Is Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Extreme a durable or rugged laptop?

What does MIL-STD 810G testing include?

The MIL-STD 810G standard comes from the U.S. Department of Defense, and it includes 12 different tests:

• Humidity
• Vibration
• Solar radiation
• Altitude
• Extreme temperature
• Mechanical shock
• Fungus
• Sand and dust
• Shipboard vibration
• High temperature
• Low temperature
• Explosive atmosphere

All of these tests are used to ensure your X1 Extreme will be able to stand up to environmental conditions not normally found in a usual office or home setting, and for the most part, Lenovo's ThinkPads are considered more durable than your average Ultrabook. If you're occasionally using it on a job site or in the field it should fare well.

Still, the X1 Extreme is relatively thin and light, especially considering the performance hardware you can add inside. It's a great balance of power, design, and durability, but it probably isn't going to stand up to extreme use cases (despite its name). If you're looking for a laptop that's built from the start to take a huge amount of abuse — outdoor job sites, extreme weather, rough use — we recommend checking out Dell's Latitude 7242 Rugged laptop.

It has undergone the same MIL-STD 810G testing as the ThinkPad X1 Extreme, but it has a thick shell to withstand elevated drops, a sturdy handle makes it easier to carry while wearing gloves, and IP65 ingress certification means it can withstand direct water and dust. It's much better suited for a life that sees it being thrown into a work truck at the end of the day without any other protection, and Dell offers a ton of configuration options starting at about $3,499.

What type of warranty does Lenovo offer?

The standard one-year warranty included with the ThinkPad X1 Extreme covers basic support over the phone and, in the case of failure, free parts and free labor to have it fixed. This doesn't include damage from spills, drops, or surges.

At checkout, you can upgrade the X1 Extreme's warranty for up to five years, and you can add on-site help or premier support for prioritized help. If you're worried about taking your X1 Extreme to a job site, you can add accidental protection coverage for spills, drops, and surges. If you're traveling, there's an international package that will cover you when you're outside of the country.

Go with the X1 Extreme for a durable, powerful Ultrabook

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme has the durability to put up with general wear and tear and environmental conditions above what you'll find in a standard home or office setting. It remains relatively thin and light for a 15-inch laptop, and it can be had with up to a 4K display, 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, and dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1650 graphics card with 4GB of VRAM. As long as you don't want something far more rugged with a thick case that's better suited for life outdoors, the X1 Extreme should be a great choice.