You don't need us to tell you that Apple has held something of a monopoly on the tablet market for years now, with the product name "iPad" practically becoming a slang term for tablets in general.
But now, at long last, a serious challenger seems to be entering the fray: the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold has been revealed, with the iconic tech outlet T3 already touting it as a potential "iPad death blow".
As T3 explains, this folding tablet is basically "the world’s first foldable PC tablet, combining the best of both worlds when it comes to laptops and tablets."
READ MORE:The price may have leaked for Samsung's next folding phone
But what's so special about the ThinkPad X1 fold, and how much will it cost to get one? Here's everything you need to know about its specs, features, price and release date...
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold specs and features
The official Lenovo website has gone us a solid, here, summing up the essential features for the ThinkPad X1 Fold. Check them out:
- Powered by Intel® Core™ processors with Intel® Hybrid Technology
- 13" 2K OLED display
- Stylish, extremely compact and portable
- Multiple use features: laptop, tablet, split-screen experience or one huge display
- Enhanced your experience with (optional) keyboard & (optional) pen
- Built-in ThinkShield security solutions
- Designed and testing for performance and durability
- Winner of 43 CES awards
- Delivers whatever your busy day demands
As for slightly more detailed specs, this is the table you seek...
Processor | Intel ® Core™ i5-L16G7 Processor (1.40 GHz, up to 3.00 GHz with Turbo Boost, 5 Cores, 5 Threads, 4 MB Cache) with Intel ® Hybrid Technology |
|---|---|
Operating System | Windows 10 HomeWindows 10 Pro - Lenovo recommends Windows 10 Pro for business |
Display | 13.3" QXGA Foldable 2K (2048 x 1536) OLED, DCI-P3 95%, touchscreen, 300 Nits |
Memory | 8GB LPDDR4X 4267MHz |
Battery | 8.5 hours MM18 10.4 hours (video playback) 50Wh with Rapid Charge technology |
Storage | Up to 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD |
Graphics | Integrated Intel ® UHD graphics |
Security | Discrete Trusted Platform Module (dTPM) 2.0 |
Audio | Dolby Atmos ® Speaker System4 mics |
Camera | Hybrid infrared (IR) / HD 5MP |
Dimensions (H x W x D) | Folded: 27.8mm x 158.2mm x 236mm / 1.09" x 6.23" x 9.29" Unfolded: 11.5mm x 299.4mm x 236mm / 0.45” x 11.79” x 9.29” |
Weight | Starting at 0.99 kg / 2.2 lbs |
Color | Authentic black leather folio cover |
Connectivity | Optional: WWAN CAT20 (5G/LTE) WLAN: WiFi 6 802.11AX Bluetooth ® 5.1 |
Ports/Slots | 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) (1 can be used as DP) Optional: Nano SIM slot |
Keyboard | Windows 10 on-screen keyboard Optional: Lenovo Fold Mini Keyboard |
Supported Docking | USB 3.0 Type-C Dock |
As well as being the world's first folding PC and serving as a powerful hybrid between a laptop and tablet, the ThinkPad X1 Fold also has an ace up its sleeve: 5G support is coming to the device in 2021.
VIDEO: See how the LG Wing reinvents the smartphone
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold price and release date
When it comes to a release date, it looks like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold is pretty much available now: orders have opened, and the official site says that shipping will occur (in the US at least) within 1-to-4 business days of your order.
As for pricing, according to the American Lenovo website, the US price for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold starts at $2,499.99, but it goes up as high as $3,099.00 if you want all the extra bells and whistles.
On the UK version of the Lenovo website (where it says that shipping occurs between 2 and 4 weeks), the prices start at £2,519.99, and they go up as high as £3,209.99.
Or on the Australian Lenovo website, prices start at $3,999.00, and go up as high as $6,199.00. You can click any of the links on these price-based paragraphs to fly away to the Lenovo website and think about making a purchase.
After all, if this is going to be an iPad-killer, wouldn't you rather be on the side of the victor??