About a month ago, I was fortunate to receive a pre-production, 3rd generation X1 Carbon Touch to use and review. Since it was revealed at CES 2015 last week, I'm now able to share some of my thoughts about it.
As a side note, if you have been following Lenovo at CES this year, you may have heard that the 100 millionth ThinkPad has rolled off the production line and that ThinkPad was at Lenovo's product exhibition in Las Vegas. Quite fittingly, it's a Gen3 X1 Carbon and her name is Eve. You can follow her on Twitter as @ThinkEve (https://twitter.com/thinkeve). She's quite witty, actually!
The unit I received, while described as pre-production, certainly looks completely polished and ready to ship. Nothing appears rough or unfinished. The specs, as far as I can tell, are top-of-the-line.
CPU: 5th generation Intel Core i7-5600U (Broadwell)
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5500 (integrated)
Memory: 8GB PC3-12800 DDR3L 1600 MHz (soldered to system board)
Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe solid state drive
(Samsung MZHPV512HDGL-000L1: http://www.thessdreview.com/daily-news/latest-buzz
WLAN: Intel 7265AC Dual Band with Bluetooth 4.0
WWAN: Sierra EM7345
LCD: 14.0" IPS WQHD @ 2560 x 1440 with 10-point multitouch (270 nit)
Keyboard: Six-row, backlit (2 levels)
Webcam: 720p with dual noise-canceling HD microphones
Ports (left): Power, OneLink, full-size HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, Always-on USB3.0, Headphone/mic combo jack
Ports (right): Security lock slot, Ethernet extension connector (w/cable), USB3.0
Ports (rear): micro-SIM card slot
OS: Windows 8.1 Pro Update 1 x64
It will be very interesting to see how the options list expands as production and shipping ramp up.
(Current info at: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/x-se
Other than the newer specification components, the Gen3 X1 Carbon differs from its Gen2 predecessor in a number of very significant ways:
- First, the adaptive key row of the Gen2 X1 Carbon has been replaced by more traditional and familiar Fn keys. The key spacing is a little tight, but their return is enthusiastically welcomed.
- Next, the key arrangement has reverted, so much of my built-up muscle memory is useful again.
- Finally, and most importantly to many, the TrackPoint buttons have returned! One of the things I learned at CES this year, was that Lenovo took the time and opportunity to make the buttons even better. I won't delve into the minutiae here, but the click and feel really is better than in any other ThinkPad in my collection. Lenovo listened!
Impressions:
- With the i7 + PCIe SSD combination, this machine flies! I don't do CADD, video rendering, compile million-line source code files or work with billion-cell spreadsheets, so I can't comment on how those kinds of use cases would fare, but in my opinion that's not the purpose of this type of machine. While I don't rely heavily on synthetic benchmarking tests, preferring instead subjective "feel", I did run CrystalDiskMark and AS SSD Benchmark as I was curious about the results for the new PCIe-attached drive. For reference, the AS SSD score for the 512GB Samsung 840Pro in the main drive bay of my X220 (SATA3-6Gb/sec interface) is: 1106.
- The LCD is bright and crisp. I see no indication of light-bleed around the edges as is often the case with IPS panels, nor am I seeing image retention.
- The fit and finish is perfect, as far as I can tell. No rough edges, bezel gaps, or the like.
- The 6-row keyboard is fast, crisp and accurate. As I mentioned above, the Fn key group spacing is a little tight, but their return is very welcome. The traditional navigation keys are much better placed.
- I haven't explored the battery life in depth, yet. I'm generally never more than 3 hours from a power source, so it's not the most critical factor for me in any of my ThinkPads. The 50Whr battery is spec'ed at >10 hours and features RapidCharge capability. YMMV.
- I'm unable to test the WWAN functionality as I don't have a suitable micro-SIM card nor service plan.
- So far, the number, type and placement of available ports is working well for me.
- I would like the option of 16GB of RAM. Well... just because.
- Indicator lights would be welcome in a future iteration.
In a nutshell, this ThinkPad is gorgeous!
( so superlative, in fact, that Annie photobombed one my picture attempts 
)
From the WQHD IPS touch LCD, to the return of the dedicated function key row, and most importantly to some of you, I'm sure, the return of the TrackPoint buttons, Lenovo has hit a grand-slam home run. All IMHO, of course. Everything that I (and many others) did not like about the 2nd generation X1 Carbon has not only been addressed, but in the case of some things, improved.
Many long-term ThinkPadders consider the X300/301 machines as the pinnacle of mobile design and functionality, and I'm one of them. The Gen3 X1 Carbon, though, is a contender for taking the crown!
Well done, Lenovo... very well done, indeed!
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