Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 Evaluation

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 is a follow-up of the unique X1 Nano [Gen 1], which was a breakthrough within the ultralight laptop computer world. The Nano collection is designed to take the portability of the ThinkPad X1 collection to the intense, and it has confirmed broadly profitable.

This second technology pushes the idea to the subsequent stage, because of system efficiency and different {hardware} updates from cautious consumer suggestions evaluation. The second-generation ThinkPad X1 Nano builds upon the identical sub-two kilos extremely mobility idea initially launched however makes use of probably the most fashionable {hardware} when launched.

“~22% LIGHTER THAN THE MACBOOK AIR”

As such, Lenovo is concentrating on a selected viewers that cares at the start about extremely mobility. That’s fairly completely different from virtually some other skinny & mild, such because the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, Dell XPS 13, HP Spectre X360, and naturally, the MacBook Air and MacBook Professional. All are constructed as all-rounded, skinny & mild.

Nevertheless, the MacBook Air weighs 1270g vs. the X1 Nano Gen 2’s 995g, a really noticeable distinction from a consumer expertise perspective.

The chassis may accomodate an non-compulsory 4G or 5G modem for individuals who need to maximize their productiveness. Whereas WIFI will be broadly obtainable, it can’t evaluate with the speedy and ubiquitous protection of 4G/5G (for a worth).

Specs Highlights

Our overview unit ($2150 as examined) got here geared up with the Intel Core i7-1280P (28W TDP), 32GB RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage, which is superb for a laptop computer of this dimension and weight. Lenovo has many extra processor choices, relying in your desired computing velocity and price range.

Processor	Cores	Cache	Graphics
Core i5-1240P	12 (4 P-core + 8 Ecore)	12MB	Intel Iris® Xe
Core i5-1250P	12 (4 P-core + 8 Ecore)	12MB	Intel Iris Xe
Core i7-1260P	12 (4 P-core + 8 Ecore)	18MB	Intel Iris Xe
Core i7-1270P	12 (4 P-core + 8 Ecore)	18MB	Intel Iris Xe
Core i7-1280P	14 (6 P-core + 8	24MB	Intel Iris Xe

The soldered RAM will be chosen as 16GB or 32GB of reminiscence with none improve choices, so select rigorously. 32GB of RAM on an ultramobile is a formidable reminiscence choice should you can afford it, however observe that it gained’t have an effect on the benchmark outcomes.

“FORMIDABLE MEMORY OPTION”

The SSD choices are 256/512/1024GB of storage, which ought to be ample for the supposed office-productivity viewers Lenovo is catering to.

Industrial Design

Total, the X1 Nano Gen2 design is similar to the earlier technology, so the whole lot associated to design, ergonomics, and extremely mobility is just about the identical, and it’s honest to think about this model a efficiency replace primarily.

In the event you’re new to the ThinkPad X1 Nano collection and by no means had one in your fingers, you could be shocked at how mild it feels. Many individuals suppose I’m handing them an empty laptop computer shell once they maintain it for the primary time. This laptop computer is ~22% lighter than the MacBook Air.

The chassis is painted with the enduring “ThinkPad Black” tender paint, however should you’re getting the dearer touch-display choice, you’ll get a luxurious carbon weave show cowl. It’s not current on this particular unit, sadly.

Not like many different extremely cellular laptops, this X1 Nano Gen2 is designed to be opened and maintained by the consumer (or the IT division). It’s attainable to take away the underside cowl to entry the user-replaceable SSD. Sadly, the RAM is soldered (quite common for ultra-compact laptops).

Keyboard and Trackpad

As a result of it’s so skinny, the spill-resistant keyboard has a shorter key journey than your standard-size ThinkPad laptop computer. Nevertheless, the journey stays considerably deeper than the newer MacBook Professional keyboard, which is extraordinarily shallow.

The tactile suggestions is sharper than different ThinkPads, and I prefer it. In the event you’re a ThinkPad fan, you may need to take a look at it earlier than shopping for to gauge how a lot it matches your style, however I discover it very snug and extremely suggest it.

For reference, I take advantage of an IBM Mannequin M as my desktop keyboard and a Logitech Mechanical MX Mini after I journey. I additionally personal a Keychron V1 (Khail white switches) and Keychron K1 (Gateron blue switches).

The trackpad feels super-smooth and works nice. It’s not the most important you could possibly get on a laptop computer this dimension, however I like having the bodily trackpad buttons as a result of they’re extra correct. I don’t use the Trackpoint, nevertheless it stays a extremely sought-after function for a lot of ThinkPad customers.

For further safety, there’s a fingerprint reader to the best of the trackpad, and I extremely suggest utilizing it along with the IR webcam logging. Each are very safe and extra handy than typing a protracted password.

Ports

The laptop computer is so skinny that Lenovo didn’t embody any USB-A or different massive ports. That’s regular for ultramobile laptops. Nevertheless, two Thunderbolt 4 ports might be prolonged utilizing a TB/USB dock (from Anker or Sabrent) at dwelling or the workplace.

I’m curious to see if Lenovo might modify the rear of the chassis to suit full-size ports. I don’t suppose that may in the end kill the silhouette of the laptop computer whereas giving customers a few full-size ports. Having one USB-A and one HDMI connector could be wonderful nevertheless it’s understandably very difficult to implement.

Sound

The X1 Nano Gen 1 options nice sound high quality just like the unique mannequin. The sound coming from the quad-speaker setup (2W x2 woofers and 1W x2 tweeters) is highly effective and total spectacular for this dimension. Nevertheless, there’s a little bit of distortion at most quantity, and the bass might be greater.

That mentioned, the sound is loud sufficient that I can’t think about utilizing a 100% quantity in a resort room, airport, and even throughout a gaggle name on the workplace, so I don’t suppose this might be an issue.

Show

Like beforehand, Lenovo has two 13” show choices: contact and non-touch. Each use a low-power 60Hz IPS LCD panel with 450 NITs brightness, 100% sRGB protection, 85-degree view angle, and a 1000:1 distinction ratio.

The display screen’s body is surprisingly inflexible for such a skinny show and solely bends barely should you actively attempt to deform it. There’s virtually no flex when opening the laptop computer with one hand…

“FOR PROFESSIONAL LIGHT CREATIVE WORK”

That’s an impressive brightness and shade gamut, which permits for skilled mild inventive work corresponding to design, pictures, and net growth. You’ll in all probability use a monitor or a a lot larger and costly cellular workstation should you want one thing higher-end.

The (2160×1350) 2K decision stays a superb alternative as a result of it’s considerably sharper than 1080p whereas not undermining the battery life as a 4K show would.

Webcam

The 1080p webcam is a notable enchancment from the earlier 720p one. Since individuals are far more on video calls, it’s not a negligible enchancment. It might even turn into a sway issue within the ~2 Lbs class as a result of all elements should be as small as attainable, which can have an effect on the picture high quality.

The standard could be very affordable and higher-than-average in low mild for its worth class. There’s some noise (grain), however the framerate stays excessive, and the standard is nice sufficient to have a productive video name with out the video stream high quality turning into a distraction.

Lenovo promotes that the lens has an f/2,0 aperture (and a quad-microphone array), which signifies that OEMs may quickly begin competing over digital camera specs, as they do on smartphones.

Efficiency

Our ThinkPad X1 Nano has an Intel Core i7-1280P CPU, even quicker than the 1260P within the X1 Carbon Gen 10 we reviewed earlier. As such, the laptop computer scores greater in CPU benchmarks like Geekbench (~2X quicker than the earlier technology) and productiveness benchmarks corresponding to PCMark 10.

That is probably the most noticeable and worthwhile enchancment for these hesitating to get an X1 Nano Gen 1 due to potential efficiency tradeoffs.

The identical is true for GPU-heavy checks corresponding to 3DMark TimeSpy. Whereas this isn’t a gaming gadget, each CPU and GPU checks present you don’t depart any efficiency on the desk by going from the X1 Carbon Gen10 to the X1 Nano Gen 2. For a productiveness laptop computer, it packs critical computing energy.

“THE MOST NOTICEABLE AND VALUABLE IMPROVEMENT”

Keep in mind that the X1 Nano collection will not be designed to be a high-performance workstation. There’s a single cooling fan set to maintain noise ranges comparatively low, so its cooling energy isn’t maximized.

Due to that, working the CPU at 100% for prolonged intervals will ultimately construct up warmth and trigger some thermal throttling. That mentioned, your typical workplace apps shouldn’t trigger any of that.

The SSD efficiency is decrease than the X1 Carbon storage, however this didn’t negatively have an effect on the benchmark outcomes, even in these PCMark 10 checks with some disk exercise concerned.

The X1 Nano SSD we examined is a “KBG5AZNT1T02 LA KIOXIA” 1TB, whereas the one within the X1 Carbon Gen10 is a Samsung MZVL2512HCJQ-00BL7 512GB.

Efficiency/Weight Ratio

When a laptop computer is so mild, it’s essential to have a look at the efficiency/weight ratio; few folks analyze that. The information reveals the X1 Nano Gen 2’s unimaginable efficiency/weight ratio in all benchmarks, which is extraordinary for the ultramobile class.

This ratio ought to be THE efficiency metric to look at for as a result of nobody buys this type of pc to realize “absolute efficiency,” which we already established as wonderful on this class.

Battery Life

The PCMark 10 Trendy Workplace battery life yielded 8hrs 8mn for this laptop computer and its 49.6 WH battery capability. That’s considerably lower than what we acquired with the primary technology X1 Nano Gen 1, however this may be very simply defined by the a lot greater efficiency of the X1 Nano Gen 2.

The X1 Nano Gen 2 has a way more highly effective and power-hungry processor, and we’re testing absolutely the quickest model of this laptop computer. In the event you would fairly have an extended battery life and absolute velocity will not be vital, you could possibly go for the Core i5-1240P model, which doesn’t function as many “Efficiency” (high-power) CPU cores.

Utilizing a Lenovo 65W charger, we observed that whereas the battery might nonetheless declare to be “fast-charge” enabled, it was not charging as quick because the X1 Nano Gen1 or the most recent X1 Carbon Gen 10.

Conclusion

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 (official web page) is a superb skinny & mild (~2Lbs) laptop computer. All knowledge factors present it. Nevertheless, within the ultramobile class, it stands unchallenged.

That’s “why” folks need to purchase this pc, which is supported by the market knowledge we studied. Folks evaluate it to the iPad, which signifies they need one thing a lot lighter than a skinny & mild laptop computer. However in order for you a Home windows pc that runs all of the [Windows] apps you already use, the iPad gained’t lower it.

“IN THE ULTRAMOBILE CATEGORY, IT STANDS UNCHALLENGED”

Subsequent, knowledge reveals folks evaluating it with skinny & mild, such because the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10, XPS 13, MacBook Air (M1, M2), ThinkPad Z13, and ThinkPad T14. Nevertheless, these are considerably heavier than the X1 Nano Gen 2, so I think about them in one other class and really feel completely completely different while you carry them.

In order for you 0.3” to 1” extra in show diagonal and don’t thoughts the additional weight, that could be a very good cause to get one. Nevertheless, should you’re after the lightest 13” pc with out compromising on efficiency, the X1 ThinkPad Nano Gen 2 is the one recreation on the town. It’s merely one of the best ~2Lbs laptop computer in the marketplace proper now.

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