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- Lightweight
- Excellent keyboard
- Good overall performance
- Mediocre battery life
- No optical drive
- Glossy display is glare-prone
Reviewers say the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 laptop offers a great mix of portability and performance for business users. The 3.7-pound laptop has very good performance for most tasks, and it posts high marks in video, photo and multitasking tests. Portability is a high point, as the laptop is lightweight and a mere 0.6 inches thick. Like most ThinkPad laptops, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 has an excellent keyboard with just the right amount of flex and tactile feedback. High-quality speakers are another plus.
However, reviewers say battery life is pretty underwhelming, so the optional slice battery (*Est. $170) is a must. Unfortunately, it adds additional weight and thickness to the laptop. In addition, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 lacks an optical drive, and although the 1,366-by-768-pixel display is very bright, the glossy screen coating is prone to glare and reflections. If you need an optical drive, reviewers also recommend the HP EliteBook 2560p (*Est. $1,100 and up).
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 can be customized at Lenovo.com, but the base model ships with a 2.1 GHz Intel Core i3-2310M processor, 4 GB of RAM, 320 GB hard drive and integrated Intel graphics. Most reviewers test an upgraded model with more RAM, a Core i5 or i7 processor and an extended-life slice battery.
A number of sources have excellent reviews of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1, with the best analysis coming from Laptop Magazine, CNET and PCMag.com. These sources can always be counted on to provide balanced reviews that clearly note the pros and cons for each laptop. Helpful reviews can also be found at PC World, NotebookReview.com, Engadget.com and HotHardware.com.
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 (129127U) 13.3" LED Notebook - Core i5 i5-2520M 2.50GHz - 4G DDR3 160G SSD (Windows 7 Professional) - Black | |
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Our Sources
1. Laptop MagazineDetails/Subscribe
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 scores an Editors' Choice award from Laptop Magazine. Avram Piltch says the laptop has an excellent keyboard and speakers, and overall performance is good as well. Overall, he calls it "the best all-around business ultraportable."
Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Review, Avram Piltch, May 16, 2011
PCMag.com gives the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 a good overall rating. Cisco Cheng praises the comfortable keyboard and high-end speakers, but he is disappointed with the glossy display and battery life.
Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1, Cisco Cheng, May 16, 2011
3. CNET
CNET gives the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 a 3.5-star rating (out of 5). While the thin design and solid components get high marks, Scott Stein takes issue with battery life and the reflective glossy display.
Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1, Scott Stein, May 16, 2011
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 gets high marks from PC World, which gives it a 4.5-star rating (out of 5). However, Jason Cross notes the same downsides as other reviewers -- a reflective display and subpar battery life.
Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1, Jason Cross, May 26, 2011
Jerry Jackson at NotebookReview.com praises the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 for its thinner design and speedy performance. He lists battery life and the glare-prone screen as the laptop's downsides.
Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Review, Jerry Jackson, May 16, 2011
6. Engadget.com
Engadget.com has a positive review of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1, giving it an overall rating of 8 out of 10. The build quality and keyboard get high marks, but like others, Dana Wollman is disappointed with the glossy display and short battery life.
Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Review, Dana Wollman, May 16, 2011
Ammon Carpenter at SlashGear.com reviews the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 and gives it a largely positive review. However, he regrets the lack of an optical drive. The Gorilla Glass display gets a better reception here than elsewhere. Yes, glare is "real bad" out of doors, but it's not as bad -- nor does the screen wash out as much -- as many other devices (including tablets) that use glossy displays.
Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Review, Ammon Carpenter, May 16, 2011
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 earns a HotHardware.com Approved award. Joel Hruska raves about the laptop's performance, and he's also impressed with the excellent build quality and solid speakers. Like most reviewers, battery life is his primary complaint.
Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Ultralight Laptop Review, Joel Hruska, June 6, 2011
Germany's NotebookCheck.net says the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 is well built and has good overall performance. The site joins in the chorus that says the display and battery life are downsides.
Review: Review Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Subnotebook, Felix Sold, June 12, 2011
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