This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/amdlaptops by /u/zm003 on 2023-08-26 19:21:07.
PSREF
As delivered 14APH8: 7840HS/ 32gb/ 400 nits screen
compared to14ARE05 4800u/16gb/250 nits screen (I'll just call it 4th gen)
Side by Side
Clamshell side by side
Build Quality:
There’s a definite improvement from the 4th gen. With its rounded edges and better weight distribution, it surprisingly feels lighter and more comfortable in one hand—even though it's a bit heavier. Gives off a Mac Air M1 vibe when holding it. Everything fits tighter than before, there are more clips around, making it a tad harder to pry open. Fewer screws this time, and no hidden ones. But you’ll need a T5 screwdriver if you plan on getting inside.
Touchpad:
It's better than the 4th gen, no doubt. Still doesn't have the haptics like the M1, but that’s what you get with a Windows laptop, right? The scroll and navigation feel good. Didn’t encounter any stutter or pinning issues I had with the 4th gen. It's a bit on the clicky side but works well.
Keyboard:
It has shorter key travel, 1.3mm compared to 1.5mm from the 4th gen. Sounds a tad louder and feels somewhat different. There are four backlight modes: auto, low, high, and off. The layout's the same, and the typing experience is familiar. The fact that there's no mushiness is commendable.
Display:
Even though it's advertised with better specs, it's just a smidge brighter than the old 250 cd/m² one. It's fine indoors, in an office setting. But for outdoor use, it might not be the best.
SSD & Upgrade Options:
It came with a 2260 shimmed into a 2280 slot. Upgraded to a Samsung 980 Pro right away since the factory one seemed a bit off. The WiFi module is MediaTek, and it seems replaceable, though I didn't try. If you’re thinking about tinkering, invest in a quality PH000 screwdriver; learned it the hard way.
14APH8 internals, not the metallic SSD shim
Fans:
This model has a dual fan setup, unlike the single fan in the 4th gen. It gets pretty loud (w/o high pitch), especially during heavy-duty tasks. It's a trade-off for the better performance and longevity, I think. With my 4th gen, after using the Ryzen utility to consistently push it beyond 10k, it began to show signs of stress within a year, occasionally giving me the dreaded blue screen during peak load. Upon investigation, I discovered that an internal component got as hot as the CPU under load. My solution was to apply a thermal pad. Notably, this newer model seems to have preemptively addressed this by adding a factory-installed thermal pad to that very component. Clever move by Lenovo.
Performance:
On my 4th gen, I run a stripped down version of Win10 without a Windows Store, so I had to hunt for alternatives to Lenovo Vantage. To my surprise, Lenovo's come a long way with their software in the interim. A standout feature? The adaptive performance mode. You get the same oomph on battery as you do when you're plugged in. Got the same score of 15,760 irrespective of the power source on Cinebench R23 at 26C ambient.
WiFi MediaTek:
It synced right up with Ubuntu 22.04, even with its half-a-year-old kernel. On a stripped down version of Win10, I needed some tweaks. Found a handy guide online that involved downloading drivers from the Microsoft Update Catalog and then force installing them via the device manager. With Win10 Pro, though? Smooth sailing right out of the gate. In terms of performance, the connection subjectively seems more solid and faster than the Intel WiFi I had on the 4th gen.
Gaming:
Tried out "Metro: Detroit" and it ran without hitches at default settings. Wish I had more time to test other titles.
Overall Thoughts:
I’m genuinely impressed by the improvements in this gen compared to the 4th gen. From build quality to the updated Lenovo software, it feels like a more refined machine. The screen brightness is a bit of a letdown, but overall, it's a solid choice. Especially considering the 50%+ performance bump without a price hike.
