Mehul Reuben DasFeb 28, 2023 06:48:25 IST
Pros:
– Build high quality and weight
– Crisp, sharp and vibrant 2K touch-enabled show
– Banging set of audio system, mics and webcam
– Performance
– Excellent keyboard
– 5G connectivity
Cons:
– Only two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports together with energy.
– No SD Card slot
– Can get a bit of sizzling throughout resource-intensive duties
Price: Rs 2,14,700 for the examined configuration
Rating: 4.25/5
There are a number of ultraportable, skinny and light-weight laptops in the marketplace which can be additionally succesful sufficient to get the job accomplished. However, discovering an ultraportable laptop computer that weighs lower than 1 kilogram, is like discovering a residing and respiratory unicorn. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2, is that precise unicorn.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 is a tiny workhorse of a machine that weighs only a hair over 970 grams. It has good battery life, it’s constructed like a tank, comes with an beautiful show and has an Intel CPU that’s greater than highly effective sufficient to tackle no matter is thrown at it (inside cause, after all). Aesthetic smart too, the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 is sharp, modern and understated.
Having stated that, it’s a bit on the pricier aspect. But then, the specs construct and options are solely half the story right here. Where the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 actually exhibits its price is the suite of ThinkPad-specific options that it comes with. That’s what you’re really paying for.
Designed and meant for professionals, it is a no-nonsense work machine. We check out what makes the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 well worth the value that Lenovo is asking for it.
Specifications and options
The ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 that we examined got here with the Twelfth Gen Intel Core i7-1260P CPU which comes with a complete of 12 cores (4 Performance cores and eight Efficiency cores). Our unit was paired with a wholesome 16GB LPDDR5 SDRAM working at 5200MHz in a quad-channel configuration, though you’ll be able to spec it as much as an i7-1280P and 32GB RAM.
The CPU has a Max Turbo Frequency of 4.7 GHz on the P cores, and three.40 GHz on the E cores. For graphics, now we have Intel-integrated Iris Xe Graphics.
For the show, we get a 13-inch 2K (2160 x 1350), IPS show that has a matte anti-glare coating. The show which has been set in a 16:10 side ratio, makes use of a contact panel which helps as much as 450 nits of peak brightness and has a refresh fee of 60Hz. It additionally helps 99 per cent of the sRGB color vary and comes with Dolby Vision.
For storage, our unit had the top-of-the-line 1TB PCIe 4.0-based NVMe M.2 SSD. You additionally get a 49.5W 3-cell battery.
For ports, you get solely two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports and an audio jack. Wireless connectivity is taken care of by WiFi 6e, Bluetooth 5.2, and wi-fi 4G or 5G connectivity.
Then, there’s the entire suite of ThinkPad unique options.
There are a bunch of hardware-based security measures like ThinkShutter, Privacy Guard, Match on Chip Fingerprint, IR Camera, Thunderbolt Security, Chassis Intrusion Switch, Chassis E-Lock, Smart USB Protection, and USB Secure Hard Drive SmartCard help
On the software program entrance, you get Glance Privacy Alert, Lenovo WiFi Security, BufferZone, Intel Authenticate, Intel Software Guard Extensions, Self-healing BIOS, Secure Wipe and so forth.
And then, there are just a few creature comforts that make the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 the last word ultraportable laptop computer for professionals. Some of essentially the most spectacular ones are the inclusion of the Dolby Suite, and the lengths to which Lenovo went to make sure a robust constructed high quality.
Design and Build:
To say that the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 is constructed like a tank could be a gross understatement. The Nano Gen 2 is a slim system, measuring in at 0.57 X 11.5 X 8.2 inches. The chassis is made up of matte black magnesium and aluminium and has a carbon fibre hybrid lid. The laptop computer cleared MIL-STD 810H torture checks for street risks comparable to tremors, shock, and temperature extremes.
Despite its diminutive dimension, you get a laptop computer that’s severely robust. There is not any deck flex in anyway, and the show regardless of being a 16:10, doesn’t wobble whenever you carry it up. Speaking of lifting it up, the hinges are easy as butter and permit customers to choose the lid up with only one finger, with out exerting any pressure on the bottom. The hinge additionally permits the show to be opened at a 180-degree angle.
We additionally love the act that Lenovo has gone for very minimal branding on the laptop computer. You get only one Lenovo badge on the laptop computer, and a few ThinkPad badges. The title of the ‘i’ in ThinkPad acts as a tiny LED indicator, which, is a neat little contact.
On the left, you get each the USB-C / Thunderbolt ports and a 3.5mm jack. Those are all of the ports that you just get, which is a disgrace. While the truth that each the ports are Thunderbolt licensed is a pleasant contact, you might be severely restricted if you wish to use a number of gadgets and wish to cost the laptop computer on the identical time.
What is even worrying is that this, regardless of being a professional-grade laptop computer, doesn’t include an HDMI port or a card reader. At the very least, it ought to have had at the very least one USB-A or one other USB-C port on the right-hand aspect.
Speaking of the right-hand aspect, you get one other the ability button port and a few vents, which have an aggressive, however understated design. The fingerprint scanner is underneath the keyboard, proper beside the trackpad. You additionally get the Evo badging on the left-hand aspect, so meaning the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 meets all of the requirements set by Intel
The Keyboard and trackpad
The keyboard on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 is among the highlights of the system. Typing on it’s really a blissful expertise, Very hardly ever can we come throughout a keyboard that’s as inviting and as cajoling because the one discovered on the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2.
During our thorough testing, not as soon as did we really feel that the typing expertise on the keyboard was missing in any method. Lenovo actually is aware of the way to nail the keyboard. All the laptops that now we have examined from Lenovo, have been nothing wanting beautiful.
Furthermore, the keyboard is backlit. The structure is straightforward and well-spaced, and it doesn’t have any idiosyncrasy {that a} consumer may want to regulate to – it merely works. We additionally love the truth that now we have devoted arrow keys, and separate Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys.
The operate keys double up as keys to begin and finish video calls. They additionally get the same old quantity up and down, and brightness adjustment keys. To alter the brightness of the keyboard’s backlight although, you’ll have to use the spacebar, which appears barely odd, however is definitely essentially the most logical place if you consider it.
Then there’s the trackpad. It is a small one, given the diminutive dimension of the laptop computer however nonetheless, it’s nice to make use of. The trackpad may have been barely greater, had it not been for the three switches on the prime of it, however then, these three switches, the left, proper and centre click on, is quintessential to a ThinkPad.
Another quintessential ThinkPad characteristic is the purple nubbin that you just get proper in the course of the keyboard. Depending in your use case state of affairs, you’ll both hate it or find it irresistible a lot that you just really begin lacking it on different laptops. I, for one, can’t have sufficient of it. It helps in modifying Word paperwork and Excel spreadsheets in a method that solely longtime ThinkPad customers can perceive.
The Webcam, mic and audio system
One of the requirements that Intel set for his or her Evo badges lately, is the inclusion of a 1080p, FHD webcam, and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 will get that. You additionally get IR functionalities which suggests that you would be able to log in utilizing Windows Hello facial recognition. The digicam and the IR additionally help the User Presence Sensing characteristic and supply Zero Touch Login and Lock which helps you to lock and unlock the system as you method or stroll away out of your desk.
The pictures and the video that the webcam takes are well-lit and vibrant, with wonderful readability, and is simply excellent for all of your work wants. You additionally get a privateness shutter on the webcam.
As for the audio system, you get two 2-watt woofers and two 1-watt tweeters, tuned and authorized by Dolby Atmos. Overall, the laptop computer will get fairly loud, however they don’t have a punchy bass. Having stated that, there is no such thing as a distortion even at full quantity, and the audio system are greater than sufficient on your convention calls or to devour content material on YouTube or Netflix. These audio system are actually good contemplating that that is ultraportable.
You additionally get 4 array microphones, 360-degree far-field pickup and Dolby Voice, which simply enhances the standard of your voice through the use of a bunch of various options. We actually cherished how the voice separation, dynamic levelling and noise discount labored on the laptop computer.
The Display
Lenovo is absolutely pushing the 16:10 side ratio in its laptops for some time now. The ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 is not any completely different. The taller side ratio makes engaged on paperwork and spreadsheets a pleasure – different productiveness duties, particularly picture modifying on Lightroom additionally reap the benefits of the taller display screen.
Our check unit got here with a 13-inch 2K (2160 x 1350), IPS touchscreen show, which was very responsive. There is a variant and not using a touchscreen panel, which shall be much more budget-friendly, so do verify that out should you’re contemplating the X1 Nano.
While the show isn’t as spectacular as an OLED panel would have been, nonetheless, it’s spectacular. The ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 has a refresh fee of 60Hz. The show is surrounded by fairly skinny bezels which makes utilizing it a really immersive expertise.
With a peak brightness of 450 nits, the show is surprisingly shiny for an IPS panel. Furthermore, it’s vibrant sufficient and may be very correct in reproducing colors, because it covers 99 per cent of the sRGB color house.
The panel is licensed by Dolby Vision, which signifies that the dynamic vary on the system is phenomenal and it exhibits. Thanks to the capabilities of the show with colors, and content material consumption. You may even play gentle, indie video games on the laptop computer and nonetheless take pleasure in them to the fullest. We wouldn’t hesitate to colour-grade movies or work on excessive res images on this show for skilled use, though rendering them to a file is likely to be a slight problem in sure eventualities.
Performance
As far as ultraportable laptops are involved the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 is in a league of its personal relating to efficiency. Our check unit got here with a Twelfth Gen Intel Core i7-1260P CPU, with a Max Turbo Frequency of 4.7 GHz on the P cores, 3.40 GHz on the E cores, and 16 threads. It additionally got here with 16GB LPDDR5 SDRAM, rated at 5200Mhz. If you’re in search of extra oomph, you’ll be able to spec your Xi Nano to incorporate an i7-1280P and 32GB RAM.
On paper, the Intel Core i7-1260P could look a bit of underwhelming to some, however this 28W beast is greater than able to pulling its punches. The Core i7-1260P does fairly properly is most artificial benchmarks and scores respectfully.
All of this comes right down to Intel’s thread director and the hybrid efficiency that comes with the splitting up of E-cores and P-cores. As anticipated, the Core i7-1260P does phenomenally properly in gentle, single-threaded duties, however what is absolutely shocking is its efficiency in heavier multi-threaded duties as properly.
This isn’t a gaming laptop computer and doesn’t include a GPU. Still, we have been in a position to play gentle video games like Rocket League, at 1920×1200, on the highest visible setting at some fairly playable framerates. Furthermore, we have been in a position to batch-process a ton of pictures in Lightroom whereas colour-correcting them, with none points.
There is one problem although. Like all ultraportables, the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 does warmth up a bit of, particularly underneath constant heavy load. This occurred to us once we have been benchmarking the laptops, and as soon as throughout an prolonged interval of colour-correcting pictures.
The laptop computer will get a bit of toasty underneath such circumstances, however to not the extent the place it needs to be alarming. But even through the thermal peaks, there’s no signal of thermal throttling. This is because of Lenovo’s cooling design for the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 and the generously sized vents and warmth pipes within the laptop computer.
Battery Life
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 comes with a 49.5W 3-cell battery, which comes with a reasonably nifty 65W charging brick. Despite its diminutive dimension, the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 has a reasonably first rate battery life. Intel’s energy effectivity actually involves life right here.
With that however, in a median working day which concerned a ton of writing, some picture modifying, an entire lot of searching, and fairly a little bit of content material consumption on YouTube and Netflix, we bought about 7-8 hours at about 60 per cent display screen brightness, which is nice.
During our thorough battery testing although, which principally is replaying a 4K video on the loop, many times, the laptop computer conked out in just below 4 hours or so.
While Intel’s Twelfth-gen P-series processors do take a toll on battery life we get to see a big increase in energy. Also, it’s a must to think about the truth that you’re driving a 2K show that’s vibrant and sharp. Yes, there are different ultraportables on the market which have higher battery life. Are they as succesful because the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2? Not by a mile.
Conclusion
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 strikes an excellent steadiness between efficiency, portability and productiveness. There have been days after I simply tossed the laptop computer in my backpack and forgot if it was in there or not – you actually don’t really feel its weight whenever you’re carrying it in your backpack.
Yes, there are some shortcomings. We would have cherished to see some extra ports on the laptop computer, at the very least a USB-A or an extra USB-C port on the right-hand aspect, and perhaps the warmth dissipation may have been higher.
And, sure an SD card slot has turn out to be a vital in laptops, particularly for one which prices as a lot because the X1 Nano does. The efficiency and have units which can be unique to ThinkPads, nonetheless, do make up for a few of the shortcomings. As a pure work-specific ultraportable laptop computer, although, there’s hardly something on the market that beats the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2, particularly when you think about that attractive display screen, and that superior keyboard.
