The new ThinkPad X1 Yoga carries forward an iconic design and puts it over the top with a 16:10 display, Thunderbolt 4, and an all-aluminum body.

This is my kind of PC: Versatile to a fault, and the right combination of size, display aspect ratio, performance, and expansion.

In the review configuration, we’re looking at an 11th-generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 with Iris Xe graphics, 16 GB of LPDDR4x-4266 RAM, 512 GB of NVMe-based SSD storage. And Lenovo promises over 9 hours of real-world battery life, so it meets the Intel Evo certification criteria.

Inside, you’ll find other modern components, including Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, though I don’t believe there’s a cellular data option.

And on the outside, you’ll find an excellent selection of modern and legacy ports, including two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, one full-sized x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, and one full-sized HDMI 2.0 port on the left side of the PC.

And on the right, there’s a second full-sized x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, but with always-on capabilities, a headphone jack., and a Kensington-style security lock.

Aside from the versatility of the Yoga form factor, which can transform into various usage modes like Tent, Stand, and Tablet, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga is made entirely of aluminum, giving it a distinctive look when compared to most other ThinkPads. And at 3 pounds and .59 inches thin, the X1 Yoga should prove to be quite portable.

And let’s not forget the screen: Lenovo has heard its customers and is now transitioning to 16:10 displays that provide more room for productivity multitasking. There are various display choices up to a bright 500-nit UHD+ panel with Dolby Vision capabilities, but the review unit shipped with a Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS panel with an anti-glare coating and Privacy Guard technology that I think is just right.

That said, the bezels aren’t particularly small given the possibilities here. Perhaps a refresh of the form factor is due.

For security and privacy, the X1 Yoga provides a Windows Hello facial recognition, a manual ThinkShutter webcam cover, a match-on-chip fingerprint reader built into the power button, and optional Human Presence detection that can lock the PC if others approach or unlock it when it senses that it’s you (assuming you enable Windows Hello facial recognition as well).

As with other Lenovo PCs, the X1 Yoga includes a high-quality keyboard with scalloped keys and short key throws, plus a dual-pointing system with a TrackPoint and touchpad.

My only immediate issue is that the Fn and Ctrl keys are reversed, which I will never understand, Lenovo. Never.

Power is supplied by a standard 65-watt Lenovo power supply that can charge the 57-watt-hour battery to 80 percent in 60 minutes.

More soon.

Tagged with Lenovo, ThinkPad X1 Yoga