By Olivia Grant, Laptop Tech Reviewer
Lenovo’s ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition, launched in 2025, continues the brand’s legacy of delivering robust laptops for business professionals. With a sleek design, powerful performance, and AI-enhanced features, it’s a strong contender for GetTechBite’s audience of tech-savvy professionals in the US and Canada. However, a few quirks keep it from perfection. After thorough testing, we’ve explored its strengths, weaknesses, and how it stacks up in the competitive business laptop market. Here’s our full review of the ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Premium, durable design with a lightweight chassis.
- Vibrant 14-inch OLED display with touch support.
- Strong performance with Intel Core Ultra 9 and AI features.
- Exceptional keyboard and TrackPoint precision.
- Long battery life for all-day productivity.
Cons:
- AI software can feel inconsistent.
- Pricey compared to similar-spec competitors.
- Limited port selection for a business laptop.
Design and Hardware
The ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition upholds Lenovo’s iconic design with a modern twist. Weighing just 2.6 pounds and measuring 0.57 inches thick, its magnesium-aluminum chassis feels both sturdy and portable, ideal for professionals on the go. Available in Eclipse Black or a new Aura Silver finish, it exudes a premium aesthetic while maintaining MIL-STD-810H durability for drops and spills. The signature red TrackPoint and tactile keyboard remain, offering unmatched typing comfort for long work sessions.
The 14-inch OLED display (2880×1800 resolution, 120Hz) delivers stunning visuals with deep blacks and vibrant colors, supporting Dolby Vision and touch input. A 1080p IR webcam with a privacy shutter enhances video calls, complete with AI-driven features like auto-framing. Ports include two Thunderbolt 4, one USB-A, HDMI 2.1, and a headphone jack, though the limited selection may require a dock for heavy peripheral users. The fingerprint reader and Windows Hello facial recognition ensure secure logins.
Performance and Features
Powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 9 (Series 2) processor, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and up to 1TB NVMe SSD, the X9 handles demanding workloads with ease, from data analysis in Excel to video editing in Adobe Premiere. The integrated Intel Arc graphics support light creative tasks and casual gaming, though dedicated GPUs are absent. Running Windows 11 Pro, it’s optimized for business with features like BitLocker encryption and remote management tools.
The Aura Edition introduces AI enhancements via Lenovo’s Smart Suite, including voice-activated commands, real-time transcription, and predictive text for emails. These work well for streamlining meetings but occasionally misinterpret inputs, requiring manual tweaks. The laptop supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 for fast, reliable connectivity, ideal for GetTechBite’s audience of remote workers and hybrid professionals.
Battery life is a highlight, lasting up to 14 hours for web browsing and office tasks, with 65W fast charging via USB-C (80% in about 45 minutes). The cooling system keeps temperatures in check, though the fans can get noisy under heavy loads. Overall, performance is robust, catering to the needs of GetTechBite’s 25–45-year-old, high-income readers.
Quirks and Drawbacks
Despite its strengths, the X9 has quirks. The AI-powered Smart Suite, while innovative, feels half-baked—voice commands sometimes fail in noisy environments, and transcription accuracy lags behind competitors like Microsoft’s Copilot. The port selection, while modern, lacks legacy options like Ethernet, which business users might miss. At $1,799 for the base model, it’s pricier than alternatives with similar specs, potentially deterring budget-conscious buyers among GetTechBite’s 6 million monthly page view audience.
The trackpad, though responsive, is smaller than competitors, which may frustrate users accustomed to larger surfaces. Additionally, the OLED display, while gorgeous, lacks an anti-reflective coating, causing glare in bright settings. These issues don’t break the experience but prevent the X9 from achieving flawless execution.
Comparison to Competitors
At $1,799, the ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition competes with the Dell XPS 13 ($1,499) and MacBook Air M3 ($1,599). The XPS 13 offers a similar OLED display and lighter weight but lacks the X9’s iconic keyboard and TrackPoint. The MacBook Air excels in battery life and ecosystem integration for Apple users but trails in business-specific features like Windows 11 Pro. Compared to Lenovo’s own ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 ($1,649), the X9’s AI features and OLED display give it an edge, though the X1 offers more ports.
For budget alternatives, the HP EliteBook 840 G11 ($1,299) provides solid performance but a less premium display. The X9’s durability and keyboard make it a top pick for professionals, though its price and quirks may push some toward competitors.
Final Thoughts
The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition is a stellar business laptop, blending a gorgeous OLED display, powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 performance, and the legendary ThinkPad keyboard. While AI inconsistencies and a steep price hold it back from perfection, it’s a reliable choice for professionals and GetTechBite’s tech-savvy audience in the US and Canada. Ready to upgrade your work setup? Check out the X9 at Lenovo’s official store, Amazon, or Best Buy, and explore our laptop guides for more productivity-focused tech insights!
