Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a laptop line that wants no introduction—it dates again to 2012—however even these loyal to probably the most extremely of ultrabooks might do a double-take when introduced with this, the Thirteenth-edition of the laptop computer and an “Aura Edition” designate.
Simply unboxing the brand new laptop computer had me double-checking that I’d obtained the best laptop. You’ll be able to primarily thank the brand new Carbon’s insanely low heft for that: At simply 2.2 kilos, it’s the lightest ThinkPad X1 Carbon ever—by a substantial margin. (The Gen 12, launched in early 2024, weighed 2.4 kilos.) It’s the lightest 14-inch laptop computer I’ve ever examined. Variably constructed from recycled aluminum, magnesium, carbon fiber, and plastic, the machine feels virtually like a toy, although at 20 millimeters thick, it does have no less than slightly one thing to carry on to if you decide it up.
The results of its semaglutide diet aren’t the one a part of this story. The most recent X1 Carbon has additionally been upgraded to an Intel Core Extremely 7 258V (Sequence 2) CPU, which now qualifies the laptop as a Copilot+ PC. It’s additionally, and extra prominently, branded as an Aura Version PC, distinguished by the addition of “Sensible Modes” that permit the consumer launch preconfigured settings that optimize eye well being, improve privateness, restrict distractions, and extra. These are accessible by tapping the F8 key, which does double-duty as a Mode button.
However the huge query is, how did Lenovo trim practically 10 % off the load of this laptop computer? Though there’s a chintzy 512-GB SSD on the machine, the remainder of the specs are stable, together with 32 GB of RAM (not upgradeable) and loads of ports—two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A 3.2 ports, and a full-size HDMI port. There is a nano-SIM slot too. No apparent indicators of corners being reduce to date.
{Photograph}: Christopher Null
The design is top-shelf, for probably the most half. The famend ThinkPad keyboard high quality stays in impact; I don’t suppose you’ll discover a higher typing expertise on a laptop computer right this moment, notably one this small. Lenovo continues to supply a compact trackpad with three separate buttons together with the pointing stick nubbin as an possibility. The separate buttons do make issues simpler; I by no means understand how a lot I like having them till I take advantage of a laptop computer that features them. And whereas the arrow keys are weirdly small and erratically sized, they’re simpler to make use of than some keyboards that use half-height variations of those buttons.
The Carbon doesn’t have a touchscreen, however the 2,880 x 1,800-pixel show is sharp and lots vivid, and the webcam (a crummy 1,080p mannequin) is ready right into a small notch above. It features a bodily on/off change proper beside it—the change is helpful however slightly troublesome to govern. That small notch gives one of many few bits of aptitude to the chassis—a raised strip on the lid that offers you one thing to carry on to when opening the laptop computer singlehandedly. And, as standard, the dot on the “i” in ThinkPad on the lid additionally lights up in purple.
