Lenovo ThinkPad SL400 review

Great build quality and value for money, but not the fastest of machines

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Lenovo
The styling of the SL400 hides away the ports around the sides of the casing, which limits damage during transit, but also means it can be fiddly to find ports

TechRadar Verdict

A great little laptop for on the move, this machine does simple tasks very well

Pros

  • +

    Sturdy build

  • +

    Impressive battery life

  • +

    3G connectivity

Cons

  • -

    Basic performance

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The Lenovo ThinkPad line is aimed at business users, but the new SL range is targeted solely at small businesses and home workers looking for business styling, but also more mainstream features.

You'll find the usual ThinkPad styling and attention to detail, but there is less emphasis on commonality of peripherals.

The lid has the usual ThinkPad styling and recessed bezel, but it has no latch to hold the lid closed. The overall build quality of the laptop is great, with thick plastic used throughout. There is a high-gloss lid, but the main body has a standard matt finish.

The keyboard on this smaller model feels slightly cramped in comparison to the larger SL500. However, the keys feel amazingly robust and the action is firm.

The styling of the main chassis hides away the ports around the sides of the casing, which limits damage during transit, but also means it can be fiddly to find ports. There is a fingerprint scanner built into the palm rest, which adds an extra layer of security to the laptop.

As with all the latest ThinkPad models, a 3G module is fitted as standard and comes with 30-days free access using Vodafone.

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