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Face Off: Lenovo Yoga 500 vs. Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1 vs. Toshiba Satellite Radius 15

360-degrees and back. Can't decide between a notebook or a tablet? We compare the latest 2-in-1 convertibles that provide the best of both worlds.

The traditional notebook is changing as manufacturers are investing more into hybrid designs to appease both sides of the consumer base. These convertible 2-in-1 devices are becoming increasingly common for both mainstream and business sectors.

The full rotation 360-degree hinges are one of the earliest convertible designs made popular by the Lenovo Yoga series. For this Face Off, we'll compare how the recently released Yoga 500 holds up against others like it. Is the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 or Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 a better deal overall?

We encourage users to check out our dedicated review pages below for more data and detailed analyses of each of the three models. This comparison is by no means a replacement, but a condensed aid for those on the fence.

Lenovo Yoga 500-15IDB Review

Dell Inspiron 15 7558 Review

Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C Review (Satellite Radius 15 P50W 2014)

Lenovo Yoga 500
Lenovo Yoga 500
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15

Case

Hinge design is always tricky for convertibles and detachables compared to traditional notebooks. The inherently uneven weight distribution for detachables makes it especially difficult while 360-degree hinges must be rigid and reliable no matter the angle. Fortunately for Lenovo, Dell, and Toshiba, the Yoga 500, Inspiron 15 7000, and Radius 15 all have strong hinges with no major issues. The hinges on the Toshiba could have been firmer, however, as the display tends to rock back and forth a bit more easily than on the Lenovo or Dell.

Overall case quality for each model is a mixed bag. This is a notable issue when designing 15.6-inch convertibles as weight must be kept to a minimum in order to create a more comfortable tablet experience at the cost of case rigidity. The lids of the three models are more susceptible to twisting and damage as a result and are certainly flimsier than say a traditional ThinkPad, Latitude, or Portege.

The plastic and brushed aluminum base of the Yoga 500 makes for a good impression with only slight twisting possible. The Dell is even better with its stronger and flashier construction. Its base is more resistant to twisting, though slight warping is still possible when pushing down on the center of the keyboard. The Radius 15 comes in last in terms of durability as its base is easy to dent and creaking can be heard when attempting to twist it side-to-side. Furthermore, the lid does not lie completely flat against the base in tablet mode and the resulting gap makes for a more uncomfortable experience.

As for size and weight, the Yoga 500 is the largest and thickest partly due to its dedicated Nvidia GPU while the Radius 15 has the smallest footprint. Each model weighs just over 2.1 kg. While there are certainly flaws in each, the Dell convertible gives the more solid impression especially against the Toshiba.

Winner: Dell Inspiron 15 7000

Lenovo Yoga 500
Lenovo Yoga 500
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
385 mm / 15.2 inch 255 mm / 10 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 2.1 kg4.74 lbs381 mm / 15 inch 254 mm / 10 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 2.1 kg4.64 lbs379.5 mm / 14.9 inch 244.9 mm / 9.64 inch 20.1 mm / 0.791 inch 2.2 kg4.76 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Ports in Comparison

Lenovo Yoga 500
Lenovo Yoga 500
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15

Connectivity

Available ports are largely identical between the models save for one omission. The Yoga 500 is the only one out of the three with an Ethernet port. Otherwise, options are more limited compared to standard 15.6-inch notebooks as the rear edges must be kept free in order for the 360-degree hinges to work properly.

Another small difference is the location of the Windows Home button. The button is immediately below the display on the Dell and is on the left edge of the Toshiba. The Lenovo skips the button entirely, but instead includes a handy rotation lock to quickly disable the gyroscope when desired.

The slight edge goes to Lenovo for its dedicated RJ-45 port. Otherwise, users won't be missing much if on the Dell or Toshiba.

Winner: Lenovo Yoga 500

Ports and Connections

Lenovo Yoga 500 Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
USB 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0
Video-out 1x HDMI 1x HDMI 1x HDMI
Other SD reader, 1x 3.5 mm audio, Gigabit RJ-45, Kensington Lock, Rotation lock SD reader, 1x 3.5 mm audio, Kensington Lock SD reader, 1x 3.5 mm audio, Kensington Lock, Windows Button
Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0
Storage Bays 1x 2.5-inch SATA III 1x 2.5-inch SATA III 1x 2.5-inch SATA III

Display

All panels provide sharp texts and images and are thankfully IPS panels, so users can switch between Portrait and Landscape mode without any viewing angle issues. The displays also exhibit no major responsiveness issues when used as touchscreens.

With the basics out of the way, we instead want to compare color accuracy, brightness, and contrast. The Toshiba comes out ahead in all three categories as it uses a stronger backlight with deeper black levels and a wider color gamut than both the Lenovo and Dell. Most users may not notice the color differences during day-to-day use, but the higher contrast and brightness are much more desirable for both general work and multimedia use.

It's worth noting that maximum brightness on the Toshiba will drop to just 237 nits when running on batteries, though this is fortunately still higher than the Dell and Lenovo. Users might be able to lift this artificial brightness ceiling through the Intel Power Management settings.

Winner: Toshiba Satellite Radius 15

Lenovo Yoga 500
Lenovo Yoga 500
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Displays at a Glance

Lenovo Yoga 500 Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Size 15.6-inch AH-IPS 15.6-inch IPS 15.6-inch IPS
Native Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Pixel Density 141 PPI 141 PPI 141 PPI
Panel ID LG Philips LP156WF4_SPL1 BOE0648 LG Philips LP156WF6_SPA1
Panel Glossy Glossy Glossy
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBDDell Inspiron 15 7558Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C-102
Display
Display P3 Coverage
39.36
42.35
64.4
sRGB Coverage
59
63.5
83.2
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
40.68
43.77
60.8
Screen
Brightness middle
205
208.6
293
Brightness
206
204
287
Brightness Distribution
87
91
91
Black Level *
0.28
0.248
0.25
Contrast
732
841
1172
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
6.68
5.62
5.4
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.3
4.44
4.33
Gamma
2.34 94%
2.06 107%
2.39 92%
CCT
6996 93%
5889 110%
6670 97%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
37
40.2
55
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
59
63.1
83
Total Average (Program / Settings)

* ... smaller is better

Lenovo Yoga 500 color profile
Lenovo Yoga 500 color profile
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Lenovo Yoga 500
Lenovo Yoga 500
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15

Input Devices

Lenovo's AccuType keyboard wins this round without much of a fight. A quick look at the layout of each model will show that the Yoga 500 has both full-size Arrow keys and a NumPad compared to the Dell and Toshiba. However, this does come at the cost of a smaller "0" key. Dell had likely omitted the NumPad altogether in order to make it easier to use the the convertible in tablet mode. Nonetheless, the empty space feels like a missed opportunity to add additional speakers or even a fingerprint reader. In terms of feedback, the Toshiba keys tend to rattle more easily and feel a bit cheaper as result. Travel is shallow across the board, but pressure point is clearest on the Lenovo.

Touchpad performance is about the same between the Lenovo and Dell with good gliding characteristics and shallow-but-firm integrated mouse keys on both. However, we prefer the touchpad on the Dell as its base construction is superior to Lenovo's and its white surface is better at hiding fingerprints. Meanwhile, the touchpad on our Toshiba is wobbly and even rattles when pressed. This may simply be an issue with our specific test unit, but we have our doubts based on the already subpar construction quality of the lid and base.

Finally, touchscreen responsiveness is excellent across all three models. The practicality and ergonomics of such a feature on a convertible, however, will be up to the user to decide. A common annoyance on this type of notebook is that the Power and Volume buttons are usually around the edges similar to standard tablets. Since these convertibles are much larger and heavier, however, two hands are almost always required and it can be easy to accidentally power off or adjust volume.

Winner: Keyboard -- Lenovo Yoga 500

              Touchpad -- Dell Inspiron 15 7000

Performance

CPU Performance

Lenovo, Dell, and Toshiba all offer multiple CPU options beyond what we have here, so this comparison is only between the configurations on hand.

Coincidentally, our three in-house units all carry identical Core i5 Broadwell processors with 8 GB of single-channel RAM each. One SODIMM slot is available on the Lenovo and Dell, though we cannot yet confirm on the Toshiba. The maintenance panels on Yoga 500 and Inspiron 15 are more easily removable compared to the Radius 15, which we were unsuccessful in removing without needing to damage the chassis. Its official Toshiba manual does not recommend opening up the notebook, so there is a greater risk of voiding the warranty compared to the Lenovo and Dell. 

CineBench and even PCMark 8 scores are very similar between the three notebooks due largely to having minimal hardware differences. This means no one model is artificially throttling the CPU for thermal or power reasons under typical load conditions. 

See our dedicated CPU pages on the Core i5-5200U for more comparisons and benchmarks.

Hardware at a Glance

Lenovo Yoga 500 Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
CPU 2.2 GHz Core i5-5200U 2.2 GHz Core i5-5200U 2.2 GHz Core i5-5200U
TDP 15 W 15 W 15 W
RAM 8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz, 1x SODIMM slot 8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz, 1x SODIMM slot 8 GB DDR3L 1600 MHz, (# of SODIMM slots unlisted)
GPU Nvidia GeForce 940M Intel HD Graphics 5500 Intel HD Graphics 5500
Lenovo Yoga 500 (Source: Laptopmedia)
Lenovo Yoga 500 (Source: Laptopmedia)
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
108 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
109 Points
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C-102
109 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
257 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
259 Points
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C-102
253 Points
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
1.24 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
1.08 Points
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C-102
1.26 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
2.77 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
2.75 Points
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C-102
2.82 Points
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit (sort by value)
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
5409 Points
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C-102
5468 Points
Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit (sort by value)
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
11016 Points
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C-102
10999 Points
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - 32M (sort by value)
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
734 s *
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Physics (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
2848 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
2864 Points
1920x1080 Fire Strike Physics (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
4092 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
4110 Points
PCMark 7
Score (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
2558 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
4680 Points
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C-102
2652 Points
Lightweight (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
1256 Points
Productivity (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
818 Points
Entertainment (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
2471 Points
Creativity (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
5182 Points
Computation (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
13218 Points
System Storage (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
1453 Points
PCMark 8
Work Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
3622 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
3876 Points
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C-102
3676 Points
Creative Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
3359 Points
Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
2793 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
2848 Points
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C-102
2841 Points
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0
Pass 1 (sort by value)
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
85 fps
Pass 2 (sort by value)
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
16.21 fps

* ... smaller is better

Lenovo Yoga 500
Lenovo Yoga 500
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15

GPU Performance

The dedicated Nvidia 940M GPU inside the Yoga 500 is perhaps the biggest difference between the three models in terms of internal hardware features. Raw performance is over twice that of the integrated 5500 in CineBench and 3DMark benchmarks with the performance lead translating well into higher frame rates across the board. We recommend checking out our dedicated benchmarks page for both the GT 940M and HD 5500 for more comparisons and gaming benchmarks.

Winner: Lenovo Yoga 500

Cinebench R15 - OpenGL 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
55.1 fps
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
25.09 fps
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C-102
23.78 fps
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU (sort by value)
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
1072 Points
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
8590 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
5492 Points
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
1604 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
650 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - OpenGL 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
35.56 fps
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
18.62 fps
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C-102
18.72 fps

Stress Test

To test system stability, we run both Prime95 and FurMark to simulate maximum stress. These unrealistic conditions do not represent daily workloads, but are instead meant to put both the CPU and GPU at 100 percent capacity. If the notebook remains stable, then you can be sure it can handle any other tasks without major hardware failures.

The Yoga 500 performs very well when under extreme stress conditions. The GPU is able to maintain Boost speeds while CPU dips to a stable 300 - 400 MHz below its base clock rate. Thus, the system is prioritizing graphics performance at the cost of lower CPU speeds and higher core temperatures.

The Dell performs the worst as its CPU and GPU stabilize at lower clock rates. Turbo Boost is in effect until core temperature reaches 80 - 81 C. Afterwards, the CPU stabilizes at a low 70 C.

CPU and GPU clock speeds never throttle on the Toshiba. The CPU is able to maintain a 300 MHz Turbo Boost without needing to throttle the GPU, which is impressive for a thin notebook let alone a convertible with integrated graphics. Toshiba has specifically allowed the Radius 15 to operate above its TDP limit of 15 Watts to improve performance when under stress and it can certainly pay off if running intensive CPU and GPU applications for long stretches of time.

Winner: Toshiba Satellite Radius 15

Lenovo Yoga 500
Lenovo Yoga 500
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
CPU and GPU Clock Rates Under Stress

Lenovo Yoga 500 Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Rated GPU Core Clock (MHz) 1072 900 900
Stable GPU Core Clock on FurMark (MHz) 1176 700 - 750 900
Rated CPU Core Clock (GHz) 2.2 2.2 2.2
Stable CPU Core Clock on Prime95 (GHz) 1.8 - 1.9 1.5 2.5
Maximum CPU temperature 82 C 70 - 81 C 78 C
Maximum GPU temperature 80 C -- --

Emissions

System Noise & Temperature

All three notebooks are quiet under low load conditions, but only the Dell is truly silent as its fan can idle completely. The fan in the Yoga 500 tends to fluctuate more often while the Dell suffers from coil noise. In either case, both are at low enough levels to be of no concern during daily workloads. The Dell continues to be the quieter notebook when under maximum stress.

Average surface temperature is warmer on the Dell when under low loads likely due in part to its idling fan. Consequently, this same notebook has the steeper temperature gradient with a maximum recorded temperature of just over 36 C on the bottom corner of the notebook from sitting idle on the desktop. This is compared to 30 C on both the Lenovo and Toshiba.

The results are similar when under very high loads. The hot spot on the Dell can be over 50 C compared to 42 C and 46 C on the Lenovo and Toshiba, respectively. While the Lenovo is cooler overall, its keyboard warms up very unevenly compared to the Toshiba for a more uncomfortable typing experience under high loads. On the flip side, this can be good for gaming as the WASD keys remain cool. This is again dependent on user preference.

Winner: System Noise -- Dell Inspiron 15 7000

              Surface Temperature -- Tie -- Lenovo Yoga 500 & Toshiba Satellite Radius 15

Average Fan Noise and Surface Temperature

Lenovo Yoga 500 Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Fan Noise when idling 31.9 - 32.7 dB(A) 28.2 dB(A) 32.9 dB(A)
Fan Noise under high loads 40.6 dB(A) 33.1 dB(A) 37.1 - 43.1 dB(A)
Average surface temperature when idling 27.2 C 30.3 C 29.4 C
Average surface temperature under high loads 32.1 C 34.8 C 34.9 C
Ambient temperature 24.8 C 24.3 C 24.9 C

Battery Life

The Yoga 500 walks out as the loser in this round without putting up much of a fight. Its lower capacity battery and more demanding dedicated GPU are both bad news in terms of battery life. Runtimes are hours shorter than the Dell and Toshiba even with Optimus enabled.

The Toshiba and Dell are close, but it's the Toshiba that pulls out over an hour ahead in our standard WiFi test. The data below is provided in minutes before automatic shutdown.

Unfortunately for all three notebooks, the internal battery packs cannot be easily swapped or removed.

Winner: Toshiba Satellite Radius 15

Lenovo Yoga 500-15IBD
30 Wh
Dell Inspiron 15 7558
43 Wh
Toshiba Satellite Radius 15 P50W-C-102
45 Wh
Battery Runtime
Reader / Idle
467
885
693
WiFi v1.3
153
294
358
Load
107
120
124

Verdict

Despite the shorter battery life and slightly weaker chassis compared to the Inspiron 15 2-in-1, the Yoga 500 and its dedicated GPU is still a solid choice for casual gamers.
Despite the shorter battery life and slightly weaker chassis compared to the Inspiron 15 2-in-1, the Yoga 500 and its dedicated GPU is still a solid choice for casual gamers.

There's no doubt that opting in for a convertible 2-in-1 has its drawbacks compared to a standard notebook. Fewer connectivity ports, clunkier tablet mode, non-removable battery, and generally reduced stability are just a few to keep in mind. However, we're here to pick the better convertible - not to criticize the form factor in question.

Firstly, the Toshiba can be immediately crossed off of our list due to its poorer build quality and questionable longevity. It is simply less durable and more prone to nicks and dents compared to the Lenovo and Dell. This is truly unfortunate considering that its screen is far superior in essentially every way.

Choosing between the Yoga 500 or Inspiron 15 7000 will depend largely on the gaming habits of the user. The GT 940M is the strongest wild card in Lenovo's favor that can both seal the deal for casual gamers and mean little to office users. Thus, there is no definitive winner as there are alternating pros and cons for the two notebooks.

The HP Spectre 13 x360 is the suggested alternative, though this comes in a smaller 13.3-inch screen size.

Buy Lenovo Yoga 500

Buy Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1

Buy Toshiba Satellite Radius 15

Lenovo Yoga 500Dell Inspiron 15 7558Toshiba Satellite Radius 15

+ Discrete Nvidia graphics

+ Better keyboard

+ NumPad and full-size Arrow keys

+ Gigabit Ethernet

+ Easier maintenance

Lower fan noise

+ Stronger build quality

+ Easier maintenance

Brighter and more accurate display

+ Higher capacity battery; longer battery life

+ Excellent CPU and GPU performance under stress

+ NumPad

- Shorter battery life

- Thicker and larger

- Least accurate display

- No NumPad

- Smaller Arrow keys

- Throttling under extreme loads

- Higher surface temperatures

- Difficult maintenance

- Smaller Arrow keys

- Poorer overall build quality

- Lower quality touchpad

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Archive of our own reviews > Face Off: Lenovo Yoga 500 vs. Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1 vs. Toshiba Satellite Radius 15
Allen Ngo, 2015-09-30 (Update: 2020-06- 8)