The ThinkTab X11 has something every modern Android tablet gave up on years ago

Published Sep 5, 2026, 1:30 PM EDT Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek, Joe has been writing about technology since starting his career in 2018 at KnowTechie. He's covered everything from Apple to apps and crowdfunding and loves getting to the bottom of complicated topics. In that time, he's also written for SlashGear and numerous corporate clients before finding his home at XDA in the spring of 2023. He was the kid who took apart every toy to see how it worked, even if it didn't exactly go back together afterward. That's given him a solid background for explaining how complex systems work together, and he promises he's gotten better at the putting things back together stage since then. Tablets are a weird market segment nowadays, because the default advice is "just get an iPad." Except that's not always practical, and it also excludes some great gaming tablets, powerful slates, and rugged options. And that's what we're looking at today, the Lenovo ThinkTab X11 Gen 1. This is the first Lenovo tablet that's been ruggedized for use in warehouses, storefronts, and other places where tech takes a beating, and it's a good first effort. The first thing you might notice is the removable 10,200 mAh battery, but that's only the start. The tablet will happily run on USB-C power without a battery, perfect for payment processing on food trucks and other vendors, aided by the front-facing NFC scanner. It also has a touchscreen with a stylus option that works when wet, something most tablets struggle with. It's not a device for everyone, but if your work needs a tough portable screen, this is worth putting on your list. About this review: Lenovo sent XDA the ThinkTab X11 Gen 1 used for this article and had no input into its contents. Lenovo ThinkTab X11 Gen 1 8/10 Storage Up to 256 GB CPU Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Memory 6 GB / 8 GB Operating System Starting from Android 16 The ThinkTab X11 Gen 1 is a rugged Android tablet with a giant 10,200 mAh removable battery. It's IP68-rated, has a fingerprint sensor on the power button, and features a touchscreen that'll work even when wet, making it perfect for outdoor workers. Pros & Cons IP68 rating Removable battery (and it'll still work without a battery in when plugged in) Rugged construction Heavy for its size Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is mid-tier and somewhat underpowered Screen could be brighter Price, specs, and availability The Lenovo ThinkTab X11 Gen 1 has been available in the US since June 2026, with an MSRP of $500. There's also a version with a stylus and case, which is the one we're reviewing, that costs $580 MSRP. Both models are currently 10% or more off, so that relatively high starting price seems a little better. The US version doesn't have WWAN 5G, but other regions of the world have the option of Sub-6 GHz 5G, which works for data, not calls. Lenovo ThinkTab X11 Gen 1 Storage Up to 256 GB CPU Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Memory 6 GB / 8 GB Operating System Starting from Android 16 Battery 10,200 mAh, removable Ports USB-C 5 Gbps, USB-C Hi-speed, 3.5mm audio jack, microSD card reader Camera (Rear, Front) 13MP autofocus (AF) rear w/t Flash + 8MP fixed focus (FF) front Display type IPS 10.95” 2.5K (2560 x 1600), 90Hz, 600 nits, touchscreen, Gorilla Glass Connectivity Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, optional WWAN 5G Sub-6 GHz Measurements 257.09mm x 168.65mm x 9.93mm / 10.12” x 6.64” x 0.39” Headphone jack Yes Colors Eclipse Black Build Plastic Expandable Storage microSD card Weight Starting at 650g / 1.43lbs Charging speed 45 W Refresh rate 90 Hz What I liked about the Lenovo ThinkTab X11 Gen 1 I'm so glad to see removable batteries again My first Android tablet was a Toshiba Thrive, powered by an early Nvidia Tegra chip and with a removable battery. That battery was one of the main reasons for the purchase, along with a full-sized HDMI port. But in the years since, tablets have become slimmer and have removed the ability to swap the battery. Lenovo's bringing that back with the ThinkTab X11, featuring a 10,200 mAh replaceable battery that takes just a few seconds to swap by popping off the back panel. It's not something you'd want to do often, because the tabs on the panel will break eventually. Then again, this is a work-focused tablet, and Lenovo probably sells the replacement panel if you ask, and then it's a non-issue. There are also two USB-C ports: one for charging or powering the tablet without a battery, and the other for data transfer. That's pretty neat, and there's a microSD card slot in the battery compartment. The 5G versions sold around the world also have a nano SIM slot in this cavity, but the US doesn't seem to be getting that one yet (if we even will). The screen is better than I expected The 2.5K IPS panel has a 90 Hz refresh rate and just over 500 nits of brightness. That's more than enough to use outside, and the touchscreen works when wet or when wearing gloves. You probably don't want OLED on the job site, and this is more than enough for the intended use cases. The stylus also works when wet, and it fast became my favorite way to navigate around the tablet. The stylus is chunky and rugged, with a red enamel nod to the TrackPoint on the top. And the bottom front of the screen has an NFC sensor, which is perfect for use as a point-of-sale device. What I didn't like about the Lenovo ThinkTab X11 Gen 1 It's heavy, but then it's a workhorse, not a couch potato This tablet is 0.4 inches thick, so it's not a slimline iPad or E Ink device. That's expected for a removable battery, but it also means this is a heavy device for a 10.95-inch screen at 1.43 lbs (650g). It's one-handable when you're using the stylus or holding it out for a customer to tap the NFC sensor, but you'll want both hands to keep it steady enough to take pictures of documents or scan barcodes. It's heavier with the case on, but you'll want it for both protection and to store the pen when not in use. Recharging the battery takes forever Okay, maybe I shouldn't be surprised about this. It is a 10,200 mAh battery after all. With the 45W cap on USB-C charging, that's going to take a good few hours of charging, and it also means no wireless charging. It would have been nice to see faster charging, but then again, you could get a spare battery, charge both, and swap them when one runs down. Should you buy the Lenovo ThinkTab X11 Gen 1? You should buy the Lenovo ThinkTab X11 Gen 1 if: You have a business that takes card transactions You work in a warehouse You're a contractor or other construction worker You should NOT buy the Lenovo ThinkTab X11 Gen 1 if: You want an OLED screen You want a media consumption device You want a digital notebook If you wanted a rugged Android tablet before this, you had one option: Samsung. Having the upper hand in a category makes for stagnation, and now the ThinkTab X11 is here to shake things up. It has the same chipset and similar features to Samsung's slates, so it'll be interesting to see how the Lenovo fares in the market. My bet is on Lenovo. It might be the newcomer to the market here, but enterprises already go to them for business laptops. This is Lenovo leveraging its size and market dominance to eat Samsung's lunch, and the only question is why it took so long. Lenovo ThinkTab X11 Gen 1 8/10 Storage Up to 256 GB CPU Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Memory 6 GB / 8 GB Operating System Starting from Android 16 The ThinkTab X11 Gen 1 is a rugged Android tablet with a giant 10,200 mAh removable battery. It's IP68-rated, has a fingerprint sensor on the power button, and features a touchscreen that'll work even when wet, making it perfect for outdoor workers.