Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 in the review: Hand-held

The IdeaPad 1 is a basic office notebook. The 11.6-incher is supposed to steal customers away from the coveted Chromebooks with a low price level and full Windows compatibility. Since our database does not provide any current 11.6-inch notebooks from the low-price segment, we count convertibles like the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 and the BMAXMaxBookY11 among the competitors.
Possible competitors in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
77.5 % v7 (old) | 04 / 2021 | Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 Athlon 3050e, Vega 3 | 1.2 kg | 19.9 mm | 11.60" | 1366x768 | |
79 % v7 (old) | 12 / 2020 | Acer Chromebook Spin 311 CP311-3H-K2RJ MT8183, Mali-G72 MP3 | 1.1 kg | 18.8 mm | 11.60" | 1366x768 | |
74.9 % v7 (old) | 03 / 2020 | BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 Celeron N4100, UHD Graphics 600 | 1 kg | 14.4 mm | 11.60" | 1920x1080 |
Case & equipment - IdeaPad with plastic chassis
The silver-gray plastic casing does not reveal any manufacturing flaws. There is room for improvement in terms of stability/rigidity. There is no maintenance hatch. The innards are accessible after removing the bottom shell. The battery is permanently installed.
The most necessary ports are available: two USB-A slots (USB 3.2 Gen 1), one HDMI output, one audio combo slot. The IdeaPad does not offer USB-C. The built-in microSD memory card reader (reference card: Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB) takes things slowly.
The WLAN chip (Qualcomm QCA6174) supports the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards and offers Bluetooth 4.2 functionality. The transfer rates determined under optimal conditions (no other WLAN devices in the immediate vicinity, short distance between notebook and server PC) turn out well. We tested with the WiFi 6 tri-band router Netgear Nighthawk AX12.
Windows 10 Home in S mode serves as the operating system. A free upgrade to the regular Home version of Windows 10 can be made. We applied this upgrade to be able to perform our test.
Connectivity
SD Card Reader | |
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB) | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II) | |
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB) | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II) |
Networking | |
iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
Average Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174 (247 - 668, n=38) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
iperf3 receive AX12 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Average Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174 (247 - 657, n=38) | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 |



Input devices - There is no key illumination
Lenovo equips the IdeaPad with an unlit chiclet keyboard. The flat, slightly roughened keys have a short travel and a clear pressure point. The keyboard yields minimally at best during typing. It did not prove to be annoying. All in all, Lenovo delivers a keyboard that is suitable for everyday use.
The smooth surface of the multi-touch capable ClickPad (approx. 9 x 6 cm/~3.54 x 2.36 in) makes it easy for the fingers to glide. It also responds to inputs in the corners. The pad offers a short stroke and a clear pressure point.
Display - The Lenovo computer comes with a TN panel with an unstable viewing angle
Brightness (254.4 cd/m²) and contrast (548:1) of the matte 11.6-inch screen (1,366 x 768 pixels) are too low. We consider values beyond 300 cd/m² or 1,000:1 as good. Nevertheless: Considering the price level of the notebook, the rates are okay.
The display flickers with a frequency of 24,000 Hz at brightness levels of 60% and below. Due to the high frequency, even sensitive people should be spared from headaches and/or eye problems.
|
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 265 cd/m²
Contrast: 548:1 (Black: 0.48 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 11.59 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.87
ΔE Greyscale 13.03 | 0.5-98 Ø5.1
64% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
41% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
43.97% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
63.6% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
42.53% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.34
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 Chi Mei N116BGE-EA2, TN LED, 1366x768, 11.6" | Acer Chromebook Spin 311 CP311-3H-K2RJ IPS, 1366x768, 11.6" | BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 LC116LF3L01, IPS, 1920x1080, 11.6" | |
---|---|---|---|
Display | 47% | ||
Display P3 Coverage | 42.53 | 62.4 47% | |
sRGB Coverage | 63.6 | 93.4 47% | |
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 43.97 | 64.2 46% | |
Response Times | -43% | -30% | |
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 39 ? | 45 ? -15% | 36.1 ? 7% |
Response Time Black / White * | 17 ? | 29 ? -71% | 30.4 ? -79% |
PWM Frequency | 24000 ? | 20000 ? -17% | |
Screen | 31% | 27% | |
Brightness middle | 263 | 219 -17% | 258 -2% |
Brightness | 254 | 214 -16% | 248 -2% |
Brightness Distribution | 88 | 90 2% | 94 7% |
Black Level * | 0.48 | 0.21 56% | 0.26 46% |
Contrast | 548 | 1043 90% | 992 81% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 11.59 | 4.87 58% | 7.1 39% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 18.73 | 18.57 1% | 14.8 21% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 13.03 | 3.39 74% | 9.6 26% |
Gamma | 2.34 94% | 2.61 84% | 2.148 102% |
CCT | 15442 42% | 6941 94% | 10313 63% |
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 41 | ||
Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 64 | ||
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 1.3 | ||
Total Average (Program / Settings) | -6% /
16% | 15% /
19% |
* ... smaller is better
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
17 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 12 ms rise | |
↘ 5 ms fall | ||
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 36 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.7 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
39 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 20 ms rise | |
↘ 19 ms fall | ||
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 56 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.5 ms). |
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Screen flickering / PWM detected | 24000 Hz | ≤ 60 % brightness setting | |
The display backlight flickers at 24000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 60 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 24000 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8492 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. |
The screen does not offer a good color reproduction in its state of delivery. With a deviation of almost 12, the target (DeltaE less than 3) is clearly missed. Furthermore, the display suffers from a clear blue cast. The AdobeRGB (41%) and sRGB (64%) color spaces are not completely reproduced.
Performance - At the bottom of the scale
Lenovo's IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 is an 11.6-inch notebook that offers enough performance for simple office and Internet applications.
Note: Incorrect speed display
The tools we use (HWInfo, CPU-Z, HWMonitor) cannot read the CPU clock correctly. The determined values correspond to a quarter of the actual clock. How do we know that? If the speeds were correct, the CPU test results would be much lower. Furthermore, HWInfo shows a bus clock of 25 MHz - the actual clock is 100 MHz.
Presumably, the hardware platform used here is responsible for the problem. It also occurred in the recently tested Medion Akoya E14307 with AMD-3020e-APU.
Curious: More power in battery mode
The IdeaPad often delivers a bit more computing power in battery mode than in mains mode - especially in multi-thread applications and GPU-heavy applications. Therefore, we ran many benchmarks on both AC and battery power. The results can be found in the comparison charts.
Processor
The CPU part of the installed Athlon-Silver-3050e APU (Raven Ridge) consists of a dual-core processor that operates with a base speed of 1.4 GHz. An increase up to 2.8 GHz is possible via Turbo. Simultaneous multithreading (two threads per core) is supported.
The processor processes the multi-thread test of the Cinebench R15 benchmark with 2 to 2.1 GHz (mains operation) and 2.3 to 2.4 GHz (battery operation). The single-thread test is always run with 1.6 to 2.8 GHz.
We check whether the CPU Turbo is used permanently by running the multi-thread test of the Cinebench R15 benchmark in a loop for at least 30 minutes. After ten runs, the clock drops from 2 to 2.1 GHz to 1.6 GHz and remains at this level. The Turbo operates at a medium level for about 30 minutes. The exact same behavior is seen in battery mode - at higher clock rates.
Cinebench R15 | |
CPU Single 64Bit | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (n=1) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
CPU Multi 64Bit | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (217 - 236, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 |
Blender - v2.79 BMW27 CPU | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (2159 - 2438, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) |
7-Zip 18.03 | |
7z b 4 -mmt1 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (2223 - 2826, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
7z b 4 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (6540 - 6743, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 |
Cinebench R20 | |
CPU (Single Core) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (220 - 229, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
CPU (Multi Core) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (386 - 453, n=2) | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 |
Cinebench R23 | |
Single Core | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (567 - 585, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
Multi Core | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (991 - 1358, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 |
Geekbench 5.5 | |
Single-Core | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (538 - 651, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
Multi-Core | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (1133 - 1211, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 |
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - 4k Preset | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (1.09 - 1.44, n=2) | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 |
LibreOffice - 20 Documents To PDF | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (144 - 188, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 |
R Benchmark 2.5 - Overall mean | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (1.152 - 1.215, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 |
* ... smaller is better
System performance
The combination of a weak APU, 4 GB of working memory and - in relation to an SSD - slow eMMC storage is made for simple applications from the office and Internet fields. The system quickly reaches its limits: The hardware should not be expected to handle more than one or two browser windows or applications open at the same time. Otherwise, the system runs sluggishly.
Lenovo reduces the performance potential because the working memory (DDR4-2400, onboard) only runs in single-channel mode. Extending or swapping the memory is not possible.
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 2494 points | |
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 2093 points | |
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4057 points | |
PCMark 10 Score | 2257 points | |
Help |
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Average AMD Athlon Silver 3050e, AMD Radeon RX Vega 3 (n=1) | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 |
DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 |
* ... smaller is better
Mass storage
An eMMC storage module with a total capacity of 64 GB serves as the system drive. About 33 GB of this is available for free use in the state of delivery. The transfer rates are on a normal level for eMMC storage. An expansion of the available space would be feasible via MicroSD card.
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 64 GB eMMC Flash | BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 FORESEE 256GB | Average 64 GB eMMC Flash | Average of class Netbook | |
---|---|---|---|---|
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6 | -49% | |||
Write 4K | 42.87 | 16 ? -63% | ||
Read 4K | 23.65 | 11 ? -53% | ||
Write Seq | 225.1 | 109 ? -52% | ||
Read Seq | 260.6 | 207 ? -21% | ||
Write 4K Q32T1 | 61 | 22.4 ? -63% | ||
Read 4K Q32T1 | 76.3 | 31.5 ? -59% | ||
Write Seq Q32T1 | 213.8 | 104.6 ? -51% | ||
Read Seq Q32T1 | 241.5 | 166.5 ? -31% | ||
AS SSD | ||||
Seq Read | 476 | 188.2 ? | ||
Seq Write | 445 | 102.6 ? | ||
4K Read | 20.03 | 18.6 ? | ||
4K Write | 39.11 | 18.9 ? | ||
4K-64 Read | 113.4 | 20.6 ? | ||
4K-64 Write | 205.1 | 17.5 ? | ||
Access Time Read * | 0.794 | 0.3321 ? | ||
Access Time Write * | 0.383 | 1.057 ? | ||
Score Read | 181 | 54.9 ? | ||
Score Write | 289 | 48.5 ? | ||
Score Total | 569 | 132.9 ? | ||
Copy ISO MB/s | 458 | 104.8 ? | ||
Copy Program MB/s | 129.6 | 48.5 ? | ||
Copy Game MB/s | 114 | 82.4 ? | ||
Total Average (Program / Settings) | -49% /
-49% |
* ... smaller is better
Continuous reading: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
Graphics card
The Radeon Vega 3 Graphics core supports DirectX 12 and operates at speeds of up to 1,000 MHz. The results in the 3DMark benchmarks are on the expected level. More would have been possible here with an active dual-channel mode. The decoder integrated into the GPU can unload the processor during video playback. Thus, using streaming services would not be a problem.
3DMark 11 Performance | 1190 points | |
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 41613 points | |
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 4256 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Score | 662 points | |
3DMark Time Spy Score | 223 points | |
Help |
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU | |
Average AMD Radeon RX Vega 3 (1108 - 2048, n=14) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 |
3DMark | |
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics | |
Average AMD Radeon RX Vega 3 (726 - 1522, n=16) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics | |
Average AMD Radeon RX Vega 3 (5005 - 12278, n=16) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 (Akkubetrieb) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 | |
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics | |
Average AMD Radeon RX Vega 3 (196 - 450, n=11) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 |
Gaming performance
The APU can handle simple casual games or browser games. Modern 3D games, such as those in our database, are only occasionally played smoothly by the hardware - at low resolutions and low quality levels.
low | med. | high | ultra | |
---|---|---|---|---|
BioShock Infinite (2013) | 40.6 | 21.4 | 18 | |
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 40.5 | 20.7 | 9 | 8.5 |
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 11 | 9.03 | 8.37 |
Emissions & Energy - Silent thanks to passive cooling
Noise emissions
Since the IdeaPad is passively cooled and does not have a mechanical drive on board, it operates silently.
Temperature
Our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least one hour) processes the CPU and GPU with 1.5 to 1.6 GHz and 200 to 400 MHz, respectively - in mains and battery mode. The stress test represents an extreme scenario. We use this test to check whether the system runs stably even under full load.
The 11.6 incher does not heat up very much. During the stress test, we only recorded a temperature above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) at one measuring point. The rates are within the green zone in everyday use.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 38.3 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 33.1 °C / 92 F, ranging from 21.6 to 53.2 °C for the class Netbook.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 41.6 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 36.6 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.4 °C / 74 F, compared to the device average of 29.8 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 25.9 °C / 78.6 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 29.3 °C / 84.7 F (+3.4 °C / 6.1 F).
Speaker
The stereo speakers produce an acceptable sound, but hardly any bass. Headphones or external speakers have to be used for a better sound experience.
Energy consumption
The device needs very little energy over the entire load range - no surprise there. After all, the notebook is equipped with a frugal APU. The rated power of the included power supply is 45 watts.
Off / Standby | ![]() ![]() |
Idle | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Load |
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Key:
min: ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Battery life
The Lenovo laptop achieved a runtime of 6:11 h in our practical WLAN test. The load when calling up websites is mapped via a script.
Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing | |
Acer Chromebook Spin 311 CP311-3H-K2RJ | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 | |
BMAX MaxBook Y11 H1M6 |
Pros
Cons
Verdict
High performance should not be expected from Lenovo's 11.6 incher. The combination of a passively cooled Athlon Silver 3050e-APU, 4 GB of working memory (single-channel mode, not expandable) and eMMC module (64 GB) is sufficient for simple office and Internet applications.
Lenovo delivers a modest Chromebook competitor with the IdeaPad 1 11ADA05.
The storage capacity (about 33 GB after the initial setup) is very limited. A storage expansion could be realized via MicroSD card. Lenovo denies our test device the option to accept an M.2-SSD.
The screen (HD, TN panel) is not convincing. It is dark, low-contrast, viewing-angle unstable and shows poor color reproduction. The battery runtimes do not inspire enthusiasm either. We would have expected more from a low-performance 11.6 incher, where the power adapter would always have to be carried around.
What speaks for the small computer? Apart from the silent operation, the one-year MS Office 365 personal license should be mentioned. Lenovo also grants the IdeaPad a two-year warranty and equips it with a keyboard suitable for everyday use.
Price and availability
The IdeaPad 1 11ADA05 is available in the configuration we tested (Athlon Silver 3050e, 4 GB working memory, 64 GB eMMC, Windows 10 Home in S-mode) for a price of 279 Euros (~$337) at Notebooksbilliger.de.
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 11ADA05
- 04/20/2021 v7 (old)
Sascha Mölck