Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet vs. Microsoft Surface Pro: 2-in-1 showdown

Lenovo's refreshed ThinkPad X1 Tablet is back in its third generation with some serious changes, including a 3K touch display, two Thunderbolt three ports, and a better kickstand design. This is a serious ii-in-1 device, and while information technology's more than of a business concern-oriented laptop, it remains in competition with Microsoft's Surface Pro. If you're in the market for a new 2-in-1, both of these are likely on your radar. Let'due south break things downwardly to assistance you lot make up one's mind which is all-time suited for your needs.

Category	ThinkPad X1 Tablet	Surface Pro
Processor	eighth Gen Intel Core i5-8250U 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8650U	7th Gen Intel Core m3-7Y30 7th Gen Intel Core i5-7300U 7th Gen Intel Core i7-7660U
Display size	13-inch Impact	12.iii-inch Touch
Display resolution	iii,000 10 2,000 3:ii aspect ratio	ii,736 10 1,824 3:2 aspect ratio
RAM	8GB, 16GB DDR3	4GB, 8GB, 16GB DDR3
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 620	Intel HD Graphics 615 (m3) Intel HD Graphics 620 (i5) Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 (i7)
Storage	256GB, 512GB, 1TB PCIe SSD	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB PCIe SSD
Windows Hello	Fingerprint reader IR photographic camera (optional)	IR camera
Pen	ThinkPad Pen Pro	Surface Pen
LTE	Optional	Optional
Ports	2 Thunderbolt three Nano SIM microSD card reader three.5mm sound	USB-A iii.0 microSD card reader Mini DisplayPort Surface Connect 3.5mm audio Nano SIM
Battery	42Wh	45Wh
Dimensions	Tablet: 11.97 in ten viii.9 in x 0.35 in (304.1 mm x 226 mm 10 8.ix mm) With keyboard: eleven.97 in x 8.9 in ten 0.59 in (304.ane mm x 226 mm ten 15.one mm)	Tablet: 11.5 in ten 7.9 in 10 0.33 in (292 mm x 201 mm x 8.five mm)
Weight	Tablet: i.96 pounds (0.89 kg) With keyboard: 2.8 pounds (1.27 kg)	ane.69 pounds (768 grand) to ane.73 pounds (784 g) Type cover: 0.68 pounds (310 g)

ThinkPad X1 Tablet vs. Surface Pro design and features

Both the Surface Pro and the ThinkPad X1 Tablet are 2-in-one devices with removable keyboards and touchpads. The tablet portion of both devices employs essentially the same kickstand design, folding out and back from the middle to prop upwards the display when it's on a apartment surface. The Surface Pro's kickstand rotates 165 degrees, while the X1 Tablet's kickstand rotates at least 170 degrees.

The X1 Tablet has gone through some rigorous immovability testing (most ThinkPads do) and its magnesium-aluminum chassis should hold up well. The Surface Pro'due south magnesium body is likewise sturdy and well congenital. If y'all like to get inside your PC and tinker or upgrade, know that the X1 Tablet tin can be opened relatively easily, while the Surface Pro is pretty much off limits.

Both tablets are about the same thickness, and while the X1 Tablet is slightly larger and heavier overall, it has a larger display. Either device is going to fit hands into a haversack, and fifty-fifty with keyboard and pen along for the ride, both remain highly mobile.

As for ports, the Surface Pro's unmarried USB-A 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, microSD bill of fare reader, 3.5mm jack, and Surface Connect offer upward some good options, just the X1 Tablet is designed to exist hereafter-proof. Y'all're getting two Thunderbolt three ports, each with four PCIe lanes, a microSD card reader, Nano SIM, and a 3.5mm audio jack. You lot don't have as much variety, just those two Thunderbolt 3 ports offer a lot of options for connecting only near any peripheral, including displays or eGPUs. The only downside is that you'll no uncertainty soon exist investing in a USB-C to USB-A adapter.

The Surface Pro comes standard with an IR camera for Windows Hello, and yous tin can grab the same as an optional feature on the X1 Tablet. Withal, only the latter device comes standard with a fingerprint reader that tin can also be used with Windows Hello. Both devices characteristic a TPM security chip, and both are using vPro processors (CPU), except for the Cadre m3 Surface Pro model.

As for the attachable keyboard and touchpad, the X1 Tablet is treated to a ThinkPad-fashion typing experience, with cupped keys, plenty of travel, and a soft touch. The Precision touchpad is large, and included are a TrackPoint and physical mouse buttons. The Surface Pro'south Type Cover has an Alcantara fabric finish and is bachelor in different colors, offering up a flake more variety than but ThinkPad blackness. Typing is also spot on, and the Precision touchpad, though slightly smaller than the one on the X1 Tablet, is nevertheless solid.

Related: 5 Surface Pro keyboards that cost less than Microsoft's Type Covers

Finally, both laptops have optional LTE-A connectivity options. The LTE version of the Surface Pro has a Nano SIM slot but it also has an eSIM, whereas the X1 Tablet seems to only utilise a Nano SIM slot. If you lot're interested in eSIM, this could brand a big difference.

ThinkPad X1 Tablet vs. Surface Pro display

The new X1 Tablet is withal using a iii:2 aspect ratio, but the thirteen-inch touch display has been upgraded to a iii,000 x 2,000 resolution. It looks absolutely gorgeous with neat color reproduction, and while it does take relatively thick bezels, the Surface Pro shares the same trait. Included in the package is Lenovo's ThinkPad Pen Pro (Wacom AES) with iv,096 levels of pressure and tilt support.

The Surface Pro is no slouch either, though the affect display is slightly smaller at 12.iii inches, and it has a lower resolution at 2,736 ten i,824. It uses the same 3:2 attribute ratio, and it also has inking back up in the form of the Surface Pen. With 4,096 levels of sensitivity and tilt support, it will too deliver an exceptional pen experience.

ThinkPad X1 Tablet vs. Surface Pro operation

The Surface Pro is using Intel 7th Gen CPUs, while the X1 Tablet has been refreshed with 8th Gen hardware. Those extra cores from the newer CPUs make a noticeable departure in operation, especially when multitasking. Using Geekbench 4.0, the Core i7 Surface Pro received a 4,513 single-core score and a 9,346 multi-core score. The X1 Tablet received a iv,971 single-core score and a xiv,289 multi-core score.

Neither laptop has a dedicated GPU, and so both rely on an integrated solution. The Iris Plus Graphics in the Surface Pro will outperform the standard UHD Graphics 620 in the X1 Tablet if you're looking at Core i7 models, though the Surface Pro's Cadre m3 and Core i5 models should autumn short of what the Cadre i5 X1 Tablet model can offer.

Comparing solid-state drives (SSD), the 512GB Surface Pro uses (in about cases) a Samsung PM971 that offers read speeds of 1,284 MB/southward and write speeds of 963 MB/due south. The X1 Tablet I have for review, however, uses a 512GB Samsung PM981 with read speeds hitting three,398.1 MB/south and write speeds hitting 1,946.6 MB/s. That's a big difference, but proceed in heed manufacturers are beholden to suppliers; if these high-speed drives aren't bachelor, slower alternatives will likely be used.

Overall, the X1 Tablet's more modern hardware should perform better than what the Surface Pro tin can offer, though both tin can handle a good bargain of work before getting bogged down. A last divergence betwixt the two is the battery life. If y'all want the best, you'll have to become with the Surface Pro, which offers virtually eight hours or more on a unmarried charge. In my experience, the X1 Tablet lasts between 6 and seven hours.

ThinkPad X1 Tablet vs. Surface Pro price

Microsoft does a good job of offering up a "low-cost" model of its laptops, though the hardware is pretty baseline. Starting at almost $800, y'all tin get a Surface Pro with a Cadre m3 CPU, 128GB SSD, and 4GB of RAM. This doesn't include a Type Cover or Surface Pen, which when added brings the total price closer to about $1,060. A model with similar specs to the X1 Tablet I tested costs virtually $2,460 when yous add together in the Surface Pen and Blazon Encompass.

The X1 Tablet doesn't have the same lower-cost pick, and models starting time at about $1,270. This price includes the keyboard and touchpad likewise every bit the ThinkPad Pen Pro.

The loftier-terminate model with Core i7-8650U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB PCIe SSD costs most $i,750, most $700 less than what you'd pay for a similar Surface Pro package with accessories. Considering you can as well cull to become with a cheaper SSD in the X1 Tablet and upgrade yourself subsequently, that initial price can exist brought down fifty-fifty more.

ThinkPad X1 Tablet vs. Surface Pro bottom line

The Surface Pro undeniably has that aureola around it that comes from a high-quality, well-congenital laptop, though it does cost considerably more than similar X1 Tablet models. Nonetheless, you lot get an IR camera, cute brandish, ports that fit better with legacy peripherals, and longer bombardment life. Information technology's a Surface through and through, and if that's your thing, in that location's actually no culling.

The X1 Tablet kind of has the aforementioned thing going for it, though it has a true ThinkPad vibe, right down to the TrackPoint organization. Similarly-spec'd models toll less than the Surface Pro, and accessories are included by default. It has a larger display with a higher resolution, it has newer hardware inside, but its battery doesn't last every bit long.

This is a tough decision to make, and the concluding choice will no doubt come up downwards to your personal preference. Either way, you should exist happy with your new device, but you can get a lot of laptop for a lot cheaper if you get with the ThinkPad X1 Tablet.

• See ThinkPad X1 at Lenovo
• Meet Surface Pro at Microsoft

More than resources

• Surface Pro with LTE review: Impressive but not for everyone
• Surface Pro 2022 review: A ii-in-ane tablet you'll actually want to use

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-tablet-vs-microsoft-surface-pro-2-1-showdown

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