Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet (3rd Gen) review

Lenovo’s versatile laptop-tablet hybrid that includes a ‘tear-away’ keyboard makes a welcome return on this virtually similar Third-generation mannequin. Similar to the earlier ThinkPad X1, you’re taking a look at a 13-inch pill with a detachable keyboard that successfully turns it right into a enterprise laptop computer. Simply pull out the kickstand and it props up in your desk at virtually any angle.

The enhancements listed below are delicate, however important, with the display screen turning into greater, brighter and sharper, plus there’s a quad-core processor and beefed-up total specs boosting the machine’s efficiency.

Additionally, you’ve bought a pair of Thunderbolt three ports enhancing connectivity as we step by step depart USB three.zero behind. The battery is just a little greater too, which all helps to justify the substantial worth of £1,479.99 (round $1,945, AU$2,695).

Design

It’s laborious to not be impressed by the modern and sensible design of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet, except you may have used a Microsoft Surface Pro, that’s. The Lenovo is just a little bigger and just a little heavier than its closest competitor, so initially it’s not fairly so interesting.

Nonetheless, the ThinkPad is the extra sturdy of the 2 with its aluminum, magnesium and Gorilla glass development which achieves sufficient energy to face up to 12 MIL-STD 810G checks. And naturally, toughness and sturdiness is necessary in a enterprise machine. It’s additionally fairly tactile and simple to grip due to the matte end that Lenovo makes use of on lots of its moveable units.

The tear-off keyboard seems the identical and depends on the identical sturdy magnets to make a reassuringly agency reference to the pill, however it’s now just a little stiffer. The keys are nonetheless satisfyingly bouncy and the attribute crimson pointer nub on the heart of the keyboard stays.

As a laptop computer, it’s not significantly lap-friendly as a result of the kickstand that it leans on is just a fin of folding metallic that tends to dig into your legs, and tends to slip off. The metallic is a bit more rounded than the earlier mannequin, nevertheless it nonetheless works higher on a desk. On a tough floor you’ll be able to prop it up securely at any angle between virtually flat and virtually vertical.

The wonderful 3K-resolution display screen doesn’t run edge-to-edge. Room is left across the three:2 show for a twin lens digicam on the prime and a fingerprint scanner to the facet. The fingerprint sensor permits a direct Home windows Hi there-style sign-in with out having to kind your password.

This all means the X1 Pill is just a little bigger and heavier than its major rival, the Floor Professional, nevertheless it a minimum of offers you a method to maintain the machine with out your fingers interfering with the touchscreen.

A ThinkPad Pen Professional is included together with a holder that clips into the facet of the pill. It’s good whenever you’re arrange on a desk, however the pen does are inclined to fall out of the holder whenever you carry the machine round.

The slim collection of ports features a headphone jack, a Nano Sim tray that may additionally maintain a microSD card, and two USB-C ports. These are literally Thunderbolt three ports, which may each be used for energy enter, 4K show output, or high-speed information switch. Even should you don’t have many Thunderbolt three units but, it’s the perfect form of connector you may ask for.

Specs

Given its asking worth, the ThinkPad X1 Pill may be thought-about a high-end hybrid laptop computer, and it has the spec to rival the best Windows 10 tablets.

The premium mannequin submitted to TechSwitch Professional for overview was loaded with an Eighth-generation quad-core processor from Intel which, mixed with 64GB of system RAM and a 512GB SSD, places it on a efficiency par with a few of the greatest enterprise laptops. It actually ranks effectively amongst rival tablets in our numerous benchmark checks.

It additionally compares favorably with its direct rival we’ve already been speaking about, Microsoft’s Floor Professional. In truth it beats the present (2017) Floor Professional on virtually each specification together with connectivity – with not one, however two Thunderbolt three ports, you may have larger freedom and sooner information connections.

The high-spec 3K display screen is greatest in school too. The three,000 x 2,000-pixel decision isn’t just mathematically pleasing, but in addition offers you a razor sharp three:2 facet ratio, and at 415 nits, the brightness is nearly dazzling.

By way of options, Lenovo has been beneficiant, with not solely the pen included, but in addition that fingerprint reader, back and front cameras, face recognition and stereo audio system. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity are inbuilt, and as we’ve already talked about, there’s a drawer for a Nano Sim card do you have to want to log on when there are not any Wi-Fi networks obtainable.

Utilization and efficiency

As with earlier incarnations, the Third-generation ThinkPad X1 Pill looks like a really versatile device for the cell employee. With the well-designed keyboard connected it sits very fortunately on a desk, and has all the best connections obtainable. Rip away the keyboard and you’ve got a generously sized and well-specified Home windows 10 pill with a dazzlingly crisp and vibrant display screen.

As a enterprise laptop computer, it’s highly effective and pretty sturdy, and comes with reassuring service help. There’s some bloatware, like Sweet Crush Soda Saga preinstalled, however that didn’t cease Home windows 10 Professional operating a number of apps with no single hitch throughout our testing.

Certain, it will have been handy to have a USB three.zero port alongside the 2 Thunderbolt three connectors, and the inner audio system are fairly quiet, however we’d quite that than have a bulkier machine. The ability button can also be frustratingly small and troublesome to press as a result of it’s barely recessed.

As a pill, the ThinkPad X1 is extra spectacular. There’s no ignoring its vivid 3K show, which actually flatters your three:2 photographs, whereas the bundled stylus works seamlessly with inventive apps like Paint 3D. The incorporation of Intel’s quad-core processor with a beneficiant serving to of system RAM ensures that issues by no means grind to a halt, and even decelerate whenever you’re multitasking.

The limiting issue now appears to be the battery, which has improved because the 2nd-gen mannequin, however nonetheless struggles to final a full day of intense use. It appears you continue to can’t depart behind the cumbersome energy brick transformer that comes with this machine.

Ultimate verdict

For many of us, there are occasions when a laptop computer is crucial, and different events when a pill can be a bonus, so to have each choices in the identical machine is an interesting proposition – as long as each options are as much as the job.

The ThinkPad X1 Pill is as uncompromising in its design and construct high quality as it’s in its specification, and provided that the stylus is included and also you received’t essentially want a case – or extra modules – it looks as if a good sufficient asking worth too.

It’s a pity the battery nonetheless struggles to handle a full day of heavy use, and that the built-in audio system aren’t just a little louder, however these are minor grumbles. We now have no hesitation in recommending the brand new Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Pill for work, or certainly play.