

PC companies want to make products that combine the best of both worlds—and we're talking about multiple dichotomies, too: thin but powerful, business-ready but play-capable, high-end but also (semi) affordable, tablet but also a laptop, and more. We've seen it recently with Microsoft's Surface Book and Surface Pro line of hybrids, HP's newest Spectre laptop, and many more. Lenovo's designs (the Yoga line in particular) have always been good at marrying these elements to one another, and its ThinkPad X1 tablet is an attempt to deliver a Surface competitor for businesses.

The X1 takes the convenience of a tablet, incorporates a metal kickstand, and attaches a solid keyboard to the bottom so it can become a laptop at any time. So as not to overwhelm consumers with a ton of unnecessary features, Lenovo build three custom "modules" for the X1 which can turn it into a projector, a 3D scanner, and a longer-lasting, port-happy work device. Without any modules, the X1 starts off at a hefty $1,029. I recently lived with the mid-tier module ($1,349) for awhile and, although it's a powerful and capable device, I'm not sure I'd want it to replace my regular laptop.

Look and feel

Depending on your preference, you may like that the X1 hybrid feels more like a tablet than a laptop. The tablet itself is 8.4mm thick, weighs just 1.69 pounds, and is designed in typical matte-black, magnesium, ThinkPad fashion. The 2160×1440 IPS touchscreen is crisp and can get quite bright, making it good for watching videos as well as working. Its touch capabilities are spot-on and fluid; I often found myself using my fingers to scroll and click no matter if I was in tablet mode or laptop mode. The bezel around the display is quite thick, even though the 2-megapixel front-facing Web cam and the fingerprint sensor are the only things disturbing it.

On the back at the top left corner is the ThinkPad logo, with the 8MP rear camera sitting about an inch and a half to the right of the logo. The tablet has a built-in kickstand on the bottom half of its back, and it pops out from the bottom edge rather than the top. There's a handy little lever on the back of the tablet that pops the kickstand out; without it, it would be nearly impossible to pull the kickstand out since it's built to be flush with the tablet's back when closed. The solid piece of metal uses its entire surface area to prop up the tablet, and it's quite easy to adjust by hand without giving way under the fractional weight of the device itself.

Specs at a glance: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 (as reviewed) Screen 12" LED, IPS 2160×1440 OS Windows 10 Pro 64-bit CPU 1.1GHz Intel Core m5-6Y57 (Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz) RAM 8GB LPDDR3 GPU Intel HD Graphics 515 (integrated) HDD 256GB SATA III SSD, OPAL2 Networking Dual-band Intel 8260 802.11ac, Bluetooth Ports USB 3.0, USB Type-C, Mini DisplayPort, headphone/microphone combo Size 11.48 x 8.25 x 0.34" (291.5 x 209.5 x 8.6 mm) Weight 1.69 pounds (0.97kg) Battery 37WHr Warranty 1 year Starting price $1,029 Price as reviewed $1,349 Other perks 2MP front-facing Web camera, 8MP rear-facing Web camera; Active Pen (included); fingerprint reader; three optional modules: Productivity, Presenter, 3D Imaging

The main reason why the X1 feels more like a tablet is because of its keyboard and hinge. While it adds only .66 pounds to the entire device, they keyboard feels like the flimsiest part of this device's "laptop replacement" argument. There's one small section in the middle of the hinge with connector nodes that allows the keyboard to communicate with the tablet and lets it know when to switch between tablet and laptop mode. However, the rest of the hinge is basically made of two long magnets that fold onto each other to support the tablet when it's leaning against its kickstand in laptop mode.

I didn't have an issue with this design when I used the tablet as a laptop. I sat it on tables and in my lap to work, and it was mostly sturdy aside from the occasional wobbliness on my lap. My biggest issue was with picking up the device while in laptop-mode: the best way to do it is to grab it by the bottom half of the tablet and one side of the keyboard, supporting both parts of the device. I'm used to grabbing my MacBook Air by either the lid or the keyboard and toting it from surface to surface. You definitely cannot grab the X1 by the keyboard only... unless you want the tablet to swing back and drop immediately. Alternatively, grabbing it by the tablet will let the keyboard swing beneath it back and forth.

I will say that only once or twice did the magnets give way in that scenario and almost make the keyboard drop off completely. Thankfully the display is protected with Gorilla Glass and the entire tablet is designed to pass MIL-spec standards, but nevertheless, you cannot handle this tablet like you might a laptop. You can't even handle it how you would Microsoft's Surface Book.

Lenovo did try to pack the sides of the X1 with enough ports so it could be used as a work-first laptop. The right side holds one USB Type C port for power and data transfer, one USB 3.0 port, the small speaker grill, and a MiniDisplay port. The left has the headphone and mic combo jack, volume toggle buttons, another speaker grill, and a Kensington lock slot.



























Unfortunately, I wasn't able to try one of the X1's biggest features. Again, the X1 is compatible with three different "modules," or hardware expansion packs that add features to the tablet. The Presenter Module ($279) comes with a Pico projector that can display presentations and slide shows up to 60-inches wide from about 6.5 feet away, and it comes with a full HDMI in/out port for connectivity. The 3D Imaging Module ($220) will include an Intel RealSense 3D rear camera for scanning physical objects, while the Productivity Module ($149) will add an extra two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, a OneLink+ port for docking, and a battery boost that adds an advertised extra five hours of life.

Lenovo didn't have any modules to send me along with the review unit of the X1, but I would have loved to test out the Productivity Module mostly to see if its extra battery life made the tablet last as long as they claim. The other two modules are quite niche, but they certainly could come in handy for those who give presentations often or those in creative professions.

Keyboard, Trackpad, and Active Pen

The X1's keyboard and trackpad are pretty comfortable to use. Since we are working with a 12-inch hybrid, the keyboard is designed to fit that frame and can feel cramped at first. However, typing long articles was fairly easy, and the only key I missed occasionally was the backspace key. It feels tucked away in the top-right corner of the keyboard, and the Delete key above it is quite narrow.

You can tap on the trackpad to move the cursor, but there are also three physical buttons above for clicking. These are primarily intended for use with the TrackPoint, though in using the trackpad I would often swipe my finger so much that it would run and hit the top buttons. I appreciate the inclusion of the TrackPoint dot placed in the center of the G, H, and B keys as well; it's pressure-sensitive so you can move the cursor across the screen at the speed of light if you simply press and hold with your finger.

Arguably better than the keyboard and the trackpad is Lenovo's Active Pen. I ended up using it much more than I thought I would, both when the X1 was in tablet and laptop form. It's very precise, making it an easy tool to navigate the screen quickly, and its handwriting recognition is pretty accurate. When I wrote into search bars or Edge browser bars, it could quickly decipher what I was writing and bring up suggestions just as if I typed the first three letters of a query. The tablet comes with an attachable pen holder that you can connect to the side of the keyboard, which is useful because the pen is so thin I was prone to dropping it and misplacing it around my apartment. However, unlike Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 stylus, the Active Pen's top doesn't act as an eraser. It's also powered by a AAAA battery (so you'll have to replace it every once in a while).