The new ThinkPad X1 Yoga carries forward an iconic design and puts it over the top with a 16:10 display, Thunderbolt 4, and an all-aluminum body.
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This is my kind of PC: Versatile to a fault, and the right combination of size, display aspect ratio, performance, and expansion.
In the review configuration, we’re looking at an 11th-generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 with Iris Xe graphics, 16 GB of LPDDR4x-4266 RAM, 512 GB of NVMe-based SSD storage. And Lenovo promises over 9 hours of real-world battery life, so it meets the Intel Evo certification criteria.
Inside, you’ll find other modern components, including Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, though I don’t believe there’s a cellular data option.
And on the outside, you’ll find an excellent selection of modern and legacy ports, including two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, one full-sized x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, and one full-sized HDMI 2.0 port on the left side of the PC.
And on the right, there’s a second full-sized x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, but with always-on capabilities, a headphone jack., and a Kensington-style security lock.
Aside from the versatility of the Yoga form factor, which can transform into various usage modes like Tent, Stand, and Tablet, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga is made entirely of aluminum, giving it a distinctive look when compared to most other ThinkPads. And at 3 pounds and .59 inches thin, the X1 Yoga should prove to be quite portable.
And let’s not forget the screen: Lenovo has heard its customers and is now transitioning to 16:10 displays that provide more room for productivity multitasking. There are various display choices up to a bright 500-nit UHD+ panel with Dolby Vision capabilities, but the review unit shipped with a Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS panel with an anti-glare coating and Privacy Guard technology that I think is just right.
That said, the bezels aren’t particularly small given the possibilities here. Perhaps a refresh of the form factor is due.
For security and privacy, the X1 Yoga provides a Windows Hello facial recognition, a manual ThinkShutter webcam cover, a match-on-chip fingerprint reader built into the power button, and optional Human Presence detection that can lock the PC if others approach or unlock it when it senses that it’s you (assuming you enable Windows Hello facial recognition as well).
As with other Lenovo PCs, the X1 Yoga includes a high-quality keyboard with scalloped keys and short key throws, plus a dual-pointing system with a TrackPoint and touchpad.
My only immediate issue is that the Fn and Ctrl keys are reversed, which I will never understand, Lenovo. Never.
Power is supplied by a standard 65-watt Lenovo power supply that can charge the 57-watt-hour battery to 80 percent in 60 minutes.
More soon.
dukeb
<p>But at least Dell doesn’t create confusion by using the same names between their business and consumer product lines.</p><p><br></p><p>Let Lenovo call the consumer convertible the FLIPPY — anything other than Yoga.</p>
dukeb
<p>Lenovo is so odd with their cellular offerings. We are a Lenovo reseller and a couple of weeks ago I was on a webinar where the product managers were touting 5G availability across many of the Thinkpad product lines including the X1 Yoga. If you use Lenovo’s PSREF tool and look at the Gen6 products they offer NO cellular in the USA. If you look at Australia, they show "<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Quectel EM120R-GL with embedded eSIM" as an option. </span></p>
dennisg
<p>I have one of these. Awesome machine! The aluminum machine feels professional and sleek. I keep running my fingers along the side of the chassis to admire it. The 16:10 form factor is a great step in the right direction. I love the optional 500 nit and 4k also. The 32gb of RAM is helpful for those of us having dozens of tabs and programs open. And the function key is right where I’m used to it! I can just reach without looking to wake up the machine. I don’t use other brands and have had ThinkPads since they were first introduced in black and white. The fingerprint reader is much better than the one in my older ThinkPad Yoga. The power supply switch is mercifully moved to the top of the keyboard, meaning no more accidental powering down by accident when trying to slide the machine over to the left. Ugh that was a painful but rare experience over the last three years.</p><p><br></p><p>Cons: the touch pad is nice and large but does not have an option to cordon off part of it. The area at the base of my thumb keeps doing a "click" when teaching for the track point and I have found the machine to begin moving folders to an arbitrary location to my horror. I had to turn off the touchpad’s single click feature, which isn’t optimal. Also, my touch screen stopped working with my finger, but still works with the included "pen." They are sending me an entirely new computer under my on site warranty.</p><p><br></p><p>Bottom line: best ThinkPad yet, but please, Lenovo, enhance the driver to enable restricting the "click" area of the touch pad like on my old one!</p>
dennisg
<p>Good question. The top and bottom feel way different from the previous soft-touch finish. It’s more slick and almost feels like aluminum, although I believe it’s some kind of plastic. It’s very pleasing.</p>
dennisg
<p>Reaching not teaching. Oops.</p>
omega shark
<p>The ctrl and fn keys are reversed because most use the ctrl key more often, so having it reversed puts the more used key (ctrl) closer and easier to access. However, for those who rather have those keys in their traditional position, you can have them unreversed in Lenovo Vantage settings. </p>