ThinkPad T430 and T430s Picture and Video Comparison

I happen(ed) to have the ThinkPad T430 and T430s together this week so took the opportunity to shoot some photos and video for a visual comparison. Here's a link the video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLpMSEfPw4Y and pics below, in most cases the T430s is on the left and T430 on the right, though in the ports comparison pics they're reversed, so rule of thumb whichever one is thinner is the T430s of course.

Pictures Below here are T430s on on the left, T430 on the right































Reversed: Pictures Below here T430 on on the left, T430s on the right











The screen comparison shots show that the viewing angles are about the same for the 1600 x 900 T430s screen compared to the 1366 x 768 T430 screen. Neither screen is anything to write home about.

The T430 with the 9-cell weighs a full 1.2lbs more than the T430s, definitely noticeable in every day use. Here's a handy dandy table that summarizes the differences of these two machines, basically they're very similar but the T430 has dedicated graphics options and the T430s you're paying for the more premium thin design and light weight. As others have noted, you also get a ThunderBolt port option if you get Core i7 on the T430s, which could be appealing to some.

Here's a handy dandy table summarizing the similarities and differences, the red bolded rows indicate where there's a difference.

	ThinkPad T430	ThinkPad T430s (Slim)
Processor Options	Intel Core i3-2370M Processor (3M Cache, 2.40GHz) Intel Core i5-3210M Processor (3M Cache, 2.50GHz) Intel Core i5-2520M Processor (3M Cache, 2.50GHz) Intel Core i5-3320M Processor (3M Cache, 2.60GHz) Intel Core i5-3360M Processor (3M Cache, 2.80GHz) Intel Core i7-3520M Processor (4MB L3, 2.90GHz)	Intel Core i3-2370M Processor (3M Cache, 2.40GHz) Intel Core i5-3320M Processor (3M Cache, 2.60GHz) Intel Core i7-3520M Processor (4MB L3, 2.90GHz)
Screen	14.0" HD (1366 x 768) LED Backlit AntiGlare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready 14.0" HD+ (1600 x 900) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready ($50 upgrade)	14.0" HD (1366 x 768) LED Backlit AntiGlare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready 14.0" HD+ (1600 x 900) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready ($50 upgrade)
Graphics Options	Intel HD Graphics 4000 Nvidia NVS 5200M Nvidia NVS 5400M	Intel HD Graphics 4000 Nvidia NVS 5200M
Memory	Up to 16GB	Up to 16GB
Keyboard	Standard or Backlit option ($40)	Standard or Backlit option ($40)
Ports	2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0 (one always on), Mini DisplayPort, VGA, 4-in-1 card reader, optional smart card reader	2x USB 3.0, always-on USB 2.0, Mini DisplayPort, VGA, 4-in-1 card reader, optional smart card reader
Camera	720p HD camera option	720p HD camera option
Storage	320GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm 500GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm 500GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm 128GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA3 180GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA3	320GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm 500GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm 500GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm 128GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA3 180GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA3
Ultrabay Options	DVD Recordable 2nd HDD 500GB, 7200rpm w/adapter 1 TB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm with Bay Adapter	DVD Recordable 2nd HDD 500GB, 7200rpm w/adapter 1 TB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm with Bay Adapter
Battery Options	6 Cell Li-Ion TWL 70+ 9 Cell Li-Ion TWL 70++ Battery slice option	6 Cell Lithium Battery T81+ Battery slice option
Wireless	ThinkPad 1x1 b/g/n Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2200 (2x2 BGN) Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 AGN Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN	ThinkPad 1x1 b/g/n Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2200 (2x2 BGN) Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 AGN Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN
Mobile	Mobile Broadband upgradable Qualcomm Gobi 3000 Integrated Mobile Broadband (Sierra Wireless MC7700 - Gobi 4000 for AT&T) Integrated Mobile Broadband (Sierra Wireless MC7750 - Gobi 4000 for Verizon)	Mobile Broadband upgradable Qualcomm Gobi 3000 Integrated Mobile Broadband (Sierra Wireless MC7700 - Gobi 4000 for AT&T) Integrated Mobile Broadband (Sierra Wireless MC7750 - Gobi 4000 for Verizon)
Weight	4.78lbs	3.90lbs
Thickness	1.18–1.20"	0.83–1.02"

 

Not that much thinner when looking at pictures, I guess there was no need for Lenovo to even try to make T430s slightly thinner than T420s given the number of ultrabookish laptops they are about to release...
Thats pitty, for some it might turn into T430 vs ThinkPad branded "ultrabook" instead of T430 vs T430s.
I wonder what the battery life on T430s will be and if its as bad as on previous T4x0s whats the intended market for one?

 

Lenovo has X1 Carbon for the ultrabook market. T430s's target market would be for Thinkpad users with a requirement for a light notebook. I doubt X1 Carbon will be as expandable as the T430s. Plus, it will definitely be more expensive.

 

A 2009 article in NotebookReview says:

Time has changed. Lenovo should either evolve the T4X0s or retire it. I think the latter scenario is appropriate, given the current Lenovo notebook portfolio (confusing) and overall notebook market direction (interesting).

Yeah.

 

In my opinion, Lenovo should retire the T4x0 and replace it with the T4x0s. With such a transition, the "s" moniker should also be retired, making for a thinner T4x0 laptop.

 

Agree. Evolve (each model) and rationalize (the portfolio).

 

As long as they are selling, why bother? Large businesses are unlikely to go for ultrabook given the abuse they will face. Neither screen quality nor SSD is all that important to them.

I also suspect ultrabooks have much lower margin, preventing manufactures to lower bulk prices for businesses.

 

A lot of people would still take the lower cost/more battery life of the T4x0 over the thinner/lighter of the T4x0s. Unless thin, light, more battery life, and lower cost can be combined in the T4x0s/T4x0 successor, I don't see why there is a need to eliminate the T4x0s in favor of a T4x0s size T4x0.

Looking at Lenovo's competitors. Dell isn't making a thinner/lighter design for their E64x0, but rather introducing a thin/light E64x0s line.

From a business standpoint, I think having both the T4x0 series and the T4x0s series makes sense. From a tech geek standpoint, I think having the separate also is good since it would take a lot of compromises to get the T4x0s price down to T4x0 levels.

 

Also, businesses probably wouldn't spend the money to purchase T430s in bulk. Most people will use T430 whereas frequent travelers get the T430s. I suspect T430 is selling for $500 a piece with T430s maybe in the $600 range.

 

where's thunderbolt?

 

I'll post back next week when I've done a battery rundown test, right now I can't state the battery life other than what the battery indicator says.

I got the Core i5 model so no ThunderBolt on the T430s that I have. To be honest, I didn't realize there was a ThunderBolt option at time of configuration otherwise I would have upgraded. Lenovo is doing a poor job of promoting that, it certainly doesn't show at configuration time.

I somewhat agree on the T430 and T430s being confusing, but it's now the fourth year Lenovo has introduced an "s" model so apparently it sells well enough to justify. I will note that they killed off selling the ThinkPad S430 in North America because they thought it was too close to the T430s, so they're aware of trying to avoid product proliferation. I reached out to people I know at Lenovo to see if they have any info on the X1 Carbon release date and price, but it's still undetermined. I'm most interested to hear the price of the X1, that'll determine whether it's a mere "halo product" nobody can justify buying or a solid alternative option to the T430 series.

 

Yea, but this year is different. They are making the T430U and of course the X1 Carbon. IT adds to the confusion over differentiation.

 

True. I'm giving at least a slim chance that the T430u ends up getting axed for availability in certain regions like the S430 did. It's another model Lenovo has gone kind of quiet on which was the fate of the S430 before news arrived of limited sales regions. Ultimately the sales team at Lenovo decides if they want to sell to their customers in a region, if their thinking is like yours then they may say forget it, we're not confusing our customers like that or dealing with the extra support it requires.

 

I also want to note I had the X230 and W530 on hand, and their screens are both definitely better than the T430, so there is hope -- as long as you don't want a T-series.

More pics and video on the x230, t430 and w530 screen comparison are here.

 

If anything, I think the T430u should be cut.

The rest fall into very distinct and different categories. T430 is a Thin and Light, T430s is an Full featured ultraportable, and X1C is an Ultrabook.

 

To me, the T430s and T430u are both rather redundant. Bring the cost of the slim and lightweight X1C down to a relatively reasonable level (we'll see when it's officially released, I suppose), and keep the bread-and-butter T430 for those who need performance and battery life at a good price. Focus the money on R&D for those models, which are actually distinct and hit different markets.

 

Yea, it seems clear something has to go. If the T430U has decent battery life, they may axe the T430S.

But you never know with Lenovo's Expansionism.

 

I actually don't get the point of T430 given that T530 has a much better screen and is not that much heavier. It does seems to be cheaper and businesses are getting them in bulk. If X1C is as thin as MBA, then it's quite a different category from T430s, if not, well then it should be.

 

That's such a major failure. Because some people will only buy the notebook because of the single and only reason of having thunderbolt.
also only having it with an i7 option is stupid. it becomes very expensive. it should be an option just like ram or hdd or cpu.
I would buy it in a hearbeat with a crappy i3 cpu. or even without a cpu.

 

The T430 has a much more convenient form factor. I have a work-issued T410, and compared to my personal T500, there's most definitely a difference in both weight and perceived size. And, the 14" form factor is much more popular with businesses than the 15" form factor.

Correct, the X1C is in a different category than the T430s. But the T430s is redundant from "what do you want in your laptop?" point of view; with its only distinctions being its ODD (more and more irrelevant in today's world) and docking port.

Need light weight? X1C trumps the T430s. Need portability but a higher resolution screen? The X1C's screen is the same resolution as the T430s' panel, and is of higher quality. Need a thin Thinkpad? The X1C is thinner and lighter. For more processing power and a long battery life, the T430 fills the segment at a much lower price. No doubt the T430s is different, but I personally think it's a waste of R&D time and doesn't offer enough differences.

 

T430s is likely cheaper than X1C and it's more suitable for business where it can be easily customized and managed. X1C is likely SSD based to compete with Ultrabook, or at least it should be.

 

Neither hit the market of "I everything that the T430 has, but smaller." It seems to be a rather lucrative market, since Dell and HP are joining the fun with slim, yet full featured, version of their 14 inch business notebooks.

But that doesn't make them more money. It's like how they did USB3 on the *20 generation. It sucks for us, but apparently its good for the shareholders, and isn't too bad for their customers.

Following that logic, the only laptops we would have are UMPC's and 2P workstations stuffed into a laptop like chassis. The UMPCs will always be the lightest most portable, and the monstrosities from Eurocom and friends will always be faster. Luckily for us, there is a huge market for what sits in between those two extremes.

Likewise, there is plenty of demand for something that sits in between the T430s and the X1C. Dell and HP are releasing T430s competitors for a reason, people buy them.

 

I also don't understand what kind of R&D is wasted on T430s other than testing the new motherboard and CPU. They are pretty much just milking the cow now.

 

The comparison table is wrong about the Ultrabay battery, the T430 doesn't support that, it has a slice option.

 

It's called shareholder value. Or maybe more accurately, executive compensation. Until there's really a reason to change their 14" milk cow, they won't.

HP, Dell, Lenovo and others have a 14" corporate machine for a reason. Big bucks in those contracts.

 

You'd think that companies would opt for the T4x0 instead of the T4x0s, but in my company, your choice is a T4x0s, a Macbook Air, or Macbook Pro.

 

Thanks for the correction, I adjusted that.