How to open Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 – disassembly and upgrade options

Undo the 9 Phillips-head screws securing the bottom panel. The top and middle screws are captive.
Use a thin plastic tool to pop the upper corners and fully pry the back.
Work your way around the sides and the front to remove the bottom panel.

More info: Here’s how the bottom plate looks on the inside.

Battery Removal

If you need to detach the battery, pull out the connector from the mainboard.
Undo the five Phillips-head screws securing the battery to the chassis.
Lift the battery to remove it.

Note: The base model comes with a 45Wh battery, and there is an optional 71Wh unit available. The 45Wh battery provides approximately 10 hours of video playback.

Memory Information

The memory section is covered with a Mylar heat shield that you need to peel off to access the memory slots.
The two SODIMMs support up to 64GB of DDR5-5600MHz memory in dual-channel mode, though the CPU can handle up to 96GB.

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

Storage Upgrade

There are two M.2 slots compatible with 2242 or 2280 Gen 4 SSDs.
The preinstalled 2242 NVMe drive has a thermal pad beneath it, but its position is more suitable for longer 2280 NVMe drives, so it may not fully contact the PCB.
To fix this, simply reposition the thermal pad to ensure proper contact with the SSD.

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

The Wi-Fi card is located above the memory slots.

Cooling System Overview

The thermal system is sufficient for a laptop without dedicated graphics.
It includes one large fan, two heat pipes, a long top-mounted heat sink, and a heat spreader.

Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 (Intel) in-depth review

Lenovo states that the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 is meant for "SMB owners, power users, and professionals on the go." If you value performance over battery life, you can pick a device with a 28W Meteor Lake CPU. The 15W processor options are a good choice for people who travel a lot and need a machine with a long autonomous life.This notebook looks and feels almost the same as its Gen 6 predecessor. The new kid on the block is offered with new processors which is the main difference between the two. The rest is more or less the same. You get a modern port selection, good upgradability, and Dolby [...]

Read the full review

Pros

The fan is non-intrusive during max CPU stress
Compact for a 16-incher (1.70 kg / 17.55 mm)
Snappy performance for daily or office tasks
2x SODIMMs + 2x M.2 Gen 4 slots
PWM-free display (LEN9156)
16:10 aspect ratio and wide viewing angles (LEN9156)
Aluminum lid
Optional IR Web camera + fingerprint reader
Privacy shutter
Comfortable spill-resistant keyboard with optional backlight
Good port selection
The Core Ultra 5 125U can maintain a 2.90 GHz / 2.40 GHz P and E-core clock in long loads
Long battery life
Fair price