Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Review: A Bold Step Toward the Future of Foldable Laptops

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Technology has always had a knack for bending the rules quite literally in this case. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold isn’t just another sleek laptop with faster specs or thinner bezels. It’s something different. It dares to fold. When you first lay eyes on it, you might feel a bit of disbelief that sense of “Wait, the screen bends?” But yes, it does, and it works better than you’d expect, at least most of the time.

The ThinkPad X1 Fold is one of those devices that make you feel like you’re holding a piece of the future the kind of gadget you’d imagine a character using in a sci-fi movie set twenty years from now. But behind the “wow” factor, the big question remains: is it practical, or is it just a beautifully engineered experiment?

A Design That Turns Heads

Let’s start with the obvious the design. The X1 Fold looks nothing like your everyday laptop. When it’s closed, it resembles a stylish leather bound journal, something you’d casually slip into a satchel. Open it up, though, and you’re greeted by a flexible OLED display that unfolds into a stunning 13.3 inch (or 16.3 inch in the newer model) touchscreen.

It’s mesmerizing to watch the hinge in action smooth, sturdy, and almost theatrical in motion. Lenovo clearly invested years of research into making sure that foldable mechanism could handle daily use. The company claims it went through thousands of open and close cycles during testing. And honestly, it feels reassuringly solid, not flimsy or delicate like some early foldable tech products tend to feel.

The build is premium, as you’d expect from a ThinkPad. There’s that familiar business class sturdiness: magnesium alloy frame, carbon fiber reinforcements, and optional leather accents that make it look and feel expensive. It’s a beautiful mix of futuristic innovation and old school class.

The Experience: Between Novelty and Utility

Using the ThinkPad X1 Fold feels like a journey of discovery. The first time you unfold it flat on a desk, it’s all screen a giant tablet ready for note taking, sketching, or streaming. Fold it slightly, prop it up with its stand, and it turns into a compact laptop. Pair it with Lenovo’s mini Bluetooth keyboard and stylus, and you’ve got a portable workstation that looks like something straight out of a tech prototype showcase.

In tablet mode, it’s fantastic for reading documents or catching up on Netflix. The OLED panel is bright and crisp, colors pop vividly, and blacks are inky deep the kind of display that makes photos look alive. But when you fold it halfway and attach the tiny keyboard, things get… interesting.

The keyboard, while clever in concept, feels cramped. Typing long emails or essays takes patience, and if you have larger hands, you might find it more frustrating than functional. Still, for quick notes or casual browsing, it’s fine. Lenovo deserves credit for figuring out how to make it all work it’s just that the format isn’t ideal for everyone.

Performance: Ambitious Hardware, Modest Power

Now, here’s where the story gets a little complicated. The first generation X1 Fold used Intel’s “Lakefield” processor, a chip designed to balance power efficiency and compact size. Unfortunately, that balance leaned a little too much toward efficiency. In plain English it’s not fast.

For basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and streaming, the Fold handles itself decently. But once you push it harder say, juggling multiple browser tabs, video calls, and background apps the system begins to lag. It’s not a performance powerhouse, and it doesn’t pretend to be one.

The newer 16 inch version improves on this with Intel’s 12th Gen Core processors and Windows 11 optimization, making multitasking smoother. Still, don’t expect it to replace your high end workstation. The X1 Fold is more about flexibility than raw muscle.

Battery life follows the same story decent, not extraordinary. Lenovo promises around 8 to 10 hours, but in reality, you’re looking at closer to six or seven under typical usage. The vivid OLED screen, while beautiful, demands its share of power.

Software: Still Catching Up

Foldable technology is still young, and Windows hasn’t fully caught up. The idea of switching between folded and unfolded modes sounds simple, but in practice, the transition can sometimes be clunky. Windows occasionally struggles to decide how to rearrange windows when you fold or unfold the display.

That said, it’s much better now than it was at launch. Microsoft has been improving Windows 11’s adaptive interface, and Lenovo’s own software helps smooth out the process. But if you’re expecting the seamless fluidity of, say, an iPad experience, you might find it just a bit rough around the edges.

The Foldable Lifestyle: Who It’s Really For

After spending time with the ThinkPad X1 Fold, it’s clear that this isn’t meant for everyone and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. This is a device for early adopters, tech enthusiasts, creative professionals, or executives who value portability and versatility over sheer performance.

Imagine a designer sketching concepts during a flight, then folding the screen halfway to review notes like a digital notebook. Or a consultant pulling it out during a client meeting instantly switching from presentation mode to a laptop setup. It’s perfect for moments when you want a tool that adapts to you, not the other way around.

But for the average user who just needs a reliable laptop for everyday tasks, a traditional ultrabook will likely offer better performance, longer battery life, and a more comfortable typing experience at a fraction of the cost.

Price and Value

And that brings us to one of the Fold’s biggest hurdles: price. Innovation comes at a cost, and the ThinkPad X1 Fold is no exception. Depending on configuration, it can easily cross the $2,000 mark and that’s before adding accessories like the keyboard or stylus.

Is it worth it? That depends on how you define value. If you see technology as an investment in creativity and flexibility, the X1 Fold might be justifiable. If you’re looking for pure practicality, though, there are far more cost effective options out there.

Final Thoughts: A Glimpse Into Tomorrow

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold is less of a laptop and more of a statement. It’s Lenovo saying, “Look what’s possible.” And to be fair, it’s a thrilling peek into where personal computing might be headed. The idea of a foldable PC something that morphs between tablet, laptop, and e-reader is undeniably cool.

But it’s also a reminder that innovation takes time to mature. The X1 Fold, as impressive as it is, feels like the first chapter in a longer story. It’s bold, it’s ambitious, and it’s imperfect. Yet it’s hard not to admire it for daring to break away from the sea of identical clamshell laptops.

If you’re someone who loves being on the cutting edge, the ThinkPad X1 Fold delivers an experience few others can match. For the rest of us, it offers a fascinating glimpse into what laptops might look like in a few years when the future finally unfolds.