The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium is a premium two-in-one laptop with a sleek titanium finish and durable carbon magnesium chassis. Similarly, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 boasts a premium aluminum build and an outstanding ThinkPad keyboard. It improves on its predecessor with a 16:10 aspect ratio display, offering slightly more screen space.
When you first hold it, the sleek design and storm grey finish stand out. Made of aluminum and weighing three pounds (1.35 kg), it’s slightly heavier than the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9, but still thin, light, and easy to carry. In terms of size, it’s similar to the X1 Titanium Yoga with its 3:2 aspect ratio, while the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 has a 16:10 aspect ratio. The X1 Titanium Yoga’s display is taller, but both it and the X1 Carbon Gen 9 have nearly the same footprint.
On the left side, there are two USB 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports that support data transfer, charging, and can connect to multiple 4K monitors or one 8K monitor. and also a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port and an HDMI 2.0 port.
On the right side you have a 3.5mm jack, USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, and Kensington lock slot. While there’s a slot for a pen, it’s missing in this model. Unfortunately, there’s no SD card reader or LAN port, so you’ll need an adapter for LAN. If you choose the 5G option, you’ll get a nano SIM slot.
Inside, the SSD is easily replaceable, but the RAM is soldered to the motherboard, so you can’t upgrade it. My review model has 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM, with options up to 32GB, which is solid. For wireless connectivity, it comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1, but the Wi-Fi card is also soldered, meaning no upgrades. You can opt for 4G LTE or 5G, which is great for business travelers, but this has to be selected at purchase since there are no ports or antennas for later installation.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 features the classic ThinkPad keyboard, known for its quality. With 1.5mm of key travel, it’s comfortable for long typing sessions, and the keys feel solid without bottoming out. The multi-stage backlight is useful for working in the dark, and the keyboard is spill-resistant. The touchpad performs well with smooth scrolling and full support for Windows 10 gestures. There’s also the trackpoint—some love it, others don’t.
Display and Audio
Display is 14-inch Full HD+ features an anti-glare matte finish reducing reflections. I have the touchscreen model with a privacy guard, offering 500 nits of brightness. While the privacy guard is great for security, it can slightly dim the display. Other options include a UHD+ or Full HD+ display without the privacy guard, both with 500 nits of brightness. The display is color-accurate, covers the color gamut well, and has good viewing angles. Pressing Function D activates privacy mode for added security. The thin bezels and 16:10 aspect ratio enhance productivity by reducing the need for scrolling when browsing.
It has two bottom-facing Dolby Atmos speakers, which get decently loud with clear mids and a touch of bass—solid for a business laptop.
The 720p front-facing camera on the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 (2021) supports 30 frames per second and includes infrared for face recognition with Windows Hello. The power button doubles as a fingerprint scanner adding an extra layer of security. Setup was easy, and it recognized my fingerprint every time.
The Modes and Pen
The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6, a versatile two-in-one convertible laptop, offers multiple usage modes. Tent mode is ideal for watching movies or videos on Netflix, Amazon, or YouTube, while Stand mode is perfect for media consumption or reading recipes in the kitchen. Switching to Tablet mode is useful for pen-based tasks. The included pen which uses Wacom AES technology is great for taking notes or sketching. It can be stored and charged within the device adding convenience without extra cost.
Performance
| Platforms | Scores |
|---|---|
| PCMARK 10 | 5456 |
| GEEKBENCH 5.1 (Single-Core) | 1512 |
| GEEKBENCH 5.1 (Multi-Core) | 5800 |
| CINEBENCH R20 | 2176 |
| CINEBENCH R15 | 912 cb | 103 fps |
| 3DMARK Time Spy | 1791 |
| 3DMAARK Fire Strike | 4915 |
| Games | Scores |
|---|---|
| The Witcher 3 (1080p, Low | 83 FPS |
| Far cry5 (1080p, low) | 50 FPS |
| X-Plane 11,11 (1080p, Low) | 43 FPS |
Powered by the Intel Core i7 1165 G7 an 11th gen Tiger Lake processor, this laptop delivers solid performance. It features integrated Iris XE graphics comparable to the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 making it suitable for everyday tasks like Microsoft Office, email and web browsing. While it’s not intended for gaming, you can play some popular titles at lower settings. For casual gamers, it offers the option to connect an external GPU through one of its two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Battery Life
The battery performed well during continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi lasting 12 hours and 46 minutes. While it doesn’t quite match the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9, it’s still solid. In everyday use, expect about 9 to 10 hours of battery life depending on your activities. When you need to recharge, the included 65-watt power adapter takes under two hours for a full charge and provides 50% charge in about 35 minutes.
Specifications
| Display | 14″ FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS, Anti-Glare, Privacy-Guard, 500nits |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-1165G7 (2.8/4.7 GHz) |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Memory | Up to 32GB Soldered LPDDR4x-4266 |
| Storage | Up too 1tb PCIe SSD |
| Battery | 57Wh (Supports Rapid Charge) |
| Wireless | Snapdragon X55 5G | Quectel EM120R-GL 4G LTE CAT12 Intel AX201 Wi-fi 6 802.11AX & Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 14.9mm x 313mm x 223mm |
| Weight | Starting 3 lbs (1.35 KG) |
| Price | $1,314.95 |
Conclusion
I really like the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 (2021). The switch to a 16:10 aspect ratio and the addition of Thunderbolt 4 ports are excellent. The included active pen, which charges within the device, and the optional 5G/4G LTE are great features. The spill-proof ThinkPad keyboard is outstanding for typing, and the speakers are impressive. The performance with the 11th Gen Tiger Lake processor is solid.
However, there are some drawbacks such as 720p webcam feels outdated, and the lack of an SD card reader is disappointing. You also can’t upgrade to a wireless modem later; you must choose the 5G LTE option at purchase. Additionally, while the SSD is upgradeable, the RAM is not. Despite these issues, I’m very pleased with the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6. It’s a significant upgrade from Gen 5, featuring the new Tiger Lake processors, integrated XD graphics, and a 16:10 aspect ratio.