The Lenovo ThinkPad Detachable X12 has a 12-inch screen that is, well, removable

Lenovo is introducing a new ThinkPad – with a variation. The ThinkPad X12 Detachable is a 12.3-inch business laptop with a screen that you can open and use as a tablet. It is one of several new ThinkPads that Lenovo launched this week, which are equipped with Intel’s newest 11th generation vPro processors.

Take a look at this and you’ll see that it’s an idea similar to Microsoft’s Surface Pro line. The screen is essentially a 12.3-inch Windows tablet that you can connect to and disconnect from a folio keyboard. It has a stand on the back, which is how it stands on its own, and is compatible with Lenovo Precision and Digital Pens.

The format was created to offer extra versatility to corporate users. If you are in a meeting or class, for example, and need to read the presentation notes on your computer, you can open the screen without having to drag the keyboard with you.

Even with the keyboard connected, however, portability is still a selling point. The tablet is less than 9 mm thick and weighs just over 2.5 pounds with the keyboard attached. It also supports LTE Cat9 for work on the move, and Lenovo says it has passed MIL-SPEC 810G tests to make sure it is durable enough to withstand drops and shocks while traveling.

Lenovo

But despite its tablet-like shape, the ThinkPad X12 is still a laptop because it has laptop chips inside. It is powered by 11th generation Intel Core vPro processors (up to a Core i7) and Iris Xe integrated graphics. Intel’s vPro platform offers several security features for business users. In terms of other specifications, you can get up to 16 GB of LPDDR4x memory and 1 TB of NVMe SSD storage.

In terms of ports, don’t get too excited: there’s an impressive Thunderbolt 4, a USB 3.2 Type-C, a NanoSIM and an audio connector. Keep in mind that one of these ports sometimes holds the charger, so if you’re buying the X12 and need to connect other things, you’ll probably want a dock of some kind (like the new SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 station from Kensington).

Lenovo

One feature I’m very excited about is proportion. The X12 has a 3: 2 screen, the same dimensions as the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Book 3. It is good to see manufacturers abandoning the narrow 16: 9 aspect ratio and 3: 2 is my favorite type of screen to use. It offers plenty of extra space for multitasking.

I recently reviewed Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold, another device built like a tablet that comes with a keyboard. It’s a really cool device, but for $ 2,499, it’s too expensive for me to recommend any human to buy. The Detachable X12 is what I would call a more pragmatic implementation of the X1 Fold. It’s not that sophisticated (for example, the screen doesn’t fold in half), but it’s significantly cheaper with a starting price of $ 1,149 and it looks like it comes with a full-sized keyboard instead of the tiny cramped one that came with the fold. . For many users looking for a convertible ThinkPad, the X12 Detachable may be a more sensible choice (although I have to see how it works before making an official recommendation).

The ThinkPad X12 Detachable is expected to be available in January 2021, starting at $ 1,149.