The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 portable workstation promises high-end components in a sleek, lightweight design. With a hefty price tag, our review explores whether this machine delivers the performance creators and professionals demand. Spoiler alert: for the price, it falls short.
A Closer Look at the ThinkPad P1 Gen 6
Lenovo offers a vast array of configurations for the ThinkPad P1 Gen 6, starting at $3,609 for a relatively basic setup. Our review unit, priced at $5,394, featured a Core i7-13800H vPro processor, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, a stunning OLED display, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU. While this configuration sits in the mid-to-high range, it’s still a significant investment that demands exceptional performance.
Performance: Disappointing for a Workstation
Portable workstations are built for demanding tasks, boasting top-tier CPUs and GPUs alongside advanced cooling systems. While thin and light models like the ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 might not match the raw power of their bulkier counterparts, they should still justify their premium price with strong performance.
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 side view showing ports and lid.Image: Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 ports and closed lid
Our testing revealed underwhelming performance, especially considering the $5,394 price point. The Core i7-13800H, while a capable processor, didn’t deliver the expected performance boost. Furthermore, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, although powerful, isn’t optimized for typical workstation applications. Lenovo does offer workstation-grade GPUs like the Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada, which could potentially improve performance in professional workflows.
Comparing the ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 to mainstream laptops costing thousands less revealed a surprising trend. These less expensive machines often matched or even surpassed the Lenovo workstation in performance benchmarks. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, a gaming laptop priced around half as much, showcased significantly faster performance across the board.
| Benchmark | Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 | Lenovo Slim Pro 9i | Lenovo Legion Pro 7i | MSI Prestige 16 Studio | Dell XPS 15 (9530) | Apple MacBook Pro 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench (single/multi) | 1,849 / 11,536 | 1,688 / 13,283 | 2,020 / 19,041 | 1,880 / 6,951 | 1,787 / 11,978 | 1,973 / 14,596 |
| Handbrake (seconds) | 75 | 71 | 55 | 139 | 79 | 85 |
| Cinebench R23 (single/multi) | 1,942 / 15,248 | 1,690 / 16,645 | 2,096 / 22,596 | 1,797 / 7,959 | 1,865 / 13,386 | 1,608 / 14,789 |
| Pugetbench Premiere Pro | 808 | 912 | 1,151 | 668 | 866 | 1,093 |
The ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 also struggled in gaming benchmarks. While not its primary purpose, the inclusion of a powerful GPU warrants evaluation. Here again, the results were underwhelming, with other gaming laptops offering superior performance at lower price points.
| Benchmark | Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 | Lenovo Legion Pro 7i | MSI GT77 Titan 2023 | Razer Blade 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 9,806 | 18,017 | 20,836 | 12,6334 |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (1080p Ultra High) | 71 fps | 125 fps | 150.9 fps | 83 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p Ultra) | 67 fps | 114 fps | 132.7 fps | 91 fps |
| Civilization 6 (1080p Ultra) | 160 fps | 217 fps | N/A | N/A |
Design and Features: Classic ThinkPad
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 front angled view showing display and keyboard.Image: Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 keyboard and display
The ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 retains the classic ThinkPad aesthetic, with its black chassis, red accents, and iconic TrackPoint. While sturdy, the lid exhibits some flex, a common characteristic of carbon fiber constructions. Despite its relatively thin and light profile, the laptop feels larger due to its sizable display bezels.
The keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience, with well-spaced keys and satisfying key travel. The TrackPoint, while functional, occupies valuable space that could be allocated to the touchpad. Connectivity is comprehensive, though the inclusion of a microSD card reader instead of a full-size SD card slot is a minor drawback.
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 top down view showing keyboard and touchpad.Image: Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 keyboard and touchpad overview
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 left side view showing ports.Image: Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 left side ports
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 right side view showing ports.Image: Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 right side ports
The OLED display is a highlight, delivering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent image quality. Audio quality is adequate for casual use, but lacks bass and overall richness.
Display: OLED Excellence
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 front view showing display.Image: Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 display
Our review unit featured the 4K+ OLED display, and it’s truly impressive. The vibrant colors, perfect blacks, and high resolution create an immersive visual experience.
Conclusion: A Difficult Recommendation
The ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 offers a premium design, a stunning display, and a comprehensive feature set. However, its underwhelming performance, especially given its high price, makes it a difficult recommendation. For the same investment, or even less, you can find mainstream laptops that deliver comparable or even superior performance. Unless you require specific workstation-grade features, alternative options offer a better value proposition.
