Lenovo is in force here at CES 2015, showing off a wide array of new or refreshed products. Due to the wider availability of Intel's Core M and fifth generation Broadwell processors, Lenovo has been able to make their laptops even thinner with better battery life.
If we had to pick one laptop to highlight, the one that caught our attention it would be the X1 Carbon. The Carbon ThinkPad is not new per se, but this edition, which you can buy this month, sure is a head-turner. Described as a 'business Ultrabook' the X1 Carbon for 2015 looks to have great potential.
We got to spend some time with the updated X1 Carbon, and it is on our short list of new purchases.
Lenovo X1 Carbon (2015)
- 14-inch touchscreen FHD or WQHD display option
- 5th generation Intel Core i5 or i7 configurations
- Fingerprints scanner
- 2.9 pounds
- Up to 11 hours battery life (likely less in real-world)
- 256GB or 512GB PCIe SSD drives
So, what to think? My first impressions are the bezel and thinness of the display are fantastic. The 14-inch touchscreen pops in color, and it blends very nicely into the body.
Elsewhere, you still have the excellent Lenovo keyboard, fingerprint scanner for security, the 'red dot' pointing nub, and they even brought back the physical buttons on the touchpad. Speaking of, that the touchpad felt nice – even clicking when pressing down, the right sensitivity, gestures seemed to work well, etc.
The X1 Carbon weighs in at just 2.9 pounds, and it sure feels light. Combined with the highly durable Carbon Fiber material and the new, ultra-efficient fifth generation Intel Core chips, this laptop looks like a killer combo for those who prioritize performance with portability.
You can order a new X1 Carbon right now from Lenovo with shipping coming in the next few weeks (make sure you opt for at least the i5-5300U CPU). Pricing for the Broadwell line starts at $1,299, and it can go up from there depending on hardware configuration.
