MWC 2025 | Hands-on: From small to big - Lenovo releases first T ThinkPad with pen and tablet features and axes the X13 2-in-1 in return
ThinkPad is a brand with a long history, which almost stretches back 33 years now. Even certain product lines are almost ancient by the tech sector's standards. The ThinkPad T series for example entered the market for the first time in the year 2000, and it is primarily known for regular 14-inch clamshell ThinkPads.
Another example would be the X series convertibles, which have existed since 2005. They have always been based on 12-inch or 13-inch screens. Both series were strictly separate: 14-inch was T series only, while the digitizer pen and tablet functions were only available on the X.
This is over now. At MWC 2025, Lenovo introduced a completely new model, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1, the first convertible of the T series. However, this also means the end of the X Tablet tradition, as the ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1 is replacing the X13 2-in-1, which is not receiving a sixth generation (only the clamshell version of the ThinkPad X13 Gen 6 is coming out). We have looked at the new convertible in Barcelona.
ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1 Gen 1: T series with hefty metal chassis
For the ThinkPad laptops of the T series, reducing the weight was clearly the priority in the last few years. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6, for example, uses Carbon fiber plastic for the screen cover. That greatly reduces the weight, but also can feel slightly less stiff than a metal chassis.
The ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1 Gen 1 is clearly a different animal from the rest of the T series. Lenovo makes it completely out of metal and glass. This leads to a rather high weight of 1.4 kg for a convertible, but also feels extremely robust and high quality. For a convertible laptop, this aspect is of even greater importance, as the chassis is under a lot of mechanical stress when it is transformed into a tablet.
A magnesium alloy is used for the outer hull of the ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1, though Lenovo is optionally also offering an aluminum bottom cover. The aluminum cover seems to be an option for models with the Arrow Lake H CPUs, as aluminum offers better heat transfer capabilities and thus a higher TDP for the CPU. Increasing the performance was one of the reasons why the T14s 2-in-1 replaces the X13 2-in-1. A bigger chassis enables the CPU running cooler and faster. Indeed, the CPU performance (or lack thereof) was one of our main complaints about the ThinkPad X13 2-in-1 Gen 5.
Pen magnetically attached with the new ThinkPad convertible
A big design change compared with the previous X13 2-in-1 relates to the Wacom digitizer pen. Traditionally, the pen would be parked in the pen-garage in the chassis when it is not used. However, the ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1 has no room for that. The pen is magnetically attached to the right side of the screen, with charging possible via USB-C. The advantage is that the pen can be much larger and more comfortable to use. However, losing it is easier as well. At least the magnetic attachment is pretty strong, it takes some effort to remove the pen.
The overall design of the ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1 is classical ThinkPad, through and through. It is all black and has two meaty metal-capped hinges which hold the screen firm. Lenovo did not experiment with the design here in any way, like with removing the mechanical TrackPoint buttons.
Not quite ideal is the port placement for this model. Two USB-A on the right and two USB-C on the left side results in users being forced to attach their respective accessories to either side. It would have been better if Lenovo placed one of the ports on either side - maybe something to keep in mind for the next redesign for the manufacturer.
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