Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 review – Futuristic Piece of Razor-Thin Metal
Hardcore ThinkPad fans, sit down and grab a glass of cold water – we have something to tell you:
…this ThinkPad doesn’t have a TrackPoint.
We’re still recovering from the shock too, but Lenovo tries to make up for it by packing a lot of sensors and features into the new Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 – one of the most interesting devices we’ve tested in a long time. It just feels different.
Futuristic concepts like this rarely succeed, but we have a good feeling about this one. The X9-14 has everything we need in a business device: a rigid body, a great display, and a Core Ultra 200 under the hood. But to be sure, let’s analyze every component in our in-depth review.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/lenovo-thinkpad-x9-14-gen-1/
Contents
Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box
Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 - Specs
- HDD/SSD
- up to 2000GB SSD
- RAM
- up to 32GB
- OS
- Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro
- Battery
- 55Wh
- Dimensions
- 311.8 x 212.3 x 6.7 - 17.18 mm (12.28" x 8.36" x 0.26")
- Weight
- 1.21 kg (2.7 lbs)
- Ports and connectivity
- 2x USB Type-C
- 4.0, Thunderbolt 4, Power Delivery (PD), DisplayPort
- HDMI
- 2.1
- Card reader
- Ethernet LAN
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 7
- Bluetooth
- 5.4
- Audio jack
- 3.5mm Combo Jack
- Features
- Fingerprint reader
- Web camera
- FHD 1080p + IR discrete, with E-shutter, fixed focus, temporal noise reduction
- Backlit keyboard
- Microphone
- Dual Microphone Array
- Speakers
- 2x Stereo Speakers, Dolby Atmos
- Security Lock slot
All Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 configurations
Drivers
All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here:
https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/en/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-x-series-laptops/thinkpad-x9-14-gen-1-type-21qa-21qb/21qb
What’s in the box?
Inside the box for the sleek ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1, alongside the laptop and its power adapter, there’s a bit of a regional lottery for accessories.
Some configurations might include a handy USB-C to Ethernet or USB-C to USB-A adapter to expand connectivity.
Our European unit, however, came with just the essentials – no extra adapters included this time.
Design and construction
Let’s talk about the physical form of the Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1, because honestly, it’s quite something. Describing it merely as elegant feels insufficient; this machine is genuinely gorgeous. It presents as a sleek, futuristic piece of precisely machined metal, finished in a sophisticated dark grey – the only colour option available, but one that perfectly suits its premium aspirations. Holding it, the all-aluminium construction feels incredibly solid, giving an impression of ‘tank-like’ durability that speaks volumes about the engineering involved. Despite this robustness, it resists fingerprints remarkably well, maintaining its clean look during use.
The dimensions tell an interesting story. While the thickest point measures 17.18mm (0.68 inches), the chassis tapers dramatically towards the front, reaching a razor-thin 6.7mm (0.26 inches). This aggressive taper makes the laptop feel exceptionally slim and compact in hand, belying the maximum thickness figure. It’s also impressively light, starting at just 1.21 kg (2.66 lbs) for non-touch models and 1.27 kg (2.80 lbs) for those with touchscreens. This combination of thinness, lightness, and rigidity is truly impressive.
Opening the lid reinforces the premium feel; it glides open smoothly with just one hand, a hallmark of high-end design. The hinge allows the screen to lay completely flat at 180 degrees, offering flexibility in how you position it. Once open, your eyes are immediately drawn to the display, framed by stunningly thin bezels on all sides. There’s a very slight ‘bump’ along the top bezel, necessary to house the sophisticated camera system. Options range from an FHD 1080p camera with IR to a more advanced UHD 8.0MP unit with a large sensor and IR, both featuring temporal noise reduction for better video quality. Both options include an electronic privacy shutter (E-shutter). While we generally prefer a physical shutter for absolute certainty, an E-shutter is certainly better than none. The camera setup also enables Windows Hello facial recognition and incorporates Human Presence Detection (using either Ultrasonic or Time-of-Flight sensors depending on the screen configuration) for added security and convenience.
Moving down to the keyboard deck, you’ll find a spacious layout, albeit without a dedicated NumPad, which is expected on a 14-inch chassis. The keyboard is backlit with three brightness levels and includes an automatic mode controlled by an ambient light sensor. Typing comfort is excellent, and we’re big fans of the oversized Enter key. It even retains the classic ThinkPad spill resistance. However, veteran ThinkPad users will immediately notice a significant departure: there is no iconic red TrackPoint! While we understand this decision aligns with the X9’s futuristic aesthetic, we can’t deny feeling a pang of nostalgia for the little red nub.
For biometric login, the power button doubles as a responsive fingerprint sensor. Below the keyboard sits the trackpad, which is commendably large for a 14-inch device and feels smooth and accurate in use.
Ports and Connectivity
Reflecting its ultra-thin design, the Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 features a minimalist but high-performance port selection heavily reliant on USB-C. It is somewhat surprising, given the slim profile, to find a full-size HDMI port included.
On the left edge, you get one USB-C port equipped with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 40Gbps capabilities. This port supports high-speed data transfer (up to 40Gbps), charging via USB Power Delivery 3.0, and video output using the modern DisplayPort 2.1 standard. Alongside it sits the aforementioned HDMI 2.1 port, which is specified to handle resolutions up to 4K at 60Hz.
The right side mirrors the left’s USB-C offering with a second identical Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps port, also supporting Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort 2.1. This provides flexibility in connecting peripherals or chargers to either side. Accompanying it is a standard 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack. The most notable omissions are USB-A ports and an onboard Ethernet connection. Users with legacy USB devices or those needing a wired network connection will have to rely entirely on dongles (the laptop comes with one in the box for some regions) or a USB-C docking station.
Despite the limited physical ports, the laptop supports up to three independent displays simultaneously (the internal screen plus two external monitors connected via HDMI and Thunderbolt). While the HDMI output is capped at 4K@60Hz, the Thunderbolt ports can drive displays up to 8K@60Hz, although achieving 8K resolution consumes bandwidth equivalent to two display pipes, potentially limiting other simultaneous display outputs. Note that refresh rates higher than 60Hz are possible, but maximum resolution might be limited in those scenarios.
Wireless connectivity is cutting-edge, featuring Intel’s Wi-Fi 7 (BE201) module supporting the 802.11be standard with a 2×2 antenna configuration for the latest in wireless speeds and performance on compatible networks. Bluetooth 5.4 is also included for connecting wireless peripherals.
Display and Sound Quality, Get our Profiles
| ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition (14ʺ Intel) | ATNA40CT04-0 (LEN414C) |
| Diagonal | 14.0 inches (35.6 cm) |
| Panel Type | OLED |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| Max Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 |
| Pixel Density | 162 PPI |
| ‘Retina’ Distance | Greater than or equal to 53 cm |
Viewing Angles
Viewing angles are good. We take photos from different angles to evaluate the quality.
Also, a video with locked focus and exposure.
Color Coverage
The whole “sail-shaped” map below (Fig. 1) consists of all the colors we can see, while the black crooked line shows all the colors from real-world scenes and nature around us.
Then, we’ve drawn some of the most important and interesting color spaces, compared to the colors the panel of Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 can show:
Standard/For Web: sRGB – widely used color space for most consumer devices, ideal for Web design and development
For Print: AdobeRGB – used in professional photo editing, graphic design, and print
For Photographers/Video Editors: DCI-P3 – used in high-end film production, post-production, and digital cinema
Premium HDR: Rec.2020 – the widest consumer ITU color standard, covering a massive 75.8% of the visible spectrum, a benchmark for premium HDR content
ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition (14ʺ Intel): the yellow dashed triangle (– – – – – –) represents the range of colors this monitor can display.
In our tests, we calculated the total color coverage of the display at 100% of the sRGB color gamut and 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
(Fig.1) ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition (14ʺ Intel) covers 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut
Brightness and Contrast
The maximum brightness in HDR mode is 633 cd/m² at 8% white fill and 619 cd/m² on a full white screen.
The maximum brightness in SDR mode is 405 cd/m² in the center of the screen and 398 cd/m² averaged across the surface with a maximum deviation of 2%.
The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) on a white screen at maximum brightness is 6470K.
The contrast ratio of OLED panels is excellent because the pixels turn off completely when displaying black.
Uniformity: Luminance, Contrast, and Color Deviation
The figure below shows the results from our uniformity test across different sections of the screen. It’s measured at 180 nits (Windows slider = 73%) — a brightness level we consider typical for standard working conditions.
DeltaE values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users. For those working with colors, screens with DeltaE values no higher than 2.0 are recommended.
Color Accuracy
Let’s check the difference between real colors and those you’ll see on the ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition (14ʺ Intel). We measure that distance in DeltaE – the higher the number, the more different they look.
Values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users, while values below 2.0 are suitable for color-sensitive work. A value below 1.0 means the difference is indistinguishable to the naked eye.
For the next graph, we’ve selected 24 common colors, including dark/light skin, blue sky, green grass, etc.
Before our calibration of the ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition (14ʺ Intel), the Average color accuracy was 1.7 dE (Fig. 2), and with our Design and Gaming profile, it lowered to 1.5 dE (Fig. 3).
(Fig. 2) ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition (14ʺ Intel) in its factory condition
(Fig. 3) ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition (14ʺ Intel) with our display profile
Comparison in the Display P3 color space.
Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering)
Some use PWM to regulate their brightness, which means that instead of reducing the light intensity, they pulse or flicker. Our brain merges the image, so it appears darker, but this strains both it and our vision, especially when the frequency of the pulses is low. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM.
In the graph below, you see the intensity of light at different brightness levels—on the vertical axis is the brightness of the emitted light, and on the horizontal axis—time.
The luminance of the ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition (14ʺ Intel) display is not pulse-width modulated, providing visual comfort in the discussed aspect.
Health Impact: Blue light emissions
Installing our Health-Guard profile reduces harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate.
If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light.
Health Impact: Screen Reflectance
Glossy-coated displays can cause eye fatigue in high ambient light conditions due to reflections. We measure the level of screen reflection with the display turned off, at a 60° angle.
The reflectance of the Lenovo ThinkPad X9’s screen is 111 GU. This is one of the best OLED displays in that regard. It’s still high but it’s probably the lowest value from all OLED models on the market.
High Gloss: >70 GU
Medium Gloss: 30 – 70 GU
Low Gloss: <30 GU
Get our profiles
Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 configurations with ATNA40CT04-0 (LEN414C), 1920 x 1200, OLED panel.
*Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at [email protected].
Read more about the profiles HERE.
In addition to receiving efficient and health-friendly profiles, by buying LaptopMedia's products you also support the development of our labs, where we test devices in order to produce the most objective reviews possible.
Design and Office
The Design and Office profile makes display colors as close to real as possible.Ideal not only for professionals but also for everyday users, it meets sRGB standards (D65 white point, sRGB gamma) with minimal DeltaE for precise color reproduction on your panel.
Gaming and Movies
Have you ever watched a movie where, during dark scenes, you can barely see anything? Many displays fail to distinguish dark tones properly. Our Gaming and Movies profile enhances low-light performance, like HDR tech, using a gamma curve tailored to human perception — ideal for gamers seeking faster reactions and clearer visuals.
Health-Guard
Our Health-Guard profile protects your eyes by eliminating PWM flickering, reducing strain and fatigue, and minimizing harmful Blue light exposure that can disrupt sleep and health. It uses software dimming and a gamma curve tailored to human perception for comfort and safety during screen use.
Get All The Profiles With 33% Discount!
Sound
Lenovo ThinkPad X9’s sound, emitted by 2 x speakers with Dolby Atmos Audio, is of very good quality.
Performance: CPU, GPU, Storage
All tests are conducted with the Best Performance mode set in Windows Settings. It is synchronized with Lenovo’s Commercial Vantage app.
CPU and Work Performance
You can order the ThinkPad X9-14 with a variety of Intel Core Ultra 200 processors:
Intel Core Ultra 7 268V
Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
Intel Core Ultra 5 238V
Intel Core Ultra 5 228V
Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
We ordered ours with Core Ultra 7 258V.
The Core Ultra 5 models have 8MB cache, while the Ultra 7 have 50% more – 12MB. Also, the Performance cores of Ultra 7 have slightly higher base frequency 2.2GHz, compared to Ultra 5’s 2.1 GHz. The Max frequency of 268V is 5GHz, 4.8 GHz for 258V, 4.7 GHz for 238V, and 4.5 GHz for 228V and 226V.
All CPUs on that list have 4x Performance and 4x Energy Efficient cores.
Single-core performance ensures smooth operation and responsiveness in operating systems, providing a better user experience.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Single-Core test (higher is better)
Multi-core performance is essential for handling complex and demanding tasks, such as Video editing, CAD, and Scientific simulations.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
Here, we evaluate the CPU's performance using a real-world 3D rendering task, assessing its ability to handle complex computations and rendering workloads efficiently.
Results are from the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
GPU and Gaming Performance
If you order a configuration with Ultra 7, you’ll get Intel Arc Graphics 140V. It is about 30% more powerful than the 130V found in Ultra 5.
You can find the performance rating of all the GPUs on the market in our Top Laptop Graphics Ranking.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
The results are from 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited. Higher is better.
Gaming tests
We’ve already seen that Intel Arc Graphics 140V can be used for playing games, even the heavy titles. But let’s start with Counter Strike 2.
CS2 can run with more than 144 FPS if you lower the graphics settings.
| Counter Strike 2 | 1200p, Low (Check settings) | 1200p, Medium (Check settings) | 1200p, Very High (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 148 FPS | 116 FPS | 39 FPS |
The classic adventure game, Shadow of the Tomb Raider runs with 30+ FPS on Medium, and 60+ FPS on the lowest settings, on the native 1200p resolution.
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 1200p, Lowest (Check settings) | 1200p, Medium (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 62 FPS | 36 FPS |
Black Myth: Wukong can also be played with more than 60 FPS if you set the graphics to Low.
| Black Myth: Wukong | 1200p, Low (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 65 FPS |
Storage performance
We ordered the laptop with 1TB SSD and it arrived with Western Digital PC SN740 NVMe SSD.
It offers 5.3GB/sec sequential read speed, and 5.0 GB/sec sequential writing. This is a very good result.
Temperatures and Comfort, Stability
Temperatures
At idle, the Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 is super cool – the CPU temperature is just 32ºC. On the contrary, when put under high load, it reaches more than 95ºC.
All measurements are taken 5 minutes after starting the test.
| Test | CPU | GPU |
| Idle | 32ºC | – |
| CPU Rendering | 96ºC | – |
Office Work, Web Development, Design
Short periods (0:00 – 0:10 sec) of 100% CPU load
| Core Ultra 7 258V | Avg. P-Core Clock | Avg. CPU Temp. | Avg. CPU Power |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 | 3860 MHz | 79 °C | 36 W |
The laptop demonstrates strong performance during short, high CPU load bursts (0-10 seconds). The average CPU clock speed is a high 3860 MHz, supported by an average power draw of 36 W. Critically, the average CPU temperature during this period remains at a good 79 °C.
Video editing, Scientific computing, Software compilation, 3D rendering
Long periods (0:00 – 30:00 min) of 100% CPU load
| Core Ultra 7 258V | Avg. P-Core Clock | Avg. CPU Temp. | Avg. CPU Power |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 | 3090 MHz | 94 °C | 31 W |
Under sustained CPU load over 30 minutes, the laptop shows a noticeable decrease in performance compared to short bursts. The average CPU clock speed settles at 3090 MHz, accompanied by an average power consumption of 31 W. A significant clock speed drop of 1193 MHz within the first 5 minutes indicates the system is dynamically managing resources. The average CPU temperature over the 30-minute duration is a high 94 °C. This suggests thermal limitations impact sustained performance.
Battery Life
We tested the 55Wh battery of ThinkPad X9-14 with Best power efficiency mode selected in Windows. It’s synchronized with Lenovo’s Commercial Vantage app.
More than 17 hours on a single charge is a great result, especially considering the small 55Wh battery. If you need something more, Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition (14ILL10) is the unprecedented leader in this category with almost 22 hours of battery life.
Brightness: 180 nits; Display Mode: SDR
Time to Full Discharge: Higher is Better
Verdict
The Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 marks a bold, perhaps even controversial, departure for the storied brand. Yes, the absence of the iconic TrackPoint will undoubtedly be jarring for longtime devotees, signaling a clear shift towards a more modern, perhaps mainstream aesthetic. However, judging the X9-14 solely on this omission would be a disservice to what is otherwise an exceptionally crafted and forward-thinking ultrabook. Its all-aluminum chassis is stunningly elegant, remarkably thin and light, yet feels incredibly rigid and durable. It successfully blends futuristic design with the premium build quality expected of a high-end ThinkPad.
Performance is strong, especially with the Core Ultra 7 processors, offering snappy responsiveness for demanding business tasks and even respectable light gaming capabilities thanks to the capable Intel Arc integrated graphics. This is backed by very fast NVMe SSD storage and, crucially, outstanding battery life exceeding 17 hours in our tests – a remarkable feat for such a slim device with an OLED screen. The display itself is a highlight: the OLED panel is bright, covers 100% of both sRGB and DCI-P3 gamuts with excellent factory accuracy, boasts infinite contrast, and is PWM-free for comfortable viewing. Connectivity embraces the future with dual Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 ports, HDMI 2.1, and the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard.
However, this futuristic vision comes with trade-offs. Beyond the missing TrackPoint, the reliance solely on USB-C ports (plus HDMI and audio jack) means adapters or docks are essential for legacy USB-A peripherals or wired Ethernet connections. While the design is sleek, thermal management under sustained heavy load pushes the CPU to high temperatures, indicating the slim chassis has its limits. Furthermore, while the OLED screen’s reflectance is better than many, it’s still a glossy panel susceptible to glare in bright environments.
Ultimately, the ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 feels like Lenovo testing the waters for the future of the brand. It’s a beautifully engineered, highly portable machine with a fantastic screen, stellar battery life, and cutting-edge wireless connectivity. It excels as a premium ultrabook for mobile professionals who value aesthetics, portability, and are ready to fully embrace the USB-C ecosystem. If you can live without the TrackPoint and rely primarily on wireless or USB-C connections, the X9-14 is a compelling, albeit different, kind of ThinkPad experience.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/lenovo-thinkpad-x9-14-gen-1/
Pros
- Stunning, premium, and durable aluminum construction
- Exceptionally thin and lightweight design
- Gorgeous, color-accurate, and PWM-free OLED display (100% sRGB/DCI-P3)
- Outstanding battery life (17+ hours)
- Strong performance with Core Ultra 200 processors
- Capable integrated Intel Arc graphics (esp. 140V)
- Very fast NVMe SSD storage
- Cutting-edge connectivity (Dual TB4/USB4, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 7)
- Excellent keyboard comfort (despite lack of TrackPoint) and large trackpad
- Advanced security features (IR Cam, Fingerprint, E-shutter, Presence Detection)
- Good sound quality
Cons
- No iconic TrackPoint (major departure for ThinkPad purists)
- Limited physical ports: No native USB-A or Ethernet (requires adapters/docks)
- CPU runs very hot under sustained heavy load
- Glossy screen is reflective, despite improvements over typical OLEDs
- Uses an electronic privacy shutter instead of a physical one
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I want something like this but in 18 inches. imagine what a marvel it would be?