Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga vs. Acer TravelMate Spin P4: Which is a better buy?

Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga
Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga (Image credit: Windows Central)

ThinkBook 14s Yoga vs. TravelMate Spin P4: Specs

The TravelMate Spin P4 has limited configurations available at time of writing, but you should be able to choose between Core i5 and Core i7 models with different levels of RAM and storage. Here are the specs I could find for both laptops.

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Header Cell - Column 0 ThinkBook 14s YogaTravelMate Spin P4
OSWindows 10 HomeWindows 10 ProWindows 10 HomeWindows 10 Pro
Processor11th Gen IntelCore i5-1135G7Core i7-1165G711th Gen IntelCore i5-1135G7Core i7-1165G7
RAMUp to 40GB DDR48GB solderedOpen M.2 slotUpgradeableUp to 16GB DDR4Dual slotsUpgradeable
GraphicsIntel Iris XeIntegratedIntel Iris XeIntegrated
StorageUp to 1TB M.2 PCIe SSDExtra M.2 slotUp to 512GB M.2 PCIe SSDExtra M.2 slot
Display14 inches1920x1080 (FHD)Touch, IPS16:9 aspect ratioGlossy, 300 nitsDolby Vision14 inches1920x1080 (FHD)Touch, IPS16:9 aspect ratioGlossy, 250 nits
PenIntegrated Smart PenIntegrated Smart Pen
PortsUSB-C 3.2 (Gen 2)Thunderbolt 4HDMI 1.4bTwo USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1)3.5mm audiomicroSD card readerThunderbolt 4Two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2)HDMI 2.0RJ45 Ethernet3.5mm audiomicroSD card reader
AudioDual 2W speakersDolby AudioDual 2W speakersTop-firing
ConnectivityWi-Fi 6Bluetooth 5.1Wi-Fi 6Bluetooth 5.1
CameraFront-facing 720pThinkShutterFront-facing 720pCam shutter
SecurityTPM 2.0Fingerprint readerKensington Nano lock slotWebcam shutterTPM 2.0Fingerprint readerKensington lock slotWebcam shutter
Battery60Wh56Wh
Dimensions12.60 x 8.62 x 0.67 inches(320mm x 216mm x 16.9mm)12.8 x 9.29 x 0.70 inches(325mm x 236mm x 17.9mm)
Weight3.3 pounds (1.5kg)3.08 pounds (1.4kg)
ColorMineral GreyAbyss BlueSlate Blue
MaterialAluminumMIL-STD 810H testingMagnesium alloyMIL-STD 810H testing

Design and features

Source: Windows Central Acer TravelMate Spin P4 (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

The ThinkBook 14s Yoga and TravelMate Spin P4 are both 14-inch convertible laptops that have been certified for MIL-STD 810H durability, meaning they can withstand elements outside of what you might find in a regular office setting. Both should make for great travel or field partners. The 14s Yoga has a more compact footprint, but it weighs more due to the all-metal chassis. The Spin P4 uses a magnesium blend that helps shave off some weight.

Ports are nearly the same, though the Spin P4 has an extra RJ45 Ethernet port if you're looking for a wired internet connection. Both laptops feature Thunderbolt 4, and the 14s Yoga has an extra USB-C port that doubles for charging.

Source: Windows Central Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

The TravelMate Spin P4's top-firing 2W speakers pump out better audio compared to the 14s Yoga; both devices have a decent front-facing 720p camera for video conferencing. Because this is a laptop intended for business use, both have a webcam shutter, TPM 2.0 chip, and fingerprint reader. The Acer laptop's reader doesn't work nearly as well, so stick with Lenovo if it's a feature you plan on using regularly.

Both laptops have upgradeable internal hardware, including RAM and storage. Note that while one RAM module is soldered in the 14s Yoga (8GB), the Spin P4 has both SODIMM slots accessible. This allows you to keep your PC relevant longer into the future, or it allows you to save some money at checkout and upgrade on the cheap. Our guide on how to upgrade the SSD in the Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga can help you through the process if you decide to go that route.

Display and inking

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Neither laptop has a great selection of displays to choose from. You're looking at a single 1920x1080 (FHD) touch option for both, though they differ when you dig down into specs. The ThinkBook 14s Yoga's display hits about 329 nits brightness, whereas the Spin P4's display only manages about 256 nits at peak. With the glossy finish, this makes it difficult to see the Acer laptop's display in a well-lit room.

Color balances heavily in favor of the 14s Yoga, with 100% sRGB, 76% AdobeRGB, and 79% DCI-P3. The Spin P4 manages just 65% sRGB, 49% AdobeRGB, and 48% DCI-P3, all poor results. Bezel around the Spin P4's display is also much larger, giving it a more dated look.

Both laptops include an integrated and rechargeable active pen for inking. I love this addition, and with both laptops you're going to be able to pull out the pen to jot down some notes or make a few quick sketches. This plays well with the convertible nature of these devices. Flip the display around for tablet mode and enjoy much easier inking.

Performance and price

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

You can get essentially the same performance hardware in either laptop, with 11th Gen Intel Core i5 and Core i7 CPU options. Note that neither laptop is Intel Evo certified. Nevertheless, all-day battery life is a feature in both devices, with the Spin P4 hitting just more than nine hours and the ThinkBook 14s Yoga hitting just shy of 11 hours in the same test.

Despite having the same Core i7-1165G7 CPU, the TravelMate Spin P4 scored worse in all benchmarks we use save 3DMark Night Raid. If you want the best performance possible from your device, you will want to stick with the ThinkBook 14s Yoga.

As for price, both laptops sit in the same range. A ThinkBook model with Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD can be found for about $900, which is the same starting price for the Spin P4 with similar performance hardware. Prices climb accordingly as you add more hardware, but prices remain mostly the same.

If neither of these laptops really fits your needs, our roundup of the best Windows laptops out there right now has plenty more buying options.

Stick with the ThinkBook 14s Yoga to best spend your money

The ThinkBook 14s Yoga does almost everything better than the TravelMate Spin P4. Its display is brighter and more colorful, it has a better keyboard and touchpad, its battery lasts longer, and it delivers more robust performance. Considering it costs about the same as Acer's laptop, this is the clear way to go.

Go with Acer's laptop if you need Ethernet, better audio

Acer's TravelMate Spin P4 falls behind the ThinkBook in almost every way, except when it comes to audio and wired internet. If these truly matter to you, it might be a better buy. Wait for a discount, though, to ensure you're not overspending.

Cale Hunt
Contributor

Cale Hunt brings to Windows Central more than eight years of experience writing about laptops, PCs, accessories, games, and beyond. If it runs Windows or in some way complements the hardware, there’s a good chance he knows about it, has written about it, or is already busy testing it.