's venerable ThinkPad business oriented laptop line is punctuated by a couple of stand-out models, but perhaps none as striking, at least for a , as the ThinkPad X1 series. In its current lineup, Lenovo offers two models specifically that command attention perhaps more than others, the that we...

Serious laptops don't have to be dull anymore. Just a few years ago, we'd have avoided those designed for business folk like we would a swaying drunk on the train - but the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon proves that Ultrabooks fit for business are now good enough for everyday folk to use and show off...

Practical matte finish screen; supremely well equipped; very portable; tough carbon fibre construction; trackpad and keyboard comfortable for long periods of use; thin and light

Expensive; keyboard and function key changes will polarise opinion; ThinkPad logo might polarise opinion too; far pricier than a MacBook Air

I was walking through the office with Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon dangling between two fingers when my colleague spied the logo. "That was my first computer," she said with immeasurable fondness. The ThinkPad was a lot of people's first computer.

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon, now in its third generation, tries to bridge the gap between slim, fashion-first laptops and solid business machines. Laptops over the years have become worse and worse in terms of features and comfort, largely because of a push to become as thin and light as possible.

Study; slim and light; Great performance; Good screen

Average battery life; Software bloat; Limited physical and wireless connectivity

But despite being lightweight and ultra powerful, the first Thinkpad X1 Carbon's enterprise appeal was hampered by a few issues, primarily its lack of an Ethernet port and slightly poor non-removable battery.

The X1 Carbon has been around for years, but this latest version is bang up to date and doesn't remove the ports and features you need. Read our 2017 ThinkPad X1 Carbon review to find out more.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is everything the original X1 should have been. Though its TN screen doesn't quite match up to the premium style, build and features of this stunning Ultrabook, in every other regard it's easily the best business ultraportable around.

Stylish; light and sleek; Superb backlit; spill-proof keyboard; Durable soft-touch finish; Powerful specs; Good high-res screen

No Ethernet port; Screen panel still TN

Lenovo is an old hand at the business notebook game and has been producing top-class portables for years. With Apple and Dell elbowing their way to the top of the tree recently, and old rivals such as HP and Asus upping their game as well, it's facing competition like never before.

Lengthy battery life; Performance ahead of its rivals; Stunning lightweight design

Expensive

A lightweight and stylish machine that sets the bar for business grade ultrabooks

Thin and impressively light; Great battery life; Excellent port options; Superb design; 14in thin bezel screen

Display performance is average at best; Pricey

The big issue with the X1 Carbon is its staggering price. Just like the pricey HP EliteBook Folio 1020 , you'll have to wave goodbye to a huge chunk of your IT budget if you want a fully-loaded model equipped with a high-DPI touchscreen.