Thinkpads Forum

I should replace my old X60s, and wonder which is best X201 or X220? Or is there another choice?

I'd go with an X220 or X230 personally and get an IPS display either way. Graphics performance will be better on the X230, CPU will be marginally better as well (clock for clock) and your choice of keyboard style / layout may influence which you pick. Of course if you want to custom configure it you're likely to go with the X230 since you can't CTO an X220 on Lenovo's web site anymore.

Resolution would be eventually another important topic. Would you prefer the X201's 16:10 format (1280x800 or 1440x990) or the X220's 16:9 format? (1366×768). Or won't you care at all?

I had an X61 for a while... the size was perfect but battery life was mediocre... two hours with the 4 cell batttery if I remember correctly.

I replaced it with an X200. It was considerably larger, the screen actually smaller but felt larger due the increased resolution. Full size keyboard. Runs very cool. Battery life was so much better, when new and on a full charge nearly 5 hours...

X201 is a refresh of the X200. It's faster but battery life shorter and it runs hotter. Unless you really need more speed, I would stay with an X200 or move to an X220.

I currently have an X220 and I'm pretty happy with it. It's fast, runs very cool, amazing battery life 6-7 hours minimum. The screen feels large for the size. The machine itself is very slim. They used to produce an s version for every model and now all X220 are practically X220s.

The X220 doesn't have latches to secure the screen while the X200 does.

From what I've read the X230 is an improvement over X220 only in graphics. Processor speed is a tiny bit faster but not noticeable. I don't think battery life improved at all and I recall it even got worse. So unless you need faster graphics, I'd stay with the X220. Ah, an the X230 has the new keybaord...

I have had a whole line of X's - X20 -> X32, and got a W520 a few years ago for work. I just got a refurbished X220 for my new job - IPS LCD, 240gb SSD (was 160), 16GB Ram (was 4), 6-cell for $800 shipped. Since I just got it this week, I can't comment on a lot, but so far I like it. For the price & quality, I thought it was a good deal.

I specifically got the 220 for the old keyboard. I'm just too familiar with the layout to want to move to the new just yet. I'm sure Island layout is great, but I'll get it next generation (whether I like it or not - or the market will speak and Lenovo will have a "classic" keyboard option). The IPS screen is great, and though the 16x9 format is .. horrible .. you have to live with it these days.

It's lighter than I remember my X32, and the palm rest is a bit shallow - it works, barely. The trackpad is a joke, but it's there for when my wife inherits the machine. Note that the 6-cell, while it doesn't bulge out like the 9-cell does, is about 1/2 the weight of the whole machine! It doesn't SEEM as durable as the X32 - that was a tank - but Lenovo has been getting flimsier with each generation (or at least flimsier feeling), but they still seem to hold up in the long run.

It also uses my W520 dock - nice - and my old T60 power supplies.

plympton wrote:It doesn't SEEM as durable as the X32 - that was a tank

You know, I used to think that, but having owned an X32 for a while now, I am surprised to find them more fragile than they seem at first. Mostly the plastics (keyboard bezel, LCD bezel) tend to crack fairly easily, and the number of motherboard failures (typically due to voltage regulating caps failing) is non-negligible. Still love the X32, though.

I also had an X31 for a while and I can't say it was better than the X220. I don't know, mine just feels rock solid...

I think the only consideration between X201 and X220 is the screen format. Surprisingly, on a small laptop I prefeer the new 16:9 format, it just makes the screen feel bigger. It certainly feels bigger than X200's.

I recently sold my x61s which is similar, and have 2 x201 and x230. I do like the larger x230 screen over the x201, I was hoping to find higher resolution than the 1366x768.. would be cool if we have like retina resolution on our smaller laptop

rsutoratosu wrote:I recently sold my x61s which is similar, and have 2 x201 and x230. I do like the larger x230 screen over the x201, I was hoping to find higher resolution than the 1366x768.. would be cool if we have like retina resolution on our smaller laptop

Still getting used to my X220 - the 16x9 screen feels like a windowpane, and I'm always scrolling. 4x3 is really my preference, but sadly, the market & marketing has spoken to that one long ago. The full-size keyboard is nice, though I never had a problem with the 90% of the X3 series. It'll be good for getting replacements in the future though!

There's a thread with someone looking into a FHD IPS screen replacement, so there's always that possibility of a hack.