Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 review: A ThinkPad with a pen

IDG / Chris Hoffman

IDG / Chris Hoffman

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    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 (Gen 9) is a 14-inch laptop that comes with an Intel Meteor Lake CPU. This is a 2-in-1 laptop with a touchscreen and an optional pen. Our review model had an Intel Core Ultra 7 155U CPU, but you can also configure this laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 5 125U, an Intel Core Ultra 5 135U, or an Intel Core Ultra 7 165U processor.

Either way, you’re getting an Intel Meteor Lake CPU, so it has more of a focus on power efficiency than Intel’s previous Raptor Lake CPUs. However, it looks like Meteor Lake pales in comparison to the Lunar Lake hardware that’s right around the corner. This laptop also comes with an “Intel Evo” badge.

This machine uses Intel graphics – not the higher-end Intel Arc graphics, which means it’s not great for gaming, even by integrated laptop graphics standards. Our review model included 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and you can get up to 64GB of RAM – but the memory is soldered to the motherboard. Our review model had a 1TB SSD, but you can configure this laptop with up to 2TB of storage.

Since this is a Meteor Lake laptop with a Meteor Lake neural processing unit (NPU,) it will never run any of those new Copilot+ PC features. You should wait for a Lunar Lake laptop if those are important to you.

• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155U
• Memory: 16GB LPDDR5X
• Graphics/GPU: Intel graphics
• Display: 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS touch screen with 60Hz refresh rate
• Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIE 4 SSD
• Webcam: 1080p webcam
• Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB4 with DisplayPort 2.1 Alt Mode and Power Delivery 3.0), 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.,1, 1x combo headset jack, 1x Kensington nano security slot
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: IR camera for facial recognition and fingerprint sensor
• Battery capacity: 57 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• Weight: 2.98 pounds
• MSRP: $2,761 as tested

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1: Design and build quality

IDG / Chris Hoffman

            <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad rotated with pen" class="wp-image-2365145" width="1200" height="904" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 has great build quality. That’s no surprise: Lenovo uses the prestigious ThinkPad name for its high-end business laptops. Of course, they also come at a high-end price compared to Lenovo’s ThinkBook line of laptops.

The laptop is made of metal – aluminum and magnesium – and it’s all grays and silvers with a black bezel around the screen. In the center of the keyboard, you’ve got that classic red TrackPoint “nub,” which you can use to move the cursor around.

The “communications bar” containing the webcams and microphone at the top of the display juts out a bit and sticks out on the back. On the lid of the laptop, the dot at the top of the “i” in “ThinkPad” lights up red when the laptop is on.

It’s a great, business-like look. The metal makes it feel premium to touch, and the build quality is great with no creaking bits. The hinge works smoothly and solidly, which is obviously critical for a 2-in-1. At a hair under three pounds, it’s not as lightweight as a ThinkPad X1 Carbon with that carbon fiber, but it’s a good weight.