A question of sense: The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s G3 AMD is pretty redundant

[Redaktion]

Lenovo sell the ThinkPad P14s Gen 3 AMD as a mobile workstation - yet it is missing many workstation features. This makes it barely any different to the ThinkPad T14 Gen 3. Lenovo should really have a think about which features make the P14s Gen 3 unique.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/A-question-of-sense-The-Lenovo-ThinkPad-P14s-G3-AMD-is-pretty-redundant.708070.0.html

[Skif]

>No USB4
>Soldered RAM
I'm sorry, but i can't call this laptop a "workstation"

[George]

The RAM is soldered because there are no 6400MHz SO-DIMMs. Actually Lenovo provides the fastest memory on the market.
The question is why they sell 3 practically identical office laptops P14/T14/T14s when there is a clear need for a small 14" workstation with more CPU/GPU grunt.

[NikoB]

Actually Lenovo provides the fastest memory on the market.

Only there is no sense in this with AMD slow memory controllers from series to series. Intel with lpdrr5 5200 easily wins up to 1.5 times.

[booglaooo]

I think Lenovo did this intentionally, but you can get a better X-Rite Pantone factory color-calibrated (delta E < 2) display which I don't think is an option with the T14 G3 although looking at the T14g3 psref it looks like they may offer something similar. Hmmm

[stuhad]

What about a HS series processor? I would love a Phoenix (Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS) thinkpad

Make it happen Lenovo

[NikoB]

I think Lenovo did this intentionally, but you can get a better X-Rite Pantone factory color-calibrated (delta E < 2) display which I don't think is an option with the T14 G3 although looking at the T14g3 psref it looks like they may offer something similar. Hmmm

No professional will rely on a "factory calibration" done who knows how and how accurate it is in reality.

Moreover, on any screen, the calibration floats with time, even if it is done individually by a hardware calibrator. It needs to be repeated. Mandatory, at least once every 1 year.

Which inevitably leads any owner working with color by occupation to the need to have a personal hardware calibrator or rent it for a while or use the services of professionals for money.

There are no other options. The IPS listed in the review for this model is perfectly calibrated with a dE value of less than 1.5 - see newest review - notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-ThinkPad-P14s-G3-AMD-laptop-review-Lightweight-workstation-without-dGPU.708002.0.html

Once again, almost no AMOLED panel from this class of notebooks could pass the test even at dE<2. And this is a death sentence for AMOLED for works with colors.

Calling this model a "workstation" is certainly ridiculous when it doesn't have a discrete and doesn't even have a USB40 with an eGPU, although other models have this port with the same processor.

To buy or not to buy is up to the buyer. Is it worth 1500 euros in 2023 with such restrictions on soldered memory and the inability to use a powerful external discrete chip (including professional series - for example, only AMD for April 2023 offers professional series with full DP2.0 +, other options for today no) through the riser? It's a personal question, and so is the answer...

[kuro68k]

Very disappointing. I'm looking for a decent Ryzen workstation but this isn't it.

No USB 4, soldered RAM, in what sense is it a workstation?

[Bugaloo]

NikoB   I think you completely missed my point in that I was referring to their marketing a "better" more "pro level" screen option with this model vs t14g3 implying they take the time to make sure everything is color accurate, and you're getting this pro level quality calibrated display, etc hence buy the P14s g3. Now whether that is the case or not depends as I've had some models that are very well calibrated from the factory and others that are not with everything else somewhere inbetween and I do color work professionally so I own my own calibration equipment and fully agree with your comments in that regard.

However, looking at the psref for the T14g3, I can't tell if they use the same panel but omit the factory calibration because the panel descriptions for the UHD+ OPS display while different do hint at color accuracy with the one offered for the t14g3.

Regardless, I do agree with the redundancy between these two lines and don't think the p14s is a workstation by any means. It is an extremely weak offering and can't compete with even some of Lenovo's prosumer lines like the upcoming Slim Pro 9i 14" gen 8.

[TOR]

Differences is Radeon Pro drivers (ISV drivers) Vs non-ISU drivers.

It is a big deal if you use relevant application covered by the ISV drivers.