Folding devices are still a relatively new product category but up until we’ve only seen foldable phones. But with the introduction of Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold, we’re now seeing foldable PCs.
Design & Hardware
The ThinkPad X1 Fold features a 13.3-inch QXGA OLED folding touchscreen with a resolution of 2048 x 1536. The screen looked good but it didn’t get as bright as I would like.
The exterior of the device has a leather-like cover with a built-in kickstand. Above the screen is a 5MP HD RGB camera plus an IR sensor.
The look of the ThinkPad X1 Fold is in line with other ThinkPad devices with its slightly rugged look and feel. It’s not the thinnest device but 27.8mm when folded and 11.5mm when unfolded and weighs 2.2lbs (999g).
The device comes bundled with the Lenovo Mod Pen and Lenovo Fold Mini Keyboard that connects over Bluetooth and can be wirelessly charged when attached to the ThinkPad X1 Fold. There is the option to charge the keyboard over microUSB. The Lenovo Mod Pen works well like their previous laptops with styluses.
It’s nice the ThinkPad X1 Fold came with a keyboard that fits nicely between the folding screen but it is on the smaller size and can feel kind of cramped. Battery life is around 5-6 hours depending on usage from the 50Wh cell but Lenovo says you should get up to 8.5 to 10.4 hours.
Inside the ThinkPad X1 Fold is the Intel i5-L16G7 processor with Intel Hybrid Technology along with integrated Intel UHD 11th Gen Graphics and 8GB of RAM. When using the device, I didn’t experience any slowdowns in terms of performance but there was some delay in some of the software for the folding screen.
One thing to note is that the device can run hot, especially when charging. So much that the device feels warm to the touch.
For ports, there are 2 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports and a micro SIM card slot for 5G support. There’s also Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. Storage options include 256, 512 or 1TB SSDs.
In terms of pricing, the ThinkPad X1 Fold starts at $3,369 CAD, it’s available now from Lenovo’s website.
Software
The ThinkPad X1 Fold is running Windows 10 but it comes bundled with a few Lenovo apps to make Windows run better with the folding screen.
Some of the pre-installed apps include:
- Lenovo Mode Switcher
- Dolby Access
- Lenovo Pen Settings
- Lenovo Voice
The Lenovo Mode Switcher is a piece of software that is made for the device’s folding screen. So then it can go from laptop mode/split-screen to full folding screen etc. The Switcher software works some of the time, sometimes I’ll turn the device and the Fold’s screen won’t change.
Dolby Access is more a demo app to show off the Dolby Atmos speakers. Lenovo Voice lets you use voice commands to control your PC.
The rest of the apps on the ThinkPad X1 Fold are mostly Microsoft pre-installed ones like Office apps.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is a decent first attempt at a folding computer. It’ll be exciting to see whether Lenovo continues with this product line or brings a folding screen to other devices.
Pros
- Foldable display that works and supports a stylus
- Good Keyboard that can be wirelessly charged
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Very expensive
- Mode switching software doesn’t work all the time
- Shorter than expected battery life
TheCanadianTechie 