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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold laptop in review: Revolutionary or overpriced experiment?

Foldable OLED tablet. With the ThinkPad X1 Fold, Lenovo presents the first laptop with a foldable OLED panel. However, it has to deal with many limitations in everyday use. We want to find out whether the X1 Fold justifies the high price or whether you should rather avoid the technology experiment.

It's now quite rare to see a completely new device concept presented in the mobile segment. According to Lenovo, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is the world's first laptop with a folding display. However, looking at the device, it could easily be classified as a convertible. Nevertheless, those who want to use the X1 Fold with its foldable OLED display will have to dig deep into their pockets. The most affordable Campus versions start at around 2,800 Euros (~$3,295), while regular customers will have to pay a bit over 2,900 Euros (~$3,413).

However, you shouldn't expect much performance in return, because Lenovo uses an energy-efficient Intel Lakefield processor in combination with 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB PCIe SSD. The package also includes the small Bluetooth keyboard, the active stylus, and a 5G module is optionally available. When you consider the mobile use including the stylus, "normal" convertibles with attachable keyboards, e.g. the ThinkPad X12 (currently also in review) or Microsoft's Surface Pro 7 Plus, are probably the biggest competitors.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE (Thinkpad X1 Fold Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-L16G7 5 x 1.4 - 3 GHz, 9.5 W PL2 / Short Burst, 8 W PL1 / Sustained, Lakefield
Memory
8 GB 
, LPDDR4X-4266 on-board
Display
13.30 inch 4:3, 2048 x 1536 pixel 192 PPI, capacitive, LEN4142, OLED, glossy: yes, 60 Hz
Storage
Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe, 256 GB 
, 237 GB free
Connections
2 USB 3.1 Gen2, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), 2 DisplayPort
Networking
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 11.5 x 299.4 x 236 ( = 0.45 x 11.79 x 9.29 in)
Battery
50 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Primary Camera: 5 MPix
Secondary Camera: 0.9 MPix IR camera
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, 2x 1-watt, Keyboard Light: no, 65-watt PSU, 36 Months Warranty
Weight
1.169 kg ( = 41.24 oz / 2.58 pounds), Power Supply: 332 g ( = 11.71 oz / 0.73 pounds)
Price
3 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Possible contenders in comparison

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Best Price
77.8 %
04/2021
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
i5-L16G7, UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU)
1.2 kg11.5 mm13.30"2048x1536
88.3 %
01/2019
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620
1.3 kg8.9 mm13.00"3000x2000
88.5 %
03/2021
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs
796 g8.5 mm12.30"2736x1824
90.3 %
04/2020
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620
1.1 kg16.1 mm13.30"1920x1080
89.1 %
09/2019
Dell Latitude 7200
i5-8365U, UHD Graphics 620
1.2 kg9.35 mm12.30"1920x1280

Case - X1 Fold with stable folding mechanism

When you hold the ThinkPad X1 Fold in your hands for the first time, it feels like an oversized tablet. It's quite thick, has wide screen bezels by today's standards, and is also pretty heavy at over one kilogram. In addition, the screen's bezels are slightly rubberized, which quickly attracts dust. However, there's nothing to complain about in terms of stability because, as in other high-end ThinkPads, Lenovo makes use of a magnesium alloy. There's an additional leather cover on the back (genuine leather according to the spec sheet) that can be easily adjusted. As soon as you close the device, the additional cover retracts a few centimeters on one side, and a black high-gloss surface with an Intel sticker is revealed. A stand is also integrated on the other side, but it only allows a certain aperture angle and is only suitable for solid surfaces (like tables). In contrast, it's difficult to place the X1 Fold on your lap.

However, the highlight is the foldable OLED touchscreen. It offers a flexible surface, and you can see where the display folds when it's turned off. Nevertheless, the good news is that the mechanism makes a very stable impression, and you can't see any traces of the folding mechanism when the screen is turned on. Naturally, we can't assess the durability after the short test phase. In any case, you should clean the device regularly, otherwise both the touchscreen (more susceptible to dirt compared to "normal" capacitive screens) and the rubberized display frame will quickly look messy.

You can see the crease when the display is off.
You can see the crease when the display is off.
The touchscreen is extremely susceptible to fingerprints.
The touchscreen is extremely susceptible to fingerprints.

When you don't need the device, you can close it like a book. The included Bluetooth keyboard is magnetically attached to the right side of the device and doesn't need to be transported separately as a result. There's also a sleeve for the active stylus on the keyboard, so you have a nice and still quite compact package.

Size comparison

304.3 mm / 12 inch 197.5 mm / 7.78 inch 16.1 mm / 0.634 inch 1.1 kg2.51 lbs304 mm / 12 inch 225.6 mm / 8.88 inch 8.9 mm / 0.3504 inch 1.3 kg2.82 lbs299.4 mm / 11.8 inch 236 mm / 9.29 inch 11.5 mm / 0.4528 inch 1.2 kg2.58 lbs292 mm / 11.5 inch 208.8 mm / 8.22 inch 9.35 mm / 0.3681 inch 1.2 kg2.6 lbs292 mm / 11.5 inch 201 mm / 7.91 inch 8.5 mm / 0.3346 inch 796 g1.755 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity - 2x USB-C without Thunderbolt

2x USB-C; there are no further ports.
2x USB-C; there are no further ports.

The ThinkPad X1 Fold offers two USB-C ports (3.2 Gen. 2) that can also be used for connecting external displays. One port is on the left side and the other on the bottom edge.

There's no SD card reader, but Lenovo installs the popular and fast AX201 module from Intel as WLAN module, which also supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.1. The transfer rates in our test with the Netgear RAX120 router are decent, and we couldn't detect any problems with the signal quality. The ThinkPad X1 Fold is optionally available with a WWAN module (5G).

Left: Air vent, SIM slot (optional), air vent, USB-C (3.2 Gen. 2, Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.2)
Left: Air vent, SIM slot (optional), air vent, USB-C (3.2 Gen. 2, Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.2)
Right: Volume rocker, power button
Right: Volume rocker, power button
Top: Speaker grill
Top: Speaker grill
Bottom: Speaker grill, USB-C (3.2 Gen. 2, Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.2)
Bottom: Speaker grill, USB-C (3.2 Gen. 2, Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.2)
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
1411 (1311min - 1563max) MBit/s +23%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1382 (984min - 1508max) MBit/s +21%
Average of class Convertible
  (1003 - 1395, n=2, last 2 years)
1199 MBit/s +5%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
1146 (735min - 1327max) MBit/s
Average Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
  (447 - 1645, n=127)
1104 MBit/s -4%
Dell Latitude 7200
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
584 MBit/s -49%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
514 MBit/s -55%
iperf3 receive AX12
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
1454 (1393min - 1484max) MBit/s +22%
Average of class Convertible
  (1178 - 1578, n=2, last 2 years)
1378 MBit/s +16%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1354 (783min - 1513max) MBit/s +14%
Average Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
  (523 - 1684, n=128)
1191 MBit/s 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
1188 (944min - 1349max) MBit/s
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
633 MBit/s -47%
Dell Latitude 7200
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
605 MBit/s -49%
0501001502002503003504004505005506006507007508008509009501000105011001150120012501300Tooltip
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø1187 (944-1349)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø1146 (735-1327)

Webcam

ColorChecker
11.5 ∆E
12.5 ∆E
15.9 ∆E
16 ∆E
16.4 ∆E
14.5 ∆E
12.1 ∆E
15.8 ∆E
14.7 ∆E
9.4 ∆E
15.2 ∆E
13 ∆E
9.5 ∆E
13 ∆E
14.2 ∆E
12 ∆E
14.8 ∆E
16.7 ∆E
2.3 ∆E
12.6 ∆E
14.2 ∆E
13.6 ∆E
12.3 ∆E
6.7 ∆E
ColorChecker Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE: 12.87 ∆E min: 2.33 - max: 16.7 ∆E

Maintenance

The ThinkPad X1 Fold doesn't offer any maintenance options for the user. There's a maintenance hatch underneath the kickstand, and at first, you might assume that the M.2 SSD is located here, but that's not the case. Instead, only a few internal connections are revealed.

Input devices and handling

Keyboard

Lenovo supplies the X1 Fold with a small Bluetooth keyboard without backlighting that can be recharged via USB-C. It fits exactly on one half of the device and also stays in place magnetically. Naturally, the keyboard itself is much narrower than usual, which is why there are many double or triple key assignments. The key travel is also extremely short. You won't really want to type a lot with it.

However, the tiny touchpad is even more problematic. It reminds us of old IBM ThinkPads, but the display resolution is much higher nowadays. In practice, you either have to increase the speed considerably or constantly drag your finger. There's also hardly any room for gestures either. There's no TrackPoint, which is due to the limited space, according to our sources. Nevertheless, it would have been a much better alternative, and we would have wished that Lenovo had somehow implemented this solution.

Touchscreen and stylus

In principle, this is a capacitive touchscreen. However, the touchscreen isn't as responsive as we are used to from modern devices. The flexible surface is possibly to blame, because inputs aren't recognized smoothly in some cases, and a resistance is also noticeable when you glide your fingers over the surface. In practice, this is quite frustrating and massively affects the user experience.

The included active stylus (4,096 pressure levels) feels good in the hand and can be charged via USB-C. The stylus does work, but you clearly feel the resistance of the touchscreen surface here as well.

Display - The OLED touchscreen is too dim

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid

The OLED touchscreen with a resolution of 2048x1536 pixels (4:3) offers a very good subjective impression, which is mainly due to the very high contrast of the OLED panel. However, the surface is extremely reflective, which can quickly become a problem in practice. In addition, our test device clearly misses the advertised brightness of 300 nits; the average is only 235 cd/m².

Another problem, which is by no means unusual for OLED panels, is PWM flickering. The image flickers at 119 Hz when the full brightness is not used. This frequency is very low and can lead to problems if you are sensitive to flickering. Screen bleeding isn't a problem due to the technology.

231
cd/m²
240
cd/m²
237
cd/m²
232
cd/m²
239
cd/m²
237
cd/m²
227
cd/m²
239
cd/m²
234
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LEN4142 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 240 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 235.1 cd/m² Minimum: 8.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 95 %
Center on Battery: 245 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6.5 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 3.4
ΔE Greyscale 6.5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
100% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
91.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
100% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
100% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
94.6% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 1.79
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
LEN4142, OLED, 2048x1536, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
LP130QP1-SPA1, IPS, 3000x2000, 13.00
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
LG Philips LP123WQ332684, IPS, 2736x1824, 12.30
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
AUO5E2D, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell Latitude 7200
SHP14A3 LQ123N1, IPS LED, 1920x1280, 12.30
Display
-20%
-21%
-19%
-17%
Display P3 Coverage
94.6
68.1
-28%

67.8
-28%

66.9
-29%
69
-27%
71.6
-24%
sRGB Coverage
100
99.4
-1%

99.1
-1%

96.7
-3%
99.4
-1%
99.5
0%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
100
69.9
-30%

69.3
-31%

69.1
-31%
70.9
-29%
72.6
-27%
Response Times
-1641%
-1017%
-1770%
-643%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
2.4 ?(1.2, 1.2)
47.2 ?(21.2, 26)
-1867%
50.8 ?(25.2, 25.6)
-2017%
60.8 ?(30.8, 30)
-2433%
52 ?(26, 26)
-2067%
Response Time Black / White *
2.8 ?(1.6, 1.2)
42.4 ?(19.6, 22.8)
-1414%
33.6 ?(18.8, 14.8)
-1100%
33.8 ?(17.2, 16.6)
-1107%
34.8 ?(18.4, 16.4)
-1143%
PWM Frequency
119
199.2 ?(57, 119)
67%
1645 ?(25)
1282%
Screen
36%
44%
40%
42%
Brightness middle
239
474
98%
408
71%
411
72%
401
68%
Brightness
235
418
78%
425
81%
388
65%
385
64%
Brightness Distribution
95
76
-20%
85
-11%
87
-8%
88
-7%
Black Level *
0.33
0.34
0.22
0.28
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
6.5
3.2
51%
1.5
77%
1.8
72%
1.8
72%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
10.3
6.1
41%
2.5
76%
4.1
60%
3.4
67%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
3.4
0.9
74%
1.4
59%
1
71%
1.1
68%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.5
4.5
31%
1.6
75%
2.5
62%
1.6
75%
Gamma
1.79 123%
2.07 106%
2.05 107%
2.26 97%
2.14 103%
CCT
6221 104%
5881 111%
6432 101%
6448 101%
6702 97%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
91.9
64
-30%
63.7
-31%
64.7
-30%
66.6
-28%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
100
99.4
-1%
96.8
-3%
99.3
-1%
99.4
-1%
Contrast
1436
1200
1868
1432
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-542% / -181%
-331% / -181%
-583% / -231%
-206% / -107%

* ... smaller is better

We measured the display with the professional CalMAN software and the i1 Pro 2 spectrophotometer. The panel isn't well calibrated out of the box, and there's also a slight color tint. Lenovo states that this panel covers the P3 color space by 95%. We can also confirm this, but interestingly, AdobeRGB is also almost completely covered, and the values compared to the AdobeRGB reference color space are also better in our measurements.

CalMAN Grayscales (AdobeRGB target color space)
CalMAN Grayscales (AdobeRGB target color space)
CalMAN Saturation (AdobeRGB target color space)
CalMAN Saturation (AdobeRGB target color space)
CalMAN ColorChecker (AdobeRGB target color space)
CalMAN ColorChecker (AdobeRGB target color space)
CalMAN Grayscales calibrated (AdobeRGB target color space)
CalMAN Grayscales calibrated (AdobeRGB target color space)
CalMAN Saturation calibrated (AdobeRGB target color space)
CalMAN Saturation calibrated (AdobeRGB target color space)
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated (AdobeRGB target color space)
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated (AdobeRGB target color space)

With our calibration (profile available for download above), we get the color tint under control, but the high color deviations are still present. Therefore, the panel is only suitable for image-editing to a limited extent. 

vs. sRGB: 100%
vs. sRGB: 100%
vs. AdobeRGB: 91.1%
vs. AdobeRGB: 91.1%

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
2.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 1.6 ms rise
↘ 1.2 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 8 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
2.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 1.2 ms rise
↘ 1.2 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 6 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 119 Hz

The display backlight flickers at 119 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) .

The frequency of 119 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

As we have already noted, the touchscreen is extremely reflective, and the OLED panel is not particularly bright either. Annoying reflections can already occur indoors, but the device is hardly usable in bright outdoor areas. On the other hand, the viewing-angle stability is excellent.

In sunlight
In sunlight
In sunlight
In sunlight
Viewing-angle stability
Viewing-angle stability

Performance - The X1 Fold fails mainly due to its software

The storage equipment with 8 GB of LPDDR4X-4266 RAM and a 256 GB PCIe SSD is not outstanding, but it's certainly still sufficient for simple tasks. However, the bottleneck of this system is clearly the Lakefield processor, Intel's hybrid solution for mobile devices. This hybrid chip, with which we are already familiar from Samsung's Galaxy Book S, consists of four slow and efficient cores and one fast core, which we've also seen in the mobile Ice Lake CPUs. Again, performance is sufficient for simple applications, but there isn't much headroom.

Processor

The employed Core i5-L16G7 can reach up to 3 GHz on the fast core (Sunny Cove), the efficient cores (Tremont), a maximum of 2.8 GHz. One thread can be processed per core, and Windows automatically decides how the load is distributed. Lenovo sets the TDP limits to 9.5 watts (PL2) and sustained 8 watts (PL1).

Performance is stable and identical to the Samsung Galaxy Book S with the same processor, but it's very low even compared to two-year-old mobile processors. Therefore, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is not suitable for demanding tasks. In addition, performance is reduced a bit further on battery power (-11%).

04080120160200240280320360400440480520560600640680720760Tooltip
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE Intel Core i5-L16G7: Ø254 (252.58-254.94)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE Intel Core i5-8250U; Undervolting: Ø640 (589.9-694.88)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE Intel Core i5-8250U: Ø550 (498.05-645.36)
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus Intel Core i5-1135G7: Ø513 (475.43-784.28)
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA Intel Core i5-8265U: Ø413 (406.64-496.34)
Dell Latitude 7200 Intel Core i5-8365U: Ø519 (509.77-619.48)
Samsung Galaxy Book S Intel Intel Core i5-L16G7: Ø253 (249.12-254.89)
Cinebench R20: CPU (Single Core) | CPU (Multi Core)
Cinebench R15: CPU Single 64Bit | CPU Multi 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 -mmt1 | 7z b 4
Geekbench 5.5: Single-Core | Multi-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Single Core)
Average of class Convertible
  (116.8 - 755, n=64, last 2 years)
602 Points +108%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Core i5-1135G7
501 Points +73%
Dell Latitude 7200
Intel Core i5-8365U
419 Points +45%
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
Intel Core i5-8265U
370 Points +28%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Core i5-L16G7
289 Points
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7
  (276 - 289, n=2)
283 Points -2%
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Multi Core)
Average of class Convertible
  (242 - 6954, n=65, last 2 years)
3478 Points +407%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Core i5-1135G7
1573 Points +129%
Dell Latitude 7200
Intel Core i5-8365U
1430 Points +108%
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
Intel Core i5-8265U
1038 Points +51%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Core i5-L16G7
686 Points
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7
  (609 - 686, n=2)
648 Points -6%
Cinebench R15 / CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (68.6 - 287, n=64, last 2 years)
229 Points +152%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Core i5-1135G7
188 Points +107%
Dell Latitude 7200
Intel Core i5-8365U
164 Points +81%
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
Intel Core i5-8265U
146 Points +61%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
141 Points +55%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Core i5-L16G7
90.7 Points
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7
  (88.3 - 90.7, n=2)
89.5 Points -1%
Cinebench R15 / CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (110.1 - 2889, n=66, last 2 years)
1554 Points +509%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Core i5-1135G7
784 Points +207%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
695 Points +173%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
661 Points +159%
Dell Latitude 7200
Intel Core i5-8365U
620 (509.77min - 658max) Points +143%
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
Intel Core i5-8265U
496 (406.64min - 496.34max) Points +95%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Core i5-L16G7
255 (252.58min - 254.94max) Points
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7
  (255 - 255, n=2)
255 Points 0%
Blender / v2.79 BMW27 CPU
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7
  (1897 - 2156, n=2)
2027 Seconds * -7%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Core i5-L16G7
1897 Seconds *
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
Intel Core i5-8265U
1039 Seconds * +45%
Dell Latitude 7200
Intel Core i5-8365U
855 Seconds * +55%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Core i5-1135G7
735 Seconds * +61%
Average of class Convertible
  (193 - 3620, n=60, last 2 years)
464 Seconds * +76%
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 -mmt1
Average of class Convertible
  (2046 - 6417, n=62, last 2 years)
5156 MIPS +59%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Core i5-1135G7
4313 MIPS +33%
Dell Latitude 7200
Intel Core i5-8365U
3958 MIPS +22%
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
Intel Core i5-8265U
3885 MIPS +20%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Core i5-L16G7
3248 MIPS
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7
  (3174 - 3248, n=2)
3211 MIPS -1%
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4
Average of class Convertible
  (7703 - 72400, n=63, last 2 years)
39319 MIPS +395%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Core i5-1135G7
22950 MIPS +189%
Dell Latitude 7200
Intel Core i5-8365U
16711 MIPS +110%
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
Intel Core i5-8265U
13812 MIPS +74%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Core i5-L16G7
7943 MIPS
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7
  (7230 - 7943, n=2)
7587 MIPS -4%
Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core
Average of class Convertible
  (319 - 1981, n=67, last 2 years)
1576 Points +84%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Core i5-1135G7
1334 Points +56%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Core i5-L16G7
856 Points
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7
  (797 - 856, n=2)
827 Points -3%
Geekbench 5.5 / Multi-Core
Average of class Convertible
  (663 - 14016, n=67, last 2 years)
7949 Points +335%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Core i5-1135G7
4866 Points +166%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Core i5-L16G7
1826 Points
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7
  (1441 - 1826, n=2)
1634 Points -11%
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 / 4k Preset
Average of class Convertible
  (0.61 - 20.1, n=64, last 2 years)
10.3 fps +596%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Core i5-1135G7
6.09 fps +311%
Dell Latitude 7200
Intel Core i5-8365U
4.3 fps +191%
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
Intel Core i5-8265U
3.51 fps +137%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Core i5-L16G7
1.48 fps
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7
  (1.44 - 1.48, n=2)
1.46 fps -1%
LibreOffice / 20 Documents To PDF
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7
  (88.9 - 89.3, n=2)
89.1 s * -0%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Core i5-L16G7
88.9 s *
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Core i5-1135G7
57.2 s * +36%
Average of class Convertible
  (42 - 223, n=62, last 2 years)
54.8 s * +38%
R Benchmark 2.5 / Overall mean
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7
  (0.897 - 0.987, n=2)
0.942 sec * -5%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel Core i5-L16G7
0.897 sec *
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Core i5-1135G7
0.68 sec * +24%
Average of class Convertible
  (0.4102 - 1.967, n=62, last 2 years)
0.546 sec * +39%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
255 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
37.3 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
90.7 Points
Help

System performance

Performance is sufficient for simple tasks, even if there aren't many resources. Furthermore, there are definitely delays before the system responds to inputs. In practice, however, the X1 Fold clearly fails because of its software, and it's simply not fun to use the device. Lenovo has installed an additional program called App Switcher, which allows you to distribute content between the two halves of the screen, but this is all very cumbersome and complicated in practice. At this point, you can easily notice that Windows 10 was not designed to be used with touchscreens and even less with foldable devices. You can also use the device like a "normal" laptop, in which case content is only displayed on the upper half of the screen. However, the screen is pretty small here. Together with the sluggish reactions of the touchscreen and the poor keyboard including the tiny touchpad, the user experience is consequently much worse than with conventional convertibles such as the ThinkPad X12.

With the App Switcher, content can be distributed between the two halves of the screen.
With the App Switcher, content can be distributed between the two halves of the screen.
The X1 Fold can also be used as a "normal" laptop, but only with half the display size in that case.
The X1 Fold can also be used as a "normal" laptop, but only with half the display size in that case.
PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Convertible
  (1486 - 7963, n=59, last 2 years)
5616 Points +147%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, Samsung PM991 MZ9LQ256HBJQ
4026 Points +77%
Dell Latitude 7200
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8365U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
3782 Points +66%
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Intel Optane Memory H10 with Solid State Storage 32GB + 512GB HBRPEKNX0202A(L/H)
3636 Points +60%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3544 Points +56%
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7, Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU)
  (2274 - 2348, n=2)
2311 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU), i5-L16G7, Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe
2274 Points
Essentials
Average of class Convertible
  (3975 - 12059, n=59, last 2 years)
10504 Points +80%
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Intel Optane Memory H10 with Solid State Storage 32GB + 512GB HBRPEKNX0202A(L/H)
8270 Points +42%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, Samsung PM991 MZ9LQ256HBJQ
8149 Points +40%
Dell Latitude 7200
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8365U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
8119 Points +39%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
7460 Points +28%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU), i5-L16G7, Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe
5837 Points
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7, Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU)
  (5613 - 5837, n=2)
5725 Points -2%
Productivity
Average of class Convertible
  (2764 - 10800, n=59, last 2 years)
7383 Points +152%
Dell Latitude 7200
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8365U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
6326 Points +116%
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Intel Optane Memory H10 with Solid State Storage 32GB + 512GB HBRPEKNX0202A(L/H)
5916 Points +102%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, Samsung PM991 MZ9LQ256HBJQ
5544 Points +89%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5509 Points +88%
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7, Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU)
  (2926 - 3409, n=2)
3168 Points +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU), i5-L16G7, Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe
2926 Points
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Convertible
  (811 - 12360, n=59, last 2 years)
6335 Points +239%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, Samsung PM991 MZ9LQ256HBJQ
3921 Points +110%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
2939 Points +57%
Dell Latitude 7200
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8365U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
2859 Points +53%
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Intel Optane Memory H10 with Solid State Storage 32GB + 512GB HBRPEKNX0202A(L/H)
2667 Points +43%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU), i5-L16G7, Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe
1869 Points
Average Intel Core i5-L16G7, Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU)
  (1838 - 1869, n=2)
1854 Points -1%
PCMark 10 Score
2274 points
Help

DPC latencies

LatencyMon - Overview
LatencyMon - Overview
LatencyMon - Drivers
LatencyMon - Drivers
DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU), i5-L16G7, Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe
2020 μs *
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, Samsung PM991 MZ9LQ256HBJQ
313.5 μs * +84%

* ... smaller is better

Storage - PCIe SSD with x2 interface

Lenovo installs a compact M.2-2230 SSD from Toshiba with a capacity of 256 GB (237 GB available after the first startup). However, the SSD's speed is limited by the PCIe 3.0 x2 interface. But this isn't a big problem considering the convertible's orientation; the reduced bandwidth doesn't lead to bottlenecks in this case.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Samsung PM991 MZ9LQ256HBJQ
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
Intel Optane Memory H10 with Solid State Storage 32GB + 512GB HBRPEKNX0202A(L/H)
Dell Latitude 7200
WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
Average Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
79%
96%
66%
84%
73%
Write 4K
45.93
95.4
108%
165.3
260%
88
92%
131.9
187%
112.1 ?(45.9 - 150, n=9)
144%
Read 4K
45.57
39.19
-14%
42.95
-6%
132.1
190%
45.47
0%
50.6 ?(32.1 - 61.8, n=9)
11%
Write Seq
623
955
53%
503
-19%
1021
64%
961 ?(353 - 1613, n=7)
54%
Read Seq
1126
867
-23%
1306
16%
1085
-4%
1562 ?(1126 - 1881, n=7)
39%
Write 4K Q32T1
138.8
399.2
188%
423.5
205%
237.3
71%
444.9
221%
299 ?(138.8 - 412, n=9)
115%
Read 4K Q32T1
143.1
260.7
82%
479.2
235%
287.4
101%
366.6
156%
359 ?(143.1 - 447, n=9)
151%
Write Seq Q32T1
919
1287
40%
1060
15%
1242
35%
1458
59%
1366 ?(326 - 2340, n=9)
49%
Read Seq Q32T1
1776
3025
70%
2251
27%
2480
40%
1640
-8%
2170 ?(1568 - 2422, n=9)
22%
Write 4K Q8T8
381
437.2
380 ?(345 - 411, n=3)
Read 4K Q8T8
750
988
852 ?(689 - 1033, n=3)
AS SSD
79%
67%
34%
136%
33%
Seq Read
1453
2243
54%
1725
19%
1096
-25%
1294
-11%
1752 ?(1423 - 1972, n=10)
21%
Seq Write
775
847
9%
931
20%
305
-61%
856
10%
720 ?(324 - 1130, n=10)
-7%
4K Read
43.89
42.48
-3%
50.1
14%
62.3
42%
42.52
-3%
47.3 ?(37.3 - 56.7, n=10)
8%
4K Write
82.2
112.2
36%
136.9
67%
110.7
35%
141
72%
118.6 ?(74.8 - 176.4, n=10)
44%
4K-64 Read
957
741
-23%
870
-9%
393.7
-59%
983
3%
866 ?(585 - 1048, n=10)
-10%
4K-64 Write
107.3
597
456%
762
610%
438.5
309%
1183
1003%
402 ?(107.3 - 740, n=10)
275%
Access Time Read *
0.095
0.041
57%
0.279
-194%
0.078
18%
0.057
40%
0.1034 ?(0.036 - 0.172, n=10)
-9%
Access Time Write *
0.192
0.032
83%
0.028
85%
0.045
77%
0.026
86%
0.3076 ?(0.156 - 0.619, n=10)
-60%
Score Read
1146
1008
-12%
1093
-5%
566
-51%
1155
1%
1088 ?(833 - 1288, n=10)
-5%
Score Write
267
794
197%
992
272%
580
117%
1410
428%
592 ?(267 - 983, n=10)
122%
Score Total
1974
2257
14%
2616
33%
1420
-28%
3142
59%
2197 ?(1714 - 2826, n=10)
11%
Copy ISO MB/s
1050
1174
12%
1387
32%
926 ?(274 - 1192, n=8)
-12%
Copy Program MB/s
236.5
262.8
11%
449.5
90%
372 ?(184.6 - 604, n=8)
57%
Copy Game MB/s
550
562
2%
1059
93%
714 ?(239 - 1136, n=8)
30%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
79% / 79%
82% / 77%
50% / 47%
110% / 117%
53% / 48%

* ... smaller is better

Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 1776 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 919 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 143.1 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 138.8 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1126 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 623 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 45.57 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 45.93 MB/s

Continuous load read: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8

No graph data

Graphics card - Intel UHD Graphics

GPU-Z Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2)
GPU-Z Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2)

The integrated graphics card with the UHD Graphics G7 designation is the fast iGPU of the Ice Lake processors in principle, but its clock rates are significantly reduced in this case. However, we can't determine the exact GPU clock speed. The iGPU is sufficient for normal tasks, which also includes playing high-resolution videos. Nevertheless, you shouldn't expect much more performance.

The graphics performance is slightly better than in the Samsung Galaxy Book S, and it's also above the former UHD Graphics 620 iGPU that was used for many years. However, the review sample can't compete with the modern Xe models from Intel or AMD's iGPUs. The graphics performance is not reduced on battery power.

As a result, gaming performance is limited, and the hybrid processor can also lead to further shortcomings. If you absolutely want to play games, you will have to limit yourself to less demanding titles or to simple games from the Windows Store.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Convertible
  (471 - 40768, n=64, last 2 years)
7541 Points +292%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs, Intel Core i5-1135G7
5926 Points +208%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU), Intel Core i5-L16G7
1925 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1812 Points -6%
Dell Latitude 7200
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8365U
1802 Points -6%
Average Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU)
  (1658 - 1925, n=2)
1792 Points -7%
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
1789 Points -7%
Samsung Galaxy Book S Intel
Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU), Intel Core i5-L16G7
1658 Points -14%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Convertible
  (2965 - 154219, n=50, last 2 years)
31444 Points +240%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs, Intel Core i5-1135G7
25875 Points +179%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU), Intel Core i5-L16G7
9261 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
9133 Points -1%
Dell Latitude 7200
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8365U
9128 Points -1%
Average Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU)
  (7556 - 9261, n=2)
8409 Points -9%
Samsung Galaxy Book S Intel
Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU), Intel Core i5-L16G7
7556 Points -18%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Convertible
  (365 - 29684, n=64, last 2 years)
5690 Points +314%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs, Intel Core i5-1135G7
4652 Points +239%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU), Intel Core i5-L16G7
1374 Points
Average Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU)
  (1217 - 1374, n=2)
1296 Points -6%
Samsung Galaxy Book S Intel
Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU), Intel Core i5-L16G7
1217 Points -11%
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
1216 Points -11%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1189 Points -13%
Dell Latitude 7200
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8365U
1160 Points -16%
3DMark 11 Performance
2035 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
6154 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1277 points
Help
low med. high ultra
The Witcher 3 (2015) 21
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 60.4 27.2 18 17.3
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) 16.9 9.42

Emissions - The X1 Fold is silent most of the time

Noise emissions

Lenovo does install a fan, but most users should only hear it when it kicks in briefly during startup. It's off most of the time when the laptop is in use. In our test, it took five minutes of maximum CPU load for the fan to activate. And even then, the quiet noise is only audible in a very still environment. There are no other electronic noises.

Noise Level

Idle
25.1 / 25.1 / 25.1 dB(A)
Load
25.1 / 26.8 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Earthworks M23R, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 25.1 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2034.633.92524.326.43129.332.14028.828.45031.331.46323.423.7802219.9100262512524.521.616026.225.22002322.625021.521315181940015.316.350013.616.163012.414.580011.313.710001215.6125011.313.8160010.613.8200010.716.9250011.114.9315011.412.940001212.550001212.3630012.412.4800012.512.61000012.612.71250012.712.61600011.611.7SPL25.126.8N0.70.9median 12.4median 14.5Delta3.63.4hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseLenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE

Temperature

The device heats up primarily on the left side, where the important components are located. The surface temperatures are already slightly elevated here during idle use. Under load, we measure a maximum of 45 °C (~113 °F), which is still harmless. The back side feels a bit more comfortable anyway due to the leather cover.

In the stress test, the processor has to reduce its power consumption from 9.5 watts to 8 watts after a few minutes, but this level is maintained stably from then on.

CPU stress test data
CPU stress test data
Max. Load
 45.1 °C
113 F
41.3 °C
106 F
31.6 °C
89 F
 
 43.4 °C
110 F
40.8 °C
105 F
31.4 °C
89 F
 
 39.7 °C
103 F
38.4 °C
101 F
30.9 °C
88 F
 
Maximum: 45.1 °C = 113 F
Average: 38.1 °C = 101 F
30 °C
86 F
37.4 °C
99 F
39.8 °C
104 F
29.7 °C
85 F
37.5 °C
100 F
39.1 °C
102 F
29.2 °C
85 F
35.1 °C
95 F
35.6 °C
96 F
Maximum: 39.8 °C = 104 F
Average: 34.8 °C = 95 F
Power Supply (max.)  36 °C = 97 F | Room Temperature 21.1 °C = 70 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 38.1 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 45.1 °C / 113 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 55.7 °C for the class Convertible.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 39.8 °C / 104 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.9 °C / 86 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 39.7 °C / 103.5 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (-11.6 °C / -20.9 F).
Surface temperatures in the stress test (front)
Surface temperatures in the stress test (front)
Surface temperatures in the stress test (back)
Surface temperatures in the stress test (back)

Speakers

The two speakers are located at the top and bottom of the tablet's left side. Consequently, if you use the device in landscape mode and place it on a table, one of the two speakers is blocked, and sound only comes from the left side. The optimal result is only achieved when the device is used in portrait mode and one side is folded up, i.e. the device is used like a "normal" laptop. The overall quality of the two modules isn't bad at all, though. By the way, there's no audio output, so headphones have to be connected via Bluetooth.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.734.62526.431.63131.836.24031.432.45032.434.26323.232.48020.134.310028.735.312518.836.61602041.120019.246.925015.751.331513.857.640012.465.650011.570.363011.17280010.872.3100010.671.4125011.370.7160011.168.9200011.570.4250011.667.7315011.863.740001271500012.375.8630012.572.7800012.664.81000012.770.31250012.860.6160001247.1SPL24.382.7N0.656.8median 12.3median 67.7Delta2.5834.233.725.527.13335.233.733.926.330.520.528.621.426.827.134.5253622.539.42347.121.6491655.613.359.11362.211.460.910.566.110.7689.9679.262.29.659.91064.610.466.110.757.61159.211.252.611.351.611.157.511.158.310.450.32475.20.634.6median 11.1median 58.33.66.2hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGEMicrosoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.7% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (9.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 26% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 65% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 27% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 64% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (75.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.1% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 26% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 65% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 27% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 64% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy management - Folding convertible with short battery life

Energy consumption

The power consumption of the X1 Fold is largely determined by the OLED display and the type of content that is viewed. The convertible requires much less power with dark content, and even changes in brightness don't play a major role. This is why the Windows color scheme is set to dark by default. The difference between maximum and minimum brightness using the default background image, which is rather dark, is less than 1 watt, for example. However, if you choose a bright background, power consumption jumps from just under 8 watts to around 15 watts at maximum brightness. During the stress test, the maximum power consumption reached is 25-30 watts, so the included 65-watt power adapter is perfectly sufficient.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.13 / 0.82 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 7.2 / 7.5 / 7.7 Watt
Load midlight 20.5 / 24.8 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
i5-L16G7, UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU), Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe, OLED, 2048x1536, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 3000x2000, 13.00
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, Samsung PM991 MZ9LQ256HBJQ, IPS, 2736x1824, 12.30
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, Intel Optane Memory H10 with Solid State Storage 32GB + 512GB HBRPEKNX0202A(L/H), IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell Latitude 7200
i5-8365U, UHD Graphics 620, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G, IPS LED, 1920x1280, 12.30
Average Intel UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU)
 
Average of class Convertible
 
Power Consumption
-53%
-56%
-15%
-19%
17%
-62%
Idle Minimum *
7.2
4.8
33%
5.5
24%
3.5
51%
3.3
54%
4.85 ?(2.5 - 7.2, n=2)
33%
5.48 ?(1.6 - 16.6, n=60, last 2 years)
24%
Idle Average *
7.5
9
-20%
9.1
-21%
5.1
32%
5.8
23%
6.15 ?(4.8 - 7.5, n=2)
18%
8.27 ?(3.8 - 20.7, n=60, last 2 years)
-10%
Idle Maximum *
7.7
10.5
-36%
10.8
-40%
8.1
-5%
6.5
16%
6.85 ?(6 - 7.7, n=2)
11%
10.5 ?(4.7 - 29.9, n=60, last 2 years)
-36%
Load Average *
20.5
42.8
-109%
39.2
-91%
35.6
-74%
37
-80%
17.7 ?(14.9 - 20.5, n=2)
14%
46 ?(7.6 - 101.3, n=60, last 2 years)
-124%
Load Maximum *
24.8
57.8
-133%
62.5
-152%
44.7
-80%
51.3
-107%
22.5 ?(20.1 - 24.8, n=2)
9%
65 ?(10.5 - 155.7, n=60, last 2 years)
-162%

* ... smaller is better

Battery life

Lenovo installs a 50 Wh battery, but it doesn't provide good runtimes in our test scenarios. Again, content is a decisive factor. In our Wi-Fi test (lots of bright pictures and backgrounds), we only managed about 5 hours (150 cd/m² and max. brightness); during video playback (150 cd/m²), it's just under 6 hours. These aren't good rates, especially for a device that is so mobile.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 89)
5h 15min
WiFi Websurfing max. Brightness (Edge 89)
4h 50min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
5h 57min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 39min
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE
i5-L16G7, UHD Graphics G7 (Lakefield GT2 64 EU), 50 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 42 Wh
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, 48.9 Wh
HP Elite Dragonfly-8MK79EA
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, 56.2 Wh
Dell Latitude 7200
i5-8365U, UHD Graphics 620, 38 Wh
Average of class Convertible
 
Battery Runtime
3%
47%
56%
6%
46%
H.264
357
523
46%
650
82%
717
101%
489
37%
731 ?(542 - 999, n=15, last 2 years)
105%
WiFi v1.3
315
395
25%
483
53%
605
92%
417
32%
557 ?(329 - 876, n=63, last 2 years)
77%
Load
219
83
-62%
232
6%
166
-24%
106
-52%
121.2 ?(53 - 219, n=46, last 2 years)
-45%

Pros

+ interesting concept
+ stable folding mechanism
+ good image quality
+ high color-space coverage
+ optionally with 5G modem
+ operation is almost always silent

Cons

- OLED with low brightness and PWM
- low performance
- poor input devices
- cumbersome to use
- poor software support from Windows
- short battery life
- no maintenance options
- expensive

Verdict - The X1 Fold isn't fun to use

In review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold. Test device provided by Lenovo Germany.
In review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold. Test device provided by Lenovo Germany.

The concept of the new ThinkPad X1 Fold certainly has its charm: Versatile use as a tablet, laptop, or folded as a book. Both the (thick) magnesium alloy case and the folding mechanism leave a very stable impression, and you can't see the crease in practice.

However, the good news stop at this point. The components' performance (especially of the Lakefield processor) is not particularly high, and the touchscreen doesn't always respond perfectly to inputs (high gliding resistance), be it with fingers or the stylus. The small Bluetooth keyboard without a TrackPoint is also more of an emergency solution, and the tiny touchpad is quite disastrous in practice. The biggest problem, however, is the poor software support. The distribution of content across the two halves of the screen is rather awkward, and you can easily tell that Windows wasn't designed for such devices. Battery life is also quite short at 5-6 hours.

The ThinkPad X1 Fold is an interesting concept, but neither the technology nor the software are ready for a foldable convertible. In practice, the X1 Fold is simply not fun to use, and there are too many problems to justify the high purchase price.

It's not uncommon for a completely new device to have teething problems, but with the X1 Fold, problems predominate, and it simply can't provide a good user experience. Especially in view of the high price, there's a lot of potential for frustration, and currently, you're simply much better off with a "normal" convertible.

Price and availability

You can find the ThinkPad X1 Fold directly on Lenovo's website starting at $2,299.99 without the keyboard and stylus. In addition, Lenovo offers several other configurations. Alternatively, you can also find the device on Amazon with prices starting at around $2,430.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 20RL000FGE - 08/31/2022 v7
Andreas Osthoff

Chassis
81 / 98 → 83%
Keyboard
57%
Pointing Device
69%
Connectivity
49 / 75 → 65%
Weight
73 / 20-75 → 96%
Battery
65%
Display
81%
Games Performance
51 / 78 → 66%
Application Performance
73 / 85 → 85%
Temperature
88%
Noise
99%
Audio
81 / 91 → 89%
Camera
44 / 85 → 52%
Average
70%
78%
Convertible - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold laptop in review: Revolutionary or overpriced experiment?
Andreas Osthoff, 2021-04- 2 (Update: 2021-04- 2)