Lenovo ThinkPad X1 coming May 17

By Geoff Duncan May 11, 2011

Computer maker Lenovo has not yet officially announced its ThinkPad X1 super-thin laptop…but the system has already popped up for sale at Amazon UK and now Lenovo has posted its own promotional video for the notebook that includes a key bit of information: the system is due to arrive May 17.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The video highlights a few features of the ThinkPad X1: a backlit, spill-resistant keyboard, a Gorilla Glass display, and military-grade ruggedness.

The ThinkPad X1 is set to be Lenovo’s answer to Apple’s well-regarded MacBook Air line of ultra-thin notebook computers. The ThinkPad X1 is supposed to measure just 0.85 inches thick and sport a second-generation “Sandy Bridge” Intel Core i5-2520M processor, with support for up to 8 GB of RAM and 210 GB of hard drive storage—apparently a 160 GB SSD will also be an option. Among other things the ThinkPad X1 should have that aren’t on the MacBook Air: USB 3.0 and an eSATA port. Leaked specifications have put the X1’s battery life around eight hours.

Lenovo hasn’t announced any pricing for the ThinkPad X1, although pre-order pricing at Amazon UK had the units coming in higher than MacBook Air systems.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Lenovo

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Computing

This tiny ThinkPad can’t quite keep up with the MacBook Air M2

While the laptop industry continues to move toward 14-inch laptops and larger, the 13-inch laptop remains an important category. One of the best is the Apple MacBook Air M2, with an extremely thin and well-built chassis, great performance, and incredibly long battery life.

Lenovo has recently introduced the third generation of its ThinkPad X1 Nano, one of the lightest laptops we've tested and a good performer as well. It's stiff competition, but which of these two diminutive laptops stands apart?
Specs and configurations

Computing

Why the Dell XPS 13 Plus still beats the latest competition in little laptops

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 3 front view showing display and keyboard.

Lenovo recently updated its smallest ThinkPad, the ThinkPad X1 Nano, to its third generation. It kept everything the same except for an upgrade to Intel 13th-gen CPUs. Dell did the same with the recent refresh of the XPS 13 Plus. These are both competent 13-inch laptops.

That was a safer direction for Dell, given that the XPS 13 Plus sports an ultramodern appearance. The ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 3, on the other hand, remains a nice little laptop but its design is getting a bit dated. Can it compete with the more contemporary XPS 13 Plus?
Specs and configurations

Computing

The premium ThinkPad that outdoes the X1 Carbon in almost every way

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 front view.

Lenovo's 14-inch ThinkPad X1 Carbon has been its premium business thin and light laptop for years. The laptop is now in its 11th generation, and it's benefitted from a series of updates that culminate in a place on our list of the best 14-inch laptops.

Now, Lenovo has introduced a brand-new ThinkPad Z line, with the 13.3-inch ThinkPad Z13 being a direct competitor to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11. Can this upstart laptop compete with such a venerable machine?