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MagyarLenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 1 Review: Laptop tablet hybrid with LTE & Tiger Lake UP4
Some time has passed since Lenovo introduced the last ThinkPad tablet. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet Gen 3 appeared in 2018. Afterwards, no new machines were announced and the X1 Tablet Gen 3 was discontinued at some point. Lenovo seemingly conceded the segment to other manufacturers like Dell (Latitude 7210) and Microsoft with the Surface Pro 7 Plus
In 2021, Lenovo takes up the fight again, with the ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 1. With this device, Lenovo moves away from the flagship series ThinkPad X1 to the the regular, less expensive X series. Accordingly, our well equipped configuration with a Tiger Lake i7, 512 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM costs €1,630 (German Campus pricing) - roughly €100 cheaper than the X1 Tablet Gen 3, which we tested with an i5, a 256 GB SSD and 8 GB RAM.
mögliche Konkurrenten im Vergleich
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88.5 % | 04/2021 | Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 i7-1160G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 1.1 kg | 14.5 mm | 12.30" | 1920x1280 | |
| 88.3 % | 01/2019 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620 | 1.3 kg | 8.9 mm | 13.00" | 3000x2000 | |
| 88.5 % | 03/2021 | Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs | 796 g | 8.5 mm | 12.30" | 2736x1824 | |
| 89.5 % | 03/2021 | Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 i7-10610U, UHD Graphics 620 | 850 g | 9.35 mm | 12.30" | 1920x1280 |
Chassis: Magnesium ThinkPad with soft-touch finish
If the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable would sit right next to a ThinkPad X1 Tablet Gen 3, the X12 would seem like the little brother. The design has not really changed. The ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 1 is clad in ThinkPad black with two metallic hinges for the kickstand in the back. Lenovo embraces a classic ThinkPad look with the X12 Gen 1.
The outward design is not the only aspect that has not changed, the materials used are also the same. The tablet part is made out of a magnesium-aluminum alloy, which is completely coated with a soft-touch finish (called "peach skin" by Lenovo). The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, while the keyboard cover is also soft-touch coated. The X12 Tablet is absolutely stable and not bendable, pressure on the back does not carry through to the LCD panel. Strong pressure on the screen panel itself does, though Gorilla Glass 5 does protect it from pressure well enough in everyday use.
While it does not offer the same stability as the base of a full-size ThinkPad laptop, the keyboard cover is stiff enough to keep the keyboard from flexing while typing normally. Using the X12 as a laptop (meaning on your lap) is difficult nonetheless, this is where traditional clamshells triumph. The kickstand can be opened by around 170 degrees, providing the ThinkPad X12 Detachable with maximum flexibility.
The weight we put in our spec table is the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Gen 1 with the keyboard cover - this is the case, because the ThinkPad always comes with the keyboard, unlike say the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus. The same thing is true for chassis thickness. Without the keyboard cover, the ThinkPad tablet weighs 760 g, the tablet part has a thickness of 8.8 mm.
So far, the ThinkPad X12 Detachable is the most compact ThinkPad 2-in-1. That it is smaller than the ThinkPad X1 Tablet Gen 3 with its bigger 13 inch screen is no miracle - but the X12 is also more compact than the X1 Tablet Gen 2, which contained a smaller 12 inch display.
Connectivity: Lenovo tablet has a limited port selection
Similar to the ThinkPad X1 Nano and the X1 Titanium Yoga, the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable only has two USB C ports. Different from these two however, only one of the ports supports Thunderbolt 4. That is an advantage compared with the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus. On the other hand, the Surface has a USB A port. Compared with older X1 Tablets, the microSD slot has disappeared.
Communication
The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable contains the Intel Wireless AX201, a Wi Fi 6 module with integrated Bluetooth 5.1. In the benchmarks, this module performed well - as always.
Our sample includes a WWAN card, too. Different from the newest X1 series, the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Gen 1 is not being offered with 5G. Instead, the 4G LTE module Fibocom L850-GL is used.
Webcam
Despite having a higher five Megapixel resolution than the 720p webcams of most ThinkPads, the front facing camera is not good. The picture is grainy, dark and colors are distorted. The camera on the back of the tablet is much better, though it of course pales compared with smartphone cameras.
Security
Lenovo gives the ThinkPad laptop X12 plenty of security features. Among them are TPM, a Kensington lock slot, a Infrared camera and a fingerprint reader for Windows Hello as well as the mechanical webcam-shutter ThinkShutter - a new feature compared with the old X1 Tablet. Only the front camera has the shutter, the rear camera would need to be taped over in secure environments.
Accessories
The 65 W USB C charger is an obligatory part of the package. This is less true for the digitizer pen and the keyboard cover. Both are supplied with the Lenovo ThinkPad X12, a major difference to the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus.
Maintenance
In principle, the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Gen 1 is repairable. Lenovo has published a comprehensive manual, as they do for all ThinkPads. The RAM is soldered down however, just like the Wi-Fi module. At least, the SSD has a M.2 2242 format and upgradable in theory. It should also be possible to clean the fan and change the battery.
Reaching those parts is difficult though, as the screen has to be removed. Due to the difficulty, we did not open the Lenovo PC.
Warranty
The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable has a 36 month warranty here in Germany (for all parts except the battery). Normally, this is a bring in service. Our special Campus configuration however has On site service with Premier support.
Input devices: ThinkPad quality for keyboard & TrackPoint
Keyboard
The keyboard of the X12 Detachable reminds us a lot about the ThinkPad X1 Nano: 1.35 mm key travel, lower key-height and an overall smaller keyboard - this is in contrast to the bigger X1 Tablet Gen 3, which could contain a full-sized keyboard. In the case of the backlit keyboard of the X12 Detachable, some keys are smaller - which ones exactly may vary from keyboard layout to layout.
In comparison to keyboards of bigger ThinkPads, the X12 may require some "getting used to", as the keys do feel very different. Lenovo has adjusted the typing experience, the keys are crisper than before. All in all, it is a high-quality keyboard. Bigger ThinkPads are better, but in a tablet, finding something more comfortable than the X12 Detachable is gonna be difficult.
Touchpad & TrackPoint
With a surface measuring 10 x 5.5 cm, the touchpad has an appropriate size, though other devices do offer more spacious trackpads. The X12's touchpad is made out of plastic and it has an integrated click-mechanism, which has a short travel and a dampened, quality feeling. Gestures are translated perfectly by the touchpad and the cursor movement is very precise. The plastic surface could feel nicer, but it is serviceable - neither too slippery nor too rough.
The TrackPoint with its three dedicated keys between touchpad and keyboard provides exactly the qualities we expect from a ThinkPad TrackPoint. The cursor can be controlled precisely and quickly by applying pressure to the red nub. Users can avoid moving their hands from the keyboard while typing - the biggest advantage of the TrackPoint.
Touchscreen & Pen
As a tablet, the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable has a multitouch screen, which can recognize 10 fingers at the same time. It worked flawlessly in our test.
The supplied digitizer pen (Wacom AES, 4,096 levels of pressure) roughly matches the size of a normal pen. Thus, holding it is comfortable. There is no pen silo; instead, Lenovo offers a little pen loop that is attached to the keyboard cover. The pen is very usable, even though the two keys at the side are pretty flat. It is powered by a single AAA battery, which is accessible from the rear end of the pen.
ThinkPad tablet: Great 3:2 display
Unusual for ThinkPad laptops, but normal for detachable tablets: There is only one screen option. It is a 3:2 panel with a diagonal of 12.3 inches. This screen size is used in a ThinkPad tablet for the first time ever. The X1 Tablet Gen 3 used a 13 inch LCD, while the X1 Tablet Gen 2 contained a 12 inch display. Another change is the new screen resolution of 1,920 x 1,280 - the X1 Tablets used higher res 2K and 3K screens, same goes for the Surface Pro 7 Plus.
Lenovo advertises a brightness value of 400 cd/m². The ThinkPad X12 screen can fulfill this promise. Peak brightness was measured at 419 cd/m², with an average of 406 cd/m². The panel is slightly darker than the screen of the X1 Tablet Gen 3 as well as the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus display. At least it exhibits no PWM, different from the Surface.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 94 %
Center on Battery: 420 cd/m²
Contrast: 1822:1 (Black: 0.23 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.1 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.94, calibrated: 0.5
ΔE Greyscale 1.5 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
99.2% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
68.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
99.2% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
67% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.06
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 N123NCA-GS1, a-Si IPS LED, 1920x1280, 12.3" | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE LP130QP1-SPA1, IPS, 3000x2000, 13" | Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus LG Philips LP123WQ332684, IPS, 2736x1824, 12.3" | Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 Sharp LQ123N1, IPS, 1920x1280, 12.3" | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet Gen 2 LSN120QL01L01, IPS, 2160x1440, 12" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 1% | -1% | -0% | ||
| Display P3 Coverage | 67 | 68.1 2% 67.8 1% | 66.9 0% | 67.9 1% | |
| sRGB Coverage | 99.2 | 99.4 0% 99.1 0% | 96.7 -3% | 96.8 -2% | |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 68.8 | 69.9 2% 69.3 1% | 69.1 0% | 68.8 0% | |
| Response Times | 4% | 14% | 55% | 46% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 63.2 ? | 47.2 ? 25% | 50.8 ? 20% | 29 ? 54% | 28.4 ? 55% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 36 ? | 42.4 ? -18% | 33.6 ? 7% | 16 ? 56% | 22.8 ? 37% |
| PWM Frequency | 199.2 ? | 1250 ? | 221.2 ? | ||
| Screen | -65% | -30% | -41% | -111% | |
| Brightness middle | 419 | 474 13% | 408 -3% | 380 -9% | 388.1 -7% |
| Brightness | 406 | 418 3% | 425 5% | 378 -7% | 344 -15% |
| Brightness Distribution | 94 | 76 -19% | 85 -10% | 86 -9% | 78 -17% |
| Black Level * | 0.23 | 0.33 -43% | 0.34 -48% | 0.31 -35% | 0.39 -70% |
| Contrast | 1822 | 1436 -21% | 1200 -34% | 1226 -33% | 995 -45% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.1 | 3.2 -191% | 1.5 -36% | 2.28 -107% | 4.6 -318% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 2.2 | 6.1 -177% | 2.5 -14% | 3.93 -79% | 9.1 -314% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 0.5 | 0.9 -80% | 1.4 -180% | 0.97 -94% | |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.5 | 4.5 -200% | 1.6 -7% | 2.56 -71% | 6.1 -307% |
| Gamma | 2.06 107% | 2.07 106% | 2.05 107% | 2.32 95% | 2.07 106% |
| CCT | 6524 100% | 5881 111% | 6432 101% | 6130 106% | 7104 91% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 62.8 | 64 2% | 63.7 1% | 63 0% | 59 -6% |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 99.2 | 99.4 0% | 96.8 -2% | 97 -2% | 91 -8% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -20% /
-37% | -6% /
-19% | 5% /
-21% | -33% /
-85% |
* ... smaller is better
The screen was pretty well calibrated ex factory already; we measured it with CalMan and the X-Rite i1 Pro 2 color-calibrator. The contrast ratio of 1822:1 is very nice, a result of the low black value and high brightness. Along with the near complete sRGB coverage of 100 %, the screen has a vibrant picture quality with correct colors. This display is well suited for simple photo-editing.
Screen surface is glossy, though Lenovo applies a reflection-reduction. Thanks to the comparably high brightness, the screen of the ThinkPad laptop is useable outdoors, though annoying reflections can not be avoided entirely.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 36 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 18 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 18 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 93 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.1 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 63.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 30 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 33.2 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 97 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.1 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected |  | ||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17204 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
As this screen is an IPS panel, the viewing angle stability is excellent.
Performance: ThinkPad X12 with slower CPU than Surface Pro 7 Plus
Lenovo offers nearly the entire UP4 Tiger Lake portfolio in the ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 1. This includes the low end Intel Core i3-1110G4 with two cores, the i5 CPUs 1130G7 and 1140G7 as well as the i7-1160G7 and the i7-1180G7. The integrated Intel iGPU handles graphics, with the i7 CPUs having the most powerful versions. RAM is soldered in the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Gen 1, with up to 16 GB LPDDR4X-4266 memory. A single M.2 2242 SSD is the storage-device.
Processor
The Intel Core i7-1160G7 is a Tiger Lake processor of the UP4 series. It has a TDP of 9 to 15 W. The four 10 nm cores have clock-rates of 2.1 to 4.4 GHz. For comparisons with other processors, we have a dedicated CPU comparison list.
In the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable, the processor is able to consume up to 40 W when under multicore load. Long term, this power consumption is not sustainable. To keep chassis temperatures at bay, the CPU clocks down, with a sustainable power consumption of 12 W at the end. The processor is beat by the old X1 Tablet Gen 3 when it comes to sustained load performance, even though the boost performance is higher. The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus with its i5-CPU is only slightly faster.
We did not detect any throttling when running on battery power.
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 (149.8 - 755, n=59, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1160G7 (484 - 544, n=4) | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | |
| Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 | |
| Cinebench R20 / CPU (Multi Core) | |
| Average of class Convertible (242 - 6954, n=60, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1160G7 (1224 - 2068, n=4) | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | |
| Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 | |
| Cinebench R15 / CPU Single 64Bit | |
| Average of class Convertible (68.6 - 287, n=59, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1160G7 (170 - 208, n=4) | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE | |
| Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet Gen 2 | |
| Cinebench R15 / CPU Multi 64Bit | |
| Average of class Convertible (110.1 - 2889, n=62, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1160G7 (753 - 864, n=4) | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE | |
| Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet Gen 2 | |
| Blender / v2.79 BMW27 CPU | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1160G7 (625 - 1115, n=4) | |
| Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE | |
| Average of class Convertible (193 - 1059, n=56, last 2 years) | |
| 7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 -mmt1 | |
| Average of class Convertible (3946 - 6493, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1160G7 (4448 - 4621, n=3) | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | |
| Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 | |
| 7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 | |
| Average of class Convertible (24505 - 72400, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE | |
| Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1160G7 (15740 - 22305, n=4) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | |
| Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core | |
| Average of class Convertible (319 - 1981, n=60, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1160G7 (1406 - 1484, n=4) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | |
| Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 | |
| Geekbench 5.5 / Multi-Core | |
| Average of class Convertible (663 - 14016, n=60, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1160G7 (4660 - 5258, n=4) | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE | |
| Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 | |
| HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 / 4k Preset | |
| Average of class Convertible (0.73 - 20.1, n=59, last 2 years) | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE | |
| Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1160G7 (3.75 - 6.06, n=4) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | |
| LibreOffice / 20 Documents To PDF | |
| Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1160G7 (49.8 - 61.3, n=4) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE | |
| Average of class Convertible (42 - 121.5, n=56, last 2 years) | |
| R Benchmark 2.5 / Overall mean | |
| Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1160G7 (0.64 - 0.76, n=4) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE | |
| Average of class Convertible (0.4102 - 1.013, n=56, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
System performance
Everyday performance is great, the Lenovo X12 works snappy. In the PCMark 10, it performed better than the Surface Pro 7 Plus.
| PCMark 10 Score | 4640 points | |
Help | ||
DPC latency
| DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | |
* ... smaller is better
Storage
Storage is handled by an NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD made by Toshiba, which has a capacity of 512 GB in our review unit. The small M.2 2242 SSD is rather slow in our benchmarks. This will not be apparent in everyday use, but it may impact speed when copying large data files.
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 Toshiba BG4 KBG40ZNT512G | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus Samsung PM991 MZ9LQ256HBJQ | Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 WDC PC SN530 SDBPTPZ-512G | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE WDC PC SN530 SDBPNPZ-512G | Average Toshiba BG4 KBG40ZNT512G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6 | 63% | 63% | 84% | 144% | 61% | |
| Write 4K | 72.8 | 95.4 31% | 165.3 127% | 182.7 151% | 269.4 270% | 133.9 ? 84% |
| Read 4K | 26.35 | 39.19 49% | 42.95 63% | 51.4 95% | 54.1 105% | 40.4 ? 53% |
| Write Seq | 823 | 955 16% | 1303 58% | 1739 111% | 1212 ? 47% | |
| Read Seq | 1169 | 867 -26% | 1450 24% | 1671 43% | 1372 ? 17% | |
| Write 4K Q32T1 | 112.6 | 399.2 255% | 423.5 276% | 342.9 205% | 580 415% | 338 ? 200% |
| Read 4K Q32T1 | 327.2 | 260.7 -20% | 479.2 46% | 523 60% | 708 116% | 491 ? 50% |
| Write Seq Q32T1 | 1039 | 1287 24% | 1060 2% | 1776 71% | 1812 74% | 1343 ? 29% |
| Read Seq Q32T1 | 2176 | 3025 39% | 2251 3% | 2378 9% | 2485 14% | 2279 ? 5% |
Sustained load read: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
GPU
The Intel Xe Graphics G7 with 96 EUs is basically the same iGPU as in the Intel Core i7-1165G7, though it is lower clocked in the UP4 chip i7-1160G7. The GPU performance in the 3DMark tests is worse compared with the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus - despite the perfect memory configuration of the X12 Tablet (quad channel & LPDDR4X-4266) and the fact that the Surface only uses the Xe Graphics with 80 EUs. The difference is most pronounced in the FireStrike test. The Microsoft tablet is roughly 40 % better here. In TimeSpy, the difference is just 5 %.
For games, the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable is not a good solution. Modern titles can only be played in reduced details and resolution.
With the charger connected, the GPU of the Lenovo laptops is roughly 12 % faster in the 3DMark 11 graphics test.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 5027 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 2908 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 1422 points | |
Help | ||
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Witcher 3 (2015) | 83.1 | 51.6 | 24.8 | |
| Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 71 | 59.6 | 34.3 | 31 |
| X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 29.2 | 23.5 | 20.7 | |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) | 45.3 | 14.8 | ||
| F1 2020 (2020) | 65.9 | 23.1 |
Emissions: Lenovo laptop is not fanless
Noise
The maximum noise level while idling sits at 26 dB(a) - absolutely quiet. Under load, the small fan reaches 37 dB(a). This is audible, but not disturbingly so. The fan noise is a high-frequency one. Delicate ears might be annoyed by it.
We did not hear any electronic noise from the ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 1.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 25.1 / 25.1 / 26 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 34.6 / 37 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Earthworks M23R, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 25.1 dB(A) | ||
Temperatures
A low chassis temperature is important for a tablet. After all, using it as a tablet means holding it in the hands. In this regard, Lenovo has done well with the X12 Detachable, as the ThinkPad tablet only reaches 41.7 degrees Celsius (107 F) - not particular hot.
In the stress test with sustained GPU and CPU load, the CPU can only consume 10 W after one hour. This results in clock rates of 800 MHz. In the 3DMark 11 after the stress test, the CPU performed normally, while the GPU performance was 20 % lower than normally.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 39 °C / 102 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 41.7 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 36.8 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.1 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 31.9 °C / 89.4 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (-3.8 °C / -6.8 F).
Speakers
The speakers of the Lenovo X12 are hidden beneath the screen bezel. Their quality is average, they lack loudness and bass. At least they are better than the speakers of the ThinkPad X1 Tablet Gen 3, but they are far away from the quad speaker system of the X1 Nano.
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (75.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.8% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 71% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 24% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 69% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 24% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano-20UN002UGE audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (11.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 12% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 84% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 7% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 91% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (73.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.7% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 7.8% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (33.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 92% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 7% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 91% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 8% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Energy management: Better battery life than old ThinkPad X1 Tablet
Power consumption
Energy consumption while idling is lower than it was for the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus and the X1 Tablet 2018, only the Dell Latitude 7210 2-in-1 performed better in this regard.
The maximum power consumption of 59 W is no challenge for the 65 W charger.
| Off / Standby | 0.28 / 0.48 Watt |
| Idle | 4 / 5.9 / 8.3 Watt |
| Load |
30.1 / 59 Watt |
   
| |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 i7-1160G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, Toshiba BG4 KBG40ZNT512G, a-Si IPS LED, 1920x1280, 12.3" | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet G3-20KJ001NGE i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 3000x2000, 13" | Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, Samsung PM991 MZ9LQ256HBJQ, IPS, 2736x1824, 12.3" | Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 i7-10610U, UHD Graphics 620, WDC PC SN530 SDBPTPZ-512G, IPS, 1920x1280, 12.3" | Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs | Average of class Convertible | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -28% | -32% | 12% | -35% | -33% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 4 | 4.8 -20% | 5.5 -38% | 3.2 20% | 5.33 ? -33% | 5.27 ? -32% |
| Idle Average * | 5.9 | 9 -53% | 9.1 -54% | 5.3 10% | 8.55 ? -45% | 8.2 ? -39% |
| Idle Maximum * | 8.3 | 10.5 -27% | 10.8 -30% | 8.4 -1% | 10.8 ? -30% | 11 ? -33% |
| Load Average * | 30.1 | 42.8 -42% | 39.2 -30% | 27 10% | 45.4 ? -51% | 45.3 ? -50% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 30.8 | |||||
| Load Maximum * | 59 | 57.8 2% | 62.5 -6% | 46.9 21% | 67.6 ? -15% | 65.8 ? -12% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery life
Despite the fact that the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable is considerably smaller than the old X1 Tablet Gen 3, the internal Li-Po battery has the same 42 Wh capacity. With more than eight hours in the Wi-Fi test, the Lenovo X12 gets a good result - the Surface Pro 7 Plus is not better, despite its bigger battery.
| Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 i7-1160G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, 42 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 | Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 i7-10610U, UHD Graphics 620, 38 Wh | Average of class Convertible | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -21% | 34% | 2% | 16% | |
| H.264 | 597 | 523 -12% | 650 9% | 676 13% | 776 ? 30% |
| WiFi v1.3 | 492 | 395 -20% | 483 -2% | 489 -1% | 591 ? 20% |
| Load | 119 | 83 -30% | 232 95% | 111 -7% | 116.1 ? -2% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict: Surface style ThinkPad delivers convincing results
A detachable like the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 always has to measure up compared with the most revent Microsoft Surface Pro. After all, Micorosft invented this form-factor. So far, Lenovo seemingly had not perfected its formular in this area, as the X1 Tablet series only lasted three generations. For two years, there has not been a ThinkPad in this segment. Is the ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 1 better than the X1 Tablet Gen 3 and X1 Tablet Gen 2?
In short: Yes! The first two X1 Tablets were too limited . The X1 Tablet Gen 3 meanwhile was too big, with a processor not made for a tablet - it ran hotter and had a shorter battery life. It also was comparably expensive. The ThinkPad X12 is a lot more affordable and with its Tiger Lake CPUs, the X12 also runs cooler, quieter and longer. The performance meanwhile is not quite on par with the X1 Tablet Gen 3, but almost. There are no compromises in terms of the build quality or the input devices. A robust and lightweight Magnesium chassis meets a very good ThinkPad keyboard with TrackPoint. The keyboard cover is one of the best in the detachable scene, despite the lower key travel compared to bigger ThinkPads.
The keyboard is always supplied with the X12, just like the pen. That is an advantage compared to the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus, as it comes without these accessories. Another advantage is Thunderbolt 4, a function that microsoft still does not offer in the year 2021. In other aspects of the connectivty, there is a tie - LTE for example is offered by both - though the Surface does have the advantage of an USB A port. The SSD of the ThinkPad X12 is also really hard to reach, an area that Microsoft has improved upon. The Surface is fanless as well - in contrast, the fan of the X12 is quite audible under load.
A good product: The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable is attractive for Surface defectors as well as for users of older X1 Tablets.
Overall, we can recommend the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable as a very competitive Windows tablet laptop hybrid. For users looking for a productivity focused tablet, it is great package.
Pricing and availability
The reviewed model is a special Campus configuration available from German campus retailers, like campuspoint. Other configurations can be bought over at Amazon, for example.
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
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04/15/2021 v7 (old)
Benjamin Herzig
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