Breaking
March 17, 2025

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition review: Say goodbye to TrackPoint | usagoldmines.com

At a glance

Expert’s Rating

Pros

  • Thin, light, and luxurious design
  • Haptic touchpad and enjoyable keyboard
  • Excellent 14-inch OLED with refresh rate up to 120Hz
  • Future-looking connectivity including Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 7

Cons

  • Missing TrackPoint will divide ThinkPad fans
  • Not the best performance for your dollar
  • Modest battery life

Our Verdict

The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 is a sleeker, more luxurious ThinkPad. However, its performance and battery life are mid-pack.

Price When Reviewed

This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined

Best Pricing Today

Best Prices Today: Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition

Retailer
Price
Lenovo

£1349.99
Product
Price

The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition had PC World’s editors scratching their heads upon its reveal at CES 2025. It’s a ThinkPad, but it ditches many of the features that are typical of the ThinkPad brand. There’s no iconic red TrackPoint, no physical buttons on the touchpad, and the overall look and feel is more typical of Lenovo’s recent Yoga Pro laptops. 

These changes will make the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition controversial among long-time ThinkPad fans but also make it more approachable for the average laptop shopper.

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14: Specs and features

The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition is built with a focus on portability over performance. I received a laptop with an eight-core Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB solid state drive. 

  • CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
  • Memory: 16GB LPDDR5x-8533
  • Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc Graphics 130V
  • NPU: Intel AI Boost peak 40 TOPs
  • Display: 14-inch 2880×1800 120Hz OLED with VRR and HDR
  • Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD
  • Webcam: 1440p 30fps camera with IR 3D camera for Windows Hello, electronic privacy shutter
  • Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C (40Gbps data, DisplayPort, Power Delivery), 1x HDMI 2.1 (up to 4K 60Hz), 1x 3.5mm combo headphone/microphone jack
  • Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
  • Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition, fingerprint reader
  • Battery capacity: 55 watt-hours
  • Dimensions: 12.28 x 8.35 x 0.51 inches
  • Weight: 2.74 pounds
  • Operating System: Windows 11 Pro
  • Price: $1,519 retail from Lenovo

The ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition is all in on future-proof connectivity. It has two Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4. However, it lacks USB-A ports and doesn’t have a physical Ethernet port. It does have a 3.5mm audio port, though.

Lenovo lists the model I reviewed at $1,519. The entry-level model downgrades to 256GB of storage and a 1200p OLED display, which lowers the price to $1,239. Upgrades, meanwhile, include up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 268V processor, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage. Checking all the boxes boosts the price up to $2,349. 

The ThinkPad X9 14 also puts an emphasis on portability. It measures just .51 inches thick (excluding the rubber feet on the bottom of the laptop) and weighs a mere 2.74 pounds. Neither number is unusual in 2025, as many 14-inch competitors are similar in size and weight, but it still makes for a remarkably light laptop that’s easy to pick up, pack, and carry. 

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14: Design and build quality

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition might be a ThinkPad, but it looks far more like Lenovo’s recent Yoga Pro and Slim Pro laptops. The chassis is built from a grayish-blue aluminum that feels solid and premium in-hand. It also has rounded corners, beveled edges, and a wavy texture across the bottom panel that makes the laptop easier to hold.

All of this is heresy for ThinkPad super-fans, who often prefer the boxier, all-black designs of yore. But… I like it. A lot.

This didn’t surprise me. PC World has favorably reviewed Lenovo’s premium consumer laptops such as the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i, which we gave an Editor’s Choice award. Indeed, the Yoga Pro 9i is so good it often left me wondering why anyone would want to buy a ThinkPad instead. The Yoga Pro 9i is typically more attractive, slimmer, and provides a much larger touchpad. It’s less expensive than a competitively equipped ThinkPad as well.

It seems Lenovo noticed this, too, because the ThinkPad X9 14 feels like a Yoga Pro with the ThinkPad name on it. And, as a result, the ThinkPad X9 14 provides something ThinkPads often fail to deliver: a sense of luxury. 

The ThinkPad X9 14 also puts an emphasis on portability. It measures just .51 inches thick (excluding the rubber feet on the bottom of the laptop) and weighs a mere 2.74 pounds. Neither number is unusual in 2025, as many 14-inch competitors are similar in size and weight, but it still makes for a remarkably light laptop that’s easy to pick up, pack, and carry. 

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14: Keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Matthew Smith

While the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition makes many changes to the ThinkPad formula, the removal of the classic TrackPoint—a red nub found in the middle of most ThinkPad keyboards—is probably the most jarring change.

I’m a fan of the TrackPoint, as well, and I won’t sugarcoat it. If you want a TrackPoint, well, this ain’t it, chief. There’s nothing about the ThinkPad X9 14 that will convince TrackPoint loyalists to make the switch to a touchpad.

However, as with the laptop’s design, I think offering a ThinkPad without the TrackPoint is a sensible move. I’ve owned a series of ThinkPads over the years and once greatly preferred the TrackPoint. Today, things are different. The responsiveness and size of modern touchpads have improved, and multi-touch gestures are more useful than they once were. 

Speaking of which, the ThinkPad X9 14’s touchpad is solid. It measures about 5 inches wide and about 3 inches deep. That’s a good size for a 14-inch laptop and provides space for using Windows’ multi-touch gestures, but it’s not any larger than most competitors. 

The touchpad uses haptic feedback to simulate the feel of a physical click when a left or right-click action is executed, and it works great. So much so that I prefer haptic feedback to a real, physical touch action on modern laptops. 

What about the keyboard? It’s great. The keyboard provides good key travel and has a spacious layout. Most keys are close to full size and those that are shrunk, like the Backspace and Tab keys, are still large enough that I didn’t have to adjust my muscle memory. A keyboard backlight comes standard and is effective at making the keys readable in dim settings.

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14: Display, audio

IDG / Matthew Smith

The entry-level Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition is sold with a 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED non-touch screen, but the model I tested (and most configurations sold online) had a 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED touchscreen. The upgraded display also boosts the refresh rate from 60Hz to 120Hz.

It’s a beautiful display. 2880×1800 resolution on a 14-inch panel works out to about 243 pixels per inch, which is excellent for a laptop display and provides a razor-sharp look. Color performance and contrast are excellent, too, and combine to deliver a deep, immersive image. While a handful of laptops, like the Dell XPS 14, offer an even sharper 3200×2000 OLED panel, the ThinkPad X9 14’s display is otherwise as good as it gets. 

As mentioned, the 2880×1800 panel has a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. It also supports VRR and can handle variable refresh rates between 30 and 120Hz. That makes it possible to use Windows’ dynamic refresh rate feature, which can lower the refresh rate to improve battery life (though this was off by default on the machine I tested).

The ThinkPad X9 14’s speakers are decent but not a highlight. They deliver good volume with some low-end in bass heavy content. However, the speakers can become boomy and harsh as the volume is increased past 50 percent of maximum.

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

Every Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition has a 1440p webcam (note: Lenovo advertises it as 1080p, but it can in fact record up to 1440p at 30 frames per second). The webcam delivers a sharp, crisp image and deals well with mixed lighting. The microphone array is also crisp and does a great job of reducing background noise. Most competitive laptops also do well here, but the ThinkPad X9 14 is a solid choice if you spend a lot of time on video calls. 

Biometric login is supported through both Windows Hello facial recognition via the webcam and fingerprint recognition via a sensor on the power button, which is located on the keyboard. Both prove easy to use but, as is typical, I found facial recognition quicker and more reliable than the fingerprint sensor. 

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14: Connectivity

IDG / Matthew Smith

The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition makes many changes to the classic ThinkPad formula, and that includes connectivity. It makes no attempt to provide a wide range of ports and instead focuses on the latest, greatest standards.

A pair of Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports, each with 40Gbps of data, DisplayPort and Power Delivery, provide the bulk of the physical connectivity. Two ports isn’t a lot, but the ports are extremely versatile and work well with a dock if more connectivity is needed. 

Also, the Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports are placed on opposite sides of the laptop (one on the left, one on the right), so there’s always a port close at hand no matter where your other devices are located on your desk. 

Additional video connectivity comes from the HDMI 2.1 port, which supports 4K at up to 60Hz. The HDMI port is handy for connecting to televisions or projectors. A 3.5mm combo audio jack on the laptop’s right flank rounds out the connectivity. 

Wireless connectivity is also forward-looking. The laptop supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, which are the latest version of each respective standard. I expect the laptop’s wireless connectivity will remain relevant for over a decade, as the progress of wireless standards has slowed in recent years. 

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14: Performance

The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition I reviewed had an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor. This is the least capable chip available in this laptop (four alternative Intel chips are available as upgrades). It has just eight processor cores, only four of which are performance cores, and comes paired with Intel Arc 130V. The laptop I reviewed also had 16GB of RAM and 512GB of PCIe solid state storage. 

IDG / Matthew Smith

Our first benchmark, PCMark 10, takes a holistic approach and tests a laptop across multiple simulated real-world workloads, from web conferencing to image editing and much more. The ThinkPad X9 14 falls a bit behind in this test with a score of 6,272. That’s quite a bit less than laptops that have more powerful Intel Core processors or AMD’s Ryzen AI 9. 

IDG / Matthew Smith

Intel’s Core Ultra 5 226V becomes a bit of a boat anchor in Cinebench R23, a heavily multi-threaded and short-duration test. The CPU’s limited core count (four performance, four efficient cores, for a total of eight) is a disadvantage in this benchmark. 

IDG / Matthew Smith

Handbrake, a longer duration multi-threaded benchmark that encodes a movie from MP4 to MKV, doesn’t change the story. The ThinkPad X19 14 still lags the pack. However, the margin by which it lags is lower here than in Cinebench R23.

IDG / Matthew Smith

What about 3D performance? The ThinkPad X9 14 is again at a disadvantage, as the Intel Core Ultra 5 226 relies on Intel Arc 130V graphics. This version of Intel Arc integrated graphics has just seven Xe cores, down from eight with Intel Arc 140V, and the clock speed is lower as well. It’s perhaps no surprise, then, to see the ThinkPad X9 14 lag behind the pack.

Overall, the ThinkPad X9 14’s performance doesn’t impress. Of course, some concession should be made for the fact Lenovo sent an entry-level configuration and I expect that upgraded models with more capable Intel Chips like the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V would perform better.

Those upgrades aren’t free, however, and this is an area where the ThinkPad X9 14 feels uncompetitive. At any given price, Lenovo offers an alternative model of Yoga Pro that has a better processor, more storage, and more RAM. Asus’ Zenbook 14 and Samsung’s Galaxy Book5 Pro also provide a similar prosumer look-and-feel alongside better performance for the price.

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14: Battery life

You might expect the thin-and-light Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition to provide good battery life but, as is often the case with thin laptops, battery capacity becomes an issue. The ThinkPad X9 14 has a 55-watt-hour battery, while most similar laptops have a 65 to 75-watt-hour battery.

IDG / Matthew Smith

Mediocre battery life is the result. The ThinkPad X9 14 lasted roughly 11 hours and 45 minutes in our standard battery test, which loops a 4K video file of the short film Tears of Steel. That’s not bad but as the graph shows, it’s possible to find better battery life in competitive laptops. 

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14: Conclusion

The ThinkPad X9 14 provides a great keyboard and touchpad alongside a premium look and feel that’s more like Lenovo’s excellent Yoga Pro laptops. While the changes won’t tempt long-time ThinkPad fans, they make the laptop more competitive with prosumer laptops, which often deliver better design than laptops focused on productivity and business.

Where the ThinkPad X9 14 lags, however, is bang-for-the-buck. Though it’s as attractive as prosumer peers, you’ll still find that your money doesn’t go as far when buying a ThinkPad as it would if you purchased a prosumer laptop. 

Even so, the ThinkPad X9 14 is likely to find an audience among business and enterprise buyers who’d prefer a sleeker, more luxurious alternative to a typical 14-inch business thin-and-light.

 

This articles is written by : Nermeen Nabil Khear Abdelmalak

All rights reserved to : USAGOLDMIES . www.usagoldmines.com

You can Enjoy surfing our website categories and read more content in many fields you may like .

Why USAGoldMines ?

USAGoldMines is a comprehensive website offering the latest in financial, crypto, and technical news. With specialized sections for each category, it provides readers with up-to-date market insights, investment trends, and technological advancements, making it a valuable resource for investors and enthusiasts in the fast-paced financial world.

Recent:

Save up to 65% on Microsoft Office & Windows Software | usagoldmines.com

Here are 4 Secret Android Features You May See in Android 16 or 17 Kellen | usagoldmines.com

Google Pushes Fix for Dead Chromecast Devices That Were Factory Reset Kellen | usagoldmines.com

You Can Now Use ChatGPT As Your Default Android Assistant David Nield | usagoldmines.com

The Blink Mini 2 Is at Its Lowest Price Right Now Pradershika Sharma | usagoldmines.com

Disney+ and Hulu Launch New Promo Bundle Offering Four Months for Just $11.96 Mitchel Broussard | us...

Is YouTube auto-playing Shorts when you open the app? Well, you’re not alone - here’s how to fix it ...

UK online safety law Musk hates kicks in today, and so far, Trump can’t stop it Ashley Belanger | us...

Windows 11 updates are accidentally getting rid of Copilot, at least for now Andrew Cunningham | usa...

Sobering revenue stats of 70K mobile apps show why devs beg for subscriptions Scharon Harding | usag...

Trump plan to fund Musk’s Starlink over fiber called “betrayal” of rural US Jon Brodkin | usagoldmin...

I’m a desk fidgeter. These 5 fidget toys keep me sane while I work | usagoldmines.com

Don’t be scared! Buy a cheaper laptop and upgrade the storage yourself | usagoldmines.com

Streaming Major League Baseball games: A how-to guide | usagoldmines.com

Best budget computer speakers 2025: Solid PC audio for $100 or less | usagoldmines.com

I love this Steam Sale tool that discovers hidden PC gaming gems | usagoldmines.com

Turn Spring Cleaning Into All-Year Cleaning With These Techniques Lindsey Ellefson | usagoldmines.co...

Apple Seeds Fourth Betas of visionOS 2.4, tvOS 18.4, and watchOS 11.4 Juli Clover | usagoldmines.com

Apple Seeds Fourth iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 Betas With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music and Mor...

Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of macOS Sequoia 15.4 With Mail Categorization Juli Clover | usagoldmines.co...

Apple Exclusively Selling New 4-in-1 MagSafe Charging Stand Joe Rossignol | usagoldmines.com

Intel's Panther Lake processors won't arrive until Q1 2026 - corroborates previous delay rumors desp...

Samsung's best Dolby Atmos soundbar is being bricked by a new update – here's what we know so far |...

Adolescence is the best show on Netflix right now, and you can watch it in one evening john-anthony....

Microsoft shot itself in the foot with its latest Windows update | usagoldmines.com

Elecom’s world-first Na-ion power bank has 10x more charging cycles than Li-ion | usagoldmines.com

This free tool cuts through Steam Sales and finds the hidden gems | usagoldmines.com

Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Grabs March Update Kellen | usagoldmines.com

Instead of Spring Cleaning, Try Spring Decluttering Lindsey Ellefson | usagoldmines.com

The Seven Deadly Sins of Spring Cleaning Stephen Johnson | usagoldmines.com

I didn't know an SSD could be cute until I saw Seagate's new Genshin Impact limited edition dash.woo...

Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, March 18 (game #1149) | usagoldmines.com

NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, March 18 (game #646) | usagoldmines.com

NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, March 18 (game #380) | usagoldmines.com

I asked ChatGPT 4o, Gemini Live, and Siri what to wear, and only one could really help me look my be...

Technology monitoring solutions are becoming obsolete | usagoldmines.com

Your next GPU could be from AMD, not Nvidia, if Team Red’s success with PC gamers continues | usago...

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is getting one of the S25’s biggest video upgrades with One UI 7 – here’s why...

Nintendo Switch 2 likely to have AI upscaling similar to PS5 Pro’s PSSR according to patent, and it ...

How Google's new anti-scraping measures are forcing an industry evolution | usagoldmines.com

“More sovereignty and protection” - Google goes all-in on UK AI with data residency, upskilling proj...

Infamous ransomware hackers reveal new tool to brute-force VPNs | usagoldmines.com

I've been using an Apple Watch for 10 years – here are three common mistakes even I've made stephen....

Pebble confirms its smartwatch announcement is just hours away stephen.warwick@futurenet.com (Stephe...

Security issue in open source software leaves businesses concerned for systems | usagoldmines.com

Physicists unlock another clue to brewing the perfect espresso Jennifer Ouellette | usagoldmines.com

A tough race for the rookies as F1 starts 2025 in Australia Jonathan M. Gitlin | usagoldmines.com

Why wait? Google is already dismantling Assistant as it switches to Gemini. Ryan Whitwam | usagoldmi...

This free app unlocks AMD’s FSR 4 for unsupported games | usagoldmines.com

Asus jacks up prices on Nvidia and AMD GPUs | usagoldmines.com

Microsoft’s Remote Desktop app is being killed soon | usagoldmines.com

Logitech’s MX Vertical mouse rarely goes on sale — it’s 30% off now | usagoldmines.com

7 Google Assistant features vanishing soon as Gemini transition approaches | usagoldmines.com

Put Your Kids in Charge of These Spring Cleaning Chores Meghan Moravcik Walbert | usagoldmines.com

The Best Spring Cleaning Tips, According to Pros Lindsey Ellefson | usagoldmines.com

At 50% off, the Blink Mini 2 is a great first home security camera | usagoldmines.com

Never pay full price for Amazon purchases again with this free site | usagoldmines.com

$400 Off the Pixel 9 Pro XL is Happening Right Now For Some Reason Kellen | usagoldmines.com

My Favorite Gadgets to Make Spring Cleaning Actually Kind of Fun Lindsey Ellefson | usagoldmines.com

The Specialty Spring Cleaning Tools That Are Actually Useful Lindsey Ellefson | usagoldmines.com

Mac Studio With M3 Ultra Runs Massive DeepSeek R1 AI Model Locally Tim Hardwick | usagoldmines.com

Apple's First Foldable iPhone Estimated to Cost Nearly Twice as Much as iPhone 16 Pro Max Joe Rossig...

1Password Spring Sale Features Up to 50% Off Plans for Families and Individuals Mitchel Broussard | ...

Get ready to pay $1360 more for the RTX 5090 - Asus just raised prices yet again, and AMD's RX 9070 ...

Huawei might have beaten Apple to the folding phone finish line by creating a foldable 'iPad mini' j...

Switchbot has totally redesigned its smart home hub – and it's great news for renters | usagoldmine...

It’s crunch time for Apple Intelligence as Apple execs look for a solution to the company’s AI woes ...

Circular's new smart ring is getting blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring before the Apple Wa...

Disney+ renews Percy Jackson and the Olympians for season 3, unleashing an epic new odyssey based on...

Knights of the Old Republic remake developer Saber Interactive states all its projects are 'still in...

Worryingly, Google Gemini’s new AI image generation features can be used to remove watermarks from i...

EU tech companies push for digital sovereignty, reducing reliance on US and others benedict.collins@...

Google is slowly phasing out its Assistant helper to make room for Gemini's reign in smartphones - h...

Adobe Summit 2025 - all the news and updates as it happens | usagoldmines.com

Renault unveils its wildest EV to date and it comes with in-wheel motors and a rally-style vertical ...

Latest Snap Spectacles update teases an exciting AR future that I can't wait for hamish.hector@futur...

Microsoft 365 accounts are under attack from new malware spoofing popular work apps | usagoldmines....

One of the most powerful ransomware hacks around has been cracked using some serious GPU power | us...

Demon City on Netflix is Japan's answer to John Wick with a dash of Oldboy, and it rocks | usagoldm...

How to use a virtual number to stay safe from scammers | usagoldmines.com

How to check if your data has already leaked | usagoldmines.com

The rise of AI voice cloning: A new era of phone scams begins | usagoldmines.com

“They knew everything about me”–How modern identity thieves profile victims | usagoldmines.com

How to take back control after your data was breached | usagoldmines.com

How Surfshark VPN can help you watch content while travelling as if you were still at home | usagol...

Make Chrome secure and private by using the Surfshark VPN extension | usagoldmines.com

Surfshark Antivirus: all-around antivirus protection and more | usagoldmines.com

The digital footprint you leave online & how can Surfshark Antivirus protect it | usagoldmines....

How to delete yourself from the internet | usagoldmines.com

Today’s best laptop deals: Save big on work, school, home use, and gaming | usagoldmines.com

Only $329 for this Ryzen 7 mini PC with 32GB RAM right now | usagoldmines.com

Save $560 on HP’s RTX 4070 laptop with 32GB RAM today | usagoldmines.com

Refresh rate vs. frame rate: Why they matter for gaming performance | usagoldmines.com

Use These Room-by-Room Checklists to Spring Clean Your Entire Home Lindsey Ellefson | usagoldmines.c...

Seven Ways to Spring Clean When You're Feeling Lazy Lindsey Ellefson | usagoldmines.com

Alphabet spins off laser-based Internet backbone provider Taara Stephen Morris, Financial Times | us...

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ first drive: 460 miles on a single charge Michael Teo Van Runkle | usa...

Apple Canned Larger iPhone 17 Air Model Over Fears of Bendgate 2.0 Tim Hardwick | usagoldmines.com

Samsung's latest software upgrade could mean Galaxy phones beat iPhones for gaming – but you can't g...

Windows 11 bug deletes Copilot from the OS – is this the first glitch ever some users will be happy ...

Leave a Reply