Lenovo’s Revamped ThinkPad X1 Extreme Is Now Slimmer and More Powerful

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme was already a terrific system for individuals who wanted a strong and durable cellular workhorse, however for this 12 months’s refresh, Lenovo has made just about all the pieces higher whereas nonetheless slicing down on thickness and giving the laptop computer an enormous enhance in efficiency.

Even although Lenovo hasn’t actually messed with the X1 Extreme’s total design, there are a selection of tweaks that ought to add some bodily and visible enchantment. The first change is that Lenovo is displaying extra of the X1 Extreme’s carbon fiber weave—a small departure from the ThinkPad line’s typical matte black end. But maybe extra importantly, the brand new X1 Extreme is thinner than earlier than, measuring simply 17.7mm thick in comparison with 18.4mm thick for the earlier mannequin, whereas weighing simply 4 kilos.

Additionally, Lenovo has converted to a brand new 16-inch 16:10 facet ratio show that offers you somewhat extra vertical display screen actual property, which is all the time precious while you’re engaged on the go. And on the within, Lenovo additionally put in a brand new system of warmth pipes and vapor chambers to enhance cooling with out sacrificing on the spill resistance or mil-spec sturdiness individuals have come to anticipate from ThinkPads.

However, the brand new X1 Extreme’s most significant change is all the brand new parts Lenovo has packed inside, which incorporates as much as an Eleventh-gen Intel Core i9 H-series CPU, twin SSD slots, and as much as an Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU with 16GB of vRAM. That final half is an enormous improve contemplating the earlier mannequin topped out at a GTX 1650. And even with all that energy, with a commonplace 90 Whr battery, Lenovo claims the X1 Extreme ought to find a way to last as long as 10.7 hours on a cost.

But that’s not all: Tlisted below are a bunch of different little enhancements, just like the bounce as much as a full HD webcam (up from 720p) that additionally features a helpful bodily webcam shutter and non-obligatory IR sensor, a bigger touchpad, and show choices that embody help for 4K with Dolby Vision HDR and as much as 600 nits of brightness. Lenovo even added a fingerprint reader into the X1 Extreme’s energy button, so you’ll be able to extra simply signal into your machine with a single contact. And with two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt, two USB-A ports, an SD card reader, and a full-sized HDMI port, there’s a ton of connectivity choices, too.

In addition to the brand new X1 Extreme, Lenovo can also be introducing refreshed variations of the ThinkPad L13 and the ThinkPad L13 Yoga powered by AMD Ryzen 5000 chips. But I gotta admit that after I acquired an opportunity to verify all of these things out in individual, I used to be oddly drawn to Lenovo’s new line of Lenovo Go equipment, which mix productiveness with a surprisingly refined design.

The new Lenovo Go vertical mouse and Wireless Split Keyboard feature cork panels so as to add a little bit of texture and heat to usually chilly designs, whereas Lenovo’s new USB-C Wireless Charging Kit makes it attainable so as to add wi-fi charging capabilities to 13- and 14-inch laptops. And for further charging mobility, Lenovo even created a ten,000 mAh energy financial institution with built-in Qi wi-fi help, so you’ll be able to prime up a cellphone with no need to bodily plug it in.

The new ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 will begin at $2,149 and shall be obtainable in August together with the ThinkPad L13 and ThinkPad L13 Yoga. Meanwhile, Lenovo’s new line of Lenovo Go equipment will start rolling out in July, beginning with Lenovo’s wi-fi mice. More units will turn out to be obtainable all through the summer season and fall.