Lenovo Miix 630 Windows 10 on ARM 2-in-1 debuts at CES 2018
Lenovo has revealed its first Windows-on-ARM ultraportable, the Lenovo Miix 630, running Windows 10 S on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835. One of a small handful of machines that eschew x86 processors from Intel or AMD in favor of the sort of low-power silicon that you'd more typically expect to find inside a smartphone, Lenovo's newest 2-in-1 uses that power frugality to good advantage.
Indeed, Lenovo claims that the Miix 630 should last for up to 20 hours on its 48 Wh battery. That's based on solid video playback. You also get the same connectivity advantage as a smartphone, in this case from the Snapdragon 835 with its 4G LTE Cat.11. Even when it's in standby, it's always connected with its cellular radio for downloading messages and emails in the background.
There's also WiFi 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO and Bluetooth 4.2, while ports include a USB Type-C, an SD card reader, a combo audio jack, and a nano SIM slot. A 13-megapixel autofocus camera is on the back, while a 5-megapixel camera is on the front, above the 12.3-inch 1920 x 1280 touchscreen with its Gorilla Glass protection.
Like other Lenovo tablets, there's support for Windows Hello facial recognition, and a Lenovo Digital Pen for use with Windows 10 S' Windows Ink functionality. That has 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity. There are twin microphones and two 1W speakers. Memory is 4 GB or 8 GB depending on confirmation, while storage ranges from 64 GB, through 128 GB, and finally tops out at 256 GB.
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The detachable keyboard has backlit keys and a touchpad, and matches the tablet section with its Iron Grey color scheme. If you prefer full Windows, there's the option of a free upgrade to Windows 10 Pro; otherwise, you'll only be able to download and install apps through the official Windows Store.
The whole thing tips the scales at 2.93 pounds, complete with keyboard attached, and is 0.6-inches thick. While it's not going to be your first choice for mobile gaming, as a long-lasting replacement to a regular tablet or notebook it could make for a great traveling companion. Lenovo says the Miix 630 will arrive on shelves in March or April of this year, priced from $799.
It'll go up against already announced Windows 10 on ARM machines like the HP ENVY x2 and ASUS NovaGo announced in December last year. Each uses the Snapdragon 835, though with two different form-factors: the HP is a 2-in-1 detachable, like this new Lenovo, while the ASUS is a more traditional notebook.
