Notebookcheck Logo

Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE Convertible Review

Yoga goes standard. Will the Yoga concept be successful in a standard 15-inch work device? Can the Yoga reflect the classic virtues and bring new flexibility in equal measure? Disappointment is not far.
In review: Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 Modell 20DQ0038GE
In review: Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 Modell 20DQ0038GE

For the original German review, see here.

Thanks to its four modes of use, Lenovo describes its new Yoga 15 as versatile. Being a ThinkPad, it, its Yoga 12, and 14 sisters envision a rethinking. Business today - at least according to the manufacturer - should no longer be a straight-lined clamshell laptop, but a convertible that can be used in different modes just like the consumer devices. Whether the business world is prepared for such a turnaround will ultimately be seen in the sales figures. We are testing the standard model ThinkPad Yoga 15, appropriately configured with a Core i7-5500UGeForce 840M and a 256 GB SSD. The manufacturer has included an IPS screen with 1920x1080 pixels. However, far more than just a few showy specs are expected from a ThinkPad. Find out in the course of this test whether this enthusiasm lasts.

There are only a few rivals in the form of 15-inch convertibles. HP's Envy 15-u200ng x360 (700 Euro; ~$738) and Asus' Transformer Book Flip TP500LN (1000 Euro; ~$1054) both feature similar 360 degree hinges. However, they come from the consumer world, which involves a lower price and in some respects, inferior qualities.

Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE (ThinkPad Yoga Series)
Processor
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce 840M - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1029 MHz, Memory: 1000 MHz, DDR3, ForceWare 333.79, Optimus mit HD Graphics 5500
Memory
8 GB 
, single-channel Samsung
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, 10 finger multi-touch, anti-glare protector, LP156WF6-SPA1 / LEN40B8, AH-IPS WLED a-Si TFT-LCD, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Broadwell-U PCH-LP (Premium)
Storage
Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP, 256 GB 
, SATA 2.5, 175 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Broadwell PCH-LP - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: combo jack, Card Reader: 4in1, Sensors: ambient light
Networking
Intel Wireless-AC 7260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 21 x 383 x 256 ( = 0.83 x 15.08 x 10.08 in)
Battery
68 Wh, Sanyo, non-removable
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 1280x720
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, power supply, Messenger, SolutionCenter, QuickControl, Settings, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.271 kg ( = 80.11 oz / 5.01 pounds), Power Supply: 364 g ( = 12.84 oz / 0.8 pounds)
Price
1500 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Road-tested quality has always been important in Lenovo's ThinkPads. Even the cheap Edge models offered a consistent measure of solid build. Unfortunately, the review sample falls short in this respect. The base can be warped extremely and sometimes produces cracking noises. When handling the device, the base unit seems too yielding and is not twist-resistant. Therefore, we do not quite understand the manufacturer's statements like "The ThinkPad Yoga 15's durable magnesium-alloy frame [...] can handle tough treatment from even the hardiest professional."

The two solid-looking hinges are not made of metal, but of a silver plastic cover and a small metal hinge hidden underneath it. The hinges are mounted on the outer sides of the base. In our opinion, although the construction is firm enough, it does not give the impression that it will keep the lid stable over many years. Walking around with the Yoga 15 in laptop mode was enough for the display to gradually tilt back and forth just from its own weight.

The lid with the touchscreen has to accept the same criticism. We think it is much too yielding for the purpose of a 360-degree convertible. Positive: No pressure marks are passed on to the screen during normal use, i.e. moderate, careful pressure. A sturdy rubber lip lines the screen, and closes flush with the base.

Lenovo has installed a retractable keyboard (Lift 'n' Lock) for the tablet mode. Like in the Yoga 3 or the ThinkPad Yoga 12, the keys are fixed, but the surrounding plastic grid lifts up to level with the keys when the display is completely folded over. The keys are then locked and can no longer be pressed. This is handy because the new "underside" of the tablet becomes relatively homogeneous.

The wrist rest yields slightly under pressure, and does not feature the highest strength.

Connectivity

The configuration of a 256 GB SSD, 8 GB of RAM (single-channel), three USB ports, and an HDMI port as well as a Full HD touchscreen is appropriate, but not abundant. The SIM-card slot on the review sample's left is without function, and Lenovo presently does not offer a model with an LTE modem. There are no security features, such as a fingerprint reader, TPM or SmartCard reader - aspects that are quite important for business customers.

Right: Power, volume, rotation lock buttons, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, HDMI
Right: Power, volume, rotation lock buttons, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, HDMI
Kensington Lock, AC w/ One-Link docking port, Charge USB 3.0, SIM-card slot (when modem installed), 3.5mm combo audio port, card reader
Kensington Lock, AC w/ One-Link docking port, Charge USB 3.0, SIM-card slot (when modem installed), 3.5mm combo audio port, card reader

Communication

Intel's Wireless-AC 7260 chip takes care of wireless connections; however, there is  no classic RJ45 port. The signal strength was slightly above average in the author's personal setup. The signal remained stable with 1 to 2 bars at the 45 meter (~148  ft) mark outside the building, and notebookcheck.com still opened at an acceptable speed. Four bars were displayed at a distance of 15 meters (~50 ft) to the router. These are indicators of decent but not extraordinary reception strength of the Wi-Fi antennas.

Security

The Kensington Lock on the left is the only evidence of security on the exterior. The UEFI BIOS provides the user with some options. For example, it is possible to activate/deactivate the TrackPoint or TrackPad separately here. Even the non-removable battery can be disabled for permanent stationary use. The user can create passwords for both general access (supervisor) and the hard drive.

Accessories

Apart from the power supply, the Yoga 15 does not come with any noteworthy accessories.

Maintenance

The topic of maintenance is rather insignificant in the Yoga 15. The underside is made of one piece; there is no maintenance cover, and the battery is non-removable - at least not for nonprofessionals.

Warranty

The manufacturer includes a 24-month warranty on the Yoga 15.

A webcam is found on the front. Not  only does it have a meager resolution of 720p, but it also shoots pale, blurry pictures even in daylight conditions. Unsuitable for a convertible in this price range.

720p webcam, only on the front
720p webcam, only on the front
Even in daylight: pale colors, weak outlines, faded areas
Even in daylight: pale colors, weak outlines, faded areas
Comparison with Canon EOS 1100D
Comparison with Canon EOS 1100D
Comparison with Canon EOS 1100D
Comparison with Canon EOS 1100D

Input Devices

Keyboard

LLenovo has equipped the ThinkPad Yoga 15 with a full-blown keyboard that utilizes the casing's entire width with large gaps. It is a standard chiclet model with conical keys and wide spacing. There are plenty of special keys, for example for the browser, calculator or switching screens. The F1 - F12 keys are mapped as function keys under the second assignment. The full-sized number pad has marginally smaller keys than the keyboard. The latter features a two-level backlight, but is not splash-water proof like the T-series ThinkPads. It is not a mechanical keyboard, but rather a Rubber Dome with a scissor switch (double-hinge) that ensures an impeccable key guidance (drop/travel).

The keys' surface is very sleek, the pressure point is crisp, and the stroke is firm yet not hard, but hollow in some places. The surface yields slightly under high pressure in the middle and on the right. Typing is enjoyable owing to the crisp pressure point and the subdued clicking noise. However, it does not match the perfection of a T series keyboard.

Touchpad

Once again, Lenovo relies on real keys for the mouse replacement - at least for the TrackPoint that is found between the "G", "H" and "B" keys. The TrackPad itself can be either combined with the keys above it or its lower corners are used for triggering a right or left mouse click. The ClickPad has a medium drop, a clear and responsive pressure point, and a firm stroke. The noise is rather loud and could quickly become distracting in noise-sensitive environments. Unfortunately, the pointer's keys are very smooth-running and might occasionally be triggered accidentally.

Touchscreen

The capacitive touchscreen functions accurately with up to ten fingers at the same time. However, we find the hinges' resistance too weak; the finger pushes the display back much too quickly when touching it. This is probably due to the 15-inch form factor. The tester did not notice this drawback in the ThinkPad Yoga 14.

Mechanical keys for the TrackPoint
Mechanical keys for the TrackPoint
A classic - the pointer
A classic - the pointer
ClickPad with a clear drop at the lower edge
ClickPad with a clear drop at the lower edge
Well-designed work area
Well-designed work area
Number pad with special keys, e.g. calculator
Number pad with special keys, e.g. calculator

Display

The LG-Phillips screen has a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. An anti-glare film makes it relatively unsusceptible to greasy fingers and streaks. Lenovo speaks of a "scratch and smudge-resistant Dragon Trail Display". Pressure on the screen does not lead to clouding; we cannot say anything about the durability of the anti-glare film.

268
cd/m²
266
cd/m²
275
cd/m²
289
cd/m²
314
cd/m²
293
cd/m²
263
cd/m²
272
cd/m²
273
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LP156WF6-SPA1 / LEN40B8 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 314 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 279.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 314 cd/m²
Contrast: 628:1 (Black: 0.5 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.93 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 6.22 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.58
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
Display
Display P3 Coverage
49.85
39.62
38.82
sRGB Coverage
73.3
59.6
58.4
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
51.7
40.94
40.11
Screen
-44%
-5%
-37%
-53%
13%
Brightness middle
314
261
-17%
154
-51%
166
-47%
267
-15%
286
-9%
Brightness
279
253
-9%
143
-49%
163
-42%
240
-14%
274
-2%
Brightness Distribution
84
79
-6%
84
0%
68
-19%
84
0%
90
7%
Black Level *
0.5
0.58
-16%
0.3
40%
0.71
-42%
0.8
-60%
0.3
40%
Contrast
628
450
-28%
513
-18%
234
-63%
334
-47%
953
52%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.93
13.09
-121%
4.84
18%
7.16
-21%
12.71
-114%
5.62
5%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.22
13.34
-114%
4.53
27%
7.62
-23%
13.91
-124%
6.19
-0%
Gamma
2.58 85%
3.46 64%
2.22 99%
2.25 98%
2.35 94%
2.35 94%
CCT
5647 115%
13202 49%
7307 89%
9371 69%
20099 32%
5606 116%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
48
37.8
37.2
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-44% / -44%
-5% / -5%
-37% / -37%
-53% / -53%
13% / 13%

* ... smaller is better

It is an AH IPS a-Si TFT LCD screen that achieves a good contrast of 628:1 owing to a low black level of 0.5 cd/m². The user will agreeably notice this: Outlines stand out clearly, and colors are crisp and bright.

Our X-Rite i1Pro 2 measures a maximum brightness of 314 CD/m² in the center; the average is lower at 280 cd/m² due to the uneven illumination. Typically, laptops have an illumination of 80 to 85%, especially with this relatively high brightness. The ThinkPad is exactly within this range.

CalMAN determined a visible shift toward the warm colors in the sRGB color reproduction. It is a clear bluish cast that leads to a DeltaE 2000 of just below 6. This cast is also very evident in the grayscale levels. This is not distracting in practice, but it excludes professional image and graphic editors or they will want a calibrated external monitor. We could not measure the sRGB color space coverage due to the recurrent crashing of the i1 Profiler, and thus we could not recheck the reddish cast after creating a profile.

CalMAN Grayscale - no bluish cast but tendency to red / green
CalMAN Grayscale - no bluish cast but tendency to red / green
CalMAN Säturation - shift in green
CalMAN Säturation - shift in green
CalMAN ColorChecker - minor shifts
CalMAN ColorChecker - minor shifts

The screen's brightness in battery mode is maintained, but only when the ambient light sensor is disabled. Our screenshots were taken in sunlight. Depending on the viewing angle,  reflections still occur.

The ThinkPad Yoga 15 in sunlight
The ThinkPad Yoga 15 in sunlight
The anti-glare coating doesn't help much.
The anti-glare coating doesn't help much.
The brightness is maintained in battery mode (314 cd/m²),...
The brightness is maintained in battery mode (314 cd/m²),...
...but it would have to be even higher.
...but it would have to be even higher.

IPS screens have good to very good viewing angles, which is also the case in the ThinkPad Yoga. No matter from which angle we looked at the screen, colors never inverted.

Viewing angles: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 15 1920 x 1080, LP156WF6-SPA1 / LEN40B8, AH IPS
Viewing angles: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 15 1920 x 1080, LP156WF6-SPA1 / LEN40B8, AH IPS

Performance

Lenovo provides its ThinkPad Yoga 15 with two processor options: a Core i7-5500U or i5-5200U. The i7 model comes with either a 512 or 256 GB SSD and the i5 version comes exclusively with 256 GB. The options in the German market are limited. However, it is still a powerful package; the GeForce 840M is installed from the outset. Apparently, the manufacturer is not interested in low-cost configurations for the Yoga 15.

System info: CPU-Z CPU
System info: CPU-Z Mainboard
System info: CPU-Z Cache
System info: CPU-Z Memory
System info: CPU-Z SPD
System info: GPU-Z HD Graphics 5500
System info: GPU-Z Geforce 840M
System information: Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE

Processor

The Yoga 15 is powered by the Core i7-5500U dual-core processor (Broadwell). The CPU clocks with a base speed of 2.4 GHz, which can be boosted to 2.9 GHz (two cores) or 3 GHz (one core) via Turbo. The Turbo is extensively utilized. The CPU tests of the Cinebench benchmark were processed with 2.4 to 2.9 GHz (multithread) and 2.9 to 3 GHz (single-thread). This was the case in both AC and battery mode.

The higher speeds, combined with the improved Broadwell architecture give the Core i7-5500U a performance edge of approximately 20% over the i5-4210U or 10% over the i7-4500U. The optional i5-5200U  calculates only 7 to 12% slower; the buyer can readily choose the i5 when it is significantly cheaper.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
122 Points
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
107 Points -12%
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
86 Points -30%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
110 Points -10%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
109 Points -11%
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
110 Points -10%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
279 Points
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
259 Points -7%
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
232 Points -17%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
262 Points -6%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
259 Points -7%
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
260 Points -7%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
1.43 Points
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
1.25 Points -13%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
1.26 Points -12%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
1.26 Points -12%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
3.13 Points
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
2.82 Points -10%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
2.85 Points -9%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
2.81 Points -10%
Display
Display P3 Coverage (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
49.85 %
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
39.62 %
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
38.82 %
sRGB Coverage (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
73.3 %
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
59.6 %
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
58.4 %
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
51.7 %
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
40.94 %
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
40.11 %
Screen
Brightness middle (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
314 cd/m²
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
261 cd/m²
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
154 cd/m²
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
166 cd/m²
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
267 cd/m²
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
286 cd/m²
Brightness (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
279 cd/m²
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
253 cd/m²
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
143 cd/m²
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
163 cd/m²
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
240 cd/m²
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
274 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
84 %
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
79 %
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
84 %
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
68 %
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
84 %
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
90 %
Black Level (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
0.5 cd/m² *
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
0.58 cd/m² *
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
0.3 cd/m² *
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
0.71 cd/m² *
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
0.8 cd/m² *
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
0.3 cd/m² *
Contrast (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
628 :1
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
450 :1
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
513 :1
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
234 :1
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
334 :1
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
953 :1
Colorchecker dE 2000 (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
5.93 *
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
13.09 *
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
4.84 *
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
7.16 *
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
12.71 *
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
5.62 *
Greyscale dE 2000 (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
6.22 *
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
13.34 *
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
4.53 *
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
7.62 *
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
13.91 *
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
6.19 *
Gamma (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
2.58
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
3.46
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
2.22
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
2.25
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
2.35
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
2.35
CCT (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
5647
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
13202
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
7307
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
9371
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
20099
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
5606
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) (sort by value)
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
48 %
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
37.8 %
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
37.2 %

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4674
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.43 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
3.13 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
42.94 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
122 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
279 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
57.7 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help

System Performance

We test the application performance with PCMark 7 and 8. The Yoga 15 scores with its Samsung SSD PM851 (256 GB, MZ7TE256HMHP). Only comparison devices with a HDD, such as the Transformer Book Flip TP500LN, lag behind. The high Computation Score of PCMark 7 is striking: the ThinkPad T450 (both i5-5200U) and the EliteBook 840 G2 fall behind by 35%.

PCMark 7
Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
4610 Points
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
3991 Points -13%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
4241 Points -8%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
4139 Points -10%
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
4967 Points +8%
Computation (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
15161 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
9980 Points -34%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
9778 Points -36%
Productivity (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
2291 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
3902 Points +70%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
3778 Points +65%
System Storage (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
5305 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
5297 Points 0%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
5264 Points -1%
PCMark 8
Storage Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
4941 Points
Work Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
4040 Points
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
3498 Points -13%
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
3541 Points -12%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
4101 Points +2%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
4044 Points 0%
Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
2906 Points
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
2653 Points -9%
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
2846 Points -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
2989 Points +3%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
2936 Points +1%

Legend

 
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE Intel Core i7-5500U, NVIDIA GeForce 840M, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
 
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360 Intel Core i5-5200U, Intel HD Graphics 5500, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
 
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN Intel Core i5-4210U, NVIDIA GeForce 840M, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
 
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE Intel Core i5-5200U, Intel HD Graphics 5500, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
 
HP EliteBook 840 G2 Intel Core i5-5200U, Intel HD Graphics 5500, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
 
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 Intel Core i7-5500U, NVIDIA GeForce 840M, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
PCMark 7 Score
4610 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
2906 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4040 points
Help

Storage Device

The Samsung SSD is equally impressive in both writing and reading large and small blocks. Almost every modern SSD can easily manage 500 MB/s in sequential read and write. The 4K read/write tests are more critical; the results are more diverging although not to a great extent. In short: Lenovo has installed an efficient SSD model. The same SSD model is found in the ThinkPad T450 and the EliteBook 840 G2, and thus their scores are almost identical. Thanks to the 840M, the performance increase is 30 to 40% above a single HD 5500. However, this difference can be even greater in games, but this depends highly on the drivers. We ascertained a performance increase of 66% over the HD 5500 in “BioShock Infinite”.

Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-85%
-83%
5%
2%
-1%
Read Seq
527
106.5
-80%
109.2
-79%
529
0%
528
0%
499
-5%
Write Seq
242.6
90.8
-63%
106.9
-56%
237.9
-2%
267.9
10%
438
81%
Read 4k
36.65
0.406
-99%
0.4
-99%
38.06
4%
29.19
-20%
27
-26%
Write 4k
105.4
0.961
-99%
0.9
-99%
122.9
17%
125.7
19%
50
-53%
AS SSD
5%
7%
11%
Seq Read
513
508
-1%
506
-1%
484
-6%
Seq Write
233.5
230
-1%
247.3
6%
417
79%
4K Read
32.41
33.9
5%
27.37
-16%
26
-20%
4K Write
91.5
98.7
8%
107.1
17%
73
-20%
Score Read
448
447
0%
449
0%
432
-4%
Score Write
261
306
17%
341
31%
368
41%
Score Total
935
980
5%
1015
9%
1027
10%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-85% / -85%
-83% / -83%
5% / 5%
5% / 5%
5% / 7%
Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
Sequential Read: 527 MB/s
Sequential Write: 242.6 MB/s
512K Read: 431.7 MB/s
512K Write: 242.6 MB/s
4K Read: 36.65 MB/s
4K Write: 105.4 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 393.2 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 233.2 MB/s

Graphics Card

The ThinkPad Yoga 15 features a graphics switching solution. It is composed of Intel's HD Graphics 5500 graphics core and Nvidia's GeForce 840M GPU. The GeForce chip takes care of performance-hungry applications, and Intel's GPU is enabled in routine and battery mode. Switching between both cores is automatic, but the user can manually assign the preferred GPU when required. The GeForce core comes from the entry-level performance category. It supports DirectX 11 and clocks with a base speed of 1029 MHz. The speed can be increased to 1124 MHz via Turbo.

The 3DMark benchmark results show a clear dissociation to devices without a dedicated GPU. The Transformer Book Flip TP500LN also includes an 840M, but it is inferior in the 3DMarks due to its weaker processor.

3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
6138 Points
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
4265 Points -31%
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
5452 Points -11%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
4544 Points -26%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
4342 Points -29%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
8901 Points
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
4975 Points -44%
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
8292 Points -7%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
5427 Points -39%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
5063 Points -43%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Physics (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
2942 Points
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
2845 Points -3%
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
2480 Points -16%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
2897 Points -2%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
2898 Points -1%
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
42320 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
6138 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1410 points
Help
Evolve - 1024x768 Low Graphics Quality (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
35 fps
The Crew - 1366x768 Medium Video Preset AA:FX (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
32 fps
BioShock Infinite - 1366x768 Medium Preset (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
49 fps
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
16.9 fps -66%
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
53.6 fps +9%
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 84 49 40 14.1
The Crew (2014) 42 32 14.3 7.4
Evolve (2015) 35 24.2 13 10.7

Emissions

System Noise

Noise? Users, who simply leave the Yoga 15 idling on the desk, will hardly hear anything from it. The fans are disabled when it is not loaded. This will change significantly under load when the noise level climbs to between 36 and 40 dB(A). This was the case, for example, in our stress test via Prime95 and FurMark.

Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
Noise
-14%
-3%
4%
6%
4%
Idle Minimum *
29.6
34.7
-17%
30.6
-3%
29.2
1%
29.1
2%
29.6
-0%
Idle Average *
29.6
34.7
-17%
30.6
-3%
29.2
1%
29.1
2%
29.6
-0%
Idle Maximum *
29.6
34.7
-17%
31.8
-7%
29.2
1%
29.1
2%
29.6
-0%
Load Average *
36.6
39.6
-8%
37.4
-2%
34.9
5%
32.2
12%
34.2
7%
Load Maximum *
39.9
43.4
-9%
39.1
2%
35.1
12%
34.2
14%
34.5
14%

* ... smaller is better

Noise Level

Idle
29.6 / 29.6 / 29.6 dB(A)
Load
36.6 / 39.9 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Voltcraft sl-320 (15 cm distance)

Temperature

The surfaces remain cool, especially while idling. This is not surprising because the power consumption under Broadwell is at its lowest here. The base unit's upper side does not even reach 28 degrees Celsius (~82 °F). 

The picture changes under load, although it is mainly one hot spot that heats up to 46 degrees (~115 °F). This is not a critical temperature. The Cinebench R15 single calculated with 2.9 to 3.0 GHz, and the multi-test was slightly slower with 2.4 to 2.9 GHz. Thus, the Turbo is utilized perfectly, even in battery mode.

Cinebench R15 single-core CPU @2.9-3.0 GHz
Cinebench R15 single-core CPU @2.9-3.0 GHz
R15 multi-core CPU @2.4-2.9 GHz
R15 multi-core CPU @2.4-2.9 GHz
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
Heat
26%
5%
4%
10%
4%
Maximum Upper Side *
46
32.8
29%
41.6
10%
35.8
22%
37.5
18%
43.5
5%
Maximum Bottom *
45.8
29.7
35%
46
-0%
47
-3%
38.4
16%
47
-3%
Idle Upper Side *
29.4
23.6
20%
28.4
3%
30.3
-3%
28.7
2%
26.7
9%
Idle Bottom *
30.7
25.1
18%
28.7
7%
31
-1%
30.1
2%
28.8
6%

* ... smaller is better

Max. Load
 33 °C
91 F
46 °C
115 F
41 °C
106 F
 
 29.4 °C
85 F
34.2 °C
94 F
33 °C
91 F
 
 26.5 °C
80 F
27.7 °C
82 F
28 °C
82 F
 
Maximum: 46 °C = 115 F
Average: 33.2 °C = 92 F
43 °C
109 F
45.8 °C
114 F
30.6 °C
87 F
32.7 °C
91 F
31.7 °C
89 F
27.3 °C
81 F
26.3 °C
79 F
26.7 °C
80 F
26 °C
79 F
Maximum: 45.8 °C = 114 F
Average: 32.2 °C = 90 F
Power Supply (max.)  44.1 °C = 111 F | Room Temperature 23.6 °C = 74 F | Voltcraft IR-360
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.2 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 31.2 °C / 88 F for the devices in the class Multimedia.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 46 °C / 115 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 45.8 °C / 114 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.4 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 28.1 °C / 82.6 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (+0.7 °C / 1.2 F).

Speakers

The sound from the two speakers completely lack low pitches and bass. However, the trebles and the almost accurate volume are impressive. LatencyMon did not record any significant delays even after a quarter of an hour, and thus the Yoga 15 is suitable for use as a video/audio editing desktop (balanced drivers).

The microphone recording was more than decent. The tester's voice was recorded clearly and impeccably despite a distance of 0.5 to 2 meters (~1.6 to 6.5 ft) with his back turned to the laptop and walking across the room. The microphone is a very good basis for Skype chats.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The Broadwell platform's power consumption is higher than in the comparison devices. This is firstly due to the dedicated graphics card, and secondly the bright touchscreen. The Yoga 15 consumes five to eight watts when not in use, while idling.

Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
Asus Transformer Book Flip TP500LN
GeForce 840M, 4210U, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
Power Consumption
9%
-47%
29%
35%
18%
Idle Minimum *
4.9
4.7
4%
9.8
-100%
3
39%
2.6
47%
3.1
37%
Idle Average *
7.7
8.9
-16%
12.2
-58%
5.5
29%
5.1
34%
7.2
6%
Idle Maximum *
8.2
9.1
-11%
12.9
-57%
6.4
22%
5.8
29%
7.7
6%
Load Average *
42
30
29%
49.2
-17%
28.4
32%
28.7
32%
36.2
14%
Load Maximum *
53
31.8
40%
55.3
-4%
40.7
23%
36.8
31%
38.5
27%

* ... smaller is better

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.9 / 7.7 / 8.2 Watt
Load midlight 42 / 53 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 960
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Runtime

The battery life was a nice surprise. The ThinkPad Yoga 15 ran for 18 hours while idling (Wi-Fi off, minimum brightness). There are no secondary batteries or such like available, since the installed battery cannot be replaced.

However, the idle runtime is rather useless for the user. Our Wi-Fi test is more significant, which stopped after 414 minutes. That equals to almost seven hours. With the exception of HP's EliteBook 840 G1, the rivals cannot match this.

Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE
GeForce 840M, 5500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
414 min
HP Envy 15-u200ng x360
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Toshiba MQ02ABF100
299 min -28%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450-20BV001VGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
324 min -22%
HP EliteBook 840 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZ7TE256HMHP
422 min +2%
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
18h 13min
WiFi Websurfing
6h 54min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 28min

Pros

+ Stylish casing
+ Decent input devices
+ High performance via SSD / i7
+ Screen with light, matte finish
+ Strong battery life
+ Suitable for basic gaming

Cons

- No security features
- Casing too pressure sensitive / yielding in some places
- Relatively heavy
- High price
- Poor webcam pictures
- Poor maintenance options

Verdict

In Review: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 15 (20DQ0038GE). Test model courtesy of notebooksandmore.de
In Review: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 15 (20DQ0038GE). Test model courtesy of notebooksandmore.de

ThinkPad Yoga 15 - does Lenovo set the standard for rethinking in the business world? We believe that rethinking is not at all decisive. After all, the customer gets a conventional laptop that can be used like every other ThinkPad without a 360 degree hinge in mode one (laptop). The other modes of use increase the productivity of the Yoga 15 in some cases. Leaving other modes aside, anyone using the device exclusively as a laptop will get decent input devices and stable viewing angles.

But are we really satisfied? No, because the 15-inch device is maintenance-unfriendly (non-removable battery), and has only a few interfaces/security features. The Yoga 15 does not differ from a basic consumer laptop that is  not so expensive. It does not make a good impression when the heavy display warps the chassis when picking it up at one corner of the wrist rest. The chassis should be much stronger and harder, particularly in view of the multi-mode options. A slightly higher weight would be acceptable because it is already a heavy "tablet", and an extra 250 grams (~9 oz) would not much of a difference.

Flexible and fast in use, but flaws in manufacturing, only few interfaces, and poor maintenance options.

The Yoga 15 does not fulfill the criteria of a thoroughly well-conceived standard ThinkPad. Components, input devices and screen are good if not perfect, but the casing's stability suffers under the 15-inch form factor and the relatively slim chassis.

Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE - 04/09/2015 v4(old)
Sebastian Jentsch

Chassis
74 / 98 → 76%
Keyboard
90%
Pointing Device
93%
Connectivity
60 / 81 → 74%
Weight
61 / 20-67 → 87%
Battery
90%
Display
79%
Games Performance
79 / 85 → 93%
Application Performance
78 / 92 → 85%
Temperature
87%
Noise
92 / 95 → 97%
Audio
63%
Camera
33 / 85 → 39%
Average
75%
82%
Multimedia - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

Read all 5 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Archive of our own reviews > Lenovo ThinkPad S5 Yoga 15 20DQ0038GE Convertible Review
Sebastian Jentsch, 2015-04-13 (Update: 2019-04-30)