Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable review: Take on the Surface Pro 7 Plus in the 2-in-1 market (2023)

HeDetachable Lenovo ThinkPad X12 announced at CES 2021as a powerful, feature-packed alternative to the Surface Pro lineup. It's essentially a ThinkPad laptop stripped down to a compact 2-in-1 design. This isn't Lenovo's first ThinkPad 2-in-1; the now extinctTableta ThinkPad X1it was a solid attempt to compete with the Pro, but the X1 hasn't gotten any more reviews beyond 2018. I've been using the new X12 Detachable for about a week now to determine what makes it great and why you might want to pick it over Surface.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachable overview

Lenovo has provided Windows Central with a detachable ThinkPad X12 2-in-1 PC review unit. Includes an 11th generation Intel Core i5-1130G7 processor (CPU), 16GB dual channel LPDDR4x-4266 RAM, 512GB PCIe M.2 NVMe solid state drive (SSD) and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. The 12.3-inch touchscreen has a 3:2 aspect ratio and supports ink input, with tilt functionality with the correct active pen.

The PCs include a dockable keyboard modeled after full-size ThinkPads, with a TrackPoint system and three-stage backlighting. A basic active pen for Windows Ink is also included.

You can equip models with up to an Intel Core i7-1180G7 CPU with vPro, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. SSD is limited to FHD+ with no option for higher resolution.

Here's a look at the exact specs of my review unit.

Outstanding design and features of Lenovo ThinkPad X12

The ThinkPad X12 Detachable lends a familiar design recognizable to any fan of the Surface Pro lineup. It's a 2-in-1 PC with a built-in stand and attachable keyboard, and it's as comfortable acting as a tablet as it is an Ultrabook. The tablet alone weighs just 1.67 pounds (760 g) and is 0.34 inches (8.8 mm) thick. The keyboard adds approximately 0.75 pounds (340 g) to weight and 0.22 inches (5.7 mm) to thickness. The chassis is made from a magnesium-aluminum alloy for rigidity and durability, and is MIL-STD 810G certified to ensure it withstands harsh environments. While the Surface Pro lineup may have a pretty rough life, the X12 Detachable should hold up to regular abuse much better.

One more thing to note about the design is the X12's finish. Lenovo has opted for something called Peachskin ink here, moving away from the usual soft-touch ink. It's fantastic, with a more matte look. It also seems to counteract smudges and fingerprints better than the smooth finish.

Attached with a magnetic pogo pin, the keyboard snaps on and stays securely attached during use. It also uses magnets to keep your device closed when you're on the go. The keyboard is relatively thick, but you get a much stiffer base than the Surface Pro's Type Cover. There's virtually no flex under the ThinkPad-style recessed keys. It's not full-sized, but the keys are well-spaced and I never felt cramped when typing. The key travel is on par with the Type Cover, possibly a little deeper. There's a three-stage white backlight to help with after-hours work, and a TrackPoint system with physical mouse buttons comes with the Precision touchpad.

The keyboard includes a quick fingerprint reader for signing in via Windows Hello. The keyboard must be connected to use the reader, but don't worry if you're only working with the tablet. An IR camera is included on all models and folds in the front with a standard 5MP camera. No matter how you use your device, you can enjoy a little extra security. The world-facing camera boosts up to 8 MP and offers a clear image. A privacy shutter covers the front camera when not in use. Whether you're using the X12 for video conferencing or some photos, the built-in hardware does a good job.

The doors include the newradius 4, as well as a USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) and a 3.5mm audio jack. No microSD or USB-A card reader, which the Surface Pro 7+ offers. The X12's port selection makes it very future-proof, although the lack of USB-A might put some people off. The lack of a microSD card reader bothers me more for my personal workload; moving photos back and forth now requires additional hardware. These issues can be resolved by adding one of themelhores docking station para laptop.

A volume rocker sits on the right side of the tablet, just above a Kensington lock slot. The top edge houses a recessed power button (to prevent accidental presses), and there's a row of vents that don't detract from the tablet's overall aesthetic. An entrance is also placed on the right side. There's not much ventilation, but the PC doesn't seem to have any thermal issues, even under load. The fan turns on from time to time, but it never makes too much noise.

Dual 1W speakers are hidden in the display bezel on each side of the display. You get muted audio no matter how you're using the device; just keep in mind that these speakers are not going to blow your mind. The sound is clear and relatively loud, and you can adjust the equalizer with the Dolby Audio app. The dual-array microphones can be optimized to pick up just your voice, helping you deal with noisy environments during a call.

The X12 Detachable can be purchased with a Fibocom L850-GL wireless modem for 4G LTE CAT9 connectivity. A SIM slot is built into the left side of the tablet and there appears to be eSIM support via Gemalto as well. This is a completely optional feature. Without 4G, X12 relies onWiFi 6and bluetooth 5.1. Unless you absolutely need 5G connectivity, the X12 should cover connectivity.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachable screen and ink

The X12 Detachable has a 12.3-inch screen option. It has a resolution of 1920x1280 (FHD+), which at this size looks pretty sharp. The 3:2 aspect ratio is ideal for this type of device that is meant to be used a lot as a tablet, but don't expect a thin bezel. It certainly doesn't match the Surface Pro's improved 2736 x 1824 resolution, but it still looks great. And it's in keeping with what Dell offers in its Latitude 7210 Detachable lineup.

There is aanti-reflective coating on the screento reduce glare. Combined with a measured brightness of 427 nits, you should only have glare issues in the brightest of rooms. Lenovo uses Gorilla Glass 5 for durability and scratch resistance.

When testing color reproduction, the X12 Detachable achieved 100% sRGB, 75% AdobeRGB and 78% DCI-P3. These are solid results, especially for a device intended primarily for commercial work. The addition of a Lenovo digital pen with X12 models boosts the value (remember, you also get the keyboard for the listed price) and it does an excellent job of drawing and taking notes. The downside here is that it doesn't magnetically attach to the tablet. There's a rubber band on the keyboard that you can slide the stylus through, but it's far from an elegant solution.

You can upgrade to Lenovo Precision Pen if you are passionate about ink and want a better experience. The pen attaches magnetically to your tablet, has 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, and offers tilt detection for better drawing and shading. The Precision Pen adds about $59 to the total.

Detachable performance and battery Lenovo ThinkPad X12

Lenovo opted for Intel's 11th Gen Tiger Lake CPUs for the X12, which is the same lineup used by the Surface Pro 7+. However, the X12 CPUs have a 15W lower TDP compared to the 28W TDP on the Pro 7+ chips. The X12 is available withIntel vProfor corporate purchases that need additional management tools.

Despite the CPU differences, the X12 lags behind the Pro 7+ when testing Core i5 CPUs in Geekbench 5. I also ran several other synthetic benchmarks to see how the X12 stacks up.

The X12 performed well in PCMark 10, no doubt helped by the high-speed LPDDR4x-4266 RAM. The Cinebench R23's results were less impressive compared to the Pro 7+, but the X12 still easily outperformed theSurface Pro 7and its 10th generation Intel CPU.

Storage speeds are a bit disappointing, falling well below many Ultrabooks we've tested recently (even before moving to PCIe 4.0). However, for most tasks that the X12 excels at, the read and write speeds here will be more than enough.

The portable nature of these devices means they must have a battery that can keep up with a mobile lifestyle. Testing against PCMark 10's Modern Office summary, the X12's 42 Wh battery lasted 9 hours and 39 minutes between charges. This was tested at 75% screen brightness and Windows 10's best performing power profile. With better battery management, you should be able to go well beyond 10 hours. And thanks to Rapid Charge, plugging it in for an hour will restore around 80% of battery life.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachable competency

The X12 Detachable is modeled after the Surface Pro, so it's only natural that the bigger comparisons would be made there. Compared to the standard Pro 7, this detachable X12 is an improvement in many ways. 11th Gen Intel Core CPU with better performance and graphics compared to 10th Gen chips, optional 4G LTE and Thunderbolt 4. The Pro 7 still has slightly better battery life and is still a formidable 2-in-1 option 1, but the X12 won't. Doubt drives many people away.

the renewedProfessional Area 7 Plusit's a different story. It features a faster 11th generation Intel Core CPU, optional 4G LTE connectivity, upgradeable SSD, excellent battery life and a different port selection. It beats the X12 Detachable in every benchmark except PCMark 10. However, it doesn't have a webcam shutter, fingerprint reader, vPro technology, or nearly as comfortable a keyboard. It also lacks Thunderbolt 4. A Core i5 Pro 7+ model with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD costs around $1,500 and doesn't include a stylus or keyboard. This is significantly more than X12 Detachable; The review model I have is around $1,404 with keyboard and stylus included.

Note that I compared the two Microsoft devices in oneSurface Pro 7 Plus comes with Surface Pro 7if you want to take a closer look at what has changed after the mid-gen update.

Dell's Latitude 7210 Detachable is another commercial option to consider. However, it is significantly more expensive and still uses 10th generation Intel Core U-series CPUs. Be sure to check out our collection ofbest 2 in 1 laptopsand in generalbest windows laptopsfor many other purchasing options.

Should you buy the detachable Lenovo ThinkPad X12?

You should buy this if...

• You want a comfortable 2-in-1 writing experience
• You need a 2 in 1 with solid durability
• You need additional business and security features
• You want to spend less than the Surface Pro 7+

You shouldn't buy this if...

• You don't often use your PC as a tablet
• Want higher resolution than FHD+
• You want the best possible performance and battery life from a 2-in-1

The ThinkPad X12 Detachable is a worthy successor to the ThinkPad X1 Tablet. It's powerful enough to easily get through a standard workday, includes some advanced features that come standard, and is rugged enough to withstand tough life on the road or in an office. CPU vPro and dTPM 2.0 options help with IT management.

It might not be as powerful or have as long a battery life as the Surface Pro 7+, but the X12 offers a better 2-in-1 typing experience, future-focused ports (save for the lack of a microSD card reader), and a lower price. You can typically find models with a keyboard and active pen included for hundreds less than Microsoft's Pro 7+.