A major design shift appears to be coming to Lenovo's ThinkPad line. Leaked images of the upcoming Lenovo ThinkPad X9 series reveal the removal of the iconic red TrackPoint, a staple of the brand since its inception in 1992.
Radical Design Change
The ThinkPad X9 adopts a sleek, silverish-gray aesthetic, resembling the Apple MacBook Air. This is a radical departure from the traditional black ThinkPad design language found in models like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 . Instead of the TrackPoint, the X9 features a large touchpad.
This change is likely to be controversial among long-time ThinkPad fans, who are very attached to the TrackPoint. While the touchpad has become the dominant input method, the TrackPoint is a symbol of the ThinkPad brand, remaining popular with a dedicated group of users.
Two Sizes and Intel Core Ultra
The ThinkPad X9 series is expected to come in two sizes, the ThinkPad X9-14 (14-inch) and the ThinkPad X9-15 (15-inch). The laptops will reportedly be powered by Intel Core Ultra processors.
Other design features include USB-A and HDMI ports, a new keyboard design with modified keycaps, and a revamped layout inspired by Apple. The typical ThinkPad logo, the keyboard's smile-shaped keys, and the webcam bump remain as design attributes shared with the existing ThinkPad line.
