Specifications - What's Changed, What Hasn't
What’s changed? Not a lot. The base specification: ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 Platform Specifications
A different range of CPU options: all 10th gen, no longer offering a 6-core processor:
ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 – CPU Options – Lenovo PSREF
Intel UHD Graphics and the same range of display options as the Gen 4:
ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 – Display Options – Lenovo PSREF
An updated WLAN chip – Gen 4 was AC, Gen 5 is AX. From the base spec:
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201, Wi-Fi 2×2 802.11ax + Bluetooth 5.0
* Intel AX201 card supports BT5.1 but is limited to BT5.0 by Windows OS
Ports and external layout remain the same as the Gen 4, apart from an updated LCD lid logo. (NOTE: the Gen 5 “ThinkPad” logo is actually all black – apart from the red LED – not the way it looks in the image below) Like the Gen 4 it’s aluminum – feels like a confidence-inspiring solid block of ThinkPadium – and yet it’s relatively light and still capable of the full Yoga gymnastics.
It remains compatible with the range of mechanical side docks that work with the Gen 4 and several other recent ThinkPads. Per the Compatibility Matrix: 40AJ Ultra, 40AH Pro, and 40AG Basic.
ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 – Ports – image Lenovo
ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 4 (over) and 5 (under) – images Lenovo
X1YG 4 or 5 in Side Dock – image Lenovo
Side Dock Details
This unit’s detailed specifications:
- Model: 20UC-Z56NUS (an SVT model – not in the PSREF page)
- Product: ThinkPad X1 Yoga (5th Gen)
- Processor: Intel Core i7-10610U (4C / 8T, 1.8 / 4.9GHz, 8MB, vPro)
- Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
- Chipset: Intel SoC Platform
- Memory: 16GB Soldered LPDDR3-2133
- Storage: 1TB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe Opal2
- Display: 14″ FHD (1920×1080) IPS LTPS 400nits anti-reflection anti-smudge
- Multi-touch: 10-point Multi-touch
- Pen: ThinkPad Pen Pro (Garaged)
- Ethernet: I219-LM 100/1000M via Optional Adapter
- WLAN + Bluetooth: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201, Wi-Fi 2×2 802.11ax + Bluetooth 5.0
- Case Material: Aluminum
- Camera: IR camera and HD720p camera with ThinkShutter
- Audio: Dolby Atmos speaker system, 2W x 2, 0.8 x 2 /
four 360° far-field microphones, headphone / microphone combo jack - Color: Iron Grey
- Keyboard: Backlit, English
- Fingerprint Reader: Touch Style, Match-on-Chip
- TPM: Discrete TPM 2.0
- System Mgt: Intel vPro Technology
- Battery: Integrated Li-Polymer 51Wh
- Power Adapter: 65W USB-C
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64, English
One other thing that’s changed: the “brick”. It’s now barely the size of a bar of soap. Nice. This one came configured for a 3-wire power cord, so the cord is bulkier than the charger. That bugs me… talk about a first-world problem… there is a 2-wire configuration. I’ve got one on order: ThinkPad 65W Slim AC Adapter (USB Type-C) – US/Can/Mexico
65W Chargers: classic Slim-tip, prior USB-C, tiny new USB-C
Tiny charger, massive line cord…
Another ‘nother thing that’s changed: the feel. The Trackpoint buttons and fingerprint reader look identical to the Gen 4’s parts, but for me and my old fingers they work better.
My Gen 4’s TrackPoint buttons – due I supposed to sitting flush with the Touchpad – required pressing into the buttons, not just onto the buttons. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a design problem, but my muscle memory goes all the way back to my R40 and caused me to miss left clicks via thumb too often. I don’t notice this with the Gen 5 even though the hardware looks the same. Whether it’s a change or unit-to-unit variation, I welcome it.
[Update 2020.06.14] On closer examination the space the buttons sit in appears to be almost 1mm larger top to bottom on the G5 when compared to the G4. Will try to determine if it’s a design change.
[Update 2020.07.06] Belay that. The buttons are the same size, as is the space around them. The issue with the Gen 4 buttons turned out to be a defective touchpad – of all things.
Similar observation about the fingerprint reader. Looks identical, device IDs are identical… works better. All my recent ThinkPads with the smaller FPRs hate my fingers. After initial setup they would fail to identify most of the time. This Gen 5’s FPR works most of the time.