Lenovo has taken a bold step forward in the case design and materials of its ThinkPads with the ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2019. At least the case pays off as the new model is more stable and at the same time slimmer & more compact than its predecessor, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018. Whether you think the dark grey aluminum case looks fancier than the magnesium carbon case of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2019 in matt black is a matter of taste. It has one advantage in any case: It is much less sensitive to dirt.

Overall, we look at the new presentation of the 2019 X1 Yoga in a positive way. We are also impressed by the new speakers, which take the sound of the ThinkPad laptop to a whole new level; at least compared to the less expensive ThinkPads. The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 4 can be used as a mobile radio or as a small jukebox, so the speakers allow additional forms of use. That too is a definite plus. Lenovo has made improvements not only in terms of sound, but the new low-power Full HD LCD is also significantly brighter than the Full HD display, which was used as a base option in the previous model. At most we can criticize the glossy surface and the high reaction times on the LCD. Another positive point is the very good equipment with security features, also the connection variety is still high and partly improved with the mechanical docking port. The completely crossed out (micro) SD card reader is one of the minus points for us. In addition, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 4 has many communication options, but LTE cannot be retrofitted and is therefore only possible if it has been integrated ex factory.

One area where the ThinkPad X1 Yoga surprisingly shows some weaknesses is the input devices. The keyboard, TrackPoint and touchpad are all still very high quality and comfortable to use, but the keyboard loses a bit of a stroke and the "Wave" feature, which made it easier to use the ThinkPad Convertible in tablet mode. The problem with our review unit is the touchscreen, as well as the digitizer pen, because neither of them functioned properly in one area of the display. That influenced the rating of the input devices and we hope that this is not a serial issue.

The performance of the ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2019 has not deteriorated compared to its predecessor, but has not improved either. The fan is weaker and this results in partially increased heat levels. The battery life of the X1 Yoga Gen 4 is good, but the competitors are more or less significantly better. It is a pity that Lenovo still does not offer configurations with more than 16 GB of RAM. As a last positive point we want to mention the generous warranty.

Improved design, brighter display, better speakers. However, also restrictions on the LTE and abandonment of the microSD reader. Overall, the new ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 4 is again a great convertible and gets our recommendation.

Finally, we can recommend the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 4 as a very high quality convertible laptop for students and large corporate clients. The fact that there is a problem with the touchscreen / digitizer is of course not perfect, but this should only be an isolated case and the warranty would cover this anyway. In terms of price, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2019 is located in the high-end segment, where there are also very good alternatives in the form of the Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 and the HP EliteBook x360 1040 G5. Compared to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2019, the Yoga version is especially interesting if you need the convertible features or if an aluminum case is preferred.