Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Vs X1 Carbon Review: Which is Better?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon are similar laptops. They come with a powerful Intel Core i7-8650U processor, up to 16GB of RAM and NVIDIA GeForce MX150 GPU. In this review I will discuss which is better: the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon or the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme?

The “Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon” is a laptop that was released on the market in 2016. This laptop has an amazing design and it is perfect for those who are looking for a light-weight, powerful device. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Vs X1 Carbon Review: Which is Better? Read more in detail here: lenovo thinkpad x1 carbon.

Both the Lenovo Extreme X1 and the Lenovo X1 Carbon are comparable but not identical. The Lenovo ThinkPad Extreme X1 and X1 Carbon are compared in this article.

Here’s all you need to know about the differences between the Extreme X1 and the X1 Carbon.

Overview of the Lenovo ThinkPad Extreme X1 vs. X1 Carbon

Lenovo ThinkPad Extreme X1 – Pros & Cons

Pros

Outstanding Performance

Lightweight

It’s Simple To Upgrade

Excellent Construction

Cons

Higher-end Configurations are more expensive.

The Life of the Batteries of a 4K display is reduced.

Runs Hot

ThinkPad X1 Carbon from Lenovo – Pros & Cons

Pros

Exceptional Results

Slim & Lightweight

Long-Lasting Battery

Exceptional Construction

Cons

Higher-end Configurations are more expensive.

Upgrades are not possible.

Differences Between Extreme X1 And X1 Carbon

Configurations

The Lenovo Extreme X1 is called Extreme for a reason. The laptop has models packed with high-Performance processors. Lenovo provides options that have up to Intel Core i9 processors with dedicated GPUs.

The RAM may be increased to 64GB, and the SSD can be expanded to 2TB. This setup elevates it to one of the most powerful ThinkPad notebooks.

The Lenovo X1 Carbon, on the other hand, has low-power Intel processors. These are less powerful than the high-Performance processors in the Extreme X1.

Some alternatives include an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The X1 Carbon, on the other hand, lacks a dedicated graphics card. Instead, an Intel integrated graphics card is used.

Build Quality & Design

There aren’t many design distinctions between the two. Both have a similar appearance. They’re both the same color, and the Lenovo logo is in the same spot on each.

The top-left corner of the display lid and the bottom-right corner of the keyboard deck. If you look carefully, though, you will see a few numerical variations.

Lenovo ThinkPad Extreme X1 Review

First of all, the Extreme X1 is larger than the X1 Carbon. That’s because the Extreme X1 has a 15.6-inch display and the X1 Carbon has a 14-inch display.

And the carbon fibre pattern on the lid is more prominent on the Extreme X1 than the X1 Carbon.

Then there’s the port selection. The Extreme X1 doesn’t have a docking port which the X1 Carbon doesn’t lack.

The X1 Carbon also lacks an SD card reader and Ethernet port which the Extreme X1 has. Aside from that, both have the same number of ports.

For the build quality, the Extreme X1 and X1 Carbon use the same chassis material. A magnesium alloy and carbon fibre material with a soft touch.

Unfortunately, the Extreme X1 is a serious smudge and fingerprint magnet. You will also have a hard time cleaning it off.

The X1 Carbon also attracts fingerprints but not as much as the Extreme X1. Both chassis pass the Mil-STD 810G test and so are durable and are resistant to drops and falls.

Review of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon from Lenovo

The Extreme X1 is heavier and slightly thicker. It weighs 4.05 lbs (1.83 kg) and 0.72 inches thick. If the Extreme X1 were to be any thinner.

It would have struggled to keep its powerful hardware cool. The X1 Carbon places a greater emphasis on portability. It weighs roughly 2.4 pounds (1.08 kilograms) and is 0.6 inches thick.

Both are small and lightweight, making them simple to transport.

Both are built to a very high standard. Flex and warping are nearly non-existent as a result of this. The design, on the other hand, isn’t that different. Both have a similar outside appearance but vary on the inside.

Upgradeability

The laptops are both simple to open. You may now access the internal components by removing the screws.

In the Extreme X1, there are a lot of components that can be upgraded or replaced. The RAM is upgradeable up to 64GB.

There are two M.2 SSD slots, each of which can hold up to 1TB of data. The battery and Wi-Fi card may both be updated or replaced.

Lenovo Extreme X1 Teardown

However, once inside the X1 Carbon, there isn’t much you can do. The Wi-Fi card and RAM are soldered to the motherboard.

That is, assuming you get a device with 8GB of RAM. In the future, you won’t be able to improve it.

The battery also can’t be removed. The only upgradeable component is the SSD slot that can take up to 1TB. The Lenovo Extreme X1 provides more upgrade options than the X1 Carbon.

For the cooling system, the Extreme X1 makes use of two fans and two heat pipes that are shared between the CPU and GPU.

The cooling system is excellent, and the laptop does not often heat throttle while doing hard work. It will, however, continue to function at high temperatures.

The cooling system of the X1 Carbon is unique. It just has one fan and one heat pipe since it is not a high-Performance laptop.

Because of its small chassis, X1 Carbons with low-power CPUs – Intel Core i7 – may thermally throttle. Because there is insufficient ventilation.

Credit: Lenovo X1 Carbon Teardown mobiletechreview

Undervolting it will, at the very least, cease the thermal throttling and bring the high temperatures down to a manageable level.

Display

Both laptops have superb displays. But, the Lenovo Extreme X1 takes the cake.

Full HD (1920 x 1080) and 4K are the two display choices (3840 x 2160). The two possibilities may be further divided into two groups.

Under Full HD, there are two possibilities. A display with a brightness of 500 nits with HDR and a brightness of 300 nits with anti-glare. Color accuracy and viewing angles are above average.

There are two 4K alternatives as well. A 500 nit HDR anti-glare display and a 400 nit OLED multi-touch HDR display. All of the possibilities are superior than the OLED display.

It’s bright, offers wide viewing angles, and is very color accurate.

Lenovo ThinkPad Extreme X1

Only a few displays come close to matching it. The disadvantage is that, since it is a touchscreen, it has a glossy display with a lot of glare.

In addition, utilizing it in strong light will cause it to reflect. Furthermore, it consumes a significant amount of battery power.

Full HD, WQHD (2560 x 1440), and 4K are the three display choices available on the X1 Carbon. Out of all the choices, the 4K is the only one with a glossy display.

It also includes a touchscreen that is anti-glare. All of the displays are bright, have excellent color accuracy, and provide a wide range of viewing angles.

And, as usual, the 4K display outperforms them all in every category. On a side note, the X1 Carbon lacks an OLED display. If you were to select between the three possibilities, which would you choose?

The WQHD is going to be the finest. The resolution is excellent, with sharper details and wider viewing angles than Full HD. In comparison to the 4K option, it also consumes less battery power.

All in all, the Extreme X1 has better display and display options. But, that doesn’t mean the X1 Carbon’s display is not good. It is better than most laptops. However, in this case, it is not.

Keyboard & TouchPad

The chiclet keyboard is the same on both computers. A laptop with a decent amount of travel that is backlit and spill-resistant. The keys feature a good level of key resistance, which results in excellent tactile feedback.

It’s well-spaced since the keyboards are full-size. Furthermore, the keys are of a reasonable size.

Overall, both keyboards are excellent and have a more natural feel. This will appeal to programmers, typers, and other folks who type for lengthy periods of time.

Soft-touch coating is used on the touchpads. If your fingertips are dry, this helps the touchpad to seem smooth.

It also supports Windows Precision and gestures, making it more responsive and useful.

The Trackpoint in the centre of the keyboard is still present on Lenovo’s keyboards. Overall, both keyboards are fantastic and give a fantastic typing experience.

Performance

The Extreme X1 is a high-Performance version of the X1 Carbon. It has more powerful processors, can take up to 64GB RAM and has a dedicated graphics card.

So no matter how you look at it. The Extreme X1 wins hands down.

You’ll be able to run significantly more demanding apps than the X1 Carbon’s low-power CPUs. You’ll also be able to run many programs at the same time.

When it comes to gaming. The Extreme X1 has a dedicated NVIDIA GTX GPU.

The highest configured Extreme X1 has an Intel Core i9, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD and GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q. A powerful laptop that can tear through most applications. It is also the most expensive.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon from Lenovo

The X1 Carbon is pretty powerful but not up to the Extreme X1’s level. It can multitask and run demanding applications.

But, don’t expect levels close to that of the Extreme X1. The X1 Carbon doesn’t have a dedicated graphics card so you won’t be able to game.

However, the highest configured X1 Carbon (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM and 1 TB SSD) will be able to beat the Extreme X1 base model (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM and 256GB).

In gaming, however, this is not the case. However, this is to be anticipated.

Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad Extreme X1 is the more powerful laptop. It has high-Performance processors, dedicated graphics and RAM slots that can take up to 32GB each.

The X1 Carbon, on the other hand, includes low-power CPUs, a built-in graphics card, and soldered RAM that cannot be updated.

Life of the Batteries

The Life of the Batteries depends on the display option and the hardware you choose. The Full HD display is going to outlast the higher resolution displays.

For the Extreme X1 which has an 80 WHr battery will be able to last 8-9 hours under normal use. The X1 Carbon which has a 51WHr battery and low-power processor can last more than 10 hours.

If you happen to go with the 4K option the Life of the Batteries reduces to 6-7 hours for both laptops on medium brightness.

The 4K OLED option for the Extreme X1 will even have less Life of the Batteries about 4-5 hours. OLED display consumes a lot of battery power.

So it all depends on which display option you choose. But, if you want the best Life of the Batteries then the X1 Carbon with Full HD is the best choice. It has enough power to last close to half a day.

Lenovo ThinkPad Extreme X1 Vs X1 Carbon – Which One To Get?

Fortunately, this is a simple decision.

The Lenovo ThinkPad Extreme X1 is what you get when you put powerful hardware in the X1 Carbon.

A solid option if you are a power or heavy user. The Extreme X1 is powerful enough to handle 4K video and photo editing, 3D rendering, data analysis, etc. Anything that requires substantial computing Performance.

Updated at 00:41 UTC on March 12, 2022 / Affiliate links / Images via Amazon Product Advertising API

If you won’t be doing these things. Then the ThinkPad X1 Carbon from Lenovo is the best choice. You will own a lighter and slimmer device whiles enjoying the amazing Life of the Batteries it has. That is if you choose the Full HD option.

To sum it all up, the Extreme X1 is for those who want a powerful machine to handle demanding applications.

And the Extreme X1 is for those who value a laptop with a decent Performance that is slim and Lightweight.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon from Lenovo 9th Gen 9 Intel Core i7-1165G7, FHD Non-Touch Screen,16GB RAM, 2TB NVMe SSD, Backlit KYB Fingerprint Reader, Windows Pro

• Intel Core i7-1165G7 (4C / 8T, 2.8 / 4.7GHz, 12MB) processor
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics Integrated 14″ FHD IPS 400nits Anti-glare Display
• Storage: 2TB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe x4 NVMe; Memory: 16GB soldered memory
• Dimensions: 315 x 221.6 x 14.9 mm (WxDxH) (12.4 x 8.72 x 0.59 inches)
• Wifi-6 (Intel AX201 11ax), Bluetooth 5.1, Backlit Keyboard, Fingerprint Reader USB-C, Integrated Intel UHD Graphics Webcam with Microphone, Wifi-6 (Intel AX201 11ax),

Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Last update on 2022-03-10 at 23:42 /

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The “thinkpad x1 extreme gen 4” is a laptop that has been released by Lenovo. The laptop is available in two different versions: the regular X1 Carbon and the X1 Extreme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ThinkPad X1 Carbon worth it?

A: The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a highly capable and versatile laptop, with an excellent display. Its not nearly as powerful or stylish as some of the more expensive options out there though so it may be worth looking into those other laptops if youre looking for something that can do both work and play well.

Which series of ThinkPad is best?

A: The ThinkPad series is a long-running family of laptop computers. Lenovo produces two series of this, the L and T families. Neither are worse than the other, as they are very similar in terms of specifications and features; it comes down to personal preference for what you think looks best or suits your needs better.

Is X1 Extreme 2 worth it?

A: I recommend the X1 Extreme 2 to people who want a more affordable and reliable option. It is also good for those who do not have a lot of space on their desk, as it can be mounted using its articulating arm. The extreme 2 still offers exceptional performance at an attractive price point that many other gaming PCs cannot match.

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