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Lenovo thinkpad x1 carbon description. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (2018) laptop review: light, comfortable, powerful

Our impressions of the new 14-inch ThinkPad X1 Carbon are almost entirely positive. The case is even more compact than before, without sacrificing stability - yet it is of very high quality and well made. The screen is at the level of its predecessor - with a matte finish, quite bright, and does not use PWM/PWM. Of course, we have seen better matrices for this diagonal, but it has long been known that screens are not the strong point of Lenovo laptops. The laptop weighs about 1.1 kg.

This model has new ports - as many as 2 USB-C with support for Thunderbolt 3, and there are also the usual UBS-A and HDMI. This means that in terms of expandability, the laptop will remain relevant for at least a few more years. The key travel on the keyboard is now as good as on the T-series models; We liked this keyboard even more. The glass-covered touchpad is also good.

The new ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a very good ultrabook for business, especially if you want compactness (without sacrificing performance). The smaller dimensions of the case, of course, could not but affect the heating: the case will heat up more, and the fan will be audible under high loads.

Overall performance leaves a mixed impression. On the one hand, the X1 Carbon 2017 is very fast in practice - thanks to the Core i7 and PCIe solid-state drive, but under heavy load the cooling system works to the limit of its capabilities. Under heavy load, the Core i7 will work slower than the Core i5, and the case will heat up noticeably, and the fan will change rotation speed depending on the load level. The X1 Carbon maintains a very conservative CPU temperature of 75°C and does not degrade performance when running on battery power. At first, the cooling fan was clearly audible, but its algorithm was improved in the BIOS update - version 1.15. Under load, the fan, of course, accelerates quite quickly (which is not surprising given such small dimensions of the case), but completely turns off under light loads.

Considering the above, the X1 Carbon 2017 configurations with Core i5 processors may be a smarter choice. Their lower clock speed puts less strain on the cooling system, and operating temperatures are also lower.

We didn't like the microSD card adapter at all (and its location on the back of the case), as well as the limitations on wireless network adapter support. X1 Carbon is not "WWAN-ready"; it either has a 4G modem out of the box, or mobile networks are not supported at all (such configurations do not have the necessary antennas).

The combination of a high-quality body, a large screen size, excellent input devices, an excellent selection of ports, great battery life and decent portability makes this laptop a very attractive and smart buy, even despite the negatives mentioned.

WQHD resolution at 14 inches diagonal still requires scaling adjustments in Windows settings. Without resorting to this step, you will be able to comfortably use the ultrabook only within the Metro UI interface. Scaling solves the lion's share of problems in the OS, but such OS settings do not affect Aimp, or, say, instant messengers like QIP or Agent Mail.ru - the programs remain indecently small.

However, we will leave this to the conscience of third-party developers. The display itself of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2014 leaves only pleasant impressions and is quite good in its competitive niche.

Sound

The audio system in the ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2014 was developed by Lenovo. The sound, in general, turned out to be quite good, but disappoints in some details and requires regular intervention in the standard Dolby Home Theater v.4 sound manager.

Compared to 15.6-inch multimedia laptops, the volume level of the hero of our test is not impressive, but in fact, the ThinkPad X1 sounds louder and more spacious than many competitors. However, the devil is in the details.

But the X1, like many ultrabooks, has problems with detailed reproduction. The acoustic impressions of the model are strange - good speakers sound like they come from a barrel or a “shell” garage. Costs of a magnesium carbon fiber body?

The standard settings surprise with a very wide stereo base - this is due to the “movies” preset activated by default in the sound manager. By the way, movies on the ThinkPad X1 look really great - the quality of the display, coupled with good special effects, makes this model a good portable “micro-cinema”.

After switching to the “music” preset, the “virtual surround sound” and “speech correction” functions are disabled, but the “kick drum” effect remains. It's a pity - this is a rare ultrabook that can reliably reproduce bass guitars in modern rock hits, even at maximum volume. And even the passionate vocals of the frontmen at such moments sound decent, but the percussion instruments, smaller than the drums, turn into a monotonous mess.

A similar problem manifests itself in the dubstep genre: all effects, except the most “rich” ones, somehow “float”, like on a bad cassette copy - only the leitmotif remains clear. Hip-hop sounds good if you come to terms with the laptop's signature tone of sound: raps, backing vocals and beats are reproduced clearly and with high quality. In classical music, string instruments are “cut” and the polyphony under the main vocal is blurred, but this is compensated by excellent volume and volume of sound.

As for classic rock, regardless of the track's origins, it sounds like it was played in a garage for a demo track - the music sounds a bit muddy, and the lead guitars that lead into a drone are upsetting. Pop music for the most part sounds at the level of an average radio in a supermarket - for an ultrabook, such playback quality, by the way, is a compliment.

It's difficult to give a clear assessment of the audio system in the ThinkPad X1 2014, given that this is not an entertainment device. On the one hand, the ASUS Zenbook UX301LA, equipped with acoustics from Bang & Olufsen, was not even close in terms of volume and low-frequency performance, on the other hand, the related Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro has similar dimensions and sounds much better.

ThinkPad is the world's oldest line of laptops, once produced by IBM. Since 2005, the legendary series of business laptops has come under the wing of the Chinese company Lenovo. In 2017, the fifth generation of Lenovo ThinkPad x1 Carbon was released - the top version of ultrabooks in the company's line.

Key Features of Lenovo ThinkPad x1 Carbon

Basic specifications of the ThinkPad x1 Carbon model.

Detailed overview of the main features

For the fifth generation of the ultrabook, a completely new case had to be developed. The fact is that the company’s junior models began to literally “breathe in the back” of the top version, so when developing a new generation, designers and technologists had to work hard. As a result, the x1 Carbon 5th Gen can boast a weight of 1 kg 100 g, the width and thickness have been reduced by more than 1 cm. By the way, the x1 Carbon fully lives up to its name - carbon fiber is actually used in the body materials, although the main material, of course, , plastic. It is thanks to the material that x1 Carbon has a fairly strong body, despite its low weight and visible fragility.

For the fifth generation of ultrabook, a completely new case had to be developed

The main advantage of this model is its 14-inch monitor, combined with the light weight and compactness of an ultrabook. For example, the 13-inch MacBook Pro weighs 200 grams more. To achieve such indicators, the manufacturer had to narrow the side frames of the screen as much as possible. The screen can be opened up to 180 degrees.

The main advantage of this model is the 14-inch monitor

When looking at the keyboard, the first thing that catches your eye is the proprietary TrackPoint joystick, which distinguishes the x1 Carbon from other models. Located between the B, H, G and N keys, the joystick can replace the traditional touchpad for laptops, although it is also available. The joystick is quite comfortable to use, so the proprietary feature does not at all interfere with ergonomics.

When looking at the keyboard, the first thing that catches your eye is the proprietary TrackPoint joystick

As with all modern laptop models, all ports and adapters are located at the back and on the side walls of the case. Unfortunately, the x1 Carbon does not support SD memory cards - only microSD. The scheme of their use is the same as on modern smartphones - the card is inserted together with the SIM card into the combined tray. Access to it is possible only with the lid of the ultrabook closed. And it’s not easy to open it - you’ll need a sharp tool. In short, everything here looks the same as on modern mobile phones.

The set of communication ports of the ultrabook is quite sufficient: 2 USB 3.0 ports, 2 universal USB-C ports with support for PowerDelivery 2.0 for charging the device, one HDMI port and one Mini-Ethernet port. The ultrabook kit includes adapters for all ports.

The ThinkPad x1 Carbon traditionally comes with two matrix options: standard Full HD and WQHD (2560 by 1920 pixels). The display itself, in any of its variants, does not cause any complaints, with the exception of small highlights in the left corners. An important advantage of the x1 Carbon is that the screen maintains maximum brightness even when powered from the battery. However, Lenovo still had to sacrifice something - the screen response is 31–41 milliseconds. These are quite large figures, so this model is not very suitable for modern x1 games. However, it is positioned as a business model, and not just another device for gamers.

ThinkPad x1 Carbon traditionally comes with two matrix options: standard Full HD and WQHD (2560 by 1920 pixels)

The performance of this model matches the specifications. By default, the ultrabook is equipped with a dual-core Intel Kaby Lake-U Premium PCH processor. But there is a choice of RAM: the buyer is free to purchase a package with 8 or 16 GB of RAM. The video card is only built-in Intel HD Graphics 620 with a maximum stated frequency of 1050MHz.

In such a compact case of this ultrabook model it was possible to integrate only one version of the Samsung SM961 hard drive with a capacity of 512 GB. After installing the unchanged Windows 10, the amount of free memory is 454 GB - quite enough for the business model. Tests showed the maximum possible disk performance, so this configuration looks quite successful.

In such a compact case of this ultrabook model it was possible to integrate only one version of the Samsung SM961 hard drive with a capacity of 512 GB

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 video card is quite sufficient for the main purposes of this model. The owner of this device will be able to watch movies in high definition or even edit videos. Naturally, the built-in video adapter is inferior to powerful discrete video cards like the Nvidia GeForce 940MX, which are found on a number of business models. The difference in performance reaches 50–60 percent. But this is normal - after all, an ultrabook is designed for work. However, you can still play powerful modern games on it. To do this, you need to either select low quality settings or connect an external video adapter through the port. One of the USB-C ports supports Thunderbolt 3 technology (maximum data transfer speed - 40 GB per second).

Due to its particularly thin body, the x1 Carbon gets quite hot at maximum operating modes. The main areas of temperature increase are the processor and cooling system. Therefore, it is not recommended to place the laptop on your knees, otherwise its right side will heat up even more, since that is where the cooling system is located.

Due to its particularly thin body, the x1 Carbon gets quite hot at maximum operating modes

The noise level is quite good - the maximum fan output in test mode was less than 40 dB, which is quite comparable with other models of thin laptops. However, the threshold for turning on the fan is quite low - only in rest mode and at minimal load does it remain off. Even under light load (browser + WI-FI, watching video), the fan can turn on, in which case the noise level is 32 dB. At average load the noise level increases to 34 dB. However, the reduction in load is immediately reflected in the operation of the cooling system - the fan immediately turns off.

Despite the fact that the new generation x1 Carbon has become even thinner and lighter, Lenovo managed to perform a small miracle. Compared to the previous model, the 5th generation has a higher power battery - 57 Wh, which is 5 Wh more than the previous generation. This is one of the highest indicators in its class. Such battery power allowed us to achieve impressive results:

in maximum consumption mode, the battery life of the ultrabook was 2 hours;
in Internet surfing mode with WI-FI turned on and the backlight level at 75%, x1 Carbon lasted 8 hours (1 hour more than its nearest competitor);
In video viewing mode, battery life reached 12 hours.

Charging occurs quite quickly - only 1 hour is required to charge the ultrabook to 75–80%. However, fully charging the battery takes quite a long time - the remaining 20–25% is “overcome” in 1 hour 30 minutes.

Charging is quite fast - only 1 hour is required to charge the ultrabook to 75–80%

The impressive power consumption and battery life results combined with the performance make this Ultrabook a leader in this comparison category compared to other business laptop models.

Video: ultrabook review

A full analysis of the features of the new generation of ultrabooks from Lenovo is in the video review.

The stated characteristics and test results showed that the x1 Carbon is one of the most interesting options on the ultrabook market. Of course, one cannot fail to note the disadvantages: lack of support for SD cards, rather strong heating and increased noise are obvious disadvantages. However, they are largely explained by the advantages of the model. ThinkPad x1 Carbon is an ultrabook for those who care about the combination of decent characteristics (primarily screen size and performance) with the minimum possible weight and size of the device itself. We can say that the new generation x1 Carbon is Lenovo’s confident step towards leadership in the market for ultra-thin business laptops.

Hello, Habr! Today we want to talk in detail about the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. There aren't many laptop series in the world that have been released for half a dozen years in a row. The 2018 X1 Carbon is already the 6th generation in the popular series. Externally, the computer has hardly changed, but in terms of hardware and other components there are quite a few pleasant innovations. But first things first.

Appearance

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a laptop for people who spend a lot of time outside the office, frequently type (email, texts, presentations), give presentations, and regularly face the need to work on the road. That is, we are talking about business users or freelancers from completely different areas with an above-average income level. Most of all, these people value mobility, convenience, good autonomy and high performance.

Mobility and convenience - this is a story about the design and, in part, the ergonomics of input devices, which will be discussed a little later. The computer case is made of magnesium alloy and covered with carbon fiber. This is all not only for the sake of a strict and attractive appearance, but also for its light weight. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon version 2018 weighs only 1.13 kilograms. At the same time, the developers were able to fit a 14-inch screen into a small body with dimensions of 323.5 x 217.1 mm. The thickness is absolutely fantastic: less than 16 millimeters!

As a result, such a gadget looks very solid and is comfortable to carry with you every day. It is also very pleasant to touch the matte velvety surface of the computer. Yes, fingerprints remain on it, but they are noticeable only upon very close inspection, and laptops are examined point-blank only by technology reviewers and service technicians, but not by ordinary users.

By the way, good news for those who like to drink tea while sitting at their laptop. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon has a keyboard protection against water, and at the bottom of the PC there is even a drainage hole through which moisture that gets on the buttons flows down. The bonus is useful, but you need to treat it wisely: this does not mean that liquids cannot harm electronics. “Protection” does not equal “invulnerability,” plus the fatal consequences of some sticky soda that glues everything together have not been canceled.

Interfaces

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon does not claim to be the champion in the number of connectors on the sides, but such a task was not set for the developers. The main thing is that there is absolutely everything you need here. Let's start from the right side. There is pure minimalism here: full-size USB 3.0 and a headphone input.
On the right there are more interfaces: HDMI, full-size USB 3.0 and two USB Type-C, one of which is combined with a proprietary one for accessories and docking stations, among which the ThinkPad Ultra Docking Station stands out.
This is not cheap (23,950 rubles), but absolutely irreplaceable for anyone who connects their laptop to a large monitor (or several monitors) at home or in the office and uses a lot of peripherals in their work. This is what she looks like:

And it has so many interfaces that anyone would envy: four USB 3.1, two USB Type-C, two DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, VGA and a combined audio jack. The station supports vPro and PXE Boot technology and can charge a laptop up to 80% in just 30 minutes. In general, this is a really useful thing if this scenario for using a mobile PC is close to you.

You probably noticed that the laptop itself does not have an input for a network cable, which automatically becomes a noticeable drawback for many corporate users. Why it is not there is clear: the interface is large and simply does not fit into a thin case. But there is a solution: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon comes with a compact adapter with RJ-45, which connects to the same proprietary connector discussed above.

By the way, how about taking a look at the back panel? There's a surprise here: a pull-out tray with a slot for a microSIM card. An indispensable thing for those who have something to hide from public Wi-Fi networks or those who often need to work in places where these same networks are usually not visible. Just don’t forget that for SIM to work you need to select the X1 Carbon configuration with a WWAN module. There is also a slot for microSD, with which you can significantly expand the data storage space.

Display

Agree, it’s nice when you can choose a laptop not only by configuration, but also by screen parameters? The case is, however, rare, but the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is just one of those. The laptop is available with four different displays: with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, 1920x1080 pixels (touch), 2560x1400 pixels (maximum brightness - 300 nits), 2560x1440 pixels (maximum brightness - 500 nits). In all cases, the diagonal is, of course, the same - 14 inches, matrix type - IPS. The thickness of the frames around is very, very modest, which you can see for yourself in the photographs below.

Our specific test sample is Full HD with support for touch input, but there are no visual differences from the non-touch configuration. This option is good if more or less serious work with graphics is not included in the proposed scenarios. And for preparing presentations, web surfing, text editors, and watching videos, this will be absolutely enough. Color rendition is normal, there is no need to complain about viewing angles at all. In addition, it is worth considering the lower load on the hardware and greater battery life compared to WQHD displays.

However, autonomy is autonomy, and the “top” screen with a resolution of 2560x1400 is very attractive. Firstly, HDR support. Secondly, color gamut indicators. If on a Full HD panel the user receives about 90% coverage of the sRGB color space, then on WQHD this is already full coverage of the entire spectrum. In Adobe RGB the difference is even more dramatic: ~90% versus ~60%. Well, let’s take into account the increase in price: it’s not that big for such significant advantages.

And the conclusion is simple: ThinkPad X1 Carbon with “top” matrices is great for serious work with graphics, hurray! And it not only fits, but in this regard stands out favorably against competitors in its niche. Just keep in mind that the brighter (500 nits) WQHD panel is glossy, and the less bright (300 nits) is matte. But you can distinguish them right in the store “by eye”; you don’t have to go into specifications or run tests.

Also pay attention to the hinges: they used to be silver, but now they are black to match the color of the body. It seems like a small thing, but it definitely gives it a +1 to appearance. But in terms of reliability, nothing has changed: the hinges are still metal and firmly hold the laptop lid in any position up to the maximum 180 degrees. In none of them does it outweigh the main part of the laptop with the keyboard.

Input devices

The keyboard of the 6th generation ThinkPad X1 Carbon has undergone absolutely no changes. Many users rightfully consider it one of the best in its class, so there is not the slightest reason to upset them and force them to get used to something new. It is clear that this is all a purely individual matter, but, in our opinion, these full-size and slightly concave buttons with a deep and quiet stroke give a truly cool sensation when typing. And your hands don’t get tired.

There is a backlight, it has two brightness levels. Important buttons (Esc, F1 with a mute indicator and F4 with a microphone mute indicator) are additionally highlighted with bright dots against the background of the rest. There are also additional LEDs in the power button and next to the USB Type-C, which is responsible for powering the laptop, so that they can be easily found even in complete darkness.

The trackpoint, of course, has not gone away, as well as the large touchpad with excellent response and a tactilely pleasant surface. To work with it, you can use either auxiliary mechanical buttons above the touch panel or press its lower part, if that is more convenient for you. There is also a fingerprint scanner and an IR camera with two lenses. The latter is not used in all configurations; more often in its place is a regular “web” with a convenient curtain.

Hardware component

The main hardware innovation in the 2018 ThinkPad X1 Carbon is, of course, the 8th generation Intel Core processors with reduced power consumption. Two additional cores and two additional running threads are a very nice performance boost. Specifically, our test sample has 16 GB of RAM and an Intel Core i7-8550U. Compared to last year's predecessor (i7-7500U), its base clock frequency decreased from 2.7 GHz to 1.8 GHz, and the maximum, on the contrary, increased from 3.5 to 4 GHz. The calculated thermal power remained at the same level - 15 W.

Tests in Cinebench R15 show that in single-core computing the power of the new chip has increased by about 15-18% compared to the old one. In multi-core operating mode, the gain reaches an impressive 60-70%. If previously there were few reasons for an upgrade in this regard, now the difference can really be felt, and not only in benchmarks. Just remember that like all other processors in the new U series, the i7-8550U also begins to gradually reduce frequencies under prolonged load. However, specifically in the case of the X1 Carbon, this does not happen as quickly, and the drop is not as noticeable as with competitors. The secret is in the increased temperature limit.

Of course, you shouldn't expect miracles of gaming performance from the integrated UHD Graphics 620. Not a single laptop in the same class as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is focused on games at all. However, this computer will not let you get bored at all. It’s clear that you won’t be able to run Kingdom Come or even The Witcher here even at minimum settings, but popular online projects (DOTA2, Overwatch, WoT) run without problems at low or sometimes even medium settings.

The perception of fan noise is an individual matter, but we found the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon to be quite good in this regard. Even under quite serious loads, the cooler did not buzz so much that it began to really irritate. There is also no need to be especially afraid of heating. If the laptop is on the table, then there will be no problems even during complex calculations. But holding it on your knees during them may not be very comfortable - in stress tests, temperature values can still slightly exceed 50 degrees. However, when working with texts and while watching videos, they are in the region of 35-40 degrees.

As a result, we can say that the laptop copes with all its main tasks without problems. The overall system performance is excellent, as confirmed by PCMark 10 tests, which we will present below. The computer responds to all commands cheerfully and without hesitation - there are no annoying delays.

Finally, a few words about the SSD drive. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon has 4 options, of which the most optimal, perhaps, is the one used in our test laptop. This is a PCIe model with 512 GB of internal memory, or to be precise, a Samsung PM981 with a Polaris V2 controller. Its speed performance is very decent, so you are unlikely to want to change the module in the next few years. If desired, the data can be encrypted - there is a TPM module on the motherboard. And you can return the laptop to factory settings, if something suddenly goes wrong, not only using the tools built into Windows, but also using proprietary Lenovo software.

Upgrade options

With the upgrade options of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, things are not particularly rosy, but such is the price to pay for a thin body and modest weight. This is the picture you can see if you unscrew the five screws and remove the bottom cover:

You can independently replace only the SSD drive in the M.2 2280 form factor. You can also easily remove the battery, and remove and replace the WWAN module. There are no options for increasing RAM - all the RAM is soldered onto the motherboard, so we strongly recommend choosing configurations with the maximum amount for future use. That is, with 16 GB on board.

Autonomy

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a very durable machine. In the case of models with a Full HD screen, a full battery charge (57 Wh) will last you 6.5 hours of video playback with the same resolution and maximum brightness level. If the brightness is reduced to a still comfortable 60-70%, there will be a noticeable increase in another couple of hours. If we talk about working with texts and web surfing, then the user definitely has a full working day (and with an extra couple of hours to spare).

Charging the gadget from 0 to 80% is quite fast - it takes a little over an hour, and then the same amount for the remaining 20%. A useful “feature”, especially when you realize that in 40 minutes you have to run off to a meeting, and the cleaning lady carefully turned off the office pilot and all the time since the morning the laptop has been doing nothing but slowly but surely discharging.

How much does it cost and where to buy?

Well, it's time to take stock. So, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is one of the lightest laptops in its class. It is perfect for business users and freelancers, including those working with graphics. For the latter, you need to choose modifications with a WQHD display, which has good color gamut indicators. 8th Gen Intel Core U-series processors paired with fast SSDs deliver excellent day-to-day performance. At the same time, the PC still works for a long time on one charge. The icing on the cake is the ability to install a SIM card in the computer to work wherever it is convenient for the user, and not just where there is Wi-Fi. Plus, there is a fantastically comfortable keyboard, on which, let’s not be afraid of these words, typing is a real thrill! Overall, the X1 Carbon is a laptop we love and are really proud of. We hope you like it too.

The ThinkPad line of laptops has been in production since 1992, developed by IBM and aimed at business users. In 2005, the company focused on providing services, and sold the hardware division (ThinkPad laptops and ThinkCentre computers) to Lenovo. The Chinese company continues to produce them, the positioning is still the same, and the laptops themselves have the same recognizable features: black or dark gray angular cases, rugged construction, the same logo and, of course, a red trackpoint with separate buttons. There are several ThinkPad lines available: from budget to top-end solutions. Opinions differ regarding their durability and reliability: there are satisfied users who, after 5 years of use, do not complain about anything, there are also dissatisfied ones who, after a year, began to lose buttons or something else. I think the difference is in the lines and price tag. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a top line of business ultrabooks that has been produced since 2012, and we are reviewing the most current 5th generation model.

What is this?

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th Gen is a thin, light and durable ultrabook with a 14-inch 1920x1080 IPS display, a 7th generation Intel Core Kaby Lake processor, 8 GB of RAM, a fast SSD and a backlit keyboard.

Why is he interesting?

First of all, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th Gen is interesting due to the features characteristic of the line. It's a durable carbon fiber body with a magnesium alloy frame that's 16mm thick, weighs just 1.14kg and is claimed to be protected to military standard MIL-STD-810G. The keyboard is protected from liquid spills (within reasonable limits, of course). Of course, there's the traditional red trackpoint with three separate buttons that perform right-click, left-click and scroll functions. The 7th generation Intel Core processors of the ultrabook line are installed inside, starting with the Intel Core i5-7200U (this is what is installed in ours) and ending with the Core i7-7600U with vPro support for remote administration and monitoring. RAM 8 GB type LPDDR3-1833, there are configurations with 4 and 16 GB. The storage used is a 256 GB M.2 PCIe SSD. Our sample is a Toshiba with TLC memory and support for OPAL2 encryption. The screen diagonal is 14 inches, but the frames on the sides are narrow and the dimensions of the ultrabook are comparable to older 13-inch ones. An IPS matrix with FullHD resolution is used. To simplify the procedure for turning on the laptop, a fingerprint scanner is provided, so you won’t have to enter a password every time.

What's included?

The laptop is packaged in a yellow cardboard box with the designation X1 and a bunch of stickers. No fancy printing. The kit includes a laptop, a compact 45 W power supply, an HDMI to VGA adapter and the necessary papers. Judging by the information on the Internet, the standard kit will also include an adapter from micro-Ethernet to a standard one.

How does it look and assemble?

If you have seen ThinkPad laptops (and most users have seen them, who knows what a laptop is), then the appearance of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th Gen will be very familiar. Black angular body with matte finish. Compared to the previous generation, the dimensions and weight have decreased, plus some functional elements have been minimally shifted (power button, fingerprint scanner and some other nuances). Dimensions are 323.5x217.1x15.95 mm, and weight is 1.14 kg. It’s not a record holder, but the durable case, spill-resistant keyboard and abundance of connectors more than compensate for this. The top cover is completely black with a matte finish. The only markings are the ThonkPad logo in the upper left corner and the small, inconspicuous Lenovo logo in the lower right. Strict, simple and practical:

Despite the fact that we have a fairly thin ultrabook in our hands, everything is fine with the presence of all the necessary ports. On the right side there is a 3.5 mm combined audio jack, large holes for blowing out hot air by the cooling system, a full-size USB 3.0 and a lock slot:

At the back you can see two gray hinges and a tray for MicroSD memory cards and SIM cards. Yes, mobile Internet is supported (I suspect that not in all configurations, but this is exactly what we had):

Despite the presence of the usual hole for removing the tray, it is made in such a way that it can be pulled out with your fingers. The memory card is inserted into the corresponding slot, and the SIM card into the tray:

The left side is abundantly dotted with ports. There are a pair of USB Type-C 3.1, also known as Thunderbolt 3. One of them is used to charge the laptop. Nearby is an LED charging indicator, another USB 3.0, full-size HDMI and micro-Ethernet:

Like all modern ultrabooks, there are no useful things on the front:

Removing the bottom cover is quite simple; it is secured with five screws. There are four rubberized feet, thanks to which the laptop feels quite confident on the table. The perforation for air intake has a fairly small area; there is only one fan. There are small stereo speaker grilles in front of the front feet, and there's a small hole next to the card slot. This is the hardware reset button:

The frame on the sides of the screen is very narrow, and on top it is slightly wider. Above the screen there are two microphones, an HD webcam (there are also configurations with infrared for Windows Hello) and a light sensor:

The gap under the screen is noticeably wider. It only has Lenovo and X1 Carbon logos:

Despite its strict and “simple” design, the laptop looks and feels expensive. The materials are very tactile. Yes, they collect a little fingerprints, but within reasonable limits. I didn't find any assembly flaws; all the parts fit well. The working surface and lid practically do not sag. Only the wide area under the screen bends a little, but this is not at all critical, and I don’t think that the average user will be interested in poking his finger under the screen.

How comfortable are the keyboard and touchpad?

The hinges are implemented very intelligently: the laptop can be opened with one hand, while the screen is well fixed in the desired positions. You can open the screen 180°. I'm not sure if this feature is used often in everyday life, but it exists.

As for the layout, there are some nuances that I didn’t really like. I think that users who have been using the ThinkPad line for a long time will not have any difficulties. The rest will have to get used to it. The power button is located above the keyboard unit; it is round in shape, with an LED inscribed inside. There are separate Home, End and Delete buttons, they are located at the end of the top row, behind F1-F12. PgUp and PgDn are located next to the arrow block, which is slightly extended towards the user. PrtSc looks very strange between the right Alt and Ctrl buttons. But what caused me the most inconvenience was Fn and left Ctrl, which were swapped. I use button combinations all the time and at first I missed and pressed Fn instead of Ctrl.

The buttons themselves are comfortable, with a very pleasant, noticeable action. The distances between the buttons are optimal. There is a white keyboard backlight with two brightness levels, the characters are well illuminated:

The touchpad on the laptop is not the largest, in particular due to the presence of three buttons above it for use with a trackpad. In terms of quality, everything is in perfect order: the finger glides perfectly over the surface, with sensitivity everything is in perfect order. Multi-touch gestures are supported. The combination of a trackpoint and three buttons is also quite functional, but you need to get used to it:

The fingerprint scanner is located to the right of the touchpad, with an LED operation indicator located above it. The scanner itself works quickly and accurately.

How good is the screen?

The laptop has a 14-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920x1080, the frames on the sides are really very narrow. Below and above - more. The screen has an anti-glare coating, a very nice picture and maximum viewing angles. It is comfortable to use and there is enough brightness reserve for most use cases:

Measurements using a colorimeter showed good numbers: maximum brightness - 283.771 cd/m2, black field brightness - 0.332 cd/m2, and contrast - 855:1. The screen is calibrated very well: there is a slight lack of red and an overabundance of blue, as a result the screen goes slightly into cool shades. Color temperature is about 7500K, ΔE error ranges from 2 to 8:

What about performance, battery life and sound?

All ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th Gen models are equipped with 14-nanometer Intel Kaby Lake processors, ultrabook U-line. Our sample has the most modest Intel Core i5-7200U installed. This is a dual-core processor with a base frequency of 2.5 GHz and 3.1 GHz in Turbo Boost mode and support for Hyper Threading (4 threads). The top configuration uses an Intel Core i7-7600U with support for vPro technology.

The integrated video accelerator Intel HD Graphics 620 operates at a frequency of 300 MHz and is capable of accelerating to 1000 MHz. The laptop has 8 GB of LPDDR3 RAM with a frequency of 1833 MHz, the basic version will be equipped with 4 GB, and the top version will have 16 GB. Wireless modules: dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 and Bluetooth 4.2. The ultrabook's hardware is enough for comfortable work in office mode. There were no slowdowns with Photosop running, 20+ tabs open in Chrome and music playing in parallel. The ultrabook is not intended for games, but out of interest I launched World of Tanks, it was quite playable, at low settings it produced about 50-60 frames per second: