Slimmer is not possible. Already the third generation of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon belonged to the slimmest and lightest 14 inch notebooks on the market. In the fourth generation, Lenovo goes one better and reduces the weight to below 1.2 kg. We have checked how this affects temperatures, system noise, and performance.
For the original German review, see here.
Those who thought they had already seen the most important representative of Lenovo's current ThinkPad lineup in the T460s are wrong: Just a price class higher, the Chinese manufacturer offers one of the classiest and most mobile business ultrabooks on the market - the ThinkPad X1 Carbon.
The fourth generation of the X1 Carbon uses Intel's current Skylake platform, which we already know from other ThinkPads from 2016. Depending on the configuration, it comes with 4 to 16 GB of LPDDR3 RAM, a SATA or PCIe SSD and a 14 inch display with 1920 x 1080 or 2560 x 1440 pixels. Several models also features a fast WWAN module, which further increases the already high base price of about 1550 Euros. Our mid-range configuration (20FB003RGE) with Core i7-6500U, 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB SSD, WQHD panel, and LTE module currently costs steep 2000 Euros.
This review will not only clarify how the X1 Carbon compares to its T460s sibling, but also how it performs compared to several competitors. The HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3 (review will follow) is especially noteworthy, since it is very similar to the ThinkPad in terms of design and price.
| ThinkPad X1 Carbon (20FB002VGE) | ThinkPad X1 Carbon (20FB003RGE) | ThinkPad X1 Carbon (20FB0043GE) |
|---|---|---|
| Core i5-6200U | Core i7-6500U | Core i7-6600U |
| 4 GB LPDDR3-RAM | 8 GB LPDDR3-RAM | 16 GB LPDDR3-RAM |
| 192 GB (SSD, SATA) | 256 GB (SSD, SATA) | 512 GB (SSD, PCIe) |
| HD Graphics 520 | HD Graphics 520 | HD Graphics 520 |
| 1920 x 1080 pixels, IPS panel | 2560 x 1440 pixels, IPS panel | 2560 x 1440 pixels, IPS panel |
| no WWAN | UMTS/LTE | UMTS/LTE |
| from 1550 Euros | from 2000 Euros | from 2550 Euros |
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 20FB003RGE
Processor
Intel Core i7-6500U 2.5 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 520, Core: 300 - 1050 MHz, Memory: 933 MHz, 20.19.15.4352
Memory
8192 MB
Case
After Lenovo has shrunk the T460s to about the size of the ThinkPad X1 from 2015, the manufacturer also had to make the new Carbon slimmer. With a height of about 16,5 mm and a weight of just under 1.2 kg, our test model is about 2 mm slimmer and 150 g lighter than its in-house competitor. So far, no other 14 inch notebook has ever been that mobile. In direct comparison, this difference is actually noticeable and it is without doubt the main reason to buy the more expensive X1. However, you should consider that the T460s is already thin and light enough to easily carry it in the hand luggage or use it on your lap.
Design, material, and haptics also are quite similar to the recently reviewed T400 series. As the chassis is made from magnesium and carbon fiber reinforced plastics, it is not only very resistant against dirt and smaller scratches, but also withstands twists and depressions without problems. Even the lid does not warp too much, when force is applied. However, a slight flexibility could not be avoided in view of the extremely thin build. Stiff hinges means that it takes two hands to open the Carbon to avoid lifting the base unit. Unfortunately, the hinges to not work as precisely as in other ThinkPads and wobble for a short time whenever you touch the display.
For a price above 1500 Euros, customers may expect flawless build quality. We can confirm that at least our test model of the ThinkPad X1 meets this expectation. Nothing clatters, all parts of the case are flush and all edges have been carefully deburred - quite unlike in our test model of the predecessor.
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