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Lenovo Ideapad 120s (14-inch, HD) Laptop Review

Budget notebook to beat. The 14-inch Lenovo Ideapad 120s is a simple and sleek Windows laptop that retails for around $250. While the device looks and feels fairly good on the outside for a budget device, the internals are a major letdown. Considering the price, though, the Ideapad 120s is one of the better bargain laptops available.

Lenovo offers a broad range of devices, from premium business notebooks to gaming laptops to budget machines. Today, we have one of the newest notebooks on the low end of Lenovo's spectrum. The Ideapad 120s is an evolution of last year's 110s and aims to use the same "adequate but cheap" strategy as its predecessor. While the case is relatively attractive for the price (USD $250), the performance leaves much to be desired.

There is currently only one configuration available on Lenovo's site, although the 120s is offered with either an 11- or 14-inch display. Today, we have the 14-inch model equipped with an Intel Celeron N3350, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of eMMC storage, all for about $250. We'll be comparing our model with other budget laptops, including Lenovo's own Ideapad 110s, the Chuwi Lapbook 12.3 and Lapbook 14, Acer's Aspire One Cloudbook 14, the HP Stream 13, and the Jumper EZBook 3 (although this last notebook may not be available in all regions). Each of these notebooks comes in at or below US $300; today we'll try to determine to whom the bargain laptop crown belongs.

Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Processor
Intel Celeron N3350 2 x 1.1 - 2.4 GHz, Apollo Lake
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 500 - 1024 MB VRAM, Core: 450 MHz, Boost: 650 MHz, Intel HD Graphics 21.20.16.4627
Memory
3.8 GB 
, LPDDR4, 1066 MHz
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel 112 PPI, Chi Mei N140BGA-EA3, TN LED, glossy: no
Storage
64 GB eMMC Flash, 64 GB 
, soldered, 57 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 audio in/out, 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): 18.5 x 334 x 235 ( = 0.73 x 13.15 x 9.25 in)
Battery
32 Wh Lithium-Ion, 2-Cell
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
Speakers: 2x 1 W, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, MS Office, Lenovo App Explorer, Lenovo Companion, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.44 kg ( = 50.79 oz / 3.17 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
250 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

While the previous Ideapad 110s was sold in bright colors that flaunted that device's low price, the Ideapad 120s is more refined. The 120s is still unapologetically plastic, but the design is subdued and simple. The matte finish is highly resistant to fingerprints and gives a good visual impression; the only adornment across the lid is an embossed Lenovo logo. The bottom panel is a lighter shade of grey with a different texture, which ungracefully interrupts the statement of the upper chassis. The keyboard deck uses the same faux-aluminum design and is very stable, only bending under direct pressure. Normal typing doesn't cause any noticeably warping. The palm rests and underside are also rigid. The lid, unfortunately, does not share the same stability and can easily be twisted under light torsion. The hinge is also stiff and makes one-handed opening impossible. The screen lightly bobs under normal use.

All said, the design of the 120s is a far cry better than most budget laptops. However, there are better designs available; the EZBook 3 has a slim bezel with a chassis that better mimics more premium devices, and the Chuwi LapBook's metal case is a standout in this price range.

The 120s is an average size for a 14-inch notebook but has a fairly slim profile, especially compared to other budget offerings. At 18.5 mm thick, the 120s is thinner than most of its competitors in our roundup, save the significantly smaller Ideapad 110s and Chuwi Lapbook 12.3. The Acer Cloudbook is half a millimeter thinner but has a larger overall footprint (797.3 cm2 vs 784.9 cm2). At 1.4 kg, the 120s is easy to carry; the notebook is at the lighter end of the scale for budget ultraportables.

339.4 mm / 13.4 inch 234.9 mm / 9.25 inch 17.9 mm / 0.705 inch 1.6 kg3.53 lbs333.2 mm / 13.1 inch 229 mm / 9.02 inch 19.5 mm / 0.768 inch 1.5 kg3.36 lbs334 mm / 13.1 inch 235 mm / 9.25 inch 18.5 mm / 0.728 inch 1.4 kg3.17 lbs330 mm / 13 inch 220 mm / 8.66 inch 21 mm / 0.827 inch 1.2 kg2.7 lbs329.2 mm / 13 inch 220.5 mm / 8.68 inch 20.5 mm / 0.807 inch 1.4 kg3.09 lbs299 mm / 11.8 inch 222 mm / 8.74 inch 17.5 mm / 0.689 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 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Port selection is adequate. The 120s has two USB 3.0 ports, a USB 3.1 (Gen 1) Type-C port, a full-sized HDMI 1.4 port, and a microSD slot. Most budget devices have at least one USB 2.0 port, so the fact that all USB connections support the 3.0 standard is a plus. The USB Type-C port does not support Thunderbolt 3, which isn't a surprise at this price point.

Right: microphone, MicroSD, Combo headset, USB 3.0
Right: microphone, MicroSD, Combo headset, USB 3.0
Left: DC in, USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4, USB 3.1 (Gen 1) Type-C, status LED
Left: DC in, USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4, USB 3.1 (Gen 1) Type-C, status LED

SD Card Reader

The SD Card reader is reasonably quick, especially compared to its competitors. Speeds float between 60-80 MB/s (about 2-3 times faster than most rivals). The microSD form factor may be a sticking point for some users that dislike adapters.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
 
63.2 MB/s
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
 
54 MB/s -15%
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
 
37.86 MB/s -40%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
 
23.3 MB/s -63%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
 
21 MB/s -67%
Jumper EZbook 3
 
19.3 MB/s -69%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
 
18.6 MB/s -71%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
 
83.1 MB/s
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
 
44.46 MB/s -46%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
 
37.2 MB/s -55%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
 
34.2 MB/s -59%
Jumper EZbook 3
 
27.4 MB/s -67%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
 
27 MB/s -68%

Communication

WiFi speeds are good. While 330-340 MBit/s sits just below average for most notebooks, this speed is good for a budget device and should be more than adequate for most users. Wireless connections are responsive on both the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, and we had no trouble with signal strength or stability during our testing period.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
345 MBit/s
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Realtek RTL8821AE 802.11ac
339 MBit/s -2%
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
311 MBit/s -10%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
281 MBit/s -19%
Jumper EZbook 3
Realtek RTL8723B USB 2.0
78 MBit/s -77%
iperf3 receive AX12
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
349 MBit/s +4%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
336 MBit/s
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
316 MBit/s -6%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Realtek RTL8821AE 802.11ac
282 MBit/s -16%
Jumper EZbook 3
Realtek RTL8723B USB 2.0
86 MBit/s -74%

Maintenance

Maintenance is a low point. There are ten Torx T4 screws and several stiff plastic clips holding the bottom panel on. Once the screws are removed, the real challenge begins; finding a suitable pry point is difficult. During our disassembly, we had to abandon several attempts at removing the bottom panel for fear of damaging the case. We did find a good spot along the bottom of the hinge, and once the clips there pop free, the rest will follow suit with a bit of careful pressure.

Once inside the machine, there's sadly not a lot to do. The device is fanless, so there is no fan to clean. The RAM, eMMC drive, and CPU are all soldered to the mainboard and situated underneath a metal shield. The only accessible component is the wireless card, which can be easily swapped out. If any other component fails, a repair would be impossible.

Ten Torx T4 screws must be removed.
Ten Torx T4 screws must be removed.
Bottom panel removed.
Bottom panel removed.
Closeup of mainboard with shielding removed.
Closeup of mainboard with shielding removed.
A single thermal pad is responsible for cooling the CPU.
A single thermal pad is responsible for cooling the CPU.

Software & Warranty

Lenovo packs a surprising amount of bloatware into the machine, including Microsoft's Office suite, a McAfee virus defense package, and several casual games from the Windows Store (think Candy Crush). Normally, these could largely be ignored, but considering that the 120s has only 57 GB of storage free to the user, every gigabyte is precious. Thankfully, all of this unwanted software can be uninstalled via the Windows Control Panel.

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

Input Devices

Keyboard

The keyboard is surprisingly good. Most budget devices, like the HP 15-bw075ax, feature lackluster keyboards with a spongy feel and mushy keys. The 120s is a wide leap beyond those devices. The keyboard feels crisp with a well-defined drop and decent travel and is more akin to a mid-range ultrabook's in quality. The keys are well-sized and use Lenovo's signature "smile" design language, which makes for an excellent typing experience. The up and down arrow keys are cramped, but the rest of the keys are well-spaced.

There are two major drawbacks to the keyboard. The keycaps are made from plastic and are very noisy. No matter how they are pressed, the keys emit an audible clatter that may grind on the nerves of proficient typists. The keyboard also lacks a backlight. While this won't present a problem to touch typists, less experienced users may find difficulty writing in dark environments.

Touchpad

The touchpad mirrors the keyboard in its quality and shortcomings. The tracking surface measures 10.5 x 7 cm, which is a bit below the average touchpad size. The smooth texture feels good underhand, and gliding is effortless. Tracking is quick and responsive with no noticeable input lag. The entire surface allows for user input, including the bottom edge. The clicking mechanism is the main sore spot. Clicks are registered accurately, but the lever feels flimsy and clicks make a hollow thunk that feels and sounds cheap. The touchpad is definitely usable, but does little to belie the machine's budget pricing.

Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad w/ integrated click mechanism
Touchpad w/ integrated click mechanism

Display

Subpixel matrix.
Subpixel matrix.

The 14-inch Chi Mei display is a mixed bag. Considering that the 120s comes in at $250, expectations should be tempered accordingly. The low resolution (1366x768) isn't out of the ordinary for the price range, but other competitors from Chuwi and Jumper offer a Full HD or higher screen resolution. Excluding those options, the panel in the 120s is above average. Response times are excellent, and the screen gets modestly bright at 239 nits. Unfortunately, the backlight isn't terribly even across the panel; the center appears noticeably brighter in dark environments. PWM will also be a problem for sensitive users. We detected a frequency of 495 at all brightness levels up to 99%.

250.5
cd/m²
241.6
cd/m²
240.7
cd/m²
239.4
cd/m²
257.4
cd/m²
230.6
cd/m²
222.8
cd/m²
242.9
cd/m²
228.2
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Chi Mei N140BGA-EA3 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 257.4 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 239.3 cd/m² Minimum: 5.19 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 257.4 cd/m²
Contrast: 477:1 (Black: 0.54 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 11.8 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 13.3 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
62% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
39% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
42.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
62% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
41.32% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.2
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
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
SDC8353, IPS, 12.30, 2736x1824
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Name: BOE06A8, IPS, 14.10, 1920x1080
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Chi Mei N140BGE-EA3, TN LED, 14.00, 1366x768
HP Stream 13-c102ng
AU Optronics B133XW03, TN, 13.30, 1366x768
Jumper EZbook 3
MS_9003, TN LED, 14.10, 1920x1080
Display
4%
62%
3%
-2%
-2%
25%
Display P3 Coverage
41.32
42.77
4%
68
65%
42.53
3%
40.68
-2%
40.68
-2%
51.6
25%
sRGB Coverage
62
64.2
4%
98.4
59%
63.6
3%
60.6
-2%
59.8
-4%
77.3
25%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
42.7
44.2
4%
69.5
63%
43.93
3%
42.08
-1%
42.32
-1%
53
24%
Response Times
1667%
-59%
-41%
-42%
-44%
-19%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
35.2 ?(18, 17.2)
46 ?(26, 20)
-31%
48.4 ?(24.8, 23.6)
-38%
32.8 ?(12.8, 20)
7%
49.6 ?(23.6, 26)
-41%
45 ?(21, 24)
-28%
46 ?(25, 21)
-31%
Response Time Black / White *
17.2 ?(12, 5.2)
30 ?(21, 9)
-74%
30.8 ?(16.4, 14.4)
-79%
29.2 ?(16, 13.2)
-70%
21.6 ?(16.4, 5.2)
-26%
25 ?(7, 18)
-45%
11.6 ?(7.7, 3.8)
33%
PWM Frequency
495 ?(99)
25770 ?(50)
5106%
200 ?(20)
-60%
200 ?(90)
-60%
201 ?(30)
-59%
200 ?(99)
-60%
Screen
9%
68%
24%
9%
4%
-2%
Brightness middle
257.4
243
-6%
224
-13%
247.7
-4%
231
-10%
190
-26%
384
49%
Brightness
239
230
-4%
219
-8%
243
2%
213
-11%
179
-25%
341
43%
Brightness Distribution
87
91
5%
81
-7%
92
6%
87
0%
85
-2%
76
-13%
Black Level *
0.54
0.4
26%
0.13
76%
0.32
41%
0.47
13%
0.33
39%
1.28
-137%
Contrast
477
608
27%
1723
261%
774
62%
491
3%
576
21%
300
-37%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
11.8
11.24
5%
2.4
80%
6.4
46%
9.1
23%
9.84
17%
8.7
26%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
28
19.82
29%
3.7
87%
24.3
13%
14.88
47%
16.7
40%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
13.3
12.78
4%
2.5
81%
4.5
66%
9.55
28%
10.32
22%
11.1
17%
Gamma
2.2 100%
2.33 94%
2.31 95%
2.33 94%
2.47 89%
2.48 89%
2.2 100%
CCT
16811 39%
15436 42%
6869 95%
7318 89%
11384 57%
11884 55%
12445 52%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
39
41
5%
63.4
63%
39.8
2%
38.84
0%
38
-3%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
62
64
3%
98.3
59%
62.9
1%
60.59
-2%
60
-3%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
560% / 319%
24% / 50%
-5% / 8%
-12% / -3%
-14% / -7%
1% / 0%

* ... smaller is better

The TN display brings problems common to the technology as well. Contrast is lackluster at 477:1, and grey images can appear a bit fuzzy. Colors are also disappointing. The screen covers only 62% of the sRGB gamut, which is about average for budget laptops, but color accuracy is abysmal. Average DeltaE for colors sits at 11.8 and maxes at 28. Greys don't fair much better; the average greyscale DeltaE hits 13.3. Even in this price range, these numbers are bad. Calibration improves DeltaEs to 4.2 for colors and 2.6 for greys and is highly recommended.

ColorChecker
ColorChecker
ColorChecker (calibrated)
ColorChecker (calibrated)
Greyscale
Greyscale
Greyscale (calibrated)
Greyscale (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
vs sRGB: 62%
vs sRGB: 62%
vs AdobeRGB: 39%
vs AdobeRGB: 39%

Viewing angles are poor due mainly to the low contrast ratio and TN panel. Colors invert and images dim when viewed off-angle along the vertical axis; this severely limits sharing the screen with others.

The matte finish across the display helps to ward off reflections, but the backlight doesn't get bright enough for outdoor use. The screen is visible in the shade, but direct sunlight will kill any productivity. A plus to end this section: the backlight is even along the edges with no detectable bleed.

Images are accurate head-on...
Images are accurate head-on...
...but begin to heavily distort...
...but begin to heavily distort...
...when viewed off-angle.
...when viewed off-angle.
Even backlight along the edges with no bleed.
Even backlight along the edges with no bleed.

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
17.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 12 ms rise
↘ 5.2 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. » 33 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
35.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 18 ms rise
↘ 17.2 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. » 42 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to 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 495 Hz ≤ 99 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 495 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 99 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 495 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware.

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.

Performance

Lenovo opted for a low-powered CPU based on Intel's Apollo Lake architecture. The Celeron N3350, released late last year, features 2 cores (2 threads total) rated at a TDP of only 6 Watts. As such, the N3350 doesn't require active cooling. The CPU trades a fan for low performance; when coupled with the other lackluster components, the system overall is aggravatingly slow.

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

The Intel Celeron N3350 is a budget processor through and through. Featuring a base clock of 1.1 GHz and a turbo up to 2.4 GHz, the dual-core CPU is designed for power and thermal efficiency rather than raw performance.

This is highly evident in Cinebench R15. The 120s sits about 15-20% higher than the N3060-powered Ideapad 110s in single- and multi-core performance but falls far behind other budget devices. The Chuwi Lapbook 12.3's quad-core Celeron N3450 scores about twice as high as the N3350 in multithreaded testing, and the AMD A12-9720P found in the HP 15-bw075ax blows past the 120s by 180%.

In spite of its low performance, the N3450 is at least consistent. Running Cinebench R15's multi-core test in a loop yields scores between 85 and 88, which is rock steady.

Cinebench R10 (32-bit)
Cinebench R10 (32-bit)
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15
0102030405060708090Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Cube Thinker m3
Intel Core m3-7Y30
103 Points +124%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel Core i3-7100U
100 Points +117%
Lenovo Thinkpad 13-20J1001BUS
Intel Core i3-7100U
86 Points +87%
HP 15-bw075ax
AMD A12-9720P
76 Points +65%
HP 15-bw077ax
AMD A9-9420
75 Points +63%
Jumper EZbook 3
Intel Celeron N3350
46 Points 0%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
46 Points
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel Celeron N3450
44 Points -4%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
39 Points -15%
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Intel Celeron N3450
36 Points -22%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel Celeron N3050
34 Points -26%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
Intel Celeron N3050
33 Points -28%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Lenovo Thinkpad 13-20J1001BUS
Intel Core i3-7100U
256 Points +198%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel Core i3-7100U
256 Points +198%
HP 15-bw075ax
AMD A12-9720P
240 Points +179%
Cube Thinker m3
Intel Core m3-7Y30
226 Points +163%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel Celeron N3450
167 Points +94%
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Intel Celeron N3450
128 Points +49%
HP 15-bw077ax
AMD A9-9420
124 Points +44%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
86 Points
Jumper EZbook 3
Intel Celeron N3350
84 Points -2%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
74 Points -14%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel Celeron N3050
63 Points -27%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
Intel Celeron N3050
62 Points -28%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Cube Thinker m3
Intel Core m3-7Y30
1.23 Points +108%
Lenovo Thinkpad 13-20J1001BUS
Intel Core i3-7100U
1.03 Points +75%
HP 15-bw077ax
AMD A9-9420
0.96 Points +63%
HP 15-bw075ax
AMD A12-9720P
0.93 Points +58%
Jumper EZbook 3
Intel Celeron N3350
0.6 Points +2%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
0.59 Points
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Intel Celeron N3450
0.47 Points -20%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
0.46 Points -22%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
Intel Celeron N3050
0.4 Points -32%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Lenovo Thinkpad 13-20J1001BUS
Intel Core i3-7100U
2.85 Points +157%
Cube Thinker m3
Intel Core m3-7Y30
2.67 Points +141%
HP 15-bw075ax
AMD A12-9720P
2.6 Points +134%
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Intel Celeron N3450
1.63 Points +47%
HP 15-bw077ax
AMD A9-9420
1.56 Points +41%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
1.11 Points
Jumper EZbook 3
Intel Celeron N3350
1.07 Points -4%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
0.8 Points -28%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
Intel Celeron N3050
0.79 Points -29%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Lenovo Thinkpad 13-20J1001BUS
Intel Core i3-7100U
8718 Points +245%
Cube Thinker m3
Intel Core m3-7Y30
8431 Points +234%
HP 15-bw075ax
AMD A12-9720P
7522 Points +198%
HP 15-bw077ax
AMD A9-9420
4627 Points +83%
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Intel Celeron N3450
3956 Points +57%
Jumper EZbook 3
Intel Celeron N3350
2654 Points +5%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
2524 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
2397 Points -5%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel Celeron N3050
2142 Points -15%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
Intel Celeron N3050
1272 Points -50%
Rendering Single 32Bit
Cube Thinker m3
Intel Core m3-7Y30
4101 Points +114%
Lenovo Thinkpad 13-20J1001BUS
Intel Core i3-7100U
3871 Points +102%
HP 15-bw075ax
AMD A12-9720P
2846 Points +48%
HP 15-bw077ax
AMD A9-9420
2761 Points +44%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
1917 Points
Jumper EZbook 3
Intel Celeron N3350
1503 Points -22%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
Intel Celeron N3060
1267 Points -34%
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Intel Celeron N3450
1219 Points -36%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel Celeron N3050
1114 Points -42%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
Intel Celeron N3050
1025 Points -47%
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Jumper EZbook 3
Intel Celeron N3350
1418 s * -16%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel Celeron N3350
1225 s *
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Intel Celeron N3450
867 s * +29%
HP 15-bw077ax
AMD A9-9420
747 s * +39%
Cube Thinker m3
Intel Core m3-7Y30
692 s * +44%
Lenovo Thinkpad 13-20J1001BUS
Intel Core i3-7100U
645 s * +47%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
2826
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
2524
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
1917
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
1.11 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
8.07 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
0.59 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
46 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
11.62 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
86 Points
Help

System Performance

System-wide performance is sluggish. The limiting 4 GB of RAM and slow eMMC drive do the dual-core Celeron processor no favors, which is reflected in PCMark 8 and PCMark 10. However, compared to other sub-$300 Windows notebooks, the Ideapad 120s is near the top of the pack. An upgrade to an top-tier AMD APU or Intel Core m3 CPU may be worth the bump in price, though.

Note: PCMark 8's Storage test would crash upon startup. As such, we are not able to include results for this test.

PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Creative
PCMark 8 Creative
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo Thinkpad 13-20J1001BUS
HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
3163 Points +77%
Cube Thinker m3
HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y30
2881 Points +61%
HP 15-bw075ax
Radeon R7 (Bristol Ridge), A12-9720P, WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-60JC3T1
2722 Points +52%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1788 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), N3060, SanDisk DF4032
1771 Points -1%
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, SanDisk DF4128
1682 Points -6%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
HD Graphics (Braswell), N3050, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1630 Points -9%
Jumper EZbook 3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, Toshiba 064G93 64 GB eMMC
1592 Points -11%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1461 (1450min - 1461max) Points -18%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo Thinkpad 13-20J1001BUS
HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
4139 Points +62%
Cube Thinker m3
HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y30
3656 Points +43%
HP 15-bw075ax
Radeon R7 (Bristol Ridge), A12-9720P, WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-60JC3T1
2891 Points +13%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2558 Points
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, SanDisk DF4128
2552 Points 0%
Jumper EZbook 3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, Toshiba 064G93 64 GB eMMC
2207 Points -14%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2152 (2150min - 2152max) Points -16%
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), N3060, SanDisk DF4032
1452 Points -43%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
HD Graphics (Braswell), N3050, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1327 Points -48%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo Thinkpad 13-20J1001BUS
HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
3886 Points +101%
Cube Thinker m3
HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y30
3801 Points +96%
HP 15-bw075ax
Radeon R7 (Bristol Ridge), A12-9720P, WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-60JC3T1
3111 Points +61%
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, SanDisk DF4128
1952 Points +1%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1935 Points
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1861 (1859min - 1861max) Points -4%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
HD Graphics (Braswell), N3050, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1626 Points -16%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
1788 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
1935 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
2558 points
PCMark 10 Score
1220 points
Help

Storage Devices

CrystalDiskMark5
CrystalDiskMark5

Despite being based on flash memory, the unbranded eMMC storage performs similarly to a mechanical HDD. Write and read speeds hover around 105 MB/s and 170 MB/s, respectively. This is in line with other eMMC flash storage-based systems and a bit snappier than the cheaper mechanical drives found in other budget notebooks. However, the paltry 64 GB of storage space is incredibly limiting and will soon be filled. Our review unit was left with very little space considering the high amount of pre-installed bloat. Potential buyers will want to consider cloud storage solutions or external drives before purchasing.

Note: AS SSD would crash during the benchmark; as such, we are unable to include results from AS SSD.

Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
64 GB eMMC Flash
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
SanDisk DF4032
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
64 GB eMMC Flash
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
SanDisk DF4128
HP 15-bw077ax
WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-60JC3T1
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Toshiba SG5 THNSNK128GVN8
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
5%
-49%
18%
-57%
321%
Write 4K
12.44
13.87
11%
3.23
-74%
11.87
-5%
0.92
-93%
79.9
542%
Read 4K
9.59
12.23
28%
5.37
-44%
11.45
19%
0.3
-97%
22.68
136%
Write Seq
104.9
101.7
-3%
49.49
-53%
106.1
1%
97.3
-7%
139.4
33%
Read Seq
169.9
165.1
-3%
153.3
-10%
293.6
73%
99.6
-41%
472.7
178%
Write 4K Q32T1
15.3
13.63
-11%
3.6
-76%
15.22
-1%
0.94
-94%
122.6
701%
Read 4K Q32T1
32.1
36.23
13%
17.4
-46%
33.91
6%
0.84
-97%
234.6
631%
Write Seq Q32T1
98.1
94.8
-3%
24
-76%
110.3
12%
97.7
0%
139.3
42%
Read Seq Q32T1
134.9
147.5
9%
113.2
-16%
183
36%
98.6
-27%
549
307%
64 GB eMMC Flash
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 134.9 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 98.1 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 32.1 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 15.3 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 169.9 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 104.9 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 9.59 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 12.44 MB/s

GPU & Gaming Performance

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 500 is designed for only the most basic graphical tasks. The graphical prowess of the 120s is better compared to smartphone SoCs rather than other notebook GPUs. Even the low-powered Intel HD Graphics 615 found in Core m3 laptops bests the HD Graphics 500 in 3DMark Fire Strike by 89%. Compared to other Celeron machines, however, the Ideapad 120s sits at the top of the heap, and by a wide margin. Our review unit beats many other devices with the HD Graphics 500 chip by 20-30% in various 3DMark tests.

The integrated GPU is only suitable for non-demanding casual games found in the Windows Store and older titles. The machine had trouble running the pre-installed version of Minecraft smoothly even on the lowest settings; anything more demanding is out of the question.

Ice Storm Extreme
Ice Storm Extreme
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
6989 Points +96%
Cube Thinker m3
Intel HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y30
5911 Points +65%
Lenovo Thinkpad 13-20J1001BUS
Intel HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
5854 Points +64%
HP 15-bw077ax
AMD Radeon R5 (Stoney Ridge), A9-9420
3661 Points +2%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350
3573 Points
HP 15-bw075ax
AMD Radeon R7 (Bristol Ridge), A12-9720P
3477 Points -3%
Jumper EZbook 3
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350
3052 Points -15%
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
2651 (2630min - 2661max) Points -26%
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
2578 Points -28%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel HD Graphics (Braswell), N3050
2230 Points -38%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
Intel HD Graphics (Braswell), N3050
1950 Points -45%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
807 Points +102%
Cube Thinker m3
Intel HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y30
757 Points +89%
HP 15-bw075ax
AMD Radeon R7 (Bristol Ridge), A12-9720P
750 Points +88%
HP 15-bw077ax
AMD Radeon R5 (Stoney Ridge), A9-9420
642 Points +61%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350
400 Points
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
310 (307min - 317max) Points -22%
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
293 Points -27%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel HD Graphics (Braswell), N3050
262 Points -34%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Graphics
Cube Thinker m3
Intel HD Graphics 615, m3-7Y30
29224 Points +94%
Lenovo Thinkpad 13-20J1001BUS
Intel HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
28425 Points +88%
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350
15085 Points
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Intel HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450
12299 Points -18%
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
17286 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
2306 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
358 points
Help
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 21

Stress Test

In spite of its low performance design, the system performs well when under stress. Running Prime95 for an hour to fully load the CPU, the N3350 boosts above its rated maximum boost clock to 2.4 GHz before settling in at 2.2 GHz. This could explain why the Ideapad 120s performed so well against other N3350-based laptops; Lenovo might have tweaked the CPU to eke out a slightly higher clock. Temperatures during Prime95 are good, averaging 73º C across the die. FurMark sees the CPU average 2.0 GHz and the integrated GPU hit about 435 MHz, well below its rated burst of 700 MHz. Temperatures are again well-managed, averaging about 78º C. Prime95 and FurMark together bring the system to its knees; in order to keep component temperatures at 76º C, the Ideapad reins the CPU in at 1.5 GHz and the GPU at a mere 213 MHz. 

The Ideapad 120s succumbs to the stress of Unigine Valley. The CPU and GPU both hit their rated maximums of 2.4 GHz and 650 MHz, respectively, before falling back to lower speeds (1.1 GHz and 445 MHz). Temperatures are good, averaging about 73º C during the hour long test.

Prime95
Prime95
FurMark
FurMark
Prime95 + FurMark
Prime95 + FurMark
Unigine Valley
Unigine Valley
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 2.2 - 73 -
FurMark Stress 2.0 433 78 78
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 1.5 213 76 76
Unigine Valley 1.1 445 76 76

Emissions

System Noise

The fanless design of the Ideapad 120s results in completely silent operation. In addition to the complete absence of fan noise, there is no discernible coil whine.

Temperature

Surface temperatures are reasonable, especially considering the lack of active cooling. The is a hot spot on the case above and below the CPU, which hits 47º C on the bottom case. This corner does get warm to the touch, but the rest of chassis remains cool. Temperatures under load are in line with other Celeron-based machines.

Max. Load
 41.2 °C
106 F
37.6 °C
100 F
27 °C
81 F
 
 36.6 °C
98 F
35.4 °C
96 F
26.6 °C
80 F
 
 28.2 °C
83 F
26.6 °C
80 F
26.4 °C
80 F
 
Maximum: 41.2 °C = 106 F
Average: 31.7 °C = 89 F
26.2 °C
79 F
41 °C
106 F
47.2 °C
117 F
26.4 °C
80 F
36 °C
97 F
41 °C
106 F
25.8 °C
78 F
27.2 °C
81 F
28.8 °C
84 F
Maximum: 47.2 °C = 117 F
Average: 33.3 °C = 92 F
Power Supply (max.)  31 °C = 88 F | Room Temperature 23 °C = 73 F | Fluke 62 Mini
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 31.7 °C / 89 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 41.2 °C / 106 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 47.2 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.8 °C / 77 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 28.2 °C / 82.8 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 (+0.1 °C / 0.1 F).
Thermal map (idle, keyboard)
Thermal map (idle, keyboard)
Thermal map (idle, bottom)
Thermal map (idle, bottom)
Thermal map (load, keyboard)
Thermal map (load, keyboard)
Thermal map (load, bottom)
Thermal map (load, bottom)
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), N3060, SanDisk DF4032
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, 64 GB eMMC Flash
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, SanDisk DF4128
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
HD Graphics (Braswell), N3050, 32 GB eMMC Flash
HP Stream 13-c102ng
HD Graphics (Braswell), N3050, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Jumper EZbook 3
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3350, Toshiba 064G93 64 GB eMMC
Heat
2%
7%
-3%
-9%
-2%
5%
Maximum Upper Side *
41.2
40.7
1%
39.2
5%
42.4
-3%
39.9
3%
36.5
11%
41
-0%
Maximum Bottom *
47.2
41
13%
39.4
17%
45
5%
44.7
5%
51.6
-9%
42
11%
Idle Upper Side *
26.8
28.2
-5%
27.7
-3%
28.6
-7%
33
-23%
26.5
1%
27
-1%
Idle Bottom *
29.2
29.6
-1%
26.8
8%
31.4
-8%
35
-20%
32
-10%
27
8%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

Speaker profile
Speaker profile

The speakers are very poor. Sound is thin and tinny with an almost complete absence of bass, and the volume doesn't break 70 dB. The speakers on the 120s are more apt for a smartphone rather than a notebook and will leave audiophiles and music lovers sorely disappointed.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2038.5362533.336.13134.234.24033.233.45033.732.66331.332.3803130.110028.828.812529.729.716028.328.120026.328.325025.932.33152636.640025.33750024.138.863024.242.280023.549.910002355.3125022.561.5160022.254.6200022.351.925002249.2315021.655.4400021.660.4500021.760.9630021.658.7800021.651.61000021.541.81250021.635.41600021.643.6SPL34.768.6N2.320.8median 22.5median 43.6Delta1.410.329.230.62830273025.726.526.127.624.526.82426.424.428.422.128.821.428.723.435.920.43718.541.217.645.316.948.516.255.915.962.415.767.215.668.615.764.316.160.216.559.317.363.817.766.118.365.518.866.919.564.82056.520.454.52147.729.776.41.335.7median 18.3median 56.52.111.938.342.734.235.535.134.23433.433.433.232.430.430.928.534.533.736.325.830.125.738.923.93823.343.822.650.721.354.320.358.219.968.719.37318.87018.666.118.166.717.869.717.770.917.870.817.968.118641863.618.56222.556.519.655.118.380.431.244.61.6median 62median 19.312.42.1hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAPChuwi Lapbook 12.3Jumper EZbook 3
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (68.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 13% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 8.5% higher than median
(-) | mids are not linear (20.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 10.9% higher than median
(-) | highs are not linear (22.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (52.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 100% of all tested devices in this class were better, 0% similar, 0% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 95% of all tested devices were better, 0% similar, 5% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Chuwi Lapbook 12.3 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (76.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 23.2% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.5% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (11.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.7% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (31.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 92% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 7% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 88% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 10% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Jumper EZbook 3 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 25.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (10.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (27.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 86% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 11% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 80% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 16% 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

The combination of a low TDP CPU and low-resolution display results in very low power consumption. The Ideapad 120s pulls about 13 Watts under load, which is about average for similar budget machines. Where the 120s really shines is in low-load scenarios, pulling an average of about 5-6 Watts while idle or under extremely light loads (like word processing). This beats other budget devices by between 20-50%.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.28 / 0.27 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.7 / 5.3 / 5.7 Watt
Load midlight 12.9 / 13.1 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-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
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Celeron N3450, HD Graphics 500, 64 GB eMMC Flash, IPS, 2736x1824, 12.30
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Celeron N3450, HD Graphics 500, SanDisk DF4128, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.10
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
N3050, HD Graphics (Braswell), 32 GB eMMC Flash, TN LED, 1366x768, 14.00
HP Stream 13-c102ng
N3050, HD Graphics (Braswell), 32 GB eMMC Flash, TN, 1366x768, 13.30
Jumper EZbook 3
Celeron N3350, HD Graphics 500, Toshiba 064G93 64 GB eMMC, TN LED, 1920x1080, 14.10
Power Consumption
-51%
-67%
-16%
-24%
-22%
-11%
Idle Minimum *
2.7
7
-159%
5.9
-119%
3.6
-33%
4.2
-56%
4.6
-70%
3.18
-18%
Idle Average *
5.3
8.2
-55%
7.7
-45%
6.2
-17%
6.3
-19%
6.8
-28%
6.14
-16%
Idle Maximum *
5.7
8.5
-49%
8.6
-51%
6.5
-14%
7.3
-28%
6.5
-14%
6.4
-12%
Load Average *
12.9
12.5
3%
18.2
-41%
13.5
-5%
12.5
3%
12.7
2%
13.3
-3%
Load Maximum *
13.1
12.3
6%
23.6
-80%
14.3
-9%
15.9
-21%
13.2
-1%
13.6
-4%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

While the Ideapad 120s doesn't consumer much power under normal use, the small 32 Wh battery holds it back a bit when away from an outlet. The 120s hit just shy of 7 hours in our WiFi Surfing v1.3 test (Balanced profile, screen set to 150 nits, opening a new web page every 30-40 seconds). This should get most people to the end of the workday before needing a recharge, but users needing a marathon budget laptop should look at the Acer Aspire One Cloudbook. Acer's offering beat the Ideapad 120s by about 3 and a half hours.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
15h 57min
WiFi Websurfing
6h 59min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 58min
Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP
Celeron N3350, HD Graphics 500, 32 Wh
Lenovo Ideapad 110S-11IBR
N3060, HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), 39.1 Wh
Chuwi Lapbook 12.3
Celeron N3450, HD Graphics 500, 36.48 Wh
Chuwi LapBook 14 inch 2017
Celeron N3450, HD Graphics 500, 38 Wh
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
N3050, HD Graphics (Braswell), 55 Wh
HP Stream 13-c102ng
N3050, HD Graphics (Braswell), 37 Wh
Jumper EZbook 3
Celeron N3350, HD Graphics 500, 38 Wh
Battery Runtime
-8%
-6%
10%
51%
-12%
0%
Reader / Idle
957
696
-27%
WiFi v1.3
419
384
-8%
395
-6%
372
-11%
631
51%
370
-12%
420
0%
Load
118
199
69%

Pros

+ well-built and sleek chassis
+ USB Type-C port
+ all USB ports support USB 3.0
+ great performance for its class
+ excellent keyboard and good touchpad
+ silent operation with no coil whine
+ good power efficiency
+ adequate battery life

Cons

- lackluster screen
- performance is still slow for everyday tasks
- abysmal gaming performance
- keyboard lacks a backlight
- very limited storage space
- no components can be repaired or upgraded

Verdict

In review: Lenovo Ideapad 120s (14-inch). Review sample provided by Lenovo.
In review: Lenovo Ideapad 120s (14-inch). Review sample provided by Lenovo.

The Lenovo Ideapad is a slow and sluggish machine. Even simple tasks, like opening the file manager or loading a light web page, can become an exercise in patience. The screen is also very color-inaccurate and viewing angles are poor. While it's competent enough for basic office tasks and web browsing, users will need to lower their expectations or become frustrated.

That said, there are several places the 120s trumps its competition. In terms of design, case stability, keyboard, and battery life, there are few budget notebooks that can beat the 120s at $250. The fanless design creates a silent experience, and its battery life and lightweight build make it an easily portable machine. While performance is slow, the Ideapad 120s routinely beats out other dual-core Celeron notebooks by a noticeable margin in benchmarks.

For prospective buyers on an incredibly tight budget, the Ideapad 120s is hard to beat.

Lenovo Ideapad 120S-14IAP - 11/25/2017 v6(old)
Sam Medley

Chassis
72 /  98 → 73%
Keyboard
71%
Pointing Device
62%
Connectivity
44 / 80 → 55%
Weight
70 / 35-78 → 81%
Battery
89%
Display
76%
Games Performance
46 / 68 → 67%
Application Performance
49 / 87 → 56%
Temperature
92 / 91 → 100%
Noise
100%
Audio
27 / 91 → 30%
Camera
48 / 85 → 56%
Average
65%
76%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo Ideapad 120s (14-inch, HD) Laptop Review
Sam Medley, 2017-11-30 (Update: 2019-03-25)