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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Lenovo introduced a handful of recent additions to its core line of ThinkPad laptops right now at IFA in Berlin.
- The brand new gadgets introduced are the ThinkPad P1 Gen 8, ThinkPad P16v Gen 3, and ThinkPad X9 in a brand new Glacier White colorway.
- The ThinkPad X9 made waves earlier this 12 months, breaking with the lineup’s aesthetics for a slick type issue and new “engine hub” design idea.
When the ThinkPad X9 Aura Version debuted at CES in early 2025, it instantly caught my consideration for its stark departure from the ThinkPad design ethos. No TrackPoint, no black, utilitarian design, and no left/proper trackpad buttons. Was this even a ThinkPad?
Properly, sure, but it surely’s one thing fully new, as nicely. The X9 is a extremely useful laptop computer in its personal proper, with an ultraportable type, first rate battery life, and modern aesthetic with its ribbed backside plate and engine hub. In actual fact, it was our choose for finest Home windows laptop computer of 2025 for its mixture of efficiency relative to worth, and daring design.
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So what’s new with the X9? It is white. The matte “Glacial White” colorway provides a modern, future-forward aesthetic to a laptop computer that was already unafraid of breaking from the mould. It is available in a 14- and 15-inch type issue and consists of the identical {hardware} as the unique configuration: an Intel Core Extremely 7 258V processor.
Notably, nevertheless, the white X9 has bumped up native storage to a 1TB SSD in each the 14- and 15-inch configuration, my biggest criticism of the unique silver mannequin after I reviewed it, which got here in a 256GB or 512GB model.
Moreover, the entire “Aura Version” function set generated some buzz final 12 months at IFA for its physical tap-to-share feature, however Lenovo has since determined to transition away from that function towards its personal file-sharing app known as Lenovo Join.
Core ThinkPad upgrades
Alongside the ThinkPad X9, Lenovo additionally confirmed off just a few cell workstations, with two laptops specifically as essentially the most impactful fashions. The eighth-generation ThinkPad P1 runs a Collection 2 Intel Core Extremely processor and, most notably, an Nvidia RTX PRO 2000 Blackwell graphics card.
When you’re not acquainted, the PRO 2000 Blackwell card is a part of a new series of Nvidia GPUs focusing on skilled workloads. Assume 3D rendering, generative AI, content material creation, and CAD (computer-aided design) drawings. It’s stated to considerably outperform older RTX 2000 Ada graphics playing cards.
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The earlier era ThinkPad P1 runs on such a GPU, so I anticipate the efficiency between the older mannequin and this upcoming laptop computer to be vital.
By way of design, the P1 is a quintessential ThinkPad (not like its aforementioned glacial cousin) with the massive observe pad, purple TrackPoint in the course of the keyboard, sturdy construct, and sturdy port choice. It will likely be out there later this month, beginning at $2,819.
Lenovo additionally introduced the third-generation ThinkPad P16v at IFA, sharing many similarities with the ThinkPad P1, however in a extra substantial 16-inch type. It additionally has a Blackwell GPU, however boasts a 16-inch 4K OLED touchscreen and the potential to have as much as 96GB of RAM. Lenovo cites it as a strong gadget for engineers, designers, or animators who desire a gadget with uncooked energy however are value-oriented.
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In that sense, the P16v’s beginning worth of $2,249 situates it as a particularly highly effective laptop computer for the worth, however a extra utilitarian body. It is also an inch thick and weighs 4.6 kilos — bulkier than even Lenovo’s new Legion Professional 7 gaming laptop computer. I went hands-on with the gadget earlier this month and it is undoubtedly one of many chunkiest laptops I’ve dealt with shortly.
Lastly, we do fear about battery life. Lenovo’s two laptops have a 90Whr battery, which is nice, however the Blackwell GPUs could demand a ton of power. Each the brand new ThinkPad P1 and P16v can be launched later this month.
