New CPU, same problems: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga G8 convertible review

[Redaktion]

The ThinkPad X1 Yoga G8 has arrived with new and faster Intel Raptor Lake options. Unfortunately, it doesn't do much else to address the issues on last year's ThinkPad X1 Yoga G7.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/New-CPU-same-problems-Lenovo-ThinkPad-X1-Yoga-G8-convertible-review.726466.0.html

[n.]

in short, nothing to see here, move along, nothing to see.
p.s. there's an upside to this ridiculous fashion to make a 'new' model each year, when it's nothing more than just a (poorly) updated specs: previous years' models will be significantly discounted. Not that there's anything particularly attractive about last year's model. Or the one from 2 years ago. Or the one from 3 years ago. Or the one...

[NikoB]

Again, Allen has fake data on RAM - lpddr5 5200 physically cannot record at a speed of 93Gb / s - it has a theoretical limit - 5200 x 128 / 8 = 83Gb / s.

How many times have I asked the site editors to force the authors to post a real screenshot of the cache and memory test from AIDA64. Where you can see the speed of not only memory, but also L1 / L2 / L3 caches and their latency. Which is also extremely critical.

Again, I look at the results of measuring the contrast on a semi-matte IPS panel, which does not belong to the "Black IPS" class, which means that a contrast of 1800: 1+ is unrealistic. Again questions to the measurements of the author. As well as the same questions for the G7 version.

Looking at the results of the i7 1355U at supposedly PL1=13W (which is below the nominal 15W) and its performance in the CBR15 also raises questions, compared to other models at a larger PL1:

www.notebookcheck.net/Double-trouble-Lenovo-Yoga-Book-9i-2-in-1-Dual-Screen-OLED-convertible-review.720469.0.html

1130-1155 points in CBR15 at PL1 = 16W.

www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-Zenbook-S-13-OLED-2023-review-The-slimmest-OLED-ultrabook-worldwide-struggles-with-annoying-fans.711985.0.html

995-1035 points in CBR15 at PL1 = 17W.

And the main thing here:
notebookcheck.net/Core-i7-1355U-debut-Lenovo-Yoga-7-16IRL8-convertible-review.710233.0.html

1250-1275 points in CBR15 at PL1 = 25W! Which is almost 2 times more than in the subject of discussion!

I again make the assumption of completely fake data when testing the processor.

Against the background of low noise, despite the fact that supposedly the processor performance exceeds by as much as 15%, the exact same processor running almost twice as large PL1 = 25 Lenovo Yoga 7 16IRL8 and at the same time this yoga has dimensions of 16 "and at the same time the noise is much higher, there is a direct impression of deliberate juggling of the data.

Either the performance of this yoga is actually much lower in PL1 mode than that of Lenovo Yoga 7 16IRL8 or the PL1 data is incorrect, but then the noise data is also incorrect. Such low noise in a 14" case is excluded.

Like it or not, the juggling of data in the review is obvious from a variety of points.

I have more and more questions about the conscientiousness of the author and the reality of his reviews ...

[RobertJasiek]

Again, Allen has fake data on RAM - lpddr5 5200 physically cannot record at a speed of 93Gb / s - it has a theoretical limit - 5200 x 128 / 8 = 83Gb / s.

Let me try to understand: We have 5200 MT/s, per stick two channels each with 32b so both with 64b so two sticks have 128b, division by 8 to convert b to B but, if so, you make a typo and should write GB/s. When Allen writes 93342 MB/s, dividing by 1024 gives ~91.15 GB/s. Here, I think you make two mistakes: a) typo b instead B; b) you have divided by 1000 instead of 1024. Have I understood it correctly? So, after avoiding, what I think are, your mistakes, Allen has measured ~91.15 GB/s for AIDA64 / Memory Write, which is larger than the theoretical maximum ~83 GB/s and therefore proved to be Allen's measurement mistake. Is this what you are trying to say?

L1 / L2 / L3 caches and their latency. Which is also extremely critical.

Please explain!

[LL]

I really don't understand why a notebook with so many downsides can get a 90% grade, which is the same of the Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 14 G8 that got a very positive review?

[RobertJasiek]

NBC tests are mostly reasonable but NBC rating percentages are random numbers "justified" by calculation according to declaration. Ignore them!

[Benjamin Herzig]

I really don't understand why a notebook with so many downsides can get a 90% grade, which is the same of the Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 14 G8 that got a very positive review?

1. Pricing does not factor into the rating. This is a far more expensive device than the Yoga Pro 7, so the 90 % for the Yoga Pro 7 is a better result than the 90 % for this ThinkPad X1 Yoga

2. This device doesn't have that many (serious, deal breaking) downsides, it is still a very good laptop overall, just could have been even better in some regards

[NikoB]

How many wonderful discoveries this forum is still preparing for us. Now it turns out that you don't know elementary school arithmetic either.

93GBytes/s is over the theoretical limit of 83GBytes/s.

Other questions remained unanswered by the editors. How is all this possible without an obvious 100% data manipulation. I am 100% sure of this.

[ej]

I am surprised to see this Battery numbers again. I think it is misleading and should be tested with different screen options.
I have the 22 Model, although with 4k Oled Display, i7-1260p. If i get 4hs out of it, I'm lucky. And im just using it for Browser/ Office work.

[Luis]

Got a gen 8 with 32GB and the 1365U. Is my third x1 yoga.

- The keyboard has been downgraded, no longer the thinkpad experience. Is just a regular keyboard now.
- Even worse than that, the fan is in the back of the laptop and no longer in the sides, which means the laptop gets t0o hot if put it in your lap or in any surface prone to block the fan. I feel like even in perfect conditions it gets way more hot than older generations.
- As a bonus the stylus is now ridiculously little and has at least 2x less battery than before.

It amazes me that the people that took these terrible decisions got paid for it. Could be the perfect laptop by fixing some of the old little issues, and instead they destroyed it.

[novole]

Comments are really hateful.
If you were in for a 2-in-1 and compared hands on all the Business and High End Consumer devices from Dell, HP, Asus ..., you would state way different feedback.

The build quality, the hinges, the matte display option - these 3 make this device "unique" to all others. Its not like its doing really good, as its behind Apple by far, but its the best non-Apple device Ive had. And this includes exotic devices like Yoga Book 9i or Asus Zenbook Duo.

Whats an actuall misengineering here is the cooling capacity, and the vent direction. The device gets hot, and the two small fans become noticeable pretty early on. Despite knowing this already from other reviews, I decided for this device in 12/2024! because there was still nothing better even with Core 1 U Series announced to be replaced with Core 2 - which needed long into 2025 to be actually released and available.
Performance wise its not behind Core 1, only battery-wise - which a $99 Lenovo Power bank solves for way less than a $2500 Yoga Core 1 Series.

Sure, the update is nice with magnetic pen that is charged wireless, which has the nice benefit that the battery is a regular rectangular shape now rather than a cutout for the stylus, but actual real life every day application the small stylus is great to have as backup when your actual pens need to charge.

Another downside is: No Wifi7, and the module is soldered in place so you can not swap it which I hated as I already had a Wifi7 module in spare.

All in all, even in 12/2024, the mentioned downsides, a pricetag of $1700 for a 32GB build (they had 64GB for a short while too but only with the 1360P which is even worse in thermals), this was the best modell I could find after intense online research and multiple store visits + testing.

No regret!