Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 5) gets a performance overhaul, new 165Hz display

Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Extreme Gen 5
Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Extreme Gen 5 (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Lenovo announced the ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 5) at MWC 2022.
  • The refreshed Gen 5 models have 12th Gen Intel Core H-series CPUs, latest NVIDIA laptop GPUs.
  • New display, storage, and memory options are also available.
  • The ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 5) is expected to launch in June 2022 starting at $2,049.

Lenovo's most powerful X1 laptop, the ThinkPad X1 Extreme, has been refreshed for a fifth generation at MWC 2022. The X1 Extreme has always delivered a careful balance of power and looks, keeping the X1 lineup's signature aesthetic while still managing to pack in discrete graphics and Intel's H-series processors (CPU). It's one of the best Lenovo laptops you can buy, and it just got a little bit better.

The X1 Extreme (Gen 5) holds onto the same dimensions as the previous generation. It still comes in the usual Deep Black ThinkPad color, and you can opt for a woven carbon fiber for the lid. Inside is where most of the changes take place. Intel's 12th Gen Core CPUs are now on the table, with up to a Core i9 H-series vPro chip with 14 cores.

Here's a look at the specifications available in the ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 5).

Swipe to scroll horizontally
CategoryThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 5)
OSUp to Windows 11 Pro
Ubuntu Linux
ProcessorUp to 12th Gen Intel
Core i9 vPro (H-series)
RAMUp to 64GB DDR5-4800MHz
Dual SODIMM slots
GraphicsLaptop GPUs
NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti
NVIDIA RTX 3060
NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti
NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti
StorageUp to 8TB total
Dual M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots
Display16 inches
16:10 aspect ratio
1920x1200 (FHD+)
IPS, anti-glare, non-touch, 500 nits, 100% sRGB, 165Hz, low blue light
2560x1600 (QHD+)
IPS, anti-glare, non-touch, 400 nits, 100% sRGB
3840x2400 (UHD+)
IPS, anti-glare, non-touch, 600 nits, 100% AdobeRGB, HDR400, Dolby Vision, low blue light
3840x2400 (UHD+)
IPS, touch, anti-reflective, 600 nits, 100% AdobeRGB, HDR400, Dolby Vision, low blue light
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 4
Two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1)
SD card reader
HDMI 2.1
3.5mm audio combo
AudioTop-firing
Dolby Atmos
Dual far-field mics
WirelessIntel Wi-Fi 6E
5G sub-6 (CAT20)
4G LTE (CAT4)
Bluetooth 5.2
CameraFHD + IR hybrid
FHD
Webcam shutter
Keyboard1.5mm travel
Backlit
SecurityFingerprint reader
IR camera
dTPM 2.0
Webcam shutter
Kensington lock slot
Intel Hardware Shield
Battery90Wh
Dimensions14.13 x 9.99 x 0.78 inches
(359.5mm x 253.8mm x 17.9mm)
WeightFrom 4.14 pounds (1.88kg)
ColorDeep Black
AvailabilityJune 2022
PriceFrom $2,049

Accompanying the new CPUs are discrete NVIDIA Laptop GPUs. New to the Gen 5 model are RTX 3070 Ti and RTX 3080 Ti options, taking the place of the previous non-Ti versions. Memory has been bumped up to DDR5-4800MHz; you can get up to 64GB available across two SODIMM slots. As for storage, both M.2 slots are now PCIe 4.0 with support for up to 8TB total from the factory.

The X1 Extreme (Gen 4) made the jump to displays with 16:10 aspect ratio, and that's not changing here. There is, however, one new non-touch display option for the Gen 5 model. It has a 1920x1200 (FHD+ or WUXGA) resolution, 500 nits brightness, 100% sRGB color, 165Hz refresh rate, and low blue light. You can also get the X1 Extreme (Gen 5) with a non-touch QHD+ or touch and non-touch UHD+ displays.

Dolby Vision and HDR400 are included with the two highest-res options, and Dolby Atmos boosts sound quality from the top-firing speakers. New to the X1 Extreme (Gen 5) is Dolby Voice, which adds AI noise cancellation to help with live collaboration. Wi-Fi 6E and wireless 5G connectivity are still available.

The new ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 5) is expected to launch in June 2022 and should have a starting price of about $2,049.

Cale Hunt
Senior Editor, Laptop Reviews

Cale Hunt is formerly a Senior Editor at Windows Central. He focuses mainly on laptop reviews, news, and accessory coverage. He's been reviewing laptops and accessories full-time since 2016, with hundreds of reviews published for Windows Central. He is an avid PC gamer and multi-platform user, and spends most of his time either tinkering with or writing about tech.