2021 Thinkpads

[amardeep]

Rumours and initial discussion of new 2021 Thinkpads.

What's coming out in 2021 ? Currently X1 Nano's are making their way into the real world, there was a rumour of 16:10 aspect ratio screens on the next X1 Carbon, an X1 Titanium is due sometime, and that's about all I know of currently.

Previous year's threads :
• Lenovo CES 2020
• Lenovo CES 2019
• Lenovo CES 2018

It doesn't seem like all, or even most, announcements for the year happen all together at CES any more, so a change in thread title seemed appropriate.

[Ibthink]

There is also the ThinkPad X12 that has yet to be released, which looks like an indirect successor to the discontinued X1 Tablet.

As for the non-X1 models, I think we can expect a lot of new designs next year. Most of the T/X series has been using the same design for at least two generations now and Lenovo usually redesigns them after 2-3 gens. Same goes for the X1 Extreme / P1 - if Lenovo would move to 16:10 on this one as well to compete with the Dell XPS 15, it could certainly be a very interesting year for ThinkPads.

[bgx]

10 days to CES and still no more leaks?
What about the X1 yoga titanium in 3:2? This one looked very promising, but we still have no news.

Will thinkpads keep the 2USB-C+ 2USBA +full size Hdmi which make them both easy to use today and future proof (X1 Nano goes against that with only USB C, but one not so tiny model, one can hope they keep usb A)?

Happy new year to all!

[Ibthink]

Most press is probably already been briefed and under NDA, so I wouldn't expect any leaks before CES. But it won't take long now, so have a little bit of patience.

[amardeep]

Lenovo X1 Titanium Yoga coming-soon page.

X1 Titanium Yoga : 13.5" 2K (2256 x 1504), up to 16GB RAM, Intel Iris X graphics, 11.5mm x 297.5mm x 232.7mm, ~1.2kg, 2 x USB 4 Type-C with Thunderbolt, Headphone / Mic socket, Haptic-feedback TrackPad.

[bgx]

almost perfect...but 2 USB C only? no pen? wtf!

and 3:2 but with these big vertical bezel? wrong rendering?

[bgx]

thanks to Reddit and russia, we know more about X1 2021:

short story: 16:10 slim bezel and 32GB
Dont know about port yet

X1carbon9
https://htstatic.imgsmail.ru/pic_image/ ... 6/1954031/

X1yoga6
https://htstatic.imgsmail.ru/pic_image/ ... 5/1954032/

X12 convertible
https://htstatic.imgsmail.ru/pic_image/ ... 9/1954033/

So a step in good direction. Sad that yoga is not 3:2 :/

[amardeep]

It's a small complaint, but ... I actually liked the revised X1 logo (last year ?) where everything was together in one corner, didn't know it was in preparation to stick an additional lenovo logo in the opposite corner. Come on Lenovo, leave it clean and minimal !

Regarding the X1C, I wonder if they've reduced key travel again, thereby eliminating one of the few remaining USPs. The 16:10 display is obviously a good change. Also wonder if the 32GB RAM option will be vapour-ware or readily available (and at what cost), but potentially another plus point for those who need it.

[bgx]

Ok, so i checked, and X1 Titanium is 1,15cm wide, while X1yoga5 is 1,52cm wide.

I guess you cant go much thinner than 1,52cm thick with usb and hdmi (at least at the thickest).
So i undersatnd why they removed it.

However, using a X1 yoga4 to take notes (after a X1yoga1) on pdf document quite frequently i can say that:
It is not the best form factor for that, a tablet would be better, but it is quite usable.

I dont think shoving a 0,37cm is going to change that by much. that would only maginaly improve things. Large tablet would still be better for that.
Going to this kind of machine means you use it mostly as laptop, and sometimes to take notes, and removing USB A is too much a burden for what it worth.

If you want to mainly take notes and sometimes as laptop, the new X12 would be the way to go.

[unix_joe]

16:10 has officially arrived. Party like it's 2008 again!

But ... am I reading this right ... no HiDPI options? Limited to 1920x1200? I guess ... party like it's 2008 again.

[amardeep]

Not sure what you're reading.

• X1C G9 Lenovo web-page, and X1C G9 notebookcheck.net web-page, (16:10 1920x1200 or 3840x2400 pixel display, up to 32GB RAM, 2xUSB-C, 2xUSB-A, headphone/mic, HDMI, 14.9mm x 314.5mm x 221.6mm).
• X1 Yoga G6 Lenovo web-page.
• X12 Detatchable Lenovo web-page.

Regarding the X1C, from the notebookcheck web-page : 2xUSB-C, 2xUSB-A, headphone/mic, HDMI, but side-docking and mini-Ethernet removed, power button above keyboard, two of four speakers to sides of keyboard, wider touchpad, changed hinge and exhaust design, up to 32 GB RAM, 5G available, 57Wh batteries up from 50Wh, keyboard travel down to 1.35mm.

Some good positives, but also ... do such small fractions of a mm matter that much that the keyboard must reduce travel

[unix_joe]

Not sure what you're reading.

• X1C G9 Lenovo web-page, and X1C G9 notebookcheck.net web-page, (16:10 1920x1200 or 3840x2400 pixel display, up to 32GB RAM, 2xUSB-C, 2xUSB-A, headphone/mic, HDMI, 14.9mm x 314.5mm x 221.6mm).
• X1 Yoga G6 Lenovo web-page.
• X12 Detatchable Lenovo web-page.

Regarding the X1C, from the notebookcheck web-page : 2xUSB-C, 2xUSB-A, headphone/mic, HDMI, but side-docking and mini-Ethernet removed, power button above keyboard, two of four speakers to sides of keyboard, wider touchpad, changed hinge and exhaust design, up to 32 GB RAM, 5G available, 57Wh batteries up from 50Wh, keyboard travel down to 1.35mm.

Some good positives, but also ... do such small fractions of a mm matter that much that the keyboard must reduce travel

Wow, thanks! Excellent news! I only saw 1920x1200 in the specs on Notebook review.

This is a huge step in the right direction. The x1c might be my first new ThinkPad in several years. Just gotta wait for the dBrand skins to catch up so that it doesn’t look like a greasy mess after five minutes of use.

[amardeep]

Ah, OK. I want an X1 Classic - one of the new 16:10 X1's with a T25 keyboard, I don't mind it being slightly thicker, as long as the other dimensions don't grow. I think a supersonic pig just flew over.

[Puppy]

The X1 C9 is interesting, it seems as the stupid 16:9 aspect ratio is finally recognized as unwanted one. Now please fix the keyboard layout

[amardeep]

Notebookcheck's first take on the X1 Nano is that the keyboard with reduced travel is disappointing (rest seems good). Someone on reddit found a bunch of Thinkpad certification registrations, if accurate, the X13 will be 16:10, T14(s) 16:9.

[amardeep]

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-Th ... 858.0.html

Update 02/04/21: Our original news about the upcoming ThinkPad X1 Carbon G9 and ThinkPad X1 Yoga G6 included incorrect information about the keyboard. Both models will get an updated keyboard, but the key travel stays at 1.5 mm for most keys like on the current models. Only the upper row with the function keys will get a reduced key travel of 1.35 mm similar to the ThinkPad X1 Nano.

[Puppy]

The displays is not a total crap, interesting

[Yao2000]

great information!

may i ask is it confirmed that T14s gen 2 and T14 gen 2 are both keeping 16:9 aspect ratio?

thanks.

[amardeep]

Lots of news about new Thinkpads.

• Thinkpad X13 Gen 2
• Thinkpad L14, L15
• Thinkpad X13 Yoga Gen 2
• Thinkpad P14s, P14si, P15s Gen2
• Thinkpad T14, T15 Gen 2
• Thinkpad T14s Gen 2

No I didn't read all this yet! I think T14s has 1.5mm keyboard, T14 1.8mm, T-series is 16:9, X-series is 16:10.

Interview with a Lenovo German business manager, though how much he knows is anybody's guess. This bit was depressing.

Notebookcheck: Was the ThinkPad 25 Anniversary Edition a success and is something similar planned for the 30th anniversary? Some customers would still like to see a 7-row keyboard.

Michael Weigelt: Yes, it was a success, let alone thanks to the high number of press releases and because it was a great fan service for ThinkPad enthusiasts. Limited models with small quantities are always challenging from a commercial standpoint, but we did it because it was an affair of the heart for us.

We want to move away from such a "technical look" for a ThinkPad; a ThinkPad should also have an interesting design, and one of the elements is to make the keyboard more coherent. The lack of the 7th keyboard row obviously has space advantages as well. We cannot deny the trend towards thinner and lighter devices.

Don't see the point of ignoring the little differentiation you've got over your competitors, and trying to look and feel ever more like them. But what do I know. If you actually read what he says, it makes no sense, in my opinion. It was an "affair of the heart" (god help us if that was Lenovo all-out), a great success, but we're never doing it again and are scared of our products looking technical. Even just a few or one of them. Don't even try to decipher what a "more coherent" keyboard is.

[JaneKing]

I'm looking to upgrade my Thinkpad as well...I saw this post https://www.laptopmag.com/best-lenovo-laptops. The Lenovo Yoga 9i is actually calling my name ...the battery life and the display is a huge plus

[amardeep]

Hopefully this image of the 2021 Thinkpad lineup diagram will persist at this link (or try https://i.imgur.com/XOk47Hf.png and click on the image for a bigger version).

[dr_st]

We want to move away from such a "technical look" for a ThinkPad; a ThinkPad should also have an interesting design, and one of the elements is to make the keyboard more coherent. The lack of the 7th keyboard row obviously has space advantages as well. We cannot deny the trend towards thinner and lighter devices.[/i]

Don't see the point of ignoring the little differentiation you've got over your competitors, and trying to look and feel ever more like them. But what do I know. If you actually read what he says, it makes no sense, in my opinion. It was an "affair of the heart" (god help us if that was Lenovo all-out), a great success, but we're never doing it again and are scared of our products looking technical. Even just a few or one of them. Don't even try to decipher what a "more coherent" keyboard is.

There is no need to look too much into it. It's just a typical mumbo-jumbo response from a corporate suit who probably can do nothing other than present slide decks prepared by his lackey the night before and recite standard rehearsed responses in business-lingo. Such people are terribly afraid of everything that might require even the smallest bit of creativity or divergence from the square box they are used to living in, and wouldn't recognize innovation and opportunity even if it fell on their head attached to a piano.

[Puppy]

So the X13 only offers combination of 16:10 display and AMD CPU.

[RealBlackStuff]

Just wait until Lenovo hooks up with the Fruit and produces M1-ThinkPads.

[amardeep]

notebookcheck.net review of the X1 Carbon G9, an explanation for the very subtly bulged lid, some nice improvements, but a marginally worse keyboard compared to the previous generation in their opinion (though I think they prefer it to the X1 Nano keyboard).

[betonhaus]

Just wait until Lenovo hooks up with the Fruit and produces M1-ThinkPads.

Microsoft is working to make Windows-on-ARM is real thing but it seems to be a slow process. We might see some in the future.

[Summilux]

Michael Weigelt: Yes, it was a success, let alone thanks to the high number of press releases and because it was a great fan service for ThinkPad enthusiasts. Limited models with small quantities are always challenging from a commercial standpoint, but we did it because it was an affair of the heart for us.

We want to move away from such a "technical look" for a ThinkPad; a ThinkPad should also have an interesting design, and one of the elements is to make the keyboard more coherent. The lack of the 7th keyboard row obviously has space advantages as well. We cannot deny the trend towards thinner and lighter devices.

Form over function coupled with herd mentality. How utterly pathetic.

But totally not surprising coming from Lenovo

[amardeep]

Lenovo given a bit of a mauling by notebookcheck.net over gradually reducing keyboard quality on the X1 from generation to generation (amongst other things) : https://www.notebookcheck.net/Why-does- ... 479.0.html

[amardeep]

X1 Extreme G4 rumors at notebookcheck.net. Includes 16:10 displays, and better GPUs.

[madicetea]

Hopefully this image of the 2021 Thinkpad lineup diagram will persist at this link (or try https://i.imgur.com/XOk47Hf.png and click on the image for a bigger version).

I've been well out of my usual habits of checking the Lenovo release cycles, so I didn't even know about what X1C Nano was, and barely recalled that there was a Carbon and an Extreme!

Thank you for the image, it's a great summary chart -- very handy.