(CNN) –
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold is one of the futuristic devices of the year – the first foldable computer in the world. But like so many other first generation products, it is not for everyone.
For whom it is: As the world’s first foldable computer, the ThinkPad X1 fold is for early adopters and those who are fine with an imperfect machine. Lenovo has the design right, and since it’s a ThinkPad, we do not have many concerns about durability. However, Windows 10 is not suitable for folding, and this is shown on the X1 fold.
What you need to know: At $ 2,499 without a keyboard and $ 2,749 with the attachment, it is the least expensive to say the least. Add to that the buggy software, the mid-range performance and the not-so-nice battery life, which deters it. The ThinkPad X1 fold is not for most people, and you probably won’t have to buy it unless you really care about a latest but niche device.
How it compares: The ThinkPad X1 Fold feels as durable as any other ThinkPad. It has the classic black color and is tough built. We also have no doubt about opening and closing it several times during a day. The problems start with Windows 10; the operating system as a whole is not ready for such a device, and it is being used behind that of other laptops and 2-in-1s like the Surface Pro 7. You will also notice that although it can handle light tasks , it’s not the best for things like Photoshop, video editing or games.
Lenovo’s ThinkPads date back to the IBM days and are still true today, and these are tanks in the world of computers. They are not fragile or thin; rather, they are strong and can get beaten.
The ThinkPad X1 folds pack the durability into a foldable. Unlike with the Galaxy Z Flip 5G, Motorola Razr or Galaxy Z Fold 2, we are not immediately worried about the opening and closing of the X1 Fold.
The physical framework of the X1 Fold is a combination of carbon fiber and magnesium alloy. It also comes in only one color: black. What is different about the X1 fold, in terms of material, is a leather back that feels quite high-quality and makes the computer look like a luxury device. It feels really nice, and when the X1 fold is closed, it looks like a fancy notebook or cover.
The back of the ladder has a fold-up section that allows you to push up the X1 fold when fully open. In this way, it can act as a display and you can use it as a desktop – although the experience is truly more like a Windows tablet, like a Surface Pro 7. After all, it’s just a 13.3 -inch screen.
When closed, you can see the shiny finish of the X1 fold at the top, while the leather itself folds back when folded. But when fully opened, the ladder extends over the back of the device. There are only two USB-C ports on the X1 Fold, and both can handle charging the device. You will also not find many buttons – just an on / off button with an LED indicator and a volume rocker.
It is best to consider it as a 13.3-inch Windows tablet that can be folded in half. You can unfold it in a vertical or horizontal position. It can be folded to a 90-degree angle, like the Z Flip, and used as a netbook or mini-laptop with the optional keyboard. Although, let’s be honest: if you buy the X1 Fold, then get the keyboard. It just does not make sense.
The design of the X1 Fold is equally futuristic and functional. It is relatively compact with just over 2 pounds. By comparison, it’s lighter than a MacBook Air, but heavier than an iPad Air. And it’s a hinge-emphasized design that makes it possible to multimode this device in a way that is radically different from a regular laptop.
You will know exactly where the hinge is, thanks to larger edges around the screen. The hinge is physically open at the sides. It’s a little worrying, but we also did not experience any problems with the folding or articles placed in the small opening.
And if you choose the keyboard, you can leave it on the screen when the computer is folded. This will actually fill in the fold where a paper clip or a sharp object could possibly slide in and stab the screen.
When folded open, the screen extends to the full 13 inches and creates tension. It is by design and makes the screen stronger in this position. Remember, this is an OLED polymer screen and not glass. You also do not have to be gentle when opening or closing the X1 fold – this is a noticeable difference from folding phones. However, if we use it in a laptop format, we noticed discoloration as the bottom half of the screen is noticeably darker.
The ThinkPad X1 Fold screen is a 13.3-inch OLED with a resolution of 1536 x 2048. Images are displayed accurately, but it hangs behind other laptops with a full 4K screen. The plastic nature of the screen increases the gloss factor because it is very reflective. It’s really hard to use in direct light or outdoors – especially if you add that it can not be so bright.
The ThinkPad X1 fold has two major shortcomings: Windows is not suitable for folding, and the Lenovo customization does just as much. Intel’s Lakefield-stacked processor delivers expected performance, but does not shine with efficiency or a runway for high-power tasks.
Lenovo’s answer to switching from one large screen to a clamshell is a Mode Switcher. If it works, it can detect when you fold or rotate the X1 fold through the accelerometer. Allows you to select which app is the location, depending on your orientation. It’s an easy way to be successful, and it’s convenient to stay within two programs. But too many times it ended up not being involved when we needed it.
You will also notice that many apps are not suitable for running in these smaller scenarios or in the mini-clamshell mode. Essentially, you snap the keyboard to the right of the X1 fold (or the bottom half), and it turns off the portion of the screen that leaves you with the top half. This allows you to use the X1 Fold as a mini laptop. You can use the keyboard and trackpad to navigate through a 7-inch screen. It was handy to quickly test an email box, but not much else.
More importantly, but for the programs that work with it, the keyboard worked well. You will also find that the keyboard, which attaches magnetically and charges wirelessly, uses a lot of power. In this mode, we suggest that you are plugged in, which takes away the practical use of this on the go.
And if it works well, the X1 Fold recognizes that the keyboard is there within seconds. The dock is moved up and you are ready to shake. And although cases that it does not recognize the keyboard, before several updates were more prominent, it still comes down when the X1 Fold on or after a restart.
This means that Windows 10 is not designed for such a device. Windows 10X, an optimized version of Windows 10 for folding, is likely to bump into a lot of issues, but it has been delayed. It’s teased next to the Surface Neo, a foldable Surface device, which is also slowing down. Many of the updates fall on Lenovo, and it has tried to bump into as many issues as possible. The other half falls on individual app developers to take advantage of a design like this.
If the X1 Fold works, namely the mode switch, it’s great. But if that doesn’t happen, it really does feel like a first generation product. And as far as the processor is concerned, the X1 Fold performs well for an Intel mobile architecture chip. To be specific, it’s an Intel Hybrid Processor – the i5-L16G7 – with 8GB of RAM. And for most tasks it will be enough to power it; web page, word processing, large spreadsheets and even the occasional photo edit worked well on the X1 Fold.
It just can not scale, but then the X1 Fold is also designed as a business laptop. We tried to play on it and The Sims 4 was playable. However, any powerful title would crash or not run if we tried. We also found that for some titles the app orientation will cause the app to crash or stop, so be careful with your movements while using this computer.
To put performance in perspective, we ran the ThinkPad X1 fold through Geekbench 5, which stress-tests a machine with real-time devices. The ThinkPad X1 Fold scored an 822 on the single-core test and a 1,738 on the multi-core test. It’s in the middle of the road and behind various devices, including the Intel MacBook Air, the M1 MacBook Air, and the Surface Laptop Go.
It’s just not a very efficient processor in its current state. The efficiency considerations also carry over into the battery life. In everyday use we found that the keyboard drained a lot of power and reduced our workdays. And when we used the X1 Fold for a full working day, it needed a charger nearby.
It scored behind all the above laptops and a number of others in our battery test, which turned on for six hours and 15 minutes.
Of the expensive price alone, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is not the most. And the fact that it’s a foldable computer makes it even harder to sell. In its current state, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is a nice niche product and will probably be better served by a ThinkPad X1 Carbon, a Dell XPS 13, a Surface Pro X or even a Surface Pro 7. The 2-in -1s feature excellent hardware and an almost perfect software experience.
Nevertheless, we appreciate what Lenovo has done here. The hardware and design of the X1 Fold is excellent. This is the first foldable screen on which we are not afraid to put pressure. But there is still work to be done – the software experience needs to improve, and much of it falls on the Windows team.
Lenovo is clearly up and running here with the X1 Fold.