Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook Review
by Dustin Sklavos on May 15, 2013 12:01 AM ESTDisplay Quality
I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm pretty happy to be getting notebooks in for review that don't have lousy 1366x768 panels. I desperately want to believe this is the direction the notebook market is heading in, though a pair of $1,500+ notebooks don't really constitute a trend, and I'll be a lot happier when $600 notebooks have gotten past 1366x768.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon employs a 14" 1600x900 display standard; Lenovo lists it as "wide viewing angle" but it's still most definitely a TN panel. That said, viewing angles are definitely good, and it exhibits none of the "no sweet spot" issues that plague lower quality displays. Lenovo's pseudo-glossy finish isn't as brilliant as typical glossy finishes are, but it's also not as reflective.
The X1 Carbon's display quality is acceptable, but take a look at the contrast graph to get a really good idea of how much of a difference spending just a little more on a display can make. The HP Folio's display has such horrible black levels that its contrast ratio is actually lower than its maximum brightness. Meanwhile, the X1 Carbon has a display that's both lovely and functional, and 1600x900 is about right for a 14" panel before you get into having to mess with the broken dpi settings in Windows.
Battery Life
While most of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon's user experience is at least solid, battery life is one area where it falls horribly short. That Lenovo doesn't offer any extended battery option of any kind turns out to be a major problem.
The X1 Carbon's battery life isn't horrible, but it's way out on the bottom end of competitive. Dell's two "prosumer" XPS notebooks both offer superior efficiency and running time, and the XPS 13 in particular can offer you a stellar 1080p IPS display in the process.
Heat and Noise
Sporting a larger chassis than most Ultrabooks, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is able to do a fantastic job of keeping the ultra low voltage Core i5 running cool. There's definitely a high-pitched whine to the fan when it spins up, but it's not especially loud under extreme, sustained load.
Thermally the X1 Carbon is almost boxing under its weight. None of the surfaces of the chassis get hot, and it's actually difficult to get either core of the i5 to break 70C. I think you could probably make a case for using a higher powered CPU in the Carbon's chassis, but I'm honestly happy just to see a notebook that not only doesn't have heat issues, it doesn't even flirt with them.
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Belard - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - link
Yep... as a long-term and current ThinkPad owner, considering the areas that Lenovo is "modernizing" the ThinkPad line... it would be great if THEY would correct the fn/Ctrl keys! In BIOS you can change it... and I guess with a tiny tool, you can simply pop the keys off.Its still a great keyboard... I doubt as good as the CLASSIC keys from last year and beyond, but they have the added advantage of LIGHTING UP.
bji - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - link
Should have posted about this here instead of in my post above, anyway, you can't swap the physical key caps on the Lenovo since the Fn and Ctrl keys are different size.Flunk - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - link
That's interesting, I always have the opposite problem with my Alienware m14x R2, to me the FN key should be on the far left.noeldillabough - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - link
I agree, I must have gotten used to laptops having the fn key to the far left because it seems "right" (lenovos for more years than I care to admit)I'd never buy a carbon though, ultrabook don't cut it for me, I want an x240 with a higher res screen and haswell cpu.
KarateBob - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - link
The redeeming factor of this review coming out 3 weeks before Haswell, is if there's a slick deal inventory liquidation or Lenovo outlet deal on these, we'll know it's a solid buy.noblemo - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - link
Thank you for the review. How badly does the glossy touchscreen collect fingerprints? Also, how stable is the laptop when pressing against the touchscreen; does the whole computer rock back if you don't put a hand behind the display?Gadgety - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - link
Great review, and well argued. "It's a fantastic Ultrabook, but it's not enterprise." It iwould be interesting to know, which qualify for enterprise? Other parts of the ThinkPad lineup, HP, who? Thank you.ShieTar - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - link
Other parts of the ThinkPad lineup, yes. Also HP Elitebook, Fujitsu Celsius, Dell Precision and the maybe the MSI GT line. Then there are a few enterprise boutiques, e.g. Schenker and Wortmann in Germany.Then again, I'm not sure anybody has an Ultrabook that qualifies as an Enterprise device as such.
Dug - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - link
Usually things like - compatibility with docking stations, self encrypting drives, BIOS locks, asset tagging, specific deployment packages, etc.noeldillabough - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - link
Although I have a dock for each of my laptops (except macbooks) I am looking forward to the "universal dock connector" that is surely coming. Thunderbolt/Mag connector or whatever. I want to plug ONE thing in max.