The best ThinkPads have a strong build quality, industry-leading keyboards, incredibly precise pointing sticks, and a straightforward black appearance that appeal to many business users and corporate IT teams. The greatest ThinkPads are regarded as the best laptops(opens in new tab) available since they have a number of staples that Lenovo devotees can’t live without.
You have a lot of options, even if a ThinkPad has already won your heart and your wallet. Currently, Lenovo sells more than a dozen different ThinkPad models under several product lines. All of the laptops share a similar look in general, although they differ significantly in terms of size, cost, screen quality, performance, and battery life. Some keyboards are much more responsive than others. There are solutions available for users who need a beastly workstation, a professional tablet for artists, or even the average business user.
1. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Pros of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Lenovo upgraded the top business laptop with 11th Gen Intel Processors. You continue to receive the enticing, svelte, and robust chassis of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Business users who travel regularly would value the 1200p version’s 15+ hour battery life. Unexpectedly, the 1200p screen was brilliant. The most recent ThinkPad 9th Gen X1 Carbon also features a world-class keyboard that you’ll enjoy using. It is unquestionably among the best ThinkPads.
Cons: Although we enjoy this laptop, it isn’t completely faultless. It has a subpar 720p webcam, no card slot, and a somewhat small touchpad. And to top it all off, despite being a business notebook, the IR camera isn’t even equipped by default.
2. Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Advantages
The ThinkPad X13 defies convention by being more affordable than the typical ThinkPad. A quick AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650U Processor, a carbon fiber/magnesium alloy construction, and even a few security measures, like a fingerprint reader and an optional Infrared camera for Windows Hello, are all included in this machine’s price of less than $1,000. Lenovo doesn’t cut corners on the keyboard in spite of the cost. The keys were quite responsive. The long-praised concave keys have a travel distance that seems excessive for a laptop this slim.
Cons: The ThinkPad X13’s low pricing necessitates a few trade-offs, including its 16GB RAM restriction, extremely thick display bezels, and lack of Thunderbolt 3 connections. Moreover, its battery life was below average for a premium laptop at the time, lasting 7 hours and 53 minutes (10:00).
3. The ThinkPad X1 Nano Pros from Lenovo
The X1 Nano has the same design as a traditional ThinkPad, however it has a smaller, lighter chassis. With a structure made of carbon fiber and magnesium that weighs just 2 pounds, it’s truly the lightest ThinkPad ever. It has a 13-inch, anti-glare, 2K (2160 x 1350 pixel) display. The panel is smaller than those on competing devices since it is only 13 inches flat, not 13.3 inches or 13.5 inches. Although the 16:10 aspect ratio is just slightly wider than most larger panels, it has the same height (Y-axis) as those panels, therefore I don’t mind.
Although portability is nice, what good is it if you have to carry a battery charger with you everywhere you go? Thankfully, you can leave the brick at home if you use the X1 Nano. On our battery test, which involves continuous web browsing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness, the little notebook lasted for 12 hours without a charge.
Cons: The X1 Nano comes with no Bluetooth keyboard or mouse. That or live the dongle life, I suppose. This is due to the lack of USB Type-A ports. Our unit’s lid is flat and matte black, but if you choose, you can have it braided to highlight the interior carbon materials. Whichever surface you choose will leave a lot of smudges to clean up; every time I touched the X1 Nano, a glossy fingerprint appeared. There is a 3.9 x 2.3-inch touchpad underneath the keyboard. It has a silky soft-touch texture, and my swipes were well-received by the surface. The size is what I dislike most. Larger hands may result in the fingers rubbing against the sides.
4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga
Pros: Lenovo has improved its finest 2-in-1 notebook for corporate users with the
ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6. The most recent Yoga now boasts a 14-inch display with a larger 16:10 aspect ratio for additional vertical screen area, a boon for business users and taking a cue from the X1 Carbon. A bigger touchpad and a human presence detection sensor for easy login and increased security also increase productivity. The Gen 6 model lasts for about 15 hours on a charge, so switching to 11th Gen Intel CPUs provides noticeably better performance, but the battery life boost is even more alluring. These benefits are contained in a stylish aluminum chassis that features a practical 2-in-1 design and a useful stylus slot.
Cons: It might not be as attractive or as light as the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga or the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. You must decide if you can afford the $2,000+ price tag because there is no SD card and it is extremely pricey.
5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme
The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 has a moniker that Lenovo couldn’t have chosen any better – extreme is the key word. The words “to the max,” “out of hand,” and “exorbitant” spring to me when I think of “extreme,” and these words properly characterize this 16-inch monster. The pricing is extremely high, with a startling $2,951 beginning price. Whew! This 16-inch laptop was designed to make its competitors shiver with its extraordinary internals, which include an elite 11th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and potent Nvidia 30-series graphics. Please have the Dell XPS 15 checked out!
This Lenovo laptop significantly outperforms the ThinkPad X1 Extreme that we previously examined (Gen 2). It has faster CPUs, a better display, and a longer battery life. But every monster has a weakness—its kryptonite. This is also true of the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4, especially in light of its ferocious rivals.
But, whether you’re a designer, architect, or engineer, the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 is perfect for managing demanding tasks for professionals. The icing on the cake is that after a long day of work, they may unwind and play their favorite graphically demanding games.
Conclusion
The ideal ThinkPad for you will mostly depend on what you need it for. The Thinkpad X1 Carbon probably has everything you’re searching for if all you want is a basic clamshell laptop. But, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga is your next best option if you’re seeking for something more flexible.
