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Lenovo ThinkPad L380 (i5-8250U, UHD620) Laptop Review

Small business all-rounder. The ThinkPad L380 is Lenovo's alternative for those users who don't get much out of a business convertible, but do not want to go without the design and features of the L380 Yoga. In addition, there is also a display that is free from flickering. Our test review will show whether the performance of the 13-inch notebook can also keep up with the competition.

At this point, Lenovo has a ThinkPad in their portfolio for any requirements. After the ThinkPad 13 was incorporated into the L series, we are now holding the quasi successor, the ThinkPad L380, in our hands. This device combines all the characteristics of the Lenovo L380 Yoga, and while it can also be ordered with an IPS touchscreen, it is not a convertible.

Our test unit is equipped with a matte IPS panel; and with an Intel Core i5-8250U, a 256 GB SSD, and 8 GB of RAM, it represents a medium configuration level. In the lowest configuration option, the L380 costs barely more than 500 Euros (~$609; $584 in the US) and is equipped with an Intel Celeron 3965U. The Lenovo online shop also allows you to configure a device of up to more than 1500 Euros (~$1828).

In our test, we compare the L380 with the L380 Yoga and also other 13-inch business devices, including the HP ProBook 430 G5, the Dell Latitude 7390, the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018, and the Razer Blade Stealth. All these devices are either similarly equipped as our test unit or have alternative equipment which is also available for the L380.

Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE (ThinkPad L380 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 4 x 1.6 - 3.4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 166 PPI, Lenovo LEN4094, IPS, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U + iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, 256 GB 
, 190 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Audio combo port, Card Reader: MicroSD
Networking
Intel Ethernet Connection I219-V (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel 8265 Tri-Band WiFi (Oak Peak) Network Adapter (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 19 x 322 x 224 ( = 0.75 x 12.68 x 8.82 in)
Battery
45 Wh, 4120 mAh Lithium-Ion, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 12 h
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 0.9 MP, 720p
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.415 kg ( = 49.91 oz / 3.12 pounds), Power Supply: 350 g ( = 12.35 oz / 0.77 pounds)
Price
905 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case - ThinkPad L380: mobile and compact

The ThinkPad L380 is available in silver and black colors. The main difference to the L380 Yoga consists in the hinges used, which allow flipping the Yoga model into a convertible. The case surface is matte and reflects the typical ThinkPad design. While the base unit is made completely from plastic, the back of the lid is made of metal and provides the display with decent stability.

If you hold the L380 in your hands, it feels like a solid notebook. The workmanship is good and not marred by a low-quality feel. However, on a wobbly surface, the base tends to be warped a bit. In the long run, this factor can lead to damage, particularly when carrying the notebook with one hand. As usual, the bottom of the Lenovo ultrabook can be removed easily, giving access to all the components inside.

Although the L380 is not one of the smallest representatives, it is still convenient and easy to transport. Compared to the L380 Yoga, the dimensions are identical. Competitors such as the Dell Latitude 7390 offer a more compact design which saves up to 2 cm (~0.8 in) in length and width. However, for such a design the buyer has to pay up to 500 Euros (~$609) more for similar equipment.

Size Comparison

326 mm / 12.8 inch 236 mm / 9.29 inch 19 mm / 0.748 inch 1.5 kg3.27 lbs322 mm / 12.7 inch 224 mm / 8.82 inch 19 mm / 0.748 inch 1.4 kg3.12 lbs322 mm / 12.7 inch 224.2 mm / 8.83 inch 18.8 mm / 0.74 inch 1.5 kg3.22 lbs321 mm / 12.6 inch 206 mm / 8.11 inch 13.8 mm / 0.543 inch 1.4 kg2.98 lbs309 mm / 12.2 inch 211 mm / 8.31 inch 14.8 mm / 0.583 inch 1.3 kg2.89 lbs305 mm / 12 inch 208 mm / 8.19 inch 16.5 mm / 0.65 inch 1.3 kg2.88 lbs306 mm / 12 inch 218 mm / 8.58 inch 13.6 mm / 0.535 inch 1.3 kg2.78 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Features - Lenovo L380 with USB Type-C and fast WLAN

The L380 offers a good basic selection of connection options. With two USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C connections, these can again be expanded multi-fold. One of the USB Type-C ports simultaneously serves as a power port. The miniEthernet port is a particularity of the Lenovo notebooks which allows you to connect a LAN cable in principle, if you purchase the corresponding adapter for 10 Euros (~$12) separately.

There is nothing to criticize in the positioning of the ports, which can be found on both sides towards the back of the device. Only the power button is more in front on the right side, where it cannot be triggered accidentally in our opinion. A small cover on the right side is also a sign of the relationship to the L380 Yoga. Theoretically you could also insert a digitizer pen there.

Left side: 1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C as power connection, 1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C, 1x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1x HDMI
Left side: 1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C as power connection, 1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C, 1x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1x HDMI
Right side: power button, audio combo, microSD-card slot, 1x USB 3.0 Type-A, miniEthernet, Kensington lock
Right side: power button, audio combo, microSD-card slot, 1x USB 3.0 Type-A, miniEthernet, Kensington lock

SD Card Reader

For using a storage card, a microSD-card slot is available to the users of the ThinkPad L380. While the ThinkPad notebook does not achieve outstanding values using our Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II reference storage card, it can still offer good read and write rates. Data is read off the SD card at more than 83 MB/s and copied at more than 72 MB/s. With that, the L380 notebook lies above the average of the office notebooks we tested.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Dell Latitude 7390
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
166 MB/s +130%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
157.2 MB/s +118%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
81.4 MB/s +13%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
75 MB/s +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
72.2 MB/s
Average of class Office
  (8 - 196.8, n=50, last 2 years)
55.6 MB/s -23%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
206.9 MB/s +148%
Dell Latitude 7390
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
201.1 MB/s +141%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
88.7 MB/s +6%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
87.9 MB/s +5%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
83.4 MB/s
Average of class Office
  (26.4 - 173.2, n=44, last 2 years)
65.2 MB/s -22%

Communication

The L380 can score with very good WLAN transfer rates. In our measurements, the integrated dual-band wireless adapter from Intel transfers data at 667 Mbit/s, a value which is only surpassed by the L380 Yoga. During pure data reception, the transfer rates are slightly lower but still very good. The Lenovo laptop uses the fast ac standard in the 5-GHz band.

With the built-in WLAN adapter, Bluetooth version 4.2 is also used. While the L380 can optionally be ordered with an NFC sensor, Lenovo does not offer an integrated WWAN modem for the L380. The HD webcam allows for video chats in an acceptable quality. The maximum resolution is 1280x720 pixels.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Office
  (280 - 1332, n=6, last 2 years)
810 MBit/s +21%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
679 MBit/s +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
Intel 8265 Tri-Band WiFi (Oak Peak) Network Adapter
667 MBit/s
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
655 MBit/s -2%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Realtek RTL8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCIe Adapter
640 MBit/s -4%
Dell Latitude 7390
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
507 MBit/s -24%
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
492 MBit/s -26%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Office
  (348 - 1690, n=6, last 2 years)
852 MBit/s +60%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Realtek RTL8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCIe Adapter
661 MBit/s +24%
Dell Latitude 7390
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
611 MBit/s +14%
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
609 MBit/s +14%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
Intel 8265 Tri-Band WiFi (Oak Peak) Network Adapter
534 MBit/s
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
484 MBit/s -9%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
360 MBit/s -33%

Security

The hardware of the ThinkPad L380 is dTPM-2.0 capable. A fingerprint reader and an infrared camera are optionally available. Additional security features such as a smart-card reader are reserved for the more expensive ThinkPad models. The buyers of the L380 laptop also have to forego the camera lock called "Think Shutter." At least you can encrypt the hard drive using Windows 10 Professional.

Accessories

Lenovo delivers the ThinkPad L380 without any accessories. However, you can purchase many accessories, starting with the ThinkPad Ethernet Extension Adapter for the LAN connection and up to a USB Type-C dock, in the Lenovo store.

Maintenance

The maintenance options were always a strength of most ThinkPad models. You can open the bottom of the L380 easily, which will then provide access to the components inside. In this way, you can replace the SSD, expand the working memory, or clean the fan. The battery can also be removed and replaced like this. You can clearly see the slot for a digitizer pen below the battery. If you remove the blind cover, you can also insert a pen.

While the SSD can only be replaced, the working memory can be expanded up to 32 GB. Our test unit contains an 8-GB module, so that you can easily insert a second module into the empty slot.

Maintenance options
Maintenance options
Fan and SSD (below the black cover)
Fan and SSD (below the black cover)
RAM banks (one slot empty)
RAM banks (one slot empty)

Warranty

Lenovo offers a warranty of only 12 months, with the customer having to send in the notebook. Usually, manufacturers of a comparable size offer at least a 24-month warranty. However, you can extend the warranty up to five years and also add on-site service, accident protection, and an additional battery warranty in the Lenovo store.

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

Input Devices - A very good Lenovo keyboard with a TrackPoint

Keyboard

The keyboard of the L380 hardly leaves anything to be desired. A comfortable key size is combined with an almost perfect pressure point. With this, writing tasks can progress smoothly. All of the special keys can also be reached easily. Using a practical Fn lock, users can choose whether they prefer to have the primary functions of the Fn keys or rather their secondary use as brightness, volume, etc. Optionally, you can also order keyboard illumination, which our test unit did not have, though.

Touchpad

Users of the ThinkPad L380 can either use the ClickPad or the TrackPoint as the mouse replacement. The ClickPad shines with very good sliding characteristics. You can trigger a mouse click by tapping or pressing on the pad, which both worked very reliably in our test. The mouse keys which are placed on top are also easy to operate, even though they have a relatively soft pressure point which turns out slightly more crisp in other ThinkPads.

In combination with the TrackPoint, the middle mouse key can be used for scrolling, which also works very well. The TrackPoint is a matter of taste and can offer a very good alternative to the touchpad to the user. Even though it requires some getting used to, it offers a much more precise navigation with the mouse pointer than would be possible using the pad. 

Input devices
Input devices
Touchpad and TrackPoint
Touchpad and TrackPoint

Display - L380 display does not flicker, but it is not very bright

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid
Screen bleeding
Screen bleeding

In the configurator, buyers of the Lenovo ThinkPad L380 have the choice between three displays. The most affordable variant is a TN panel with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels. Our test unit uses a matte IPS panel with 1920x1080 pixels, which is also available with multitouch function at an additional cost.

While the display is relatively evenly lit, it does not shine as bright as other devices in our comparison. However, at 253 cd/m² on average, the occasional session outdoors should also be possible with the L380. In dark surroundings, you can clearly notice some screen bleeding in the top corners with a black screen at maximum brightness. During regular use, this should not be noticeable.

245
cd/m²
255
cd/m²
242
cd/m²
250
cd/m²
271
cd/m²
249
cd/m²
253
cd/m²
255
cd/m²
257
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Lenovo LEN4094 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 271 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 253 cd/m² Minimum: 2.8 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 89 %
Center on Battery: 271 cd/m²
Contrast: 1594:1 (Black: 0.17 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 14.89 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 4.43
ΔE Greyscale 2.51 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
60% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
38% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
41.69% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
60.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
40.34% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.14
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
Lenovo LEN4094, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell Latitude 7390
AU Optronics AUO462D / B133HAN [DELL P/N:F7VDJ], , 1920x1080, 13.30
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
LGD052D, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
SHARP LQ133M1JW15, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
M133NWF4-R3, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Display
56%
-0%
62%
59%
Display P3 Coverage
40.34
65.1
61%
40.23
0%
67.8
68%
65.1
61%
sRGB Coverage
60.7
90.8
50%
60.3
-1%
91.6
51%
95.5
57%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
41.69
65.9
58%
41.59
0%
69.8
67%
66.9
60%
Response Times
-23%
0%
-2%
-8%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
44 ?(21, 23)
48.8 ?(24.8, 24)
-11%
41.6 ?(20.4, 21.2)
5%
39.6 ?(18.4, 21.2)
10%
47 ?(22, 25)
-7%
Response Time Black / White *
26 ?(14, 12)
35.2 ?(21.2, 14)
-35%
27.2 ?(13.6, 13.6)
-5%
29.3 ?(14.8, 14.5)
-13%
28 ?(14, 14)
-8%
PWM Frequency
20490 ?(99)
220 ?(18, 100)
217 ?(90)
Screen
22%
-7%
4%
9%
Brightness middle
271
329
21%
262
-3%
370
37%
323
19%
Brightness
253
316
25%
253
0%
355
40%
310
23%
Brightness Distribution
89
92
3%
82
-8%
90
1%
88
-1%
Black Level *
0.17
0.25
-47%
0.28
-65%
0.23
-35%
0.22
-29%
Contrast
1594
1316
-17%
936
-41%
1609
1%
1468
-8%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
14.89
4.3
71%
5.7
62%
6.9
54%
5
66%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
31.08
7.8
75%
22.4
28%
12.2
61%
9.56
69%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
4.43
2.5
44%
4.8
-8%
1.4
68%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.51
3.6
-43%
3.6
-43%
7.4
-195%
6.64
-165%
Gamma
2.14 103%
2.43 91%
2.15 102%
1.76 125%
2.2 100%
CCT
6455 101%
6928 94%
7096 92%
7529 86%
6638 98%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
38
59.1
56%
38.3
1%
61
61%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
60
90.6
51%
60.1
0%
95
58%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
18% / 23%
-2% / -5%
21% / 15%
20% / 17%

* ... smaller is better

We measure a very good black value and a good contrast in the display of the L380, which is also reflected in our subjective impression. Black tones appear very saturated and the color separation is very good. With this display, the L380 is at least at the same level as the other devices in the comparison.

However, in terms of the displayable color space, our test unit is slightly weaker. At 60% of sRGB color-space coverage, the ThinkPad L380 ranges in the average of the office-device class. This makes colors appear slightly pale. In particular, in the comparison with the L380 Yoga which is only 100 Euros (~$123) more expensive, the color-space display could be better.

Color-space coverage, sRGB - 60%
Color-space coverage, sRGB - 60%
Color-space coverage, AdobeRGB - 38%
Color-space coverage, AdobeRGB - 38%
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - color accuracy
CalMAN - color accuracy
CalMAN - saturation
CalMAN - saturation
CalMAN - Grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN - Grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN - color accuracy (calibrated)
CalMAN - color accuracy (calibrated)
CalMAN - saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN - saturation (calibrated)
Outdoor use
Outdoor use

Outdoors, the ThinkPad L380 is generally usable. However, you should prefer shady places. Even though the Lenovo notebook can just make up for indirect sunlight, in the long run this becomes very strenuous on the eyes. With its matte display, the L380 has a clear advantage against the reflective display of the ThinkPad L380 Yoga. Another advantage is that the brightness is not controlled using PWM.

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
26 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14 ms rise
↘ 12 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. » 57 % 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
44 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 21 ms rise
↘ 23 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. » 69 % 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 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.

The display of the L380 shows a stable image from all viewing angles, allowing the user to read the display content from any angles and positions without any distortions. There is an HDMI port to connect an external monitor, and the two USB Type-C ports offer DisplayPort functionality.

Viewing-angle stability
Viewing-angle stability

Performance - 13-inch Lenovo notebook for everyday office work

Our test unit can be purchased in the Lenovo store for about 900 Euros (~$1099; ~$900 in the US). For this price, buyers receive a 13-inch notebook with Intel's Core i5-8250U processor, an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics unit, 8 GB of working memory, and a 256 GB SSD.

Besides alternative SSD sizes of up to 512 GB and a working memory of up to 32 GB, the ThinkPad L380 can also be ordered with various processor configurations. The following Intel processors are available to choose from: Celeron 3965U, Core i3-8130U, Core i5-7200U, Core i5-8250U, Core i5-8350U, and Core i7-8550U.

At this point, Lenovo does not offer an AMD model.

 

Processor

Intel's Core i5-8250U processor is a quad-core CPU of the current Kaby Lake generation. At a basic core speed of 1.6 GHz and a Turbo speed of up to 3.4 GHz, the CPU achieves up to 40% more performance than its direct predecessor, the Intel Core i5-7200U. However, the constantly available performance depends mostly on the cooling unit of the system. While the TDP is typically at 15 watts, it can be varied by the manufacturer according to the intended use. 

The ThinkPad L380 is able to maintain the offered performance also for longer time periods. Our Cinebench-R15 loop shows only smaller performance drops that are probably due to some background processes.

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Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

The comparison with the other devices shows that the performance of the Core i5-8250U in the L380 lies below the average performance of other devices with this CPU. For example, the HP ProBook achieves an about 10% better performance with the i5-8250U.

You can compare the results of the Intel Core i5-8250U with other CPUs on our CPU benchmark page.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (82.6 - 284, n=118, last 2 years)
215 Points +165%
Razer Blade Stealth QHD i7-8550U
Intel Core i7-8550U
164 Points +102%
Dell Latitude 7390
Intel Core i5-8350U
152 Points +88%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel Core i5-8250U
145 Points +79%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel Core i7-8550U
144 Points +78%
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
Intel Core i5-8250U
144 (143.11min - 143.49max) Points +78%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (81 - 147, n=97)
141.1 Points +74%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
140 Points +73%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
81 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (160.8 - 2642, n=120, last 2 years)
1380 Points +161%
Dell Latitude 7390
Intel Core i5-8350U
625 Points +18%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel Core i5-8250U
586 Points +11%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (320 - 730, n=101)
570 Points +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
528 Points
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
Intel Core i5-8250U
522 (490.92min - 522.49max) Points -1%
Razer Blade Stealth QHD i7-8550U
Intel Core i7-8550U
521 Points -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
520 Points -2%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel Core i7-8550U
501 Points -5%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
81 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
528 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
36.59 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Help

System Performance

Daily work progresses quickly using the ThinkPad L380. We did not notice any longer load times or system stutters during our test period. The PCMark 8 and PCMark 10 benchmark results reflect this impression. A look at the comparison devices with alternative CPU models that are also available with the L380 shows that we cannot expect a significant performance improvement with other CPUs. However, a fast SSD is a basic requirement for these values.

You can read up on the benchmark results of other notebooks with Intel's Core i5-8250U in our benchmark section.

PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Office
  (2304 - 4830, n=12, last 2 years)
4261 Points +20%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
3792 Points +7%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3669 Points +3%
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3656 Points +3%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN51T02DUK
3605 Points +1%
Dell Latitude 7390
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, SK hynix SC311 M.2
3600 Points +1%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2986 - 4458, n=69)
3584 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3553 Points
Razer Blade Stealth QHD i7-8550U
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
3268 Points -8%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4811 Points +5%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4776 Points +4%
Dell Latitude 7390
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, SK hynix SC311 M.2
4768 Points +4%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
4734 Points +3%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2699 - 5106, n=58)
4646 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4589 Points
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN51T02DUK
4463 Points -3%
Razer Blade Stealth QHD i7-8550U
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4184 Points -9%
Average of class Office
  (1854 - 5610, n=12, last 2 years)
3746 Points -18%
PCMark 10 - Score
Average of class Office
  (2325 - 7157, n=105, last 2 years)
5312 Points +53%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
3722 Points +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3638 Points +5%
Dell Latitude 7390
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, SK hynix SC311 M.2
3577 Points +3%
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3467 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3461 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3358 - 4081, n=67)
3296 Points -5%
Razer Blade Stealth QHD i7-8550U
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
3262 Points -6%
Razer Blade Stealth QHD i7-8550U
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
3212 Points -7%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3553 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4589 points
PCMark 10 Score
3461 points
Help

Storage Solution

The SSD is also partly responsible for good system performance. In our test unit, a Samsung PM961 with 256 GB of storage space is used. The fact that this SSD currently occupies the first place in our SSD benchmark list is also reflected in our test results. Only devices with the same storage solution are able to keep up here.

You can find out about the performance of other SSDs compared to Samsung's PM961 MZVLW256HEHP in our SSD/HDD benchmark page.

Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Dell Latitude 7390
SK hynix SC311 M.2
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Average Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
 
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-54%
-21%
-4%
3%
-4%
Read Seq
2093
493.4
-76%
1440
-31%
1288
-38%
2073
-1%
1627 ?(800 - 2196, n=42)
-22%
Write Seq
879
413.4
-53%
522
-41%
1160
32%
943
7%
1136 ?(341 - 1423, n=42)
29%
Read 512
1211
354.6
-71%
947
-22%
751
-38%
1221
1%
887 ?(406 - 1295, n=42)
-27%
Write 512
793
322.6
-59%
517
-35%
843
6%
819
3%
781 ?(338 - 890, n=42)
-2%
Read 4k
52.7
27.63
-48%
33.63
-36%
59.2
12%
53.5
2%
53 ?(29.8 - 62.6, n=42)
1%
Write 4k
121.2
64.7
-47%
118.5
-2%
146.9
21%
127.4
5%
126.7 ?(46.6 - 176.9, n=42)
5%
Read 4k QD32
378.8
284.4
-25%
386.6
2%
425.9
12%
396.6
5%
419 ?(131.5 - 650, n=42)
11%
Write 4k QD32
513
254.5
-50%
510
-1%
325
-37%
538
5%
384 ?(94.9 - 621, n=42)
-25%
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Sequential Read: 2093 MB/s
Sequential Write: 879 MB/s
512K Read: 1211 MB/s
512K Write: 793 MB/s
4K Read: 52.7 MB/s
4K Write: 121.2 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 378.8 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 513 MB/s

Graphics Card

In the ThinkPad L380, an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 is responsible for the display output. The exact performance depends significantly on the working memory used. Since our test unit has only single-channel RAM built-in, the performance of the GPU can be increased by adding a second RAM unit. The graphics card is able to decode H.265/HEVC in the Main10 profile with 10-bit color depth as well as Google's VP9 codec in the hardware, and playing 4K videos should also not pose any problems.

However, the UHD Graphics 620 is less suited for demanding 3D graphics. Even though image and video-processing are possible to some extent, the GPU is unable to provide sufficient performance for graphics-heavy games. The results of the 3DMark benchmark show that the performance of the UHD 620 ranges on an average level.

You can check on our GPU benchmark page, how the Intel UHD Graphics 620 fares in the comparison to other graphics cards.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Office
  (1474 - 12230, n=115, last 2 years)
5878 Points +268%
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
3540 (3537min - 3543max) Points +122%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points +9%
Razer Blade Stealth QHD i7-8550U
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1675 Points +5%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1647 Points +3%
Dell Latitude 7390
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8350U
1606 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1598 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1589 Points -1%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1497 Points -6%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Office
  (5681 - 58068, n=98, last 2 years)
23871 Points +192%
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
18120 (18100min - 18140max) Points +122%
Razer Blade Stealth QHD i7-8550U
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
9349 Points +15%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6205 - 16400, n=225)
9262 Points +13%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
9235 Points +13%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
8600 Points +5%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
8163 Points
Dell Latitude 7390
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8350U
8104 Points -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
7798 Points -4%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Office
  (712 - 8815, n=117, last 2 years)
4072 Points +302%
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
2873 (2870min - 2876max) Points +184%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (557 - 2608, n=213)
1161 Points +15%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1136 Points +12%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1047 Points +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1012 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
960 Points -5%
Dell Latitude 7390
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8350U
959 Points -5%
3DMark 11 Performance
1738 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
7394 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
940 points
Help

Gaming Performance

As is to be expected, the Lenovo ThinkPad L380 is not suited for gaming. Although older and casual games can be displayed smoothly, most current games are not playable on the ThinkPad L380. In our comparison chart, the HP ProBook G5 shows that with dual-channel RAM, a little more performance can be provided. But of course this is also insufficient for smooth gaming operation.

You can read on our gaming benchmark page which games are still smoothly playable with the Intel UHD Graphics 620.

BioShock Infinite
1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
29.7 fps +291%
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
10.26 fps +35%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (4.5 - 17, n=176)
9.2 fps +21%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
7.6 fps
1366x768 High Preset
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
31 fps +38%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (8.1 - 35.9, n=187)
27.5 fps +23%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
22.42 fps 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
22.4 fps
1366x768 Medium Preset
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
36.75 fps +41%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (11.5 - 45.5, n=187)
32.8 fps +26%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
26.3 fps +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
26.1 fps
1280x720 Very Low Preset
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G
72 fps +52%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (18.3 - 90.2, n=187)
60.7 fps +28%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
48.9 fps +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
47.3 fps
Rise of the Tomb Raider
1920x1080 High Preset AA:FX AF:4x
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (4.9 - 32, n=42)
7.23 fps +23%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5.9 fps
1366x768 Medium Preset AF:2x
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6.5 - 49.3, n=62)
13 fps +12%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
11.6 fps
1024x768 Lowest Preset
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (10.4 - 110.7, n=82)
21.4 fps +12%
Dell Latitude 7390
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, SK hynix SC311 M.2
19.6 fps +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
19.1 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
18.7 fps -2%
Thief
1366x768 Normal Preset AA:FX
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (10.4 - 19.7, n=10)
14.4 fps +16%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
12.4 fps
1024x768 Very Low Preset
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (16.3 - 34.3, n=10)
24.3 fps +34%
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
18.1 fps
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 47.3 26.1 22.4 7.6
Thief (2014) 18.1 12.4
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 19.1 11.6 5.9

Emissions - L380 laptop is whisper-quiet with acceptable speakers

Noise Emissions

With normal surrounding noises, the fans of the ThinkPad L380 are not audible. Since in daily operation and under normal system load, they hardly turn on anyways, the device is also suitable for very quiet surroundings. We did not notice any other annoying noises such as coil whining in our test unit.

Noise Level

Idle
30 / 30 / 30 dB(A)
Load
33.1 / 32.6 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 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2033.632.23333.833.62532.932.132.533.532.93134.538.235.93634.54030.432.830.829.930.45029.728.729.432.429.76327.92827.32927.98026.726.326.126.726.710027.426.627.12627.41252525.925.325.3251602424.523.322.72420023.323.822.12223.325022.122.52221.422.131523.523.320.820.523.540022.221.920.619.822.250021.220.219.319.221.263020.619.4191820.680019.820.118.417.819.8100022.5221817.422.5125021.621.317.917.121.6160021.721.317.617.121.7200023.122.21817.423.1250022.321.717.617.222.3315020.419.817.817.420.4400019.619.217.817.719.6500019.418.91817.919.4630019.318.818.217.819.380001918.518.418.1191000018.818.518.518.118.81250018.618.418.618.118.6160001918.718.618.219SPL33.132.630.53033.1N1.91.81.41.31.9median 21.6median 21.3median 18.5median 18.1median 21.6Delta1.72.11.21.61.7hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseLenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

During office operation, the ThinkPad L380 hardly warms up, and the surface temperatures always remain at the level of the room temperature. While during higher load, the device warms up noticeably, it never gets hot. In the center in the back below the display in particular, we measure more than 40 °C (104 °F). The palm rests are not affected by this warming. However, if the Lenovo L380 is placed on your thighs, the heat becomes clearly noticeable.

We put an extreme load on the system in our stress test scenario. This causes the core temperatures to rise up to 70 °C during the hour-long test, and the clock speeds drop far below the basic clock speed. However, until the end of the test run, the cooling system manages to at least reach the basic clock speed of 1.6 GHz again. Since such a high load is as good as impossible to encounter in practice, we do not expect any limitations stemming from too high core temperatures.

Max. Load
 37.9 °C
100 F
41 °C
106 F
33.4 °C
92 F
 
 38.3 °C
101 F
38.2 °C
101 F
34.5 °C
94 F
 
 25.5 °C
78 F
25.5 °C
78 F
26 °C
79 F
 
Maximum: 41 °C = 106 F
Average: 33.4 °C = 92 F
38.6 °C
101 F
42.6 °C
109 F
38.4 °C
101 F
33.4 °C
92 F
39.7 °C
103 F
41.3 °C
106 F
25.5 °C
78 F
26 °C
79 F
25.2 °C
77 F
Maximum: 42.6 °C = 109 F
Average: 34.5 °C = 94 F
Power Supply (max.)  35.9 °C = 97 F | Room Temperature 24.3 °C = 76 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.4 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 29.5 °C / 85 F for the devices in the class Office.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 34.2 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42.6 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.5 °C / 78 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 26 °C / 78.8 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (+1.7 °C / 3.1 F).
Thermal image while idling - top
Thermal image while idling - top
Thermal image while idling - bottom
Thermal image while idling - bottom
Thermal image under load - top
Thermal image under load - top
Thermal image under load - bottom
Thermal image under load - bottom

Speakers

The Pink Noise characteristics attest the ThinkPad L380 with a balanced sound, although the bass drops off too fast. Our subjective impression is very positive. While the speakers are not particularly loud, the sound is very balanced and the lack of bass is not very noticeable. However, at high volumes, the sound tends to clang a little. Anyone who wants to enjoy media content in quiet surroundings does not necessarily have to depend on external speakers for the L380. However, the moment the surrounding noises become too loud, the laptop speakers are not sufficient anymore.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2033.933.833.92531.133.531.13138.53638.54031.929.931.95029.832.429.86328.82928.88027.926.727.910028.92628.912537.125.337.116041.122.741.120043.22243.225053.921.453.931560.820.560.840066.619.866.650065.719.265.763061.61861.680062.417.862.4100065.217.465.2125061.417.161.4160062.317.162.3200062.817.462.825006217.26231506517.465400064.617.764.650005517.955630057.317.857.3800060.518.160.51000061.318.161.31250066.718.166.71600063.918.263.9SPL74.93074.9N36.91.336.9median 61.6median 18.1median 61.6Delta5.91.65.935.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGEApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (66.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 19% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 74% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 25% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 67% 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%

Power Management - Lenovo ThinkPad with long battery life

Power Consumption

Power supply
Power supply

In the class comparison, the power consumption of the ThinkPad L380 is very moderate. While during idle operation, the measured values are still in the average range of comparable devices, the Lenovo L380 proves itself very efficient under load. Here, the power consumption is only 30 watts. Thus the included 65-Watt power supply should be sufficiently dimensioned for all use cases and reliably provide the L380 ultrabook with the necessary power.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.53 / 2.4 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.7 / 5.6 / 9.2 Watt
Load midlight 30 / 30.4 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 L380-20M5000WGE
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell Latitude 7390
i5-8350U, UHD Graphics 620, SK hynix SC311 M.2, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV512G, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 13.30
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 13.30
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
 
Average of class Office
 
Power Consumption
-25%
-32%
-36%
-7%
-27%
-42%
Idle Minimum *
2.7
2.34
13%
4.5
-67%
3.9
-44%
3.44
-27%
3.81 ?(1 - 12.4, n=259)
-41%
4.27 ?(2.2 - 9.4, n=107, last 2 years)
-58%
Idle Average *
5.6
5.6
-0%
6.8
-21%
7
-25%
6.9
-23%
6.94 ?(2.8 - 15.7, n=261)
-24%
7.32 ?(3.8 - 20.6, n=107, last 2 years)
-31%
Idle Maximum *
9.2
6.5
29%
8.8
4%
7.5
18%
9.2
-0%
8.75 ?(3.8 - 30, n=259)
5%
9.1 ?(4.8 - 23.9, n=107, last 2 years)
1%
Load Average *
30
43
-43%
36.8
-23%
44.4
-48%
27.6
8%
35 ?(8.1 - 51.6, n=259)
-17%
40.4 ?(8.7 - 75.2, n=106, last 2 years)
-35%
Load Maximum *
30.4
67.4
-122%
46.2
-52%
55.1
-81%
29
5%
47.5 ?(22 - 96.3, n=261)
-56%
57.4 ?(11.1 - 101.4, n=107, last 2 years)
-89%
Witcher 3 ultra *
32.8

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Lenovo specifies the battery life of the ThinkPad L380 as 12 hours, and in our practically relevant WLAN test, the L380 ultrabook only misses this value by about 20 minutes. With this, our test unit lasts a while longer than most of the competing devices. During pure reading operation (without WLAN and with low brightness), the L380 can even run continuously for almost 19 hours.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
18h 49min
WiFi Websurfing
11h 37min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 57min
Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 45 Wh
Dell Latitude 7390
i5-8350U, UHD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
HP ProBook 430 G5-3KX72ES
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 48 Wh
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 2018
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, 39 Wh
Razer Blade Stealth QHD i7-8550U
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 53.6 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad L380 Yoga-20M7001BGE
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 45 Wh
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
Average of class Office
 
Battery Runtime
13%
-40%
-37%
-49%
-27%
9%
3%
Reader / Idle
1129
1660
47%
779
-31%
833
-26%
1414 ?(527 - 2359, n=23, last 2 years)
25%
WiFi v1.3
697
418
-40%
368
-47%
358
-49%
420
-40%
527
-24%
589 ?(272 - 1137, n=107, last 2 years)
-15%
Load
117
92
-21%
77
-34%
99
-15%
166
42%
117 ?(56 - 209, n=65, last 2 years)
0%
Witcher 3 ultra
81
115
152 ?(142 - 162, n=2, last 2 years)

Verdict - 13-inch notebook from Lenovo for everyday work at the office

Pros

+ very good maintenance options
+ good input devices
+ long battery life
+ very quiet operation

Cons

- low color-space coverage
- low brightness
- few business features
Our test unit was provided by Lapstars.
Our test unit was provided by Lapstars.

The ThinkPad L380 from Lenovo shows itself as a solid all-round device in our test. At a size of 13-inches, it is still small enough to take on the road all day, and the performance is more than sufficient for most applications of everyday work. Due to the fast Samsung SSD, you also do not need to expect long load times. With the available maintenance options, the ThinkPad L380 can also be upgraded easily.

With the ThinkPad L380, Lenovo offers a solid 13-inch notebook, which can shine with a long battery life and good system performance during everyday work. 

However, buyers also have to live with a device that is only usable outdoors to a limited extent. The display does not shine bright enough for a summer day. The IPS panel of the L380 is probably also insufficient for those who want color-space coverage that is as high as possible and video-gaming should not play any role at all in your purchase decision.

Lenovo ThinkPad L380-20M5000WGE - 04/20/2018 v6(old)
Mike Wobker

Chassis
85 / 98 → 86%
Keyboard
90%
Pointing Device
86%
Connectivity
53 / 80 → 67%
Weight
70 / 20-67 → 100%
Battery
94%
Display
83%
Games Performance
56 / 68 → 83%
Application Performance
86 / 92 → 93%
Temperature
93%
Noise
94%
Audio
61%
Camera
39 / 85 → 46%
Average
76%
87%
Office - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo ThinkPad L380 (i5-8250U, UHD620) Laptop Review
Mike Wobker, 2018-04-22 (Update: 2019-04-30)