ThinkPad laptops are going towards the pattern relating to the laptop computer chassis supplies – as a substitute of embracing aluminum designs like Apple’s MacBooks and plenty of different excessive finish laptops, Lenovo makes use of a mixture of totally different supplies for the ThinkPads – with the frequent denominator that every one of them are painted black on the skin.
The supplies that ThinkPads use embrace numerous varieties of plastic, from easy ABS plastic to GFRP (glass fibre bolstered plastic) and CFRP (Carbon fiber bolstered plastic). The cheaper fashions use the cheaper plastics, whereas the display screen cowl of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is made out of the costly Carbon bolstered plastic – simply because the title suggests. After all, ThinkPad designs don’t eshew steel: Tradtionally, magnesium is used to strengthen the plastic with the standard rollcage. For the thinner and costlier collection, magnesium typically replaces the plastic wholesale to kind the outer elements of the chassis, just like the palmrest. Generally, aluminum is used like that as nicely, possible for the higher warmth switch capability.
In recent times, using steel was largely restricted to the bottom models, with the display screen covers made out of one of many plastics. They’re typically cheaper and whereas Carbon fiber is dear, it’s extra light-weight. However stiffness and stability suffered.
Utilizing magnesium for the display screen cowl – this has not occurred in a very long time, till now. The ThinkPad X13 Yoga Gen 4, which we just lately reviewed, makes use of the light-weight steel alloy for the show cowl. The distinction to a plastic design is straight away obvious, since we reviewed the ThinkPad X13 G4 with a plastic lid on the similar time: The magnesium ThinkPad feels extra stabile, sturdy and prime quality.
That’s the reason we factor: Lenovo ought to use magnesium for brand new ThinkPads even for the display screen lid. The light-weight steel would enhance the standard feeling of this premium model.

I used to be an ardent reader of Notebookcheck’s laptop computer evaluations even again in class. After writing evaluations as a passion, I then joined Notebookcheck in 2016 and have labored on gadget evaluations and information articles ever since then. My private curiosity lies extra with laptops than smartphones, with enterprise laptops being essentially the most attention-grabbing class for me. Expertise ought to make our lives and work simpler and good laptops are an important instrument for that to occur. Because of this laptop computer evaluations usually are not simply my work however are additionally my ardour.