The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Gen1 is the successor of the ThinkPad X1 pill that got here out in 2016 (!). The chassis design makes it a Surface Pro-like cellular laptop, however Lenovo has pushed that form-factor to new heights with this newest iteration.
This form-factor idea works effectively and may be very fashionable. When I used to be in Japan, I noticed an abnormally excessive variety of these laptops, and there’s actually a marketplace for ultra-light PCs like this.
At 1.67 Lbs with out the keyboard, it’s a very compact Windows laptop computer. Yet, its {hardware} is quick sufficient to carry out any productiveness duties you throw at it as its capabilities are akin to the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 nano we reviewed in April.
Specs Highlights
The ThinkPad X12 Gen1 is constructed round an ultra-low voltage Intel Gen11 processor, and you’ll select between 5 choices: i3-1110G4, i5-1130G7 (as examined), i5-1140G7, i7-1160G7, and i7-1180G7. For most individuals, the i5-1130G7 might be the very best efficiency for the worth.
The dearer Core i7 SKUs are solely accessible with 16GB of RAM (which I like to recommend), however others will be ordered with solely 8GB if that’s a greater match on your price range and use case. There is an intensive selection of NVME SSD storage capacities, going from 128GB to 1TB (+$283).
Our take a look at unit has the Core i5-1130G7 CPU, a 512GB SSD, 16GB, has 4G, and runs on Windows 10 Pro. It prices $1407.60 (keyboard and pen included) on Lenovo.com on the time of publishing.
A comparably quick model with 128GB, 8GB, Windows 10 Home, and no 4G, would price $1189.2, and that’s the baseline value we’ll use within the perf/worth charts.
Industrial Design
The ThinkPad X12 Gen1 industrial design is traditional for this class of gadgets. It has all of the hallmarks of a Surface Pro competitor, with the addition of typical ThinkPad finishes just like the magnesium chassis, stable hinges, and a resistant soft-black end.
With the keyboard cowl defending the show, I wouldn’t fear a lot concerning the common sturdiness of this laptop computer, and this can be a good computing companion in cramped areas corresponding to planes or trains.
The chassis design is inherently much less “lappable” when in comparison with clamshell laptops, so that you want to concentrate on that, however it’s good to make use of on a desk or tray.
Overall, the X12+keyboard thickness may be very akin to the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 nano, which is barely greater as a result of it has a bigger display screen measurement. The foremost distinction is that the ThinkPad X12 Gen1 is healthier for those who intend to use it as a full-on pill (with out the keyboard) typically.
The chassis quantity of the ThinkPad X12 (no keyboard) is about half of the ThinkPad X1 nano. The X12 can be 22% lighter between these two, and that’s an enormous distinction while you maintain it with one hand.
The ThinkPad X12 Gen1 has a superior design in comparison with the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 due to its sturdiness and safety choices, such because the Kensington lock and ThinkShutter. However, the Surface Pro 7 has a full-size USB port, which may very well be an enormous deal for some customers.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The ThinkPad X12 keyboard is one more reason why Lenovo is taking the lead on this kind issue. It may be very agreeable to make use of, may be very stiff, and has a built-in backlight (2 brightness ranges).
The key journey is about 1mm, and the entire expertise is as shut as you may get from the traditional ThinkPad keyboard with a removable keyboard. For safety functions, there’s a fingerprint reader.
The keyboard attaches to the chassis through sturdy magnets and makes use of a wired knowledge reference to the laptop computer, so there gained’t be any BT pairing mishaps, lifeless battery, or enter lag. On the opposite hand, you will need to connect the keyboard to make use of it.
“THE BEST DETACHABLE KEYBOARD I HAVE TESTED. IT FEELS INCREDIBLE”
Overall, that is the very best removable keyboard I’ve examined, and it feels unbelievable. This important piece of the puzzle places Lenovo effectively forward of the Surface Pro, particularly for those who contemplate that the keyboard is included within the buy.
The Trackpad’s floor is first rate however may use a glass improve. However, the bodily trackpad buttons make click on & drag operations way more exact as you may click on with out shifting the cursor in any respect. For ThinkPad followers, the traditional red-colored TrackPoint controller is current as effectively.
Ports
There are solely two USB-C knowledge ports, however one among them is suitable with Thunderbolt 4, which opens a universe of high-speed connections to exterior storage, shows, and even GPUs! You can have a one-cable docking answer if join it to one thing just like the Sabrent Thunderbolt docking station.
For enterprise customers, a Kensington safety connector may very well be important for stopping theft (and knowledge loss), and our unit has a SIM slot for the non-compulsory 4G connectivity. Unfortunately, there’s no SD/microSD connector, which might have been nice for photographers on the go.
Sound
The ThinkPad X12 Gen1 audio system are small and crammed right into a tiny area. As a outcome, they aren’t very highly effective and lack bass. Fortunately, the Dolby Premium software program helps give the sound way more “body” than it might in any other case have.
This is likely to be the ThinkPad X12’s Achilles heel in comparison with potential opponents. Still, the physics of sound is such that it’s difficult for this way issue to have implausible audio.
With the quantity at 100%, the sound did have a little bit of distortion, and whereas it is likely to be high quality for a video name, it’s not the very best audio expertise for a film. I might as an alternative use headphones at that time.
Display
There’s just one show choice which is a 12.3” FHD (1920×1080) IPS-LCD. It has a shiny anti-reflective end which does effectively with smudges as effectively. No glass floor is smudge-free, however the coating Lenovo is utilizing appears to assist.
The brightness specs point out 400 NITs, however in actuality, it’s a bit greater than that, nearer to 440 NITs. Pair that with the 100% sRGB coloration gamut, and you’ve got a really succesful show that’s effectively suited to working “in the field,” together with outdoor.
The 16:10 side ratio helps with productiveness apps the place extra vertical area is required, and now I’m wondering how a 3:2 model could be like.
Webcam
The 5MP entrance digital camera is situated on the prime of the show and incorporates a privateness shutter, yet one more distinction from potential opponents, particularly in company environments.
This digital camera’s high quality is noticeably higher than just about all of the laptops we’ve examined previously 12 months and may higher take care of HDR in case your lighting is just not good. There’s a secondary IR digital camera that makes safe face unlock potential with Windows Hello.
An 8MP rear digital camera can be accessible with barely greater high quality. This is a welcome addition and may very well be very helpful to anybody who must take area images instantly from a reporting app. The high quality is inferior to smartphones or an iPad Pro (removed from it), but it surely’s among the many greatest you’re going to get from a PC laptop computer.
Pen
A Lenovo Digital Pen is included within the field. It is an Active Pen powered with one AAAA battery and depends on the Wacom AES normal. I’m no designer, but it surely appears ok for sketching. I imagine that the unique intent was to allow wonderful note-taking, and that may be a success.
Performance
Thanks to Intel’s eleventh era of ultra-low-voltage processors, the efficiency of this ultra-compact laptop is nice, and our Geekbench assessments present it outpaces even the X1 nano for “performance per Lbs,” a important mobility metric. And that’s not even with the costliest processor choice!
Even the graphics efficiency may be very first rate, with greater numbers than acclaimed laptops such because the 2020 Dell XPS 13 9000 (i7-1065G), so it’s a laptop computer able to the occasional Photoshop session.
The storage efficiency is just not notably spectacular, and with a most of 16GB of RAM, I wouldn’t use this laptop for video modifying or any app that requires huge quantities of knowledge and disk I/O, however you may if you have to.
Thanks to the low-power nature of this {hardware} platform, it’s also very quiet. The followers don’t activate fairly often except you retain a gazillion browser tabs open or play 3D video games.
Battery Life
Having a 42Wh battery capability for such a small gadget is cheap. In our workplace productiveness assessments, we had been capable of get about 8 hours of steady workplace app utilization at a brightness of 110 NIT.
You can anticipate to go from zero to 80% in a single hour, which is normal when you have to cost. Lenovo has laptops that may cost sooner, as proven within the chart beneath. Fortunately, Lenovo’s new 65W charger is way more compact and simpler to hold, so you probably have an outlet close by, you’ll be good to go.
Conclusion
The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Gen1 is a superb various to the Microsoft Surface 7 Pro. In some ways, it’s a Surface 7 Pro Killer, and it’s robust to seek out an goal cause to not choose the X12 if I had to decide on between these two.
The price between the 2 could be almost equivalent for a comparable configuration, however Lenovo’s keyboard design is so a lot better, and the X12’s chassis appears further sturdy. The consumer inputs could be my #1 precedence right here due to their huge consumer expertise contribution.
“IN MANY WAYS, IT IS A SURFACE 7 PRO KILLER”
The lack of a full-size USB-A port on the X12 is regrettable, but it surely’s now not a sway issue for most individuals. Finally, firms is likely to be swayed by the vPro {hardware}, the ThinkShutter webcam, and the safety lock options.
This new ThinkPad X12 Gen1 is a good pill PC with a implausible efficiency/weight ratio and construct high quality, and Lenovo has made the correct selection by together with the keyboard and pen.
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