If I were to buy a new laptop today, I’d get a ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12). If you need a laptop for productive work, and not gaming or workstation-level video and photo editing, this is a fantastic choice. The X1 Carbon range has long been considered the Rolls Royce of business laptops, combining a fantastic keyboard, great navigation (touchpad and TrackPoint), plenty of ports and long battery life in a slim 1.1kg chassis.
When I reviewed the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12) earlier this year, I really liked it, but regretted that it was so expensive compared to the previous generation X1 Carbons. Now, with the upcoming Labor Day deals, Lenovo finally has some X1 Carbon (Gen 12) configurations on offer at really good prices, about $900 cheaper than before.
An entry-level model with Core Ultra 5 CPU, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD is just $1361 today, or you can upgrade to a SKU with Core Ultra 7 155U CPU, 32GB RAM, and 512GB SSD for $1687. Use coupon code BUYMORELENOVO at checkout to get an additional $40 off.
Both models on sale feature 1920 x 1200 non-touch screens, Wi-Fi 6E, and 1080p webcams with IR facial recognition. The model we tested for our review had a 2880 x 1800 OLED panel, which likely had a negative impact on battery life. Still, it lasted 9 hours and 27 minutes on our test, where we browsed the web over Wi-Fi with the screen brightness set to 150 nits.
I estimate that if you buy a model with a non-OLED 1920 x 1200 panel, you’ll get an extra hour or two of endurance, maybe even more.
During the hours you’re using it, the X1 Carbon has a lot to offer. I found the snappy keyboard great for typing, and I love the TrackPoint pointing stick that lets me navigate the desktop without taking my fingers off the home row. If you don’t like the red nub, there’s a very precise glass touchpad.
The X1 Carbon is super slim at just 0.59 inches thick, but still has room for two USB Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports, and a full-size HDMI port. Whether you want to use a Thunderbolt dock or plug in one of the best USB flash drives, you don’t need a dongle.
Back in the spring when I reviewed the X1 Carbon, a model with a similar configuration to the one we tested (Core Ultra 5, 16GB, 512GB) cost $2263. Today, it’s about $900 less, so if you’re looking for a great productivity laptop, you can save a lot of money right now.
