

Dual 2W speakers are positioned above the keyboard, and Dolby Atmos helps give them a rather full sound. The Precision touchpad tracks well and includes slim physical buttons below. It's still plenty comfortable, and anyone who types a lot should be satisfied. I don't still have a P52 to test key travel side-by-side, but it does seem like the P53's travel distance has been shaved down slightly. You get a full keyboard with a number pad and three-stage backlight (off, bright, and brighter), as well as a TrackPoint system with red pointing nub in the middle. It's rigid and heavy enough that I'd be more afraid of it damaging whatever it fell on rather than taking damage itself.

The P53 has undergone MIL-STD 810G durability testing to ensure it can put up with use and abuse above what you'd find in an office, so don't be scared to take it with you into the field. Even after scrubbing the lid with a cloth and cleaning solution, fingerprints are still evident.

The usual black ThinkPad soft-touch finish is here, and as usual, it's a total fingerprint and smudge magnet keep a cleaning cloth close if this sort of thing irks you.

The bottom portion of the chassis is made of a magnesium-aluminum alloy, while the lid and palm rest are glass-fiber reinforced plastic. The ThinkPad P53 pushes performance to impressive levels. The proprietary Lenovo charging port is joined by two Thunderbolt 3 - ideal for connecting a powerful docking station - and RJ45 Ethernet. The back edge is reserved for the ports you'll likely use the most in order to keep them out of the way. On the left are HDMI, two USB-A, an SD card reader, and space for an optional Smart Card reader, while the right side includes a 3.5mm audio jack, USB-C, and space for a SIM slot if you check out with an LTE modem inside. Ports have been updated and moved around a bit, but you can still expect generous connectivity. It's about an inch thick and has a starting weight of 5.5 pounds, so you'll want a sturdy laptop bag if you plan on often carrying it around with you. The ThinkPad P53 hasn't changed much physically since the P52, and you can still expect a rather chunky laptop with enough space for the formidable hardware inside.
