However, this business laptop is relatively expensive and offers lower-than-average 15W CPU performance for that cost.
1.Pricing & specs2.Design & build3.Software4.Display5.Performance & thermals6.Battery life7.Keyboard & input8.Camera, mic, & audio9.Competition10.Scorecard11.Should you buy it?
It’s largely thanks to the company’s ThinkPad X1 Series, a professional staple for many years.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 has magnets built into its left side for holding the optional Lenovo Slim Pen.
The ThinkPad is perhaps best known for its iconic TrackPoint, a red analog stick embedded in the keyboard.
This 2-in-1 has an optional Lenovo Slim Pen and can be folded backward into a tablet.
This review was made possible thanks to a review unit provided by Lenovo.
The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.
Still, this remains relatively expensive for some users.
However, the graphics solution will always be an integrated Intel chip.
There are also plenty of other optional add-ons for pre-installed Adobe programs and various security software packages.
At the time of writing, this specific configuration was selling for$2,100.60 at Lenovo.
It can be either good or bad, depending onhow you might feel about Lenovo’s TrackPoint.
That said, it’s really not uncommon to see this laptop line in business options.
Overall, the laptop is sturdy and looks great with a chassis made from recycled steel-gray aluminum.
There are two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports for connecting your various accessories.
Meanwhile, if you want to connect the laptop to a monitor, there’s an HDMI 2.1 port.
The sample I reviewed came with the optional Lenovo Slim Pen.
However, being narrow like this does keep it flatter against the ThinkPad’s side.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 has magnets built into its left side for holding the optional Lenovo Slim Pen.
Is the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 (Gen 9) good for digital drawing?
If you want to feel more secure, then Windows 11 Pro is designed to protect your laptop better.
As with most laptops, this one comes with various programs installed by default.
One of the most important programs is Lenovo Commercial Vantage.
As you might tell, these are helpful features specifically suited to virtual work meetings.
Curiously enough, Lenovo View even has a wellness section.
The chassis feels sturdy regardless of what position you put it in.
It’s useful for people like me who tend to put way too many hours into a workweek.
To test it, I connected a SpyderX colorimeter to it and ran a color gamut test.
Color saturation and hues are more than good enough for average work needs.
The keyboard becomes inactive when in tablet mode.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
As such, they are ideal for gaming and creative programs like Adobe Creative Cloud.
This doesn’t quite hit the 400 nits Lenovo boasts.
The area that this IPS touchscreen really comes through with is contrast.
The two-point hinges allow the display to be pushed back into tablet mode.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
That said, it performed slightly lower than expected in various benchmark tests.
So, in what ways did the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 disappoint?
That’s more than double the multi-core score of the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1.
There is a lip on the top of the display that helps make the laptop easier to open when shut.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
Specifically, it scored higher than laptops with Intel Iris Xe graphics cards.
It’s not the most exciting result, but it’s not a bad one.
Finally, I also ran a CrystalDiskMark test to check SSD performance.
There is a headphone jack, USB-A port, HDMI 2.1 port, and a Kensington lock on the laptop’s left side.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
So, what does all of this information tell us?
Basically, the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 isn’t a bad laptop by any stretch.
It offers stable performance for basic work usage, even if it isn’t the most powerful.
The right side features another USB-A port and two USB-C Thunderbolt ports.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
What’s more, it should handle AI tasks relatively easily.
However, plenty of other 2-in-1 laptops on the market will give you better performance for your money.
Is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9 an AI PC or a Copilot+ PC?
You can hover over the screen with the Lenovo Slim Pen and see the reticle.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
Honestly, I hadn’t even noticed the fans up to this point because they run so quietly.
I usually use the PCMark 10 Battery benchmark to get a read on laptop battery life.
However, the test always ended early on the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 for some reason.
The Lenovo Slim Pen offers very good battery life and attaches to the side of the laptop magnetically.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
As such, I had to rely more on personal usage experience for this review.
I never had to worry about it running out of juice on me within a workday.
In fact, I usually could use it far into the night while watching shows or browsing the internet.
When enabled, Lenovo Vantage’s WiFi security tool can help identify safe networks.(Image credit: Windows Central)
Obviously, this laptop blows that minimal requirement out of the water.
The laptop comes with a 65W USB-C charging cable, which is preferred over a barrel plug.
The laptop I reviewed had a touchpad with three buttons running above it and proved very responsive.
You can conduct a hardware scan and check system performance in Lenovo Vantage.(Image credit: Windows Central)
As it’s possible for you to guess, this makes it somewhat tedious.
Performance-wise, it’s very responsive, going wherever I intended it to during testing.
As is usually the case, many helpful controls are found on the top function row.
Lenovo View allows you to enhance your camera settings for better performance during virtual meetings.
Meanwhile, the fingerprint reader is near the arrow keys with an obvious fingerprint icon.
It responded correctly each time I used it.
The aforementioned Lenovo View helps keep me in focus and gives me better control over how I’m presented.
When I first set up this laptop, I enabledWindows Hello, which made it easier to access quickly.
Some competitors on the market only offer a digital shutter or don’t have a shutter at all.
Just don’t expect them to go crazy on bass.
The ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 (Gen 9) display produced 100% of sRGB, 75% of AdobeRGB, and 76% of P3 in a color gamut test.
This makes it so that sounds come from the keyboard itself.
Opening Dolby Access allows me to tweak speaker configs until I get them operating the way I want.
Arguably, the closest sister competitor can be seen in ourLenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12) review.
In Geekbench 6, the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 scored lower than expected, meaning it offers lower CPU performance than similar devices.(Image credit: Windows Central)
At the time of writing, this laptop starts selling for$1,440.45 at Lenovo.
Another great option is theHP Spectre 14 2-in-1.
This is yet another Intel Core Ultra 7 laptop, only this time with an Intel Arc graphics card.
Overall system performance for the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 is decent.(Image credit: Windows Central)
As with the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1, this laptop features a fingerprint reader for fast login.
It sells for$1,629.99 at Best Buy.
It even includes a number pad for those who regularly enter numeric data.
The CrystalDiskMark test shows that the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1’s SSD has good read and write speeds.(Image credit: Windows Central)
However, Zachary also points out that this unit’s camera always looks washed out.
At the time of writing, it was selling for$789.99 at Lenovo.
This unique business laptop comes with two OLED displays and a Bluetooth keyboard.
This test shows that you shouldn’t expect to run more graphically demanding programs on the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1.(Image credit: Windows Central)
At the time of writing, it was selling for$1,799.99 at Best Buy.
Outside of Lenovo, you might want to consider the HP Envy 2-in-1.
Various RAM and SSD capacity options are available.
The CPU’s rendering capabilities really aren’t very impressive.(Image credit: Windows Central)
It’s a fantastic choice for any businessperson.
Last we checked, it was selling for$1,099.99 at Best Buy.
There are plenty of configuration options to help you get gadget you need.
Design
5/5 It has a versatile deign, plenty of ports, and looks good in business parameters.
Software
4/5 You have the option of adding various software to your laptop when you buy it.
The main programs are intuitive and useful.
The hottest part of the laptop is the top of the keyboard and the hinges.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
However, it doesn’t get very bright.
Performance
3/5 Compared to other similar AI-boosted laptops, this one often produced lower scores in various benchmark testing.
Keyboard and touchpad
4/5 Each key feels good to use and there are several useful function keys.
The center of the keyboard reaches a peak of 97 degrees F.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
However, the trackpad feels a bit too narrow.
Meanwhile, the stealth audio gets plenty loud but doesn’t offer the best bass.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9: Should you buy it?
The bottom of the laptop peaked at 104 degrees F.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
You should buy this if…
You should not buy this if…
Regarding business laptops, this one is on the more expensive side while offering slightly lower-than-average performance.
It handles basic work tasks such as attending virtual meetings, running basic programs, and browsing the internet.
The hinges get especially hot, peaking at 106 degrees F.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
However, similar devices on the market offer better performance overall.
Otherwise, this can serve your business needs well.
This versatile laptop has a sturdy build, whether you’re using it on a tablet or laptop.
The hinges are even hot on the backside, reaching a peak of 95 degrees F.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
It also features excellent battery life and can easily keep up with an average workday.
Plenty of configuration options are available to help you get the perfect laptop for your needs.
The magnetic pen area only gets as high as 88 degrees F.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 comes with a 65W charging cable.
The keys are very satisyfing to use thanks to their slight resistance and bounce back.
The red TrackPoint is an iconic analog stick for the Lenovo ThinkPad line.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
There is a fingerprint reader at the bottom of the keyboard, near the arrow keys.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
There is a built-in webcam shutter to better ensure your privacy.
The Yoga Book 9i (Gen 9) has dual OLED screens and a Bluetooth keyboard.
Rubber feet on the bottom of the laptop prevent it from sliding around on slick surfaces.
