How to open Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 – disassembly and upgrade options

Undo the nine Phillips-head screws on the bottom panel of the laptop. Note that the bottom screws are not captive.
Use a lever tool to pop the two zones behind the hinges.
Fully pop the rear panel using a thin plastic tool.
Pry the sides and the front of the laptop to fully remove the back cover.

More info: The inside of the bottom plate features a large cooling pad for the WWAN slot, enhancing thermal management and supporting optional 5G or 4G LTE connectivity.

Battery Removal

Caution: Handle the battery with care to avoid damage or injury. The touchpad is positioned right below the battery, so extra caution is needed during removal.

Unplug the battery connector from the motherboard by pulling it to the left with a plastic tool.
Undo the five Phillips-head screws that secure the 60Wh battery unit to the chassis.
Carefully detach the battery unit from the laptop.

More info: The laptop is equipped with a 60Wh battery, providing approximately 13 and a half hours of video playback.

You can buy compatible batteries here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Memory Upgrade

Hint: Ensure you are grounded to prevent static discharge when handling memory modules.

Locate the RAM zone covered by a Mylar Film.
Use can easily peel off the Mylar Film.
Insert the new DDR5-5600MHz RAM modules into the SODIMM slots, ensuring they are seated properly.

More info: This unit came with 16GB of DRR5-5600 MHz RAM module in 1 SODIMM slot. According to Lenovo, the two SODIMMs fit up to 32GB of DDR5-5600MHz memory in dual-channel mode. However, since the CPU can support up to 96GB, this laptop likely wouldn’t have issues running a larger amount of memory than the official manufacturer’s specified limit.

You can buy compatible RAM modules here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Storage Upgrade

Hint: Handle the SSD with care to avoid any data loss or damage during installation.

Locate the single M.2 slot compatible with 2242/2280 Gen 4 SSDs.
Remove the metal shield covering the SSD by undoing the single Phillips-head screw.
Slide the metal shield to the left and lift it away from the chassis.
Insert the new Gen 4 M.2 SSD into the slot and secure it with the screw.

More info: The laptop includes two M.2 slots compatible with 2242 or 2280 Gen 4 SSDs. The preinstalled NVMe SSD is cooled by small thermal pads on both sides. The cooling pad below the preinstalled NVMe isn’t optimally placed but can be fixed easily.

Hint: Don’t forget to check out our Top M.2 SSDs Performance Rankings for insights on the best storage options available.

You can buy compatible SSDs here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Wi-Fi Card

More Info: The Wi-Fi card can be seen on top of the RAM slots.

Cooling System Overview

More info: The cooling system is modest, comprising a large fan, two long heat pipes, a top-mounted heat sink, and a heat spreader to ensure effective thermal management.

Inspect the large fan to ensure it is free of dust and debris.
Check the two long heat pipes for any signs of wear or damage.
Verify that the top-mounted heat sink is properly seated and unobstructed.
Ensure that the heat spreader is securely in place to maintain optimal cooling performance.

Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 in-depth review

The Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 is a compact business transformer that offers surprisingly good upgradability and port selection. A Meteor Lake-U CPU is hidden under the bonnet. The 15W chip doesn't require significant cooling and it's not thirsty. That's why the battery life is good.It's nice to see that most of the features are standard. This applies to the backlight, the fingerprint reader, the dTPM 2.o chip, and the self-healing BIOS. If you want a Web camera with facial recognition, you have to pay more for this extra.There is just one display variant. It's a 1200p IPS touchs[...]

Read the full review

Pros

The fan is almost quiet during max CPU stress in "Performance" mode
Compact for a transformer with good upgradability (1.64 kg / 16.9 - 18.5 mm)
Very good overall performance, especially for a 2-in-1 14-incher
2x SODIMMs + 2x M.2 Gen 4 slots
PWM-free touchscreen (LEN81A2)
16:10 aspect ratio and wide viewing angles (LEN81A2)
97% sRGB coverage + accurate colors with our "Design and Gaming" profile (LEN81A2)
Solid aluminum chassis
Optional IR Web camera
Privacy shutter + fingerprint reader
Comfortable spill-resistant backlit keyboard
Smooth and accurate touchpad
Modern port selection with 2x Type-C and 2x Type-A ports
The Core Ultra 5 125U can sustain a 2.75 GHz / 2.20 GHz P and E-core frequency in long loads
Very long battery life (~13 hours of videos)
Fast SSD for a 512GB 2242 unit (SK Hynix HFS512GEJ4X112)
Quality audio by HARMAN
Support laptop, tent, stand, and tablet modes