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| The ThinkPad E16 Gen 4 AMD features Krackan Point 2 and Gorgon Point processors. |
Just weeks after Lenovo quietly rolled out more affordable configurations of the ThinkPad E16 Gen 3, the company is already pulling the curtain back on its next-generation AMD-powered sibling. The ThinkPad E16 Gen 4 has appeared on Lenovo’s PSREF database, and it’s bringing fresh silicon from AMD’s Krackan Point and Gorgon Point families – no discrete GPU, but plenty of upgradeable memory and storage.
If you’ve been following the 16-inch budget business laptop space, you know the ThinkPad E series walks a fine line between enterprise durability and consumer-friendly pricing. The current Intel Arrow Lake‑based ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 (still available for around $999 on Amazon) has been a solid workhorse, but early benchmarks suggest AMD’s new Ryzen AI processors could shake things up – especially for users who need better integrated graphics without springing for a discrete GPU.
AMD Takes the Wheel: Krackan Point and Gorgon Point Inside
Lenovo isn’t known for moving fast on AMD updates, but the ThinkPad E16 Gen 4 changes that. According to the official PSREF listing, the new model will be offered with a wide range of Ryzen AI processors, covering both the consumer‑friendly “Krackan Point” and the business‑oriented “Gorgon Point” (Pro) series. Here’s the full lineup Lenovo has prepared:
| Processor | Cores / Threads | Integrated Graphics |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen AI 5 330 | 4 / 8 | Radeon 820M |
| Ryzen AI 5 Pro 340 | 6 / 12 | Radeon 840M |
| Ryzen AI 5 430 | 4 / 8 | Radeon 840M |
| Ryzen AI 5 435 | 6 / 12 | Radeon 840M |
| Ryzen AI 7 345 | 6 / 12 | Radeon 820M |
| Ryzen AI 7 445 | 6 / 12 | Radeon 840M |
| Ryzen AI 7 450 | 8 / 16 | Radeon 860M |
The star of the show is clearly the Ryzen AI 7 450 with eight Zen 5 cores and a Radeon 860M iGPU – enough grunt for light creative work, multiple 4K displays, and even some casual gaming. Lower‑tier chips lean on the 820M or 840M, but all support AMD’s new XDNA 2 NPU for accelerated AI workloads in Windows 11.
No dGPU Option – But Dual SSDs and SODIMM Slots Remain
One of the first things you’ll notice is the absence of any discrete GPU option. That’s a surprising omission for a 16‑inch chassis measuring 356 x 249 mm and starting at just 1.63 kg. Lenovo clearly sees the Radeon 800M series as “good enough” for the E16’s target audience, which makes sense for a laptop that’s often deployed in offices, schools, and remote work scenarios. But if you were hoping for a low‑cost creator laptop with an RTX 4050, this isn’t it.
What you do get, however, is impressive internal expandability. The ThinkPad E16 Gen 4 features:
- Two M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots for dual SSDs (RAID possible)
- Two SODIMM slots supporting up to 64 GB of DDR5-5600 RAM (non‑soldered, thank you Lenovo)
- Two battery options: 48 Wh or 64 Wh
That’s practically unheard of in 2026 for a laptop in this price bracket. Most competitors have moved to soldered LPDDR5 and single‑slot storage. Lenovo’s decision to keep user‑upgradeable memory and dual drives will be a huge selling point for IT departments and DIY‑minded buyers.
Display Lineup: 16:10, High Refresh, and VRR
Lenovo is also refreshing the screen choices for the E16 Gen 4. All panels stick to the modern 16:10 aspect ratio, but you now get three distinct options depending on your budget and workload:
| Display | Resolution | Touch | Brightness | Refresh Rate | Contrast | Colour Gamut |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,920 x 1,200 | No | 400 nits | 60 Hz | 1,000:1 | 45% NTSC |
| 2 | 1,920 x 1,200 | Yes | 400 nits | 120 Hz VRR | 1,200:1 | 100% sRGB |
| 3 | 2,560 x 1,600 | No | 500 nits | 120 Hz VRR | 1,200:1 | 100% sRGB |
The base display (1200p, 60 Hz) is fine for spreadsheets and email, but the two upgraded panels are where the Gen 4 shines. The 1200p touchscreen with 120 Hz VRR and 100% sRGB coverage is ideal for business presentations and web browsing, while the 1600p non‑touch option adds extra sharpness and 500 nits of brightness – perfect for outdoor use or dual‑monitor setups.
Missing from the list: OLED or 100% DCI‑P3 coverage. That’s still reserved for the premium T and X series.
Availability and Pricing: Still a Mystery
Here’s the frustrating part: Lenovo hasn’t listed the ThinkPad E16 Gen 4 on any of its regional websites (US, EU, or Asia) as of May 20, 2026. The only official mention is on the PSREF database, which usually means a launch is 2–4 months out. Pricing is also completely under wraps, but we can make an educated guess.
The outgoing ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 with Intel Arrow Lake starts at around 1,299. Given the upgraded iGPU performance and AI capabilities of AMD’s Ryzen AI 7 series, expect the Gen 4 to land in a similar range – perhaps $50–100 higher for equivalent specs.
If you need a ThinkPad E16 right now, the current Gen 3 model with Intel Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 7 is readily available. You can check the latest pricing and configurations on Amazon here. That link points to the best‑selling Arrow Lake variant, which has dropped below $1,000 several times in recent weeks.
What About Lunar Lake? Lenovo Is Taking Its Time
Sharp‑eyed readers will recall that Intel’s Lunar Lake processors launched months ago, and many OEMs (including Dell and HP) have already rolled out updated laptops. Lenovo, however, has not started selling any Lunar Lake‑based ThinkPad E16 models in North America yet. It’s a curious delay, especially since the Arrow Lake version we reviewed almost a year ago (still available on Amazon) is starting to show its age in battery life and graphics performance.
Perhaps Lenovo is waiting for a mid‑cycle refresh, or maybe AMD’s Krackan Point simply offered better performance per watt at the E16’s price point. Whatever the reason, the PSREF listing makes it clear: the next ThinkPad E16 you’ll be able to buy is AMD‑powered, not Intel.
Final Thoughts: A Smart Upgrade for Budget Business Buyers
The ThinkPad E16 Gen 4 isn’t trying to be a mobile workstation or a gaming laptop. It’s a straightforward, durable, and highly upgradeable 16‑inch machine for people who type all day, run multiple Excel models, or manage IT fleets. The lack of a dGPU will disappoint a few, but dual SSD slots, socketed RAM, and a gorgeous 1600p 120 Hz VRR display more than make up for it.
Lenovo has also managed to keep the chassis compact – 1.63 kg starting weight is excellent for a 16‑incher with this much internal expansion. Combined with up to 64 Wh of battery, the Gen 4 could easily become the default recommendation for schools and small businesses that refuse to buy soldered‑RAM laptops.
For now, we wait on official pricing and a launch date. You can keep an eye on Lenovo’s PSREF page for the latest spec changes here. And if you want to dive deeper into the technical differences between Krackan Point and Arrow Lake, our colleagues over at LaptopCheck have a detailed breakdown at this link.
Bottom line: The ThinkPad E16 Gen 4 with AMD Ryzen AI looks like a winner on paper. Now we just need Lenovo to put it on sale.
