Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition Laptop Review - The MacBook Air rival is very good, even without a TrackPoint
120 Hz OLED with 1100 nits.
Lenovo's new ThinkPad X9 is a completely new design and convinces with long battery runtimes as well as an excellent OLED screen. However, Lenovo also breaks with a tradition and does not include a TrackPoint anymore. Update: Additional battery life testsAndreas Osthoff 👁 (translated by Andreas Osthoff) Published 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 ...
Verdict - ThinkPad X9 15 is a really good laptop, but is it still a proper ThinkPad?
The new Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 turned out to be a really good laptop during our review. The performance of the Lunar Lake processor is sufficient for most everyday stuff and the power consumption is very low. Combine that with the large battery and you get very long battery runtimes, which surpass the MacBook Air 15. The aluminum chassis leaves a very sophisticated and sturdy impression, but the design with the detached area for the components is a matter of taste. The rest of the chassis is much slimmer in return though. The choice of the Lunar Lake processor also means you only get up to 32 GB RAM, which cannot be upgraded.
Lenovo only offers the notebook with one OLED screen, which offers excellent image quality with high brightness levels. We measure more than 500 nits with SDR contents and up to 1100 nits in HDR mode, but you also get very accurate profiles for the sRGB and P3 color spaces, which are fully covered. There is PWM flickering, but the frequency is very high at 1.2 kHz and should not cause any issues.
The chassis design is not the only aspect where the new X9 deviates from all the other ThinkPad models, because Lenovo also decided to change the input devices. The haptic touchpad is excellent, but there are questions about the keyboard. Especially the changed layout towards a consumer machine (no dedicated page-up/down), no more grouping of four function keys and especially the removal of the TrackPoint will be issues for long-term ThinkPad users. The keyboard itself leaves a good impression, only the space bar as well as the return key fall slightly behind in terms of quality.
All in all, the ThinkPad X9 15 is a really good laptop and we think it is also one of the best Lunar Lake laptops right now, but the questions arises whether this is still a proper ThinkPad or whether a brand like Yoga would have been better suited. The ThinkPad name is obviously much more popular and the quality of the machine definitely meets the expectations for an X-series ThinkPad. If Lenovo's main focus was an alternative for potential MacBook Air customers, then we think the X9 is a success. In addition to the superior screen, the X9 also offers a better keyboard as well as even longer battery runtimes, especially when you use high brightness settings. The MacBook Air still has the massive advantage of passive cooling though. Compared to Snapdragon devices like Microsoft's Surface Laptop, you just do not have to worry about potential compatibility issues.
The ThinkPad X9 is no bargain, but the price is not that bad, either, because the base model for 1749 Euros already offers the great OLED screen, 32 GB RAM and a 1 TB SDD. If you are looking for a high-quality companion with great image quality, long runtimes and a good sound system, you should definitely have a close look at the new ThinkPad X9 15.
Pros
Cons
Price and availability
You can get the new ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition starting from $1359 directly from Lenovo USA with a Core Ultra 5, 16 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD. Our test model retails for $2089.
- $1,799.99Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition Laptop with Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Processor, 14" 2.8K OLED 500nits Touch Display, 32GB LPDDR5X-8533MT/s Memory, 1TB SSD, 8MP RGB+IR Cam, Wi-Fi 7, and Win 11 Pro
- $2,099.69Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Gen 1 21Q60025US 15.3" Copilot+ PC Notebook - 2.8K - Intel Core Ultra 7 268V - vPro Technology - Intel Evo Platform - 32 GB - 1 TB SSD - English Keyboard - Black, Gray
Possible contenders in comparison
Image | Model / Review | Price | Weight | Height | Display |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. 90.1%  | Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition Intel Core Ultra 7 258V ⎘ Intel Arc Graphics 140V ⎘ 32 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | Amazon: 1. $1,844.11 Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Gen 1 ... 2. $1,799.99 Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura E... 3. $2,099.69 Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Gen 1 ... List Price: 1989€ | 1.4 kg | 17.7 mm | 15.30" 2880x1800 222 PPI OLED |
2. 84.3%  | Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 ⎘ Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 256 GB SSD | Amazon: $1,269.99 List Price: 1100 USD | 1.7 kg | 18.29 mm | 15.00" 2496x1664 200 PPI IPS |
3. 84.3%  | Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura Intel Core Ultra 7 256V ⎘ Intel Arc Graphics 140V ⎘ 16 GB Memory | Amazon: 1. $15.88 MUBUY-GOL Anti Blue Light Sc... 2. $1,152.99 Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Copilot+... 3. $1,299.99 Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition ... List Price: 1380 USD | 1.5 kg | 13.9 mm | 15.30" 2880x1800 222 PPI IPS |
4. 83.3%  | Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 ⎘ Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | Amazon: 1. $1,099.99 ASUS Vivobook S 15 Laptop; C... 2. $1,249.99 ASUS Vivobook S 15 Laptop; C... 3. $649.99 ASUS Vivobook 14 Laptop, 14�... List Price: 1299€ | 1.4 kg | 15.9 mm | 15.60" 2880x1620 212 PPI OLED |
5. 91.6% v7 (old)  | Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 Apple M3 ⎘ Apple M3 10-Core GPU ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | Amazon: List Price: 2059€ | 1.5 kg | 11.5 mm | 15.60" 2880x1664 IPS |
Table of Contents
- Verdict - ThinkPad X9 15 is a really good laptop, but is it still a proper ThinkPad?
- Specifications
- Case - Light and slim aluminum chassis
- Connectivity - ThinkPad X9 with Thunderbolt 4 & Wi-Fi 7
- Input Devices - No TrackPoint, but haptic touchpad
- Display - OLED with 1100 Nits
- Performance - Lunar Lake with 32 GB RAM
- Emissions - Very good sound system
- Energy Management - ThinkPad X9 is very efficient
- Notebookcheck Rating
Lenovo's new ThinkPad X9 series offer new high-end laptops that differ from traditional ThinkPad models with new aluminum cases and general design decisions. This includes the lack of a TrackPoint and also the changed keyboard layout, both for the 15 as well as 14-inch model (which will be reviewed soon as well).
Our test unit today is the ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (Lunar Lake) with the Arc Graphics 140V, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD storage and the 120 Hz OLED screen for $2089.
February 26, 2025 update: Extra battery life tests added
Specifications
Case - Light and slim aluminum chassis
Upon first contact, the ThinkPad X9 does not look unusual for a ThinkPad because we already know the silver color scheme from models like the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1. The device appears very slim and only when you turn it around, you will see the detached area (both in terms of thickness and color) where all the ports as well as major components are located. We do not think this looks very coherent and the protruding camera bump on the lid does not help the visual appeal, either. The display bezels are slim all around and the surfaces are not very susceptible to dirt.
Looking at the quality, however, there is not much to complain about. The base unit is very sturdy and cannot be twisted at all, only the central keyboard area can be slightly pushed down under pressure, but this is not an issue when you just type on the keyboard. The slim lid is also very stable and cannot really be twisted. The hinges are very stiff (maximum opening angle 170 degrees) and you can just open it with one hand. The overall build quality is excellent and the new ThinkPad X9 leaves a very sophisticated impression.
At just 1.408 kg, the ThinkPad X9 15 is the lightest device in our comparison group, but not the slimmest. We measure 17.7 mm at the thickest point and around 13 mm at the slimmer areas. This means the MacBook Air 15 is still noticeably slimmer. The compact 65W PSU tips the scale at 276 grams.
Connectivity - ThinkPad X9 with Thunderbolt 4 & Wi-Fi 7
The number of ports is limited, but all the important standards are available. The layout is okay and it is handy that you can charge the laptop on both sides, just like the regular USB-A port. However, there would have been room for an additional USB-C port on the left side. The ThinkPad X9 is a Copilot+ laptop.
Communication
The Wi-Fi module from Intel (BE201) supports Bluetooth 5.4 as well as the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard. Our test with the reference router from Asus shows high and stable transfer rates. We did not notice any stability issues with the wireless signal during our review period, either. Lenovo does not offer a 5G/LTE module for the ThinkPad X9.
| Networking | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
Webcam
Lenovo equips the ThinkPad X9 with an 8 MP sensor including electronic shutter. The latest Windows studio effects are supported. Image quality is good in general and there is a noticeable advantage over 1080p webcams in terms of sharpness. There is also an IR module for facial recognition via Windows Hello.
Maintenance
Lenovo provides a hardware maintenance manual for the ThinkPad X9 and the bottom cover is secured by regular Philips screws (attention: only loosen the screws, not remove them with force). The large 80 Wh battery dominates the internal layout with all the major components being located in the upper section where the chassis is thicker. Both the M.2-2242 SSD as well as the battery can be replaced if necessary, but all the other components are onboard.
Sustainability
Sustainability is an important subject for Lenovo and the ThinkPad X9 does not only meet the criteria for multiple environmental certificates, but also uses a lot of recycled materials for the laptop itself and the packaging. There is also a CO2 compensation (via environmental projects) based on the projected lifespan of the product.
Input Devices - No TrackPoint, but haptic touchpad
The input devices of the new ThinkPad X9 15 will probably one of the most-discussed topics, because Lenovo deviates significantly from all other ThinkPad models. This start with the layout and the lack of the cluster of four F-keys all the way up to the lack of dedicated page-up/down keys. the overall layout is therefore leaning more towards a consumer device. The shape of the keys is also new, because the slight curvature at the bottom is gone, the lower edge is now slightly angled instead.
All in all, the typing experience of the new keyboard is very comfortable, and we were positively surprised by the precise feedback, despite the limited key travel of 1.35 mm. The only two exceptions were the space bar as well as the return key, which rattle a bit more and they are also much louder. Lenovo should definitely take another look at those two keys. The power button (including fingerprint scanner) is located in the upper right corner and is easy to find with the fingers. The white background illumination with two intensity levels can be acitvated via sensor.
The biggest issue for most long-term ThinkPad users will be the lack of the TrackPoint in the center of the keyboard. Whether this is good or bad depends if you have used the red TrackPoint before. The haptic touchpad (13.5 x 80 mm) works really well and we did not miss the TrackPoint to be honest. The gliding capabilities of the glass surface are excellent and the clicking feedback is identical at every point. You can also get the ThinkPad X9 with a touchscreen.
Display - OLED with 1100 Nits
Lenovo only offers the ThinkPad X9 15 with a 15.3-inch OLED screen (2880 x 1800 pixels, 120 Hz, 16:10), which can also be combined with a touchscreen (upgrade is $50). The subjective image quality of the glossy screen (from Samsung according to panel ID) is excellent and there is no grid effect on bright images. Movements are smooth thanks t 120 Hz and even though we can detect PWM flickering at brightness levels below 77 %, the frequency is very high at 1.2 kHz and should not cause any problems.
We measure SDR brightness levels of more than 500 nits and combined with the OLED typical low black levels, the contrast ratios are very high. We were surprised by the HDR performance, because we measured up to 1100 nits for small areas (680 nits for an almost completely white picture), which is much higher than what the rivals offer.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 97 %
Center on Battery: 509 cd/m²
Contrast: 50900:1 (Black: 0.01 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.1 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.83
ΔE Greyscale 1.5 | 0.09-98 Ø5.1
94.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
100% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
100% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.28
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition ATNA53JB01-0, OLED, 2880x1800, 15.3", 120 Hz | Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite Sharp LQ150P1JX61, IPS, 2496x1664, 15", 120 Hz | Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura CSOT T3 MNF307ZB1-1, IPS, 2880x1800, 15.3", 120 Hz | Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon ATNA56AC03-0, OLED, 2880x1620, 15.6", 120 Hz | Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 IPS, 2880x1664, 15.6", 60 Hz | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | -3% | -3% | |||
| Display P3 Coverage | 100 | 98.8 -1% | 98.7 -1% | ||
| sRGB Coverage | 100 | 100 0% | 99.9 0% | ||
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 94.6 | 87.5 -8% | 87.8 -7% | ||
| Response Times | -4864% | -2859% | 3% | -2882% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 1.46 ? | 44.4 ? -2941% | 27 ? -1749% | 0.61 ? 58% | 35.3 ? -2318% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 0.44 ? | 30.3 ? -6786% | 17.9 ? -3968% | 0.67 ? -52% | 15.6 ? -3445% |
| PWM Frequency | 1200 ? | 240 ? | |||
| PWM Amplitude * | 22 | ||||
| Screen | -419% | -428% | -24% | -468% | |
| Brightness middle | 509 | 579.9 14% | 509 0% | 378 -26% | 526 3% |
| Brightness | 508 | 576 13% | 479 -6% | 379 -25% | 506 0% |
| Brightness Distribution | 97 | 92 -5% | 90 -7% | 98 1% | 92 -5% |
| Black Level * | 0.01 | 0.34 -3300% | 0.32 -3100% | 0.02 -100% | 0.37 -3600% |
| Contrast | 50900 | 1706 -97% | 1591 -97% | 18900 -63% | 1422 -97% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.1 | 0.96 13% | 2.47 -125% | 1 9% | 1.4 -27% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 2.5 | 2.39 4% | 4.73 -89% | 2.6 -4% | 2 20% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.5 | 1.4 7% | 1.5 -0% | 1.2 20% | 2.1 -40% |
| Gamma | 2.28 96% | 2.13 103% | 2.19 100% | 2.19 100% | 2.23 99% |
| CCT | 6294 103% | 6407 101% | 6790 96% | 6460 101% | 6865 95% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 1.06 | 0.6 | |||
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -2642% /
-1308% | -1097% /
-704% | -11% /
-18% | -1118% /
-732% |
* ... smaller is better
The panel is factory calibrated according to Lenovo and we tested that claim with the professional CalMAN software. You get the software X-Rite Color Assistant with different color profiles and similar to modern Asus OLED models, the default profile shows slightly oversaturated colors. However, there is also a very accurate P3 profile for picture editing as well as an sRGB profile. Both color spaces are covered fully by the OLED panel, so the ThinkPad X9 15 is an excellent choice for picture/video editing.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 0.44 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.24 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.2 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 0 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 1.46 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.7 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.76 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 5 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.1 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 1200 Hz Amplitude: 22 % | ≤ 77 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 1200 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 77 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 1200 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8356 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
The screen is glossy, so reflections from bright surfaces or light sources outdoors can be an issue, but the high brightness levels in combination with the good contrast ratios definitely help. The viewing angle stability is very good.
Performance - Lunar Lake with 32 GB RAM
The ThinkPad X9 15 is available with different Lunar Lake processors (including vPro) in combination with 16 or 32 GB RAM (LPDDR5x-8533).
Testing Conditions
Lenovo's Intelligent Cooling is connected to the standard Windows power modes. We performed our benchmarks and measurements with the mode Best Performance.
| Mode | CPU TDP | CB R23 Multi | Steel Nomad Light | CP2077 1080p Med | max. fan noise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Power Efficiency | 37/12 Watts | 6697 points | 2929 points | 24,4 fps | 30.3 dB(A) |
| Balanced | 37/16 Watts | 7839 points | 3223 points | 37 fps | 37.4 dB(A) |
| Best Performance | 37/25 Watts | 10138 points | 3227 points | 37.5 fps | 45 dB(A) |
Processor - Core Ultra 7 258V
Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V (Lunar Lake) offers eight CPU cores and as we have seen in numerous previous reviews, the multi-core performance is only average. The CPU can consume up to 37 Watts in the ThinkPad X9 and then levels off at 25 Watts after around 40 seconds. the single-core performance is very competitive and on par with the Snapdragon rivals, but Apple's M3 SoC is faster in this regard and the upcoming M4 generation will increase the advantage even further. The Core Ultra 7 258V still offers plenty of performance for everyday tasks. The performance is stable in battery power, but the multi-core performance drops by around 13 % under sustained workloads when the CPU levels off at 25 Watts. Additional CPU benchmarks are available in our Tech section.
| Cinebench 2024 / CPU Multi Core | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
Cinebench R15 Multi Loop
Cinebench R23: Multi Core | Single Core
Cinebench R20: CPU (Multi Core) | CPU (Single Core)
Cinebench R15: CPU Multi 64Bit | CPU Single 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 | 7z b 4 -mmt1
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
| CPU Performance Rating | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura -2! | |
| Average of class Office | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 -9! | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Cinebench R23 / Multi Core | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (8091 - 11097, n=17) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average of class Office (1577 - 20399, n=83, last 2 years) | |
| Cinebench R23 / Single Core | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (1664 - 1947, n=17) | |
| Average of class Office (618 - 2098, n=83, last 2 years) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Cinebench R20 / CPU (Multi Core) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (3158 - 4314, n=17) | |
| Average of class Office (590 - 8086, n=81, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Cinebench R20 / CPU (Single Core) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (643 - 749, n=17) | |
| Average of class Office (229 - 807, n=81, last 2 years) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Cinebench R15 / CPU Multi 64Bit | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Average of class Office (246 - 3132, n=85, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (1399 - 1656, n=17) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Cinebench R15 / CPU Single 64Bit | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (258 - 298, n=17) | |
| Average of class Office (98 - 315, n=83, last 2 years) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Blender / v2.79 BMW27 CPU | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Average of class Office (163 - 1956, n=84, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (315 - 452, n=17) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| 7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Average of class Office (7532 - 76886, n=85, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (28700 - 36724, n=17) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| 7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 -mmt1 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (5265 - 5869, n=17) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office (2972 - 6497, n=84, last 2 years) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 / 4k Preset | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (9.65 - 14.2, n=17) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average of class Office (1.72 - 22.4, n=82, last 2 years) | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| LibreOffice / 20 Documents To PDF | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Average of class Office (41.1 - 129.6, n=82, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (41.1 - 59.3, n=17) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| R Benchmark 2.5 / Overall mean | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Average of class Office (0.4098 - 1.135, n=81, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (0.4457 - 0.4852, n=17) | |
* ... smaller is better
AIDA64: FP32 Ray-Trace | FPU Julia | CPU SHA3 | CPU Queen | FPU SinJulia | FPU Mandel | CPU AES | CPU ZLib | FP64 Ray-Trace | CPU PhotoWorxx
| Performance Rating | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| AIDA64 / FP32 Ray-Trace | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (8454 - 12781, n=17) | |
| Average of class Office (763 - 31245, n=83, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| AIDA64 / FPU Julia | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (40875 - 63401, n=17) | |
| Average of class Office (4113 - 125394, n=83, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| AIDA64 / CPU SHA3 | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (1930 - 2817, n=17) | |
| Average of class Office (287 - 5398, n=83, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| AIDA64 / CPU Queen | |
| Average of class Office (8185 - 115197, n=83, last 2 years) | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (49510 - 49818, n=17) | |
| AIDA64 / FPU SinJulia | |
| Average of class Office (404 - 18321, n=83, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (3817 - 4440, n=17) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| AIDA64 / FPU Mandel | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (21670 - 33565, n=17) | |
| Average of class Office (2075 - 66922, n=83, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| AIDA64 / CPU AES | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Average of class Office (7254 - 155900, n=83, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (30957 - 40753, n=17) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| AIDA64 / CPU ZLib | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Average of class Office (78 - 1366, n=83, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (422 - 632, n=17) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| AIDA64 / FP64 Ray-Trace | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (4258 - 6930, n=17) | |
| Average of class Office (432 - 17834, n=83, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| AIDA64 / CPU PhotoWorxx | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (44223 - 54971, n=17) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Average of class Office (4814 - 55359, n=83, last 2 years) | |
System Performance
The overall system performance is very good and all our inputs are executed quickly. The synthetic benchmarks scores are also good and we did not encounter any stability issues during our review. Contrary to Snapdragon laptops you do not have to worry about compatibility issues with apps.
CrossMark: Overall | Productivity | Creativity | Responsiveness
WebXPRT 3: Overall
WebXPRT 4: Overall
Mozilla Kraken 1.1: Total
| PCMark 10 / Score | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Intel Arc Graphics 140V (6265 - 7314, n=16) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office (2463 - 7683, n=74, last 2 years) | |
| PCMark 10 / Essentials | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Intel Arc Graphics 140V (9295 - 11467, n=16) | |
| Average of class Office (5575 - 20841, n=74, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| PCMark 10 / Productivity | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Intel Arc Graphics 140V (7357 - 9619, n=16) | |
| Average of class Office (3041 - 10415, n=74, last 2 years) | |
| PCMark 10 / Digital Content Creation | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Intel Arc Graphics 140V (9333 - 10048, n=16) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office (2049 - 11501, n=74, last 2 years) | |
| CrossMark / Overall | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Intel Arc Graphics 140V (1590 - 1742, n=15) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office (348 - 1923, n=78, last 2 years) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| CrossMark / Productivity | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Intel Arc Graphics 140V (1558 - 1684, n=15) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office (393 - 1870, n=78, last 2 years) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| CrossMark / Creativity | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Intel Arc Graphics 140V (1727 - 1977, n=15) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office (340 - 2169, n=78, last 2 years) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| CrossMark / Responsiveness | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Intel Arc Graphics 140V (1251 - 1411, n=15) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office (258 - 2017, n=78, last 2 years) | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| WebXPRT 3 / Overall | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Intel Arc Graphics 140V (219 - 314, n=15) | |
| Average of class Office (121 - 455, n=78, last 2 years) | |
| WebXPRT 4 / Overall | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Intel Arc Graphics 140V (199.5 - 291, n=15) | |
| Average of class Office (80 - 328, n=79, last 2 years) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 / Total | |
| Average of class Office (391 - 1966, n=88, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Intel Arc Graphics 140V (468 - 559, n=17) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
* ... smaller is better
| PCMark 10 Score | 7023 points | |
Help | ||
| AIDA64 / Memory Copy | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (104408 - 114336, n=17) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Average of class Office (7158 - 108783, n=84, last 2 years) | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Read | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (82846 - 89417, n=17) | |
| Average of class Office (7325 - 127282, n=84, last 2 years) | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Write | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (109734 - 117935, n=17) | |
| Average of class Office (7579 - 117935, n=84, last 2 years) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Latency | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office (7.6 - 185.2, n=81, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (95 - 101.1, n=17) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
* ... smaller is better
DPC Latency
Our standardized latency test (web browsing, 4K YouTube playback, CPU load) reveals some limitations for the use of real-time audio applications on the test unit with the latest BIOS version.
| DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
* ... smaller is better
Storage Devices
Our review unit is equipped with the 1 TB model of the WD SN740 (M.2-2242) and you can use 893 GB for your own files and apps after the initial setup. The performance of the PCIe-4.0 SSD is average and the transfer rates fluctuate under sustained workloads, but the implications on daily use are small. More SSD benchmarks are listed here.
* ... smaller is better
Disk Throttling: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
GPU Performance
Intel's Arc Graphics 140V is a powerful integrated graphics adapter and handles common everyday tasks including high-res video playback with ease. The raw performance is slightly better compared to the Radeon 890M and the Adreno X1-85, but the old Apple M3 GPU stays ahead. You can also play some games with the 140V and many titles will hit smooth frame rates in 1080p and medium settings. The GPU performance is completely stable, both on battery power as well as under sustained workloads. More GPU benchmarks are available here.
3DMark: 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics | 2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics | Steel Nomad Light Score
Geekbench 6.4: GPU OpenCL | GPU Vulkan | GPU Metal
3DMark: Wild Life Extreme | Wild Life Extreme Unlimited
| 3DMark 11 / Performance GPU | |
| Average Intel Arc Graphics 140V (10499 - 12772, n=28) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office (1468 - 16418, n=79, last 2 years) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| 3DMark / Fire Strike Graphics | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Arc Graphics 140V (6790 - 10476, n=29) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Average of class Office (736 - 10476, n=81, last 2 years) | |
| 3DMark / Time Spy Graphics | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Arc Graphics 140V (2955 - 4415, n=32) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office (313 - 4415, n=78, last 2 years) | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Score | |
| Average Intel Arc Graphics 140V (2596 - 3555, n=14) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Average of class Office (366 - 3555, n=15, last 2 years) | |
| Geekbench 6.4 / GPU OpenCL | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average Intel Arc Graphics 140V (21831 - 30547, n=30) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Average of class Office (3059 - 43511, n=85, last 2 years) | |
| Geekbench 6.4 / GPU Vulkan | |
| Average Intel Arc Graphics 140V (19700 - 207733, n=29) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Average of class Office (1452 - 46309, n=86, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Geekbench 6.4 / GPU Metal | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Average Intel Arc Graphics 140V (4900 - 7931, n=13) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Average of class Office (203 - 7931, n=23, last 2 years) | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Average Intel Arc Graphics 140V (6982 - 8028, n=8) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Average of class Office (201 - 8028, n=17, last 2 years) | |
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 11737 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 8832 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 3547 points | |
| 3DMark Steel Nomad Score | 808 points | |
| 3DMark Steel Nomad Light Score | 3227 points | |
Help | ||
| Blender / v3.3 Classroom CPU | |
| Average of class Office (245 - 3964, n=80, last 2 years) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Average Intel Arc Graphics 140V (509 - 748, n=29) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Blender / v3.3 Classroom METAL | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 | |
| Blender / v3.3 Classroom oneAPI/Intel | |
| Average of class Office (204 - 416, n=6, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Arc Graphics 140V (204 - 405, n=16) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
* ... smaller is better
| Cyberpunk 2077 2.2 Phantom Liberty - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset (FSR off) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office (6.65 - 29.6, n=45, last 2 years) | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| GTA V - 1920x1080 Highest Settings possible AA:4xMSAA + FX AF:16x | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Average of class Office (3.98 - 47.8, n=72, last 2 years) | |
| Final Fantasy XV Benchmark - 1920x1080 High Quality | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office (4.18 - 36.5, n=78, last 2 years) | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Strange Brigade - 1920x1080 ultra AA:ultra AF:16 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| Average of class Office (12.8 - 61.7, n=60, last 2 years) | |
| Dota 2 Reborn - 1920x1080 ultra (3/3) best looking | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite | |
| Average of class Office (13.4 - 121.2, n=84, last 2 years) | |
| Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon | |
| X-Plane 11.11 - 1920x1080 high (fps_test=3) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura | |
| Average of class Office (8.88 - 92.6, n=76, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition | |
Cyberpunk 2077 ultra FPS Chart
| low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTA V (2015) | 154.3 | 150.1 | 66.9 | 27.5 | |
| Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 86.2 | 65.1 | 41.1 | 73.8 | |
| Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) | 86.6 | 48.4 | 35 | ||
| X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 48.9 | 36.7 | 29.8 | ||
| Strange Brigade (2018) | 236 | 84 | 69.8 | 58.7 | |
| Baldur's Gate 3 (2023) | 36.6 | 30.6 | 25.7 | 25.5 | |
| Cyberpunk 2077 2.2 Phantom Liberty (2023) | 43.9 | 35.7 | 30.7 | 26.9 | 13.9 |
| F1 24 (2024) | 82.7 | 79 | 61.5 | 20.2 | |
| Monster Hunter Wilds (2025) | 19.85 | ||||
| The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion Remastered (2025) | 18.5 | ||||
| Doom: The Dark Ages (2025) | 23.6 | 19.1 | |||
| F1 25 (2025) | 73.3 | 66 | 50.8 |
Emissions - Very good sound system
System Noise
The two fans are usually turned off while idling and during simple workloads. When you start to stress the CPU more, however, the fans will quickly reach a level between 35-39 dB(A), which is also a result of the high short-term power limit (in all power modes). There is definitely room for improvements in this regard. We measure up to 45 dB(A) at the start of the stress test, which will quickly level off at 42.2 dB(A). The device is noticeably quieter in the other two power modes (37.4 and 30.3 dB(A), respectively). The passively cooled MacBook Air 15 obviously has a big advantage in this regard. We did not notice any other electronic noises on our review unit.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 24.4 / 24.4 / 24.4 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 35.8 / 45 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Earthworks M23R, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 24.4 dB(A) | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition Arc 140V, Core Ultra 7 258V, WD PC SN740 SDDQMQD-1T00 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS, SD X Elite X1E-80-100, Samsung PM9B1 256GB MZ9L4256HCJQ | Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura Arc 140V, Core Ultra 7 256V | Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS, SD X Elite X1E-78-100, Micron 2400 MTFDKBA1T0QFM | Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 M3 10-Core GPU, M3, Apple SSD AP0512Z | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | 14% | 5% | 4% | ||
| off / environment * | 24.4 | 23.3 5% | 23.2 5% | 24.3 -0% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 24.4 | 23.3 5% | 23.2 5% | 24.3 -0% | |
| Idle Average * | 24.4 | 23.3 5% | 23.2 5% | 24.3 -0% | |
| Idle Maximum * | 24.4 | 23.3 5% | 26.1 -7% | 26.2 -7% | |
| Load Average * | 35.8 | 25.7 28% | 30.9 14% | 32.5 9% | |
| Cyberpunk 2077 ultra * | 39.4 | 31.1 21% | 34.1 13% | 35.2 11% | |
| Load Maximum * | 45 | 33.2 26% | 44.3 2% | 39.8 12% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
The surface temperatures of the ThinkPad X9 stay completely uncritical and you can still use the X9 on your lap, even with maximum combined CPU/GPU load. There is a hotspot above the central keyboard area with 42 °C, but you will hardly touch the device there and there is no spot at the bottom that reaches 40 °C. The processor will start at 37 Watts during the stress test and then level off at 25 Watts.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 42.1 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 34.3 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 39.5 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 36.8 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.9 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(±) 3: The average temperature for the upper side is 34 °C / 93 F, compared to the average of 29.5 °C / 85 F for the class Office.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 27.4 °C / 81.3 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.6 °C / 81.7 F (+0.2 °C / 0.4 F).
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Intel Arc Graphics 140V | Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100, Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS | Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, Intel Arc Graphics 140V | Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100, Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS | Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 Apple M3, Apple M3 10-Core GPU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | 4% | -23% | -15% | -1% | |
| Maximum Upper Side * | 42.1 | 45.4 -8% | 46.2 -10% | 43.6 -4% | 44.3 -5% |
| Maximum Bottom * | 39.5 | 37.2 6% | 41 -4% | 53.1 -34% | 43.4 -10% |
| Idle Upper Side * | 24.5 | 22.4 9% | 34 -39% | 26.7 -9% | 23.1 6% |
| Idle Bottom * | 24.4 | 22 10% | 33.8 -39% | 27.2 -11% | 23.3 5% |
* ... smaller is better
Speakers
The sound system of the ThinkPad X9 consists of four speakers and the modules are comparatively large. As a result, the sound is very loud and quite powerful, and it is one of the best devices in this class. However, the competitors are also performing well and you will not be disappointed with either of them.
Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (87.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 12.5% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.1% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (9.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 0% of all tested devices in this class were better, 0% similar, 99% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 21%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (11.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 2% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 21%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 6% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 92% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(+) | good bass - only 4.2% away from median
(+) | bass is linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.7% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (1.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (5.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 1% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 98% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 0% of all tested devices were better, 0% similar, 100% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 8.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.7% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (9.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 10% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 89% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 4% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 8.8% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.5% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (8.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 2% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 97% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 2% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 98% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Energy Management - ThinkPad X9 is very efficient
Power Consumption
Our consumption measurements show that the ThinkPad X9 is an extremely efficient device. We only measure up to 5.1 Watts while idling with the maximum SDR brightness, and we checked the results multiple times. We measure up to 64.4 Watts at the start of our stress test, but this quickly levels off at around 48 Watts, so the included 65W power adapter is sufficient. The consumption results during standby and while the device is turned off are also low.
| Off / Standby | 0.28 / 0.49 Watt |
| Idle | 2.4 / 3.9 / 5.1 Watt |
| Load |
42.5 / 64.4 Watt |
   
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Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition Core Ultra 7 258V, Arc 140V, WD PC SN740 SDDQMQD-1T00, OLED, 2880x1800, 15.3" | Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite SD X Elite X1E-80-100, Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS, Samsung PM9B1 256GB MZ9L4256HCJQ, IPS, 2496x1664, 15" | Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura Core Ultra 7 256V, Arc 140V, , IPS, 2880x1800, 15.3" | Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon SD X Elite X1E-78-100, Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS, Micron 2400 MTFDKBA1T0QFM, OLED, 2880x1620, 15.6" | Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 M3, M3 10-Core GPU, Apple SSD AP0512Z, IPS, 2880x1664, 15.6" | Average Intel Arc Graphics 140V | Average of class Office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -27% | -41% | -23% | -49% | -34% | -52% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 2.4 | 3 -25% | 3.4 -42% | 4.4 -83% | 2.15 10% | 3.84 ? -60% | 4.61 ? -92% |
| Idle Average * | 3.9 | 8.3 -113% | 8.8 -126% | 6.2 -59% | 11.2 -187% | 6.4 ? -64% | 7.56 ? -94% |
| Idle Maximum * | 5.1 | 8.4 -65% | 9.3 -82% | 7.5 -47% | 11.5 -125% | 7.85 ? -54% | 9.05 ? -77% |
| Load Average * | 42.5 | 34.3 19% | 45.4 -7% | 33.6 21% | 35.8 16% | 40.2 ? 5% | 42.3 ? -0% |
| Cyberpunk 2077 ultra * | 43.5 | 45.8 -5% | 49.4 -14% | 39 10% | |||
| Cyberpunk 2077 ultra external monitor * | 40.2 | 41 -2% | 44.8 -11% | 38.9 3% | |||
| Load Maximum * | 64.4 | 65.2 -1% | 66.3 -3% | 69.3 -8% | 37.2 42% | 61.7 ? 4% | 61.9 ? 4% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 29.9 | 29.6 |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption Cyberpunk / Stress test
Power consumption with external screen
Battery Runtime
Lenovo uses an 80 Wh battery and combined with the low consumption values you get very long battery runtimes. Our Wi-Fi test runs for around 17.5 hours at 150 nits (60 % of the maximum SDR brightness on our test unit) and 60 Hz as well as 9.5 hours at full SDR brightness (60 Hz). These results beat the competition, including ARM rivals like the Surface Laptop 15 or even the MacBook Air 15 M3. The worst-case scenario drains the battery in 02:14 hours.
A full recharge takes 115 minutes when the device is turned on and 80 % of the capacity is ready after 74 minutes. We will add more battery tests in the next couple of days (video playback, HDR video, WiFi test at 120 Hz).
February 26, 2025 upate: We performed additional battery life tests. The runtime in our Wi-Fi test at 150 nits is around two hours shorter when you use 120 Hz instead of 60 Hz (17:28 vs. 15:35 hours), but the difference is smaller with around half an hour when you use the maximum SDR brightness (09:29 vs. 08:56 hours).
The ThinkPad X9 15 performs very well in our video tests. Our test video at 150 nits runs for pretty much 23 hours and even a 4K HDR video at maximum HDR brightness runs for almost 10 hours (09:46 hours). All in all, these are excellent results.
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition Core Ultra 7 258V, Arc 140V, 80 Wh | Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 Snapdragon X Elite SD X Elite X1E-80-100, Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS, 64 Wh | Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9 Aura Core Ultra 7 256V, Arc 140V, 70 Wh | Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Snapdragon SD X Elite X1E-78-100, Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS, 70 Wh | Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 M3, M3 10-Core GPU, 66.5 Wh | Average of class Office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -19% | -7% | -30% | -1% | -33% | |
| H.264 | 1378 | 976 -29% | 885 -36% | 1116 -19% | 759 ? -45% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 1048 | 889 -15% | 1025 -2% | 783 -25% | 1016 -3% | 665 ? -37% |
| Load | 134 | 104 -22% | 148 10% | 97 -28% | 159 19% | 113.1 ? -16% |
Notebookcheck Rating
Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15 Aura Edition
- 02/24/2025 v8
Andreas Osthoff
Total Sustainability Score: 
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The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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