However, the biggest difference to the consumer GPUs are the special drivers along with the software certifications that ensure that the corresponding applications run smoothly. In the P15 Gen 2, the GPU operates with a TGP of 110 watts, which makes it one of the fastest models (a maximum of 130 watts is possible). The new Nvidia RTX A3000 is based on the GA104 chip and offers 256 CUDA cores more than the consumer version, the GeForce RTX 3060. On the other hand, the lid itself is very sturdy, and the display doesn't show any problems, even when we apply localized pressure. The two hinges are well aligned (maximum opening angle of 180 degrees), but they are no longer able to support the screen at very narrow angles. The plastic is also a little flexible above the smart card reader. Only the bottom left of the keyboard yields a bit as in the predecessor, but more about that later. it's almost impossible to dent the base unit, and even energetic typing is no problem at all. The stability of the structure, which is made of plastic and fiberglass and is also reinforced by the familiar magnesium roll cage at the base unit, continues to be very good. Although the focus is on performance in a mobile workstation, there's definitely still room for improvement when it comes to its design. A 16-inch display using a 16:10 aspect ratio could have certainly been installed here. From a design point of view, this could easily be a 2015 laptop. You will probably be surprised by the massive display bezels when opening the lid for the first time. The P15 Gen 2 doesn't look modern at all in terms of design, either. Subjectively, the quality impression is definitely higher in the competition from Dell or HP. The outside is almost entirely made of plastic, and while it feels quite nice to the touch (not too rough), it's also pretty susceptible to dirt. The P15 Gen 2 can still be immediately recognized as a classic ThinkPad, which is probably boring for some users, but it's functional at least. Users who don't need ISV certifications should take a look at the identically built ThinkPad T15g Gen 2, which is powered by the consumer GeForce GPUs.
Our test unit with the model number 20YQ001JGE costs 2,850 Euros (~$3,304) (or 2,500 Euros (~$2,898) in the case of the corresponding Campus model), and it's a mid-range configuration equipped with the Core i7-11800H, 32 GB of RAM, a 512 GB PCIe SSD, the new RTX A3000, and a 1080p display with a brightness of 500 cd/m². The processors have been updated to the latest 45-watt CPUs from Intel (Tiger Lake H45 Core i5, i7, i9 or Xeon), and the graphics cards have also been updated to the new RTX A GPUs from Nvidia (successor to the Quadro GPUs). Lenovo used a completely new case for the first generation of the ThinkPad P15, and it has now been adopted without changes for the second generation. With the ThinkPad P15, Lenovo continues to offer a traditional mobile workstation where high performance and good maintenance options continue to play an important role, rather than achieving the slimmest design possible.