Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9 Review: The 2-in-1 Cousin to the X1 Carbon That Would Benefit from Higher-End Options

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9 Review

The Lenovo X1 2-in-1 Gen 9 is both a souped-up X1 Carbon. It substitutes the lightweight carbon fiber for stiffer and shinier aluminum. It also offers a 2-in-1 flexibility, with a 360-degree hinge to support tabletop presentations or a tablet experience.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9 sports an improved pen that doesn’t tuck away. It offers a better stylus experience, but it also no longer has a home, making it prone to loss despite its magnets along the top and side of the laptop. It also comes with a pen and touch-enabled as a default on all displays, including the beautiful 2.8K OLED I saw only in previews.

On the other hand, Lenovo limits the 2-in-1 to lesser processors, curtailing the upper limits of power but also, likely, keeping the metal case cooler. It also lacks access to Intel Arc graphics.

Besides those few items, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9 is essentially the X1 Carbon design in a slightly heavier package, with a pen and 360-degree hinge. The two devices share ports, maximum memory, networking and cellular options. While the case material differs, the footprints are identical, as is the little camera hump that makes for quickly opening the lid.

The differentiation comes down to use cases. While the X1 Carbon is a premier laptop for traditional and AI-enabled work, the 2-in-1 offers a more creative flair for content creators and for those who leverage that creativity in sales and other presentation situations. That said, I wish it had access to at least Intel Arc Graphics.

The creativity angle must be qualified with a preference for Windows and Microsoft. The X1 2-in-1 is a beautiful machine, and for those looking for a convertible Windows 11 device, they can’t go wrong. The X1 2-in-1 performs well in any orientation. I am not a fan of 2-in-1 Windows devices, regardless of who makes them. Microsoft’s Surface tablets offer an alternative for Windows users, but Apple or Android (such as Lenovo’s massive Tab Extreme) tablets still offer better pure pen-based experiences. 

To the point f design similarity, see this Lenovo video from YouTube.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9 Specifications

Full specifications for the Lenovo X1 2-in-1 Gen 9 with Maximum Configuration compared to the As Reviewed Configuration.

Feature	Max Config	As Reviewed
CPU	Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H Processor (E-Core Max 3.80 GHz, P-Core Max 4.80 GHz with Turbo Boost, 16 Cores, 22 Threads, 24 MB Cache)	Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155U Processor (E-Core Max 3.80 GHz, P-Core Max 4.80 GHz with Turbo Boost, 12 Cores, 14 Threads, 12 MB Cache)
GPU	Integrated Intel® Graphics	Integrated Intel® Graphics
Display	14″ 2.8K (2880 x 1800), OLED, Anti-Glare/Anti Reflection/Anti Smudge, Touch, HDR 400, 100%DCI-P3, 400 nits, 120Hz	14″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200), IPS, Anti-Glare, Touch, 100%sRGB, 400 nits, 60Hz, Low Power, Eyesafe®
Webcam	8MP & IR Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) with Computer Vision & webcam privacy shutter	8MP & IR Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) with Computer Vision & webcam privacy shutter
Memory	Up to 64GB LPDDR5x (6400MHz) soldered	16 GB LPDDR5x (6400MHz) soldered
Internal Storage (upgradable)	2TB PCIe Gen4 Performance SSD	1TB PCIe Gen4 Performance SSD
Keyboard	ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard (1.5mm travel), Spill-resistant, Glass TrackPad with 3 buttons (120mm / 4.72″), Backlit with white LED lighting, Air intake keys, Dual-function TrackPoint.	ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard (1.5mm travel), Spill-resistant, Glass TrackPad with 3 buttons (120mm / 4.72″), Backlit with white LED lighting, Air intake keys, Dual-function TrackPoint.
Audio	Dolby Atmos® 2 x speakers 2 x 360-degree quad-array microphones and Dolby Voice® certified for professional conferencing solution.	Dolby Atmos® 2 x speakers 2 x 360-degree quad-array microphones and Dolby Voice® certified for professional conferencing solution.
Wireless	Intel® WiFi 7 BE200 802.11BE (2 x 2), Bluetooth® 5.3, and vPro®: On vPro® Processors	Intel® WiFi 6E* AX211 802.11AX (2 x 2), Bluetooth® 5.3, and vPro®: On vPro® Processors
Broadband	WWAN Optional : Quectel EM160R-GL 4G LTE CAT16 WWAN Optional : Quectel RM520N-GL 5G Sub6	None
Battery	57Whr battery with optimized power distribution for longer life unplugged, Rapid Charge (60 minutes = 80% capacity), requires 65W or higher adapter	57Whr battery with optimized power distribution for longer life unplugged Rapid Charge (60 minutes = 80% capacity), requires 65W or higher adapter
SmartCard Reader	None	None

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9 Other Details

See the X1 Carbon Gen 12 Review for a more detailed overview of the included technology.

Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 12 Review: An Outstanding Laptop for Modern Work

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9 Slots

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9: The bottom line

The ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9, with its touchscreen, pen support, and multi-mode flexibility, is perfect for creatives and collaborators who value versatility and hybrid usability. Choose the Carbon Gen 12 for performance and portability; opt for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9: for creativity and adaptability.

Lenovo provided the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9 for review. Images courtesy of Lenovo unless otherwise noted.

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