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Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB (7200U, 940MX, FHD) Laptop Review

Disappointing Screen. Lenovo's 15.6-inch device offers a powerful Kaby Lake processor, a dedicated graphics card and an SSD. The built-in screen proves to be a 100% blunder on Lenovo's part. The battery life will not take anyone's breath away either.

To see the original German review, click here

With the IdeaPad 320-15IKB, Lenovo delivers a 15.6-inch all-rounder.

The machine is powered by a Kaby Lake processor. The GeForce graphics solution, at least to some degree, allows for the use of video games. The rivals of this machine include the Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G, the Dell Inspiron 15 5567-1753 and the HP ProBook 450 G4.

Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE (IdeaPad 320 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-7200U 2 x 2.5 - 3.1 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1189 MHz, Memory: 1253 MHz, GDDR5, 64 Bit bus, ForceWare 387.92, Optimus
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4-2133, dual-channel, one memory slot (occupied), 4 GB soldered-in
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, Chi Mei N156HGA-EAB, TN LED, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
SK Hynix HFS256G3BTND, 256 GB 
, 185 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek High Definition Audio
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Audiokombo, Card Reader: SD, 1 Fingerprint Reader, TPM 2.0
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Realtek 8821AE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Optical drive
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GUE0N
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 23 x 378 x 260 ( = 0.91 x 14.88 x 10.24 in)
Battery
30 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 640x480
Primary Camera: 0.3 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, Cyberlink Power2Go 8, Cyberlink PowerDVD 14, McAfee LiveSafe (test version), MS Office Home & Student 2016 (test version), 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.2 kg ( = 77.6 oz / 4.85 pounds), Power Supply: 223 g ( = 7.87 oz / 0.49 pounds)
Price
799 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case & Connectivity

The plastic case of the IdeaPad comes in the color variant "platinum grey". A pattern is imprinted on the topside of the chassis that gives it a brushed metal feel. The case appears to be well-built and therefore gives no cause for criticism. There is room for improvement in terms of flexibility: The chassis is excessively flexible in many places. It should have been more rigid.

There are no surprises in terms of connectivity: The laptop comes equipped with two USB Type-A ports (USB 3.1 Gen 1) and one USB Type-C port (USB 3.1 Gen 1), which are accompanied by one HDMI Out port and a gigabit Ethernet port. The card reader is not particularly fast. The transfer of 250 JPG files (each around 5 MB) was completed with an average speed of 26 MB/s. We tested the card reader with our reference-grade SD card (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II). 

The chip in the Wi-Fi module is supplied by the company Realtek. It supports not only the wireless LAN standard 802.11a/b/g/n, but also the faster wireless AC standard. The data transfer rates that we have measured under optimal conditions (no other Wi-Fi enabled devices in close proximity, a short distance between the laptop and the server PC) were in good order.

Size Comparison

390 mm / 15.4 inch 259 mm / 10.2 inch 23.3 mm / 0.917 inch 2.3 kg5.06 lbs382 mm / 15 inch 263 mm / 10.4 inch 24 mm / 0.945 inch 2 kg4.5 lbs381.6 mm / 15 inch 259 mm / 10.2 inch 21.6 mm / 0.85 inch 2.1 kg4.63 lbs378 mm / 14.9 inch 260 mm / 10.2 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 2.2 kg4.85 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

I/O

left side: DC power socket, gigabit-ethernet port, HDMI Out, two USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Type-A) ports, microphone and headphone jack, one USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Type-C) port, SD card reader
left side: DC power socket, gigabit-ethernet port, HDMI Out, 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Type-A), microphone and headphone jack, USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Type-C), SD card reader
right side: DVD burner, Kensington lock
right side: DVD burner, Kensington Security Slot
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
 
72.7 MB/s +180%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
64 MB/s +146%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
26 MB/s
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
23.2 MB/s -11%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
 
89 MB/s +209%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
84.7 MB/s +194%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
28.8 MB/s
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
27.5 MB/s -5%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
Realtek 8821AE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
333 MBit/s
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
332 MBit/s 0%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
319 MBit/s -4%
iperf3 receive AX12
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
350 MBit/s +23%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
297 MBit/s +4%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
Realtek 8821AE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
285 MBit/s

Input Devices

The unlit chiclet-style keyboard of the IdeaPad comes with a numeric keypad. The flat, slightly rough keys have a short travel distance and a clear operating point. The key resistance is, essentially, in good order, however, it is a little too crisp for our taste. During typing, the keyboard exhibits some noticeable flex in the middle. This did not prove annoying, however. All in all, Lenovo delivers a decent keyboard here.

The multitouch-enabled ClickPad takes up a surface area of 10.5 x 7 cm (~4.1 x 2.8 in). Therefore, there is enough space for gesture control. The various gestures can be enabled and disabled in the configurations menu of the ClickPad. The smooth surface of the ClickPad makes finger-gliding easy, and the corners of the ClickPad also register inputs. The ClickPad has short travel and a clear pressure point.

Input devices
Input devices

Display

pixel arrangement
pixel arrangement

The matte 15.6-inch display of the IdeaPad has a native resolution of 1920x1080. Neither the brightness (207.3 cd/m2) nor the contrast ratio (516:1) are appropriate for the device’s price tag. Here we would expect values well above 300cd/m2 and 1000:1, respectively.

Unfortunately, at 70 % brightness and below, the screen exhibits PWM flickering with a frequency of 25000 Hz.. However, such a high frequency should not lead to headaches and/or eye-strain amongst individuals who are susceptible to flickering.

215
cd/m²
209
cd/m²
220
cd/m²
207
cd/m²
227
cd/m²
206
cd/m²
183
cd/m²
201
cd/m²
198
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Chi Mei N156HGA-EAB tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 227 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 207.3 cd/m² Minimum: 4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 81 %
Center on Battery: 236 cd/m²
Contrast: 516:1 (Black: 0.44 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 11.52 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 12.01 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
59% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
38% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
40.81% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
59% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
39.47% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.23
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
TN LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
TN LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
TN LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
Display
-3%
-8%
1%
Display P3 Coverage
39.47
38.3
-3%
36.24
-8%
39.89
1%
sRGB Coverage
59
57.6
-2%
54.6
-7%
59.5
1%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
40.81
39.57
-3%
37.44
-8%
41.24
1%
Response Times
-42%
-1%
-78%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
42 ?(24, 18)
41 ?(18, 23)
2%
43 ?(18, 25)
-2%
51 ?(23, 28)
-21%
Response Time Black / White *
14 ?(10, 4)
26 ?(15, 11)
-86%
14 ?(6, 8)
-0%
30 ?(10, 20)
-114%
PWM Frequency
25000 ?(70)
50 ?(40)
-100%
Screen
43%
-9%
1%
Brightness middle
227
235
4%
145
-36%
214
-6%
Brightness
207
236
14%
144
-30%
201
-3%
Brightness Distribution
81
80
-1%
90
11%
77
-5%
Black Level *
0.44
0.17
61%
0.49
-11%
0.43
2%
Contrast
516
1382
168%
296
-43%
498
-3%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
11.52
4.69
59%
9.27
20%
10.68
7%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
19.97
7.9
60%
16.9
15%
18.07
10%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
12.01
3.34
72%
12.28
-2%
11.32
6%
Gamma
2.23 99%
2.63 84%
2.03 108%
2.26 97%
CCT
13330 49%
6801 96%
10732 61%
12204 53%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
38
36
-5%
35
-8%
38
0%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
59
57
-3%
55
-7%
59
0%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-1% / 22%
-6% / -8%
-25% / -14%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 25000 Hz ≤ 70 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 25000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 70 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 25000 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 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

When it comes to color reproduction, the display fails to impress. With a DeltaE-2000 color deviation of 12.01, it lies far from the target value (DeltaE lower than 3). Moreover, the display suffers from a distinct bluish cast.

CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - Graustufen
CalMAN - Graustufen
CalMAN - Farbsättigung
CalMAN - Farbsättigung

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
14 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 10 ms rise
↘ 4 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. » 29 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
42 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 24 ms rise
↘ 18 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 63 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Lenovo has equipped the IdeaPad with a TN panel with poor viewing angles. Consequently, the display is not legible from every position. Outdoors, the notebook can only be used when the sun is not shining too brightly.

outdoor use (direct sunlight)
outdoor use (direct sunlight)
outdoor use (the sun behind the device)
outdoor use (the sun behind the device)

Performance

With the IdeaPad 320-15IKB, Lenovo has a 15.6-inch all-rounder in its product range. The machine offers enough performance for all of today’s usage scenarios. Our test device is available for 800 Euros (~$940). Other hardware configurations are also available; the prices start at 400 Euros (~$470).

Processor

Lenovo has equipped the IdeaPad with an Intel Core i5-7200U (Kaby Lake) dual-core processor. What we are dealing with here is a low-TDP, mid-range CPU, which has enough computing power to completely satisfy the requirements of most users. The processor has a base clock speed of 2.5 GHz. Intel’s Turbo Boost Technology can increase the frequency up to 3.1 GHz (for both cores). The Turbo is used both when the laptop is plugged in and when it runs on battery power.

Whether the Turbo can be reliably used while the laptop is plugged in we tried to determine by running Multithreaded tests in Cinebench R15 for 30 minutes in a continuous loop. The results generally stayed on the same level. No drop in performance was observed. 

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5000
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
11955
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
4058
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
126 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
329 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
75 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
Intel Core i7-7500U
146 Points +16%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Core i7-7500U
142 Points +13%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Intel Core i5-7200U
129 Points +2%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
Intel Core i5-7200U
126 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
Intel Core i7-7500U
355 Points +8%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Core i7-7500U
338 Points +3%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Intel Core i5-7200U
330 Points 0%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
Intel Core i5-7200U
329 Points
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single 32Bit
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Core i7-7500U
5624 Points +12%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Intel Core i5-7200U
5007 Points 0%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
Intel Core i5-7200U
5000 Points
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Core i7-7500U
12161 Points +2%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
Intel Core i5-7200U
11955 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Intel Core i5-7200U
11247 Points -6%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Intel Core i5-7200U
6766 Points 0%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
Intel Core i5-7200U
6761 Points
32 Bit Single-Core Score
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
Intel Core i5-7200U
3140 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Intel Core i5-7200U
3094 Points -1%
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
Intel Core i5-7200U
7340 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Intel Core i5-7200U
7218 Points -2%
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
Intel Core i5-7200U
3791 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Intel Core i5-7200U
3727 Points -2%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
Intel Core i5-7200U
7636 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Intel Core i5-7200U
7544 Points -1%
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
Intel Core i5-7200U
3899 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Intel Core i5-7200U
3809 Points -2%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
Intel Core i7-7500U
238.6 Points +11%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Core i7-7500U
233.1 Points +8%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
Intel Core i5-7200U
215 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Intel Core i5-7200U
213.8 Points -1%

System Performance

The IdeaPad offers more than enough performance for office and Internet applications. Thanks to a dedicated graphics chip, users can also play video games on the device. We did not encounter any problems. The system ran smoothly and without a hitch, which is supported by the very good results from PC Mark benchmarks. An increase in performance is not possible. Lenovo has already squeezed everything out of it.

PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3677 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4418 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4623 points
PCMark 10 Score
2918 points
Help
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Radeon R7 M445, i7-7500U, SanDisk X400 SED 256GB, SATA (SD8TB8U-256G)
3978 Points +8%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
GeForce 940MX, i5-7200U, SK Hynix HFS256G3BTND
3677 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
GeForce MX150, i5-7200U, Kingston RBUSNS8180DS3128GH
3650 Points -1%
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
GeForce 930MX, i7-7500U, SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002
3163 Points -14%

Storage Devices

A solid-state drive from Hynix serves as the system drive. It is a 2.5-inch model with a capacity of 256 GB, of which only 185 GB is available to the user. The rest of the storage space is reserved for Windows Installation files and for the recovery partition. The data transfer rates proved to be in good order.

SK Hynix HFS256G3BTND
Sequential Read: 466.4 MB/s
Sequential Write: 259.3 MB/s
512K Read: 314.5 MB/s
512K Write: 259.4 MB/s
4K Read: 31.47 MB/s
4K Write: 78.3 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 346.1 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 260.4 MB/s
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
SK Hynix HFS256G3BTND
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
Kingston RBUSNS8180DS3128GH
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
SanDisk X400 SED 256GB, SATA (SD8TB8U-256G)
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-24%
12%
Read Seq
466.4
407.5
-13%
502
8%
Write Seq
259.3
283.5
9%
458.1
77%
Read 512
314.5
282.4
-10%
382.8
22%
Write 512
259.4
72.7
-72%
385.7
49%
Read 4k
31.47
26.81
-15%
29.25
-7%
Write 4k
78.3
73.7
-6%
55.9
-29%
Read 4k QD32
346.1
294.8
-15%
285.2
-18%
Write 4k QD32
260.4
89.6
-66%
239.6
-8%

Graphics Card

The GeForce 940MX graphics chip was one of the mid-range category of GPUs until the GeForce MX150 came along. Nowadays it is only considered an entry-level graphics card. It supports DirectX 12 and operates at a core clock speed of up to 1189 MHz. The graphics chip has 2048 MB of GDDR5 memory by its side. The memory works noticeably faster than DDR3, which is often used instead of GDDR5. Therefore the IdeaPad performs considerably better in the 3Dmark benchmarks than notebooks that come equipped with the DDR3 variant of the 940MX graphics card, such as the MSI CX62 7QL.

All in all, there are three variants of the 940MX graphics chip (two GDDR5 variants and one DDR3 variant). You can find further information about the differences between the two GDDR5 variants in our review of the Acer TravelMate P259-MG.

3DMark 11 Performance
3050 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
51684 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
8042 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
2136 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-7200U
4575 Points +57%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
2918 Points
Acer TravelMate P259-MG-71UU
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
2821 Points -3%
Asus AsusPro P4540UQ-FY0056R
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
2645 Points -9%
MSI CX62 7QL
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
2411 Points -17%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
AMD Radeon R7 M445, Intel Core i7-7500U
2208 Points -24%
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
NVIDIA GeForce 930MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
2092 Points -28%
HP 15-ba077ng
AMD Radeon R7 (Bristol Ridge), AMD A12-9700P
1856 Points -36%
Lenovo Ideapad 110-15ACL 80TJ00H0GE
AMD Radeon R5 (Beema/Carrizo-L), AMD A8-7410
899 Points -69%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-7200U
19333 Points +38%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
13979 Points
Acer TravelMate P259-MG-71UU
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
13459 Points -4%
Asus AsusPro P4540UQ-FY0056R
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
11513 Points -18%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
AMD Radeon R7 M445, Intel Core i7-7500U
9617 Points -31%
MSI CX62 7QL
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
9252 Points -34%
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
NVIDIA GeForce 930MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
9122 Points -35%
HP 15-ba077ng
AMD Radeon R7 (Bristol Ridge), AMD A12-9700P
8107 Points -42%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-7200U
3576 Points +53%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
2339 Points
Acer TravelMate P259-MG-71UU
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
2222 Points -5%
Asus AsusPro P4540UQ-FY0056R
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
2113 Points -10%
MSI CX62 7QL
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
1664 Points -29%
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
NVIDIA GeForce 930MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
1637 Points -30%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
AMD Radeon R7 M445, Intel Core i7-7500U
1579 Points -32%
HP 15-ba077ng
AMD Radeon R7 (Bristol Ridge), AMD A12-9700P
1213 Points -48%
Geekbench 4.0 - Compute OpenCL Score
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-7200U
45746 Points +36%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
33522 Points
Asus AsusPro P4540UQ-FY0056R
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
30094 Points -10%
HP 15-ba077ng
AMD Radeon R7 (Bristol Ridge), AMD A12-9700P
22947 Points -32%
Lenovo Ideapad 110-15ACL 80TJ00H0GE
AMD Radeon R5 (Beema/Carrizo-L), AMD A8-7410
9692 Points -71%
Geekbench 4.4 - Compute OpenCL Score
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-7200U
46097 Points +38%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
33513 Points

Gaming Performance

The hardware of the IdeaPad allows most computer games to run smoothly at HD resolution (1366x768) at the medium quality settings. Games that have low system requirements allow for better settings, whereas titles with high system requirements, such as “For Honor”, may require lowering the resolution and/or the graphics settings.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 122.1 68.4 59.7 22.8
Warhammer 40.000: Dawn of War III (2017) 52.3 18.2 16.7 14.4
Prey (2017) 73.2 28.2 22.2 18.7
Rocket League (2017) 112.5 45.8 32
Dirt 4 (2017) 87.6 31.7 16.3 9.9
Team Fortress 2 (2017) 88 82.3 71 59.7
Playerunknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) (2017) 44.9 16.9 15.3 10.1
F1 2017 (2017) 51 25 20 13
Ark Survival Evolved (2017) 33.2 9 6.2 3.1
FIFA 18 (2017) 115.2 70.3 58.5 56.3
BioShock Infinite - 1366x768 High Preset
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-7200U
82.2 fps +38%
Acer TravelMate P259-MG-71UU
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
61.9 fps +4%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
59.7 fps
Asus AsusPro P4540UQ-FY0056R
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
55 fps -8%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
AMD Radeon R7 M445, Intel Core i7-7500U
44.5 (8.7min - 164.9max) fps -25%
MSI CX62 7QL
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
44 fps -26%
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
NVIDIA GeForce 930MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
41.77 fps -30%
HP 15-ba077ng
AMD Radeon R7 (Bristol Ridge), AMD A12-9700P
32.6 fps -45%
Lenovo Ideapad 110-15ACL 80TJ00H0GE
AMD Radeon R5 (Beema/Carrizo-L), AMD A8-7410
15.9 fps -73%

Emissions & Energy Management

Noise Emissions

The IdeaPad operates quietly under most loads. While idling and under low loads, the fan stands still, which results in silent operation. Under full load, the fan does not spin particularly fast. During our stress test we measured a sound pressure level of 35.4 dB(A).

Noise Level

Idle
30.5 / 30.5 / 30.5 dB(A)
DVD
0 / dB(A)
Load
35.1 / 35.4 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 30.5 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.434.833.231.42532.23232.532.23132.433.634.332.44030.129.730.230.15030.533.631.230.56328.828.228.728.88026.326.826.726.310025.425.225.925.412525.424.92425.416025.123.723.925.120023.423.823.823.425024.123.721.724.131525.324.621.125.340024.724.620.224.750023.323.119.223.363023.523.318.823.58002423.518.124100024.424.317.624.4125024.523.817.624.5160025.825.417.825.8200023.723.717.623.7250025.825.517.825.8315023.923.417.923.9400020.920.718.120.9500019.719.718.319.7630019.319.318.419.3800019.219.218.719.21000019.11918.919.11250018.918.918.818.91600019.119.31919.1SPL35.435.130.535.4N2.32.21.42.3median 23.9median 23.7median 18.8median 23.9Delta2.32.61.22.3hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseLenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE

Temperature

The IdeaPad During the Stress Test
The IdeaPad During the Stress Test

The IdeaPad completes our stress test (running Prime95 and FurMark for at least one continuous hour) with similar results, both when plugged in and when running on battery. The processor operates at 2.5 GHz. The core clock of the GPU fluctuates between 500 and 600 MHz. The device does not get excessively hot. During the stress test, certain areas of the laptop exceeded the 40-degree Celsius (~104 degrees Fahrenheit) mark.

Max. Load
 43.8 °C
111 F
40.2 °C
104 F
29.1 °C
84 F
 
 41.3 °C
106 F
39 °C
102 F
28 °C
82 F
 
 36.6 °C
98 F
38.4 °C
101 F
26.4 °C
80 F
 
Maximum: 43.8 °C = 111 F
Average: 35.9 °C = 97 F
28.5 °C
83 F
35 °C
95 F
43.7 °C
111 F
27.3 °C
81 F
36.7 °C
98 F
41.4 °C
107 F
26 °C
79 F
29.2 °C
85 F
33.5 °C
92 F
Maximum: 43.7 °C = 111 F
Average: 33.5 °C = 92 F
Power Supply (max.)  42 °C = 108 F | Room Temperature 22.6 °C = 73 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35.9 °C / 97 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 43.8 °C / 111 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 43.7 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 38.4 °C / 101.1 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (-9.6 °C / -17.3 F).
Heat Distribution of the Topside (under load)
Heat Distribution of the Topside (under load)
Heat Distribution of the bottom side (under load)
Heat Distribution of the bottom side (under load)
Heat Distribution of the Topside (idle operation)
Heat Distribution of the Topside (idle operation)
Heat Distribution of the bottom side (idle operation)
Heat Distribution of the bottom side (idle operation)

Speakers

The stereo speakers are positioned in the front part of the underside of the device. They produce a largely crisp sound that has a certain degree of dullness to it. For a better listening experience, the user is advised to use a pair of headphones or external speakers. 

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs203033.2302531.832.531.83133.934.333.94031.230.231.25028.931.228.96330.628.730.68027.826.727.810026.125.926.112525.72425.716027.823.927.820033.723.833.725051.221.751.231556.321.156.340057.520.257.550053.319.253.363053.618.853.680058.418.158.4100058.517.658.5125066.217.666.2160062.417.862.4200062.817.662.8250065.617.865.6315065.417.965.4400060.818.160.8500063.218.363.2630058.518.458.5800064.818.764.81000068.118.968.1125006418.8641600060.61960.6SPL75.330.575.3N35.11.435.1median 58.5median 18.8median 58.5Delta8.21.28.235.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGEApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (68.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.4% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.3% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 84% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 10% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 70% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 24% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes can be switched on and off!)

Power Consumption

The laptop does not draw too much power in most usage scenarios. In idle operation, we measured the maximum power draw of 7.3 watts - a good result. During our stress test, the power consumption increased to a mere 42 watts, since the CPU and the GPU were both throttling. The nominal power draw of the AC adapter amounts to 65 watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.29 / 0.35 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.9 / 5.9 / 7.3 Watt
Load midlight 39.5 / 42 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
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 Life

Our practically-oriented Wi-Fi test simulates loads which are consistent with browsing the web. The test runs with the “balanced” profile selected, the brightness set to 150 cd/m² and power saving functions switched off. The IdeaPad’s battery runtime comes in at 4 hours and 39 minutes - not an outstanding result. We expect battery runtimes of 5 to 6 hours from a 15.6-inch notebook. The reason for bad battery life is the low-capacity (30 Wh) battery. 

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 40)
4h 39min
Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-51RL
i5-7200U, GeForce MX150, 48 Wh
517 min +85%
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
i7-7500U, GeForce 930MX, 45 Wh
513 min +84%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
i7-7500U, Radeon R7 M445, 42 Wh
417 min +49%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
i5-7200U, GeForce 940MX, 30 Wh
279 min

Pros

+ mate screen
+ Full-HD resolution
+ solid state drive
+ USB Type-C
+ quiet operation
+ wireless AC

Cons

- dim screen with poor contrast and viewing angles
- no keyboard back-light
- non-removable back cover
- average battery life

Verdict

The Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80LX01NEGE, provided courtesy of cyberport
The Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80LX01NEGE, provided courtesy of cyberport

With the IdeaPad 320-15IKB, Lenovo delivers a 15.6-inch all-rounder. The Kaby Lake processor provides all the necessary computational power. The dedicated graphics chip makes it possible to run a wide array of computer games. However, one must show some restraint with the resolution and graphics settings, if one is to achieve playable frame rates. The device does not get very hot and operates quietly most of the time. A solid-state drive ensures a highly responsive system.

The IdeaPad 320-15IKB represents an all-rounder fit for home use.

The laptop’s keyboard has left a positive impression and is fit for regular office work. Nevertheless, we miss a keyboard backlight. It should be a standard feature with an 800-Euro (~$940) notebook.

The quality of the screen does not match the price tag of the device. Here, Lenovo uses a panel with poor brightness, contrast and viewing angles, which would have been acceptable had it been a low-price notebook. The battery life is also nothing to write home about. Because Lenovo has skimped on the battery capacity (30 Wh), the laptop manages to reach a runtime of just 4 hours and 39 minutes in our Wi-Fi test while on battery power. Therefore, we cannot say that this notebook is suitable for mobile use.

Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE - 10/19/2017 v6(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
77 / 98 → 78%
Keyboard
76%
Pointing Device
88%
Connectivity
45 / 81 → 56%
Weight
62 / 20-67 → 89%
Battery
79%
Display
76%
Games Performance
68 / 85 → 80%
Application Performance
86 / 92 → 94%
Temperature
90%
Noise
93 / 95 → 97%
Audio
50%
Camera
25 / 85 → 29%
Average
70%
79%
Multimedia - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB (7200U, 940MX, FHD) Laptop Review
Sascha Mölck, 2017-10-20 (Update: 2020-05-19)