Hey guys! Let's talk about the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro. This is a business-class laptop that packs a punch, offering a blend of performance, portability, and security. It's designed for professionals who need a reliable machine that can handle demanding tasks while still being easy to carry around. I'm going to break down everything you need to know about this laptop, from its specs and performance to its design and features. We will also discuss its strengths, weaknesses, and who it's best suited for. So, buckle up, because we're about to take a deep dive into the world of the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro!

Unboxing and First Impressions

When you first get your hands on the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro, you'll immediately notice its sleek and professional design. It's a classic ThinkPad, with its signature black chassis and understated aesthetic. The build quality feels solid, and the laptop feels durable, which is what you'd expect from a ThinkPad. The lid is made of a soft-touch material that feels great to the touch, and it resists fingerprints pretty well. Opening the lid reveals the 14-inch display, which is surrounded by relatively slim bezels. The keyboard is, as always, a highlight of the ThinkPad experience. The keys have a comfortable feel, with good travel and feedback. The TrackPoint, that little red nub in the middle of the keyboard, is also present, which is a ThinkPad staple and a favorite of many users. Overall, the first impressions are very positive. The laptop feels well-built, professional, and ready for business. It's clear that Lenovo has put a lot of thought into the design and construction of this machine. The packaging is also simple and functional, with everything you need to get started right away. The laptop, the power adapter, and some documentation. It's a no-frills experience, but it gets the job done. The overall first impression is very positive, and it sets the stage for a great user experience. Let's delve deeper, shall we? This Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro seems to be a solid choice right from the start.

Design and Build Quality

The design of the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro is all about business. It's not trying to be flashy or attention-grabbing. Instead, it focuses on functionality and practicality. The black chassis is made of a combination of materials, including carbon fiber for the lid and magnesium alloy for the base. This combination gives the laptop a good balance of strength and weight. The laptop feels very solid in hand, and there's no flex in the chassis, even when you apply pressure. The hinges are sturdy, and the screen stays in place when you adjust the viewing angle. The slim bezels around the display give the laptop a modern look, and they help to maximize the screen real estate. The ThinkPad logo is prominently displayed on the lid, and the Lenovo logo is located on the bottom bezel. The keyboard is, as mentioned earlier, a highlight of the ThinkPad experience. The keys are well-spaced, and they have a comfortable feel. The key travel is good, and the feedback is excellent. The TrackPoint is also present, which allows you to control the cursor without taking your hands off the keyboard. The trackpad is smooth and responsive, and it supports multi-touch gestures. The ports are located on the sides of the laptop and on the back. You'll find a good selection of ports, including USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and a headphone jack. The placement of the ports is well-thought-out, and they're easy to access. Overall, the design and build quality of the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro are excellent. The laptop feels well-built, durable, and professional. It's a laptop that's designed to withstand the rigors of daily use. The design is understated and functional, which is what you'd expect from a ThinkPad. It is built to last!

Display and Audio

The Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro features a 14-inch display, which is a good size for productivity and portability. You have a few different display options to choose from, including Full HD (1920x1080) and WQHD (2560x1440) panels. The Full HD panels are generally the more affordable option, and they offer a good balance of resolution and battery life. The WQHD panels provide a sharper and more detailed image, but they can drain the battery a bit faster. The display on the T495s is generally good, with good color accuracy and wide viewing angles. The brightness is also adequate for most situations, but it might struggle a bit in direct sunlight. The display is also available with an optional privacy screen, which helps to prevent others from seeing what's on your screen. This is a useful feature for anyone who works with sensitive information. The audio on the T495s is decent, but it's not going to blow you away. The speakers are located on the bottom of the laptop, and they produce a clear, but somewhat tinny sound. The maximum volume is also not very loud. For listening to music or watching videos, you'll probably want to use headphones or external speakers. The laptop does have a headphone jack, so you can easily connect your favorite headphones. Overall, the display and audio on the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro are adequate for everyday use. The display is good, with good color accuracy and wide viewing angles. The audio is decent, but it's not the laptop's strong suit. If you're a multimedia enthusiast, you might want to consider using external speakers or headphones. The display is sharp and the audio does the job, but it is not the main focus of this laptop. It's more about getting work done!

Performance and Specs

Now, let's talk about the heart of the matter: the performance and specs of the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro. This laptop is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 Pro processor, which is a powerful mobile processor designed for business laptops. The Ryzen 7 Pro offers excellent performance for demanding tasks such as video editing, photo editing, and multitasking. The T495s also comes with up to 32GB of RAM, which is more than enough for most users. This allows you to run multiple applications simultaneously without experiencing any slowdown. For storage, you have the option of up to a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD. SSDs offer significantly faster performance than traditional hard drives, which means that your laptop will boot up and load applications much faster. The graphics are handled by the integrated AMD Radeon Vega graphics. While not as powerful as a dedicated graphics card, the integrated graphics are still capable of handling light gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks. The T495s also features a variety of ports, including USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and a headphone jack. The inclusion of USB-C is particularly important, as it allows you to connect to a variety of peripherals, including external monitors and docking stations. Overall, the performance of the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro is excellent. The Ryzen 7 Pro processor and the ample RAM provide smooth and responsive performance for demanding tasks. The fast SSD ensures that your laptop boots up and loads applications quickly. The integrated graphics are also capable of handling light gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks. You won't be disappointed with the performance of this laptop! It is built to get the job done quickly and efficiently. The specifications make it a powerhouse.

Keyboard, Trackpad, and TrackPoint

One of the defining features of any ThinkPad is its keyboard. The Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro continues this tradition with an excellent keyboard that's a joy to type on. The keys have a comfortable feel, with good travel and feedback. The key spacing is also well-designed, which helps to reduce typos. The keyboard is also spill-resistant, which is a nice feature to have, especially if you're prone to accidents. The TrackPoint, that little red nub in the middle of the keyboard, is another ThinkPad staple. Some people love it, some people hate it. The TrackPoint allows you to control the cursor without taking your hands off the keyboard. This can be especially useful for tasks that require a lot of cursor movement, such as web browsing or working with documents. The trackpad is smooth and responsive, and it supports multi-touch gestures. It's a good alternative to the TrackPoint, and it allows you to easily navigate around the screen. The trackpad also has physical buttons, which is a nice touch. Overall, the keyboard, trackpad, and TrackPoint on the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro are all excellent. The keyboard is comfortable and responsive, and the TrackPoint and trackpad provide a variety of ways to control the cursor. Whether you're a fan of the TrackPoint or not, you're sure to appreciate the quality of the keyboard and the trackpad. It's a typing experience that is hard to beat! The layout is perfect for the professional user who does a lot of typing.

Battery Life

Battery life is an important consideration for any laptop, especially if you're frequently on the go. The Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro offers good battery life, but it's not the best in its class. In general use, you can expect to get around 8-10 hours of battery life. This will vary depending on your usage, of course. If you're doing a lot of video editing or gaming, you can expect the battery life to be significantly shorter. If you're primarily using the laptop for web browsing, word processing, and other light tasks, you can expect to get closer to the 10-hour mark. The T495s also supports fast charging, which allows you to quickly recharge the battery. You can charge the battery to 80% in just about an hour, which is a great feature if you're in a hurry. Overall, the battery life of the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro is good. It's not the best in its class, but it's sufficient for most users. The fast charging feature is a nice bonus. If you're looking for a laptop with exceptional battery life, you might want to consider other options. However, if you're looking for a laptop that offers a good balance of performance and battery life, the T495s is a good choice. It is a solid performer in terms of battery life!

Ports and Connectivity

The Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro is equipped with a good selection of ports and connectivity options, which is essential for any business-class laptop. On the left side, you'll find a USB-C port (used for charging, data transfer, and DisplayPort output), a USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, an HDMI 2.0 port, and a headphone/microphone combo jack. On the right side, there's another USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, a microSD card reader, and a Kensington lock slot. This selection of ports covers most of your needs, allowing you to connect a variety of peripherals, including external monitors, external hard drives, and other accessories. The USB-C port is particularly versatile, as it supports charging, data transfer, and DisplayPort output. This means you can use a single cable to connect to an external monitor and charge your laptop at the same time. In terms of wireless connectivity, the T495s supports Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0. It also offers optional WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network) support, which allows you to connect to the internet using a cellular data connection. This is a great feature for anyone who needs to stay connected on the go. Overall, the ports and connectivity options of the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro are excellent. The laptop provides a good selection of ports, including USB-C, which is essential for modern business users. The wireless connectivity options are also excellent, with Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0 support. The optional WWAN support is a great feature for anyone who needs to stay connected on the go. It has everything you need to connect to the world and get your work done.

Security Features

Security is a top priority for business laptops, and the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro is packed with features to keep your data safe. It includes a fingerprint reader, which allows you to securely log in to your laptop with just a touch. The fingerprint reader is fast and accurate, and it's a convenient alternative to typing in a password. The T495s also features a physical webcam privacy shutter, which allows you to physically cover the webcam when it's not in use. This provides an extra layer of security, as it prevents anyone from spying on you through the webcam. The laptop also supports Windows Hello, which allows you to use facial recognition to log in to your laptop. This is a fast and secure way to log in. In addition to these features, the T495s also includes a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0 chip. The TPM chip is a hardware-based security feature that helps to protect your data from unauthorized access. It encrypts your data and stores your encryption keys securely. The T495s also comes with a variety of software security features, including Lenovo's own security software. Lenovo's security software provides a variety of features, including malware protection, password management, and data encryption. Overall, the security features of the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro are excellent. The laptop includes a variety of hardware and software security features to keep your data safe and secure. It is built to protect your privacy and your work.

Pros and Cons

Let's break down the good and the not-so-good of the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro:

Pros:

• Excellent Performance: The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro processor provides snappy performance for demanding tasks.
• Comfortable Keyboard: The ThinkPad keyboard is renowned for its comfort and accuracy.
• Durable Build Quality: The laptop is built to last, with a robust chassis.
• Good Battery Life: Offers a decent battery life for all-day productivity.
• Comprehensive Security Features: Includes a fingerprint reader, webcam privacy shutter, and TPM 2.0 chip.
• Variety of Ports: Offers a good selection of ports, including USB-C.

Cons:

• Display Quality: The display is good, but it could be brighter.
• Audio Quality: The speakers are adequate, but not exceptional.
• Price: It can be a bit pricier than some other laptops in its class.

Who is the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro For?

The Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro is an excellent choice for a variety of users, particularly those who value performance, portability, and security. Here are some of the people who would benefit the most from this laptop:

• Business Professionals: The T495s is designed for business users who need a reliable and secure laptop for work. Its performance, security features, and portability make it an ideal choice for professionals who are always on the move.
• Students: Students who need a laptop for schoolwork, research, and presentations will find the T495s to be a great choice. Its performance, battery life, and durability make it perfect for students.
• Remote Workers: Remote workers who need a laptop that can handle demanding tasks while also being easy to carry around will appreciate the T495s's portability and performance.
• Anyone who values security: If security is a major concern, the T495s is a good choice. Its fingerprint reader, webcam privacy shutter, and TPM 2.0 chip provide a variety of security features to keep your data safe.

Conclusion

Alright, guys, that wraps up our deep dive into the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro. It's a fantastic laptop that offers a great blend of performance, portability, and security. It's a solid choice for business professionals, students, and anyone who needs a reliable and secure laptop. While the display and audio aren't the best in class, the overall package is excellent. If you're in the market for a new laptop, definitely consider the Lenovo ThinkPad T495s Ryzen 7 Pro – it won't disappoint! Thanks for hanging out with me, and I hope this helps you make an informed decision.