Disclosure: I received this device as a review unit from Lenovo. All opinions are my own, no one from Lenovo is receiving copy approval before this review is posted.
Both share the "Think" badge but one is called a ThinkPad while the other is called a ThinkBook. While conventional wisdom implies the "book" to be the more premium of the two, the ThinkBook line for Lenovo is actually the more affordable small-business/personal alternative to the ThinkPad line. How do the two Think Yoga's compare? Let's find out.
Left: ThinkBook 14s Yoga. Right: ThinkPad X1 Yoga.
Design and Build
Both laptops feature a premium aluminum design that exudes elegance and durability in the hand. The ThinkBook's grey color is lighter than the ThinkPad's grey and a more colorful blue option is available on the ThinkBook, whereas the ThinkPad only comes in one color.
Top: ThinkBook 14s Yoga. Bottom: ThinkPad X1 Yoga
While only the ThinkPad is MIL-STD durability test certified, the ThinkBook feels just as durable as the ThinkPad, with minimal keyboard and display flex. The aluminum finish on the ThinkPad has passed the test of time - there are no visible marks on it even with daily use.
Both machines are nearly the same size (12.60 by 8.62 by 0.67 inches for the ThinkBook and 12.71 by 8.58 by 0.61 inches for the ThinkPad) and weigh similarly (3.3 lbs for the ThinkBook and 2.9 lbs for the ThinkPad). If I was handed both machines blindfolded, I would be hard-pressed to tell a difference between them physically - that's how similar they are.
Both machines are nearly the same size (12.60 by 8.62 by 0.67 inches for the ThinkBook and 12.71 by 8.58 by 0.61 inches for the ThinkPad) and weigh similarly (3.3 lbs for the ThinkBook and 2.9 lbs for the ThinkPad). If I was handed both machines blindfolded, I would be hard-pressed to tell a difference between them physically - that's how similar they are.
One really useful feature of the ThinkBook's design that's not found on the ThinkPad is the ridge near the camera area that provides an area for my finger to easily lift the lid with one hand. The hinges on these convertible laptops are quite stiff, and this small detail makes a huge difference in opening the laptop. I'm glad to see that the 7th generation of the X1 Yoga (just announced at CES 2022) also features this ridge design near the webcam.
In the ports department, both machines impress with a wide offering of different ports. The ThinkBook 14s Yoga has two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, one USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port, one HDMI 1.3 port, one microSD card reader, and a headphone/microphone jack. The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 has two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, one HDMI 1.3b port, an Ethernet extension connector, a headphone/microphone jack, and a nano-SIM card slot on the top for devices equipped with LTE.
Since the 7th generation ThinkPad X1 Yoga just came out, I'll also list the ports on that machine for comparison: 2 USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, one HDMI 2.0b ports, a headphone/microphone jack, and a nano-SIM card slot for devices equipped with LTE or 5G.
The key differences between the ThinkBook and the ThinkPad are the inclusion of microSD on the ThinkBook and the inclusion of nano-SIM on the ThinkPad. Overall, both devices offer class-leading port selection, avoiding the hassle of finding dongles to connect your devices.
Since the 7th generation ThinkPad X1 Yoga just came out, I'll also list the ports on that machine for comparison: 2 USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, one HDMI 2.0b ports, a headphone/microphone jack, and a nano-SIM card slot for devices equipped with LTE or 5G.
The key differences between the ThinkBook and the ThinkPad are the inclusion of microSD on the ThinkBook and the inclusion of nano-SIM on the ThinkPad. Overall, both devices offer class-leading port selection, avoiding the hassle of finding dongles to connect your devices.
Specs and Configuration
Since the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 is a two-year-old machine and the ThinkBook 14s Yoga came out this year, I won't be doing a direct performance comparison of the two. Instead, I'll be doing a holistic comparison of the offerings between the ThinkBook and ThinkPad (specifically the Gen 6 X1 Yoga since it is currently available for purchase).
The ThinkBook and ThinkPad Yogas both offer similar processor options (ie: the Intel Core i5-1135G7 and i7-1165G7 offered on the ThinkPad line are also offered on the ThinkBook line. However, those looking for a vPro compatible processor will have to resort to the ThinkPad as the ThinkBook does not offer a processor with vPro support.
In terms of memory, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga offers up to 32GB LPDDR4 of soldered memory, whereas the ThinkBook 14s Yoga offers 8GB of memory soldered and up to an additional 32GB of memory via a user-upgradable DDR4 SO-DIMM slot. User-upgradable memory is very rare in convertible laptops (in fact, the ThinkBook is the only one I'm aware of that offers this).
Both the ThinkBook 14s Yoga and the ThinkPad X1 Yoga offer 720p cameras (the 7th gen ThinkPad X1 Yoga will offer a full HD camera!) but only the ThinkPad offers an IR camera for Windows Hello face recognition support. The latest 7th gen ThinkPad X1 Yoga also has Computer Vision AI technology to improve video and audio performance in video calls, though I haven't gotten a chance to try this out myself yet. Both ThinkPad and ThinkBook offer a fingerprint sensor (embedded in the power button for the ThinkBook, on the keyboard deck for the ThinkPad).
The ThinkBook and ThinkPad Yogas both offer similar processor options (ie: the Intel Core i5-1135G7 and i7-1165G7 offered on the ThinkPad line are also offered on the ThinkBook line. However, those looking for a vPro compatible processor will have to resort to the ThinkPad as the ThinkBook does not offer a processor with vPro support.
In terms of memory, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga offers up to 32GB LPDDR4 of soldered memory, whereas the ThinkBook 14s Yoga offers 8GB of memory soldered and up to an additional 32GB of memory via a user-upgradable DDR4 SO-DIMM slot. User-upgradable memory is very rare in convertible laptops (in fact, the ThinkBook is the only one I'm aware of that offers this).
Both the ThinkBook 14s Yoga and the ThinkPad X1 Yoga offer 720p cameras (the 7th gen ThinkPad X1 Yoga will offer a full HD camera!) but only the ThinkPad offers an IR camera for Windows Hello face recognition support. The latest 7th gen ThinkPad X1 Yoga also has Computer Vision AI technology to improve video and audio performance in video calls, though I haven't gotten a chance to try this out myself yet. Both ThinkPad and ThinkBook offer a fingerprint sensor (embedded in the power button for the ThinkBook, on the keyboard deck for the ThinkPad).
Trackpad and Keyboard
ThinkPads, in my opinion, have the best input peripherals on the market. I love using the TrackPoint and ThinkPad keyboards are the best I've ever used on laptops with its crisp tactile response and long key travel. The ThinkBook has a standard trackpad and keyboard, and while they are decent, they just aren't the same as a ThinkPad. For those who prefer a larger trackpad, the ThinkBook does offer much more real estate since none of the trackpad is taken up by the three-button TrackPoint on the ThinkPad.
There is more key travel and overall tactile feedback on the ThinkPad X1 Yoga's keyboard compared to the ThinkBook 14s Yoga's keyboard, and I found myself typing with more accuracy on the ThinkPad. In addition, the full-sized arrow keys on the ThinkPad X1 Yoga are particularly helpful when going down or up an Excel spreadsheet, something the half-sized arrow keys on the ThinkBook 14s Yoga make a bit more cumbersome.
Display
The ThinkBook has a 300-nit display whereas my ThinkPad X1 Yoga has a 400-nit low power display. Both displays are quite similar in terms of color reproduction, though I found the colors to be ever so slightly more vibrant on the ThinkBook. The ThinkPad's higher maximum brightness at 400-nits and the anti-glare coating do make it easier to read outdoors in direct sunlight, however.
Important to note is that the Gen 6 and Gen 7 ThinkPad X1 Yoga features a 16:10 display whereas the ThinkBook (and the Gen 5 ThinkPad X1 Yoga) only has a 16:9 display. The taller screen that comes with the 16:10 aspect ratio makes multi-tasking windows less cramped as more content can fit vertically compared to a 16:9 aspect ratio.
While the ThinkBook 14s Yoga only offers one display flavor (1920x1080 300-nit), the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (generations 5 to 7) offers displays up to 3840x2400 resolution and 500 nits with additional features such as Dolby Vision HDR and ThinkPad Privacy Guard.
While the ThinkBook 14s Yoga only offers one display flavor (1920x1080 300-nit), the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (generations 5 to 7) offers displays up to 3840x2400 resolution and 500 nits with additional features such as Dolby Vision HDR and ThinkPad Privacy Guard.
Pen Input
The pen for the ThinkPad X1 Yoga is notably thicker and slightly longer than the one for the ThinkBook 14s Yoga, a difference that definitely manifests itself in the usability of the two. I found it easier and more comfortable to write with the ThinkPad X1 Yoga's pen compared to the ThinkBook 14s Yoga's pen.
Speakers
The speakers for both machines are excellent and are tuned with Dolby software. I find the speakers on the ThinkPad slightly punchier with more bass, but they are both very similar. Take a listen:
Security
The ThinkBook has a fingerprint sensor embedded into the power button, which is quite convenient. The ThinkPad has a fingerprint sensor on the keyboard deck which is accurate and quick in my experience. The ThinkPad offers an IR camera option with Windows Hello facial recognition, a feature not offered in its ThinkBook counterpart.
Battery life and Charging
While both laptops have a similarly sized battery (60Wh on the ThinkBook and 57Wh on the ThinkPad), I found the ThinkPad to consistently last longer by approximately two hours on a general test of web browsing and document editing. From Lenovo's MobileMark 2018 battery testing, the ThinkBook scored 8.4 hours of runtime whereas the ThinkPad scored 16.1 hours. This is likely due to the low-power display on the ThinkPad as well as the low power memory. Both laptops support Rapid Charge with its included 65W adapter - this charges the battery to 80% in one hour.
Fans and Cooling
Both machines run very quiet at idle. During performance-intensive tasks, both laptops don't get too hot to the touch - most of the heat is concentrated near the hinges on both products while the palm rest and keyboard area remain warm to the touch but never get too hot to use. There is only one fan on both laptops, but it does a good job of preventing thermal throttling when running CPU benchmarks.
Odds and Ends
Mobile internet offerings are available on the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (with the Gen 7 offering 5G); the ThinkBook 14s Yoga is a WiFi-only device and does not offer mobile internet as an option.
There are four 360-degree microphones on the ThinkPad X1 Yoga whereas there is only a dual array microphone on the ThinkBook 14s Yoga. In my experience, the microphone performance on the ThinkPad is better when conferencing in a room where multiple voices need to be picked up. Keep this in mind if video conferencing among many people is an important use case.
Lenovo's Vantage software is pre-installed on both machines, but there are more options available on the ThinkPad such as switching the Ctrl and Fn keys and toggling Smart standby mode which hibernates the computer during idle times to save battery,
Available on the ThinkPad X1 Yoga is Human Presence detection, which uses a sensor to keep your device on while the user is looking at the screen and locks the computer when the user steps away. This feature is not available on the ThinkBook. The ThinkPad X1 Yoga can also be configured with an IR camera, which provides additional features via the Glance by Mirametrix software such as Privacy Guard and Privacy Alert that can alert the user when it detects someone looking at the screen behind you.
As the more premium model, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 6 and 7) also offers WiFi 6 compared to the more basic AC WiFi on the ThinkBook 14s Yoga.
The ThinkPad can also be purchased with Linux Ubuntu straight out of the box whereas the ThinkBook is only offered in Windows.
There are four 360-degree microphones on the ThinkPad X1 Yoga whereas there is only a dual array microphone on the ThinkBook 14s Yoga. In my experience, the microphone performance on the ThinkPad is better when conferencing in a room where multiple voices need to be picked up. Keep this in mind if video conferencing among many people is an important use case.
Lenovo's Vantage software is pre-installed on both machines, but there are more options available on the ThinkPad such as switching the Ctrl and Fn keys and toggling Smart standby mode which hibernates the computer during idle times to save battery,
Available on the ThinkPad X1 Yoga is Human Presence detection, which uses a sensor to keep your device on while the user is looking at the screen and locks the computer when the user steps away. This feature is not available on the ThinkBook. The ThinkPad X1 Yoga can also be configured with an IR camera, which provides additional features via the Glance by Mirametrix software such as Privacy Guard and Privacy Alert that can alert the user when it detects someone looking at the screen behind you.
As the more premium model, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 6 and 7) also offers WiFi 6 compared to the more basic AC WiFi on the ThinkBook 14s Yoga.
The ThinkPad can also be purchased with Linux Ubuntu straight out of the box whereas the ThinkBook is only offered in Windows.
Conclusions
The ThinkBook 14s Yoga shares a lot of the same goodness with the ThinkPad X1 Yoga: stylish and quality build, excellent performance, and a slew of ports and features. It's a great all-rounder laptop at a more affordable price - you simply can't go wrong with the ThinkBook.
The ThinkPad X1 Yoga is the more premium line and comes with all the bells and whistles: a better display, better stylus, better microphone performance, more configuration options, and a better trackpad, TrackPoint and keyboard combination.
Learn more about the ThinkBook 14s Yoga, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 5) which is the model featured in this review, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 6) which is currently available for sale, and the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 7) that was just announced at CES 2022 by clicking the links below.
The ThinkPad X1 Yoga is the more premium line and comes with all the bells and whistles: a better display, better stylus, better microphone performance, more configuration options, and a better trackpad, TrackPoint and keyboard combination.
Learn more about the ThinkBook 14s Yoga, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 5) which is the model featured in this review, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 6) which is currently available for sale, and the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 7) that was just announced at CES 2022 by clicking the links below.
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