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Lenovo ThinkPad X270 (Core i5, Full HD) Laptop Review

A fiery temper within a compact design. If the largest PC manufacturer had it their way, the Lenovo X270 would become the ultimate mobile companion. In our detailed review, you will find out why there might be better alternatives after all, and why Lenovo should change a few things for the next ThinkPad X2xx.

For the original German review, see here.

12-inch notebooks have a long history. In the time before ultrabooks, they made up the category of "subnotebooks" and up until today they have been very popular in the business sector. Lenovo's subnotebooks (the X-series) in the ThinkPad series have been very successful for quite some time. Devices such as the X220 from 2011 were probably some of the most popular ThinkPads of their day. 

The ThinkPad X270 is the 20th Generation of the ThinkPad-X-series, which began in 2000. In comparison to its predecessor, the X260, the X270 offers a rather limited update. The biggest change is in the CPU. Like all other 70 ThinkPads, the X270 contains a Kaby-Lake processor. This device is the most compact version in the new ThinkPad lineup and is directed particularly at employees of big companies who have to travel a lot and need to work on the go, as well as other mobile workers. Our test unit is a special edition model for students, the model number is 20HMS00T00 and it is equipped with an i5 processor, 512 GB SSD, 8 GB of RAM, a full HD display and no OS. It is available ex-works for 1169 Euros (~$1240) in Germany - which is quite reasonable. Currently, a commercially available and similarly equipped model for regular customers with a 256 GB SSD and Windows costs 1532 Euros (~$1625).

There is a lot of competition for subnotebooks, especially since the appearance of ultrabooks. Not only are there the "classic" competitors from Dell (Latitude 7280) and HP (EliteBook 820 G4), but also other devices such as the Dell XPS 13 or the biggest competitor in-house, the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon.

Processor
Intel Core i5-7200U 2 x 2.5 - 3.1 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4-2400, single-channel, 1 of 1 slot filled
Display
12.50 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 176 PPI, Innolux N125HCE-GN1, IPS LED, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U Premium PCH
Storage
Toshiba NVMe THNSF5512GPUK, 512 GB 
, 458 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek ALC298 @ High Definition Audio-Controller
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: 3.5mm combo audio, Card Reader: 4-in-1 card reader, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC
Networking
Intel Ethernet Connection I219-V (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 20.3 x 305.5 x 208.5 ( = 0.8 x 12.03 x 8.21 in)
Battery
46 Wh Lithium-Ion, two batteries, internal 23 Wh battery, external 23 Wh battery
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p
Additional features
Speakers: stereo speakers, Keyboard: 6-row chiclet keyboard, Keyboard Light: yes, 36 Months Warranty
Weight
1.37 kg ( = 48.33 oz / 3.02 pounds), Power Supply: 293 g ( = 10.34 oz / 0.65 pounds)
Price
1169 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Lenovo ThinkPad X270
Lenovo ThinkPad X270
sharp, protruding edge at the back
sharp, protruding edge at the back

Lenovo has been using the same case for the past four generations of the X-series. In comparison to 2013‘s X240, the X270 is almost unchanged. The passing of time is, however, becoming visible in various aspects of the new X270. The 12-inch- X has basically remained at the level of 2013 while other ThinkPads have been updated in the meantime and some have even gone through two design update cycles. The X270 case is still the same dark gray of the 2013 ThinkPad generation, while models such as the T470, T470s or the X1 Carbon were already changed back to the old, darker black last year. X270‘s design language, on the other hand, is very similar to that of the T470 and is a typical ThinkPad design: Square and angular. The similarity to the first ThinkPad generations of the 90s is obvious and no doubt intentional.

The materials used are also typical for a ThinkPad: A wrist rest made of plastic (reinforced with magnesium on the inside) and a display cover and base unit made of glass-fiber reinforced plastic. The display cover and bottom of the notebook, as well as the sides, have a rubber coating, while the wrist rest is made of plain plastic and does not seem quite as high-level as the rest of the case. The stability of the wrist rest is good, but not perfect, as the left side (above the - in this case non-existent - smart card reader) can be pressed down a little. The keyboard also sinks in if pressed a little harder and under force, the display cover can be warped slightly. Magnesium, aluminum, or carbon would have probably been more stable, but overall the device seems quite robust.

Unfortunately, the workmanship of the case is not perfect. We noticed two problems. The display frame is not glued together correctly in the bottom right corner, next to the hinge, which means that you can hear a cracking sound when you open the display. The second thing is the back of the case. The wrist rest and the bottom cover do not fit together exactly and that there is a sharp, protruding edge where the two meet. Apart from these the finish is good, but the first problem in particular is annoying. As we have only got one sample for testing, we will assume that this problem only affects a small number of devices - although even that should not happen with notebooks of this price.

Lenovo has used two hinges which give the appearance of being quite strong due to their silver metal caps and keep the screen stable even when the road gets bumpy. You cannot open the display with one hand, but at least the hinges allow the maximum opening angle of 180° typical for the ThinkPad.

maximum opening angle
maximum opening angle
front view
profile view from the side
maximum opening angle (front view)
profile view from the front
with closed display
bottom view

Next to the optical design, the passing of time is also noticeable in its size and weight. While the X1 Carbon 2014 was not that much lighter and slimmer than the equivalent X240, the difference is rather more drastic in the current X1 Carbon. Now that the X1 Carbon has shrunk in size as well as in weight, it‘s measurements are quite close to the 12-inch model, which calls into question whether the X270 is even necessary anymore.

In comparison to the similar devices, the X270 is the heaviest and thickest model. But it is still quite compact, outdone only by the Dell XPS 13, but that offers a 13-inch display thanks to its InfinityEdge design.

Size Comparison

323.5 mm / 12.7 inch 217.1 mm / 8.55 inch 15.95 mm / 0.628 inch 1.1 kg2.52 lbs310 mm / 12.2 inch 218.9 mm / 8.62 inch 18.9 mm / 0.744 inch 1.3 kg2.78 lbs305.5 mm / 12 inch 208.5 mm / 8.21 inch 20.3 mm / 0.799 inch 1.4 kg3.02 lbs305 mm / 12 inch 209 mm / 8.23 inch 18 mm / 0.709 inch 1.3 kg2.87 lbs304 mm / 12 inch 201 mm / 7.91 inch 15 mm / 0.591 inch 1.3 kg2.89 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, there has been a slight development since the X260. The Mini DisplayPort has been replaced by a USB Type-C port that supports USB 3.1 Gen 1 speeds, Power Delivery (recharging via USB-C) as well as DisplayPort. Unlike X270‘s cousins in the T-series, the test unit does not have Thunderbolt 3. The other change is in the number of USB Type-A ports, of which the X270 has only two whereas the X260 still had three. This seems a little strange as the X260 only just gained the third port after the X250 (which only had two).

Looking at the distribution of the ports on either side of the X270 and the use of a mouse, right-handers are at an advantage. The ports are positioned quite far back on the right-hand side, while the three ports on the left (HDMI, USB Type-A, USB Type-B) are placed towards the front which could lead to difficulties in using a mouse while any of these ports are in use. The position of the USB Type-C port is not ideal if you want to charge the device or use a USB-C Dock, although both features are optional as there is a traditional power connector as well as a docking port on the bottom of the base unit.

left side: power supply, USB Type-C, HDMI, USB 3.0
left side: power supply, USB Type-C, HDMI, USB 3.0
right side: 3.5-mm combined stereo jack, USB 3.0, SD card reader, SIM-Slot, Ethernet, Kensington Lock
right side: 3.5-mm combined stereo jack, USB 3.0, SD card reader, SIM-Slot, Ethernet, Kensington Lock

SD card reader

A definite advantage of the X270 over the X1 Carbon is the SD card slot. The X1 Carbon only contains a badly accessible MicroSD card reader while the X270‘s reader is large enough for full-size SD cards. In a benchmark with the Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II reference card, the X270 card reader performed only averagely, although there are card readers around that are a lot slower as well. Especially in the JPG Copy Test, the X270 did less well than its direct competitors from Dell and HP.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
 
77.8 MB/s +25%
Dell Latitude 7280
 
77 MB/s +24%
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
 
62.2 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Dell Latitude 7280
 
90.9 MB/s +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
 
88 MB/s
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
 
86.6 MB/s -2%

Communication

Just like most higher-priced business laptops, the test unit is equipped with Intel communication modules. It contains the Intel 8265, a 2x2-AC-Wi-Fi module and the Intel I219-V-Gigabit Ethernet module. As expected, the 8265 had good results in the benchmarks. There are no problems for everyday use of the laptop. The Wi-Fi connection is stable and performs well and on top of Wi-Fi and LAN, Lenovo has also added NFC and the X270 supports WWAN.

The microphone does not record voices as clearly or loudly as we are used to from other ThinkPad microphones. The performance of the webcam is just as bad as the usual ThinkPad webcams. The sensor records noisy film with bad colors – a typical laptop webcam.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Dell Latitude 7280
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
530 MBit/s +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
512 MBit/s
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (jseb)
474 MBit/s -7%
iperf3 receive AX12
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
671 MBit/s
Dell Latitude 7280
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
641 MBit/s -4%
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (jseb)
506 MBit/s -25%

Security

Touch fingerprint reader
Touch fingerprint reader

This category brings an innovation in comparison to the X260, which used a Swipe fingerprint reader. The X270 now offers the Touch fingerprint reader that Lenovo started using last year. This sensor is a little faster and more exact than the previous fingerprint reader.

Apart from the fingerprint sensor, the X270 also offers software for various security features, such as Computrace Anti-Theft technology and TPM 2.0. It also features a Kensington lock slot. Our test unit has no smart card reader and the associated slot is sealed, but the versions for regular customers (as well as their reduced campus versions) do feature a smart card reader.

Accessories

The test unit did not include any accessories other than a Quick Start Guide, the power supply, and the removable battery. An optional accessory could be the ThinkPad-USB-C-Dock or a mechanical docking station such as the ThinkPad-Pro-Dock. Both docking stations offer further ports as well as an on/off button - the more expensive mechanical docks, even feature a lock in order to secure the notebook. However, the ThinkPad Thunderbolt Dock, which is used to connect two 4K displays with 60 Hz, is not compatible.

Another possible accessory for the X270 would be special batteries such as the ThinkPad-68+ battery with a higher capacity.

Maintenance

It is not easy to open the X270, because of the small plastic clips that are used on top of the 8 screws to fix the bottom cover to the wrist rest. Caution is needed when opening the device, as it is easy to break these small clips if you apply too much force. But at least almost all components are easily accessible after removing the bottom cover. The most difficult part to remove is the keyboard, since this can only be done once all other components (except for display, wrist rest and Touchpad) including the motherboard have been removed. It might be better for users not to do that. The cooling fan, the M.2 SSD (sitting in a caddy in a 2.5-inch drive bay), the single RAM module and the network adapters (WWAN antennas included) are immediately available.

Lenovo‘s Hardware Maintenance Manual offers very good support for the X270.

with removed bottom cover
with removed bottom cover

Warranty

A three-year warranty including on-site service is the standard warranty for the X270. Lenovo also offers various upgrades to extend the warranty period and/or increase included services. The maximum warranty period is 5 years, warranty on the battery can be extended to 3 years (for the internal battery) and there is also an optional accident cover, which would mean that you are protected should your notebook fall and break.

Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The 6-row chiclet keyboard in the X270 is more or less equivalent to the keyboard in the ThinkPad T470. There is one important difference in the layout: the keyboard is not quite full-sized; it is slightly less wide than a standard keyboard. This means that some keys are shrunk. For the German keyboard the shrunk keys are backspace, the letters “ü” and “ä” and the AltGr, Print Screen and Ctrl keys. The right Shift key is also shorter than normal. At first, this can lead to some typos, especially if you are used to typing with a standard-sized keyboard. But it should not take too long to get used to.

The smooth keys absorb dirt quite easily, but typing is very comfortable - just the way we are used to from ThinkPads. The keys have a good pressure point and the typing noise is muffled and quiet. In comparison to the larger models of the T-series, the travel is slightly shorter, so they perform a little better in this respect.

Some of the models have a two-level backlit keyboard. It is not the standard version, however, so make sure you choose the right model that really includes the keyboard that you want. The keyboard is also splash-proof and contains a configurable key (F12). You can read more about the functioning of this key in our review of the ThinkPad E570

keyboard
keyboard

Touchpad

The combination of Touchpad and TrackPoint, which used to be called UltraNav by Lenovo, has remained unchanged in the 12-inch-X-series since the X250 from 2015. The Touchpad is shorter and slightly narrower than that of the current T-series or the X1 Carbon. This means that there is a lot of unused space between the keyboard and the TrackPoint and the TrackPoint and Touchpad. The modern UltraNav in the T470 makes more efficient use of the available space and has a large touch surface.

Apart from the Touchpad being a little small, it offers a good performance. Lenovo uses the Microsoft Precision standard for all new ThinkPads including the X270 which means that the Touchpad‘s software works almost perfectly. Gestures such as zooming and two-finger scrolling work almost as smoothly as a capacitive touchscreen. Lenovo still uses a ClickPad. The click mechanism produces a deep, crisp clicking sound, but is a little loud. The surface is made of plastic, which Lenovo calls "Mylar surface” in the specifications. The Touchpad has good gliding properties, although a glass surface would feel nicer and offer some advantages.

The TrackPoint works just as well on the X270 as on any other of the ThinkPad models. Only the TrackPoint keys are not quite as comfortable as on the T470, where they are shaped slightly differently. But that is just being fussy.

Display

Innolux N125HCE-GN1 subpixel array
Innolux N125HCE-GN1 subpixel array
hardly any backlight bleeding
hardly any backlight bleeding

Lenovo's specification sheets list three 12.5-inch display options including HD screens (1366x768) which are either TN or IPS-based. In Germany only the full HD (1920x1080) option based on IPS is available at the moment. All displays are matte, and there is no touch function available for the X270.

Lenovo claims 300cd/m² for the full HD display, which is the same as that of its predecessor, the X260. However, while this specification was rather conservative for the X260, it is a little too ambitious for our test unit. The maximum our display can reach is “only” 289cd/m² and the average is even lower at about 281cd/m². We cannot rule out higher deviations in the series production, as Lenovo uses a total of four different full- HD IPS panels in the X270. Which one you receive is pure chance. In any case, the display used for the test unit does not reach the promised brightness level. At least there is so little backlight bleeding that it is not noticeable. The screen does use PWM if you reduce the brightness to below 50%, but the frequency is so high that even sensitive users should not have any problems.

281
cd/m²
278
cd/m²
287
cd/m²
289
cd/m²
283
cd/m²
277
cd/m²
286
cd/m²
278
cd/m²
271
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Innolux N125HCE-GN1 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 289 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 281.1 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 94 %
Center on Battery: 282 cd/m²
Contrast: 1132:1 (Black: 0.25 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6.1 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 6 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
65.43% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
42.26% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
46.11% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
65.9% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
44.6% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.05
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
Innolux N125HCE-GN1, , 1920x1080, 12.50
Dell Latitude 7280
AUO236D , , 1920x1080, 12.50
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
Chi Mei, , 1920x1080, 12.50
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
B140HAN03_1, , 1920x1080, 14.00
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Sharp SHP1449 LQ133M1, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad X260-20F6007RGE
Lenovo N125HCE-GN1, , 1920x1080, 12.50
Display
-0%
-0%
34%
10%
0%
Display P3 Coverage
44.6

44.6

44.41
0%
44.45
0%
61.4
38%
48.94
10%
44.71
0%
sRGB Coverage
65.9

65.9

65.4
-1%
65.5
-1%
85.9
30%
73.3
11%
66.1
0%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
46.11

46.11

45.9
0%
46.04
0%
62.4
35%
50.5
10%
46.23
0%
Response Times
9%
14%
-3%
6%
16%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
40.8 ?(21.2, 19.6)
32.4 ?(12.4, 20)
21%
35 ?(16, 19)
14%
41.6 ?(20.4, 21.2)
-2%
32.8 ?(16, 16.8)
20%
32.8 ?(15.6, 17.2)
20%
Response Time Black / White *
30.4 ?(16.4, 14)
31.2 ?(9.2, 22)
-3%
26 ?(7, 19)
14%
31.6 ?(18.8, 12.8)
-4%
33.2 ?(10.8, 22.4)
-9%
27.2 ?(12.4, 14.8)
11%
PWM Frequency
26040 ?(50)
Screen
-5%
-2%
13%
16%
2%
Brightness middle
283
310.4
10%
326
15%
311
10%
351.2
24%
337
19%
Brightness
281
301
7%
304
8%
288
2%
325
16%
322
15%
Brightness Distribution
94
88
-6%
81
-14%
85
-10%
89
-5%
91
-3%
Black Level *
0.25
0.32
-28%
0.29
-16%
0.24
4%
0.195
22%
0.32
-28%
Contrast
1132
970
-14%
1124
-1%
1296
14%
1801
59%
1053
-7%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
6.1
5.9
3%
6.49
-6%
5.5
10%
7.4
-21%
5.71
6%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
15.4
21
-36%
15.95
-4%
9
42%
9.08
41%
15.39
-0%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6
5.1
15%
6.16
-3%
6.2
-3%
6.71
-12%
5.15
14%
Gamma
2.05 107%
2.33 94%
2.32 95%
2.02 109%
2.74 80%
2.38 92%
CCT
6832 95%
6816 95%
7575 86%
5950 109%
7222 90%
6881 94%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
42.26
42
-1%
42
-1%
55.96
32%
50.48
19%
42.38
0%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
65.43
65
-1%
65
-1%
85.77
31%
73.31
12%
65.62
0%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
1% / -2%
4% / 0%
15% / 15%
11% / 13%
6% / 3%

* ... smaller is better

colors
colors
saturation
saturation
gray values
gray values
colors (calibrated)
colors (calibrated)
saturation (calibrated)
saturation (calibrated)
gray values (calibrated)
gray values (calibrated)

The device has a high quality contrast ratio of 1132:1. Only the XPS 13 display is noticeably better in this respect. Subjectively, there is nothing to criticize about the way the X270 displays contents. Images appear sharp, the colors are saturated - especially once you have calibrated the display (ex-works, the display has a slight green cast). If you have not your own calibration device, we suggest you use the ICC profile that is available to download for free above, next to the brightness distribution chart.

The representable color space is definitely lacking in comparison to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon and the Dell XPS 13. Interestingly enough, all 12.5-inch displays seem to be equally bad in this respect. You can forget doing any serious image processing here, with only 65% of the sRGB color space covered.

sRGB: 65%
sRGB: 65%
AdobeRGB: 42%
AdobeRGB: 42%

You can use the X270 outdoors, although it would be better to stay in the shade. To use the screen in direct sunlight, Lenovo would have had to set the brightness well over 300cd/m². Despite the matte surface, it is very difficult to read the display in the sun.

outdoor (shade)
outdoor (shade)
outdoor (sun)
outdoor (sun)

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
30.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16.4 ms rise
↘ 14 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. » 80 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
40.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 21.2 ms rise
↘ 19.6 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 59 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse 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 26040 Hz ≤ 50 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 26040 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 50 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 26040 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

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.

The stability to the vantage point of the Innolux display is just as good as you would expect from an IPS display. The colors remain the same; you can notice a slight decrease in brightness from about 45°, but it is still very even. This happens a lot with IPS displays, but in this case it does not affect the quality of the screen.

External monitors or projectors can be connected via the HDMI or USB Type-C ports. Both ports produce a sharp, clear image.

viewing angles Innolux N125HCE-GN1
viewing angles Innolux N125HCE-GN1

Performance

At the time of testing, four different models of the Lenovo ThinkPad X270 were available in Germany. Our exclusive campus model was the only one equipped with the Intel Core i5-7200U, a 512 GB SSD and 8 GB of RAM. The biggest difference compared to the other models is that this configuration contains no pre-installed OS. Two of the three other models contain the same Core i5-7200U while the third (and most expensive) model is equipped with the Core i7-7500U. This is the only one that also contains the 512 GB SSD, while the other models contain a 256 GB SSD and cost something between the top model and our test unit.

The most expensive model has 16 GB of RAM while the cheaper versions including our test unit are equipped with 8 GB of RAM ex-works. As there is only one RAM slot, 16 GB of RAM is the maximum you can expand to. One thing that has changed in comparison to the X260 is that it now contains a DDR4-2400 RAM. 

HWInfo
HWInfo
GPUZ
GPUZ
CPUZ
CPUZ
CPUZ: Cache
CPUZ: Cache
CPUZ: Mainboard
CPUZ: Mainboard
CPUZ: Memory
CPUZ: Memory
CPUZ: SPD
CPUZ: SPD
LatencyMon
LatencyMon

Processor

The Intel Core i5-7200U is a midrange processor of the ultra-low-voltage series (which is marked by the letter U). ULV CPUs are designed for low power consumption - the i5-7200U clocks at a maximum of 3.1 GHz with turbo boost and the dual core CPU integrates Hyperthreading to work with up to 4 threads at once. For more CPU comparisons, please see our CPU-List.

So far, the temperature limit for the Kaby Lake ThinkPads tests has always been at 75 °C (167 °F) and the TDP was increased to 25 W. Interestingly enough, this is not the case in the X270. We cannot tell whether this was a conscious decision made by Lenovo, or if it is due to an error in the BIOS. It is possible that Lenovo will adjust this behavior in one of the next BIOS updates. Why? Because of the temperatures. Even in the single Cinebench multicore test, the CPU reached 91 °C (~196 °F!).

However, the non-existent temperature limit also meant that the CPU kept up the maximum clock of 3.1 GHz for the whole 30 minute Cinebench test loop - unlike the X1 Carbon. While the latter already fell back to a lower performance level during the second test, the X270 stayed more or less on the same level throughout.

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

In general, however, the X1 Carbon is a lot stronger due to the stronger i7-7500U processor. In comparison to the direct competitors from HP and Dell, the X270 does a good job. Running against the HP EliteBook 820 G4 in the multi-core test, the HP fell back despite its faster Core i7-7500U.

No performance reduction was noticeable on battery power.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Dell Latitude 7280
Intel Core i7-7600U
164 Points +27%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
Intel Core i7-7500U
143 Points +11%
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
Intel Core i7-7500U
139 Points +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
Intel Core i5-7200U
129 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X260-20F6007RGE
Intel Core i7-6500U
128 Points -1%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel Core i5-7200U
124 Points -4%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
Intel Core i7-7500U
360 Points +9%
Dell Latitude 7280
Intel Core i7-7600U
351 Points +6%
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
Intel Core i5-7200U
330 Points
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
Intel Core i7-7500U
329 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad X260-20F6007RGE
Intel Core i7-6500U
324 Points -2%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel Core i5-7200U
318 Points -4%
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
38.45 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.7 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
330 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
129 Points
Help

System Performance

In the PCMark8 test, the X270 ranks average. All comparison devices seem to have a similar performance; the predecessor X260 made last place in both tests while the X1 Carbon made first.

Thanks to the faster components (Core i5-CPU, NVMe SSD) as well as the sufficient RAM, the X270 performs well for everyday tasks. The computer boots up quickly and runs smoothly with hardly any pauses.

PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4025 Points +13%
Dell Latitude 7280
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 256GB
3667 Points +3%
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512
3660 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Toshiba NVMe THNSF5512GPUK
3575 Points
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
3535 Points -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad X260-20F6007RGE
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Liteonit LCH-512V2S
3284 Points -8%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4978 Points +7%
Dell Latitude 7280
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 256GB
4957 Points +6%
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512
4824 Points +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Toshiba NVMe THNSF5512GPUK
4660 Points
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
4568 Points -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X260-20F6007RGE
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Liteonit LCH-512V2S
4341 Points -7%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3575 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4660 points
Help

Storage Devices

Lenovo chose to take another path for the storage devices after the X260. That version was not compatible with M.2 SSDs and Lenovo found a very exotic solution in order to use NVMe SSDs: The SATA Express - an almost forgotten connector for the faster 2.5-inch SSDs. The disadvantage is that nowadays, there are hardly any SATA Express SSDs and the X260 with NVMe was something quite rare.

For the X270, Lenovo has decided to go with a simpler solution that they already used for the T470, which is to use a M.2 SSD in a 2.5-inch drive bay adaptor. But as it seems that they still use the SATA Express connection (with an adaptor), the performance is limited to PCIe-x2.

In our S270, Lenovo used a Toshiba SSD with the model number THNSF5512GPUK. The SSD with a capacity of 512 GB is based on NVMe technology, which means that it is a M.2 SSD. Overall, the SSD is quick and can easily beat SATA-III SSDs. This also becomes apparent in the comparison with the Dell Latitude 7280. But there are also faster NVMe SSDs around, for example the Samsung PM961 which is installed in the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. X270’s SSD is probably slower because of the PCIe-x2 port that limits performance.

The integrated SSD can be compared to further storage solutions in our SSD-/HDD benchmark comparison.

Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
Toshiba NVMe THNSF5512GPUK
Dell Latitude 7280
SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 256GB
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
Lenovo ThinkPad X260-20F6007RGE
Liteonit LCH-512V2S
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-45%
5%
43%
-12%
-42%
Read Seq
1190
470.8
-60%
1315
11%
1827
54%
1233
4%
499.6
-58%
Write Seq
985
477.4
-52%
594
-40%
1383
40%
733
-26%
403
-59%
Read 512
858
370.1
-57%
661
-23%
814
-5%
1036
21%
322.9
-62%
Write 512
528
323.2
-39%
594
13%
1098
108%
439.9
-17%
372.4
-29%
Read 4k
35.27
30.23
-14%
42.87
22%
61
73%
29.31
-17%
27.22
-23%
Write 4k
124.5
59.5
-52%
151.6
22%
172.2
38%
116.9
-6%
83.6
-33%
Read 4k QD32
495.3
344.4
-30%
568
15%
601
21%
479.2
-3%
316.5
-36%
Write 4k QD32
418.3
183
-56%
491.7
18%
495.6
18%
218.3
-48%
273.1
-35%
Toshiba NVMe THNSF5512GPUK
Sequential Read: 1190 MB/s
Sequential Write: 985 MB/s
512K Read: 858 MB/s
512K Write: 528 MB/s
4K Read: 35.27 MB/s
4K Write: 124.5 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 495.3 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 418.3 MB/s

Graphics

All models of the X270 contain the Intel HD Graphics 620, the standard graphics processor contained in most of the Intel ULV processors today. Based on GT2, the graphics processor has 24 Executive Units (EU) and a maximum clock of 1000 MHz. You can find more comparisons of this GPU with many other modern graphic units in our GPU benchmark list.

As there is only one RAM slot, the working memory can only run in single channel mode, so the performance of the GPU is slightly limited because it needs to access the main storage. Therefore, the X270 is hardly better than its predecessor and in the Fire Strike benchmark, it even scored slightly lower. The X1 Carbon shows what is possible with the HD 620: it is 15% faster in the 3DMark-11-Test and 39% faster in the Fire Strike test. The Dell XPS 13 also reaches higher scores in all tests.

Running on battery power does not affect the performance of the GPU.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1641 Points +15%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1545 Points +8%
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1515 Points +6%
Dell Latitude 7280
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7600U
1442 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1426 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X260-20F6007RGE
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i7-6500U
1268 Points -11%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
8971 Points +38%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
8177 Points +26%
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
7618 Points +18%
Dell Latitude 7280
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7600U
7032 Points +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
6483 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X260-20F6007RGE
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i7-6500U
6287 Points -3%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1093 Points +39%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
963 Points +22%
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
886 Points +12%
Dell Latitude 7280
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7600U
819 Points +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad X260-20F6007RGE
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i7-6500U
791 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
789 Points
3DMark 11 Performance
1543 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
5519 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
739 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Even with minimal details and reduced resolution, most current games will not be able to play smoothly on the X270 due to the limited performance of the integrated GPU. Older games can be played with somewhat lower details. But the X270 was not developed for games. If you ae looking for a very mobile gaming PC, take a look at the Alienware 13 or the Razer Blade.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 42.8 25.3 20.8 6.5
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 19.1
Civilization VI (2016) 30.7 10.3

Emissions

System Noise

The small cooling fan in our test unit starts running under the smallest load, but at least it is off when the device is idle. In that respect, the X270 is one of the more annoying devices because the fan runs so often - probably because of its small size. In comparison to other laptops with U CPUs, the cooling fan is almost overpoweringly loud under maximum load.

But apart from the cooling fan, the device was quiet. There were no other interfering noises and as there is no HDD, there was no HDD murmuring at all. 

Noise Level

Idle
29 / 29 / 30.4 dB(A)
Load
34.1 / 37.6 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 29 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2033.330.833.133.232.833.32532.630.232.135.430.232.63130.227.93233.729.230.24029.826.428.931.327.929.85032.426.328.330.227.332.46326.624.625.627.525.226.68025.526.326.127.525.725.51002625.925.724.625.22612524.824.223.625.423.324.816023.922.822.622.722.123.920023.323.422.422.421.923.325023.223.821.922.520.823.231525.322.3222219.525.340022.321.22120.719.522.350022.42119.719.918.422.463024.522.520.919.21824.580024.422.120.618.317.124.4100024.821.219.918.21624.8125025.221.820.317.516.125.2160026.822.721.318.815.926.8200026.423.8221915.926.4250026.523.521.918.315.826.5315026.62321.417.216.226.6400027.822.619.416.916.327.8500026.621.119.217.416.626.6630024.220.118.617.317.124.2800022.118.917.717.217.122.11000019.617.617.517.317.319.6125001817.417.217.217.1181600017.417.117.11716.917.4SPL37.634.132.530.42937.6N2.721.71.41.22.7median 24.5median 22.3median 20.9median 18.3median 17.1median 24.5Delta1.921.91.81.81.936.936.633.235.836.934.236.833.633.334.232.832.131.932.632.830.931.331.531.330.929.230.930.329.929.229.130.830.931.129.128.828.428.228.228.827.227.72828.327.225.826.326.725.325.826.125.925.825.626.12425.125.424.92423.624.523.523.523.623.123.922.922.923.121.52321.821.821.520.9222220.920.920.221.321.119.920.219.622.722.119.319.619.224.52318.919.218.321.920.718.218.31823.321.818.21817.724.522.917.817.717.827.724.217.617.817.72421.717.617.717.521.520.117.617.517.721.720.717.617.717.720.218.817.817.717.919.118.317.817.917.918.317.917.717.917.718.617.817.517.717.918.717.917.717.930.835.433.730.830.81.52.221.51.5median 18.3median 23median 21.8median 18.2median 18.32.31.71.92.42.3hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseLenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET

Temperature

load (Prime95 + FurMark)
load (Prime95 + FurMark)

The X270 has quite a fiery temper. While idle, everything is fine and the case remains cool. But when the computer works under load, you almost have to be careful not to burn your fingers, it is so hot. We measured a maximum of almost 60 °C (~140 °F) on the bottom, which is worryingly high and basically makes using the device on your lap impossible.

If you look at the inside temperatures during the stress test, the reason for the high external temperature can soon be found. During the Cinebench test, the CPU already reached 91 °C (~196 °F), so it is not surprising that under simultaneous load for the CPU and the GPU, the temperatures rose even higher to 99 °C (210 °F) at maximum temperature. That is almost the defined limit of 100 °C (212 °F) at which the device would strongly limit performance and in the worst case turn itself off. Both the CPU and the GPU kept up their respective maximum clock throughout the entire stress test.

These results are also alarming if you consider that Lenovo also sells the X270 with the higher clock rate processor (i7-7500U), although the cooling system is already overloaded with the i5. Presumably this will lead to temperature based throttling with the i7, which means an upgrade is not necessarily worth it.

After the stress test, the 3DMark 11 benchmark test brought average results. 

top (idle)
top (idle)
bottom (idle)
bottom (idle)
top (under load)
top (under load)
bottom (under load)
bottom (under load)
Max. Load
 52.9 °C
127 F
50.7 °C
123 F
37.8 °C
100 F
 
 51.1 °C
124 F
47.9 °C
118 F
37.2 °C
99 F
 
 38.5 °C
101 F
30.8 °C
87 F
27 °C
81 F
 
Maximum: 52.9 °C = 127 F
Average: 41.5 °C = 107 F
38.9 °C
102 F
54 °C
129 F
57.8 °C
136 F
37 °C
99 F
48.1 °C
119 F
57.1 °C
135 F
25.2 °C
77 F
28.5 °C
83 F
39.1 °C
102 F
Maximum: 57.8 °C = 136 F
Average: 42.9 °C = 109 F
Power Supply (max.)  42.2 °C = 108 F | Room Temperature 21.3 °C = 70 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 41.5 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 29.5 °C / 85 F for the devices in the class Office.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 52.9 °C / 127 F, compared to the average of 34.2 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 57.8 °C / 136 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.1 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 38.5 °C / 101.3 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (-10.8 °C / -19.4 F).

Speakers

The small stereo speakers are positioned on the bottom of our test unit, so the sound quality depends a lot on what the device is standing on. In terms of the performance of the speakers: They are relatively quiet and have no bass. But at least they do not tend to distort when you turn up the sound level. Overall, the speakers are rather average. They are not the worst for this laptop category, but they cannot be considered "good” either. If possible, we recommend using external speakers.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.331.42534.433.43131.731.24029.829.35028.228.56325.928802628.810024.627.212524.528.61602328.220022.83125021.437.231520.147.740019.551.850018.9506301851.380017.454.8100017.353.5125016.654.6160016.652.9200016.453.4250016.454.2315016.354400016.653.2500016.958.8630016.958.9800017.354.51000017.350.91250017.252.21600017.150SPL29.366.8N1.221.3median 17.3median 52.2Delta1.46.235.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (66.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.5% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (22.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 54% of all tested devices in this class were better, 10% similar, 36% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 60% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 34% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequenzdiagramm im Vergleich (Checkboxen oben an-/abwählbar!)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The X270 definitely is not the most energy-efficient device. In fact, only the X1 Carbon needs more power in comparison. Devices from other manufacturers are a lot more efficient, although the increased TDP to 25 watts obviously also has a certain influence. Under maximum load the X270 consumes about 10 watts more - which corresponds exactly to the increased TDP - but the idle values are slightly higher as well. The predecessor X260 actually did slightly better in terms of power consumption, but the differences are minimal.

The small 45-watt power supply is just strong enough to provide enough power for the X270 during maximum load. 

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.28 / 0.35 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.5 / 5.8 / 7.6 Watt
Load midlight 33.2 / 40.4 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 X270-20HMS00T00
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Toshiba NVMe THNSF5512GPUK, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 12.50
Dell Latitude 7280
i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 256GB, IPS, 1920x1080, 12.50
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512, IPS, 1920x1080, 12.50
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad X260-20F6007RGE
6500U, HD Graphics 520, Liteonit LCH-512V2S, IPS, 1920x1080, 12.50
Power Consumption
11%
19%
-16%
21%
5%
Idle Minimum *
3.5
4.28
-22%
2.7
23%
3.84
-10%
4.1
-17%
3.5
-0%
Idle Average *
5.8
5.11
12%
4.8
17%
6.3
-9%
4.2
28%
5.5
5%
Idle Maximum *
7.6
5.49
28%
6.6
13%
8.6
-13%
5.1
33%
6.7
12%
Load Average *
33.2
29.83
10%
28.5
14%
41.9
-26%
22.1
33%
28.9
13%
Load Maximum *
40.4
30.05
26%
29
28%
48.7
-21%
29.4
27%
42.1
-4%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

Like the T470 and all X-models since the X240, the X270 has Lenovo’s PowerBridge feature. Basically, this means that the test unit contains two batteries, one of which is internal and can only be accessed by removing the bottom cover. The other battery is positioned at the back of the device and is external, so users can access it easily. Both batteries have the same capacity (23 Wh), so in total the X270 has 46 Wh battery capacity. The biggest advantage of the PowerBridge is that you have the option to use a larger external battery, which would lift up the device slightly. The other battery has a capacity of 72 Wh, so the maximum total capacity would be 95 Wh. On top of that, you can change the external battery while the device is turned on (Hot Swap).

The PowerBridge is a great feature, but the test unit still has only 46 Wh. This battery capacity in combination with the higher power consumption rates mean rather disappointing results in practical battery tests. It lasted only 5 hours and 24 minutes in the Wi-Fi test. Even its own predecessor did better. The results of the Big Buck Bunny test confirmed the Wi-Fi test results. If you are looking for really good battery performance, we recommend you get hold of the optional 6-cell battery with 72 Wh.

Charging is not a strong point of the X270 either. It takes about 2 hours for the battery to recharge from 5% to 100%.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
17h 03min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge)
5h 24min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
6h 47min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 44min
Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 46 Wh
Dell Latitude 7280
i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
HP EliteBook 820 G4 Z2V72ET
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 49 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 57 Wh
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad X260-20F6007RGE
6500U, HD Graphics 520, 46 Wh
Battery Runtime
72%
59%
39%
62%
13%
Reader / Idle
1023
1553
52%
1346
32%
1252
22%
1295
27%
953
-7%
H.264
407
532
31%
711
75%
466
14%
WiFi v1.3
324
682
110%
566
75%
496
53%
677
109%
501
55%
Load
104
159
53%
205
97%
110
6%
157
51%
92
-12%

Verdict

Pros

+ comfortable ThinkPad input devices
+ compact and nice to handle
+ flexible battery usage thanks to PowerBridge
+ high number of ports for a compact laptop

Cons

- some weaknesses in manufacturing
- device heats up under load
- cooling fan runs too frequently
- darker display than that of predecessor
- low color space coverage
- difficult maintenance
- disappointing battery life
In review: Lenovo ThinkPad X270. Test unit provided by Campuspoint.de
In review: Lenovo ThinkPad X270. Test unit provided by Campuspoint.de

This is the fourth time Lenovo has reused the same case. As always with ThinkPads, the great input devices, as well as the PowerBridge feature – which basically has not real competitors - are definite pros. Considering its size, the X270 has a lot of ports, which means that it is very flexible to use. The small size also means that it is easy and comfortable to handle. In this respect, there are no differences to its predecessors – after all it is basically the same device.


Unfortunately, Lenovo did mess up in some areas of the X270. First of all, the cooling system: It is a little alarming that a device equipped with a ULV processor reaches 60°C (140°F) surface temperature - despite the cooling fan running annoyingly often. Another downside is the full HD display, which is significantly darker than its predecessor's, with a similar low color space coverage. The weaknesses in manufacturing are also similar to those of the previous versions. The maintenance design was already an issue for the X260: it is no fun to open the BaseCover. Surprisingly, the computer's smaller external 3-cell batteries also offer shorter battery life than that of its predecessor.

Lenovo's ThinkPad X2xx series urgently needs a makeover. Due to the many little problems, we cannot recommend the X270.

If you do not absolutely need a compact notebook which has a flexible battery configuration (PowerBridge), we cannot really recommend the ThinkPad X270. This is not just because of the various problems described above – although those alone would suffice for us to recommend taking a look at the direct competitors HP EliteBook 820 G4 and Dell Latitude 7280. General, it is difficult to find reasons for buying the X270, unless you need the PowerBridge and some features that are particularly important for big companies (smart card, docking port, Ethernet). The Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo’s largest in-house competitor, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, for example, are models that offer higher quality and a bigger display, while still being very portable. That calls into question the whole existence of subnotebooks. One argument might be the price – although the classic 12-inch subnotebooks are not really low-cost either. 

Lenovo ThinkPad X270-20HMS00T00 - 03/29/2017 v6(old)
Benjamin Herzig

Chassis
78 / 98 → 79%
Keyboard
89%
Pointing Device
88%
Connectivity
63 / 80 → 78%
Weight
71 / 20-67 → 100%
Battery
86%
Display
85%
Games Performance
55 / 68 → 81%
Application Performance
89 / 92 → 97%
Temperature
79%
Noise
90%
Audio
50%
Camera
45 / 85 → 53%
Average
74%
85%
Office - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo ThinkPad X270 (Core i5, Full HD) Laptop Review
Benjamin Herzig, 2017-04-13 (Update: 2020-05-19)