TrackPoint, pointing stick, style pointer, nub, or nipple mouse, all these words refer to the small joystick used as a pointing device. On laptops with trackpoint, they are usually located in the space separating G, H, and B keys on the keyboard, and they look like this:
For many users, trackpoints offer better experience and performance in comparison to a regular touchpad or a mouse. And if you’re here, you’re probably one of them!
If you’re a fan of trackpoints, and looking for a laptop that has one, just keep reading. We have compiled a list of some of the best laptops with Trackpoint for you.
If you’re in a hurry, here are the best laptops with trackpoints we’ve selected, you can also continue reading below, for more details about each laptop, and the FAQ section:
Laptops with Trackpoint in 2022: Quick List!
What is a Trackpoint?
Introduced to the market in 1992 by IBM, trackpoints were designed to substitute touchpads and classic computer mouses on laptops. A trackpoint usually consists of an often distinguishingly colored controller and three mouse buttons just below the space bar. IBM actually trademarked the name “Trackpoint” in 1997 and the red nub has since become a unique feature to Thinkpads.
In most TrackPoint systems, there are eight directions available with speed depending on the pressure the user exerts on it. The user, if needed, can set the pressure-speed relation. The right and left buttons play their traditional roles. Meanwhile, holding the middle button and controlling the nipple at the same time is responsible for scrolling. This can also be set manually to switch control on the middle button only.
TrackPoint’s joystick has three main configurations. The first one is a classic dome-like button without any distinct features. The second option is a soft dome. It provides a more delicate touch in comparison with a classic button because of a textile placed on its convex tip. The third joystick variant is a soft rim. This one offers a motion advantage as less pressure needs to be applied to move the cursor.
What are the Advantages of using a TrackPoint?
TrackPoints are still in demand among users who prefer physical controllers to sensor touchpads. It may not be the best hardware to use to work with graphic design software for example as it provides less accuracy. It is, however, different from a classic joystick or computer mouse as it does not require additional space and ports to work. Moreover, many users find it easier to manipulate precisely in shaky conditions, which gives it an advantage over touchpads while on the road for example.
Additionally, TrackPoints offer an opportunity to type and scroll with fewer hand movements involved than trackpads or mouses. The user does not need to put hands off the keyboard to use the cursor at all, since most fingers stay on their home keys. For some people, this makes typing and working with documents faster and more comfortable.
As mentioned before, technology is not new to the market, and will most laptops only come with a touchpad, some business oriented laptops, especially Thinkpads stilll have Trackpoints.
Best Laptops with Trackpoint: Detailed list
So, now that you have an idea about trackpoints, let’s check out some fo the best laptops with Trackpoint we selected for you:
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Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2 (20T80005US)
First on our list, we have the Lenovo Thinkpad E15, which is one of the most affordable laptops with trackpoint available. The Thinkpad E15 comes with a traditional dome joystick and an innovative three-button clickpad with enhanced sensitivity.
The version featured (E15 gen 2) here has an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB NVMe SSD. This laptop is a good option for businesses looking for a reliable and relatively affordable machine for working on the go.
The Lenovo E15 comes with a 15,6 inch Full HD IPS display, with minimal bezels. Brightness level is ok, at 250cf/m3. In terms of ports, the E15 has 2 USB type A ports, 1 USB-C port, HDMI and Ethernet.
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Processor |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, AMD Radeon |
| Screen | 15,6 inch, , IPS |
| Connectivity and Ports | 1 – USB Type C port
2- USB Type A ports 1 – HDMI port, Ethernet |
| Battery | up to 12 hours battery life |
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HP EliteBook 850 G8
HP’s Elitebook lineup is another great choice if you’re looking for a laptop with a pointing stick. And here, we have the latest Elitebook 850 G8, which has a 11th gen Intel Quad Core i5-1135G7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB PCIe SSD.
Thanks to the latest 11th i5 processor, and upgraded RAM, this laptop can handle all your daily work with no lags. The Intel Iris Graphics also offer some power when dealing with tasks that require a graphics card.
The HP 850 G8 comes with a 15,6 Full HD IPS display that provides vibrant images and good viewing angles. If you want a smaller screen, you might consider the 840 G8 which comes with a 14 inch display, and which also features a pointing stick.
The Elitebook 840 G8 also comes with a very amount of ports, including 2 USB-C/ Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB type A ports, HDMI, and also a fingerprint reader.
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 512GB, SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, Intel Iris Graphics |
| Screen | 15,6 inch, 1920X1080, IPS |
| Connectivity and Ports | 2 – USB Type C port / Thunderbolt 4
2- USB 3.0 port 1 – HDMI port, Bluetooth |
| Battery | up to 10 hours battery life |
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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10
The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon has always been one of the best ultrabooks out there, and this latest gen is no exception. Featured here, is the X1 Carbon Gen 10 which comes with a 12th gen Intel Core i7-1260P processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD.
At just 0,6 inch thick, the X1 Carbon is also very slim, but despite that, it has one of the best keyboard out there. Both the touchpad and TrackPoint also work fast and respond precisely to users’ gestures.
The X1 Carbon is also easy to carry and has a 14 inch Full HD plus display (1920 x 1200 pixels), with a brightness up to 400nits, which makes quite good for outdoor use. The screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio.
In terms of I/O, there are 2 usb-C ports, which also support Thunderbolt 4, 2 USB Type A ports, and HDMI.
| Processor | Intel Core i7-1260P Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 1TB, SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Screen | 14 inch, 1920X1200, IPS |
| Connectivity and Ports | 2 – USB Type C ports // Thunderbolt 4
2- USB 3.2 ports 1 – HDMI , Sim Card slot, Bluetooth |
| Battery | up to 16.7 hours battery life |
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Dynabook Portege X30L-J X30L-J-1337
The Dynabook Portege X30L-J X30L-J-1337 is a premium 13,3 laptop from Dynabook (Formerly Toshiba) that was designed for users who need a lightweight, yet powerful laptop. The version featured here comes with an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB os SSD storage.
And of course, the Dynabook Portege X30L also comes with a pointing stick in addition to the wide touchpad, which Toshiba brands as the AccuPoint.
The Dynabook Portege X30L-J X30L-J-1337 also has a very good number of ports, including 2 USB-C ports which also support Thunderbolt 4, 2 USB Type A ports, HDMI, an Ethernet port, and a micro SD card reader. There is also a built in camera shutter for privacy.
| Processor | Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 512GB, SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, IIntel Iris graphics |
| Screen | 13,3 inch, 1920X1080, IPS |
| Connectivity and Ports | 2 – USB Type C port // Thunderbolt 4
2- USB 3.0 port 1 – HDMI port, Ethernet Micro SD card reader, Bluetooth, fingerprint reader |
| Battery | up to 14,9 hours battery life |
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ASUS ExpertBook P2 P2451
For those of you who are looking for a relatively more affordable option, here is the ASUS ExpertBook P2 P2451. This 14 inch laptop comes with a 10th gen Intel Core i7-10510U processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage.
The ExpertBook P2451 has a nice backlit keyboard that offers nice tactile feedback, and of course, this laptop also has a trackpoint, with 2 separate mouse buttons. A fingerprint is also included for enhanced security.
The 14 inch screen is not the brightest out there, at 220 nits, but it does the job if you don’t need a laptop for outdoor use. You can also connect an external display easily thanks to the wide number of ports available. The ExpertBook P2451 is one of the few laptops that still have a VGA port, for those who need legacy ports. There are also 3 USB type A ports, HDMI, a USB-C port which also supports DP, Ethernet, and a micro SD card reader.
| Processor | Intel Core i7-10510U Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 512GB, SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics |
| Screen | 14 inch, 1920X1080, IPS |
| Connectivity and Ports | 1 – USB Type C port /
3- USB 3.0 port 1 – HDMI port, Ethernet, VGA MicroSD card reader, Bluetooth |
| Battery | up to 10 hours battery life |
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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga
The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Yoga is a premium looking 13,3 inch 2 in 1 laptop that packs a lot of power in a slim a lightweight chassis. It comes with with an 11th gen Intel i7-1160G7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.
If you’re looking for a 2 in 1 laptop with a trackpoint, the X1 yoga should definitely be on the top of your list. This laptop also features a 16:10 touchscreen, with a resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels. The display is also very bright, and can reach up to 450 nits, which good for working in very illuminated areas or outdoors.
The X1 Yoga is also extremely slim and lightweight, at just 0.45 inch thick, and 2,54lbs. Because of that, the X1 Yoga only comes with 2 USB-C //Thunder bolt 4 ports, and doesn’t have any regular USB, HDMI, or Ethernet ports.
| Processor | Intel Core i7-1160G7 Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 512GB, SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics |
| Screen | 13,5 inch, 2256 x 1504, IPS |
| Connectivity and Ports | 2 – USB Type C port /Thunderbolt 4 |
| Battery | up to 16 hours battery life |
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Dell Latitude 5511
Dell makes some great business and workstation laptops, and some of them come with trackpoints. Here we have the Dell Latitude 5511, which comes with a 10th gen intel i5-10300H processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. In terms of performance, the Dell Latitude 5511 still delivers in 2022, and will handle most tasks business users need.
The Latitude 5511 also comes with a full HD 15,6 inch display, with up to 300 nits of brightness. There is also a full size keyboard, and of cours a built trackpoint with separate mouse buttons. In terms of ports, The Latitude 5511 comes with 3 USB type A ports, 1 USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 Support, HDMI, Ethernet, a SIM card slot, a MicroSD card reader, and an SC card slot.
| Processor | Intel Core i5-10300H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 256GB, SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics |
| Screen | 15,6 inch, 1920X1080, IPS |
| Connectivity and Ports | 1 – USB Type C port / Thunderbolt 3
3- USB 3.0 port 1 – HDMI port, Ethernet, MicroSD card reader, Bluetooth |
| Battery | up to 8 hours battery life |
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HP ZBook Firefly G8 Mobile Workstation
The HP ZBook Firefly G8 is for those need a lightweight workstation laptop and who don’t necessarily dedicated graphics. The version featured here has an intel i7-1165G7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. There is no dedicated graphics card, but the integrated Iris Xe Graphics can handle most tasks, as long as you’re not doing any video editing, 3D software, or other GPU demanding work.
The ZBook Firefly G8 also sports a Full HD 15,6 inch screen, and is MIL-STD 810H certified for durability.There is also a very good amount of ports, including 2 USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB type A ports, and HDMI.
The keyboard is well laid out and has splash protection too. There is also a built in Trackpoint and two separate mouse buttons under the space bar.
| Processor | Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 512GB, SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Screen | 15,6 inch, 1920X1080, IPS |
| Connectivity and Ports | 2 – USB Type C ports / Thunderbolt 4
2- USB Type A ports 1 – HDMI port Bluetooth |
| Battery | up to 14 hours battery life |
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Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 5
Last but not the least, we have the new Lenovo P1 gen 5 workstation. This powerful mobile workstation comes with the latest 12th gen Intel Core i7-12700H processor, 16GB of RAM, Nvidia RTX A1000, and 512GB of SSD storage. The new Intel 12700H processor has 14 cores, and offers desktop like performance. There is no need to say that this laptop is designed for those who need lots of calculating power and need a dedicated professional grade graphics card.
The P1 Gen 5 has a 16 inch display, with a resolution of 3840 by 2400 pixels. The display is also very bright and can reach up to 600 nits. Color reproduction is excellent thanks to the IPS panel and calibration.
The keyboard is excellent and has a built in trackpoint like all Thinkpads. However, there is no separate number pad. In terms of ports, there are 2 USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB type A ports, HDMI port, and an SD card reader.
| Processor | Intel Core i7-12700H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 512GB, SSD |
| Graphics | Dedictaed, Nvidia RTX A1000, |
| Screen | 16 inch, 3840 X 2400, IPS |
| Connectivity and Ports | 2 – USB Type C ports / Thunderbolt 4
2- USB 3.2 ports 1 – HDMI port, SD card reader, Bluetooth |
| Battery | up to 8 hours battery life |
