The Lenovo ThinkPad X13s is Lenovo’s first Snapdragon ThinkPad, in-built shut collaboration with Qualcomm. It’s the finest Snapdragon 8Cx Gen 3 we’ve seen so far, and its design revolves round just a few pillars: productiveness, connectivity, expertise, and safety.
It has good efficiency for an workplace productiveness laptop, and regardless that it might probably play some video games, that’s not what it was constructed for. For workplace work, it retains you productive with out worrying about battery life or WiFi availability, due to its built-in 5G.
Concentrate in case your computing life revolves round internet apps or the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. This laptop computer might change your cell PC expertise perpetually.
Configuration
All variations of the ThinkPad X13s include a 13.3” FHD show and a Snapdragon 8Cx Gen 3 computing platform. Our unit has the next configuration: 16GB, non-touch show, and 512GB of storage. That stated, there are numerous choices you possibly can select from.
Three FHD show variants can be found; two are non-touch with 300 NITs or 400 NITs brightness. The 400 NITs model has higher total picture high quality in keeping with the specs. There’s one 300 NITs, touch-enabled variant, which we might select for usability causes.
The RAM is soldered and comes with 8, 16, or 32GB of LPDDR4X at order time. 16GB ought to work for most individuals, but it surely’s superior to have the ability to push it to 32GB if you understand why you want it. The storage choice consists of at the least 512GB and 1TB of NVMe SSD.
These are the numerous variations between fashions. Different ones may embody the supply of 5G mmWave (or not) or energy provide SKU (2x45W fashions and 4x65W fashions), for instance.
Pricing begins at $1300+ at Lenovo.com
Industrial Design
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13s design comes with the long-lasting ThinkPad black matte shade, and from a distance, it might go for one thing in-between the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 and the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen1.
At 13.4 mm (.53”) skinny weighing solely 2.35 lbs (1.06kg), it’s an ultralight, ultracompact laptop with the next dimensions: 298.7 x 206.4 x 13.4 mm (11.76 x 8.13 x 0.53 inches)
A better inspection reveals a design language tweak with curved surfaces and rounded edges. The paint has a rubberized texture that makes it seem to be a “suede” floor, softer to the contact than the standard ThinkPad paint.
Below the paint, the chassis is constructed with 90% recycled magnesium alloy. Lenovo is upped its sustainability sport, and there’s plenty of recycled plastic too. There’s actually sufficient plastic round, however not sufficient firms keen to make this effort.
On the high of the again show cowl, there’s a distinguished “digicam bar,” which makes it potential to deal with a bigger, higher-quality digicam module. We’ll get again to {that a} bit later.
The underside cowl could be eliminated for servicing (IT loves this), and the SSD can theoretically be swapped. Nonetheless, it’s situated underneath the cooling plates, maybe one step additional than the common consumer may wish to take.
The Qualcomm X55 5G modem can be accessible if it wants restore. It’s situated the place the SIM slot is however helps eSim as effectively. For a pc, this modem (and the Qualcomm WIFI/BT {hardware}) represents a world-class connectivity choice that ought to work worldwide.
One can’t assist however discover there are not any cooling vents in any respect, and for an excellent cause: it is a passively cooled laptop that can by no means annoy you with fan noise. But, this can be very powerful and handed a bunch o fMIL-STD-810H (army transport certification) like different ThinkPads.
Keyboard & Trackpad
The ThinkPad X13s incorporates a full-size, spill-resistant keyboard that’s visually much like different ThinkPad computer systems. Due to its measurement, the journey key appears to be round 0.9-1mm. The keys aren’t clicky just like the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 1. As an alternative, they’re very mushy and intensely quiet.
The Mylar trackpad may be very clean and seems like glass. Its 56 x 115mm measurement makes it an enormous contact floor, an ideal use of the accessible area. It might have been bigger if it wasn’t for the 2 bodily Left/Center/Proper buttons, which we predict are far more exact than trackpad “faucets.”
In fact, the legendary TrackPoint is current and works like some other ThinkPad. There are two backlight ranges in dim lighting circumstances to maintain the keyboard readable.
Ports
There are two USB-C 3.2 Gen2 10 Gbps ports to the chassis’ left. Each can be utilized to cost the laptop computer as effectively. There’s no Thunderbolt (TB) help as a result of TB is an Intel know-how that reaches 40 Gbps of information switch.
That stated, USB-C 3.2 Gen2 is first rate and permits connecting two 4K shows to this tiny laptop computer. If utilizing a dock, it’s best to have the ability to have a one-cable setup to show the ThinkPad X13s right into a desktop laptop.
The traditional 3.5mm audio and Kensington anti-theft connectors are on the proper facet.
Sound High quality
This laptop computer has two 2W top-firing audio system, which is unquestionably the optimum placement. It’s all the time spectacular to see such compact computer systems having this characteristic whereas bigger ones can’t fairly pull it off.
The audio high quality is nice for a pc this measurement, and voices are very clear whereas watching motion pictures. The bass may very well be improved, however given the interior quantity accessible, we will’t fault Lenovo for not having a sub-woofer till another person does it.
The sound high quality would work very effectively for convention calls and watching motion pictures at your desk or lodge room. By the way in which, the small measurement makes this laptop superb for airline tray tables.
Show
The 1080p/FHD decision is a wonderful and acceptable alternative, and we marvel what a 3:2 ratio would appear to be (see X1 Titanium Yoga), particularly for an workplace productiveness laptop computer. As we talked about, there are just a few choices, with contact or not.
All of them have wonderful shade replica with round 100% of the sRGB shade gamut and between 300-400 NITs of brightness which is typical for laptops at this value stage. The show high quality is satisfactory for mild Inventive work (internet dev, photoshop, artwork overview…).
The highest digicam module is without doubt one of the important enhancements within the ThinkPad lineup, and to this point, this 5MP digicam (f/2.0 aperture) is the perfect webcam we’ve seen on any laptop computer.
Lenovo goes in the proper course, and we don’t thoughts the digicam bump if the standard matches the additional measurement. There’s no cause laptops can’t meet up with telephones’ cameras, and dealing with Qualcomm is the quick monitor to get there.
There’s no bodily shutter however an digital ON/OFF operate (alt+F9) that works simply as effectively. The one draw back is there’s no bodily blocker you possibly can visually examine. Maybe a “purple LED” (or one thing) may very well be a substitute sooner or later.
Our digicam was suitable with Home windows Hey, and that’s our main method to log in securely. In case you want the fingerprint reader, it’s situated within the Energy button.
Efficiency
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8Cx Gen3 is a superb ARM-based computing platform that’s extremely power-efficient. The ThinkPad X13s can beat just about any Intel-equivalent laptop computer concerning battery life.
From a pure computing energy perspective by the lens of benchmarks, it’s roughly equal to an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U or an eleventh Gen Intel Core i5. In case you want further velocity and are keen to sacrifice battery life in the identical kind issue, I’d suggest trying on the ThinkPad X1 Nano with the Intel i7-1160G7.
With Home windows 11, the Snapdragon 8Cx platform is extra related than ever as a result of it might probably execute X86 32 and 64-bit purposes. The apps’ compatibility is healthier than ever, and we now have not ran into any points with our traditional apps. All of them ran, together with Photoshop.
“Some” apps may nonetheless fail. For instance, 3dMark Evening Raid is the one one within the franchise that can work. DaVinci Resolve shouldn’t be going to discover a suitable GPU. There is perhaps extra like this, so we’d suggest doing a little homework on these high-performance apps.
It will assist if Microsoft had a compatibility database we might search. We’ll say it once more: that is an workplace productiveness laptop computer.
Alternatively, video games just like the current GTA will run, though at a comparatively sluggish 20 FPs. Your finest wager for gaming is to make use of one of many game-streaming providers, similar to GeForce Now (and others), as any X86 emulation may have little impression on the streaming shopper’s efficiency.
Lastly, any high-powered app will ultimately stumble upon thermal throttling because the passive cooling does a superb job for internet shopping and workplace work however can’t transfer the warmth quick sufficient for intense gaming. The system will ultimately sluggish itself right down to match the warmth dissipation capabilities.
The ThinkPad X13s provides good efficiency for workplace work (set to “Balanced” efficiency) and could be set to excessive battery efficiency whereas watching motion pictures or studying paperwork. Not like earlier ARM-based PCs, this one seems like a “regular” Core i5 laptop computer.Battery Life
The ThinkPad X13s provides distinctive battery life, and we’ve examined it throughout current journey that included engaged on the go, utilizing 5G for always-on connectivity, and so on. At no time had been we confused with the battery stage; chances are high you’ll be exhausted earlier than your battery is.
Its 49.5Wh battery capability is sufficient to maintain the pc for what we estimate to be 14-16 hours of workplace work. In case you work “solely” 8hrs a day, it suits the “multi-day” battery life that each Qualcomm and Lenovo point out. When closed, the pc retains its cost higher than typical laptops.
Based on Lenovo, the laptop computer can play native motion pictures (an MP4 in your disk) for 22-28 hours at 150 Nits brightness, relying in your energy settings (finest efficiency, finest battery life) if nothing else is working within the background, with out lively WIFI/5G that sounds plausible.
It takes 1h20mn to succeed in 100% if it is advisable to cost it. It will be unbelievable if Lenovo might make this even sooner sooner or later. We’ve lately examined telephones that may be absolutely charged in 20mn, just like the OnePlus 10T, and it’s very addictive.
Conclusion
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13s is the perfect Snapdragon-based laptop computer we’ve seen up to now that hits the place it issues as of late: ultra-long battery life, excessive connectivity, and superior webcam high quality, which might make a large distinction for highway warriors or work-from-home customers.
It’s the primary ARM-based PC we’ve examined that seems like an Intel Core i5 equal in the true world, and it looks as if an inflection level for Qualcomm’s fray into the laptop computer PC market. Qualcomm has some ways to shortly ramp up the computing energy as soon as this phase goes vertical. Apple has demonstrated it.
For IT organizations, this laptop computer additionally comes with Lenovo’s Premier Help, ThinkShield, and safe manageability, making it simpler to handle, thus really saving money and time. It’s one thing you won’t think about as a shopper, however I’ve seen many firms that may solely supply ThinkPads to their staff because of this. SMBs won’t have an IT division, so this help stage may show useful.
Lastly, it’s a sturdy laptop computer that may survive shocks and spills higher than most. There’s nothing worse than having a lifeless laptop computer in the course of a enterprise journey.
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