Lenovo ThinkPad E485 review

ThinkPad E485 — first-gen Ryzen in an entry ThinkPad body

The E485 (2017) was Lenovo's first AMD-powered entry ThinkPad: a Ryzen 7 2700U in this configuration, at $275 — under the $297 business-class median. The measured profile shows its position honestly: performance index 17.4 against 41.5 (the 2700U was an early Zen mobile part, and the class has moved on), reliability 22 versus 42.5, and graphics at zero in a class where the median is itself near-floor.

What it does well

The 2700U is a true quad-core with SMT — first-generation Zen mobile, which brought real multithreaded capability to the entry tier. Everyday office work, browsers, and calls are comfortable. The E-series keeps the ThinkPad keyboard and serviceability basics. As a budget typing-and-meetings machine it does the job the E-line was designed for.

The trade-offs, stated plainly

First-gen Zen mobile ran warm and throttled in thin chassis — the performance index reflects that reality. Graphics scores zero: the Vega 10 iGPU of this generation clears no tracked gaming bar. Reliability at 22 versus 42.5 is the age signal: seven-plus years on the original-era platform. The E-chassis is the value tier, with the flex that implies.

Price trajectory

From a $1,300 launch configuration it has declined at about 7.6% per year to $275, with a projected $235 in two years (15% further). A normal entry-business curve.

Against its neighbors

An HP EliteBook 845 G7 at $291 and an EliteBook 840 G7 at $295 sit above; an HP EliteBook 745 G5 at $238 and a Dell Latitude 5300 at $256 below. The EliteBook 745 G5 at $238 is the same-generation-silicon alternative in a premium chassis for $37 less — a strong rival unless the ThinkPad keyboard decides it.

Bottom line

A budget-friendly entry ThinkPad with honest first-gen Ryzen compute. At $275 it is workable for office duties, but the 745 G5 neighbor at $238 offers similar silicon in a better chassis for less — the E485's case rests on keyboard preference and availability.