Upon first glance, the Lenovo Thinkpad x1 Yoga 3rd Gen doesn’t seem all that special. But with a closer look, you’ll see there are plenty of fantastic specs that really make this laptop stand out as a powerful business-oriented machine. That being said, this laptop doesn’t impress as much as its competition on our best 2 in 1 laptops, the best laptops, and best netbook lists.
Why We Like It – Lenovo Thinkpad x1 Yoga 3rd Gen
Though it’s perhaps a bit pricier than the competition, the Lenovo Thinkpad x1 Yoga 3rd Gen is a sleek and powerful device that swiftly moves from zero to sixty. The Dolby Vision HDR screen is stunning, and RapidCharge technology ensures you can get back to work in under an hour.
- Dolby Vision HDR display is bright and crisp
- RapidCharge technology charges up to 80% in one hour
- Super-fast quad core processor
- Abysmal battery life when compared to the competition
Power/Performance
Considering the quad core, Intel Core i7 processor (or Intel Core i5 if you opted for the less-expensive model), it’s no wonder that this computer is fast. Whether you’re trying to wake up your computer from sleep mode, running several programs, or signing in with the fingerprint reader, this Thinkpad Yoga will do it hyper-fast. Image quality on the anti reflective Gorilla Glass screen is incredibly nice thanks to the Dolby Vision HDR display. Many reviewers were exceptionally pleased with the image quality, although some did say it required tweaking out of the box. And, while the resolution is excellent, it’s still not as pleasing to look at as that on the Dell XPS 13 9365 or the Dell XPS 15 2 in 1. Unless you’re holding them up next to each other, though, you probably won’t be able to tell the difference. Lenovo also boasts high-quality Dolby audio through the x1 Yoga speakers, but reviewers found the audio quality was no better or worse than is to be expected on a laptop.
Battery
If you try to find any information on the battery life on the Lenovo Thinkpad x1 Yoga, chances are you’ll find a wide range of experiences. Lenovo claims on its website that this laptop will last up to 15 hours on a single charge, but reviewers found they were getting a measly four to six hours instead. This will change slightly depending on whether your model is equipped with an Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 processor, as the latter does take more power. What is nice, though, is that this laptop utilizes USB type C charging, meaning it can recharge up to 80% in just one hour.
Related: If you want an excellent battery life, check out our Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon review.
Ports/Expandability
When it comes to ports, the Thinkpad x1 Yoga definitely delivers more than its cousin, the Lenovo Yoga C940. While that laptop was limited to one USB A port, the x1 Yoga sports 2, as well as 2 USB C ports, HDMI, audio jack, microSD reader, and even an ethernet extension connector if you want more reliable connectivity than through wi fi. Keep in mind, though, that you will still need to use a dongle to actually connect to an ethernet cable. Lenovo offers several versions of this laptop, so businesses and individuals can choose exactly the specs they need.
Related: Also check out our Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga 11E review.
Build Quality
Like the other laptops in Lenovo’s x series, such as the Thinkpad x1 Carbon, the Lenovo Thinkpad x1 Yoga Gen 3 is designed for ultimate portability. The x1 Yoga is cased in a carbon-fiber hybrid that is strong enough to withstand the typical wear and tear of traveling without being excessively heavy or bulky. The included active pen has a garage on the right side of this laptop, though it can be difficult to remove while in tablet mode. Regarding tablet mode, while it is a nice feature to have, it feels a bit out of place for someone that needs full access to the Windows operating system. The versatility is great, but tablet mode is not the reason to buy this laptop.
Value
The subjectivity of a laptop’s value cannot be overstated enough: so much of the considered value of a computer comes down to whether it has the specs and features you need, or it doesn’t. In the case of the Lenovo Thinkpad x1 Yoga, it isn’t nearly as much of a good deal as similar or even higher-powered computers. Buyers won’t be disappointed if this is what they get, and anyone who’s given this laptop through work will absolutely be happy with this model.
Lenovo Thinkpad x1 Yoga 3rd Gen Wrap Up
The Lenovo Thinkpad x1 Yoga 3rd Gen is by no means a bad laptop; anyone who ends up with this machine will more than likely be pleased with its Dolby Vision HDR display, RapidCharge technology, and the fast Intel Core i7 processor. That being said, there are absolutely similar options out there, like the HP Spectre x360, that offer either the same or better performance for a substantially lower price. Ultimately, nothing really makes this laptop stand apart from the crowd, except maybe it’s terrible battery life.
