Mehul Reuben DasFeb 28, 2023 06:48:25 IST

Execs:
– Construct high quality and weight
– Crisp, sharp and vibrant 2K touch-enabled show
– Banging set of audio system, mics and webcam
– Efficiency 
– Wonderful keyboard
– 5G connectivity

Cons:
– Solely two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports together with energy. 
– No SD Card slot
– Can get a bit scorching throughout resource-intensive duties

Value: Rs 2,14,700 for the examined configuration
Ranking: 4.25/5

There are a number of ultraportable, skinny and lightweight laptops in the marketplace which are additionally succesful sufficient to get the job achieved. Nevertheless, discovering an ultraportable laptop computer that weighs lower than 1 kilogram, is like discovering a residing and respiration unicorn. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2, is that actual 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 motive, in fact). Aesthetic smart too, the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 is sharp, smooth and understated.

Having mentioned that, it’s a bit on the pricier aspect. However then, the specs construct and options are solely half the story right here. The place the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 actually exhibits its value is the suite of ThinkPad-specific options that it comes with. That’s what you’re truly 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.

Specs 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 Efficiency cores and eight Effectivity 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, we’ve got 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 charge of 60Hz. It additionally helps 99 per cent of the sRGB color vary and comes with Dolby Imaginative and prescient. 

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. Wi-fi connectivity is taken care of by WiFi 6e, Bluetooth 5.2, and wi-fi 4G or 5G connectivity. 

Then, there may be the entire suite of ThinkPad unique options.

There are a bunch of hardware-based safety features like ThinkShutter, Privateness Guard, Match on Chip Fingerprint, IR Digital camera, Thunderbolt Safety, Chassis Intrusion Change, Chassis E-Lock, Good USB Safety, and USB Safe Onerous Drive SmartCard help

On the software program entrance, you get Look Privateness Alert, Lenovo WiFi Safety, BufferZone, Intel Authenticate, Intel Software program Guard Extensions, Self-healing BIOS, Safe Wipe and many others.

After which, there are just a few creature comforts that make the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 the last word ultraportable laptop computer for professionals. A few of the most spectacular ones are the inclusion of the Dolby Suite, and the lengths to which Lenovo went to make sure a powerful constructed high quality.

Design and Construct:
To say that the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 is constructed like a tank can be a gross understatement. The Nano Gen 2 is a slim machine, 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 assessments for street risks resembling tremors, shock, and temperature extremes.

Regardless of its diminutive dimension, you get a laptop computer that’s severely robust. There is no such thing as a deck flex by any means, and the show regardless of being a 16:10, doesn’t wobble once you elevate it up. Talking of lifting it up, the hinges are clean as butter and permit customers to choose the lid up with only one finger, with out exerting any power 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. These are all of the ports that you just get, which is a disgrace. Whereas the truth that each the ports are Thunderbolt licensed is a pleasant contact, you might be severely restricted if you wish to use a bunch of gadgets and need to cost the laptop computer on the similar time. 

What’s even worrying is that this, regardless of being a professional-grade laptop computer, doesn’t include an HDMI port or a card reader. On 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.

Talking 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 machine. Typing on it’s really a blissful expertise, Very hardly ever will we come throughout a keyboard that’s as inviting and as cajoling because the one discovered on the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2. 

Throughout our thorough testing, not as soon as did we really feel that the typing expertise on the keyboard was missing in any manner. Lenovo actually is aware of how one can nail the keyboard. All of the laptops that we’ve got examined from Lenovo, have been nothing wanting beautiful. 

Moreover, the keyboard is backlit. The format is straightforward and well-spaced, and it doesn’t have any idiosyncrasy {that a} person may want to regulate to – it merely works. We additionally love the truth that we’ve got devoted arrow keys, and separate House, Finish, Web page Up, and Web page Down keys. 

The operate keys double up as keys to start out and finish video calls. Additionally they get the same old quantity up and down, and brightness adjustment keys. To regulate the brightness of the keyboard’s backlight although, you’ll have to use the spacebar, which appears barely odd, however is definitely probably the most logical place if you concentrate on it.

Then there may be the trackpad. It’s 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.

One other quintessential ThinkPad function is the purple nubbin that you just get proper in the course of the keyboard. Relying in your use case state of affairs, you’ll both hate it or like it a lot that you just truly begin lacking it on different laptops. I, for one, can’t have sufficient of it. It helps in modifying Phrase paperwork and Excel spreadsheets in a manner that solely longtime ThinkPad customers can perceive. 

The Webcam, mic and audio system
One of many 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 implies that you could log in utilizing Home windows Howdy facial recognition. The digital camera and the IR additionally help the Person Presence Sensing function and supply Zero Contact Login and Lock which helps you to lock and unlock the machine as you strategy or stroll away out of your desk.

The photographs and the video that the webcam takes are well-lit and vibrant, with wonderful readability, and is simply good 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. Total, the laptop computer will get fairly loud, however they don’t have a punchy bass. Having mentioned 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 eat 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 by utilizing a bunch of various options. We actually liked how the voice separation, dynamic levelling and noise discount labored on the laptop computer. 

The Show
Lenovo is admittedly pushing the 16:10 side ratio in its laptops for some time now. The ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 isn’t any totally different. The taller side ratio makes engaged on paperwork and spreadsheets a pleasure – different productiveness duties, particularly picture modifying on Lightroom additionally benefit from the taller display.

Our check unit got here with a 13-inch 2K (2160 x 1350), IPS touchscreen show, which was very responsive. There’s a variant and not using a touchscreen panel, which might be much more budget-friendly, so do test that out should you’re contemplating the X1 Nano. 

Whereas the show just isn’t as spectacular as an OLED panel would have been, nonetheless, it’s spectacular. The ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 has a refresh charge 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. Moreover, 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 Imaginative and prescient, which implies that the dynamic vary on the machine is phenomenal and it exhibits. Because of the capabilities of the show with colors, and content material consumption. You may even play mild, 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 pictures on this show for skilled use, though rendering them to a file is likely to be a slight challenge in sure situations. 

Efficiency
So 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. In case you’re on the lookout for 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 might look a bit 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 all the way 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 mild, single-threaded duties, however what is admittedly stunning is its efficiency in heavier multi-threaded duties as properly.

This isn’t a gaming laptop computer and doesn’t include a GPU. Nonetheless, we had been capable of play mild video games like Rocket League, at 1920×1200, on the highest visible setting at some fairly playable framerates. Moreover, we had been capable of batch-process a ton of photos in Lightroom whereas colour-correcting them, with none points.

There’s one challenge although. Like all ultraportables, the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 does warmth up a bit, particularly underneath constant heavy load. This occurred to us after we had been benchmarking the laptops, and as soon as throughout an prolonged interval of colour-correcting photos. 

The laptop computer will get a bit toasty underneath such circumstances, however to not the extent the place it needs to be alarming. However even through the thermal peaks, there’s no signal of thermal throttling. That is due to 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 fairly nifty 65W charging brick. Regardless of its diminutive dimension, the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 has a reasonably respectable battery life. Intel’s energy effectivity actually involves life right here. 

With that however, in a mean working day which concerned a ton of writing, some picture modifying, a complete lot of looking, and fairly a little bit of content material consumption on YouTube and Netflix, we acquired about 7-8 hours at about 60 per cent display brightness, which is nice.

Throughout our thorough battery testing although, which mainly is replaying a 4K video on the loop, time and again, the laptop computer conked out in just below 4 hours or so. 

Whereas Intel’s Twelfth-gen P-series processors do take a toll on battery life we get to see a major increase in energy. Additionally, you must think about the truth that you’re driving a 2K show that’s vibrant and sharp. Sure, 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 a terrific stability 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 once you’re carrying it in your backpack.

Sure, there are some shortcomings. We’d have liked to see some extra ports on the laptop computer, at the very least a USB-A or a further USB-C port on the right-hand aspect, and possibly the warmth dissipation may have been higher.

And, sure an SD card slot has turn into a vital in laptops, particularly for one which prices as a lot because the X1 Nano does. The efficiency and have units which are unique to ThinkPads, nonetheless, do make up for among 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 beautiful display, and that superior keyboard.