Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KHCTO1WW

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Reviews for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KHCTO1WW

80% Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (2018) review: A flawed gem of a 14in laptop
Source: It Pro Archive.org version
Lenovo’s latest ThinkPad X1 Carbon is dotted with issues, but they’re either small or can be quickly negated. Ultimately, the appeal of this laptop’s design, display and features win out over its more offputting aspects.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/10/2018
Rating: Total score: 80%

Foreign Reviews

100% Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 20KHCTO1WW - Reviews
Source: Tweakers NL→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/24/2018
Rating: Total score: 100%

Comment

Model: Lenovo is famous with its business models. With the Carbon series Lenovo also brings lightness and aesthetics to the table as well. I do not mean other ThinkPad models are heavy but the Carbon series in its 6th generation weight only 1.1 kg and competes with Dell XPS and Asus Zenbook S series.

With Intel's 8th Gen processors, it is made possible to have high performance with U series processors and this made it possible for manufacturers to expand models in the ultrabook segment.

Yes, we used to have 7th gen processors, but compared to 8th gen, they were kind of obsolete. Now, with 8th gen: performance, better battery times and power management is all possible.

Okay, going back to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. I would like to start with the bad parts first. Well it is only DDR3 2133 MHz RAM, oh and they are soldered, so you do not have the chance to upgrade in the future. Other than that, compared to the competition this models comes with a 14-inch screen. It has full HDMI connection, two Thunderbolt 3 connection, an SD card reader… So everything that you will need in an office environment.

Here is the thing, yes, it is pricey. It is nice to use, hold, carry, I mean everything is fine with the device. Since we are talking about a Lenovo laptop, keyboard is out of this conversation.

This laptop is for people that needs mobility, period. With its business-mindset it will help you do your typing etc. You will have all the looks while this laptop is on the table. But if you want to do some multimedia stuff, well it does not have any dGPU, so you are very limited with iGPU. Therefore before picking this beauty, make sure why do you need it. Of course its price tag will make you ask this question lots of times as well. You know, luxury comes with a price.

Overall, if you have the budget go for it. But if you want both mobility and multimedia performance, Dell's XPS 15 models are lightweight (1.8 kg) and comes with dGPUs. Even MSI has some SKUs that can be considered light weight as well, but they are targeted at gamers and their battery runtimes are questionable.

Hands-on article by Ümit Yılmaz Güneş

Series: With security features, such as the ThinkShutter, that protects the front-facing HD webcam, and match-on-chip fingerprint readers with anti-hoaxing technology that safeguards the company’s data, whilst offering a more secure authentication and log-in, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, sure captures interest of tech savvy users. The Intel Quad Core CPU enhances the performance by up to 35 percent, compared to its predecessors. The memory is even increased in its speed with the LPDDR3. The IR camera that includes the Glance by Mirametrix, which combines face, eye and gaze-tracking, to produce a more intuitive and effective connection by automatically highlighting the cursor and transferring the windows with just the movement of the user’s eye. Not to mention, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, comes in shades of dark black and sleek silver with color-coded hinges. It is also projected with a 14” display option that is bigger and more exclusive. The FHD display offers a low-weight touch option, whilst the Dolby Vision high-dynamic range (HDR) technology option, offers dramatic effects. The ThinkPad X1 also delivers increased brightness, extended contrast, detailed colors, and meticulous details, all in a narrow-bezel design that is only 15.95 mm thin with minimal effect on battery life. With 15 hours of battery life, the minute it starts to run low, the RapidCharge technology offers 80 percent capacity in just 1 hour.

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon also comes with Cortana Premium that enables the feature to have commands narrated from 4 meters / 13 feet distance. Not to mention, the Amazon Alexa enables the user to play music, receive news, or manage one’s smart home or even shop, by just listening to the voice of the user. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon, also comes along with an Intel Thunderbolt 3, the technology that provides incredibly fast data transfer, up to 40 Gbps to USB-C. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is able to withstand any extreme condition. It has been tested against 12 military-grade conditions and more than 200 quality checks were done. The bonus feature of ThinkShutter minimizes the risk of being watched or have the user’s privacy invaded. This front-facing camera privacy and security is enabled with the option of the HD camera. Not only is privacy of the user protected, but the privacy of the user’s data is also protected with a discrete Trusted Platform Module (dTPM), that encrypts your information. Moreover, FIDO, which is an authentication capability, secures a user’s access information in 3 layers of security.

Hands-on article by Jagadisa Rajarathnam

Intel UHD Graphics 620: Integrated GPU (GT2, 24 EUs) found on some Kaby-Lake-Refresh CPU models (15 W ULV series). Technically identical to the previous Kaby-Lake GPU called HD Graphics 620.

Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

i5-8550U: Kaby-Lake-Refresh based low power quad-core processor. The four cores are clocked between 1.8 and 4 GHz (Turbo Boost) and support HyperThreading. The integrated GPU is clocked between 300 and 1,150 MHz. The SoC is manufactured in a 14nm+ FinFET process.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.

14.00":

There are hardly any tablets in this display size range anymore. For subnotebooks, on the other hand, it is the standard format.

The advantage of subnotebooks is that the entire laptop can be small and therefore easily portable. The smaller display also has the advantage of requiring less power, which further improves battery life and thus mobility. The disadvantage is that reading texts is more strenuous on the eyes. High resolutions are more likely to be found in standard laptops.

Lenovo: Lenovo ("Le" from English legend, novo (Latin) for new) was founded in 1984 as a Chinese computer trading company. As of 2004, the company was the largest laptop manufacturer in China and, after acquiring IBM's PC division in 2005, the fourth largest in the world. In addition to desktops and notebooks, the company manufactures monitors, projectors, servers, etc, and specializes in developing, manufacturing and marketing consumer electronics, personal computers, software, enterprise solutions and related services.

In 2016, the company ranked first in the world in computer sales. It still held it in 2023 with about 23% global market share. Important product lines are Thinkpad, Legion and Ideapad.

In 2011, it acquired a majority stake in Medion AG, a European computer hardware manufacturer. In 2014, Motorola Mobility was purchased, which gave Lenovo a boost in the smartphone market.

90%: There are not very many models that are rated better. Most of the assessments are in percentage ranges below that. The tested product is not considered perfect, but the sources give a clear purchase recommendation.

» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

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