The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2 2022 is the second generation of the company’s foldable line, which the company claims is now bigger, more powerful, and more versatile. After the original ThinkPad X1 Fold launched in the foldable PC category in 2020, Lenovo used what it learned from the first generation to create a more streamlined and modern-looking product that should appeal to a wider audience. After spending some time with the ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2, I was impressed with how Lenovo has advanced its design.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2 Design
No pun intended the ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2 is a complex device with many moving parts. There is a lot to think about in terms of design, including the 16.3-inch display, external parts, internal parts, and accessories.
Customers had to purchase accessories for the original ThinkPad X1 Fold separately, such as the keyboard and folio stand. This model comes with a magnetically attachable keyboard and a kickstand. When not in use, the ThinkPad X1 Fold folds into a 12-inch form and snaps both accessories onto the PC for easy transport without the need for an additional case.
The ThinkPad X1 Fold’s two outer layers are made of woven fabric panels reinforced with carbon fiber and graphite. Internally, the PC is fanless, but it includes a graphite and copper heat sink as a cooling system to spread heat and protect the device’s most important components.
The hinge is concealed, and the two panels wrap around it as the device opens and closes. Lenovo explained that when folded, the design creates a bell shape for the display, which never completely creases the screen but rather protects it from damage.
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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2 Display
The ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2’s standout feature is undoubtedly its display, which is a 16.3-inch, 2024 x 2560 resolution foldable OLED screen with 600 nits of brightness in HDR mode and 400 nits of brightness in SDR mode, as well as a DCI P3 100% RGB color space.
Dolby Vision and Pen support are also supported by the on-cell touch display, which uses a Wacom stylus as its tool of choice. The accessory attaches magnetically to the chassis’s side for easy transport. Dolby Atmos and Dolby Voice are also supported by the grated speakers on the frame’s sides.
The product’s sheer size allows you to imagine it as a foldable PC with a variety of setup and use options rather than a simple tablet. At first glance, the OLED colors stand out, as one would expect from this panel type. The ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2 can be melded into various positions with or without the help of its stand and trackpad accessories, in addition to its primary 16.3-inch and 12-inch form factors.
The 2022 ThinkPad X1 Fold can be used in portrait or landscape mode when unfolded, with the display automatically adjusting to fit the different orientations. Portrait mode is a new option that provides an extremely tall vertical display. This is also something that this laptop’s main competitor, the Asus Zenbook Fold 17, lacks.
The new ThinkPad X1 Fold can then be folded into its clamshell mode and used as a traditional laptop. Of course, the foldable has an onscreen keyboard, but most people will prefer to use the attachable accessory keyboard.
The foldable PC has a 5-megapixel IR RGB camera on the front, which powers AI features like lock-on-leave and wake-on-face. As previously stated, the device can be set to automatically lock when your eyes are no longer detected by the camera and to wake up when you return to the screen. This foldable PC, like the previous model, only has one camera.
You can also set up several panels, columns, or areas to bring up different browsers, apps, or programs by toggling the display. This is an excellent multitasking option that can be configured in a variety of ways. Perhaps you require a side-by-side productivity use case that works best in landscape mode. You can still do columns in portrait mode and split one column in half, adjusting the size as necessary. There are numerous options.
Lenovo also improved on the first-generation ThinkPad X1 Fold, which had a gap at the fold, by making the 2022 model fold completely flat. This not only creates a seamless appearance when viewing the display, but it also aids in the creation of narrow bezels for the screen.
There is some bumpiness along the display’s folding point, but I don’t think it affects the look or performance of the display in any way. It’s simply something I noticed. It could be the result of the previously mentioned hidden hinge.
According to the results of the product’s robust open and close folding tests, Lenovo claims the durability of the foldable display exceeds the life cycle of the PC, projecting that the screen could last up to ten years.
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Performance
Based on internal testing, Lenovo expects the 2022 ThinkPad X1 Fold to outperform the previous model thanks to its professional-grade internals. The foldable PC is powered by 12th generation Intel Core U9 vPro i5 and i7 processors, LPDDR5 memory up to 32GB, PCIe Gen 4 SSD up to 1TB, and Intel Iris Xe Graphics.
Lenovo.com offers several configurable options, including five i5 and i7 vPro and non-vPro processor options, as well as storage options of 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Furthermore, the device comes with Windows 11 Home, which can be upgraded to Windows 11 Pro or downgraded to Windows 10 Pro depending on the user’s preferences.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The 2022 ThinkPad X1 Fold’s accessories are now included with the foldable PC and are light and magnetically attachable. The ThinkPad TrackPoint Bluetooth keyboard is a full-sized accessory inspired by the ThinkPad X1 Nano keyboard. It has track point buttons, a haptic trackpad, and a fingerprint reader with Windows Hello support.
You can use the keyboard separately from the display while connecting to Bluetooth if it is not already attached. Furthermore, in clamshell mode, you can place the keyboard on top of the flat part of the foldable PC or use the keyboard attached or separately.
Similarly, the accompanying stand magnetically snaps onto the 2022 ThinkPad X1 Fold and adjusts well for ease of use. You can use the device in landscape or portrait mode and customize the fold to your liking.
Fortunately, many of the issues with the original ThinkPad X1 Fold’s keyboard layout have been addressed. There are no missing keys or surprises — everything is exactly where you’d expect on a ThinkPad laptop. This is largely due to the larger size, which eliminates the need to compromise in order to fit all of the keys in.
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Battery Life
The device also includes a standard 48-watt-hour battery, which can be upgraded to a 16-watt-hour battery. Together, Lenovo promises a battery life of up to 11 hours for the 2022 ThinkPad X1 Fold, an increase of up to three hours over previous model reviews.
The 2022 ThinkPad X1 Fold has three USB-C ports, two of which support Thunderbolt 4 and can be used to dock external devices. The foldable PC supports up to three external monitors, two 5K, and one 4K.
The device also includes a nano-SIM card tray for LTE connectivity. It also includes standard Wi-Fi 6E support and optional 5G Sub 6 support.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2 price and availability
The price of the 2022 ThinkPad X1 Fold remains notably unchanged from the original foldable PC released in 2020. The new model starts at $2,500 and is expected to be available in November 2022.
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