Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Premium Business Ultrabook - Thin, Secure

In this review the Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Premium Business Ultrabook is evaluated for professionals who need a portable workhorse with stronger security and a premium build. The bottom line: this 14in notebook pairs a quad-core Intel i5-8265U and 16GB RAM with a 500GB NVMe PCIe SSD and a dedicated Radeon 540X GPU, delivering responsive multitasking, quick launches, and modest graphics headroom in a slim aluminum chassis with built-in security for business users.

Key Features

• Processor: The Intel Quad Core i5-8265U provides balanced performance and battery-friendly efficiency for typical office workflows and light content creation.
• Storage: The 500GB NVMe-PCIe SSD offers fast boot and application load times so users spend less time waiting and more time working.
• Memory: With 16GB DDR4 RAM, the ThinkBook handles multiple browser tabs, virtual meetings and productivity apps without frequent swapping to disk.
• Display: The 14in FHD IPS anti-glare screen gives a wide viewing angle and clear text for long work sessions, and the narrow bezels make the chassis compact.
• Security: Integrated dTPM 2.0, a fingerprint reader in the power button and ThinkShutter privacy cover provide layered protection for business data.
• Design: The full aluminum body and a six-row backlit keyboard combine a premium feel with comfortable typing in low light.

Who It's For

The ThinkBook 14s is aimed at business professionals, consultants and students who want a solid balance of portability, security and performance without a large premium. Its lightweight 2.95 lb chassis and 16mm thin profile make it easy to carry between meetings and travel, while the dedicated Radeon 540X helps with multimedia tasks and light photo editing.

People who need top-tier gaming performance or the absolute latest CPU generation should look elsewhere; likewise those who require touchscreens or extremely bright displays for outdoor use may prefer a different model. For Linux users or teams deploying Linux Mint, the preinstalled Linux Mint 19.3 (Cinnamon) is a plus for out-of-the-box compatibility.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Solid multitasking thanks to a capable i5 CPU and 16GB RAM.
• Fast NVMe storage that significantly reduces boot and application load times.
• Premium aluminum chassis with a comfortable backlit keyboard and good build quality.
• Hardware security features including fingerprint reader and dTPM 2.0 for business protection.

Cons

• The 250 nit FHD screen is adequate indoors but not very bright for direct sunlight use.

Specifications

Processor	Intel Quad Core i5-8265U (up to 3.90 GHz, 6M Cache)
Memory	16GB DDR4 (PC4-2666MHz SODIMM)
Storage	500GB NVMe-PCIe SSD
Display	14in FHD IPS 1920x1080 anti-glare (250 nits)
Graphics	AMD Radeon 540X 2GB dedicated
Operating System	Linux Mint 19.3 (Cinnamon) 64-bit
Weight & Thinness	About 2.95 lbs, 16mm thin

Our Verdict

The ThinkBook 14s is a strong pick for business users who want a compact, well-built laptop with fast storage, ample RAM and useful hardware security. It delivers good day-to-day performance and mobility for office productivity and light creative work, making it good value for professionals who prioritize build quality and data protection over extreme brightness or gaming-class graphics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this model come with a touchscreen?
No, the ThinkBook 14s in this configuration has a non-touch 14in FHD IPS anti-glare display.

Is the storage upgradeable?
Yes, the system uses a NVMe-PCIe SSD slot which can be upgraded, subject to compatibility with the chassis and connector.

Will Linux Mint work well on this machine?
Yes, this unit ships with Linux Mint 19.3 (Cinnamon) 64-bit preinstalled, ensuring basic compatibility and drivers for the included hardware.