Lenovo ThinkPad X1 confirmed with rapid charging

Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 got unintentional official confirmation Sunday after a reseller guide (PDF) mentioned it by name. Along with its existence, the document promised a radical reinvention of the batteries in the MacBook Air rival. They should last as much as three times longer than a usual battery and will have a new RapidCharge battery that could hit 80 percent of its charge in just half an hour.

Taking a cue from Apple, Lenovo said its battery wouldn't be user-replaceable to get the thin dimensions and would need a technician to get a replacement. A diagnostic tool would monitor the battery to give users advance warning. Warranties would explicitly cover the sealed battery in case it ran low before three years were up.

The X1 is expected to stand out not just for getting close to MacBook Air-level thinness, at 0.8 inches thick, but to still have a 2.5GHz Core i5 that would give it a major speed edge over its Apple inspiration. A launch is anticipated sometime between May 17 and May 20. [via Engadget]

By Electronista Staff