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Lenovo IdeaPad S530 (i5-8265U, UHD620) Subnotebook Review

Small and portable. The Lenovo IdeaPad S530 shows once again how compact and mobile a notebook can be. Because of this, users will have to deal with a limited selection of ports. However, those who are not bothered by the lack of ports will be well served by the S530. Read our review to learn what else buyers can expect from the small 13-inch laptop.
Lenovo IdeaPad S530-13IWL

The number of Lenovo devices that we review is quite large. Whether we are talking about gaming notebooks such as the Legion Y740-17ICH or All-in-One PCs such as the ThinkCentre M920z, smartphones such as the Lenovo Z5 Pro, Chromebooks such as the Chromebook C630 or office all-rounders such as the ThinkPad L390. Lenovo has a product for almost any user.

The 700-Euro (~$789) Lenovo IdeaPad S530 has been designed to attract buyers who need an ultra-portable notebook with a good system performance. To make sure that the device is up to snuff, the manufacturer relies on Intel’s Core i5-8265U with an integrated UHD Graphics 620 GPU, 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. The battery is supposed to last for up to 8 hours and the inclusion of a USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port makes the lack of ports seem quite forgivable.

In addition to Lenovo notebooks such the ThinkPad L390 and the IdeaPad 730S-13IWL, the IdeaPad S530 has to compete with other notebooks in the same price range. The competing devices include: the Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N, Dell’s Inspiron 13 5379, the HP ProBook 430 G5 and Asus’s ZenBook 13 UX333FA.

Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL (Ideapad S530 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8265U 4 x 1.6 - 3.9 GHz, Whiskey Lake-U
Graphics adapter
Memory
8 GB 
, Dual-channel
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 166 PPI, BOE07D7, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Cannon Lake-U PCH-LP Premium
Storage
Lenovo UMIS AM610 RPFTJ256PDD2MWX, 256 GB 
, 195 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Cannon Lake-LP - cAVS
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: 3.5-mm combined audio jack, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 14.8 x 308.3 x 211 ( = 0.58 x 12.14 x 8.31 in)
Battery
45 Wh, 2964 mAh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 0.9 MP, 16:9, 1280x720p
Additional features
Speakers: Harman® Speakers with Dolby Audio™, Keyboard: Chiclet-style, Keyboard Light: yes, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.19 kg ( = 41.98 oz / 2.62 pounds), Power Supply: 360 g ( = 12.7 oz / 0.79 pounds)
Price
700 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case - Subnotebook made of aluminium

The case of the IdeaPad S530 consists of aluminium, which is why the 13-inch notebook feels both rigid and light. The display lid is very stiff and can be opened with one hand. It has an opening angle of up to 180°. This is why it can be adjusted for any viewing position. There are no ports on the front and the back of the notebook. All the ports are located on the left and the right sides near the back of the device. 

Lenovo IdeaPad S530-13IWL
Lenovo IdeaPad S530-13IWL
Lenovo IdeaPad S530-13IWL
Lenovo IdeaPad S530-13IWL
Lenovo IdeaPad S530-13IWL
Lenovo IdeaPad S530-13IWL
Lenovo IdeaPad S530-13IWL
Lenovo IdeaPad S530-13IWL
Lenovo IdeaPad S530-13IWL

When compared to other 13-inch notebooks, the IdeaPad S530 has relatively small dimensions. The bezels of the Lenovo laptop are not as thin as those of the Asus ZenBook 13. Nevertheless, with a thickness of 5 mm (0.2 inches) on the left and the right, they are still quite small and fit in within the modern concept of “bezel-less” design. Lenovo’s notebook has a weight of 1.2 kg (2.6 lbs), which is why it can be considered quite light.

Size Comparison

325 mm / 12.8 inch 225 mm / 8.86 inch 20.5 mm / 0.807 inch 1.6 kg3.57 lbs326 mm / 12.8 inch 236 mm / 9.29 inch 19 mm / 0.748 inch 1.5 kg3.27 lbs324.4 mm / 12.8 inch 226 mm / 8.9 inch 15.9 mm / 0.626 inch 1.5 kg3.31 lbs308.3 mm / 12.1 inch 211 mm / 8.31 inch 14.8 mm / 0.583 inch 1.2 kg2.62 lbs302 mm / 11.9 inch 189 mm / 7.44 inch 16.9 mm / 0.665 inch 1.2 kg2.62 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity - Lenovo IdeaPad S530 with USB Gen2 Type-C

The Lenovo IdeaPad S530 offers only the most basic ports. Users will have to do without an SD card reader, Kensington security slot and an Ethernet port. A lot of different ports can be replicated using the USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port, which is why the lack of ports is not so significant.

Left side: power socket, one USB 3.1 Gen1 port, 3.5-mm combined audio jack
Left side: power socket, one USB 3.1 Gen1 port, 3.5-mm combined audio jack
Right side: one USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port, one USB 3.1 Gen1 port, HDMI-out
Right side: one USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port, one USB 3.1 Gen1 port, HDMI-out

Communication

Users of the IdeaPad S530 have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1 at their disposal. The Wi-Fi module supports the fast Wireless AC standard and can operate in 5 GHz networks. Because the Lenovo laptop does not feature a 2x2 MIMO antenna, the upload (335 Mb/s) and download (311 Mb/s) speeds are well below average when compared to other devices in this price range.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Subnotebook
  (606 - 1339, n=3, last 2 years)
1056 MBit/s +240%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
657 (630min - 667max) MBit/s +111%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Realtek RTL8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCIe Adapter
640 MBit/s +106%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
635 MBit/s +104%
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Realtek 8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
631 MBit/s +103%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
580 MBit/s +86%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
347 MBit/s +12%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
311 (249min - 368max) MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Subnotebook
  (623 - 1690, n=3, last 2 years)
1258 MBit/s +276%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
687 (343min - 691max) MBit/s +105%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
673 MBit/s +101%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Realtek RTL8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCIe Adapter
661 MBit/s +97%
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Realtek 8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
623 MBit/s +86%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
597 MBit/s +78%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
335 (320min - 344max) MBit/s
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
308 MBit/s -8%
020406080100120140160180200220240260280300320340360Tooltip
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø334 (320-344)
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø311 (249-368)

Security

The Lenovo IdeaPad S530 comes with a built-in fingerprint sensor, which recognizes fingerprints quickly and has no trouble unlocking the system. The setup process went without any problems and during our log-in attempts the fingerprint scanner never failed to log us in.

Accessories

The box contains the notebook itself and the appropriate 65-watt power adapter. Lenovo does not offer any accessories specifically designed for the S530. However, you can buy generic accessories for this notebook such as bags, input devices, power banks and USB Type-C docking stations on Lenovo’s website.

Maintenance

The underside of the Lenovo IdeaPad S530 can be removed after you undo several Torx screws. Consequently, you will have access to the internal components, most of which are soldered-in (except for the SSD). This is why the RAM and the Wi-Fi module cannot be replaced. The SSD can be upgraded with a model that has a higher capacity.

Maintenance options
Maintenance options
Removable SSD
Removable SSD

Warranty

The IdeaPad S530 offers a 24-month warranty. It can be extended up to three years. Buyers can also add on-site service to their warranty package.

Input Devices - Light notebook for prolific writers

Keyboard

The keyboard of the IdeaPad S530 comes with large keys and a good actuation point. This is why those who type a lot will not be making misstrokes even after a long typing session. While the function keys are somewhat smaller, they are still easy to reach and press. However, the very small up and down arrow keys can really get in the way of work. The Lenovo laptop features a keyboard backlight for work in low-light conditions. The keys are illuminated very uniformly, which is why it is easy to type on the laptop when the backlight is switched on.

Touchpad

The IdeaPad S530 uses a ClickPad as a replacement for the mouse. It offers a large surface area for navigating the mouse pointer. The surface of the touchpad is very smooth and feels nice to the touch. You can execute the left or the right click by pressing on the surface near the bottom of the pad. This area has a clear, although somewhat weak, actuation point. The clicks are registered very reliably.

Lenovo IdeaPad S530 - Keyboard and ClickPad
Lenovo IdeaPad S530 - Keyboard and ClickPad
Lenovo IdeaPad S530 - Keyboard backlight
Lenovo IdeaPad S530 - Keyboard backlight

Display - Glossy screen in the IdeaPad S530

Pixel arrangement
Pixel arrangement

The IPS screen of the Lenovo IdeaPad S530 has a glossy surface and a native resolution of 1920x1080. The average brightness of 287 cd/m² is only slightly higher than those of other notebooks in our comparison chart, whereas the brightness distribution of 78% is a little below average when compared to the competing laptops.

Lenovo uses PWM for brightness control. This is why the display exhibits PWM flickering with a frequency of 192 Hz at 90% brightness and below. Because the frequency is really low, susceptible individuals may experience some adverse effects such as headaches and eyestrain. 

Lenovo does not offer any other display options for the IdeaPad S530.

283
cd/m²
302
cd/m²
289
cd/m²
266
cd/m²
306
cd/m²
307
cd/m²
242
cd/m²
280
cd/m²
310
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
BOE07D7 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 310 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 287.2 cd/m² Minimum: 4.9 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 78 %
Center on Battery: 306 cd/m²
Contrast: 1457:1 (Black: 0.21 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.96 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 2.69
ΔE Greyscale 6.9 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
90% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
59% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
65.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
89.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
68.6% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.35
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
BOE07D7, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
LC133LF102, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
BOE BOE06A7, , 1920x1080, 13.30
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
LGD052D, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
AU Optronics B133HAN05.C, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
LP133WF2-SPL8, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
B133HAN05.1, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Display
4%
-35%
-37%
4%
-37%
1%
Display P3 Coverage
68.6
69.8
2%
41.2
-40%
40.23
-41%
67.9
-1%
40.42
-41%
65.6
-4%
sRGB Coverage
89.7
94.6
5%
61.7
-31%
60.3
-33%
97.4
9%
60.4
-33%
95.5
6%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
65.6
69.3
6%
42.6
-35%
41.59
-37%
69.2
5%
41.8
-36%
66.7
2%
Response Times
137%
-7%
3527%
-29%
5259%
24%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
41 ?(22, 19)
49 ?(30, 19)
-20%
45 ?(24, 21)
-10%
41.6 ?(20.4, 21.2)
-1%
54.4 ?(24.4, 30)
-33%
42.8 ?(22.8, 20)
-4%
75.2 ?(32.8, 42.4)
-83%
Response Time Black / White *
30 ?(16, 14)
27 ?(15, 12)
10%
33 ?(20, 13)
-10%
27.2 ?(13.6, 13.6)
9%
37.6 ?(18.8, 18.8)
-25%
30 ?(15.2, 14.8)
-0%
38 ?(22, 16)
-27%
PWM Frequency
192 ?(90)
1000 ?(20)
421%
192 ?(90)
0%
20490 ?(99)
10572%
30490 ?(99)
15780%
544
183%
Screen
12%
-15%
-26%
10%
-32%
15%
Brightness middle
306
295
-4%
274
-10%
262
-14%
276
-10%
298
-3%
355.1
16%
Brightness
287
276
-4%
272
-5%
253
-12%
263
-8%
278
-3%
336
17%
Brightness Distribution
78
88
13%
81
4%
82
5%
89
14%
81
4%
83
6%
Black Level *
0.21
0.27
-29%
0.32
-52%
0.28
-33%
0.21
-0%
0.33
-57%
0.32
-52%
Contrast
1457
1093
-25%
856
-41%
936
-36%
1314
-10%
903
-38%
1110
-24%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.96
2.97
50%
5.57
7%
5.7
4%
4.85
19%
6.5
-9%
2.93
51%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
11.34
5.67
50%
13.48
-19%
22.4
-98%
8.24
27%
23.9
-111%
4.39
61%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
2.69
4.8
-78%
1.6
41%
4.9
-82%
1.83
32%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.9
3.12
55%
4.66
32%
3.6
48%
5.7
17%
5.6
19%
3.6
48%
Gamma
2.35 94%
2.45 90%
2.53 87%
2.15 102%
2.08 106%
2.08 106%
2.071 106%
CCT
7554 86%
6676 97%
7010 93%
7096 92%
7424 88%
6669 97%
7161 91%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
59
62
5%
39
-34%
38.3
-35%
63
7%
38.4
-35%
61
3%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
90
94
4%
61
-32%
60.1
-33%
98
9%
60.1
-33%
95
6%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
51% / 34%
-19% / -17%
1155% / 599%
-5% / 4%
1730% / 901%
13% / 14%

* ... smaller is better

According to our measurements, the screen of the S530 has a very good contrast ratio of 1457:1 and a good black value of 0.21 cd/m². This is why the colours are easy to tell apart and the dark tones look relatively deep. Comparable devices perform worse in this area. The colour-space coverage of 90% for sRGB and 59% for AdobeRGB is not incredibly good. However, it should be good enough for most users, but not for professionals who need accurate colours. 

The CalMAN analysis reveals that the red part of the spectrum is underrepresented straight out of the box. This can be fixed through calibration. You can download our ICC profile at the bottom of the box that contains all display measurements (this box is located to the left of the graphic showing the distribution of brightness).

CalMAN - colour accuracy
CalMAN - colour accuracy
CalMAN - colour accuracy (after calibration)
CalMAN - colour accuracy (after calibration)
CalMAN - grayscale
CalMAN - grayscale
CalMAN - grayscale (after calibration)
CalMAN - grayscale (after calibration)
CalMAN - saturation
CalMAN - saturation
CalMAN - saturation (after calibration)
CalMAN - saturation (after calibration)
Colour-space coverage (sRGB) - 90%
Colour-space coverage (sRGB) - 90%
Colour-space coverage (AdobeRGB) - 59%
Colour-space coverage (AdobeRGB) - 59%
Outdoor use
Outdoor use
Outdoor use
Outdoor use

Despite having the display brightness of about 300 cd/m², the glossy screen of the Lenovo IdeaPad S530 is not usable outdoors. Even in the shade, the reflections of the objects in the environment make reading screen content very difficult. There are also reflections of artificial light sources indoors.

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
30 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16 ms rise
↘ 14 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 77 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
41 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22 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 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 59 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

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 192 Hz ≤ 90 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 192 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 90 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 192 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

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.

The IPS panel of the IdeaPad S530 has very stable viewing angles. The screen content can be read from any angle without any distortions. The Lenovo laptop can be used from unusual positions, as long as there are no reflections on the screen.

Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance - 13-inch notebook with good performance

The IdeaPad S530 comes with Intel’s Core i5-8265U CPU and Intel’s UHD Graphics 620 GPU. Moreover, the laptop also has 8 GB of dual-channel-enabled RAM and a 256 GB SSD. This is why the S530 is suited for somewhat demanding office applications and simple image-editing.

Lenovo also offers an alternative variant of the IdeaPad S530, which features Intel’s Core i7-8565U and Nvidia’s GeForce MX150 and comes with or without an operating system. However, the amount of RAM and storage space is unchanged.

 

Processor

Intel’s Core i5-8265U is a Whiskey Lake-based CPU, which is distinguished through its improved 14-nm manufacturing process. When compared to its Kaby Lake-based predecessor, the Core i5-8250U, the Core i5-8265U is about 10% faster at the same TDP. That being said, the real-world performance depends strongly on the cooling solution. Here, significant differences in performance may arise due to thermal throttling.

In our Cinebench loop, the results of the IdeaPad S530 drop down after a very good start and fluctuate strongly until the end of the test. All in all, the performance falls down about 18% when compared to the first benchmark run. Despite all these fluctuations, the performance of the S530 is above average when compared to other devices in this price range.

In the multi-core section of Cinebench R15, the Intel Core i5-8265U in the Lenovo laptop takes the top spot in our companion chart. However, in the single-core section of Cinebench R15, our review device only takes third place.

03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630665Tooltip
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel Core i5-8265U: Ø561 (516.88-679.86)
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel Core i5-8250U: Ø490 (484.71-533.5)
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573 Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel Core i5-8250U: Ø539 (511.13-610.76)
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel Core i5-8250U: Ø525 (515-586)
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel Core i5-8265U: Ø512 (506.95-595.21)
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (91.8 - 280, n=62, last 2 years)
234 Points +52%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
Intel Core i5-8265U
159 Points +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
Intel Core i5-8265U
155 Points +1%
Average Intel Core i5-8265U
  (111 - 164, n=35)
155 Points +1%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Intel Core i5-8265U
154 Points
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel Core i5-8250U
145 Points -6%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
144 Points -6%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel Core i5-8250U
144 Points -6%
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel Core i5-8265U
126 Points -18%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (514 - 2581, n=70, last 2 years)
1705 Points +151%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Intel Core i5-8265U
679 Points
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel Core i5-8250U
611 Points -10%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
Intel Core i5-8265U
605 Points -11%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
Intel Core i5-8265U
603 Points -11%
Average Intel Core i5-8265U
  (457 - 750, n=38)
592 Points -13%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel Core i5-8250U
586 Points -14%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
534 Points -21%
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel Core i5-8265U
503 Points -26%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
154 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
679 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
53.3 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Help

System Performance

In the PCMark benchmarks, the results of the S530 range quite a bit. While in some sections of the benchmarks, it takes second place, in the end it finishes in the middle of the pack.

In day-to-day use, Lenovo’s notebook feels very responsive. Applications start fast and data can be accessed without any delays. You can find out how the Lenovo IdeaPad S530 stacks up against other laptops on our CPU benchmarks page. 

PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4384 - 7428, n=56, last 2 years)
5810 Points +54%
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
3869 Points +3%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-256G
3787 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
3787 Points +1%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Lenovo UMIS AM610 RPFTJ256PDD2MWX
3764 Points
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
3722 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2247 - 3985, n=29)
3705 Points -2%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3664 Points -3%
Essentials
Average of class Subnotebook
  (8890 - 11168, n=56, last 2 years)
10202 Points +29%
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
8395 Points +6%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
7938 Points +1%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Lenovo UMIS AM610 RPFTJ256PDD2MWX
7885 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (5073 - 8689, n=29)
7833 Points -1%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-256G
7786 Points -1%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
7675 Points -3%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
7669 Points -3%
Productivity
Average of class Subnotebook
  (6213 - 10279, n=56, last 2 years)
7803 Points +32%
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
6556 Points +11%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
6351 Points +7%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
6265 Points +6%
Average Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2941 - 6556, n=29)
6061 Points +2%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
6055 Points +2%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-256G
6025 Points +2%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Lenovo UMIS AM610 RPFTJ256PDD2MWX
5931 Points
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4093 - 9749, n=56, last 2 years)
6758 Points +118%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-256G
3142 Points +1%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Lenovo UMIS AM610 RPFTJ256PDD2MWX
3097 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
3028 Points -2%
Average Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2067 - 3210, n=29)
2917 Points -6%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
2912 Points -6%
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
2857 Points -8%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
2778 Points -10%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4730 - 5285, n=3, last 2 years)
5030 Points +50%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
3792 Points +13%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3592 Points +7%
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
3443 Points +3%
Average Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2747 - 4244, n=24)
3442 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
3378 Points +1%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Lenovo UMIS AM610 RPFTJ256PDD2MWX
3359 Points
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3197 Points -5%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-256G
3150 Points -6%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
4857 Points +2%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Lenovo UMIS AM610 RPFTJ256PDD2MWX
4771 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
4737 Points -1%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
4734 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3132 - 4927, n=23)
4657 Points -2%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
4621 Points -3%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
4563 Points -4%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-256G
4341 Points -9%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2972 - 5271, n=3, last 2 years)
3805 Points -20%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3359 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4771 points
PCMark 10 Score
3764 points
Help

Storage Devices

The SSD in the Lenovo IdeaPad S530 achieves good write and read speeds in our storage benchmark. It is not as fast as some SSDs from Samsung, but it manages to beat all lower-priced models. It takes a spot in the middle of our comparison chart.

You can find out how the built-in SSD known as the Lenovo UMIS AM610 stacks up against other HDDs and SSDs on our HDD/SSD benchmarks page.

Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Lenovo UMIS AM610 RPFTJ256PDD2MWX
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-256G
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
Average Lenovo UMIS AM610 RPFTJ256PDD2MWX
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-41%
16%
15%
66%
46%
-22%
Write 4K
101.5
71.2
-30%
111.3
10%
113.7
12%
99.6
-2%
117
15%
82.8 ?(64.1 - 101.5, n=2)
-18%
Read 4K
44.47
25.36
-43%
32.46
-27%
43.18
-3%
37.22
-16%
40.65
-9%
27.5 ?(10.5 - 44.5, n=2)
-38%
Write Seq
603
196.3
-67%
526
-13%
970
61%
1432
137%
1456
141%
450 ?(296 - 603, n=2)
-25%
Read Seq
686
455.7
-34%
1430
108%
1085
58%
2072
202%
1181
72%
606 ?(525 - 686, n=2)
-12%
Write 4K Q32T1
298.1
261
-12%
516
73%
396.8
33%
439.7
48%
232.3
-22%
259 ?(221 - 298, n=2)
-13%
Read 4K Q32T1
358.7
231.8
-35%
366.6
2%
317.8
-11%
264.8
-26%
311.3
-13%
317 ?(275 - 359, n=2)
-12%
Write Seq Q32T1
872
510
-42%
524
-40%
518
-41%
1549
78%
1463
68%
583 ?(294 - 872, n=2)
-33%
Read Seq Q32T1
1611
525
-67%
1783
11%
1741
8%
3318
106%
3480
116%
1242 ?(873 - 1611, n=2)
-23%
Write 4K Q8T8
828
Read 4K Q8T8
897
AS SSD
-45%
-52%
-8%
0%
47%
36%
-20%
Seq Read
1377
486.3
-65%
462.8
-66%
1408
2%
1186
-14%
1779
29%
2323
69%
1068 ?(758 - 1377, n=2)
-22%
Seq Write
805
421.4
-48%
365.7
-55%
544
-32%
809
0%
1185
47%
1395
73%
542 ?(278 - 805, n=2)
-33%
4K Read
45.01
25.48
-43%
24.71
-45%
30.79
-32%
39.69
-12%
53.8
20%
49.31
10%
36.6 ?(28.1 - 45, n=2)
-19%
4K Write
88.9
80.8
-9%
68.2
-23%
105.1
18%
114
28%
137.5
55%
100.7
13%
81.5 ?(74.1 - 88.9, n=2)
-8%
4K-64 Read
767
235.5
-69%
232.2
-70%
701
-9%
618
-19%
786
2%
765
0%
624 ?(481 - 767, n=2)
-19%
4K-64 Write
611
216.5
-65%
245.1
-60%
447.2
-27%
510
-17%
1296
112%
981
61%
442 ?(273 - 611, n=2)
-28%
Access Time Read *
0.141
0.11
22%
0.13
8%
0.063
55%
0.068
52%
0.048
66%
0.058
59%
0.1375 ?(0.134 - 0.141, n=2)
2%
Access Time Write *
0.043
0.055
-28%
0.074
-72%
0.049
-14%
0.032
26%
0.027
37%
0.037
14%
0.054 ?(0.043 - 0.065, n=2)
-26%
Score Read
950
310
-67%
303
-68%
873
-8%
776
-18%
1018
7%
1047
10%
767 ?(584 - 950, n=2)
-19%
Score Write
781
340
-56%
350
-55%
607
-22%
705
-10%
1552
99%
1221
56%
578 ?(375 - 781, n=2)
-26%
Score Total
2200
813
-63%
812
-63%
1888
-14%
1870
-15%
3076
40%
2770
26%
1721 ?(1242 - 2200, n=2)
-22%
Copy ISO MB/s
327.5
1129
1090
1495
898
290
Copy Program MB/s
157.3
319.1
714
389.7
181.4
220
Copy Game MB/s
246.6
767
413
893
270.5
280
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-45% / -45%
-47% / -47%
4% / 2%
8% / 6%
57% / 55%
41% / 40%
-21% / -21%

* ... smaller is better

Lenovo UMIS AM610 RPFTJ256PDD2MWX
Sequential Read: 687 MB/s
Sequential Write: 627 MB/s
512K Read: 568 MB/s
512K Write: 481.3 MB/s
4K Read: 41.41 MB/s
4K Write: 94.4 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 314.6 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 222.5 MB/s

Graphics Card

The IdeaPad S530 has Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics 620. The performance of this GPU depends, to a considerable degree, on the RAM configuration and benefits strongly from dual-channel-enabled RAM, which is found in our review model.

The S530 achieves good results in the 3DMark benchmarks, which is why it takes first place in our comparison chart. Intel’s UHD Graphics 620 is suitable for simple image-editing and playing non-demanding video games. 

You can learn what kind of performance you can expect from Intel’s UHD Graphics 620 on our GPU benchmarks page.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2979 - 16904, n=55, last 2 years)
8016 Points +329%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
1868 Points
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
1784 Points -4%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points -6%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
1732 Points -7%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
1710 Points -8%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1647 Points -12%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1607 Points -14%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1497 Points -20%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Subnotebook
  (13768 - 65911, n=40, last 2 years)
29002 Points +171%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
10692 Points
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
10660 Points 0%
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
10070 Points -6%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6205 - 16400, n=225)
9262 Points -13%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
9235 Points -14%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
8654 Points -19%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
8182 Points -23%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
8053 Points -25%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2837 - 12349, n=59, last 2 years)
5881 Points +353%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
1297 Points
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
1263 Points -3%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (557 - 2608, n=213)
1161 Points -10%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1136 Points -12%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1049 Points -19%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
1020 Points -21%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
934 Points -28%
3DMark 11 Performance
2098 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
9949 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1184 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU in the Lenovo IdeaPad S530 is only marginally fit for gaming. It can run casual games and older titles. It can also run a handful of modern games, but only on the lowest settings. The six-year-old BioShock Infinite is only playable with the medium preset, and even not the most current games such as Rise of the Tomb Raider and Thief can only run on low settings.

To learn what kind of gaming experience you can expect from Intel’s UHD Graphics 620, go to our Gaming benchmarks page.

BioShock Infinite
1280x720 Very Low Preset
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
73.9 fps
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
72 fps -3%
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
69 fps -7%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
63.4 fps -14%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (18.3 - 90.2, n=187)
60.7 fps -18%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
56.1 fps -24%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
54.7 fps -26%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
49.4 fps -33%
1366x768 Medium Preset
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
37.74 fps
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
37 fps -2%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
36.75 fps -3%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
35.8 fps -5%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (11.5 - 45.5, n=187)
32.8 fps -13%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
29.9 fps -21%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
28.33 fps -25%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
27.1 fps -28%
1366x768 High Preset
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
32 fps +1%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
31.62 fps
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
31 fps -2%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
31 fps -2%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (8.1 - 35.9, n=187)
27.5 fps -13%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
24.6 fps -22%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
23.19 fps -27%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
21.8 fps -31%
1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
16 fps +65%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
10.26 fps +6%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
9.69 fps
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
9.6 fps -1%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (4.5 - 17, n=176)
9.2 fps -5%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
8 fps -17%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
7.6 fps -22%
Thief
1024x768 Very Low Preset
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
28 fps
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
26 fps -7%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (16.3 - 34.3, n=10)
24.3 fps -13%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
22.8 fps -19%
1366x768 Normal Preset AA:FX
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
19.7 fps
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
18 fps -9%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (10.4 - 19.7, n=10)
14.4 fps -27%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
11.5 fps -42%
1366x768 High Preset AA:FXAA & Low SS AF:4x
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
14 fps
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (8.5 - 15.1, n=5)
12.9 fps
Rise of the Tomb Raider
1024x768 Lowest Preset
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
22.45 fps
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
21.5 fps -4%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (10.4 - 110.7, n=82)
21.4 fps -5%
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
21 fps -6%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
20.8 fps -7%
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
20.1 fps -10%
1366x768 Medium Preset AF:2x
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
13.7 fps +2%
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
13.41 fps
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6.5 - 49.3, n=62)
13 fps -3%
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
12 fps -11%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
11.7 fps -13%
1920x1080 High Preset AA:FX AF:4x
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
7.3 fps
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (4.9 - 32, n=42)
7.23 fps
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
6 fps
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 73.9 37.74 31.62 9.69
Thief (2014) 28 19.7
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 22.45 13.41

Emissions - Quiet notebook from Lenovo

System Noise

System noise
System noise

Under low load, the fans of the IdeaPad S530 stand still, which leads to silent operation. They start spinning only when the system is taxed. Here, the fans produce a slight hum that is often drowned out by the ambient noise. The fan noise becomes annoying only in very quiet environments. The S530 does not produce any abnormal noises such as coil whine.

Noise Level

Idle
30.4 / 30.4 / 30.4 dB(A)
Load
34.4 / 37.4 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: 30.4 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2032.336.332.332.32533.23435.733.23135.643.934.935.64030.434.231.530.45032.233.730.932.26328.829.73028.88026.427.325.726.410025.627.324.725.612525.925.925.125.916024.925.12424.920023.824.922.123.825023.524.92223.531523.328.52123.340021.62319.721.65002324.918.7236302325.418.92380023.426.218.123.410002427.117.624125021.624.317.421.6160022.325.417.322.320002325.517.523250024.627.917.524.6315022.626.217.822.6400021.225.518.121.2500020.625.318.420.6630019.922.718.519.9800019.420.618.619.4100001919.618.71912500191918.7191600019.219.118.919.2SPL34.437.430.434.4N1.92.61.21.9median 23median 25.3median 18.7median 23Delta1.81.91.41.8hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseLenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

According to our measurements, the surface temperatures of the Lenovo IdeaPad S530 hover around 25 °C (77 °F) at idle and 40 °C (104 °F) under load. The notebook feels slightly warm but never hot. This is why it can be used on the lap.

During our one-hour stress test, the temperatures inside the device reached up to 87 °C (188.6 °F), which resulted in the clock speed falling temporarily below the base clock of 1.6 GHz. By the end of the stress test, the cooling system managed to stabilize the clock speed again, which allowed the CPU to maintain its base clock most of the time.

Max. Load
 37 °C
99 F
38.5 °C
101 F
39.4 °C
103 F
 
 32.4 °C
90 F
38.4 °C
101 F
38 °C
100 F
 
 30 °C
86 F
30 °C
86 F
32.4 °C
90 F
 
Maximum: 39.4 °C = 103 F
Average: 35.1 °C = 95 F
38.2 °C
101 F
40.5 °C
105 F
34 °C
93 F
35.4 °C
96 F
35.5 °C
96 F
31.8 °C
89 F
33.1 °C
92 F
32.9 °C
91 F
31.3 °C
88 F
Maximum: 40.5 °C = 105 F
Average: 34.7 °C = 94 F
Power Supply (max.)  40.3 °C = 105 F | Room Temperature 23 °C = 73 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35.1 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 39.4 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 40.5 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.6 °C / 76 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (32.4 °C / 90.3 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-4.1 °C / -7.4 F).
Heat distribution at idle - top
Heat distribution at idle - top
Heat distribution at idle - bottom
Heat distribution at idle - bottom
Heat distribution under load - top
Heat distribution under load - top
Heat distribution under load - bottom
Heat distribution under load - bottom

Speakers

Pink noise
Pink noise

The speakers of the IdeaPad S530 come with a Harman certification and a Dolby Audio logo. However, they do not sound particularly loud and produce a very unbalanced sound, in which high frequencies are overrepresented. The speakers of the IdeaPad S530 are good enough for occasional use, but we recommend you get a pair of headphones or external speakers if you want to use the Lenovo laptop for media consumption on a regular basis. 

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2032.532.332.52531.835.731.83133.134.933.14030.831.530.85029.730.929.76329.33029.38026.725.726.710025.624.725.612525.725.125.716027.52427.520034.622.134.625051.72251.731558.22158.240058.919.758.950057.218.757.263055.218.955.280066.818.166.8100067.617.667.6125065.417.465.4160063.617.363.6200061.117.561.1250059.117.559.1315054.517.854.540005518.155500059.118.459.1630056.118.556.1800056.918.656.9100005618.7561250050.418.750.41600048.118.948.1SPL73.830.473.8N28.91.228.9median 56.1median 18.7median 56.1Delta6.11.46.135.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo Ideapad S530-13IWLApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (66.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 19.6% lower than median
(-) | bass is not linear (15% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.1% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 81% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 14% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 73% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 21% 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%

Energy Management - Laptop with fast charging

Energy Consumption

According to our measurements, the Lenovo IdeaPad S530 draws at least 2.8 watts when idle and up to 55 watts under load. These results are quite average for a device in this price range and also mean that the included 65-watt power adapter should be able to provide enough energy to charge the device under any circumstances.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.23 / 0.29 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.8 / 5.6 / 7.4 Watt
Load midlight 41.6 / 55 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.
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, Lenovo UMIS AM610 RPFTJ256PDD2MWX, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 13.30
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-256G, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
 
Average of class Subnotebook
 
Power Consumption
-6%
2%
-15%
18%
-12%
1%
-10%
-39%
Idle Minimum *
2.8
3.9
-39%
3.2
-14%
4.5
-61%
1.6
43%
3.8
-36%
2.8
-0%
3.81 ?(1 - 12.4, n=259)
-36%
4.9 ?(1.77 - 11.8, n=63, last 2 years)
-75%
Idle Average *
5.6
8.2
-46%
5.9
-5%
6.8
-21%
4.6
18%
6.8
-21%
5.5
2%
6.94 ?(2.8 - 15.7, n=261)
-24%
8.4 ?(4.6 - 17.4, n=63, last 2 years)
-50%
Idle Maximum *
7.4
8.8
-19%
8.8
-19%
8.8
-19%
7.3
1%
9.8
-32%
7.7
-4%
8.75 ?(3.8 - 30, n=259)
-18%
10.4 ?(5.1 - 22.4, n=63, last 2 years)
-41%
Load Average *
41.6
28.5
31%
31.2
25%
36.8
12%
37.9
9%
32.4
22%
39.9
4%
35 ?(8.1 - 51.6, n=259)
16%
46.1 ?(19.1 - 83.3, n=62, last 2 years)
-11%
Load Maximum *
55
30.7
44%
42.2
23%
46.2
16%
44.8
19%
52
5%
54.1
2%
47.5 ?(22 - 96.3, n=261)
14%
66.2 ?(24.2 - 121.2, n=63, last 2 years)
-20%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

In our practically oriented Wi-Fi test, the IdeaPad S530 lasted for seven-and-a-half hours before it had to be plugged in. Other notebooks with similarly sized batteries last just as long, meaning that the battery life of the S530 is average.

The Lenovo laptop supports fast charging. According to the manufacturer, it should provide two hours of battery life after 15 minutes on the charger.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
13h 27min
WiFi Websurfing
6h 36min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 17min
Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, 45 Wh
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 53.9 Wh
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 42 Wh
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 48 Wh
Asus ZenBook 13 UX333FA
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, 50 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad L390-20NR0013GE
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, 45 Wh
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S-13IWL 81JB0004US
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, 42 Wh
Average of class Subnotebook
 
Battery Runtime
26%
8%
6%
76%
12%
69%
52%
Reader / Idle
807
918
14%
1668
107%
974
21%
1197 ?(581 - 2550, n=10, last 2 years)
48%
WiFi v1.3
396
500
26%
324
-18%
418
6%
593
50%
419
6%
668
69%
623 ?(303 - 1144, n=64, last 2 years)
57%
Load
77
98
27%
132
71%
83
8%
115.4 ?(61 - 197, n=47, last 2 years)
50%

Pros

+ good system performance
+ replaceable SSD
+ USB Type-C Gen2 port
+ fast charging

Cons

- reflective screen
- not a lot of ports
- PWM at low brightness

Verdict - Portable subnotebook with good system performance

In review: Lenovo IdeaPad S530. Review device provided courtesy of: notebooksbilliger.de
In review: Lenovo IdeaPad S530. Review device provided courtesy of: notebooksbilliger.de

In our review, the Lenovo IdeaPad S530 has proven itself to be a powerful and portable subnotebook. The device is powerful enough for both demanding office applications and simple image-editing. The maintenance options are limited. However, you can still clean the fan and replace the SSD. 

The low-priced Lenovo IdeaPad S530 offers a lot of performance for office tasks. However, the lack of ports and the glossy screen should be taken into consideration.

Users will also have to deal with a reflective screen surface and a limited number of ports. The latter problem can be alleviated by replicating missing ports via the USB Gen2 Type-C port. However, for this you will need to get appropriate dongles. Those who can overlook these weaknesses and are searching for a light and portable notebook for office work will get a good and powerful device with the Lenovo IdeaPad S530.

Lenovo Ideapad S530-13IWL - 03/10/2019 v6(old)
Mike Wobker

Chassis
91 /  98 → 93%
Keyboard
85%
Pointing Device
93%
Connectivity
45 / 80 → 57%
Weight
73 / 35-78 → 88%
Battery
89%
Display
80%
Games Performance
59 / 68 → 86%
Application Performance
84 / 87 → 97%
Temperature
93 / 91 → 100%
Noise
92%
Audio
62 / 91 → 68%
Camera
45 / 85 → 53%
Average
76%
87%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo IdeaPad S530 (i5-8265U, UHD620) Subnotebook Review
Mike Wobker, 2019-03-11 (Update: 2019-03-13)