So basically you have an Android tablet that can also act as the screen and extra speakers for a screenless laptop. That makes it seem a little less weird.
It feels a bit pointless if they can't interact with each other though, even with the shared 10gb folder. Why couldn't the tablet at least show up as an attached device so that you can use its 256gb of storage in windows?
To be honest: I really like it. Having a powerful laptop for the usual work, but having the possibility to take the screen as digital notepad etc sounds pretty useful. Also you don't have to keep the screen attached, if you use the laptop on the docking station.
Incredible that Microsoft failed to make a worthwhile OS for smart devices so badly that Lenovo went out of their way to make a 2-in-1 Windows Laptop that doesn't even use Windows when it's in Tablet mode.
it's really all about apps. Even with the windows phone, which was good, barely had any app support. Adoption rate was very slow, so no incentive for devs to port their apps. And i think people like to hate on Microsoft with everything they do. So no one would give them a chance, even if they try again.
i don't think so win 11 is relative smoothe in tablet mode. The biggest drawback of windows is really that many programs didn't update there ui for touch input but with subsystem for android u get apps that are build around touch input. This device is coming 5 years to late. Its the classic Lenovo Gimmick that is too expensive and it will be discontinued before it get fixed to a usable degree.
Yes, but to be fair, Apple also failed. This is because neither company is good at software of course, not because it's actually hard. Quantum physics is hard. A desktop that can tell if it should be doing touchscreen things or desktop things, is not.
@@VaporSpritestrongly disagree with that statement. I’ve had nothing but good things with their stuff, and their support is better than the competition. They sell cheap products, but you get what you pay for. They tend to be the best in their price category.
They should sell these separately and keep the display for the models next year the same and only upgrade the bottom part with new hardware this way they can tout their green and planet friendly agenda and also keep the device going and make moneh
Nah, the display part should already come with Android 14 and have a SD 8+ Gen2 or Gen3, i mean my almost one year old phone has the 8+ gen2, im not buying anything older when buying a brand new device...on the other hand the price of this is pretty reasonable and its thin and light...
I'm honestly all for this. Instead of trying to force windows to work on a tablet just switch to an OS made for tablets. This is also getting us closer to my dream of my phone being my main computer and I just have a series of docks.
HP and Nexdock tried the whole laptop shaped dock for a phone. It never caught on because the dock cost as much as a low end laptop. So for 99% of people, it didn't make any sense at all.
@@rightwingsafetysquad9872it didn't make sense with phone but with tablet it does, I have asus x13 and i always thinking I want to bring my tablet but decide not too because added weight. Now that I think about it I wish my current tablet can be use as portable monitor maybe that is better product idea
@KurosuKirie You can use iPads as a portable monitor for a Mac, the feature is built into iOS. I'm pretty sure Samsung tablets can work similarly for Windows or KDE.
In the case of Microsoft Surface Book, the keyboard wasn’t completely useless. It held a GPU in it which was connected to the tablet with their proprietary PCIe 4x connection.
Yes, and the keyboard has to be heavier than the tablet/screen so the Asus ones I had contained batteries. eGPUS are getting faster, so lots of solutions could work.
@@jonevansauthoryes but when you disconnected it was nothing but dead weight. Plus trying to use that screen as a tablet was awful, even if you added custom software to try and fix that. Having a native android just makes that so much easier!!
What the hell, that sounds wayyyyy better than this. A tablet PC that can actually use a discrete GPU sounds amazing. Its one of the only reasons I couldn’t use a Surface Pro.
Honestly this feels like a really innovative and kinda cool concept and I'd like to see it again in a couple years down the line. Don't quite know what the use case is.
As a Surface pro 8 user, I can tell you I still prefer to use my samsung android tablet for leizure browsing and entertainment. I hardly ever use my surface pro as a tablet, which it's supposed to be. It's just that android feels much more intuitibe and easier to use in touch user interface devices.
I'm a coder and If want to code on a tablet the best way is to be on windows / linux because I use some software that simply does not exist on android (or not easily accessible through the play store). However I dont want to use my tablet just for coding, I like playing supercell games, watching disney + / crunchyroll offline when I'm on a trip, and android is just perfect for these tasks as windows simply does'nt support these features natively (I never got my supercell games to run on android using WSA or emulators and disney + and crunchyroll native windows apps are just copies of their respective web apps that don't support download to watch offline). I tried running android for x86 in dual boot with windows on my 128gb/8gb/intel m3 surface go 2. I even tried Chrome OS which was quite nice with linux apps enabled, but it was making my tablet overheat... So for now I'm using WSA for android apps that are supported (disney +, crunchyroll, but sadly no supercell games) That's why having access to these 2 OS on the same device would be perfect for me.
As an engineering student, this laptop would be perfect. Carry only the tablet when all you need is to take notes, carry the laptop when you need to do CAD or use other software that actually requires a windows laptop and not a tablet. I hope that in a couple years they will come with a less expensive mid range option at 1.5k or less.
what if you want to quick-present your CAD but don't want to carry the laptop, i mean there is must be some cases that you just want to look at your CAD diagrams/design and just carrying tablet, this laptop solution is not ideal. at least in my opinion, i'm no engineering student but i do design, and sometimes i need to detach my laptop screen to quick present the design from my Illustrator to the client, and i need full desktop software to do that.
@@KanakaBhaswaraPrabhata you can export a PDF that contains the CAD model and is movable, that's what you send the client so he can see the model but not steal it. I suppose you can do that on Android
@@KanakaBhaswaraPrabhatai think its better to take smaller tablet for presentation, this one abit too big. If you wanna take a note by hand just use tablet, but if you wanna type just use laptop keyboard. Bringing both doesn't looks practical or usefull since you just must chose either one
this thing just killed my surface with Windows Subsystem for Android. This is the very best alternative for my use cases : giving me the oportunity to have windows apps (for coding) and android apps (for stuff like disney + and crunchyroll which does NOT support downloads on their native windows apps). However I'm concerned about the repairability of such a complex device, I'm definitely gonna dig even deeper on that subject. Many thanks for showcasing this cool product !
It's not exactly far newer, as there's only a 6 month gap between the two. There's about a 20% improvement from +1 to 2, but it's not that big of a deal. Still, it is indeed wrong to say that it's the latest SoC - especially with the 8 gen 3 having long been out by the time this hits the market.
@@Dnxl03 It's not on tablets though. Only on a few phones. I don't even think there is any manufacturer putting new Snapdragon flagship chips on their tablets other than Samsung. Most of the Chinese stuff I've seen was relatively cheap and used budget SoCs or older flagships at best.
Maybe this time, something like this will actually find it's way to consumers? This idea has been around since Windows 8. Asus had a few very nice prototypes to show for. But they never left the prototype stages.
I still have an Asus Transformer Book Trio in the cupboard from 10 years ago that does exactly this. Worked very well until Asus dropped support for updating Android and the switch button stopped working. Unfortunately, it's also from the days where Android on a tablet was absolute crap.
@@alieffauzanrizky7202 In it's prime, the PC was decent, I swapped the original spinning rust for an SSD. The tablet always struggled a bit, I seem to remember there being an issue with very slow RAM but can't find anything online about it now. My biggest pet peeve was when the tablet battery died, it would have issues switching back into Windows. I loved the concept, liked the machine but the lack of support that was required for the switching button to function did affect my decision on my next laptop, I wanted something standard with solid support and got a Dell XPS in 2017 that despite a couple of new batteries, is still going strong on Windows 10
i ditched it when 720p youtube playback wasn't smooth anymore, even after a fresh install or booting in Linux, mine poorly aged. The tablet part was kind of a monster tho, the Atom was rocking Hill Climb Racing and taking notes. Also, huge battery life when connected to the keyboard and using only Android, that was nice.
I can honestly see the appeal of this idea as someone who often carries both a laptop and a tablet. The price is a big obstacle but I'd love to see more such devices
The price for this is really reasonable. A similarly specced laptop and tablet combo would run at least $2k, and you get the convenience and perks of them being integrated into each other.
@@user-uw4uv3cy7l What the duck are you even talking about? A proper laptop can be found for a 1000 USD and a proper phone can be found for 500-600 dollars. High end phones especially are such a scam, who the heck carries around a 1000 dollars brick that can fall down and shatter?
@@rightwingsafetysquad9872 Then I would suggest you buy a lotto ticket with that kind of luck lol, though they where few and far between I did have a handful of windows 7 updates refuse to download/intall, meanwhile 10 oh I hate theee... Seriously have you not heard of all the Windows 10 update oops that have happened? Should clarify. My desktop 10 has been 90-98% fine, my sister's laptop a windows 7 machine with a clean install of 10 is pretty stable but my old mans laptop that came with 10 makes me want to toss it out the window...
@@jesusbarrera6916 A, that is a myth. Files were never deleted, only hidden. B, it only happened to people who volunteered to be in an early access group. C, I never pretended to be special, if anything the opposite, maybe you're projecting a bit.
@@rightwingsafetysquad9872 basically for us We used XP from realise to End of Support (I still use it on stand alone machines) Did we have problems pre SP2 and 3 yes but most of it was minor announce than major one's. In fact the worst oops was a adware that hijacked the browsers that was hard to get ride of and a Trojan horse that thankfully our firewall kept from calling home but was reeeeeally dung into the system. We have also used 7 from realise to end of support (again I still use it on stand alone hardware) we've had a over half a dozen windows 7 machines over the years and had very few problems infact I count the major problems on one hand, one of which was caused by an update. Then there is 10. The ONLY machine that hasn't been a headache is my 3700x desktop. I dislike more things about 10 then I like, in fact the only positives is new UI and Dark Mode. If 12 is more of the same then support for 10 ends I may no longer be a life long windows user. 10 is basically windows 95/Vista all over again for me and I'm just about feed up.
I haven't been this excited for a new laptop since framework. I hope this becomes a new form factor that takes off because it's very useful. I can see this being especially useful for a university student where they can take notes down on it as a tablet and when they need the software and hardware of a laptop, just dock and continue doing work. Needless to say, I love this thing and can't wait for it to come to market.
Yes lol. Tho (from personal experience) Samsung Dex doesn't suck as bad as just "android but big screen." Especially with dex max helping to smooth some things over
android works good on chromebooks, only problem is that some apps dont let you chose dynamic resolution, so they are phone-sized. A little bit like when iPad could use iPhone apps in the begining.
A great move in terms of making innovation based on practical use, not just a hybrid gimmick. I personally can imagine how useful it is to be able to switch between Windows and Andriod. Look forward to the full performance review!
It's not a bad device. The only problem is that updates are gonna make the tablet aspect redundant in a few years while the Windows can still run as long as Windows provide support for it. Which is long enough. $2000 for a dual "2-in-1" is pretty steep too. Especially how long this thing could potentially lasts.
@@mehshutup3041 yeah it's Android can still run for 5-10 years without major OS updates. But other apps that requires recent security might be affected by it. The problem here is that Windows support runs longer than Android's so once those grace period are over, your basically stuck with a laptop with 2-in-1 functions being obsolete. Hard pill to swallow when you pay $1999 for this.
@@mehshutup3041 Some apps require very modern Android versions. For example, the latest play store version of Facebook currently requires Android 11.0 or higher. Given that Lenovo doesn't have a great track record of Android updates, you could already encounter compatibility issues after 5 years of ownership.
@@joelconolly5574 I still don't understand why Android support time is very short. A top flagship phone from 2019 can still crush the majority of today's mid-range phones in terms of performance, but they are losing their value so fast because of short OS update support 5 year of update support is honestly still too short for today's flagship Android devices, must be at least 8 years or more
Some people might not be into that, but I can see some loving this idea, with more maturity and development for file sharing between the systems. Android in a way that is more convenient than Windows Subsystem for Android (and the lack of apps on the Amazon App Store). Others amongst us will make do with Phone Link. I could like the concept, especially as a business traveller, but it does need more work in my opinion, and not at that price.
The 8+gen1 GPU is really fast. I reckon its as fast or faster than the new Intel integrated arc GPUs. Emulation would be a niche market for it. There isn't a single Intel chip that can emulate the Switch or PS2 at 7W... The 8+gen1 can. And for the older stuff, it can do it at 5W. Very very long battery life. That also translates to light weight tasks. Gmail on android probably takes 2W to run while on Intel, it might be running at 10W.
I have a Chromebook, its got a Intel I3-1215U cpu (so 2 performance cores, and 4 e-cores). The Chromebook runs ChromeOS, Android and Linux at the same time. I run a few android apps (many games), I use Linux to code in (visual studio code, nodejs, python), and ChromeOS for fast browsing. (It beats my Ryzen 5600x in browser benchmarks) it also a Lenovo Flex, so it can be used as a tablet.
@efad3215 Who develops apps for Android tablets? It's also not very convenient because it takes a few seconds to switch, why not just use a phone or emulator?
A Samsung galaxy tab in this form factor would be incredible. The tab s9 ultra is amazing. At times I wished it could handle the full desktop chrome experience or the full office. When I'm on windows sometimes I wish access to some touch optimised apps. Something akin to that could fill that gap. I wonder if mac/iPad variant could be successful too.
This is an excellent example of a solution in search of a problem. "Can you adjust the size of the synced folder?" 'No' "Why not?" 'Cuz eff you, that's why!"
There is a problem. The problem is that Microsoft doesn't allow its partners-manufacturers to run other operating systems on a device that runs Windows. So the solution was: "Lets make it two devices then".
@@DimosGNSthat doesn't solve the problem of tablet + computer quite as well though. You don't need the weight of a Windows laptop in your tablet, you just need a small processor and a little memory, because it's a toilet PC.
This is the most innovative thing to come out of CES this year. It's really a shame though that Microsoft won't invest in getting android working seamlessly with Windows.
I would have loved it if instead of the proprietary pogo pins, it had an additional type-c port on the bottom of the tablet side... that way the minipc/keyboard could have a free extra usb output port to be used with an external monitor with a simple cable extension and the tablet side would have an additional type-c port for charging or even use it as an external monitor for other devices (like the lenovo tab extreme)
@@ThisNoName A thin, stick/line like dock that can connect to the either of the 2 parts of this laptop via these pogo pins would be neat actually, yeah.
Interesting idea. The execution though has some room for improvement yet. Hopefully it sells good and Gen 6 next year would have better IO and improved user experience between the two OSs.
This is exactly what I was looking for when I ended up buying the Flex 5 a few years back, so I could absolutely see myself upgrading to this. Though I'd love to see the share folder being size-adjustible, maybe they'll think about it.
I'm digging this. I use a 2-in-1 (ROG Z13) for school and work on the go. And to use the tablet mode is not great because it still runs on Windows; so it is still better to use it as a laptop, which then defeats the purpose of the tablet mode unless you're using it as a 2nd PC screen/portable gaming. Great work on coming up with a niche product that is greatly appreciated. I'm definitely gonna consider getting it.
for me is basically a solution to a problem that doesn't exist, just add more complication, more component, more weight, and more price. i love my 2 in 1 Laptop, i can detach the screen when i need to present something to my workmate, or when i just need some quick note, or even when i need portable teleprompter in some situation. For that use case, i don't think modern Windows (Windows 11 in my situation) have a problem to adapt the interface to tablet. and the most apparent problem to this lenovo new "solution" is file interchangeability, i mean yeah they had some shared space between the others, but how about syncing if there's a little edit when using tablet. i'd rather stick to dual boot solution, because when i'm on Android, obiviously i'm not on "Working" mode, and just using tablet for consuming, or maybe playing some mobile games.
6:03 a solution to the hybrid folder is to just move things out of the folder as soon as you transfer them over. I know it's not one step but it seems pretty simple on this device
i def need to get this since ive been asking for this setup for years!!! been trying to get apple to do the same thing; use a ipad as screen and run macos when docked, etc. would print money!
I can certainly find a use for this and honestly sounded pretty good. I was sold on it until it heard the price point. I'll keep carrying my thin laptop and tablet thank you very much.
Say the Android tablet board side of things breaks, the NAND runs out of life, the battery dies, or something. Would docking it still let it be used as a screen and speakers for the Windows laptop side?
A 2-in-1 which makes sense. We need more of these, other companies please take notes...!! Edit: okay but at that price point I might as well get a laptop and a tablet
Now I wonder if this would work with another OS on it? Like Linux on the laptop and a degoogled Android on the tablet. Would not be ideal for sure, but if it at least works mostly the same that opens the door for more use cases
@@FaridRudiansyah I would combine MacOS and IOS in a way, so that you could use Apps for Macs on the iPad and If you Plug a Keyboard and Mouse in, then use IT Like a MacBook with Touchscreen. Also this would make IT very nice to use the iPad as Touchscreen or Just move your Windows from Mac to your iPad and interacting with them nicely with Touchscreen. Also the OS should be able to Switch between Desktop and Mobile Mode, otherwise IT would be wierd.
Logitech multi-device shenanigans coming in clutch for this one. I already use the same mouse+keyboard to use 2 pc and my samsung tablet, this device could actually be made for that kind of technology
$2000 seems reasonable for such novelty device, but when you start thinking what laptop and tablet combination you can get for $2000, it stops making any sense.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea. It's so useful. I hate dealing with a laptop on a plane, but a tablet is easy. But I still want a full laptop for productivity. And I would rather not carry a laptop AND a tablet when I travel. Want! Unfortunately, it is entirely too expensive for me to buy.
Not gonna lie, this is my DREAM laptop configuration!! After being salty owning the Surfacebook trying to make it touch friendly, this is SO MUCH better!! Sure the windows part is underpowered, but they got the form factor right! Next model of it I will certainly switch from my Surfacebook studio if they crank the power up a notch!
If they can make a KVM/Sidecar sort of software for this then it would make sense for a lot of people. Most ppl use android tablets for a few apps anyways, but those apps only work well on native android tablet necessitating lugging around a another device w/ your laptop. This could be significantly less awkward if done well.
The problem with the this Thinkbook it's too fragmented, nothing is really as integrated as it could be. A more grounded solution would have been to make it a 2(.5) in 1 Android and CHROMEBOOK X/Plus with the option to dual boot a secondary Linux distros in laptop mode; thus keeping it in the ecosystem. The keyboard could then access the additional ram and battery with even any opportunity for ultra-light gpu(or the snap gen 2 can access higher amounts of RAM). The additional power for developers, virtualization, gaming and content creating, it would've expanded an already zealously thirsty market.
Glad to see a proper in-depth look at this… I really hope this is enough of a success that Lenovo develops and expands the concept, because when it's a bit lighter and cheaper (maybe with a taller 13" screen?) I'm in. It's just a recognition of the fact that attempts to either shoehorn Windows into touchscreens or Android onto desktops have been kludgy AF. Oh yeah, and Lenovo, the name. Thinkbook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid? Seriously?
I think it'd make more sense on a gaming/workstation laptop or something. A good 2in1 / thin and light should be portable and have decent battery life anyway... I'd like to see this on something with dedicated graphics and a big battery. As a developer, I sometimes wouldn't mind leaving my battery sucking laptop at home or in my backpack and just taking the tablet part to a meeting.
As a former surface book owner, I really liked the surface book form factor, the detaching tablet head was great, and I got the model with the GPU in the base so that was fun. Until the battery in the top swelled and I had to have it removed. Despite the probability that that device is unrepairable I am interested because I enjoed the surface book so much.
Im not sure if this is genius or really stupid. I'll give Lenovo credit....it seems really well thought out + designed - I'm just not sure if this is a thing anybody needs. Price seems reasonable though. I dunno, I'm confusioned🤷
To choose who don't get it, it's a android tablet which comes with a windows keyboard. The tablet acts like a display when you connect it to the keyboard.
Just genius for students if the pricing is fair and correct (in relation to the performance). A 2 in 1 device to always keep your notes with you but also have it work as a laptop is really good.
This concept is actually not bad, if extended further. Give the tablet two hinges so it's foldable into a smartphone, make the shared memory bigger and I'm actually sold.
I like this unit. I have a professional sound/lighting business on the side and I use tablets to control my wireless/wifi mixer. It would be nice to be able to use this unit as a laptop at home for personal business, then detach the tablet to take on the road to control my sound system. Not sure I can justify $2,000.00 to upgrade right now, but maybe in the future.
This is super awesome and hope we see more of it. It also would be great for Apple too. Imagine you just pull off your MacBook screen, and its suddenly an iPad.
Brooo thattttts a lottttt fir a 2000 dollars...... An OLED tablet with the best specs and a usable laptop....in such a thought out implementation.....love....best implementedthing I think I will see....
how exactly is this different from using a hot key to open a virtual machine? with this you must rely on lenovo software to function instead of vmware. i think vmware is more reliable.
Laptops are at a stage of innovation which smartphones should be in right now. Turns out the best Android tablet today... Is actually a screen for a Windows laptop. But seriously, this and Acer's 3D display tech is considerably impressive compared to the 2010s monstertops (except for the newly soldered RAM, storage, etc., lackluster IO)... Makes Framework very competitive or needing to innovate in more than just being an open design
