The webcam is 1080p, which is strong, although we’re seeing lots of premium laptops transfer to 5-megapixel and even 12-MP sensors like Apple’s new MacBook Air (M4). I did encounter one significant issue—flickering throughout video calls. The digicam labored superb, however each time I began a video name, it could flicker to black each few seconds. Lenovo appeared satisfied this was a fixable bug, however that’s not what you need to see on an expensive machine.
Quick and Lengthy-Lasting Sufficient?
The ThinkPad X9 14 is on the market in two processor choices, the Intel Core Extremely 5 226V and Core Extremely 7 258V. My unit was the sooner choice, although neither are powerhouses. They’re a part of Intel’s Lunar Lake collection, which tilts the steadiness towards effectivity and battery life moderately than brute drive. That’s anticipated on this laptop computer class (although it’s value noting how briskly the M4 MacBook Air is by comparability).
{Photograph}: Luke Larsen
I wasn’t all that impressed by the Cinebench and Geekbench scores, however as long as you’re procuring within the applicable class in your wants, you received’t be upset by the ThinkPad X9 14. For basic work and enterprise circumstances, the ThinkPad X9 14 will go well with you simply superb.
Battery life isn’t fairly as robust as I’d hoped, lasting solely 12 hours and quarter-hour in my native video playback check, significantly behind lots of its friends—or a minimum of laptops with this chip. That is higher than the Home windows laptops in earlier Intel generations, although. Relying in your workload, it could nonetheless get you thru most of a workday away from the wall.
A New Period
The ThinkPad X9 14 appears like a little bit of an experiment. On Lenovo’s official web site, it markets the machine towards small enterprise house owners, which is smart in idea, however Lenovo additionally has the ThinkBook line, which is a wholly separate model dedicated to this demographic. These are typically extra reasonably priced, whereas the ThinkPad X9 14 carries the premium options and design.
The OLED show, thinner chassis, and haptic suggestions trackpad are the highlights, and the removing of the TrackPoint helps additional modernize this laptop computer in my ebook. Solely ThinkPad diehards nonetheless swear by the distinctive navigation, one thing the executives at Lenovo are nicely conscious of. The ThinkPad X9 14 is an effective subsequent step in evolving the model past its roots, however the competitors is stiff, providing higher battery life and efficiency at decrease costs. Laptops just like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition, MacBook Air, or Asus Zenbook 14 OLED all present some or all of those advantages.
If the ThinkPad model nonetheless holds a mark of pedigree for you, although, the ThinkPad X9 14 actually brings it into a brand new period, as long as you’re prepared to say goodbye to the beloved TrackPoint.
