Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold (2nd-Gen) hands-on

I reviewed Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold, the primary PC with a foldable display, in late 2020. On the time, it was a really cool thought, however not notably, let’s consider, usable. Right now, Lenovo has introduced its second go at this, the “Subsequent-generation” ThinkPad X1 Fold. I spent a couple of minutes with the machine, and let me let you know: I’m far more optimistic about this one.

A lot of this new X1 Fold can be acquainted to followers not simply of the earlier X1 Fold, however of the ThinkPad line in general. The machine is outfitted with the sequence’s commonplace black and pink coloration scheme, with the staple ThinkPad X1 emblem on the lid. There’s a ThinkPad-style keyboard with a trackpoint and inverted-T arrow keys. It’s well-built, sturdy, and modern.

However some modifications have been made, and I feel they have been the appropriate ones.

Just about each main challenge I had with the unique X1 Fold was due, ultimately, to its 13.3-inch dimension. It was high quality to make use of as a 13-inch pill, however when folded into laptop computer mode (an possibility that’s a giant a part of the enchantment of foldable screens like this), it was too small to be sensible for day by day use.

The second-gen machine is 16 inches, a 22 p.c enhance in dimension. (It is usually 25 p.c thinner than the earlier mannequin). Having performed round with the brand new machine, I feel it’s much more sensible. The display is clearly sufficiently big that I might navigate round my typical workflow and have a number of tabs open facet by facet.

The larger chassis additionally permits for a much bigger keyboard. The 2020 X1 Fold’s keyboard was well-made however needed to match horizontally throughout a 13.3-inch machine, which meant it was actually dang cramped. Some keys had as many as 4 characters crammed onto them, and I needed to press three at a time so as to make a query mark seem.

This new keyboard deck (which attaches magnetically to the decrease half of the chassis when it’s folded in laptop computer mode) is full-sized and backlit. I might kind on it like I usually kind. The keys felt ThinkPad-quality. Evidently, I a lot favor this one.

Whereas we’re speaking in regards to the deck, there’s additionally a haptic touchpad on this factor. We’re beginning to see extra of those throughout Lenovo’s extra compact ThinkPads, together with the super-thin Z-Series. I usually discover them a bit thinner than different trackpads, however this one appeared okay. I’ll want extra time with it to get a full impression.

That stated, the bar for this touchpad is so low. The primary-generation’s was barely sufficiently big to scroll with, not to mention repeatedly navigate. This one is a transparent enchancment because of the dimension alone.

Inside, the X1 Fold is powered by Twelfth-Gen Core i5 or i7 processors with built-in graphics and elective help for Intel’s vPro enterprise platform. Lenovo hasn’t outlined the precise fashions that can be accessible, however ThinkPads do are typically endlessly configurable to the purpose of stressing me out.

You’ll be capable to get SSD storage of as much as 1TB and as much as 32GB of DDR5 reminiscence, with the choice of Home windows 11 Residence or Home windows 11 Professional. There’s an elective Wacom pen, which attaches magnetically to the chassis. The display is a 16.3-inch 2024 x 2560 contact OLED that shrinks to 12 inches when folded.

There’s a 48Whr battery (with “elective further 16Whr based mostly on configuration”) and no battery life estimate but, which…scares me a bit, because the first X1 Fold gave me underneath 5 hours to a cost and had a 50Whr battery. Asus’s 17.3-inch Zenbook 17 Fold, additionally introduced this week, has demonstrated that an OLED foldable can be able to breaking six hours. We’ll should see on that.

In my transient time utilizing this machine to hop round Chrome and watch some movies, it appeared to work properly sufficient. That may be a excellent signal. I had fun utilizing the first-gen X1 Fold, however there have been all types of glitches to the expertise, notably with the onscreen keyboard. I’m wanting ahead to seeing how Home windows 11 does on this new chassis, as (not like another laptop computer producers) Lenovo is just not recognized to ship glitchy software program left and proper.

After which there’s the elephant within the room: the worth.

This machine, should you hadn’t guessed, is just not going to be low-cost. It’s anticipated to hit cabinets in November with a beginning worth of $2,499. Notice that the stylus and keyboard weren’t included on the 13-inch mannequin, and people added $250 to the worth.

That, curiously, is similar worth the 13-inch mannequin had (and it is a larger, thinner, and usually extra usable machine). And it’s considerably cheaper than the $3499.99 Zenbook 17 Fold, the one different foldable close to this dimension that we’ve seen up to now this yr.

This might find yourself being a considerably higher deal for foldable-buyers than the 17-inch Fold — however after all, we haven’t gotten to extensively check the factor but, so there may very well be all types of catches.

I don’t count on this machine to be good. Even when Lenovo has carried out all the pieces it will probably right here, the expertise of utilizing the machine might have quite a bit to do with how properly different corporations can get their software program to behave with it.

However as Lenovo’s representatives walked me by means of this machine, I received the sense that they have been genuinely enthusiastic about it. I feel they perceive precisely what the restrictions of the 13-inch Fold have been and have been comfortable to have a bigger foldable display come alongside. Perhaps on this new type issue, Lenovo can lastly make the groundbreaking machine that they wished the primary X1 Fold to be.

The foldable future might not be right here but, however with each one in all these releases, it comes nearer.

Pictures by Monica Chin / The Verge