Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 9

[@tommydude969]

One of the biggest things when factoring in price is build quality. One thing I've always been envious about Macs vs PCs are the build quality. The construction of all the tactual parts are far superior to anything else I've put my hands on. Everything from the panel gaps to the trackpad give me a sense of security, that nothing will likely fall apart. The materials used to make this laptop not only durable but light reminds me of what I would expect out of a high end super car. The R&D into constructing a model like this is where the $$ is at. IMO I expect to hold onto a computer of this caliber for minimum of 10 years.

[@TechAdventure1]

Thank you for your detailed perspective. I have a MB Pro (M1) and I’ve held onto it because I love how it feels. To your point, super well built and the battery life, speakers, input devices, and display are simply the best.

[@potatoes1234]

Are you referring to the Macbook or the Thinkpad?

[@jeepdog626]

Even after 5 years with the Mac Pro, I still don’t like it (iPhone and iPad user) and am going back to a windows operating system for home use. I use a Thinkpad at work, love it! Very expensive though…

[@kushal710]

The advantages thinkpad has over a macbook: 1. Can install linux 2. better keyboard 3. More repairable 4. Can replace battery and upgrade ssd 5. Subjective but it feels better to the touch as compared to cold metal 6. Can run x86 software natively

[@TechAdventure1]

Solid breakdown!

[@darkarie]

and if you look at the p series: 6. can upgrade wifi, screen amd ram 😂

[@meal_team_six]

Are you sure about the keyboard?? I feel Lenovo is going backwards and not talking about key travel but actuation force, key spacing, flatter keys, etc.

[@kushal710]

@@meal_team_six Yes, I have the latest macbook pro and ThinkPad still has the better keyboard.

[@akin242002]

7) Better to run Power BI for data analysis. 8) Better for running Visual Studio and C# programing language if you download Windows 10.

[@rvkoester2000]

You deserve more subscribers... a very nice review with a nice voice...

[@TechAdventure1]

Thank you! Unfortunately YT plays favorites. And I was demonetized which slows my reach.

[@jcchaconjr]

The X1 isn’t just for the bosses - this laptop was actually standard issue to everyone at my previous employer, along with a Lenovo Thunderbolt 4 dock for desk use. I liked it so much that, now that I’m an independent contractor, I recently picked one of these up (yes, the same Gen 9 model but Lenovo Certified Reconditioned) for a little over $500. While the old work laptop was an i7 1165G7, the one I got has the i5 1145G7, which is pretty comparable (except for the Iris graphics), but it has 32GB of RAM and a 512GB drive instead of the 16GB/256GB that the work one had. Overall, I’d say it was a fair tradeoff, considering that i7 models with less RAM were going for like $800-900 reconditioned. Oh, and sorry - given the horror stories I’ve heard with MacBooks and SSD/controller failures (check out Louis Rossman if you haven’t heard about it) the past couple of years, I’d be wary of buying a Mac. I also hate that absolutely nothing is serviceable; Apple simply wants you to buy another one if something goes wrong with it.

[@TechAdventure1]

Lack of service is brutal. Work gave me a MacBook Air. It’s pretty darn nice. I looked at prices though…sheesh. I can get way more product for less if I went with a windows machine. I know that’s always been the case but I think it’s even more true when you double the RAM on a Mac.

[@lmllml1376]

I was really curious about e privacy & privacy guard. Finally found a review. Thanks man. If it is possible, can I expect more about it?

[@TechAdventure1]

Thanks! My pleasure to help. What do you want to know about it? I’ve returned the laptop to Lenovo already (review unit).

[@lmllml1376]

@@TechAdventure1 I’d like to know about the battery time when it’s on and off.

[@donny1546]

How does it affect the viewing experience (video quality, color reproduction, contrast, etc) when PrivacyGuard is engaged?

[@anirbanchakraborty1102]

I love everything about an x1 carbon. However, the one thing that bothers me a lot is the touchpad as I have always been a mac user. For those of you who have jumped ship (from mac to thinkpads), how easy or difficult it is to get used to the thinkpad touchpads?

[@Shreenivas_Karanam_V]

Thanks, I would test the keyboard in the same way you did. Nice review, you said the right things that matter in a precise and detailed way 👍. I do love the lenovo keyboards, and their quality and features, but pricing is too high and equal to Macbooks and some versions of lenovo are even expensive than the Mac M1 Pros and Max !

[@TechAdventure1]

Thanks! Keep an eye out for deals on Lenovo’a website!

[@JohnByeBye]

One thing I appreciate about the X1 Carbon Gen 9 and the X1 Yoga Gen 6 is that they are capable of running at the full 28 watt TDP without throttling. This makes them some of the best performing Intel 11th Gen laptops in the 28 watt segment. For comparison the Surface Pro 8 only runs at 23 watts due to its design, and the XPS 13 is notorious for throttling. I may never use a laptop to its full potential, but I won't buy one that I can't get the most performance out of if needed. It's one of my pet peeves to pay a lot for a device only to have its performance hampered by poor heat management.

[@TechAdventure1]

This is an important call-out. Have you researched the Razer Book 13? It has excellent heat management. I recently posted a full review of the 2021 model.

[@TechAdventure1]

Do you have a Carbon gen 9? What kind of battery life are you getting?

[@JohnByeBye]

@@TechAdventure1 I had one on order but it was 3+ months until it was delivered. I cancelled it and went with the 14” MacBook Pro instead. :)

[@TechAdventure1]

Right on! What kind of battery life are you getting? And what is your workflow like? I am testing the XPS 15 with an 84 WHr battery and the Razer Book 13. I ordered a Carbon for myself too. I think it’ll be a good sweet spot between these for work.

[@JohnByeBye]

@@TechAdventure1 I would have really liked the Carbon but I didn’t want to wait 3 or more months. The total cost was 1,695 for the i7-1185G, 32GB of RAM, UHD display, and a 256GB SSD. (I would have upgraded it later.) It’s a steal for those specs. Finding one in stock elsewhere with those specs would cost me 2,200+ I receive the MacBook Pro tomorrow. I can let you what the battery life is like. As far as my use case, I’m a casual user. Mostly web browsing and streaming services. I don’t like to buy slow laptops though lol.

[@jperez1233]

Great review. How is it holding up? I hear these models can be prone to charging issues/motherboard issues. There are many instances mentioned online causing users to have to get their motherboards replaced by Lenovo. Have you experienced this?

[@TechAdventure1]

I returned mine

[@jperez1233]

@@TechAdventure1 any issues with it that made you return it?

[@TechAdventure1]

Battery life isn’t good. I made a video about it.

[@lindseym6534]

Great review

[@xkeepersvk]

they could make it so it doesn’t thermal throttle and uses full capacity of the cpu

[@mukongshu]

gen 11 is available now and gen 9 is two generations older

[@xyzmafour7207]

single fan? two fans.

[@c.m.7037]

Can't have everything, but I wish they added an RJ45 port.

[@TechAdventure1]

That's a good one. I think Lenovo wants us to buy their docking station....

[@Qrzychu92]

you get that with T14 (without the s) :) also, my favourite feature, A FRIKIN VENT ON THE SIDE.

[@rasasijacic]

Correction: SSD can be up to 2TB.

[@KabayanKhilafFun]

just got this and upgrade it to win 11, sadly i cant use its privacy guard function, any idea how activate it on win 11??

[@TechAdventure1]

Try searching the Microsoft app store for Lenovo Keys. I know....but trust. That app exists, published by Lenovo, and may help.

[@richardr3511]

It's running windows 10 though & not enough storage

[@TheTioute]

Poor NITS ; Warm on Right hand ; Keyboard not as good as it was in the past and this is coments from many X1 historical users ; 1 year experienced !

[@kiloton5764]

That function key and ctrl key placement is super annoying. This reason alone will make me never buy a thinkpad. What is lenovo thinking!?

[@TechAdventure1]

It takes some getting used to. But the big problem for me (I can’t be alone) is when switching to another keyboard I’m all tripped up.

[@spytron]

You are able to switch the use of the buttons in BIOS (or even via software now I think) As a Thinkpad user, the issue Tech Adventure mentioned was the main problem for me, pressing the windows key on my desktop keyboard

[@wetbeans7957]

your loss if thats the only eason youre not buying thinkpad

[@bggb7109]

This man praises X1C 9th's keyboard is still top grade comparing with other brands products. I might agree but if comparing with previous X1C series, it gets shallow and lighter. Making disappointing day by day...

[@frederickrentschler777]

So can you tell about X1C9 keyboard is it too bad for thinkpad or its so-so but still good?

[@bggb7109]

@@frederickrentschler777 Evaluation differs by user and one's experience, you would agree. My point of view, still better than other brands but disappointing the former X1C series. So, if you have interest in the 9th X1C, critical point would be the new LCD ratio only. (as I prefer this ratio..)

[@rostamr4096]

These laptops are made in China...I wonder if there are compromised with built-in spyware and all sort of back doors for access? So,I am not sure if corporations should really get these laptops...

[@bora8254]

You are right, there are some documented cases in the US military about these spyware and malware problems. The funny thing is that, even after these events, the navy bought some equipments costing millions again from Lenovo :)

[@rostamr4096]

@@bora8254 ha..amazing

[@fvalentine25]

I would trust Chinese made over American made any day. American and Israeli spyware is on another level. Bad stuff.

[@BurkenProductions]

Stop complaining about being demonitized, no one watching cares. Also everyone uses sponsorblock plugin now and skip any promotion segments so it's just not viable to even include those in the video.

[@TechAdventure1]

Eventually someone watching will feel bad and send me a box full of money.