Two of the most powerful and futuristic laptops on the market right now, Dell’s XPS 13 and Lenovo’s X1 Carbon. These two top-of-the-line machines will be competing in 2020 with Dell releasing its new model soon, so what can we expect?
The “Lenovo thinkpad x1 carbon” is a laptop that has been released by Lenovo. The laptop has an Intel Core i7-8550U processor and 8GB of RAM. It also has a 13.3 inch screen with 1920×1080 resolution, and it weighs 2.6 pounds.
We put the Lenovo X1 Carbon up against the Dell XPS 13 in terms of performance, display quality, price, battery life, portability, and other factors.
The Ranking with the test results can be found above, while the in-depth reports on the Dell and Lenovo Laptops can be found below.
Lenovo X1 Carbon G7 comes in first place.
- Life of the battery and display are excellent.
- The trackpad and keyboard are both quite comfortable.
- Fan noise is low, and there are two Thunderbolt 3 connectors.
- XPS 13 is more costly.
As you can see in the book, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 is a business laptop. It has a lot of connectors, a long battery life, high-quality craftsmanship, is light and small, and has LTE and a matte display. When picking the resolution and CPU, however, numerous factors should be taken into account.
After being unveiled in Las Vegas a good half year ago, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is now available in its seventh iteration. According to corporate workers, Lenovo was under pressure to make a move at CES in January.
Lenovo had to deliver a new flagship for the corporate environment since the competitors had produced a series of new laptops. Later talks revealed that they were hesitant to exhibit new items if they couldn’t be purchased shortly after the introduction.
Techtestreport chose not to test the top model since it is projected to have a worse battery life, particularly with the 4K display. Furthermore, in terms of performance, the tiny Core i5-8265U is quite enough in a professional laptop.
The test device is based on the basic model, but it has 16 GB of RAM, a 512 GB SSD, LTE, NFC, and a Windows Hello camera with ThinkShutter. This brings the total cost to slightly over $1700.
Ports & Design
In terms of appearance, Lenovo’s new ThinkPad X1 Carbon plainly states that it is a business laptop. The whole casing is matte black, with just a red i-dot in the ThinkPad logo and the X1 logo adding some contrast.
If everything had been black here, too, you wouldn’t have noticed since the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is so unassuming. On the top variant, those who want a more noticeable case will receive a lid with visible carbon fiber fabric.
Lenovo does not tolerate any flaws in the gaps, bushing borders, or hinge region, thus the craftsmanship is of the greatest quality. Everything in the vicinity of the monitor, keyboard, and touchpad is likewise well-made.
The new ThinkPad X1 Carbon weights 2.4 pounds, which is 0.1 pound less than the previous model. With the LTE module, the test unit weighs precisely 2.42 lbs. The notebook’s dimensions are a comfortable 32.3 21.7 1.49 cm (W D H), allowing it to fit into any standard laptop bag.
Despite its light and thin form, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is fitted with many older connections, which is likely owing to the corporate setting, but it is also warmly accepted by the editorial team, for example for use at trade shows.
There are two Thunderbolt 3 ports on the left side, which may be used for charging, as well as a connector for the native Ethernet dongle or Lenovo’s dock, USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type A, HDMI 1.4, and a headphone jack.
On the right side of the sixth generation, there was a 3.5 mm jack. The second USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type A connector is there, however it is now simpler to access since it is located in front of the air outlet rather than behind it. The power button is now located in the right-hand side frame, rather than above the end button.
Display
When the laptop is opened, the 14-inch display is revealed, which Lenovo sells in four different configurations. The panels are all made using IPS technology, although they vary in terms of brightness, resolution, and touch compatibility. Full HD with up to 400 cd/m2 is available on the test device, or Full HD with touch with just 300 cd/m2.
Lenovo claims that the matt WQHD display only hits 400 cd/m2. A glossy UHD display with touch and up to 500 cd/m2 replaces the previous maximum, which was a glossy screen with the same resolution and HDR support.
ComputerBase has specifically chosen not to use a UHD screen, instead opting for a matt Full HD display without touch, but with more brightness than the WQHD display. Lenovo makes accurate assertions, as seen by the average brightness of 382 cd/m2, with the peak of 398 cd/m2 being close to the manufacturer’s claimed number.
It’s a shame Lenovo doesn’t provide Full HD at 500 cd/m2. Due to the matt design, there are only little reflections, thus the screen does not have to shine as brilliantly as a glossy variation.
The lighting is excellent, with a homogeneity of 96 percent, however better readings in the bottom left and lower right sections would have allowed for a higher rating. Its excellent contrast of 1.648:1 is due to its low black value.
Touchpad & Keyboard
Because the starting point was already quite excellent, Lenovo hasn’t made any modifications to the input devices in comparison to the 2018 model. For laptops with a flat form, the keyboard delivers a delightfully lengthy stroke once again.
On the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, it may also be written rather quietly and pleasantly. In terms of layout, everything has stayed the same, with the exception of the Fn and Ctrl keys, which have been switched. If you’re not accustomed to it, you may use Lenovo’s Vantage software to customize the keys and their purposes.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 has the trackpoint that was previously absent on the Yoga S940, as well as the matching buttons above the touchpad, and is an excellent alternative to a mouse or touchpad.
Lenovo is unable to make the touchpad as big as the competitors or its own Yoga series devices due to the extra buttons. It is smaller than the Dell XPS 13 or Yoga S940, with a difference of 10 5.6 cm. The gliding properties, like they were last year, aren’t reason for concern.
Webcam
Lenovo’s ThinkShutter has seen a significant upgrade. The mechanism for physically locking the camera is referred to as this by the manufacturer.
For the first time, ThinkShutter is available for the Windows Hello camera with infrared; after 2018, only the normal webcam will be able to use it.
The fingerprint sensor, which is located to the right of the touchpad, may be quickly replaced with biometric unlocking through the user’s face. By the way, the new fingerprint sensor on the G7 is much more reliable than the one on the G6, which had a poor detection rate in normal usage.
Performance
The test device was purposefully ordered with the smallest Core i5-8265U, since the Core i7’s poor heat dissipation makes it unsuitable for ultra-thin laptops.
This was most recently seen in the Yoga S940, where Lenovo compromised performance in favor of silent operation, resulting in a laptop that didn’t perform better than a Core i5.
However, just because a Core i5 in a tiny laptop can operate without throttling doesn’t guarantee the manufacturer is paying attention to the volume. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 starts the Cinebench R15 endurance test with a high multi-core score of 705 points, then lowers to 90% performance for two more runs before fluctuating between 70 and 85 percent performance for the remainder of the test.
This is standard laptop CPU behavior, which decreases performance to cool off before delivering more in the following test. Overall, though, the cooling system maintains the gadget running at a high level without getting too noisy. A notable noise of 35 dBA is produced in the cinebench, and annoying sounds from the fan are not discernible.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 has at least 8 GB of 2.133 MHz LPDDR3 memory, with the test device having 16 GB. Because the RAM is soldered to the motherboard, 32 GB is not accessible and cannot be added later.
This does not apply to the SSD and Fibocom’s LTE module, where Intel’s XMM 7360 is used as a modem for LTE Cat. 9. After releasing five Phillips screws and removing the housing cover, both plug-in cards may be accessible.
For the 512 GB SSD, Lenovo employs a Western Digital PC SN720 in M.2 2280 format with PCIe-NVMe-x4 connectivity. It is the fastest SSD ever tested in laptops, with sequential read speeds of 3.5 GB/s and sequential write speeds of 2.5 GB/s. The random read and write performance of the WD is likewise quite good. After years of searching for a fussy microSD port at the rear, memory expansion through memory cards is no longer a possibility.
Even with the apparently inferior Core i5-8265U, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7’s performance is consistently excellent, placing it ahead of many Core i7 notebooks. In multi-core measurements, the test person invariably ends up in the top third of the current test field, if not farther ahead.
Because the Core i7 competition begins with a clock rate of up to 700 MHz in parts, the laptop only needs to accept defeat in single-core tests. In a single core test with a cooled CPU, a Core i5-8265U has no chance against a Core i7-8565U.
However, the advantage equalizes after all cores are filled and the load is applied for a longer length of time.
Battery life
The battery may be removed from the casing and changed by the user by unscrewing tiny Phillips screws, however utmost care should be used at all times. The battery now has a capacity of 51 Wh, which is 10.5 percent less than last year. For the G6, it was still listed as 57 Wh.
Due to the differences in screens, a straight comparison with the sixth generation of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is not feasible. With a Full-HD display, the current generation with a lower battery outperforms last year’s model with a bigger battery and WQHD screen.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 is just three-quarters of an hour behind the Dell XPS 13 (9380), which has over nine hours of battery life for continuous work in office programs and on the web. With 52 Wh, the battery in the current XPS 13 is a little bigger. The display is likewise smaller, ranging from 13.3 to 14 inches. However, Full HD resolution is also available. The battery life is 30 percent greater than that of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G6 with WQHD display.
In the streaming test, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 trails the Dell XPS 13 (9380), which scores 14 percent higher and has a 14-hour battery life. Lenovo gets a decent to excellent rating with a runtime of more than 12 hours. In comparison, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G6 from last year took just 9:41 hours to complete.
Despite the lower battery, the latest generation’s battery life is decent to excellent. However, you have to wonder how much better the laptop would have performed if Lenovo had kept the battery at 57 Wh at this time.
The casing of the sixth generation, which is 1 mm thicker and 40 g heavier than the present test model, would have been joyfully welcomed in comparison to the current test model.
The bundled 65 watt power supply doesn’t quite match the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7’s noble aesthetic, since it lacks practical touches like a soft coating on the wires, which guarantees that they return to their former shape after winding or bending.
Instead of a simple clip to secure the connection to the laptop, Lenovo uses a Velcro strip that looks cheap and cannot be removed.
Verdict
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, now in its seventh iteration, is now the greatest business laptop, as long as you select the proper configuration. As a result, instead of WQHD or UHD and Core i7, Matt Full HD display and Core i5 are recommended. Full HD on a 14-inch screen is just as adequate as the performance of the apparently inferior CPU.
The performance of a Core i7 on paper cannot be called up indefinitely in small laptops, and higher-resolution screens, particularly the 4K panel, limit battery life.
Lenovo has just tweaked minor aspects in contrast to the sixth generation, all of which are for the better. Memory extension by microSD card, which can only be accessed while closed, is no longer necessary. Furthermore, the fingerprint sensor can now be utilized in daily life, and Lenovo is also offering the ThinkShutter with the Windows Hello camera.
The fact that the power button is now on the right side of the casing rather than above the keyboard has no impact on daily living, either favorably or adversely. It may be claimed, however, that the notebook can now be switched on and off when closed.
The only modification to the negative is that Lenovo has lowered the battery capacity from 57 to 51 Wh in order to make the casing 1 mm slimmer and 40 g lighter. Fortunately, this precaution does not result in poor battery life; the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 is still among the best in this regard. Even yet, a G’schmackle remains, since even greater runtimes might have been reached with a full 57 Wh, as the Swabians would remark.
Nonetheless, there is a good business laptop beneath the hood, which, unlike Dell’s XPS 13, does not cut all connections and is also available with LTE, which is also available in Dell’s Latitude devices.
The casing is well-made and of great quality, the input devices are excellent, and the monitor provides some very nice readings. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 is an excellent alternative for corporate users seeking for a true workhorse.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 begins at $1700, which is $100 cheaper than last year’s model. However, with the basic bundle, the warranty has deteriorated.
For the new model, it provides a three-year warranty that allows courier pickup or client submission in the event of a fault. This is a decline, since a three-year manufacturer’s warranty with on-site servicing was still available last year.
Lenovo’s guarantee includes both replacement parts and repair work, which may be done on-site at the company’s facility or at the customer’s house.
The test device is based on the basic model, but it has 16 GB of RAM, a 512 GB SSD, LTE, NFC, and a Windows Hello camera with ThinkShutter. This brings the total cost to slightly around $2,000 dollars.
The Dell XPS 13 is ranked second.
- Work is being done at a rapid rate.
- Cheaper than the Thinkpad X1 Carbon
- Full-HD display with a near-frameless appearance
The new Dell XPS 13 9300 is regarded as the finest consumer laptop of 2020, and it impressed us right away in our testing. But not in every critical area.
Even if practically everything else about a gadget is perfect, it’s often the little elements that detract from its enjoyment. And the Dell XPS 13 9300 is no exception. I put a Full HD+ touchscreen monitor, an Intel Core i7 processor, and 16 GB RAM to the test. And, on the one hand, I have to commend Dell: the end product is a terrific laptop.
The Dell XPS 13 9300 is a thin and flat laptop. My final test gadget, the Asus Chromebook Flip C436, has left a lasting effect on me. In contrast, the Dell XPS 13 is even slimmer and thinner, but it still weighs 0.22 pounds more.
Ports & Design
When you take up the notebook, you’ll realize that it’s not the lightest thing on the planet, especially not a flyweight like the Dyanbook Portégé X30L-G. But every pound seemed to be well spent here.
The keyboard rests solidly and doesn’t give way, the hinge is delightfully smooth, and the base maintains the tablet sturdy when opened. The Dell XPS 13 9300 can be opened with one hand.
About 135 degrees is the greatest opening angle. I wished for a little more so that I could comfortably watch movies and TV on the sofa (for example with bent legs). However, this is due to the design, a personal choice, and the fact that there is a lot to deal with. The 360-degree model XPS 13 2-in-1, of which Dell still owes us a 2020 model, is for those who seek more versatility.
The XPS in the configuration I have in front of me has a touchscreen; Dell offers both touch and non-touch choices. At first glance, the 16:10 aspect ratio of the screen, along with the razor-thin edges, seems comfortable and familiar.
The touchpad is perfectly centered, and your palms may be comfortably positioned to the left and right of it. The grooved design, by the way, is just decorative. The tray’s texture is really rather smooth.
In addition to the roughly 2.5 meter long USB-C power connector, Dell includes a USB-A to USB-C converter. It’s convenient to have a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3 on both sides, so you can charge the device or attach an external display from either side.
The power plug has an LED that lights up the same manner every time the cable is plugged in. Nothing more than a fun gimmick. Dell might have chosen a color that corresponded to the charge level, such as green or orange.
Apart from the two Thunderbolt 3 USB C connections on the left, there is just one micro SD card slot and one 3.5 mm audio connector on the right. As a result, Dell has left it at the most essential level.
Sound, Touchpad, and Keyboard
The keypad is lit by default, and the brightness may be modified in three levels using the function key (F5). Keystrokes and keystrokes are a little more difficult to get accustomed to and move about with than on other computers.
I can write easily on the XPS 13 keyboard, but I believe I would do it much better on the Lenovo Yoga C940 or MacBook Air keyboards. I have to push harder on the Dell XPS 13 9300. However, I can assume that after a time, you won’t want to use this kind of keyboard.
The keyboard layout is fantastic. In compared to the predecessor, Dell has increased the size of the Enter key, which now spans two lines. The cursor keys are intuitive, and you won’t get stuck in the enclosure with image up and picture down buttons as you may in the previous.
Typing errors are almost impossible with the XPS 13 9300. The dedicated buttons for the keyboard backlight (F5) and play/pause (F4) in the function bar are also quite good. These are the little details that regular typists appreciate.
I took a little longer to get acclimated to the touchpad than I did with prior computers. Because you don’t have an appropriate pressure point for the mouse buttons, you tend to accidentally activate it. The surface is also a little rougher than the Dynabook touchpads, so the finger doesn’t slide over it as smoothly.
And there’s one more unusual thing. Apparently, when carrying the gadget, I accidently activated the touchpad by pushing the casing. This is a unique function of my gadget that I wouldn’t dismiss, but which Dell most likely didn’t anticipate:
The stereo loudspeakers on the left and right provide a rich, yet muffled sound. Dell has positioned them towards the bottom of the sides, but unlike other manufacturers, has included some significant aspects here. Despite its less-than-ideal location, less sound is lost here than in comparable structures.
Even at maximum volume, nothing hummed or clinked in our test tune, London Grammar’s “Night Call.” Nonetheless, the sound isn’t very impressive; for a laptop that begins at over $1100, more might have been done.
Battery life and display
In my test configuration, the Dell XPS 13 9300 display produces an image that is incredibly clear, vivid, and high-resolution. And this despite the fact that I went with the FHD+ variant for the Dell XPS 13 9300 since I’ve had awful luck with 4K displays’ battery life.
Dell gets practically everything right here: the resolution, the 16:10 aspect ratio, and, on top of that, a very high brightness.
I used to be able to get by with a brightness of 40%. You can even operate in bright sunshine if you crank it all the way up, since the display scarcely reflects anything. Overall, this is one of the most impressive displays I’ve ever seen. Dell done a fantastic job on it!
For that, the battery life isn’t nearly as good. I’d only just gotten through the day in Windows’ energy-saving mode. It was over here after a little more than 8 hours, without power saving mode it was closer to 6 hours under Windows, and even closer to 5 to 6 hours under Ubuntu-Linux.
And while I’m on the road, I normally just have the browser and three or four other apps open at the same time (Messenger, Spotify, rudimentary picture editing, Explorer). And you should never have more than 5 tabs open in your browser at the same time.
Dell claims that the FHD+ model has a battery life of “18 hours and 49 minutes with productivity programs.” And that is just not the case; it isn’t even close.
Dell claims the runtime for the Core i5 model with 8 GB RAM, however I tried the Core i7 version with touch and 16 GB RAM. But the fact that my setup consumes more electricity in this manner absolutely cannot and must not be.
Software
Dell is helpless in the face of Windows 10 and its quirks. However, it helps that the system immediately gets on your nerves with the initial network failures, and that the difficulties remain despite system and driver upgrades throughout my test. Especially (but not only) when I have another laptop nearby, both network connections break every minute.
A Dell program called “Support Assist” that was meant to enhance the system never made it through the period of my test to look for upgrades. This was how the window appeared for a long time:
While I give Dell credit for not overburdening the machine with software. There are no bothersome anti-virus pop-ups, and just a few Dell Command update requests at first. That’s all there is to it.
It’s annoying since the system slows down significantly. Because Windows is plainly working on something in the background without informing the user what, it takes longer for the writing application (WordPress under Firefox) to register an assault.
The XPS 13 9300’s cooling system This is something I’ve only heard a few times. Once during a Windows security virus check and once during a load test with several open applications and tabs. Even yet, the cooler is pleasant to the ear and not at all obtrusive.
The webcam, like other current laptops, isn’t exactly cutting-edge. Even in full daylight, the visual quality is distorted and rustles.
Verdict
In conclusion, the Dell XPS 13 9300 is a near-perfect laptop. The greatest and most likely brightest display on the market, a quick yet quiet system, contemporary connectors, and a fantastic keyboard.
The main drawbacks are the only decent sound, a few hiccups in Windows interface, and, most importantly, the battery life. It shouldn’t be permitted since it’s not even half as long as Dell claims and doesn’t even get you through the workday securely.
In the XPS 13 9300, Dell does virtually everything perfect. The greatest display on the market, excellent craftsmanship, an unobtrusive, quiet system, and an excellent keyboard are all hampered by a battery life that falls well short of Dell’s expectations.
The “Lenovo X1 Carbon 2020” is a laptop computer that has been released by Lenovo. The “Dell XPS 15 2019” was released by Dell in the year 2018. These two laptops are very similar, so it will be difficult to determine which one is better for you. Reference: lenovo thinkpad vs dell xps 15.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better Dell XPS or ThinkPad?
A: There is no clear answer to this question. It depends on the person and their needs.
Is the Dell XPS 13 worth it 2020?
A: Yes, the Dell XPS 13 is worth it in 2020.
Is Dell XPS 13 2020 good for students?
A: Dell XPS 13 2020 is a powerful laptop that can easily be used for school related needs. It has an Intel Core i7-8750H processor, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage with 8th generation Intel® Quad Core™ processors.
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