Lenovo ThinkPad T420s

Name: Lenovo ThinkPad T420s
Brand: lenovo
SKU: 6328653999bae3fc36aaf4ea
Rating: 3.3 (32 reviews)

Based on 32 reviews

The Looria Grade (A - F) accounts for multiple factors, including sentiment, helpfulness, and more. Learn about our sources and ranking.

#40 most mentioned

Reddit · r/thinkpad

Great build quality

Compatible with Windows 10 until October 2025

Can take up to 16GB of RAM

Desktop-like keyboard layout for the nav cluster

Keys are not as stiff and tiring as island style keyboards

Not compatible with Windows 11

Battery life is poor

Can be difficult to find compatible mSATA or M.2 SSDs

Verdict

The Lenovo ThinkPad T420s is a popular laptop choice for those looking for a reliable and powerful machine. It has an i5 processor and 8GB RAM, making it suitable for running virtual machines. It also has a 14" form factor, making it a good size for portability. It can take up to 16GB of RAM and has a mSATA or M.2 slot for a second SSD. It has a desktop-like keyboard layout for the nav cluster and the keys are not as stiff and tiring as island style keyboards. It is also known for its good build quality. Finally, it is compatible with Windows 10 until October 2025.

Explore Alternatives

Compare with...

lenovo info and reviews

Reviews

By topic

By sentiment

Top reviews

Bought a banged up thinkpad T420s (i5 2540m) for < 50 USD. I'm an iOS developer and work mostly with macs, but I've always been a fan of thinkpads and already have an IBM X40 and a T530. I plan on using this laptop as a typing machine (I write content on the side).

Positive

Traditional-Job-145

2 years ago

reddit.com/r/thinkpad

It's a nice quality laptop

It's a nice quality laptop. I was looking for something cheap to use as a windows 2016 server so I liked having 8GB RAM and the i5 processor so I can run some virtual machines with it too. It didn't look used at all and I like the 14" form factor. I never set it up with the OS it came with but insta...

5/5

7 years ago

amazon.com

Need a laptop with VERY durable hinges please! Suggestions?

Sorry i'm just curious, what exactly do you do to open and close laptops so many times?

I would definitely look into business laptop. Used ones can be very affordable. dell latitude, lenovo thinkpad, hp elitebook...

Positive

tired-

3 years ago

reddit.com/r/SuggestALaptop

My Lenovo Thinkpad from nearly a decade ago hasn't been working too well for me lately, sometimes struggling with video calls and buffering videos. Also, it's graphics card isn't good enough to run a few games I'd like to play (Civ 6, Ori & the Blind Forest, Journey).

Negative

KonzorTheMighty

3 years ago

reddit.com/r/SuggestALaptop

I'm a writer and want to get an older Thinkpad for word-processing only

Both because of the more desktop like keyboard layout for the nav cluster, but also because the keys aren't as stiff and tiring as the island style. It's also true that the older the model you get, the better the build quality. So there's another reason to use the 20 series over more newer thinkpads. If you want to know just how good the build quality of the T420 is, here is a video of the T410, which apart from the specs, is basically the same laptop.

Positive

RayplayzRGG

3 years ago

reddit.com/r/thinkpad

The first of many, many thinkpads.. Thanks for the addiction!

The T420s can take 16gb of RAM, and you can run an mSATA SSD for drive 1, a 2.5 inch SSD for drive 2, and a hard drive or SSD in an optical drive caddy for a 3rd drive. With an i7 motherboard they are pretty snappy performers, even now, 9-10 years since they were first produced. They have the best keyboards ever put in a laptop, in my opinion.

Positive

learch31

3 years ago

reddit.com/r/thinkpad

What is the most powerful thinkpad with the clasic keyboard?

The laptops in the previous point would require an ExpressCard to eGPU adapter. Finally, it might be time to let go. I have a T420s hacked to full HD, I have a T420, I have a ThinkPad 25, I have a TEX Shinobi, I have a SK 8855. That is to say, I like this layout :) Still, this year with the many new models with 16:10 or even 3:2 screens, Thunderbolt 4 and 32GB even for the soldered RAM laptops -- it might be time to say good bye.

Positive

chx_

3 years ago

reddit.com/r/thinkpad

T420 passive heatsink plate cooling upgrade preliminary testing conclusion - see comments

I have a t420s runs fast with the 16gb ram and i7-2620m 2 SSD drives also has dual graphics one is Intel other is Nvidia. It can sometimes run hot on windows but on Linux it's cool.

Positive

54bombay

3 years ago

reddit.com/r/thinkpad

I understand that upgrading Thinkpads are fun and are great for the environment..

Memory and SSDs are a relatively cheap upgrade, and most Thinkpads from the T420/X220/W520 onward have a mSATA or M.2 slot that lets you put a second SSD in the machine. These upgrades are relatively cheap and often worth doing, although in some cases ('70/'80 series machines) the slot is a slightly obscure type - 2 lane NVME - so you have to do a bit of homework to find out what models of SSD are compatible.

Positive

nobby-w

3 years ago

reddit.com/r/thinkpad

Just discovered Thinkpads, I'm in love with the retro-look and I'd like to buy one but...

A later bios upgrade meant you can install up to 16GB of RAM. For both T420 and T420s try to find a 1600 x 900 screen, it looks much cleaner than the basic 1366 x 768. If the battery is original, consider it useless and budget for a replacement. With all ThinkPads, listen closely to the fan on boot up, it should be free of any screeching and not hesitate.

Positive

NovelExplorer

3 years ago

reddit.com/r/thinkpad

Specs

Brand

Lenovo

Series

ThinkPad T420s

Screen Size

14 Inches

Color

Black

QUICK QUESTION!

Got an opinion on a product you've used?
If so, we want to hear from you! Write an authentic longevity review about the product and share your experience with our community. You'll have the chance to win a $100 gift card.

More Alternatives