As the RAM-pocalypse begins to bite, the threat of increasing laptop prices suggested by analysts last week has meant millions of professionals are now looking at more future-proofed laptops that will stay useful for years to come.
The laptop I recommend, which features specs that will keep it running even as tech advances and software becomes more demanding, is the Lenovo's ThinkPad T14s Gen 7 with a Snapdragon X2 Elite chip. It features Wi-Fi 7, an 80 TOPS NPU, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB drive. ThinkPads haven't let us down yet, and this is a prime example.
• Best for: Business users and mobile professionals who want a thin, future-proof ThinkPad with long battery life and Copilot+ AI features.
• The deal: The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 7 now $2169 (was $2669) at Lenovo. In the UK, the same model is currently £2855.
• What we like: The T14s is one of our favorite business laptops, powerful enough for the office and beyond, but still portable enough for the commute. We've tested multiple generations of this machine, and they've all been excellent. Our hardware editor has sworn by them since the Gen 4.
• What to know: The 's' line of ThinkPads strips out the Ethernet port to keep the size slim. if that's important, opt for the T14 or T16 instead.
October 16. I've checked prices and the Snapdragon-powered Gen 7 is still $2169 at Lenovo.
Price Context & Historical Value
ThinkPads have always performed strongly in our tests - and our hardware editor has sworn by them for years now. The T14s line remains one of our favorites, delivering high scores across the Gen 4 and Gen 6 models.
While we haven't tested the Gen 7 configuration yet, we have reviewed the Gen 6 model and found "a robust, battery-efficient business laptop that excels in portability and connectivity."
The Gen 7 edition ticks the future-proofing boxes business buyers care about: an 80 TOPS NPU for Copilot+ features, Wi-Fi 7, ThinkShield security, MIL-STD-810H durability testing, and customer-replaceable parts that Lenovo says make it easier to extend the laptop's life.
It's a thin, light ThinkPad built for work on the move, and it comes with 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage rather than the lower-spec starting configurations.
For more picks, we've tested the best business laptops.
Value verdict
At $2,169, this is $500 (about 19%) off Lenovo's $2,669 "est. value", which is Lenovo's own reference price rather than a tracked street price. Lenovo labels it a doorbuster with a five-unit limit, so the price may not last. Lenovo also offers business and student pricing through its members-only offers.
