Lenovo’s X1 Extreme Gen 5 is an expensive workhorse you won’t want to put down.

Lenovo’s ThinkPad series of laptops garners high expectations from most—you expect a lot because these devices have a tremendous reputation. So, when I got my hands on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5, I expected greatness. I got just that.

Fresh out of another ThinkPad review, the X1 Carbon (Gen 10), I was graced with the latest Extreme model. As with the past iterations of the ThinkPad X1 Extreme, such as the Gen 4, the Gen 5 is a high performer that surpasses many other devices in its weight class. Its powerful Intel processor makes it easy to do just about anything in a timely manner, while its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU brings beautiful images to life—no matter what form of media you’re consuming. Working or playing, the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5 won’t let you down. I had to dig deep to find a few little faults.

This powerhouse laptop does come at a price, though, and a hefty one at that. My model, the 21DE0046US, costs over $3,600 for its premium features. Still, the battery life is about average—good, but not what you might expect for such a high-priced computer. However, considering its near-perfect performance, the X1 Extreme Gen 5 is an excellent buy for professional or personal use.

Dimensions: 14.15 x 9.99 x 0.7in (359.5 x 253.8 x 17.9mm)
Weight: 4.14lbs (1.88kg)
Display: IPS (in-plane switching LED), touchscreen with anti-glare
Screen Size: 16in
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
Color: Black weave

The chassis of the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5 is solid, so don’t expect this laptop to be lightweight. It’s a bit heavy to carry around, and its charger is, too (more on that later). But what you’re sacrificing in portability, you make up for in smooth, impressive performance.

The Extreme Gen 5’s body is gorgeous: a jet-black carbon finish with a woven top and a pleasant hand feel. The weave looks like a work of art, and you also get a ThinkPad logo with a red indicator light, so you’ll know your laptop is on (even if it’s closed).