Five years of research and development have gone into the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold, and with foldable smartphone devices now available, Lenovo believes the time is right for the ThinkPad X1 Fold.
The first foldable PC available in the world, the ThinkPad X1 Fold heralds a new way of engaging with technology to achieve better productivity, entertainment, and interactivity.
The X1 Fold feels really organic thanks to the exterior leather finish that wraps around like a premium folio. When fully folded out, the leather surface covers the entire rear of the device, but as it folds in, the leather slides back to reveal a glossy panel that accentuates the book style. The bezels around the flexible OLED panel are made of silicone material so that they bend along with the hinges bend to provide better protection against foreign particles.
The strong carbon-fibre hinge and 11-layer screen are the reasons why the X1 Fold has a relatively thick bezel.
The X1 Fold is an adaptable computing device that lets you be productive in many situations. For traditional laptop use, its optional wireless Fold Mini keyboard is sized perfectly to magnetically dock (and charge) on the lower half of the foldable table, making the X1 Fold appear as a mini laptop, thought the keyboard is a tad too compact for extended work and many keys are missing which reduces typing efficiency. The display resolution is also reduced with only half the display that is usable, but the benefit of working in tight spaces for quick replies cannot be underestimated.
When working on a proper desk, I would flatten the X1 Fold and flip out the integrated stand to prop up the display, placing the wireless keyboard at any distance or position to achieve optimal comfort. The X1 Fold also has DisplayPort support via USB Type-C, so is simple to connect to an external monitor for better productivity. The experience is like an all-in-one desktop PC, and the QXGA OLED display achieves excellent colour reproduction with vivid reds.
The availability of the Active Pen provides yet another interactive option to take notes, sketch ideas, or sign documents on the X1 Fold. While the display surface could handle normal-pressure pen strokes, I would probably not use it extensively for creating digital artwork. The ability to fold the display partially means the X1 Fold can be used in a smaller footprint while still getting the visual benefits of a full 13.3-inch display. This allows work to be carried out in tight places like on a bus or a crowded train. 
Users concerned with processor performance and battery life can rest assured. The X1 Fold is powered by a Core i5-L16G7 processor which runs the usual productivity tools and the latest Microsoft Edge browser smoothly, thanks no less to the fast LPDDR4X RAM and SSD storage. The 50Whr battery life is no slouch and manages to last a whole day without unexpected power drain, and the ability to rapid-charge the X1 Fold using USB-C PD is an additional plus point.
Rating: 4.5/5
Price: From S$3,759
We Say
The ThinkPad X1 Fold turns out to be more usable than expected and offers versatility, mobility, connectivity and productivity that no other laptops or smartphones can match.
Technical Specifications
Processor Intel Core i5-L16G7 Processor (1.4GHz, up to 3GHz with Turbo Boost)
Operating System Windows 10 Pro
Graphics Integrated Intel UHD 11th Gen Graphics
Display 13.3-inch Flexible QXGA OLED 4:3 (2048 x 1536), 300 nit, DCI-P3 95% Touch
Camera 5MP HD RGB + IR camera
Memory 8GB LPDDR4X
Storage Up to 1TB PCIe-NVMe M.2 2242 SSD
Battery 50Whr
Connectivity 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps), WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
Optional Accessories Lenovo Fold Mini Keyboard, Lenovo Mod Pen
Dimensions 299.4 x 236 x 11.5mm (Unfolded), 158.2 x 236 x 27.8mm (Folded)
Weight 999 g
First published in NXT Magazine November 2020. A digital edition can be purchased from Magzter.
