Lenovo X9 Aura Edition 15.3" 2025, Core Ultra 5 226V, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Thunder Grey

The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition is a premium business laptop with a stunning 15.3-inch 2.8K OLED display that ranks among the best we've tested. Performance is adequate for productivity but gaming is a non-starter with the integrated Arc 130V GPU. Buy it for the screen, not the specs.

The Core Ultra 5 226V is a 16-core chip that handles everyday productivity without breaking a sweat. In our database, the CPU lands around the 60th percentile, so it's solidly middle of the pack for this class of laptop. That means it'll chew through browser tabs, Office apps, and light photo editing without complaint. But it's not going to win any rendering contests against the MacBook Pro M4 Pro or a beefy gaming laptop.

The integrated Arc 130V GPU is the weak link if you care about graphics. It scores in the 66th percentile overall, which sounds okay until you realize that's against all laptops, including budget machines with basic integrated graphics. For gaming, this thing lands at a 19.6 out of 100, which is rough. You can play older titles or indie games at lower settings, but anything modern will struggle. The 16GB of RAM is fine for multitasking, though the 512GB SSD is just average for the price. The real performance highlight is that 120Hz OLED screen, which makes everything feel snappy even when the silicon underneath is just okay.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro, the ThinkPad X9 15 loses on raw performance, battery life, and build refinement. The MacBook's M4 Pro chip runs circles around the Core Ultra 5 226V, and Apple's battery life is legendary. But the ThinkPad's OLED screen is arguably nicer for media consumption, and you get Windows 11 Pro if you're tied to that ecosystem.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a completely different animal. It's a gaming laptop with a dedicated GPU, so it'll crush the ThinkPad in any graphics workload. But it's heavier, runs hotter, and doesn't have that business-class ThinkPad keyboard. The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro is probably the closest competitor, with a similar OLED panel and thin-and-light design. Samsung tends to offer better port selection and sometimes better pricing. The HP OMEN Transcend 14 splits the difference, offering some gaming capability in a sleek chassis, though its screen can't match the ThinkPad's OLED quality.

At $1,519 USD, the ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition is a tough sell on paper. You're paying a premium for that OLED screen and the ThinkPad name, but the internals don't quite match the price tag. The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro offers a similar OLED experience, often with better port selection. The MacBook Pro M4 Pro costs more but delivers dramatically better performance and battery life. If you can find this on sale, it becomes more interesting. At full price, you really need to love that display to justify the cost.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition sits in that premium business laptop bracket, the kind of machine you'd see in a boardroom or a frequent flyer's bag. It's not cheap, with US listings around $1,519 and Canadian listings around CAD 2,449, but you're paying for a gorgeous OLED panel and that classic ThinkPad build. The big draw here is the 15.3-inch 2.8K OLED display, which is one of the best screens we've seen in this category. It's bright, color-accurate, and runs at 120Hz, which makes everything from spreadsheets to Netflix look fantastic.

Under the hood you get an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and Intel's integrated Arc 130V GPU. Storage is a 512GB NVMe SSD, which is fine but not exactly generous at this price. It ships with Windows 11 Pro, so it's ready for work out of the box. The Aura Edition branding means it's part of Lenovo's Copilot+ PC lineup, so there's some AI stuff baked in if you care about that.

For a ThinkPad, this thing is surprisingly focused on entertainment. The screen is the star, and the speakers are decent enough. But it's not a gaming machine, not even close. If you're shopping for a premium OLED laptop for work and media, this is worth a look. If you want to play games, keep scrolling.

Skip the ThinkPad X9 15 if you play games, edit video, or do any kind of 3D work. The integrated Arc 130V GPU just can't keep up, and you'd be much better served by an ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or HP OMEN Transcend 14. Also skip it if you need lots of ports, since the port selection here is limited compared to competitors. And if you're on a budget, the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro or even a previous-gen ThinkPad will give you more bang for your buck.

Should you buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition? If you want a premium business laptop with one of the best OLED screens on the market, and you don't care about gaming or heavy creative work, then yes. The display alone is worth the price of admission for some people. It's bright, color-accurate, and that 120Hz refresh rate makes everything feel smooth.

But if you need any kind of graphics performance, or you want more storage without paying extra, look elsewhere. The integrated Arc 130V GPU is a serious limitation, and 512GB fills up fast. For most people, the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro or a discounted MacBook Pro will be a better overall package. This ThinkPad is a niche product for display enthusiasts and die-hard ThinkPad fans.