Lenovo ThinkPad E480 review

ThinkPad E480 — a Radeon RX 550 entry point to ThinkPad ergonomics

The E480 (2017) is the entry ThinkPad 14-incher, here with a real entry dGPU: a Core i5-8250U, Radeon RX 550, and 32GB of RAM at $256, under the $297 business-class median. The measured profile: graphics 24.13 against the near-floor 3.84 class median — a 528% above-median placing backed by a genuine card, not an artifact — with reliability 25 versus 42.5 (the named weakness) and CPU 35.9 versus 53 on generation grounds.

What it does well

By ok-flags the RX 550 clears minimum settings for Overwatch, Grand Theft Auto V, and Civilization 6 — a modest but real gaming dimension for a business machine. The quad-core 8250U with 32GB of RAM handles office and light development work well. The E-series delivers the ThinkPad keyboard and serviceability basics at the value price.

The trade-offs, stated plainly

Reliability at 25 versus 42.5 is the age marker: a seven-year-old value-tier platform. The RX 550 is entry-tier even by 2018 standards — light titles at modest settings, nothing more. The E-chassis flexes where the T-series holds. Performance is mid-pack against newer class rivals.

Price trajectory

From a $1,300 launch configuration it has declined at about 7.6% per year to $256, with a projected $219 in two years (15% further). The dGPU configuration holds value slightly better than the iGPU baseline.

Against its neighbors

Only two measured analogs sit in band, both cheaper: an HP EliteBook 840 G6 at $225 and a Dell Latitude 3500 at $234. The EliteBook 840 G6 at $225 is the premium-chassis rival for $31 less — but with iGPU-only graphics; the E480's card is the honest differentiator for casual-gaming buyers.

Bottom line

Worth its price for the buyer who wants ThinkPad ergonomics plus a genuine entry gaming dimension: quad-core, 32GB, RX 550, ok-flag clearance on light titles. For pure office duty the cheaper 840 G6 neighbor wins; for anything beyond light gaming, move up-band.