The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon has been one among our perfect industry laptops for generations. We have been excited for the primary Thinkpad X1 Nano as it promised X1 Carbon efficiency in a smaller 13-inch body. Whilst this didn’t all the time finally end up the case, we did very much benefit from the Nano as a extra transportable selection.
However now that we’ve examined and reviewed the most recent iteration of each laptops, simply how neatly do they dangle up towards each and every different within the present technology?
Going into this struggle of the ThinkPads, I anticipated the bigger X1 Carbon to return out on peak, however I used to be shocked to seek out simply how shut the 2 in reality are in an immediate head-to-head.
Design
Each the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 and X1 Nano Gen 3 function the usual ThinkPad design with a matte-black duvet, ThinkPad emblem stamped into the top-left nook of the lid, and TrackPoint level stick in the midst of the keyboard.
The X1 Carbon does function a carbon fiber lid whilst the chassis at the X1 Nano is recycled magnesium. However that doesn’t in reality exchange the design. In truth, each laptops are just about an identical apart from for dimensions. The X1 Carbon is a little bit thicker at 0.6 inches whilst the X1 Nano is 0.58 inches. Each additionally weigh simply over 2 kilos, however the X1 Nano wins at 2.2 kilos in comparison to the X1 Carbon’s 2.5. This is sensible because the X1 Carbon is a 14-inch pc whilst the X1 Nano has a 13-inch show.
That stated, we’re speaking minor variations in design and dimension, so it in reality comes all the way down to how a lot display actual property you want.
Winner: Draw
Ports
This is a straightforward victory for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 because it accommodates extra than simply two ports just like the X1 Nano Gen 3.
The X1 Carbon homes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB type-A port, and an HDMI 2.0 port at the left facet with a Kensington lock slot, every other USB type-A port, and a headset jack. The deficient X1 Nano handiest has the 2 Thunderbolt› 4 ports.
The loss of ports has been our greatest grievance with the X1 Nano since its creation. So in the event you do come to a decision to head for the smaller X1, you’ll need to be sure you get the perfect pc docking station or USB Sort-C hub.
Winner: ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
Show
Each laptops have a 16:10 show, regardless that the X1 Carbon Gen 11 will give you a little bit extra display to your cash with a 14-inch panel over the X1 Nano Gen 3’s 13.3-inch panel.
Unusually, with regards to colour accuracy the X1 Nano ratings a slim victory. Our lab reported 100% protection at the sRGB area, 70.9% protection at the DCI-P3 colour area, with a Delta-E accuracy of 0.23. The X1 Carbon handiest got here in at 98% sRGB protection, 69.8% protection at the DCI-P3 colour area, and a Delta-E accuracy of 0.22. Granted those ratings are inside same old deviation of one another which makes them just about indistinguishable. They’re additionally each neatly beneath the top class pc reasonable of 94% DCI-P3 protection which isn’t excellent.
The one primary distinction on this class is show brightness. The X1 Carbon has a disappointing max brightness of 303 nits whilst the X1 Nano supplies a blazing 452 nits.
Winner: ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 3
Efficiency
Each the X1 Carbon and the X1 Nano function 16GB of RAM and a thirteenth gen Intel Core i7 CPU. The variation is that the X1 Carbon Gen 11 options an i7-1355U whilst the X1 Nano Gen 3 went for the i7-1360P.
On Geekbench 6, the Nano got here out forward with a multi-core ranking of 10,004, whilst the X1 Carbon averaged 8,979. Their unmarried core ratings have been just about an identical at 2,418 for the X1 Nano and a couple of,427 for the X1 Carbon.
For our Handbrake video encoding take a look at which converts a 4K model of “Tears of Metal” to 1080p 30 FPS, the X1 Carbon was once a deal sooner than the Nano. The X1 Carbon finished the take a look at with Handbrake 1.6 at a mean of 9:08 whilst the Nano got here in over a minute in the back of at 10:13.
On our Document Switch Check, the X1 Carbon was once a ways sooner, copying our 25GB multimedia folder in simply 15.8 seconds for a switch fee of one,703.9 MBps. The X1 Nano took a little bit longer to replicate the folder, coming in at 21.5 seconds with a switch fee of one,249.5.
Whilst the X1 Nano was once a little bit forward on Geekbench, with regards to our different efficiency metrics the X1 Carbon is considerably sooner than the Nano.
Winner: X1 Carbon Gen 11
Graphics
Each ThinkPads include Intel’s Iris Xe Graphics built-in GPU so those ratings are beautiful darn shut.
On 3DMark’s Fireplace Strike benchmark, the X1 Carbon lagged a little bit in the back of the X1 Nano, with ratings of five,070 and 5,147 respectively. So far as 3DMark is going, then again, those ratings aren’t that a ways aside, however the Nano did fee a little bit upper for gaming, which is notable.
On our “Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Collecting Hurricane” benchmark, the X1 Nano Gen 3 got here out forward once more with a mean FPS of 21.2, whilst the X1 Carbon controlled to scrape in combination a 19.2 FPS reasonable.
Winner: X1 Nano Gen 3
Battery existence
Battery existence is in all probability the defining distinction between those two just about an identical ThinkPads. The X1 Carbon Gen 11 lasted considerably longer on our 150-nit internet browsing battery take a look at. The X1 Carbon averaged an outstanding 13 hours and 45 mins whilst the X1 Nano Gen 3 lasted handiest 8 hours and 28 mins compared.
On this class no less than the winner is obvious via a large margin.
Winner: X1 Carbon Gen 11
Base line
Relying in your wishes chances are you’ll favor the smaller X1 Nano Gen 3, however for the common person some great benefits of the X1 Carbon Gen 11 make it the transparent winner. In spite of everything, outdoor of a slight distinction in show high quality and brightness, the X1 Carbon is just about as transportable at 0.6 inches thick and a couple of.5 kilos whilst additionally boasting higher efficiency and battery existence.
Winner: X1 Carbon Gen 11
Allow 48h for review and removal.