Specifications

  • CPU: 1.9GHz Intel Core i5-4300U (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.9GHz with Turbo Boost)
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400
  • RAM: 4GB DDR3
  • Screen: 14-inch, 2560 x 1440 IPS, IPS display with 10 point multi-touch control
  • Storage: 180GB SSD
  • Ports: 2 USB 3.0, mini DisplayPort, HDMI, Ethernet (via included dongle), headphone/mic combo jack, Lenovo OneLink connector
  • Connectivity: Intel Centrino Advanced-N7260, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
  • Camera: 720p HD webcam
  • Weight: 3.15 pounds
  • Size: 13.03 x 8.94 x 0.73 inches (W x D x H)

 

Display

Lenovo x1 2 1280x720 1

I generally enjoyed using the X1 Carbon to watch Netflix or YouTube videos. Details were always crisp and colours vibrant, if a touch on the pink side. Audio was a bit disappointing though — despite packing a replacement quad-speaker Dolby Atmos system, the X1 Carbon’s sound was slightly hollow. This has been a drag for the X1 series since day one.

When using the keyboard buttons to toggle brightness, the rise between each step up is uneven. From levels 1 to 9, the screen gets gradually brighter by about an equivalent amount each time.

 

Keyboard

lenovo thinkpad x1 carbon 2018 7 scaled

ThinkPads consistently have great keyboards and therefore the X1 Carbon once more gets it right. Mostly, anyway. i really like the deep travel and cozy keys, and typing on a ThinkPad seems like a luxury compared to the merely decent experience on the Laptop 2 and MateBook 14. But I have a problem with a number of the button placements on the X1 Carbon. specifically, I hate where the left Control button sits. rather than being the leftmost button on the bottom row, it’s actually the second last, and a Function key sits on the top .

 

Webcam

You’ll want to set up the fingerprint sensor, since the Windows Hello-enabled webcam above the display doesn’t work alright . In my testing, the system did not recognize me about 30 percent of the time. It tended to struggle in situations that were backlit, but sometimes it had trouble finding me although i used to be sitting just an arm’s length away. i do not have the maximum amount of a problem with Windows Hello on a Surface Laptop 2, which could flow from to its better camera.

Windows Hello also isn’t ideal if you’re privacy conscious and keep your webcam covered. Though, I’ve need to give Lenovo credit for creating it easy to cover and uncover the camera with a built-in shutter. All you’ve got to do is slide a lever above the screen.

Battery

So far, the X1 Carbon and its 8th-gen Intel Core i7 processor have managed to handle my daily workload without a hiccup. More taxing tasks, like editing photos or spreadsheets, went smoothly. I switched to full HD within the game and it played slightly smoother, but I still don’t think the integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics here can really handle gaming.
The X1 Carbon almost got me through a work day without having a charge. I unplugged my UHD model at noon and it wasn’t until about 7pm that I got a low battery warning. On our battery test, the lower-res Full HD X1 Carbon lasted 14 hours, which is twice as long because the 7 hours clocked by my UHD version on an equivalent test. The higher-res model also features a brighter screen, which could have caused more drain.

 

Hardware

Every time I devour an X1 Carbon, I’m impressed. The 14-inch laptop may have a no-nonsense, business-only aesthetic, but it feels more luxurious than its exterior lets on. This year, Lenovo added a carbon-fiber weave to the lid to update the X1’s look a bit, and i appreciate the trouble to stay things fresh. Though, you’ll only get it on the UHD model.

 

Should you buy it?