Remember when computers were enormous and the earliest laptops, though smaller, still weren’t truly portable? Over the decades, technology has advanced dramatically. Today’s laptops are not only thin and light but also remarkably powerful. Few brands have witnessed and driven this evolution as consistently as ThinkPad. Since its debut in 1992, ThinkPad has remained at the forefront of innovation, producing some of the industry’s most advanced products.
But what exactly defines a ThinkPad? We had the privilege of visiting Lenovo’s Yamato Lab in Yokohama, Japan, to discover how ThinkPad laptops are developed and to learn what truly makes a ThinkPad, a ThinkPad.
A brief history of the Yamato Lab and ThinkPad
Originally known as the IBM Yamato Facility, the Yamato Lab was established by IBM in 1985 in Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Initially, the lab was a center for developing high-end PCs and laptops. Two years later, IBM began developing its notebook PCs at the facility.
In 1992, the lab introduced the iconic ThinkPad series with the launch of the ThinkPad 700C. Inspired by the sleek design of a Japanese bento box, this model set the tone for future ThinkPads. The following year, the ThinkPad 750C became one of the first laptops used in space during NASA missions, proving the device’s reliability and ruggedness.
Fast forward to 2005, Lenovo acquired IBM’s PC division. This acquisition included the ThinkPad brand and the Yamato Lab, which was eventually relocated to its current site in Minatomirai, Yokohama. Since then, ThinkPad has continued to evolve. Just last year, the latest models, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 and the ThinkPad X9 series, debuted as part of Lenovo’s Aura Edition series, launched in Malaysia in early February 2025.
During the “Discover Lenovo Aura Edition AI PCs” event in Yokohama, we toured the Yamato Lab, widely recognized as the home of the ThinkPad, and even explored legacy products at the ThinkPad museum.
Modern ThinkPads: A balance of portability, durability, performance, and style
Today’s laptops are expected to be ultraportable yet powerful and durable enough for both work and leisure. Lenovo’s latest ThinkPad models exemplify this balance.
Lightweight materials and advanced engineering
To achieve a thin and light design, models like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 use Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), allowing the laptop to weigh just 986g while resisting warping. Additionally, a transition from a 10-layer to an 8-layer high-density motherboard has contributed to a more compact design.
Reduced bezels and innovative component placement
Lenovo has pushed the envelope on screen-to-body ratios. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition sports an 89.2% ratio, up from 79.9% in the 7th-gen model, while the ThinkPad X9 Gen 1 Carbon Edition achieves an impressive 90.7%.
This reduction is made possible by clever design choices, such as relocating components like the microphone and webcam to a dedicated “Communication Bar” and replacing the mechanical camera shutter with an electric privacy shutter controlled via a keyboard key. In the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 3, antennas have been integrated into the hinges, further minimizing bezel width.
Enhanced cooling and audio solutions
Despite their slim profiles, models like the ThinkPad X9 Gen 1 and ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 incorporate a Flex Cooling System. By directing airflow inward rather than exhausting it through traditional fins, this system can reduce temperatures by up to 4°C.
Lenovo’s innovative Fiber Lock speaker mount, which uses hook-and-loop tape instead of screws, helps produce richer bass, minimizes rattling, and improves repairability, thus delivering up to 7% more volume thanks to its design.
Preserving iconic features
Even as ThinkPads embrace modern minimalism, they continue to include classic elements that define the brand. For example, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 still features the iconic TrackPoint, enabling users to type, scroll, and zoom without lifting their hands from the keyboard.
Although the ThinkPad X9 Gen 1 was designed to appeal to new customers and omits this feature, legacy models remain true to ThinkPad’s heritage.
Lenovo’s advanced imaging and durability testing
Lenovo’s Yamato Lab also houses an Imaging Quality Lab, where webcams are developed and tested using setups reminiscent of DXOMark’s smartphone camera labs. Premium models, such as the ThinkPad X9 Gen 1, now include “smartphone grade” image sensors with pixel binning technology and 45% larger pixels.
Testing includes professional lighting setups, simulated environments (like those for online meetings), and mannequins representing diverse skin tones to ensure high-quality video for all users.
In addition to imaging tests, ThinkPads undergo rigorous durability assessments, including drop, vibration, flex, pressure, and hinge longevity tests. In one memorable demonstration, a Lenovo engineer stepped on a ThinkPad in front of journalists, and the laptop survived unscathed.
Lenovo ThinkPads are made with sustainability in mind
ThinkPads are designed with sustainability in mind. Base covers are easy to open without special tools, and models like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 feature captive screws and QR codes with repair instructions.
Many ThinkPad batteries are designed as Customer Replaceable Units (CRUs), allowing users to swap them out without visiting a service center. These thoughtful design choices helped the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 earn an iFixit repairability score of 9 out of 10.
30 years of legacy and beyond
Our visit to the ThinkPad museum at the Yamato Lab provided a fascinating glimpse into the brand’s storied past. Exhibits included the original ThinkPad 700C, the ThinkPad 755 that was marketed as the first laptop with a full-sized CD-ROM drive, and the ThinkPad 550BJ which integrated a Canon Bubble Jet printer.
Over the past 30 years, ThinkPad has maintained its core identity and continuously innovated to stay at the forefront of technology. Despite changes in leadership and market dynamics, Lenovo has preserved the features loyal users love while embracing cutting-edge advancements.
In conclusion, the ThinkPad brand has certainly come a long way. Despite the change of leadership in 2005, the brand stands as a testament to enduring design and innovation, a perfect blend of legacy and modernity that continues to define what a ThinkPad truly is.
