Two years later, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold gets a makeover. The pioneer first laptop with a flexible OLED display has been updated with a new design, larger screen, and optimization in virtually all areas. A step forward that transforms it into a much more mature product ready to try to convince users looking for access to this new and innovative category.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold (2022) is presented as the lightest 16-inch laptop, as well as the most compact once folded, as it transforms into a 12-inch computer.
This is an enormously versatile device that demonstrates that there is room for innovation in laptops and that we may be on the threshold of a new era. If brands such as Samsung with its Fold have set the pace in cell phones, Lenovo wants to do the same, with the permission of ASUS, in the field of folding laptops.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold (2022) datasheet
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold | |
|---|---|
| Screens | 16.3″ flexible OLED 2,024 x 2,560 px, 600 nits Dolby Vision, touch, Pen support 12″ folded |
| Processor | Intel Pro 12th gen (i5/i7) Intel Iris X GPU |
| Memory | Up to 32GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | Up to 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD |
| Battery | 48 Whr (version with 64 Whr) Fast charge 65W |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
| Sound | 3 x Dolby Atmos speakers 4 microphones |
| Cameras | 5 MP RGB + infrared |
| Ports | 2 x Thunderbolt 4 1 x USB C 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, optional 5G, NanoSIM |
| Dimensions and Weight | 276.1 x 345.7 x 8.6 mm (unfolded) 176.4 x 276.2 x 17.4 mm (folded) 1.28 kg |
| Others | Fingerprint reader on keyboard, TPM 2.0 security chip |
| Price | $2,999 |
Once upon a time, there was a truly portable 16″ notebook
The first ThinkPad X1 Fold was a surprise, but it was clear there was room for improvement in terms of size. This second generation grows to 16.3 inches, offering up to 22% more screen real estate than the previous model along with a 25% thinner body.
As described by Lenovo, the new ThinkPad X1 Fold has bezels of less than 10 millimeters, is 8.6 mm thick when unfolded, and only 17.4 mm thick when folded. Numbers that do not take it too far away from conventional laptops. The device weighs 1.28 kg, which increases to 1.9 kg if the keyboard and stand are added.
With its aluminum frame and an improved hinge, the body of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold tries to convey the sensations of a high-end laptop, but with the particularity of betting on a flexible OLED screen that allows it to go from 16 inches when extended to 12 inches when folded.
The chosen panel is a 16.3″ OLED with a 4:3 ratio. This is a 10-bit HDR display compatible with Dolby Vision, with a brightness of 600 nits and touch support. Additionally, it can be used together with Wacom electronic pens, which can be magnetized on the side.
The ThinkPad X1 Fold (2022) can be used fully unfolded to take advantage of its 16-inch display or folded to be more compact for a 12-inch laptop-like experience. In both modes, it can be combined with the detachable keyboard that magnetically connects to the device.
On the inside, high-end specs are added. We find Intel Pro processors, in its 12th generation Intel Core i5 and i7 versions. Accompanying it will be options with up to 32 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 1 TB of SSD storage.
In terms of the operating system, the ThinkPad X1 Fold comes with Windows 11 and the ability to work both vertically and horizontally.
Lenovo says that the main challenge has been the improvement of the hinge, completely redesigned compared to the first generation. The system promises to be able to fully extend and be more resistant to the different openings and closings. Along with this design improvement, Lenovo is pending patenting its heat dissipation system through graphite sheets. This is because it is a ‘fan-less’ device, with no physical fans.
In terms of connectivity, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a third USB-C port. For sound, there are three Dolby Atmos speakers for stereo sound and four microphones optimized with Dolby Voice technology.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold (2022) is also the first device with an Intel Visual Sensing Controller (VSC), an embedded processor with AI that leverages the camera to detect the tilt and position of how the device is being used and adapt applications and responsiveness.
Pricing and Availability of the ThinkPad X1 Fold (2022)
The new Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold will be available from November at an official price starting at $2,999.
