The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 is a powerful and versatile laptop that offers an impressive user experience. With its advanced P series processor and stunning display options, this convertible laptop is designed to cater to the needs of professionals and artists alike. In this comprehensive review, we will explore the design, performance, features, and overall user experience of the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7.
Specs and Price
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 Touchscreen Convertible 2 in 1 Notebook
The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 comes with various configuration options, allowing users to choose the specifications that best suit their needs. It can be equipped with up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and supports PCIe Gen 4 SSDs, providing fast and efficient storage. The laptop offers Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 for excellent wireless connectivity and has the option for 5G capability for constant internet access while on the move.
Read Also: Xbox Series X Review
Design and Build Quality
The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 boasts a robust and elegant design, featuring an all-metal build with a solid aluminum chassis. The storm gray color adds a touch of sophistication, distinguishing it from the standard black color of its counterparts. The laptop’s MIL-STD-810H rating ensures durability, making it capable of withstanding challenging conditions without compromising its performance. Despite its sturdy build, the laptop is remarkably lightweight, weighing approximately 1.38 kilograms, making it highly portable for users on the go.
Ports and Connections
The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 offers a well-considered selection of ports, including two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports that support data transfer, charging, and display output. It also features a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, an HDMI 2.0 B port, and a 3.5-millimeter microphone headphone combo jack. Additionally, the laptop includes The Silo, a designated slot for the pen, ensuring it is always within reach and not easily misplaced. While the absence of an SD card reader may be a drawback for some users, the overall port selection covers most essential connectivity needs.
Internals and User Upgradeability
The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 can be configured with up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, which operates in dual-channel mode at a fast 5200 megahertz speed. While the RAM is soldered onto the motherboard, it provides the flexibility for users with higher memory needs to upgrade. Furthermore, the laptop supports user-replaceable PCIe Gen 4 SSDs, allowing for future storage upgrades and adjustments based on individual requirements. However, it’s essential to note that the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo card is soldered onto the motherboard and cannot be upgraded by users.
Display
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 |
| Brightness | 402 nits |
| Black Levels | 0.25 |
| White Point | 6600K |
| Contrast | 1160:1 |
| Delta E | 1.21 |
| Color Gamut | 100% sRGB, 80% AdobeRGB, 82% P3, 75% NTSC. |
The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 offers users a choice of three display options. The UHD Plus OLED option provides a high-resolution display with vibrant colors and excellent color accuracy, making it an attractive choice for multimedia and graphical work. On the other hand, the Full HD Plus IPS display, with its anti-reflective and anti-smudge coating, offers a touch screen with low power consumption. It delivers a brightness rating of 400 nits and accurate color representation, making it reliable for content creators. The Full HD Plus IPS option also offers better battery life due to its lower resolution, making it suitable for users prioritizing battery longevity.
Audio and Speaker Test
The laptop’s quad speakers, consisting of two tweeters and two woofers, provide good volume output and a balanced audio experience. The inclusion of woofers adds depth and richness to the sound output, enhancing the overall audio quality. The quad speaker setup delivers an enjoyable audio experience, making it suitable for multimedia consumption, entertainment, and light music listening.
Webcam, Mics and Fingerprint Scanner
The laptop’s 1080p front-facing camera delivers good video quality, accompanied by a quad array microphone system for satisfactory audio performance. A notable feature is the webcam’s shutter switch, allowing users to physically cover the camera when not in use, ensuring enhanced security and privacy. Additionally, the power button doubles as a fingerprint scanner, providing users with a convenient and secure way to log in. This combination of features makes the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 an excellent choice for users seeking both strong security features and efficient functionality.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The laptop’s sturdy hinges enable easy one-finger opening of the lid, a convenient feature not often found in all convertible laptops. The ThinkPad keyboard lives up to its reputation, offering a satisfying tactile feel and excellent key travel, making it comfortable for extended typing sessions. The backlit keyboard with spill resistance adds to the durability of the device. The touchpad is responsive and supports various gestures, allowing for smooth and intuitive navigation. For users who prefer it, physical mouse buttons complement the distinctive ThinkPad trackpoint, adding to the laptop’s versatility in input methods.
The Modes and Pen
As a two-in-one convertible laptop, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 offers versatile usage with its different modes. The tent mode is ideal for media consumption, such as watching videos or following recipes in the kitchen. The stand mode is suitable for presentations and media consumption, while the tablet mode is particularly useful when utilizing the included pen. The pen, which charges while stored within the laptop, is excellent for note-taking, sketching, and artwork. Its practical storage ensures that users won’t misplace it, making it a valuable tool for precision and creativity.
Performance, Benchmarks and Gaming
| Platforms | Scores |
|---|---|
| PCMARK 10 | 5,652 |
| GEEKBENCH 5 (Single-Core) | 1,517 |
| GEEKBENCH 5 (Multi-Core) | 8,545 |
| CINEBENCH R20 | 3,022 |
| CINEBENCH R15 | 1,245 cb | 103 FPS |
| CINEBENCH R23 | Single-Core 1,501, Multi-Core 7,712 |
| 3DMARK Time Spy | 1,757 |
| 3DMARK Fire Strike | 4,546 |
One of the notable features of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 is its use of the P series processor, where P stands for performance. This processor boasts 12 cores, including 8 efficiency cores and 4 high-performance cores. The overall performance is commendable for daily tasks like using Microsoft Office, handling emails, and web browsing. The laptop’s integrated Iris XE Graphics allows for decent graphics performance, but it’s important to note that this device is not designed for intensive tasks like 4K video editing or playing AAA gaming titles on high settings.
| Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7 (Core i7-1260P) | 9,164 |
| Asus ZenBook 14 OLED (3402) (Core i5-1240P) | 8,748 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 (Core i7-1260P) | 7,712 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 (Core i7-1260P) | 7,482 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 (Core i7-1165G7) | 5,671 |
Under heavy and sustained workloads, you may notice thermal throttling, which is a mechanism to keep the laptop’s temperature within acceptable limits. This helps in maintaining moderate temperatures and ensures smooth operation without overheating. For users looking for more graphics-intensive tasks, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 provides the flexibility of connecting an external GPU through its two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
| Games | Low (1080P) | High (1080P) |
|---|---|---|
| The Witcher 3 | 88FPS | 20 FPS |
| F1 2021 | 101 FPS | 36 FPS |
| Dota 2 REBORN | 113 FPS | 64 FPS |
| X-Plane 11.11 | 50 FPS | 36 FPS |
| GTA V | 98 FPS | 23 FPS |
While the integrated Iris XE Graphics is not meant for serious gaming, it can handle older game titles with lower settings, providing playable frame rates. However, it’s essential to remember that this laptop is not specifically designed for gaming purposes.
Thermals, Surface Temps and Fan Noise
During heavy loads, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 may experience thermal throttling, a mechanism that reduces clock speeds to manage temperatures during intense tasks. However, during everyday use, users won’t notice any significant degradation in performance. The laptop’s surface temperatures remain relatively moderate, with only a few hot spots. The cooling system effectively manages fan noise, keeping it around 39 decibels under heavy loads. When running the laptop in optimized or power efficiency mode, the fans activate less frequently, providing a quieter experience during sustained workloads.
Battery Life and Charging
The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 comes with a 57 watt-hour battery, offering impressive battery life. In continuous web surfing tests over Wi-Fi at 115 nits of brightness, the laptop lasts just shy of nine hours, making it suitable for extended usage periods. In real-world mixed usage scenarios, users can expect the battery life to range from six to seven hours, depending on specific tasks. The included 65-watt USB-C power adapter allows for efficient charging, taking approximately 90 minutes to fully charge the laptop.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 4K OLED Display Option
- PCIe GEn 4 SSD Support
- LPDDR5 RAM
- Good Port Selection
- Upgradeable SSD
- ThinkPad Keyboard
- Dolby Atmos Quad Speakers
- Optional 5G
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 has numerous positive aspects that make it an excellent choice for business professionals and creative users. Its gorgeous display options, fast performance, and durable build are some of its strong points. Additionally, the laptop’s keyboard, touchpad, and trackpoint offer a satisfying input experience, while the convertible design and included pen enhance productivity and creativity.
Cons
- A Bit Expensive
- Fans Kick in Under Heavy Load
However, the laptop can become expensive, although Lenovo has made significant price cuts since its initial release. The fans may kick in under heavy loads, and thermal throttling may occur due to the laptop’s thin and lightweight design, which is a trade-off for its portability.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 is an outstanding business convertible laptop that excels in various areas. Its powerful performance, stunning display options, and versatile design make it a reliable companion for professionals and artists seeking a robust and flexible device. While it may face some thermal challenges under heavy workloads, its overall performance and portability outweigh any minor drawbacks. If you are in the market for a premium convertible laptop that delivers both productivity and creativity, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 should be at the top of your list to consider.
FAQs
Can the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 be used as a tablet?
Yes, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 is a two-in-one convertible laptop that can be used as a tablet when the screen is folded back.
Is the pen included with the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen laptop?
Yes, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 comes with an included pen that is stored and charged within the laptop for added convenience.
Can the RAM be upgraded in the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7?
Yes, the laptop supports a maximum of 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and while the RAM is soldered onto the motherboard, it operates in dual-channel mode and can be upgraded to meet higher memory needs.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 2022 a rock-solid and dependable device with this iteration of the X1 Yoga. As a business convertible laptop, it ticks all the right boxes and offers a compelling package of features and performance. If you're in the market for a reliable and versatile business convertible, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 should be at the top of your list to consider.
-
Design9
-
Display9
-
Audio9
-
Hardware10
-
Keyboard10
-
TouchPad/TrackPoint10
-
Performance9
-
Thermals / Fan Noise8
-
Battery8
-
Ports9
-
Webcam / Mics9
-
Price Point7
