Lenovo appears to be getting tired of Dell's XPS 15, so they're taking ThinkPad X1 to the limits, literally, with the new ThinkPad X1 Extreme. Here's your first look at this mobile workstation at IFA 2018.
Lenovo's ThinkPad line has been relegated to mostly Ultrabook-class laptops like the Carbon and even some workstations like the P52, but what about combing them into one? The ThinkPad X1 Extreme is meant to be that device offering a premium laptop build with the power of a more powerful laptop. It's also the non-Xeon version of the already announced Lenovo P1.
Featuring Intel Coffee Lake H-series hexa-core processor and up to 64GB of RAM paired with an NVIDIA GeForce maxQ GTX 1050 Ti for graphics the Extreme is undoubtedly a powerhouse.
Backing up that processing power is an option for up to two PCIe SSDs configured as RAID and 2TB for storage.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme specifications and design
| Category | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme |
|---|---|
| Processor | Up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7 with vPro |
| RAM | Up to 64GB DDR4 RAM Non ECC 2666MHz Dual DIMM |
| Storage | 2 Devices (2x M.2 2280 PCIe TLC & SATA w/ Raid 0/1 I Up to 2TB (2x 1TB PCIe SSD) |
| Display size | 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) IPS (300 nits) 15.6" 4K (3840x2160) IPS touchscreen (400 nits) |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce 1050 Ti (MaxQ w/4GB GDDR5) |
| Ports | 2x USB 3.1 (1x PWR 2x Thunderbolt 3 1x SD 1 HDMI 2.0 |
| Biometrics | Windows Hello Fingerprint reader |
| Audio | Dolby Audio Premium |
| Security | ThinkShutter, SCR, dTPM 2.0 |
| Battery | Up to 13 hours Rapid Charge |
| Dimensions | 14.24" x 9.67" x 0.72" |
| Weight | 3.75 lbs (4.04 lbs w/ touch) |
| Price & Availability | $1,899.99, September |
The 15.6" display can be configured with up to a 4K HDR Dolby Vision screen, and there's even Dolby Atmos for audio.
An optional active pen lets you ink right on the display and even features tilt and shade functions.
For ports, there are two USB 3.1 ports, two for Thunderbolt 3, a full SD slot and HDMI 2.0.
Lenovo is still pushing their ThinkShutter camera cover for those concerned about privacy, and there's an option for an IR camera and a fingerprint reader for Windows Hello.
If you like using Alexa or Cortana, there are also mics for far Field Voice and Wake on Voice as well.
Powering this beastly laptop is an 80WHr battery for up to 15 hours of expected battery life.
Perhaps the most surprising spec though is the weight. All this power comes in at just 3.75 lbs or 1.7kg – that's in large part due to the four layers of reinforced carbon fiber in the top lid.
Pricing for the X1 Extreme starts at 1,859, and it should be available sometime in September.
