Lenovo ThinkPad Fold Hands-on with Large Upgrades Inside and Out

Lenovo also redesigned the Bluetooth keyboard for the X1 Fold. It uses the same keys that the ThinkPad X1 Nano so it has a more precise actuation. A new fingerprint sensor works with Windows Hello. While you can still place the keyboard on the Fold’s bottom half in laptop mode, it attaches magnetically on the base of your system when it rests on its stand. This supports landscape and portrait orientations.

The Fold now stores the keyboard in a magnetic attachment to the stand.

This makes it easier to store and manage. To pack everything, simply tilt the Fold forward so that it docks with your keyboard. Then fold the Fold in half and then slam the whole thing together. This change was requested by customers who preferred the system to be more portable than a convertible laptop. Because there’s no room in the system for a keyboard, Lenovo was able install a new fold flat hinge. Everything is now sleeker and smaller. It almost feels like the X1 Fold spent two years at the gym, and then put on a new, tailored suit.

Lenovo wanted to make the Fold more serviceable for future generations. This will allow it to be replaced with its SSD, batteries, and other components while in use. The X1 Fold isn’t waterproof, but it can still be rugged due to the same mil-spec 810G tests as other ThinkPads. Despite having a larger screen, the new X1 Fold weighs in at 2.8 pounds. However, you will be looking at a kit that is closer to 4.2 pounds when adding the keyboard and stand.

I appreciate the little things Lenovo has done, such as adding a third USB C port to the Fold (two of which are Thunderbolt 4 compatible) and a better location for the Fold 5MP IR camera, making it more useful. Lenovo added a third speaker to ensure that you can still enjoy stereo audio regardless of your orientation.

Performance is a major improvement with the Fold supporting up a 12th-gen Intel Core i7U-series CPU, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The Fold also features a fanless design. Lenovo offers an optional 16Wh power cell as an option to the 48Wh standard battery for those who were concerned about the battery life of the older model. Windows 11 offers better support for different layouts and window snapping than Windows 10. I found everything to be much smoother and responsive when using the new X1 Fold.

While this is still in pre-production, I really like what I have seen from the new X1 Fold. We will have to wait until Q4 to see how it holds up. It is expected to retail for around $2,800.