Lenovo ThinkPad X280

Given they're more affordable - I'm less worried about losing it. Older models often had awful TN displays, but newer ones tend to come with IPS. I'd go for something with 8th gen i5/i7 or newer, and 12.5" display if you prioritize portability - maybe something like the ThinkPad X280 (the X is their ultraportable line, 2 is for 12.5", and 80 is Intel 8th gen) or Latitude 7290 (7 is top of Dell's range, 2 is for 12.5", 90 is Intel 8th gen).

My Lenovo Thinkpad from nearly a decade ago hasn't been working too well for me lately, sometimes struggling with video calls and buffering videos. Also, it's graphics card isn't good enough to run a few games I'd like to play (Civ 6, Ori & the Blind Forest, Journey). Not sure if that's specifically something I'll have to look for or if all modern computers will be up to the task. I'm in the US, looking for something <1K.

Was $299 when released, now $399 with "Covid pricing". What I'm coming to realize after much research is that the X series is not that much smaller than my T480s, and until the X280 they are actually *heavier*! So I'd actually have to spend quite a lot to get a used machine significantly smaller/lighter than what I have.

Is it just me who thinks that $700 for an X280 is overpriced?. For about the same price or a bit more you can get an X1 Carbon of the same generation with much more premium build quality and a full size keyboard. It is slightly bigger but lighter than the X280. The T480s, which has a RAM slot and loads of ports, is only around $500.

I have an x280 myself, it runs like a dream. I paid around $300 USD for it last year which is a great deal, it was only around 3 years old at the time.

Buy a Lenovo thinkpad, I got the x270 and it suits me perfect although I can’t play games on it but as I understand it’s not your intention either.