Lenovo ThinkPad X13s 5G Review: Is Mobile Speed Enough?

My first impressions of the ThinkPad X13s 5G were generally positive. It is a compact and lightweight package, weighing in at a scant 2.35 pounds, according to the manufacturer. Lenovo has presented a sleek package that some have compared to an Apple, which is not an unfair comparison, but the Lenovo comes off more as a no-frills yet serious contender. At barely more than half an inch thick, it is a slender and easy-to-manage package. The lightness is partially attributed to the frame composed of recycled magnesium, which means that it is not just light, but strong as well. Overall it is a compact package well suited for hectic travel.

Performance is impressive and the unusual but bold choice to use a Snapdragon processor, the same Qualcomm product powering millions of mobile phones across the globe, is at the heart of it. The Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 Compute Platform installed on the ThinkPad X13s 5G is a new product developed specifically for mobile computing and allows this machine to take advantage of an architecture that works seamlessly with 5G broadband, capable of up to 10 Gbps. The point is that the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s 5G was built from the ground up to be a mobile device. For the tech junkies who thrive on specifics, which I will freely admit I am not, notable specs for Lenovo to boast are the 13.3-inch WUXGA (1920 by 1200) IPS screen, 16GB RAM expandable to 32GB, 500 GB SSD storage expandable up to 1TB, and Integrated Qualcomm Adreno 690 Graphics included on this machine.

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The only ports available are two USB-C on one side. One of these USB-C ports is also the only charging port. For a computer that is used completely while traveling and all data transfer is done via the cloud, two ports should be sufficient. However, if someone gives you a file on a thumb drive and you don’t have a USB adapter, you could be in trouble. Furthermore, if you want to use it at home with an external monitor and mouse or keyboard, the lack of ports can be frustrating. Ostensibly, this will primarily be used in the field or on the airplane, but this omission could hamper some users who want to expand its usage at home. It’s possible, but a bit frustrating.