Lenovo's most powerful AI / CAD laptop adopts USB-C charging: ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 launches with Nvidia RTX Pro 5000 and 192 GB RAM

[Redaktion]

The Lenovo ThinkPad P series is back, with the ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 at the forefront. Completely redesigned, the most powerful ThinkPad workstation gives buyers the full package, with features like 5G, a Tandem OLED screen, Arrow Lake HX and the Nvidia RTX Pro 5000.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-s-most-powerful-AI-CAD-laptop-adopts-USB-C-charging-ThinkPad-P16-Gen-3-launches-with-Nvidia-RTX-Pro-5000-and-192-GB-RAM.1104952.0.html

[sbpnt]

What is the most important aspect of a high performance workstation?

This should have been a 240W unit at minimum. USB EPR does extend to that number so it is part of the PD spec. Losing 50W from the G2 is A LOT. Otherwise it looks beautiful, but I feel that performance - especially on the GPU side will take a major hit. Remember that the P1 G6 had 170W to the total system.

A clone of this, the T16g G3 can be expected at the end of the year with 5080/5090 class GPUs.

[Al123]

Doesn't seem significantly smaller or lighter than the Dell/HP equivalent and yet much lower power budget, this seems like a huge mis step.

Would be interesting to see what the cooling / TDP really are, the new Intel chips are more efficient but still around 100W seems to be the sweet spot unless you want to go crazy with fan noise. certainly not enough for High end graphics car, on pro max 18 they can draw 175W sustained, why claim support for high end components but under power them ?

[E]

I can't wait to see the notebookcheck review complete with graphs of sustained tdp.

As disappointed as I am in my p16gen2's heat soak, at least its sustained tdp is north of 220 watts...

Wonder what Lenovo is up to chasing the tb5 fashion show at the expense of portable performance.

Do you think they'll eventually release a special twin plug version with matching dock?

[Dave1000]

I don't know why, but it seems that with each generation, Lenovo introduces some apparently unreasonable and absurd changes. They removed the RJ45 from the P16 Gen1 and Gen2 models, and after three years they FINALLY realized it was not a wise move and reintroduced it. Now, they've replaced the power connector with a tiny USB. To be frank, this move feels as illogical as using a bicycle wheel on a car, so weak, so unstable. Mark my words, they will reintroduce it again in 2027 or 2028. I will vote for HP's ZBook Fury G1i hands down.

[sbpnt]

This change is mainly driven by the EU's Common Charger Directive. This came into effect already for mobile phones (see how Apple changed the lightning connector to USB-C), and it will also apply to laptops from April 2026.

Seems like absurdity but in reality it's a compliance reason. Still doesn't answer why they wouldn't implement PD3.1 EPR at 48V5A (240W).

I don't know why, but it seems that with each generation, Lenovo introduces some apparently unreasonable and absurd changes. They removed the RJ45 from the P16 Gen1 and Gen2 models, and after three years they FINALLY realized it was not a wise move and reintroduced it. Now, they've replaced the power connector with a tiny USB. To be frank, this move feels as illogical as using a bicycle wheel on a car, so weak, so unstable. Mark my words, they will reintroduce it again in 2027 or 2028. I will vote for HP's ZBook Fury G1i hands down.

[Scott]

I have this laptop and I'm having some real big issues.

1. Standby - S1, S2 & S3 is not supported, even though the CPU supports it. There's no options in the BIOS/UEFI for this and when Windows 11 puts this in Standby, it's not in real Standby mode. The fans are still running and the laptop gets very hot. I'm hoping this maybe fixed in a future BIOS/UEFI revision.

2. I've currently got issues with the 4K IPS non-touch display when it's set to Discrete in the BIOS/UEFI. It looks great, but when the screen turns off, from Standby or when the screen switches off, and the brightness is at its lowest or a couple of steps above this, the screen flickers slightly, enough that I can't use it or have to restart the laptop.

3. Temperature gets incredibly hot. I have selected the Nvidia RTX PRO 3000 on my system. When any application uses this GPU or the BIOS/UEFI is set to Discrete mode and not Hybrid, even at 10% utilization, the fans increase in speed, sounds like full speed, and the temperature between the space at the top of the keyboard and lid, gets incredibly hot.

I have raised a ticket with Lenovo for the flickering as this needs to get fixed, I cannot work with this flickering. I've also tried updated Nvidia drivers but no change.
Waiting for their fix.

I know this isn't a gaming laptop, and I didn't purchase this as a gaming machine, it was purchased for 3D applications, but it seems I can't even use it for that.

Anyone else having issues with this P16 Gen 3?