Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet (2nd Gen) Review: A Nimble, Business-Class Convertible

There is a new-found push to market, lightweight 2-in-1 devices as productivity tools for business-savvy road warriors. That has occasionally been an angle, though for the most part, the appeal of these convertible systems has largely been their ability to function as both a tablet and a general purpose laptop for lightweight computing or media consumption duties. There have been previous attempts to expand the 2-in-1 category into the business market, and that is where Lenovo's new ThinkPad X1 Tablet fits in.

What we have in for review is Lenovo's second generation ThinkPad X1 Tablet for 2017. Like cars, system makers often release new models by the year, so long as Intel and AMD cooperate with new generation processor options. If not, hardware makers will sometimes lean on updated graphics options and/or a physical design refresh to justify releasing a new model.


In this case, the second generation ThinkPad X1 Tablet has been updated with mobile processor options based on Intel's newest 7th generation Kaby Lake family. This particular configuration wields a Core i5-7Y57 chip with two physical cores, four threads, and 4MB of cache. Like the Skylake line of low-power mobile processors, the Core i5-7Y57 typically sips just 4.5W of power. The nominal power usage comes at the expense of clockspeed—this chip has a base clockspeed of just 1.1GHz, and a Turbo clock of 2.8GHz—but allows for thinner and ultimately lighter devices with quiet or even passive cooling.

Like its predecessor, which we reviewed last year, the second generation ThinkPad X1 Tablet is like a Surface Pro for business users. Sure, the Surface Pro can be a suitable device in the business world, but Lenovo's device takes things further in multiple ways. For one, it comes with a keyboard case that is more robust than Microsoft's optional Type Cover. But beyond that, it is a more durable system with military-grade certifications and features business-focused amenities such as a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) security chip, Intel vPro technology, and a fingerprint reader. And what really separates the ThinkPad X1 Tablet apart is its support for add-on modules, including one that adds a projector to the mix.

We will get more into the design of this working person's tablet, but before we do that, let's have have a look at some key specifications (as configured), along with pricing and warranty information.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet (2nd Gen) Specifications & Features

Model	20JB002JUS
Processor	7th Generation Intel Core i5-7Y57 ((2-Core, 4 Threads, 4MB Cache, 1.2GHz to 3.3GHz)
Display	12-inch FHD+ (2160x1440) IPS w/ touch support
Graphics	Integrated Intel HD Graphics 615
Memory	8GB LPDDR3 1866MHz dual-channel (soldered)
Storage	256GB NVMe M.2 SSD
Ethernet	N/A
Wireless Connectivity	Intel Wireless-AC8265 802.11ac (2x2, MIMO), Bluetooth 4.1
Interface (Left)	3.5mm audio, Kensington lock slot
Ports (Right)	USB 3.1 Type-C, USB 3.0 Type-A, mini DisplayPort
Extras	microSD card slot, nano SIM slot
Cameras	2MP front, 8MP rear
Operating System	Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Battery	2-cell (37Wh)l
Dimensions	11.4 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches (11.47 x 8.25 x 0.55 inches w/ keyboard)
Weight	1.55 pounds (2.33 pounds w/ keyboard)
Warranty	1-year
In Bundle	Stylus Pen, ThinkPad Thin Keyboard, Power Adapter, USB Type-C Cable, USB 3.0 pen holder
Price	$1,547.10 as configured