Lenovo brings the thinnest Thinkpad ever and renovates the X1 range
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Lenovo presented its renovated Thinkpad X1 series portfolio at virtual CES 2021. The focus is on maximum performance and stability – as well as the most comprehensive conference suitability possible.
Lenovo too is fully committed to the triumphant advance of a new world of work in which the home office will become an integral part of the office workstation. Accordingly, the Chinese manufacturer is upgrading its portable computers in two ways.
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Devices for the new working world no longer accept compromises
On the one hand, the devices are becoming lighter, more stable and therefore more portable. On the other hand, the devices are becoming more and more powerful. Previously customary compromises in favor of greater mobility are no longer made. The manufacturers not only value the best performance data, but above all complete equipment for participation in the omnipresent video conferences.
Full conference suitability becomes a killer criterion
The new Thinkpads not only have cameras, microphones and loudspeakers, the quality of which is sufficient for professional video conferences, but they also all come with the option of accommodating a 5G or LTE modem so that “work from anywhere” does not affect connectivity fails. Incidentally, the Thinkpads use the current Wi-Fi 6 standard and Bluetooth 5.
To support the conference functions as best as possible, Lenovo integrates Dolby technologies into its devices. Dolby Vision and Dolby Voice, along with a Dolby Atmos speaker system, are used in the X1 Carbon and X1 Yoga.
Dolby Voice is intended to ensure a particularly natural conversation environment so that even longer conferences do not lead to fatigue of the participants. Lenovo claims to be the first manufacturer worldwide to use Dolby Voice in its notebooks. In order to be able to use Dolby Vision, it must also be supported by the video conference software used.
Remote administration and security are becoming increasingly important
In addition, the manufacturers focus on security and administrative functions that allow efficient administration of the notebooks used beyond the internal company network.
In addition to Lenovo’s Thinkshield security package, which is ultimately just a software solution, Intel’s “Hardware Shield”, a feature of the vPro platform, brings hardware-based PC protection.
The trend towards dedicated security and remote administration solutions has been evident for several years, but has received a real boost from the dramatic changes that the corona pandemic has brought into the working world.
In addition to dedicated security solutions, the new Thinkpads rely on contactless registration via Windows Hello face recognition. This can be configured so that the device locks when the user leaves. A fingerprint reader is located in the power button.
Lenovo optimizes the Thinkpad line and brings intelligent docks
In the light of all these focus shifts, it is not surprising that Lenovo presents the thinnest ThinkPad of all time with the X1 Titanium Yoga and also points out that it has also optimized the other members of its X1 portfolio for conferences.
The entire Thinkpad X1 portfolio – with the exception of the X1 Fold – is based on Intel’s Athena project in version 2, known as the Evo platform. It is powered by Intel Core processors of the 11th generation (Tiger Lake) with Iris-Xe -Graphic powered
Intelligent docks work independently
Almost more important than upgrading the individual devices are two new dock solutions that Lenovo has announced. The new ThinkPad Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C Universal Smart Docks provide important system and maintenance functions for a mobile workforce that does not always have their computer in the dock.
The new docks take care of various critical tasks independently, including downloading and installing firmware updates. The smart docks supported by Microsoft Azure Sphere offer additional remote functions, for example for device management or monitoring the port status. No PC has to be connected for this
Thinkpad X1 Titanium Yoga, the thinnest Thinkpad ever
With the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga, Lenovo not only delivers a contender for the bulky name of all time, but also claims to be the thinnest Thinkpad of all time. In fact, a case that is just over 11 millimeters thick is quite impressive.
Especially when there are no compromises on the display. Here Lenovo delivers a 13.5-inch low-power display in 3: 2 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision HDR support and Dolby Atmos speakers. The screen of the Titanium has a resolution of 2,256 x 1,504 pixels, offers a maximum brightness of 450 nits and supports the sRGB color space 100 percent.
The 44.5 watt hour battery is said to power the Titanium for up to eleven hours. The Tiger Lake processors are supported by up to 16 gigabytes of LPDDR4x memory and an SSD up to a terabyte in size. Lenovo uses two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports for the connections. In addition to the extensive audio equipment with four microphones, an audio system can also be connected with a 3.5 millimeter jack.
The Titanium supports all Lenovo stylus pens as optional accessories. A full-size, backlit keyboard is included.
Thinkpad X1 Carbon and X1 Yoga
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon of the ninth generation and X1 Yoga of the sixth generation, also presented today, have been completely redesigned. You get 14-inch displays with an aspect ratio of 16:10 and a reduced proportion of blue light. A fingerprint reader in the power button and presence detection via Windows Hello will ensure security.
When it comes to storage, they offer a little more than the Titanium Thinkpad. They can be equipped with up to 32 gigabytes of RAM and up to two terabytes of SSD. All in all, the devices are noticeably heavier at around 1.4 kilograms. In addition to the modern ports of the Titanium, the renovated X1 also come with an HDMI connection.
Both Thinkpads have a battery with an energy content of 57 watt hours, which should power them between 15 and 16 hours and which can be quickly charged with the 65 watt power supply included in the delivery. A Thinkpad pen and a backlit keyboard are included in the box.
Thinkpad X12 Detachable
The new Thinkpad X12 Detachable is based on Microsoft’s Surface. Unlike Microsoft, Lenovo supplies the required keyboard with the package. The full HD screen can be used as a 12-inch tablet and can be detached from the keyboard. The display, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, supports input with an optional Lenovo Precision Pen or the Lenovo Digital Pen. The illuminated folio keyboard can be used in addition or as an alternative.
Just like the Titanium, the Detachable is limited to 16 gigabytes of RAM and a maximum of one terabyte SSD. The 42-watt-hour battery should last for almost ten hours of operation. The battery can be charged with up to 65 watts via USB-C.
The detachable weighs 760 grams without the keyboard – 1.1 kilograms with the keyboard. It is certified according to the US military standard for its special robustness. The Detachable is the only X1 model for which Lenovo does not have a 5G option – but LTE is available.
Prices and availability
- Lenovo plans to launch the Thinkpad X1 Titanium Yoga from the end of February at a price of 2,149 euros.
- The ninth-generation Thinkpad X1 Carbon is expected to be available from April at a starting price of 1,549 euros.
- The Thinkpad X1 Yoga will also start in April at a price of 1,749 euros.
- The Thinkpad X1 Nano will be available as early as January at a price of 1,769 euros.
- The Thinkpad X12 Detachable will only come in March at a price of 999 euros.
- The new dock solutions are expected for February. The Thinkpad Smart Thunderbolt 4 will cost 276 euros and the Smart USB-C dock 172 euros.
