GoKawiilCNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
7.0 / 10
SCORE Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition $1,886 at Lenovo Pros Sturdy aluminum build
Solid productivity performance
Killer battery life Cons Dim, muddy IPS screen
Overpriced for what it provides
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition has a clear audience in mind, and it serves that audience quite well, assuming you have the cash to spring for it. This convertible ultraportable is aimed at business users who want a compact and well-put-together productivity machine. The ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 fills this niche admirably, providing competitive performance and long battery life in a durable, slim aluminum chassis, along with the convenience and versatility of a two-in-one.
As much as I like its mix of strong build quality, performance and battery life, there's one aspect of the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 that prevents a stronger recommendation: the display. My review model featured the baseline display option, which is an uninspiring IPS panel that lacks color accuracy and brightness while topping out at a disappointing 1,920x1,200-pixel resolution. Lenovo offers a 2.8K OLED upgrade option, but it only adds to the already elevated price.
When you consider that the price of my eval unit is already close to $2,000 -- and that's with a sizable Lenovo discount already factored in -- I suspect you'll agree with me that an OLED display should already be included. The ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition still costs less than Lenovo's flagship ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, which lacks two-in-one functionality. If you don't need your business laptop to double as a tablet, then check out the HP EliteBook Ultra G1i that includes a 2.8K OLED and can be found for less than the price of my ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 at its regularly discounted price of $1,799.
Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
... continue reading