A few of the Lenovo ThinkPad laptops, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is surely at the maximum well known fashions. The flagship of the collection since 2012, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11 is already the 11th era of this ultrabook-type instrument, which objectives the top-end of the undertaking marketplace – it is a instrument corporations will purchase for managers and CEOs.
We already reviewed the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 in a quite common variant with a U15 processor and WUXGA display screen. Lately, we’re trying out a a lot more unusual type variation of this instrument, which incorporates the among the finest Raptor Lake P28 CPU, the utmost quantity of RAM for this type in addition to the most costly display screen choice. That is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11 in its most configuration.
We now have already reviewed the design of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11 intimately sooner than. Briefly, the design stays unchanged when put next with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G9 and X1 Carbon G10 which got here sooner than. This is a top quality instrument with an overly light-weight and compact chassis made from carbon fiber and magnesium, clad within the standard rubberized ThinkPad-black paint. The one actual fault this design has is that the paint is liable to having a look smudged temporarily. Additionally, the display screen bezel is a bit of large for a high-end instrument in 2023, however that is most probably because of the carried-over design from 2021.
One particular function of the OLED model of the X1 Carbon G11 is the carbon-weave development at the lid. That is purely a beauty function even though, the lid is made from carbon fiber for all fashions of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon.
Connectivity is sort of an identical with our first evaluation type. The X1 Carbon has plentiful ports and safety features, regardless of the small dimension and occasional weight. The one alternate: This type of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2023 has a 5G/LTE modem ex-factory, the Fibocom FM350-GL. There also are fashions with simply 4G/LTE or permutations and not using a LTE in any respect, like our first evaluation unit of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11.
Getting access to the internals is straightforward, because the consumer best has to loosen 5 captive screws and a couple of clips on the again edge, which might be simple to open. Sadly, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 isn’t probably the most modular instrument. RAM and WiFi are soldered. The SSD is a M.2 2280 module and there is also the modular M.2 2242 WWAN card, which on this type is a 5G/LTE module. The interior battery is simply screwed in, now not glued, so it’s simple to switch must it move dangerous.
This unit accommodates the similar input-devices as our first evaluation pattern. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11 features a very at ease ThinkPad keyboard with the standard moderately concave, smile-shaped keys with a commute distance of one.5 mm. This backlit keyboard is a pleasure to make use of with its comfortable but nonetheless company typing really feel and smart structure with grouped F keys and arrow keys in an inverted T form – even though customers new to ThinkPads would possibly wish to switch across the FN and Ctrl keys, which might be organized the wrong way round on maximum different laptops.
We will be able to in a similar fashion reward the mouse substitute, the vintage mixture of touchpad and TrackPoint known as “Ultranav”. Each enter instruments are of prime quality and supply two simple techniques to control the mouse pointer, with the TrackPoint being very helpful for dragging and losing gadgets in addition to the usage of the instrument in tight areas like airplanes and with gloves on. It must be famous even though that the inclusion of the TrackPoint does lead to a smallish touchpad, because the devoted mouse buttons to be used with the TrackPoint underneath the keyboard take some house up that the touchpad would occupy on different instruments.
With this ’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11, Lenovo didn’t alternate an excessive amount of in regards to the to be had number of display screen choices. Facet ratio (16:10) and display screen dimension (14 inches) remained the similar, the one alternate is the discontinuation of the 4K (3,840 x 2,400) IPS choice that the previous ThinkPad X1 Carbon G10 had.
Our evaluation type options the top-end show choice, a 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800) OLED display screen. This panel is made via Samsung and it’s moderately brighter than the an identical Samsung OLED panel we examined in final years Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 thirtieth Anniversary Version. We measured a median brightness of round 430 cd/m² as a substitute of 400 cd/m² like on final years type. Be aware that we did the measurements in SDR mode, the display screen could possibly reach a moderately higher top brightness in HDR mode. When compared with the contest, the OLED panel loses in opposition to Dell’s and HP’s WQXGA IPS panels of their respective Latitude and EliteBook laptops with regards to display screen brightness. It does have the transparent edge even though with regards to reaction instances in addition to the black worth and due to this fact, distinction. Right here, no IPS display screen can compete.
The colours of this display screen are laborious to comprise, as this can be a extensive gamut type. Because of this colours don’t seem to be becoming neatly with the smaller sRGB colour gamut ex manufacturing unit, and a calibration can’t alternate this. For the longer term, we would like that Lenovo would come with separate colour profiles for the other colour gamuts so customers can pick out their most well-liked mode.
Colour gamut protection is superb, because the display screen covers each the sRGB and DCI P3 gamut utterly. Even the massive AdobeRGB colour house has a really perfect protection of about 97 %.
Outside, the semi-matte/shiny nature of the display screen leads to some faint reflections. The excessive distinction and excellent brightness assists in keeping the display screen usable in brilliant environments.
As maximum OLED monitors, the only within the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11 makes use of Pulse Width Modulation for regulating the display screen brightness. With a frequency of 360 Hz on all ranges of brightness excluding the bottom brightness stage (the place it is only 90 Hz), PWM delicate customers must no doubt keep away from this display screen.
Lenovo gives a complete of 7 CPUs within the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11, they all from Intel, as all the time for the ThinkPad X1 line. To be had are the Intel Core i5-1335U, the i5-1345U, the i7-1355U, the i7-1365U, the i5-1340P, the i7-1360P in addition to the i7-1370P. The P28-CPUs don’t seem to be to be had for standard consumers and restricted to important company accounts, excluding for the i7-1370P.
Selection of GPU is dependent upon the CPU. The i7 CPUs have the extra tough Iris Xe with 96 Execution Gadgets (EUs) whilst the i5s have a lesser model of that iGPU with simply 80 EUs. RAM is all the time soldered on-board, and Lenovo gives both 16, 32 or 64 GB of LPDDR5-6000/LPDDR5X-6400 reminiscence, relying at the type. 64 GB of RAM are unique to configurations with the i7-1370P, similar to the one who we’re reviewing. In contrast to the reminiscence, garage isn’t soldered, as there’s a unmarried M.2 2280 SSD with as much as 2 TB of capability ex manufacturing unit.
Lenovo makes use of the Home windows settings app as a substitute of a proprietary option to set the power profiles. On this case, there are 3 profiles that keep watch over the ability limits of the CPU and thus the ability intake of the machine in addition to fan noise and warmth output. The Energy Restrict 1 (PL1) is the ability intake underneath sustained load, with the Energy Restrict 2 describing the non permanent spice up functionality:
- Very best battery existence: PL1 10 W / PL2 10 W
- Balanced: PL1 13 W / PL2 65 W
- Very best functionality: PL1 15 W / PL2 65 W
The Intel Core i7-1370P represents the cream of the crop of the Raptor Lake P28 CPUs. It has six large P cores and 8 small E cores, which means that it has a complete of 14 bodily cores – greater than every other P28 or U15 CPU. With hyperthreading this processor has 20 threads and the clock charges vary from 1.9 GHz (P cores) / 1.4 GHz (E cores) to five.2 GHz (P cores) / 3.9 GHz (E cores). For detailed comparisons with different processors, check with our CPU comparability record.
It temporarily become obvious that this processor is an excessive amount of to care for for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11. With the PL2 of as much as 65 W, the height multicore-performance is superb and now not very some distance from the HP EliteBook 845 G10 with the AMD Ryzen 9 Professional 7940HS, on par with the AMD Ryzen 7 Professional 7840U. On the other hand, the ability intake temporarily collapses to only 15 W. Underneath sustained multicore-load, this model of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11 is even slower than the X1 Carbon with the i7-1365U, regardless of the a lot upper core depend. Now not even the one core functionality is that groovy – this type must now not be purchased with the expectancy to get nice CPU functionality.
There is not any CPU functionality throttling when the instrument runs on battery energy.
This unit is the primary Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon we’ve ever examined with 64 GB of RAM – making this a super selection for a extremely cell VM workhorse. In customary utilization, which means RAM won’t ever be sparse, so customers can open as many browser tabs as they would like.
In the case of machine functionality benchmarks, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11 plays neatly, taking the lead in Crossmark. The machine was once very fluid in on a regular basis use.
The excessive numbers within the LatencyMon take a look at imply that this instrument could have problems when modifying audio and video in actual time. We additionally noticed various dropped frames within the Youtube take a look at. Lenovo may resolve this drawback with a driving force replace.
This unit of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11 has the utmost quantity of garage in the case of what Lenovo sells, because it accommodates a 2 TB SSD. This SSD is made via Western Virtual and it plays neatly in our benchmark trying out. even though it must be famous that its functionality fluctuates underneath sustained load.
As probably the most tough P28 CPU is used right here, or a minimum of probably the most tough on paper, this evaluation instrument naturally makes use of the quicker variant of the Iris Xe with 96 EUs. There may be plentiful of RAM to strengthen the GPU and speedy LPDDR5X RAM at that, operating in quad channel mode. On the other hand, the GPU functionality remains to be moderately disappointing and the iGPU isn’t any quicker than the opposite Intel iGPU within the comparability. The AMD iGPUs are a lot better. Nonetheless, for fundamental duties and previous video games, this GPU can also be speedy sufficient.
Unusually, the fan noise for this model of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11 is moderately lessened when put next with the opposite evaluation instrument with the Core i7-1365U. That is most likely because of Lenovo updating the firmware since our first evaluation. When compared with the HP EliteBook 845 G10 and the Dell Latitude 9440, the fan noise of the X1 Carbon Gen 11 is analogous, if now not moderately much less. It tops out at 41 dB(a), obviously noticeable, however now not but stressful.
We didn’t hit upon any coil whine right here.
With the quite low energy restrict 1 even in perfect functionality mode, it’s not unexpected that the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 does now not get extraordinarily scorching. The utmost temperature we hit upon throughout the strain take a look at : 43.8 levels Celsius / 111 F. Warmth is targeted across the higher left nook of the chassis. The essential palmrest house all the time remains cool throughout operation.
All through the CPU + GPU rigidity take a look at, the CPU will get throttled moderately, as CPU energy intake decreases to only 13.5 W.
Definitely, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11 has some of the perfect speaker techniques amongst ThinkPads, with its two up-firing tweeters and two down-firing woofers. The sound that this quad speaker machine produces is pleasantly loud and entire, because it even gives some base. Total even though, the Dell Latitude 9440 has a moderately higher speaker association. Nonetheless, being attentive to song is no doubt potential with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon.
With the exception of for the standby or close down state, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 by no means consumes not up to 7 W. This can be a excessive energy intake when idling is one house the place it obviously lags at the back of the contest – and at the back of the IPS display screen supplied first evaluation pattern of the X1 Carbon G11 that we examined.
The charger of the Lenovo ThinkPad pc can ship as much as 65 W. The utmost intake of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon exceeds that worth with 66 W, however that is simply the height intake, it temporarily decreases. Customers is not going to have to fret in regards to the battery discharging whilst the instrument is in use.
Unsurprisingly, the battery existence that Lenovo squeezes out of the 57 Wh battery isn’t nice. This instrument is simply too inefficient, a present of the OLED display screen and i7-1370P CPU. Nonetheless, an development can also be famous, because the battery lifetime of 6.5 hours within the WiFi take a look at (150 cd/m²) remains to be a notable development when put next with the additionally OLED supplied predecessor ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 thirtieth Anniversary Version. Customers who need the utmost quantity of battery existence must no doubt use this instrument with compelled darkish mode enabled within the browser, because the battery existence lasted two hours longer throughout the WiFi take a look at (max brightness) with darkish mode enabled when put next with the common take a look at.
This model of Lenovo’s flagship ThinkPad, the maxed out configuration of the X1 Carbon G11, is an overly extraordinary instrument. It has a couple of key promoting issues which make it an overly robust choice for individuals who want the ones options. On the similar time, it’s no doubt a unsuitable, unbalanced product in a couple of different ways.
First the nice: The combo of the very light-weight and compact chassis of the X1 Carbon, its at ease enter instruments and copious safety and connectivity choices with the extra options of 5G, a prime quality OLED panel and 64 GB of RAM no doubt has its deserves. Particularly if you’re taking the huge quantity of reminiscence together with the low weight, this configuration of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 gives one thing lovely distinctive in the marketplace, as many ultramobile laptops are nonetheless restricted to a decrease quantity of RAM like 32 GB. For positive RAM heavy work-loads, this type is a smart selection.
The place it falls aside is on the processor: The 64 GB of RAM are bundled with the Core i7-1370P, however this CPU is just too a lot for this narrow pc to chill. Upload to this the truth that Lenovo has diminished the fan velocity and tool limits with firmware updates – which fortunately lowers the chassis temperatures that have been toasty sooner than – and also you get a in point of fact sub-par functionality underneath sustained load. For lengthy rendering duties, this type isn’t neatly suited. Unfortunately, you need to purchase this CPU if you need 64 GB of RAM.
The similar isn’t true for the OLED display screen, which does supply a really perfect display screen high quality, however significantly cuts down the battery existence. A minimum of on this case, different monitors are to be had to select, so you’ll be able to get the combo of a excellent battery existence and 64 GB of RAM if you purchase this type with the low energy IPS display screen as a substitute of the OLED panel.
Low weight and 64 GB of RAM make for a really perfect function mixture for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 – even though the lackluster CPU makes this instrument now not appropriate for CPU heavy workloads.
If you need 64 GB of RAM, you’ll be able to additionally purchase the HP EliteBook 845 G10. Whilst this instrument does be offering a a lot better CPU functionality with its two RAM slots, it does now not fit the low weight of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon in any respect. The similar is correct for the Dell Latitude 9440, which additionally has a worse keyboard than the HP or Lenovo industry laptops. It does be offering convertible options even though, which neither of the opposite two instruments have.
The examined type is a unique configuration of the German Lenovo training program. It is just to be had for college students and academics and prices €2,750. If configured to compare this type in specifications, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11 prices kind of $2,550 within the Lenovo US retailer. Amazon gives a an identical configuration with 32 GB of RAM for $2,500.
Allow 48h for review and removal.