Lenovo unveils ThinkPad X12 Detachable and AR smart glasses

ThinkReality smart glasses

Lenovo has unveiled a range of ThinkPad devices ahead of Monday's virtual CES conference, which includes laptops, a detachable device and a set of AR-powered smart glasses.

First up is the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable, a business-focused device that ships with an 11th-generation Intel chipset, a 12.4in FHD display, support for Wi-Fi 6 and a detachable keyboard with a magnetic pen. Lenovo said the device was built due to growing customer demand for detachable devices.

Other new additions to the ThinkPad range include the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (2021). Improving on the previous model, the updated laptop comes with an 11th-generation Intel processor, a slightly wider touchpad and a one-bar hinge system.

The firm also lifted the lid on the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga, which is the company's first convertible laptop of the year, and also its thinnest at just 11.5mm-thick. The 13.5in machine also features a magnetic pen and a 360-degree flexible screen.

However, Lenovo's biggest announcement was arguable its Google Glass-rivaling smart glasses. Called the ThinkReality A3, the smart specs are part of a comprehensive digital services package the firm is launching for business collaboration. The glasses will aid hybrid work models and remote workers with virtual monitors, 3D virtualisation, augmented reality and a range of new technologies.

The ThinkReality A3 tethers to either a PC or select Motorola smartphones via USB-C cables, and Lenovo says it can also be enhanced with industrial frame options.

The AR smart glasses are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR1 Platform and feature stereoscopic 1080p displays presenting the user with up to five virtual displays. An 8MP RGB camera provides 1080p video for remote expert use cases while the dual fish-eye cameras provide room-scale tracking.

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"These are the most advanced and versatile enterprise smart glasses in the market and its part of a total strategy of bringing comprehensive digital solutions to help with that intelligent transformation that businesses always tell us that they're working so hard towards," said Kevin Beck, Lenovo's senior story technologist.

"In this new normal of distributed workforces and hybrid work models, businesses tell us they're looking for new technology and they want to collaborate more intelligently."

Bobby Hellard

Bobby Hellard is ITPro's Reviews Editor and has worked on CloudPro and ChannelPro since 2018. In his time at ITPro, Bobby has covered stories for all the major technology companies, such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook, and regularly attends industry-leading events such as AWS Re:Invent and Google Cloud Next.

Bobby mainly covers hardware reviews, but you will also recognize him as the face of many of our video reviews of laptops and smartphones.