Step apart, previous boy. The ThinkPad X9-14 Charisma Version is making me put out of your mind all about the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, essentially the most famend enterprise pc for over a decade. In fact, Lenovo isn’t taking out the X1 Carbon, however the X9 sequence definitely turns out like the corporate’s experimental mission for a similar top class class. It’s no longer easiest, however I love the place Lenovo goes with it.
A lot love has been packed into the X9-14’s impressively ultraportable design, together with a surprising 14-inch OLED display, robust audio system, lengthy battery lifestyles and cast efficiency for informal enterprise customers. The issue is that it prices a corpulent $1,283 for low-end specifications, it doesn’t include a USB Sort-A port and it’s failing the legacy of superb ThinkPad keyboards.
That doesn’t prevent the ThinkPad X9-14 Charisma Version from doing the most productive with what it’s were given, and it’s were given so much.
Lenovo / Engadget
The ThinkPad X9-14 Charisma Version is Lenovo’s latest enterprise pc gunning for the X1 Carbon’s throne with its ultraportable design, shocking show, and lengthy battery lifestyles. However a comfortable keyboard and loss of USB-A port cling it again.
- Graceful, ultraportable design
- Stunning OLED display
- Neatly-rounded audio system
- Cast efficiency for informal use
- Lengthy battery lifestyles
- No USB Sort-A port
- Comfortable keyboard
- Dear for the specifications
Lookin’ graceful and able for trip
I’ve at all times been keen on daring, colourful laptops, however I remember that in a enterprise atmosphere you’d wish to mix in. The ThinkPad X9-14, on the other hand, manages to take action in taste — it received’t draw your coworkers in from around the room, however you’ll listen a just right ol’ “ooo” after they get a more in-depth appearance. The darkish grey aluminum body seems to be adore it used to be carved out of an area rock after which blasted with sand (or oxide, each give that sparkly grainy appearance). In fact, there’s the enduring ThinkPad emblem within the height left nook of the lid with a crimson LED, however there’s additionally a X9-14 emblem on the very height, which sits on a rectangular island giving machine-look vibes.
The inner sports activities extra of the similar minimalist design, with my favourite visible aesthetic being the keys. It looks as if somebody carved away the ground of every one so as to add a little bit of aptitude, and I’m all about it. And when you’re no longer keen on bezels, they soak up little or no room at the show. There’s a 4K webcam at the lip, which you’ll disable with the F9 button whilst you’re out of conferences. I’d do it in conferences too, on account of its deficient video high quality — my options had been fuzzy and my face used to be crimson.
The ThinkPad X9-14’s chassis maintains a remarkably skinny 0.26-inch profile up till you get to the ports, the place it expands to a neat 0.68-inch block that still holds the enthusiasts. There’s most effective 4 ports, however lots of the necessities are lined, together with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI slot and a headphone jack. The essential leave out is the loss of a USB Sort-A port, which the 15-inch style helps.
Regardless of that downside, the X9-14’s skinny body mixed with its 2.8-pound chassis make for an exceptionally ultraportable enterprise pc that received’t be a ache to drag out at a TSA checkpoint.
Lovely at the eyes, song to my ears
Not anything will make me gush greater than a lovely OLED display, and the ThinkPad X9-14 had me blushing like a purple Starburst. In my revel in, OLED panels are much less straining at the eyes (even though this subject is ), however I choose them once I’m operating all day. Even whilst you’re all achieved with your corporation, you received’t be capable of pull clear of this 14-inch display with its 2,880 x 1,800 solution. That’s sharp sufficient to seize every strand of hair for your favourite hairy Disney sidekick. And whether or not you’re scrolling thru unending rows of knowledge for your spreadsheets or making your method thru your indie-game library, the X9’s 120Hz refresh price will allow smoother visuals than the common enterprise pc. The only factor I hate, despite the fact that, is the rounded edges as it cuts off one of the crucial visuals.
I watched an episode of Steven Universe, which is iconic for its pastel colour palette, and my eyes nearly swam within the crystal blue ocean of Seashore Town. The discussion sounded a little bit quiet, however tinkering with the Dolby Atmos settings gave it the spice up it wanted.
I couldn’t prevent myself from leaping right into a fit of Surprise Competitors to stay my weekly problem streak operating, and the ThinkPad’s OLED allowed me to soak in the entire recreation’s vibrant colours. I attempted out Phoenix for the primary time and blasted enemies along with her cosmic flames, growing a visible spectacle of orange and yellow. The cacophony of explosions had been distinct and well-balanced at the audio facet as nicely, I may listen that jabroni (Megastar Lord) screaming “Mythical!” on my backline. The twin-speaker setup produced well-rounded audio for a enterprise pc. Tracks like “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters (my new obsession) popped with crisp vocals and bassy synths, so be happy to take off your sweaty headphones and vibe on the finish of the workday.
Comfortable click-clack and haptic comments
Like Rumi’s dating with Jinu (I instructed you I’m obsessed), my dating with this keyboard is sophisticated. I’m clicking away at this assessment, and the ThinkPad X9-14 is comfy to kind on, however it’s no longer as clicky as I would like it to be. There’s some respectable trip, however the keys are simply… comfortable. Certain, I will kind on all of it day because the buttons are very well-spaced, however they’re no longer gratifying to make use of. I believe for many those that could be nice, however after trying out loads of laptops, I will say for positive there are higher keyboards in the market.
Alternatively, the touchpad used to be so easy that my arms slid throughout its glassy floor like a determine skater on the Olympics. Its haptic comments gives sufficient reaction to imitate the true factor, and I’ve in reality grown to love haptics extra than actual touchpads, which might be extraordinarily inconsistent.
Along with the trackpad and keyboard, you’ll additionally use the ThinkPad X9’s touchscreen to get paintings achieved. I skilled some resistance when rearranging a few of my browser home windows, so it’s no longer nice when you’re simply the use of your arms. However I’m certain those that want to comic strip will respect it, particularly because the OLED show will do justice for your artwork. (For some reason why, Lenovo’s doesn’t say that its pens fit with the ThinkPad X9-14, however a Lenovo consultant showed they’re, and the pc itself additionally options the Lenovo Pen Settings app.)
The ThinkPad X9’s efficiency: Industry informal
I’ve loved my time with the ThinkPad X9-14 to this point, and that’s with its bottom-of-the-barrel CPU, the Intel Core Extremely 5 226V, plus 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. I anticipated some lackluster efficiency, perhaps even a bit of slowdown, however it in reality felt lovely easy.
I used the ThinkPad X9-14 to perform a little paintings at the fable novella I’m writing, which, if you understand the rest in regards to the style, calls for me to have an obscene choice of tabs open. I cut up my display in 3, between Campfire, Google Doctors and Legend Keeper, my unholy trinity of worldwide construction. The ThinkPad saved up with my shenanigans, so it’ll do nicely with maximum informal workplace workflows.
Should you’re in point of fact crunching numbers, despite the fact that, the Intel Core Extremely 5 226V is the bottom appearing CPU you’ll get within the X9-14, which isn’t essentially a foul factor, till you notice the associated fee (I’ll cross into that beneath). Its benchmark rankings aren’t some distance off from the , however ASUS’ selected Snapdragon X X1 CPU were given marked for its sluggish efficiency. That’s most likely for the reason that Zenbook must emulate Home windows apps because of its ARM structure. Whilst the Zenbook A14’s rankings are a smidge higher than the ThinkPad X9-14, no less than with the latter you don’t have to fret in regards to the latency of emulating apps or operating into compatibility problems.
For the reason that MacBook Air has been getting less expensive, I’d be remiss to not believe it as a competitor to the ThinkPad X9, both. Should you’re purchasing for any taste of ThinkPad as a enterprise pc, you’re most likely searching for security measures, or far off control gear (when you’re in IT), and MacBooks be offering each. The is more or less 50 p.c extra tough than the ThinkPad and the Zenbook. Once more, the ThinkPad X9-14 nonetheless gives respectable efficiency, simply don’t be expecting to do the rest taxing like video-editing.
Now, when you’re interested by slicing out some paintings and doing extra play, the X9-14’s Intel Arc Graphics iGPU is strangely succesful. You’re no longer going to be taking part in AAA video games on max settings, however I hopped into a couple of fits of Surprise Competitors and controlled a tight 40 to 55 frames consistent with 2nd. I maintained the local solution however cranked the whole lot right down to Low with Extremely Efficiency and Body Era enabled.
The ThinkPad X9-14 beaten the Zenbook A14 in relation to graphics, and whilst the MacBook Air delivered more potent efficiency general for video-editing and designing, it will probably’t evaluate to the gaming compatibility that the X9-14 gives.
And prefer most present laptops, the ThinkPad X9-14 has an NPU. In case your task calls for you to paintings with natively-run AI options, the ThinkPad X9-14 will mixture the ones spreadsheets for you (and create cursed memes of, say, your boss’ face on a canine’s frame).
A battery for enterprise hours and past
I spent moderately a little bit of time with the ThinkPad X9-14 sooner than it sooner or later ran out of steam. It survived me operating in this assessment, leaping to my e-book on the finish of the day and a past due evening Discord chat with pals. On our video rundown battery check, it lasted 11 hours and 51 mins. That’s greater than sufficient to hold on your corporation or even upload some time beyond regulation (or, you understand, chill and chill out to a few sit back movies).
The contest is stiff, despite the fact that. Closing 12 months’s , which has an Intel chipset, clocked over 4 hours longer than the ThinkPad X9-14. In the meantime, Snapdragon X laptops blow all the ones Intel machines out of the water, with techniques just like the ASUS Zenbook A14 coming in at 18:16. Nonetheless, whilst Lenovo’s pocket book would possibly fall wanting the ones spectacular runtimes, no less than it does not have the similar app boundaries that cling the ones units again. It’ll get the task achieved, and that’s what issues.
Is it definitely worth the enterprise tax?
So how a lot does this all value? Neatly, the style I reviewed comes with an Intel Core Extremely 5 226V, 16GB of RAM (despite the fact that most effective the 32GB configuration is these days to be had) and a 512GB SSD. That totals out to (with 32GB of RAM). For context, I’ve noticed extra tough that value much less. However you’re no longer purchasing a enterprise pc for its energy, you (or your IT supervisor) are purchasing it for its options.
Whilst many non-business laptops are designed to be sturdy, you’re nonetheless getting a military-grade chassis, which has been examined towards drops, shocks and excessive temperatures. Then there’s Lenovo’s ThinkShield Safety suite. That’s only a fancy time period for pronouncing the ThinkPad X9-14 contains a regular dTPM safety chip, a fingerprint reader, a IR webcam for Home windows Hi, an e-shutter for the webcam (F9) and Intel’s Danger Detection Era (TDT) that makes use of AI to discover cyberattacks. Intel TDT is integrated with Intel vPro, which can be utilized for far off control.
Now, if you need that laundry listing of industrial options and top-tier efficiency, it’s going to harm. To improve to an Intel Core Extremely 7 268V with a 1TB SSD, it’ll value $1,939. Yep, that’s moderately the soar for specifications we’ve noticed in considerably less expensive laptops (just like the ).
It’s vital to notice, on the other hand, that enterprise laptops just like the ThinkPad X9-14 aren’t in point of fact supposed for person customers however reasonably companies having a look to shop for in bulk. There are enterprise laptops priced at a degree that would possibly attraction extra to the common client, just like the $1,399 , however the ones are extra uncommon than I’d like. For that worth, the ExpertBook comes with a Core Extremely 7, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
Wrap-up
I assumed I’d be extra dissatisfied with the ThinkPad X9-14 taking into consideration its low-end CPU, however it’s completely fitted to on a regular basis duties and made for a really perfect writing significant other. What in point of fact offered me used to be the OLED display and audio, which might be nice no longer only for staring at coaching movies or slideshows but in addition (and similarly vital) for after paintings whilst you get some play in, whether or not that’s actually taking part in video games or binging your favourite new sequence.
I additionally respect the battery lifestyles and portability, plus all of Lenovo’s security measures packed right into a military-grade chassis.
Then again, I will’t justify the common client paying $1,283 for the ThinkPad X9-14 with specifications you’d to find in laptops that value loads of greenbacks much less (minus the RAM, in fact). For small enterprise house owners, I like to recommend looking forward to a sale or believe a enterprise pc advertised extra towards you (once more, the is a brilliant selection). However when you’re the IT particular person at an organization searching for a pc to shop for in bulk, then sure, the ThinkPad X9-14 is a worthy acquire.
