Notebookcheck Logo

Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH (i7-8750H, GTX 1050 Ti) Laptop Review

Professional look, but gamer at heart. Lenovo wants to reshape its Legion series to appeal to a broader audience outside of just hardcore gamers. The Legion Y730 represents the first step in this new direction and it is subsequently the most balanced laptop in the family to date.

The Lenovo Legion Y730 series directly succeeds the Legion Y720 series. Unlike the Y720, however, the Y730 includes both 15-inch and 17-inch screen sizes for a wider range of options than its immediate predecessor. We recommend reading our review on the 15-inch Legion Y530 as it shares a similar aesthetic design to our 17-inch Legion Y730 that we have here today.

As of this writing, there are only two SKUs of the 17-inch Legion Y730 available distinguished by their processors. The first is equipped with a quad-core Core i5-8300H while the second uses a hexa-core i7-8750H. Otherwise, both have the same 1080 IPS matte display and GTX 1050 Ti GPU. Our review unit is the faster configuration retailing for about $1250 USD. As a mainstream gaming laptop from Lenovo, the system has a long line of direct 17-inch competitors including the MSI GP72, HP Omen 17, Dell G3 17, Acer Predator Helios 300, and the Asus ROG GL703GE.

Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
Processor
Intel Core i7-8750H 6 x 2.2 - 4.1 GHz, Coffee Lake-H
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile - 4 GB VRAM, Core: 1493 MHz, Memory: 7008 MHz, GDDR5, 397.97, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR4-2666, 19-19-19-43, Single-Channel
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, LP173WF4-SPF6, IPS, LG Philips LGD0589, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM370
Storage
Toshiba KBG30ZMT128G, 128 GB 
, Secondary: 1 TB Seagate ST1000LM049-2GH172 HDD
Soundcard
Intel Cannon Lake-H/S - cAVS (Audio, Voice, Speech)
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5mm, Card Reader: SD
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Realtek RTL8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCIe Adapter (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 21.95 x 413 x 305 ( = 0.86 x 16.26 x 12.01 in)
Battery
76 Wh, 4840 mAh Lithium-Polymer, 4-cell
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Warranty card, Quick Start guide, McAfee LiveSafe, Magic Y Key, ICue, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.88 kg ( = 101.59 oz / 6.35 pounds), Power Supply: 562 g ( = 19.82 oz / 1.24 pounds)
Price
1250 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Lenovo has completely redesigned the chassis from previous Legion iterations. The new Y730 is smoother, flatter, thinner, and much less colorful and "gamery" than its predecessors. All hints of red have been dropped in favor of a cleaner matte aluminum finish from top to bottom. This very deliberate change is Lenovo's attempt to broaden the appeal of the Legion series to audiences outside of core gamers. The more subtle and less flashy design is arguably more appropriate for conferences and business settings when compared to the older Legion Y520.

The Y730 is still a gaming laptop at heart with numerous under-the-skin improvements to prove it. Cooling has been strengthened with a wider rear that extends beyond the hinges of the display - similar to the large Asus ROG G700 series or Aorus X7 series - in order to support larger heat sinks and longer heat pipes. New RGB lights are hidden underneath the ventilation grilles for additional color options that can be turned on or off. It's a unique look that works well in multiple environments.

Has chassis quality suffered during the major design transition? The base is rigid with only minor creaking when attempting to twist it and the lid is above average as well. Since the outer lid is so flat, pushing down on its center barely flexes the surface. The keyboard deck flexes slightly but not enough to be of any concern during use. Construction quality is excellent with no unintended gaps or unevenness on our unit. Overall, the Lenovo feels a tad sturdier than the Asus ROG GL703 series for a better first impression.

By far the weakest aspect of the design is the dual 180-degree hinges as they become looser at wide angles instead remaining firm throughout. Expect the lid to teeter a bit if not typing on a flat desk. We suspect that the rigidity of the hinges could weaken over time.

Footprint is slightly larger than some competitors because of the extended rear design. For example, the MSI GE73, Dell G3 17, and Asus Strix GL703 are all notably shorter in width by 20 mm or more. The Lenovo makes up for this by being thinner at just under 22 mm in thickness. Weight differences are quite minimal with the Y730 being only about 100 g lighter than the rest.

Very few ports along the left and right edges
Very few ports along the left and right edges
Smooth matte aluminum finish from top to bottom
Smooth matte aluminum finish from top to bottom
Rear "jet-engine" design with RGB lighting under the corner plastic ventilation grilles
Rear "jet-engine" design with RGB lighting under the corner plastic ventilation grilles
180-degree hinges feel weak when moving past 140 degrees
180-degree hinges feel weak when moving past 140 degrees
423 mm / 16.7 inch 304 mm / 12 inch 33 mm / 1.299 inch 3.7 kg8.06 lbs424 mm / 16.7 inch 332 mm / 13.1 inch 30 mm / 1.181 inch 4.4 kg9.74 lbs419 mm / 16.5 inch 287 mm / 11.3 inch 30 mm / 1.181 inch 2.9 kg6.5 lbs415.4 mm / 16.4 inch 279.2 mm / 11 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 3 kg6.53 lbs414 mm / 16.3 inch 279.4 mm / 11 inch 23.9 mm / 0.941 inch 2.9 kg6.33 lbs413 mm / 16.3 inch 305 mm / 12 inch 21.95 mm / 0.864 inch 2.9 kg6.35 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Despite being a 17-inch gaming laptop, the Y730 has a somewhat limited selection of ports. There are only three USB Type-A ports with two of them located on the rear edge of the unit with no SD card reader to speak of. In fact, most of the ports are tightly packed along the rear with only a few on the left and right-hand edges. Port positioning is certainly not as convenient as it could have been especially since there are no USB Type-A ports along the left edge.

We commend Lenovo for including a Thunderbolt 3 port and a rear LED light that makes the back ports easier to see and access.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Right: Lenovo reset button, USB 3.0
Right: Lenovo reset button, USB 3.0
Rear: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 3.1 Gen. 2, Gigabit Ethernet, AC adapter, Kensington Lock
Rear: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 3.1 Gen. 2, Gigabit Ethernet, AC adapter, Kensington Lock
Left: 3.5 mm combo audio, Thunderbolt 3
Left: 3.5 mm combo audio, Thunderbolt 3

Communication

Wireless is provided by a 2x2 RealTek RTL8822BE M.2 adapter with integrated Bluetooth 4.1. We experienced no connectivity issues during our time with the test unit. Laptops with Killer modules hand more gamer-centric features to boost wireless performance.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
HP Omen 17t-3AW55AV_1
Realtek RTL8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCIe Adapter
630 MBit/s +9%
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
Realtek RTL8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCIe Adapter
579 MBit/s
Alienware 17 R5
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
553 MBit/s -4%
Asus Strix GL703GM-DS74
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
448 MBit/s -23%
Dell G3 17 3779
Intel Wireless AC 9462
321 MBit/s -45%
iperf3 receive AX12
Alienware 17 R5
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
668 MBit/s +6%
Asus Strix GL703GM-DS74
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
657 MBit/s +4%
HP Omen 17t-3AW55AV_1
Realtek RTL8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCIe Adapter
644 MBit/s +2%
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
Realtek RTL8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCIe Adapter
630 MBit/s
Dell G3 17 3779
Intel Wireless AC 9462
284 MBit/s -55%

Maintenance

The bottom panel is secured by 11 Philips screws. Removing the panel can be tricky because of the unique rear plastic design of the system and so a sharp edge is recommended. RAM, storage, and WLAN are all accessible and upgradeable. A metal shield protects the two SODIMM slots at the very center of the unit.

Direct access to all major components
Direct access to all major components

Accessories and Warranty

There are no included extras outside of the AC adapter and small Quick Start guide.

The standard one-year limited warranty applies with extension of up to three years and accidental damage protection. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties article for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The chiclet keyboard (~30.0 x 10.1 cm) is identical to the keyboard on the 15-inch Y530 in terms of layout and feel. As such, feedback is still on the soft side with moderate clatter similar to most Ultrabooks. The large Arrow keys are a plus especially since other manufacturers often shrink them down to smaller sizes.

The NumPad keys unfortunately get the short end of the stick. They are physically smaller than the QWERTY keys and consequently even spongier in feedback. We find that the SteelSeries keyboards on the MSI GE or GS series tend to offer more uniform feedback across each key when compared to our Lenovo.

The per-key 16.7M RGB lighting is what separates the keyboard on the Y730 from the keyboard on the Y530. Its lighting effects are powered by the Corsair iCUE software for users to create multiple profiles with numerous presets to choose from. Even the ventilation grilles and side ports can be customized to glow in different colors. It's an excellent implementation overall even though the iCUE software has a bit of a learning curve. 

Touchpad

The Precision trackpad is rather small (~10.2 x 5.3 cm) for a 17-inch laptop as even the 15-inch XPS 15 has a larger trackpad (10.5 x 8. 5 cm). To Lenovo's credit, its dedicated mouse keys are more comfortable to use than clickpads especially for dragging and dropping. The trackpad surface can flex slightly with applied pressure but it is otherwise firm and smooth for both slow or fast cursor movement. Its surface, however, is a fingerprint magnet that will accumulate unsightly grease very quickly.

The aforementioned mouse keys are relatively soft in feedback with quiet clatter and moderate travel depth. While we appreciate the quiet operation, less spongy feedback would have been appreciated.

Keyboard layout and feel are almost identical to an IdeaPad
Keyboard layout and feel are almost identical to an IdeaPad
Center Power button with no fingerprint or auxiliary keys
Center Power button with no fingerprint or auxiliary keys
Per-key RGB lighting separates the higher-end Y730 from the mainstream Y530
Per-key RGB lighting separates the higher-end Y730 from the mainstream Y530
Tie user-created profiles and colors when launching applications like games
Tie user-created profiles and colors when launching applications like games
Customize the colors of the vents and ports
Customize the colors of the vents and ports
Magic Y Key is a separate app for setting user-defined Macros and other key bindings
Magic Y Key is a separate app for setting user-defined Macros and other key bindings

Display

Lenovo offers just one 1080p matte IPS display option for the 17-inch Y730 with no glossy, touchscreen, or 4K choices to speak of. This also means that users will miss out on 120 Hz or 144 Hz panels with fast response times as found on other mainstream gaming laptops like the Pavilion 15 Gaming. Fortunately, the panel here is of good quality with respectable contrast levels, response times, and colors. In fact, the Lenovo carries a very similar LG Philips LP173WF4 panel as the displays of the 17-inch Acer Predator 17 X, Predator Helios 300, and Asus GL703VD and they all share similar characteristics as a result. Higher-end panels like the one for the MSI GS65 are capable of even deeper colors and higher contrast levels with less ghosting.

There are no major graininess issues and so the matte panel looks almost like a glossy display without the glare. Unfortunately, moderate backlight bleeding is present on our unit as shown by the picture below. It's unnoticeable when browsing the web, but it's acute enough to be an inconvenience when gaming or watching movies with black borders.

Moderate uneven backlight bleeding along top corner
Moderate uneven backlight bleeding along top corner
Subpixel array (127 PPI)
Subpixel array (127 PPI)
320.1
cd/m²
324.8
cd/m²
322.6
cd/m²
319.5
cd/m²
328.7
cd/m²
323.6
cd/m²
299.3
cd/m²
308.5
cd/m²
318.8
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LP173WF4-SPF6 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 328.7 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 318.4 cd/m² Minimum: 0.06 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 328.7 cd/m²
Contrast: 645:1 (Black: 0.51 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.91 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 4.27
ΔE Greyscale 3.9 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
84.7% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
55.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62.1% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
84.9% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.4% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.13
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
LP173WF4-SPF6, IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080
Alienware 17 R5
JYWWF_B173QTN (AUO1496), TN, 17.30, 2560x1440
HP Omen 17t-3AW55AV_1
AU Optronics AUO309D, IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080
Dell G3 17 3779
AUO, B173HAN01.3, IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080
Asus Strix GL703GM-DS74
Chi Mei CMN1747 M173JJE-G32, TN LED, 17.30, 1920x1080
MSI GE73 8RF-008 Raider RGB
Chi Mei N173HHE-G32 (CMN1747), TN WLED, 17.30, 1920x1080
Display
-1%
3%
2%
30%
31%
Display P3 Coverage
66.4
63.4
-5%
65.4
-2%
63.9
-4%
90
36%
90.8
37%
sRGB Coverage
84.9
86.1
1%
90
6%
89.8
6%
100
18%
99.9
18%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
62.1
62.9
1%
65.8
6%
64.9
5%
84.8
37%
85.8
38%
Response Times
59%
55%
-6%
73%
34%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
36.8 ?(18.8, 18)
20.8 ?(11.6, 9.2)
43%
17.6 ?(10, 7.6)
52%
38 ?(18, 20)
-3%
8.8 ?(4.4, 4.4)
76%
28 ?(16.4, 11.6)
24%
Response Time Black / White *
24 ?(14, 10)
6 ?(4, 2)
75%
10 ?(4.8, 5.2)
58%
26 ?(15, 11)
-8%
7.4 ?(5.2, 2.2)
69%
13.6 ?(11.8, 1.8)
43%
PWM Frequency
25510 ?(15)
25000 ?(14)
Screen
4%
18%
8%
16%
25%
Brightness middle
328.7
398
21%
343.6
5%
323
-2%
297.8
-9%
273
-17%
Brightness
318
367
15%
320
1%
306
-4%
285
-10%
273
-14%
Brightness Distribution
91
86
-5%
87
-4%
89
-2%
84
-8%
90
-1%
Black Level *
0.51
0.51
-0%
0.34
33%
0.31
39%
0.33
35%
0.26
49%
Contrast
645
780
21%
1011
57%
1042
62%
902
40%
1050
63%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.91
5.45
-11%
3.74
24%
4.96
-1%
3.68
25%
3.52
28%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
10.15
10.36
-2%
5.33
47%
8.25
19%
7.71
24%
6.34
38%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
4.27
2.56
40%
3.49
18%
2.71
37%
2.09
51%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.9
5.4
-38%
3.7
5%
5.65
-45%
5
-28%
3.11
20%
Gamma
2.13 103%
2.4 92%
2.36 93%
2.24 98%
2.06 107%
2.43 91%
CCT
6911 94%
7453 87%
6388 102%
7441 87%
6728 97%
6999 93%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
55.6
56
1%
58
4%
58
4%
84.77
52%
76
37%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
84.7
86
2%
90
6%
90
6%
99.97
18%
100
18%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
21% / 10%
25% / 20%
1% / 5%
40% / 26%
30% / 27%

* ... smaller is better

Color space is approximately 56 percent and 85 percent of the AdobeRGB and sRGB standards, respectively, to indicate a mainstream panel. Full sRGB coverage is less important for gaming laptops relative to response times and contrast. Gamers who want full sRGB coverage regardless should consider the Asus GL703 or MSI GE73 series instead where such panel options are available.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB

Further analyses with a spectrophotometer reveal above average grayscale and colors out of the box. Our calibration attempts improve accuracy even further and we recommend applying our ICC profile above to get the most out of the display. Colors still become increasingly inaccurate the higher the saturation level due to imperfect sRGB coverage.

Grayscale before calibration
Grayscale before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration

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
24 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14 ms rise
↘ 10 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. » 48 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
36.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 18.8 ms rise
↘ 18 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 46 % 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 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.

Outdoor visibility is average at best. Its backlight is not any stronger or weaker than most 17-inch gaming laptops and so we can't bump down the system in this regard. The IPS panel allows for very wide viewing angles without color degradation. The hinges, however, could have been more taut for such conditions.

Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Wide IPS viewing angles
Wide IPS viewing angles

Performance

Just two Coffee Lake-H CPU options are available as mentioned in the introduction with no extra GPU options other than the base GTX 1050 Ti. These specifications are common amongst budget-mainstream gaming laptops and the Core i5+GTX 1050 Ti combo strikes an excellent performance balance for gamers on a budget.

Nvidia Optimus is included for automatic or graphics switching to the integrated UHD Graphics 630.

Processor

CPU performance is excellent with the CineBench R15 Multi-Thread score in particular being higher than average. Users can expect a performance boost of almost 70 percent when moving up from the last generation Core i7-7700HQ due to the increased number of physical cores. Users who want the base configuration of the Y730 with the slower Core i5-8300H will see a 35 percent decrease in CPU performance from the i7-8750H.

Running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a loop reveals stable scores from start to finish to suggest excellent Turbo Boost performance. See our dedicated page on the Core i7-8750H for more technical details and benchmark comparisons.

CineBench R15
CineBench R15
065130195260325390455520585650715780845910975104011051170Tooltip
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1193 (1158.58-1229.48)
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Eurocom Sky X4C
Intel Core i7-8700K
192 Points +11%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Intel Core i7-8705G
174 Points +1%
MSI GE73 8RF-008 Raider RGB
Intel Core i7-8750H
174 Points +1%
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
Intel Core i7-8750H
173 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8750H
  (163 - 177, n=86)
172 Points -1%
Dell G3 17 3779
Intel Core i5-8300H
169 Points -2%
HP Omen X 17-ap0xx
Intel Core i7-7820HK
162 Points -6%
MSI Prestige PS42 8RB-059
Intel Core i7-8550U
162 Points -6%
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
144 Points -17%
Asus ROG Strix GL702VI-WB74
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
142 Points -18%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
141 Points -18%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
1408 Points +14%
Eurocom Sky X4C
Intel Core i7-8700K
1359 Points +10%
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
Intel Core i7-8750H
1230 Points
MSI GE73 8RF-008 Raider RGB
Intel Core i7-8750H
1163 Points -5%
Average Intel Core i7-8750H
  (863 - 1251, n=93)
1113 Points -10%
Dell G3 17 3779
Intel Core i5-8300H
798 Points -35%
HP Omen X 17-ap0xx
Intel Core i7-7820HK
770 Points -37%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Intel Core i7-8705G
746 Points -39%
Asus ROG Strix GL702VI-WB74
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
723 Points -41%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
566 Points -54%
MSI Prestige PS42 8RB-059
Intel Core i7-8550U
503 Points -59%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
173 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
1230 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
109.7 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help

System Performance

PCMark benchmarks rank our Lenovo in the same ballpark as other gaming laptops equipped with the same CPU and GPU. We experienced no notable software issues during our time with the test unit.

PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 10 - Score
HP Omen 17t-3AW55AV_1
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5939 Points +19%
Asus Strix GL703GM-DS74
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5525 Points +11%
Alienware 17 R5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H, SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
5443 Points +9%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Vega M GL / 870, i7-8705G, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
5001 Points 0%
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Toshiba KBG30ZMT128G
4982 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
  (4532 - 5162, n=10)
4851 Points -3%
Asus ROG Strix GL702VI-WB74
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4632 Points -7%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
HP Omen 17t-3AW55AV_1
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5557 Points +34%
Asus Strix GL703GM-DS74
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5371 Points +29%
Asus ROG Strix GL702VI-WB74
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4970 Points +20%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Vega M GL / 870, i7-8705G, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
4235 Points +2%
Average Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
  (3894 - 4371, n=10)
4162 Points 0%
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Toshiba KBG30ZMT128G
4148 Points
Work Score Accelerated v2
HP Omen 17t-3AW55AV_1
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5968 Points +12%
Asus Strix GL703GM-DS74
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5528 Points +4%
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Toshiba KBG30ZMT128G
5340 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
  (4973 - 5461, n=10)
5312 Points -1%
Asus ROG Strix GL702VI-WB74
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5199 Points -3%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Vega M GL / 870, i7-8705G, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
4469 Points -16%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
HP Omen 17t-3AW55AV_1
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
8378 Points
Asus ROG Strix GL702VI-WB74
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
7853 Points
Asus Strix GL703GM-DS74
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
7765 Points
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Vega M GL / 870, i7-8705G, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
6297 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
  (4820 - 5255, n=4)
5092 Points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4148 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5340 points
PCMark 10 Score
4982 points
Help

Storage Devices

Two internal storage bays are available in the form of M.2 NVMe and 2.5-inch SATA III with support for both 7 mm and 9.5 mm drives. Our test unit is equipped with a primary 128 GB Toshiba KBG30ZMT128G M.2 NVMe SSD and a secondary 1 TB Seagate Barracuda HDD.

The Toshiba SSD performs rather poorly especially for a NVMe drive. Sequential read and write rates are only about 980 MB/s and 125 MB/s, respectively, compared to 2000 MB/s and 1000 MB/s on a Samsung PM961. This is likely a cut corner in order to keep costs low while still leaving room for the high capacity secondary HDD.

See our table of HDDs and SSDs for more benchmark comparisons.

AS SSD (Primary SSD)
AS SSD (Primary SSD)
CDM 5.5 (Primary SSD)
CDM 5.5 (Primary SSD)
CDM 5.5 (Secondary SSD)
CDM 5.5 (Secondary SSD)
Interestingly, the Y730 uses an uncommon M.2 2242 SSD
Interestingly, the Y730 uses an uncommon M.2 2242 SSD
Secondary HDD bay underneath the right palm rest
Secondary HDD bay underneath the right palm rest
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
Toshiba KBG30ZMT128G
Alienware 17 R5
SK hynix PC401 HFS256GD9TNG
HP Omen 17t-3AW55AV_1
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Dell G3 17 3779
SK hynix SC311 SATA
Asus Strix GL703GM-DS74
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Average Toshiba KBG30ZMT128G
 
AS SSD
233%
915%
41%
463%
28%
Copy Game MB/s
134.6
875
550%
124.2
-8%
481
257%
122.3 ?(105.5 - 134.6, n=3)
-9%
Copy Program MB/s
182.9
481.1
163%
99.8
-45%
780
326%
122.6 ?(78 - 182.9, n=3)
-33%
Copy ISO MB/s
272.7
1080
296%
154.9
-43%
1043
282%
174.8 ?(108.2 - 273, n=3)
-36%
Score Total
479
1424
197%
4142
765%
552
15%
3075
542%
656 ?(479 - 838, n=4)
37%
Score Write
86
428
398%
2147
2397%
199
131%
825
859%
149 ?(86 - 200, n=4)
73%
Score Read
286
706
147%
1304
356%
236
-17%
1520
431%
360 ?(286 - 497, n=4)
26%
Access Time Write *
0.324
0.065
80%
0.047
85%
0.069
79%
0.042
87%
0.27 ?(0.234 - 0.324, n=4)
17%
Access Time Read *
0.519
0.091
82%
0.071
86%
0.136
74%
0.066
87%
0.3803 ?(0.106 - 0.626, n=4)
27%
4K-64 Write
31.38
279.1
789%
1866
5846%
114.8
266%
633
1917%
75.1 ?(31.4 - 98.2, n=4)
139%
4K-64 Read
168.6
447.2
165%
1125
567%
160.7
-5%
1285
662%
222 ?(168.6 - 335, n=4)
32%
4K Write
38.73
92.7
139%
84.4
118%
58.5
51%
88.4
128%
60.8 ?(35.7 - 90, n=4)
57%
4K Read
19.73
38.74
96%
31.66
60%
24.22
23%
35.76
81%
30.3 ?(19.7 - 38.7, n=4)
54%
Seq Write
125.4
559
346%
1962
1465%
254.4
103%
1031
722%
122.4 ?(115.4 - 131.6, n=4)
-2%
Seq Read
979
2203
125%
1473
50%
511
-48%
1993
104%
1074 ?(979 - 1231, n=4)
10%

* ... smaller is better

Toshiba KBG30ZMT128G
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 1037 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 130.5 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 196.4 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 88.9 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 843 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 129.6 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 29.98 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 71.4 MB/s

GPU Performance

The GeForce GTX 1050 Ti in the Y730 holds no surprises as 3DMark scores are exactly where we expect them to be when compared to the average GTX 1050 Ti in our database. Performance is even within 1 or 2 percent from our GeForce GTX 1050 Ti desktop reference. Users can expect 18 percent slower performance than the last generation GTX 980M and a 27 percent boost from the regular GTX 1050.

3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
3DMark - 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Aorus X7 DT v8
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8850H
20813 Points +165%
Alienware 17 R5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H
17792 Points +126%
MSI GS65 Stealth Thin 8RE-051US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H
11814 Points +50%
Dell G7 15-7588
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-8750H
11309 Points +44%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ
9608 Points +22%
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H
7860 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
  (6792 - 8376, n=38)
7743 Points -1%
MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (Desktop), 4790K
7696 Points -2%
Dell G3 15 3579
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
6183 Points -21%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ
4417 Points -44%
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Aorus X7 DT v8
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8850H
26201 Points
Alienware 17 R5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H
23414 Points
MSI GS65 Stealth Thin 8RE-051US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H
14879 Points
Dell G7 15-7588
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-8750H
14487 Points
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ
12472 Points
MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (Desktop), 4790K
9694 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
  (8304 - 10402, n=36)
9591 Points
Dell G3 15 3579
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
7658 Points
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ
5463 Points
1280x720 Performance Combined
Aorus X7 DT v8
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8850H
12036 Points
Alienware 17 R5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H
11288 Points
Dell G7 15-7588
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-8750H
10798 Points
MSI GS65 Stealth Thin 8RE-051US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H
10475 Points
MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (Desktop), 4790K
9149 Points
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ
8343 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
  (6104 - 9172, n=35)
7823 Points
Dell G3 15 3579
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
7598 Points
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ
5477 Points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
27317 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
7049 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Real-world gaming performance is very similar to the last generation GTX 970M. Games play very well at 1080p with potential to reach 60 FPS at lower graphical settings. We recommend checking out our dedicated page on the GTX 1050 Ti for more technical information and benchmark comparisons.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 255.3 203.4 185.5 74.5
The Witcher 3 (2015) 144.5 87.3 51 26
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 134.9 92.4 47.6 40.1

Stress Test

We stress the system with synthetic loads to identify for any potential throttling or stability issues. When subjected to Prime95, the CPU can be observed running stably at 3.9 GHz with only very slight dips. Since the i7-8750H is rated for a maximum multi-core Turbo Boost of 3.9 GHz, the Legion Y730 is impressively able to maintain its specification even when under extreme CPU stress. This observation explains how the Lenovo can outscore the average i7-8750H CPU in our database by 11 percent according to our CineBench R15 Multi-Thread test above. Core temperature plateaus at a respectable 76 C.

If running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously, core clock rate drops to 3.2 GHz with CPU and GPU temperatures stabilizing at 82 C and 71 C, respectively. In contrast, the CPU and GPU in the Dell G3 17 stabilizes at warmer temperatures of 86 C and 83 C, respectively.

Running Witcher 3 is more representative of real-world gaming conditions than the above. The CPU and GPU are much cooler with no performance dips over time as our chart below shows.

GPU performance is throttled when on battery power. A 3DMark 11 run on batteries returns Physics and Graphics scores of 8813 and 6589 points, respectively, compared to 9733 and 9467 points when on mains. Results do not change even when set to "Prefer maximum performance" in the Nvidia Control Panel menu.

System idle
System idle
Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
Witcher 3 stress
Witcher 3 stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
0510152025Tooltip
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Toshiba KBG30ZMT128G: Ø24.9 (22-28)
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 3.9 -- 76 --
Prime95 + FurMark Stress ~3.2 1481 82 71
Witcher 3 Stress 3.9 1721 65 58

Emissions

System Noise

Fans spin at lower frequencies than usual to be less distracting when gaming
Fans spin at lower frequencies than usual to be less distracting when gaming

The cooling solution consists of twin fans and three heat pipes in a near symmetrical arrangement. Although the system doesn't carry as many heat pipes as say the thicker MSI GE73, each copper pipe is larger and longer since they extend and bend around the rear corners.

Both system fans will idle on desktop, but low loads like browsing or streaming will kick start them for a low fan noise of 31.2 dB(A). Running the first benchmark scene of 3DMark 06 will bump the fans to 33.4 dB(A) which is still significantly quieter than the Dell G3 17 and Asus GL703GM when subjected to similar loads. In other words, the Lenovo system is able to remain quieter for longer before its fans decide to punch it.

When running Witcher 3, fan noise sits just below 43 dB(A) with seldom short-lived spikes up to 46 dB(A). Overall fan noise is still quieter than the competition if just slightly.

We can notice no electronic noise or coil whine on our test unit.

The dedicated subwoofer sits snugly between the heat pipes and fan
The dedicated subwoofer sits snugly between the heat pipes and fan
Dual ~60 mm fans with 66 blades each
Dual ~60 mm fans with 66 blades each

Noise Level

Idle
28 / 28 / 31.3 dB(A)
HDD
31.2 dB(A)
Load
33.4 / 46.2 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 28 dB(A)
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Toshiba KBG30ZMT128G
Dell G3 17 3779
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H, SK hynix SC311 SATA
Asus Strix GL703GM-DS74
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
HP Omen 17t-3AW55AV_1
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Vega M GL / 870, i7-8705G, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
Noise
-8%
-8%
-9%
2%
off / environment *
28
30.5
-9%
28.6
-2%
27.8
1%
28.2
-1%
Idle Minimum *
28
30.5
-9%
29.4
-5%
31.1
-11%
28.2
-1%
Idle Average *
28
31.1
-11%
29.4
-5%
31.1
-11%
28.2
-1%
Idle Maximum *
31.3
32.1
-3%
33.7
-8%
35
-12%
28.2
10%
Load Average *
33.4
43.4
-30%
41.2
-23%
42
-26%
29
13%
Witcher 3 ultra *
42.8
47.3
-11%
44.5
-4%
44.7
-4%
Load Maximum *
46.2
39.2
15%
48.3
-5%
46.5
-1%
47.4
-3%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Four sets of exhaust vents
Four sets of exhaust vents

Surface temperatures hover in the low 30 C range with the bottom hot spot reaching up to 36 C when browsing or streaming. When under more demanding loads like gaming or higher, hot spots can be as warm as 40 C on top and 50 C on bottom not unlike the Dell G7 15. Fortunately, these areas are towards the rear of the unit away from the keyboard keys and palm rests as shown by our thermal maps below. The system never becomes uncomfortably warm to use as a result.

A noteworthy feature of the Legion Y730 is its four set of exhaust vents whereas most other gaming laptops have only two sets. Having this many ventilation grilles is usually reserved for thinner laptops with faster GPUs than the GTX 1050 Ti, so we're surprised to see it utilized here on our mainstream Lenovo. The processors are thus given more room to breathe for faster clock rates or lower temperatures.

System idle (top)
System idle (top)
System idle (bottom)
System idle (bottom)
Witcher 3 stress (top)
Witcher 3 stress (top)
Witcher 3 stress (bottom)
Witcher 3 stress (bottom)
Maximum stress (top)
Maximum stress (top)
Maximum stress (bottom)
Maximum stress (bottom)
Max. Load
 38 °C
100 F
42 °C
108 F
32.8 °C
91 F
 
 32 °C
90 F
36 °C
97 F
30.8 °C
87 F
 
 28.2 °C
83 F
26.8 °C
80 F
28.2 °C
83 F
 
Maximum: 42 °C = 108 F
Average: 32.8 °C = 91 F
38 °C
100 F
51.2 °C
124 F
48 °C
118 F
31 °C
88 F
38.4 °C
101 F
34 °C
93 F
30 °C
86 F
30.6 °C
87 F
29.6 °C
85 F
Maximum: 51.2 °C = 124 F
Average: 36.8 °C = 98 F
Power Supply (max.)  55 °C = 131 F | Room Temperature 21.8 °C = 71 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 32.8 °C / 91 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F for the devices in the class Gaming.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 42 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 40.4 °C / 105 F, ranging from 21.2 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 51.2 °C / 124 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.2 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.4 °C / 83 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 28.4 °C / 83.1 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (+0.5 °C / 0.9 F).

Speakers

The internal stereo speakers include a dedicated subwoofer for a 2.1 setup. Sound quality is above average for a laptop with better-than-expected bass reproduction as confirmed by our pink noise measurements. The Dolby Atmos software is also easy to use if not a bit lacking in gaming-specific features. Maximum volume introduces no static, rattling, or major imbalances.

A drawback to the thin base and higher bass is reverberation. The palm rests and keyboard will reverberate more compared to other laptops when on higher volume settings. It's noticeable, but thankfully not distracting.

Pink noise at maximum volume
Pink noise at maximum volume
MSI GS65 pink noise in comparison showing poorer reproduction of lower frequencies
MSI GS65 pink noise in comparison showing poorer reproduction of lower frequencies
Dolby software is straightforward with no extras
Dolby software is straightforward with no extras
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2037.537.92534.6343134.435.54033.434.15032.932.56331.235.98030.941.110029.250.112529.254.616028.557.820027.361.425027.865.931527.369.140026.366.650025.564.26302566.780025.466.4100025.963.5125024.662.7160024.363.5200024.660.225002457.3315024.161400023.959.9500023.760.2630023.461.2800023.361.71000023.259.51250023.155.1160002345.7SPL36.674.7N2.738.7median 24.6median 61.2Delta1.63.535.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750HApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (69.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 5.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (13.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 20% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 74% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 12% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 85% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

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

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Idling on desktop demands about 6 W to 12 W depending on the power profile and brightness setting to be more efficient than competitors like the Dell G3 17 and Asus Strix GL703GM. Users making the jump from a GTX 960M gaming laptop to the Legion Y730 will see a significant boost in performance-per-Watt.

Power consumption remains stable when running Prime95 or FurMark whereas most notebooks have a sharp spike before gradually falling off. The results suggest that the Legion Y730 is better at maintaining Turbo Boost clock rates than competitors which corroborate with our CineBench loop test above.

We are able to measure a maximum draw of 145 W from the small (~14.5 x 6.5 x 3.0 cm) 135 W AC adapter. Lenovo should have shipped a more capable 150 W or 180 W AC adapter instead as it is common practice to have at least a 10 percent overhead.

Prime95 initiated at 20s mark. Consumption remains stable to suggest stable clock rates
Prime95 initiated at 20s mark. Consumption remains stable to suggest stable clock rates
Prime95+FurMark initiated at 20s mark. Surprisingly, consumption is relatively stable with no sharp dips
Prime95+FurMark initiated at 20s mark. Surprisingly, consumption is relatively stable with no sharp dips
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.49 / 0.73 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 6.3 / 11 / 11.5 Watt
Load midlight 89.8 / 130.7 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 Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, Toshiba KBG30ZMT128G, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
HP Omen 17t-3AW55AV_1
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Dell G3 17 3779
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, SK hynix SC311 SATA, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Asus Strix GL703GM-DS74
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, TN LED, 1920x1080, 17.30
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
i7-8705G, Vega M GL / 870, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB, IPS, 3840x2160, 15.60
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M, Lite-On CV1-8B128, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Power Consumption
-98%
-14%
-97%
4%
-39%
Idle Minimum *
6.3
17.8
-183%
7.7
-22%
18.88
-200%
6.2
2%
11.1
-76%
Idle Average *
11
24.7
-125%
14
-27%
24.36
-121%
12.9
-17%
14.1
-28%
Idle Maximum *
11.5
29.6
-157%
15.5
-35%
32.27
-181%
13.6
-18%
18.4
-60%
Load Average *
89.8
110
-22%
95
-6%
107.74
-20%
76.1
15%
96.5
-7%
Witcher 3 ultra *
102
167.8
-65%
142
-39%
84.3
17%
Load Maximum *
130.7
178.6
-37%
106
19%
160.28
-23%
99.4
24%
159.5
-22%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

When compared to the much older Ideapad Y700 that predates the Legion series, the Y730 is equipped with a larger 76 Wh internal battery. Runtimes are subsequently longer for just over 6.5 hours of constant WLAN use which is above average for a 17-inch gaming laptop.

Charging from near zero to full capacity takes about 1.5 hours.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
13h 9min
WiFi Websurfing
6h 42min
Load (maximum brightness)
0h 52min
Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 76 Wh
Alienware 17 R5
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 99 Wh
Dell G3 17 3779
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 56 Wh
Asus Strix GL703GM-DS74
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 74 Wh
Aorus X7 DT v8
i7-8850H, GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, 94.24 Wh
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M, 60 Wh
Battery Runtime
-30%
40%
-24%
-17%
15%
Reader / Idle
789
268
-66%
733
-7%
320
-59%
296
-62%
688
-13%
WiFi v1.3
402
218
-46%
345
-14%
213
-47%
228
-43%
334
-17%
Load
52
64
23%
126
142%
70
35%
80
54%
91
75%

Pros

+ excellent CPU Turbo Boost performance and sustainability
+ relatively cool core temperatures when gaming
+ generally quieter fans for a gaming laptop
+ dedicated subwoofer; good audio quality
+ per-key RGB lighting
+ full-size Arrow keys
+ good battery life
+ Thunderbolt 3

Cons

- slow write performance from Toshiba SSD
- Corsair iCUE software is not intuitive
- moderate uneven backlight bleeding
- trackpad is a fingerprint magnet
- no other GPU or display options
- small trackpad and NumPad
- awkward port placement
- hinges could be stronger
- no SD reader

Verdict

In review: Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH. Test model provided by Lenovo US
In review: Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH. Test model provided by Lenovo US

Both the Legion Y730 and Y530 represent the biggest changes to the family yet. The more casual business facade contrasts the mainstream gaming hardware and LED lights underneath for a very different approach than what the Asus ROG, Acer Predator, and MSI G series have to offer. At the same time, the Y730 still manages to throw in some luxuries like Thunderbolt 3, improved cooling, and per-key RGB lights that are normally reserved for "hardcore" gaming laptops. It's an atypical combination that surprisingly works for the Y730.

Aside from the visuals, performance is also top notch. Its CPU is able to maintain higher Turbo Boost clock rates for longer periods than the average Core i7-8750H and at respectable core temperatures. In fact, with core temperatures hovering at just 65 C or cooler when gaming, Lenovo could have dialed back the fans for an even quieter experience. The speakers are excellent, runtimes are long, and the standard 60 Hz IPS display is a perfect fit given the GPU.

There is still a lot of room for improvement. More customized fan controls, better port positioning, narrower bezels, and firmer key feedback would make the system an even better buy at its $1100 starting price. Stronger hinges are definitely near the top of our list as are additional GPU options like the GTX 1060 or 1060 Max-Q. The potential is certainly there to distinguish the Legion series even further from your traditional gaming laptop.

The Legion Y730 balances a casual business look with high-end gaming features surprisingly well for a lower starting price than most. If on a tight budget, the lower-end Core i5-8300H SKU is recommended as the i7-8750H will not significantly boost gaming performance when paired with a GTX 1050 Ti.

Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH, i7-8750H - 09/20/2019 v7
Allen Ngo

Chassis
73 / 98 → 75%
Keyboard
85%
Pointing Device
83%
Connectivity
56 / 80 → 71%
Weight
57 / 10-66 → 84%
Battery
73 / 95 → 76%
Display
83%
Games Performance
80%
Application Performance
86%
Temperature
89 / 95 → 94%
Noise
89 / 90 → 99%
Audio
67%
Camera
40 / 85 → 47%
Average
74%
80%
Gaming - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

Read all 12 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo Legion Y730-17ICH (i7-8750H, GTX 1050 Ti) Laptop Review
Allen Ngo, 2018-10-10 (Update: 2019-02-23)