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Lenovo Ideapad 120s (11-inch) Notebook Review

Smaller size, bigger value. The 11-inch Lenovo Ideapad 120s carries over many of the same facets of its 14-inch brother in a more compact case. However, with half the RAM and a smaller body, can it keep up with the larger model?

The Lenovo Ideapad 110s was a popular budget laptop last year, and it's not hard to see why. Considering the low price, it checked quite a few boxes. Today, we have its successor under review. The Ideapad 120s-11IAP aims to build upon the high points of its older brother while correcting some of its missteps. We'll see how well it accomplishes this task.

We recently reviewed the larger 14-inch variant of the 120s. Excluding the size difference, the two machines are essentially the same; port selection, design, and build quality are identical. However, the lilliputian 120s has only half the RAM of the 14-inch model (2 GB vs 4 GB), which limits system operation. We'll see how much this trade-off costs the 11.6-inch notebook and whether or not it's worth the USD $180 asking price (which is about $70 cheaper than the 14-inch SKU). Those that want a bit more pop from their device can opt for the "Denim Blue" model, which runs about $210. Aside from color, the devices are the exact same.

We'll compare the Ideapad 120s with other small budget laptops, including the previous Ideapad 110s, the Chuwi Lapbook 12.3, Acer's TravelMate B117 and One 10, and the Asus VivoBook E200HA. Without further ado, let's begin.

Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP (Ideapad 120s Series)
Processor
Intel Celeron N3350 2 x 1.1 - 2.4 GHz, Apollo Lake, Dual-core, two threads, 1.1 GHz (2.4 GHz boost)
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 500 - 1024 MB VRAM, Core: 450 MHz, Intel HD Graphics 22.20.16.4749
Memory
1880 MB 
, DDR3, 1066 MHz
Display
11.60 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel 135 PPI, AU Optronics AUO-B116XTN02.5 , TN LED, glossy: no
Storage
64 GB eMMC Flash, 64 GB 
, 56.9 GB free
Soundcard
RealTek ALC269 @ Intel Apollo Lake SoC - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Combo headset, Card Reader: microSD/SDHC/SDXC
Networking
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 15.9 x 287 x 200 ( = 0.63 x 11.3 x 7.87 in)
Battery
32 Wh Lithium-Ion, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 8.5 h
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
Speakers: 2x 1 Watt, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, 12 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
1.27 kg ( = 44.8 oz / 2.8 pounds), Power Supply: 161 g ( = 5.68 oz / 0.35 pounds)
Price
180 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The case is similar in fit and finish to the larger Ideapad 120s 14, which is a good thing. The design of our Mineral Gray variant is simple and straightforward without any of the garishness of other budget notebooks, although there is a more colorful Denim Blue option available for an additional $30. However, the chassis is made from the same cheap plastic as the other Celeron-based Ideapads. While it looks good and resists fingerprints and smudges, it feels cheap in the hand. Compared to the Chuwi Lapbook's sleek aluminum frame, the 120s sits in a lower tier. However, given the price, this is to be expected.

On the plus side, the same rigidity we praised in the larger device makes the transition to the smaller. The keyboard deck remains firm, even under direct pressure. The screen hinge has improved; while still too stiff for one-handed opening, the display doesn't bob during typing. The lid is still fairly thin and easy to bend and twist, which is unfortunate.

The most obvious difference between the Ideapad 120s models we've reviewed is the size. Our review unit today is the smaller of the two, measuring a bit smaller and thinner than other 11-inch budget laptops. The total coverage area measures about 575 cm2, making the Ideapad small enough to fit in a large handbag. The device is also light at about 1.3 kg (~2.87 lbs) and won't be noticed when carried in a bag or backpack.

334 mm / 13.1 inch 235 mm / 9.25 inch 18.5 mm / 0.728 inch 1.4 kg3.17 lbs298 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 20.3 mm / 0.799 inch 1.5 kg3.31 lbs299 mm / 11.8 inch 222 mm / 8.74 inch 17.5 mm / 0.689 inch 1.4 kg3.09 lbs291 mm / 11.5 inch 211 mm / 8.31 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 1.4 kg3.09 lbs292 mm / 11.5 inch 202 mm / 7.95 inch 17.8 mm / 0.701 inch 1.1 kg2.4 lbs286 mm / 11.3 inch 193 mm / 7.6 inch 17.5 mm / 0.689 inch 976 g2.15 lbs287 mm / 11.3 inch 200 mm / 7.87 inch 15.9 mm / 0.626 inch 1.3 kg2.8 lbs258 mm / 10.2 inch 194 mm / 7.64 inch 26 mm / 1.024 inch 1.2 kg2.63 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Connectivity mirrors the larger Ideapad 120s exactly. There are two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a USB 3.1 (Gen 1) Type C, a full-sized HDMI, a microSD card slot, and a combo audio jack. Despite the smaller stature, the ports are well spaced with an ample amount of room for peripherals. The USB Type-C port does not support charging or Thunderbolt 3.

Left: DC in, USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4, USB 3.1 (Gen 1) Type-C
Left: DC in, USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4, USB 3.1 (Gen 1) Type-C
Right: microSD card, combo headphone/mic, USB 3.0
Right: microSD card, combo headphone/mic, USB 3.0

SD Card Reader

The SD Card reader is about average for the industry, hitting 85 MB/s in AS SSD, but is significantly faster than other budget laptops. The Chuwi Lapboook, for example, manage speeds less than half the Ideapad's.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
 
63.2 MB/s +6%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
 
59.9 MB/s
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
 
54 MB/s -10%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
 
24.2 MB/s -60%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
 
23.3 MB/s -61%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
 
85.9 MB/s
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
 
83.1 MB/s -3%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
 
37.2 MB/s -57%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
 
34.2 MB/s -60%

Communication

WiFi speeds are at the lower end of average and should be fast enough for most home and office routers. Hitting 348 and 330 MBit/s in our receive and transmit tests, respectively, the Ideapad 120s sits above other budget brands. During our testing period, we didn't experience any dropped signals.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
345 MBit/s +5%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Realtek RTL8821AE 802.11ac
339 MBit/s +3%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
330 MBit/s
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
281 MBit/s -15%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
237 MBit/s -28%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
214 MBit/s -35%
iperf3 receive AX12
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
348 MBit/s
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
338 MBit/s -3%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
336 MBit/s -3%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
316 MBit/s -9%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
315 MBit/s -9%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Realtek RTL8821AE 802.11ac
282 MBit/s -19%

Maintenance & Warranty

Maintenance options are practically non-existent. There are 10 Torx T4 screws and several stubborn plastic clips holding the bottom panel on. During our attempts at disassembly, these clips seemed determined to hold on. Prying the bottom panel off risked damage to the case; as such, we did not proceed any further. There is likely no need; the larger 14-inch Ideapad had all components except the battery and wireless card soldered to the mainboard. The smaller 11-inch unit is likely no different.

Lenovo offers a standard 12-month limited warranty with the Ideapad 120s. Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The keyboard shares the same excellent crisp feel the larger version had. Key travel is good and feedback is firm and responsive. However, the keys are a fair bit smaller than the 14-inch model's (1.5 cm x 1.4 cm) and will take some adjustment. The keyboard also produces similar clatter that sounds like a toy machine gun under the fingers of a fast typist. Noise aside, the keyboard is excellent and a fair bit above others in this category.

Touchpad

The touchpad has the same great response and smooth glide as its bigger brother. The clicking mechanism feels firmer and less hollow than the 14-inch model's likely due its smaller size and travel distance. The entire touchpad surface registers input. Palm rejection is good. Again, the main drawback is its size. At 9 cm x 6 cm, the touchpad may feel too restrictive for some.

Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad
Touchpad

Display

Subpixel matrix
Subpixel matrix

Lenovo opted for an AU Optronics panel for the 11.6-inch display, moving away from the Chi Mei panel used in the 14-inch 120s. While there are some improvements, there are also some trade-offs. The resolution remains the same at 1366x768, but smaller screen size yields a higher pixel density (135 PPI vs. 112 PPI). This results in cleaner edges and crisper text. Response times are a bit slower than the Chi Mei panel but are still adequate compared to other devices. Perhaps the biggest improvement in the AU Optronics screen is the absence of detectable PWM.

251.4
cd/m²
248.4
cd/m²
246.5
cd/m²
259.6
cd/m²
266.2
cd/m²
242.4
cd/m²
251.2
cd/m²
254.3
cd/m²
239.9
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics AUO-B116XTN02.5 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 266.2 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 251.1 cd/m² Minimum: 5.61 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 266.2 cd/m²
Contrast: 397:1 (Black: 0.67 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 12.4 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 14.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
59% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
37% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
40.33% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
58.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
39.03% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.16
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
AU Optronics AUO-B116XTN02.5 , TN LED, 11.60, 1366x768
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Chi Mei N140BGA-EA3, TN LED, 14.00, 1366x768
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Chi Mei CMN1132, TN LED, 11.60, 1366x768
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
AU Optronics B116HAN05.0, IPS, 11.60, 1920x1080
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
SDC8353, IPS, 12.30, 2736x1824
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Chi Mei CMN1130, N116BGE-EB2, TN LED, 11.60, 1366x768
Acer One 10 S1002-17HU
Chi Mei CMN0001, IPS, 10.10, 1280x800
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Chi Mei N116BGE-EA2, TN LED, 11.60, 1366x768
Display
6%
10%
26%
71%
12%
10%
8%
Display P3 Coverage
39.03
41.32
6%
42.77
10%
49.67
27%
68
74%
43.73
12%
43.01
10%
42.04
8%
sRGB Coverage
58.7
62
6%
64.2
9%
72.6
24%
98.4
68%
65.1
11%
63.9
9%
62.9
7%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
40.33
42.7
6%
44.2
10%
51.4
27%
69.5
72%
45.23
12%
44.53
10%
43.46
8%
Response Times
39%
3%
23%
-1%
30%
20%
6%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
72.8 ?(30.4, 42.4)
35.2 ?(18, 17.2)
52%
46 ?(26, 20)
37%
36 ?(19, 17)
51%
48.4 ?(24.8, 23.6)
34%
45 ?(25, 20)
38%
27 ?(10, 17)
63%
38 ?(18, 20)
48%
Response Time Black / White *
22.8 ?(16.4, 6.4)
17.2 ?(12, 5.2)
25%
30 ?(21, 9)
-32%
24 ?(14, 10)
-5%
30.8 ?(16.4, 14.4)
-35%
18 ?(14, 4)
21%
28 ?(8, 20)
-23%
31 ?(14, 17)
-36%
PWM Frequency
495 ?(99)
25770 ?(50)
24750 ?(30)
50 ?(10)
Screen
4%
14%
50%
76%
31%
42%
13%
Brightness middle
266.2
257.4
-3%
243
-9%
251
-6%
224
-16%
267
0%
341
28%
218
-18%
Brightness
251
239
-5%
230
-8%
247
-2%
219
-13%
265
6%
339
35%
215
-14%
Brightness Distribution
90
87
-3%
91
1%
86
-4%
81
-10%
85
-6%
90
0%
85
-6%
Black Level *
0.67
0.54
19%
0.4
40%
0.21
69%
0.13
81%
0.35
48%
0.28
58%
0.38
43%
Contrast
397
477
20%
608
53%
1195
201%
1723
334%
763
92%
1218
207%
574
45%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
12.4
11.8
5%
11.24
9%
4.27
66%
2.4
81%
6.67
46%
9.53
23%
10.29
17%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
24.5
28
-14%
19.82
19%
11
55%
3.7
85%
10.32
58%
15.9
35%
17.68
28%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
14.4
13.3
8%
12.78
11%
3.77
74%
2.5
83%
7.84
46%
10.74
25%
11.71
19%
Gamma
2.16 102%
2.2 100%
2.33 94%
2.26 97%
2.31 95%
2.3 96%
2.71 81%
2.45 90%
CCT
19436 33%
16811 39%
15436 42%
6524 100%
6869 95%
8076 80%
10206 64%
14164 46%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
37
39
5%
41
11%
47
27%
63.4
71%
42
14%
41
11%
40
8%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
59
62
5%
64
8%
72
22%
98.3
67%
65
10%
60
2%
63
7%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
16% / 9%
9% / 11%
33% / 42%
49% / 65%
24% / 27%
24% / 33%
9% / 11%

* ... smaller is better

The screen is brighter than the larger variant (251 nits vs. 239) and the backlight is more even across the entire display. While the 14-inch 120s had some noticeable bright spots, there is no such problem with the smaller model. Unfortunately, contrast is a fair bit lower than the already pitiful levels of the larger 120s, falling just short of 400:1. Images look washed out at lower brightness settings.

Color reproduction also hits the same roadblocks as the larger Chi Mei display. The DeltaE scores for colors and grays hit 12.4 and 14.4, respectively, and color coverage is underwhelming (59% sRGB, 37% AdobeRGB). Calibration helps quite a bit, dropping the DeltaEs to 4.5 for colors and 2.2 for grays. While not accurate enough for any kind of professional work, these numbers are a vast improvement. Unfortunately, calibration drops the contrast ratio to an abysmal 276:1; users will have to weigh this trade-off.

ColorChecker
ColorChecker
ColorChecker (calibrated)
ColorChecker (calibrated)
Greyscale
Greyscale
Greyscale (calibrated)
Greyscale (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
vs. sRGB: 59%
vs. sRGB: 59%
vs. AdobeRGB: 37%
vs. AdobeRGB: 37%

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
22.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16.4 ms rise
↘ 6.4 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. » 45 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
72.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 30.4 ms rise
↘ 42.4 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. » 99 % 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 not detected

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 matte finish on the display helps cut glare, and the screen gets just bright enough for use outdoors as long as shade is present. In direct sunlight, the screen is illegible.

Viewing angles are mediocre, mostly due to the cheap TN panel. Colors remain fairly stable along the horizontal axis but quickly invert along the vertical, shifting at about 30º and beyond.

Slight backlight bleed along the bottom left bezel.
Slight backlight bleed along the bottom left bezel.
Screen at max brightness in the shade
Screen at max brightness in the shade
Screen at maximum brightness in sunlight.
Screen at maximum brightness in sunlight.
Viewing angles are poor.
Viewing angles are poor.

Performance

Due to its low-power dual-core processor and limited RAM, the Ideapad 120s 11 is an underwhelming performer. The Celeron CPU can handle basic office and home tasks but struggles with anything else. Furthermore, the paltry 2 GB of RAM rules out multitasking; running more than a few applications at a time can freeze the machine.

CPU-Z: CPU
CPU-Z: CPU
CPU-Z: Caches
CPU-Z: Caches
CPU-Z: Mainboard
CPU-Z: Mainboard
CPU-Z: Memory
CPU-Z: Memory
GPU-Z
GPU-Z

Processor

We saw the 6 Watt Intel Celeron N3350 in our review of the 14-inch Ideapad 120s and noted its limited processing capabilities. These limits carry over to the 11-inch model as well. While single-core performance is about on par with other budget laptops, multi-core tasks are its Achilles' heel. Case in point: despite scoring 70% higher than the Asus VivoBook's Atom x5 CPU in Cinebench R15's single-core test, the N3350 falls 11% behind the Atom in the multi-threaded test. This is more a testament to the benefit of more cores, which can make a bigger difference than clock speed in some scenarios.

Long-term stability is questionable. After several runs through our Cinebench R15 loop test, the Ideapad 120s 11 is consistent in its inconsistency. Scores are all over the place with frequent dips in performance. Users should expect some kind of performance throttling during extended workloads. 

For more information about the Intel Celeron N3350, please visit our dedicated CPU page here.

Cinebench R10
Cinebench R10
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15
0102030405060708090Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel Core i3-7100U
100 Points +117%
Lenovo ThinkPad E560 20EV000MGE
Intel Core i3-6100U
98 Points +113%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
Intel Core i3-6100U
96 Points +109%
Lenovo B50-50 80S2000QGE
Intel Core i3-5005U
82 Points +78%
HP 17-x066ng
Intel Core i3-6006U
70 Points +52%
Asus PU551LA-XO359G
Intel Core i3-4030U
62 Points +35%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
48 Points +4%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
46 Points 0%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
46 Points
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel Celeron N3450
44 Points -4%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel Pentium N3710
42 Points -9%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
39 Points -15%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
27 Points -41%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel Core i3-7100U
256 Points +201%
Lenovo ThinkPad E560 20EV000MGE
Intel Core i3-6100U
251 Points +195%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
Intel Core i3-6100U
240 Points +182%
Lenovo B50-50 80S2000QGE
Intel Core i3-5005U
208 Points +145%
HP 17-x066ng
Intel Core i3-6006U
208 Points +145%
Asus PU551LA-XO359G
Intel Core i3-4030U
191 Points +125%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel Celeron N3450
167 Points +96%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel Pentium N3710
150 Points +76%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
135 Points +59%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
95 Points +12%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
86 Points +1%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
85 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
74 Points -13%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Lenovo ThinkPad E560 20EV000MGE
Intel Core i3-6100U
1.11 Points +88%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
0.59 Points 0%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
0.59 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
0.46 Points -22%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Lenovo ThinkPad E560 20EV000MGE
Intel Core i3-6100U
2.78 Points +148%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
1.12 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
1.11 Points -1%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
0.8 Points -29%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Lenovo ThinkPad E560 20EV000MGE
Intel Core i3-6100U
8437 Points +203%
Lenovo B50-50 80S2000QGE
Intel Core i3-5005U
6927 Points +149%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel Pentium N3710
4649 Points +67%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
3959 Points +42%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
2786 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
2524 Points -9%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
2397 Points -14%
Acer One 10 S1002-17HU
Intel Atom Z3735F
822 Points -70%
Rendering Single 32Bit
Lenovo ThinkPad E560 20EV000MGE
Intel Core i3-6100U
3710 Points +149%
Lenovo B50-50 80S2000QGE
Intel Core i3-5005U
3133 Points +110%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
1917 Points +29%
Acer One 10 S1002-17HU
Intel Atom Z3735F
1829 Points +23%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
1490 Points
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
1451 Points -3%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
1267 Points -15%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel Pentium N3710
1238 Points -17%
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
1258 s *
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
1225 s * +3%
Asus PU551LA-XO359G
Intel Core i3-4030U
796 s * +37%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
2823
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
2786
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
1490
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 32Bit
0.51 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 32Bit
0.94 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
9.61 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
1.12 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
0.59 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
14.11 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
85 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
46 Points
Help

System Performance

Overall system performance is slow but in line with most other budget laptops. Using PCMark 8 to test the system as a whole, the 120s 11-IAP sits near the top of the pack in most tests. This Ideapad should be able to handle most rudimentary tasks, but running too many programs at once can cause the machine to lock up due to the limited memory. It should also be noted that the device routinely crashed during each PCMark 8 test; in particular, the Storage benchmark refused to complete, despite several attempts.

The device is able to handle simple tasks, like web browsing, but finds trouble with more demanding workloads. 4K video streaming, for instance, is possible, but playback takes some time to buffer and demands almost all system resources. Streaming a 4K YouTube video (link here) in a single Microsoft Edge tab (with no other applications running) hogs 1.5 GB of RAM (83% of the total available memory) and uses between 80-100% of the CPU. Even opening the Start Menu during the test results in a complete system lock for about 5 to 10 seconds. However, once buffered, 24 or 30 fps 4K videos are smooth without any dropped frames. 60 fps 4K videos suffer from consistent stutter and aren't pleasant to watch.

PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Creative
PCMark 8 Creative
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Dell Latitude 13 7380
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3872 Points +114%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U, Toshiba SG5 THNSNK128GVN8
3247 Points +79%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
HD Graphics 520, 6100U, Hynix HFS128G39TND
3224 Points +78%
Lenovo B50-50 80S2000QGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5005U, Toshiba MQ02ABF050H (SSHD 500 + 8 GB)
2980 Points +65%
HP 17-x066ng
HD Graphics 520, 6006U, WDC WD10JPVX-08JC3T5
2801 Points +55%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), N3710, Liteonit CV3-8D256
1999 Points +10%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1810 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1788 Points -1%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), N3060, SanDisk DF4032
1771 Points -2%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, Toshiba MQ01ABF050
1530 Points -15%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8350, Hynix HBG4a2 32 GB eMMC
1464 Points -19%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1461 (1450min - 1461max) Points -19%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Dell Latitude 13 7380
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5060 Points +92%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
HD Graphics 520, 6100U, Hynix HFS128G39TND
4121 Points +56%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U, Toshiba SG5 THNSNK128GVN8
4113 Points +56%
Lenovo B50-50 80S2000QGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5005U, Toshiba MQ02ABF050H (SSHD 500 + 8 GB)
3923 Points +49%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2634 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2558 Points -3%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2152 (2150min - 2152max) Points -18%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), N3710, Liteonit CV3-8D256
1594 Points -39%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), N3060, SanDisk DF4032
1452 Points -45%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
Dell Latitude 13 7380
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4958 Points +167%
Lenovo B50-50 80S2000QGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5005U, Toshiba MQ02ABF050H (SSHD 500 + 8 GB)
3349 Points +80%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), N3710, Liteonit CV3-8D256
1936 Points +4%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1935 Points +4%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1861 (1859min - 1861max) Points 0%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1859 Points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
1810 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
1859 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
2634 points
PCMark 10 Score
1150 points
Help

Storage Devices

CrystalDiskMark 5
CrystalDiskMark 5

Speaking of storage, the 64 GB of eMMC flash storage is about average for this price point. Read and write speeds are comparable to a mechanical drive (108 MB/s write, 167 MB/s read), but the main drawback lies in storage space. 64 GB isn't a lot to begin with; considering that about 7 GB are reserved for the operating system, there's not a lot of room left to the end user. On top of that, Lenovo pre-installs a copious amount of bloatware. Application deletion will be one of the first tasks users perform.

Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
64 GB eMMC Flash
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
64 GB eMMC Flash
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
SanDisk DF4032
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
64 GB eMMC Flash
HP 15-bw075ax
WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-60JC3T1
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Lenovo IdeaPad 320S-13IKB
Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
6%
13%
-46%
-71%
1424%
1451%
Write 4K
12.19
12.44
2%
13.87
14%
3.23
-74%
0.76
-94%
139.8
1047%
170.9
1302%
Read 4K
6.61
9.59
45%
12.23
85%
5.37
-19%
0.29
-96%
44.89
579%
46.43
602%
Write Seq
108.2
104.9
-3%
101.7
-6%
49.49
-54%
64.8
-40%
1224
1031%
996
821%
Read Seq
167.1
169.9
2%
165.1
-1%
153.3
-8%
65.9
-61%
1571
840%
942
464%
Write 4K Q32T1
15.38
15.3
-1%
13.63
-11%
3.6
-77%
0.84
-95%
627
3977%
469.1
2950%
Read 4K Q32T1
31.28
32.1
3%
36.23
16%
17.4
-44%
0.7
-98%
504
1511%
540
1626%
Write Seq Q32T1
96.2
98.1
2%
94.8
-1%
24
-75%
65.6
-32%
1231
1180%
1582
1544%
Read Seq Q32T1
134.1
134.9
1%
147.5
10%
113.2
-16%
65.7
-51%
1779
1227%
3218
2300%
64 GB eMMC Flash
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 134.1 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 96.2 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 31.28 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 15.38 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 167.1 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 108.2 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 6.61 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 12.19 MB/s

GPU Performance & Gaming

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 500 graphics chip sits at the bottom of Intel's iGPU barrel. The graphics chip is suitable for simple graphical work, but more demanding tasks (e.g., photo editing, 3D model rendering) are completely out of the question. The HD Graphics 500 can support up to two external displays, although these will need to be pared down to FHD or lower resolutions. It's unlikely the graphics chip can drive more than a single 4K monitor at 30 Hz.

Due to the limited GPU, gaming is not very enjoyable on the Ideapad 120s. Older titles, like Bioshock Infinite, are choppy and unplayable even at the lowest graphical settings, and newer titles are far beyond the realm of possibility. Casual games or titles with simpler graphical demands are playable.

For more information about the Intel HD Graphics 500 GPU, please visit our dedicated page here.

Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Ice Storm Extreme
Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
1369 Points +184%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
Intel HD Graphics 520, 6100U
1213 Points +152%
Lenovo B50-50 80S2000QGE
Intel HD Graphics 5500, 5005U
968 Points +101%
Lenovo B50-70 MCC2GGE
Intel HD Graphics 4400, 4030U
718 Points +49%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
584 Points +21%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350
482 Points
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), N3710
473 Points -2%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), N3060
387 Points -20%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
368 Points -24%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Intel HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8350
348 Points -28%
Acer One 10 S1002-17HU
Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735F
181 Points -62%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
1178 Points +136%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
Intel HD Graphics 520, 6100U
1100 Points +120%
Lenovo B50-50 80S2000QGE
Intel HD Graphics 5500, 5005U
857 Points +72%
Lenovo B50-70 MCC2GGE
Intel HD Graphics 4400, 4030U
629 Points +26%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
570 Points +14%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), N3710
506 Points +1%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350
499 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), N3060
411 Points -18%
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Intel HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8350
385 Points -23%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
343 Points -31%
Acer One 10 S1002-17HU
Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735F
207 Points -59%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
6989 Points +130%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
Intel HD Graphics 520, 6100U
6249 Points +106%
Lenovo B50-50 80S2000QGE
Intel HD Graphics 5500, 5005U
5097 Points +68%
Lenovo B50-70 MCC2GGE
Intel HD Graphics 4400, 4030U
5036 Points +66%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350
3573 Points +18%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350
3037 Points
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), N3710
2831 Points -7%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
2651 (2630min - 2661max) Points -13%
Acer One 10 S1002-17HU
Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735F
1190 Points -61%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
807 Points +122%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
Intel HD Graphics 520, 6100U
752 Points +107%
Lenovo B50-50 80S2000QGE
Intel HD Graphics 5500, 5005U
578 Points +59%
Lenovo B50-70 MCC2GGE
Intel HD Graphics 4400, 4030U
529 Points +45%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350
400 Points +10%
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350
364 Points
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
310 (307min - 317max) Points -15%
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), N3710
278 Points -24%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Graphics
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Intel HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), N3710
15536 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350
15085 Points
3DMark 06 Standard Score
3506 points
3DMark 11 Performance
530 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
2031 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
301 points
Help
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 18

Stress Test

The Lenovo Ideapad 120s isn't designed for long periods of stressful loads, but running Prime95 and FurMark to tax the CPU and GPU, respectively, gives a good picture of a worst-case scenario. Under full load for an hour, the CPU boost to its rated maximum 2.4 GHz and is able to hold at about 2.3 GHz. Temperatures across the CPU die are remarkably well-managed, averaging about 58° C. FurMark pushes the GPU to its limit, which sadly isn't very far. The Intel HD Graphics 500 jumps to 650 MHz before settling back to about 340 MHz. Temperatures stay in the low 70's centigrade during the hour-long test. Running Prime95 and FurMark concurrently, the system is held back quite a bit. The CPU is able to boost to 2.4 GHz but slows to 1.8 GHz with intermittent dips to 1.6 GHz. The GPU bursts infrequently to 650 MHz but tends to sit at 350 MHz. Temperatures again are quite good, hovering in the mid 70's. Unsurprisingly, the 11-inch model performs similarly to its big brother.

It should be noted that Unigine Valley would crash soon after startup. As such, we were unable to attain reliable data for this portion of the stress test.

Prime95
Prime95
FurMark
FurMark
Prime95 + FurMark
Prime95 + FurMark
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 2.3 - 58 -
FurMark Stress 1.8 342 70 73
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 1.75 321 73 76

Emissions

System Noise

The Ideapad 120s cools its components passively and does not contain a fan. The system is virtually silent. We did notice some coil whine in the upper left of the bottom panel, but it isn't audible above normal room noise.

Temperature

Despite the fanless design, exterior temperatures are very good. The surface temperature never breaks 48° C, and the chassis only gets that hot on the bottom panel directly over the CPU. The keyboard deck remains cool to the touch under load. The bottom panel gets somewhat warm, averaging between 40-42° C. The device may feel toasty in the lap under load but doesn't grow uncomfortable.

Max. Load
 40.6 °C
105 F
38 °C
100 F
28.4 °C
83 F
 
 37.8 °C
100 F
35.8 °C
96 F
28.4 °C
83 F
 
 26.8 °C
80 F
28 °C
82 F
25.2 °C
77 F
 
Maximum: 40.6 °C = 105 F
Average: 32.1 °C = 90 F
30.8 °C
87 F
42.4 °C
108 F
47.8 °C
118 F
30.4 °C
87 F
40.2 °C
104 F
41.2 °C
106 F
29.2 °C
85 F
32 °C
90 F
34 °C
93 F
Maximum: 47.8 °C = 118 F
Average: 36.4 °C = 98 F
Power Supply (max.)  32.8 °C = 91 F | Room Temperature 21 °C = 70 F | Fluke 62 Mini
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 32.1 °C / 90 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 40.6 °C / 105 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 47.8 °C / 118 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.9 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 28 °C / 82.4 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (+0.3 °C / 0.5 F).
Keyboard, idle
Keyboard, idle
Underside, idle
Underside, idle
Keyboard, load
Keyboard, load
Underside, load
Underside, load

Speakers

Speaker sound profile: pronounced highs with anemic bass.
Speaker sound profile: pronounced highs with anemic bass.

The speakers are poor. The volume is fairly low at 67 dB, and the absence of bass lends to an overall thin sound profile. The speakers are worse than some smartphone drivers and are aurally disappointing.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2034.732.72533.632.23131.631.34031.531.95030.131.66330.7318029.429.310028.428.31252828.616026.727.620026.427.325026.230.731526.53940025.740.650024.640.463024.142.980023.949.7100023.357.1125022.964.416002357.9200022.946.625002348.5315022.746.2400022.849.3500022.753.6630022.753.3800022.747.21000022.740.71250022.846.21600022.947.3SPL35.467.5N2.418median 23median 46.2Delta1.35.731.133.530.532.135.131.530.62929.13026.928.126.926.725.92624.325.323.623.82323.821.62420.835.320.442.619.643.618.544.218.351.91859.717.864.217.360.217.85417.849.417.849.618.255.118.355.218.251.118.647.418.748.418.8481944.530.568.71.419.8median 18.6median 481.29.731.834.331.832.331.132.33432.53432.431.332.43436.73428.329.628.328.527.528.526.52726.526.526.626.526.125.626.125.32425.337.42337.44822.64854.521.254.556.820.456.856.119.956.167.219.267.268.919.268.971.518.771.571.518.471.566.618.566.662.718.562.762.518.862.563.318.863.360.918.860.955.918.955.962.718.962.763.91963.963.81963.864.918.864.978.531.378.538.31.638.3median 62.5median 19median 62.59.91.29.9hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAPLenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBRAcer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (67.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.4% higher than median
(-) | mids are not linear (23.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.8% away from median
(-) | highs are not linear (15% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (40.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 98% of all tested devices in this class were better, 0% similar, 1% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 94% of all tested devices were better, 0% similar, 6% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (64.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.9% higher than median
(-) | mids are not linear (16.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (9.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (36.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 96% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 3% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 93% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 6% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (71 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 30.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.7% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.5% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (26.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 43% of all tested devices in this class were better, 14% similar, 43% worse
» The best had a delta of 14%, average was 25%, worst was 35%
Compared to all devices tested
» 79% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 17% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency Comparison (Checkbox selectable!)
Graph 1: Pink Noise 100% Vol.; Graph 2: Audio off

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Because of the low TDP of the CPU and the smaller screen size, power draw is quite small. Under maximum load, the machine pulls a mere 12 Watts, which is less than almost every other compared device. Compared to the 14-inch Ideapad 120s, the 11-inch model pulls about 10% less power under load and about 25% less while idle.

The power adapter is rated at 45 Watts, which is far behind the requirements of the Ideapad 120s. Both the 11.6- and 14-inch models use the same power adapter, so a single power adapter can be used between the different SKUs without problem.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.28 / 0.26 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.8 / 4.2 / 5.1 Watt
Load midlight 11.8 / 12.1 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 120s-11IAP
Celeron N3350, HD Graphics 500, 64 GB eMMC Flash, TN LED, 1366x768, 11.60
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Celeron N3350, HD Graphics 500, 64 GB eMMC Flash, TN LED, 1366x768, 14.00
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
N3060, HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), SanDisk DF4032, TN LED, 1366x768, 11.60
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Celeron N3450, HD Graphics 500, Toshiba MQ01ABF050, IPS, 1920x1080, 11.60
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Celeron N3450, HD Graphics 500, 64 GB eMMC Flash, IPS, 2736x1824, 12.30
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Z8350, HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Hynix HBG4a2 32 GB eMMC, TN LED, 1366x768, 11.60
Acer One 10 S1002-17HU
Z3735F, HD Graphics (Bay Trail), 32 GB eMMC Flash, IPS, 1280x800, 10.10
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
N3710, HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), Liteonit CV3-8D256, TN LED, 1366x768, 11.60
Power Consumption
-10%
-64%
-37%
-82%
-21%
-33%
-62%
Idle Minimum *
2.8
2.7
4%
7
-150%
4.6
-64%
5.9
-111%
4.3
-54%
3.9
-39%
6.2
-121%
Idle Average *
4.2
5.3
-26%
8.2
-95%
6.6
-57%
7.7
-83%
6
-43%
7.4
-76%
8
-90%
Idle Maximum *
5.1
5.7
-12%
8.5
-67%
7.1
-39%
8.6
-69%
6.3
-24%
7.8
-53%
8.6
-69%
Load Average *
11.8
12.9
-9%
12.5
-6%
13.8
-17%
18.2
-54%
11.4
3%
11.6
2%
13.5
-14%
Load Maximum *
12.1
13.1
-8%
12.3
-2%
13.1
-8%
23.6
-95%
10.8
11%
11.7
3%
13.8
-14%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Battery life is about average. The 32 Wh battery lasts just over 7 hours in our WiFi v1.3 battery test and runs 15 minutes longer than the larger Ideapad's power pack. While not enough to get through a full workday, the 11.6-inch 120s should last long enough to get plenty done while away from an outlet. Road warriors on a tight budget will want to look at other options from Acer and Asus. The Spin 1, VivoBook E200HA, and TravelMate B117 each lasted about 9 hours or more in our tests.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
15h 19min
WiFi Websurfing
7h 14min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 50min
Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP
Celeron N3350, HD Graphics 500, 32 Wh
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Celeron N3350, HD Graphics 500, 32 Wh
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
N3060, HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), 39.1 Wh
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Celeron N3450, HD Graphics 500, 48.9 Wh
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Celeron N3450, HD Graphics 500, 36.48 Wh
Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS
Z8350, HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), 38 Wh
Acer One 10 S1002-17HU
Z3735F, HD Graphics (Bay Trail), 31 Wh
Acer TravelMate B117-M-P16Q
N3710, HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), 49 Wh
Battery Runtime
-16%
-12%
30%
-9%
23%
6%
35%
Reader / Idle
919
957
4%
WiFi v1.3
434
419
-3%
384
-12%
564
30%
395
-9%
534
23%
459
6%
584
35%
Load
230
118
-49%

Pros

+ attractive design
+ pleasant keyboard
+ light and compact chassis
+ fanless and noiseless operation
+ all USB ports are rated at 3.0 speeds

Cons

- non-existent maintenance options
- weak CPU performance
- 2 GB of RAM is extremely limited and cripples system performance
- very limited and slow storage

Verdict

In Review: Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP. Reviewing unit provided by Lenovo.
In Review: Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP. Reviewing unit provided by Lenovo.

The 11.6-inch Lenovo Ideapad 120s checks many of the same boxes as its big brother and comes with many of the same compromises. The biggest difference, outside of size, is the limited 2 GB of RAM found in the smaller machine. In real-world use, this greatly hampers multitasking and content-rich tasks like web browsing. Aside from these points, though, both devices are incredibly similar.

The decision comes down to personal preference. The smaller variant is lighter, more portable, and tends to run slightly cooler. The 14-inch model has a larger screen, more memory, and benchmarks slightly better. The keyboard on the 14-inch 120s is also a fair bit better, mainly due to the larger keys, but the screen is arguably worse than its 11.6-inch counterpart.

There are two main considerations when deciding between these two devices. If you want a small notebook under USD $200, the 11.6-inch Ideapad 120s is your best bet. It has some compromises but offers the same package as the 14-inch 120s (for the most part). If you want a more comfortable typing experience, the 14-inch should be your choice. The other factor is price; the 11.6-inch model is about USD $50 cheaper, which might make it more appealing to price-conscious consumers. Either way, both options offer a good, but limited, experience at this price point.

Buyers on a budget looking to save $70 or looking for a smaller device should definitely consider the 11.6-inch Ideapad 120s. Like its bigger brother, the Ideapad 120s hard to beat at this price point. 

Lenovo Ideapad 120s-11IAP - 12/10/2017 v6(old)
Sam Medley

Chassis
74 /  98 → 75%
Keyboard
65%
Pointing Device
65%
Connectivity
44 / 80 → 55%
Weight
72 / 35-78 → 86%
Battery
89%
Display
76%
Games Performance
42 / 68 → 62%
Application Performance
51 / 87 → 58%
Temperature
90 / 91 → 99%
Noise
100%
Audio
36 / 91 → 40%
Camera
48 / 85 → 56%
Average
66%
77%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo Ideapad 120s (11-inch) Notebook Review
Sam Medley, 2017-12-12 (Update: 2019-03-25)