Does Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga support Windows Hello facial recognition?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Does Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga support Windows Hello facial recognition?

Best answer: Yes, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga works with Windows Hello, as all of its versions have a fingerprint scanner. You'll need the optional IR camera if you want to use facial recognition.Grab yours: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (From $1,142 at Lenovo)

What is Windows Hello, anyway?

Windows Hello is a special type of security software for Windows 10 that allows the user to lock and unlock their device with biometrics instead of a password. Windows Hello can identify a user in two ways: by facial recognition or a fingerprint scan.

This biometric security offers a few key advantages over a traditional system, such as eliminating the need to remember a password as well as ensuring that someone can't get past your security by spying on or stealing your information. In addition, it also makes the sign-in process a faster overall, as it's quicker to stick your face in front of a camera or get your fingerprint read than it is to type out a password, especially if you have a long one.

All versions of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga come with a fingerprint scanner, but you'll need to outfit the device with a special IR camera if you want to get Windows Hello facial recognition working. Luckily, this configuration will only set you back an extra $50 or so, so it's not too costly.

What makes the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga worth buying?

There are plenty of other reasons the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga is a great laptop aside from the Windows Hello functionality. One of the main ones is the killer 4K display you can opt to get with it, complete with HDR and 500 nits of brightness that will make image and video look stunning.

Another great feature of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga is that it's available with a variety of Intel's 8th Gen i5 and i7 CPU chips, which are very powerful and offer a ton of processing power. It's got cellular LTE, too, as well as an awesome speaker system that makes use of Dolby Atmos, delivering rich sound quality. To round it off, the device can have up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of solid-state drive (SSD) hard drive space, which should be more than enough for any user.

When it comes to the physical design of the device, the laptop is a winner as well. It has thin bezels and a razor-thin frame, and it also weighs just under three pounds — all of this makes the user experience more enjoyable, and the light weight and compact size makes it easy and convenient to carry with you on the go.

Brendan Lowry

Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you'll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he's not writing or gaming, there's a good chance he's either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once. Follow him on X (Twitter).