Lenovo's China Branch Unveils Underpowered ThinkPad X1 Carbon Clone
Lenovo's Chinese subsidiary has released a premium laptop powered by a slow and outdated x86-compatible processor. While the machine, dubbed the Kaixian X1 G1d, boasts a locally-designed chassis and a sleek aesthetic, its performance is hampered by the aging Zhaoxin KX-6000G chip.
Chinese state media reports that the Kaixian X1 G1d weighs a mere 990 grams, features a 2800x1800 display, and includes three USB-C ports, one USB-A slot, and unspecified DDR4 memory capacity. However, the four-core, four-thread KX-6000G processor, despite its boosted clock speed of 3.8GHz, lags behind Intel and AMD desktop chips released three to five years ago.
The laptop, bearing a striking resemblance to Lenovo's flagship ThinkPad X1 Carbon, is packaged in a premium manner, with a starting price of around £1,200. It is, however, not available through Lenovo's own online store in China, instead being sold through third-party retailers.
The machine's inclusion of the Zhaoxin processor, produced by Shanghai Zhaoxin Integrated Circuit Co., Ltd, is notable. This company utilises technology acquired from Taiwan's Via Technologies, which itself previously produced CPUs before shifting focus to other markets.
The laptop's seemingly intentional obscurity raises eyebrows. Lenovo's decision to launch a premium-looking machine with a subpar processor appears to be driven by China's push for greater reliance on domestically designed and manufactured technology. Beijing's recent exclusion of AMD and Intel from approved CPU lists, coupled with its emphasis on locally developed operating systems, highlights this national initiative.
Furthermore, Zhaoxin, having secured Beijing's backing, is touted by Chinese media as having finally made its chips available in a consumer product with this laptop. The company has, however, recently showcased its more powerful KX-7000 series processors in a desktop PC released by Tongfang Computer.
The Kaixian X1 G1d's target audience remains unclear. While the Chinese government, encouraged to lead by example in the transition towards locally-sourced tech, could find appeal in this visually impressive but underpowered laptop, its overall appeal is questionable.
The release of this machine serves as a perplexing example of how China's tech ambitions are playing out. While the desire for technological self-sufficiency is understandable, the Kaixian X1 G1d's underpowered processor raises doubts about the viability of such a strategy.
