Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (3rd Gen)

Conclusion

Taking the venerable ThinkPad X1 Carbon and adding a 360º hinge should result in one of the best convertible laptops that money can buy, but the transformation isn't quite so straightforward.

Though the X1 Yoga 3 is a stylish machine that retains much of the charm of its Carbon counterpart, the convertible adaptation results in thicker display bezels, a larger profile and a little extra weight. Neither of these can be considered deal breakers, yet the changes combine to create an important point of distinction; Yoga may be the more versatile of the two, but if you don't see yourself using tablet or tent modes on a regular basis, Carbon in our estimation remains a better laptop.

Should the added versatility be a requirement - it can be a real boon for frequent flyers - then the X1 Yoga 3 offers almost everything you'd expect. Build quality is robust, all-round performance is excellent, the integrated pen is useful, and the keyboard and trackpad are among the best in the business. Plenty to like, however battery life could be better, the omission of Windows Hello on QHD models is a shame, and though the 14in touchscreen is remarkably bright, oversaturated colours and uncertainty surrounding the HDR specification detract from the overall package.

Bottom line: X1 Yoga 3 has a lot going for it, but a lofty price point puts every niggle into sharp focus, and Lenovo needs to iron out a few remaining wrinkles to warrant a recommendation.

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The ThinkPad X1 Yoga 3rd Gen is available to purchase direct from Lenovo.

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