ThinkPad X9-15 Aura “Moonlight White” Limited Edition Review

[u/Creative-Expert8086]

(translated & adapted from 笔吧评测室 / Laptop Commentary Studio) https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/YUx7QFDf1Rfs0qwNUVE_Og

Quick Specs:

• Intel Ultra 9 288V (Lunar Lake)
• 32GB LPDDR5x 8533 MT/s (soldered)
• 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD (1×2242 slot)
• 15.3" 2880×1800 OLED touch, 120Hz, 100% P3
• 80Wh battery, 1.46kg chassis, 13–15.9mm thick
• Ports: 2× Thunderbolt 4 (100W PD, DP2.1), HDMI 2.0, USB-A 10Gbps, 3.5mm combo jack
• White 149g GaN adapter included
• Price in China: ¥16,999 ($2,300), after subsidy ¥14,999 ($2,050)
• Also available: Ultra 7 258V + 1TB version at ¥12,999 / ¥10,999 subsidized

Highlights:

• Massive 80Wh battery → 14h30m battery life in simulated workload
• Slim, premium chassis with limited-edition AED “Moonlight White” anodization (global run of 1000 units)
• Excellent OLED panel with high accuracy (ΔE ~0.3 avg, ~511 nits SDR, ~1090 nits HDR peak)
• Still keeps HDMI + USB-A despite slimness

Drawbacks:

• Port selection is lean for a 15"
• Performance tuning is conservative (~25W sustained, 80°C under load)
• Touch OLED shows grid effect that slightly affects visuals

Performance & thermals:

• Dual-fan, dual-heatpipe design.
• Stress FPU: CPU ~80°C, 25W sustained, P-cores ~3.0GHz, E-cores ~3.5GHz.
• Noise: ~45dB at full load.
• Keyboard warm spot ~44°C (“F8” key).

Battery life: 14h30m in workload sim, which is MacBook-tier for Windows.

My Verdict

This is an all-round ultrabook beast at 15". The only real drawback is its weight: at 1.46kg it’s significantly heavier than the LG Gram 16 (1.2kg). But in exchange, you get an 80Wh battery, sturdier ThinkPad build, and MacBook-level endurance thanks to Lunar Lake efficiency.

⚠️ Important note: do not confuse this with the ThinkPad X9-14. The 14" model is mediocre at best; the 15" X9-15 is in a totally different league — easily one of the best Windows ultrabooks available.

Trade-offs:

• Reduced key travel vs classic ThinkPads
• No TrackPoint (“red dot”) for the first time in decades of ThinkPad history

But when you factor the price (¥10,999 subsidized for the Ultra 7 + 32GB/1TB model), it’s killer value. You’re getting double the RAM (32GB vs 16GB) and larger SSD compared to a MacBook Air, at a lower effective price. Unless you have an unlimited budget, the Ultra 7 version is the sweet spot — the Ultra 9 model offers no meaningful benefit for typical Lunar Lake ultrabook workloads.

Verdict: Among large-screen ultrabooks, the X9-15 is a GOAT contender: long battery, sleek design, ThinkPad pedigree. If you want a serious Windows alternative to the MacBook Air/Pro in the 15–16" segment, this should be at the very top of your list.

[u/A121314151]

I mean FWIW X9-14 was designed in Japan and X9-15 was designed in China. The Chinese (LCFC?) team tends to prefer stuffing everything they can whereas Yamato team prefers to be more conservative in terms of design. Thus the massive disparities

[u/_PPBottle]

how glossy is the screen? One of my worries is that it wqs not really matte enough for Thinkpad standards

[u/Taeyangsin → u/_PPBottle]

I have the grey version and its very glossy.

[u/Creative-Expert8086 → u/_PPBottle]

Install a AR FILTER

[u/logosuwu]

Reduced key travel vs classic ThinkPads

Is it the same depth as the new X1s now?

[u/Specific_Frame8537]

A white Thinkpad? is that legal?

[u/Creative-Expert8086 → u/Specific_Frame8537]

No dot as well.

[u/Specific_Frame8537 → u/Creative-Expert8086]

Jesus fucking christ

[u/shugthedug3]

No thunderbolt 5 no care.

Seriously, why would they release a new laptop without it?

[u/Shadow647 → u/shugthedug3]

If you take a look at the pricing, this is "budget-tier" ThinkPad, like the E-line used to be before the rebrands.

[u/shugthedug3 → u/Shadow647]

It should be showing up in budget models. MSI managed to include two TB5 ports in their creaky, cheapest gaming laptop models for example.

$2300 isn't budget territory anyway, I know it might be for a Thinkpad but... it's not, especially given the competition.

[u/Shadow647 → u/shugthedug3]

$2300 isn't budget territory anyway, I know it might be for a Thinkpad but... it's not, especially given the competition.

They're €1211,76 to €1503,36 (ex-VAT) over here depending on spec, $2300 before tax sounds insane for those models.

MSI managed to include two TB5 ports in their creaky, cheapest gaming laptop models for example.

Well, they clearly compromised on other things (display, build quality, weight) to include them

[u/Shadow647]

at 1.46kg it’s significantly heavier than the LG Gram 16 (1.2kg)

Having had a couple Grams, as long as it is better built, it is not a drawback. Grams are paperweight because they're also as well built as paper.

[u/Dransel]

Isn't this the same as the Aura Edition laptop they released at CES this year, just in white?