Evaluate: Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Excessive Gen 4 is a robust laptop computer with warmth issues

The time period “desktop alternative” is a bit out of style as a descriptor for laptops as of late, if solely as a result of fewer individuals have desktop computer systems they’re making an attempt to switch. However I battle to think about a greater time period for one thing like Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Excessive, at present in its 4th era.

The place different workstation-y laptops like Dell’s XPS 15 have dropped ports and provide solely restricted GPU choices in an effort to slim down and turn into extra cellular, the X1 Excessive nonetheless comes with a wholesome number of ports (each in quantity and selection) and provides GPUs all the best way as much as Nvidia’s RTX 3080. Its 16-inch display can also be subtly however noticeably bigger than the 15.6-inch panels you’ll discover in different laptops with comparable speeds and weights.

(When you’re shopping for an X1 Excessive Gen 4, you would additionally try the Lenovo P1 Gen 4, which is a workstation-branded model of an primarily equivalent laptop computer with Nvidia A- and T-series workstation GPUs in most fashions fairly than RTX-series client GPUs. If you may get a P1 for cheaper than a comparable X1 Excessive, it’s a protected commerce to make.)

The issue with the X1 Excessive, if you happen to can abdomen its price ticket, is that it runs scorching—in apply, this implies you possibly can both get good temperatures and quit some efficiency or get the laptop computer’s full efficiency and put up with often uncomfortable temperatures. Different high-end laptops we have examined do not require this trade-off. However if you happen to can look previous that element, there’s rather a lot to love right here.

Look, really feel, display, and ports

Most ThinkPads use the identical primary template: plain black physique, comfy scissor-switch keyboard, and a squared-off design (with various ranges of boxiness—cheaper fashions are boxier, and expensive fashions are slimmer and sleeker). The X1 Excessive principally seems like a stretched-out X1 Carbon in the identical method that the XPS 15 seems just like the XPS 13 and the 16-inch MacBook Professional seems just like the 14-inch model. It isn’t flashy, however I am going to take nondescript-but-inoffensive over a laptop computer that prints non-removable logos throughout itself.

Keyboard expertise is subjective, however ThinkPads keyboards are among the greatest within the enterprise, with simply the suitable mixture of key journey, key firmness, and tactile suggestions. It isn’t the principle purpose to select the X1 Excessive over the XPS 15 or MacBook Professional, however it’s a powerful promoting level. Whether or not the TrackPoint nub is one thing you require or one thing you principally ignore will rely upon you, however the massive multi-touch trackpad is responsive and correct.

When you have been on the lookout for a purpose to choose the ThinkPad to the XPS 15, although, Lenovo’s port choice may seal the deal. The X1 Excessive provides you two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a devoted energy jack, a full-size HDMI port, a pair of USB Sort-A ports, and a full-size card reader. If it is advisable to use a lot of exterior equipment directly, the port choice is a giant step up from the XPS 15, which has a card reader plus two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a USB-C port (one in all which is able to must be utilized by the laptop computer’s charger). It is also a shade higher than the 16-inch MacBook Professional, although buying and selling these two USB-A ports for a further Thunderbolt 4 port may truly be fascinating relying on what you want; a Thunderbolt 4 port can turn into a USB-A port when it must, however USB-A ports can solely be USB-A ports.

The ThinkPad’s 16-inch display can also be wonderful—and appreciably larger-feeling than the XPS 15 9510’s 15.6-inch display, regardless of how shut collectively these numbers are. Our assessment unit got here with the fundamental 2560×1600 non-touch display, although 3840×2400 4K contact and non-touch show upgrades are additionally accessible. Even the lower-resolution display was spectacular for an IPS panel, with a 443 nit peak brightness and 1,391:1 distinction ratio (as measured by our i1 Show Studio colorimeter).

This display additionally covers 100% of the sRGB coloration gamut, although its 81.5% DCI-P3 gamut protection is nothing particular. The OLED model of the XPS 15 we examined has superior distinction and 98.7% DCI-P3 gamut assist, however given the OLED display’s barely grainy look and super-saturated coloration, we’d nonetheless advocate a high-quality IPS panel for many picture and video editors.

The draw back of the bigger display is that even with slim bezels, the X1 Excessive has an appreciably bigger footprint than the XPS 15, about half an inch wider and almost a full inch deeper (although each laptops begin on the similar 4-pound weight and are every lighter than Apple’s newest 16-inch MacBook Professional). Whereas the XPS 15 can, with some effort, be tucked into many baggage designed to carry 13-inch laptops, the X1 Excessive is lengthy and deep sufficient that it will not match.