Which ThinkPad is right for you?

Almost every year, Lenovo introduces new versions of its most popular laptops, and 2023 is no exception with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 and ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8. Both come with a similar set of small upgrades, mostly upping the bar. wizards. To the latest 13th generation Intel models. These laptops have been known to stay the same on the outside with each new iteration, but that’s part of what makes them popular.

But while they are both similar to their predecessors, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon and X1 Yoga are still very different from each other. If you’re looking for a new business laptop to buy this year, they’re both great options, but which one is right for you? We are here to help with that.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 vs. ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8: Pricing and availability

Lenovo announced 2023 updates for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon and X1 Yoga at the end of 2022, but they aren’t set to launch until April 2023. As usual, you might want to check Lenovo’s website if you want to buy them because it’s unlikely that It will be available at stores like Best Buy anytime soon. In addition, you will get all configuration options straight from the source.

Officially, pricing starts at $1,729 for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon and $1,859 for the ThinkPad X1 Yoga. Lenovo always runs some sort of sale on their website, so there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find them for less than this price soon after launch.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 vs ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8: Specifications

Design and Ports: Clamshell or Convertible?

Normally, we start these comparisons by breaking down performance and screen, but realistically, the biggest difference between these two laptops lies in the design—the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a clamshell laptop while the ThinkPad X1 Yoga is a convertible. This means that while one is just a laptop, the other has a hinge that can rotate 360 ​​degrees, allowing you to use it as a tablet or in different positions like tent mode to watch videos. That alone can make the decision for you, especially if you value the versatility of a convertible.

Then there are the looks. Lenovo’s ThinkPad family has notably stuck with its iconic black look with red accents, which we see in almost the entire portfolio, including the X1 Carbon. However, the X1 Yoga is an exception. While it has the same classic design and red accents, the chassis is silver instead of black. Silver is the most popular color in the rest of the laptop industry, but many ThinkPad fans love that distinct black color, so it’s up to you which side you’re on.

They are also made of different materials. While the ThinkPad X1 Yoga is made mostly of aluminum, the X1 Carbon uses a mix of materials, including magnesium and carbon fiber, which gives it a different feel and helps make it lighter. In fact, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon starts at just 2.48 pounds, which is significantly less than the X1 Yoga’s 3 pounds, making it even more portable.

The ports are the same across both laptops. You get two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB Type-A ports, an HDMI port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an optional Nano SIM card slot if you choose a model with cellular connectivity. And on that note, both mobile devices give you a choice of either 5G or 4G LTE, so you can get the one that best suits your needs and budget.

Screen: X1 Yoga up to 4K

While the biggest differences between these two laptops undoubtedly lie in their design, there are some other differences as far as the display is concerned. The basic specs are about the same — both have 14-inch screens with a 16:10 aspect ratio, and both start with either a WUXGA or Full HD+ IPS panel.

However, because the ThinkPad X1 Yoga is a convertible, it needs touch support in every configuration, while only select models of the X1 Carbon have touch support. On that note, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga also has a built-in stylus that you can use with the screen to doodling or take handwritten notes.

Most of the configurations are the same, except for the top of the line option. On the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, Lenovo only gives you the option of up to a 2.8K OLED panel, while the X1 Yoga can be configured with a 4K OLED display, which means it’s sharper in theory. Realistically, the 14-inch screen is small enough and both panels have very high resolutions, so it probably doesn’t matter if you have a 2.8K or 4K panel. What’s more, a 4K screen can eat up your battery much more quickly, so the X1 Carbon has an advantage in terms of battery life if you want the high-end configuration.

For other media-related specs, things are pretty much the same. Both have 1080p webcams with infrared facial recognition and optional computer vision support, as well as quad array microphones for audio capture.

Performance: They are almost the same

We left the performance for last because there isn’t much to say here. While Lenovo hasn’t yet revealed the specific processor configurations for each laptop, based on last year’s models, we can tell they’ll be mostly similar. You can get a P-series Intel Core i7 processor with vPro option support, which means you should get pretty good performance, although battery life may not be as great as it was back when these laptops used U-core processors. series. Both laptops also come with up to 64GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage, so the similarities continue.

The differences there are likely to be in the thermal design and how each laptop is outfitted to dissipate heat. If you look at our reviews of previous iterations—the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 and ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7—you’ll see that the X1 Yoga has more trouble keeping its performance up, and that the X1 Carbon is faster across the board. This is especially visible in tests like 3DMark Time Spy and Geekbench 5.

Of course, it is possible that the thermal solution has been optimized for the new models, but this is not yet clear and Lenovo has not mentioned it. Those numbers don’t necessarily mean performance will be bad on the X1 Yoga, but during demanding workloads it just won’t be that fast.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 vs ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8: Which should you buy?

These two laptops are identical in many ways, but since the differences between them mostly come down to the form factor, which one you choose comes down to personal preference. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is more realistic with its iconic ThinkPad look, plus it’s more portable, so those are good reasons to prefer it.

On the other hand, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga has a more premium and modern body with its silver finish, and you get the versatility of a convertible. If you are interested in using your computer as a tablet, then this is the right option for you. Of course, it comes at a higher price, so you’ll need to weigh the benefits against the cost.

The most objective point of comparison is performance, and even that is similar on paper. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is probably faster, but unless you’re working on heavy workloads like video editing, you probably won’t notice the difference.

You’ll have to wait until April to be able to purchase these laptops, so you’ll have some time to think about it. We’ll be sure to have links below for you to purchase any of the laptops as soon as they become available.