The ThinkPad X13 will become an inseparable travel companion. I never hesitated to take this light and agile machine with me during my review period. Its exemplary quality inspires confidence and I loved that its lid opens quickly with one hand.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The keyboard is about 90% full size and although the keys seem a little small, my fingers had no problem reaching my maximum speed on the keyboard. monkey type online typing test on first try. Instinctive key spacing, wide key travel, and precise tactile adjustment make long typing sessions melt away. The white backlighting on the keys is also clean and functional.
Lenovo also highlights the touch panel. Although it’s top-hinged and more mechanical than tactile, it feels natural and clicks with confidence. ThinkPad loyalists will appreciate TrackPoint’s classic “red bump” pointer and dedicated buttons, and Lenovo’s Vantage app also allows traditionalists to switch the Fn and Ctrl keys to their traditional positions.
The 1,920 by 1,200 pixel IPS display offers ample workspace, the option of touch input, and an effective anti-glare coating. It offers enough brightness for everything other than direct sunlight and enough color to make your PowerPoints and the occasional movie come to life. For entertainment, the speakers flanking the keyboard work well; Unlike downward-facing speakers, this setup’s sound projection doesn’t rely on the surface of a desk, which is quite useful for a laptop that will spend a lot of time on your lap. Heat and noise were not problems in daily use; The ventilator was rarely unveiled outside of intense stress testing benchmarks.
The ThinkPad X13 faces internal competition from Lenovo itself ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura Edition. Although it’s half an inch wider and just under half an inch deeper, it weighs about the same and offers faster processors and an OLED panel, neither of which the X13 can match. But the X1 Carbon is still much more expensive, several hundred dollars above the X13’s entry point. For buyers who prefer to travel, the X13 may be the best-balanced option.
