Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 4) review: An update that improves nearly everything except battery life
Source: Windows Central
Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Extreme is a business-focused competitor to Dell's XPS 15, bringing a ton of power in a durable, secure chassis. While the ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 3) was mostly a performance refresh over the second generation, the fourth-gen model that I have in for testing goes much deeper with upgrades and refinements. On top of new functioning hardware, it has new display options, faster storage, optional 5G connectivity, new speaker layout, and more. I've been using the ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 4) for a couple weeks to run into exactly where it excels and whether or non it'southward worth the fairly chunky cost tag.
The refresh you've been waiting for?
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Farthermost (Gen iv)
Bottom line: The X1 Extreme (Gen 4) improves with refreshed operation hardware, new 16:ten displays, Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 4.0 storage, 1080p camera, and top-firing audio. However, battery life takes a dip, and y'all might detect some backlight bleed while viewing dark scenes. Nevertheless, those with a large upkeep and a heavy workload volition desire to continue the X1 Extreme (Gen 4) in mind.
Pros
- New sixteen-inch brandish with 16:10 aspect ratio
- Thunderbolt 4, 5G LTE
- Meridian-firing speakers with Dolby Atmos
- Best keyboard available
- 1080p camera, IR sensor
Cons
- Battery life isn't great
- Very expensive with frequent price fluctuations
- Chassis is a fingerprint magnet
- Some display calorie-free drain
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Farthermost (Gen 4): Price, availability, and specs
Source: Windows Cardinal
Lenovo supplied Windows Central with a review unit of the ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen iv). This specific model has inside an 11th Gen Intel Cadre i7-11800H processor (CPU), NVIDIA RTX 3060 Laptop graphics card (GPU), 16GB of single-channel RAM, 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 solid-state drive (SSD), and a sixteen-inch display with xvi:10 attribute ratio and QHD+ resolution. This exact model costs about $3,786 at Lenovo. Prices fluctuate quite a flake with frequent Lenovo sales; you tin also find models at Amazon and Newegg.
Intel vPro CPUs are bachelor for extra management and security. The Cadre i9-11950H vPro chip unlocks the NVIDIA RTX 3080 Laptop GPU. Otherwise with the Core i5 or Cadre i7 y'all're locked into either the RTX 3050 Ti or RTX 3060 Laptop GPUs.
Hither are the verbal specs as found in my review unit.
| Category | Spec |
|---|---|
| Bone | Windows 10 Pro |
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel Cadre i7-11800H eight cores, xvi threads Up to 4.6GHz |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4-3200MHz Single-channel 2 SODIMM slots bachelor Upgradeable |
| Graphics | NVIDIA RTX 3060 Laptop 6GB GDDR6 VRAM |
| Storage | 512GB M.ii PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD Opal2 security Upgradeable Ane M.2 slot |
| Display | 16 inches 2560x1600 (QHD+) xvi:ten aspect ratio Non-touch on IPS, anti-glare Low blue light |
| Ports | 2 Thunderbolt 4 Two USB-A iii.2 (Gen i) SD card reader 3.5mm sound jack HDMI 2.1 |
| Audio | Dual 2W stereo speakers Dolby Atmos Dual-array microphones |
| Connectivity | Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210 Bluetooth five.two |
| Camera | Front-facing 1080p IR camera Privacy shutter |
| Keyboard | Spill-resistant Backlit |
| Touchpad | Precision TrackPoint |
| Security | Fingerprint reader IR camera dTPM ii.0 Kensington Nano lock slot Camera shutter |
| Bombardment | 90Wh 230W Air-conditioning adapter |
| Dimensions | xiv.15 x 9.99 x 0.7 inches (360mm 10 254mm 10 18mm) |
| Weight | 3.99 pounds (1.81kg) |
| Colour | Black |
| Material | Aluminum alloy (lesser) Carbon fiber hybrid (superlative) |
Lightweight and thin
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 4): Design and features
Source: Windows Primal
The ThinkPad X1 Farthermost's chassis has been inverse up merely a bit for the fourth generation, with a deeper body to brand up for the taller display. It's withal around 0.7 inches thin and it still weighs in at around four pounds. The aluminum alloy base of operations and carbon fiber hybrid lid contribute to the relatively calorie-free weight, and because the performance hardware inside there's not much to mutter virtually. The laptop is rigid, it's congenital well, and information technology has undergone the usual MIL-STD-810H mil-spec durability exam to prove it tin can put up with harsh conditions.
Y'all merely have one pick with the standard apartment Black terminate, and information technology's still an accented fingerprint magnet. Be sure to bring a cleaning cloth with you when working in public. The lid has a ThinkPad logo on it, but otherwise it's a make clean pattern. The port layout is the same every bit the 3rd-gen X1 Extreme, though in that location are some functioning upgrades. 2 Thunderbolt 4 take over for TB3, and the HDMI two.0 port becomes HDMI 2.1. In that location's no Nano-SIM slot on my review model, but opting for optional 5G LTE connectivity should add it next to the SD bill of fare reader.
Source: Windows Central
Opening the chapeau of the X1 Extreme (Gen 4) reveals some of the more pregnant changes. Most noticeable is the larger display, which I'll embrace in the side by side section. The added chassis depth means there's more room to work with around the keyboard and touchpad. Lenovo has moved the speakers to now flank the keyboard on either side, reducing the chances of sound being muffled from downward-firing speakers. Dolby Atmos makes a return, helping boost sound from the 2W speakers. Audio is excellent. There's enough of book to work with, bass is deep, and everything — from music to movies to your coworkers on a phone call — can be heard clearly.
The fingerprint reader no longer stands alone, indented into the palm rest. Instead it'due south now doubled upwards on the power button. This improves the overall clean await of the laptop. The keyboard is as good as ever, offer upward deep 1.8mm travel, cupped keys, and a three-stage backlight. There's no number pad included (the space is used for the speakers), but there are standalone navigation keys and defended telephone call control buttons for easier conferencing. The TrackPoint system is included above the large Precision touchpad for anyone who withal tin't give upwards the ruddy pointer and physical buttons. The touchpad is solid, it tracks well, and clicks feel full.
Source: Windows Primal
Cameras on even some of the most expensive laptops seem to still be living a few years in the past, often with grainy Hard disk drive resolutions. Thankfully, Lenovo has upgraded to 1080p (FHD) for a much cleaner picture. This is standard on all X1 Farthermost models, but y'all can upgrade to a hybrid IR photographic camera and a webcam shutter if y'all need the added security through Windows How-do-you-do.
The Wi-Fi 6E modem, which comes soldered to the lath, is included in all models, coupled with Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless accessories. LTE connectivity makes an optional appearance again, though it's been upgraded from 4G to 5G in the 4th generation. Add together the Snapdragon X55 modem if you need to stay connected outside of Wi-Fi range.
Large changes
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 4): Brandish
Source: Windows Central
The new xvi-inch display with xvi:10 attribute ratio is i of the X1 Extreme's most significant upgrades.
With a motion to a sixteen:10 aspect ratio for many of its most popular laptops — including the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 6) — Lenovo has been leaning into a tendency that we've been asking to meet implemented for years. The taller brandish removes nigh of the bezel beneath the screen for a cleaner wait. It besides allows y'all to fit more than onto the screen at once. With the taller aspect ratio comes a new xvi-inch size that seems perfect for this type of laptop.
In that location's no longer a 4K OLED version available, though this could come up sometime in the future. Every bit it stands, there are three total displays to choose from. The "basic" version, which is the i I take in my review unit, is ready at a fairly well-baked 2560x1600 (QHD+) resolution. The IPS panel has an anti-glare coating, and it emits low blue light to be easier on the eyes.
Testing color accuracy with a SpyderX Pro colorimeter, information technology managed 100% sRGB, 82% AdobeRGB, and 87% DCI-P3. These are decent results for only about annihilation other than specialized tasks that require meliorate AdobeRGB or DCI-P3 reproduction, which are available in the higher-res displays. As for brightness, it topped out at 429 nits and got down to 4 nits at its lowest bespeak. I did notice some calorie-free drain along the bottom border of the display, something that will irk you if you're often displaying dark scenes.
Source: Windows Central
For those who need more than pixels there are also a couple of UHD+ models with your choice of touch or not-touch capabilities. They both use an IPS panel, they manage 100% AdobeRGB (every bit advertised), they take Dolby Vision and HDR400, and they emit low blue light.
The non-affect version has an anti-glare end, while the touch on version is anti-reflective and anti-smudge. Both manage up to 600 nits brightness as advertised by Lenovo. Inking is possible on the bear upon model, and Lenovo's Precision Pen two should be the right lucifer. For specialized work, know that both UHD+ models are also X-Rite Pantone color calibrated.
Lots of ability, not much bombardment
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen four): Performance and battery
Source: Windows Key
Loftier-stop performance has e'er been a staple of the X1 Extreme serial, every bit the name suggests. The fourth generation has been bumped up to 11th Gen Intel Core H-series processors every bit well as NVIDIA's RTX xxx Series Laptop GPUs. Perhaps more important is a motility to PCIe iv.0 storage, which unlocks blistering transfer speeds.
ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 4) models start at a Core i7-11800H, which is what I accept in my review unit of measurement. It can exist paired with either an NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti or RTX 3060 Laptop carte; for the RTX 3080 Laptop GPU you lot'll need to opt for the Core i9 CPU.
Source: Windows Central
Functioning in testing is mostly splendid. The i7-11800H put up an fantabulous Geekbench 5 single-core score, though it lagged backside in multi-core testing. At least PCMark 10 benchmarking, which measures how well your arrangement's components piece of work together, was impressive. As mentioned, PCIe 4.0 storage is insanely fast, and you can always upgrade after buy. This system has unmarried-aqueduct RAM (ane 16GB stick), though in that location are two SODIMM slots available for hereafter upgrades.
I couldn't get 3DMark'southward Time Spy exam working, though Fire Strike ran fine. The X1 Farthermost (Gen iv) put up good numbers here, though I wouldn't buy this laptop to be used equally a gaming automobile. Check out our collection of the all-time gaming laptops instead.
Come across how the X1 Extreme (Gen 4) compares to previous generations, also equally other laptops that we've recently tested.
Bombardment life is a mixed bag. The third-gen X1 Extreme was able to hit more than than seven hours of life from a charge in PCMark 10's Modernistic Role rundown. Using the same exam with the same ability setting and screen brightness, the X1 Extreme (Gen four) lasted a measly iv hours and 19 minutes. And that'due south without a UHD OLED display. I suspected something might be upward with NVIDIA's Optimus feature, which intelligently swaps betwixt discrete and integrated GPU to save battery life. I retested with the laptop manually set to utilise but the iGPU; the laptop lasted more than eight hours in the same PCMark rundown test.
This could be an issue acquired by Lenovo and NVIDIA organisation settings clashing, equally it seems that some people are seeing far better bombardment life even with Optimus set up to automatic (every bit it should be). No matter what, a laptop with this level of operation volition no doubt take you lugging effectually the AC adapter if you step out of your habitation or role. The good news is that you tin get about a 90% charge from an hour of AC charging.
Big power
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 4): Competition
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
The Dell XPS 15 is no doubt the laptop that most people compare to the X1 Extreme. It has gorgeous IGZO brandish options with sixteen:x aspect ratio, performance is stellar, and the build quality is outstanding. If you don't need quite as many extra business features only still want an Intel H-series CPU and discrete GPU, this should be i of the beginning alternatives you check out. Exercise note that you can find cheaper XPS 15 9510 models thanks to a Core i5 option, and also note that the discrete GPU tops out at an NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti Laptop card.
For gamers out in that location who want a 15-inch laptop focused more on fun than work, the Razer Blade xv should be considered. Information technology sits within the same premium price range as the X1 Extreme, but its displays, keyboard, and performance tuning are all focused toward a loftier-end gaming experience.
And if you're interested in a convertible laptop, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 6) is the best available from Lenovo. Information technology lacks a discrete GPU and information technology's not using the same H-serial Intel CPUs, but information technology still delivers a ton of functioning on top of extra features similar Human Presence Detection.
For more than options, be sure to scan our list of the best Lenovo laptops likewise every bit our picks for overall best Windows laptops.
Decision decisions
Should you buy the ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen four)?
Source: Windows Central
Who it'south for
- Those who need high-end operation from a relatively thin and lightweight laptop
- Those who take a large budget
- Those who desire some of the best typing, pointing, and audio in a laptop
Who it isn't for
- Those who need all-day battery life
- Those who mainly focus on productivity work or media consumption
- Those who tin't justify spending thousands of dollars on a laptop
The 4th-gen refresh of the X1 Extreme is the one I was waiting for. The taller 16:10 brandish is one of the primary changes, and for the most part it's a great upgrade. I only wish there was still an OLED version bachelor. Moving the speakers up to flank the keyboard results in even amend audio than ever before, and the new 1080p photographic camera that's standard is merely plumbing equipment for a laptop this cost.
Typing on the X1 Farthermost is as good equally ever thanks to deep 1.8mm travel and cupped keys, and the sizable touchpad is equally impressive. Clicks feel total without whatsoever of the hollow rattle y'all go on some laptops. Port pick is essentially the same, though you now become Thunderbolt iv and HDMI 2.ane every bit updated standards.
The performance upgrade is, as expected, as well a win. It's the usual crash-land up for the CPU and GPU, with an fifty-fifty more than impressive upgrade to PCIe 4.0 storage compatibility. Unfortunately, battery life doesn't seem to be any better. This doesn't seem to be an consequence with all X1 Farthermost (Gen four) systems, and it could be a rare result with discrete GPU ability tuning. Nevertheless, information technology's something to keep in mind.
The X1 Farthermost (Gen 4) is still a top selection for whatever power users who love the ThinkPad'south durability and security features. The overall design is pretty much flawless at this point, though y'all will desire to keep a cleaner handy for fingerprint smudges. List prices at Lenovo fluctuate a lot — even during the review process I saw them dip by more than a thousand dollars thank you to a sale — and so exist sure to wait for a big discount before ownership.
The refresh you lot've been waiting for?
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Farthermost (Gen 4)
Bottom line: The X1 Extreme has been improved in almost every style for the 4th-gen refresh. Operation, displays, audio, and features have received upgrades, though battery life is nevertheless an issue. If you lot are interested in this laptop, try to hold out for one of Lenovo'due south frequent sales events.
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UH OH
An cyberspace connexion will before long be required when setting upward Windows 11 Pro
Microsoft has appear that subsequently this year, users will be required to connect to the cyberspace and sign-in with a Microsoft Account during the out of box setup experience on Windows 11 Pro. Microsoft has already been enforcing this requirement on Windows 11 Home since launch last October, and Windows xi Pro is now expected to follow adapt presently.
Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-extreme-gen4-review
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