Wireless Card
The metal plate is used to fix port modules on the left.
Loudspeaker
Motherboard
The motherboard has a good layout design. We can see the CPU, GPU, dual memory slot, a 2280 SSD, an HDD, and a fan.
The metal framework is the roll cage.
Remove the touchpad. The touchpad module can be replaced.
Take out the framework. The bezels on the left and right reach 9.2mm, which are pretty narrow.
Plastic materials can effectively increase the distance area of the wireless network to receive the signal.
Summary
The Lenovo ThinkPad E480 has a business-oriented appearance design. Its motherboard has a reasonable layout design and high specification. The motherboard has good space utilization, and it uses high-quality component material. In general, the ThinkPad E480 belongs to the high-quality laptop with an excellent appearance in the ThinkPad E series. Therefore, the laptop will be a good choice for those who need a business computer.
Does the E580 have a metal reinforcement under the keyboard and a touchpad? Are hinges strong and durable? Is there metal support on left hand IO ports like on E480?
Because the E580 uses a keyboard with a frame, so it does not need to use metal reinforcement, and under the keyboard is the palm rest, the keyboard directly fixed on the palm rest, I have seen an internal picture of E580, it does not use metal sheet fixed left ports.
It looks like e480 is more durable than e580. I hope to see e580 teardown.
Hi Kylie,
Thanks for your Thinkpad E480 teardown.
I have one question for you regarding E480 wireless card: photo shown is from a Lite-on RTL8821CE 1*1ac (FRU PN: 01AX764). However, Lenovo support site, says that this Thinkpad E480 s/n: PF0YBYKW, has a FXN,8822BE 2*2ac wireless card (FRU PN:01AX712 ). Could you comment?
This is not surprising, even if the same laptop model, depending on the hardware specifications, it will be equipped with different models of the wireless network card, of course, the network card can be upgraded, if your laptop is equipped with a single Band card, you replace it with a Dual Band card it
The reason of my earlier question is in fact strange that someone receives a wireless card dual band and replaces it by a single band Lite-on RTL8821CE 1*1ac (FRU PN: 01AX764) (as per photos).
Thanks a lot for sharing this.
Is it correct to assume all the E480 will have the HD slot for future expansion? I am planning to buy one but the customer care representative was not sure if I can add HD(non-SSD) later.
My understanding says yes, I can add HDD in E480 later, but just want to make sure and double check.
Please remove your back cover to check it first, the point is whether you have the HDD caddy.
Hi David,
I haven’t purchased it yet, planning to buy one. That’s why double checking before the purchase. The one I am planning to buy has 256 SSD(256GB Solid State Drive, PCIe OPAL2.0). which indicates to me the HDD should have the dummy HD/Caddy in it.
What makes sense to me is that one laptop will have uniform structural design.
Thanks!
I watched a review on the e480, which I just bought and the HDD needs to be 7mm thick like the SSD is.
I recently bought a Lenovo ThinkPad e480 but I find it is slowly. I am thinking to install m2 SSD, but I am not sure of the compatibility. I was thinking to buy Samsung 970 pro plus m2 SSD.
Lenovo must have made a change with which M.2 SSD use because on my board I have the 1-notch type, not the 2 notched types. I know there’s a more technical name, I’m just sayin.
I bought my E480 in 2020. So recently this laptop shows me a warning “Critical Battery” when I turn on the laptop after the battery drained. Usually, if the battery is drained it still has 5% left when turned on, but this time it is completely 0. I was thinking to replace the battery but I am too afraid if the new battery is counterfeit it will affect the laptop in a long run. Is there any advice to check the battery whether its original or counterfeit. Thank you in advance
If the battery can still be charged, there is no need to replace the battery, if you are worried about buying a counterfeit battery, you can buy this battery from Lenovo’s official website.