The ThinkPad X1 Fold has a foldable OLED touchscreen, but it's no fun in everyday use

With the ThinkPad X1 Fold, Lenovo presents the world's first foldable laptop. For this, the manufacturer combines a stable case, an OLED touchscreen, and an efficient hybrid processor from Intel. In addition, there is 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. A 5G modem is also available as an option. A small Bluetooth keyboard and an active stylus are also included. However, those who want to try out the new device will have to dig deep into their pockets, because the cheapest model costs just under 3,000 Euros (currently starting at $2,299.99 on Lenovo's website).

The folding mechanism of the X1 Fold leaves a very stable impression, just like the entire case. The leather cover on the back adds to the high-quality look. You can't see the crease when the screen is activated, either. However, the screen surface shows an increased gliding resistance that is noticeable both when using the fingers as well as the active stylus. In addition, not every input is immediately recognized by the touchscreen, which can quickly become frustrating in practice. Furthermore, the small keyboard with the tiny touchpad isn't very fun to use, either.

However, the biggest problem is probably the poor software support. Windows was simply not designed for this type of devices. Lenovo does install its own app that allows distributing screen contents across the two touchscreen halves, but this is very fiddly and not very intuitive in practice.

There are also weaknesses in terms of hardware. The hybrid processor from Intel doesn't offer much performance headroom, and the OLED touchscreen is extremely reflective. Since brightness (~235 cd/m²) is also significantly below the advertised 300 cd/m², you can hardly use the device outdoors. In addition, battery life depends heavily on the content displayed; in our tests, the battery was drained after 5-6 hours.

All in all, we can't recommend the first-generation X1 Fold, especially not at its high price. Currently, you simply get the better overall packages with normal convertibles. Further information on the ThinkPad X1 Fold is available in our detailed review:

• Review of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold