Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 14-inch (6th Gen, 2018)

HDR screen option is bright and clean ; Tough magnesium alloy frame and different 'business casual' lightweight carbon design ; 4G/LTE support for on-the-go working

Undeniably expensive ; Battery life should be better ; HDR screen backlight not uniform (shows in dim conditions) ; Nipple trackpad's presence won't appeal to all

The ThinkPad Carbon X1 does everything it should for your business and pleasure needs. It's slim, tough, lightweight, more powerful than before and offers features no other laptop can, including a keyboard that's the pinnacle of typing. However, it's...

Ultra-portable ; Wonderful keyboard ; Speedy benchmarks ; Built-in webcam cover

Oversaturated display ; Occasionally tricky trackpad ; Shorter battery life than old X1 Carbon

Light and compact; Much-improved display; Top-class keyboard

Temperamental trackpad; CPU performs below capacity

Lenovo’s latest ThinkPad X1 Carbon is dotted with issues, but they’re either small or can be quickly negated. Ultimately, the appeal of this laptop’s design, display and features win out over its more offputting aspects.

Durable build quality ; Thin and light design ; Best in class keyboard ; Fast and reliable performance

More expensive than standard ultraportables ; HDR screen costs extra ; No major design changes since last year

It’s heavier and pricier than the X1 Carbon but more versatile.

Refined keyboard and touchpad experience ; Soft-touch carbon materials feel great ; Perfect use of Thunderbolt 3 ; Speedy processor and storage ; Robust build quality

Touchscreen isn’t responsive ; Expensive compared to competitors ; Mediocre battery life under some loads

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is well-rounded. It nails the fundamentals, from its keyboard to its performance. However, there’s no question the bang-for-your-buck value just isn’t up to snuff.

As light as a tablet ; Lenovo's top-of-the-line keyboard ; Top-notch performance ; Good battery life

Pricey, as befitting a premiere ultrabook ; Gen 2 Ethernet connector is designed to sell you a dock ; Take care when configuring, as touchless screens are a basic option

By default, Lenovo’s X1 Carbon optimizes its performance settings to boost performance when you need it. In reality, this means that the ultrabook’s fan runs quite a bit, either in a fully revved-up mode or in a sort of quiet, background state. Even in...

Lightweight, yet durable design ; Comfortable keyboard, good touchpad ; Adequate supply of ports ; Matte display option is a treat ; Fast performance

Only average battery life ; Questionable keyboard layout choices ; Dizzying array of configurations that require too many compromises ; Sucky fingerprint scanner ; Active, sometimes noisy, fans

Premium build quality. Thin and light. Very good battery life. Quick charging.

Expensive. Finicky touch screen. Anemic speakers. No Ethernet port.

Bottom Line: The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon offers premium features in a slim and attractive package that business users will love—just be prepared to open your wallet wide for this top-notch ultraportable laptop.

Eye-popping HDR display; Long battery life; Best-in-class keyboard; Lightweight; Attractive design ; Tinny audio; Mediocre webcam ; The ThinkPad X1 Carbon offers the best combination of productivity, portability and performance of any business laptop.

Tinny audio; Mediocre webcam ; The ThinkPad X1 Carbon offers the best combination of productivity, portability and performance of any business laptop.

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon offers the best combination of productivity, portability and performance of any business laptop.