As Lenovo gears up for CES 2023, the company is dropping the details on some of its PC lineup early the includes a revised ThinkPad X1 Carbon, now in its 11th generation, new IdeaPads both in Pro and Slim versions, a new 8th Gen Chromebook and sleek new consumer-focused tablet.
ThinkPad’s for 2023
As mentioned, the ThinkPad X1 line is crossing its 11th Gen anniversary, while its siblings the X1 Nano and Yoga are bumped up to 3rd generation and 8th Gen respectively. All models bring with them the latest Intel Core processors, which I believe should be 13th gen with support for Intel vPro in tow.
Customers will be able to configure devices up to 64GB of LPDDR5 memory and 2TB of Gen 4 PCIe NVMe storage.
Ports remain unchanged from last year and Lenovo has stuffed a 57Whr battery in the X1 Carbon this year, which should net about 7 to 8 hours of moderate to heavy use per charge, or up to 11 with light use.
While the chassis of the ThinkPad’s remain true to previous forms, Lenovo has managed to manufacture this lineup using 90% recycled magnesium hybrid in the palm rest and bottom cover as well as Post Consumer Content (PCC) plastic in other areas.
Lenovo did improve its screen tech for its ThinkPads this year with improved low blue light-emitting displays paired with Dolby Vision to help reduce eye strain and fatigue. Some models now come with 4K OLED screens with support for TÜV Rheinland tunning.
Other improvements coming down the pipe include upgraded Lenovo software experiences that include Lenovo View which “provides a superior suite of intelligent camera-based features designed to help users unlock the power of the integrated camera to enhance video call experiences and improve security and digital health.”
IdeaPads for 2023
Shifting from strictly business to Lenovo’s more prosumer options, there are the IdeaPad Pro 5i, IdeaPad Slim 5i, and IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook that will also come equipped with presumably 13th Gen Intel processors as well as AMD Ryzen 7 7730U chips and larger touch pads.
Lenovo also retooled the screen to body ratio for its Slim 5 lineup with a larger 16-inch offering that supports 16:10 aspect ratio and the company’s new Dynamic Display Switch that improves the screen’s refresh rate to the tune of 120Hz, as well as support for 100% sRGB and 90$ AAR color calibrations.
As for the Flex 3i Chromebook, the main improvement comes in the increased screen real estate when compared to last year’s model. Customers can now enjoy all of ChromeOS with a 12.2-inch screen with a 16:10 panel that can push 300 nits of brightness.
Unfortunately for Chromebook enthusiasts, Lenovo continues to perpetuate the bottom-of-the-barrel specs conversation by stuffing only up 8GB of LPDDR5 chips in there alongside 64 and 128GB of eMMC storage. Perhaps, because it’s not a big resource hog, the Flex 3i can maintain up to 12 hours of battery life on a charge according to Lenovo.
Tablets
Lenovo is bringing a new Android tablet to market that it will sell alongside its Chromebook Duet device in the Lenovo Smart Tab M9.
The new 9-inch LCD tablet will come with a 1340 x 800 resolution which translates to 176 PPi for pixel peepers. With tablet aimed for a 2023 release, it will come with Android 12 but upgradable to Android 13 when available.
Whether it’s in Artic Grey or Frost Blue, customers will a Samsung Galaxy Tab-like tablet with up to 4GB of memory and up to 128GB of storage running the latest MediaTek Helio G80 Octa-core processor.
Unfortunately, Lenovo is following Microsoft in selling its Folio Case with keyboard and touchpad included will be sold separately.
IdeaCentre Mini
For anyone interested in more stationary computing, Lenovo will be shipping both the IdeaCentre Mini which is a sleek little box with built-in power supply (PSU) and sporting processor, two DDR4 memory chips, SSD storage8 up to 1 TB, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and ample ports with a Type-C Thunderbolt 4.0.
Accessories
Lenovo is unloading a bunch of PC accessories this year that include the Plug and Play Lenovo 500 USB Type-C Universal dock which can now support up to 4K monitors and faster data transfers, the Go Desk Station with Webcam the combines a 4K monitor, desk light and Qi wireless charging pad into one.
There’s also a lineup of monitors that can be connected to PCs that include the ThinkVision VoIP T27hv-30, T24mv-30, and T24v-30 that sport upgrade 5MP cameras with infrared IR lens, privacy shutters, dual microphones and 5W speakers.
There are other more use-case specific monitors that will be rolled out by Lenovo throughout 2023 such as the Remote-ready Lenovo L27i-40 and L24m-40, the 49-inch 4K QHD panoramic ultrawide screen ThinkVision P49w-30, and the standard 31.5 4K UHD ThinkVision P32p-30.
U.S. Pricing and Availability13
- ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 will be available starting April 2023. Prices are expected to start from $1729.
- ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8 will be available starting April 2023. Prices are expected to start from $1859.
- ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 3 will be available starting April 2023. Prices are expected to start from $1649.
- Lenovo Go Desk Station with Webcam will be available starting March 2023. Prices expected to start from $329.
- Lenovo Go 4K Pro Webcam will be available starting March 2023. Prices are expected to start from $149.99.
- Lenovo Professional Wireless Rechargeable Combo Keyboard and Mouse will be available starting January 2023.
Prices are expected to start from $99.99. - ThinkVision P32pz-30 will be available starting August 2023. Price is expected to be $1599. ThinkVision Mini LED P27pz-30 pricing for North American is to be announced later but in Europe for 1699€ in August 2023.
- ThinkVision VOIP T27hv-30, T24mv-30 and T24v-30 will be available starting May 2023. Prices are expected to start from $519, $399 and $259 respectively.
- ThinkVision P32p-30 will be available starting April 2023. Prices are expected to start from $999.
- ThinkVision P49w-30 will be available starting June 2023. Prices are expected to start from $1699 respectively.
- Lenovo L27i-40 and L24m-40 are expected to be available starting in Quarter 3 of 2023. Prices are expected to start from $199 and $219 respectively.
- IdeaPad Pro 5i (16”, 8) with Intel Core processor will start at $1499.99 expected to be available May 2023.7
- IdeaPad Pro 5 (16”, 8) with AMD Ryzen processor is not available in North America expected availability in EMEA
- IdeaPad Pro 5i (14”, 8) with Intel Core processor is not available in North America expected availability in EMEA.
- IdeaPad Pro 5 (14”, 8) with AMD Ryzen processor is not available in North America expected availability in EMEA
- IdeaPad Slim 5i (14”, 8) with Intel Core processor is not available in North America expected availability in EMEA
- IdeaPad Slim 5 (14”, 8) with AMD Ryzen processor is not for sale in North America expected availability in EMEA
- IdeaPad Slim 5i (16”, 8) with Intel Core processor will start at $749.99 expected to be available May 2023.
- IdeaPad Slim 5 (16”, 8) with AMD Ryzen processor will start at $649.99 and is expected to be available in May 2023.
- IdeaCentre Mini (1L, 8) will start at $649.99 and is expected to be available starting in Q2 2023.
- IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook (12”, 8) will start at $349.99 and is expected to be available starting May 2023.
- Lenovo Tab M9 will start at $139.99 and is expected to be available starting in Q2 2023.
- Lenovo 500 USB Type-C Universal Dock will start at $249.99 and is expected to be available from April 2023.
