ThinkPad X280

20KE · 20KF · 2018–2019 · laptop

Specifications

Cpu: Intel Core i3-7020U through Core i7-8650U (7th and 8th gen U-series; the 8th gen parts are the first quad-cores in the 12.5" X-series)
Ram: max: 16 GB DDR4-2400, soldered to the board · base: 8 GB DDR4-2400
Ports: Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) · USB-C 3.1 · USB 3.0 Type-A x2 · HDMI 1.4b · microSD reader · Ethernet extension connector · 3.5mm combo jack
Battery: 48 Wh internal Li-Ion with RapidCharge, not user-swappable
Display: 12.5" 1366x768 TN (220 nits) or 1920x1080 IPS (300 nits), touch optional, all anti-glare
Storage: base: 256 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD · options: 128 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD · M.2 2280 single slot, user-replaceable
Weight: 1.13 kg
Os Support: latest: Windows 11 (unofficial on 7th gen configs); Linux fully supported · shipped: Windows 10 Pro

Upgrade paths

RAM

16 GB DDR4-2400, soldered · The X280 is the model where the X-series lost upgradeable memory. Whatever it was configured with at order time is what it has forever, so buy the 16 GB config.

LOCKED

storage

1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe SSD · Single M.2 2280 slot under the bottom cover. The one part of this machine that is still genuinely serviceable.

~$60

EASY

battery

48 Wh internal pack · The X280 dropped the X270's hot-swap external battery, so a replacement means opening the bottom cover. No more swapping a fresh pack mid-flight.

MODERATE