Lenovo ThinkPad X13s: Lenovo’s greatest laptops have traditionally been powered by Intel or AMD, but for the first, a new ThinkPad is now driven by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 processing engine.
It’s the ThinkPad X13s, an ARM-powered computer that’s unlike any other ThinkPad in more ways than one. With always-on, always-connected performance and a wonderful sustainable design, this Lenovo laptop seems different from previous Windows on ARM devices, and after trying one ahead of Mobile World Congress, it dares to compete in the corporate sector with Apple’s M1 MacBooks.
Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Design
On the surface, the ThinkPad X13s appears to be a conventional Lenovo business laptop at first glance. It has a “Thunder Black” color, however, when you run your hands along the side, things alter. There are no ventilation fans, which is a common feature of ARM-powered Windows devices like this one.
The corners of the gadgets are also rounded, making the laptop easy to grab and hold with one hand – vital given that this is something that will be used on the go. However, Lenovo is considering sustainability, which is, in theory, what distinguishes its design.
If you’re curious, the laptop is still tiny and light without the fans, measuring roughly 11.76 by 8.13 by 0.53 inches and weighing 2.35 pounds, but Lenovo isn’t just using standard materials to keep the profile short. The top and bottom covers of the ThinkPad X13s are made of 90% recyclable magnesium and are assembled using low-temperature solder.
Other recycled plastics used include 97 percent post-consumer content recycled plastic on the speaker enclosure, 30 percent in the battery, and 30 percent again in the wall adapter. All of this contributes to lowering emissions and making the planet a greener place for everyone.
It’s a welcome change from Apple’s M1 MacBooks, which only have the casing composed of 100 percent recycled aluminum. It reminds me a lot of HP’s Dragonfly laptop, which is composed of 80 percent recycled content in its mechanical elements, in the Windows arena.
All of this comes at no cost to durability. The chassis did not bend when I pushed on the keyboard, and the lid has no flex at all. It’s not surprising, given that the ThinkPad X13s has been MIL-SPEC 810H tested with 12 methods, 26 procedures, and 200 additional quality checks.
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ThinkPad X13s Display
The 16:10 slim-bezel display is becoming increasingly ubiquitous in laptops, so I was pleased to find one on the ThinkPad X13s. This laptop, with a WUXGA resolution of (1920 x 1200), will allow you to get your multitasking done properly.
During my time with the device, I opened Microsoft Edge and stacked windows on top of each other. Because of the wider 16:10 ratio, I got a more even view of web pages and more room to scroll. I also watched nature films on YouTube, and even though the ThinkPad was in direct sunshine, the display remained vivid and crisp. In a film exhibiting Italy’s landscapes, I plainly figured out all of the features.
The max brightness of 300 nits on the panel I tested may be too low for some users, and it is far from the brightness of MacBooks. However, for simple online browsing and office work, this may be plenty to get the job done without appearing too washed out.
Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Keyboard and Trackpad
The ThinkPad X13s has an excellent keyboard and trackpad, which comes as no surprise. If you’ve ever used a ThinkPad, you know what I’m talking about. The keys have an incredible travel distance, and the feeling as you push into the chassis is pleasant and smooth. Meanwhile, the trackpad is as smooth as butter, making scrolling and sliding through online pages a breeze.
You’ll also discover Lenovo’s trademark TrackPoint, which allows you to move your mouse more precisely than the glass-like ThinkPad TrackPad underneath. I did a typing test for fun and got around 87 words per minute, which is higher than my usual of around 80 wpm.
Ports and connectivity
Apple’s new 2021 M1 MacBooks bring back the classic HDMI port, but things are different in the Windows on ARM area. Many laptop manufacturers are sticking to USB-C to keep devices slim and light, and the ThinkPad X13s are no exception. However, there are some connectivity advantages that an M1 MacBook does not have.
The ThinkPad X13s has two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, an audio connector, and a SIM card slot. Aside from that, there is native support for 5G-enabled Sub 6 and 5G mmWave connectivity, which is missing from Apple’s M1-powered MacBooks.
Although I was unable to test it, Lenovo claims that the gadget can transition between 5G mmWave, 4G LTE, and sub6 Wireless WAN for “lightning-fast, highly secure, on-the-go connectivity.” Despite being far from the first 5G Windows laptop, this is the first 5G ThinkPad.
Others have existed, such as the HP Elite Dragonfly G2 and the Lenovo Flex 5G. As I’ve previously stated, 5G and LTE laptops provide always-connected benefits, particularly when not connected to Wi-Fi, and this ThinkPad is no exception.
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ThinkPad X13s Webcam
The communication bar at the device’s top is another distinguishing characteristic of the ThinkPad X13s. It has three 360-degree far-field microphones and a 5-megapixel webcam. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the webcam when I switched it on. I could see the small threads in my mask as well as the colors in the background of the sofa I was sitting on.
Lenovo also claims to have collaborated with Qualcomm and Microsoft to allow certain unique communication functions on this ThinkPad. However, I was unable to put these to the test. On Teams calls, there’s AI-powered auto framing to keep you in the frame. During video conference conversations, intelligent noise suppression is also available to muffle background noises on both ends of the connection.
There’s even a clever gimmick in which the ThinkPad detects human presence and instantly turns off or dims the display when the user looks away. Other capabilities include posture and screen-time awareness, as well as reminders about visual health. The computer vision processor in the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 is responsible for all of this.
Performance and battery life
We’ve previously criticized Qualcomm-powered laptops and tablets due to poor performance and app-emulation difficulties. However, Microsoft has improved 64-bit app-emulation in Windows 11 on ARM devices, and Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8cx promises significant performance benefits as well. This all adds together to give the ThinkPad X13s Apple M1 performance potential.
According to previously leaked benchmarks, the Snapdragon 8cx is as good as a U-series Intel 12th generation 25-watt processor. It’s no surprise that Lenovo claims that system-level performance on this device can be increased by up to 57 percent, and multitasking can be up to 85 percent faster.
I can’t help but feel that I had a sneak peek at that performance after checking out the ThinkPad X13s, which has this exact chip. Of course, I wasn’t able to perform benchmarks, but the processor was able to keep up with my online browsing.
The device functioned nicely with a mix of Microsoft Edge tabs, office apps including Word and PowerPoint, and other system apps. In my unscientific tests, the system’s CPU use was barely at 5%, according to Task Manager. Even putting the device to sleep and waking it up was a breeze, and I was able to get back into the action almost immediately.
Many Microsoft apps are now optimized for ARM processors, and Lenovo says Microsoft’s Azure program ensures native compatibility and consistent experiences for business-critical apps on this device. Microsoft even built the Pluton security chip specifically for this ThinkPad and installed it in the Qualcomm Secure Processing Unit. This security chip protects user identification, data, and apps from the chip to the cloud.
In terms of battery life, Lenovo claims up to 28 hours of video playback. We’re excited to put that promise to the test, but we’ve discovered that the average battery life isn’t too far off from Intel laptops. This is unscientific, but the system I tested was at 100% when I removed it from the charger and only dropped to roughly 95% after 45 minutes.
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Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Price and Availability
ThinkPad X13s will be available in May 2022, with prices starting at $1,099. The ThinkPad X13s will be available on AT&T in the United States, and on Verizon later in 2022. More exact availability and pricing information will be provided later.
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