Lenovo Ideapad 710S Plus 13IKB-80W3004MUS
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Reviews for the Lenovo Ideapad 710S Plus 13IKB-80W3004MUS
Source: Computer Shopper
Archive.org versionThe Lenovo IdeaPad 710S Plus impresses on its design and usability. For the price, you really feel that you’re getting a premium system. The guts aren’t of the same premium performance grade, but they are enough to get you through most everyday computing needs, be they work or entertainment.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 07/18/2017
Rating: Total score: 80%
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These days, thin and light seems to be the name of the game, and, more often than not, buyers are looking for high performance to go along with the price. In this case, Lenovo has an answer with the Ideapad 710S Plus, which balances price, weight and features. So, what does this notebook offer? For starters, the Ideapad 710S is powered by an Intel i5-7200U, up to 8GB of memory and 256GB of superfast NVMe-based solid state storage. As with the rise of ultrabooks, the proliferation of SSD-based storage is starting to take the lead. This can also be partially attributed to SSD prices finally sinking like a rock. Of course, what good is the spec sheet without a nice design, which is usually the main attraction point. The moment you unpack the device from its packaging, you will notice that, even at its given price, it is able to command a premium appearance akin to an Apple device. Bu let’s not get ahead of ourselves. In terms of chassis and materials, the Ideapad 710S Plus is mainly crafted out of magnesium and aluminum, which helps maintain its robustness and rigidity in its given form factor. It is quite surprising that Lenovo was able to deliver a premium feel in this price bracket. Moving on to the keyboard, it is standard with reasonable spacing between keys, the keys have a reasonable amount of travel distance, it does not feel too shallow or deep, yet is able to assert feedback appropriately. The included touchpad is actually a combination of the standard touchpad and clickpad, which seems to be the standard for most Lenovo devices these days. This may leave certain users dissatisfied, as there are inconsistencies when it comes to clicking, although this can usually be rectified with the included software. Other than that, the integrated touchpad works quite smoothly. It should be noted that the Ideapad 710S Plus also includes a fingerprint reader for added security.
Next in line is the vibrant 13.3-inch IPS-based FHD screen that, admittedly, resembles Apple’s Retina displays. The viewing experience is quite crisp and solid, although, as with Apple’s display panels, there can be some glare when used under certain lighting conditions. One thing to note here is that the display is not a touchscreen, though Lenovo does offer it as an additional option should users wish to have it. As for IO, the Ideapad 710S Plus is somehow in an awkward position, as it has 1 USB-2.0 port, 2 USB-3.0 ports, 1 DisplayPort, a regular SD-card reader, and audio ports. The awkward position mentioned is due to the inclusion of a USB-2.0 port, which seems dated. However, this means that the port can be used without drivers. What is puzzling is that, usually, manufacturers would omit one part and be done with it, but not in this case: The 710S Plus has a USB-2.0 port, but no USB Type-C connectors, which frankly feels like a downgrade. Nonetheless, the IO department is fully equipped for an average user.
Moving over to audio, Lenovo has included a pair of JBL-certified speakers that provide a sound of reasonable quality in most cases, but that is just about it. Finally, as per usual with ultrabooks, battery life must be mentioned. At 8 hours and 11 minutes of movie playback, the Ideapad 710S Plus scored an overall average result compared to its competitors. While this is not bad, it is not groundbreaking, either; but at this price, you are getting what you paid for. So, the takeaway from this is that the 710S Plus impresses users with its design and premium feel, and is definitely powerful enough to handle most everyday computing. But if you intend to game a little, you might struggle to see why the integrated HD graphics will hold you back.
Hands-on article by Jagadisa Rajarathnam
Intel HD Graphics 620: Integrated GPU (GT2) found on some Kaby-Lake CPU models (15 W ULV series).
Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
i5-7200U: Kaby-Lake based SoC with two CPU cores clocked at 2.5 to 3.1 GHz, HyperThreading and manufactured with an improved 14nm process.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
