Apple iPhone SE 3 (2022) Review: A15 Bionic at $430 just about makes up for outdated design

You know the saying “looks aren’t everything — it’s what’s inside that count”? That’s the new third-generation iPhone SE (which we’ll call iPhone SE 3 going forward) in a nutshell. While the phone has a sleek, understated look that doesn’t offend, I can’t in good conscience say it looks good either. Not with the thick bezels, not-even-1080p LCD screen with angular corners, and the fingerprint magnet back. But while the iPhone SE 3 is not a looker, it packs the smartest brain in smartphones right now — the Apple A15 Bionic. This is the same 5nm chip powering the iPhone 13 series (including the top dog, the iPhone 13 Pro Max), and it’s more powerful than any other mobile SoC, including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. This means the $430 iPhone SE has better brains than any Android phone right now, even the ones that cost well over $1,000.

If processing power is all that you care about, the iPhone SE 3 is already a serious contender. But there’s one other group the iPhone SE 3 could appeal to — those on a tighter budget but still want an iPhone.

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

Apple's new iPhone SE (2022) is the most affordable iPhone running the all-powerful A15 Bionic chip, which improves everything from battery life to camera performance

Pros:

Cons:

View at Best Buy

iPhone SE 3 (2022) Specifications

Specification	iPhone SE 3 (2022)
Build	Glass front and back Aluminum frame
Dimensions & Weight	138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm 144g
Display	4.7-inch Retina IPS LCD 750 x 1334 60Hz refresh rate
SoC	Apple A15 Bionic
RAM & Storage	256GB storage RAM not disclosed
Battery & Charging	Battery size not officially disclosed 18W wired charging Charging brick not included
Security	Touch ID fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 12MP f/1.8
Front Camera(s)	7MP, f/2.2
Port(s)	Lightning port
Audio	Dual Stereo Speakers
Connectivity	NFC Bluetooth 5.0
Software	iOS 15.4
Other Features	Wireless charging

About this review: Apple provided me with an iPhone SE (2022) for testing. It did not have any input in this review.

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Apple iPhone SE 3: Hardware and Design

• Other than the chip, the hardware is exactly the same as the iPhone SE 2020, which itself recycled the body of the iPhone 8 from 2017
• A really comfortable in-hand feel due to small size, light weight, and rounded corners and sides
• Apple A15 Bionic blows away any Android phone’s SoC at similar price range

If you’re feeling generous, the iPhone SE 3’s design can be called retro, perhaps even iconic. But if you want to be blunt: the hardware looks very dated, because it is indeed very dated: those gigantic bezels sandwiching the 4.7-inch display; the single rear camera with a jarringly small lens; and an actual physical clicky home button. This is for the most part, the exact same outer shell as the iPhone 8, which was released in 2017. In 2022 and the age of huge multi-camera setups and large displays with minimal bezels, this design screams “ancient“.

If you're feeling generous, the iPhone SE 3's design can be called retro, perhaps even iconic. But bluntly, it's outdated.

The LCD panel has numbers that look quite underwhelming: 750 x 1334, 60Hz refresh rate, 625 nits of max brightness. But in real-world usage, the screen still looks fine. iOS’s animations have always felt smooth even at 60Hz, and the screen is small enough that the lower resolution doesn’t show as much. Of course, for a spoiled person like me who gets to use the newest, most expensive phones, this screen isn’t going to impress me, but I suppose those who are even considering buying this phone are not jumping down from a 120Hz OLED screen.

For me, after using large screens for so long, the 4.7-inch feels really cramped — I had trouble typing the first half a day of use, but I eventually adjusted. Because of the bezels and the 16:9 aspect ratio, the iPhone SE 3 is still taller and wider than the iPhone 13 Mini, but the former is a more comfortable phone to hold, because it’s thinner, lighter (144g, which feels absolutely dainty in 2022) and has rounded sides instead of the iPhone 13 Mini’s flat, angular sides.

Apple iPhone SE 3 side by side against the Apple iPhone 13 Mini

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Apple iPhone SE 3: Cameras

• Camera hardware is outdated, but A15 Bionic compensates quite a bit
• With good lighting, video footage looks almost flagship iPhone quality — which means better than most Android cameras
• Camera app is fast and responsive

The iPhone SE 3 (2022)’s camera hardware brings back the same components used in the iPhone 8 from 2017: you have a single 12MP, f/1.8 main camera, and a 7MP, f/2.2 selfie camera, both with image sensor sizes that are absolutely tiny by 2022 standards. So yeah, these are quite old hardware.

But as Google has proven in the past, excellent software and a powerful mobile brain can compensate for mediocre hardware, and Apple definitely has both here. With the Apple A15 Bionic, Apple is able to bring relatively new iPhone computational photography tech like Smart HDR 4 and Deep Fusion to the iPhone SE, and in a vacuum, photos from the phone can look quite good. Photos exhibit above-average dynamic range, colors are on point, and the camera focuses very fast. I don’t think many people will have much to fault with these iPhone SE 3 photo samples.

iPhones usually have more responsive camera apps than most Android phones — there’s less shutter lag, you can cycle through apps or lenses faster, etc — and the trend continues here. In the below video, you can see I was trying to take photos of a street cat who refused to stay still — she actually bumps my iPhone out of the way with her head at one point. Because the iPhone SE’s camera app is so responsive, I managed to grab three clear shots of the feline anyway. Also, notice how fast I was able to switch from the main camera to the selfie camera. As much as I love the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s zoom prowess, it takes a beat longer to do anything with that camera system.

Below are the three shots I got with the iPhone SE. I don’t think I could have gotten three shots with an Android phone.

But of course, if you compare the iPhone SE (2022) against pricier phones like the iPhone 13 Mini or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, whose camera lenses are newer and better, then we can see differences in quality. The iPhone SE’s smaller camera sensor is noticeable even during the day, as photos look a bit flat, with a much weaker depth-of-field effect (larger sensors or faster aperture bring shallower depth-of-field for that aesthetically-pleasing bokeh look). Pay attention to the background in the below sets, there’s less separation between foreground and background in the iPhone SE’s photos.

And if we move onto challenging lighting conditions, such as against harsh backlight, or in low light conditions, we can see the iPhone SE’s photos clearly loses to the iPhone 13 Mini: shots are noisier, with weaker dynamic range, softer on details. Still, if we just look at the iPhone SE shots by themselves, they’re not that bad for a $430 phone.

Video

Strong video performance has been stable in iPhones, and this continues here: the iPhone SE can record videos up to 4K/60fps (which most phones in this price range cannot do), and stabilization is really good, almost on par with the iPhone 13 series. This means the iPhone SE 3 is easily the best video camera phone in its price range, trumping any non-flagship level Android smartphones.

If we compare the iPhone SE’s video footage against the iPhone 13 Mini, we can see the iPhone SE’s video keeps up well during the day, but at night, the iPhone 13 Mini’s footage is noticeably brighter, less noisy, with a bit better stabilization too.

I don’t have an Android phone in the iPhone’s $400-ish price range to compare against the iPhone SE, so I used the $335 POCO X4 Pro and we can see the iPhone SE’s videos are significantly better.

The iPhone SE is easily the best video camera phone in its price range, trumping any non-flagship level Android smartphones

Selfie camera

The 7MP selfie camera is really showing its age in 2022. In ideal lighting conditions, shots can still turn out quite nice, but shoot in low light, or in challenging contrasty scenes, and the selfies have poor dynamic range and sharpness (notice the iPhone SE 3 blows out the skies and lights compared to the iPhone 13 Mini in the samples below). However, the iPhone SE 3 still manages to keep my skin tone accurate.

The lack of an ultra-wide or zoom camera means the iPhone SE’s camera system ultimately lacks versatility that rival Android phones in the same price range offers, but if you want a really well-rounded main camera for photos and videos and you can’t pay more than $500, the iPhone SE has the best one.

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Apple iPhone SE 3: Software

• The iOS 15 experience here is mostly the same as in the iPhone 13 series
• Coming back to a physical home button after years of using swipe gestures feels odd
• Instagram doesn’t scale correctly on the small 4.7-inch screen for now

The iPhone SE 3 runs iOS 15.4, and for the most part, it runs just like any other recent iPhone, so you have the same useful widgets, security features, etc. One notable deviation to the user experience is, because the iPhone SE 3 uses the older home button iPhone design, there’s no gesture navigation.

Using the home button in 2022 feels odd

Instead, you navigate through the OS by pressing the circular home button, and in 2022, it just feels odd. I suppose if I use this phone as my long term daily driver, I can get used to the home button again, but iOS’ swipe gesture navigation is one of the most intuitive software innovations in recent mobile history (so much that Google lifted it wholesale) and it’s just a downgrade to go back to using force to press things.

In a rare turn of events, I noticed Instagram is showing minor scaling issues on the iPhone SE 3’s display due to its outdated 16:9 aspect ratio (Instagram usually works much better on iOS than on Android). It’s not a big deal — the top of the app cuts into the status bar — and I’m sure this will be fixed within a week of the iPhone SE’s retail launch.

What makes the iPhone SE 3 stand out from the crowd is the software update promise. Apple has the best track record for software updates, with practically all devices in its lineup getting about 5 years of software updates and that too delivered usually on day 1 of the stable public rollout. The only phones that come close outside of this promise are the recent Samsung Galaxy S22 series devices, but they are also marked only for 4 years of Android updates (plus another year of security updates). Apple’s updates tend to bring over new features to their devices too, usually as long as the hardware can support it, and the A15 chip ensures you won’t be starved for performance headroom any time soon. This makes the iPhone SE 3 the best phone to recommend for under $500 if you deeply care about staying on the latest software update all the time. Whether the rest of the package is something that you want to keep around for the next five years is a different conversation.

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Apple iPhone SE 3: Battery life and Overall Performance

• Battery life is not great
• Petite size makes it very easy to one-hand use in crowds
• The screen is too small for video watching

Because the iPhone SE 3 is so small and thin, the battery inside is relatively tiny. So despite the A15 Bionic being highly efficient, battery life will be an issue for heavy users. For me (a very heavy user), the phone can only last about 10 hours away from a charger, so not quite enough for a full Saturday out. To make things worse, the phone charges painfully slow relative to recent Android phones, at just 18W speeds. I suppose for more casual users, this won’t be an issue.

General performance is fine. The phone obviously doesn’t zip around as fast and smoothly as an iPhone 13 Pro, as the 4GB of RAM means apps that have sat in the background for long will usually take a second or two to load up again. Further, the screen is so small, I don’t really enjoy watching videos or gaming on it.

I don’t think these will be dealbreakers, as anyone considering the iPhone SE 3 in 2022 clearly knows of the tiny screen and does not mind. This phone in 2022, isn’t meant for gaming or Netflix binging, but for productivity tasks, like sending an email with one hand on a crowded train. Or the people buying this are conscious of these drawbacks and have made their peace with it.

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Who should buy the Apple iPhone SE 3?

A phone is more than just its processor

From the perspective of a phone reviewer or a gadget enthusiast (I belong to both camps), the iPhone SE 3 doesn’t make much sense. Even if the A15 Bionic is technically the most powerful chip, I’d still rather settle for a less powerful SoC and get a much better screen, which any mid-tier or budget Android phone offers. Even if I know I want an iPhone, the iPhone 13 Mini brings all the same benefits as the iPhone SE 3 (small size, A15 Bionic) at just $699. Then there’s the iPhone 11, which at $499 offers a much better overall package but minus the 5G and the latest SoC (the iPhone 11 has the A13 Bionic) — depending on how important 5G, the latest chip, and the $70 difference is to you, there’s a good argument on how the iPhone 11 is the best product against the iPhone SE 3. In light of these, the iPhone SE 3 is very weirdly placed and doesn’t make as much sense, considering your options in the market.

I suppose most XDA readers share my views too. But the iPhone SE 3 was not made for people like us. The iPhone SE 3 is targeted at these particular groups:

• Those who want a new 5G iPhone at as low a price as possible
• Those who want a small phone, but find the iPhone 13 Mini too expensive
• Those who don’t care about looks and want an easy to use, affordable phone
• Those who really want a physical home button
• Those who want to stay on the latest software update for the longest possible time without spending more than $500

I have read enough articles, internet forum posts and spoken to enough people in real life to know these groups exist, particularly in North America, where “iMessage lock-in” is a thing. There’s also a group of individuals who are absolutely used to the physical home button on an iPhone, and want to resist change for as long as they have options. There are people who will never consider an Android, even if they’re on a tight budget. For them, an iPhone at $430 is very appealing. And to them, the iPhone SE 3 makes sense.

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

Apple's new iPhone SE (2022) is the most affordable iPhone running the all-powerful A15 Bionic chip, which improves everything from battery life to camera performance

View at Best Buy

For everyone else, either get the iPhone 13 Mini or the iPhone 11. Or just get an Android smartphone. After all, a phone is more than just its processor.

The post Apple iPhone SE 3 (2022) Review: A15 Bionic at $430 just about makes up for outdated design appeared first on xda-developers.

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10: Specs, pricing, and everything else

At CES 2022, Lenovo introduced a new refresh for its flagship ThinkPad, the X1 Carbon Gen 10. This is already one of the best business laptops out there —  and one of the best laptops in general — so this upgrade is already building on top of greatness, and it’s getting even better.

With the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10, the company is upgrading to Intel’s latest processors, improving the webcam, and more. This is also the first time the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is available with an OLED display option, and it’s great to see more OLED laptops show up. Let’s get into the details.

Navigate this article:

• Specs
• Release date
• Price
• What’s new in the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10?
• Where can I buy it?
• FAQs

Specs

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 specs

	Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10
Operating system(s)	Windows 11 Ubuntu Fedora
Processor	Up to 12th Generation Intel Core i7 with vPro, U and P series, up to 14 cores
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe graphics (up to 96 EUs)
RAM	Up to 32GB LPDDR5
Storage	Up to 2TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD
Display	14-inch WUXGA 16:10 (1920×1200) IPS low-power, anti-glare, 400 nits, 100%sRGB 14-inch WUXGA 16:10 (1920×1200) IPS low-power, anti-glare, touch, 400 nits, 100%sRGB 14-inch WUXGA 16:10 (1920×1200) IPS low-power, anti-glare, touch, Privacy Guard, 500 nits, 100%sRGB 14-inch 2.2K 16:10 (2240×1400) IPS anti-glare, 300nit, 100% sRGB 14-inch 2.8K 16:10 (2880×1800) OLED, anti-glare, anti-reflection, anti-smudge, 400nit, 100% DCI-P3 14-inch WQUXGA 16:10 (3840×2400) IPS low-power, anti-glare, 500nit, 100% DCI-P3, HDR400, Dolby Vision 14-inch WQUXGA 16:10 (3840×2400) IPS low-power, touch, anti-glare, anti-reflection, anti-smudge, 500nit, 100% DCI-P3, HDR400, Dolby Vision
Audio	Dolby Atmos speaker system 360-degree quad-array microphones
Webcam	720p HD RGB webcam 1080p Full HD RGB webcam 1080p Full HD RGB + IR webcam 1080p Full HD MIPI RGB + IR webcam with Computer Vision
Security	Fingerprint reader IR camera (optional) Privacy Guard display (optional) Webcam shutter Tile ready
Battery	57Whr battery
Ports	2 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1x HDMI 2.0b 3.5mm headphone jack Nano SIM slot
Connectivity	Intel Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.2 Cellular options: 5G sub-6 Cat2o 4G LTE Cat16
Colors	Deep Black Optional Carbon Fiber weave lid
Size (WxDxH)	HD webcam: 315.6 x 222.50 x 14.95 mm (12.42 x 8.76 x 0.59 in) Full HD webcam: 315.6 x 222.50 x 15.36 mm (12.42 x 8.76 x 0.60 in)
Weight	Starts at 1.12kg (2.48 lb)
Starting price	$1,639

What is the release date of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10?

Some configurations of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 launched in March 2022, but more options will be rolling out over time. You should also be able to have your specific configuration built to order on Lenovo’s website in the near future.

There was some time between the original announcement in early January and its full launch due to it shipping with Intel’s new processors, which also launched in March. Many other laptops launched around the same time because of that.

What is the price of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10?

Officially, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 will have a starting price of $1,639. However, Lenovo hasn’t shared detailed spec sheets for the laptop, so we don’t know yet what that base configuration includes. Looking at the Gen 9 model, it starts with a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, so we could be looking at a similar setup for its successor.

From there, you have to take into account the available upgrade options. There are numerous display options up to a WQUXGA (3840 x 2400) resolution display, and various different processors, RAM, storage, and even webcam configurations. It’s also worth noting the laptop will be available with 28W P-series processors for the first time, which is likely to drive the maximum configuration pricing even higher. We’ll have to wait for Lenovo to reveal more details about the prices of each configuration.

What’s new in the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10?

The latest generation of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon has quite a bit that’s new. The highlight (for some) will be the new Intel processors inside, but there’s a bit more to it. This is the first X1 Carbon model to launch with Windows 11 — though the existing model has also been available with the new OS since it launched. Let’s dive into what’s really new.

12th-generation Intel processors (and other upgraded specs)

The first big upgrade for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 as we’ve mentioned, is in the processors. The laptop now comes with 12th-generation Intel Core processors, which are very different from what we’ve seen in the past. These new CPUs have a hybrid architecture, including high-performance cores and efficient cores. Because of that, you now get up to a total of 14 cores in the top-tier configuration, including six performance cores and eight efficient cores. Other configurations also have eight efficient cores, it’s the number of performance cores that varies. This should result in significantly better performance, but also improved power efficiency.

But that’s not all, because the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 also comes with Intel’s new P-series processors, which have a TDP of 28W. These more powerful processors used to only be available in some MacBook Pro models (before Apple Silicon), but now Windows laptops can use them too. This gives you even more power if you need the extra performance, without sacrificing battery life as much as an H-series processor would. Lenovo also improved the thermal design on the X1 Carbon Gen 10, so you can get even more performance out of the new processors.

Shipping with 12th-generation processors also means support for LPDDR5 RAM, which promises a big speed bump over LPDDR4. This new RAM has faster clock speeds and transfer speeds in general, so you should get faster performance in all kinds of tasks. Similarly, the storage now comes in the form of a PCIe Gen 4 SSD, so that’s faster, too. Simply put, you can expect a big performance upgrade across the board.

Full HD camera with computer vision

In a world where remote work has become standard for many people. the addition of a Full HD camera to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is a big deal. Previous models have been available as a standard 720 HD webcam or one with Windows Hello built-in, but now you can optionally get a 1080p Full HD camera with a 1.4μm sensor if you want to look better during your meetings.

Not only that, but you even have the option for a new camera with computer vision technology. This new camera can intelligently identify humans in the frame and even recognize their intent to use the laptop. This way, the human presence detection feature will conveniently wake up the laptop when you approach it, but it won’t wake up if your cat or a coworker moves in front of the camera for a couple of seconds. The camera can also lock your computer when you move away, dim the screen when you’re looking at something else to save power, and more.

New display options, including OLED

The new ThinkPad X1 Carbon also comes with a handful of new display options to choose from, for a total of seven different configurations. The big new addition is a 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED panel, with up to 400 nits of brightness and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space. At this resolution and size (14 inches), this is a very sharp display already, and being an OLED panel means you get true blacks, vivid colors, and high contrast ratios.

Another new option is a 2.2K (2240 x 1400) IPS panel, which gives you a slightly sharper image than Full HD, but only reaches 300 nits of brightness. It’s a good option if you want a sharper image and you plan to mostly work indoors, where you don’t need a super bright screen. Aside from that, the WQUXGA (3840 x 2400) panel also now comes with a new variant that supports touch thanks to an add-on film layered on top of the display.

Aside from that, all the previous display configurations are still here: WUXGA (1920 x 1200) without touch, with touch, or with touch and a Privacy Guard, plus a WQUXGA panel without touch support.

Tile integration

Finally, another big deal for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is the included Tile integration, which is optional. Tile is well-known for its object trackers, which allow you to find all kinds of objects you attach the trackers to, even if they’re far away from you. With Tile integration, that suite of features comes to your laptop, so you can locate it if it’s stolen or misplaced, even if it’s turned off.

Where can I buy the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is already available on Lenovo’s website, and you can order it below, but not many configurations are available yet. Lenovo doesn’t often make all these models at typical retailers, so you can either buy straight from Lenovo or get in contact with a business-oriented reseller that might have those options. Some models do show up on Amazon and Best Buy, too, so you can always look there to see if you find something that suits your needs, we’ll be sure to have them linked below if they show up.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 comes with 12th-gen Intel Core P-series processors, new OLED displays, and a Full HD webcam.

See at Lenovo

FAQs

How can I configure my Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10?

As many business laptops tend to do, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 has a wide range of configuration options, and for the most part, these options are independent from one another. For example, you can get a relatively mid-range processor and a super-sharp WQUXGA display, or spring for a top-tier CPU and a cheaper panel. There are some limitations, but you have a good bit of freedom.

Because there are so many options available, the number of different configurations you can get is very high, and prices vary a lot, so we can’t list all the possible options here.

A downside to this is that if you want a specific configuration, you might need to buy the laptop straight from Lenovo or from a partner reseller that offers those options. Consumer-facing retailers like Amazon and Best Buy often don’t have all these models readily available.

Does the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 come with 5G?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon comes with a couple of different options if you want cellular connectivity, including 5G support. For 5G, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon supports Cat20 connectivity in the sub-6GHz spectrum, so there’s no support for mmWave. That’s not a big deal, though, since mmWave is still hard to find and frankly not very reliable if you’re inside a building or on the move.

You can also save some money by option for 4G LTE connectivity (Cat16) instead. This won’t be as fast, especially in the future, but it’s good enough to keep you reliably connected to the internet, and it’s still the most widespread type of cellular network.

Including cellular connectivity can be hugely useful if you plan to work away from home or the office often, since it lets you stay connected to the internet without relying on Wi-Fi which can be hard to find or insecure if you’re in a public space like a café.

Does the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 have Windows Hello?

Windows Hello is a feature that makes it easier to unlock your PC, sign in to apps and websites, or make payments using biometric authentication. Essentially, instead of using a password, you can use facial recognition or a fingerprint reader to identify yourself.

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 supports both of these forms of Windows Hello. A fingerprint reader is included by default and built into the power button, so you can always count on that. If you want an easier way to log in, you can add an IR camera to your webcam configuration, which enables facial recognition for Windows Hello. This way, you just have to stand in front of the laptop for it to unlock.

Does the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 have a touchscreen?

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 comes with seven different configuration options for the display, and out of those, three options include a touchscreen. While completely optional, a touchscreen can give you a more intuitive way to interact with your computer.

The first option is an optional upgrade for the standard WUXGA (1920 x 1200) panel, which is the cheapest way you can get support for touch on this laptop. Another option that supports touch is the same resolution panel but with a Privacy Guard built-in. This panel is brighter and prevents people around you from seeing your screen, but it still supports touch.

The last option is the top-tier configuration with a WQUXGA (3840 x 2400) panel, which is the sharpest and most expensive option available. This option comes with up to 500 nits of brightness and coves 100% of DCI-P3, and it supports touch thanks to an add-on film applied on top of the display, instead of being built into the inside of the panel. Unfortunately, the OLED panel option doesn’t include touch support.

Does the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 come with a warranty?

Warranty service are naturally important to ensure you don’t lose your investment fue to faulty hardware or software. By default, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 comes with a one-year warranty with depot and carry-in services, which is the standard for most consumer goods in the United States.

You can extend that warranty to up to five years, and also upgrade to on-site support, or even opt for premier support to get priority access to parts and labor. All these options can also be extended up to five years. Of course, these upgrades cost extra on top of the cost of the laptop itself.

Can I upgrade the RAM and storage on the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10?

Business laptops tend to have easy servicing options, but it’s not always the case with an ultrabook like this one. Lenovo hasn’t specifically said anything onnthis front for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10, but we can infer from how it worked with the Gen 9 model.

In the Gen 9 models, the RAM is soldered onto the motherboard, and thus it can’t be replaced or upgraded by the user, but with up to 32GB out of the box, you shouldn’t need a lot more. You’ll just need to keep that in mind when choosing your configuration. As for storage, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 uses an M.2 2280 form factor for the SSD, so if the new model keeps this approach, you can always upgrade it later on.

We’ll have to wait for Lenovo to share more information on this front to know for sure what the upgrade options. We’ll update this article when that information is available.

Can I replace the battery in the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10?

Batteries wear out over time, especially if they’re heavily used, so you may find yourself wanting to replace the one inside your laptop. Lenovo hasn’t specifically said whether the battery in the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is replaceable, but we can look at the Gen 9 model for now.

The battery in that model is can be replaced by the user, and Lenovo even provides a manual on how to do it. You’ll need to obtain a battery designed for this laptop, though, which you should be able to get from Lenovo and some servicing partners. Again, this is how it is with the Gen 9 model, and things might be different with Gen 10. We’ll have to wait for Lenovo to share more details on that front.

Can the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 run Linux?

While many users might prefer Windows 11, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon will also be available with two different Linux distributions. You can get it with either Ubuntu or Fedora, two highly-popular Linux distros.

If you want, you can always install a Linux distribution on your PC after the fact, including a dual-boot setup with Windows 11. Driver support may vary, but you should be able to  run most distributtuons without any big issues.

Does the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 have Thunderbolt?

Thudnerbolt support can be essential if you’re using your laptop in an office setup with external displays and lots of peripherals. With a Thunderbolt dock, you can connect multiple USB peripherals, Ethernet, and external displays using a single port on your laptop, which makes it easier to connect or disconnect everything in one go.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 comes with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, supporting data rates of 40Gbps each. Both ports are on the same side, which might be a bit limiting in how you can set up your peripherals, but that’s probably something you can work around. You still get a few built-in ports, including USB Type-A and HDMI, so you’re not forced to use a dock if your setup is less complex.

Does the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 have a good webcam?

In the age of remote and hybrid work, a good webcam is more important than ever for all the online meetings and calls. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 comes with a few options for the webcam, and the higher tiers are a significant upgrade over previous generations.

The base model comes with a 720p camera, which isn’t particularly great, but should still be serviceable if you don’t take a lot of calls. However, one thing that’s new in this model is a 1080p camera with a upgraded 1.4μm sensor and f/2.0 aperture, which should give you that much better quality if you want to take calls more often.

There’s even an option to add computer vision support to this new camera, which adds smart features like interpreting whether you’re approaching your laptop to use or if someone is just passing in front of it, so the laptop only wakes up when it’s truly about to be used.

The post Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10: Specs, pricing, and everything else appeared first on xda-developers.

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7: Release date, price, and everything else

At CES 2022, Lenovo refreshed its most iconic ThinkPad laptops, including the ThinkPad X1 Yoga. The latest iteration of the convertible – the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 – packs a bunch of improvements, specifically in terms of performance. It comes with more powerful 12th-generation Intel Core processors, plus it now gives you the option for an OLED display, among other things.

Some of these improvements are applied across the ThinkPad lineup, so the X1 Yoga is very close to the X1 Carbon in many ways. Of course, it has a different form factor, plus some other differences. Here’s everything you need to know about the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7.

Navigate this article:

• Specs
• Release date
• Price
• What’s new in the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7?
• Where can I buy it?
• FAQs

Specs

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 specs

	Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7
Operating system(s)	Windows 11 Ubuntu
Processor	Up to 12th Generation Intel Core i7 with vPro, U and P series, up to 14 cores
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe graphics (up to 96 EUs)
RAM	Up to 32GB LPDDR5
Storage	Up to 2TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD
Display	14-inch WUXGA 16:10 (1920 x 1200) IPS low-power, touch, anti-glare, 400 nits, 100% sRGB 14-inch WUXGA 16:10 (1920 x 1200) IPS low-power, touch, anti-reflective, anti-smudge, 400 nits, 100% sRGB 14-inch WUXGA 16:10 (1920 x 1200) IPS low-power, touch, anti-glare, Privacy Guard, 500 nits, 100% sRGB 14-inch WQUXGA 16:10 (3840 x 2400) OLED low-power, touch, anti-reflective, anti-smudge, 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3, Dolby Vision
Audio	Dolby Atmos speaker system 360-degree quad-array microphones
Webcam	720p HD RGB webcam 1080p Full HD RGB webcam 1080p Full HD RGB + IR webcam 1080p Full HD MIPI RGB + IR webcam with Computer Vision
Security	Windows Hello: Fingerprint reader IR camera (optional) Privacy Guard display (optional) Webcam shutter Tile ready
Battery	57Whr battery 65W USB Type-C power adapter
Ports	2 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1x HDMI 2.0b 3.5mm headphone jack Nano SIM slot
Connectivity	Intel Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.2 Cellular options: 5G sub-6 Cat2o 4G LTE Cat16
Colors	Storm Grey
Size (WxDxH)	314.4 x 222.3 x 15.53 mm (12.38 x 8.75 x 0.61 in)
Weight	Starts at 1.38kg (3 lbs)
Starting price	$1,749

What is the release date of the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7?

Even though it was announced at CES 2022 in early January, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 was only made available for purchase in mid-March. This aligns with the availability of Intel’s 12th-generation U- and P-series processors.

At writing time, only one configuration is available. Lenovo will gradually roll out more configurations, so not all of them are available initially. This is common practice, especially with laptops that have a lot of configuration options. Plus, because of supply constraints, it makes sense to have a staggered launch so Lenovo can meet demand. Eventually, you’ll also be able to build your desired configuration.

What is the price of the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7?

When it launches in March, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 will have a starting price of $1,749, according to Lenovo. That will be for the base configuration, but we don’t yet know what it includes. Though, based on the previous generation, it should start with an Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.

From there, the prices will increase depending on your configuration. You can get better processors, more RAM and storage, a better display or webcam, and optional features like cellular network support. This all adds to the price, with processor upgraded and cellular support being particularly expensive. However, prices fluctuate, and Lenovo tends to constantly have some kind of discount running on its website, so it’s hard to say how much each upgrade will cost.

What’s new in the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 comes with a ton of improvements over the previous generation, including in performance, display, and more. Some of these upgrades are very significant, and you’ll also find them in the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10, which launched alongside it. Let’s take a look at what’s new.

12th-generation Intel Core processors up to 28W

The first big upgrade of the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 compared to the previous generation is in performance. The laptop now comes with Intel’s 12th-generation processors, and that alone is a big deal. These new processors use a hybrid architecture, mixing high-performance cores and efficient cores. This gives you up to 14 cores and 20 threads, and it should mean you get more performance when you need it, but better power efficiency when it matters. These new processors also now come with support for faster LPDDR5 RAM, which this laptop includes alongside a faster PCIe Gen 4 SSD for storage.

But that’s not all. Lenovo isn’t just using the next-generation processors, it’s also upgrading to a brand-new line of processors from Intel, the P series. These processors have a TDP of 28W compared to the 15W models we’re used to seeing, and because of that, they’re that much more powerful. You still have the option for 15W processors, though, the U series. Those go up to 12 cores and 16 threads, and the P series can reach the 14 cores mentioned above.

A 4K+ OLED display

Another big upgrade Lenovo has added to its ThinkPad laptops this year is the option for an OLED display. OLED panels are different from typical LCDs in that they don’t require a backlight, so when the display wants to display black, it’s truly black. Colors are more vivid and you get higher contrast ratios this way, too. It also results in faster response times, though you probably wouldn’t notice unless you’re an avid gamer.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 now comes with a new Ultra HD+ (3840 x 2400) OLED panel option, which replaces the old IPS display with the same resolution. That’s an extremely sharp display for its 14-inch size, and with the benefits of OLED, it’s bound to look stunning. It also reaches 500 nits of brightness, supports Dolby Vision, and covers 100% of DCI-P3, so it’s an all-around great display.

The base configuration is the same as before, however. It starts with a Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) display with 400 nits of brightness. You can upgrade it with an anti-smudge treatment or add a privacy guard to keep your information safe. This option isn’t available with the OLED panel.

A 1080p webcam

With remote work becoming mandatory in many parts of the world, online meetings and video calls became much more prominent in the past couple of years. Companies didn’t immediately adjust to this new reality, but now, Lenovo has put some series effort into having a better camera, so it goes up to 1080p resolution. The base configuration is still a 720p camera, but you can upgrade to 1080p and add Windows Hello facial recognition.

But that’s not all. There’s even a particular version of this camera that adds a feature called Computer Vision. Many Lenovo laptops give you the option to add human presence detection, which wakes up the laptop when you approach it so it’s ready to be unlocked and used. But until now, the camera may not be smart enough to tell if you were actually approaching the laptop to use it or just passing in front of it. That’s what computer vision changes; it makes the camera smarter so it can understand when someone is going to use the laptop or if it’s just someone walking in front of the camera for a brief moment.

Tile integration

One final upgrade is that the ThinkPad X1 Yoga can now be configured with a built-in Tile tracker. Tile is a platform that lets you find items by attaching a tag to them, so you can always see where they are, even if they’re far away from you. Lenovo is building it directly inside the laptop, so if you misplace it or it gets stolen, you can always find it as you would any other object. The Tile tracker even works when the laptop is off for up to two weeks.

Where can I buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7?

As usual with business laptops, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 is available from Lenovo first, and you can buy it below. Because of the wide range of configuration options it offers, only a few models make it to more typical retailers, and buying directly from Lenovo is the best way to get the exact specifications you want. With that being said, only one model is available at writing time, with others rolling out gradually.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 is a powerful convertible with 12th-gen Intel processors and up to an Ultra HD+ OLED display. Plus, you can get it with a Full HD webcam.

See at Lenovo

Eventually, you may also be able to find it on Amazon or Best Buy. We’ll update this article with purchase links for other retailers when and if they become available.

FAQs

How can I configure my Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7?

As many business laptops tend to do, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Yoga typically offers plenty of configuration option for things like the processor, RAM, storage, display, and more. What’s more, many of these upgrades are independent from each other, so you can get an Intel Core i5 processor but combine it with an Ultra HD+ display. We don’t know if that will work the same way for the new generation, but it’s reasonable to expect that hasn’t changed.

Because there are so many options available, the number of different configurations you can get is very high, and prices vary a lot depending on what you choose. Plus, Lenovo is always offering some kind of discount on its website, so those prices can fluctuate a lot.

A downside to having a ton of configuration options is that if you want a specific configuration, you might need to buy the laptop straight from Lenovo or from a partner reseller that offers those options. Retailers like Amazon and Best Buy often don’t have all these models readily available.

Does the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 come with 5G or LTE?

Cellular connectivity is a common feature on business laptops, and there’s good reason for that. It can be hugely useful if you plan to work away from home or the office, since it lets you stay connected to the internet even when there’s no Wi-Fi around. Even if you can find Wi-Fi in a public space, it’s likely not very secure, so cellular connectivity is a big plus for security, too.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga comes with a couple of different options if you want cellular connectivity. You can get support for sub-6GHz 5G (Cat20) if you want to have the fastest speeds and more bandwidth. Right now, it may not make a huge difference because 5G is still in relatively early stages, but it will probably pay off in the next few years. The laptop doesn’t support mmWave 5G, but that’s not a huge deal considering mmWave has very limited range and it’s not the easiest to find.

If you don’t see the need for 5G speeds (and prices), you can get 4G LTE connectivity (Cat16) instead. This won’t be as fast, especially as 5G evolves more, but it’s good enough to keep you reliably connected to the internet, and it’s still the most widespread type of cellular network for now.

Does the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 have Windows Hello?

Windows Hello is a feature that makes it easier to unlock your PC, sign in to apps and websites, or make payments using your face or fingerprint as a password.

The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 supports both of these forms of Windows Hello, though only a fingerprint reader is included by default. If you want an even more convenient way to unlock your PC, you can add an IR camera to your webcam configuration, so you can use Windows Hello facial recognition. This is the simplest method since you only need to look at your laptop for it to recognize you and sign you in.

Does the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 have an OLED display?

For years, most laptops have used LCD and IPS displays, but at the same time, we’ve seen a lot of phones starting to use OLED panels. These screens give you true blacks, more vivid colors, higher contrast, and fast response times, so they’re generally better all around.

It’s taken some time for laptops to embrace OLED, but the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 is one of Lenovo’s first ThinkPads to embrace it. The top-tier display configuration for this convertible is now an Ultra HD+ OLED panel, replacing the IPS panel that was available before. All the other models still use a traditional LCD, though.

Does the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 come with a warranty?

A warranty is essential to ensure that products function as advertised and last a reasonable amount of time. That’s why some level of warranty is guaranteed by law, that being a one-year warranty service (in the United States). That’s what you get with the ThinkPad X1 Yoga out of the box (based on the other models Lenovo sells), which includes carry-in or depot services.

However, Lenovo also sells a few warranty upgrade options. You can upgrade to get onsite support for your laptop, for example, or you can extend the duration of the warranty period for a maximum of five years. This naturally costs extra, but it may be worth it if you want to make sure you can rely on your laptop for a long time to come.

Can I upgrade the RAM and storage on the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7?

With many larger laptops, especially those geared towards business users, it’s common to be able to replace or upgrade the RAM and storage inside your laptop. This is important because it allows customers to repair their PC themselves, and it can also save you money by buying a cheaper configuration now and upgrading later. Lenovo hasn’t specifically said whether you can replace the RAM and storage in the new X1 Yoga Gen 7, but we can look at the Gen 6 model for guidance.

The previous generation of the ThinkPad X1 Yoga has the RAM soldered onto the motherboard, so it can’t be replaced or upgraded by the user. That means you should ensure that the amount of RAM you choose to start with can serve you well for as long as you plan to keep the laptop.

For storage, it comes with a single M.2 2280 SSD, meaning it can be easily replaced by the user. You can save some money by buying a smaller SSD out of the box and finding a cheaper one later, especially considering these upgrades tend to be much more expensive when buying directly from the manufacturer.

Can I replace the battery in the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7?

If you plan to keep your laptop for a long time, you might notice that after a while it won’t last as long on a charge as it used to. Instead of replacing the whole laptop, it’s probably a better idea to just replace the battery – if possible. Again, Lenovo hasn’t said specifically if this will be possible with the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7, but we can use the previous generation to make a prediction.

The battery in that model is can be replaced by the user, and you can even find a manual on how to do it on Lenovo’s support site. You’ll just need to find the right battery to buy, which you can likely get from Lenovo directly or select servicing partners.

Can the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 run Linux?

As popular as Windows is, some users do prefer alternative operating systems, and if that’s your case, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga gives you a couple of options. You can buy it with Linux Ubuntu out of the box, and you should also be able to get support for that operating system as a result.

If you want, you can always install a Linux distribution on your PC later, and even use a dual-boot setup with Windows 11. Driver support may vary, but you should be able to run most distributions without any big issues. However, it’s unlikely that Lenovo can provide support for any version aside from Ubuntu.

Does the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 have Thunderbolt?

Thunderbolt is an Intel technology that provides a lot of bandwidth (40Gbps) over a USB Type-C connection, including the ability to connect displays, other USB devices, and even external GPUs. It’s especially important in thin and light devices where regular ports can’t fit, but it’s also useful if you have a complex office setup and don’t want the hassle of unplugging everything and plugging it in every time you want to take your laptop somewhere else.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 comes with two Thunderbolt 4 ports with 40Gbps of bandwidth each so you can connect a Thunderbolt dock or an external GPU (or both). You still get a few built-in ports, including USB Type-A and HDMI, so you’re not forced to use a dock if your setup is less complex. The only potential downside is that the two Thunderbolt ports are on the same side, which might make it harder to connect to your setup.

Does the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 have a good webcam?

Now that hybrid and remote work are the standard for many of us, having a good webcam is more important than ever. It took a while for companies to catch on, but thankfully, the new ThinkPad lineup embraces 1080p webcams for the most part.

The base model of the ThinkPad X1 Yoga comes with a 720p camera, which isn’t particularly great, but should still be serviceable if you don’t take a lot of calls. However, you can upgrade to a 1080p camera with 1.4μm sensor and f/2.0 aperture, which should give you that much better quality if you want to take calls more often.

There’s also an option for an infrared camera for Windows Hello support, and this year, there’s even Computer Vision. This adds smart features to the camera, like being able to tell whether someone approaching the laptop is actually going to use it or just walking by, and waking up only when it makes sense.

The post Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7: Release date, price, and everything else appeared first on xda-developers.

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