Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet Review: A 2-In-1 For Pros
Performance Summary: Lenovo's claim here is that the ThinkPad X1 Tablet offers the power of a larger PC, and our benchmarks proved the point. Armed with a Core m7-6Y75 processor, 8GB of LPDDR3 1866MHz RAM, Intel HD Graphics 515, and a 256GB SSD, the ThinkPad X1 Tablet proved itself an efficient worker. In our PCMark 8 benchmarks, it scored near the top of the pack, taking second place finishes in the Home Accelerated and Work Accelerated runs. It also posted respectable graphics performance.
Microsoft deserves credit for popularizing and, to a great extent,
legitimizing the 2-in-1 category, which is beginning to take the place
of dedicated tablets. Why buy a standalone slate when you can have a tablet
that doubles as a laptop? However, it's hardware partners like Lenovo
that are making the category more interesting, and that's certainly true of
the ThinkPad X1 Tablet with its modular approach to computing. What you see is what you get initially, but you don't necessarily have to stop there.
Do you need more battery life? There's an add-on for that (Productivity Module). Need a pico projector for that presentation you've been working on, or to simply extend your workspace? There's an add-on for that as well (Projector Module). Through the use of optional modules that attach to the base of the ThinkPad X1 Tablet, you can extend the capabilities of the ThinkPad X1 Tablet, which is not something most tablets can claim.
We also like the sturdy overall design, including the kickstand. It's a little unsightly when laying flat on a table, but when using the kickstand to prop the tablet up like a laptop, it keeps the display at whatever angle you choose without feeling flimsy. That's important for a system with a touchscreen display, as presumably you'll be tapping the screen on occasion.
The potential bugaboo here is the price, at least as configured. For this particular SKU, you're looking at a street price of around $1,500. That's premium territory for a 2-in-1, though you get quite a bit in return. There's the backlit keyboard, stylus, aforementioned hardware components, and business friendly features like vPro certification and TPM. If you don't need all that, you can pick up a toned down configuration starting at a little over $800 direct from Lenovo.
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