Lenovo’s latest laptop is making waves, and it’s big—comparable to the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Its design features a slight wedge shape that makes it thicker near the hinge, allowing for powerful components like a discrete graphics card. However, the performance isn’t completely up to par with older chips. For example, the new Core Ultra X9 388H trails behind the Nvidia RTX 4050 and Apple’s M4 Pro by about 25%.
What’s intriguing is the idea of a device that can handle gaming without being a bulky gaming laptop. As gaming tech gets sleeker, the competition is heating up. While this new chip shows promise, it’s still lagging behind the RTX 4050, a model released three years ago.
One notable advantage of Lenovo’s new design is its battery life, a significant factor for many users. While standard gaming laptops often struggle with battery performance, this model boasts over 20 hours of local video playback. It’s the first time we can see a serious contender to Apple in terms of balancing performance and battery life.
The key advancement comes from how these chips are made. Built in Intel’s new fab in Arizona using the Intel 18A process node, this represents a hope to revive advanced chip manufacturing in the U.S., backed by the CHIPS Act and a notable $8.9 billion investment from the government. This factory aims to keep more chip production stateside, especially as global supply chains shift.
Historically, Intel had to turn to TSMC for chip production, which highlighted its struggles against competitors like Apple and Qualcomm. Now, the Core Ultra Series 3 chips mark a return to form, featuring improved efficiency and performance. This shift is being reflected in the number of new laptops announced at CES, signaling Intel’s continued dominance in the Windows laptop market.
In summary, while the Core Ultra X9 shows some limitations, especially in raw graphics power, its strong battery life and manufacturing advancements provide a promising outlook for future laptops. As the tech landscape evolves, it will be fascinating to see how these developments impact everyday users and their devices.
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