Lenovo · ThinkPad X

ThinkPad X280

Released January 2018

A 12.5-inch business ThinkPad with a lighter chassis, quad-core processor options and USB-C charging.

Model history · 7 models, 2011–2018

Size: 12.5″
Display: IPS LCD
Processor: Intel Core i5
Memory: 8 GB
Weight: 1.27 kg
Battery: 16.6 h

Ultraportable

What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the lighter body, comfortable keyboard and responsive office performance, but miss the removable battery and memory upgrades. Battery endurance trails several rivals. Laptop Mag and Windows Central like their touch screens' colour, while Notebookcheck finds limited colour coverage on its non-touch panel and criticises performance management under sustained load.

From laptopmag.com, notebookcheck.net and windowscentral.com

Specifications

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Display

Screen size: 12.5″
Resolution: 1920 × 1080
Panel: IPS LCD
Brightness: 300 nits
Touchscreen: Yes
Display type: Listed FHD IPS ten-point touch panel; FHD non-touch and HD 1366 × 768 options also offered; non-touch FHD not offered in US
Screen finish: Anti-glare

Performance

Processor: Intel Core i5-8250U
CPU cores: 4
CPU threads: 8
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
Memory: 8 GB
Storage: 512 GB
CPU: 7th- or 8th-generation Intel Core processors; listed configuration verified by Windows Central
GPU: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 or UHD Graphics 620, depending on processor
Memory type: DDR4-2400 soldered to system board; no sockets, up to 16 GB; 4 GB option not offered in US or EMEA
Storage type: Replaceable M.2 SATA or PCIe 3.0 ×4 NVMe SSD; listed configuration has a 512 GB PCIe SSD (Windows Central)

Battery and size

Battery life (maker's claim): Up to 16.6 hours
Battery capacity: 48 Wh
Weight: 1.27 kg
Thickness: 17.8 mm
Width × depth: 307.7 × 209.8 mm
Battery life detail: Integrated 48 Wh battery; up to 16.6 hours in MobileMark 2014; Rapid Charge up to 80% in one hour with 65 W adapter; weight shown for touch configuration, non-touch FHD starts at 1.13 kg, HD at 1.26 kg; body thickness 17.4–17.8 mm
Charger: 45 W or 65 W USB-C adapter
Materials: Glass-fibre display cover on HD and FHD touch models; carbon-fibre cover on FHD non-touch; magnesium/aluminium bottom
Colours: Black

Connections

Ports: 2 × USB-A, 2 × USB-C, Thunderbolt, HDMI, microSD slot, headphone jack
Wi-Fi: Intel Wireless-AC 8265, 2×2 802.11ac
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.1
Webcam: Optional 720p with ThinkShutter, or IR plus 720p without shutter
Operating system: Windows
Port detail: Two USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, USB-C Gen 1 with PD/DisplayPort, USB-C Gen 2/Thunderbolt 3 with PD/DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4b, Ethernet extension connector, microSD/nano-SIM combo slot, combo audio and side dock; optional smart card reader; RJ-45 requires ThinkPad Ethernet Extension Adapter Gen 2
External displays: Up to three independent displays; USB-C up to 4096 × 2304 at 60 Hz, HDMI up to 4096 × 2160 at 30 Hz
Keyboard: Six-row spill-resistant keyboard with optional LED backlight
Trackpad: Buttonless Mylar multi-touch touchpad and TrackPoint
Speakers: Stereo speakers, 2 W × 2, Dolby Audio Premium
Microphones: Dual-array microphones
Biometrics: Optional touch fingerprint reader or IR camera; discrete TPM 2.0

Configurations

Processor	Memory	Storage
Intel Core i5-8250U	8 GB	512 GB

Pros and cons

Pros

Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI alongside two USB-A ports
Rapid Charge with the 65 W adapter
Replaceable M.2 storage

Cons

Memory is soldered with no expansion sockets
No hot-swappable external battery
Ethernet requires a separate extension adapter

Closest rivals

Model	Size	Display	Processor	Memory	Weight	Battery	Released
MicrosoftSurface Laptop 13″ (1st Edition)	13″	IPS LCD, 60 Hz	Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus	8 GB – 16 GB	1.22 kg	23 h	May 2025
LenovoThinkPad X270	12.5″	IPS LCD	Intel Core i5	8 GB	1.36 kg	13.04 h	Mar 2017
SonyVAIO Z (VGN-Z11WN/B)	13.1″	–	Intel Core 2	4 GB	–	–	2008

Previous model: ThinkPad X270. Newer model: ThinkPad X390.

Sources

Photo: static.lenovo.com

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