The correct and intuitive way to use the 'red dot' is holding it with the middle finger and hitting mouse buttons with the thumb. As a 20+ year ThinkPad user, I find it easier and more precise than the trackpad or mouse.
Thank you, I have never really tried to use it and I really should/want to. I am going ti try and forget the trackpad is there and force myself to use it
@@MashITTech I think its possible to make this your niche which separates you from established reviewers as it will allow viewers to feel validated and they will appreciate when you answer their queries. Until you hit a really high subscriber base and it becomes difficult for you to answer all of them, of course.
I moved from using a decade of apple macbooks to lenovo thinkpad x1 carbon 6th gen. the new macbook air had butterfly keyboards and they sucked big time. every month the laptop had to go in to get the keyboard fixed. many people on forums had the same issue. i have been so happy with lenovo. amazing keyboard, great build quality and super light and sleek. i feel like batman using it. doesnt have any of the issues i thought windows would, runs smoothly. and instead of me queing up at apple service centre, if any issue arises a lenovo trained techie shows up at my house the next day here in mumbai !
For me, one of the most important features is a fairly standard keyboard. This line of laptops has actual keys for PgUp, PgDn, Home, End, Insert, Delete, so thanks for clearly showing the keyboard. Look at some other models that require a Fn key press, or some HP models that have removed the Insert key entirely. I can’t imagine that I am the only software engineer or sysadmin who still uses Ctrl-Insert, Shift-Insert in the vi editor regularly. And how about Crtl-PgDn Ctrl-PgUp to switch to another browser tab, or Linux terminal window. Extra ports are great too. I would have expected to find an integrated pen somewhere like the Yoga has on the side or the rear.
Yeah, the keyboard is what usually keeps me coming back to thinkpads! The matte screen on my x1 carbon is not touch enabled so a pen wouldn't work but I don't know about the 4k touch model as pens work on the x1 extreme touch models
I have Lenovo Yoga 530. But I have always loved Thinkpads. I had the privilege of using one at my previous job... I loved it more than my personal Yoga ultrabook.
great review, have a x1 carbon 7th gen and upgrading to this 9th gen. had a tough time deciding between the x1 carbon and the nano because of the screen. but finally decided for the x1 carbon with FHD screen.
I spoke to Lenovo and they said the 5G / LTE internal data cards are coming in May to these machines as well as the X1 Nano. When the units have the Data access built in, they have to be tested with the Carriers and that's what takes so much time. I MUST have the data access built in, its just key for me working at an airline, its uniquely secure, we can not use WiFi, its insecure. YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT REVIEWER, But you know that, lol. !! Looking for the next review 🙌
Haha thanks a lot mate. Good news that LTE is coming soon, I may have to return mine and rebuy when it is released as there is no way I can add LTE myself as they have not included the nano sim slot :( I remember the days when lenovo thinkpads always had the slots and antennas so you could buy the card and add it yourself.
@@MashITTech YES, YOU REMEMBER When they did that 👍. They said 5G also, but that depends on the country I am sure. We are pretty much covered with 5G, practically everywhere, here in the US, how is the UK doing with the 5G rollout??.
Great review, thank you. I heard that this new x1 carbon line comes with some kind of TUV blue-light filter screen for all options. Would it effect the color accuracy when one works on art?
Nice review, but missing an important point... How is GNU/Linux compatibility? Thinkpads are kinda famous for good support but nowadays it has been not optimal, so I am quite curious...
@@sigmundfreud4472 No, i had other things in life that needed my attention and my T440s is still alive so not for the moment, still it is my main option if i decide to upgrade soon...
Wow. This is an excellent review I'm into tech and stuff but don't have even a single laptop but this was honestly amazing I feel if Lenovo can upgrade their screen without increasing their prices too high they can be really sold since people will like them. And you earned a sub!
Thank you very much for the best ever review. I'm currently using ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th Gen. almost every day connected to Lenovo docking station. Can you advise me about thermals results for the Gen9 if connected to the docking station (completely closed)? Is it worthed switching to Gen9? I definitely need more speed. I strongly believe that your channel will reach 1 million subscribers sooner than you expect. Exceptional, high quality and very professional content.Bravo...
Thank you so much for your kind words. The Gen 9 would certainly give you a much needed boost especially on the GPU front as the XE is a big step up. With regards to the dock, I am not sure how well it will handle with the lid closed as the vents now shoot out the rear (rather than the unobstructed side on yours) Unfortunately I didn't have a dock to test for you.
@@MashITTech Great Idea with the scale right away, i am always interested on the real weight of things :) Right now I need a new notebook and the ThinkPad seems to be an option.
Ah, glad I stole my wife’s scales now :) I do need to buy a set for the office though. I have been really enjoying my time with this laptop and in my opinion it is the best windows ultrabook on the market at the moment
Ok, currently it seems I will not be disappointed except perhaps choosing the 1185G7 :( I will be so happy to receive mine on Monday to upgrade my T440s
Yep. And I think Lenovo will improve the 3D performance. Will be interested to hear how you get on with the 1185g7 when it arrives? Hope you enjoy it 😃
Owned several Thinkpads for years, Carbons and T-series. But the fact is their CPUs are underpowered for the price. Bought a decent gaming laptop with H processor and dedicated graphics card and the difference in performance is night and day.
Unfortunately I had to sell the T14 to fund the newer laptops as we don’t make a lot of money from the channel. I will try and get a gen 2 though and compare
@@MashITTech you are always the best at replying and engaging with viewers, I know youll grow well. Looking forward to future content like that if you can! Ps This is Chris Collins with a new name. We spoke a bit about the T14 when you were covering it and you were part of that decision to buy one 👍
Hi Chris, yes I remember! Thanks for the kind words 😀 I loved the t14 and was gutted to sell it. Maybe one day if we get big enough we won’t have to sell off a laptop to get the next review unit in 😭
Yes, the i7 does run a lot hotter. It doesn’t throttle with cpu load just a little in gpu load. It gives the system 35w until it reaches 100c then dips, it should just give it a more realistic power budget
@@MashITTech If you ask me the 1165G7 is overkill for a thin and light like this. I even worry about the 1135G7 thermal throttling. Of course, you can always downclock/undervolt but what's the point of having an I7 then?
Just bought an X1 Carbon 9th Gen, and I am having an issue with the touchpad. When the laptop is running on battery power, it works fine. However, if I plug the AC adapter, the touchpad becomes sluggish and with a 50/100 ms latency which makes it almost unusable. Google Search reveals this is pretty common with this and other Thinkpad models. I find it absolutely unacceptable and I am seriously considering returning the unit.
Glad to finally see the 16:10 screens on the X1 Carbon. Two questions, though, that I didn't figure out from your performance coverage. Doesn't this not get power profiles in the Lenovo Vantage app, or did you choose no to install it? Edited: had another question, but you answered that in the Davinci section. thanks!
Hi Andrei, No you do not get vantage profiles any more. They have moved power profiles to the windows power slider (you may recall me talking about only two currently available where they normally provide 3).
I was choosing between this and HP EliteBook 840 G8. Went for the latter because of the better keyboard and upgradeability. RAM on this Lenovo is soldiered and capped at 16GB thus not that future proof.
Hi David, I am thinking to buy this laptop. From your experience in general with laptops and X1C9 in particular, do you think if X1C9 would able to run statistics software without any issue? Software like IBM SPSS package, R-language, few VMs concurrently, etc? I would like to understand this in particular from the performance point of view. Also, Lenovo has modified the hinge design in X1C9; how it feels like as compared to previous Thinkpad models? I had a bad experience with a broken hinge with one of the Lenovo laptops that's why bit apprehend of trying some new hinge designs by Lenovo. Cheers David for a nice review; this is one of the only few comprehensive reviews available for X1C9 at the moment. (I don't count those marketing reviews)
Hi Sulaiman, I just took the carbon base off and had a good look at the hinge mechanism. It looks really solid to me with a single bar going right across the base rather than 2 separate hinges. I do not think these would break easily. With regards to the Stat programs, I am sorry but I am not familiar with them, are they just CPU heavy? If so, then they should run fine. I have been using mine with a good mix of blender, VS and unity and it has been snappy throughout and a pleasure to use
@@MashITTech Many thanks David, especially for taking off the base and have a closer look at the hinge mechanism. You are the only one who put in the genuine effort to respond to that hinge query. If X1C9 runs VS smoothly then SPSS will work fine too. Great help man, cheers
After half a dozen or so Lenovos and my Thinkpad`s OLED screen breaking twice, I became unfaithful and switched over in February to the Acer Spin 5 with a 3:2 screen, 1 TB SSD, 16 GB RAM, i7 and same sturdiness, albeit thinner and lighter than the Lenovos. 2 USB C Thunderbolts, 2x USB 3, HDMI, card reader and built in pen. 2256 x 1504 screen with 400 nits. 12 hours battery. Much better microphone and cam, ideal for Zoom etc. Running cool and quiet. And more affordable. Didn`t regret the choice for a minute so far.
Nice review! In the video you mention intel (integrated) graphics, but since you also run Davinci Resolve, there must be an discrete GPU as well. Can you tell us which one it is? And perhaps also the price of this reviewed unit?
Nope, resolve is using the integrated XE graphics. It is slow but you can edit 1080p ok. Premier Pro works better because it is more optimised for quicksync
I have been enjoying the keyboard a lot and it’s a touch better than the nano. There is slightly less travel than my t14 and x1 extreme but it still feels good compared to most other manufacturers 👍
Great review. A few things I would like to know: If you disable turbo boost and then play a 1080p video: How long time is the laptop running without the fan starting? How is the CPU temp? At which temp does the fan start? About display: Lenovo is known for it panel lottery. Which one do you have?
Thanks, that's very kind of you to say. I haven't got an XPS 9500 on hand at the moment but an X1 extreme gen 3 just arrived would that be worth doing?
Hi thanks for the review! Which device do you find more comfortable to work with, Nano 13" 16:10 with higher resolution or Carbon 9 14" 16:10 with 1200p? I'm curious mostly about display and keyboard experience. For example imagine carbon having same ports as nano which one would you choose ? I will use dock anyway so wonder about comfort on the go (don't care about weight/size just comfort to work with in coffee shop/train/plane etc), thanks!
Hi David, if you don’t care about ports and you can live with the lower battery life then the nano will be easier to work with. It is more compact and portable so would be easier to cart around with you. I prefer the carbon for the extra battery and ports as I mentioned but there is no one size fits all laptops. I did love my time with the nano and you can’t go wrong with either
Do you notice a major difference when lugging the x1 carbon gen 9 around compared to the lighter x1 nano? Or is it negligible in real life use? I'm torn between the two laptops, I want the power and options the carbon offers but I want to feel comfortable when couch surfing or using the laptop laying in bed etc..
4K will eat into your battery life so I would get the 1200p unless you really need 4K. It only throttles on heavy 3D such as games and I am sure Lenovo will fix this as it is not normal behaviour and even the nano didn’t behave the same
Thanks for your review! Just saw you were running a game at the end there - I've just got the X1 Carbon i7 9th gen, and tried to run CS:GO, but its extremely choppy for me and virtually unplayable. What settings did you run the game on? How would you boost this machine to get a better gaming performance? Cheers!
@@jarrodchan the 9th gen i7 does t have a good graphic powers, the newest Intel i7 processor has the Intel iris Xe graphic cards, and that integrated graphic card is able to handle a lot of games
Thanks for the detailed review! I’m wondering what your opinion is on choosing resolution. I have large monitors and just wondering if 4k is necessary or is 1920 x 1080 enough for monitor quality
Hi Dave, thanks for a great review! Do you think this laptop will be ok for music production and run a DAW software such as Ableton \ Cubase? I'm trying to decide between the carbon to the new P14 (gen 2) Thanks :)
Nice one. Can you report idle power draw in watts? I'm getting the 4K version on Monday, and I think a lot of people would be interesting in knowing the "4K tax" is :-)
Check out the Lenovo Forum before you buy any laptop from them. There are so many issues which are hardly solved, bad customer service even when your machine is in warranty, poor Linux support nowadays, battery drain and so on. They are basically throwing their good reputation. You better check the forums.
The widescreen craze was the worst thing to happen to general personal computing. Even for movies and games, 16:10 (and for that matter, 4:3) is superior. How manufacturers and producers determined that a movie be harmed by more detail in the frame, is beyond me.
The main differences are the screen is not 16:10, it uses a tiger lake CPU, the cooling vents now push up through the hinge instead of the side and the keyboard has reduced travel.
I still think SD slot and 3x USB-C should be a requirement, considering one of those USB-C is always used for charging. Of course, HDMI and 1x USB-A are also welcome. Hopefully the new MacBook Pros will normalize Full SD card slots and 3-4x USB-C ports.
I am not going to argue with you on that! As far as I am concerned I will take as many ports as you can cram up each side of the laptop 😂 I have just got a really good deal on an x1 extreme gen 3 which has more ports so I am going to put it up against the carbon and see which I prefer but I have the feeling the x1 might be too bulky for my uses. Oh and if Apple release a 14” with ports back then that could also sway me! I love the apple silicon but just 2 usbc ports is meh
what do you plug into the usb dongles? I can't imagine what that is. The last time I used usb ports I used it for share games from my friends when we hadn't an internet, you can imagine how long ago that was. I mean you can transfer files wirelessly now and all the accessories like mouse and keyboard are wirelessly connected
I really like Lenovo laptops. Solid build quality, great keyboard and good customer service. However there’s always “something” that stops me from using them day to day. Can’t put my finger on it.
Oh really! In the past as much as I loved Lenovo the screen lottery always put me off, but they seem to be using better quality panels Therese days and the panel in this carbon is brilliant
Lenovo Carbon X series has been an awesome choice for 6+ years, perfect blend of power and lightness. No complaints after 3 machines...
no pul
The correct and intuitive way to use the 'red dot' is holding it with the middle finger and hitting mouse buttons with the thumb. As a 20+ year ThinkPad user, I find it easier and more precise than the trackpad or mouse.
Thank you, I have never really tried to use it and I really should/want to. I am going ti try and forget the trackpad is there and force myself to use it
Excellent review!!!! I will seriously consider this laptop when I am due to upgrade.
Totally agree with ports! I cannot yet digest that in our days we have to be checking even for 3.5 jack!!!
Nice videos. The only reviewer I have seen who actually replies to viewer's queries. Keep up the good work and hope you get more subscribers!
Thanks for the kind words, it’s much appreciated 😀👍
@@MashITTech I think its possible to make this your niche which separates you from established reviewers as it will allow viewers to feel validated and they will appreciate when you answer their queries. Until you hit a really high subscriber base and it becomes difficult for you to answer all of them, of course.
I moved from using a decade of apple macbooks to lenovo thinkpad x1 carbon 6th gen. the new macbook air had butterfly keyboards and they sucked big time. every month the laptop had to go in to get the keyboard fixed. many people on forums had the same issue. i have been so happy with lenovo. amazing keyboard, great build quality and super light and sleek. i feel like batman using it. doesnt have any of the issues i thought windows would, runs smoothly. and instead of me queing up at apple service centre, if any issue arises a lenovo trained techie shows up at my house the next day here in mumbai !
10:30 When you unplug the power adapter you will see the other options :) It's just different when it's charging
Yes you are right, but on power Lenovo normally give you 3 different profiles, the middle and right settings perform exactly the same
Nice review. Amen on the Matte 16X10 screen. Overall the X1 carbon is one of the best Windows laptops on the market.
Thank you mate. Yes, I have been so impressed with it, the only downside for me is the lack of lte in U.K. at the moment
@@MashITTech On the 6th Gen there was a dual LTE/SD card slot on the rear of the laptop....sounds like that is no longer there?
Excellent and thorough review. Thank you. Well done.
Thanks for the kind words 😃
Would you pick this over the Macbook Pro?
My 5th gen X1 is still going strong, but this looks so good!
What an excellent, thorough review!
Thanks a lot
I have 3th generation from 2015, still work very very well. Very light, quite and fast for 4k video editing.
Isn't the 3rd gen from 2014?
@@slighter In Europe it was released in early springtime 2015. I don't know about the rest of the world
"4k video editing"?
Thanks for this video. I just bought one for me and it's very good!
Glad to here you are enjoying it! Such a great laptop 👍
Informative, and I also think well made review
Thank you that is very kind of you to say
Great review! Keep going 👍🏻
Thank you kind sir 😊👍
Are you still happy with this one? Thank you, nice review 👌
Great video!! The looks of this laptop are top notch as well.
Thanks mate, it is a fantastic laptop
For me, one of the most important features is a fairly standard keyboard. This line of laptops has actual keys for PgUp, PgDn, Home, End, Insert, Delete, so thanks for clearly showing the keyboard. Look at some other models that require a Fn key press, or some HP models that have removed the Insert key entirely. I can’t imagine that I am the only software engineer or sysadmin who still uses Ctrl-Insert, Shift-Insert in the vi editor regularly. And how about Crtl-PgDn Ctrl-PgUp to switch to another browser tab, or Linux terminal window. Extra ports are great too. I would have expected to find an integrated pen somewhere like the Yoga has on the side or the rear.
Yeah, the keyboard is what usually keeps me coming back to thinkpads! The matte screen on my x1 carbon is not touch enabled so a pen wouldn't work but I don't know about the 4k touch model as pens work on the x1 extreme touch models
I have Lenovo Yoga 530. But I have always loved Thinkpads. I had the privilege of using one at my previous job... I loved it more than my personal Yoga ultrabook.
But as I use Ubuntu, it works pretty well on my Yoga. Not sure if it will work equally well on X1. Moreover, I wanted touch screen too.
I am meaning to test Linux on the carbon, I am just trying to get through my backlog of half finished videos first 😂
@@MashITTech I am looking forward to those AND the linux on Carbon video. Subscribed!
great review, have a x1 carbon 7th gen and upgrading to this 9th gen. had a tough time deciding between the x1 carbon and the nano because of the screen. but finally decided for the x1 carbon with FHD screen.
You made a good choice. I love them both but the carbon is a better laptop
Thanks for the great comprehensive review
Had this as a replacement for X260 and its a great buy.
I spoke to Lenovo and they said the 5G / LTE internal data cards are coming in May to these machines as well as the X1 Nano. When the units have the Data access built in, they have to be tested with the Carriers and that's what takes so much time. I MUST have the data access built in, its just key for me working at an airline, its uniquely secure, we can not use WiFi, its insecure. YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT REVIEWER, But you know that, lol. !! Looking for the next review 🙌
Haha thanks a lot mate. Good news that LTE is coming soon, I may have to return mine and rebuy when it is released as there is no way I can add LTE myself as they have not included the nano sim slot :(
I remember the days when lenovo thinkpads always had the slots and antennas so you could buy the card and add it yourself.
@@MashITTech YES, YOU REMEMBER When they did that 👍. They said 5G also, but that depends on the country I am sure. We are pretty much covered with 5G, practically everywhere, here in the US, how is the UK doing with the 5G rollout??.
It'd be great if you do a comparison of the carbon x1 9th gen and the M1 13 MBP.
I can certainly do that. Give me a few days
@@MashITTech woohoo
Say no more lmao
@@MashITTech How to do boot to your USB on these things to add windows 10?
Great review, thank you. I heard that this new x1 carbon line comes with some kind of TUV blue-light filter screen for all options. Would it effect the color accuracy when one works on art?
Excelente amigo, te mereces mas suscriptores
Great review 👍. Thanks a lot!!
Glad you liked it! 👍
Nice review, but missing an important point... How is GNU/Linux compatibility? Thinkpads are kinda famous for good support but nowadays it has been not optimal, so I am quite curious...
Did you end up buying this one? I’m still curious about it
@@sigmundfreud4472 No, i had other things in life that needed my attention and my T440s is still alive so not for the moment, still it is my main option if i decide to upgrade soon...
Wow. This is an excellent review I'm into tech and stuff but don't have even a single laptop but this was honestly amazing I feel if Lenovo can upgrade their screen without increasing their prices too high they can be really sold since people will like them. And you earned a sub!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. Yes I think Lenovo did a really good job on this one, so glad they moved back to 16:10
great review!
Thanks!
everything is perfect, just if Lenovo switch the CTRL and FN key, it would be sublime
You can do that in BIOS settings
@@synvodkona cool but still cant switch the button tho, now i have the answer! thanks man!
It'd be great if you do a comparison of the carbon x1 9th gen and the LG Gram 14" or 16".
Thank you very much for the best ever review. I'm currently using ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th Gen. almost every day connected to Lenovo docking station. Can you advise me about thermals results for the Gen9 if connected to the docking station (completely closed)? Is it worthed switching to Gen9? I definitely need more speed. I strongly believe that your channel will reach 1 million subscribers sooner than you expect. Exceptional, high quality and very professional content.Bravo...
Thank you so much for your kind words. The Gen 9 would certainly give you a much needed boost especially on the GPU front as the XE is a big step up. With regards to the dock, I am not sure how well it will handle with the lid closed as the vents now shoot out the rear (rather than the unobstructed side on yours) Unfortunately I didn't have a dock to test for you.
just got mine for uni def an amazing laptop
Glad you are enjoying it 👍
Great review, going straight to the point! I've subbed :)
Thanks a lot, glad you enjoyed it.
@@MashITTech Great Idea with the scale right away, i am always interested on the real weight of things :) Right now I need a new notebook and the ThinkPad seems to be an option.
Ah, glad I stole my wife’s scales now :) I do need to buy a set for the office though. I have been really enjoying my time with this laptop and in my opinion it is the best windows ultrabook on the market at the moment
Watching it on 6th Gen X1 Carbon :)
The successor of 2010 thinkpads.
Ok, currently it seems I will not be disappointed except perhaps choosing the 1185G7 :( I will be so happy to receive mine on Monday to upgrade my T440s
Yep. And I think Lenovo will improve the 3D performance. Will be interested to hear how you get on with the 1185g7 when it arrives? Hope you enjoy it 😃
Super helpful!
Owned several Thinkpads for years, Carbons and T-series. But the fact is their CPUs are underpowered for the price. Bought a decent gaming laptop with H processor and dedicated graphics card and the difference in performance is night and day.
10/10 price is the problem
what is a H processor?
The function and control layout is actually the same as on the Macbooks.
I would love to see this vs the AMD T14, my favourite laptop.
Unfortunately I had to sell the T14 to fund the newer laptops as we don’t make a lot of money from the channel. I will try and get a gen 2 though and compare
@@MashITTech you are always the best at replying and engaging with viewers, I know youll grow well. Looking forward to future content like that if you can!
Ps This is Chris Collins with a new name. We spoke a bit about the T14 when you were covering it and you were part of that decision to buy one 👍
Hi Chris, yes I remember! Thanks for the kind words 😀 I loved the t14 and was gutted to sell it. Maybe one day if we get big enough we won’t have to sell off a laptop to get the next review unit in 😭
I've ordered mine with 1135G7, which will solve the throttling issues straight away hopefully.
Yes, the i7 does run a lot hotter. It doesn’t throttle with cpu load just a little in gpu load. It gives the system 35w until it reaches 100c then dips, it should just give it a more realistic power budget
@@MashITTech If you ask me the 1165G7 is overkill for a thin and light like this. I even worry about the 1135G7 thermal throttling. Of course, you can always downclock/undervolt but what's the point of having an I7 then?
Unfortunately undervolting is locked out since gen 10 CPU’s which is a real shame, you can’t even adjust multipliers in throttlestop any more 😭
@@MashITTech can you adjust the power limits with throttlestop and Tiger Lake CPUs?
Yes, that it about the only option we have left with Tiger Lake :(
Just bought an X1 Carbon 9th Gen, and I am having an issue with the touchpad. When the laptop is running on battery power, it works fine. However, if I plug the AC adapter, the touchpad becomes sluggish and with a 50/100 ms latency which makes it almost unusable. Google Search reveals this is pretty common with this and other Thinkpad models. I find it absolutely unacceptable and I am seriously considering returning the unit.
Watching this on my X1 Carbon 3rd gen lol....
Still don't want to upgrade it yet
Glad to finally see the 16:10 screens on the X1 Carbon.
Two questions, though, that I didn't figure out from your performance coverage. Doesn't this not get power profiles in the Lenovo Vantage app, or did you choose no to install it?
Edited: had another question, but you answered that in the Davinci section. thanks!
Hi Andrei,
No you do not get vantage profiles any more. They have moved power profiles to the windows power slider (you may recall me talking about only two currently available where they normally provide 3).
I was choosing between this and HP EliteBook 840 G8. Went for the latter because of the better keyboard and upgradeability. RAM on this Lenovo is soldiered and capped at 16GB thus not that future proof.
I can’t use most of the new HP laptops, because they are missing the Insert key.
It ’s good that Thinkpad started to have PCIE4＆thunderbolt4
Great review
Thank you Jason
I'm using a X1 Nano and I love it...but I would like a screen just a bit bigger and the ability to stretch out on the keyboard.
Hi David, I am thinking to buy this laptop. From your experience in general with laptops and X1C9 in particular, do you think if X1C9 would able to run statistics software without any issue? Software like IBM SPSS package, R-language, few VMs concurrently, etc? I would like to understand this in particular from the performance point of view.
Also, Lenovo has modified the hinge design in X1C9; how it feels like as compared to previous Thinkpad models? I had a bad experience with a broken hinge with one of the Lenovo laptops that's why bit apprehend of trying some new hinge designs by Lenovo.
Cheers David for a nice review; this is one of the only few comprehensive reviews available for X1C9 at the moment. (I don't count those marketing reviews)
Hi Sulaiman, I just took the carbon base off and had a good look at the hinge mechanism. It looks really solid to me with a single bar going right across the base rather than 2 separate hinges. I do not think these would break easily.
With regards to the Stat programs, I am sorry but I am not familiar with them, are they just CPU heavy? If so, then they should run fine. I have been using mine with a good mix of blender, VS and unity and it has been snappy throughout and a pleasure to use
@@MashITTech Many thanks David, especially for taking off the base and have a closer look at the hinge mechanism. You are the only one who put in the genuine effort to respond to that hinge query.
If X1C9 runs VS smoothly then SPSS will work fine too.
Great help man, cheers
After half a dozen or so Lenovos and my Thinkpad`s OLED screen breaking twice, I became unfaithful and switched over in February to the Acer Spin 5 with a 3:2 screen, 1 TB SSD, 16 GB RAM, i7 and same sturdiness, albeit thinner and lighter than the Lenovos. 2 USB C Thunderbolts, 2x USB 3, HDMI, card reader and built in pen. 2256 x 1504 screen with 400 nits. 12 hours battery. Much better microphone and cam, ideal for Zoom etc. Running cool and quiet. And more affordable. Didn`t regret the choice for a minute so far.
Great review！
Thank you 😊
Nice review! In the video you mention intel (integrated) graphics, but since you also run Davinci Resolve, there must be an discrete GPU as well. Can you tell us which one it is? And perhaps also the price of this reviewed unit?
Nope, resolve is using the integrated XE graphics. It is slow but you can edit 1080p ok. Premier Pro works better because it is more optimised for quicksync
Thanks a lot for your reviews, super useful! How do you like the keyboard compared to the Nano's?
I have been enjoying the keyboard a lot and it’s a touch better than the nano. There is slightly less travel than my t14 and x1 extreme but it still feels good compared to most other manufacturers 👍
@@MashITTech thank you!!!
Great review. A few things I would like to know: If you disable turbo boost and then play a 1080p video: How long time is the laptop running without the fan starting? How is the CPU temp? At which temp does the fan start?
About display: Lenovo is known for it panel lottery. Which one do you have?
Thanks for the questions. Will be back with answers soon
The day Dad left for milk, and never came back.
If a gloss screen is an option, the LG Gram 14 will give you the same benefits with much better battery life.
with worse support, build quality, ports, Linux compatibility, etc
You are extremely underrated. How about comparison between the XPS 15 9500 and the X1 Carbon?
Thanks, that's very kind of you to say. I haven't got an XPS 9500 on hand at the moment but an X1 extreme gen 3 just arrived would that be worth doing?
xps 15 trackpad has too many issues. not worth the price
Great review 👍 May I ask, where I can download the screensaver running in the end of the video?
Sorry that wasn't a screensaver but a video playing full screen to show off the screen :)
@@MashITTech ok, thank you for your answer 🙂👍
Yea good job 👍. Keep it up
Thanks, will do! :)
How does this goes with Linux manjaro??? Excellent review!
Someone else has also asked for fedora, which is usually better on the thinkpads and I will give it a go
@@MashITTech I have been running Manjaro KDE in it it's okay few thing actually need to be changed to make it run...
Hi thanks for the review! Which device do you find more comfortable to work with, Nano 13" 16:10 with higher resolution or Carbon 9 14" 16:10 with 1200p? I'm curious mostly about display and keyboard experience. For example imagine carbon having same ports as nano which one would you choose ? I will use dock anyway so wonder about comfort on the go (don't care about weight/size just comfort to work with in coffee shop/train/plane etc), thanks!
Hi David, if you don’t care about ports and you can live with the lower battery life then the nano will be easier to work with. It is more compact and portable so would be easier to cart around with you. I prefer the carbon for the extra battery and ports as I mentioned but there is no one size fits all laptops. I did love my time with the nano and you can’t go wrong with either
Do you notice a major difference when lugging the x1 carbon gen 9 around compared to the lighter x1 nano? Or is it negligible in real life use? I'm torn between the two laptops, I want the power and options the carbon offers but I want to feel comfortable when couch surfing or using the laptop laying in bed etc..
Do you have anti-reflection or anti-glare screen? Lenovo doesn't specify whether their screens are glossy or matte on the website anymore.
That’s greate video.
Please do a comparison with the XPS 13 9310 :)
Hi Alexander, I haven't got a 9310 in the office at the moment but if I can get one back in I will do that video
@@MashITTech Definitely looking forward to it, appreciate your videos and keep up the good work mate!
You can change the use of the fucntions keys and multimedia keys with fn and esc.
Great review! Do you recommend buying the 4K version considering the throttling and PWM flickering issues?
4K will eat into your battery life so I would get the 1200p unless you really need 4K. It only throttles on heavy 3D such as games and I am sure Lenovo will fix this as it is not normal behaviour and even the nano didn’t behave the same
Thanks for your review! Just saw you were running a game at the end there - I've just got the X1 Carbon i7 9th gen, and tried to run CS:GO, but its extremely choppy for me and virtually unplayable. What settings did you run the game on? How would you boost this machine to get a better gaming performance? Cheers!
Hi Jarrod, are you finding it plays well for a few minutes then lags or is yours permanently choppy?
@@MashITTech Seems permanently choppy - i've tried lowering all the in-game settings to the lowest but still no luck. I have 32GB RAM as well
@@jarrodchan the 9th gen i7 does t have a good graphic powers, the newest Intel i7 processor has the Intel iris Xe graphic cards, and that integrated graphic card is able to handle a lot of games
How is the battery life? Has it improved overtime?
The one thing that jumps out is that trackpad. I hate an oily track pad and that one seems like a magnet for finger oil.
Yes, it can pick up oils very easily
This is not one of the best but the best laptop tbh performance/keyboard everything is super, I have this and I am very content with it !!
The litte red nub for mouse movement isn't called thinkpoint but TrackPoint.
Doh! Thanks Christoph. I get it wrong every time. I least I didn't call it a nipple this time 😂
Will try and get it right in my next Thinkpad video
@@MashITTech "Nipple" is a frequently used term for this kind of input device :D
Thanks for the detailed review! I’m wondering what your opinion is on choosing resolution. I have large monitors and just wondering if 4k is necessary or is 1920 x 1080 enough for monitor quality
1080 is pretty good for 14' screen
This thing is beautious
I agree, I love the look of this laptop
Hi Dave, thanks for a great review!
Do you think this laptop will be ok for music production and run a DAW software such as Ableton \ Cubase?
I'm trying to decide between the carbon to the new P14 (gen 2)
Thanks :)
Hi Yotam, sorry I didn’t try music production as I am more of a developer myself. I have fl studio I could try but I am not sure how to test
It's a shame that they can't have an AMD version of this laptop 😢
That is true but there is the 13" X13 gen 2 which looks promising (ryzen and 16:10). I will order it as soon as it releases
Nice one. Can you report idle power draw in watts? I'm getting the 4K version on Monday, and I think a lot of people would be interesting in knowing the "4K tax" is :-)
Of course. I will dig my watt meter out. Might do a follow up video with all the requests 👍
Do you lose something if you go for x1 yoga gen 6?
Would you recommend this for someone in the cybersecurity space? As in using Linux and parrot and kali Linux?
I am literally just starting my Linux testing, I can give you an update on how it goes asap
@@MashITTech so how is it going man on that computer I got me a MacBook Pro 16 inch but I want a windows / Lenovo laptop aswell.
Is there a difference in terms of sharpness between the touch and the non-touch screens? (for the 1'200 resolution)
Why your Enter button’s shape is different from the others🙀🙀
I like that shape.
That is a UK enter key, we like to be different 😂
Great review! Could you please provide the calibrated colour profile for your screen, i.e. the ICM file? Thanks
Yeah sure, will dig it out later 👍
@@MashITTech that'd be great, thanks a bunch!
@@MashITTech any luck?
Sorry mate, haven’t forgotten you, I have just been testing device in Linux and need to put the original ssd back to get the icm for you
@@MashITTech thanks mate, appreciate your help. My CSO screen has a yellowish tint so am eager to see how it looks like after calibration
Check out the Lenovo Forum before you buy any laptop from them. There are so many issues which are hardly solved, bad customer service even when your machine is in warranty, poor Linux support nowadays, battery drain and so on. They are basically throwing their good reputation. You better check the forums.
is that mean this one is no go, or..??
you forgot to talk about the battery
The widescreen craze was the worst thing to happen to general personal computing. Even for movies and games, 16:10 (and for that matter, 4:3) is superior. How manufacturers and producers determined that a movie be harmed by more detail in the frame, is beyond me.
Fabulous little computer. Too bad they're so damn expensive. Love to have one, but it's way out of my budget.
Yeah, I keep hoping they will reduce them because the price is just crazy at the moment
$999 right now!
I already bought Gen8, so what are the differents between those two?
The main differences are the screen is not 16:10, it uses a tiger lake CPU, the cooling vents now push up through the hinge instead of the side and the keyboard has reduced travel.
I still think SD slot and 3x USB-C should be a requirement, considering one of those USB-C is always used for charging. Of course, HDMI and 1x USB-A are also welcome.
Hopefully the new MacBook Pros will normalize Full SD card slots and 3-4x USB-C ports.
I am not going to argue with you on that! As far as I am concerned I will take as many ports as you can cram up each side of the laptop 😂 I have just got a really good deal on an x1 extreme gen 3 which has more ports so I am going to put it up against the carbon and see which I prefer but I have the feeling the x1 might be too bulky for my uses. Oh and if Apple release a 14” with ports back then that could also sway me! I love the apple silicon but just 2 usbc ports is meh
Which one is more durable and have great performance between thinkpad T series and X series
How about sleep battery drain/overheating? Does it support S3 suspend mode? This is where Macs excel.
Do you know I have been using the machine so much that this isn’t something I have looked at! Let me check into it and get back to you
@@MashITTech Thanks.
What’s the price for this machine
are those oraimo products in the background?👀
I need to double check to see if they offer LTE in my area.
Yeah I was gutted they don’t offer it in U.K. yet
Can you make a thermal test? My gen5 is horrible.. Is it better? Thanks
Finally 16:10 displays
I know, it is about time!
Hi, Thanks for the Video. What you use as scaling setting?
Great review as always! I hope Lenovo release this using AMD CPUs.
Thank you 😊 the x13 gen 2 is coming in ryzen and 16:10, that could be a winner 👍
@@MashITTech You don't like the T-Series, right?
what do you plug into the usb dongles? I can't imagine what that is. The last time I used usb ports I used it for share games from my friends when we hadn't an internet, you can imagine how long ago that was. I mean you can transfer files wirelessly now and all the accessories like mouse and keyboard are wirelessly connected
I really like Lenovo laptops. Solid build quality, great keyboard and good customer service. However there’s always “something” that stops me from using them day to day. Can’t put my finger on it.
Oh really! In the past as much as I loved Lenovo the screen lottery always put me off, but they seem to be using better quality panels Therese days and the panel in this carbon is brilliant