At CES 2023, the Lenovo group has just lifted the veil on the ThinkPhone, the mobile version of the famous laptop computers released in the 90s under the IBM brand, before being acquired by Lenovo in 2005. The target of the owner of Motorola is businesses.
At CES in Las Vegas, there are not only sexy products. In the midst of ever more giant screens and connected showers, there are also some more confidential products, intended for companies. Most of them are generally not of interest to the media, but the “Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola” is an exception. Why ? Because it belongs to the family of ThinkPad laptops, launched in 1992 by IBM.
A smartphone for business
The name chosen by Lenovo/Motorola for its B2B smartphone is not insignificant. If we can see an ounce of opportunism in it (after all, any smartphone can meet the needs of businesses), we can only be charmed by the mobile version of a range as famous as the ThinkPads. No one would have talked about the ThinkPhone if it was called “Motorola Pro”, which Lenovo knows very well.
Aesthetically, the ThinkPhone uses the codes of the ThinkPads… which means that it is not very attractive. Forget modern and luxurious looks, Lenovo’s smartphone sports a very plastic look, with a big ThinkPhone logo on the back. At least we can’t blame it for looking like other mobiles.
Among its other commonalities with the ThinkPads, the ThinkPhone has a red button supposed to recall the emblematic TrackPoint (the small red pointer to control the ThinkPad mouse). This is a customizable key.
Despite its very lambda design, the ThinkPhone is a high-end smartphone. Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, Wi-Fi 6E and 5G, reinforced Gorilla Glass Victus glass, IP68 waterproofing… The smartphone, which has a very high capacity battery (5,000 mAh), even has the luxury of supporting ultra -fast 68W. Its charger is obviously compatible with ThinkPad computers, a point that Lenovo puts forward.
Of course, all of this comes with a price. At 999 euros, the ThinkPhone is a strangely positioned product, since it is too expensive to equip giant fleets. Its target is smaller. Lenovo is targeting professionals who need a secure Android smartphone and already own a ThinkPad.
Ecosystem and security, the guide to seduce companies
How to seduce companies with the ThinkPhone, when we know they are generally seduced by Apple and Samsung? Lenovo has two ideas:
- The ThinkPhone emphasizes security, with a chip responsible for securing codes and passwords. It also has several pre-installed software to prevent a collaborator from installing anything. Finally, software allows companies’ IT departments to access the settings of a loaned smartphone remotely. They don’t need to physically handle it.
- Lenovo relies on “ecosystem” functions, a bit like Apple, Huawei or Samsung. Copy-and-paste is shared between a ThinkPhone and a ThinkPad, tethering is automatic, smartphone notifications appear on the computer, and the smartphone camera can serve as a webcam. There is even an AirDrop replica, named File Drop, for exchanging files.
Does Lenovo have a chance to impose its ThinkPhone? Given the popularity of ThinkPads in business, why not. If it’s hard to imagine companies that prefer the iPhone to change everything for this smartphone, those who use Android devices today could be tempted by this 100% Lenovo integration… provided they have the means. As a reminder, the ThinkPhone will be marketed in France at a price of 999 euros.
