop when the display is turned off and the measurement angle is 60° (in this case, the result is 50.2 GU). Sound Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4's Dolby Audio speakers produce a sound of very good quality. Its low, mid, and high tones are clear of deviations. Buy our profiles Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 configurations with 15.6" Innolux N156HCA-E5B (LEN40BA) (1920 x 1080) IPS. *Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at bg.laptopmedia@gmail.com. Read more about the profiles HERE. Performance: CPU, GPU, Gaming Tests CPU options The variety of CPU options is impressive - Intel Processor U300, Core i3-1315U, Core i5-1335U, Core i5-1340P, Core i5-1345U, Core i5-1350P, Core i7-1355U, Core i7-1360P, or Core i7-1365U. GPU options Graphics-wise, you get the iGPU inside of the CPU or you can pick the optional NVIDIA GeForce MX550. Gaming tests CS:GO HD 1080p, Low (Check settings) HD 1080p, Medium (Check settings) HD 1080p, MAX (Check settings) Average FPS 87 fps 81 fps 45 fps DOTA 2 HD 1080p, Low (Check settings) HD 1080p, Normal (Check settings) HD 1080p, High (Check settings) Average FPS 94 fps 60 fps 36 fps By default, the iGPU of the Core i7-1355U is the Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96EU), but the CPU in our machine has the 80EU version. The gaming capabilities of this model aren't that good, even for an integrated solution. The main reason for this is that our laptop has one stick of DDR4 RAM (2Rx8) that works in a single-channel mode which is hindering the CPU and the iGPU performance. [eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT your Laptop Temperatures and comfort, Battery Life Max CPU load In this test we use 100% on the CPU cores, monitoring their frequencies and chip temperature. The first column shows a computer’s reaction to a short load (2-10 seconds), the second column simulates a serious task (between 15 and 30 seconds), and the third column is a good indicator of how good the laptop is for long loads such as video rendering. Average P-core frequency; Average E-core frequency; CPU temp.; Package Power Intel Core i7-1355U (15W TDP) 0:02 - 0:10 sec 0:15 - 0:30 sec 10:00 - 15:00 min Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 (Intel) 3.34 GHz @ 2.54 GHz @ 86°C @ 39W 3.16 GHz @ 2.45 GHz @ 93°C @ 35W 2.38 GHz @ 1.77 GHz @ 77°C @ 20W Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 4 3.78 GHz @ 2.93 GHz @ 82°C @ 48W 3.45 GHz @ 2.71 GHz @ 90°C @ 41W 2.52 GHz @ 1.87 GHz @ 78°C @ 22W Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 3.83 GHz @ 2.89 GHz @ 78°C @ 51W 3.7 GHz @ 2.82 GHz @ 93°C @ 49W 2.38 GHz @ 1.75 GHz @ 64°C @ 21W Acer Aspire 5 (A514-56M) 3.82 GHz @ 2.82 GHz @ 64°C @ 55W 2.18 GHz @ 2.26 GHz @ 65°C @ 37W 1.43 GHz @ 1.98 GHz @ 60°C @ 28W Dell Vostro 15 3530 2.06 GHz @ 2.70 GHz @ 94°C @ 40W 1.56 GHz @ 2.22 GHz @ 96°C @ 26W 2.06 GHz @ 2.25 GHz @ 95°C @ 26W Lenovo Yoga Book 9 (13IRU8) 2.23 GHz @ 2.58 GHz @ 76°C @ 40W 2.13 GHz @ 2.42 GHz @ 85°C @ 35W 1.64 GHz @ 2.03 GHz @ 77°C @ 24W ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED (UX5304) 3.46 GHz @ 2.47 GHz @ 80°C @ 41W 3.06 GHz @ 2.24 GHz @ 91°C @ 31W 2.36 GHz @ 1.68 GHz @ 75°C @ 21W The Core i7-1355U inside of this machine can sustain high frequencies during any kind of load but they are a bit lower compared to the two more premium siblings - the ThinkPad T14s Gen 4 and ThinkPad T14 Gen 4. Comfort during full load The single fan is almost quiet in Performance mode during max CPU load. In this case, the keyboard just feels warm and it's comfortable for usage. As you can see from the screenshot below, the power presets are integrated into the Windows Power modes. The fan spins with around 1800 RPM in idle and with ~3000 RPM under heavy processor stress. Battery Now, we conduct the battery tests with Windows Better performance setting turned on, screen brightness adjusted to 120 nits and all other programs turned off except for the one we are testing the notebook with. The 57Wh battery lasts for 8 hours and 20 minutes of Web browsing, or 6 hours and 15 minutes of video playback. Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance To access the laptop’s internals, you have to undo 10 Phillips-head screws. You also need to eject the SIM card tray before prying the bottom plate with a plastic tool. This is how the bottom panel looks on the inside. The battery here is the optional 57Wh model. The base version is a 46.5Wh unit, and the top model has a capacity of 63Wh. To take out the battery, pull out the connector from the mainboard, and then undo the four Phillips-head screws, that keep the unit fixed to the chassis. The optional variant has enough juice for 8 hours and 20 minutes of Web browsing, or 6 hours and 15 minutes of video playback. For future memory upgrades, there are two SODIMMs for up to 64GB of DDR4-3200 MHz RAM. Next to them is positioned the WWAN slot for optional 4G connectivity. Storage-wise, there is just one M.2 slot for 2242 Gen 4 SSDs. The preinstalled NVMe is protected by a metal plate that has a thin thermal pad on the inside. Another pad is placed on the motherboard, right below the SSD. The cooling isn't massive but it looks sufficient for a laptop with an iGPU - one fan, a pair of heat pipes, one heat sink, and a heat spreader. Storage performance Our notebook has a 1TB KIOXIA SKBG5AZNT1T02 Gen 4 SSD. Below you can see some benchmarks of this NVMe. During testing, the maximum reached temperature is 50°C which is normal. Verdict The Intel version of the ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 is a typical Lenovo business device that simply gets the job done no matter the task. Yes, the build is plastic but it's also sturdy which is nice to see. Still, you can't open the lid with a single hand. Considering the price tag of this laptop, the successor should be improved in this section. The spill-resistant keyboard is comfortable for work. It has a long key travel, clicky feedback, an optional backlight, and a NumPad. The well-known TrackPoint is here and it could be an important extra for some users. The touchpad is smooth but the accuracy isn't the best one that we've seen so far. The notebook feels snappy which is good for daily and office usage. Our machine has an Intel Core i7-1355U. The CPU can maintain a high P and E core clock thanks to the decent cooling with two heat pipes. It's kind of strange that a much thinner 14-incher as the ThinkPad T14s Gen 4 can show even higher frequencies with the same CPU. The overall performance of our gadget could be even better if the memory was working in a dual-channel mode. In our case, we got one 32GB (2Rx8) memory stick that works in a single-channel mode which isn't an optimal solution if you want the full CPU and iGPU power at your disposal. This reminds us that the upgradability of this laptop is decent - two SODIMM slots for up to 64GB of DDR4-3200MHz RAM but there is just one M.2 slot for Gen 4 SSDs. One of the main advantages of this device is the comfort under load. Even when the CPU is stressed at max, the single fan is almost quiet and the keyboard is just a bit warm. The I/O looks good with its many ports including a Thunderbolt 4 connector, microSD card reader, and an Nano-SIM card slot for optional 4G connectivity. The 1080p IPS panel (Innolux N156HCA-E5B (LEN40BA)) is suitable for long hours of work because it's PWM-free and has wide viewing angles. Alright, the sRGB coverage is low but that's not that important for an office laptop. The battery life is normal - 8 hours and 20 minutes of Web browsing sounds okay for a 57Wh capacity. The Lenovo ThinkPad L15 Gen 4 (Intel) is a good business device that offers a sturdy build, many security options, a great keyboard, and nice comfort under heavy load. You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/lenovo-thinkpad-l15-gen-4-intel/