Are there any alternatives?

The Dell XPS 15 is the ThinkPad’s most obvious competitor. They’re both powerful, thin and light, and well-built 15-inch machines that appeal to the same kind of users. You’ll get a 16:10 display and a more modern look with the XPS 15, but the ThinkPad is the better performer.

　　If you’re into 2-in-1s, the Spectre x360 15 is an excellent choice. It’s not as fast, but it offers a more elegant look, a slightly better OLED display (unless you’re watching Netflix in HDR), and the flexibility of a 2-in-1. The Spectre is also several hundred dollars cheaper, although it can’t be configured as powerfully as the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3.

　　Finally, you could consider HP’s Envy 15, a 15-inch laptop that offers a lot of power for not a lot of money. It doesn’t quite keep up with the ThinkPad, but it has a great OLED display of its own and costs hundreds of dollars less.

　　

How long will it last?

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is extremely durable, well-configured, and will last for many years of productive service. We’d like more than a one-year warranty at these prices, but Lenovo does offer a plethora of warranty upgrade options.

　　

Should you buy it?

Yes. The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is not only the most powerful ThinkPad you can buy, it’s one of the most powerful 15-inch consumer laptops, period.