By This 14-inch business laptop, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition, blends a tried-and-true ThinkPad convertible design with Intel’s Lunar Lake CPUs. This is a top-notch business laptop for those seeking a fast desktop experience in a 2-in-1 form factor with a pen. It is designed to help you accomplish your goals. It can be a little expensive, but this is common for business computers. If you value portability and battery life, and this computer fits within your budget, it’s hard to argue with what Lenovo has produced here.
Specification
Lenovo sells the 14-inch ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 in several different configurations under the “Aura Edition” name. An Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of SSD storage, and Intel Arc graphics are included in the base model, which retails for $2,125.
As of this writing, the model we evaluated costs $2,336 and comes with an update to Windows 11 Pro, an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, 32GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and faster Intel Arc 140V graphics. (The Lenovo “Build Your PC” feature allows you to tweak the hardware when you order; the model I got only had 512 GB of storage, but it was otherwise comparable to that version.)
These devices include a variety of Intel Lunar Lake processors, and by this point, we are aware of what to anticipate from Lunar Lake: An NPU for AI tasks that can operate Copilot+ PC functions, an exceptionally long battery life, and unexpectedly good graphics performance for integrated graphics are all features of the Intel laptop. The main drawback of Lunar Lake, meanwhile, is its poor multithreaded computing capability because it has fewer cores. Although these CPUs provide fast desktop performance, our usual testing consistently shows that they are better suited for office work and portability than for demanding computational applications. However, the laptop is not a lightning-fast workstation with the most battery-draining CPU power; rather, it is a portable, productivity-focused device.
- Model: 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition Lenovo ThinkPad X1
- CPU: 258V Intel Core Ultra 7
- 32GB LPDDR5X memory; Intel Arc 140V graphics/GPU
- NPU: AI Boost from Intel
- Display: 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS screen with 500 nits of brightness and a refresh rate of 60 Hz
- 512 GB PCIe Gen4 SSD for storage
- Camera: 1080p camera
- Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C), two USB Type-A (USB 5 Gbps), a combination audio jack, and an HDMI 2.1 out are all examples of connectivity.
- Networking: Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7.
- Biometrics: IR camera for facial recognition, fingerprint reader
- Battery dimensions: 12.31 x 8.57 x 0.64 inches; capacity: 57 Watt-hours
- 2.97 pounds in weight
- MSRP as tested: $2,336
Design and build quality
The 14-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition is a sturdy, metal laptop. Because the laptop is a convertible 2-in-1 device, you can lay it flat by rotating its hinge 360 degrees. As with other convertible ThinkPads I’ve tried, the hinge feels fantastic. To enhance the touchscreen experience, Lenovo provides a pen.
From an external perspective, this Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 model is very similar to the last one that I evaluated last year. With a bar at the top of the screen where the webcam is located and the iconic red ThinkPad nub in the center, it has a gray metal design.
Although it weighs slightly less than three pounds, it isn’t the lightest laptop available; 2-in-1 computers are often a little heavier than the lightest models. It feels like a substantial but not overly heavy piece of metal, and the weight is rather pleasant.
Display and speakers
The 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS screen of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Aura Edition features a touch screen, 500 nits of brightness, and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. Lenovo refers to this display as “low power” in its specs list, and as we’ll see from the results of our battery life benchmark below, the machine’s long battery life is a direct result of its low power consumption, not just a marketing gimmick. A 2880 x 1800 screen with HDR and a customizable refresh rate of up to 120 Hz is another option for this laptop. That sounds good, but the machine’s battery life will be negatively impacted by the more expensive display.
The exhibit looks fantastic. Lenovo claims to have an antireflective coating, and I can attest to the fact that it is rather effective. In strong lighting, you don’t see the kind of excessive reflections that are frequently seen on a laptop with a glossy display. Although it has a good-looking display and a respectable level of brightness, its main goals are long battery life and practical use. This is a suitable choice for this device, therefore, there are no problems with it.
The speakers on the ThinkPad X1 are far better than you might anticipate for a 14-inch, 2-in-1 notebook that prioritizes portability. The sound is “fuller” than I might anticipate—they even have more bass than I would have thought—and they can get shockingly loud without sacrificing clear audio quality. (However, a device such as this one can never provide the bass that comes from external speakers or headphones.)
Connectivity
The ports on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Aura Edition are well-chosen. Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) connectors and a USB Type-A port are located on the left side. This device features a second USB Type-A connector, an HDMI 2.1 out port, and a combo audio jack for headphones on the right side.
That’s approximately what you would want from this laptop; however, it doesn’t have an SD card reader built in. You may get a dongle, as usual. This computer charges via USB Type-C, which is my biggest pet peeve. To charge the laptop, it would be convenient to include a USB Type-C port on each side.
Performance
Performance on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 is fast. This computer, which has a Lunar Lake CPU (the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V in our evaluation device), does well in standard desktop applications like office and web browsers.
As usual, we evaluated the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10’s performance using our common benchmarks. To get a sense of the overall performance of the system, we first run PCMark 10. With an aggregate PCMark score of 7,626, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 achieved a decent rating for this hardware.
Cinebench R20 is then used. This benchmark, which emphasizes total CPU performance, is substantially multithreaded. Since it’s a fast test, cooling isn’t an issue for prolonged workloads. However, CPUs with more cores have a significant advantage because it is massively multithreaded.
This machine performs poorly compared to other Lunar Lake-powered systems on this kind of benchmark, as evidenced by its Cinebench R20 multithreaded score of 3,913. Intel’s Lunar Lake CPUs have fewer cores and perform significantly worse than systems with more cores, such as the AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, when it comes to multithreaded computational activities.
Conclusion
One reliable business device is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10. Great build quality, long battery life, a pen that can be used for two purposes, and a “future-proof” device that supports everything from Wi-Fi 7 to Windows 11’s Copilot+ PC AI features are all included.
It’s a bit pricey, but business machines are often more expensive. And to be honest, I like this computer more than I thought I would. If you’re searching for this type of PC, you’ll like the choices you made, such as the low-power display and the lovely anti-reflective coating. Indeed, at first glance, a glossy 4K display appears more stunning. However, for productivity, battery life, and readability in brighter environments and direct sunlight are more crucial.
This machine might be the one for you if all of that sounds good. However, I sincerely hope Lunar Lake has greater multithreaded CPU performance; if your workflow requires it, that may be one reason you search for a laptop with more power. However, if you do opt for a more powerful CPU, you won’t get this type of battery life.
