Lenovo’s sexy 2018 ThinkPad X1 trio is here

It’s almost unfathomable. It’s been 13 years since Lenovo bought IBM’s PC business. While ThinkPad and ThinkCenter PCs were always renowned for being solid and reliable, it was up to Lenovo to inject new life and creativity into the brands. Without losing the distinctive ThinkPad DNA of course.

At CES 2018, Lenovo unwrapped a new trio of ThinkPad portables and today, the carbon-bodied devices are here in Malaysia.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon will look familiar to X1 Carbon owners and fans, with enhancements in hardware and expandability. But otherwise, it’s very much the X1 Carbon you’ll love—from the ultra-durable mil-spec body, signature red trackpoint nub and keyboard, and performance to boot.

The notebook remains the world’s lightest 14-inch commercial notebook, tipping the scales at only 1.13kg.

What’s different with the sixth generation X1 Carbon is the brilliant 14-inch WQHD (2560×1440) IPS display that supports Dolby Vision HDR. The display pushes up to 500 nits in peak brightness. Alternatively, Lenovo also offers FHD IPS, FHD IPS (touch) and WQHD IPS display options.

What I also really like is the sliding cover for the webcam. For the security conscious (like me), it beats covering the camera with tape. It’s a Windows Hello-capable IR camera by the way. Thoughtful little extra from Lenovo.

Under the hood, you can get up to an 8^th Gen Intel Core i7 with vPro and Intel UHD Graphics 620, up to 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of SSD storage and up to 15 hours of battery life.

In terms of expansion, the X1 Carbon boasts 2x USB 3.0, 2x Thunderbolt 3, audio jack, microSD card reader and HDMI. Connectivity-wise, it rocks Wi-Fi 802.11ac 2×2, Bluetooth 4.2 and 4G LTE-A as standard.

The 2018 ThinkPad X1 Carbon runs Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit out-of-the-box.

360-degree Far-Field Communication mics support Wake-on-Voice function and hands-free Amazon Alexa, so you can give a command from across the room, even in noisy environments.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (2018) specs

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga

The ThinkPad X1 Yoga features the best from ThinkPad and the most cutting-edge from Lenovo’s Yoga range. It’s rock solid, versatile and happens to be the world’s only convertible with an integrated pen and built-in Global LTE-Advanced (LTE-A).

It’s also the first in the world to support Dolby Vision HDR with its 14-inch WQHD IPS touch display.

The third generation X1 Yoga retains its versatile 360-degree hinge to give you the benefit of multi-mode computing.

It weighs slightly more than the X1 Carbon, at 1.4kg, but still plenty light for a 14-inch notebook.

The talented convertible also has a stylus—the Lenovo Pen Pro that’s neatly tucked into its body. The pen offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and offers tilt sensing for more natural writing and drawing.

The coolest thing about the X1 Yoga is its retractable keyboard. When you open the X1 Yoga beyond 180 degrees, the keyboard and trackpoint retracts into the body. This not only protects the keyboard but also gives you a solid surface to hold in tablet or tent mode.

Under the hood, things are similar to the X1 Carbon—up to 8^th Gen Intel Core i7 with vPro, up to 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM, Intel UHD 620 graphics, up to 1TB SSD and a 720p HD / IR camera.

You’ll get 15 hours of battery life, and a plethora of expansion ports including 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, 2x USB-A ports, HDMI, and a mini-Ethernet port. There’s also a microSD card reader and integrated LTE-A cellular wireless connectivity.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (2018) specs

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet

Completing the ThinkPad X1 family is the new ThinkPad X1 Tablet. Now featuring a 13-inch Dolby Vision HDR IPS display boasting 3K (3000×2000) resolution and beefed up specs.

It carries over the same much-loved ThinkPad keyboard and trackpad from last year, which is attached via a magnetic dock.

Internally, the ThinkPad X1 Tablet shares much of its underpinnings with its X1 siblings. Being ultra-thin it has less ports (just 2x Thunderbolt 3, audio jack and microSD card reader) and battery life is up to 9.5 hours.

Being just 8.9mm thin means it doesn’t have a silo (unlike the X1 Yoga) for the Lenovo Pen Pro. Instead, you get a pen loop that snaps on to the side of the tablet.

Just like its two siblings, it has Wake-on-Voice, integrated LTE-A and its IR camera supports Windows Hello. For an added authentication option, there’s a fingerprint reader as well.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet (2018) specs

More from Lenovo

Aside from the refreshed ThinkPad X1 family, Lenovo also revealed the ThinkPad X, T and L Series, X280, X380 Yoga, T480, T480s, T580, L380, L380 Yoga and L480 notebooks. It also introduced its Workstations: P52c, P520, P720; portables: Tab 4 8-inch Plus series, Tab 4 10 Plus series (Android) and Yoga Book (Windows, 128GB). Phew. 

Pricing and availability

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is available online and at all Lenovo exclusive stores nationwide starting 14 March 2018. Prices start at MYR7,999.

The ThinkPad X1 Yoga retails from MYR8,999, while the ThinkPad X1 Tablet is slated for an April 2018 release. Prices to be revealed at a later date.

For more information, visit www.lenovo.com/my.