The Lenovo ThinkPad T580 is a good business notebook that falls slightly behind its smaller sibling models in the ThinkPad T series.

The input devices speak volumes for the T580. Its input devices are almost as good as in the ThinkPad T480 and T480s. In addition, the T580 also offers a numeric pad, which is going to come in very handy for many users. The case of the T580, which has not changed much when compared to the predecessor, feels somewhat more “rustic” when compared to other ThinkPads that boast a very good build quality. Moreover, the T580 is fairly easy to maintain. Furthermore, the ThinkPad T580 also offers plenty of ports, which were further modernized by the removal of the proprietary connectors. The T580 also delivers a noticeable jump in performance when compared to its predecessor, thanks in large part to its faster-than-average Intel Core i7-8550U CPU as well as the non-MaxQ version of the Nvidia GeForce MX150. As a high-end business laptop, the T580 offers a comprehensive warranty package and many security features – among these features is the practical camera cover known as the ThinkShutter. The last positive aspect of the T580 is the Power Bridge feature, which allows users to swap out the external battery whenever they need to. This offers users an additional measure of flexibility.

The list of our criticisms starts with the display: Because Lenovo still apparently relies on subpar Full HD displays, the 4K screen represents the only high-quality option here. However, in our view, the display of the T580 is not good enough: The brightness is average, and the color space coverage of 90% of sRGB is not that bad, either. However, it is not 100%. The Ultra HD LCD display in the ThinkPad P51 proves that Lenovo can do much better. The UHD screen in the new EliteBook 850 G5 is supposed to achieve an average brightness of 400 cd/m². Lenovo should make some improvements in this department in the next 15-inch model in the ThinkPad T series.

We have a few complaints when it comes to the design, and it is not surprising at all to us that Lenovo has kept the design pretty much the same as in the predecessor model. Some of our complaints include: The overheating and the disappointing battery life: The T580 cannot achieve a battery runtime of even ten hours in our Wi-Fi test with a battery capacity of 105 Wh – here Lenovo should have spent more time and effort optimizing power consumption. The T580 simply draws too much power for a business notebook. It is also quite regrettable that the T580 is plagued by coil whine. Lastly, the performance of the fast SSD in our review device is limited unnecessarily by a slow PCIe connection.

Nevertheless, we still give the T580 a recommendation. However, it is not as good as the smaller 14-inch models such as the T480 and the T480s.

So does the T580 get a recommendation? Yes, the price-to-performance ratio in the “Campus Program” model is impressive. However, for those who do not qualify for Lenovo’s Campus Program, it looks somewhat worse. The T580 is not a bad notebook by any means. However, when compared to other premium 15-inch notebooks like the Dell XPS 15, which is soon going to be available with hexa-core CPUs, the T580 does not seem to do that well. The Power Bridge system can be seen as a reason to buy, which in theory allows unlimited battery life. However, the high energy consumption undermines this feature to some degree. The T580 is a good notebook for business users, especially if you decide to forgo the GeForce MX150, without which the laptop runs noticeably cooler and quieter. Nevertheless, the 14-inch models such as the T480 and T480s are going to be a much better choice for business people, unless, you need the number pad and the 15-inch display, that is. Of course, in that case, the ThinkPad P51 is going to be a better choice for many users anyway.