In today's competitive market for 13-inch laptops, to stand out, you need exceptional speed, long-lasting battery, and a great display. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 targets this segment at a hefty price, but how does it perform?
The new model comes with a unique configuration, priced at $1,580 for the base model, with an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD paired with a 13.5-inch 2.8K IPS screen. Upgrade to the more powerful Core Ultra 9 185H, which, while powerful, isn't commonly seen on 13-inch devices. The Core Ultra 9 is available with 32GB of RAM, but this can be an over-configuration for this type of machine, which can cost up to $2,220 plus a 1TB SSD.
While the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 isn't cheap, it's a decent value for money compared to competitors like the Intel-powered Dell XPS 13 (starting at $1,299). The XPS 13 is based on the Core Ultra 7 155H, which is similarly priced. The MacBook Air M3 starts at a lower $1,099 and comes with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, but the price advantage of the higher-spec version is limited to the 2TB SSD option.
The ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 is made of all-aluminum, making it durable, with no signs of flexing in the keyboard area, body, or top cover. The hinge design with one-handed closure gives it a high texture. Although it doesn't quite match the MacBook Air M3's slim design, it is no slouch in terms of portability, boasting a narrow and deep body that is only 0.51 inches thick.
In terms of design, the ThinkBook shows Lenovo's ingenuity, with dark gray tones and metal elements for overall coordination. The keyboard has a unique feel and blends in with the body, and the two-tone design makes it stand out from the competition. While the Dell XPS 13 is conservative and modern inside and out, the MacBook Air M3 continues Apple's fine craftsmanship.
The ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 comes with Lenovo's latest non-ThinkPad keyboard with smaller but well-spaced keycaps for a light touch. Although not as good as the Apple Magic Keyboard, it is a comfortable option for many. In comparison, the XPS 13's zero-point matrix keyboard is not comfortable enough.
The device has limited connectivity, with only a Thunderbolt 4 port and a lack of traditional ports. Compared to the XPS 13, it has an additional charging port, but the MacBook Air M3 offers convenient charging via MagSafe 3. In addition, the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 is unique in the Magic Bay expansion scheme, which can attach a variety of accessories such as lighting, 4G connectivity, etc. through the camera slot, but the purchase strategy needs to be improved.
The built-in 1080p camera with an infrared module supports Windows 11's facial recognition function, and the Intel Meteor Lake chip is not enough to support the latest features of Microsoft Copilot+, but it still provides basic AI hardware assistance, such as background blur effects.
The ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 offers two processor options, with the more common Core Ultra 5 being stable and the Core Ultra 9 being more aggressive but demanding more cooling and noise control. For most everyday office users, the laptop is good enough for browsing, email, and office applications, but it falls a little short in high-load tests.
Overall, if you're looking for a thin and light laptop for everyday use, the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 is undoubtedly a good choice. However, for users who need more performance, other more specialized devices may need to be considered. Finally, the battery capacity is relatively large, but the battery life is average, and there is still room for improvement compared to the competition.
Post by Tom