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| The ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 11 weighs a mere a 1.2 kg. |
The premium 14-inch convertible lands in the US and Canada with Intel Core Ultra vPro options, up to 64GB RAM, and a stunning 2.8K OLED display.
If you’ve been keeping an eye on Lenovo’s recent laptop drops, you already know the company has been busy. Earlier this week, the tech giant rolled out the ThinkPad T14 Gen 7, the ThinkPad T14s Gen 7, and the larger ThinkPad T16 Gen 5. But without much fanfare, Lenovo has now slipped another 14-inch machine into the spotlight: the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 11 Aura Edition is finally available in North America.
Yes, the name is a mouthful. But for business pros, creatives, and anyone who lives for a premium convertible, this quiet launch is actually big news. Let’s break down what’s new, what it costs, and whether it’s worth trading up from last year’s model.
What’s New Inside the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 11 Aura Edition?
First, a quick recap. The Gen 11 model replaces its predecessor, the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 (which you can still find at a discount – more on that later). Lenovo has packed in several meaningful upgrades:
- A larger 58 Wh battery (up from 57 Wh on Gen 10 – not a massive jump, but every bit helps)
- Faster LPDDR5X-8533 RAM – that’s some of the speediest memory you’ll find in a business convertible
- A haptic trackpad – goodbye, physical clicks; hello, smooth, pressure-sensitive feedback
- Dual webcam options: 5 MP with IR for Windows Hello, or a 10 MP version that adds a Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor for better depth sensing and presence detection
Both webcams support IR facial recognition, but the 10 MP ToF variant is clearly aimed at remote workers who want sharper video calls and smarter auto-framing.
North American Pricing and Base Configurations
Lenovo has quietly updated its Canadian and US websites with the new model. Here’s where pricing starts:
- In Canada: CAD 3,639
- In the US: $2,528
For that entry price, you’re getting an Intel Core Ultra 5 335 vPro processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The base display is a 1200p IPS panel with a 60Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of peak brightness – plenty bright for indoor and outdoor use, though not the flashiest option.
If you want more firepower, Lenovo offers three additional processor choices:
- Core Ultra 7 355
- Core Ultra 7 365 vPro
- Core Ultra 7 366H vPro
RAM configurations are interesting. You can step down to 16GB if you choose the Core Ultra 7 355, or max out at 64GB of RAM when you opt for the Core Ultra 7 365 vPro. That’s serious headroom for virtualization, data analysis, or just having 80 Chrome tabs open without breaking a sweat.
Display Options – OLED Fans, Rejoice
The base IPS screen is fine, but the real star is the upgrade path. For those who demand vivid colors and deep blacks, Lenovo offers a 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800) OLED panel with a 30-120Hz variable refresh rate (VRR) and 500 nits peak brightness. That kind of adaptive refresh keeps scrolling smooth while saving battery, and OLED on a ThinkPad is still a relatively rare treat.
Other display options sit between the entry-level IPS and the top-tier OLED, but if you’re already spending over $2,500, the OLED is probably the way to go.
Wait, What About the Older Model? (Here’s That Link)
Before you rush to order the Gen 11, it’s worth noting that the Gen 10 predecessor is still a very capable machine. If you don’t need the haptic trackpad or the faster RAM, you can save a significant chunk of change. Right now, the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 is available for around currently $1,930 on Amazon. That’s a solid discount compared to the Gen 11’s $2,528 starting price.
Of course, you lose the newer webcam options, the slightly bigger battery, and the vPro processor choices. But for many users, the Gen 10 remains a great value. The link above will take you to the current listing if you want to compare.
Why “Aura Edition” and vPro Matter
The “Aura Edition” branding isn’t just marketing fluff. It signals that Lenovo has tuned this laptop for AI-assisted features, better thermal management, and enhanced collaboration tools (think noise cancellation, background blur, and eye-tracking). Combined with Intel vPro, which offers hardware-level security and remote manageability for IT departments, this machine is squarely aimed at enterprise and business users.
Still, individual power users will appreciate the haptic trackpad – it’s the same kind of feedback you get from a MacBook or high-end Windows laptop like the Dell XPS. No more mushy clicks or annoying accidental presses.
Where to Buy and Final Thoughts
You can configure and order the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 11 Aura Edition directly from Lenovo’s official stores:
For those who want to catch up on Lenovo’s other recent releases, check out the detailed coverage of the ThinkPad T14 Gen 7, the ThinkPad T14s Gen 7, and the ThinkPad T16 Gen 5.
So, should you buy the Gen 11? If you need the absolute latest vPro processor, 64GB of RAM, or that gorgeous 2.8K OLED VRR display, yes – it’s a future-proofed workhorse. But if you’re on a tighter budget, the Gen 10 (linked above) is still an excellent laptop that will serve you well for years.
Lenovo may have launched this quietly, but the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 11 Aura Edition deserves some noise. It’s one of the most refined convertibles the company has ever made.
