Lenovo's E series of lightweight ThinkPads have long been some of the most lightweight, long-lasting business laptops on the market. The 13.3-inch ThinkPad E31 takes portable productivity to the next level with a powerful Intel 5th Generation Core Series processor, an improved design.
Design
The Lenovo ThinkPad has the same simple-yet-elegant, black aesthetic as prior generations of ThinkPads. However, ThinkPad aficionados will notice some significant differences between this laptop and the E31, its predecessor. The palm rest, which was uncomfortably shallow on all L series laptops dating back to 2008, has been lengthened, allowing more room for resting your hands while typing..
Longtime fans of the ThinkPad will be happy to know that the E31 doesn't stray too far from the iconic design, although it does offer a few new touches. The lid is made of carbon fiber and has a new Graphite Black finish, which is a bit smoother than the typical ThinkPad finish. It also uses a drop-down hinge design that allows the screen to be extended to a 180-degree tilt range. As always, ThinkPad and Lenovo badges adorn the lid.
The 13.3-inch, 1366 x 768-pixel IPS display on the L440 delivers bright colors and wide viewing angles. When we watched a trailer for "The Avengers," the orange in some explosions and the red in Thor's cape really popped off the screen and did not fade, even at 180 degrees to either side. Unfortunately, the relatively low resolution made fine details (like the stubble on Robert Downey Jr.'s face) harder to make out than on the 1080p ThinkPad T440s we tested.