Discussing battery life is moot, from my perspective. You can burn a charge down in 2 hours or 20 hours, depending on what you do. Especially on capable machines. Benchmarks are always synthetic and simply don't mean much either. Just like advertising figures. I know we probably agree and this is starting the obvious but I'd really like reviewers to simply state the size of the battery and be done with it.
Great review!! Very thorough, much appreciated. I really want a 13-14" laptop, for portability, but the specs/performance and keyboard on this are making me rethink that.
I’m watching this on my 2011 T420 as well lol. I’m actually amazed at how well a machine of this age is performing on Win10. Granted I’m not doing anything demanding on it obviously.
Hope you used the 35% coupon that was available until Nov 5th. My x1 Carbon also shipped from China few days ago! I was looking into the extreme version, but smaller size and hdr screen swayed me to get the carbon. Have fun!
culture best laptop ever. Makes replying to emails a joy. The keyboard is in another league as compared to other laptops. The screen is very good, bright, sharp, the colors are accurate and vibrant. Battery lasts for a good while. You really get what you pay for. Highly recommended.
what's with the hate for the nipple? it's infinitely better than the trackpad if you're doing a lot of typing. once you get used to it, you'll realize how much of a pain in the ass it is to reach for your trackpad every few seconds. i've had people complain that it's too slow, but why not change the settings? am i so out of touch?
You can't expect the unwashed masses to understand something that takes time to learn to use such as the keyboard nipple (even when it is vastly superior when mastered.) Hell most people can't even touch type.
@@samzx81 Today I learned that people are part of the "unwashed masses" because they don't like using their computer in the same way as you. By the way, using the TrackPoint isn't even a difficult thing to do.
Pretty good review. However I think it's kinda funny to lament Lenovo's inconsistent quality and then compare it to Dell and Apple. Both of which have not only quality control issues, but poor engineering issues as well. IMO at higher rates than Lenovo.
Apple is renowned for their quality control, what are you on about? I'm not an Apple fanboy but when it comes to consistency, many reviewers and users can attest to their quality. Lemons are also far less likely for Apple products and aftercare service is exceptional.
@@Biskwyy none of what you just said is true. Sure it's what Apple wants people to believe in their marketing, but it's utterly untrue. Good grief Louis Rossman's entire livelihood and RUclips channel are only possible because of Apple's average quality, poor engineering, and terrible after care. But hey, you keep drinking that Apple kool aid if it makes you happy.
@@ChristopherGaul What? Louis Rossman himself said that while Apple has its fault particularly with its scummy business practices especially with its third party repairability programs, but at least he himself also is able to respect some of the decisions they pioneered like being one of the first to put SSDs inside laptops making the world's first thin and powerful ultrabooks. While Apple themselves have many faults, they're moving towards the right direction in recent years. Increasing base storage, swapping out butterfly keyboard, updating internals in iMac and most importantly of all, providing greater third party repairability with Apple authorised parts. (Finally) You can say Apple suck but there is a reason why they're the only one of it's kind. I can't even find an individual dell or lenovo repair shop without going to great extent and lemons is just far more prevalent among any brands other than Apple. As you said in your opinion, higher rates than Lenovo but I highly doubt so. Lenovo has problems with their cooling and screens for years now even on their X1 lineups. They're also moving towards removing repairability (soldering ram and CPU) and removing removable batteries.
As I have said on this platform before I have now become a Lenovo fan. I recently purchased the 530 but I am now going to purchase a ThinkPad as my main device. I have no qualms with the QC concerns you mentioned in your review which was excellent by the way. Keep up the good work. Regards Shane
Thinkpads!!! I miss you , I'm so sorry for cheating on you with this HP Spectre x360 15t , I'll be back baby just waiting to see what you guys do with the next Thinkpad yoga
man i have the same HP laptop right now (with the bang & olufsen speakers) and i have been envying a thinkpad for quite some time. i wasn't sure about biting a $3000 bullet so i went the other way and just ordered a T420 to hopefully sate my thinkpad craving and help my wallet escape from harm
Thinkpad keyboards are great. I have a X1 Yoga 3rd gen and the keyboard is better than the 2015 MBP15 that I also have. What happened to Apple, they used to have the best keyboards, now you have the low travel contraption that keels over with specks of dust.
@@rochester212 Sure, the current X1 keyboards are far from the best keyboards ever but for the current form factor, they are amongst the best I would say.
The new Lenovo Thinkpad keyboards are still far superior than anything else out there. Tbh, as someone who did his time with the age old Thinkpad keyboards, I actually have next to no preference. In fact, the newer keyboards are comparatively as good despite being chiclet, especially if you write on anything less comfortable than a desk with not much control over your hand movement. The newer keyboards I feel are way better for using on the go, on trains or at coffee shops. The only problem people really have is that the 7 row keyboards are gone, which I honestly feel like is such a none issue.
@@tubeMonger I liked better keyboard in my R61 (where nvidia chip died at some point), style and quality that ended with T420 as was already mentioned, than in my T430. I hope they improved since then considerably, as 10 keys fell off over a few years from T430, so I had to finally replace the keyboard a few years ago, but recently right mouse button for trackpoint use stopped working... In work I use T470, but it's mostly docked, so it's hard for me to comment on its keyboard durability.
As a dell XPS 15 user that's previously owned a ThinkPad T430, I am sorta wishing I had gone to lenovos solution... The keyboard is much better, the build quality is much better, I love the trackpoint, and it's more rugged overall. The dell XPS's battery life isn't any better despite what he's said in the video, :/ browsing in firefox will give you some 6-7 hours max in my experience, and typing in word doing a project will being that down to 4-5. THe issue is windows, not the hardware and it's infuriating when apple can get 8-10 hours watching videos on itunes or 7-8 hours on youtube without breaking a sweat with their 15" macbook pro i7 models.
I'm switching to a x1 extreme from a xps 15. Buyers beware the XPS 15 design is cheap and not durable. You can find plenty of reviews of the hinges breaking (like mine ) in less than two years. STAY AWAY FROM DELL
Testing at 60 % brightness instead of a fixed value (300 nits for example) punishes better display that achieve more brightness by lowering their battery score needlessly.
Watched this on my 2014 Dell XPS 15 that I'm looking just now to upgrade for no other reason than it is only now starting to struggle with my photo editing, and the X1 Extreme is on my list along with the latest XPS 15, but this video just pushed it to the top. So thanks for an informative review. With this review and the current deals Lenovo has on the X1 Extreme, it's a no-brainer.
Fun fact: most thinkpad users get these machines for free from their company and most never get to appreciate them properly(despite the drop in quality), actually they could be using any other computer since they get replacements every couple of years anyway. Personally i never got one for free, i buy them used and you learn to love their reliability. I never had a thinkpad fail on me in the last 10 years, i would just sell them to get a newer model, but i`m going to keep my T430 until it dies. They are very versatile by comparison to other machines, i have two hard drives and can swap one of them with a dvd drive when needed, i got two ram slots and they are easy to service after you do it the first time. Also thinkpad specific software is rather good, i never had to search for individual drivers for any of my thinkpads.
Recently got the X1 Yoga and while I love the laptop, the one thing I cannot stand is the residue from fingerprints that left on the casing as well as the trackpad and keyboard. It’s much worse on the casing and the keyboard. Looks like I have been eating fried chicken or potato chips when using it. Has to be wiped down quite a bit. Is this a laptop you own or they supplied you for review? How long you had it? Suggestions?
well, actually instead of comparing with XPS which is a consumer laptop, you should compare this X1 Extreme to Precision 5530 which is the business version of the XPS (better quality control, better parts, more option, Xeon & Quadro etc...). The lattitude keyboard is pretty on par with the Thinkpad X1, so I'm curious about the Precision's keyboard.
I am watching this video on a thinkpad which my company provided to me where I am working now; this is thinkpad T470 but man.... I love the keyboard. This is the best keyboard on which I am writing now. I love the keyboard cause this type of keyboard I have not seen in any laptop. That is why i am commenting here.
Good review! Which of the 2 would you recommend for CAD, Thinkpad P1 or X1 Extreme or Huawei X pro ? I’m guessing P1, but would the other keep up with it?
To my knowledge, ThinkPads use Synaptics drivers for their trackpads. There is a way to install Windows Precision Drivers on Synaptics trackpads, which dramatically improves the user experience.
My old X1 Carbon 20BT was hands down the most fragile machine I have ever owned. The USB/sound daughter card arrived DOA. Its replacement lasted about a year and died. The first keyboard broke, the second keyboard broke. The case is flexible to the point of creaking and cracking screw holes. BTW replacing the keyboard on it is so complex that if it's your personally owned machine, throw it away - the amount of labor needed to do it is on the order of 5 hrs and, you run the risk of breaking more than one or two ribbon or wire cables.
I miss the old X models. The small yet robust design made them perfect for going from office to office or to branches without sacrificing functionality.
My GM has one. He uses it to view spreadsheets and send 10-word replies on Outlook. This is a laptop for the high-end business market that's why it costs so much. No one else would pay the ridiculous amount they ask for it. Laptops for top management. Let's just leave it at that!
@Tina Mathur I'm well aware, been a Thinkpad guy for right at two decades. First one was a T-20 if I remember correctly. Definitely solid machines, well cared for they will easily be a 5+ year solution and last a decade or more.
If you have the cash, sure. I usually buy secondhand ThinkPads (the T4xx or X2xx series ThinkPads) for next to nothing. My use case doesn't warrant a powerful and expensive brand new ThinkPad, and I don't like the idea of paying for a Windows license when I never actually use Windows.
Most of the time I don't understand the appeal of the trackpad. With the nub, you can navigate through apps and Windows far faster and higher precision than any trackpad will deliver.
@@RabbitConfirmed - I've tried my son's Macbook Pro trackpad. While yes, the Macbook Pro offers the best trackpad in the business, with the nub you never run out of real estate without having to lift your hand for another stroke - no matter how big of monitor you use. And yes, using a nub offers faster and more precise movements than even a Macbook Pro's trackpad. The fact that Thinkpads have touchpads mean that you can still use gestures when needed.
Guys, thank you, appreciate the review. May you please help me out - what is the sRGB for the 1080p display? I kinda seek better battery life & the price would be cheaper. Will do photography on the machine.
Everybody say they love the "thinkpad keyboard" when in fact lenovo changed it entirely after the T420, the last model which featured the real awesome thinkpad keyboard. Now it`s just a generic keyboard layout and feel, like all manufacturers use. They`re still good, but not the same. Writing this from a T430.
Yep, great notebook for watching videos. Once you are actually ready to do some work on it, you will need more vertical space, yet they continue making this abominable 16:9 "movie watching screens".
I actually disable the Trackpad on every one of my Thinkpads in BIOS if possible. If I can't change it in BIOS I'll disable it in the Mouse settings in Windows. Any notebook with a nub will get the pad disabled for my use.
How good is adjusting the brightness with 400 or 500 nits? Can you really adjust it fine enough? Because the nuances in Windows are always the same and so a laptop with 500 nits cannot be adjusted in the same fine way as e.g. 250 nits, right? Thanks for your review!
Soooo, you make a review of a ThinkPad and do not mention the fact, that it comes with a 3-year on-site warranty by default? Wow. Apple and Dell both just honour one year and after that - well. That alone is a big big selling point to. It means - "Whatever happens in the next three years to your laptop - you are covered". Even for water spillage and such if you buy into Lenovo Accidental Damage Protection (ADP). Sure, you could get Apple Care+ for the MacBook. But that costs another 449€ (449 - wow!). And it doesn´t ever come with on-site repair, its always bring-in or shipping it. For people who don´t live nearby an Apple Store or who are on the go frequently, this really is a draw back and should be considered.
@@StealthElectronVIP The x1 on official US site only comes with 1 year, and that does not include drop and spill protection. you guys live in a different country or saw it on some other site? I really want the x1 for Christmas.
I've gone through MacBook Pros about every other version. Even so, the lack of ports and Apple quality is not as good as it used to be under Steve Jobs. As for the Apple ecosystem, I do not see any compromise if I were to switch from a MacBook Pro to the Lenovo Extreme. This is particularly the case with the latest version of Windows (10 May 2019) update. Microsoft has come along way with refinement, and certain software titles work better on a PC than on a Mac.
I still can’t get past the fact that the Microsoft Surface and the Dell XPS have no HDMI port. That is an absolute travesty. Lenovo remains the GOAT laptop. Heck, even my $500 IdeaPad has a fricking HDMI port. Definitely gonna eventually buy a ThinkPad
Great review...this configuration is not showing up on the Lenovo website. in fact, all the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme versions are listed with a GTX 1050ti option. Strange, was there ever a 1050ti? Please, can you post a link to the model reviewed? I need a laptop for 3d modeling and rendering and this looks to be the best option to date.
Buy proffesional lenovo p1 instead - same chassis but the use of quadro card in it will be ten times better for 3d modelling. U can use 10bit colour with quadro, mosaic for external monitors, and these cards r certified and will not bog down or crash software...
@@TheVikingquest the 10 but color is attractive but the quadro card only pays for itself if you're using large large data sets which I do not use thanks very much for your reply I appreciate it I'll check into that computer for sure it looks like Lenovo is coming out with a version 2 of the X1 extreme got to have an 8-core processor in it and an RTX graphics card subset it's coming out in July looks like it's worth the wait. if you like digital art check me out on Instagram : Rsher_digital
@@rsher_digital-art yeah both models seem great! That x1 will be great for u - it is so expansive though! I bought a quadr p2000 used, really cheap a year ago- but if u dont need quadro, why bother. However i still find that maya just works on quadro, no crashes! On my 1060 maya crashed every hour...
@@TheVikingquest thank you that's good to know. I have never found any comments about system reliability based on the graphics card as a integral component of a system.
Wow - you wrote the ENTIRE REVIEW on the X1? You're DREADING returning from it? My GOD!!!Is this review not approximately a long email's worth of words? Sheesh...
@@pedalpatrol So does the X1 Extreme. It might however not be as obvious as at the XPS 15. In fact, Coil Whining is an issue that either Intel as well as Nvidia face, so nearly every powerful modern laptop has this problem. With that said: I also definitely prefer the X1 Extreme. The pure high-quality feel wins it for me.
Oh dear, you had the X1 Carbon 2nd gen with the Touch Bar, didn’t you? I intentionally held onto my T400 past its prime so I could avoid that omnishambles of a keyboard!
Hi, could you help me to clarify a point please? I have a back pain and I am working as a consultant, I need to travel every day. You mention to charge laptop over usb-c, I wonder that with USB-C charging at least how much watt is necessary to go on working with laptop? (I mean how much watt was being provided with the usb-c charger which you used) Thank you
I love that picture of an AMC Jeep! neat! But your touchpad will work better in Linux depending on your windows manager. I use Mint, it's based on Ubuntu. I would argue it's still not as elegant OSX, but it's far better then Microsoft has done. But, that's my take. I do love my Dells so I am a bit bias on that front but your true competitor here is actually the Latitude 5000 series perhaps because they can be configured to be every bit as powerful, but built like a tank. Don't get me wrong, the XPS is a nice series and has gained in the professional realm, Heck my XPS 8900 is a massive powerhouse workstation. But, the XPS is still not your corporate style laptop as the X1 certainly is. Thus, technically it's still a different market and thus the wild price points. But that's just my two cents. If your a more wealthy executive, your not going to care anyway, while the guy doing sales might. lol. Still, I like Thinkpads. I would rather rock a Thinkpad any day over HP overly segmented business laptops not just because of the price points but quality and compatibility. Because the first I am doing is blasting away Windows 10 and doing something different.
I've tried many laptop keyboards, and for typing hands down the best is the one on the Alienware laptops. It's not the best for gaming, but the typing experience blows my Razer Blackwidow Ultimate out of the water.
You should have mentioned cooling. I have the XPS15 and the cooling is so bad during gaming it throttles from 100fps to 5fps because the graphics chip overheats. Also the CPU power is heavily affected by cooling. So how is the cooling?
Yeah I kind of feel that the inclusion of the trackpoint is mostly a branding thing. The red trackpoint in the center of the keyboard is just too iconic. But in reality, I have 0 idea how there's still people that actually swear by the trackpoint for practical use. Sure you can keep your hands on the keyboard while you use it, but is it really that hard to swap a hand between your keyboard and trackpad, especially when the trackpad is lightyears more precise? It just feels like a relic of the past due to older trackpad's being really bad back in the 90's and early 2000's.
I don't know what the reviewer is talking about, Thinkpads have THE best build quality of all laptops. Nothing even comes close. They are built to milspec standards of durability. In fact, its macbooks that have horribly build hinges.
Agree fully. It's just such a pity Lenovo won't sell you a ThinkPad without an operating system on it. Without a Windows license, the price would be cheaper. I just don't see why I should pay for an operating system that I never use (I went "full Linux" about 10 years ago).
@@AndyTurfer I usually leave one small windows partition on it, for the rare cases where I need it. The occasional game, or that one weird tax program which I run once a year :)
@@thomasstufe1676 For the record, Windows could also be run in Virtual box, avoiding the need for a separate partition. For gaming, though, performance would suffer.
for gaming, there's Proton :DDDD unfortunately my laptop (hp spectre) has nvidia MX150 for which nvidia did not release a recent enough driver for proton to even work. [cries in dual-boot]
I have the Dell XPS15 and it's a lemon. The battery has issues with random shutdowns. Dell tried to fix the issue with a patch, that patch made it even worst. If you and your coworker want to compete with battery swells cheers to you. THE XPS IS MY OFFICE NIGHTMARE
I've been using Apple products since 1983, and I have all the latest Hardware soon after it comes out. Even so, I'm not all that impressed with last year's MacBook Pro fully decked out. The lack of ports and crappy butterfly keyboard is quite annoying. The X1 seems like a great replacement.
I like the dual ssds and mini Ethernet port and spill proof keyboard something the others like and 64gb memory certified and unlike apple upgradeable ram and srorage
I can get the max configuration for the x1 with 5 years of premium support plus accidental damage for 3700 Canadian dollars after tax. I am trying to decide whether to return the XPS I got for with 16 GB of RAM i7 8750 FHD and 1 TB SSD plus 4 year premium plus warranty for 2700 after tax. It seems like the thinkpad is better but 1000 dollars better?
Seriously disappointed in the quality of reviews you guys have been publishing lately. I've disliked this video and am considering unsubscribing if this trend continues. This just isn't a review. Its more like sponsored product overview. For something to be considered a review, you need to have actual quantitative metrics and useful comparisons. I just don't get it. You must have other laptops like this in your office, and you must know that benchmark applications exist, yet you'd rather published these dumbed down reviews that treat your audience as if we're morons incapable of forming our own opinions when facts are presented to us. You want to publish actual reviews? Here's what you do. 1. Run an actual benchmark or two and then run the same benchmarks on a few other competitive laptops, then show us a couple of graphs of the results, at which point you can add in your editorial comments. Without the quantitative data, your remarks on "smoothness" or "snappiness" are meaningless. 2. Show the product in comparison to its competitors. Put the laptop on a table, run some HD footage or a game on it and do the same on a few other competitive laptops and then film them all at the same time so we can see the difference in screen quality for ourselves. 3. Run your battery tests on other laptops, and then show us some graphs of the results. All of this stuff is such bloody basic review material it boggles the mind you keep leaving it out.
i was expecting a nonsensical conspiracy theory based on the length of post. Was happy to find a actually sensible line of arguments. And I couldn't agree more.
I am looking into purchasing one of these what are they worth new and used. I have seen some new on Amazon and Ebay between 1600 - 2500 I'm a little confused. Any help is helpful. Thank You
Justin Timberlake gettin good at tech reviews too
🤣🤣
Reuben spreading laughter whenever he goes xD
@@vitalis whaaat?? XD
damn💀
so funny bro
I'm on a different planet than this guy. 6 hours seems epic to me.
Given an XPS 15 only gets 3 on Linux, this is amazing to me
Discussing battery life is moot, from my perspective. You can burn a charge down in 2 hours or 20 hours, depending on what you do. Especially on capable machines. Benchmarks are always synthetic and simply don't mean much either. Just like advertising figures. I know we probably agree and this is starting the obvious but I'd really like reviewers to simply state the size of the battery and be done with it.
Great review!! Very thorough, much appreciated. I really want a 13-14" laptop, for portability, but the specs/performance and keyboard on this are making me rethink that.
I've never had problems with Lenovo's quality (excluding much older models). In fact I'm still on my 2014 Thinkpad Yoga and it has never let me down.
Watching this on my Thinkpad X220 circa 2011, and can't believe how little the design has changed.
Classic designs don't need to change.
@@miguelrochefort *Timeless designs don't need to change, ftfy :)
Are you blind? It looks like a black Mac.
I’m watching this on my 2011 T420 as well lol. I’m actually amazed at how well a machine of this age is performing on Win10. Granted I’m not doing anything demanding on it obviously.
@@doctard2990 Nope.
Please tell me you’re staying. The reviews needed a little quality boost.
All I need are your and Chris Velazco’s reviews.
Please tell me you're being profoundly sarcastic
Ordered my X1 Extreme last week, just shipped from China yesterday. Can't wait to get my hands on it and play with it.
Hope you used the 35% coupon that was available until Nov 5th. My x1 Carbon also shipped from China few days ago! I was looking into the extreme version, but smaller size and hdr screen swayed me to get the carbon. Have fun!
@@DawidPA 35%, or 25?
@@anonymouse7074 there was a 35% coupon available before.
@@DawidPA how have you guys liked your computers?
culture best laptop ever. Makes replying to emails a joy. The keyboard is in another league as compared to other laptops. The screen is very good, bright, sharp, the colors are accurate and vibrant. Battery lasts for a good while. You really get what you pay for. Highly recommended.
what's with the hate for the nipple? it's infinitely better than the trackpad if you're doing a lot of typing. once you get used to it, you'll realize how much of a pain in the ass it is to reach for your trackpad every few seconds. i've had people complain that it's too slow, but why not change the settings? am i so out of touch?
You can't expect the unwashed masses to understand something that takes time to learn to use such as the keyboard nipple (even when it is vastly superior when mastered.) Hell most people can't even touch type.
@@samzx81 Today I learned that people are part of the "unwashed masses" because they don't like using their computer in the same way as you. By the way, using the TrackPoint isn't even a difficult thing to do.
Pretty good review. However I think it's kinda funny to lament Lenovo's inconsistent quality and then compare it to Dell and Apple. Both of which have not only quality control issues, but poor engineering issues as well. IMO at higher rates than Lenovo.
Apple is renowned for their quality control, what are you on about? I'm not an Apple fanboy but when it comes to consistency, many reviewers and users can attest to their quality. Lemons are also far less likely for Apple products and aftercare service is exceptional.
@@Biskwyy none of what you just said is true. Sure it's what Apple wants people to believe in their marketing, but it's utterly untrue. Good grief Louis Rossman's entire livelihood and RUclips channel are only possible because of Apple's average quality, poor engineering, and terrible after care.
But hey, you keep drinking that Apple kool aid if it makes you happy.
@@ChristopherGaul What? Louis Rossman himself said that while Apple has its fault particularly with its scummy business practices especially with its third party repairability programs, but at least he himself also is able to respect some of the decisions they pioneered like being one of the first to put SSDs inside laptops making the world's first thin and powerful ultrabooks.
While Apple themselves have many faults, they're moving towards the right direction in recent years. Increasing base storage, swapping out butterfly keyboard, updating internals in iMac and most importantly of all, providing greater third party repairability with Apple authorised parts. (Finally)
You can say Apple suck but there is a reason why they're the only one of it's kind. I can't even find an individual dell or lenovo repair shop without going to great extent and lemons is just far more prevalent among any brands other than Apple.
As you said in your opinion, higher rates than Lenovo but I highly doubt so. Lenovo has problems with their cooling and screens for years now even on their X1 lineups. They're also moving towards removing repairability (soldering ram and CPU) and removing removable batteries.
I have had 3 thinkpads with quality control issues. Your opinion is just as half-baked as your beard.
A very thorough and comprehensive review. Great job!
I still love my Thinkpad & my Trackpoint.
Good review.
Damn, you're hitting that master channel hard in your Ableton project. Audio Effects >> Limiter >> Upper Ceiling
As I have said on this platform before I have now become a Lenovo fan. I recently purchased the 530 but I am now going to purchase a ThinkPad as my main device. I have no qualms with the QC concerns you mentioned in your review which was excellent by the way. Keep up the good work.
Regards
Shane
A review done which feels complete. Please let this guy review more stuff, his video presence and audio is soothing. Good job on the review again!
Thinkpads!!! I miss you , I'm so sorry for cheating on you with this HP Spectre x360 15t , I'll be back baby just waiting to see what you guys do with the next Thinkpad yoga
is the Spectre x360 15t not good, (why would you be sorry otherwise)
Its great but I love the Thinkpad keyboard, LOVE IT!!! best keyboard on any laptop
man i have the same HP laptop right now (with the bang & olufsen speakers) and i have been envying a thinkpad for quite some time. i wasn't sure about biting a $3000 bullet so i went the other way and just ordered a T420 to hopefully sate my thinkpad craving and help my wallet escape from harm
awesome review. I liked the comparisons with XPS and MacBook Pro.
Thinkpad keyboards are great. I have a X1 Yoga 3rd gen and the keyboard is better than the 2015 MBP15 that I also have. What happened to Apple, they used to have the best keyboards, now you have the low travel contraption that keels over with specks of dust.
The thinkpad keyboard died with the T420, mate. Now it`s just "lenovo keyboard". Not bad, but not classic thinkpad quality either.
@@rochester212 Sure, the current X1 keyboards are far from the best keyboards ever but for the current form factor, they are amongst the best I would say.
The new Lenovo Thinkpad keyboards are still far superior than anything else out there. Tbh, as someone who did his time with the age old Thinkpad keyboards, I actually have next to no preference. In fact, the newer keyboards are comparatively as good despite being chiclet, especially if you write on anything less comfortable than a desk with not much control over your hand movement. The newer keyboards I feel are way better for using on the go, on trains or at coffee shops.
The only problem people really have is that the 7 row keyboards are gone, which I honestly feel like is such a none issue.
@@rochester212 I prefer my T430 keyboard to W520 keyboard. Both are great keyboards.
@@tubeMonger I liked better keyboard in my R61 (where nvidia chip died at some point), style and quality that ended with T420 as was already mentioned, than in my T430. I hope they improved since then considerably, as 10 keys fell off over a few years from T430, so I had to finally replace the keyboard a few years ago, but recently right mouse button for trackpoint use stopped working... In work I use T470, but it's mostly docked, so it's hard for me to comment on its keyboard durability.
As a dell XPS 15 user that's previously owned a ThinkPad T430, I am sorta wishing I had gone to lenovos solution...
The keyboard is much better, the build quality is much better, I love the trackpoint, and it's more rugged overall.
The dell XPS's battery life isn't any better despite what he's said in the video, :/ browsing in firefox will give you some 6-7 hours max in my experience, and typing in word doing a project will being that down to 4-5. THe issue is windows, not the hardware and it's infuriating when apple can get 8-10 hours watching videos on itunes or 7-8 hours on youtube without breaking a sweat with their 15" macbook pro i7 models.
I'm switching to a x1 extreme from a xps 15. Buyers beware the XPS 15 design is cheap and not durable. You can find plenty of reviews of the hinges breaking (like mine ) in less than two years. STAY AWAY FROM DELL
Agree. Dell XPS is garbage hinges break battery swells battery connector faulty. Never again Dell.
Testing at 60 % brightness instead of a fixed value (300 nits for example) punishes better display that achieve more brightness by lowering their battery score needlessly.
I never understood computers but your really helped explain everything and the differences thank you.
Thanks for including the Ableton test! You've gained a new sub
Watched this on my 2014 Dell XPS 15 that I'm looking just now to upgrade for no other reason than it is only now starting to struggle with my photo editing, and the X1 Extreme is on my list along with the latest XPS 15, but this video just pushed it to the top. So thanks for an informative review. With this review and the current deals Lenovo has on the X1 Extreme, it's a no-brainer.
Same here. Between this and an XPS 15. Just wondering if the new OLED xps in March is gonna bring any more changes or a refresh
Fun fact: most thinkpad users get these machines for free from their company and most never get to appreciate them properly(despite the drop in quality), actually they could be using any other computer since they get replacements every couple of years anyway. Personally i never got one for free, i buy them used and you learn to love their reliability. I never had a thinkpad fail on me in the last 10 years, i would just sell them to get a newer model, but i`m going to keep my T430 until it dies. They are very versatile by comparison to other machines, i have two hard drives and can swap one of them with a dvd drive when needed, i got two ram slots and they are easy to service after you do it the first time. Also thinkpad specific software is rather good, i never had to search for individual drivers for any of my thinkpads.
Recently got the X1 Yoga and while I love the laptop, the one thing I cannot stand is the residue from fingerprints that left on the casing as well as the trackpad and keyboard. It’s much worse on the casing and the keyboard. Looks like I have been eating fried chicken or potato chips when using it. Has to be wiped down quite a bit. Is this a laptop you own or they supplied you for review? How long you had it? Suggestions?
One of the best reviews I've seen in a while.
Great job and many thanks!
well, actually instead of comparing with XPS which is a consumer laptop, you should compare this X1 Extreme to Precision 5530 which is the business version of the XPS (better quality control, better parts, more option, Xeon & Quadro etc...). The lattitude keyboard is pretty on par with the Thinkpad X1, so I'm curious about the Precision's keyboard.
x1 extreme is technically a consumer laptop as well. The P series is more of the workstation version of the x series.
3:44
Testing the laptop with anime? Now that's a thorough test procedure!
that's a game
i wonder if this is a good buy in 2023, found one on ebay in Australia for 600USD 4k display, i7 32 gb ram, plan on using it for web development
This review was so fucking well done. I havent seen a more detailed review in a while, not even from dave2d
I am watching this video on a thinkpad which my company provided to me where I am working now; this is thinkpad T470 but man.... I love the keyboard. This is the best keyboard on which I am writing now. I love the keyboard cause this type of keyboard I have not seen in any laptop. That is why i am commenting here.
My X1 5th Gen works great. Lighter than Macbook Pro. I love it.
Excellent review, thanks. I gave up on their tablets a few years ago, but I have always wanted to try one of their laptops. Hmmm...
Nice review. Can you compare it to the maxed out Surface Book please?
One thing that this guy didn't bring up is the expandability as far as M.2 and RAM slots which the Dell XPS I don't believe have nor the Macbook Pro.
The xps 13 has upgradable m.2 and the 15 has both ram and m.2 upgradability
@@asagilmore8753 RAM is directly soldered onto the board on the 15 inch model now.
@@nathanadhitya That's for the 2-in-1 XPS 15.
The standard XPS 15 still has upgradable RAM and M.2 SSD but it's a bit tricky to install.
Oh yea, I'll really need to upgrade my 32 gigs for this laptop /s.
@@bxdroid oh right, my bad.
Good review! Which of the 2 would you recommend for CAD, Thinkpad P1 or X1 Extreme or Huawei X pro ? I’m guessing P1, but would the other keep up with it?
What it is about Lenovo’s quality control?
Yes what happened
what about engadget's video department's quality control?
exactly Lenovo makes best laptops for business
Dell and MacBook are worse in quality control. At least till 2019
To my knowledge, ThinkPads use Synaptics drivers for their trackpads. There is a way to install Windows Precision Drivers on Synaptics trackpads, which dramatically improves the user experience.
Talking about the specs of a laptop with that music video going on on the screen... errm.... oh dear.
what video is it?
@@rharripersad naaah
So???
My old X1 Carbon 20BT was hands down the most fragile machine I have ever owned. The USB/sound daughter card arrived DOA. Its replacement lasted about a year and died. The first keyboard broke, the second keyboard broke. The case is flexible to the point of creaking and cracking screw holes. BTW replacing the keyboard on it is so complex that if it's your personally owned machine, throw it away - the amount of labor needed to do it is on the order of 5 hrs and, you run the risk of breaking more than one or two ribbon or wire cables.
I'll be sure to stick to the T-series. Never tried the X.
I miss the old X models. The small yet robust design made them perfect for going from office to office or to branches without sacrificing functionality.
you still have the x390
My GM has one. He uses it to view spreadsheets and send 10-word replies on Outlook. This is a laptop for the high-end business market that's why it costs so much. No one else would pay the ridiculous amount they ask for it. Laptops for top management. Let's just leave it at that!
What quality control are you talking about? They spec to military grade.
I have a T450s and I am still very happy with it. It's holding up good and working great.
@Tina Mathur I'm well aware, been a Thinkpad guy for right at two decades. First one was a T-20 if I remember correctly. Definitely solid machines, well cared for they will easily be a 5+ year solution and last a decade or more.
I found my perfect Linux machine
If you have the cash, sure. I usually buy secondhand ThinkPads (the T4xx or X2xx series ThinkPads) for next to nothing. My use case doesn't warrant a powerful and expensive brand new ThinkPad, and I don't like the idea of paying for a Windows license when I never actually use Windows.
Great video, not sure i need the X1 Extreme but it's looking like Thinkpad is a good fit for me
I love that you're playing Little Mix videos back to back
Most of the time I don't understand the appeal of the trackpad. With the nub, you can navigate through apps and Windows far faster and higher precision than any trackpad will deliver.
I think you never used a good trackpad then.
I agree when it comes to most trackpads, but try a Macbook Trackpad.
You will see what I mean.
@@RabbitConfirmed - I've tried my son's Macbook Pro trackpad. While yes, the Macbook Pro offers the best trackpad in the business, with the nub you never run out of real estate without having to lift your hand for another stroke - no matter how big of monitor you use. And yes, using a nub offers faster and more precise movements than even a Macbook Pro's trackpad. The fact that Thinkpads have touchpads mean that you can still use gestures when needed.
Appreciate the bass on closing credits:)
Guys, thank you, appreciate the review. May you please help me out - what is the sRGB for the 1080p display? I kinda seek better battery life & the price would be cheaper. Will do photography on the machine.
Beware, the link in the description is not for a Thinkpad X1 Extreme, it is for a regular Thinkpad X1 Carbon...
So X1 extreme, XPS 15, MacBook Pro, all identical laptop, but which is the best
good detailed review. Definitely on the maybe christmas list.
Everybody say they love the "thinkpad keyboard" when in fact lenovo changed it entirely after the T420, the last model which featured the real awesome thinkpad keyboard. Now it`s just a generic keyboard layout and feel, like all manufacturers use. They`re still good, but not the same. Writing this from a T430.
Yep, great notebook for watching videos.
Once you are actually ready to do some work on it, you will need more vertical space, yet they continue making this abominable 16:9 "movie watching screens".
I actually disable the Trackpad on every one of my Thinkpads in BIOS if possible. If I can't change it in BIOS I'll disable it in the Mouse settings in Windows.
Any notebook with a nub will get the pad disabled for my use.
How good is adjusting the brightness with 400 or 500 nits? Can you really adjust it fine enough? Because the nuances in Windows are always the same and so a laptop with 500 nits cannot be adjusted in the same fine way as e.g. 250 nits, right? Thanks for your review!
Great review, loved that you compared to the macbook and xps.
Great review bro. You made me want one hehe
Soooo, you make a review of a ThinkPad and do not mention the fact, that it comes with a 3-year on-site warranty by default? Wow. Apple and Dell both just honour one year and after that - well. That alone is a big big selling point to. It means - "Whatever happens in the next three years to your laptop - you are covered". Even for water spillage and such if you buy into Lenovo Accidental Damage Protection (ADP).
Sure, you could get Apple Care+ for the MacBook. But that costs another 449€ (449 - wow!). And it doesn´t ever come with on-site repair, its always bring-in or shipping it. For people who don´t live nearby an Apple Store or who are on the go frequently, this really is a draw back and should be considered.
Where did you read that I comes with 3 year onsite?
@@anonymouse7074 Lenovo website you damn noob.
@@StealthElectronVIP The x1 on official US site only comes with 1 year, and that does not include drop and spill protection. you guys live in a different country or saw it on some other site? I really want the x1 for Christmas.
I've gone through MacBook Pros about every other version. Even so, the lack of ports and Apple quality is not as good as it used to be under Steve Jobs. As for the Apple ecosystem, I do not see any compromise if I were to switch from a MacBook Pro to the Lenovo Extreme. This is particularly the case with the latest version of Windows (10 May 2019) update. Microsoft has come along way with refinement, and certain software titles work better on a PC than on a Mac.
I still can’t get past the fact that the Microsoft Surface and the Dell XPS have no HDMI port. That is an absolute travesty. Lenovo remains the GOAT laptop. Heck, even my $500 IdeaPad has a fricking HDMI port. Definitely gonna eventually buy a ThinkPad
Pro Tip: Turn off the trackpad and just use the nub.
Exactly what I thought.
That's exactly what I do. The trackpad is trash and it just gets in the way, too easy to accidentally trigger it.
Count me in
Lenovo ThinkPad , best laptops ever for sure
Great review...this configuration is not showing up on the Lenovo website. in fact, all the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme versions are listed with a GTX 1050ti option. Strange, was there ever a 1050ti?
Please, can you post a link to the model reviewed? I need a laptop for 3d modeling and rendering and this looks to be the best option to date.
Buy proffesional lenovo p1 instead - same chassis but the use of quadro card in it will be ten times better for 3d modelling. U can use 10bit colour with quadro, mosaic for external monitors, and these cards r certified and will not bog down or crash software...
@@TheVikingquest
the 10 but color is attractive but the quadro card only pays for itself if you're using large large data sets which I do not use thanks very much for your reply I appreciate it I'll check into that computer for sure it looks like Lenovo is coming out with a version 2 of the X1 extreme got to have an 8-core processor in it and an RTX graphics card subset it's coming out in July looks like it's worth the wait.
if you like digital art check me out on Instagram :
Rsher_digital
@@rsher_digital-art yeah both models seem great! That x1 will be great for u - it is so expansive though! I bought a quadr p2000 used, really cheap a year ago- but if u dont need quadro, why bother. However i still find that maya just works on quadro, no crashes! On my 1060 maya crashed every hour...
@@TheVikingquest thank you that's good to know.
I have never found any comments about system reliability based on the graphics card as a integral component of a system.
Wow - you wrote the ENTIRE REVIEW on the X1? You're DREADING returning from it? My GOD!!!Is this review not approximately a long email's worth of words? Sheesh...
Can you do a direct comparison of XPS 15 vs X1 Extreme?
The Dell loses for me in every way. All Xps have Coil whine so why buy a product with a problem!
@@pedalpatrol So does the X1 Extreme. It might however not be as obvious as at the XPS 15.
In fact, Coil Whining is an issue that either Intel as well as Nvidia face, so nearly every powerful modern laptop has this problem.
With that said: I also definitely prefer the X1 Extreme. The pure high-quality feel wins it for me.
as an architecture student who uses 3d modeling software on a daily basis, the nipple is unbelievably usable for panning , youd know if you know
What kind of QC issues did you have? I haven't noticed any QC problems with any of my Lenovo products.
Why are you comparing the performance to a 4 year old laptop?
Oh dear, you had the X1 Carbon 2nd gen with the Touch Bar, didn’t you? I intentionally held onto my T400 past its prime so I could avoid that omnishambles of a keyboard!
Hi, could you help me to clarify a point please? I have a back pain and I am working as a consultant, I need to travel every day. You mention to charge laptop over usb-c, I wonder that with USB-C charging at least how much watt is necessary to go on working with laptop? (I mean how much watt was being provided with the usb-c charger which you used) Thank you
Great review. Made me subscribe.
Does it have a pen support? Is it Wacom EMR?
I love that picture of an AMC Jeep! neat! But your touchpad will work better in Linux depending on your windows manager. I use Mint, it's based on Ubuntu. I would argue it's still not as elegant OSX, but it's far better then Microsoft has done. But, that's my take. I do love my Dells so I am a bit bias on that front but your true competitor here is actually the Latitude 5000 series perhaps because they can be configured to be every bit as powerful, but built like a tank. Don't get me wrong, the XPS is a nice series and has gained in the professional realm, Heck my XPS 8900 is a massive powerhouse workstation. But, the XPS is still not your corporate style laptop as the X1 certainly is. Thus, technically it's still a different market and thus the wild price points. But that's just my two cents. If your a more wealthy executive, your not going to care anyway, while the guy doing sales might. lol. Still, I like Thinkpads. I would rather rock a Thinkpad any day over HP overly segmented business laptops not just because of the price points but quality and compatibility. Because the first I am doing is blasting away Windows 10 and doing something different.
so the battery life you had was on the 4k model and not the 1080p model correct? I know 4k will drain battery faster.
It does, that's correct. So the 1080p version will definitely last longer.
I've tried many laptop keyboards, and for typing hands down the best is the one on the Alienware laptops. It's not the best for gaming, but the typing experience blows my Razer Blackwidow Ultimate out of the water.
Would this laptop be good for music software along with a couple plug ins , plus thousands of audio files?
You should have mentioned cooling. I have the XPS15 and the cooling is so bad during gaming it throttles from 100fps to 5fps because the graphics chip overheats. Also the CPU power is heavily affected by cooling. So how is the cooling?
Yeah I kind of feel that the inclusion of the trackpoint is mostly a branding thing. The red trackpoint in the center of the keyboard is just too iconic. But in reality, I have 0 idea how there's still people that actually swear by the trackpoint for practical use. Sure you can keep your hands on the keyboard while you use it, but is it really that hard to swap a hand between your keyboard and trackpad, especially when the trackpad is lightyears more precise? It just feels like a relic of the past due to older trackpad's being really bad back in the 90's and early 2000's.
Great review. Also, LITTLE MIX! YES!
I don't know what the reviewer is talking about, Thinkpads have THE best build quality of all laptops. Nothing even comes close. They are built to milspec standards of durability. In fact, its macbooks that have horribly build hinges.
I think the link to the full story on Engadget is broken, not sure if that's just my issue tho.
check the fan noise issue, it's either a quality issue or a terrible design.
How do you *literally* push the laptop to its limits?
Thinkpad trackpad support under Linux is way smoother than under Windows. Thinkpads are just made for Linux, the experience is sublime.
Agree fully. It's just such a pity Lenovo won't sell you a ThinkPad without an operating system on it. Without a Windows license, the price would be cheaper. I just don't see why I should pay for an operating system that I never use (I went "full Linux" about 10 years ago).
@@AndyTurfer I usually leave one small windows partition on it, for the rare cases where I need it. The occasional game, or that one weird tax program which I run once a year :)
@@thomasstufe1676 For the record, Windows could also be run in Virtual box, avoiding the need for a separate partition. For gaming, though, performance would suffer.
for gaming, there's Proton :DDDD
unfortunately my laptop (hp spectre) has nvidia MX150 for which nvidia did not release a recent enough driver for proton to even work. [cries in dual-boot]
Does the X1 Extreme keyboard have n-key roll over ?
My x1 doesn't
I need a laptop for making beats and doing some graphic work, what’s my best options this the dell xps or a Mac pro?
Considering the specs, the battery life seems admirable.
I have the Dell XPS15 and it's a lemon. The battery has issues with random shutdowns. Dell tried to fix the issue with a patch, that patch made it even worst. If you and your coworker want to compete with battery swells cheers to you. THE XPS IS MY OFFICE NIGHTMARE
Why don't you try switching to Lenovo ? I own a lenovo laptop since 4 years and it hasn't given me any problems.
For some reason the audio port doesn’t accommodate a 3.5mm headset jack. Please help in advising what’s the size of this combo port.
I've been using Apple products since 1983, and I have all the latest Hardware soon after it comes out. Even so, I'm not all that impressed with last year's MacBook Pro fully decked out. The lack of ports and crappy butterfly keyboard is quite annoying. The X1 seems like a great replacement.
I like the dual ssds and mini Ethernet port and spill proof keyboard something the others like and 64gb memory certified and unlike apple upgradeable ram and srorage
ram is not ungradeable, it's soldered
*Edit* : I'm wrong
Yes it is upgradable. Not soldered. You can even configure it with 1x16GB so you can add another stick in the future.
the spillproof keyboard is gone now
@@alexanderhowarth6460
It's still there
True workstation graphics for Macbook! No way. 7:01
I can get the max configuration for the x1 with 5 years of premium support plus accidental damage for 3700 Canadian dollars after tax. I am trying to decide whether to return the XPS I got for with 16 GB of RAM i7 8750 FHD and 1 TB SSD plus 4 year premium plus warranty for 2700 after tax. It seems like the thinkpad is better but 1000 dollars better?
I don't see the Kensington lock hole on its side... Is it possible that Lenovo ditched it?
Look again. There it is.
Seriously disappointed in the quality of reviews you guys have been publishing lately. I've disliked this video and am considering unsubscribing if this trend continues. This just isn't a review. Its more like sponsored product overview. For something to be considered a review, you need to have actual quantitative metrics and useful comparisons. I just don't get it. You must have other laptops like this in your office, and you must know that benchmark applications exist, yet you'd rather published these dumbed down reviews that treat your audience as if we're morons incapable of forming our own opinions when facts are presented to us. You want to publish actual reviews? Here's what you do. 1. Run an actual benchmark or two and then run the same benchmarks on a few other competitive laptops, then show us a couple of graphs of the results, at which point you can add in your editorial comments. Without the quantitative data, your remarks on "smoothness" or "snappiness" are meaningless. 2. Show the product in comparison to its competitors. Put the laptop on a table, run some HD footage or a game on it and do the same on a few other competitive laptops and then film them all at the same time so we can see the difference in screen quality for ourselves. 3. Run your battery tests on other laptops, and then show us some graphs of the results. All of this stuff is such bloody basic review material it boggles the mind you keep leaving it out.
based and redpilled
Dave Lee is the droid you're looking for.....
Would be nice to know the decibels this thing puts out under load.
i was expecting a nonsensical conspiracy theory based on the length of post. Was happy to find a actually sensible line of arguments. And I couldn't agree more.
Dave2D and Lisa are my top two
I am looking into purchasing one of these what are they worth new and used. I have seen some new on Amazon and Ebay between 1600 - 2500 I'm a little confused. Any help is helpful. Thank You
of those three laptops, what would be a good but more inexpensive spec option, that would be able to max out ableton and some light gaming? thanks
What do you think about Thinkpad P1?