How to cultivate empowering identities and clarify the behaviors associated with those identities.
We praise what matters. In a famous study, Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck found that if they were praised for working hard rather than being smart, students were much more likely to persevere through difficult problems and bring those problems home to work more.
Continue reading
JBL Tour One test report: Noise canceling cans for frequent callers
RRP $ 300.00
"A large battery and a pleasant call quality make these cans ideal for work or travel."
advantages
Effective ANC
Good sound quality
Excellent call quality
Great battery life
disadvantage
No sidetone for calls
No aptX / aptX HD / LDAC codecs
Right now, Sony's $ 350 WH-1000XM4 are the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy. We like them so much that they also top our list of the best wireless headphones and the best headphones overall. Sony's success has not gone unnoticed by its competitors, which has led to several attempts to mimic the XM4, including JBL's $ 300 Tour One.
The Tour One isn't just a bit like the XM4. From size, weight, shape, and materials to controls and features, it's almost like JBL used the XM4 as a blueprint for the Tour One and then figured out how to sell it for $ 50 less.
The question you're probably asking is, should I buy the Tour One and save that $ 50, or has JBL trimmed too many features to slip below the price of the XM4? I think the Sony headphones are still the ones to buy, but JBL still managed to make the Tour One worth it thanks to a few things it does really well. Let's get into that.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
JBL still has a lot to learn about sustainable packaging. The Tour One Box contains a lot of foam padding and coated cardboard, which makes recycling difficult.
Open the box and you will find the Tour One in its own semi-rigid zippered tote bag. This is your first hint that JBL was inspired by Sony. Not only is the case almost exactly the same size and shape as the one Sony uses for both the WH-1000XM3 and XM4, but it also has the same mesh pocket sewn to one side for small accessories or perhaps a credit Card and ID can be used if you have taken it to the gym.
Inside the case, the Tour One is folded into exactly the same position as the Sony cans and there is a paper insert with a diagram to remind you how to put the headphones in to make them fit again, just like Sony did.
If Sony's designs are too conservative for you, the Tour One adds just enough bling not to look boring.
The similarities continue into the small compartment that houses the included accessories: a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, a 3.5mm to 2.5mm analog cable and a Double pin flight adapter.
Unlike Sony, JBL's charging cable actually has a usable length (40 inches compared to Sony's ridiculously short 9 inches). The USB-A side is reversible for rate-free use – a nice touch.
JBL Tour One (left) and Sony WH-1000XM4. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Given the similarity of the Tour One to the WH-1000XM4, the overall design is hard to criticize. It has a compact shape that keeps the ear cups and headband close to your head so you don't look like you've just walked off the set of a daft punk video.
The auricles pivot, fold, and articulate gently to adapt to the shape of your head. The headband is well padded and the sliders move with a precise "notch" that is both easy to adjust and secure once adjusted.
The Tour One are still very light and very comfortable.
JBL has given the Tour One a slightly satin finish to the plastics and added some black chrome accents that give the cans an extremely high-quality look. If Sony's designs are too conservative for you, the Tour One adds just enough bling not to look boring.
In terms of controls, JBL is improving Sony's design. JBL keeps things simple by replacing Sony's swipe gestures for a combination of simple taps on the right earcup for playback controls and a dedicated set of buttons for volume. A combined power / Bluetooth pairing switch on the right ear cup and a single multifunction button on the left ear cup round off the Tour One's controls.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Although not quite as light as the WH-1000XM4 (9.45 ounces vs. 8.95 ounces), the Tour One is still very light and very comfortable. The ear pads and headband are generously padded and I was able to wear them for three hours without getting tired, even with glasses. One thing that bothered me towards the end of this period was the depth of the auricles. My ears stick out quite a bit – maybe a little more than average – and their outer edges are touching the inner lining. At some point this pressure point needed some relief.
If your ears are like mine, both the Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose Noise Canceling Headphones offer 700 deeper ear cups.
The Tour One's hinged hinges are great for wearing around your neck, and they fold properly so that the ear cups are facing down and the ear cushions are against your collarbone. Sony does this too, but Bose makes the peculiar decision to put the headband's far less comfortable sliders on your collarbone.
Despite its comfortable fit, the Tour One has a greater tendency to move on its head than the Bose or Sony. It's by no means a deal breaker, but if you want a full-size set of cans for the gym as well as the office or airplane cabin, keep this in mind.
The controls of the Tour One are very easy to use. The single, double, and triple tap touches on the right earcup register every time (as long as you tap the center) and I like having a power button that turns the headphones on instantly. The Bose 700 also turns on instantly, but the Sony XM4s require more patience with a gesture of pressing and holding the power button.
Using the JBL Headphones app offers some adjustments to the controls. Both the multifunction button and the tap-and-hold gesture on the touch panel can be set to control the Active Noise Canceling (ANC) / TalkThru modes or to trigger your voice assistant.
The bluetooth connectivity is excellent.
The auto-pause option works really well. If you pull the ear cups away from your head, the melodies will pause immediately and then resume just as quickly when they are snapped back into place. You can deactivate the function in the headphones app if you want.
The bluetooth connectivity is excellent. Even though I wasn't considered a Class 1 Bluetooth device like the Beats Studio 3 headphones, I was still able to leave my phone at my desk and walk all the way to my garage (about 18 meters, one floor and several walls in terms of the distance). and the signal stayed strong. You can also connect the Tour One to two Bluetooth devices at the same time, although this once caused a static noise that was fixed by disconnecting and reconnecting my phone.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Out of the box, the Tour One has a relatively neutral EQ. There's a nice definition over the frequencies and excellent clarity in the upper mids and highs. The bass reproduction is snappy and not intrusive. You can tell that JBL has tuned these sockets as genre-independent as possible, which is in contrast to headphones, which tend to be low-end.
Compared to the Sony XM4, the Tour One doesn't offer as much warmth or such a wide soundstage, but the difference isn't that big. Strangely enough, the Tour One, just like the other flagship radio sockets from JBL, the Club One, are not equipped with high-quality Bluetooth codecs such as aptX, aptX HD or LDAC. While you can play frequencies from 20 Hz to 40 kHz (and are therefore considered Hi-Res audio compatible), you will never experience this anywhere when using the headphones wirelessly. The XM4 gives you LDAC, which doesn't do much for iPhone owners, but offers better sound quality for those with Android phones.
When you listen via bluetooth you can enjoy the bones of the song, but when you are wired you can hear its soul.
And that's a shame, because if you connect the Tour One to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with the supplied analog cable, they deliver a lot more depth and resonance.
One of my favorite test tracks is Billie Eilish's Bad Guy. Not only does it have incredibly deep bass, but it also superimposes Eilish's whispering voice, creating a torture chamber for audio equipment. It's also a deceptively complex shot. When you listen via bluetooth you can enjoy the bones of the song, but when you are wired you can hear its soul. Suddenly Eilish is not only whispering through the lyrics, she is whispering directly in your ear – it's an ASMR-level experience that creates goosebumps.
I don't want to miss out on the wireless performance too much as it's actually very good, and I like the fact that you can access EQ presets and manual EQ adjustments from within the app. This can radically change the sound signature of the Tour One. So if you're not a fan of the so-called flat EQ, you don't have to put up with it.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
The Tour One does a good job of canceling out external noise, but its performance can be a little uneven. Unlike the Sony XM4 and Bose 700, the Tour One seems to struggle to produce a nice, even canceling effect. I have a fan under my desk that produces both even sound and even wind. JBL's ANC blocks it well enough, but it cannot decide exactly which of the fan’s frequencies to block, so you can actually hear it chasing around and the result can be a little uncomfortable.
This mostly happens when you use JBL's True Adaptive ANC mode which tries to respond to your listening conditions in real time. Turning this feature off helped a lot. To be fair, my desk fan situation is a minor anomaly – I wasn't even aware of the problem at other times – but both the Sony XM4 and Bose 700 handled it flawlessly, with the Bose being by far the best of the three.
The Silent Now mode is useful if you just want to be quiet: it activates ANC, but keeps Bluetooth communication switched off, saving the battery when you need it.
In short, I've never tested wireless headphones with better call quality than the Tour One.
JBL gives you two different transparency modes to choose from, and both of them have their advantages. For a better general awareness of your surroundings, you can choose Ambient Aware – which lets in a lot of external sounds without affecting your music. Or, if you actually need to talk to someone, you can activate TalkThru mode, which is just like Ambient Aware but also drops the volume of your audio to a point where it is barely noticeable.
Oddly enough, you can toggle between full ANC mode and TalkThru by double-clicking the multifunction button. However, if you want to switch between ANC and Ambient Aware, you need to switch between three modes: ANC>, Ambient Aware>, Ambient Aware Off> ANC.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
So far, most of the qualities of the JBL Tour One have more or less placed them where one would expect them to be compared to the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700. But one area where the Tour One blows away those other headphones is their call quality.
I could walk down a very busy street, with varying degrees of traffic noise, including loud buses and some construction equipment, and yet if you listen to the recording I made you would swear I was sitting alone in a quiet park – so little outside noise got recorded by the microphones of the Tour One.
Not only will your voice be interrupted by these competing sounds, but it will sound really good too. The Tour One captures and preserves the lower notes of your voice, adding depth and resonance to it, which is in sharp contrast to most other headphones and earbuds.
In short, I've never tested wireless headphones with better call quality than the Tour One.
The only caveat here is that JBL has dedicated all of the Tour One's microphones to noise suppression and voice quality optimization, which means there is no sideline and no way to be in Ambient Aware mode or TalkThru mode while on a call to stay. While your callers will love your sound, they may not hear your own voice as clearly.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
JBL claims that the Tour One gives you 50 hours of battery life if you disable ANC, and about half that if you leave it on. I didn't run it for a full charge / discharge cycle, but after about 10 hours of playing music at 50% volume with ANC, the JBL Headphones app gave me a 55% battery level, which is pretty close to what JBL claims.
These are great numbers. Better than Sony, better than Bose, and even a tiny bit better than the Marshall Monitor ANC II, our best premium cans for battery life to date.
They take two hours to empty, but you can get three hours of playtime on a 10 minute quick charge.
JBL's Tour series, which includes the Tour One headphones and Tour Pro + True Wireless earbuds, is one of the few on the market that offers hands-free access to the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa of your choice.
Once you've chosen your assistant, you can say “Hey Google” or “Alexa” and then ask for anything – including controls for playback, answering calls, and volume. When you use this option, one of the gestures on the multifunction button is released, giving you more control over other headphone functions.
I only tested Amazon's Alexa, but it worked just fine. JBL hasn't stated whether using the speakerphone will reduce battery life (and I haven't been able to determine if it does), but it is very likely that it will.
You also get JBL's My Alarm feature, which lets you choose from a variety of soothing sounds, combined with a customizable sleep timer.
For those looking for premium noise-canceling headphones, the JBL Tour One offers an excellent (and cheaper) alternative to Sony and Bose, with only a few sacrifices for the cheaper price. And they're killers for phone calls.
Yes, overall it is Sony WH-1000XM4 are still a better set of noise-canceling headphones that outperform the Tour One in sound quality, ANC, comfort, and Hi-Res wireless audio. But if you can't find them on sale, they're a fair bit more expensive than the JBL Tour One. If you don't mind the compromises, I see no reason not to buy the Tour One instead of the Sony's.
As far as I can tell, both the build quality and materials of the Tour One are superb, and I suspect they are roughly on par with the Sony and Bose models in terms of durability. They may even have an advantage thanks to their longer battery life, as batteries in a set of wireless headphones are usually the first part to deteriorate.
JBL supports the Tour One with a one-year guarantee.
Yes. They're a solid option for anyone looking for comfortable noise-canceling headphones with good sound quality, great battery life, and great call quality
Editor's recommendations
Reducing caloric intake by about 250 calories per day can result in significant weight loss and improve vascular health in older adults with obesity.
The aorta is our healthy blood highway that effectively carries our blood supply to our peripheral tissues. When we are young, most of our large arteries are said to be elastic, but they stiffen as we age.
Continue reading
When the customer feels involved in the evaluation and programming process, they feel important and lead to better adoption and better results.
Put yourself in the shoes of your potential customer. Why should you spend a lot of money training with someone you barely know? Or how do you hold them back when they become customers? The answer lies in the buy-in.
Do customers buy what you sell?
Continue reading
A new study adds to the evidence that resistance exercise has beneficial effects on fat loss.
The results of a new study from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and the College of Health Sciences add to the growing evidence that resistance training has unique fat loss benefits.
The study by the Department of Physiology and Center for Muscle Biology1 published in the FASEB Journal found that resistance-like training regulates fat cell metabolism at the molecular level.
Continue reading
Asian squat is a deep squat that is performed exclusively and widely by citizens of Asian countries. This type of squat is traditional in the Eastern world, where it is practiced for cultural reasons. Asians are taught to sit in this position from the start, and it also replaces standing or sitting in a chair. It is also used in daily activities such as reading, eating, cooking, talking on the phone, and many other chores. This classic squat method allows you to keep your core going. This helps in maintaining proper body balance and posture.
Below is a helpful guide that provides information on everything you need to know about the Asian squat.
Asian squats are quite a strenuous exercise. There are many factors to consider if you are to really excel.
Fortunately, we have mentioned all the relevant information you will need to do this exercise more efficiently:
In traditional Asian culture, Asian squats have special meanings and some significant benefits. These benefits include:
Abode Cam 2 review: compact camera, compact price
RRP $ 35.00
“The Abode Cam 2 leaves you pleasantly surprised with all of its functions. ”
advantages
Low price point
Small size
Higher frame rate than comparable cameras
Option to record 24/7 videos
disadvantage
No siren
Audio quality is not the best
Abode is a company similar to Wyze known for offering low prices without sacrificing quality. The newest product, the Abode Cam, 2 is no exception to this rule. For only 35 US dollars, this intelligent surveillance camera packs many functions into a (very) small housing and, thanks to its weatherproof rating of IP65, can be set up indoors or outdoors.
While the Abode Cam 2 may not be as fully featured as high-end models, it's affordable enough that almost anyone can buy one, and versatile enough to be used as a stand-alone camera system in a studio apartment, or as part of a much larger security system which is distributed over a house and a yard.
The Abode Cam 2 uses a 10-step setup process that isn't all that different from the type of setup you would see with similar cameras, but it's not seamless. I've encountered a couple of issues with the setup. In one step, you need to show the camera a QR code that will be displayed on your phone. It took several tries (and a restart) for the camera to recognize the code.
The camera also provides continuous, audible prompts to display the code, which doesn't make the process any less of a chore. However, once it got past that one step, the rest of the setup went smoothly.
After I completed the setup, the Abode Cam 2 immediately started working. I was able to stream and control the camera easily. By default, it can sit flat on its base, but it comes with a mounting kit that allows you to simply screw the camera to the wall if you want to place it high above the floor.
The power cord is six feet long – more than enough to be placed near the ceiling in most homes.
The Abode Cam 2 streams and records videos at 1080p and 30 frames per second. It has a 121 degree field of view that allows you to see a large chunk of the room, which makes mounting this camera in a corner the perfect place to keep an eye on everything. You can speak through the camera with two-way audio, and Starlight-based night vision provides clear images even in almost pitch black conditions.
You can also set up the Abode Cam 2 to record video 24/7.
The really standout feature of this camera is how compact it is. Measuring less than 5 inches per side, the Abode Cam 2 is tiny – and perfect for tucking away in a corner for unobtrusive surveillance. If someone is up to no good and is on the lookout for cameras, it can be particularly difficult to spot, especially if it blends in with the background.
The camera automatically places a frame around anything it identifies as a person, and you can take pictures from within the app. You can also record video clips with just one touch of a button. All recorded videos are displayed in the timeline under the video feed in the app.
It's worth noting that the camera's speaker is almost mute by default. It is difficult to hear what is being said through the speaker unless the volume is turned up to almost maximum and the sound comes through slightly distorted. There's no siren either, but I imagine one could be included with an update. If the video feed is mirrored, you can rotate it 180 degrees within the app.
You can also set up the Abode Cam 2 to record video 24/7. It uses a rolling storage system that deletes the oldest videos first. The camera can be configured to record a short video clip when it detects motion, and you can adjust the detection area for more accurate results and fewer false positives. This feature costs $ 9 per month, but it covers every camera on the network.
The camera is integrated with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can view live video from both applications. Alexa also lets you set up routines that the Google Assistant doesn't offer.
All security cameras have been intensified, especially those without physical privacy screens. Although the Abode Cam 2 does not have a physical data protection lock, you can deactivate the camera within the app under a special sub-heading Data protection. It's not immediately obvious, but you can also delete videos from your timeline by going online to Abode's online portal. This seems like the only way to delete footage. There is also no local recording function.
Although the privacy features could be a bit more robust (and every camera should have a physical privacy lens), the Abode Cam 2 is roughly on par with other cameras in terms of security. The app allows you to lock it when you leave and requires FaceID or a PIN to access it again.
The Abode Cam 2 is a pretty simple device. There is not much in the package – just the camera itself, the power adapter and cable, and the mounting kit. But it's so affordable and budget-friendly that you don't expect much, and the Abode Cam 2 will leave you pleasantly surprised with all of its features.
Is there a better alternative?
The Wyze Cam v3 offers many of the same features, but also offers 14 days of free cloud storage as well as local storage via a microSD card. It also includes a siren and works with IFTTT via Alexa and Google Assistant. The Wyze Cam v3 fits the Abode Cam 2 for the same price. The Abode Cam 2 is characterized above all by the fact that it offers more images per second for a smoother video feed.
The Blink Mini is also aimed at a similar audience. This camera is also $ 35, is easy to set up, and has clear audio, but it comes at the expense of less than razor-sharp video. It's not the best option, but it's nowhere near the worst either.
How long it will take?
The build quality is not the highest, which is one of the reasons for the low cost. Even so, the Abode Cam 2 doesn't feel cheap and its weather resistance rating suggests longevity. If cared for, the camera should continue to work for years, though I wouldn't expect it to survive a hard fall. It comes with a one-year warranty that protects it from defects.
Should you buy it?
Yes. At $ 35, the camera is affordable for almost every budget and has a wide variety of features. Although it lags slightly behind the Wyze Cam v3 in terms of functionality, its small size and higher frame rate reduce to what is really important in a surveillance camera: better surveillance and security at home.
Editor's recommendations
The CrossFit Open 2022 is still 36 weeks away. You need to start your training blocks now.
Someone asked me how I would program an 8 week CrossFit cycle and I had to say I wouldn't. In all honesty, I prefer 12-, 14-, or 16-week programming blocks because I think 8 weeks is just too short to have any meaningful effect.
Continue reading
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 in the test: A great laptop made even better
RRP $ 1,865.00
"The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, now in its ninth generation, is still one of the best high-end business laptops."
advantages
Elegant look and feel
Solid productivity performance
Incredibly long battery life
Excellent keyboard
Long list of business-friendly features
disadvantage
Expensive
A bit flexible
When a laptop reaches the ninth generation, you expect it to be refined. This applies in particular to Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 series, which is one of the best business laptops with entries. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is the flagship of the series, and the ninth generation promises to keep that refinement while making some significant design changes – including a switch to a 16:10 display aspect ratio.
I tested a configuration of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 for $ 1,865, with an Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU 11th HD + display (1920 x 1200). The spec improvement, 16:10 screen, and great battery life are all welcome changes that make the ThinkPad X1 Carbon one of the best business laptops you can buy.
Aside from the resizing necessary to accommodate the taller display, Lenovo hasn't changed much in the design of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. It's still made from a carbon fiber top and a magnesium alloy in the rest of the case, which makes it lightweight while also giving it a certain amount of lid flex and a keyboard deck curve. It's durability isn't that much in doubt, but it doesn't feel as rock solid as aluminum alloy laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and HP Specter x360 14. Lenovo has the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen. Tested as usual 9 to a variety of military-spec tests, so there's reason to be confident in the laptop's long-term viability. The same soft-touch texture makes the ThinkPad comfortable to hold and type, which I always enjoy.
In fact, I should point out that the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 feels great in the hand. It's light at 2.49 pounds and thin at 0.59 inches. The XPS 13 comes in at 2.64 pounds and 0.58 inches, but it's a 13-inch laptop of course, so it feels a bit denser. Closer to the ThinkPad, the Specter x360 14 is 0.67 inches thick and weighs 2.95 pounds. However, there is something beyond these technical specifications that makes the ThinkPad X1 Carbon so comfortable to wear – it's a well-executed combination of weight, thinness, and a soft feel. Put simply, the laptop exudes quality. One small complaint is that the top and bottom display bezels are bigger than they could be, which adds slightly to the overall size of the laptop. It's not a huge problem, but some other modern laptops benefit from smaller bezels all around.
Lenovo updated the hinge on the latest model, creating a single hinge design that integrates the wireless antennas inside. I really liked the hinge, which allows the lid to be opened with one hand and at the same time prevents the display from wobbling when typing. It competes with the XPS 13's sleek hinge, one of the best in a couple of generations.
The aesthetics of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 remain the same, with the usual ThinkPad black-on-black design with some red accents in the LED above the “i” in the ThinkPad logo, the “X” in the X1 logo, the red TrackPoint nubbin in the middle of the keyboard and on the lower edges of the TrackPoint buttons. It's an iconic look and feel that ThinkPad enthusiasts should be familiar with, and one that offers everyone else a sleek, yet conservative aesthetic. The XPS 13 and Specter x360 14 offer more complex and colorful designs, while the Dell Latitude 7420 has another conservative look that business users might like.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Connectivity is strong for a laptop this thin. On the left side there are two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 (one of which is for charging the laptop), a USB-A 3.2 port and a full-size HDMI 2.0 port. On the right side there is another USB-A 3.2 port and a 3.5 mm audio jack. Unfortunately there is no SD card reader. When you configure the optional 4G / 5G WWAN connection, you have a nano SIM card slot. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth provide wireless connectivity 5.2.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 can be configured with different CPUs of the 11th generation of the U-series, from the Core i5-1135G7 to the Core i7-1185G7, optionally with Intel vPro. My test unit was equipped with the Core i7-1165G7, which is a competent processor that usually offers excellent productivity performance. You can use Windows 10's power slider to enable Lenovo's standard and performance modes, but I didn't see much of a difference in our benchmarks. In fact, the performance mode caused some slower results, possibly because the laptop's thermals couldn't keep up. The only noticeably improved score was Geekbench 5's single-core score, which came in at 1,556 versus 1,327 in standard mode.
Compared to a comparison group of identically configured laptops, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 was fast. It led the field or was near the top in all of our benchmarks. For example, it got the fastest score in our Handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video as H.265, and took second place in Cinebench R23. It also did well in the PCMark 10 Complete test, where it had the second highest major score in this group and was one of the faster laptops we tested in the essentials, productivity, and content creation areas of the test.
I found that the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 lives up to these benchmark results in real use. It was a fast laptop during my tests no matter what I threw at it – if my duties were productivity oriented. As with all laptops using Intel's U-series CPUs, you won't get the best performance in demanding creativity applications where AMD's latest Ryzen CPUs shine. Most people won't buy the ThinkPad for this type of job, however, and so it fulfills the needs of the target audience and more.
| Geekbench 5 (single / multiple) | Handbrake (seconds) | Cinebench R23 (single / multiple) | PCMark 10 | 3DMark time spy | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 (Core i7-1165G7) | 1327/5201 | 170 | 1469/4945 | 5147 | 1776 |
| Frame laptop (Core i7-1165G7) |
1432/4725 | 176 | 1444/5373 | 5054 | 1641 |
| Dell XPS 13 (Core i7-1165G7) | 1540/5432 | 201 | 1399/4585 | 3859 | 1589 |
| HP Specter x360 14 (Core i7-1165G7) | 1214/4117 | 236 | 1389/3941 | 4728 | 1457 |
| Samsung Galaxy Pro 360 (Core i7-1165G7) |
1554/5603 | N / A | 1308/4062 | 5159 | 1800 |
| Razer Book 13 (Core i7-1165G7) | 1548/5374 | 210 | 1508/4519 | 4878 | 1776 |
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 scores well in the 3DMark Time Spy test and is faster than most Intel Iris Xe laptops. That meant a few extra frames per second (fps) in Fortnite, the game we test integrated graphics with. The ThinkPad hit 28 fps at 1080p and high graphics, more than the 25 fps average for the class, and managed 20 fps with Epic Graphics turned on. These aren't good results, of course, showing that, like other laptops with Intel Iris Xe graphics, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 is best for older games or newer games with lower resolutions and reduced graphic details.
According to my colorimeter, Lenovo has chosen a good display that does not achieve very great things.
The shift to larger displays with 16:10 and 3: 2 aspect ratios versus the old school 16: 9 continues, with most premium laptops adopting one or the other ratio. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 has a 14-inch 16:10 display that comes in a variety of configurations, including touch and non-touch low power Full HD + (1920 x 1200), a full HD + privacy panel and a UHD + (3840 x.). 2400) screen with High Dynamic Range (HDR) support. My test device uses the entry-level non-touch Full HD + panel, which has the advantage of the best battery life. I find the resolution just sharp enough on a 14-inch panel, although I prefer UHD displays.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
According to my colorimeter, Lenovo has chosen a good display that does not achieve very great things. It just passed our 300 nit brightness threshold at 306 nits, which means it's bright enough for anything but direct sunlight. The colors were quite wide at 76% AdobeRGB and 96% sRGB. That is slightly higher than the premium average for the former and average for the latter. The color accuracy was excellent with a DeltaE of 0.99 (less than 1.0 is imperceptible to the human eye).
These results are mixed when compared to some other premium laptops. For example, the Dell XPS 13 Full HD + display delivers an excellent brightness of 458 nits and achieves 75% of AdobeRGB and 98% of sRGB with a color accuracy of 1.36. The ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga achieved 431 cd / m², but only 71% of AdobeRGB and 96% of sRGB with a color accuracy of 1.62. The contrast ratio of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 was 970: 1, just below our preferred 1,000: 1. The XPS 13 managed a significantly higher 1,350: 1, while the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga was slightly higher with 1,010: 1.
My subjective analysis was consistent with these objective results. I found the display bright and colorful without being oversaturated, and the contrast was high enough that black text popped out on a white background. This is a great display for productive use, but it won't meet the needs of creative professionals who need wider colors. The larger aspect ratio is welcome, but I missed the touch support.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Audio is provided by two speakers to the left and right of the keyboard, along with two downward facing woofers that are designed to add bass and expand the dynamic range of the sound. The support of Dolby Atmos promises improved spatial effects. I found the sound to be more than loud enough with no distortion at maximum volume. Mids and highs were crisp and clear, and there was only a hint of bass. The audio wasn't up to the standard of the Apple MacBook, but it was better than many other premium laptops I've tested. It's good enough to enjoy Netflix with a friend, although I would still be using headphones for music.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 has the typical ThinkPad keyboard with molded keys, excellent spacing and large travel. I usually find the ThinkPad's switch mechanisms a little stiff for my taste as they require too much pressure to press a button and lead to fatigue over time. This one was softer and more comfortable – I don't know if that's a change to the mechanism or just how this particular keyboard turned out. I would love if this was something new that we will see on other ThinkPads because I like this keyboard a lot better. It's close to the keyboard on my favorite Windows 10 laptops, the HP Specter line, and that is kudos.
In the middle of the keyboard is the usual ThinkPad TrackPoint knob, and it works as usual. If you like this type of cursor control, you will love this one. The disadvantage of the TrackPoint is that it requires an additional set of buttons that takes up space from the touchpad. Lenovo increased the width of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9's touchpad by 10%, but it's still smaller than it could be. However, it's a Microsoft Precision touchpad, so it's smooth and precise.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 is a business class notebook that also appeals to private users. Hence, it includes several features that make it attractive to businesses looking to improve the security, privacy, and manageability of their laptop fleets.
First, there is support for Intel's vPro, a CPU feature that provides additional security and management features, including Intel Hardware Shield and advanced remote management. Next up, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 includes Lenovo's ThinkShield suite of security features, including the ThinkShutter webcam privacy switch, the match-on-chip fingerprint reader for passwordless login under Windows 10 Hello, and a self-healing BIOS that can help prevent system failure in the event of attack or corruption.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 also supports the Human Presence Detection (HPD) function from Lenovo. This uses an optional infrared camera (which is also used for Windows 10 Hello support via face recognition) and pulse radar to detect when a user is in front of the laptop or is away. In the latter case, the laptop will be put to sleep and when the user returns they will wake up and log in. My test device didn't come with HPD, but I've used it on other ThinkPads and it worked reliably and quickly.
Overall, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 continues Lenovo's excellent support for business users. Neither of these features detracts from the consumer appeal of the laptop, but they do make the laptop a much more enticing option for larger businesses.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
The tested display is not only Full HD +, which promises a better battery life, but also an energy-saving display. Combined with the jump in the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 from 51 watt hours of battery capacity to 57 watt hours, I was given the hope that Lenovo will finally produce a ThinkPad with a good battery life. Our experience with previous ThinkPads has not been the best in this area.
Lenovo took advantage of the extra battery capacity and the power-saving display to achieve excellent battery life.
My expectations were exceeded. In our web browsing test, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 lasted just over 11.5 hours, a strong figure that beats the 10 hours, which we consider to be very good. The Dell XPS 13 Full HD + only lasted 8.5 hours, while the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga lasted just over 9.5 hours. In our video test, which repeats a local Full HD Avengers trailer, the ThinkPad achieved a phenomenal 20.5 hours, one of the best values we have ever recorded, compared to the XPS 13 with 12 hours and the X1 Titanium Yoga with 15.75 hours.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 also scores exceptionally well in the PCMark 10 Applications battery benchmark with 17.25 hours. That is the second longest result in our database after the additional half an hour of the LG Gram 16. The ThinkPad also does well in the PCMark 10 gaming battery benchmark with 4.75 hours. That's again the second longest score we've only seen behind the LG Gram 16, which lasted just 11 minutes longer.
Obviously, Lenovo took advantage of the extra battery capacity and the power-saving display to achieve excellent battery life. Finally, we can report that a ThinkPad not only lasts for a whole working day, but also well into the evening. Depending on your workload, you may even have some energy left for the next day. This is a refreshing result that we hope will carry over to the rest of the ThinkPad lineup.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 is the best version of this laptop yet. As always, it exudes quality and is a pleasure thanks to its soft-touch feel and a great keyboard. But thanks to the 16:10 aspect ratio display, solid productivity performance, and the best battery life we've seen in a ThinkPad, Lenovo has made some significant improvements to this year's model as well.
It's expensive, but you get your money's worth. It's great for business, but don't miss it if you're a consumer. It's a great laptop for everyone.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga is a great alternative if you're not the biggest fan of the typical ThinkPad aesthetic. The battery life isn't that good, but the build quality is better and has its own charm.
If you want a detachable tablet, Lenovo's ThinkPad X12 Detachable is a solid choice. It's not that fast or that it's durable, but it's the best detachable tablet you can buy.
Finally, if you don't need the business features and want a slightly smaller laptop, the Dell XPS 13 is always a good option. It's still the best laptop you can buy overall, and it has the same performance and the option of a great 16:10 OLED display.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 is well built enough to last for years as its military certification tests promise. It is up-to-date in its components and should keep up with the performance demands of everyone for just as long. The one-year warranty is disappointing for an expensive business-class notebook.
Yes. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 is an excellent laptop that both home and business users will love.
Editor's recommendations
The pike press is a great exercise whose main motive is to promote better shoulder strength. Also known as pike push-ups, this workout is responsible for the shoulders, torso, arms, back, and chest. This exercise has numerous key benefits that make it an ideal workout for your exercise routine. It greatly improves your core stability. This exercise also helps in toning and strengthening your entire upper body, thus giving you a well-built posture. Hence, this workout is also known as a significant shoulder strengthener.
Below is the perfect guide to performing the Pike Press, which will give you all the information you need to get it to perform.
Below you will find all the information and instructions you need to carry out the pike press easily and unhindered.
Directions:
1. First, you need to warm up quickly but effectively (like jogging) before doing this exercise. This serves to increase your freedom of movement, the blood flow to your connective tissue and to reduce the risk of injury.
2. To begin this exercise, get into the traditional push-up position with your hands shoulder width apart and touching the floor. Your legs should always be straight and your body weight should be balanced on your toes.
3. Now, while in the push-up position, notice where your head would touch the floor.
4. Then "tuck" your body (by moving your toes towards your hands) so that your hips are raised and your back is bent. You need to stand on the balls of your feet and stretch your arms as far as possible.
5. To make sure your head is touching the floor, bend your elbows while keeping your body weight on your hands. Also, keep your spine straight while trying to touch the floor with your forehead. There you will lose your body weight in your triceps and shoulders.
6. Finally, exhale as you push yourself back to the starting position. To do this, however, you need to move very slowly and distribute your weight evenly across your arms and legs.
1. The most important thing to keep in mind with any exercise is a quick warm up. This increases your freedom of movement and prevents injuries.
2. When you pike, make sure you tense your core muscles to support your upper body.
3. While aiming at a spot on the floor that touches your forehead, you can mark the spot with chalk or tape.
4. When lifting your body, always remember to keep your spine upright and not arch your lower back.
5. As you step into the pike press position, you will feel some tension in your arms and shoulders. This will ensure that your muscles are working.
6. There are so many benefits to touching the same spot on the floor with your forehead when you pike that you come into contact with when you are pushing up. This will ensure that your body is moving forward and that you are using the full range of motion of your upper arms and shoulders.
7. After finishing the exercise, stretch the muscles of your upper arms and shoulders.
1. How many pike presses should I do?
You should aim for at least three sets of 15 to 20 repetitions of pike presses for maximum benefit.
2. What does the Pike Press use to train the muscles?
TThe Pike Press mainly trains your shoulders, torso, upper arms, back and chest muscles.
3. What variations of the pike press exercise are there?
Once you are completely familiar with the performance of the traditional pike press, you can try some of its variations. These variations include a pike push-up, an assisted handstand press, and an unsupported handstand press.
