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CES 2022 | Lenovo upgrades lightweight ThinkPad X1 Nano G2 with stronger CPUs & 32 GB RAM

Lenovo upgrades lightweight ThinkPad X1 Nano G2 with stronger CPUs & 32 GB RAM
Lenovo upgrades lightweight ThinkPad X1 Nano G2 with stronger CPUs & 32 GB RAM
With the ThinkPad X1 Nano, the smallest and most lightweight ThinkPad laptop of the 2021 generation, Lenovo produced a successful newcomer to the ThinkPad X1 line. The ThinkPad X1 Nano G2 is supposed to continue the success-story with much faster processors.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano (available from Amazon, affiliate link), introduced in late 2020, was supposed to compete with the Dell XPS 13. Essentially, it was a smaller and lighter version of the well-known X1 Carbon; an ultralightweight laptop for traveling business customers. Seemingly, it was a success: Different from the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga, which also was a new addition to the ThinkPad lineup of 2021, the ThinkPad X1 Nano will receive a second generation. 

ADL-P28 instead of TGL-UP4: Lenovo makes the X1 Nano faster

A focus of the new generation of the X1 Nano seems to be enhancing the performance. Last years models used Tiger Lake UP4 CPUs, nominally the less powerful Tiger-Lake chips. These quad-core processors did run at a higher TDP level in the predecessor, but their performance still lacked behind the competition from AMD and Apple's M1 in the MacBook Air. Seemingly, Lenovo wants to mix up this equation, as the X1 Nano G2 uses Alder-Lake P28 - including the top of the line model with 14 cores (6 P cores, 8 E cores).  

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 now with Alder-Lake P28
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 now with Alder-Lake P28

The stronger processors are not the only feature coming along with the new platform Alder-Lake. The ThinkPad X1 Nano G2 replaced the old LPDDR4X memory with the new LPDDR5 RAM standard. Lenovo uses this opportunity to upgrade the memory further by offering the X1 Nano Gen 2 with 32 GB RAM instead of just 16 GB. 

Improved camera like for the X1 Yoga G7 und X1 Carbon G10

Still, the ThinkPad X1 Nano G2 is first and foremost a platform update, as the list of new features aside from the internals is rather thin. The most important addition is the new webcam - business users in home-office will most likely appreciate the new 1080p f/2.0 webcam with a 1.4μm sensor. The new camera leads to a small design change, as there is now a reverse notch above the screen - the 1080p webcam requires some extra room.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano G2: better webcam
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano G2: better webcam
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano G2: Add-on-Film-Touch-Display (optional)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano G2: Add-on-Film-Touch-Display (optional)

There are some additional, small changes. The internal SSD capacity increases from 1 TB to 2 TB ex-factory. Lenovo slightly increases the battery capacity from 48 to 49.6 Whr and the touchscreen of the X1 Nano is now based on "Add on Film Touch" technology, which is supposed to save weight. While we are talking weight, it should be mentioned that it slightly increases from 907 to 970 g; the important line of 1 kg is not crossed.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: Pricing and availability

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano G2 will be available in April 2022, with a base-price of $1,659.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 Specifications

CPU12th Gen Intel Core i vPro, Alder-Lake P28, up to 14 coresBattery49,6 Wh, Rapid Charge
OS
  • Up to Windows 11 Pro
  • Linux Ubuntu 
  • Fedora
  • Windows 10 Pro preinstall via Windows 11 Pro downgrade rights
Webcam
  • FHD RGB f/2.0 1.4μm, ThinkShutter
  • FHD RGB f/2.0 1.4μm + IR, ThinkShutter
  • FHD + IR MIPI w/Computervision, ThinkShutter  
RAMUp to 32 GB LPDDR5 (on board)SecurityMatch-on-Chip Fingerprint-Reader, dTPM 2.0
StorageUp to 2 TB PCIe SSDPorts2x Thunderbolt 4, 3.5mm Audio
GPUIntegrated Intel Iris Xe GraphicsInput95 % keyboard, 1.35mm travel, backlit, Glass Trackpad, TrackPoint w/buttons
AudioDolby Atmos Speaker System, Dolby Voice, Quad Array MicsConnectivityWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 4G LTE CAT 16, 5G CAT 20, NFC
Display

13 inch, 2K (2,160 x 1,350) resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, IPS, 450 cd/m², 100 % sRGB, matte (AOFT Touch optional)

Chassis

Starting at 970 g

293.2 x 208 x 14.47 mm (non Touch) / 293.3 x 208.1 x 14.77 mm (Touch)

Carbon Fiber Top, Magnesium/Aluminum Bottom

  • Deep Black
  • Deep Black w/Carbon Weave Top Cover

Source(s)

Lenovo

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2022 01 > Lenovo upgrades lightweight ThinkPad X1 Nano G2 with stronger CPUs & 32 GB RAM
Benjamin Herzig, 2022-01- 5 (Update: 2022-01- 5)