Is the Lenovo ThinkPad still the best used business laptop?

Yes—Lenovo ThinkPads are still one of the safest used business-laptop buys, especially if you want durability, easy parts availability, good keyboards, and strong Linux/Windows support. But “best” depends on the model: I’d usually shop for a ThinkPad T14 first, and consider an X1 Carbon if you care more about weight than upgradeability.

Best used picks:

1. ThinkPad T14 / T14 Gen 1 or newer — best all-around used business laptop choice for most buyers.
2. ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 6 or newer — best if you want a lighter, more premium travel laptop.
3. Newer X1 Carbon models, such as Gen 13 Aura Edition — excellent business laptop, but likely less of a “used bargain” because it is current/recent.

What to check before buying: battery health, screen resolution and brightness, RAM/storage configuration, charger inclusion, BIOS lock/Computrace status, keyboard condition, and whether the seller offers returns. Avoid very old or under-specced units unless they are extremely cheap.