CES 2017: Lenovo unveils new range of ThinkPads, Thunderbolt 3 docks and QHD displays

Ahead of CES 2017 in January next year, Lenovo has unveiled its entire range of upgraded ThinkPads for 2017. The devices are all part of the X70 series (X varying from 2-5 depending on the model. The larger models in the series, the T470, T470p, T570, L470, L570 will have Intel’s seventh generation Kaby Lake CPUs and up to 16GB of Intel’s ultra-fast Optane SSD memory. The laptops will ship with Thunderbolt 3 support, Microsoft’s Precision TrackPads and protection from bad USB-C cables.  The Thunderbolt 3 standard offers 40Gbps of bandwidth and support for the DisplayPort 1.2, which means that you can easily drive multiple 4K/UHD displays at 60Hz. Since Thunderbolt 3 can handle a lot of power, Lenovo will be integrating a protective circuit around the USB-C ports to prevent any damage due to faulty cables. The ThinkPad Yoga T370 is a 2-in-1 device with a 13.3 inch screen, a weight of 1.45kg and 10-hour battery life, according to Lenovo. This device will ship in March. To go with these devices, Lenovo has announced two docks, one with Thunderbolt 3 and the other with USB-C gen 2. The Thunderbolt dock will cost $280 (around Rs 19,000) and add support for up to 3 displays. In fact, you’ll be able to drive 2 displays at UHD and 30Hz resolution alongside a single display at UHD and 60Hz. Or, you can drive two UHD displays at 60Hz. The dock also includes an HDMI port, a VGA port, five USB 3.0 ports, a gigabit Ethernet port and audio. A 135W power adapter will power the dock, but 65W of this power can be transferred to the laptop itself to charge it via a Thunderbolt 3 pass-through. The other dock will only connect via USB-C Gen.2, which is slower and less capable. It’s also cheaper at $200 (around Rs 13,600). This dock will offer two DIsplayPorts, three USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, audio and Gigabit Ethernet. Since it’s USB 3.0, it’ll only be able to drive a single UHD display at 30Hz or two Full HD displays at 60Hz.  On the display front, Lenovo unveiled two new displays. Both displays will be available in QHD resolutions and connect via Thunderbolt 3/USB-C. Both will come with four USB 3.0 ports, two HDMI inputs, one DisplayPort in, one DisplayPort out (for daisy-chaining) and will be able to charge a connected laptop with up to 45W of power. The displays only vary in resolution and price, with a 23.8 inch display (the ThinkVision P24h) priced at $259 (around Rs 17,700) and a 27-inch (the ThinkVision P27h) unit going for $329 (around Rs 22,500). Both units will be available in March and will be factory calibrated to sRGB standards. Source: Anandtech, Engadget