Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 2 review

A 2019 ThinkPad P1 with a real workstation GPU at an ultrabook price

The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 2 (2019) is the standout machine of its neighborhood: an Intel Core i7 9850H (a six-core H-series processor), an NVIDIA Quadro T1000 with ISV certification, and 64GB of RAM — all at $447, above the ultrabook-class median of about $373 but modest for what the hardware is. The graphics score of 45.9 sits in the top quartile at more than ten times the class median, and this time the placing is real silicon, not flattery.

ISV-certified graphics and six-core compute

The capability flags confirm what the parts list promises: Overwatch, Grand Theft Auto V and Rainbow Six Siege all clear recommended settings, not merely minimum, and Adobe Photoshop and Visual Studio Code both pass. The Quadro T1000 brings certified drivers for CAD and creative applications, while the 9850H sustains heavy compute far beyond what U-series chips in this price band manage. With 64GB of RAM in the top quartile, this is a genuine mobile workstation at a consumer-ultrabook price.

The one soft spot: service outlook

The verdict names reliability the leading weakness — an index of 34 against an ultrabook-class median of 51. Read that in context: the P1 packs workstation parts into a thin chassis, and thermal wear shows in the number. Buyers should inspect the cooling path and battery, but the compromise is a fair price for the capability on offer.

Workstation depreciation at its steepest

From a $1400 nominal base the P1 has fallen to $447, about 8.45% per year, with a projected $375 in two years. Mobile workstations shed value quickly as certified GPU generations pass — which is precisely what makes this listing cheap for the buyer.

Few honest comparisons nearby

Pricier neighbor: the HP Pavilion 16-ag0052wm ($483). Cheaper options — the Elite c640 G3 Chromebook ($385) and HP Laptop 15s-fq2621n ($410) — are consumer machines without certified graphics or six-core CPUs. The P1 stands effectively alone at this price with this configuration.

Bottom line

The ThinkPad P1 Gen 2 at $447 is the strongest capability-per-dollar pick in its neighborhood: a real Quadro T1000, a six-core i7, 64GB of RAM and recommended-level game clearances. The honest costs are reliability below par (34) and the steep workstation depreciation still to come. For CAD, creative work or a powerful do-everything machine, it is the buy of this batch.