Lenovo ThinkPad P16V Gen 3 review: This mobile workstation might just be the Goldilocks of the ThinkPad line-up right now
by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/collin-probst · TechRadarTechRadar Verdict
The P16V Gen 3 is the most logical portable workstation in Lenovo's line-up right now. By logical, I truly just mean that it is a Goldilocks option offering a phenomenal offering for the cost, with a good balance of power and portability, features and ports. It's a mid-tier 16-inch mobile workstation, with mid-tier being a relative term. It still boasts an Intel Core Ultra 9 285 H and an RTX Pro 2000 Blackwell GPU, but it comes at a reasonable price, all things considered. With that, of course it is not the best in anything, but by nature that is exactly what Lenovo designed. They have several options that are the best in one tier or another, so this is a perfect example of how some compromises in some areas can create an all-around better machine.
Pros
- +4.6lbs
- +RTX PRO 2000 Blackwell
- +Fantastic ports
- +MIL-STD 8-0H
- +90Wh battery
Cons
- -Leaning pricy
- -Not as strong of a GPU as flagship P16
- -Heavy for EDC laptop
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At this point in my professional career, I've tested many laptops and computers, and every single one tries to promote what makes it special. It's always the best at something, the lightest at something, the longest something, the brightest something, the most ports, or something like that. Whatever it is, there's always something that is trying to promote the best of the best at it.
The ThinkPad P16V Gen 3 is one of the unique ones that actually tries not to be the best of the best at anything, but to be a really good middle ground and an all-arounder, creating a Goldilocks-like scenario where it is not the best at anything. However, it's probably a really good option for most who want a portable workstation.
Lenovo has a pretty clear and sleek way of doing this. The ThinkPad P16S is a lightweight variant of this workstation. The P16 is a flagship, and the P16V is the value, or, as I'm referring to it, the Goldilocks version.
Yes, if you have the money, you should do the more expensive one - it remains one of the best laptops for engineering students I've ever tested. Yes, if you want the lightweight version, you should do the S version, but if you want the middle ground and you want to have your cake and eat it too, check out the V variant.
Lenovo ThinkPad P16V Gen 3: Price and availability
The ThinkPad P16V Gen 3 is widely available direct from Lenovo US, Lenovo UK, and other regional sites. You'll also find it from selected retailers.
The base configurations for this laptop start around $2,300, with an Intel Core i7 RTX Pro 5000, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD, all on Windows 11. The version I have is nearing $4,000 and has a Core i7 RTX Pro 2000 Blackwell with 32 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and a WUXGA IPS screen, running Windows 11.
If you're looking for an OLED touch panel, that adds to the price, and you can get up to 96GB of RAM, plus larger storage if you're looking for that as well. The higher you go, eventually it gets to the point where it may be worth just getting the more flagship model rather than the more value-oriented variant.
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