Lenovo · 2018 · end of life
Lenovo ThinkPad T480
The last ThinkPad with both slotted SO-DIMM RAM and a hot-swap external battery, around 280 dollars refurbished.
from $280 last seen 2026-05-20
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- Best for office and web work study basic everyday use programming
- Linux: out of box
Scorecard
Mean of six category scores, 0 to 10. Compiled from public sources. How we rate.
Strongest on keyboard and value, weakest on display and speed.
- Battery 6/10
- Display 4/10
- Build 7/10
- Keyboard 9/10
- Speed 4/10
- Value 9/10
Worth knowing
Stands out
- Linux runs out of the box
- RAM is user-upgradeable
Watch for
- Discontinued, sold from remaining stock
- Dim 270-nit screen, weak in bright light
- Small 48 Wh battery
Linux
Excellent · Best on ubuntu LTS. Confidence: high · How we score
Linux compatibility, per distro
- Ubuntu LTS Out of the box
- Wi-Fi : works
- Bluetooth : works
- Fingerprint : needs tweak
- Webcam : works
- Audio : works
- Suspend : works
Kaby Lake-R on Intel UHD 620, one of the longest-supported Linux platforms in this list. Two SO-DIMM slots take RAM to 32 GB officially and 64 GB unofficially with the right modules.
Notebookcheck: ThinkPad T480 review →Show full report
The internal 24 Wh plus a 24, 48 or 72 Wh hot-swap external Power Bridge battery is the headline feature, you can change the back pack without shutting down. Real S3 deep sleep still works in BIOS. The Synaptics fingerprint reader needs a fwupd push to be usable through fprintd.
- Fedora Out of the box
- Wi-Fi : works
- Bluetooth : works
- Fingerprint : needs tweak
- Webcam : works
- Audio : works
- Suspend : works
Fedora boots clean. The T480 is the last mainstream ThinkPad with a swappable external battery and slotted SO-DIMM RAM, and is supported by coreboot and Libreboot for users who want a deblobbed firmware.
Libreboot: install on ThinkPad T480 →Show full report
Minifree sells corebooted T480s pre-installed with Debian. The 270 nit FHD panel is the real weakness, this is a typing and terminal machine not a media one.
See the broader picture in the Linux compatibility hub, the full compatibility matrix, and the buying guides.
Specs
| CPU | Intel Core i5-8350U / i7-8650U |
|---|---|
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics 620 (integrated) |
| RAM | 16 GB (upgradeable) |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Screen | 14" 1920x1080 @ 60Hz, 270 nitsbest kept indoors |
| Weight | 1.63 kglight for daily carry |
| Battery | 48 Wh, around 7 h real-world |
Common questions
- Does the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 work with Linux?
- Yes, on a clean install it works with no tweaking (verified on Ubuntu LTS, Fedora). Kaby Lake-R on Intel UHD 620, one of the longest-supported Linux platforms in this list.
- What does the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 cost?
- Last seen around 280 USD (2026-05-20). It is discontinued, so prices vary with remaining stock.
- Is the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 good for office and web work?
- For office and web work we score it 9/10 on value and 4/10 on performance.
- How heavy is the Lenovo ThinkPad T480?
- 1.63 kg (3.59 lb). That's manageable for occasional travel.
- What's the battery life like?
- A 48 Wh pack, around 7 hours real-world mixed use. We score battery 6/10.
- Can I upgrade the RAM or storage?
- RAM is on SODIMM slots, so you can swap it later. Storage starts at 512 GB on this configuration.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T480 is discontinued
The price below is the last we saw, kept for reference. See the current alternatives further down.
from $280 last seen 2026-05-20
Find remaining Lenovo stockAs an Amazon Associate (US, NL, DE, UK programs), qualifying purchases via this link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Other markets not yet enrolled. How we make money. Verified 2026-05-20.
