Lenovo ThinkPad X201
Shares rank 42 of 63 laptops by recommenders
People recommend the X201 for its excellent keyboard, small sturdy build and classic ThinkPad feel. Caveats: worn batteries, a small 800p screen and a struggle with the modern web.
People recommend the X201 for its excellent keyboard, small sturdy build and classic ThinkPad feel. Caveats: worn batteries, a small 800p screen and a struggle with the modern web.
11 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 9
- criticize it
- 2
- approval share
- 82%
Recommended in 4 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: not recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 9 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, not met.
- 4.5 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 4 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Excellent keyboard
“The keyboard is absolutely glorious, for one.”
Comment from 1 Dec 2025 in “X210Ai is a new motherboard to upgrade ThinkPad X201/200” “If anything, that keyboard is far better.”
Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “I dream of quieter computing” Small, sturdy, maintainable build
“Best laptop I ever owned, everything else has been a downgrade build-wise.”
Comment from 25 Apr 2026 in “Framework Laptop 13 Pro: Major Upgrades and Linux Front and Center” “It's small, sturdy, maintainable, and aesthetically pleasing.”
Comment from 1 Dec 2025 in “X210Ai is a new motherboard to upgrade ThinkPad X201/200” Considered their best or perfect laptop
“Best laptop I ever owned, everything else has been a downgrade build-wise.”
Comment from 25 Apr 2026 in “Framework Laptop 13 Pro: Major Upgrades and Linux Front and Center” “that was my perfect laptop”
Comment from 26 Dec 2025 in “I'm a laptop weirdo and that's why I like my new Framework 13”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Fragile display lid and monitor joints
“Display lid is very fragile at the top where the wifi antennas are and can easily crack there”
Comment from 2 Dec 2025 in “X210Ai is a new motherboard to upgrade ThinkPad X201/200” “faulty charging port, weak monitor joints”
Comment from 1 Dec 2025 in “X210Ai is a new motherboard to upgrade ThinkPad X201/200”
Other laptops people recommend
The four most recommended other laptops, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Pro | 928 | 688 | 57% | 13 | 5 yrs248 owners | — |
| Apple MacBook Neo | 707 | 355 | 66% | 9 | 1 mo8 owners | — |
| MacBook Air | 633 | 209 | 75% | 12 | 5 yrs130 owners | Approved |
| Apple MacBook | 499 | 348 | 59% | 12 | 9 yrs77 owners | — |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X201This page | 9 | 2 | 82% | 4 | — | — |
What people said
11 of the 12 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“If anything, that keyboard is far better.”
“Best laptop I ever owned, everything else has been a downgrade build-wise.”
“800p is pretty painful these days”
“that was my perfect laptop”
“Display lid is very fragile at the top where the wifi antennas are and can easily crack there”
“the x201 tics many of the boxes for desirable traits in older Thinkpads”
“faulty charging port, weak monitor joints”
“struggles under the weight of the modern web”
“It's small, sturdy, maintainable, and aesthetically pleasing.”
“The batteries are done, the screen is small and the backlight is yellowed and dimming.”
“The keyboard is absolutely glorious, for one.”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.