Lenovo · ThinkPad T
ThinkPad T480
A 14-inch business ThinkPad with quad-core processor options, two memory sockets and an optional dual-battery system.
Model history · 7 models, 2011–2018
- 2011ThinkPad T420Compare
- 2012ThinkPad T430Compare
- 2013ThinkPad T440Compare
- 2015ThinkPad T450Compare
- 2016ThinkPad T460Compare
- 2017ThinkPad T470Compare
- 2018ThinkPad T480
- Size
- 14″
- Display
- IPS LCD
- Processor
- Intel Core i5
- Memory
- 8 GB
- Weight
- 1.58 kg
- Battery
- 14.4 h
What reviewers say
Reviewers praise the keyboard, useful ports and responsive office performance, with good access for upgrades. Both find the FHD screen's brightness and colour coverage disappointing. Laptop Mag highlights exceptional endurance with the large external battery, while Windows Central's smaller battery combination provides a working day's use.
From laptopmag.com and windowscentral.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specDisplay
- Screen size
- 14″
- Resolution
- 1920 × 1080
- Panel
- IPS LCD
- Brightness
- 250 nits
- Touchscreen
- No
- Display type
- Listed FHD IPS panel; HD 1366 × 768 TN and WQHD 2560 × 1440 IPS also offered; WQHD 300 nits and 72% stated gamut
- Screen finish
- Anti-glare; optional on-cell ten-point touch on FHD
Performance
- Processor
- Intel Core i5-8250U
- CPU cores
- 4
- CPU threads
- 8
- Graphics
- Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Memory
- 8 GB
- Storage
- 256 GB
- CPU
- 7th-generation dual-core or 8th-generation Core processors; listed configuration verified by Windows Central
- GPU
- Listed configuration uses integrated UHD Graphics 620; optional GeForce MX150 2 GB GDDR5 on other configurations, limited to Core i7 in EMEA
- Memory type
- DDR4-2400; two SO-DIMM sockets, up to 32 GB; 7th-generation processors run memory at 2133 MHz
- Storage type
- One 2.5-inch SATA bay or M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe drive; M.2 adapter limits drive connection to PCIe 3.0 ×2; optional 128 GB second SSD occupies the WWAN slot
Battery and size
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- Up to 14.4 hours
- Battery capacity
- 48 Wh
- Weight
- 1.58 kg
- Thickness
- 19.95 mm
- Width × depth
- 336.6 × 232.5 mm
- Battery life detail
- Listed capacity and MobileMark 2014 claim use optional 24 Wh internal plus 24 Wh external battery; external 48 Wh and 72 Wh packs also offered, up to 29 hours with integrated graphics and 24 + 72 Wh; starting weight shown for integrated graphics and Magnesium cover with small battery combination
- Charger
- 45 W or 65 W USB-C adapter
- Materials
- Magnesium Hybrid or PPS display cover; glass-fibre reinforced plastic bottom
- Colours
- Black
Connections
- Ports
- 2 × USB-A, 2 × USB-C, Thunderbolt, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack
- Wi-Fi
- Intel Wireless-AC 8265, 2×2 802.11ac
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 4.1; hardware supports 4.2, limited by Windows
- Webcam
- Optional 720p with ThinkShutter, or IR plus 720p without shutter
- Operating system
- Windows
- Port detail
- Two USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, USB-C Gen 1 with PD/DisplayPort, USB-C Gen 2/Thunderbolt 3 with PD/DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4b, Gigabit Ethernet, four-format SD reader, combo audio, side dock; optional smart card and nano-SIM
- External displays
- Up to three independent displays; USB-C up to 4096 × 2304 at 60 Hz, HDMI up to 4096 × 2160 at 30 Hz
- Keyboard
- Six-row spill-resistant keyboard with optional LED backlight
- Trackpad
- Buttonless Mylar multi-touch touchpad and TrackPoint
- Speakers
- Stereo speakers, 2 W × 2, Dolby Audio Premium
- Microphones
- Dual-array microphones
- Biometrics
- Optional touch fingerprint reader or IR camera; discrete TPM 2.0
Configurations
| Processor | Memory | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-8250U | 8 GB | 256 GB |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two memory sockets and replaceable storage
- Thunderbolt 3 alongside Ethernet and full-size SD
- Optional internal battery allows external battery swaps without shutting down
Cons
- Larger batteries add weight and bulk
- Base HD display has a lower resolution than the listed FHD configuration
Closest rivals
Model | Size | Display | Processor | Memory | Weight | Battery | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14″ | OLED, 120 Hz | AMD Ryzen AI 9 | 32 GB | 1.57 kg | – | Mar 2025 | |
| 14″ | IPS LCD, 120 Hz | Intel Core Ultra 7 | 16 GB – 32 GB | 1.55 kg | 22 h | Feb 2025 | |
| 14″ | OLED, 144 Hz | Intel Core Ultra 9, Core Ultra X9 378H or Core Ultra X9 388H | 32 GB | 1.65 kg | 32 h | Feb 2026 |
Previous model: ThinkPad T470. Newer model: ThinkPad T490.
Sources
- psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/ThinkPad/ThinkPad_T480/ThinkPad_T480_Spec.PDF
- psrefstuff.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/datasheet/ThinkPad_T480_datasheet_EN.pdf
- windowscentral.com/lenovo-thinkpad-t480-review
- engadget.com/2018-01-04-lenovo-thinkpad-updates-2018.html
Photo: psrefstuff.lenovo.com