Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold is the most bizarre, fun, and expensive laptop I’ve ever tested

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The updated ThinkPad X1 Fold is Lenovo’s latest foldable PC that targets to make a 16-inch laptop computer laptop further moveable than ever.
• The design is surprisingly sturdy, whereas the present itself is gorgeous and vibrant.
• Its largest disadvantage is effectivity, which, for over $3,000, is just too sluggish for most people to get their work completed.

Lenovo isn’t any stranger to creating weird laptops. Merely remaining yr, it strapped two laptop computer laptop screens collectively and known as it the Yoga Information 9i, to the delight of our contributing writer Jason Cipriani. Sooner than that, we had a laptop with a second E-ink screen mounted to the once more of the first LCD. And, someplace in the midst of all that chaos, Lenovo shipped its first laptop computer laptop with a flexible present known as the ThinkPad X1 Fold.

Consider: Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: A dual-screen laptop before its time, and I’m here for it

The distinctive X1 Fold was a tried-and-true, first-generation product with first-generation factors. With poor effectivity, harmful battery life, a chunky design, and a extreme asking price, it wasn’t a wise choice for practically anyone. Now, Lenovo is starting to push its second-generation ThinkPad X1 Fold, which it despatched me to overview.

The model new mannequin has an improved design, upgraded specs, and a equally extreme asking price of $2,499 and up. The mannequin I’m testing costs virtually $3,300, which makes this certainly one of many pricier laptops you’ll get. Nevertheless what I’ve found is you might be paying for its distinctive design which, admittedly, is straight-up superior. The rest of the laptop computer laptop, though? That’s one different story.

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Specs (as reviewed)

There isn’t a denying that the folding show of the X1 Fold is dope. Now in its second know-how, the 16.3-inch OLED panel — three inches greater than the distinctive model’s 13.3-inch present — stays sharp and vivid with vivid colors. It’s a attractive show to behold in the event you unfold it for the first time, and whereas it’s not crucial laptop computer laptop present ever shipped, it feels want it in the event you open it up (in any case, it’s not every day you’ve got a 16-inch OLED panel throughout the palm of your hand).

The sharp Quad HD+ resolution retains each half pin-sharp, whereas the boosted 600 nits of brightness makes the X1 Fold easy to see, even in sunny cafes. Because of it could bend in half, Lenovo makes use of a softer plastic supplies to protect the present as a substitute of glass, which creates a crease throughout the middle. The crease is noticeable, and chances are you’ll actually really feel it in the event you drag your finger all through it, nevertheless in the event you start using the laptop computer laptop, it fades into the background, and in addition you stop fascinated by it. That’s the case for a lot of foldable phones, too; in the event you start using them for a while, after a bit, the crease isn’t as distracting.

Lenovo’s bell-shaped hinge design permits the X1 Fold to close totally flat, which is a nice contact. It helps to protect the delicate present from hurt introduced on by objects or particles that slips in by way of the cracks. I’ve by no means had any factors with sturdiness so far, nevertheless I might need to utilize it over a yr or so to truly put it to the check out.

Speaking of durability, Lenovo purchased the X1 Fold military-grade licensed for drop security. The robust magnesium/carbon fiber alloy enclosure, coupled with a grippy textured exterior, makes this certainly one of many strongest foldable models I’ve ever used. I would like Lenovo would carry this aesthetic to widespread laptops; it makes all the factor actually really feel indestructible.

Moreover: This is the most rugged and customizable laptop I’ve ever tested – and it’s not a Getac

Just like the distinctive, the second-gen X1 Fold retains the keyboard separate from the first unit. Lenovo accommodates it throughout the discipline with every X1 Fold, along with a kickstand since a stand is no longer constructed into the X1 Fold itself. This allows you to prop the laptop computer laptop up in various strategies much like in a standard laptop computer laptop orientation, vertically (which is good for writing, by one of the best ways), and even in a clamshell mannequin by bending the laptop computer laptop upward and placing the keyboard on the lower half of the show.

That’s by far crucial good thing about the X1 Fold. The added versatility you get from a sort subject like this can’t be matched by any common clamshell laptop computer laptop, and the one one which can get shut is Lenovo’s private Yoga Book 9i. Admittedly, chances are you’ll use positive orientations approach over others (clamshell mode is admittedly solely designed for airplane tray tables), nevertheless the reality you’ve got so many decisions may make searching for the X1 Fold value it to some.

The keyboard itself is a primary ThinkPad keyboard with good journey, albeit a tighter measurement than what you is maybe used to. There’s an built-in fingerprint scanner that I didn’t use all that at all times as a result of the X1 Fold’s webcam works with House home windows Hey, nevertheless do you have to need scanning your finger, you’ve got that selection. The laptop computer laptop moreover ships with a stylus throughout the discipline for signing paperwork, sketching, and further.

Moreover: This ultraportable Lenovo laptop has a secret Trackpoint function

In case you haven’t been holding monitor, these are 4 fully completely different devices you could carry with you everytime that you must journey with the X1 Fold. Lenovo says chances are you’ll maintain it straightforward and use the tablet by itself with the on-screen keyboard, nevertheless for what that’s, no person ought to do this. So, Lenovo made it easy to stack each half up; fold the X1 Fold, collapse the kickstand and keyboard, stack them on prime of each other, and fasten the stylus magnetically to the side of the laptop computer laptop. It’s a chunky, weighty bundle to lug spherical, nevertheless the entire magnets indicate each half stays collectively correctly in your bag.

The unit I’ve been testing costs nearly $3,300, and with it comes a Twelfth-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. I’ve used a great deal of laptops in my time as a tech reviewer, and every time I see specs like this, I assume that the laptop computer laptop they’re in costs someplace spherical $1,300-$1,600, not over $3,000. You’ll be capable of spend way more and get a Core i7 chip, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage, nevertheless even which may be current in laptops like Lenovo’s Slim Pro 9i for decrease than $2,000.

Coupled with a novel thermal design, no bodily followers, and the dearth of discrete graphics, the ThinkPad X1 Fold performs like a laptop computer laptop at half its price. Firing up a dozen and a half Chrome tabs, working Spotify throughout the background, and replying to messages in Slack is ample to make it skip just some beats, and attempting to do one factor like edit footage in Lightroom is a bit little bit of a headache.

Full disclosure: this laptop computer laptop isn’t painfully sluggish, nevertheless it’s do you have to’ve spent $3,300. It’s all in regards to the context of the specs. These internals are very good in most conventional laptops, nevertheless in a single which costs 3 occasions the funds of most prospects, they’re much more durable to justify.

Relying in your configuration, Lenovo will give you each a 48Wh battery or a 48Wh battery coupled with a further 16Wh cell, totaling 64Whr. I’ve the latter, and it’s barely ample to get by way of a full day. I suppose do you have to had been cautious in regards to the amount of heavy duties you most likely did all via the day, saved the brightness down, and didn’t be a part of too many Bluetooth models to it, you possibly can stretch it to eight hours. Nevertheless do you have to use it as you’ll another laptop computer laptop, that endurance will quickly shrink to 4-5 hours on a full value.

Moreover: Lenovo made a Mac Studio for Windows users, and it might even be better

It moreover takes a while to value with the included 65Wh charger. Luckily, you will have a number of fully completely different areas to plug it in due to the two USB-C ports which may be positioned on fully completely different sides of the system.

Surprisingly, House home windows 11 runs correctly on the ThinkPad X1 Fold, with one giant exception: it could not at all decide whether or not or to not modify to tablet mode or desktop mode. After I open up the system and prop it up on the kickstand, it stays in tablet mode 80 p.c of the time. After I be a part of the keyboard to it, nothing changes. Nevertheless occasionally, if the keyboard mechanically connects, it’s going to calm down to desktop mode, and the entire iconography will shrink proper all the way down to common sizes. That’s solely generally, ideas you, not every time the keyboard mechanically connects.

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It’s usable, optimistic, however it certainly’s a very weird bug that’s probably introduced on by the weird form subject of the X1 Fold. It’s onerous for House home windows to find out if that you must use it as a tablet and if that you must use it as a laptop computer laptop. The one time it’ll get it correct is in the event you use the system in clamshell mode.

ZDNET’s searching for advice

In the long term, the X1 Fold is a laptop computer laptop you should buy do you have to really need a ThinkPad with a folding show. It’s a particularly cool piece of experience, one which’s optimistic to grab the attention of everyone spherical you. Nevertheless in day-to-day use, it’s not very wise given the effectivity and battery life limitations. For anyone who wants one factor associated with increased effectivity and battery life will want to take a look on the Yoga Book 9i, which is the closest issue to a folding laptop computer laptop that’s significantly wise obtainable in the marketplace proper now.

I’m not going to lie, I’ll miss the X1 Fold after I ship my overview unit once more. Having such an unlimited, folding show is extraordinarily gratifying. Nevertheless I’m unable to get all my work completed on it, and for over $3,000, that could be a dealbreaker for me. Nevertheless do you have to’re ready to shell it out for a glimpse into the way in which ahead for laptops, chances are you’ll benefit from toying spherical with it.