Review: Lenovo ThinkPad Twist

The Lenovo ThinkPad Twist is a 12.5-inch ultrabook/tablet hybrid computer built specifically for Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system.

Linked gallery: Hands on: Lenovo's Thinkpad Twist

Unlike competing hybrid products, the Lenovo ThinkPad Twist does not have any detachable parts. Instead, the display 'twists' 180 degrees and folds back over the keyboard, much like convertible slate PCs of old. 

This allows the device to be used in several ways depending on how the screen is positioned; ranging from 'stand' mode for business presentations to 'tent' mode for personal video playback.

While the slate concept might seem dated, Lenovo has packed plenty of cutting-edge technology into the Twist, including a third-generation Intel Core CPU, a SATA solid state drive, USB 3.0 connectivity and a multitouch HD display powered by Windows 8.

The result is an affordable and versatile introduction to touch-enabled business computing – albeit with a few minor design quirks that slightly diminish the overall package.

Under the hood

The Lenovo ThinkPad Twist offers a choice of third-generation Intel Core processors, colloquially known as 'Ivy Bridge'.

The version we tested came with a mid-range Intel Core i5-3317U with a clock speed of 1.7GHz. The chip boasts two cores and Hyper-Threading technology for higher processing throughput, making it better suited to multitasking and taxing video applications.

Other chief specifications include 4GB of 1600MHz DDR3 RAM, integrated Intel HD4000 graphics, a 500GB Hitachi Travelstar HDD (7200RPM) and 128GB of SSD storage.   

Connectivity is rounded out with a five-in-one memory card slot, earphone and microphone jacks, a Display port, Mini HDMI, Bluetooth V4.0 and inbuilt WiFi (802.11abg/n).  

To its credit, Lenovo has kept the bloatware to a minimum with the Twist; you get a handful of Windows 8 apps (including Skype, Evernote and Amazon Kindle), a trial of Microsoft Office and the music streaming service Rara. 

Design and handling

The ThinkPad Twist's main claim to fame is its rotating hinged design which allows it to be twisted, turned, folded and flipped into four chief form factors.

Lenovo has put a lot of effort into the engineering of this device and it shows: the centre hinge is smooth and sturdily constructed, allowing the user to switch between form factors with a casual rotation of their wrist. Even if you've never handled a slate before, it quickly becomes second nature.

In laptop mode, the ThinkPad Twist sports a very conventional design with a matte black finish. It's certainly not the most stylish ultrabook on the market, but many business users are likely to appreciate this no-nonsense approach. 

The full-sized keyboard and touch screen handled well during testing, with one significant caveat –  the display has a habit of randomly switching to portrait mode when it should be in landscape.

This happened to us with alarming frequency and necessitated tilting the laptop or turning the screen on and off to get the correct viewing mode. While the issue is easily rectified, we imagine it will still frustrate users.  

With dimensions of 313mm x 236mm x 20mm and weighing over 1.5kg, the Lenovo Thinkpad Twist is slightly thicker and heavier than the average ultrabook. However, it remains compact enough to carry around with ease.

The same can't really be said about the tablet however; it's simply too big and cumbersome compared to everything else on the market. If the tablet mode is particularly important to you, we'd recommend snapping up a smaller hybrid like the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity.

Display

The Lenovo ThinkPad Twist comes with a 12.5-inch, five-point multitouch screen with a native resolution of 1366x768 pixels.

This is lower than the current crop of high-end ultraboooks such as the Samsung Series 9 and results in slightly muddier visuals. On the plus side, the viewing angles on the IPS display are excellent, which definitely comes in handy when using certain modes like 'stand'.

Lenovo has opted for a high-gloss Gorilla Glass display for the Twist which are typically more susceptible to fingerprint smudges than matte displays. However, the Twist held up pretty well in this department: we rarely felt compelled to reach for our cleaning cloth during testing.

The touch screen icons are very responsive; especially when compared to Microsoft's prior attempts with Windows 7. All in all, the ThinkPad Twist has a good, solid display for the asking price.

Performance and battery life

We tested the Twist's computing performance using PCMark7; a Windows 8-optimised benchmark that assesses a laptop's CPU responsiveness, media playback and multitasking. It received an overall score of 2904, which is middling for an ultrabook in this price range.  

While we wouldn't choose the device for demanding 3D applications, its performance is more than adequate for everyday computing and the majority of office tasks. 

Battery life is pretty average: you can expect to get around five hours of heavy use inbetween charges. 

Conclusion