The return of the clunkpad? Lenovo ThinkPad trackpad comparison - Sensel vs. Synaptics

[Redaktion]

Ten years ago, Lenovo tried to integrate the dedicated mouse buttons for the ThinkPad TrackPoint into the touchpad, to make the trackpad bigger. In 2024, they are trying it again. We compare ThinkPad P1 G7 with the ThinkPad T440s to see why Lenovo thinks that this will work now, despite not working back in 2014.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-return-of-the-clunkpad-Lenovo-ThinkPad-trackpad-comparison-Sensel-vs-Synaptics.920560.0.html

[tokroni]

Goodbye Thinkpad

Design peaked with T40 and X200. Classic design . Ports galore. Built like tanks . Upgrade heaven 

Never again

Why bother with Apple copycat when you can purchase real Apple products.

[Stee]

The sensel trackpad on my z13 the best trackpad I have ever used on a laptop besides a MacBook. Eyes will roll from the collective audience of ThinkPad users who cannot advance beyond an input method they've used for the past 30 years, but this is the way to go. It's the best of both worlds, since you still have the trackpoint button and you have a full size touchpad to interact with your OS in a modern and efficient way. The haptic touchpad feels amazing and is highly accurate.


Bravo Lenovo!

[ahalol]

I agree the sensel touchpad is very nice on my z16 and I come from W701

[Disappointed ThinkPad Fan]

This is truly disappointing. Once again, Lenovo has demonstrated that they would rather pander to a casual audience then to the real ThinkPad fans who are just looking for a solid laptop that does the things they expect it to do, well.

The ThinkPad used to be a brand of consistency. In contrast to other laptops, ThinkPads were unapologetically thick, came with lots of I/O, were serviceable like no other, came with one of the best keyboards in the laptop market, etc. But ever since 2013, Lenovo has been dunking the ThinkPad brand in the trash in favour of making it appeal to more "mainstream" users. I'm sorry, I don't really get this mainstream appeal marketing strategy. All casuals will just move to MacBooks anyway since ThinkPads are "ugly" and the loyal ThinkPad users will refuse to buy these mutated excuses of "ThinkPads" that Lenovo is putting out.

Here is a personal list I've made of things Lenovo needs to do to fix the ThinkPad lineup:

• Bring back the classic "thick" design to at least the T and P series.
• Add more I/O back to the ThinkPads including full sized SD card slots and more USB ports.
• Make the ThinkPads more upgradable with 2 SSD slots and 2 RAM slots (thankfully, this seems to be the direction they're heading in at least for this)
• Bring back the PowerBridge system so we can have more battery capacity
• CLASSIC KEYBOARD and Touchpad with the full set of navigation keys and media keys like it was back before 2012.

I won't lie and say that there have been absolutely zero improvements to the ThinkPad since they've been mutating it, however the improvements are far outnumbered by the frank downgrades to the usability of the ThinkPad.

Signed,
A Concerned and Disappointed ThinkPad Fan

[A]

The sensel trackpad on my z13 the best trackpad I have ever used on a laptop besides a MacBook. Eyes will roll from the collective audience of ThinkPad users who cannot advance beyond an input method they've used for the past 30 years, but this is the way to go. It's the best of both worlds, since you still have the trackpoint button and you have a full size touchpad to interact with your OS in a modern and efficient way. The haptic touchpad feels amazing and is highly accurate.


Bravo Lenovo!

I've tried the Sensel trackpads and the macbook trackpads, some of the worst trackpads I have ever used like every other trackpad without proper buttons.

If they want to have these for casual users who don't use their laptops much on some models, fine that isn't a problem. The problem is how hard it is now to find an actual good trackpad for those who need it.

[Dom]

I have the G5 and plan to upgrade but I want real buttons. Why get rid? Lenovo offer many laptops without them already.

[Konstantinos]

One year ago I bought the Thinkpad P1 Gen 6 instead of the Thinkpad Z16 although the AMD CPU had the same performance but much better thermals and power usage because:

The P1 Gen 6 had:
1. Upgradable RAM
2. Two Upgradable SSDs
3. Dedicated trackpoint buttons
4. Better keyboard following the classic Thinkpad layout.

Now Lenovo has removed both upgradable RAM, and dedicated trackpoint buttoms...   :(

Goodbye Thinkpad P1...

Fan fact... Most people don't even know the advantage of the trackpoint. I have read from Laptop reviewers that the trackpoint "is good if you are wearing gloves" and similar clueless comments!

The real advantage of the trackpoint is that:

YOU DONT NEED TO MOVE AWAY YOUR HANDS FROM THE KEYBOARD TO CONTROL THE MOUSE POINTER!"

For those who type a lot (especially blind typing), this makes a massive difference to their productivity since they type AND control the mouse without moving their hands from the optimal position...

I guess this is irrelevant for Lenovo and clueless reviewers...

[Benjamin Herzig]

@Konstantinos,
RAM is still upgradeable in the ThinkPad P1 Gen 7. It is just a single LPCAMM2 module now instead of two SO-DIMM slots.

[Nathan D]

P1G7 user here. TrackPoint buttons are laggy and mouse will freeze / lag when you click with it. No issues with the mouse. I have a wireless TrackPoint 2 keyboard I place ontop of my laptop when at the office for preside CAD work. It is usable but you can not click the TrackPoint on the Sensel quick enough, slows down workflows and precise work a lot.. The key in future needs to be reinstated or a clear cut line so there is a different Sensel pad to the trackpad, not as one big pad.

Other than that a laptop is great. Few latency issues with the low CPU speed that ramps up from the new Intel Ultra low power 1.4 or 1.8 ghz up to the 3.8 then 4.8ghz. Ram seems a little buggy compared to a desktop PC with DDR5