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The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is famously Avram\'s favorite laptop and the one that he owns personally. This week, we\'re getting a closer look at the newest version of the laptop - the 9th Generation.

The Screen

The new model has a number of changes over its predecessor, but the most immediately noticeable is the screen. The size has changed because instead of the 16x9 aspect ratio, the 9th generation is using a 16x10 aspect ratio. This means that instead of 1920x1080, it has 1920x1200. We\'ve seen more laptops go this direction, offering more vertical real estate instead of giving it all to the horizontal.

This generation also offers several choices for screens. You can get an FHD+ (WUXGA) or UHD+ resolution, and you can it with and without touch capability. For some, touch is an absolute necessity, while others prefer to skip the feature entirely. Lenovo is known for giving the option, and this model is no different. The FHD+ screen offers a theoretical 400 nits (though tests show closer to 350), while the UHD+ screen has a theoretical 500 nits.

The Battery

Another major feature of the new generation is its battery life. On the Tom\'s Hardware tests, they consistently got 15.5 hours of continual use. This is a big improvement over its predecessor. On a number of tests, it is averaging about 3 hours more than its 8th Generation counterpart. Those extra hours can be a benefit for those who work a long day on the go, such as being on the show floor of a trade show, or traveling cross-country or intercontinental.

The Body

The X1 Carbon offers a lot in its small body. Coming in at just 2.5 pounds slightly above a half inch thick, this laptop really packs a punch. It\'s got its big screen, but also offers the famous Lenovo keyboard. Lenovo laptop keyboards are regarded as the best in the industry, and the X1 Carbon does not disappoint. It also offers a new, bigger touchpad, giving a larger hit box so you have to lift your finger less often when going across the screen.

In addition, we get a ton of full-size ports - something that is becoming less common on these small format laptops. In addition to a pair of USB-C ports, both of which can be used to charge the laptop, you also get two USB-A ports - one on each side of the laptop. There is also a full-size HDMI port, meaning you will not need a special cable or an adapter to hook up to a monitor or television. As a business class laptop, needing less specialty cables makes presentations and travel easier. It also has a headphone jack, another port that is slowly disappearing from electronics of all types.

The Conclusion

The newest generation of ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a great laptop for general use or business applications, which is who it is intended for. However, remember that, with integrated graphics, this will not be the right choice for video editing or videogaming, unless you\'re using something like Xbox Cloud Gaming.