Twelve months ago Lenovo announced one of the hottest notebooks of 2015 and as CES 2016 rolls into Las Vegas, Lenovo's back with an updated Thinkpad X1 line. Only it's not just a notebook anymore. Lenovo's new Thinkpad X1 can be had in three different forms: A notebook, a Yoga-style convertible, and a tablet.
They're all high-end Windows 10 products, and here's what you need to know.
Thinkpad X1 Carbon
The 2016 refresh of Lenovo's flagship notebook comes with few surprises. Frankly, that's not a bad thing, since the 2015 model was already hard to fault. The 2016 refresh is still has a 14-inch screen with available resolutions of either 1080p Full HD or 2560x1440 QHD display. The rest of the hardware has been updated with the latest components available from Intel, namely options up to a 6th-generation Skylake Core i7 processor.
You can also spec it out with up to 16GB of RAM and a 1TB PCIe SSD drive for storage, as well as LTE-A cellular data support. This was one of our favorite features on the 2015 Thinkpad X1 Carbon, so we're happy to see it continue. It's still a slim and light notebook aimed at professionals, weighing just 2.6lbs. And as you'd expect you're not wanting in terms of ports, either, with 3 x USB 3.0, a OneLink+ (RJ45), MiniDP, HDMI, microSD and 3.5mm headset jack.
Battery life from the 52Whr power plant is claimed at up to 11 hours. It'll be available in February with prices starting at $1299.
Thinkpad X1 Yoga
If you like your laptops a little more versatile than the Thinkpad X1 Yoga might be right up your street. Essentially it's a high-end ultrabook with the added benefit of being able to manipulate the display to use as in tablet, tent and stand modes as well as the regular old laptop way. The X1 Yoga packs an option for a gorgeous-sounding 2560x1440 QHD resolution OLED display alongside a QHD IPS display or a more standard 1080p Full HD IPS LED display.
Internally you're looking at similar specs to the X1 Carbon with up to a 6th generation Intel Core i7 CPU on offer, up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of PCIe SSD storage. The X1 Yoga becomes the first of Lenovo's convertible laptops to come with an optional cellular connection, with LTE-A connectivity on offer. All that comes alongside all the ports you'll need including 3 x USB3.0, a OneLink+ (RJ45), MiniDP, HDMI, microSD and 3.5mm headset jack.
Additionally, the X1 Yoga comes with a pen that docks and charges inside the laptop. And with Lenovo WriteIT on board, you can use it to write inside virtually any app on your machine.
It'll be available in January with prices starting at $1449.
Thinkpad X1 Tablet
The Thinkpad X1 Tablet is an attractive proposition for folks looking for power and portability without necessarily wanting a full-time laptop. It also brings in an option for an onboard projector, more recently seen on the Android-powered Yoga Tablet 3 Pro. This is through the additional modules you can add to the tablet, with an extended battery and a RealSense camera array also available.
The tablet itself has a 12-inch display in 3:2 ratio, just like Microsoft's Surface Pro. You can have it in FHD+ and 2160x1440 resolutions, and it's powered by Intel's latest-generation Core m processors all the way up to an m7. As with the other two entries in the X1 lineup, you can spec up 16GB of RAM, 1TB of PCIe SSD storage and LTE-A cellular connectivity if you so wish.
On the tablet, you get a USB-C port, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, microSD and a 3.5mm headset jack with optional ports added using the additional modules. The keyboard attachment is "classic Thinkpad" with the red pointer included as well as being available in three different colors.
It'll be available from $899 in February, with the RealSense module becoming available in May for $149. The extended battery module will also cost $149 while the projector will cost $279.
For more on these and all of Lenovo's latest be sure to stay tuned to our full CES 2016 coverage.
Press Release:
Lenovo Unveils Pioneering Modular ThinkPad X1 Tablet
- X1 Tablet with Intel Core m7 processors reaches 10 hours' battery, and modules add unique functions
- X1 Yoga features OLED display option and rechargeable active pen
- ThinkPad X1 series include Samsung NVMe SSD and Qualcomm LTE-A 4G
- WiGig docking available for wireless desk
LAS VEGAS, NV – January 3, 2016 – Lenovo (HKSE:992) today unveiled its newly expanded and highly innovative X1 portfolio. Designed for forward thinkers, the series includes new additions such as the brilliantly adaptable ThinkPad X1 Tablet with its unique Ultra Connect modular design; the immersive ThinkPad X1 Yoga with world's first OLED display; and the award-winning ThinkPad X1 Carbon is even thinner and lighter, strengthening its superiority in the ultrabook market. Furthermore, desktop users will be wowed by the stunning new ThinkCentre X1 all-in-one, the must-have design centerpiece for any office with outstanding performance to match.
Designed and Engineered for Forward Thinkers
The Ultra Connect modular design of the ThinkPad X1 Tablet offers something no other tablet can - adding functionality through simple clip-on optional modules:
- Need more battery? The Productivity Module increases use up to 15 hours total
- Ready to present? The Presenter Module includes a pico projector and HDMI port
- Creating in 3D? Add the 3D Imaging Module with its rear-facing Intel RealSense camera
The full size ThinkPad keyboard with the iconic TrackPoint has three adjustable typing angles and recreates the classic ThinkPad keystroke feel. Keyboard and tablet together weigh just 2.4 pounds for an ultra-light laptop experience. What's more, a removable rear panel offers simpler serviceability for repairs and upgrades.
ThinkPad X1 Yoga is incredibly thin at just 0.66 inches and light at only 2.8 pounds. It is also the world's first convertible featuring an optional OLED display that reproduces beautifully rich colors and deeper blacks. With a patented Life and Lock keyboard that retracts keys in tablet mode, X1 Yoga also features an active pen that is housed & charged inside the system so it won't get lost.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon continues to stand out as the world's lightest 14-inch business ultrabook. One of the most refined and elegant notebooks available today, the X1 Carbon is thinner, lighter and more powerful than ever. Focused on customer-centric design improvements, we listened to customer feedback and made a number of improvements, including more display options, increased memory and storage capacity, improved connectivity and made the X1 Carbon lighter at just 2.6 pounds.
Customers expect Lenovo to keep pushing the boundaries and the ThinkPad X1 series doesn't disappoint. With a unique combination of performance, connectivity and security focused features available in all three products, the new ThinkPad X1 family is designed and engineered for forward thinkers:
- Up to 1TB super-fast Samsung NVMe PCIe SSD storage offers speeds up to twice that of SATA SSD
- Enhanced connectivity with Qualcomm Snapdragon X7 4G LTE-A wireless WAN for optimum on the road data access
- Fast and secure WiGig wireless docking for a cable-free desk environment
- Touch Fingerprint reader and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security chip for peace of mind
- Built tough to withstand the rigors of mobile working by passing more than two hundred Lenovo stress tests
The ThinkPad X1 family also includes a number of accessories specifically designed to match and enhance the overall user experience:
- ThinkPad X1 Wireless Touch Mouse is a thin and light dual mode mouse optimized for travel. Flip it over to use the integrated touchpad presenter for easy navigation through slides.
- The ThinkPad X1 In Ear Headphones have been optimized by Dolby for the X1 series and engineered with dual drivers to improve phone calls, music and movies.
- The X1 Sleeve, with its soft-touch interior and easy-to-open magnetic flap, is the perfect transport companion for your X1 Carbon or X1 Yoga.
- The ThinkPad 65W Micro Adapter is 58 percent smaller and 50 percent lighter than a standard power adapter and is the ideal lightweight travel mate for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon and X1 Yoga.
The Desk Space of Tomorrow
The ThinkCentre X1 AIO offers a superlative design within an ultra-thin 11mm frame giving one of the world's thinnest desktops. The premium anti-glare display offers a bright picture from any angle on its 23.8-inch screen and despite the incredibly thin chassis, the ThinkCentre X1 is built tough. Designed to withstand dust build up, a common cause of hardware failure with desktop PCs, the all-in-one has been tested for eight hours in a dust chamber, replicating ten years in an office environment.
The 7.5mm ultra-slim ThinkVision X1 is the world's first monitor to receive the TUV Eye-Comfort certification featuring a 27-inch UltraHD edge-to-edge anti-glare display, the ThinkVision X1 includes rich connectivity options such as a USB type C port, providing the perfect complement to the ThinkPad X1 Tablet.
