The concept of foldables isn’t new. We’ve seen various iterations in the mobile phone space. However, it hasn’t been attempted like this in the laptop/notebook space. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold re-imagines how a laptop folds and it’s… well, it’s an interesting piece of tech to say the least.

Pretty cool, right? It slams shut the 13.3-inch display as if it was a book. It makes it easier to carry around when you’re out and about. Oh and, we’re not exaggerating the book comparison too.

Here it is side-by-side with a graphic novel. 

And here it is on top of TWICE’s Eyes Wide Open album. 

It actually looks like a book or notebook with its leather finish. 

Here it is on the table, not fully flexed nor folded.

It’s a pretty interesting contraption, but what can it do? That, perhaps, is the truly compelling question.

Performance and overall usage

Here’s a quick glance at the specs:

• 13.3” 2K OLED Display, 4:3 (2048 x 1536, 300 nits)
• Intel Core i5 with Intel Hybrid Technology
• 11th Gen Intel UHD, integrated Graphics
• Up to 1TB PCIe-NVMe M.2 2242 SSD
• 8GB LPDDR4X 4267MHz
• 50Wh with Rapid Charge technology
• 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) (1 can be used as DP)

Oh and it also has a 5MP camera for video calls. A bare minimum, but one that works fine, nevertheless.

Seems decent on paper, yes? That’s true. It also helps that it comes with the Lenovo Fold Mini Keyboard. With it, the ThinkPad X1 Fold transforms into this very Surface Pro-like device.

It’s able to stand on its own thanks to this kick-out stand that has the suede-like material. Definitely upping the “premium” feel of the device.

The keyboard itself isn’t all that great. People with objectively bigger hands might find it perplexing having to type on it. However, it is usable, has an okay travel, and can get you through quick typing sessions.

The trackpad is also fine but you’re probably better off touching the screen for smoother navigation. This isn’t surprising as most bluetooth keyboards tend to not be very good in this department.

It’s certainly better than using the Windows 10 On-Screen keyboard.

The ThinkPad X1 Fold can also be used with the Lenovo Mod Pen. It opens even more possibilities, especially if you’re the type who likes to sketch.

The stylus experience is pretty good. It doesn’t stray too far from the regular stylus to tablet or screen experience from other Lenovo devices, but it also isn’t as good as say the S Pen is to the Note series.

For comparison, I would say it felt close to how the stylus felt while writing and sketching on the Lenovo Thinkbook Plus. It’s another one of Lenovo’s odd-ball notebooks which is kind of becoming a theme for the company.

What’s cool is that both these accessories fit seamlessly with the ThinkPad X1 Fold. 

Fold the notebook and you get this easy-to-carry device complete with a keyboard and a stylus.

Having the keyboard inside also leaves no gap when the ThinkPad X1 Fold is folded.

This is smart hardware design and one that Lenovo should be commended for.

Software troubles 

However, the overall usage starts to feel clunky when you realize the device’s biggest weakness — it’s running on Windows 10 Pro. That operating system, on its own, is fine, especially for traditional laptops. But foldables are another story.

Transitioning from folded to unfolded and using split screens for “better productivity” just isn’t seamless. That’s because this product was supposed to ship with Windows 10X — the OS specifically designed for foldables.

However, with Microsoft’s own dual screen devices being delayed, the aforementioned OS also didn’t see the light of day. That didn’t stop Lenovo from launching the ThinkPad X1 Fold.

They try to mitigate the software issues by applying their own solution. The notebook comes with this Lenovo Mode Switcher that helps detect if you’re using the device as a single screen or as two separate screens.

It’s fine if you’re just using it for reading or for consuming media. But don’t mistake this for an all-out productivity tool. You’ll only be disappointed.

Media consumption

Speaking of consuming media, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is actually pretty good as a slate where you can watch your favorite things.

I sat through Spider-Man Homecoming for the nth time on this thing.

I also replayed over and over TWICE Momo’s performance project.

And used it to watch for the first time TWICE Jihyo’s performance project.

The way you can easily prop it up or carry it on one hand (that is if your arm can handle 999g/2.2lbs for a few minutes at a time), made for a decent video viewing companion. The speakers aren’t out of this world, but they’re alright.

The OLED display is doing the bulk of the heavy lifting in the video viewing experience. And the fact that it’s a foldable OLED display is just simply astonishing.

But for the price it commands, it just doesn’t seem like a device for the common folk.

Is the ThinkPad X1 Fold your GadgetMatch?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold is both magnificent and frustrating at the same time. This hardware is nothing to scoff at. The fact that Lenovo even had the audacity to try something like this is the reason why we like tech. We love it when brands push the boundaries and think outside the box.

However, this beautifully designed hardware is held back by the usable but clunky software. By no fault of its own, Lenovo was forced to release a product that doesn’t deliver a polished experience because of operating system limitations. That just isn’t what you expect from something priced at PhP 208,499 or US$ 2,499.

More than anything, the ThinkPad X1 Fold feels like a showcase device. Something a top executive who doesn’t have to do too much typing or doing the grunt work on spreadsheets and deck presentations would have use for.

It’s not completely broken by any means. You can do actual work with it. But the whole experience just feels too clunky. Microsoft owes Lenovo for leaving them hanging on the software side of things. But this shouldn’t dissuade the company from continuing to experiment and pushing what’s possible with hardware.

Personally, I’d like to give this another go once the appropriate software is ready. I imagine that would make a world of a difference.