Tech head-to-head
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 (AMD)vsLenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9
Two Lenovo models that average 8.1 and 8.2. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 takes Design, 9.0 to 8.3.
8.1
The T14's Ryzen chips in a thinner body, with all memory soldered and no room to grow.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.
8.2
A 16:10 screen and a carbon-fiber lid near 2.5 pounds, with memory soldered for life.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.
Where they diverge
The widest gap is Design, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 ahead 9.0 to 8.3. They come closest on Durability, 7.8 to 7.6. Left of center is Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 (AMD), right is Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9.
Which one to pick
Take the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 (AMD)
Leads on Performance and Value.
- You want Ryzen performance in a body light enough to carry every day
- You can find a 16GB or 32GB unit and never plan to open it
Take the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9
Leads on Durability, Ease of use and Design.
- You carry the laptop daily and want the lightest ThinkPad here
- Writing and reading on a taller 16:10 screen is most of your work
What each one gets wrong
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 (AMD)
- You want to add memory later, because there is no slot
- Fan noise under sustained load bothers you
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9
- The listing is an 8GB unit, because the memory can never be upgraded
- You need Ethernet without carrying a dongle
Specs, side by side
| Spec | Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 (AMD) | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U or Ryzen 7 PRO 5850U | 11th-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 |
| Memory | 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB soldered LPDDR4x | 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB soldered LPDDR4x |
| Display | 14-inch, 1920×1080 on most units | 14-inch 16:10, 1920×1200 on most units |
| Battery | 57Wh | 57Wh |
| Storage | One M.2 NVMe slot | — |
| Ports | — | 2× Thunderbolt 4, 2× USB-A, HDMI, headphone jack |
Rankings they both appear in
Questions
- Both are Lenovo. Which one do I want?
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 leads on Durability, Ease of use and Design. If Performance and Value matter more to you, take the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 (AMD) instead. Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 (AMD) averages 8.1 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 averages 8.2, over the 5 axes Tech is scored on.
- Where do the two Lenovo models actually differ?
- Design is the widest gap, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 ahead 9.0 to 8.3. Every axis lands somewhere different, so the profile shapes differ as much as the totals.
- Which one ranks higher in "Off-lease ThinkPads: which generation is still worth it"?
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 sits at #2 in "Off-lease ThinkPads: which generation is still worth it", Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 (AMD) at #3.