ThinkPad T480 vs T480s: check the type before choosing resources
Use the label's machine type to distinguish these two models, then confirm the complete MTM and the hardware actually installed. No download is needed to use this page.
T480 or T480s? Check the machine-type prefix
A seller's title may omit the final s. Check the label first: 20L5 / 20L6 identify the T480 family; 20L7 / 20L8 identify T480s. The complete MTM still matters for configuration. This check covers only these four historical machine types.
Enter a machine type to see its documented model family.
Open the matching official Lenovo support pageThis browser-side check sends no entered value, stores nothing and detects no hardware. It matches the type prefix only, not the validity of a full MTM or driver compatibility. Example: if a listing says T480 but the label starts with 20L7, confirm T480s on the official support page before choosing packages or upgrade parts.
| Historical platform detail | ThinkPad T480 | ThinkPad T480s |
|---|---|---|
| Memory layout | Two DDR4 SO-DIMM slots | 4 GB or 8 GB soldered memory plus one SO-DIMM slot |
| Battery layout | Optional internal 24 Wh; external 24 / 48 / 72 Wh options | Internal 57 Wh |
| Main storage | 2.5-inch HDD/SSD or M.2 2280 path, mutually exclusive | M.2 SATA or PCIe NVMe configuration options |
Evidence: Lenovo's T480 PSREF and T480s PSREF, page 1, July 2020; official support titles for T480 20L5/20L6 and T480s 20L7/20L8. These are platform options, not a report of the parts in your machine. Used computers may have been modified; this comparison is not a repair guide or hardware test.
Choose the next resource
- T480 20L5/20L6 archived packages and Thunderbolt notes.
- T480s 20L7/20L8 archived packages and separate firmware notes.
- How to confirm a complete Lenovo model and machine type.
- Printable driver preparation worksheet.
A model match is a starting point. Check the official package's supported device, operating system and README; a shared chip vendor or a higher version number does not prove that packages are interchangeable.