Lenovo ThinkPad 2015 Lineup Overview

Lenovo ThinkPad 2015 Lineup - X1

Lenovo has announced recently its ThinkPad business-class mobile PC portfolio for 2015, including new notebooks and 2-in-1 convertibles. The biggest change over the previous 2014 generation ThinkPads is use of the 5th Generation Intel Core “Broadwell” processors instead of the 4th Gen Haswell. Another change on all new models is return of the physical click buttons for use with the TrackPoint pointing stick instead of buttons integrated in the touchpad surface of the 2014 systems.

As a stand-out but not a new feature, select models incorporate Lenovo’s PowerBridge dual-battery technology. It consists of one battery sealed inside the chassis and an additional user-removable battery, which can be replaced on-the-go without rebooting the operating system.

Other highlights are high 3K display resolution, touchscreen support, and built-in 3G / 4G mobile broadband connectivity. These features are available only on some models.

The flagship 2015 ThinkPad model is the X1 Carbon. It’s a 14-inch laptop with ultra-slim profile and light weight, measuring 0.7″ high and weighing in at just 2.9 pounds. It is optionally available with a high-res 2560×1440 display and optional touchscreen and lasts more than 10 hours on a single charge. The notebook is available now for $1,199 and up.

The X1 is accompanied by the ThinkPad X250 traditional ultraportable with the same weight but a smaller screen of 12.5 inches. As an advantage, the X250 sports PowerBridge technology which is missing on the Carbon X1. With dual batteries, the X250 is claimed to provide up to 20 hours of battery life. The display has a resolution of up to 1920×1080 pixels and is touch-enabled. The ultraportable starts at $1,149 and will be available from February 2015.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T series is a mainstream and bestselling lineup. It is characterized by rugged casings, just like the X-series, upgradeable components, and robust enterprise-class feature sets. Among the T models, the most remarkable is the T450s with a 14-inch Full HD touch display and a slim 0.8″ profile. It is accompanied by the 14″ T450 standard thickness version (details coming soon) and the 15.6″ T550, with optional 3K display resolution and optional touchscreen. These notebooks do have PowerBridge technology. The T450s, T450, and T550 will be available from February for $1,099, $849, and $999 and up, respectively.

The ThinkPad L is a lower-end version of the T series, offering similar components in less rugged casings and lacking PowerBridge. Initially, Lenovo has announced only the ThinkPad L450 14-incher with up to Full HD resolution and optional touchscreen. The L450 starts at $699 and will be available from February.

The ThinkPad E series is aimed at small business customers and therefore lacks some enterprise features such as fingerprint and SmartCard readers, and support for the traditional docking stations. The E series also lacks PowerBridge technology and ruggedness of the X and T series. It will be available in 14″ and 15.6-inch variants, namely the E450 and E550, both with up to 1080p resolution. They will also start shipping in February. The starting price for both models is $599.

Finally, Lenovo has prepared a trio of 2-in-1 ThinkPad convertibles, with the well-known Yoga-style 360-degree rotating hinge. The 12.5″ ThinkPad Yoga 12, 14-inch ThinkPad Yoga 14, and 15.6-inch ThinkPad Yoga 15. Regardless of screen size, they all sport Full HD display resolution. The ThinkPad Yoga 12 and 15 will start selling in February for $999 and $1,199 and up. The 14-inch Yoga will be available in May, with a starting price of $1,199.

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