Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga vs. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga: Which should you buy?

The ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 6) was announced at CES 2021 but is just starting to hit the market, so its configuration options aren't plentiful. It also hasn't been subjected to any of Lenovo's frequent deep discounts and coupons, so prices are unnaturally high even compared to the X1 Titanium's elevated price. Let's take a look at the specs that make up two of the best Lenovo laptops before we get into a deeper look at similarities and differences.

ThinkPad X1 Yoga vs. X1 Titanium Yoga tech specs

ThinkPad X1 Yoga vs. X1 Titanium Yoga: Features and design

In Executive Editor Daniel Rubino's writeup about how Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga came to be, it's revealed that Lenovo wanted to create a convertible that's just as capable of acting as a tablet as it is a notebook.

Sure, the standard X1 Yoga (Gen 6) can be used as a tablet thanks to its low 3-pound (1.4kg) weight and 0.59-inch (14.9mm) thickness, but really only for short bursts. The X1 Titanium Yoga, on the other hand, weighs in at 2.54 pounds (1.15kg) and measures just 0.45 inches (11.5mm) thin. This is the thinnest ThinkPad Lenovo has so far created, but it's durable thanks to the titanium lid and magnesium alloy bottom. You can use it as a tablet without really noticing the weight or added thickness of the keyboard portion.

There's also the matter of 3:2 aspect ratio, which makes the entire laptop a lot boxier. The standard X1 Yoga (Gen 6) did get a favorable bump to 16:10, but the Titanium model just feels better as a tablet. There's no built-in active pen for the Titanium model, though it does support inking and includes a full-size pen. For a garaged pen, you'll have to stick with the X1 Yoga (Gen 6).

Ports on the Titanium model are understandably more limited due to size. It has two Thunderbolt 4 and a 3.5mm audio jack. That's it. You'll no doubt want to invest in one of the best laptop docking stations if you require lots of ports. The X1 Yoga (Gen 6), on the other hand, retains quite a few ports. Two USB-A 3.2, two Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.0, and a 3.5mm audio jack are present.

Another thing the Titanium model has that the standard Yoga doesn't have is a Sensel haptics-based touchpad. There are no moving parts, allowing it to fit in a particularly thin device, yet there is still the feel of a normal click. The X1 Yoga's touchpad is the standard Precision fare, though it's been widened on this model.

The Titanium comes standard with a bunch of security features, many of which are optional with the normal X1 Yoga. The Titanium has a fingerprint reader, IR camera, webcam shutter, a Kensington lock slot, and Human Presence Detection in all models. The X1 Yoga has an optional IR camera and optional Human Presence Detection, though all laptops come with a fingerprint reader and webcam shutter.

Bottom line? The X1 Titanium Yoga is better for anyone who uses a convertible laptop as a tablet just as much as a notebook. Its thin, strong design means fewer compromises when the lid is rotated around. The X1 Yoga (Gen 6) is still a great option, but less so for fans of tablets. Both laptops have a premium design and have high-end features, but the Titanium wins out.

ThinkPad X1 Yoga vs. X1 Titanium Yoga: Display

The X1 Yoga (Gen 6) has multiple 14-inch touch display options available. The 16:10 aspect ratio means the vertical resolutions get a bit of a boost, with 1920x1200 (FHD+) and 3840x2400 (UHD+). Low power, low blue light, and Privacy Guard are all options for the FHD+ displays. All have 100% sRGB color reproduction, and you can opt for an anti-reflective finish.

The X1 Yoga's UHD+ display is anti-reflective, hits 500 nits brightness, manages 100% DCI-P3 color reproduction, and has low blue light. All displays are compatible with the built-in active pen.

The X1 Titanium Yoga has a single 13.5-inch touch display available and it sits somewhere between FHD and UHD. The 3:2 aspect ratio gives it a rare 2256x1504 resolution, which Lenovo calls QHD or 2K. It has an anti-reflective finish and hits 450 nits brightness, plus Dolby Vision helps with a brilliant picture. The display works for inking, and all models include Lenovo's Precision Pen.

Overall, the 3:2 display in the X1 Titanium Yoga makes a far better tablet, and the 2K resolution is more crisp than FHD+. But if you prefer UHD+ and don't mind the 16:10 aspect ratio, the standard X1 Yoga will do fine.

ThinkPad X1 Yoga vs. X1 Titanium Yoga: Performance and price

Both laptops take advantage of 11th Gen Intel Core processors (CPU) with vPro options available, and both have integrated Intel Xe graphics. They're both also certified for Intel Evo, guaranteeing strong performance on battery and extended life. There are some differences in CPU technology to note.

The X1 Yoga (Gen 6) uses 28W Intel chips with slightly higher frequency compared to the 15W chips used in the Titanium model. It's a matter of space available for cooling. Both are still going to deliver excellent performance for productivity work. RAM is soldered in both models, so you will want to get as much as needed from the factory. The X1 Yoga (Gen 6) comes with up to 32GB, while the Titanium has up to 16GB.

Similarly, the M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD can be had up to 2TB with the X1 Yoga (Gen 6). You can also choose to go with PCIe 4.0 for truly incredible transfer speeds. The Titanium model is capped at 1TB of storage and still uses the PCIe 3.0 standard for all SSDs.

Note that while the X1 Titanium Yoga has a smaller battery, its CPUs with lower TDP will help elongate life. Both laptops should deliver all-day battery life, allowing you to leave your AC adapter behind.

Go with the ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 6) for a traditional convertible PC

The sixth-gen ThinkPad X1 Yoga gets a 16:10 aspect ratio for its display, 5G connectivity to stay in touch everywhere, and an upgrade to performance hardware. It's the right choice for anyone who wants a traditional convertible PC, especially when prices level off and it costs less than the X1 Titanium Yoga. If neither laptop is really what you need, our collection of the best Windows laptop options has plenty more PCs to look at.

The ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga is better as a tablet

Want a convertible PC that doesn't feel like a laptop that's been folded in half when you're using it as a tablet? The ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga is no doubt the better choice here, though it will cost more than the X1 Yoga (Gen 6) when prices level off.