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Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga (i5-8250U, FHD) Convertible Review

Affordable ThinkPad Yoga Convertibles are on everyone's lips these days, a category which Lenovo helped to pioneer. The ThinkPad L380 Yoga is an affordable convertible that expands Lenovo’s business range. Find out in this detailed review whether this economy ThinkPad Yoga does enough to convince us.

The introduction of the ThinkPad Yoga series in 2013 was one of the most significant additions to the ThinkPad brand since Lenovo acquired ThinkPad from IBM. The ThinkPad Yoga replaced the old X Tablet series, which included models such as the ThinkPad X230 Tablet. Significantly, the ThinkPad Yoga brought the popular consumer-focused design of the Lenovo Yoga series to the business market. Lenovo has carefully refined the ThinkPad Yoga series, consistently pricing it among other high-end business devices until now. This year’s ThinkPad generation marks Lenovo’s departure of the ThinkPad Yoga series as a standalone product line, selectively bringing Yoga versions of other ThinkPad models to the market.

The ThinkPad L380 Yoga is the embodiment of Lenovo’s change of direction for the ThinkPad Yoga series. The L380 Yoga is a convertible version of the ThinkPad L380, the successor to the ThinkPad 13. The completely new model combines the design and the features of a ThinkPad Yoga laptop, but at a much lower price. While other ThinkPad Yoga devices such as the ThinkPad X380 cost well over €1,000 (~$1,227), the entry-level price of the L380 Yoga is available for just under this critical price point. Our test device, the 20M7001BGE, is currently available for €990 (~$1,215) from various retailers and is equipped with an Intel Core i5-8250U, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD. Meanwhile, the campus version is around €60 (~$75) cheaper still.

The combination of a budget business notebook and a convertible is relatively unique. The most comparable device is the Dell Latitude 5289 2-in-1. This is more of a competitor to the ThinkPad X380 Yoga though as the Latitude 5289 2-in-1 is more expensive than the L380 Yoga. While that is worth bearing in mind, we will still be comparing these against the L380 Yoga to see where Lenovo has compromised to reach the L380 Yoga’s relatively low price. Likewise, despite being in a different price range, we will be comparing the L380 Yoga against the HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2. To round off our comparison devices is the non-convertible predecessor, the Lenovo ThinkPad 13, and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018.

Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE (ThinkPad L380 Yoga Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 4 x 1.6 - 3.4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4-2400, one of two slots are occupied, maximum of 32 GB RAM
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 166 PPI, 10-Point, native pen support, M133NWF4-R3, IPS LED, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U + iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, 256 GB 
, M.2-2280, PCIe NVMe
Soundcard
Realtek ALC3287
Connections
4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Audio combo port, Card Reader: microSD
Networking
Intel Ethernet Connection I219-V (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 18.8 x 322 x 224.2 ( = 0.74 x 12.68 x 8.83 in)
Battery
45 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p
Additional features
Speakers: 2 W stereo speaker, Keyboard: 6-row chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, ThinkPad Ethernet Extension Adapter, ThinkPad Pen Pro 3, Lenovo Vantage, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.46 kg ( = 51.5 oz / 3.22 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
1029 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga

The L380 Yoga stays true to ThinkPad design aesthetics. The L380 Yoga is available in silver and black, with our test device being the black variant. The case has an entirely matte black finish, which is contrasted by the silver hinges and the red accents of the TrackPoint buttons and the ThinkPad logo. Visually, the L380 Yoga clearly takes inspiration from other current ThinkPads, with the display frame being the only aesthetic differentiator. The case is slightly tapered towards the front, but not to the same degree as either the ThinkPad T480s or the ThinkPad X280.

The L380 Yoga differs from its more expensive siblings in terms of the case materials. The base unit is made from a glass fiber plastic (GFRP), while the display cover is made from aluminium, which is painted black. Compare this with the ThinkPad 13, which had a completely plastic case, or the magnesium and carbon fiber ThinkPad X380 Yoga. The display cover and base unit of the L380 Yoga feel good to the touch, the latter of which Lenovo has varnished, which gives the L380 Yoga a similar feel to that of the ThinkPad X280 or the ThinkPad T480s.

While the L380 Yoga’s looks belie its price, structurally it feels more like a budget device. The case lacks the rigidity of more expensive ThinkPads, which means that it can be easily twisted. The display cover fares better though, with the aluminium offering greater rigidity. Fortunately, both the display cover and the base unit have good pressure resistance. The palm rest did not deform when we applied pressure, while the display did not visually distort when we applied pressure to the back of the display cover.

Cost-saving measure: No Lift & Lock keyboard
Cost-saving measure: No Lift & Lock keyboard

An important feature of all previous ThinkPad Yoga convertibles has been the Lift & Lock keyboard. This mechanism lifts the keys and locks them in place when the display is put into tablet mode, which protects the keys and gives the keyboard deck a smooth feel when using it in tablet mode. Lenovo used the keyboard from the regular ThinkPad L380 which lacks Lift & Lock, presumably to save on costs. As such, the L380 Yoga is more unpleasant to use in tablet mode than other more expensive ThinkPad Yoga devices and lacks the keyboard protection that Lift & Lock offers.

The silver Yoga hinges are operationally and visually identical to those on more the expensive models. The display can be opened 360 ° with only minimal display wobble when doing so. Hinge resistance is too high to open the display one-handed though.

The more economical price can be seen in the L380 Yoga’s footprint too. The L380 Yoga is one of the larger devices when compared to our comparison devices, thanks to its rather wide display frame. Contrast this with the ThinkPad X380 Yoga, which is 2 mm (~0.08 in) narrower and 8.5 mm (~0.33 in) shorter than the L380 Yoga, despite having an equally sized display. Only the ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018 is larger among our comparison devices, but this has a 14-inch display compared with the L380 Yoga’s 13.3-inch display. The L380 is slightly heavier too, making it the heaviest device compared with our comparison devices. While there are no great differences in thickness, the L380 Yoga is the thickest convertible with the HP EliteBook x30 1030 G2 the only clearly slimmer device.

Size Comparison

333 mm / 13.1 inch 229 mm / 9.02 inch 17.05 mm / 0.671 inch 1.4 kg3.14 lbs322.4 mm / 12.7 inch 222.8 mm / 8.77 inch 19.8 mm / 0.78 inch 1.4 kg3.16 lbs322 mm / 12.7 inch 224.2 mm / 8.83 inch 18.8 mm / 0.74 inch 1.5 kg3.22 lbs316.9 mm / 12.5 inch 218.5 mm / 8.6 inch 14.9 mm / 0.587 inch 1.3 kg2.88 lbs313.5 mm / 12.3 inch 222.2 mm / 8.75 inch 18.2 mm / 0.717 inch 1.4 kg3.15 lbs304.8 mm / 12 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 18.45 mm / 0.726 inch 1.3 kg2.95 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The L380 Yoga has a healthy selection of ports that are only slightly different from those found on other ThinkPads. One of these differences is the lack of mechanical docking connection that is found in other ThinkPad L series and T series devices. The L380 Yoga has two USB Type-C ports, neither of which is Thunderbolt 3 rated though. Instead, they are limited to USB 3.1 Gen 1 speeds. They do handle DisplayPort signals, while each can be used for charging. A peculiar choice is the proprietary mini-Ethernet port, which Lenovo currently only includes three devices, the ThinkPad X380 Yoga, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga, and the regular ThinkPad L380.

It is apparent that Lenovo has dropped some ports when comparing the L380 Yoga and the regular L380 with their predecessor, the ThinkPad 13. Both the OnelinkPlus docking port and the proprietary slim-tip charging port have been replaced by USB Type-C ports. Lenovo has positioned the connections well, with the decision to move the fan outlet to the rear allowing an even distribution of ports on both sides of the device.

Left-hand side: USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C x2, USB 3.0 Type-A, HDMI
Left-hand side: USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C x2, USB 3.0 Type-A, HDMI
Right-hand side: Combo audio port, microSD card reader, USB 3.0 Type-A, mini-Ethernet port, Kensington Lock
Right-hand side: Combo audio port, microSD card reader, USB 3.0 Type-A, mini-Ethernet port, Kensington Lock

SD Card Reader

The L380 Yoga has a microSD card reader, another change that Lenovo has introduced with the 2018 versions of the ThinkPad L series. This replaces the full-sized SD card slot that the ThinkPad 13 had. Lenovo has mitigated the loss of a full-sized card slot by positioning it better than they did in either the ThinkPad X280 or the ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018. While the microSD card reader is positioned at the rear of those devices, Lenovo has placed the card slot on the side of the L380 Yoga, making it more accessible.

We tested the performance of the L380 Yoga’s card slot using our reference card, the Toshiba Exceria Pro M501. On average, the transfer speeds of the L380 Yoga were significantly better than those of the ThinkPad 13. The L380 Yoga cannot compete with the ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018 in this respect though, with Lenovo equipping the latter with an even faster card reader.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
191.1 MB/s +155%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
75 MB/s
Average of class Convertible
  (17.7 - 177.7, n=36, last 2 years)
73.8 MB/s -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
61.9 MB/s -17%
Lenovo ThinkPad 13-20J2S00G00
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
22.8 MB/s -70%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
223.9 MB/s +152%
Average of class Convertible
  (22.6 - 263, n=34, last 2 years)
95.1 MB/s +7%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
88.7 MB/s
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
87.8 MB/s -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad 13-20J2S00G00
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
27.02 MB/s -70%

Communication

The Intel Wireless 8265 is a Wi-Fi module that is built into many high-end laptops and business notebooks. It has a 2x2 Wi-Fi module that supports the modern AC Wi-Fi standard. While the Wi-Fi module in the L380 Yoga is sufficient for everyday use, our benchmark results proved surprising. Although our test device had no problem in transmitting data, it did so with only about half reception. We can only speculate that this is an error exclusive to our test device. To say that the L380 Yoga has poor Wi-Fi performance based on our benchmarks would be wrong as it performs well in daily use.

The L380 Yoga lacks a WWAN slot, another sign of cost savings. Users will have to look to the more expensive ThinkPad X380 for a ThinkPad with an inbuilt WWAN modem.

The L380 Yoga has a 720p webcam and two microphones which are of a typical laptop quality and are sufficient for Skype and other video conferencing programs, but not for anything more taxing.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Convertible
  (1003 - 1395, n=2, last 2 years)
1199 MBit/s +77%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
679 MBit/s
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
666 MBit/s -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
511 MBit/s -25%
Dell Latitude 5289
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
502 MBit/s -26%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
455 MBit/s -33%
Lenovo ThinkPad 13-20J2S00G00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
297 MBit/s -56%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Convertible
  (1178 - 1578, n=2, last 2 years)
1378 MBit/s +283%
Lenovo ThinkPad 13-20J2S00G00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
645 MBit/s +79%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
633 MBit/s +76%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
613 MBit/s +70%
Dell Latitude 5289
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
579 MBit/s +61%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
517 MBit/s +44%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
360 MBit/s

Security

The L380 Yoga has limited security features for a business laptop. While Lenovo has included TPM and Computrace, there are fewer hardware features than on other ThinkPads. The L380 Yoga has a Kensington Lock, which is standard for all ThinkPads. There is also a fingerprint reader and infrared camera for Windows Hello, both of which are optional and lacking from our test device. Lenovo does not offer an L380 Yoga with a smartcard reader, nor is there a variant with ThinkShutter, a camera privacy shutter that Lenovo has introduced on 2018 versions of the ThinkPad X1 Yoga and upwards.

Accessories

A cabled internet connection is possible with the ThinkPad Ethernet Extension Adapter.
A cabled internet connection is possible with the ThinkPad Ethernet Extension Adapter.

Lenovo typically includes no accessories with their ThinkPads apart from a power supply. The L380 Yoga bucks this trend and comes with two accessories, an integrated pen and a ThinkPad Ethernet Extension Adapter for the proprietary mini-Ethernet port, which currently costs just over €20 (~$25) on Lenovo’s online shop. We would question whether the pen is truly an accessory though as the pen holder is built into the device. Lenovo would have to redesign the L380 Yoga if they were to make the pen an optional extra.

Maintenance

Lenovo has constructed the L380 Yoga like a typical Ultrabook, so there is no maintenance cover. One must remove the entire base panel to access the internal components. This is not an easy task either, as to do so requires unscrewing nine screws and carefully prying up several clips. We would recommend using a plastic tool to pry these clips as using metal tools could potentially damage the base panel.

As soon as the clips are released, and the cover is removed, you will have access to all the internal components except the display and the keyboard. The battery is easily replaceable as it is screwed into the case rather than glued. Likewise, the fan is easily cleanable or replaceable. The M.2-2280 SSD is replaceable too, although there is only one slot and therefore to upgrade the storage space would require removing the existing drive. The L380 Yoga has great RAM flexibility, with there being two SO-DIMM slots that support up to 32 GB of RAM. This means that the L380 Yoga offers double the potential RAM than the more expensive ThinkPad X380 Yoga and ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018, both of which have up to 16 GB of soldered RAM.

The L380 Yoga has an easily replaceable keyboard, unlike other Yoga models. Lenovo provides instructions for changing the keyboard in a detailed hardware maintenance manual. 

A view of the internal components
A view of the internal components

Warranty

The L380 Yoga comes with a twelve-month warranty that is limited to a bring-in service in which the customer must send their device to Lenovo. This limited included warranty helps to keep the price down, but a laptop in this price range should have at least a two-year warranty in our opinion.

Lenovo does offer additional warranty upgrades for the L380 Yoga. The warranty can be extended up to five years, while the scope can be extended to include on-site service, accident protection or an additional battery warranty.

Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The L380 Yoga has the same keyboard model as the one found in the more expensive ThinkPad T480s. It is no surprise then that the L380 Yoga continues the ThinkPad tradition of having a quality keyboard. This means that the L380 Yoga has a full-width keyboard, an improvement on the ThinkPad X280 and the ThinkPad X380 Yoga which must make do with smaller keyboards. We can only praise the keyboard layout, particularly the relatively large arrow keys which are a rarity today. Manufacturers often opt for much smaller vertical arrow keys that are harder to accurately press than their larger horizontal counterparts.

The L380 Yoga lacks a backlight keyboard by default. This optional extra is included in our test device and has three stages: off, dark and bright. The keys have a smooth texture, which feels premium. The keyboard is good to type on and just as good as other ThinkPads. Keys have a 1.7 mm (~0.07 in) stroke, while the pressure point is obvious without being too hard. Typing for extended periods of time should not cause any problems.

The ThinkPad L380 Yoga keyboard area
The ThinkPad L380 Yoga keyboard area

Mouse Replacement

The L380 Yoga touchpad is the same size as the one found on the ThinkPad X280, measuring in at 10 x 5.5 cm (~4 x 2.2 in). The surface is made of plastic, which is the same as all ThinkPads other than the most expensive X1 series models, such as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon or the ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018. The touchpad has a slightly roughened texture, which is harder to move a finger across than a glass touchpad. The surface is still smooth enough to use the touchpad without much effort though. The touchpad is a ClickPad, so while there are no dedicated mouse buttons, the bottom of the touchpad can be depressed, thereby doubling as mouse buttons. The clicking sounds are not too loud and are rather muffled. Thankfully the L380 Yoga supports Microsoft Precision drivers, which almost always perfectly converts inputs into mouse movements or gestures onscreen.

The L380 Yoga also has a TrackPoint, which is characteristically between the B, G and H keys. The red rubber cap has ideal grip, while the three dedicated buttons sit below the keyboard. These are all of a very good quality, with their pressure point being crisp and the stroke rather short. The TrackPoint is invaluable once you get used to using it. The main benefit of TrackPoint is that you can use the mouse without lifting your hands when typing. This means that you could quickly make corrections without breaking your flow. Therefore, we think the benefits of including TrackPoint negate the possible benefits of a large trackpad

As the L380 Yoga is a convertible, the TrackPoint and touchpad are not the only mouse replacements. There is a ten-point capacitive touchscreen that supports pen input, the display reacting perfectly to either input method.

The L380 Yoga comes with an active digitiser pen and an AES digitiser from Wacom. Unlike the older EMR Wacom technology, AES requires the pen to have its own power supply. Manufacturers typically rely on replaceable AAAA batteries, which can be annoying if your pen runs out of battery with no replacement battery nearby. Fortunately, Lenovo has included a rechargeable pen that is charged when it is in a holder within the case. The pen is very precise even at the edge of the display. The pen could be a bit larger and the buttons better placed, but this is the trade-off of having the pen holder integrated within the case. Lenovo does offer an optional pen that is larger though.

Integrated Wacom AES pen
Integrated Wacom AES pen
Testing the pen digitiser
Testing the pen digitiser

Display

Sub-pixel array IVO M133NWF4-R3
Sub-pixel array IVO M133NWF4-R3
The display has no backlight bleeding
The display has no backlight bleeding

There are some features that Lenovo have cut back on in the L380 Yoga compared to its more expensive siblings. Interestingly though, the L380 Yoga shares the same display as the one used in the ThinkPad X380 Yoga, the IVO M133NWF4-R3. This is a 13.3-inch IPS Full HD display that has a glossy finish. A matte finish is unavailable as it is a glass display. The IVO M133NWF4-R3 is the only display available for the L380 Yoga.

According to Lenovo, the L380 Yoga should have a 300 cd/m² bright display. Our tests confirm this, measuring an average brightness of 310 cd/m². This is on par with most of our comparison devices except for the ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018, which manages an average of 522 cd/m². This is only with the HDR display though, which is an expensive optional extra for a device that is already more expensive than the L380 Yoga.

We measured an even brightness distribution at 88% and could not detect any backlight bleeding. Unfortunately, we measured PWM display flicker at 217 Hz, which is a very low frequency. Intriguingly, while the ThinkPad X380 Yoga also displayed PWM, it did so at 1000 Hz.

308
cd/m²
322
cd/m²
302
cd/m²
310
cd/m²
323
cd/m²
314
cd/m²
285
cd/m²
315
cd/m²
307
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
M133NWF4-R3 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 323 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 309.6 cd/m² Minimum: 5 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 313 cd/m²
Contrast: 1468:1 (Black: 0.22 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 6.64 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
95% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
61% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
66.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
95.5% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
65.1% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.2
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
M133NWF4-R3, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell Latitude 5289
BOE NV12N51, , 1920x1080, 12.50
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Lenovo M133NWF4 R3, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad 13-20J2S00G00
LP133WF2-SPL78, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Lenovo 40AE / B140QAN02.0, , 2560x1440, 14.00
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
CMN1374, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Display
-34%
1%
-38%
29%
-3%
Display P3 Coverage
65.1
42.79
-34%
65.9
1%
40.16
-38%
86.5
33%
65.5
1%
sRGB Coverage
95.5
64.3
-33%
95.8
0%
60
-37%
100
5%
88.8
-7%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
66.9
44.21
-34%
67.8
1%
41.54
-38%
99.4
49%
64.9
-3%
Response Times
48%
117%
4713%
-4%
-7%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
47 ?(22, 25)
42 ?(22, 20)
11%
50 ?(24, 26)
-6%
43.6 ?(20.8, 22.8)
7%
56.8 ?(21.2, 35.6)
-21%
55.2 ?(21.2, 34)
-17%
Response Time Black / White *
28 ?(14, 14)
31 ?(18, 13)
-11%
29 ?(15, 14)
-4%
25.2 ?(12.8, 12.4)
10%
24 ?(6.8, 17.2)
14%
27.2 ?(7.6, 19.6)
3%
PWM Frequency
217 ?(90)
531 ?(90)
145%
1000 ?(90)
361%
30860 ?(90)
14121%
Screen
-2%
2%
-19%
30%
-9%
Brightness middle
323
336
4%
314
-3%
306
-5%
562
74%
262
-19%
Brightness
310
320
3%
302
-3%
307
-1%
522
68%
256
-17%
Brightness Distribution
88
90
2%
84
-5%
89
1%
86
-2%
83
-6%
Black Level *
0.22
0.34
-55%
0.16
27%
0.36
-64%
0.3
-36%
0.25
-14%
Contrast
1468
988
-33%
1963
34%
850
-42%
1873
28%
1048
-29%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5
3.45
31%
5.73
-15%
5.1
-2%
2.8
44%
5.13
-3%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9.56
7.95
17%
10.43
-9%
13.3
-39%
5.8
39%
9.46
1%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.64
1.68
75%
7.39
-11%
3.9
41%
4.5
32%
6.23
6%
Gamma
2.2 100%
2.49 88%
2.14 103%
2.17 101%
2.16 102%
2.45 90%
CCT
6638 98%
6782 96%
6351 102%
6829 95%
7205 90%
6413 101%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
61
41
-33%
61
0%
38.24
-37%
88.9
46%
57.84
-5%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
95
64
-33%
96
1%
59.75
-37%
100
5%
88.57
-7%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
4% / 1%
40% / 23%
1552% / 865%
18% / 25%
-6% / -8%

* ... smaller is better

Color values (uncalibrated)
Color values (uncalibrated)
Saturation (uncalibrated)
Saturation (uncalibrated)
Gray values (uncalibrated)
Gray values (uncalibrated)

Using X-Rite i1Pro2, we measured contrast at 1468:1, which corresponds to the L380 Yoga having an impressive IPS display, a value only bettered by the ThinkPad X380 Yoga and the ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018 with an HDR display among our comparison devices. Subjectively, the L380 Yoga has a very good display despite there clearly being a green tint to the display out of the factory. This can be eliminated by calibrating the display, for which we provide a downloadable ICC profile.

A good indication that we are dealing with a high-quality IPS display is the good color space coverage. The L380 Yoga is 95% sRGB color space accurate, which makes the device even suitable for semi-professional image processing if necessary. This level of color space accuracy is not a given for current notebooks, which makes Lenovo’s decision to include such a good display in its budget L series more surprising. 

sRGB: 95%
sRGB: 95%
AdobeRGB: 61%
AdobeRGB: 61%
Outdoor use in cloudy weather
Outdoor use in cloudy weather

The combination of a glossy display and 300 cd/m² brightness makes the L380 Yoga a difficult device to use outdoors. The display is simply not bright enough to counteract reflections in direct sunlight, and equally so even in the shade.

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
28 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14 ms rise
↘ 14 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 67 % 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
47 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22 ms rise
↘ 25 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. » 78 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 217 Hz ≤ 90 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 217 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 90 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 217 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

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.

Generally, IPS panels have stable viewing angles with no obvious color inversions. The L380 Yoga matches these standards, although an IPS glow effect causes a slight blueish tint at more extreme angles.

Viewing angles of the IVO M133NWF4-R3
Viewing angles of the IVO M133NWF4-R3

Performance

There are four different configurations available in Germany at the time of testing, one of which being exclusively available in the campus program. The notable feature of this configuration is that it ships without Windows. There are only minor differences among the available configurations. All contain 8 GB of DDR4-2440 RAM and a 256 GB SSD, the former of which is expandable up to 32 GB across two SO-DIMM slots. There is a silver variant, while the most expensive configuration substitutes the Intel Core i5-8250U processor that powers the other variants for a more powerful Intel Core i7-8550U.

Ordering directly from Lenovo allows for greater customisation. Among others, there are options for a vPro Intel Core i5-8350U processor, either 128 GB or 512 GB of storage, or 32 GB of RAM.

HWiNFO
HWiNFO
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z Caches
CPU-Z Caches
CPU-Z Motherboard
CPU-Z Motherboard
CPU-Z Memory
CPU-Z Memory
CPU-Z SPD
CPU-Z SPD
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
LatencyMon
LatencyMon

Processor

We have tested the Intel Core i5-8250U countless times. The quad-core processor is a mainstream ultra-low-voltage (ULV) processor with a 15 W thermal design power (TDP). The Core i5-8250U has a base clock of 1.6 GHz, which can clock up to 3.4 GHz. Please see our CPU benchmark page for a comprehensive comparison. Currently, the Core i5-8250U is in 158th position of the processors that we have tested.

While many of the current ThinkPads have a higher than standard TDP, Lenovo has set the TDP at 15 W in our test device. This means that the CPU clocks at between 2.2 and 2.5 GHz. Multicore performance is not necessarily bad, with the Core i5-8250U clearly beating comparison devices with previous generation CPUs. There is more performance to be had from the Core i5-8250U though, with the average Core i5-8250U powered device scoring around 12% better than the L380 Yoga does in Cinebench R15 multicore benchmarks. The TDP limit does allow for consistent performance during our Cinebench R15 loop, with only marginal differences in scores among benchmark passes.

We did not notice any CPU throttling when using the device on battery power.

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390400410420430440450460470480490500510Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (68.6 - 287, n=64, last 2 years)
229 Points +64%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
168 Points +20%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
155 Points +11%
Lenovo ThinkPad 13-20J2S00G00
Intel Core i7-7500U
145 Points +4%
Dell Latitude 5289
Intel Core i5-7300U
145 Points +4%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Intel Core i5-7300U
144 Points +3%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (81 - 147, n=97)
141.1 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
140 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (110.1 - 2889, n=66, last 2 years)
1554 Points +199%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
699 Points +34%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (320 - 730, n=101)
570 Points +10%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
520 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
509 Points -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad 13-20J2S00G00
Intel Core i7-7500U
351 Points -32%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Intel Core i5-7300U
346 Points -33%
Dell Latitude 5289
Intel Core i5-7300U
340 Points -35%
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
42 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
520 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
140 Points
Help

System Performance

The results from our PCMark benchmarks are close to the average scored by Core i5-8250U powered laptops. In daily use the L380 Yoga works well, is fast and without any noticeable delays.

PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Convertible
  (4404 - 5830, n=3, last 2 years)
4890 Points +33%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3824 Points +4%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Sandisk SD8TN8U-256G-1006
3774 Points +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad 13-20J2S00G00
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Toshiba NVMe THNSF5512GPUK
3705 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3687 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3669 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2986 - 4458, n=69)
3584 Points -2%
Dell Latitude 5289
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, SanDisk X400 256GB, SATA (SD8SB8U-256G)
3554 Points -3%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo ThinkPad 13-20J2S00G00
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Toshiba NVMe THNSF5512GPUK
4838 Points +1%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Sandisk SD8TN8U-256G-1006
4803 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4776 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4719 Points -1%
Dell Latitude 5289
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, SanDisk X400 256GB, SATA (SD8SB8U-256G)
4681 Points -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4656 Points -3%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2699 - 5106, n=58)
4646 Points -3%
Average of class Convertible
  (2921 - 6089, n=3, last 2 years)
4045 Points -15%
PCMark 10
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Convertible
  (811 - 12360, n=59, last 2 years)
6335 Points +134%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2613 - 3082, n=67)
2733 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
2704 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
2467 Points -9%
Productivity
Average of class Convertible
  (2764 - 10800, n=59, last 2 years)
7383 Points +18%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
6791 Points +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
6261 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3851 - 6653, n=67)
5725 Points -9%
Essentials
Average of class Convertible
  (3975 - 12059, n=59, last 2 years)
10504 Points +36%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
7763 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
7725 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (5855 - 9289, n=67)
7398 Points -4%
Score
Average of class Convertible
  (1486 - 7963, n=59, last 2 years)
5616 Points +54%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3829 Points +5%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3638 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3632 Points 0%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3358 - 4081, n=67)
3296 Points -9%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3669 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4776 points
PCMark 10 Score
3638 points
Help

Storage Devices

The L380 Yoga comes with a fast 256GB SSD by Samsung, namely the PM961. This is a commonly used drive by OEMs and one which performs well in benchmarks. The PM961 is only bettered in benchmarks by its successor, the PM981. The Toshiba SSD in the ThinkPad 13 is much slower when compared to the PM961. The L380 Yoga has a faster drive than the Dell Latitude 5289 too, with the SanDisk X400 SSD performing even worse than the Toshiba SSD in the ThinkPad 13.

Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Dell Latitude 5289
SanDisk X400 256GB, SATA (SD8SB8U-256G)
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Lenovo ThinkPad 13-20J2S00G00
Toshiba NVMe THNSF5512GPUK
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Sandisk SD8TN8U-256G-1006
Average Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
 
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-64%
33%
-21%
21%
-55%
-7%
Read Seq
2073
423.7
-80%
2486
20%
1143
-45%
2317
12%
467.1
-77%
1627 ?(800 - 2196, n=42)
-22%
Write Seq
943
406.4
-57%
1341
42%
653
-31%
1889
100%
443.6
-53%
1136 ?(341 - 1423, n=42)
20%
Read 512
1221
260.8
-79%
1788
46%
629
-48%
719
-41%
312.3
-74%
887 ?(406 - 1295, n=42)
-27%
Write 512
819
255.6
-69%
1885
130%
518
-37%
1413
73%
372.5
-55%
781 ?(338 - 890, n=42)
-5%
Read 4k
53.5
22.73
-58%
62.3
16%
31.96
-40%
61.4
15%
29.43
-45%
53 ?(29.8 - 62.6, n=42)
-1%
Write 4k
127.4
27.92
-78%
145.6
14%
138.5
9%
140
10%
56.5
-56%
126.7 ?(46.6 - 176.9, n=42)
-1%
Read 4k QD32
396.6
306.2
-23%
385.5
-3%
578
46%
425.4
7%
311.3
-22%
419 ?(131.5 - 650, n=42)
6%
Write 4k QD32
538
158.8
-70%
535
-1%
443.1
-18%
474.5
-12%
225.2
-58%
384 ?(94.9 - 621, n=42)
-29%
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Sequential Read: 2073 MB/s
Sequential Write: 943 MB/s
512K Read: 1221 MB/s
512K Write: 819 MB/s
4K Read: 53.5 MB/s
4K Write: 127.4 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 396.6 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 538 MB/s

Graphics card

Practically every modern processor has an integrated GPU. The Core i5-8250U is paired with the Intel UHD Graphics 620, a GPU that has twenty-four execution units. The GPU’s performance depends heavily on the RAM configuration, with only dual channel mode allowing the UHD Graphics 620 to reach maximum performance. Our test device has one 8 GB RAM module and as such runs in single-channel mode. This inhibits graphics performance, which is demonstrated by the slightly below average results in our benchmarks. Fortunately, it is possible to enable dual-channel mode by adding a second 8 GB RAM module, or by replacing the pre-installed RAM with two 16 GB modules instead.

GPU performance is not throttled on battery.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Convertible
  (471 - 40768, n=64, last 2 years)
7541 Points +375%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1869 Points +18%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points +10%
Dell Latitude 5289
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7300U
1627 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1614 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1589 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad 13-20J2S00G00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1508 Points -5%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7300U
1476 Points -7%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Convertible
  (2965 - 154219, n=50, last 2 years)
31444 Points +303%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
10493 Points +35%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6205 - 16400, n=225)
9262 Points +19%
Dell Latitude 5289
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7300U
8562 Points +10%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7300U
8220 Points +5%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
7798 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
6910 Points -11%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Convertible
  (365 - 29684, n=64, last 2 years)
5690 Points +493%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1288 Points +34%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (557 - 2608, n=213)
1161 Points +21%
Dell Latitude 5289
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7300U
1081 Points +13%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7300U
972 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
960 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
862 Points -10%
3DMark 11 Performance
1730 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
6951 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
896 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Gaming is not the L380 Yoga’s strong suit, nor is it its main area of focus. The GPU is too weak to play complex modern titles, and even though older games can be played, these will only run at reduced details.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 48.9 26.3 22.42
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 18.7
Civilization VI (2016) 31.1 11.5

Emissions

Fan Noise

The L380 Yoga uses its fan with restraint. The fan is almost always off while idling or under light load and is quiet on the rare occasion that it does start. The fan noise reaches a maximum of 32.9 dB(A) at full load, which makes the L380 Yoga quieter than the ThinkPad X380 Yoga.

The L380 Yoga exhibited no coil whine during our tests.

Noise Level

Idle
30.4 / 30.4 / 30.8 dB(A)
Load
32.1 / 32.9 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: 30.4 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2032.732.734.630.630.932.72538.638.630.828.532.138.63134.334.335.534.533.734.34033.633.631.430.329.333.65031.431.429.529.730.631.463282828.22927.2288026.626.626.526.127.226.610025.725.727.426.525.125.712524.624.625.424.924.624.616023.423.424.324.42323.420022.922.923.32422.722.925021.821.823.422.322.421.831521.621.623.123.321.621.640020.620.622.722.620.320.650019.519.522.621.618.819.563019.219.222.120.818.519.280018.318.321.320.617.818.3100018.318.323.922.417.718.3125018182220.917.718160017.717.720.119.317.717.7200018.318.321.419.717.318.3250017.817.820.419.517.717.8315017.817.820.519.517.817.8400018.518.519.418.818.118.5500018.418.418.818.618.218.4630018.318.318.618.618.518.3800018.618.618.618.618.518.61000018.518.518.718.618.618.51250018.518.518.618.618.518.51600018.718.719.118.918.718.7SPL30.630.632.932.130.430.6N1.51.51.91.71.41.5median 18.5median 18.5median 21.4median 20.6median 18.5median 18.5Delta112.22.21.3133.435.13233.431.735.330.231.730.440.333.430.429.632.228.529.635.635.729.435.627.72927.827.727.129.526.127.126.226.625.626.224.12524.524.124.423.623.224.423.723.122.323.723.122.42123.122.722.420.922.721.621.72021.621.921.619.421.921.220.61921.222.3211822.324.122.917.524.122.821.517.422.822.621.517.422.623.622.817.723.625.524.517.725.525.724.318.525.724.12318.324.12220.418.32220.92018.420.919.118.718.819.118.718.618.718.718.618.518.618.618.818.619.318.835.234.230.535.22.221.42.2median 22.7median 21.7median 18.7median 22.72.11.61.32.1hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseLenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGELenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00

Temperature

Prime95 and FurMark stress test
Prime95 and FurMark stress test

Under load, surface temperatures are at the hottest point on the base panel, while the keyboard deck reaches just under 45 °C (~113 °F), which is still tolerable. Fortunately, the palm rest remains cool.

We stress tested the L380 Yoga using Prime95 and FurMark, running simultaneously with the latest BIOS revision 1.09. The benchmarks demonstrated a familiar result among some ThinkPad devices. The CPU and GPU are limited to 15 W, so the CPU can only clock at 1.2 GHz during which time core temperatures rise until they reach an 80 °C (~176 °F) limit upon which the CPU throttles back to 800 MHz. This reduces temperatures after a few seconds, at which point the CPU clock speed increases. However, when core temperatures reach 80 °C (~176 °F) again, the clock speed not only drops back to 800 MHz, but it stays there. This also happened with the ThinkPad X280, the ThinkPad T480, and the ThinkPad T480s. The CPU would become unresponsive during our stress tests but could be woken up by moving the mouse. Lenovo fixed this for those three models by releasing a BIOS update. We would expect that Lenovo could similarly resolve this for the L380 Yoga too.

Max. Load
 37 °C
99 F
45 °C
113 F
34.2 °C
94 F
 
 36.6 °C
98 F
40.1 °C
104 F
31 °C
88 F
 
 25.4 °C
78 F
26.7 °C
80 F
25.6 °C
78 F
 
Maximum: 45 °C = 113 F
Average: 33.5 °C = 92 F
41.1 °C
106 F
44.5 °C
112 F
40 °C
104 F
29.1 °C
84 F
35.7 °C
96 F
38.9 °C
102 F
25.5 °C
78 F
25.7 °C
78 F
25.1 °C
77 F
Maximum: 44.5 °C = 112 F
Average: 34 °C = 93 F
Power Supply (max.)  36.6 °C = 98 F | Room Temperature 23.2 °C = 74 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.5 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 45 °C / 113 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 55.7 °C for the class Convertible.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 44.5 °C / 112 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.8 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 26.7 °C / 80.1 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (+1.4 °C / 2.5 F).
Thermal imaging of the top case at idle
Thermal imaging of the top case at idle
Thermal imaging of the bottom case at idle
Thermal imaging of the bottom case at idle
Thermal imaging of the top case under load
Thermal imaging of the top case under load
Thermal imaging of the bottom case under load
Thermal imaging of the bottom case under load

Speakers

The L380 Yoga has lacklustre downward firing speakers. They are too quiet and lack bass despite producing a relatively balanced sound. These speakers can easily be beaten by those found in our comparison devices.

An alternative to using the internal speakers would be to use either headphones or external speakers using the combo audio port. This works fine and produces better quality sound than the internal speakers.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.930.931.92530.532.130.53132.633.732.64030.629.330.65032.130.632.16327.327.227.38026.127.226.110028.625.128.612537.224.637.216041.92341.92004222.74225054.622.454.631561.921.661.940066.720.366.750066.218.866.26306418.56480066.117.866.1100065.717.765.7125060.917.760.9160063.617.763.6200063.417.363.4250061.917.761.931506517.865400064.418.164.4500052.918.252.9630061.418.561.4800060.718.560.71000061.218.661.21250064.618.564.61600059.618.759.6SPL75.430.475.4N38.61.438.6median 61.9median 18.5median 61.9Delta6.41.36.432.83232.833.230.233.232.533.432.529.328.529.334.729.434.727.827.827.826.826.126.825.625.625.625.124.525.126.223.226.229.122.329.131.32131.345.620.945.660.22060.262.619.462.664196462.11862.163.317.563.361.817.461.869.617.469.666.317.766.364.117.764.16718.56766.718.366.761.918.361.956.618.456.656.318.856.35118.75147.418.647.437.219.337.276.530.576.535.71.435.7median 60.2median 18.7median 60.211.11.311.1hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGELenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (66.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.4% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 25% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 66% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 27% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 65% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (69.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 29.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.5% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (10.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.1% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (30.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 88% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 10% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 87% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 10% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes are de/selectable)

Power Management

Power Consumption

The L380 Yoga has good, albeit unremarkable, power consumption. Average and maximum idle values are noticeably higher than those of the L380 Yoga’s predecessor, the ThinkPad 13. Of note is the Dell Latitude 5289, which has far better idle power consumption than the L380 Yoga potentially thanks to better power optimisations by Dell. The L380 Yoga fares better against the ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018 though mainly because of the latter’s WQHD 2,560x1,440 HDR display.

The power supply uses USB Type-C and is rated at 65 W. The power supply should have no problem charging the L380 Yoga when it is under full load as the maximum power consumption is only 29 W.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.54 / 0.6 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.44 / 6.9 / 9.2 Watt
Load midlight 27.6 / 29 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 ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell Latitude 5289
i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, SanDisk X400 256GB, SATA (SD8SB8U-256G), IPS LED, 1920x1080, 12.50
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad 13-20J2S00G00
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, Toshiba NVMe THNSF5512GPUK, IPS, LED, 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS Dolby Vision HDR, 2560x1440, 14.00
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, Sandisk SD8TN8U-256G-1006, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Power Consumption
9%
-2%
3%
-57%
1%
Idle Minimum *
3.44
2.7
22%
4
-16%
3.16
8%
3.4
1%
3.2
7%
Idle Average *
6.9
5.1
26%
4.9
29%
5.9
14%
8.8
-28%
5.5
20%
Idle Maximum *
9.2
7.6
17%
6.9
25%
6.5
29%
11.9
-29%
6.5
29%
Load Average *
27.6
33
-20%
36
-30%
30.6
-11%
50.4
-83%
29.7
-8%
Load Maximum *
29
29
-0%
34.4
-19%
35.8
-23%
71.2
-146%
41.3
-42%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Charging time: 117 minutes
Charging time: 117 minutes

The L380 Yoga has a built-in battery like all other ThinkPad devices. The lithium-ion battery has a 45 watt-hours (Wh) capacity, which is 3 Wh more than the 42 Wh ThinkPad 13. Lenovo includes larger batteries on more expensive ThinkPad Yoga models, with the ThinkPad X380 Yoga and the ThinkPad X1 Yoga having 51 Wh and 54 Wh batteries respectively. The Dell Latitude 5289 further improves upon this by having a 60 Wh battery. We tested battery runtime using our practical Wi-Fi test, during which we simulate the load generated when loading websites. The L380 Yoga lasted seven hours, which is ok and within 5% of the average battery life for convertibles. It should come as no surprise that our comparison devices with larger batteries have better battery runtimes than the L380 Yoga. Notably, the ThinkPad 13 listed fifty-five minutes longer than its successor in our Wi-Fi battery test.

The L380 Yoga takes 117 minutes to be fully charged, which is quite fast. The L380 Yoga supports Lenovo’s RapidCharge quick charge function, for which you will need at least the 65 W power supply.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
13h 53min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge)
7h 00min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
8h 28min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 39min
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 45 Wh
Dell Latitude 5289
i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 51 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad 13-20J2S00G00
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 42 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 54 Wh
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, 57 Wh
Average of class Convertible
 
Battery Runtime
71%
30%
-8%
17%
73%
34%
Reader / Idle
833
1728
107%
1250
50%
904
9%
1203
44%
1387
67%
1138 ?(680 - 1667, n=25, last 2 years)
37%
H.264
508
550
8%
311
-39%
561
10%
659
30%
731 ?(542 - 999, n=15, last 2 years)
44%
WiFi v1.3
420
708
69%
511
22%
475
13%
517
23%
630
50%
557 ?(329 - 876, n=63, last 2 years)
33%
Load
99
136
37%
138
39%
85
-14%
91
-8%
244
146%
121.2 ?(53 - 219, n=46, last 2 years)
22%

Verdict

Pros

+ RAM expandable up to 32 GB
+ very good input devices
+ high-quality IPS display with good brightness and colors
+ solid I/O
+ the case feels good to the touch
+ the fan is usually quiet
+ surface temperatures remain low under load

Cons

- the base lacks the rigidity of other ThinkPads
- no Lift & Lock keyboard mechanism
- only twelve months warranty
- poor performance in our Wi-Fi reception test
- low PWM frequency at high brightness
- missing business features (WWAN, smartcard reader)
The Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga in review, courtesy of Campuspoint
The Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga in review, courtesy of Campuspoint

The Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga is of interest to us as it is this year’s only completely new ThinkPad. Is it a meaningful expansion of Lenovo’s portfolio?

An important feature of the ThinkPad L380 Yoga is its expandable RAM, with the two SO-DIMM slots allowing up to 32 GB of RAM. This degree of expandability is not a given for 13.3-inch convertibles, as many are equipped with non-expandable RAM that is soldered to the motherboard. Even the more expensive ThinkPads cannot compete with the ThinkPad L380 Yoga in this respect. The choice and quality of input devices are ThinkPad level good, making the ThinkPad L380 Yoga competitive among laptops at the highest level. There should be enough input options to suit every user whether that be a pen, touchscreen, keyboard, touchpad, or TrackPoint. The ThinkPad L380 Yoga has a quality display, one that it borrows from the more expensive ThinkPad X380 Yoga. Over 300 cd/m² brightness and 95% sRGB color space coverage are values that are not achieved by just any display. The port selection is solid, while the case feels premium. The fan is largely silent, and surface temperatures remain relatively low.

We have concerns about durability though, which is not a criticism typically brought against ThinkPads. The base unit can be noticeably flexed, which could potentially be problematic for a device that folds and so must withstand higher loads than a typical laptop. Secondly, the lack of the Lift & Lock keyboard mechanism, which protects the keyboard in tablet mode, will be missed. We could not conclude whether these concerns will affect long-term durability without spending more time with the device. Regardless, it is a shame that Lenovo economised in these two areas. Additionally, we would expect a longer warranty than twelve months for a device in this price range. What is more, we encountered an unexpected problem with slow transfer speeds when receiving files during our Wi-Fi tests. While the display is good, it a shame that there is PWM at such a low frequency. It would have been good had Lenovo included more security features and a WWAN option, especially as the ThinkPad L380 Yoga is a business device.

The price to performance ratio is right. Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga is a convincing package with a few downsides that should be considered when choosing whether to buy the device.

Many of the ThinkPad L380 Yoga’s weaknesses are attempts to reduce its price. As a result, the ThinkPad L380 Yoga is much cheaper than other ThinkPad Yoga convertibles. The more affordable price and expandable RAM make the ThinkPad L380 Yoga a worthy expansion of the ThinkPad line-up. Therefore, we highly recommend the ThinkPad L380 Yoga, which has an attractive price to performance ratio despite the questions around long-term durability which we could only address with a long-term review.

Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE - 04/04/2018 v6(old)
Benjamin Herzig

Chassis
83 / 98 → 84%
Keyboard
94%
Pointing Device
91%
Connectivity
64 / 80 → 81%
Weight
70 / 35-78 → 80%
Battery
90%
Display
82%
Games Performance
57 / 68 → 83%
Application Performance
91 / 87 → 100%
Temperature
91%
Noise
96%
Audio
59 / 91 → 65%
Camera
39 / 85 → 46%
Average
77%
86%
Convertible - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga (i5-8250U, FHD) Convertible Review
Benjamin Herzig, 2018-04- 5 (Update: 2020-05-19)