The I reviewed the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12), I was blown away by Lenovo’s redesign, which transformed what was already one of the most legendary enterprise laptops of all time.
I certainly didn’t expect Lenovo to follow that redesign with further chassis changes. The new Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) Aura Edition is somehow thinner and lighter without compromising on a single element of the experience. It feels as durable and reliable as ever, the keyboard is as comfortable and tactile as ever, and you still get a healthy mixture of ports for a modern ultrabook.
Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) enables brand-new AI experiences, highlighted by Lenovo’s still-odd “Aura Edition” branding, and offers improved day-to-day performance and more reliable battery life. You even get a full-blown PCIe Gen5 SSD, making this one of the fastest laptops I’ve ever tested. An already impressive enterprise-grade laptop has seemingly improved across the board… So why isn’t my recommendation changing? Well, Lenovo isn’t the only company that made a better laptop this year, and the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is still weighed down by familiar weaknesses.
I’ve reviewed dozens and dozens of products for Windows Central, but laptops remain my bread and butter. I’m always using new hardware and putting it through my rigorous testing (and more casual everyday use) so I can give you my honest, thorough conclusions after weeks of use.
This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by Lenovo. Lenovo had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Pricing and specifications
- The ThinkPad X1 Carbon starts at around $2,500 at Lenovo.
- Even months after release, there are still very limited configuration options.
- Custom configs, haptic touchpads, cellular, and more aren’t available.
- Value rating: āāāĀ½
Reviewed configuration
ā¢ Price: $1,999 at B&H Photo
ā¢ Display: 14-inch OLED, 16:10 aspect ratio, 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800) resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 400nits max brightness, Dolby Vision & VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 support, Eyesafe support, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, non-touch, anti-reflective/anti-smudge coating
ā¢ CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (8 cores, 8 threads, up to 4.8GHz)
ā¢ GPU: Intel Arc 140V (Xe2, 8 cores, 16GB)
ā¢ NPU: Intel AI Boost (~47 TOPS)
ā¢ RAM: 32GB LPDDR5x @ 8,533MT/s (Soldered)
ā¢ Storage: 512GB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe Gen5 SSD
ā¢ Battery: 57Whr, 65W USB Type-C Rapid Charge support
ā¢ Dimensions: 312.8 x 214.8 x 8.1-14.4mm (12.31 x 8.45 x 0.32-0.56in)
ā¢ Weight: 986g (2.17lbs)
The latest ThinkPad X1 Carbon doesn’t reinvent the wheel, instead refining what came before with a thinner, lighter, and more portable design, as well as more powerful and efficient internals. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) Aura Edition technically starts at around $1,999 at B&H Photo if you can find the configuration I was sent to review in stock, but straight from Lenovo the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) actually starts at $2,519 at Lenovo right now. The only difference between those entry-level models is the amount of SSD storage (512GB for the former and 1TB for the latter).
Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a custom configurator for the ThinKPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) yet, and it’s not clear when it can be expected. This laptop has already been available for weeks at the time of writing, but the promised (more affordable) IPS LCD display alternatives, optional haptic touchpad, and integrated 5G cellular connectivity aren’t available. It stands to reason that this laptop, being Lenovo’s flagship enterprise machine, will eventually gain Intel vPro options, too, but no word on that either.
As always, you’re also paying a premium for a commercial PC. This is one of the best in the business, though, and the pricing isn’t as extreme as I’ve seen. Lenovo’s ThinkPads are also prone to steep discounts not too long after launching, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for those sales. Of course, those looking to buy in bulk for their business probably don’t need to worry about that.
In the box, you’ll find the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) Aura Edition laptop and a 65W USB Type-C charger with Lenovo’s Rapid Charge support. The packaging is plastic-free and up to 90% recycled, biobased, or sustainably sourced. This laptop is covered by Lenovo’s 1-year limited warranty.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Design and build quality
- The new ThinkPad X1 Carbon is somehow thinner and lighter than before.
- It’s the same durable, premium magnesium chassis with the same features.
- You also get the same port selection, with both T4 ports on one side.
- Design rating: āāāāā
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12) slightly broke my brain when I first unboxed it, and Lenovo went a step further with the latest generation. To begin, there are a lot of similarities here. The overall shape and profile of the X1 Carbon has remained mostly unchanged, with the laptop being constructed of magnesium (up to 90% recycled in the keyboard frame and bottom cover), carbon fiber (up to 3% recycled in the top frame), and plastic (up to 90% post-consumer recycled in places like the battery enclosure and power adapter).
The same wedge-shaped chassis design with its matte black coating, prominent “Communications Bar” on the lid, and iconic ThinkPad logo with its glowing “i” dot are all here again. You still get MIL-STD 810H durability standard certification and a spill-resistant keyboard. That expertly balanced hinge with one-handed opening returns, and everything looks familiar once you open the laptop. At first glance, it may be difficult to tell anything actually changed.
Oh, but it did. The new ThinkPad X1 Carbon is both tinner and lighter than its predecessor, so that physics-defying portability returns and is even more impressive than before. Now, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is just 14.4mm thick (as opposed to just under 15mm), and weighs merely 986g instead of 1.09kg. Those changes may not seem huge, but any reduction when you’re already so slim and insubstantial are immediately noticeable.
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Those design refinements also come with exactly zero compromises. The port selection is actually identical to last year’s X1 Carbon, in that you’re still getting two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports (with an LED charging indicator), two USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports (one with always-on charging), an HDMI 2.1 port for display output, a 3.5mm audio jack, a side-mounted power button with an LED indicator, and a Kensington Nano Security Slot. There was a Nano SIM slot on all models last year, but it wasn’t present on my configuration.
No, Thunderbolt 5 still isn’t here if you demand the utmost in future proofing, and both T4 ports are still aligned on the left side of the laptop. I’d really prefer splitting these ports on either side, to make charging the X1 Carbon or connecting docks more convenient. There’s also still no microSD card slot, either.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Display quality
- The ThinkPad X1 Carbon’s display is effectively unchanged.
- That means great performance and visual quality, but not best-in-class.
- There’s no dynamic refresh rate, and some may struggle with PWM flicker.
- Display rating: āāāāĀ½
Lenovo opted not to update the display on the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) in any way, which is actually disappointing in a few areas. Don’t misunderstand me, the 14-inch, 2.8K OLED panel in this laptop continues to be stunning a year later; there’s a reason so many premium laptops choose this display. However, Lenovo’s implementation is far from the best version I’ve seen.
This display is perfectly sharp, offers the same inky blacks and vibrant colors I’ve come to love, and boasts a beautifully smooth 120Hz refresh rate, which is difficult to give up once you’ve experienced it. Color accuracy is solid with 100% of the sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamuts, and you’re still getting respectable brightness with 400nits for standard content and 500nits for High Dynamic Range (HDR) content, as well as an incredibly low minimum brightness of less than 1nit. Dolby Vision is here once again, so this laptop is a fair choice if you consume a lot of HDR content (although the best HDR displays need to get a lot brighter than this).
| Setting | Brightness | Black | Contrast | White point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 0.9 | 0 | 0:1 | 5,200 (0.340, 0.364) |
| 25% | 25.4 | 0 | 0:1 | 6,400 (0.315, 0.331) |
| 50% | 77 | 0 | 0:1 | 6,300 (0.316, 0.332) |
| 75% | 198.8 | 0 | 0:1 | 6,300 (0.315, 0.332) |
| 100% | 412.9 | 0 | 0:1 | 6,400 (0.314, 0.332) |
You can see all of the information from my testing above. Purely considering the visual experience, it’s really hard to fault this display. However, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) still struggles with a strangely warm white balance at its lowest brightness levels (making everything appear yellow). There’s also still no dynamic refresh rate support, which means you’re locked to either 60Hz or 120Hz ā there’s no in between. A dynamic refresh rate can dramatically improve battery life over time and enhance gaming, but you’re out of luck here.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) does use pulse-width modulation (PWM) to manage brightness. To summarize, OLED displays can flicker at high rates to maintain brightness, especially at dimmer levels. However, this can cause eye strain, headaches, and more in those sensitive to the flickering, so the best OLED displays only use PWM at lower levels and do so at incredibly high rates (10,000-15,000Hz) to avoid this. I don’t have the equipment necessary to find exactly where the ThinkPad X1 Carbon falls on that spectrum, but from what I can discover this display uses PWM at higher brightness levels and lower refresh rates than the best, so those sensitive to PWM flickering should avoid this laptop. You can read more about PWM dimming and flickering from my colleague at AndroidCentral.com.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) Aura Edition’s display isn’t quite matte, but it is anti-reflective, anti-glare, and anti-smudge (not that you should be touching it, this is a non-touch screen). It does a good job combatting unwanted external lights, and that helps this laptop perform well in direct sunlight or well-lit rooms better than your average OLED laptop display.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Performance and thermals
- The X1 Carbon makes the move to Intel Core Ultra (Series 2).
- That means improved day-to-day performance, efficiency, and AI smarts.
- The new X1 Carbon does feel even smoother, but still lags behind others.
- Performance rating: āāāā
One of the greatest weaknesses of the last-gen X1 Carbon was how its performance lagged behind similarly equipped laptops. This generation, Lenovo has made the leap to Intel Core Ultra (Series 2), which has proven to be an excellent match for thin and light laptops looking to balance performance and efficiency. The gains are undeniable, but the overall narrative remains mostly unchanged.
With the 8-core Intel Core Ultra 7 258V under the hood, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) does feel very smooth and responsive. This is an Intel Evo laptop, after all, and part of Lenovo’s “Aura Edition” branding means the company worked with Intel to specially tune the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon for the latest Core Ultra chips. This is also one of the first laptops you can go buy with the latest and greatest SSD inside ā PCIe Gen 5 is a beast, with even the modest 512GB module in my review sample easily outperforming almost every laptop Windows Central has ever tested.
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If you just look at the benchmark results, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) may feel disappointing. After all, last year’s X1 Carbon was far from what I’d consider a powerhouse and was comfortably outpaced by other premium ultrabooks, and the new X1 Carbon actually underperforms on some tests, especially with multi-core performance. Honestly, though, it’s real-world performance that matters most, and Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) helps the Gen 13 X1 Carbon get a leg up over its predecessor.
This laptop is still very eager to spin up its fans at the slightest inconvenience, though, and often continues humming away even while asleep. These aren’t quite fans, either; the noise may be low-pitched, but you will know the fans are awake. At least they do their job, as I never observed the X1 Carbon getting too hot, and its performance remained acceptable even during long sessions. Overall, this machine feels as responsive and performant as a premium Windows laptop should, although you wouldn’t want to rely on it for heavy duty graphical or creative work.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon: AI and software
- Thanks to Intel’s new chips, the X1 Carbon is now a full-blown Copilot+ PC.
- This laptop also benefits from Lenovo’s Aura Edition AI features.
- Being an enterprise laptop, you get a clean build of Windows, too.
- Software rating: āāāāĀ½
Lenovo ThinkPads offer a consistent software experience powered by Windows 11. More specifically, the X1 Carbon (Gen 13) runs Windows 11 Pro with the additional security and remote management features that entails. Lenovo works to protect your laptop and all your data from end-to-end with its ThinkShield multi-level security platform, which is a valuable (and sometimes required) addition for many businesses. There are unfortunately no Intel vPro options for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon right now, if you need that additional layer of security and remote management, but that’s likely to arrive in the future alongside vPro-equipped Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) chipsets.
Enterprise features aside, the latest X1 Carbon takes advantage of the powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU) inside to enable Copilot+ PC features. Yes, that means a dedicated Copilot button on the keyboard. AI PCs still don’t feel particularly crucial for most people yet due to the lack of standout features, but the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is future-proofed for upcoming features and products like an AI-enhanced Windows Search, and having a capable NPU can be extremely helpful for whatever AI needs you may have.
Of course, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) also boasts the “Aura Edition” branding. That means support for a handful of Lenovo-created AI features like Smart Modes for managing your PC’s settings automatically, Smart Share to quickly transfer files between devices, and Smart Care to make all your customer service needs easier. Again, it doesn’t really mean much to most users, but the X1 Carbon runs a clean build of Windows, Lenovo Commercial Vantage is a capable software hub, and Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) means that, as AI becomes more important and useful to all of us, the X1 Carbon won’t be left behind.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Battery experience
- I criticized the X1 Carbon (Gen 12) for its lacklustre battery life.
- Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) does make the latest X1 Carbon longer lasting.
- It still dies long before the best, but the X1 Carbon is more consistent now.
- Battery rating: āāāā
One of the corners Lenovo had to at least shave in order to achieve this ultra-portable build was battery size. 57Whr is a bit on the small side for a modern 14-inch Windows laptop, and a power hungry 2.8K OLED display without even a dynamic refresh rate takes a toll on that modest battery. Last year’s X1 Carbon struggled to last a day of casual work because of that combination, but this year things are looking better.
Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) brings massive efficiency gains over the first generation, resulting in some of the best endurance we’ve seen in laptops short of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series of ARM chips. To be upfront, though, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) doesn’t quite earn a place among those battery champions.
In the Procyon benchmark suite, I simulated an hour of general Microsoft Office usage, and then looped an HD video for another hour with the Balanced performance profile, keyboard backlighting, 50% speaker volume, 200nits display brightness, and a 120Hz refresh rate (you shouldn’t have to disable your premium laptop’s features just to obtain reasonable battery life). The ThinkPad X1 Carbon drained 14% of its battery in the former test and 13% of its battery in the latter. To put that in perspective, we’re now seeing Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm laptops drain 6-9% of their battery during these one-hour tests.
I also ran a Windows Battery Report after weeks of consistent usage (I even took this laptop to CES 2025), and the story was similar ā my usage showed I could expect an average of 5 1/2 hours of real-world, screen-on usage versus the 4 3/4 hours the Gen 12 X1 Carbon promised. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) absolutely lasts longer and does so more consistently than its predecessor, but it still doesn’t catch up to what high-end 14-inch laptops are achieving these days.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Keyboard and touchpad
- ThinkPads are infamous for their keyboards, including the X1 Carbon.
- In addition to an excellent keyboard, you get the legendary TrackPoint.
- The X1 Carbon is also supposed to have a haptic touchpad option.
Lenovo and HP both make some of my favorite laptop keyboards, and I’m not shy about admitting that. Lenovo’s enterprise brands and consumer brands are actually handled by separate teams, too, and on either end the keyboards are consistently great. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) has to have one of the best keyboards if it’s to be considered one of the best enterprise laptops, and it does.
A comfortable and familiar layout, spacious keys with ample spacing, deep travel with a rapid reset, and satisfyingly tactile feedback all come together to build an incredible typing experience. You also get two levels of white LED backlighting that looks decently consistent and offers solid visibility. I still wish holding down the “Fn” key would highlight actionable buttons like on Lenovo’s consumer laptops, but the X1 Carbon is excellent all around.
The glass, Microsoft Precision touchpad is decent, too, but it’s on the small side because of the three physical buttons that integrate with the iconic TrackPoint. I personally don’t care much for the TrackPoint, but there is a small group of very passionate users that require it. Of course, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is supposed to have a variant with a haptic touchpad from Sensel, but my review sample doesn’t boast that, and it doesn’t seem to be available in the United States at time of writing. That’s a real shame.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Other hardware
- The X1 Carbon gives you plenty of security and privacy options.
- Wireless connectivity is also future proofed, and there’s a 5G option.
- The front-facing camera is just okay, though, as are the speakers.
- Other hardware rating: āāāā
As an enterprise laptop centered around both security and portability, you better believe the X1 Carbon is loaded with relevant features. Windows Hello biometric authentication is here courtesy of the 1080p front-facing camera with an IR sensor for facial recognition and a fingerprint sensor embedded in the keyboard deck. There’s a physical privacy shutter for that webcam, as well as a Kensington Nano Security Slot to ensure your X1 Carbon doesn’t go anywhere without permission.
Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) brings Wi-Fi 7 support, which is great to see; I did encounter an issue with the X1 Carbon refusing to properly connect to the internet even when it showed as being connected on a handful of occasions, though. Bluetooth is still on version 5.3 rather than 5.4, but that that won’t make a difference for any but the most security-conscious. Again, cellular connectivity should be an option at some point, but it’s not available now and there’s no Nano SIM slot on my unit.
Jumping quickly back to the aforementioned camera, it’s decent. The FHD sensor struggles to retain detail and noise is quickly introduced in all but the best lighting, but it at least tends to perform well with white balance and exposure. The quad-microphone array, enhanced by Dolby Voice, is above average for a laptop. Finally, there are dual speakers hidden below the keyboard and supported by Dolby Atmos; the speakers get louder than expected and sound decent enough, but sound uncomfortably metallic, begin to peak, and lose detail at higher volumes. Good for video conferencing, not what I’d choose to use for music or other media consumption.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Also consider
ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Score card
| Attribute | Rating & notes |
|---|---|
| Value | 3.5/5 ā Enterprise laptops are rarely good value, but you can at least count on the X1 Carbon to go on sale regularly. |
| Design | 5/5 ā One of the most portable laptops in the business is now even thinner and lighter, without sacrificing any ports or features. |
| Display | 4.5/5 ā A great OLED display is held back by the lack of a dynamic refresh rate and the potential for PWM flickering to cause eye strain. |
| Performance | 4/5 ā Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) performs great here, but the X1 Carbon is still on the lower end in this category (and it can be loud). |
| Software | 4.5/5 ā A new chipset enables Copilot+ PC and other AI features on top of this clean, secure build of Windows 11. |
| Battery | 4/5 ā A more efficient chipset helps squeeze more life out of this battery, but the X1 Carbon’s power-hungry display takes its toll. |
| Other hardware | 4/5 ā An excellent keyboard, as well as great security and privacy features, are slightly offset by an average front-facing webcam and speakers. |
| Overall | 4/5 ā The X1 Carbon is more refined and mobile than ever before, and is undoubtedly better this year… But that doesn’t mean last year’s weaknesses were addressed. |
ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Final thoughts
You should buy this if …
ā You want the lightest enterprise-grade laptop you can buy
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is synonymous with “portable,” and Gen 13 is thinner and lighter than ever. It’s almost unbelievable how easy this laptop is to move around, and it’s built well enough that you don’t worry when you throw it around.
ā You absolutely need the TrackPoint
You may be few, but you are mighty. Those who only buy Lenovo ThinkPad laptops because they require the exclusive TrackPoint in the middle of their keyboard will be satiated by the X1 Carbon, which sits at the top of the premium ThinkPad pile.
You should not buy this if …
āYou need true all-day battery life from your laptop
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is better than ever with the latest generation, and that includes endurance. This laptop lasts longer and does more with more consistency than before, but it still falls well short of the longest-lasting laptops you can buy in this category.
I truly love the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Its design is an eccentric blend of the decades-old and instantly familiar industrial ruggedness of Lenovo’s matte black enterprise fleet and an impossibly lightweight construction that still boasts industry-leading durability. In some ways it’s a dreadfully boring laptop like the rest of the ThinkPad family, and in others this is one of the most exciting devices in Lenovo’s entire lineup. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) continues to push that vibe in the best possible way.
It takes the redesigned foundation of last year’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon (design language, display, ports, and all) and makes it thinner, lighter, smarter, faster, and longer lasting. The improvements are mostly slight in every category, but it adds up to keep the ThinkPad X1 Carbon a competitive, secure, and ultra-portable enterprise monster for another year. The latest X1 Carbon still lags behind its closest competitors in terms of raw performance and battery life, though, and Lenovo sure takes its time rolling out more configuration options that would make this laptop even better.
If the number one priority for you when considering a new laptop is “portability” (and you also put “security” and “keyboard excellence” high on that list), then the newest ThinkPad X1 Carbon is an impressive machine. You can pick up the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) Aura Edition from $2519 at Lenovo right now, just remember that more options are on the way and these devices have a tendency to go on sale.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) Aura Edition
Those who desire the most mobile, most secure, and most reliable laptop for their needs will be well served by the latest ThinkPad X1 Carbon, which continues a legendary line with an even thinner and lighter design that is faster, smarter, and lasts longer on a charge. It’s still not a perfect device and it’s costly without a sale, but it’s hard to argue with a full-featured laptop that weighs less than a single kilogram.
