Lenovo ThinkPad P17: Best Deal Today
There are a few variations in the ThinkPad P17 model. Knowing which ones are the best or worst deals is why we’re here, so we’ve compiled the best deals on the ThinkPad P17 for you:
- ThinkPad P17 Gen 2 1080p (64GB RAM + 2TB SSD) buy on Amazon$1,699.99
- 17.3" screen with Anti-glare and LED backlight
- Powerful 64GB DDR4 Memory for demanding tasks
- Enormous 2TB PCIe M.2 SSD storage capacity
- Multiple USB ports for charging and data transfer
- Windows 11 Professional comes pre-installed
- Suitable for learning design work, professionals, SMBs, and more
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.03/12/2024 01:13 pm GMT - ThinkPad P17 Gen 2 4K (128GB RAM + 4TB SSD) buy on Amazon$2,799.99
- 17-inch screen with antiglare and LED backlight
- Powerful 11th Generation Intel Octa-Core i7 processor
- 128GB DDR4 Memory for demanding worklods
- Enormous 2TB x 2 PCIe M.2 SSD storage space
- Upgradable memory and storage space
- One-year warranty manufacturer's warranty.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.03/12/2024 01:12 pm GMT
Lenovo has been repeatedly praised as the number-one laptop brand, and the company is famed for its laptops, desktops, and servers. Undoubtedly the most successful product from Lenovo is the ThinkPad. While most ThinkPads are slim and light, the ThinkPad P17 workstation is designed as a heavy desktop replacement with all the power to back it up.
But is the ThinkPad P17 really all it’s hyped up to be? This laptop may have crossed your path if you need a powerful laptop for video editing, graphic design, 3D modeling, or AutoCAD. Today, we’ll explore the P17 with features, specs, and reviews. Finally, we’ll determine if this laptop is worth it and if it is right for you.
Lenovo ThinkPad P17: Overview
- 17.3" screen with Anti-glare and LED backlight
- Powerful 64GB DDR4 Memory for demanding tasks
- Enormous 2TB PCIe M.2 SSD storage capacity
- Multiple USB ports for charging and data transfer
- Windows 11 Professional comes pre-installed
- Suitable for learning design work, professionals, SMBs, and more
Lenovo has been in the laptop business for decades and knows a thing or two about making a great laptop. The ThinkPad lineup is the company’s crown jewel, and the series has won numerous awards and garnered praise for its robustness, design, and capabilities. ThinkPads are even NASA’s choice for computers in space, being the only model certified for use on the International Space Station.
Most ThinkPads are geared towards traveling professionals and therefore sport a lightweight and slim design. While these small laptops are lightweight and portable, they still manage to pack high-performance processors, RAM, and GPUs. The ThinkPad P17 is an outlier among the ThinkPad series due to its massive size and weight.
Lenovo took everything they learned about lightweight and slim form factors and threw it out the window with this design. If you’re looking for a portable laptop, the P17 is not it. In fact, there is a name for laptops like this: desktop replacements. Meaning you’re buying this laptop to use at a desk-–the fact it has a battery is just a bonus.
Despite its massive size, buyers are not deterred. In fact, the ThinkPad P17’s massive popularity wouldn’t be possible without its oversized form factor’s immense power. Due to its vast footprint, the ThinkPad P17 fits a powerful graphics processor and thermal design that sets it apart from weaker laptops. Additionally, the system is highly upgradeable, with many ports and connectivity options that can’t be found on smaller systems.
You can tell this laptop is designed to offer a more professional experience and offers more than your standard home laptop. It’s definitely not your run-of-the-mill business laptop, either. With an assortment of ISV certifications, this system is proven to be ideal for medical imaging, 3D rendering, and computer-assisted design. The high price tag definitely reflects this.
Release date and price
Lenovo announced the first generation P17 in July of 2021. Initially launched at an MSRP of $2099, the P17 was available in several configurations at varying prices. Not even a year later, in early 2022, Lenovo released the second generation P17. The latest model, P17, sells between $1800 and $2800, depending on your display, RAM, and storage choice.
Different Models
The ThinkPad P17 is available in a few different configurations and has undergone several variations over the years since its initial release. We are now in generation two of the legendary P17 workstation, with massive processing power and graphics improvements from the first generation.
The latest ThinkPad P17 Gen 2 uses an 11th-generation Intel processor, whereas earlier models relied on the older 10th-generation series. The only thing this means to you now is that you should be careful when selecting your ThinkPad P17 to ensure you’re buying the later generation.
Additionally, some P17 workstations come with 1080p displays, while others offer ultra HD 4K screens. This can make a big difference if you plan to use your ThinkPad for video editing or graphic design. Every pixel counts, and if you opt for the lower resolution screen, you may save money but sacrifice display quality.
Features
Lenovo has loaded the ThinkPad P17 with many useful features often missing on competing laptops. Since the ThinkPad is targeted to business customers, you get more functionality than more consumer-focused models. Additionally, the workstation-class design of this laptop lends itself to even more advantages.
The first thing you’ll notice when you open the lid is the enormous 17.3” IPS display. Available in either 1080p or 4K, this display is coated in an antiglare matte finish and runs at up to 500 nits of brightness. Surrounding the screen are thick bezels, which serve to protect the display but may detract from the aesthetic appeal.
You can use the 720p webcam and microphone array for Zoom or Skype meetings, although it isn’t the best quality compared to similar laptops. The audio is another weak area for the P17, with relatively weak speakers situated just above the keyboard. Despite the drawbacks, this laptop’s focus makes up for it in other ways.
You’ll find a massive array of ports along the sides and back of the laptop. You get two USB 3.2 ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB Type-C port, HDMI 2.1 port, a Headphone jack, an SD reader, and a sim slot for optional 5G LTE. Additionally, the Thunderbolt ports allow you to connect up to four external 4K displays.
Specifications
| Display | 17.3” IPS LED Backlit |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-11800H |
| Base Clock Speed | 2.30GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 4.60GHz |
| Graphics | Nvidia RTX A2000 |
| Graphics Memory | 4GB GDDR6 |
| RAM Type | DDR4 |
| RAM Capacity | 128GB |
| Storage Type | NVMe SSD |
- 17-inch screen with antiglare and LED backlight
- Powerful 11th Generation Intel Octa-Core i7 processor
- 128GB DDR4 Memory for demanding worklods
- Enormous 2TB x 2 PCIe M.2 SSD storage space
- Upgradable memory and storage space
- One-year warranty manufacturer's warranty.
Lenovo ThinkPad P17: Review
ThinkPad
©IAEA Imagebank, CC BY 2.0
The ThinkPad P17 is built like a tank. Like other ThinkPads, the P17 comes with a magnesium alloy case coated with a matte black finish. The case is hardened and tested against the MIL-STD-810G military testing standard, making it one of the most durable laptops on the market. All of this is standard procedure for ThinkPads, the P17 just does it on a larger scale thanks to its enormous 17.3” display.
ThinkPads have long been praised for high-quality keyboards. The backlit keyboard on the P17 is unsurprisingly one of the best on the market. You’ll notice the excellent tactile sensation and key travel, perfect for extended typing sessions. Another benefit is the number pad, perfect for crunching numbers and calculations.
The Trackpad is extra spacious and allows multifunction gestures and zooming. One characteristic feature on all ThinkPads is the red nub or “TrackPoint” in the center of the keyboard. This is an alternative input method to the trackpad, and it has been a staple in the ThinkPad series since the earliest models in the 1990s.
Included with the ThinkPad P17 is a large 94Whr lithium-ion battery, which provides an average lifespan for laptops of this size. Activities like web browsing and light usage will last for roughly seven to nine hours on battery, whereas heavier tasks will run the battery down much quicker. Additionally, you get a 230-watt power brick for fast-charging the laptop in two hours.
The ThinkPad P17 weighs in at 8.09 pounds or 3.67kg. While this is massively overweight for a modern laptop, it becomes clear why this is so heavy when considering the expansion capabilities. Under the main hatch on the bottom are two RAM slots for adding memory and two spare M.2 slots for adding more storage.
Lenovo ThinkPad P17: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Vivid 4K display
- Workstation-class performance
- Highly upgradeable
- Great keyboard
- Plenty of ports
Cons:
- Expensive
- Bulky and heavy
- Thick bezels
Lenovo ThinkPad P17: Is It a Buy?
There is no doubt that the ThinkPad P17 workstation is not for everyone. Despite the oversize form factor and bulky design’s countless advantages, there are some caveats, such as the high price and weight. This laptop may be exactly what you need depending on your intended use.
Buy it if…
You are a professional who relies on your laptop to get work done. This is a huge step up from your standard business-grade laptop. The P17 provides a reliable platform with extensive capabilities as a workstation-class laptop. If you need military-grade durability for using your laptop outdoors or in the field, this laptop won’t disappoint.
Design professionals stand to benefit the most. With Independent Software Vendor certifications or “ISVs” for running applications like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, 3dsMax, Maya, Microstation, and many more. This laptop is for you if you do advanced 3D rendering and computer-assisted design.
Don’t buy it if…
You only need something basic, or you want a gaming laptop. The P17 is not designed to be a gaming system, so it won’t perform nearly as well for playing games as cheaper gaming laptops. By no means does this mean the P17 is underpowered. In fact, it has an abundance of power, making it less than ideal if you only need a basic laptop.
This laptop is overkill if you just want a laptop for college or even coding and programming. The P17 is intended for resource-intensive applications. Because of this, it sports a bulky, oversized form factor to leave room for a massive cooling system.
Overall, this laptop is for serious design professionals, but you could buy it if you just want a super fast laptop with many ports. There’s nothing wrong with having a laptop that can do it all, and if you can put up with the high price tag, you’ll be rewarded with a high-performing laptop that will last many years.
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The image featured at the top of this post is ©Sunshine Seeds/Shutterstock.com.
