Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 10): Best laptop for pros?
Lenovo’s ThinkPad series is considered by many to be the benchmark for business laptops, and the X1 Carbon is its most iconic model. Lenovo’s new computer (10e Generation) features a 14-inch screen, 12-inch Intel Core processorse generation, touch screens and, new for this generation, a 1080 p webcam. With a base price of 3,115 euros (discount excluded), this is clearly not a cheap model. But is the price reasonable?
Build quality
Design-wise, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 presents no surprises. The black chassis is punctuated with the ThinkPad X1 logo on one corner and Lenovo branding on the other. The dot above the “i” in “ThinkPad” glows red when the laptop is on, letting you know if you shut down the laptop without shutting it down. Some models have a woven carbon fiber finish on the lid, giving it a two-tone look.
Photo: Sandra Vogel/ZDNET.
Build quality is good, as you’d expect from a ThinkPad. The cover is made of carbon fiber and the body of magnesium alloy. I had a hard time bending the screen even when trying, and while there’s a bit of play around the keyboard, the chassis corners are solid.
The X1 Carbon is a compact and light-to-carry laptop. The chassis has a footprint of 315.6 mm by 222.5 mm, for a thickness of 14.95 mm at the rear. A small lip in the middle of the cover helps you open the machine – an action that is easy to do with one hand, because the balance of weight between the screen and the base allows the bottom of the computer to stay on the desk when the lid is open. The machine weighs only 1.12 kg.
Screen and speakers
The 14-inch screen strikes the perfect balance between comfort and portability. Lenovo uses a 16:10 aspect ratio and offers a wide range of display options. The model I tested features an IPS WUXGA (1920 x 1200) touchscreen with a matte finish and 400 nits of brightness. A combination that makes the slab comfortable to use.
The 1920 x 1200 display is available with or without touch compatibility. There are also configurations with a WQUXGA screen (3840 x 2400 px) or an Oled screen (2880 x 1800 px). The computer also benefits from a PrivacyGuard feature that reduces screen readability for people around the machine.
The machine has four speakers, two on the front and two with vertical grilles on the sides of the keyboard. The audio quality is impeccable: the maximum volume is quite loud, and even with a little distortion, it is still acceptable. At three quarters of maximum volume, distortion disappears. Bass and treble are well suited to rock listening and classical music is well done.
Above the screen is a webcam with a sliding cover. Users can take advantage of facial recognition and presence detection that locks the laptop when the user walks away from their machine. All configurations of this laptop are equipped with a FHD (1080p) camera. If you don’t like facial recognition, there’s a fingerprint reader built into the power button on the keyboard.
Keyboard and trackpad
I found the keyboard very comfortable to use, with just the right amount of resistance and rebound. The key Hall is wide and high and the keys fn the measurements are also good. Fans of the Lenovo TrackPoint and its accompanying buttons above the trackpad will be happy to see them again on this machine.
Photo: Sandra Vogel/ZDNET.
The trackpad itself is pretty small compared to what’s out there today. Lenovo has sacrificed part of its wrist rest to provide more space for the keyboard. Some users, especially those with large hands, may feel aggrieved by this decision.
A set of adjustments
There is a wide range of configurations, with Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors from 12e generation. RAM can go up to 32 GB and storage up to 2 TB. The GPU is an integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics. Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 are on all models, while mobile broadband – 4G LTE and 5G (sub-6 GHz) – is available as an option.
My test unit has an Intel Core i7-1255U 12e generation, 16 GB of RAM, an Intel Iris Xe graphics card, a 512 GB SSD and a WUXGA (1920 x 1200) touchscreen with PrivacyGuard. The machine got a Geekbench CPU score of 1543 (single core) and 6732 (multi core).
Photo: Lenovo.
For wired connectivity, there’s a full-size HDMI port, a 3.5mm audio in/out jack, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports. One of those USB ports -C is busy when the battery is charging. Configurations with mobile broadband also have a Nano SIM slot.
Autonomy
Battery life is probably the biggest issue with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. After three hours (with all default settings, including brightness) of writing in web apps, streaming sound and video, and browsing the web, the battery dropped from 100% to 39%. That suggests a battery life of less than five hours in total.
At least fast charging is there and the power brick is small enough to easily carry around. Plugging in the computer at 32% and continuing to work on it, after 15 minutes the battery is at 48%, after half an hour it is at 62% and after 45 minutes it is at 74%.
Conclusion
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 10) is an excellent 14-inch laptop. Well built while remaining lightweight, it offers many configuration options including 4G/5G compatibility. Its great keyboard, excellent speakers and 1080p webcam make it a great machine.
The main disappointment is about too light autonomy. Some users may find the palm rest shallow and the trackpad a bit small. But if you can deal with these issues, this laptop is definitely worth it.
Advantages:
- compact, light and well built;
- many configuration options;
- great keyboard and speakers;
- 1080p webcam with privacy cover.
Disadvantages:
- small trackpad and palmrest;
- frustrating autonomy;
- no SD/MicroSD card slot.
Features
- Processor : Intel Core i5-1235U, Core i5-1240P, i5-1250P, i7-1260P, i7-1270P with vPro
- Graphic card : Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated)
- Operating system: Windows 11 (Home, Pro), Ubuntu Linux, Fedora Linux
- screen : 14 inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS, 400 nits – WUXGA (3840 x 2400) Touch IPS, 400 nits – 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED, 400 nits
- RAM: up to 32 GB LPDDR5
- Storage : up to 2TB PCIe SSD Gen 4
- Battery : 57Wh
- Battery charging: fast charging (65W power supply or more)
- Security : dTPM 2.0, presence detection via IR (optional), PrivacyGuard (optional), facial recognition via IR (optional), fingerprint reader on power button, webcam privacy cover, lock slot Kensington
- Audio: 4 speakers, Dolby Atmos / 4 microphones (360 degrees)
- Camera: Hybrid FHD IR with Privacy Cover
- wireless : Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax, 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz)
- Bluetooth: 5.2
- NFC: yes (optional)
- Mobile Broadband: Fibocom L860-GL-16 4G CAT16 (optional), Fibocom FM350-GL 5G SUB 6 (optional)
- Ports: 2 USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 2 USB-A (3.2 Gen 1), audio in/out, HDMI 2.0, Nano SIM (optional)
- Keyboard : backlit, 110mm glass trackpad
- Color : black, carbon fiber weave on top cover (optional)
- Measurements: 315.6mm x 222.5mm x 15.36mm.
- Weight: from 1.12 kg
- Already in the box: ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10, battery, 65W USB-C charger (supports fast charging), quick start guide
- Price : from €3,115
Alternatives
Source: ZDNet.com
