Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

HPE Apollo Systems vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Lenovo are both solutions in the Rack Servers category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.5, while Lenovo is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.4. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 3.9% mindshare in Rack Servers, compared to Lenovo’s 15.8% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Lenovo users who would recommend it.
HPE Apollo Systems
Read 22 HPE Apollo Systems reviews
  • 2,094 Views
  • 1,535 Comparison Views
95% willing to recommend
Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Ser...
Read 27 Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers reviews
  • 7,220 Views
  • 6,004 Comparison Views
96% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report
Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 8, 2024

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers and HPE Apollo Systems are competing products in the server market. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers are favored for better pricing and support, while HPE Apollo Systems is seen as superior for its robust features, justifying its higher price.

Features: Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers provide reliable performance, customizable configurations, and are well-suited for enterprises with specific needs. HPE Apollo Systems offer high-density storage, advanced analytics tools, and are designed for data-intensive applications.

Room for Improvement: Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers could enhance energy efficiency, cooling options, and update management tools. HPE Apollo Systems could improve scalability options, integration flexibility, and cost management strategies.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers are noted for straightforward deployment and responsive customer support. HPE Apollo Systems are appreciated for detailed deployment guides, though they face challenges with longer customer support response times.

Pricing and ROI: Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers stand out for cost-effective setup and quick ROI, attracting budget-conscious buyers. HPE Apollo Systems, while more costly to set up, provide significant ROI through comprehensive features and long-term value.

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE REPORT
To learn more, read our detailed HPE Apollo Systems vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers Report (Updated: June 2025).
Buyer's Guide
HPE Apollo Systems vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers
June 2025
Download the complete report
Helped 856,873 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

HPE Apollo Systems
Ranking in Rack Servers
6th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
22
Ranking in other categories
Density Optimized Servers (2nd)
Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Ser...
Ranking in Rack Servers
3rd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
27
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Rack Servers category, the mindshare of HPE Apollo Systems is 3.9%, down from 4.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers is 15.8%, down from 17.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Rack Servers
 

Featured Reviews

Gayan Senadheera - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers higher capacities compared to other solutions, making it suitable for handling large storage needs
In terms of improvement, we could benefit from some training. If there could be some training for our team, we would be better equipped to promote and support HPE Apollo. Currently, we haven't received any specific training related to HPE Apollo throughout my career. If HPE Apollo provides training, we can share the knowledge with our partners, which could lead to more opportunities for HPE Apollo in the market. Deal protection and other support measures would also be beneficial, as they could help us achieve better results in this market.
Read full review
Adalberto Giaretta - PeerSpot reviewer
Reliable with an easy setup and good support
These are rack servers. We use them for applications. It stores everything including VM servers, application servers, Windows, et cetera The reliability is great. The solution is like any other commodity like Dell or HPE. These are all very similar.  Setting up the solution is easy. It is stable.…
Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Apollo Systems provide stuff that standard services do not. More HTDs, more compute power, at very reasonable pricing."
"When we moved to the Apollo and all flash drives, we gained a lot of performance."
"It's pretty flexible. You can choose how much storage you put on the server. You can have one to three nodes, depending on whether you want more CPU or storage."
"We're going to buy another Apollo 6500. We may configure it with half the number of GPUs because that may be all we need. In a sense, we can see the Apollo 6500 being so powerful that we only need half the GPU capability that we have now."
"HPE Apollo's pricing is low, and implementation is very easy compared to other products."
"It's very reliable. I haven't had a single failure at all in the year and a half; not the slightest problem with it."
"The technical support from HPE has always been good in my experience."
"We usually use three blades for two-rack units, and with enough storage, it's really a small system with a powerful CPU, powerful hard drives, powerful disks."
More HPE Apollo Systems pros
"Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers are scalable."
"It is a stable solution."
"The most valuable feature of the solution is that it is the easiest product to set up and maintain."
"Easy integration with UPS systems provides added convenience and efficiency for our operations."
"The product is very user-friendly."
"Ensures high availability, better hardware management, and support for active features."
"The product scales well."
"I like everything about this solution. It is a very good server, with excellent availability. The size of the power is adequate and the low heating is beneficial."
More Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers pros
 

Cons

"We are quite happy with it, but its price and storage density can be better."
"The technical support from HPE has always been good in my experience."
"We have tried to used standardization using Ubuntu Linux and it's been hard. They had some difficulties getting the RAID configuration up and running because there are no drivers for it. It's not supported by HPE."
"We would like to see SimpliVity on top of the Apollo."
"Lustre seems to be just a little bit unstable overall."
"HPE Apollo's after-sales support and technical support should be improved."
"The support from HPE Apollo could be better, they are making knowledgeable."
"The solution's deployment, security, and scalability need improvement."
More HPE Apollo Systems cons
"Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers availability could improve. We have been waiting two months for one server."
"The power consumption needs to be optimized in Lenovo."
"It was complex to get this started because the Lenovo and VMware are not very compatible. We had to get some updates in order for it to be implemented."
"Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers could improve the availability of their solution. The supply chain is severely broken, we've had to wait many months for component parts to a system time after time. The availability of discs and raid controllers has been difficult lately."
"The RAID Management and the RAID Configuration tools need to be improved."
"I do not have any notes for improvements."
"Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers does a very good job. However, what could be improved can be their Configurator because it's very bulky and it sometimes gives logical errors."
"From our side, our budgets are really not there. The availability of cash is a little bit limited. We buy as much as we can, If it was less expensive, we could buy more."
More Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Compared to other products, HPE Apollo is not an expensive solution."
"It is an expensive solution but it is worth the money. The standard licensing cost is for the GPU and the features that someone is using. There are additional charges but they depend on the solution."
"Obviously I would like to see the cost go down. That speaks for itself."
"There is an annual license required to use HPE Apollo."
"The price of the solution is more expensive than Dell which is their main competitor. However, there are times we have managed to receive a comparable price."
"The cost of the solution depends entirely on the client. There are not any additional costs other than the standard licensing fee."
"The price of Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers is competitive."
"In India, the solution is cheap compared to its competitors."
"Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers can be categorized as a product falling under an affordable price range but more expensive than its competitors."
"Your budget determines the scalability."
"I don't know the exact amount of money, but when I compared it to Dell or HPE, Lenovo was the best when it comes to price and equipment."
"The price of Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers is highly competitive. Many customers prefer this solution because of the price. However, the price could be reduced."
"Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers are cheaper than HPE...It is a good product that offers value for money."
More Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers pricing and cost advice
report
See which vendors are best for you
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Rack Servers solutions are best for your needs.
See recommendations
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
14%
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
12%
Government
8%
Computer Software Company
15%
University
7%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Comms Service Provider
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about HPE Apollo?
HPE Apollo's pricing is low, and implementation is very easy compared to other products.
See all answers
What needs improvement with HPE Apollo?
HPE Apollo's after-sales support and technical support should be improved. The solution should provide fast delivery when it comes to replacing a particular product that is under warranty.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for HPE Apollo?
We use HPE Apollo for specific requirements of Linux servers.
See all answers
How do Lenovo ThinkSystem rack servers compare with HPE ProLiant DL servers?
Lenovo ThinkSystem rack servers offer flexibility and efficiency in order to meet mission-critical demands. I like that Lenovo blends outstanding performance, reliability, and manageability. The bi...
See all answers
When shopping for a rack server, would you go with Dell EMC Poweredge or Lenovo Thinksystem?
Our organization ran comparison tests to determine whether the Dell EMC Poweredge or Lenovo Thinksystem rack servers were the better fit for us. We ultimately decided to go with Dell EMC Poweredge....
See all answers
What do you like most about Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers?
The most valuable feature of the solution is that it is the easiest product to set up and maintain.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs HPE Apollo Systems Logo
HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs HPE Apollo Systems
Compared 33% of the time
Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers vs HPE Apollo Systems Logo
Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers vs HPE Apollo Systems
Compared 20% of the time
Dell PowerEdge FX vs HPE Apollo Systems Logo
Dell PowerEdge FX vs HPE Apollo Systems
Compared 9% of the time
Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs HPE Apollo Systems Logo
Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs HPE Apollo Systems
Compared 9% of the time
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers vs HPE Apollo Systems Logo
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers vs HPE Apollo Systems
Compared 2% of the time
More HPE Apollo Systems Competitors
Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers Logo
Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers
Compared 53% of the time
HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers Logo
HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers
Compared 34% of the time
IBM Power Systems vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers Logo
IBM Power Systems vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers
Compared 3% of the time
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers Logo
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers
Compared 3% of the time
More Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
HPE Apollo Systems
June 2025
HPE Apollo Systems reportDownload HPE Apollo Systems product report
Buyer's Guide
Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers
June 2025
Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers reportDownload Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers product report
 

Also Known As

HP Apollo Systems, HP ProLiant SL, HP Apollo
SR Series, Lenovo SR Series, ThinkSystem Rack Servers, IBM Rack Servers, ThinkSystem SR Series, Lenovo Rack Servers,
 

Overview

The HPE Apollo high-density server family is built for the highest levels of performance and efficiency. They are rack-scale compute, storage, networking, power and cooling – massively scale-up and scale-out – solutions for your big data analytics, object storage and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. From water-cooling that’s 1,000X more efficient than air, to “right-sized scaling” with 2X the compute density for workgroup and private cloud workloads, the HPE Apollo line is a dense, high-performance, tiered approach for organisations of all sizes.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

From growing small businesses to enterprise workloads, Lenovo rack servers offer the unmatched value, flexibility and industry-leading efficiency to meet mission-critical demands with legendary quality and reliability.

Lenovo
 

Sample Customers

Weta Digital
immixGroup, Komsomolskaya Pravda, SRG Global, Seekr, Infiniti Red Bull Racing, jKool, Tennis Australia, VEKA, Netpoints, Gamma Powersports
Buyer's Guide
HPE Apollo Systems vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers
June 2025
Free Report: HPE Apollo Systems vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers
Find out what your peers are saying about HPE Apollo Systems vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
DOWNLOAD NOW
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
See our HPE Apollo Systems vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers report.
See our list of best Rack Servers vendors.

We monitor all Rack Servers reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.