Thinkpad X220 Vs X230 Vs X240

Introduction and Design

Lenovo's latest entry in the X series is more than than only an development: it's a reprioritization of the basics.

Alongside our T440s review unit was something slightly smaller and dear to our hearts: the latest entry in the ThinkPad X series of notebooks. Seeing equally this very review is being typed on a Lenovo X220, our interest was piqued by the latest refinements to the formula. When the X220 was released, the thin-and-calorie-free tendency was just just beginning to pick up steam leading into what eventually became today's Ultrabook movement. Its 2012 successor, the ThinkPad X230, went on to receive our coveted (and rarely bestowed) Editor'south Choice Honour, even in spite of a highly controversial keyboard change that sent the fanbase into a panic.

Simply all of that has since (mostly) diddled over, primarily thanks to the fact that—in spite of the minor ergonomic adjustments required to accustom oneself with what was in one case a jarringly different keyboard design—the bones philosophy remained the same: pack as many powerful parts equally possible into a 12.5-inch case while nonetheless maintaining good durability and battery life. These machines were every flake as capable equally well-nigh other thirteen- and 14-inch notebooks of their time, and they were considerably smaller, as well. Almost the only thing they lacked was college-resolution screens, discrete graphics, and quad-core CPUs.

But with the X240 (and the T440s), portability has truly taken middle phase, suggesting a complete paradigm shift—however subtly—abroad from "powerful (and calorie-free)" and toward "low-cal (and powerful)". Coupled with Intel's Haswell CPUs and Lenovo's new Power Span dual-battery blueprint, this volition certainly yield neat benefits in the realm of battery life. But that isn't all that'southward unlike: nosotros too find a (once more) revamped keyboard, equally well as a completely new touchpad design which finally dispenses with the physical buttons entirely. Like in the X230'due south instance, these changes accept roiled the ThinkPad purists—but is information technology all merely a thing of close-minded traditionalism? That'due south precisely what nosotros'll discover today.

Our exact configuration is actually not currently bachelor for buy, but the closest configuration (Lenovo model #20AL008PUS) is identical except for a slightly meliorate processor (the i5-4300U vs. our i5-4200U). MSRP for this unit is $1,679, with a current street price of but above $1,600. Having said that, here's what our review unit includes:

Much similar the T440s, the X240'southward most telling components are its low-voltage Intel Core i5-4200U CPU (upwards to 2.half dozen GHz Turbo Boost) and its maximum supported memory of 8 GB. In comparing, its predecessor (the X230), was configurable with up to a Core i7-3520M (up to iii.six GHz Turbo Boost) and upwards to 16 GB DDR3 RAM—considerably more capable past any measure. The major do good of the switch to low-voltage CPUs is—of course—reduced power consumption, which drops from 35 W TDP in the X230'south example downwards to just fifteen West TDP. That's a huge plus, but coupled with the RAM limitations, it refines the target marketplace of the 10 serial to exclude those needing workstation-level capabilities (sans the discrete graphics). It's a change which won't bother many people who are merely looking for a quick portable business concern machine, only for that segment which appreciated the X-series' ability to transform from four-pound ultraportable into all-purpose powerhouse back at home or the office (while docked or otherwise), it's an unfortunate regression.

Example in point: your editor'due south current machine is (equally previously mentioned) a Lenovo X220 with the following specifications: i7-2620M, 16 GB DDR3 RAM, 240 GB Mushkin Enhanced mSATA SSD (primary storage), 500 GB Samsung 840 Serial SSD (secondary storage), and 9-prison cell battery. Under this configuration, battery life of roughly 6 hours is common, and in that location are few things the machine cannot handle for which a more powerful desktop would be needed to suffice. Weight is a chip higher than may be ideal (at 3.73 lbs. versus the X240'south 3.29 lbs.), but we're just talking a one-half pound difference. Information technology'south entirely possible to spend an unabridged day unplugged with this machine, then return to a dock with an external monitor and apply it for everything from video editing to even some lightweight gaming.

Blueprint and Portability

Aesthetically, non much has changed with the X240's example versus its predecessors. It's however the trademark matte black with red accents—as understated equally ever, and thankfully and then. The materials have inverse, still: the case is now (reportedly) entirely comprised of a glass fiber-reinforced plastic, which feels similar (though slightly smoother) on the brandish lid, but which has a rougher texture on the palm residue surface which we actually adopt to the T440s' smoother terminate (though it's completely subjective), every bit it helps foreclose palm slippage while resting 1's wrists. The magnesium bottom embrace of the T440s too feels a picayune smoother than the X240's plastic bottom, but neither feels sturdier than the other.

The workmanship is nonetheless quite good, though every bit with previous X-series laptops, at that place are some areas where the casing gives fashion under pressure. To begin with, the left palmrest compresses the top of the smart menu slot without much effort, and in fact, the entire heart of the base of operations unit most the touchpad tin be depressed with only moderate pressure. On our review unit, we even encountered a clicking sensation from the right palm residue when this pressure was relieved—the beingness of which really makes the build feel inexpensive, even though it isn't. The top heart plastic strip between the hinges (above the keyboard) is also quite susceptible to flexing under pressure, though this area isn't probable to be a problem in applied use (different on the X230 and X220, where this area shared infinite with the control eye and power button).

The display lid exhibits but reasonable torsion resistance, twisting under moderate pressure and exhibiting distortions on the console which were not visible on either the X220 or X230. It closes fairly tightly against the base, however, so this is unlikely to exist a problem unless the unit is dropped while open. The hinges practise a fine job of supporting the display, holding it tightly in place and preventing the wobble that is associated with typing on many ultraportable units. Borer even so produces a momentary vibration, but it's relatively pocket-size.

Interestingly, while the X220 and X230 offered three USB ports, that number actually been cut to two on the X240, both of which are USB three.0, and one of which is powered. Consuming a slight flake of extra real estate is the same right-side-mounted SIM card bay that we plant on our T440s, which saves you lot the trouble of having to remove the battery to insert/remove a SIM bill of fare. Elsewhere, you'll still find Gigabit Ethernet, a carte reader, VGA out, mini DisplayPort, the aforementioned smart menu slot, and philharmonic audio. Rounding out the agglomeration is a Kensington Lock port in the back left corner. The number of USB ports is the obvious (and just) disappointment here, compounded by the fact that the left side port is crammed in between the DisplayPort and VGA ports, making connection of larger USB devices difficult or incommunicable if the other ports are in use.

Finally, on the subject of maintenance, the X240 is a little bit more stubborn than the T440s, only no harder to get into than the X220, seeing every bit replacement of anything other than RAM or the 2.5-inch bulldoze (such as the mSATA SSD/WWAN/WLAN adapter) on the X220 required removal of the keyboard and palm rest. In that location are but eight Phillips-head screws securing the bottom cover to the base unit, only unlike the T440s, the clips on our X240 review unit were considerably harder to disengage. At a couple points nosotros were concerned we might impairment the unit, but with a bit of patience and care it eventually came off without a problem. Underneath the cover, you'll find admission to practically all of the major FRUs, with one major exception: the keyboard. Let information technology exist known that should you ever need a keyboard replacement for the X240, the unabridged auto must be disassembled, and everything from the arrangement board to the LCD associates must exist removed outset. It'south literally a bottom-upwards operation.