Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3
Summary
The Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3 is a premium laptop that offers a lightweight and thin design, a high-quality display, a powerful processor, and a long battery life. The X1 Nano is ideal for business users who need responsive hardware.
Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3 Review
The Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3 is the latest addition to the ThinkPad X1 series, and it is the lightest and thinnest laptop in the lineup. It was also one of the first laptops to feature the 13th-generation Intel P Series Core processors, which offer a balance of performance and efficiency. The X1 Nano Gen 3 is designed for business users who value portability, productivity, and security.
At a starting price of around $2,000, the X1 Nano Gen 3 lives far from the budget laptop realm but buying it at the list price is hard to do. The base model was discounted by almost $900 just before Christmas 2023. The highest-end model lists for $2,800 but was selling for $1,819.35. Of course, enterprise buyers will enjoy the leverage of quantity buys and the discounts associated with that. So, shop, don’t just buy.
See our Laptop Evaluation post for more information about our review process.
Performance and Battery Life
The Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3 is powered by the 13th generation Intel P Series Core processors, which have a hybrid architecture that combines high-performance cores and high-efficiency cores. It can dynamically switch between the cores depending on the workload, resulting in better performance and battery life. The Nano also has 16 GB of LPDDR5X memory and up to 1 TB of PCIe SSD storage. It includes Integrated Intel® Iris® Xe graphics, which can handle basic tasks and casual gaming but not intensive graphics work or AAA games.
The Nano ships with a 49.5 Wh battery that supports Rapid Charge, which can charge the battery up to 80% in an hour with a 65W or higher power adapter. The battery life depends on the usage and settings, but the laptop can last up to 11 hours on a single charge, according to Lenovo.
Processor options include:
- 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Processor (E-Core Max 3.40 GHz, P-Core Max 4.60 GHz with Turbo Boost, 12 Cores, 16 Threads, 12 MB Cache)
- 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-1360P Processor (E-Core Max 3.70 GHz, P-Core Max 5.00 GHz with Turbo Boost, 12 Cores, 16 Threads, 18 MB Cache)*
- 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-1370P Processor with vPro® (E-Core Max 3.90 GHz, P-Core Max 5.20 GHz with Turbo Boost, 14 Cores, 20 Threads, 24 MB Cache)
*Evaluation unit configuration.
We recommend buying only the i7 configurations as the performance will give the Nano a longer productive lifespan.
Display
The Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3 sports a 13.3-inch display with a 2K resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio, which provides more vertical space for viewing documents and web pages. The display is also touch-enabled and supports Dolby Vision HDR, which enhances the color and contrast of the images. The display has thin bezels on two sides with a thicker top bezel that houses the webcam.
Available displays:
- 13.3″ 2K (2160 x 1350) IPS, anti-glare, anti-reflective, anti-smudge, touchscreen, 450 nits, 100% sRGB (14.8mm x 293.3mm x 208.1mm / .58″ x 11.54″ x 8.19″)
- 13.3″ 2K (2160 x 1350) IPS, anti-glare, 450 nits, 100% sRGB (14.4mm x 293.2mm x 208mm / .56″ x 11.54″ x 8.18″)
Input
The Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3 brings its keyboard edge-to-edge, offering as much space as can be had for a 13-inch laptop. The smaller-than-necessary trackpad includes the ThinkPad keys for the TouchPoint, which makes it feel cramped. As always, the loss of the TouchPoint might make the Nano feel more generic, but it would also loosen up design constraints and allow for a wider trackpad experience.
The typing experience matches that of other X1 devices, with the excellent keyboard this series is known for.
Backlighting focuses on the keycaps, not their outline, though there is some edge bleed at an angle, but it isn’t distracting. When typing in a normal position, the backlight simply makes the key designations more visible.
The review unit included a touchscreen that did nothing to diminish the stellar brightness and rich colors.
Security
The evaluation unit included two types of biometric security. Fingerprint recognition rests near the trackpad. A Hello-compatible camera for facial recognition sits on the top bezel. An optional camera configuration with computer vision enhances security.
The highest-end version of the Nano includes Intel vPro® for multi-layer security.
While the Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3 doesn’t come with an IP rating, Lenovo uses an alternative measurement. Its website states: “We use the US Department of Defense’s MIL-STD 810H standards to create a balance of reliability and durability for our ThinkPad laptops. We test against 12 standards and more than 200 quality checks to ensure they run in extreme conditions. These tests cover harsh variables like Arctic wilderness and desert dust storms, including temperature, pressure, humidity, vibration, and more.”
Also, the keyboard is spill resistant.
Collaboration
Lenovo included collaboration keys for answering and hanging up the phone. It also includes a full HD camera for video conferencing. The keyboard also includes an audio mute. A camera cover is included with the camera. The high-end configuration offers an FHD + IR mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) webcam with Computer Vision & webcam privacy shutter.
4 x 360-degree quad-array microphones powered by Dolby Voice® handle voice during video calls. The combo audio jack, or a USB or Bluetooth® headset, alternatively handles call audio.
Connectivity
The Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left side, which support data transfer, charging, and display output. A headphone/microphone combo jack accompanies the USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left. That’s it. But when running thin and light, that’s enough. USB-C docks have become small, inexpensive add-ons, with some, like the Monoprice 15-in-1, bringing every port ever needed into a single dock. And for those who need fewer ports, various USB-C hubs come in most imaginable configurations.
Optional 4G / LTE WWAN service can be configured at the time of purchase with the inclusion of a nano SIM. This configuration requires a network service provider.
The Nano ships with Wi-Fi 6E AX211 802.11AX (2 x 2) and Bluetooth® 5.3 for wireless connectivity (though the website says Bluetooth® 5.1, the radio properties show LMP 12, which is 5.3).
Look and Feel
I use laptops and desktops of all sizes and dimensions. When I’m traveling, and using my laptop throughout the day, which means carrying it with me, I want small and light. The Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3 will be with me at CES 2024 as my primary device. I’m even going to leave my iPad in my room because writing at CES requires fast response and a one-component solution works best for writing. Yes, a traditional laptop, but one that weighs less than an iPad Pro 1.9 with a case, a keyboard and a mouse.
What I’m about to say is a positive for the Nano: it isn’t precious. The Nano, like most of the business-oriented ThinkPad line, doesn’t look or feel like it needs a case. A MacBook Pro, on the other hand, or Lenovo’s beautifully designed Yoga Book 9i, feel a bit like art. They need protection. Even for those who cover their devices in stickers, the honed edges and glossy surfaces scream out for protection and preservation. The Nano seems to scream through life at me, and I’ll take what comes.
The X1 Nano Gen 3’s recycled magnesium chassis and matt black lid that sports a red LED dot on the ThinkPad logo combine for a sleek and minimalist design.
Sustainability
Lenovo continues to lead in sustainability. Here is a list of the sustainability investments associated with the X1 Nano:
- 90% recycled magnesium on keyboard / bottom sides (C / D covers)
- 97% post-consumer content (PCC) recycled plastic used in the 49.6Whr battery enclosure
- 90% PCC recycled plastic used in 65W adaptor
- 30% PCC recycled plastic used in speaker enclosure
- Low-temperature solder
- Plastic-free packaging with 90% recycled and/or sustainable content composed of recycled, and/or biobased, and/or sustainably forested content
- ENERGY STAR®
We rate the X1 Nano 5 stars for sustainability because recycling, energy use concerns and packaging materials exist throughout the design.
What we like
The Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3 represents the epitome of thin and light, but without sacrificing performance. With 16GB of RAM and an i7 processor, its performance matches that of much larger laptops. The Nano isn’t going to cut the next Hollywood blockbuster, but it will certainly manage the script, production schedule and the collaboration required to bring it to theaters.
The X1 Nano Gen 3 is just a pleasure to use. It goes anywhere, and it delivers when flipped open. Of course, that is what one expects from any laptop; that the Nano does so with such ease makes it an ideal travel companion.
What could be improved
I’d like to see a bigger trackpad and no TrackPoint, but I’m not going to win that argument on a ThinkPad—though I will say, Lenovo is overdue for a cursor control innovation that will make the iconic TrackPoint seem even more archaic than it already is.
Some will want more ports, but more ports means more body and more circuitry, and that means more weight. I’m willing to give on ports in favor of the lean design.
Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3: The bottom line
The Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3 is a premium laptop that offers a lightweight and thin design, a high-quality display, a powerful processor, and a long battery life. The X1 Nano is ideal for business users who need responsive hardware.
Lenovo provided the Lenovo X1 Nano Gen 3 for review. Images courtesy of Lenovo unless otherwise noted.
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