Key points of ZDNET
- Lenovo ThinkBook 14x Gen 4 starting at $1,580, with upgrades pushing the price closer to $2,000.
- It’s surprisingly versatile at 13 inches and comes with a powerful processor and impressive battery.
- It’s not cheap, however, and its ultra-portability means it only has a USB-C port.
Despite its compact size, ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 is a great power. Lenovo first introduced the ultraportable at CES 2024, and initial impressions focus on the return of the Magic Bay, a line of peripherals that combine and connect to laptops via magnetic pogo pins (think MagSafe, but for laptops).
But while Magic Bay products may attract the most attention, there’s much more to this laptop than that. In fact, this laptop is surprisingly versatile.
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The ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 comes with an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H (2.4 GHz) processor but can be boosted with an Intel Core Ultra 9 — an option I was surprised to see in this laptop — bringing it in line with other high-performing business machines (increasing the price by more than $400 in the process).
The review unit I tested performed snappy enough with the Ultra 5, and had absolutely no problem multitasking with several productivity apps and multiple browser tabs across two screens. Additionally, this laptop is compact enough to make traveling to and from the office a breeze, making me question why I chose the 16-inch display as my primary driver.
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But then I started working on the 13.5-inch screen and I remembered. Don’t get me wrong, the display on the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 looks great. Really good with 500 nits brightness and 120Hz variable refresh rate. But its size, even at maximum resolution, results in the screen looking a bit cramped if you’re used to more space. Ultimately, it’s a trade-off that comes down to personal preference.
However, this laptop’s performance and versatility tips the scales in a positive direction. in my benchmark of this laptop, I have stable read and write speeds from the internal SSD PCMark 10and slightly better performance than Intel Core Ultra 5 in Cinebench than I expected.
The memory on the ThinkBook 13x is also some of the fastest you can get on an ultraportable of this size, as dual-channel 8400 MHz RAM is soldered in to future-proof the laptop. hybrid. But if you choose Intel Core Ultra 5, the maximum amount of RAM you can get is 16GB. To get up to 32GB, you’ll have to go with a Core Ultra 9 chip. I’d like to see a 32GB option available with the cheaper processor.
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In that vein, this is a forward-looking laptop that doesn’t strive for backwards compatibility, and that’s evident in the port selection. You get three USB-C ports on this machine, all of which are compatible with Thunderbolt 4. With three Thunderbolts, you don’t really need HDMI or USB-A, but it does come with a 3.5mm headphone jack and The power button is also a fingerprint reader.
Despite its small size, the keyboard feels spacious and crisp. Its unique design extends the keyboard to the edge of the device with virtually no bezel, providing satisfyingly thick keys that are the same size (or even larger) than what you see on the screen. 16 inch figure. The lack of a number pad on the right adds to this fact.
This laptop’s chassis comes in a metallic “Luna Gray” and a limited edition white called “Seashell” that I wish I could see up close and personal, as the default gray completely captures the look of the laptop. company.
That said, the ThinkBook 13x feels extremely solid – I’d even say ironclad – with virtually no flex or flex to the chassis. Its durability is measured based on 12 military-grade certification methods, meeting MIL-STD 810H standards. If you like this style of laptop, you’ll love this laptop, which despite its size is nothing if not sturdy.
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Okay, let’s talk about Magic Bay. If you love laptop accessories or have a drawer full of webcams, definitely check this one out. The modular flexibility of the Magic Bay ecosystem gives this laptop (and other Lenovo machines that support it) the ability to combine multiple hats, depending on the accessories you use.
For example, Magical Bay Light can act as a ring light if you receive a call in sub-optimal lighting conditions or Magic Bay LTE hotspot can secure your internet connection if Wi-Fi fails. There are also more obvious add-ons, like external storage, a fan (for you, not the laptop), or even a second screen, although these are in various stages. different stages of development and availability.
That is Magic Bay Studio, however, it’s the most useful add-on. It’s a 4K webcam with built-in speakers, and it elevates this laptop into professional creator territory. It’s yet to be seen how far Lenovo will take the Magic Bay products, but I think it’s something that could work well if done smartly.
The Magic Bay’s pogo pins are located above the laptop’s screen.
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
If you’re wondering how all these add-ons relate to battery life, fortunately the Thinkbook 13x isn’t lacking in that department. It comes with a 74WHr battery, which is quite large for a 13-inch.
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In my testing, I got more than 10 hours on PCMark 10’s battery test, and a little less than my own test runtime with YouTube live streaming at 50% brightness and 50% volume over Wi-Fi. This is definitely a laptop that can handle a day of heavy work with ease and stretch into a second day of light or intermittent use.
The last thing that surprised me about this laptop is the sound quality. The Harman-Kardon speaker has impressive bass and volume, especially for such a small machine, adding to its versatility.
ZDNET Buying Tips
If you’re looking for a powerful and versatile 13-inch laptop, take a close look Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4. It’s not cheap, but it has powerful processor options and strong battery life, and the Magic Bay adds a whole new level of versatility.
If you want a 13-inch laptop with similar specs but a little more affordable, MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo is a solid alternative starting at $899. If you like ThinkBooks but are looking for a larger screen, check it out Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2 in 1.
