Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme (i7, 4K-HDR, GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q) Laptop Review

[Redaktion]

Lenovo expands it ThinkPad X1-series with a 15.6-inch laptop and competes directly with the popular Dell XPS 15 as well as the Apple MacBook Pro 15. The new flagship is equipped with a high-resolution HDR screen as well as a discreet Nvidia GPU. But is this still a business laptop or rather a full-fledged multimedia device with some business features for consumers?

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-ThinkPad-X1-Extreme-i7-4K-HDR-GTX-1050-Ti-Max-Q-Laptop-Review.335608.0.html

[Chris88]

Hi Andrew, thanks for the review. When you say the glossy display will be a problem, could you elaborate in comparison to a Dell & MacBook glossy display? Is it worse (more glossy) and because of its (lower brightness) much harder to see?

[Chris88]

Sorry I meant Andreas*

[Anthony Donnelly]

I am very curious about the glossy display comment as well, being the owner of a 4K model.  I wonder if the versions vary or if the model sent for testing is a pre-production model.  My display has an anti-glare/anti-smudge coating and is definitely not as glossy as the Dell XPS or Surface Book Pro. Having owned several MacBook Pro models, including a 2016 and 2018, the latter I returned to buy the X1E, I find the display perhaps even less glossy than the MBP.

[Anthony Donnelly]

I also have a number of color profiles installed, not just one, none of them extended color gamut.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Chris88]

Thanks for the info Anthony. Good to know and yes weird how it can differ so much between the same model. I read on the forums the other user found it fine with his/her 4k as well. Helps me in making my decision to purchase! As I'd have to decide by today if I wanna get sale price!

[Didier]

Hi,
Thanks a lot for your great review!
Snifff ...yes your "The very glossy screen surface is another problem." is a real cold shower.

[X1E]

Please, don't forget to test Full HD version  ::)

[Anthony Donnelly]

I have to low a message count to post a link apparently, but I took a photo side by side with my wife's MacBook Pro.  The MacBook Pro display is shinier & the reflections more clear.  While Apple levels the playing field a little with a brighter screen when on, I am not sure how the X1E display can be problematic when less glossy than the MBP and certainly less so than the Gorilla Glass clad models like the Surface and XPS 2-1, unless we are saying the entire genre is problematic. Puzzled ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Chris88]

Anthony or Andreas,

Is the low response time of the screen noticeable? Like compared to other laptops say the MacBook Pro which has around 40ms GTG while this one has a whopping 60 GTG.

[LAAN]

I've been looking for this kind of detailed, technical review of the X1 E / P1 for a while but didn't find anything until now. Thanks. Looking forward to get additional information about battery life etc. I'm currently trying to decide between a Dell 5530 and a ThinkPad P1. The main differences as I see it would be keyboard, screen, battery life and build quality. Any additional info as to how the 5530 and  the X1E/P1 compares in these regards would be great.

[Henrik]

If this is going to be your work pc, I would go for the Thinkpad due to the keyboard. The keyboard for the xps 9570 is simply not pro quality. My xps shipped with a bad arrow key (which was fixed by dell onsite support) but my F2 key is beginning to make trouble as well...  :-\

[sticky]

Good point below, but the XPS 15 is a grand cheaper and comes with an additional 20 Wh battery and Dell's excellent power optimization. The 9570 configured to i5 / FHD absolutely cruses X1E with its 15 hours of unparalleled runtime and a $1,030 price tag. Difference in keyboard is indeed pronounced but not enough to be a deal breaker for the XPS, which offsets this advantage by offering better touchpad, speakers and brighter displays.
Ultimately I'd go with the XPS if I had to spend my money. Though I do favor Thinkpads and fancy the idea of X1E as maybe a gift or a work laptop.

[S.Yu]

Interesting jack of all trades model, the only aspect left wanting is probably graphics but 1050Ti is already decent.
While the screen is already impressive I didn't realize a max brightness of 400nits could meet the DV HDR specifications? IIRC it needs at least 1000nits.

[WWAN]

Just a heads up to potential buyers, P1 and X1E 4k UHD model owners have been reporting on average 4 hours of actual battery life. 6.5 hour estimate appears quite unrealistic as the XPS 15 4k gets close to that number.

On a side note, missing LTE and the apparent screen ghosting really crushed my high hopes. Can't Lenovo get anything right these days.