Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 1

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 1

With a sleek, modern design and powerful CPU and GPU performance, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 1 is built for multimedia creators who travel frequently yet still demand a top-quality keyboard.

A Fresh Breeze for High-Performance Ultrabooks

Facing pressure from its premium XPS rival, Lenovo launched its very first high-performance Ultrabook tailored for multimedia industries. The machine retains its classic black aesthetic with sharp, clean lines. Magnesium alloy is used for the lid and chassis to reinforce durability while significantly reducing weight; meanwhile, the bottom cover uses aluminum alloy to optimize cooling and ensure absolute rigidity. The laptop is still finished with a reinforced carbon fiber layer for a sleek look while maximizing durability under demanding environmental conditions.

The lid is accented with the familiar X1 logo previously seen on the X1 Carbon Gen 6 and Gen 7. The display bezels are slim and modern. A ThinkShutter privacy slider sits neatly on the top bezel, making it easy to cover the camera. As a high-performance Ultrabook, the laptop is designed with a single-piece hinge to maximize heat dissipation.

Optimizing the Display Experience

The first-generation ThinkPad P1 comes equipped with a standard Full HD IPS display, offering 92% sRGB and 61% AdobeRGB color gamut coverage with an average brightness of around 300 nits. With such solid color coverage, this panel suits graphic designers and those who frequently handle professional photo editing.

Additionally, the machine offers two more options: 4K and 4K Touch, delivering true-to-life colors that excel in professional design work. However, a Full HD IPS panel is likely plenty for day-to-day work requirements.

All-Around Performance

The machine is powered by high-performance 8th Gen Intel Coffee Lake CPUs, enabling users to run demanding programs such as rendering long 4K video footage or running heavy emulation software, especially when configured with the Core i9 8950HK option.

The graphics card lineup is also structured to match different workload demands, featuring an Intel UHD 630 as the base configuration. In addition, the laptop offers a discrete GTX 1050Ti graphics card option, providing excellent graphics processing capability.

Optimized Peripheral Connectivity

The laptop features 2 USB Type A 3.1 Gen 1 ports on the right side, 2 USB Type C 3.1 Gen 2 ports with Thunderbolt 3, a full-size SD card slot, 1 HDMI 2.0 port, a Mini RJ-45 connector port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. With this wide selection of ports, users never have to hesitate when plugging in extra peripherals like an external mouse and keyboard.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard features 2.2mm of key travel, well-spaced keys, and curved, comfortable keycaps that ensure fatigue-free typing over long sessions. This is quite possibly an Ultrabook with one of the best keyboards available today.

The touchpad is generously sized, featuring a glass surface with a soft-matte finish that feels great to the touch. Tracking latency is minimal, and multi-touch gestures are responsive thanks to Windows Precision Drivers. Both the left - right click areas deliver good tactility and fast feedback.

The TrackPoint continues to deliver absolute pinpoint accuracy. The dedicated secondary mouse buttons are responsive, offering a distinct actuation point and clear tactile feedback.

Security Features

The X1 Extreme Gen 1 features a three-layer fingerprint sensor located near the arrow cluster, paired with a dTPM 2.0 chip embedded directly into the BIOS to manage hard drive and boot passwords. In addition, the laptop includes the familiar ThinkShutter slider to protect against third-party intrusion. The device is also equipped with Windows Hello facial recognition backed by two highly sensitive infrared sensors.
Models from the same line are collected in the ThinkPad X Series category; for a wider comparison, see Lenovo laptops. Two other models worth a look: the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 2.

Can the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Claim the High-Performance Ultrabook Crown?

With an all-new design and robust performance packed inside an Ultrabook, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme is truly a worthwhile machine, perfect for anyone who values thin and light portability while demanding the signature ThinkPad typing experience.