Lenovo ThinkPad E450 Notebook Review
For the original German review, see here.
Lenovo's ThinkPad E series consists of laptops with plastic cases without frills, fine input devices, and solid performances. We have already reviewed the E555, Edge E540, and Edge E330 (2012) models. Lenovo's changing use of the word "Edge" is slightly confusing. Those who compare the devices and the cases will notice that look and quality are not different. Whether there is an "Edge" in the name or not, the E series has the same origin.
13 and 14-inch laptops with good input devices and an attractive Full HD display are rare in the price range up to 850 Euros (~$936), especially if the device is supposed to feature an SSD. Acer's TravelMate P645-S-529N (1000 Euros, ~$1101, i5, SSHD) is one of the top competitors, but it is significantly more expensive.
We do not have a review for the TravelMate P446-M-58DL (800 Euros, ~$881, FHD, i5, SSHD) yet. Lenovo's ThinkPad L450 (850 Euros, ~$936, FHD, docking port on the underside) is available with FHD, and also without SSD for below 800 Euros (~$881), too. Dell's Latitude 14 3440 (i5, HD+, HDD) also lacks an SSD, but it brings at least 1600x900 pixels for below 800 Euros (~$881).
Apparently, Lenovo has actually created a bundle for below 800 Euros (~$881) which you'll hardly get elsewhere: dedicated graphics, SSD, and matte Full HD display are clear-cut arguments. Will they inevitably lead to a buying recommendation?
Case
The slim 14-inch case consists of a bottom tray with maintenance hatch and a C cover made from matte, grippy plastic. Look and budget appearance are completely like the 15-inch E series models'. The chassis' resistance to side-to-side twisting is limited. When picking the device up at a corner it slightly warps. In some parts the surface gives in, which reduces the quality appearance. However, the palm rests and the keyboard area are completely firm, which lets the plastic shell appear solid.
The hinges are tight and the lid only slightly bounces when the E450 is abruptly moved. The lid can be opened with one hand. Nevertheless, the lid is kept stably enough in position so as not to fall backwards. The hinges are not completely made from metal as in the T and L series ThinkPads (silver plastic cover). The lid is moderately resistant to warping, but the back side resists pressure quite well. The panel gets brighter at the edges from side-to-side twisting.
A maintenance hatch is fine when it can be opened without problems. Unfortunately, in the E450, two hooks broke and a hatch got a rupture because it did not want to come off. The 15-inch Edge E530 suffered from the poor quality of the maintenance hatch: The screws over-tightened after the first loosening and the hatch could not be completely fixed again. The reviewer of the ThinkPad Edge E550 also found flaws in build quality in March 2015. However, we could not find inaccurate material transitions or uneven gaps in the 14-incher.
Connectivity
Only two of the three USB ports support the fast USB 3.0 standard. In view of the modern Broadwell platform this is not quite understandable. Unlike the Edge 5500, our test model lacks a VGA port. Via HDMI (digital) only resolutions up to 1920x1080 pixels are possible. The ThinkPad does not feature a (mini) DisplayPort, which would be required for driving high-res displays. This is also true for the two competitors. The usual standards including GBit LAN, headset jack and card reader (SD/MMC) complete the connectivity.
Although the E450 does not have a normal docking port, its connectivity is still expandable. Lenovo included a special power adapter for that, which can connect to so-called OneLink Docks - a small box placed beside the notebook. The cover directly beside the power adapter visible in the picture has to be removed. The OneLink combined with the power adapter is directly behind it. The power adapter is now connected to the dock instead of the notebook. The Pro model from about 130 Euros (~$143) even delivers a DisplayPort.
Communication
The E450 comes with a mini PCIe radio adapter from Intel; however, it is the Wireless-AC 3160 instead of the Wireless-AC 7265 top model. Although it supports the same radio standards with Bluetooth 4.0 and WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz), it only reaches a gross transfer rate of 433 Mbit/s due to its single-stream restriction. We can attest the ThinkPad E450 has a reliable and wide-ranging connection. In the individual configuration of the author, the E450 was able to reach the 45-meter checkpoint with one bar. The connection remains stable, but websites open significantly slower.
Webcam
The performance of the 0.9 MP webcam in the display frame is very poor. Low details, dull colors, and heavy noise affect the image quality. But, the dual-array microphone performs well (see speakers).
Security
The E450 rather belongs to the Consumer category. Thus it hardly brings security features. It lacks TPM and a fingerprint reader.
Accessories
Our test model without OS neither comes with driver CDs nor other accessories. However, drivers and system tools required for a later Windows 8.1 64-bit installation are available on Lenovo's support website. The manufacturer also completely supports Windows 7.
Maintenance
The most important hardware components including hard drive (2.5-inch, 7 mm), Wi-Fi module and RAM (1 of 2 slots used) can be reached via the maintenance hatch on the underside. Unfortunately, the fan was left out and the battery is fixed. Solder bumps on the motherboard show that it is prepared for an M.2 slot (see picture). Probably, there might be configurations with Wi-Fi adapter or M.2 SSD in the future.
Warranty
Typical for the E series, the E450 only includes 12 months warranty. It is recommendable to extend the warranty period since relatively cheap warranty extensions (bring-in service: 24/36 months from 32/58 Euro, ~$35/$63) are available.
Input Devices
Keyboard
Quality, look and layout of the E450's keyboard are the same as more expensive ThinkPads' alike the T450s. But there are indeed differences: our test model does not have a backlight. In addition, the typing experience is different and cannot totally reach the more expensive siblings'. Our E450 also shines with a firm stroke and a long travel, but it does not feature the rich, mechanical feedback of the T series. Clattering when typing fast makes this apparent. However, this is critique on a high level. Compared to direct competitors, the keyboard appears to be almost flawless. The only disadvantage is not the missing number block, since a simple 14-incher is simply too small for it. The keyboard slightly springs in the middle when typing more vigorously. This has a negative impact on the otherwise firm stroke. Either way, the keyboard allows fast typing and is very suitable for prolific writers.
Touchpad
Alike with all ThinkPads from 2015, Lenovo also incorporated the new UltraNav unit in the E450. Now, dedicated TrackPoint buttons are available again. These trigger actions gently and precisely and quickly turn out to be comfortable. The touchpad still has to do without buttons, since it is a so-called ClickPad. The buttons are integrated into the input surface sized 10 x 5.6 cm. In particular, this makes drag'n'drop more difficult. Overall, the touchpad works reliably and smoothly, but we would have preferred a longer travel. Once again it is the same model as in the T450s.
Display
Depending on the configuration, the 14-inch display of the E450 either features a 1366x768 (HD) or a 1920x1080 pixel (FHD) resolution, i.e. a pixel density of 112 or 157 ppi, respectively. We recommend Full HD because of the bigger screen real estate. However, the question is not necessary since currently only the FHD model is available in Germany.
However, the FHD display performs poorly in brightness (210 cd/m²) and contrast (411:1) compared to the competitors. This appears to be typical of Lenovo. The L450 achieved similarly poor values despite different display model (LP140WF3-SPL1 instead of HB140FH1 401).
An even brightness distribution without clouding is also important, but the ThinkPad does not have such. A brightness distribution of 76% is relatively low. Most test models achieve 80% or better. However, the clouding at the edges in only visible to the naked eye in black images.
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Brightness Distribution: 76 %
Center on Battery: 176 cd/m²
Contrast: 411:1 (Black: 0.53 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 11.16 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.86
ΔE Greyscale 12.58 | 0.09-98 Ø5.1
61% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
39% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
41.71% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
60.8% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
40.37% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.34
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 Radeon R7 M260, 5200U, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS | Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD | Lenovo Thinkpad L450 20DS0001GE HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15 | Dell Latitude 3440 GeForce GT 740M, 4200U, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 58% | -3% | -0% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 40.37 | 66.7 65% | 39.24 -3% | 40.29 0% |
| sRGB Coverage | 60.8 | 90.8 49% | 58.9 -3% | 60 -1% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 41.71 | 66.5 59% | 40.56 -3% | 41.71 0% |
| Screen | 51% | 19% | 15% | |
| Brightness middle | 218 | 331 52% | 206 -6% | 342 57% |
| Brightness | 211 | 309 46% | 202 -4% | 320 52% |
| Brightness Distribution | 76 | 82 8% | 91 20% | 86 13% |
| Black Level * | 0.53 | 0.4 25% | 0.39 26% | 0.78 -47% |
| Contrast | 411 | 828 101% | 528 28% | 438 7% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 11.16 | 4.07 64% | 6.63 41% | 8.96 20% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 12.58 | 4.86 61% | 6.29 50% | 9.64 23% |
| Gamma | 2.34 94% | 2.49 88% | 2.48 89% | 2.26 97% |
| CCT | 14940 44% | 6109 106% | 5823 112% | 11592 56% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 39 | 59 51% | 37.3 -4% | 38.34 -2% |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 61 | 90.6 49% | ||
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 55% /
53% | 8% /
13% | 8% /
11% |
* ... smaller is better
The test device covers 61% of the sRGB color space and only 39% of AdobeRGB. Professional graphics and image editors will not like this display. In addition, the colors are imprecise with a DeltaE of up to 19 and 11 to 12 on average. This is usual for cheap TFTs. For example the competition performs significantly better. The TravelMate P645-S has the lowest DeltaE, but the 14-incher comes with an IPS panel. The DeltaE target is less than three.
The usual blue tint of TN displays is particularly strong in the E450 and even instantly recognizable to the untrained eye (see gray levels) in factory state. Calibration slightly improved the colors and significantly reduced the blue tint. We linked the profile in the box above.
Despite an anti-reflective surface it is difficult to use the E450 in daylight because of its low maximum brightness. Users will inevitably have to look for a shady spot, since the display is too dark otherwise. Fortunately, there is no glare. The E450 does not have an ambient light sensor for automatic brightness adjustment.
The FHD panel is based on TN technology. This is the mainstream solution for laptop TFTs. IPS and PLS panels are replacing TN panels in mid-priced and high-priced devices. In the consumer range, IPS TFTs with strong colors and viewing angles are already available in otherwise simple laptops from 500 Euros (~$550). These deliver higher viewing-angle stability and mostly more precise colors. Our test model clearly suffers from contrast changes and color inversion when the viewer looks at the screen from the sides or even from a slanted angle from below.
Performance
Lenovo's 14-incher is a simple office notebook, at least in terms of input devices, display and connectivity. However, the inner components, including Core i5-5200U, AMD Radeon R7 M260 and SSD, indicate a small multimedia notebook for GPU-based applications as well as computer games. Certainly, the SSD is attractive for many buyers, as it offers a significantly smoother user experience. Currently, other configurations are not available in Germany, but cheaper models with HDD, Core i3 and HD displays are offered in other countries.
Processor
The ThinkPad houses an Intel Core i5-5200U dual-core processor of the current Broadwell generation. The CPU works at a base clock of 2.2 GHz. Thanks to the Turbo technology the clock rate can be increased to 2.5 GHz (both cores) or 2.7 GHz (only one core). The Turbo is used in mains operation as well as on battery: The CPU tests of the Cinebench benchmarks are always run at full speed and achieve the same scores.
Positive: The E450 performs slightly better in the benchmarks than the same i5-5200U in other devices. The Acer TravelMate P645-S is outperformed by 10 to 15%. The reason is constant full use of the Turbo range. The clock rate remains constantly at 2.5 GHz (multi) during CPU stress.
System Performance
The system performance profits from the SSD. As usual the difference to competitors (ThinkPad L450, Latitude 3440) with HDDs is biggest in PCMark 7. Our test model of the expensive TravelMate P645-S also features an SSD and its Kingston model is similarly fast (PCMark 7 System Storage Score). The E450 owes its lead largely to its Radeon graphics. The difference is 12 to 16%. The big Computation score of the E450 is remarkable. Compared to all competitors it is 29 to 64% better. Not even the 5300U in the L450 with a nominally higher clock rate can keep up with the E450. All in all, this is a fast notebook, which boots quickly, opens programs swiftly, runs at a constantly high clock under high processing load, and finishes copy operations quickly.
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 Radeon R7 M260, 5200U, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS | Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD | Lenovo Thinkpad L450 20DS0001GE HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15 | Dell Latitude 3440 GeForce GT 740M, 4200U, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCMark 7 | -16% | -48% | -64% | |
| Productivity | 3871 | 3353 -13% | 1669 -57% | 1354 -65% |
| Computation | 13993 | 9125 -35% | 9964 -29% | 5020 -64% |
| Score | 4797 | 4046 -16% | 2753 -43% | 2077 -57% |
| System Storage | 5062 | 5161 2% | 1920 -62% | 1454 -71% |
| PCMark 8 | -12% | -15% | ||
| Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4186 | 3698 -12% | 3704 -12% | |
| Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3299 | 2919 -12% | 2708 -18% | |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -14% /
-14% | -32% /
-37% | -64% /
-64% |
| PCMark 7 Score | 4797 points | |
| PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3299 points | |
| PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4186 points | |
Help | ||
Storage Devices
Lenovo equipped the ThinkPad E450 with an SSD (CM871-Series MZ7LF192HCGS-000L1) from Samsung. 178 GB of the 192 GB model can be used, but only about 105 GB is available to the user; the rest is used by the OS and the recovery partition.
CrystalDiskMark reports a read rate of 320 MB/s. AS SSD shows an average transfer rate of 496 MB/s (read). The differences are not that big in sequential writing (178 versus 166). The achieved values are relatively low when directly compared to other SSDs. The Kingston RBU in the TravelMate is exemplary. In 4K Read/Write, the Kingston SSD is 72 to 77% faster, the access times are 44 to 65% better. The total scores of the E450 are accordingly low. The AS SSD Write Score of the Kingston SSD of the TravelMate P645-S is 256% better than the E450's.
Thus, Lenovo did not use an SSD top model. In our opinion, this is not an argument against buying it, since the E450 is still significantly faster than HDD-based devices, which are wide-spread in this price range.
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 Radeon R7 M260, 5200U, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS | Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD | Lenovo Thinkpad L450 20DS0001GE HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15 | Dell Latitude 3440 GeForce GT 740M, 4200U, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrystalDiskMark 3.0 | 69% | -84% | -89% | |
| Write Seq | 178.4 | 343.2 92% | 113 -37% | 80.7 -55% |
| Read 512 | 320.8 | 336.8 5% | 34.03 -89% | 27.07 -92% |
| Write 512 | 169.1 | 346.8 105% | 53.2 -69% | 33.62 -80% |
| Read 4k | 19.49 | 28.73 47% | 0.366 -98% | 0.326 -98% |
| Write 4k | 37.27 | 66.4 78% | 0.653 -98% | 0.707 -98% |
| Read 4k QD32 | 96.1 | 91.6 -5% | 0.721 -99% | 0.661 -99% |
| Write 4k QD32 | 36.91 | 95.7 159% | 0.661 -98% | 0.705 -98% |
| AS SSD | 143% | |||
| Score Read | 155 | 277 79% | ||
| Score Write | 73 | 260 256% | ||
| Score Total | 299 | 682 128% | ||
| 4K Read | 17.98 | 31.82 77% | ||
| 4K Write | 33.71 | 58 72% | ||
| Seq Read | 496.8 | 502 1% | ||
| Seq Write | 166.2 | 324.6 95% | ||
| 4K-64 Read | 87.5 | 194.7 123% | ||
| 4K-64 Write | 23.12 | 169.2 632% | ||
| Access Time Read * | 0.189 | 0.106 44% | ||
| Access Time Write * | 0.176 | 0.062 65% | ||
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 106% /
114% | -84% /
-84% | -89% /
-89% |
* ... smaller is better
Graphics Card
The AMD Radeon R7 M260 is quite seldom used. Only Toshiba combines it with Intel processors in the Satellite S50, C70, and L50. In addition, there is only HP, but it uses an all-AMD solution with AMD A-Series A10-5745M and R7 M260 (Pavilion 15-p151ng).
The E450 only features an R7 M260 model with 64-bit memory interface. However, the clock rate is 900 MHz, while it is limited to 715 MHz in the slightly faster 128-bit model. The dedicated VRAM consists of 2 GB GDDR3 RAM with an effective clock of 1000 MHz. The chip is very similar to its predecessors, the Radeon HD 8600M and 8700M series and supports DirectX 11.2 as well as the Mantle API from AMD if an appropriate driver is installed. With AMD Enduro, the Radeon is only automatically used during (3D) graphics tasks and the frugal Intel HD 5500 is used otherwise.
According to 3DMark 11, the performance of the R7 M260 is on a similar level as the older GeForce GT 740M. In consumer laptops like the Satellite Pro C70 or the HP Pavilion 15-p151ng, the Radeon performs 1 to 7% worse, but this is negligible. However, the differences are significant (37%) when combined with a relatively weak APU like the A10-5745M in the Pavilion 15-p151ng. In 3DMark 2013, the E450 takes the lead, too, and it even performs 6 to 20% better here. It might be surprising that Intel's integrated HD Graphics 5500 does not perform too badly compared to the Radeon, at least in the synthetic benchmarks. In 3DMark 11, it is 40 to 50% slower. In 3DMark 2013, the HD 5500 is partly 20% slower and sometimes even 10% faster.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 2042 points | |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 42260 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 4884 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 1036 points | |
Help | ||
Gaming Performance
The benchmark table below speaks for itself: current games can only be run with reduced resolution and details. Gaming in Full HD is not possible. Smooth gaming is possible with medium settings and a resolution of 1366x768 at best. The latest hits like Alien: Isolation are not playable; the situation is significantly better with less demanding titles like Battlefield Hardline (2015).
It is surprising that the HD 5500 takes the lead in F1 2014, but we do not have data to compare the other two titles. This cannot be due to a supposedly faster CPU, since we detected a weaker i5-5200U in the TravelMate P645 in the performance section. Thus, it might be due to a suboptimal Radeon driver.
If higher graphics quality is important for you or you want to run current hits like Thief or Crysis 3, you should not take an R7 260M. In this case, performance classes from the Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M and higher are the better choice.
The data sheet of the GPU and our Satellite Pro C70-B review with many game tests, give in-depth information about the gaming capability of the R7 260M.
| Alien: Isolation | |
| 1024x768 (Very) Low, Off, Shadow Map 512 AF:1x (sort by value) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 | |
| 1366x768 Medium, On (AA & SSAO Off), Shadow Map 1024 AF:4x (sort by value) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 | |
| 1920x1080 High, On, Shadow Map 1536, Standard SSAO AA:FX AF:8x (sort by value) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 | |
| F1 2014 | |
| 1366x768 Medium Preset (sort by value) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 | |
| Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset (sort by value) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 | |
| Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 | |
| Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK | |
| Battlefield Hardline | |
| 1024x768 Low Graphics Quality (DX11) (sort by value) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 | |
| 1366x768 Medium Graphics Quality (DX11) (sort by value) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 | |
| 1920x1080 High Graphics Quality (DX11) (sort by value) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 | |
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alien: Isolation (2014) | 26.4 | 18.5 | 9.75 | 7.5 |
| F1 2014 (2014) | 26 | 18 | 12 | |
| Battlefield Hardline (2015) | 49.3 | 34.7 | 11.6 |
Emissions
System Noise
While idle, the fans of the ThinkPad E450 are usually permanently silent. Nevertheless, the device does not work completely silently: The rustling starts at low or short load. Now we measured up to 35 dB(A). Under constant load the fan gets louder. We measured a noise level of 40 dB(A). At that time, the fan works at constant speed, which does not even increase during the stress test.
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 Radeon R7 M260, 5200U, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS | Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD | Lenovo Thinkpad L450 20DS0001GE HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15 | Dell Latitude 3440 GeForce GT 740M, 4200U, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | 10% | 10% | 3% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 29.6 | 29.6 -0% | 30.8 -4% | 31.8 -7% |
| Idle Average * | 34.5 | 29.6 14% | 30.8 11% | 31.8 8% |
| Idle Maximum * | 34.8 | 30.2 13% | 30.8 11% | 33.6 3% |
| Load Average * | 40.3 | 35.6 12% | 34.3 15% | 35.1 13% |
| Load Maximum * | 40.3 | 35.9 11% | 34.3 15% | 40.6 -1% |
* ... smaller is better
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 29.6 / 34.5 / 34.8 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 40.3 / 40.3 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Voltcraft sl-320 (15 cm distance) | ||
Temperature
While idle, the test model remains quite cool. The average temperature is just 25 °C on the upper side. However, this value depends on the room temperature. Under high and especially constant load for several hours, we measure just below 50 °C (upper side) to just 54 °C (underside) at the hotspots. These are the maximum values measured during the stress test and should not be considered more important than they are. Such high temperatures are not to be expected during normal home usage.
The E450 handles the stress test (Prime95 & Furmark 1h) as follows: First the CPU clocks at 2.5 GHz. After 10 minutes, the clock rate stabilized at 2.1 GHz. So, the i5 throttles slightly. But it only does so when GPU load is simultaneously applied to the dedicated graphics card, which is provoked with Furmark in our stress test. The Radeon works constantly at 900 MHz, i.e. it does not throttle.
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 Radeon R7 M260, 5200U, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS | Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD | Lenovo Thinkpad L450 20DS0001GE HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15 | Dell Latitude 3440 GeForce GT 740M, 4200U, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | 4% | 7% | 2% | |
| Maximum Upper Side * | 48.9 | 41.6 15% | 36.9 25% | 44.3 9% |
| Maximum Bottom * | 54.3 | 41.7 23% | 39.6 27% | 46.9 14% |
| Idle Upper Side * | 25.6 | 30.6 -20% | 28.7 -12% | 27.3 -7% |
| Idle Bottom * | 26.6 | 27.5 -3% | 30.1 -13% | 29 -9% |
* ... smaller is better
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 48.9 °C / 120 F, compared to the average of 34.3 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 54.3 °C / 130 F, compared to the average of 36.8 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.6 °C / 76 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 25.8 °C / 78.4 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.6 °C / 81.7 F (+1.8 °C / 3.3 F).
Speakers
The speakers sit beneath the palm rests and emit their sound towards the table surface. This is not bad since the surface reflects the sound waves. So, the sound appears loud and relatively clear to the ears. However, the sound is not really worth listening to. Especially at maximum volume, the speakers start to clank and roar. It should not surprise that there is no sign of bass or there are hardly differentiated high tones. The E450 comes with the usual mid-tone heavy speakers. They are sufficient for voice chat, but we would recommend headphones or external speakers for videos or music.
However, we liked the recording quality of the stereo microphone (beside the webcam). Although there is a discrete background noise, voice recordings are clear. The speaker can be in a distance of 50 cm in front of the E450 or look out of the window at 2 m distance while speaking. The volume is almost constant throughout the recording.
Energy Management
Power Consumption
While idle, the power consumption of the E450 is significantly less than 10 Watt. In this aspect, the competitors are hardly different at all, since they all use 15-Watt SoCs. Depending on whether they have a dedicated graphics card, the power consumption is significantly higher under load or in the stress test. Our test model requires up to 45 Watt. Thus, the capacity of the 65-Watt power adapter is sufficient. The E450 takes just under three hours for completely recharging the battery (while idle).
| Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00 Radeon R7 M260, 5200U, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS | Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD | Lenovo Thinkpad L450 20DS0001GE HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15 | Dell Latitude 3440 GeForce GT 740M, 4200U, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 12% | 10% | -1% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 2.6 | 3.2 -23% | 3.4 -31% | |
| Idle Average * | 7.7 | 6.3 18% | 6.1 21% | 7.5 3% |
| Idle Maximum * | 8.7 | 8.6 1% | 7 20% | 8.3 5% |
| Load Average * | 43.1 | 30.3 30% | 29 33% | 43.6 -1% |
| Load Maximum * | 45.4 | 30.4 33% | 42.4 7% | 49.3 -9% |
* ... smaller is better
| Off / Standby | 0.2 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle | 2.6 / 7.7 / 8.7 Watt |
| Load |
43.1 / 45.4 Watt |
   
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Voltcraft VC 960 | |
Battery Life
While idle, the E450 (47 Wh) lasts 16:39 hours. The TravelMate P645 (54 Wh) lasts even longer with 19:03 hours. The L450 (48 Wh) is outperformed with 13:18 hours. The idle scenario is tested with the Battery Eater Reader's test: The TFT uses the minimum brightness, the energy profile is active, and the radio modules are disabled.
Under load, the ThinkPad shuts down after 1:55. The TravelMate is on par (1:53 h). The L450 (1:37 h) lasts less. The load scenario is recorded with the Battery Eater Classic test: The display uses the maximum brightness, the maximum performance profile is active, and the radio modules are enabled.
The E450 ends our realistic Wi-Fi test after 6:49 h. The 14-incher ranks in between the TravelMate P645-S (8:55) and the ThinkPad L450 (4:48). This test simulates web surfing. The profile "Balanced" is active and the brightness is set to about 150 cd/m² (dimmed 2 levels).
The battery runtimes of the ThinkPad are quite good, especially in view of the not too big 47 Wh battery. Since the battery is incorporated, the battery capacity cannot be expanded. Those who want to replace the battery have to completely remove the underside. This is very poor. In particular for a ThinkPad, the battery should be easily replaceable for anyone.
Pros
Cons
Verdict
With a rating of 80%, Lenovo appears to make a lot of things right in the ThinkPad E450. The SSD combined with a thrifty 15-Watt SoC ensures long battery runtimes and a frugal, quiet operation. The Full HD display provides a lot of screen real estate. The good input devices, inherited from the more expensive T series ThinkPads, feature excellent feedback and the OneLink docking port brings the experience of a professional laptop to students' desks.
This is exactly the target group which motivated Lenovo to create a model with gaming-capable Radeon graphics. Certainly, professional users might have been able to live without it but wished for an SSD, which is available in the form of a 2.5-inch drive from Samsung.
Nevertheless, we do not have the perfect 14-incher in front of us. The low TFT brightness, especially on battery, bothers us tremendously. The matte surface is of little help, too, if the display is simply too dark for working on the balcony. The maintenance (battery fixed, fan cannot be reached for cleaning) is quite poor. Together with a faulty bottom hatch (hooks break, plate gets ruptures), the question arises whether the manufacturer thought through these details. If you can live with this, do not want the fastest SSD or miss a display with strong colors, you will get a 14-inch notebook which could prove to be a loyal companion in university life for an attractive price.
Those who desperately want a better display quality should consider the Acer TravelMate P645-S despite its higher price. This 14-incher is also available in various configurations for different prices. If you do not mind the greater height of the ThinkPad L450, you'll get a 14-incher with easier maintenance. Although, its FHD display is not perfect, either, it features wide viewing angles and better colors thanks to IPS. Dell's Latitude 3440 is an alternative which we no longer recommend because of its outdated GeForce GT 740M. In addition, its input devices are not that good, either.
Lenovo ThinkPad E450 20DDS01E00
- 07/05/2015 v4 (old)
Sebastian Jentsch
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