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ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020 Review: Familiar business laptop with a new power adapter

Minor Update. Lenovo shows the 8th generation of its business flagship ThinkPad X1 Carbon. However, it is just a very small update and it looks like you only get a new Intel Comet Lake-U processor at first. AMD processors are not planned for this generation of the expensive business notebook.

Lenovo only gives its business flagship ThinkPad X1 Carbon a small update this year. The chassis is identical to the previous model and the German Lenovo shop does not list the WQHD panel anymore; customers can choose between a matte LowPower 1080p screen, a matte 1080p touchscreen, as well as a glossy 4K display. There is also a new version of the ePrivacy screen with an integrated privacy filter and an advertised brightness of up to 500 nits.

The processors are updated to Intel's Comet Lake chips (10th gen), but these CPUs were already available for the 2019 ThinkPad X1 Carbon in the U.S. in the beginning of 2020 and we have already reviewed a corresponding model. Now we want to see if there are any additional changes or if you can just get a 2019 model, which are currently sold with big discounts.

Our test sample is a Campus unit with a Core i7 processor, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB PCIe-SSD storage, and the LowPower 1080p display for 1549 Euros (~$1742, without Windows). The corresponding top seller unit for regular customers has the designation 20U90003GE and retails for 1999 Euros (~$2249) including Windows 10 Pro.

We will focus on the display as well as the new processor in our review. Please have a look at our previous reviews of the 2019 ThinkPad X1 Carbon for more details on the case, the input devices, and the speakers.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00 (ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-10510U 4 x 1.8 - 4.9 GHz, Comet Lake-U
Graphics adapter
Memory
16 GB 
, LPDDR3-2133, Dual-Channel, soldered
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 157 PPI, BOE NE140FHM-N61, IPS, glossy: no, 60 Hz
Mainboard
Intel Comet Lake-U PCH-LP Premium
Storage
Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ, 512 GB 
, 441 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Comet Lake PCH-LP - cAVS
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 2 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm stereo jack, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC
Networking
Intel Comet Lake PCH-LP - I219-V gBE (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 14.9 x 323.5 x 217.1 ( = 0.59 x 12.74 x 8.55 in)
Battery
51 Wh Lithium-Ion, 4 cells
Camera
Webcam: 720p HD
Primary Camera: 0.9 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Dolby Atmos, 2x 2W, 2x 0.8W, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 65W PSU (USB-C), ThinkPad Ethernet Extension Adapter Gen2, 36 Months Warranty
Weight
1.082 kg ( = 38.17 oz / 2.39 pounds), Power Supply: 332 g ( = 11.71 oz / 0.73 pounds)
Price
1550 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Best Price
90.2 %
07/2020
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
i7-10510U, UHD Graphics 620
1.1 kg14.9 mm14.00"1920x1080
90.5 %
02/2019
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
i7-8650U, UHD Graphics 620
1.4 kg16.9 mm14.00"1920x1080
92.1 %
06/2020
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
i5-1038NG7, Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU)
1.4 kg15.6 mm13.30"2560x1600
87.2 %
09/2019
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
i7-8665U, UHD Graphics 620
1.5 kg18.9 mm14.00"1920x1080
88.5 %
03/2020
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
i7-10510U, UHD Graphics 620
1.2 kg15.4 mm14.00"3840x2160

Case - Only visual changes for the ThinkPad

The case is basically identical to the 2019 ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Only the X1 logo on the lid is not located directly next to the ThinkPad logo and not on the opposite side anymore. The high stability and the very low weight of the 14-inch laptop (1082 grams/~2.4 lb) did not change, either, but this was not necessary. However, the smooth surfaces are still prone to fingerprints or dirt and can quickly look a bit greasy.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2019 (left) vs. ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020 (right)
ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2019 (top) vs. ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020 (bottom)

Size Comparison

321 mm / 12.6 inch 214 mm / 8.43 inch 18.9 mm / 0.744 inch 1.5 kg3.38 lbs323.5 mm / 12.7 inch 217.1 mm / 8.55 inch 15.4 mm / 0.606 inch 1.2 kg2.7 lbs323.5 mm / 12.7 inch 217.1 mm / 8.55 inch 14.9 mm / 0.587 inch 1.1 kg2.39 lbs321.4 mm / 12.7 inch 215 mm / 8.46 inch 16.9 mm / 0.665 inch 1.4 kg2.98 lbs304.1 mm / 12 inch 212.4 mm / 8.36 inch 15.6 mm / 0.614 inch 1.4 kg3.05 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity - Thunderbolt 3 and USB Type-A

There are no changes in terms of ports, either. In addition to two Thunderbolt 3 ports, you get regular USB Type-A connectors, a native LAN connection (adapter included) and a full-size HDMI port. Customers still do not get a card reader.

Left side: Thunderbolt 3, Side-Dock (Thunderbolt 3 + LAN), USB-A (3.1 Gen.1), HDMI 1.4b, 3.5 mm stereo
Left side: Thunderbolt 3, Side-Dock (Thunderbolt 3 + LAN), USB-A (3.1 Gen.1), HDMI 1.4b, 3.5 mm stereo
Right side: Power button, USB-A (3.1 Gen.1 Always-On), Kensington
Right side: Power button, USB-A (3.1 Gen.1 Always-On), Kensington

Communication - Wi-Fi 6, but not LTE-ready

The update to Comet Lake CPUs also includes a Wi-Fi 6 module, in this case Intel's AX201. The ThinkPad can clearly beat its predecessor when it receives data in our standardized test with the router Netgear Nighthawk AX12, but the old 9560 Wi-Fi module is even a bit faster when you send files.

Similar to last year's model, you have to decide if you want LTE connectivity ahead of the purchase. It is not possible to add an LTE module later, because both the internal antennas and the SIM-card slot at the rear are missing on models without LTE from the factory.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
1166 (1012min - 1299max) MBit/s +43%
Average Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
  (49.8 - 1775, n=324)
1161 MBit/s +43%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (606 - 1339, n=3, last 2 years)
1056 MBit/s +30%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
813 (333min - 981max) MBit/s
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
809 MBit/s 0%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
663 MBit/s -18%
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
477 MBit/s -41%
iperf3 receive AX12
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1658 (1572min - 1712max) MBit/s
Average Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
  (136 - 1743, n=324)
1261 MBit/s -24%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (623 - 1690, n=3, last 2 years)
1258 MBit/s -24%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
1130 (1072min - 1174max) MBit/s -32%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
765 MBit/s -54%
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
654 MBit/s -61%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
652 MBit/s -61%

Webcam - ThinkPad with 720p Webcam

ColorChecker
18.5 ∆E
11.3 ∆E
12.7 ∆E
14.9 ∆E
11.6 ∆E
9 ∆E
10.7 ∆E
18.6 ∆E
16.9 ∆E
14.9 ∆E
7.6 ∆E
6.6 ∆E
18.5 ∆E
8.7 ∆E
21.5 ∆E
3.8 ∆E
14.7 ∆E
14.1 ∆E
2.3 ∆E
4.6 ∆E
6.2 ∆E
7.6 ∆E
10 ∆E
7.2 ∆E
ColorChecker Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00: 11.35 ∆E min: 2.33 - max: 21.51 ∆E

Input Devices - ThinkPad with clattery TrackPoint buttons

After the ThinkPad X1 Carbon got thinner last year, Lenovo also had to reduce the key travel from 1.8 to 1.5 mm (0.071 to 0.059 inches). You can notice this difference and this means that the 2019 ThinkPad X1 Carbon as well as the 2020 model do not offer the best keyboard you can get in a ThinkPad anymore. Yes, we are nitpicking here, and the keyboard is still superior to many other slim business laptops, but thicker ThinkPads like the new ThinkPad T14, for example, just offer a slightly better typing experience thanks to the longer travel.

Another thing we noticed is the quality of the TrackPoint buttons. Since the 2019 model, they are completely flat and tend to clatter much faster. We once again compare it with the buttons on the ThinkPad T14, which still uses the old design with angled buttons. These are rock solid and there is no clatter whatsoever. This also results in a slight deduction in the rating and Lenovo should fix this on its flagship device.

Display - ThinkPad panels once again from multiple suppliers

Subpixel array
Subpixel array
Minor backlight bleeding
Minor backlight bleeding

Our test sample is equipped with the 14-inch LowPower 1080p screen, which is already familiar from many 2019 ThinkPads. We also know that there are at least 4 different suppliers for the panel and you just don't know which exact model you will get. There can be noticeable differences between the panels as we have found out in our big comparison.

We lost the panel lottery on our test sample of the 2020 X1 Carbon, because it uses the BOE panel, which suffers from longer response times and there is also PWM when the brightness is at 50% or lower. However, the frequency is pretty high and should not cause any problems.

We determine an average luminance of almost 400 cd/m², and in combination with the decent black value (0.27) we get a very good contrast ratio of more than 1500:1. The subjective picture impression is good, but you will notice a color cast towards blue/green if you are used to working on calibrated displays.

398
cd/m²
392
cd/m²
393
cd/m²
380
cd/m²
422
cd/m²
386
cd/m²
389
cd/m²
413
cd/m²
386
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
BOE NE140FHM-N61 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 422 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 395.4 cd/m² Minimum: 5.1 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 421 cd/m²
Contrast: 1563:1 (Black: 0.27 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.7 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 2
ΔE Greyscale 6.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
91.5% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
59.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
67.1% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
91.6% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
68.9% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.12
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
BOE NE140FHM-N61, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
AU Optronics AUO533D, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
APPA03D, IPS, 2560x1600, 13.30
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
AU Optronics B140HAN, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
BOE NV140QUM-N53, IPS, 3840x2160, 14.00
Display
-2%
27%
0%
18%
Display P3 Coverage
68.9
64.3
-7%
98.8
43%
66.1
-4%
83
20%
sRGB Coverage
91.6
94.1
3%
99.9
9%
95.3
4%
99.7
9%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
67.1
65.5
-2%
86.4
29%
67.5
1%
83.1
24%
Response Times
-30%
1549%
-10%
-25%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
64.8 ?(30.8, 34)
70.8 ?(34.8, 36)
-9%
46 ?(22, 24)
29%
62 ?(29.6, 32.4)
4%
49.2 ?(22, 27.2)
24%
Response Time Black / White *
30.4 ?(10.8, 19.6)
34.4 ?(18.8, 15.6)
-13%
32.4 ?(18.4, 14)
-7%
37.6 ?(21.2, 16.4)
-24%
32.2 ?(19.2, 13.2)
-6%
PWM Frequency
2404 ?(50)
735 ?(100)
-69%
113600 ?(75)
4625%
201.6 ?(99)
-92%
Screen
12%
29%
5%
-13%
Brightness middle
422
416.3
-1%
512
21%
289
-32%
532
26%
Brightness
395
400
1%
491
24%
286
-28%
513
30%
Brightness Distribution
90
89
-1%
91
1%
91
1%
90
0%
Black Level *
0.27
0.29
-7%
0.32
-19%
0.16
41%
0.41
-52%
Contrast
1563
1436
-8%
1600
2%
1806
16%
1298
-17%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.7
2.69
43%
1.7
64%
4.7
-0%
6.88
-46%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
10
4.95
50%
3.4
66%
8.7
13%
12.65
-27%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
2
2.13
-7%
1
50%
1.3
35%
2.52
-26%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.4
2.9
55%
1.9
70%
6.4
-0%
10.5
-64%
Gamma
2.12 104%
2.4 92%
2.19 100%
2.54 87%
1.98 111%
CCT
7106 91%
6623 98%
6817 95%
5977 109%
7394 88%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
59.5
60.1
1%
77.4
30%
61.2
3%
74.1
25%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
91.5
94.5
3%
99.9
9%
95.1
4%
99.7
9%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-7% / 2%
535% / 297%
-2% / 2%
-7% / -10%

* ... smaller is better

This color cast is confirmed by our analysis with the X-Rite i1 Pro 2 spectrophotometer and the professional CalMAN software. The color temperature is also a bit too cool out of the box and the deviations for the grayscale as well as the colors are pretty high compared to the sRGB reference color space.

CalMAN Grayscale
CalMAN Grayscale
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN Grayscale calibrated
CalMAN Grayscale calibrated
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps calibrated
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps calibrated
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated

We can correct the color cast with our calibration, but this also affects the maximum brightness, which drops by almost 60 cd/m² in the center of the screen. Some colors are still above the deviation of 3, despite the calibration. The sRGB color gamut of the BOE panel is not bad at 91.5%, but the other display versions are better in this regard.

vs. sRGB: 91.5 %
vs. sRGB: 91.5 %
vs. AdobeRGB: 59.5 %
vs. AdobeRGB: 59.5 %

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
30.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 10.8 ms rise
↘ 19.6 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 80 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
64.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 30.8 ms rise
↘ 34 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 97 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 2404 Hz ≤ 50 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 2404 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 50 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 2404 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The matte screen surface obviously helps outdoors and you can still see the display contents in bright environments thanks to the good luminance. Only direct sunlight should be avoided. There is no criticism for the viewing angle stability of the IPS screen.

In the sun
In the sun
In the sun
In the sun
In the sun
In the sun
Viewing angle stability
Viewing angle stability

Performance - X1 Carbon with quad-core and PCIe-SSD

Processor - Comet Lake Core i7

Lenovo switched to Intel's Comet Lake-U chips, but they are very similar to the previous Whiskey Lake processors. There are also Comet Lake chips with vPro, which is the reason we do not get Ice Lake CPUs with faster integrated graphics adapters. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is still shipped with LPDDR3-2133 memory. AMD Ryzen processors are not available for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon.

The Core i7-10510U (no vPro) in our unit performs well and can consume around 18 Watts under continuous workloads. All in all, the new ThinkPad is even slightly slower than the old G7 model, both with Whiskey Lake and Comet Lake. However, you will not notice this difference in practice. The processor definitely does not justify an upgrade to the new model. The performance on battery power is not reduced.

04080120160200240280320360400440480520560600640680720760Tooltip
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00 Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel Core i7-10510U: Ø594 (493.81-731.25)
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5 Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel Core i7-8650U: Ø525 (511.81-563.88)
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen Intel Core i5-1038NG7, Intel Core i5-1038NG7: Ø761 (725.23-768.15)
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH Intel Core i7-8665U, Intel Core i7-8665U: Ø544 (523.43-667.87)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel Core i7-10510U: Ø628 (486.69-776.19)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2019-20QE000VGE Intel Core i7-8665U, Intel Core i7-8665U: Ø632 (574.56-701.36)
Cinebench R20: CPU (Single Core) | CPU (Multi Core)
Cinebench R15: CPU Single 64Bit | CPU Multi 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 -mmt1 | 7z b 4
Geekbench 5.5: Single-Core | Multi-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Single Core)
Average of class Subnotebook
  (216 - 738, n=64, last 2 years)
602 Points +37%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel Core i7-10510U
447 Points +1%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel Core i7-8665U
445 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Core i7-10510U
441 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Core i5-1038NG7
438 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (362 - 497, n=37)
437 Points -1%
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Multi Core)
Average of class Subnotebook
  (810 - 6314, n=64, last 2 years)
3825 Points +168%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Core i5-1038NG7
1998 Points +40%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel Core i7-10510U
1654 Points +16%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel Core i7-8665U
1453 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Core i7-10510U
1428 Points
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (1015 - 1897, n=38)
1412 Points -1%
Cinebench R15 / CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (91.8 - 280, n=62, last 2 years)
234 Points +28%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Core i7-10510U
183 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel Core i7-10510U
182 Points -1%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel Core i7-8665U
181 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (113 - 202, n=42)
178.4 Points -3%
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
Intel Core i7-8650U
172 Points -6%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Core i5-1038NG7
169 Points -8%
Cinebench R15 / CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (514 - 2581, n=70, last 2 years)
1705 Points +133%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel Core i7-10510U
776 Points +6%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Core i5-1038NG7
768 (720min - 768max) Points +5%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Core i7-10510U
731 Points
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel Core i7-8665U
674 Points -8%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (482 - 856, n=45)
666 Points -9%
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
Intel Core i7-8650U
564 Points -23%
Blender / v2.79 BMW27 CPU
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (628 - 1051, n=31)
796 Seconds * -4%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel Core i7-8665U
769 Seconds * -0%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Core i7-10510U
769 Seconds *
Average of class Subnotebook
  (201 - 1600, n=66, last 2 years)
397 Seconds * +48%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Core i5-1038NG7
4.2 Seconds * +99%
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 -mmt1
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2197 - 6403, n=58, last 2 years)
5278 MIPS +17%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel Core i7-8665U
4726 MIPS +5%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (3747 - 4981, n=31)
4591 MIPS +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Core i7-10510U
4521 MIPS
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Core i5-1038NG7
4161 MIPS -8%
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4
Average of class Subnotebook
  (16223 - 67444, n=57, last 2 years)
43017 MIPS +137%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Core i5-1038NG7
19485 MIPS +7%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Core i7-10510U
18187 MIPS
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel Core i7-8665U
17731 MIPS -3%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (12196 - 21298, n=31)
17704 MIPS -3%
Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core
Average of class Subnotebook
  (672 - 2350, n=66, last 2 years)
1677 Points +38%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Core i5-1038NG7
1265 Points +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Core i7-10510U
1211 Points
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (977 - 1287, n=31)
1197 Points -1%
Geekbench 5.5 / Multi-Core
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4213 - 12580, n=66, last 2 years)
8762 Points +113%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Core i5-1038NG7
4564 Points +11%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Core i7-10510U
4122 Points
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (2474 - 4484, n=31)
3687 Points -11%
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 / 4k Preset
Average of class Subnotebook
  (1.5 - 19.4, n=56, last 2 years)
11.5 fps +137%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Core i5-1038NG7
5.99 fps +24%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Core i7-10510U
4.85 fps
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (3.41 - 6.04, n=31)
4.65 fps -4%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel Core i7-8665U
4.5 fps -7%
LibreOffice / 20 Documents To PDF
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Core i5-1038NG7
88.6 s * -71%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (50.7 - 77.8, n=27)
59.9 s * -16%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (40.1 - 120.5, n=57, last 2 years)
53.6 s * -4%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Core i7-10510U
51.7 s *
R Benchmark 2.5 / Overall mean
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Core i5-1038NG7
0.702 sec * -3%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (0.637 - 0.81, n=28)
0.68 sec * -0%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel Core i7-10510U
0.679 sec *
Average of class Subnotebook
  (0.4397 - 1.236, n=57, last 2 years)
0.528 sec * +22%

* ... smaller is better

CPU data during the Cinebench R15 Multi loop
CPU data during the Cinebench R15 Multi loop
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
183 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
731 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
58.5 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Help

System Performance

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon runs very well and we did not notice any problems. The benchmark results are also very good and the ThinkPad can beat the other comparison devices in the synthetic benchmarks.

PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4384 - 7428, n=56, last 2 years)
5810 Points +28%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
4527 Points
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3783 - 4688, n=16)
4299 Points -5%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
4219 Points -7%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8665U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4094 Points -10%
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4078 Points -10%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU), i5-1038NG7, Apple SSD SM0512F
3222 Points -29%
Essentials
Average of class Subnotebook
  (8890 - 11168, n=56, last 2 years)
10202 Points +7%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
9524 Points
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (8020 - 10546, n=16)
9266 Points -3%
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
8992 Points -6%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
8892 Points -7%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8665U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
8519 Points -11%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU), i5-1038NG7, Apple SSD SM0512F
7827 Points -18%
Productivity
Average of class Subnotebook
  (6213 - 10279, n=56, last 2 years)
7803 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
7676 Points
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6554 - 8036, n=16)
7243 Points -6%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8665U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
7100 Points -8%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
7051 Points -8%
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
6670 Points -13%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU), i5-1038NG7, Apple SSD SM0512F
3568 Points -54%
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4093 - 9749, n=56, last 2 years)
6758 Points +96%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
3446 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU), i5-1038NG7, Apple SSD SM0512F
3256 Points -6%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
3251 Points -6%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2465 - 4741, n=16)
3239 Points -6%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8665U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3080 Points -11%
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3069 Points -11%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4730 - 5285, n=3, last 2 years)
5030 Points +18%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
4251 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU), i5-1038NG7, Apple SSD SM0512F
3928 Points -8%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3157 - 4251, n=13)
3635 Points -14%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8665U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3547 Points -17%
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3308 Points -22%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
3182 Points -25%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
5296 Points
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8665U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5195 Points -2%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3734 - 5366, n=13)
4987 Points -6%
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4558 Points -14%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
4396 Points -17%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2972 - 5271, n=3, last 2 years)
3805 Points -28%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU), i5-1038NG7, Apple SSD SM0512F
2407 Points -55%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4251 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
5447 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5296 points
PCMark 10 Score
4527 points
Help

DPC-Latency - ThinkPad without problems

Our DPC test (including web browsing, 4K YouTube playback, Prime95) does not show any spikes, so the device is also suited for real-time audio applications.

LatencyMon: Overview
LatencyMon: Overview
LatencyMon: Drivers
LatencyMon: Drivers
DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
775 μs *

* ... smaller is better

Storage Devices - Fast NVMe-SSD

M.2-2280 slot
M.2-2280 slot

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon has one M.2-2280 slot (PCIe-x4 3.0), which is equipped with a fast 512 GB NVMe-SSD from Samsung (PM981a) in our case. You can use around 441 GB after the Windows installation. Devices with preloaded Windows will have less free capacity due to the recovery partition.

The performance of the Samsung SSD is very good, and you would require a device with a newer PCIe-4.0 slot for higher transfer rates. The ThinkPad also has a free M.2-2242 slot, but this is reserved for the WWAN module. You cannot use an additional SSD according to Lenovo's spec sheet.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Apple SSD SM0512F
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
Average Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-8%
-39%
-12%
-1%
2%
Write 4K
185
122.7
-34%
28.16
-85%
118.6
-36%
151.5
-18%
140.8 ?(82.2 - 203, n=34)
-24%
Read 4K
50.6
46.57
-8%
17.5
-65%
44.68
-12%
45.83
-9%
48.6 ?(35.8 - 65.5, n=34)
-4%
Write Seq
1543
1725
12%
1195
-23%
1866
21%
2060
34%
2106 ?(931 - 2896, n=33)
36%
Read Seq
1509
2392
59%
1470
-3%
2173
44%
1973
31%
2099 ?(1136 - 2754, n=33)
39%
Write 4K Q32T1
488.8
470.6
-4%
205
-58%
330.9
-32%
489.8
0%
451 ?(326 - 640, n=34)
-8%
Read 4K Q32T1
579
313.2
-46%
692
20%
343.1
-41%
386.2
-33%
482 ?(332 - 707, n=34)
-17%
Write Seq Q32T1
2986
1869
-37%
1475
-51%
1927
-35%
2703
-9%
2903 ?(934 - 2994, n=34)
-3%
Read Seq Q32T1
3555
3380
-5%
1920
-46%
3528
-1%
3376
-5%
3511 ?(3246 - 3568, n=34)
-1%
AS SSD
-24%
-127%
-31%
-49%
-21%
Seq Read
2659
1816
-32%
1300
-51%
2381
-10%
1786
-33%
2412 ?(1658 - 3078, n=36)
-9%
Seq Write
2551
1270
-50%
1518
-40%
1290
-49%
1259
-51%
1983 ?(1200 - 2724, n=36)
-22%
4K Read
56.4
46.25
-18%
14.09
-75%
52
-8%
45.86
-19%
53.1 ?(42.1 - 63.1, n=36)
-6%
4K Write
158
104.1
-34%
24.25
-85%
134.8
-15%
147.9
-6%
131.1 ?(96.5 - 196.7, n=36)
-17%
4K-64 Read
1317
1342
2%
725
-45%
530
-60%
885
-33%
1201 ?(585 - 1666, n=36)
-9%
4K-64 Write
1786
1209
-32%
169.6
-91%
1177
-34%
950
-47%
1726 ?(1311 - 2009, n=36)
-3%
Access Time Read *
0.047
0.043
9%
0.172
-266%
0.05
-6%
0.058
-23%
0.05525 ?(0.035 - 0.079, n=36)
-18%
Access Time Write *
0.024
0.035
-46%
0.155
-546%
0.032
-33%
0.074
-208%
0.05394 ?(0.018 - 0.151, n=36)
-125%
Score Read
1640
1569
-4%
869
-47%
820
-50%
1110
-32%
1495 ?(843 - 2013, n=36)
-9%
Score Write
2199
1440
-35%
346
-84%
1441
-34%
1224
-44%
2055 ?(1598 - 2377, n=36)
-7%
Score Total
4682
3790
-19%
1667
-64%
2652
-43%
2885
-38%
4303 ?(2927 - 5307, n=36)
-8%
Copy ISO MB/s
2034
1719
1384
1894 ?(1358 - 2452, n=24)
Copy Program MB/s
450.3
499.6
525
539 ?(72.2 - 920, n=24)
Copy Game MB/s
1024
1091
1008
1193 ?(388 - 1725, n=24)
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-16% / -17%
-83% / -90%
-22% / -23%
-25% / -29%
-10% / -11%

* ... smaller is better

Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3555 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 2986 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 579 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 488.8 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1509 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1543 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 50.6 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 185 MB/s

Dauerleistung Lesen: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8

No graph data

GPU Performance - Old UHD Graphics

GPU-Z UHD Graphics 620
GPU-Z UHD Graphics 620

The Comet Lake processors of the current ThinkPad X1 Carbon are still equipped with the old UHD Graphics 620. The iGPU can handle everyday office tasks and even multimedia applications (4K video playback, video editing via QuickSync) with ease, but it is too slow for gaming.

Thanks to the dual-channel memory configuration, the performance of the iGPU is very good, but the overall performance level is still very low. The newer iGPU from the Ice Lake CPUs is more than twice as fast. The graphics performance of the X1 Carbon is stable and is not reduced on battery, either. Still, the ThinkPad is hardly suited for gaming, only very simple or old titles will run smoothly at low details.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2979 - 16904, n=55, last 2 years)
8016 Points +305%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU), Intel Core i5-1038NG7
4374 Points +121%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-10510U
1978 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-10510U
1977 Points 0%
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8650U
1902 Points -4%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8665U
1804 Points -9%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points -12%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Subnotebook
  (13768 - 65911, n=40, last 2 years)
29002 Points +169%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU), Intel Core i5-1038NG7
18163 Points +68%
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8650U
10804 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-10510U
10785 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-10510U
9846 Points -9%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8665U
9354 Points -13%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6205 - 16400, n=225)
9262 Points -14%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2837 - 12349, n=59, last 2 years)
5881 Points +331%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU), Intel Core i5-1038NG7
2883 Points +111%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-10510U
1366 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-10510U
1343 Points -2%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8665U
1173 Points -14%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (557 - 2608, n=213)
1161 Points -15%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Subnotebook
  (811 - 4773, n=58, last 2 years)
1981 Points +359%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU), Intel Core i5-1038NG7
825 Points +91%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-10510U
432 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-10510U
422 Points -2%
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8665U
391 Points -9%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (299 - 797, n=88)
389 Points -10%
3DMark 11 Performance
2240 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
71820 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
9816 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1239 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
497 points
Help
low med. high ultra4K
The Witcher 3 (2015) 18.2 12.1
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 85.8 49.6 23 20.2 7.3
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) 13.9 10.3 10.9 6.59
Far Cry 5 (2018) 16
F1 2019 (2019) 30 12

Emissions

System Noise - X1 Carbon with quiet fan

The 8th generation of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is once again a very quiet companion. There are basically three fan speeds, but the first one is hardly audible from a normal sitting distance at 30.2 dB(A). If you stress the device, it will result in 31.6 dB(A) or up to 33.9 dB(A), which is pretty much identical to the 2019 predecessor. The quiet murmur is not annoying and we did not hear any other electronic sounds from our test unit, either.

Noise Level

Idle
29.5 / 29.5 / 29.5 dB(A)
Load
31.6 / 33.9 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 29.5 dB(A)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU), i5-1038NG7, Apple SSD SM0512F
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8665U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2019-20QE000VGE
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8665U, WDC PC SN720 SDAQNTW-512G
Noise
1%
-6%
0%
-2%
3%
off / environment *
29.5
28.3
4%
29.6
-0%
28.6
3%
28.2
4%
28.4
4%
Idle Minimum *
29.5
28.3
4%
29.6
-0%
28.6
3%
28.2
4%
28.4
4%
Idle Average *
29.5
28.3
4%
29.6
-0%
28.6
3%
28.2
4%
28.4
4%
Idle Maximum *
29.5
28.3
4%
29.6
-0%
29.1
1%
29.4
-0%
28.6
3%
Load Average *
31.6
32.6
-3%
34.4
-9%
31.5
-0%
31.5
-0%
31.5
-0%
Load Maximum *
33.9
36.6
-8%
42.1
-24%
36.9
-9%
41.2
-22%
33.1
2%
Witcher 3 ultra *
36.1

* ... smaller is better

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2029.230.930.428.62527.6272729.13127.729.629.4314028.330.63131.45027.12727.528.76323.624.92426.48024.824.424.125.210024.123.923.626.412523.523.523.223.216023.521.722.722.620023.122.122.522.825022.321.921.422.531522.121.72121.440021.721.320.420.450021.320.720.121.163020.720.61921.180020.920.218.719.9100020.719.918.320.2125021.620.117.721160022.820.517.222.3200023.320.516.722.5250023.420.616.323.2315023.520.516.123.4400023.620.316.123.4500021.218.216.221.1630017.916.816.117.8800016.416.51616.3100001616.21615.91250015.91615.915.71600015.415.915.715.5SPL33.931.929.533.5N1.91.61.31.9median 21.7median 20.5median 17.7median 21.1Delta2.41.721.8hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseLenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

The quiet fan in combination with the slim chassis results in a warm base unit under load. We measure slightly more than 45 °C (113 °F) in the central area (top and bottom), so you should not rest the device on your lap in this scenario. You will also get warm fingers during typing, but there are no limitations and the palm rests also stay cool all the time. The surface temperatures in everyday situations are no problem.

Similar to pure CPU load, the processor performance fluctuates during our stress test. The average values after 80 minutes are: 4x 1.1 GHz CPU, 833 MHz GPU, 82 °C (179.6 °F) SoC temperature, and 19W power consumption (CPU).

CPU-Data during the stress test
CPU-Data during the stress test
Max. Load
 38.7 °C
102 F
45.2 °C
113 F
43.8 °C
111 F
 
 32.4 °C
90 F
43.2 °C
110 F
40.7 °C
105 F
 
 27 °C
81 F
28 °C
82 F
28.8 °C
84 F
 
Maximum: 45.2 °C = 113 F
Average: 36.4 °C = 98 F
45 °C
113 F
45.7 °C
114 F
40.2 °C
104 F
39.6 °C
103 F
41.5 °C
107 F
34.9 °C
95 F
29.9 °C
86 F
30 °C
86 F
28.3 °C
83 F
Maximum: 45.7 °C = 114 F
Average: 37.2 °C = 99 F
Power Supply (max.)  39.3 °C = 103 F | Room Temperature 21.8 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 36.4 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 45.2 °C / 113 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 45.7 °C / 114 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.1 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 28.8 °C / 83.8 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-0.5 °C / -0.9 F).
Surface temperatures stress test (top)
Surface temperatures stress test (top)
Surface temperatures stress test (bottom)
Surface temperatures stress test (bottom)

Energy Management - ThinkPad with long battery runtime

Power Consumption

The new 65W PSU is more compact.
The new 65W PSU is more compact.

Our consumption measurements do not reveal any surprises with very efficient ~3W up to 9.1W while idling with the maximum level of the keyboard illumination. The latter increases the consumption by almost 2W, so you should only use the first level of the keyboard illumination for longer battery runtimes, which is much more efficient at ~0.2W. 

The maximum consumption of the X1 Carbon is 65.1W during the stress test, which is at the limit of the power adapter. However, the value quickly drops and then fluctuates between 31-40W similar to the CPU clock. This means the new and more compact PSU is sufficient.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.5 / 0.69 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.96 / 5.9 / 9.1 Watt
Load midlight 42.1 / 65.1 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
i7-10510U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
i7-8650U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
i5-1038NG7, Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU), Apple SSD SM0512F, IPS, 2560x1600, 13.30
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
i7-8665U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
i7-10510U, UHD Graphics 620, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G, IPS, 3840x2160, 14.00
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
 
Average of class Subnotebook
 
Power Consumption
1%
-22%
-6%
-31%
0%
-27%
Idle Minimum *
2.96
2.7
9%
3.8
-28%
3.9
-32%
3.5
-18%
3.81 ?(1 - 12.4, n=259)
-29%
4.9 ?(1.77 - 11.8, n=63, last 2 years)
-66%
Idle Average *
5.9
6.5
-10%
8.6
-46%
6.1
-3%
10.8
-83%
6.94 ?(2.8 - 15.7, n=261)
-18%
8.4 ?(4.6 - 17.4, n=63, last 2 years)
-42%
Idle Maximum *
9.1
11.5
-26%
10.3
-13%
8.2
10%
12.5
-37%
8.75 ?(3.8 - 30, n=259)
4%
10.4 ?(5.1 - 22.4, n=63, last 2 years)
-14%
Load Average *
42.1
38.7
8%
52.1
-24%
41
3%
47.2
-12%
35 ?(8.1 - 51.6, n=259)
17%
46.1 ?(19.1 - 83.3, n=62, last 2 years)
-10%
Load Maximum *
65.1
50.5
22%
65.2
-0%
69.7
-7%
68.8
-6%
47.5 ?(22 - 96.3, n=261)
27%
66.2 ?(24.2 - 121.2, n=63, last 2 years)
-2%
Witcher 3 ultra *
48.2

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime - Small improvements

Charging
Charging

The 51 Wh battery did not change and we see slight improvements in terms of battery runtime compared to the predecessor with the LowPower 1080p panel. Our practical Wi-Fi test at a brightness of 150 nits runs for little more than 10 hours, and still more than 8 hours at the maximum luminance. The slim ThinkPad even lasts almost 13 hours in our video test.

A full recharge of the battery takes 111 minutes when the device is turned on; 50% of the capacity is recharged at around 30 minutes.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 83.0.478.54)
10h 04min
WiFi Websurfing max. Brightness (Edge 83.0.478.54)
8h 19min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
12h 50min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 35min
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00
i7-10510U, UHD Graphics 620, 51 Wh
HP Elitebook x360 1040 G5
i7-8650U, UHD Graphics 620, 56 Wh
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 2GHz i5 10th-Gen
i5-1038NG7, Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU), 58 Wh
Dell Latitude 7400-8N6DH
i7-8665U, UHD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
i7-10510U, UHD Graphics 620, 51 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2019-20QES01L00
i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620, 51 Wh
Average of class Subnotebook
 
Battery Runtime
50%
5%
25%
-1%
-13%
8%
H.264
770
687
-11%
862
12%
688
-11%
778 ?(426 - 1153, n=30, last 2 years)
1%
WiFi v1.3
604
623
3%
728
21%
696
15%
598
-1%
562
-7%
623 ?(303 - 1144, n=64, last 2 years)
3%
Load
95
187
97%
141
48%
76
-20%
115.4 ?(61 - 197, n=47, last 2 years)
21%
Reader / Idle
1673
1197 ?(581 - 2550, n=10, last 2 years)

Pros

+ extremely compact and lightweight
+ good system performance
+ quiet fan
+ long battery runtime
+ very good speakers
+ comprehensive warranty options
+ Wi-Fi 6
+ still a very good keyboard...

Cons

- ...but worse compared to other ThinkPads
- not WWAN-ready
- panel lottery for the 1080p LowPower displays
- no SD reader
- very limited maintenance
- LAN only via (included) adapter

Verdict - Minor update without any real benefits

In review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G8 2020. Test model courtesy of Campuspoint.
In review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G8 2020. Test model courtesy of Campuspoint.

After the ThinkPad X1 Carbon got a major update last year, customers only get a minor update this time. Some regions already got the Comet Lake processor in the 2019 G7 generation; the 8th generation of the X1 Carbon now uses new processors in every region. However, the differences in terms of processor as well as graphics performance are basically non-existent and do not justify an upgrade. The only real advantage is the new Wi-Fi 6 module.

Even though there are no major upgrades, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is still a very good business laptop with an extremely light and sturdy chassis. However, there are still the same issues like the panel lottery for the LowPower 1080p screens. The keyboard is also a bit worse since the chassis update last year. This is moaning on a high level, but the flagship ThinkPad does not offer the best keyboard anymore; thicker machines (like the T-series) have an advantage in this respect.

Lenovo does not use AMD processors for the X1-series, so the switch to the 8th generation is just a minor update. It is still a very good business laptop, but Lenovo's new ThinkPad T14s (including AMD SoCs) could be the biggest competitor. 

So is it worth upgrading? The only real advantages compared to the 2019 model are the Wi-Fi 6 module as well as the slightly smaller power adapter, but this hardly justifies an upgrade. We are also eager to get our hands on the new ThinkPad T14s. It gets a new chassis and should be even closer to the X1 Carbon, but Lenovo will also sell models with AMD CPUs in addition to Intel SKUs. If we look at the first results of the inexpensive ThinkPad E15 with the AMD 4000 CPU, the AMD T14s should offer much more performance than the X1 Carbon.

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020-20UAS04T00 - 07/01/2020 v7
Andreas Osthoff

Chassis
88 / 98 → 90%
Keyboard
90%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
70 / 75 → 93%
Weight
74 / 20-75 → 98%
Battery
89%
Display
86%
Games Performance
52 / 78 → 66%
Application Performance
89 / 85 → 100%
Temperature
89%
Noise
98%
Audio
74 / 91 → 82%
Camera
38 / 85 → 45%
Average
79%
90%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2020 Review: Familiar business laptop with a new power adapter
Andreas Osthoff, 2020-07- 3 (Update: 2020-07- 4)