The Lenovo ThinkPad X13s is Lenovo’s first Snapdragon ThinkPad, inbuilt shut collaboration with Qualcomm. It’s the most efficient Snapdragon 8Cx Gen 3 we’ve noticed to this point, and its design revolves round a couple of pillars: productiveness, connectivity, revel in, and safety.
It has just right functionality for an place of work productiveness laptop, and even supposing it may well play some video games, that’s no longer what it was once constructed for. For place of work paintings, it assists in keeping you productive with out being concerned about battery existence or WiFi availability, because of its integrated 5G.
Concentrate in case your computing existence revolves round internet apps or the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. This pc may just alternate your cellular PC revel in 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 garage. That mentioned, there are quite a lot of choices you’ll be able to choose between.
3 FHD show variants are to be had; two are non-touch with 300 NITs or 400 NITs brightness. The 400 NITs model has higher general symbol high quality in keeping with the specifications. There’s one 300 NITs, touch-enabled variant, which we’d make a selection for usability causes.
The RAM is soldered and is derived with 8, 16, or 32GB of LPDDR4X at order time. 16GB will have to paintings for most of the people, however it’s superior so as to push it to 32GB if you realize why you wish to have it. The garage possibility comprises a minimum of 512GB and 1TB of NVMe SSD.
Those are the numerous variations between fashions. Different ones would possibly come with the supply of 5G mmWave (or no longer) or persistent provide SKU (2x45W fashions and 4x65W fashions), as an example.
Pricing begins at $1300+ at Lenovo.com
Business Design
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13s design comes with the long-lasting ThinkPad black matte colour, and from a distance, it will move for one thing in-between the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 and the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen1.
At 13.4 mm (.53”) skinny weighing best 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 presentations a design language tweak with curved surfaces and rounded edges. The paint has a rubberized texture that makes it look like a “suede” floor, softer to touch than the everyday ThinkPad paint.
Underneath the paint, the chassis is constructed with 90% recycled magnesium alloy. Lenovo is upped its sustainability recreation, and there’s a large number of recycled plastic too. There’s for sure sufficient plastic round, however no longer sufficient firms prepared to make this effort.
On the peak of the again show quilt, there’s a outstanding “digicam bar,” which makes it imaginable to deal with a bigger, higher-quality digicam module. We’ll get again to that a bit of later.
The ground quilt will also be got rid of for servicing (IT loves this), and the SSD can theoretically be swapped. Then again, it’s situated below the cooling plates, possibly one step additional than the common person would possibly wish to take.
The Qualcomm X55 5G modem may be obtainable if it wishes restore. It’s situated the place the SIM slot is however helps eSim as neatly. For a pc, this modem (and the Qualcomm WIFI/BT {hardware}) represents a world-class connectivity possibility that are meant to paintings international.
One can’t assist however understand there aren’t any cooling vents in any respect, and for a just right explanation why: it is a passively cooled laptop that may by no means annoy you with fan noise. But, this can be very difficult and handed a number o fMIL-STD-810H (army shipping certification) like different ThinkPads.
Keyboard & Trackpad
The ThinkPad X13s includes a full-size, spill-resistant keyboard this is visually very similar to different ThinkPad computer systems. As a result of its length, the commute key appears to be round 0.9-1mm. The keys aren’t clicky just like the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 1. As a substitute, they’re very comfortable and intensely quiet.
The Mylar trackpad could be very clean and appears like glass. Its 56 x 115mm length makes it a large contact floor, an excellent use of the to be had house. It will had been greater if it wasn’t for the 2 bodily Left/Center/Proper buttons, which we expect are a lot more actual than trackpad “faucets.”
After all, the mythical TrackPoint is provide and works like every other ThinkPad. There are two backlight ranges in dim lighting fixtures prerequisites to stay the keyboard readable.
Ports
There are two USB-C 3.2 Gen2 10 Gbps ports to the chassis’ left. Each can be utilized to fee the pc as neatly. There’s no Thunderbolt (TB) beef up as a result of TB is an Intel era that reaches 40 Gbps of information switch.
That mentioned, USB-C 3.2 Gen2 is respectable and lets in connecting two 4K presentations to this tiny pc. If the use of a dock, you will have to have the ability to have a one-cable setup to show the ThinkPad X13s right into a desktop laptop.
The vintage 3.5mm audio and Kensington anti-theft connectors are at the proper facet.
Sound High quality
This pc has two 2W top-firing audio system, which is certainly the optimal placement. It’s continuously spectacular to peer such compact computer systems having this option whilst greater ones can’t relatively pull it off.
The audio high quality is excellent for a pc this length, and voices are very transparent whilst staring at films. The bass may well be advanced, however given the inner quantity to be had, we will’t fault Lenovo for no longer having a sub-woofer till any person else does it.
The sound high quality would paintings really well for convention calls and staring at films at your table or resort room. Through the best way, the small length makes this laptop best for airline tray tables.
Show
The 1080p/FHD solution is a superb and suitable selection, and we marvel what a three:2 ratio would seem like (see X1 Titanium Yoga), particularly for an place of work productiveness pc. As we discussed, there are a couple of choices, with contact or no longer.
All of them have very good colour replica with round 100% of the sRGB colour gamut and between 300-400 NITs of brightness which is standard for laptops at this value stage. The show high quality is ok for mild Inventive paintings (internet dev, photoshop, artwork assessment…).
The highest digicam module is without doubt one of the vital enhancements within the ThinkPad lineup, and up to now, this 5MP digicam (f/2.0 aperture) is the most efficient webcam we’ve noticed on any pc.
Lenovo goes in the appropriate course, and we don’t thoughts the digicam bump if the standard suits the additional length. There’s no explanation why laptops can’t meet up with telephones’ cameras, and dealing with Qualcomm is the quick observe to get there.
There’s no bodily shutter however an digital ON/OFF serve as (alt+F9) that works simply as neatly. The one problem is there’s no bodily blocker you’ll be able to visually take a look at. Most likely a “pink LED” (or one thing) is usually a exchange someday.
Our digicam was once suitable with Home windows Hi, and that’s our number one approach to log in securely. Should 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 this is extremely power-efficient. The ThinkPad X13s can beat just about any Intel-equivalent pc relating to battery existence.
From a natural computing persistent point of view in the course of the lens of benchmarks, it’s more or less equal to an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U or an eleventh Gen Intel Core i5. If you wish to have additional velocity and are prepared to sacrifice battery existence in the similar shape issue, I’d counsel taking a look 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 may well execute X86 32 and 64-bit packages. The apps’ compatibility is best than ever, and we’ve not ran into any problems with our same old apps. All of them ran, together with Photoshop.
“Some” apps would possibly nonetheless fail. As an example, 3dMark Evening Raid is the one one within the franchise that may paintings. DaVinci Get to the bottom of isn’t going to discover a suitable GPU. There could be extra like this, so we’d counsel doing a little homework on those high-performance apps.
It could assist if Microsoft had a compatibility database shall we seek. We’ll say it once more: that is an place of work productiveness pc.
However, video games like the new GTA will run, even though at a slightly gradual 20 FPs. Your easiest guess for gaming is to make use of one of the vital game-streaming products and services, akin to GeForce Now (and others), as any X86 emulation may have little affect at the streaming consumer’s functionality.
In any case, any high-powered app will sooner or later stumble upon thermal throttling because the passive cooling does a very good activity for internet surfing and place of work paintings however can’t transfer the warmth rapid sufficient for intense gaming. The machine will sooner or later gradual itself down to check the warmth dissipation functions.
The ThinkPad X13s provides just right functionality for place of work paintings (set to “Balanced” functionality) and will also be set to excessive battery functionality whilst staring at films or studying paperwork. In contrast to earlier ARM-based PCs, this one appears like a “standard” Core i5 pc.Battery Lifestyles
The ThinkPad X13s provides outstanding battery existence, and we’ve examined it all over fresh commute that integrated operating at the move, the use of 5G for always-on connectivity, and so on. At no time have been we wired with the battery stage; likelihood is that you’ll be exhausted ahead of your battery is.
Its 49.5Wh battery capability is sufficient to maintain the pc for what we estimate to be 14-16 hours of place of work paintings. Should you paintings “best” 8hrs an afternoon, it suits the “multi-day” battery existence that each Qualcomm and Lenovo point out. When closed, the pc keeps its fee higher than standard laptops.
In keeping with Lenovo, the pc can play native films (an MP4 to your disk) for 22-28 hours at 150 Nits brightness, relying to your persistent settings (easiest functionality, easiest battery existence) if not anything else is operating within the background, with out lively WIFI/5G that sounds plausible.
It takes 1h20mn to achieve 100% if you wish to have to fee it. It could be incredible if Lenovo may just make this even sooner someday. We’ve not too long ago 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 most efficient Snapdragon-based pc we’ve noticed to this point that hits the place it issues at the moment: ultra-long battery existence, excessive connectivity, and awesome webcam high quality, which may make an enormous distinction for highway warriors or work-from-home customers.
It’s the primary ARM-based PC we’ve examined that appears like an Intel Core i5 equal in the actual international, and it sort of feels like an inflection level for Qualcomm’s fray into the pc PC marketplace. Qualcomm has some ways to briefly ramp up the computing persistent as soon as this section is going vertical. Apple has demonstrated it.
For IT organizations, this pc additionally comes with Lenovo’s Premier Support, ThinkShield, and safe manageability, making it more uncomplicated to control, thus in truth saving money and time. It’s one thing you may no longer imagine as a client, however I’ve noticed many firms that might best be offering ThinkPads to their staff because of this. SMBs would possibly no longer have an IT division, so this beef up stage would possibly turn out useful.
In any case, this can be a robust pc that may continue to exist shocks and spills higher than maximum. There’s not anything worse than having a useless pc in the course of a trade commute.
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