Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable review: Taking on the Surface Pro 7 Plus in the 2-in-1 market

Lenovo Thinkpad X12 Detachable Review Source: Windows Central

The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable was announced at CES 2022 equally a powerful, characteristic-laden alternative to the Surface Pro line. It's substantially a ThinkPad laptop that'southward been shrunk downward into a meaty 2-in-1 blueprint. This isn't the get-go ThinkPad 2-in-one from Lenovo; the now-extinct ThinkPad X1 Tablet was a solid attempt at competing with the Pro, just the X1 received no further revisions beyond 2022. I've been using the new X12 Detachable for most a calendar week to determine what makes it great and why you lot might want to cull it over Surface.

Thinkpad X12 Detachable

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable

Pros

Intel vPro CPUs bachelor
Durable magnesium-blend build
Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6, optional 4G LTE
Keyboard and pen included
Bright, colorful display with inking

Cons

SSD could exist faster
Speakers are OK
Only one brandish selection
No MicroSD card reader

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable at a glance

Lenovo Thinkpad X12 Detachable Review Source: Windows Key

Lenovo supplied Windows Primal with a review unit of the ThinkPad X12 Detachable two-in-i PC. It includes an 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1130G7 processor (CPU), 16GB of dual-channel LPDDR4x-4266 RAM, 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe solid-country bulldoze (SSD), and Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics. The 12.3-inch touch display has a iii:2 aspect ratio and supports inking, with tilt functionality using the correct active pen.

PCs include an attachable keyboard modeled after total-size ThinkPads, with a TrackPoint arrangement and three-stage backlight. Also included is a basic active pen for Windows Ink.

You can equip models with upwards to an Intel Core i7-1180G7 CPU with vPro, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD. The SSD is capped at FHD+ with no pick for a higher resolution.

Here's a look at the exact specs in my review unit.

Category	Spec
OS	Windows 10 Pro
Processor	11th Gen Intel Core i5-1130G7 iv cores, 8 threads Up to 4.0GHz
RAM	16GB LPDDR4x-4266 Dual-aqueduct Soldered
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Integrated
Storage	512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD
Brandish	12.three inches 1920x1280 (FHD+) Bear upon, IPS iii:ii attribute ratio Anti-reflective Gorilla Glass 5
Ports	Thunderbolt 4 USB-C iii.2 (Gen two) iii.5mm audio Nano-SIM (optional)
Sound	Dual 1W speakers Dolby Audio
Connectivity	Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 Bluetooth 5.1 4G LTE CAT9 (optional) eSIM support
Camera	Front-facing five.0MP Earth-facing 8.0MP IR camera Webcam shutter
Keyboard	Attachable (Pogo pin) White backlight
Touchpad	Precision TrackPoint
Security	dTPM 2.0 Fingerprint reader IR photographic camera Webcam shutter Kensington lock
Battery	42Wh 64W Air conditioning adapter
Dimensions	With keyboard: 11.15 x 8.01 x 0.57 inches (283.3mm x 203.5mm x 14.5mm)
Weight	With keyboard: 2.4 pounds (ane.1kg)
Material	Magnesium alloy
Color	Black

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Blueprint and features

Lenovo Thinkpad X12 Detachable Review Source: Windows Central

The ThinkPad X12 Detachable borrows a familiar design, recognizable to any fans of the Surface Pro line. It's a 2-in-1 PC with a built-in stand and attachable keyboard, and it's just as comfy acting as a tablet as it is an Ultrabook. The tablet alone weighs in at just i.67 pounds (760g) and is 0.34 inches (8.8mm) thin. The keyboard adds most 0.75 pounds (340g) to the weight and 0.22 inches (5.7mm) to thickness. The chassis is made up of a magnesium-aluminum blend for rigidity and durability, plus its MIL-STD 810G certified to ensure it tin withstand harsh environments. While the Surface Pro line can live a adequately rough life, the X12 Detachable should stand up much improve to regular abuse.

Ane more matter to note about the design is the X12's stop. Lenovo has gone with something called Peachskin paint here, moving away from the usual soft-touch paint. It feels fantastic, with a more matte await. It also seems to counteract smudges and fingerprints better than the soft end.

The X12 Detachable's keyboard brings most of the ThinkPad feel to a tablet, including TrackPoint and physical buttons.

Fastened with a magnetic Pogo pin, the keyboard snaps on and remains securely fastened during use. It as well uses magnets to proceed the device shut when on the get. The keyboard is relatively thick, but you become a far more rigid base of operations than the Surface Pro's Type Cover. There's near no bend at all beneath the cupped ThinkPad-style keys. Information technology's not quite full size, simply keys are spaced well, and I never felt cramped while typing. Key travel is about on par with the Type Cover, peradventure a bit deeper. In that location is a three-stage white backlight to help with working after hours, and a TrackPoint organisation with physical mouse buttons accompanies the Precision touchpad.

The keyboard includes a snappy fingerprint reader for logins through Windows Hullo. The keyboard must be attached to use the reader, but fright not if you're working only with the tablet. An IR camera comes included with all models, doubling up on the forepart with a 5MP standard camera. No matter how y'all're using the device, you'll be able to take advantage of some actress security. The globe-facing camera is boosted upwardly to 8MP and puts up a well-baked picture. A privacy shutter covers the front-facing camera when not in use. Whether you're using the X12 for video conferencing or some still shots, the built-in hardware does a good chore.

Ports include the new Thunderbolt iv, as well as a USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) and a 3.5mm audio jack. No microSD card reader and no USB-A, which the Surface Pro seven+ offers. The X12'south port selection sets you up nicely for the future, though the lack of USB-A could injure some people. The lack of a microSD card reader hurts more than for my personal workload; moving photos back and along now requires extra hardware. These issues can be solved by adding i of the all-time laptop docking stations.

A volume rocker resides on the right side of the tablet, just above a Kensington lock slot. The tiptop edge houses a recessed (to prevent adventitious presses) power push button, and there's a row of venting that doesn't harm the overall aesthetics of the tablet. An intake is as well positioned on the right side. It's non a lot of venting, just the PC didn't seem to struggle with thermal bug fifty-fifty nether load. The fan kicks on from fourth dimension to time merely never gets loud.

Lenovo Thinkpad X12 Detachable Review Source: Windows Central

Dual 1W speakers are hidden in the brandish bezel on either side of the screen. Y'all go unmuffled sound no matter how you're using the device; just go along in listen that these speakers aren't going to wow you. The sound is clear and gets relatively loud, and you lot can melody EQ with the Dolby Sound app. Dual-array microphones tin be optimized to choice upwardly your vocalization only, helping deal with noisy environments while you're on a call.

The X12 Detachable can be had with a Fibocom L850-GL wireless modem for 4G LTE CAT9 connectivity. A SIM slot is built into the left side of the tablet, and there seems to likewise be eSIM support through Gemalto. This is an entirely optional characteristic. Without 4G, the X12 relies on Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v.1. Unless yous absolutely demand 5G connectivity, the X12 should have you covered for connectivity.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Brandish and inking

Lenovo Thinkpad X12 Detachable Review Source: Windows Key

The X12 Detachable has ane 12.3-inch display option. It has a 1920x1280 (FHD+) resolution, which at this size seems sharp enough. The 3:ii attribute ratio is ideal for this type of device that should see a fair bit of utilize every bit a tablet, but don't look a thin bezel. It certainly doesn't match up to the Surface Pro's boosted 2736x1824 resolution, just it still looks great. And information technology's in line with what Dell offers in its Latitude 7210 Detachable line.

There's an anti-reflective layer on the screen to reduce glare. Combined with a measured 427 nits effulgence, you should merely have glare issues in the virtually well-lit rooms. Lenovo uses Gorilla Drinking glass v for better durability and resistance against scratches.

Lenovo Thinkpad X12 Detachable Review Source: Windows Central

Testing color reproduction, the X12 Detachable striking 100% sRGB, 75% AdobeRGB, and 78% DCI-P3. These are solid results, especially for a device that's meant mostly for business work. The addition of a Lenovo Digital Pen with X12 models adds to the value — think, y'all're also getting the keyboard for the listed price — and it does a great task for sketching and writing out notes. The downside here is that it doesn't magnetically attach to the tablet. At that place'south an elastic loop on the keyboard through which you can slip the pen, only it's far from an elegant solution.

You tin upgrade to the Lenovo Precision Pen if you're passionate virtually inking and desire a ameliorate experience. The pen attaches magnetically to the tablet, it has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, and information technology offers tilt detection for better cartoon and shading. The Precision Pen adds about $59 to the total.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Performance and battery

Lenovo Thinkpad X12 Detachable Review Source: Windows Central

Lenovo went with Intel's 11th Gen Tiger Lake CPUs for the X12, which is the same line the Surface Pro seven+ employs. Nonetheless, the X12's CPUs have a lower 15W TDP compared to the 28W TDP in the Pro 7+'s chips. The X12 is bachelor with Intel vPro for enterprise buys that demand the extra management tools.

Despite the CPU differences, the X12 comes in just backside the Pro seven+ when testing Cadre i5 CPUs in Geekbench 5. I too ran a bunch of other synthetic benchmarks to see how the X12 compares.

The X12 performed well in PCMark 10, no doubt helped along by the loftier-speed LPDDR4x-4266 RAM. Cinebench R23 results were less impressive compared to the Pro 7+, but the X12 still easily beat the Surface Pro 7 and its 10th Gen Intel CPU.

Storage speed is a fleck disappointing, coming in well below a lot of Ultrabooks we've recently tested (even earlier getting into PCIe 4.0). Even so, for virtually tasks the X12 excels at, the read and write speeds hither will be more than than enough.

These devices' portable nature means they must have a battery that can go on upwards with a mobile lifestyle. Testing with PCMark 10's Mod Office rundown, the X12'south 42Wh battery lasted nine hours and 39 minutes between charges. This was tested with screen brightness at 75% and with Windows 10'due south Better Performance power profile. With better battery management, you should be able to go beyond ten hours. And thank you to Rapid Charge, plugging in for an hour will become you back about lxxx% bombardment life.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Competition

Surface Pro 7 Vs Lenovo X12 Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

The X12 Detachable is modeled after the Surface Pro, so it's only natural that the largest comparisons are drawn at that place. Compared to the standard Pro seven, this X12 Detachable is an upgrade in many ways. 11th Gen Intel Cadre CPUs with better performance and graphics compared to tenth Gen chips, optional 4G LTE, and Thunderbolt 4. The Pro 7 nevertheless ekes out slightly amend bombardment life and remains a formidable ii-in-1 pick, just the X12 will no doubt sway a lot of people away.

The refreshed Surface Pro seven Plus is a different story. It has 11th Gen Intel Cadre CPUs with higher frequency, optional 4G LTE connectivity, an upgradeable SSD, excellent battery life, and a unlike port choice. It bested the X12 Detachable in all benchmarks, save PCMark 10. Withal, it doesn't have a webcam shutter, fingerprint reader, vPro tech, or as comfy of a keyboard. It besides lacks Thunderbolt 4. A Core i5 Pro 7+ model with 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD costs about $ane,500 and doesn't include a pen or keyboard. That's significantly more than the X12 Detachable; the review model I have costs virtually $one,404 with keyboard and pen included.

Note that I compared the ii Microsoft devices in a Surface Pro 7 Plus vs. the Surface Pro 7 if y'all'd like a closer look at what inverse after the mid-gen refresh.

Dell'due south Breadth 7210 Detachable is another business option to go on an heart on. Nevertheless, information technology is significantly more expensive and is still using Intel 10th Gen Core U-serial CPUs. Exist sure to check out our collection of the best 2-in-1 laptops and overall all-time Windows laptops for many more than buying options.

Should you buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable?

Lenovo Thinkpad X12 Detachable Review Source: Windows Primal

You should buy this if …

You lot want a comfortable 2-in-1 typing feel
You need a 2-in-ane with solid durability
You need actress concern and security features
You lot desire to spend less than the Surface Pro 7+

You should not purchase this if …

You lot don't often use your PC as a tablet
You want a college resolution than FHD+
You want the all-time operation and battery life possible from a 2-in-1

The ThinkPad X12 Detachable is a worthy successor to the ThinkPad X1 Tablet. It's powerful enough to easily cutting through a standard day'due south work, it packs in some high-end features that come up standard, and it'due south durable enough to withstand a hard life on the road or in an role. The vPro CPU options and dTPM 2.0 help with Information technology management.

Information technology might not be quite equally powerful or have a battery every bit long-lasting every bit the Surface Pro 7+, just the X12 delivers a better ii-in-1 typing experience, future-focused ports (save for the lack of microSD card reader), and a lower price. You can more often than not notice models with keyboard and active pen included for hundreds less than Microsoft'southward Pro 7+.

Thinkpad X12 Detachable

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable

The ThinkPad X12 Detachable is a well-built, durable 2-in-1 device for anyone who needs actress business organisation and security features. If yous beloved ThinkPad but desire to split up your time between tablet and notebook, this is the mode to go.

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