The Lenovo ThinkPad is a business-grade laptop with robust build quality for unrivaled durability and high-end features for top-notch performance.
ThinkPad laptops are classified into different categories to cater to different types of users. The T Series is Lenovo’s flagship ThinkPad category.
T Series laptops are incredibly powerful, highly reliable, and durable. They are professional workhorses typically used by governments and corporations.
There is also an X1 Series category that features premium ThinkPad laptops with top-end, peak-performance features in a sleek, ultralightweight design.
I have an X1 Series, refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. It has Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD. And it’s the best laptop I’ve ever owned!
Other ThinkPad categories include the compact X Series, the P Series with a discrete graphics card, and the affordable L Series and E Series laptops.
Here are my recommendations for the best refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad laptops, including the T Series, X1 Series, and X Series models.
It also includes resourceful insights and tips on choosing the right ThinkPad for your needs, including writing, blogging, school, coding, IT professionals, etc.

1. Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 6 – Overall Best Refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad
Key Specs:
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i5-8350U Quad-Core
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 256GB or 512GB SSD
Display: 14-Inch FHD 1920 x 1080 IPS Display
Weight: 2.49 lb/1.13 kg
Battery: Up to 10 Hours (Depends on Use)
Keyboard: Integrated ThinkPad Backlit Keyboard
Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
Camera: 720p HD Webcam
Ports: 2x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 1.4, RJ45, 3.5mm Headphone/Mic, and a microSD Slot
Available Colors: Black
The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 6 is an ultrapowerful business-grade laptop with an Intel Core i7 8th Gen processor, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD.
It’s also available with 512GB SSD for a few extra dollars! Like all X1 Carbon ThinkPads; this laptop is ultralightweight and portable. It weighs under 2.5lb!
This Thinkpad X1 Carbon has undergone 100% software and hardware refurbishing. It’s in excellent condition and looks and works like a brand-new one!
Pros:
- A robust build-design for durability!
- It’s in excellent condition for reliability.
- A bright 14.0″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display!
- It has two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 ports.
- A powerful Core i7 8th Gen processor.
- It has built-in Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 4.1.
- A large 16GB memory for multitasking.
- It has superior built-in speakers and a microphone.
- The keyboard offers a comfy typing experience.
- It has built-in RapidCharge technology.
- An integrated fingerprint reader for security.
- It’s a great value that sells at under $400.
Cons:
- It’s not a touchscreen.
The refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 6 is ultraportable but powerful and feature-rich! It looks and performs like a new model, making it a great bargain!
2. Lenovo ThinkPad T490 – Best Refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad for Value for Your Money
Key Specs:
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i7-8565U Quad-Core
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 14-Inch FHD 1920 x 1080 IPS Display
Weight: 3.23 lb/1.47 kg
Battery: Up to 7 Hours (Depends on Use)
Keyboard: ThinkPad Keyboard with Backlight
Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
Camera: 720p HD Webcam
Ports: 1x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 1.4b, 3.5mm Headphone/Mic, RJ45, & microSD Slot
Available Colors: Black
At pricing that’s way under $350, the refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T490 is truly a great value for money! It has an Intel Core i5-8265U, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD.
Like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, this laptop was originally built for serious business professionals. It is powerful enough to handle just about any task!
The build quality is excellent for reliability and durability, and its overall performance is smooth. This refurbished model looks and works just like a new one!
Pros:
- A military-grade build design for unrivaled reliability and durability!
- It comes with Windows 10 Pro, but you can upgrade to Windows 11.
- It has plenty of connectivity options, including ThunderBolt 3.
- The Full HD IPS display has excellent brightness in natural light!
- It has built-in Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 5.0 technology.
- You get a large 16GB memory and 512 GB of SSD storage at a bargain!
- It also comes with an integrated fingerprint reader for security.
Cons:
- It’s not a touchscreen.
The refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T490 has undergone certified refurbishment to restore its top-notch working performance. It works just like a new model!
3. Lenovo ThinkPad T460 – Best Low-Budget Refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad
Key Specs:
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i5-6300U Dual-Core
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Display: 14-Inch FHD 1920 x 1080 IPS Anti-Glare Display
Weight: 3.8 lb/1.72 kg
Battery: Up to 5 Hours (Depends on Use)
Keyboard: ThinkPad Keyboard with Backlight
Graphics: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 520
Camera: 720p HD Webcam
Ports: 3x USB 3.0 Type-A, HDMI, Ethernet/RJ45, Mini DisplayPort, 3.5mm Headphone/Mic, & microSD Reader
Available Colors: Black
At pricing within the $250 range, the Lenovo ThinkPad T460 stands out among the best low-budget refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad! It’s a 14-Inch ultrabook with Intel Core i5-6300U dual-core processor, 8GB RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage!
1TB is massive storage! It’s perhaps the highest you can get in such an ultraportable laptop. You also get the integrated Intel HD graphics 520 for document editing, graphics design, light video editing, media playback, etc.
One unique feature of the refurbished ThinkPad T460 is the ower Bridge Technology. It combines an internal battery with an external hot-swappable battery. You get more flexibility and super long battery life!
Pros:
- A thin and ultralight build design for portability!
- It has a military-grade build quality for durability.
- It’s fast, reliable, and has a battery that lasts a long time.
- A powerful Intel Core i5-6300U Dual-Core processor.
- You get a large 1TB (1024GB) of SSD storage.
- It has three USB 3.0 Type-A with speeds up to 5Gbps.
- It has built-in Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 4.1.
- A built-in fingerprint reader for security.
- T460 is upgradeable with more RAM and SSD.
- The battery is removable for an easy replacement!
- You can easily replace the Windows OS with a Linux distro.
Cons:
- It’s not a touchscreen.
- The Core i5 isn’t enough for intensive video editing!
- The keyboard is subpar compared to T490.
The refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T460 has been reconditioned to look and work like a brand-new model! It’s ultralightweight for portability with powerful features for performance. This laptop best suits writers, bloggers, IT, and coders!
4. Lenovo ThinkPad T470 – Best Refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad Under $250
Key Specs:
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i5-7300U Dual-Core
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 14-Inch FHD 1920 x 1080 IPS Display
Weight: 3.48 lb (1.6 kg)
Battery: Up to 5 Hours (Depends on Use)
Keyboard: ThinkPad Keyboard with Backlight
Graphics: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620
Camera: 720p HD Webcam
Ports: 3x USB 3.0, 1x USB-C Thunderbolt 3, 3.5 mm Headphone/Mic, HDMI, Ethernet/RJ45, microSD Reader, & Micro SIM
Available Colors: Black
The refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T470 is in the same class as the ThinkPad T460. The T470 features a more powerful Intel Core i5-7300U dual-core with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage!
T470 is an A-Grade refurbished model. So it’s in excellent working condition for top-notch performance and looks like a new model. The overall build quality is superb, with a rugged finish for durability.
Pros:
- A rugged build-design for durability!
- An ultrafast USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 port.
- The 14-Inch IPS display is impressively bright!
- It has built-in Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 4.1.
- The built-in speakers have stunning sound quality!
- T470 is upgradeable with more RAM and SSD!
- You can easily replace the battery for more life!
- It perfectly suits IT and programming users!
- You can easily replace the Windows OS with a Linux distro.
Cons:
- It’s not a touchscreen.
- The 256GB SSD storage could be better!
- You should replace the battery for 7+ hours of battery life!
The refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T470 has been reconditioned to look and work like a new model. It has fully serviceable parts. You can upgrade the RAM, SSD, replace the battery, and even add a discrete WiFi card!
5. Lenovo ThinkPad T460s – Best Refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad Under $200
Key Specs:
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i5-6300U Dual-Core
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 14-Inch 1920 x 1080 Anti-Glare IPS Display
Weight: 3.0 lb/1.36 kg
Battery: Up to 7 Hours (Depends on Use)
Keyboard: Integrated ThinkPad Backlit Keyboard
Graphics: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 520
Camera: 720p HD webcam
Ports: 3x USB 3.0, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, Ethernet/RJ45, 3.5mm Headphone/Mic, MicroSD, & Micro SIM Slot
Available Colors: Black
The refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T460s belongs to the same generation as the T460 model I recommended above. The T460s is much thinner and lighter. Its battery doesn’t pop out; you must remove the screws to access it!
At pricing under $200, it’s one of the cheapest ThinkPad you can get! Yet it’s still a powerful laptop with a powerful Intel Core i5-6300U dual-core processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB of storage, and a backlit keyboard.
Pros:
- A rugged build-quality for durability!
- It’s passed 8 MIL-STD 810 tests for ruggedness.
- A sleek, ultrathin design for portability.
- A comfy backlit keyboard with nice key travel.
- It has a fingerprint reader for security.
- It has 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1.
- It’s easier to open and service/upgrade it.
- The backlit keyboard is easily replaceable.
Cons:
- It only comes with 256GB of SSD storage.
- It’s not a touchscreen.
The refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T460s is well-built for reliability and durability. It has undergone thorough reconditioning to look and work like a brand-new one. It’s affordable but powerful enough for writers, bloggers, and coders!
6. Lenovo Thinkpad X270 – Alternative Refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad Under $200
Key Specs:
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i5-6200U Dual-Core
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 12.5-Inch HD (1366 x 768) Display
Weight: 2.9 lb/1.3 kg)
Battery: Up to 5 Hours (With Moderate Use)
Keyboard: ThinkPad Backlit Keyboard
Graphics: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620
Camera: 720p HD Webcam
Ports: 1x USB Type-C, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet/RJ45, 3.5mm Headphone/Mic, & microSD Reader
Available Colors: Black
The refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad X270 has a super compact form factor with a 12.5-Inch display with 1366 x 768 resolution. Yet, it’s still a powerful laptop with an Intel Core i5-6200U processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD.
You still get the excellent Lenovo ThinkPad backlit keyboard with nice key travel. It can make the perfect companion for writers and bloggers who do a lot of traveling and backpacking – the digital nomad laptop lifestyle on a budget!
Pros:
- A robust build-quality for durability!
- It’s super compact and lightweight for portability.
- It has built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1.
- It has two batteries; a removable one and an internal one.
- You can replace the external battery with a more powerful 6-cell battery.
- An impressive ThinkPad keyboard with nice key travel.
- The memory and storage are easily upgradeable.
- It has a built-in fingerprint reader for security.
Cons:
- A sub-par display quality with low brightness!
The refurbished Thinkpad X270 has a compact but rugged design. But it still features a powerful processor, 8GB memory, and 256GB storage, making it the best under $200 laptop for writers, bloggers, and creators!