Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Review: More Is Less

Ever since I was six years old and watching Inspector Gadget, I’ve longed for a proper “computer book” – and the Lenovo X1 Fold gets closer to that dream than I ever thought possible. Its large folding display is the most rugged and crease-free I’ve ever used, and it works together with a cleverly designed wireless keyboard companion and beautiful leather shell to deliver a laptop experience like no other. Fully deployed, the Lenovo X1 Fold rests on its built-in kickstand to serve as a 13.3” laptop; or, fold the screen in half and slap on the magnetic keyboard for a more compact 7” netbook. Use it in easel mode as a stylus-equipped tablet; and when it’s time to pack it in for the day, it collapses into a footprint no bigger than a hardback novel.

It’s that versatile combination of form factors that gives a “computer book” like the X1 Fold so much potential for those of us who prefer our PCs portable. But leveraging that potential is the job of streamlined software … and the platform Lenovo apparently planned to use for the X1 Fold, Windows 10X, was delayed by Microsoft last year. As a result the X1 Fold ships with Windows 10 Home or Pro – and the apparently rushed implementation of that OS (plus a combination of driver issues, hardware failings and high price tag) ultimately makes this machine the first foldable I can’t recommend … even to those with deep pockets.

Get the details in MrMobile’s Lenovo X1 Fold review, and join me in crossing your fingers for an eventual Windows 10X release for this unique folding-screen PC.

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[ABOUT MRMOBILE’S LENOVO X1 FOLD REVIEW]

MrMobile's Lenovo X1 Fold Review was produced after more than two months of X1 Fold testing – approximately one month with a Fold X1 retail unit purchased by MrMobile, and one month with a review sample sent by Lenovo as a replacement for the former unit.

MrMobile does not produce product reviews sponsored by the manufacturers of those products. Lenovo was given no editorial input, copy approval rights or an early preview of this content.

[PRODUCTS IN THIS VIDEO]

Lenovo X1 Fold 13" Folding-Screen PC [Lenovo]:

Qwerkywriter S Mechanical Keyboard [Amazon affiliate]:

Star Trek TNG Mousepad [Amazon affiliate]:

Microsoft Precision Mouse [Amazon affiliate]:

[LINKS]

Windows 10X Walkthrough [Windows Central]:

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Review [PCMag]:

ThinkPad X1 Fold Review: Lenovo’s foldable PC is nowhere near ready [Engadget]:

Lenovo X1 Fold Review [MobileTechReview]:

Inspector Gadget Computer Book Artwork by GI-Joe09 [Deviantart]:

[SOCIALIZE]

[DISCLOSURES]

#x1fold #lenovox1fold #foldable #foldingscreen #laptop #tablet #windows10 #windows #notebookPC #tech

[TheMrMobile]

Sorry for the poor audio quality on the A-Roll (host) segments, folks! I accidentally left my gain too high on the lav mic I use, and couldn't rescue the quality in the edit. Will be fixed next time!

[RojSlade]

I'd love a second attempt at this type of machine. The idea is very neat.

[SlantedPictureFrame]

Listening to a disappointed Michael Fisher is genuinely sad 😭😭

[paulaldo]

The retro look on this device is complemented by the "retro" software experience as well. It's a whole complete package tbh.

[snips]

Even though its pretty amazing, the fact that it doesn't have a trackpoint whilst being a thinkpad bothers me especially at this small form factor. The overall shape reminds me of the ancient thinkpad transnote, but the technology definitely has come through to what the transnote should've been

[GGoblin]

This device feels like a glimpse into the future. Hope Lenovo keeps developing this concept and fix the problems.

[chaituaaa]

This the type of content the tech world needs, un-influenced, unfiltered, easy to digest and process to make a smart informed and satisfied purchase.
To that, I thank you mr.mobile it was thanks to you that I purchased the OG moto x as my first phone, along with most of the tech I use on a daily basis.

[moderneducationalstandard]

My parents: Stoop Makin' So Much Damn Noise with That Keyboard


Meanwhile when I was twelve and every key I pressed sounded like that typewriter.

[ThePixelPolygon]

This might sound crazy, but perhaps instead of a trackpad maybe a good ol' trackpoint in true thinkpad style

[alexmartinelli]

I REALLY want the second generation of this to happen, soon. Also, maybe a 15 inch version? I think that would be very cool- it would make the netbook mode more reasonable, and easel mode better too. also more room for a bigger keyboard!

[dancewithoutme]

This review is pretty fair and spot-on. I've had my Fold for a couple of months now, and there are three bugs I've encountered - two of which you covered in frustrating detail. Something's definitely wrong with Bluetooth, and the screen orientation issue was something that happened a lot when I first got the device, though it seems to have been fixed somewhat with a software update. Another bug I've experienced is that the battery doesn't always charge to 100%, even when I've left it to charge overnight. When I turn the device on or wake it after being plugged in, I'll sometimes only have 93% battery. I've also found the wireless charging of the keyboard to be inconsistent as well.

Despite all of that, I still love the device. The keyboard is surprisingly comfortable to type on, even though you have to use multiple function buttons to produce a question mark amongst other forms of punctuation. Being able to have it folded like a laptop without the keyboard is great when I'm researching, as I can have a pdf/YouTube video on the upper half while taking notes on the bottom half - something that Lenovo's previous Yoga Books never got completely right. When used in netbook mode I'm getting about 7-8 hours of use, though it really is a shame that the full screen mode only gets 3-4 hours (and that's with brightness around 50% for me).

I really do wish they would have waited until 10X came out though, though some of the many problems you experienced would likely still be problems. For now it's absolutely amazing Lenovo got the hardware so right for a first gen product (the fact that it's hard to see the crease except when the screen is off, and even then, it's minimal is astounding). If only they had better internals and software. When things work, though, it's a blast to use.

[davidmc]

And you probably are youtubes biggest champion of foldable reviews. There are other youtubers who do a great job of reviewing tech and foldables but no one does quite the same job, with the same amount of detail and explains it so well. Thank you for another great and entertaining review!

[mubangachiposhi]

I always love watching his videos, so creatively done

[japzone]

To be fair to Lenovo, the fact that they got the hardware this right on the first-gen of a new product category is pretty impressive. To think all the issues aren't with the folding screen, what you would've assumed to be the most "in-progress" part of such a device, is amazing. I'm sure the second-gen is gonna be amazing.

[mgsbigdog]

Great review as always. Disappointing to hear that they didn't really ship out a finished product. These kind of usability bugs (mouse jitter/drift, typing errors, connectivity) just make a product so frustrating to use it ends up on a shelf instead of in your hand.

[taltigolt]

apart from windows being pretty with the 5% it actually has updated from vista i actually genuinely despise windows it's such an ancient broken mess, i hope that 10x goes on desktop too and is actually something consistent and working

[harigovind]

I can't even afford half of the products you feature, I am here for your videos up the good work 😇

[ratheonhudson]

Such a refined breakdown of the breakdown of a prototype. I hope that it will have 10X soon so it can work as intended.

[Sithhy]

4:02 - That looks so silly...

*I love it*

[mohammadkatbehbader]

The way the screen folds into the keyboard leaving zero gaps is amazing!!