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are anything to go by, they are pretty similar in performance:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/3042vs3150vs3064vs3070/Intel-i5-8250U-vs-Intel-i5-8350U-vs-Intel-i7-8550U-vs-Intel-i7-8650U
The i7-8650U should theoretically be the best CPU you can find in the T480.
RAM
There are two RAM slots on the T480 and usually only one will be occupied. The T480 suppots up to 64GB of RAM (2x32GB). Most often, you'll find a model with either 8GB or 16GB of RAM. This should not be a deal breaker since RAM can be exchanged quite easily and relatively cheaply but obviously it's better to get 16GB because a $40 investment into a second RAM stick will get you 32GB of RAM in total. However, if you're looking to run 64GB of RAM, it's actually better for you to get an 8GB model (since it's going to be cheaper) over the 16GB because you'll need to remove the original RAM altogether anyway.
You’re looking for SO-DIMM DDR4 2400MHz sticks (provided you didn’t get the 7th Gen CPUs where you can only get up to 2133MHz). Many users including me have a good experience with the Crucial RAM sticks: https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Single-PC4-19200-SODIMM-260-Pin/dp/B019FRBHZ0?th=1
GPU
Every T480 comes with Intel UHD Graphics 620. Don’t expect much gaming from this. You’ll be able to run older games on low settings. However, some models did come with the GeForce MX150. It is not really a powerhorse of any kind but if you plan to play games, edit videos, do 3D modelling, or anything GPU related, it will definitely help a bit in giving you that slight bump in performance. I was actually quite pleasantly surprised with how much gaming I was able to do on it. Plus all models with the MX150 automatically have the double heat sink so you’ll get improved cooling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87ceKHuB0qY
Battery
Most models feature a 24Wh internal battery and a 24Wh, 48Wh, or a 72Wh external battery. You will most often find listings with the 24Wh external battery. Both internal and external batteries are something that can be very easily and relatively cheaply bought online. The 24Wh battery sits flush with the bottom of the laptop so if you need it to be slick and thin (e.g., when travelling), this is a good option. The 72Wh battery protrudes downwards and lifts the back of the laptop slightly (which can improve cooling I assume). Don’t bother with the 48Wh battery since its headspace is exactly the same as the 72Wh one but with 2/3 of the capacity. You can expect about 8-9 hours of office work with the 72Wh battery. There is a very detailed post on batteries here: https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/9hqb7w/t480\_external\_batteries/
Misc
\~Keyboard\~
Some models feature a backlit keyboard. If that’s something you’d like, make sure the model you’re buying has it. There are two backlight intensities, the lower intensity seems to draw much less power than the higher one while still being usable.
There are three manufacturers of keyboards for the T480: LiteOn, Chicony, and Darfon with the LiteOn being regarded as the most comfortable to write on. However, this is something you’ll usually never find out in advance from an online listing. But it’s something you can replace in the future if you wish.
\~WiFi\~
You can upgrade your WiFi card in the M.2 2230 slot to an Intel AX210 which has WiFi 6E 802.11ax and Bluetooth 5.3: https://www.amazon.com/OKN-AX210NGW-Bluetooth-Wireless-Ultra-Low/dp/B08MJLPZPL
Apparently, you can get much better WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity with this as the stock card only gives you 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1. I haven’t personally done this upgrade myself as I find
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