Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Gen 1 Laptop review: Snapdragon gets down to business

Price When Reviewed

$1,301.40

Best Prices Today: Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Gen 1

The story of Windows on ARM is a protracted one at this level, with a number of chapters value skipping. Whether it’s the primary Windows RT units a decade in the past, some barely-supported Windows 10-based Snapdragon 835 PCs in 2017, or sultry makes an attempt from this decade just like the Samsung Galaxy Book S and Surface Pro X, Microsoft has been making an attempt to make fetch occur many times and once more.
 
So, it’s 2022, and it’s time for one more have a look at how Windows 11 Pro is engaged on the newest Qualcomm laptop computer chip. This time, the brand new Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 is inside a compelling little enterprise pocket book from Lenovo, referred to as the ThinkPad X13s Gen 1. This premium ultracompact has a excessive worth, however for what you pay, the kitchen sink is rightly included. You can get tons of storage, two biometric login choices, 5G web, a pleasant matte touchscreen, and extra.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Gen 1 Specifications

Our overview unit, which is presently promoting for $1,301.40, arrived with the next specs:

• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 (8 cores: 4 efficiency, 4 effectivity)
• Memory: 16 GB LPDDR4, as much as 32 GB configurable
• Graphics/GPU: Adreno 690 graphics
• Display: 13.3-inch WUXGA (1920×1200) 16:10 IPS matte touchscreen
• Storage: 512GB M.2 2242 NVMe PCIe stable state drive
• Webcam: 1080p with dynamic panning
• Connectivity:  2x USB-C 3.2 Gen-2, 1x 3.5mm combo audio, 1x nano-SIM slot
• Networking: WCN6855 Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, X55 5G mmwave WWAN M.2 card (non-obligatory M.2)
• Biometrics: Fingerprint reader, Windows Hello infrared digicam
• Battery capability: 49.5Wh
• Dimensions: 14.29 (W) x 9.36 (D) x 0.70 (H) inches
• Weight: 2.35 kilos, 3 kilos with charger
• Price: $1,301.40

Design and Build Quality

Simply put, the ThinkPad X13s Gen 1 is…a ThinkPad. In a bizarre method, the design of the X13s Gen 1 jogs my memory of one in every of my favourite ThinkPads, the X270. While that machine had far more options, it was a compact, slab-like ultrabook that contrasted with the wedge form that different machines favor.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Like the X270 earlier than it, the X13s is unashamed to be a bit boxy, with gently rounded corners and ever-so-slightly softened edges on the underside. I by no means discovered it was sharp or uncomfortable to carry or use, and its thickness of 13.4mm is constant mainly from nook to nook. The texture of the case is simply matte sufficient to lend additional grippiness, with out being overly rubbery or cheesy. I didn’t discover it picked up fingerprints too readily, at the least they have been far much less seen than the smears I left on the matte touchscreen, keycaps, and trackpad.
 
If there’s one factor I can say in regards to the general really feel of the X13s it’s that it’s each slim but solid-feeling. There’s little or no flex regardless of the way you maintain or use it, and I get the impression that it will possibly take a beating. Lenovo brags about this machine’s recycled magnesium chassis and I wager that has one thing to do with the ThinkPad X13s’s inflexible really feel.

Connectivity

As that is an ultraportable machine, you’d finest modify your expectations in terms of I/O. Furthermore, as a result of that is primarily based on a Qualcomm chip as a substitute of 1 from Intel, you may overlook the all-in-one versatility of Thunderbolt since that’s solely been accessible on X86 machines. All of this stated, the inclusion of two USB-C ports that run at 3.2 Gen 2 speeds is superior. These ports allow knowledge switch speeds of as much as 10 GBps and may simply hook as much as your typical USB-C dongles for additional ports, pass-through charging, show output, and ethernet.
 
On the alternative facet is a SIM tray, a laptop computer locking slot, and a headset jack. That’s all you get! Where this laptop computer makes up for bodily connectivity, you’ll achieve in wi-fi. Not simply glad with placing in speedy Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, and non-obligatory X55 5G WWAN mobile web.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

The mobile knowledge labored fairly nicely on the entire, however at the least the place I reside in Seattle, there’s little or no mmwave AT&T 5G accessible, save for a patch close to the sports activities stadiums downtown. Furthermore, mmwave doesn’t work indoors because it’s unable to penetrate many fashionable sorts of buildings. I’d say that until you’re a cell skilled who works far-off from Wi-Fi, it can save you a bit of cash by not choosing the WWAN choice field ticked.

Keyboard and trackpad

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Low-profile laptop computer keyboards get a number of flak, however they’re laborious to do proper. Thankfully, the switches right here within the X13s Gen 1 really feel nice to make use of. They may not be to the liking of the die-hard ThinkPad followers on the market, however in a tool this skinny this can be a keyboard that doesn’t really feel like a punishment. In reality, it’s one I’ve come to essentially get pleasure from utilizing whereas scripting this overview. Lenovo’s packed within the traditional assortment of useful shortcut keys for muting the microphones and disabling the webcam. I are inclined to depend on the arrow keys fairly a bit, and Lenovo has made just a little additional room to let these buttons breathe. They’re not constrained by the spacebar row, as a substitute jutting out barely to accommodate for bigger keycaps. Like different ThinkPads, the keyboard backlight is all enterprise, with two ranges of brightness.

Since this can be a full-blooded ThinkPad, you’ll discover the acquainted and well-known (notorious?) TrackPoint in the midst of the keyboard. It works fairly nicely for precision mousing, and the left/scroll/proper click on buttons beneath are tremendous clicky–there’s little question when a button is clicked. If you’ve come to rely upon the accuracy of a TrackPoint, you gained’t be disillusioned.
 

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

The trackpad can be fairly good. Despite its smaller footprint, there’s a plenty-big trackpad beneath the TrackPoint’s mouse buttons. It doesn’t fairly really feel just like the smoothest glass however I’d say it’s easy sufficient for precisely executing gestures and adequately delicate for on a regular basis use. Overall, I admire that you’ve got the choice of the way you’d wish to steer the mouse round, and I discovered myself utilizing every for various duties.

Display, audio system, and webcam

You would possibly assume a business-focused pocket book like this may have a ho-hum show, however I used to be actually shocked by the ThinkPad X13s. Not solely is it a taller 16:10 facet, but it surely’s a snug decision (1920×1200), comes with a glare-cutting matte end, and non-obligatory contact enter as nicely. At 300 nits, it’s brilliant sufficient for day by day utilization, even when it may not be brilliant sufficient to make use of in direct daylight. While I wouldn’t do color-sensitive work on this pc, to my eye, the show is vivid, constrast-y, and general good to make use of.
 
While Apple’s MacBooks and up to date Dell XPS’ shock with their booming audio system, you shouldn’t anticipate unimaginable sound from the X13s. This laptop computer can get impressively loud, however sadly the depth of the sound is missing, particularly on the low-end. The system has Dolby branding, which comes via within the stereo separation of sounds, which stood out when watching the trailer for Star Trek: Picard season 3 on YouTube.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

 
Part of Qualcomm’s processor bundle contains some particular picture processing, which is put to good use. The webcam within the X13s is moderately good, given its personal little hump up atop the show. It’s a 5MP unit, which permits the Snapdragon 8mx processor to robotically punch in and observe your face dynamically. I used to be skeptical this may work with out diminishing picture high quality however surprisingly it really works nicely. Overall, this webcam carried out method higher than others I’ve used just lately. It’s sharp, renders colours nicely, and lacks a number of the fuzziness that lower-res or over-processed cams seen elsewhere.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

The microphones and sound processing supplied by the Qualcomm chip are fairly good. If you’re employed in a loud atmosphere, you’ll be capable to rely the 3-mic system to seize your voice and never no matter’s occurring within the workplace or café. In an off-the-cuff check, the mic array fully cancelled out the clacks of a loud mechanical keyboard within the background, isolating solely my voice.

Performance

Windows on ARM has all the time sounded higher on paper than it’s labored in the actual world. But chip enhancements and the inclusion of 64-bit app emulation have moved the needle fairly a bit this 12 months. In Windows 11 Pro, many apps will most likely work, whereas up to now solely 32-bit apps have been honest sport and, even then, efficiency wasn’t nice.
 
But, sadly, a number of instruments we use as our efficiency benchmarks nonetheless aren’t suitable with Windows 11 on ARM. When I attempted to put in PCMark 10 and run these benchmarks? Well, they ran, however didn’t full or yield a rating. Other check suites didn’t set up in any respect. So, right here we’re once more, with a platform that’s possibly higher than ever but not so good as it may or ought to be. Day-to-day efficiency principally felt good to me, however it’s too unhealthy that app compatibility stays a barrier to getting work completed on Snapdragon.

So, PCMark 10 didn’t work on the X13s, regardless of a bunch of software program and firmware updates. We have been, nevertheless, in a position to run the older PCMark 8 Creative benchmark, which can at the least allow us to see the enhancements remodeled older Windows on ARM units in multimedia duties.

To give a way of the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3’s efficiency vs a more moderen, 12th gen Intel laptop computer, I additionally ran this benchmark on a model new Acer with a mobile-focused Intel Core i7-1255u chip inside. Unfortunately, though Qualcomm has began to shut the hole, the Core i7 nonetheless runs away with the lead.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Qualcomm’s been touting some GPU efficiency enhancements within the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 and we are able to see how far they’ve include the cross-platform 3DMark Night Raid benchmark. Compared to older ARM techniques, this chip completely leaves the Qualcomm-designed SQ1 from 2019 within the mud, virtually doubling its efficiency. That stated, as a lot as Qualcomm’s improved through the years, Intel’s not standing nonetheless and its Iris Xe graphics rating increased but.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

 
Web rendering pace is vital, and that’s why we’ve put previous ARM laptops via this check. Microsoft has spent a number of assets getting its Edge browser aggressive and we are able to see that the work on the ARM model has paid off because of the quicker Snapdragon chip.
 
For the sake of comparability, I ran this check in Microsoft Edge on an Apple M1 Mac Mini with related specs. While the ThinkPad is fanless, each chips have 16GB RAM at their disposal and an eight core design. In both check, the brand new Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 is trounced by the 2-year-old Apple M1 regardless of how you narrow it. It’s additionally handily embarrassed by the mid-range 12th gen Intel Core i7 within the Acer Aspire.

Battery life

If there’s been any saving grace for the entire Windows on ARM undertaking, it’s battery life. Although previous machines like Microsoft’s Surface Pro X disillusioned, others had an apparent edge. The ThinkPad X13s Gen 1, with its 49.5Wh battery, lastly delivers spectacular efficiency in regular duties and, relying on how you’re employed, might even depart you with time to spare.

In our normal 4k video rundown check, the X13s racked up a rating of 773 minutes–virtually 13 hours repeatedly looping a high-res video file. This is a unbelievable displaying for crew Snapdragon.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Conclusion

While the ThinkPad X13s Gen 1 nonetheless may use some software program enhancements, that is one of the best Windows on ARM has ever been. That is likely to be damning this Lenovo with faint reward, however a decade on this lastly will get us nearer than ever to Real Windows Laptop efficiency in a tiny, power-sipping, fashionable bundle. It helps enormously that the design and product engineering are worthy of the ThinkPad title, making it a pleasant machine to make use of and carry.
 
For IT execs, if there’s a street warrior in your C-suite, this diminutive ThinkPad is likely to be precisely what they’ve been dreaming of whereas snoozing in enterprise class. Taken by itself, there isn’t one other enterprise machine that may supply what the X13s can–simply make certain all of your mission-critical software program runs on it earlier than issuing it to the crew.

For people, this machine makes so much much less sense. There are individuals on the market who would love a long-lasting machine that’s skinny and has 5G built-in, however the competitors is fairly stiff. Right now, there are a ton of highly effective Intel and AMD-based machines which can be aggressive, fashionable, and with adequate battery life. Unfortunately, the ThinkPad X13s falls just a little behind the competitors.