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The ThinkPad X1 Tablet is Lenovo's first business 2-in-1 tablet since the ThinkPad Helix. The Helix showed promise but its Frankenstein design meant a less than elegant keyboard attachment, and the tablet tended to run a bit hot and loud since Lenovo ambitiously used fan-toting Intel Core i CPUs in a thin design. The X1 Tablet is a simple and elegant product in comparison; an unassuming slim matte black rectangle that looks pleasingly modern and spare in a good way. Its looks are closer to the ThinkPad 10, but it builds on the modularity of the Helix. The 12" Windows 10 tablet/2-in-1 comes with an excellent, albeit small keyboard that lives up to the ThinkPad reputation and it's available with Intel 6th generation Skylake Core m5 and m7 CPUs with 8 gigs of RAM and an SSD. It competes with the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 but it adds a twist: snap-on accessories that seem to be the 2016 trend for smartphones and now tablets. You can add on a projector, or an Intel RealSense 3D camera or a Productivity module with extended battery and a few more ports (HDMI, OneLink+ docking connector and USB 3.0). So far, Intel Core M products haven't been less expensive than their Core i5 competitors, and the ThinkPad X1 Tablet is no exception. Our review unit will retail for $1,350 according to Lenovo, and configurations range from $1,200 to $1,600 (keyboard included along with the ThinkPad Pen Pro). It's priced similarly to Surface Pro 4 Core i5 and the Toshiba Portege Z20t 2-in-1 tablet with Core M.
Specs at a Glance
The ThinkPad X1 Tablet has a 12" 2160 x 1440 IPS glossy display that supports touch and the included Wacom AES pen. That's the same resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio as Microsoft's last gen convertible tablet, the Surface Pro 3. It's available with Intel Core m5 and m7 CPUs with Intel HD 515 graphics and 8 gigs of DDR3L RAM. You can get it with a variety of SSD capacities and it has Intel 8260AC dual band WiFi 802.11ac with Bluetooth. The tablet weighs 1.7 lbs. and 2.3 lbs. with the included keyboard (3 ounces less than Surface Pro 4). Modules connect to the bottom edge in a clean and simple way (no complex clamps or plastic baffles like the ThinkPad Helix). The tablet has no fans and is thus silent; a benefit of the Intel Core M platform. According to Lenovo, the back is removable for servicing and upgrading internals such as the battery and SSD (RAM is soldered on and not upgradable). We haven't taken ours apart yet since the method for doing so isn't obvious and the service manual isn't yet available. The tablet has a fingerprint scanner that works with Windows Hello for login.
Design and Ergonomics
The tablet is slim at 0.34" and it's fairly rigid thanks to the magnesium alloy internal structure and a PPS injection molded plastic casing. The ThinkPad X1 Tablet feels like a well-made machine, though some might find the lack of metal on the outside less than luxurious. If you're accustomed to the ThinkPad build, I don't think the matte black plastic exterior will bother you--rather you'll feel right at home.
The companion keyboard is excellent. The keys have decent travel for a thin detachable keyboard and they're backlit. Tactile feel and damping are excellent, and the only issue we'd imagine is with the diminished size since it has to match the 12" tablet. It's obviously more compact than a 13.3" Ultrabook's keyboard, but I suspect only those with very large hands will have issues. The buttonless trackpad and NavPoint with hardware buttons are up to ThinkPad standards. They work well, though the trackpad is a little noisy when clicking thanks to the thin keyboard's design (it resonates, much like the Surface Type Cover).
The built-in stand is an upside down version of the Surface Pro kickstand. Rather than deploying from a hinge on the middle back that drops down, the ThinkPad X1 Tablet's kickstand is a metal plate that attaches along the bottom edge and drops down so that plate of metal rests flat against your legs. That means no thin metal edge will leave a crease on bare legs and it's a bit more stable when using it on the lap. The kickstand releases via a slider on the back and it has a fairly wide usable range, though you can't use it nearly flat nor completely upright at 90 degrees. You can however flip the tablet and use it upside down (the accelerometer will rotate the screen, so it won't really be upside down in terms of screen orientation) if you want it to lay propped up just a bit on a table for note taking or drawing.
The tablet has few ports, and these include the connector on the bottom (hidden under a removable plastic piece) for the optional modules, a USB 3.0 port, a USB-C 3.1 Gen. 1 port for charging and for USB-C peripherals (but not Thunderbolt 3), a 3.5mm combo audio jack and a mini DisplayPort. Thus the ports are similar to Surface Pro 4, but the ThinkPad adds the USB-C port. Like Surface Pro, the microSD card slot is hidden under the stand flap, and there's a nano SIM card slot for optional 4G LTE.
How the Keyboard Attaches
The keyboard with integrated trackpad attaches to the tablet via strong magnets and it has pogo pins for the electronic connection. The magnets are very strong, and like Surface Pro you can dangle the tablet by holding the keyboard and they won't separate, though we don't recommend making a habit of this. Again like Surface Pro and its optional Type Cover, there are two keyboard positions: flat on the table and slightly angled (magnets keep it in place). The keyboard's attachment area is like a flexible book spine and it looks good in faux leather. You can't however wrap the keyboard behind the tablet--you'll have to remove it if you want it out of the way.
Above: the optional modules that snap onto the tablet's bottom edge.
Display
The tablet's display doesn't disappoint, and that's refreshing since Lenovo's business ThinkPad laptops often fall short of the consumer competition for color gamut and even sometimes contrast. The tablet represents the full sRGB gamut and 75% of Adobe RGB, as do other laptops and 2-in-1's in this price range. With 365 nits of measured brightness, it's bright enough to combat bright environments and contrast is good at 760:1 with a 0.47 black level at max brightness. The Gorilla Glass 4 clad display is glossy and it has plenty of glare, though the high brightness mitigates this. The display puts up a good fight against the slightly larger and slightly higher resolution Surface Pro 4. it can't compete for over the top vibrance with the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S Windows tablet and its AMOLED display, but Lenovo will be answering that challenge with the AMOLED version of thier lovely 14" ThinkPad X1 Yoga convertible laptop.
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