Lenovo IdeaPad 110S (N3060, 32 GB) Subnotebook Review

The buyer can choose from four different colors for the plastic casing of Lenovo's 110S (white, red, silver, and blue). However, it should be mentioned that only the silver and red model have a black base while the white and blue models come with a white base. Lenovo's 110S does not have any other visual accents. The stiffness is good when we only consider our warping tests. In return, the casing yields visibly when pressure is applied to the display rear and in the keyboard area.

Lenovo's IdeaPad 110S weighs almost 1.1 kg, which is not noticed unfavorably in the comparison field. Both hinges keep the display very firmly in the desired position. We hardly noticed any rocking, which is very good. Unfortunately, it is impossible to open the lid with one hand since the hinges are pulled a bit too tight for this. A look at the size comparison shows that the IdeaPad 110S belongs to those devices that do not reserve much room on the desk. The device is not bulky at a height of just 17.8 millimeters, either.

The installed interfaces are distributed on the sides. We find two USB 2.0 ports and the 3.5-mm audio jack on the right. The spacing between the ports is sufficient and will rarely block one another. This looks completely different on the left where all the interfaces are cramped. Particularly the only USB 3.0 port is situated very close to the power socket, making it impossible to insert wide USB flash drives. It remains unclear to us why Lenovo has installed these interfaces so close to one another seeing that there is enough room not to.

The Wi-Fi modem comes from Realtek and achieved an average data speed in our measurements. Lenovo's IdeaPad 110S takes second place in data reception with the measured 282 MBit/s. Our review sample outruns the others at 339 MBit/s in transmit and achieves first place.

The 6-row chiclet keyboard in Lenovo's IdeaPad 110S has been lowered slightly into the base's upper side, and thus the keys and the wrist rest are on the same level. The individual keys have a sufficient size of 15 x 15 millimeters with a spacing of 3 millimeters. The typing noise of the individual keys, with exception of the space bar, is relatively quiet and the drop is pleasingly short. Although the pressure point is palpable, it is much too weak. The white lettering is well legible. Unfortunately, the keyboard does not feature a backlight, which is comprehensible in this price range.

The touchpad is also lowered slightly into the base and has a size of 8.5 x 4.3 centimeters. Unfortunately, the input buttons are no longer a part of the input surface. This reduces the height of 4.3 centimeters clearly. The upper area of the input surface can be used without restrictions. However, the lower area directly above both mouse buttons becomes more and more inaccurate. The input buttons produce an audible click noise when triggered, but they are not louder than known from comparable devices. Users who find the input area's size sufficient can also use the multitouch function.

Our review sample is furnished with an 11.6-inch TN panel. It has an HD resolution of 1366x768 pixels and, thanks to its matte surface, prevents annoying reflections on the screen. Lenovo does not offer any alternative screens for the IdeaPad 110S.

The screen in Lenovo's IdeaPad 110S has a much lower brightness than Medion's Akoya S2218 (394 cd/m²) or Jumper's EZBook 3 (341 cd/m²) with a measured 230 cd/m². We measured an even lower average screen brightness of 192 cd/m² in battery mode. The low brightness and a black value of 0.4 results in a contrast ratio of 608:1. The very good illumination of 91%, the absence of clouding, and the very high PWM frequency of 25770 Hz from a screen brightness of 50% and lower are praiseworthy.

The black level in conjunction with the low brightness, which is responsible for the low contrast ratio of 608:1, covers the image with a light grayish haze. This is primarily visible in dark scenes. The measured color shift of 11.24 (DeltaE 2000 ColorChecker) and 12.78 (DeltaE 2000 Grayscales) is extremely high. Calibrating the screen improves this, but it does not perform miracles. We have linked the corresponding ICC profile for downloading. Lenovo's IdeaPad 110S achieved a color-space coverage of 64% in sRGB and just 41% in the extended AdobeRGB. Thus, the device is only suitable for hobby photo-editing. The rivals are on par in the comparison here.

Outdoor use is possible thanks to the matte surface. However, a shaded place should be chosen. The screen's brightness is simply not high enough in sunlight. The TN panel's drawbacks also become very evident in the viewing-angle test. A decent reproduction is only achieved in the three middle photos. As soon as the screen is tilted back or forth, the colors distort strongly or are covered with a visible grayish haze.

Although Lenovo's IdeaPad 110S did not completely convince us in the CPU tests, the PCMark 8 score was all the more astonishing. Our review sample clearly takes first place with a lead of 10%. However, 1771 points is not a top score. Not too much should be expected from the small device in everyday use. Latencies were repeatedly observed, particularly during multitasking.

Intel's integrated Intel HD Graphics 400  graphics unit takes care of video output and clocks at a speed of 320 MHz to 640 MHz. A dedicated graphics card is not available for Lenovo's IdeaPad 110S. The processor primarily benefits from H.265 codec support as it is unloaded during video playback. The performance of Intel's HD Graphics 400 is much too weak for sophisticated 3D games. Lenovo's IdeaPad 110S achieved 387 points in 3DMark 11. Only Jumper's EZBook 3 managed a slightly better score of 458 points.

Further information and benchmarks concerning Intel HD Graphics 400 can be found here.

The casing heats up a bit more in total than other devices with a fan since it is cooled passively. We measured a maximum of 41 °C on the underside of our Lenovo IdeaPad 110S during load. This is still acceptable and working with it on the lap will not become unpleasant. By comparison, Medion's Akoya S2218 heats up to 49.7 °C, which is considerably less pleasant over a prolonged period.

The SoC reached the highest temperature in the one-hour load test with Furmark. We recorded 83 °C as the maximum rate. Thermal-throttling set in for a short time, but this was not observed in the one-hour test with Prime95. Furthermore, the results of the Cinebench R15 loop were almost identical, which indicates that the CPU does not throttle. We tested the 3D performance directly after the one-hour load test with 3DMark 11. The score was 308 points lower than after a cold start. However, this should hardly lead to restrictions in everyday use.

Both speakers are situated on the base's front underside. Thus, the sound depends on the surface as soft surfaces muffle the sound audibly. A sleek, firm surface is ideal for reflecting the sound from the surface without obstruction. The sound quality is satisfactory and corresponds to the price range. An external sound system should be used for a better sound experience.