There’s something very pleasing about Lenovo‘s ThinkBook line-up – a series aimed at prosumers – and the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH fits well within that space.
From the ThinkBooks we’ve reviewed, they’re not quite up there with the best Lenovo ThinkPad laptops, but they’re leaps and bounds ahead of the company’s consumer devices. ThinkBooks are famed for offering good power and cost, filling the gap between a machine for casual web browsing and the best business laptops.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH is a beautiful example of just how good the range can be. First, it’s ultra-portable, only made more notable by its 13-inch, 3:2 screen. Second, it’s crazy powerful, partly due to the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H 2.3 GHz processor and partially because of the 32GB of RAM. Regardless of the reasoning, this laptop is impressive all around.
If I had to pick a downside, it would be the lack of ports. However, it is becoming increasingly common to have only a couple of Thunderbolt ports on a laptop and call it good, especially in something as thin as the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4. Gratefully, unlike even the best MacBook Pro laptops, the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH puts one Thunderbolt port on either side of the laptop rather than both on the left side as Apple does.
Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH: Unboxing & first impressions
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH is very well packaged in minimalist packaging, emphasizing its premium computer status from the beginning. The laptop’s dual-tone Luna Gray aluminum body immediately caught my eye, and then, as fast as it caught my eye, my eyes jumped to the Magic Bay area — more on that later.
I kept unboxing, and when I lifted the computer from the box, I was shocked and thrilled with just how lightweight the ThinkBook was. And it’s easy to carry as it’s smooth and doesn’t feel bulky or rough. It’s a beautiful machine with premium materials and an excellent design.
Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH: Design and Build Quality
Specs
as tested
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
Graphics: Integrated Intel Arc Graphics
RAM: 32GB
Screen: 13.5-inch IPS, 2880 x 1920 pixels, 500 nits, 100% sRGB
Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Ports: 3 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 1 x Headphone / Microphone combo jack (3.5mm), Connector for accessories, E-shutter switch
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Camera: 1080p IR camera with Windows Hello, AI features (auto-framing, background blur)
Audio: Four Harman Kardon speakers, Dolby Atmos support
Battery: All-day battery life, up to 24 hours
Dimensions: 0.5 x 11.6 x 8.1 inches (H x W x D)
Weight: 2.7 pounds (1.22 kg)
Operating System: Windows 11 Pro
Additional Features: Power button with fingerprint reader, Magic Bay Light accessory for video calls
The fourh-generation ThinkBook 13x is a masterclass in modern laptop design. It’s clean, simple, elegant, professional, and yet exciting and exciting. It has a 13.5-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio framed by ultra-thin bezels. Thanks to the aspect ratio, the taller screen gives more room for productivity tasks than the more common 16:9 aspect ratio. Despite its compact size and lightweight overall package, this laptop still feels premium, solid, and ultra-powerful.
The display boasts a 2880×1920 resolution, producing sharp and vibrant colors and text. So far, color accuracy has been great when using this laptop. I’ve enjoyed the beautiful display on this computer for a couple of weeks now, and in that time, the refresh rate has been smooth, the colors have been stunning, the text has been crisp, and the brightness has been pretty good.
The speakers were also surprising, especially for how thin the laptop is. Four Harman Kardon speakers within the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 are decently loud and relatively clean audio until you get to max volumes. For virtual meetings, I was able to hear the other people clearly, and music for quick videos or voicemails or anything like that is just fine on these speakers, However, as an amateur audiophile with a background in music performance, I’ll stick to my high-end headphones for listening to music. For others who may care less about the specific quality of the music, these speakers will be plenty.
Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH: In use
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor with an Intel Arc integrated graphics card. So far, even with heavy business use, I have yet to reach the limit. With high-end video editing, you could make this beast of a business machine begin to breathe a bit harder, but with my day-to-day work on it, I have not noticed any slowdowns, nor have I noticed long loading times or processing times. This laptop will be more than sufficient for most users for office work, business work, online work, and so on.
The laptop’s standout feature, the Magic Bay Light, magnetically attaches to the screen, utilizing the Magic Bay previously mentioned, and significantly improves visibility during video calls in low-light environments. It is a perfectly placed soft light to help light you as the subject for a virtual meeting. The 1080p IR webcam supports Windows Hello, and its AI features, like background blur and auto-framing, enhance video calls further, making this a fantastic computer for remote workers with many virtual meetings.
The keyboard, however, was not my favorite, though it was excellent. I expected the typing experience to be better. The trackpad/touchpad had a slightly odd click if you choose to click in rather than tap, but I am also used to the gold standard of trackpads with a MacBook, so it is my preference.
Lenovo claims the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 has the largest battery of any 13-inch laptop and delivers impressive all-day battery life. In testing, the laptop lasted well over 10 hours on a single charge, making it an excellent choice for users who need a reliable device for extended work sessions.
Given how light it is, I have genuinely forgotten that this laptop is in my bag day to day. I’ll pick up my backpack for the day and double-check that I have my laptop of choice loaded up. I love not worrying about sitting near an outlet or having my portable batteries charged up for an all-day workday outside my home office. The overall usage and power have been fantastic, and the form factor has been excellent for my daily laptop.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Simple and functional design | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Easy to use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Practicality | Practical for most | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | Well priced | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH: Final verdict
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH is a stylish and capable ultraportable that will appeal to business users who prioritize design and portability. However, its high price and lack of some ports might make it less attractive compared to other ultraportables that offer better port offerings. If you are okay with only having Thunderbolt ports, this laptop is an absolutely fantastic option for most people, especially business professionals looking for a great all-around laptop.
Need more power for productivity? We reviewed the best mobile workstations.
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collin.probst@futurenet.com (Collin Probst)
