The R series line of budget to mid-range laptops are part of Lenovo's ThinkPad product line and released as a successor to the ThinkPad 300 Series and ThinkPad A Series from 2005 to 2010 when it was discontinued in favor of having multiple different models for the different market segments that the R series originally occupied. Formerly an IBM brand, the series was produced by IBM until Lenovo acquired the ThinkPad brand following its purchase of IBM's Personal Computing Division (PCD) in 2005.
IBM originally released the Thinkpad R Series (Starting with the R30) as the mid-range mainstream model of the ThinkPad brand. It was conceived as a laptop "for the business executive working on a budget - a road warrior with an office network whose out-of-office work rarely goes beyond running PowerPoint shows or demonstrating spreadsheets". A laptop created as the T series but lower end, the R series computers had IBM make sacrifices in materials and construction (notably the lack of a magnesium midframe and rubberized metal lid) which higher end models of ThinkPad like the T series had. This, along with lower performance configurations when compared to the T series allowed the R series to become the lower end regular laptop model of the ThinkPad line.
Despite having a cheaper build when compared to the higher end T series of its time, it still received favorable reviews. In a review on the ThinkPad R40, CNET gave the laptop a score of 8.2, writing in their summary statement that "Good performance, along with great design and battery life, make the ThinkPad R40 a trusted friend for the traveler and the desk jockey". Starting from the R50, it became completely based on the T series (instead of just looking similar) with the same concessions as before. Though the R series did include a FireWire port which was not brought to the T series until the ThinkPad T61.
In 2010, the R Series was discontinued in favor of the L, SL, and the E series of Thinkpads.
In 2017, it was brought back and continued as a more premium version of the ThinkPad E Series, in China only, with premium features already optioned such as aluminium lids and finger print readers.
T Series Based Models
+ThinkPad R series (2001–2010) CaseSize Screen Type R3x (2001–2002) R4x (2003) R5x (2003–2004) R6x (2005–2008) Rx00 (2008–2010)4:3 screens14.1"13.3" Mainstream R30 R31 R32 R40merged with 14" lineOnly in 16:10EconomyR40e14.1" Mainstream R30 R31 R32 R40 R50 R51 R52 R60 R61 Performance R50p In Between R60i 16:10 only Economy R40e R50e R51eOnly 15"15" Mainstream R40 R50 R51 R52 R60 R61 Performance R50p In Between R60i R61i Economy R50e R51e R60e16:10 screens14.1" Mainstream R61 R400 In Between R61i Replaced by Edge/E series Education R61u15.4" Mainstream R61 R500 In Between R61i Replaced by Edge/E series Economy R61e Replaced by SL series Education R61u
2001-2002 Source: R30
The ThinkPad R30 came in 2 display options: an XGA 13.3" or 14.1". It was, along with the A30, the first ThinkPad to use the design features of a bevel on the left back corner of the laptop and exposed metal hinges, a feature that would be present on most subsequent ThinkPads released.
R31 The ThinkPad R31 came in 2 display options: an XGA 13.3" or 14.1" and is a minor internal hardware revision bringing socketed processors, a new chipset which meant a new CPU generation, and the IBM Embedded Security Subsystem to the R series. Although the dimensions were the same, with these new additions, the weight of the laptop was increased by about 0.1 kg (0.2 lb).
R32 The ThinkPad R32 came in 2 display options: an XGA 13.3" or 14.1", but despite being named as a minor revision to the R3x generation, like most other IBM ThinkPads with their generations, the last model in this generation saw major revisions to the internals and some minor changes to the exterior. These revisions include: using Mobile Pentium 4-M CPUs instead of Mobile Pentium 3-M, Using DDR-266 RAM instead of PC-133 SDRAM, and a reworked motherboard with rearranged components along with the addition of battery terminals for an UltraBay battery.
Model Release (US) Dimensions (w, d, h) Weight (min) CPU Chipset Memory (max) Graphics Storage Networking Audio Screen Battery OtherOperating System R30 Oct 2001 313 x 254 x 36 mm (12.3 x 10 x 1.4") Intel Mobile Celeron or Mobile Pentium III (Coppermine) FSB: 100MT/s ALi CyberBLADE ALADDiN i1 1GB (2x PC133 SDR SO-DIMM) Trident CyberBLADE ALADDiN i1 (8MB shared) One UltraBay Plus, One 2.5" IDE Intel 82550GY 10/100 Ethernet Optional IBM High Rate Wireless LAN with Modem in Mini-PCI slot Optional Agere LU97 Scorpio AC'97 modem card in CDC slot (exclusive)Intel AC'97 2.2 Audio with a Realtek ALC200 CCFL backlit 1024x768(XGA) TN TFT LCD for both 13.3" and 14.1" M(8) One White ThinkLight Supports ThinkPad Port ReplicatorThinkPad Port Replicator IIThinkPad Mini-Dock R31 Feb 2002 Intel Mobile Celeron or Mobile Pentium 3-M (Tutalin) FSB: 133MT/s Intel 830MG 1GB (2x PC133 SDR SO-DIMM) Intel Extreme Graphics (32MB shared) One UltraBay Plus, One 2.5" IDE Intel 82562ET 10/100 Ethernet Optional IBM High Rate Wireless LAN with Modem in Mini-PCI slot Optional Agere LU97 Scorpio AC'97 modem card in CDC slot (exclusive)Intel AC'97 2.1 Audio with an Analog Devices AD1881A SoundMAX CCFL backlit 1024x768(XGA) TN TFT LCD for both 13.3" and 14.1" M(8) One White ThinkLight Supports ThinkPad Port ReplicatorThinkPad Port Replicator IIThinkPad Mini-Dock R32 Jun 2002 313 x 254 x 38 mm (12.3 x 10 x 1.5") Intel Mobile Celeron or Pentium 4-M (Northwood) FSB: 400MT/s Intel 845MP 1GB (2x DDR-266 SO-DIMM) ATI Mobility Radeon 7000 (8/16MB) One UltraBay Plus, One 2.5" IDE Intel 82562ET 10/100 Ethernet Optional IBM High Rate Wireless LAN with Modem I or II or Cisco Aironet Wireless 802.11bin Mini-PCI slot Optional Agere LU97 Scorpio AC'97 modem card in CDC slot (exclusive) CCFL backlit 1024x768(XGA) TN TFT LCD for both 13.3" and 14.1" M(6) U One White ThinkLight Supports ThinkPad Port ReplicatorThinkPad Port Replicator IIThinkPad Mini-Dock
2003 Sources: R40
The ThinkPad R40 came in 4 display options and 2 different body types: an XGA 13.3" or 14.1" in the 14" body type and either an XGA or an SXGA+ 15.0" in the 15" body type and was a sort of facelift to the previous R32, keeping the core design the same the (It looks more similar to the R32 than the R32 to the R31 from the bottom). This was the first R series ThinkPad to have the options for an UltraNav trackpad, a 15" display with a higher resolution 1400x1050 SXGA+ display panel, and Bluetooth. This was the first R series ThinkPad to have USB 2.0 and a hot-swappable UltraBay included.
R40e The ThinkPad R40e came in 2 display options: an XGA 13.3" or 14.1" and was the budget version of the R40. With the budget status came the removal of the UltraBay (having a screwed in place optical drive), docking connector, the S-Video out port, 4 pin FireWire 400 port, and IrDA 1.1 port, and the second speaker. It was also unable to be optioned with Bluetooth, a 15" screen, Pentium M processors, or trackpad.
Model Release (US) Dimensions (w, d, h) Weight (min) CPU Chipset Memory (max) Graphics Storage Networking Audio Screen Battery OtherOperating System R40(14")Jan 2003 313 x 254 x 38 mm(12.3 x 10 x 1.5 in) Intel or Mobile Celeron or Mobile Pentium 4-M (Northwood) or Pentium M (Banias) FSB: 400MT/s Intel 855PM or 845MP 2GB (2x DDR-266 SO-DIMM) ATI Mobility Radeon 7000 (16MB) or 7500 (32MB) One UltraBay Plus, One 2.5" IDE Intel 82562EZ 10/100 Ethernet Agere LU97 Scorpio AC'97 modem card in CDC slot Optional 802.11b Wireless LAN Optional Bluetooth 1.1 CCFL backlit 1024x768(XGA) TN TFT LCD for both 13" and 14" M(6) U One White ThinkLight Option for Trackpad Supports ThinkPad Port Replicator IIThinkPad Mini-Dock R40(15") 330 x 268 x 41 mm(13 x 10.6 x 1.6 in) CCFL backlit 1024x768(XGA) or 1400x1050(SXGA+) TN TFT LCD R40e Mar 2003 313 x 254 x 38 mm(12.3 x 10 x 1.5 in) Intel Mobile Celeron or Mobile Pentium 4-M (Northwood) FSB: 400MT/s ATI RS200M 1GB (2x DDR-266 SO-DIMM) ATI 330M IGP One 2.5" IDE Broadcom BCM5901 10/100 Ethernet Agere LU97 Scorpio AC'97 modem card in CDC slot Optional 802.11b Wireless LAN CCFL backlit 1024x768(XGA) TN TFT LCD for both 13" and 14" M(6) One White ThinkLight
2003-2004 Sources:
R50 With a new number in the middle also came with a new design. This time instead of coming up with a brand new design for the R series, the T series design for the T40 had its magnesium midframe removed, became thicker to maintain stiffness, and a few styling details were changed to create the new design of the R50. The R50 came in 3 display options: an XGA TN 14.1" or either a XGA TN or an SXGA+ IPS 15".
R50p The R50p came in 2 display options: either a UXGA IPS or a QXGA IPS 15". This was released as an indirect successor for the Axxp series of ThinkPads as there was no 15" version of the T40 or 41 to create a 15" Txxp model at this time.
R50e The R50e came in 2 display options: XGA TN 14.1" or 15".
R51 The R51 came in 3 display options: an XGA TN 14.1" or either a XGA TN or an SXGA+ IPS 15".
R51e The R51e came in 2 display options: XGA TN 14.1" or 15". This was the first R series model released by Lenovo in September 2005.
R52 Note:
The R52 came in 3 display options: an XGA TN 14.1" or either a XGA TN or an SXGA+ TN 15" and was the first model to use DDR2 memory. From this model on, the R series was unable to be optioned with an IPS display until the new E series based R series models.