ThinkPad X1 series

An addition to the lightweight X series, weighing between 1.36 kg to 1.72 kg depending on configuration. It was the thinnest ThinkPad laptop to date at 16.5 (front) and 21.5 mm (rear). The screen is a 13.3-inch (340 mm) LED-backlit HD infinity panel with 1366 × 768 (WXGA) resolution. Base configuration uses an Intel Sandy Bridge 2.5 GHz Core i5-2520M (up to 3.20 GHz) with 4 GiB of RAM (up to 8 GiB), SATA SSD or hard drive, Intel Integrated HD Graphics, USB 3.0, backlit keyboard, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and an average of eight hours of battery life. The battery is internal and not removable, and there is no optical drive.

The ThinkPad X1 laptop was released by Lenovo in May 2011. Notebook Review offered a positive opinion of the ThinkPad X1, saying that it was, "A powerful notebook that combines the durability and features of a business-class ThinkPad with the style of a consumer laptop."[4] A 13.3-inch X1 ThinkPad was announced to be available in the UK on June 7, 2011.

The specifications[5] of the ThinkPad X1 laptop are given below:

• Processor: Up to Intel Core i7-2620M (2× 2.70 GHz, 4 MB L3)
• Memory: Up to 8 GiB DDR3 1333 MT/s (1 slot)
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000
• Storage: 1 × SATA 6 Gbit/s (320 GB 7200 RPM HDD, or an SSD, ranging from 128 GiB to 160 GiB)
• Battery: Up to 5.2 hours.[6] This could be extended further to 10 hours with a slice battery.[7]

ThinkPad X1 Carbon in fully open position

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon's keyboard (Japanese), track point, and touchpad

The X1 Carbon features a solid-state drive (SSD) instead of a hard drive. The base model has 4 GiB of memory, an Intel Core i5-3317U processor, and a 128 GiB SSD. The most expensive model has an Intel Core i7 processor and a 256 GiB SSD. The X1 Carbon requires the use of a dongle to access wired ethernet and some models include 3G or 4G cellular modems.[8][9]

The base model X1 Carbon has a 14-inch (360 mm) TN screen with a resolution of 1600 by 900 pixels. The X1 Carbon weighs 1.35 kilograms (3.0 lb) and measures 12.8 inches (330 mm) by 8.94 inches (227 mm) by 0.68 inches (17 mm) (at its thickest). The X1 Carbon's roll cage is made of light-weight carbon-fiber[10] and has a matte black finish.[8]

In November 2012, Lenovo announced a touch-screen variant called the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch designed for use with Windows 8. Its display makes use of multi-touch technology that can detect simultaneous inputs from up to ten fingers.[11]

In a review published for CNET, Dan Ackerman wrote, "At first glance, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon looks a lot like other ThinkPads, but in the hand it stands out as very light and portable. The excellent keyboard shows up other ultrabooks, and the rugged build quality is reassuring. With a slightly boosted battery and maybe a lower starting price, this could be a serious contender for my all-around favorite thin laptop."[1]

In another review for CNET, Nicholas Aaron Khoo wrote, "For this geek, there are many things to like about this 14-inch (1600x900 HD+) Ultrabook when it comes to usability when traveling on economy class. These include the backlit and spill-resistant keyboard, side-positioned ports, nice viewing angles, TrackPoint (which not everyone likes), nicely implemented touchpad and biometric login. Unlike it's [sic] poorer cousin, the Lenovo IdeaPad U410, it is able to go into hibernate mode without having the user jump through hoops to enable it."[12]

On the X1 Carbon Touch's SSD performance Engadget states, "The machine boots into the [s]tart screen in 11 seconds, which is pretty typical for a Windows 8 machine with specs like these. We also found that the solid-state drive delivers equally strong read and write speeds (551 MB/s and 518 MB/s, respectively), which we noticed the last time we tested an Ultrabook with an Intel SSD."[13]

In a review for Engadget, Dana Wollman wrote, "Starting with ergonomics, this has one of the best keyboard / touchpad combinations we've seen on a laptop, and that's not even counting that signature red pointing stick. We're also enamored with the design: aside from being well-made, the X1 Carbon Touch is also notably thin and light [at 1.55kg] for a 14-inch machine, especially one with a touchscreen. The display is hardly our favorite, what with the narrow viewing angles, but at least the 1,600 x 900 resolution is nice and crisp."[13]

In its review of the X1 Carbon Touch, Wired wrote, "Lenovo also hasn’t forgotten about the things that users actually care about. Audio is impressive and Dolby-certified. The keyboard is backlit and fully usable, and the glass touchpad was rock solid on this go-round with the Carbon." In its final verdict Wired stated that an "Excellent combination of performance, portability, and durability" and "the best keyboard going" make the Touch 'Wired."[14]

2nd Gen X1 Carbon (right)

The 2014 X1 Carbon features a 4th generation Intel processor and an "Adaptive Keyboard" touch bar where the function keys are normally located. The Home and End keys replaced the Caps Lock key, requiring the user to double-press the Shift key to activate Caps Lock. The Delete key was also repositioned to the right of the Backspace key instead of above it.[16]

Peter Bright wrote a disparaging review for Ars Technica. He found the X1 Carbon with the Lenovo named "Adaptive Keyboard" to be near perfect but unusable because the keyboard was so non-standard when compared with that of a desktop, the older Thinkpad T410s and Lenovo Helix keyboards. As a touch typist, he despairs at the removal of the function keys, and the repositioning of Caps Lock, replacing it with Home End, and, that pretty much each little-finger key has moved.[17]

The 2015 X1 Carbon came with a 2560 by 1440 screen. Lenovo reverted to the traditional Function row from the innovative but confusing Adaptive Function Row, and resumed using dedicated mouse buttons under the TrackPoint in the 2015 model. A fingerprint reader is to the right of the keyboard and can be used to log into Windows.[18]

In a review for Laptop Magazine, Mark Spoonauer wrote, "The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is easily one of the best business ultraportables available. While on the pricey side, the $1,754 configuration I reviewed delivers everything I want in a laptop: long battery life, a comfortable typing experience and strong overall performance. The X1 Carbon's design doesn't wow, but it's light and feels like it can stand up to abuse. However, the lack of an SD card slot is annoying, and I wish the 14-inch display were as bright as it is sharp[18]

In January 2016 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Lenovo presented their fourth generation X1 Carbon.[20]

The first generation of the X1 Yoga was released in 2016, featuring a 14 in (36 cm) touchscreen with a 360-degree hinge. Unlike many other laptops in the X1 series, it features a stylus and a dedicated slot for it. Like many others in the X1 series, the X1 Yoga features a built-in fingerprint sensor, multiple USB ports, an HDMI port, and support for up to Intel i7 processors.[21]

The ThinkPad X1 tablet is a modular device that uses what Lenovo calls an "Ultra Connect" system to tie together removable modules such as an extra battery pack, a pico projector, a 3D camera, a detachable keyboard, etc. The X1 tablet is powered by an Intel Core m7 processor paired with up to 16 GiB of memory and solid state drives up to 1 TiB in capacity. The X1 tablet's 12-inch multi-touch screen has a resolution of 2160 × 1440 (3∶2 aspect ratio).[22]

In January 2017 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Lenovo presented their fifth generation X1 Carbon, 1.14 kg weight, which delivers up to 15.5 hours of battery life starting at $1,329. A silver version was also introduced.[24]

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th Generation laptops built before 2017-11-01 were recalled after reports that a screw left in the laptop during manufacturing could damage one of the lithium batteries causing one of the cells to short out, leading to rapid overheating and failure. 83,500 of the laptops had been sold in the US and Canada before the recall.[25][26]

Changes from previous X1 Yoga includes the use of 7th generation Intel Core i ('Kaby Lake') processors, addition of Thunderbolt 3 ports, USB-C connector for power adapter, 'wave' style keyboard featuring matte finish on the keyboard.[27]

In January 2018 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Lenovo presented their sixth generation X1 Carbon, weighing 1.13 kg. This is the first X1 Carbon model to have a quad-core processor. It features an 8th generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, along with up to 16 GiB of RAM and up to 1 TiB of storage. X1 branding is also now present on the cover. The ThinkPad logo has changed to black instead of the previous silver branding.[28]

The design is derived from 6th generation ThinkPad X1 Carbon, with the ThinkShutter privacy camera included by default (except for models with a IR camera), 15W 8th generation Core i5/i7 quad core processors and a built-in stylus. OLED screens are no longer an option.[29][30]

The first 15.6-inch ThinkPad X-series laptop. Also, in contrast to the regular 14-inch Thinkpad X series models, the X1 Extreme has user-upgradable RAM and the full-power HQ-series mobile Intel CPUs.

X1 Extreme laptop have a sibling model in a ThinkPad P series line, known as a ThinkPad P1.

In January 2019 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Lenovo announced their seventh generation X1 Carbon, weighing 1.08 kilograms (2.4 lb). It comes with the latest Intel i5 or i7 processors, optional 4K display featuring Dolby Vision HDR, and a thinner chassis than the last generation. It also supports a new optional carbon fiber weave top cover.[32][33]

The design is derived from 7th generation ThinkPad X1 Carbon. This is notably the first ThinkPad with aluminum chassis. 15W 8th/10th generation Core i5/i7 quad core processors and a built-in stylus.

The updated version of first generation; the first non-Yoga ThinkPad laptop with an OLED screen option.

The sibling model is a Thinkpad P1 gen2.

In January 2020 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Lenovo announced their eighth generation X1 Carbon. It comes with Intel Comet Lake processors, optional PrivacyGuard display, and WiFi 6 support.[35] The Fedora Linux distribution will also be offered pre-installed on the laptop.[36]

The design is derived from 8th generation ThinkPad X1 Carbon. 10th generation Core i5/i7 quad core processors and a built-in stylus.[37]

Lenovo unveiled the first X1 Nano in September 2020. X1 Nano is the lightest ThinkPad ever at just 1.99 pounds (907g) and also Lenovo's first ThinkPad based on Intel Evo platform, powered by 11th Gen Intel Core processors. The machine has a 13-inch 16:10 screen with 4 speakers with Dolby Atmos and 4 360-degree microphones.

In 2021, Lenovo released the X1 Titanium Yoga, a 13.5-inch laptop with an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics.