Is the ThinkPad X1 Carbon good for everyday work?

Yes. For email, documents, browsing and video calls it is fast enough and very comfortable to type on. Heavy video editing or gaming is not its strength.

Can the RAM or storage be upgraded?

RAM is soldered to the mainboard on the X1 Carbon, so 8 GB is fixed. The SSD can be replaced with a larger drive, which is the practical upgrade path.

How does it compare with the Dell XPS 13?

The X1 Carbon is slightly larger but lighter for its screen size, and it offers more ports, including Ethernet, plus the TrackPoint. The XPS 13 has a more premium display option.

Does it have a touchscreen?

This configuration has a matte, non-touch 1920 x 1080 display. Touch and higher-resolution panels exist in other X1 Carbon configurations.

What ports does it include?

It has USB-C, HDMI and Ethernet, along with the usual USB-A and audio connections. That covers monitors, wired networks and accessories without a dongle in most cases.

Is the battery really good for 16 hours?

The 16-hour figure is a lab rating. Owners typically report a full workday of mixed use, with less under heavy load or high brightness.

Where is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon cheapest?

At neweggbusiness.com, for $1,099.99, as of our latest check.

Where can I buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon?

2 stores we checked sell it, including neweggbusiness.com, eBay.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Best price now

$1,099.99at neweggbusiness.comChecked Nov 9

Compared across 2 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit neweggbusiness.com

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Best price now

$1,099.99at neweggbusiness.comChecked Nov 9

Compared across 2 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit neweggbusiness.com

Ask our agent about this product

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.

Price facts

Last seen at $1,099.99 at neweggbusiness.com on Nov 9.
Checked at 2 stores.

Our take on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is Lenovo's flagship 14-inch business laptop, built around a carbon-fiber chassis that weighs about 2.5 lb. This configuration pairs an Intel dual-core CPU at 2.6 GHz with 8 GB RAM, a 256 GB SSD and a matte 1920 x 1080 display, plus a backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader and a rated 16 hours of battery life. It suits frequent travelers and office workers who want a light, durable machine with a best-in-class keyboard and full port selection including USB-C, HDMI and Ethernet. Against rivals like the Dell XPS 13 and HP EliteBook, it trades raw performance for lighter weight, better ports and easier IT management.

Best forBusiness travelers who carry a laptop dailyOffice and productivity workIT-managed corporate fleetsWriters and heavy typists

Pros

Very light at about 2.5 lb for a 14-inch laptop
Matte 1080p screen resists glare
Excellent backlit keyboard and TrackPoint
Full ports: USB-C, HDMI and Ethernet
Fingerprint reader and Energy Star rated

Cons

8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD limit heavy multitasking and storage
Dual-core CPU trails newer multi-core rivals
1080p panel is fine but not sharp or color-rich
Integrated Intel graphics rule out gaming and heavy creative work

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon prices at every store

neweggbusiness.comNew
In stock
$1,099.99Checked Nov 9
Visit neweggbusiness.com
eBayNew
In stockSold by swingcomputers
$1,453.99Checked Nov 9
Visit eBay

Store links may earn us a commission.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon price history

Lowest price we've seen: $1,099.99 on Nov 9 at neweggbusiness.com. Tracked across 2 stores since Nov 9.

What reviewers say

Owners and reviewers consistently praise the X1 Carbon for its low weight, sturdy build and keyboard, and many call it one of the best business laptops to type on. Criticism centers on configurations with modest RAM and storage and on the dual-core processor, which feels dated next to newer machines.

What people mention

WeightPraisedOwners repeatedly note how easy the laptop is to carry all day.
KeyboardPraisedReviewers rate the backlit keyboard among the best on any laptop.
PerformanceCriticisedThe dual-core CPU and 8 GB RAM feel slow under heavy multitasking.
BatteryPraisedUsers report getting through a full workday on a charge.
StorageCriticisedThe 256 GB drive fills quickly for people who keep files locally.
BuildPraisedThe carbon-fiber body is described as stiff and durable despite its light weight.

Specifications

Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Operating System: Windows OS
Processor Brand: Intel CPU
Graphics Processor: Intel GPU
Drive Type: Solid State Drive
Number Of Cores: Dual Core
Color: Black

Questions and answers

Is the ThinkPad X1 Carbon good for everyday work?: Yes. For email, documents, browsing and video calls it is fast enough and very comfortable to type on. Heavy video editing or gaming is not its strength.
Can the RAM or storage be upgraded?: RAM is soldered to the mainboard on the X1 Carbon, so 8 GB is fixed. The SSD can be replaced with a larger drive, which is the practical upgrade path.
How does it compare with the Dell XPS 13?: The X1 Carbon is slightly larger but lighter for its screen size, and it offers more ports, including Ethernet, plus the TrackPoint. The XPS 13 has a more premium display option.
Does it have a touchscreen?: This configuration has a matte, non-touch 1920 x 1080 display. Touch and higher-resolution panels exist in other X1 Carbon configurations.
What ports does it include?: It has USB-C, HDMI and Ethernet, along with the usual USB-A and audio connections. That covers monitors, wired networks and accessories without a dongle in most cases.
Is the battery really good for 16 hours?: The 16-hour figure is a lab rating. Owners typically report a full workday of mixed use, with less under heavy load or high brightness.
Where is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon cheapest?: At neweggbusiness.com, for $1,099.99, as of our latest check.
Where can I buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon?: 2 stores we checked sell it, including neweggbusiness.com, eBay.