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I’ve had a special place in my heart for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon series for a while now. I have personally reviewed Gen 11, Gen 12, and now Gen 13.
The Gen 12 was a nice upgrade from the Gen 11, and that trend continues with the Gen 13. So much so, that if I ever needed to move my primary machine away from Mac (stuck in Mac Ecosystem for many reasons for my primary machine), I would strongly consider this laptop as a business every-day machine.
It’s got everything that a busy business professional could want or need. It has great ports, power, a good battery, excellent performance, and is lightweight and easy to carry. What more could you want from one of the best business laptops around?
I keep specifically saying that a business professional laptop is needed for a reason- that’s what it is. With that being said, I will review this laptop. It’s not meant to be a creative powerhouse, it’s not meant for the developers who need maxed-out machines to process large warehouses and scripts, and it’s not meant for the casual browser who might check their email and Google a few things.
This computer is intended for the business professional whose day-to-day work depends on their needs. Still, one thing is for sure: they need something reliable, able to jump in and out of work, portable enough to go from place to place, has a great port selection for what may come and whatever they may need, and the ease of use that comes with a ThinkPad. It might be one of the best Lenovo ThinkPad laptops around – and it’s definitely my favorite yet.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition: Unboxing & first impressions
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 came in compact and secure packaging, much like all Lenovo devices I have reviewed. It came with a 65W USB-C charger, the proper documentation, and nothing else. It’s pretty straightforward.
After my first look at this machine, I noticed that it reminds me of the other Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptops I tested. They are all clearly in the same family. Beyond the comparison, it looks very sleek and professional, it’s lightweight, portable, and built from clearly high-quality materials that I don’t have to worry about breaking every day I take it out of the house.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition: Design & Build Quality
Specs
Display: 14″ 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED, 120Hz
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics 140V
Memory: 32GB LPDDR5x-8533 (soldered)
Storage: Up to 2TB PCIe 5.0 SSD
Ports: 2 x Thunderbolt 4, 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio jack
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Battery: 57Wh
Weight: 2.2 lbs (0.99 kg)
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is built from, as the name implies, carbon fiber and magnesium alloy, making a durable yet lightweight chassis while still allowing for a professional and premium feel as well.
The keyboard has the touchpoint in the middle as Lenovo Laptops do, and on top of that, it has a great backlit keyboard with excellent tactile feedback on every press, making it comfortable to use all day long. The ThinkPad’s touchpad has integrated buttons on the top of the square, making it super easy to click, click and drag, right click, and so on from the touchpad or the touchpoint.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition: In use
I could go on and on about using this machine for the last 137 days. During this time, I have had the X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura in a rotation with my other workhorse machines, and even so, this one has stood out among the rest. It’s been a favorite to grab quick for a day working out and about, using when working from home, or taking on a short trip due to it’s compact size yet blazing performance.
So far, it has handled multitasking and productivity for business tasks with ease. I have thrown my plethora of Chrome tabs with project management tools and large documents at it without a problem. I’ve run basic prompts through Postman, done some light photo editing, a lot of writing, emails, and some fun benchmarks, and so far this machine has not skipped a beat.
One thing that makes this machine special with that Aura edition is the inclusion of security parameters like how it will blur the screen, suggest a VPN, and prompt me if someone is looking over my shoulder while I am working out at a coffee shop or in a co-working space.
I love the 14-inch platform for laptops. I have had 12-inch laptops, 13-inch laptops, 15-inch laptops, 11 iPads, and so on, but the 14-inch is my absolute favorite. It’s just the right size, the sweet spot even, between easy to carry and still having plenty of room on the screen for all your tasks, project management, virtual meetings, writing, and so on.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Design | Simple, compact, beautiful | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Ease of use | Easy to use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Practicality | Right for most people | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Price | Understandably higher price | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition: Final verdict
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is a powerful option for professional individuals in need of a laptop that is not just lightweight but also durable and loaded with all manner of features. This computer is a fantastic component helping me do what I do.
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