Lenovo ThinkPad L470 Review (2025): No-Nonsense Refurbished Business Laptop

Introduction

Released in 2017, the Lenovo ThinkPad L470 is built for the kind of user who values reliability, sturdy design, and long battery life over flashy specs. ThinkPad’s L-series has always been about giving enterprise users and students that dependable workhorse that won’t quit halfway through the day — and the L470 continues to embody that philosophy even in 2025.

In an era of ultra-thin laptops, touch screens, high refresh rates, and fancy chassis, the L470 reminds us what matters most: solid performance, good keyboard, plenty of ports, and uptime. Refurbished units of this model are attractive precisely because they deliver those essentials for much less money than new business ultrabooks.

In this review, we will go through the L470’s specifications, design, display, performance, battery, connectivity, and where it stands in 2025, including comparisons with similar models from Dell, HP, and Asus. We’ll also cover advantages and trade-offs so you can decide whether the L470 is right for you.

Specifications Overview

Design and Build Quality

The ThinkPad L470 is unapologetically practical. Its sturdy chassis uses reinforced plastics and durable hinges; the lid may not have the premium finish of a metal laptop, but it survives day-to-day bumps, commuting, and travel better than many fragile ultrabooks.

Keyboard is one of the strongest parts of this machine. ThinkPad’s signature feel—deep key travel, tactile feedback, the TrackPoint—makes it comfortable for long typing sessions. A spill-resistant keyboard adds peace of mind. The palm rest and layout are business-friendly, and the matte finish helps avoid greasy fingerprints.

While the weight (~1.87-1.9 kg) and thickness (~2.3 cm) make it noticeably heavier than ultralight laptops, it’s still manageable — especially if you value durability and port selection over featherweight design.

Display

Most refurbished L470s you'll find now either have a Full HD IPS panel or the base HD panel. The Full HD versions deliver sharper text, more usable workspace, and better clarity in spreadsheets, code, and documents. The HD panel is serviceable but feels dated by 2025 standards.

Brightness is modest; the Full HD panels reach acceptable levels for indoor and shaded outdoor use, but won’t compete in bright sunlight. Colors are stable, though not rich enough for serious creative work. Viewing angles are good with the IPS panels; with the HD/TN panels, they fall off at oblique angles.

Audio from the built-in speakers is okay for video calls or casual media, though bass is weak and the maximum volume causes distortion. The webcam remains standard 720p—adequate for meetings but not for high-quality streaming.

Performance and Everyday Usage

For standard business tasks, the L470 still performs well. Paired with the 7th Gen Core i5, even dual-core, and 8-16 GB RAM, the machine handles:

• Office productivity: Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Browsing with many tabs open
• Video conferencing (e.g. Zoom, Teams)
• Light coding and development (IDEs, lightweight VMs)
• Document editing, PDFs, basic media consumption

SSD models launch apps quickly, boot fast, and feel responsive. The integrated graphics (HD 620) are not for gaming or heavy graphical work, but they manage displays, video streaming, and UI smoothly.

Thermally, the L470 is well-tuned for its class: under light tasks, it remains cool and quiet. Under heavier loads, the fan ramps up and some warmth is felt in the keyboard or base, but there is no extreme overheating in typical business usage.

Battery Life

Perhaps the most impressive part per original reviews is the L470’s battery life. With the optional external battery and Full HD screen, some units reached close to 16 hours in standard battery tests. Typical mixed usage (web, documents, video calls) yields 7-10 hours depending on battery health and brightness.

For many users, this means you can get through a workday without needing to constantly recharge, especially if you adjust settings (lower brightness, disable unnecessary wireless, etc.). Battery health in refurbished units is the key variable—good condition battery makes a big difference.

Connectivity & Ports

One of the L470’s advantages in 2025 is its generous and practical port selection. Unlike many ultrabooks that force you into dongles, the L470 includes:

• Multiple USB-A ports
• HDMI port for external display
• Ethernet (RJ-45) port for wired networking
• Audio jack for headphones/microphone
• Some units include VGA or dock port for legacy display support

These make it valuable for business setups, schools, or situations where you plug into projectors, wired networks, or older equipment.

Why the ThinkPad L470 Still Matters in 2025

• Excellent value: refurbished units cost substantially less than new business ultrabooks.
• Durability: ThinkPad build quality, spill resistance, robust hinges remain strong.
• Keyboard and input: many new laptops sacrifice keyboard feel; the L470 holds onto it.
• Battery life: with a good battery, you get long uptime.
• Upgradeable: RAM and storage upgrades are possible; allows extending its life.
• Ports & legacy features: preserved features like Ethernet, VGA/dock are useful when older peripherals are involved.

Comparison with Dell, HP, Asus Models

Here’s how the L470 stacks up with similar business/affordable machines from Dell, HP, and Asus as of 2025.

Takeaways:

• If you prioritize keyboard, ports, legacy compatibility, the L470 often beats Dell, HP, Asus budget ultrabooks in those specific areas.
• If you want lighter weight, newer CPUs, superior display panels, you’ll find better choices in recent Latitude, EliteBook, or ExpertBook models—but you pay more.
• For many users, refurbished L470 offers a sweet-spot: decent performance, solid build, long battery, but at a lower cost than premium modern machines.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Legendary ThinkPad keyboard and input experience
• Solid build & durability, suitable for business wear and tear
• Generous port selection, including some legacy features still useful
• Strong battery life in many scenarios, especially refurbished with good battery
• Upgradable RAM and storage despite being older model
• Affordability in refurbished condition gives great value

Cons

• Display not outstanding: brightness, color gamut less than premium panels
• Older CPU generation means less performance for demanding tasks (video editing, heavy multitasking)
• Integrated graphics limit creative and gaming tasks
• Heavier and thicker than modern ultrabooks or slim business laptops
• Some units may have battery degradation; purchase quality matters

Why Buying Refurbished L470 Makes Sense

In 2025, the refurbished market is mature and the ThinkPad L470 plays well in it because:

• Price differential is substantial: you may get this model for much less than modern business laptops with newer CPUs.
• Repairs and parts are still available; keyboard, hinge, battery replacements are easier.
• For tasks most users do (coding, spreadsheets, meetings, document editing), it is more than sufficient.
• Fewer surprises: fewer fragile parts; more predictable performance.

If you choose one, inspect battery health, screen condition, and ensure it comes with SSD (not slow HDD) to get the best experience.

Conclusion

The Lenovo ThinkPad L470 may no longer be the latest model, but it remains one of the more practical choices for business and student users in 2025. It doesn’t lead in raw performance, display premium features, or lightweight fashion—but it delivers what it promises: dependable performance, excellent input devices, strong battery life, and durability.

If you want a machine that works, handles your daily productivity load, gives you reliable uptime, and doesn’t cost a fortune, the L470 is still a contender. For users who demand flashy screens or intense creative work, newer laptops will offer advantages—but for many, the L470 offers a smarter, more balanced choice.

FAQs (Q&A format)

Q: Is the ThinkPad L470 still good enough for 2025 business or student workloads?
A: Yes. For tasks like office suites, web browsing, video calls, programming, and documents, the L470 still performs well—especially when paired with SSD and 8-16 GB RAM.

Q: How long does the battery last in real-world use?
A: With a good battery, typical usage (mixed tasks) yields around 7-10 hours. With larger external battery packs or modest settings, it can go much longer.

Q: Can I upgrade components like RAM and Storage?
A: Yes. RAM and SSD are upgradeable in many units, which helps extend the usable life of the laptop.

Q: How does the L470 compare with newer Dell, HP, or Asus models?
A: Newer models often outshine it in display quality, processor speed, weight, and efficiency. But L470 holds its ground well in durability, keyboard feel, port variety, and value if you're budget conscious.

Q: What are the trade-offs I need to accept with the L470?
A: The main compromises are older CPU generation (less power under heavy tasks), display could be better in brightness and color, thickness/weight compared to ultrabooks, and variable battery condition in refurbished units.