Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

CES 2017 could bring a much-improved Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook

Mark Coppock
By

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch review lid angle
Lenovo’s ThinkPad line, which it purchased from IBM years ago, is one of the best-known and best-built lines of business-class notebooks around. The best thin and light member of the ThinkPad line is arguably the ThinkPad X1 Carbine, which combines a svelte chassis with military specifications for a business notebook that can take a pounding.

With the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) just around the corner, it’s past time for leaks to start popping up of new machines and Lenovo is no different. This time around, it looks like some documentation has leaked pointing at a refreshed ThinkPad X1 Carbon that builds on the current machine’s strengths, Liliputing reports.

The current ThinkPad X1 Carbon may not be the thinnest or lightest Windows 10 Ultrabook on the market, but it makes up for it by being more durable and offering better resistance to dust, vibration, and heat compared to most other Ultrabooks. It also offers a larger 14-inch display than its 13.3-inch competitors with either Full HD or 2560 x 1440 resolutions and the excellent keyboard that ThinkPads are known for.

Related
thinkpad-x1-carbon-2017
Benchlife.info
Benchlife.info

The refreshed version, which according to some leaked documentation will be announced at CES 2017, will provide a number of updates to enhance the machine’s overall appeal. First up will be the Kaby Lake processor, for better performance and battery life. A touchscreen is being added to the Full HD display option, and the new model will include two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support.

2017-thinkpad-x1-carbon
Benchlife.info

Additional upgrades include the addition of an optional infrared camera to support Windows 10’s Hello security feature. Battery life should be improved to 15.5 hours, although an external battery slice could be required for that level of longevity. And, an LTE-A modem will be an option to provide always-on connectivity.

At this point, all information should be considered rumors until confirmed at CES. However, all of these upgrades seem perfectly reasonable and would make for a nice refresh of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon line to make it not just among the most rugged Ultrabooks, but also one of the most powerful and flexible machines.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
The best laptops of CES 2023: Dell, Asus, Lenovo, and more
The two displays of the Yoga Book 9i on a table.

CES is the biggest laptop show of the year -- and it's not close. Dozens of new laptops get launched and updated, and every major (and minor) laptop manufacturer gets in on the fun.

This year was full of interesting concepts, some that stretch the definition of what laptops even are. I'll save the best gaming laptops of CES 2023 for another list entirely (because there's a lot), but these are the best laptops from CES 2023 outside the gaming space.
Lenovo YogaBook 9i

Read more
The best monitors of CES 2023
The Dell UltraSharp 6K monitor connected to a laptop on a desk.

Although gaming monitors saw more attention this CES, there were still some other excellent monitors showed off on the convention floor. We saw multiple Apple Studio Display competitors, cheaper mini-LED options, and a few unique form factors. Here are the best monitors we've seen at CES 2023.
Samsung ViewFinity 5K

Apple has had a monopoly on high-resolution creator displays, but Samsung is challenging that position with the ViewFinity 5K. It's a direct competitor to Apple's Studio Display, outfitted with a 27-inch screen and 5K resolution that produces a pixel density of 218 pixels per inch (PPI). Samsung has a couple of extra goodies, too. You don't have to spend extra for a matte finish, for example, and although we don't have an official price, it'll probably cost less than Apple's display.

Read more
This 3D laptop screen was the coolest thing I experienced at CES 2023
The zSpace stylus being used with the 3D screen on the ProArt Studiobook laptop.

I won't blame you if you hear the phrase, "3D laptop screen," and roll your eyes. I was skeptical about it too.

This 3D Laptop Display Blew Me Away!

Read more