The Razer only unveiled what is its first productivity laptop during the last quarter of 2020, while Lenovo has been producing work-focused laptops for many years. Nonetheless, choosing between the two depends on the 's needs, as both come with a number of key features that set them apart.
Despite being more of a work-oriented laptop, the Razer Book 13 still comes with powerful specs that are even comparable to some of the company's gaming-oriented devices. This includes Intel's latest-generation Us coupled with Razer's per-key Chroma RGB lighting. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon, on the other hand, represents Lenovo's laptop series, with an emphasis on delivering advanced security features, military-grade structural design, and long-lasting battery life.
The Razer Book 13 offers Intel's 11th-generation i5 or i7 processors, up to 16GB of RAM, up to 512GB storage, and a next-gen Iris Xe integrated GPU. It also comes with a 13.4-inch FHD or UHD 60Hz display with the choice of touch or non-touch functionality. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, meanwhile, has more dated 10th-generation Intel i5 or i7 processor options, an older-gen Intel UHD GPU, and similar choices for RAM up to 16GB, but it does have bigger storage options of up to 1TB. As for displays, the ThinkPad offers slightly larger 14-inch touch or non-touch screens with higher-resolution FHD, UHD, WQHD, and 4K UHD options. Unlike the multi-color RGB lighting of Razer's offering, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon's keyboard only comes with white backlighting. When it comes to ports, the Razer Book 13 has a single USB-A port, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a headphone jack, an HDMI port, and a MicroSD slot, while the ThinkPad offers more versatility, with two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, a headphone jack, and an Ethernet dock connector.
Razer Book 13 & ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Pros & Cons
Pitting the Razer Book 13 against the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is akin to comparing Razer's gaming laptops, as the weaknesses of one can easily become the strengths of the other. The Razer Book 13's better U and GPU configurations will likely translate to better, more consistent performance in graphics-intensive operations, especially when considering its vapor cooling system. It also starts cheaper at $1,199, compared to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon which costs nearly twice starting at $2,319. However, those who value privacy more might find the extra investment worthwhile, as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is fitted with advanced security features such as a built-in screen privacy filter, a fingerprint reader, an integrated Trusted Platform Module, and an IR-camera that alerts s if anyone is snooping from behind their screen. Its military-grade construction, meanwhile, is intended to withstand extreme conditions, making it more suitable for frequent outdoor usage.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon isn't just one of the lightest laptops available, even lighter than the Macbook Air at just 2.4lbs compared to the Razer Book 13's 2.9lbs, but its touted 20-hour battery life is also twice as long as Razer's offering, which comes in at about 10 hours. Those who value security, privacy, durability, and portability over everything else will be leaning towards Lenovo's laptop. The Razer Book 13, meanwhile, caters more to s who prefer next-generation performance, or those who constantly engage in more graphically-strenuous work like 3D modeling — and perhaps even some gaming.