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Lenovo ThinkPad L560 (Core i5, HDD) Notebook Review

Familiar design - new technology? At long last, Lenovo has refreshed the entry-level ThinkPad and equipped the business notebook with an up-to-date Intel processor from the Skylake series. Despite a price of well under 1000 Euros (~$1111), it is supposed to meet the high claim of the ThinkPad series. Our in-depth review will reveal whether Lenovo has managed this.

For the original German review, see here.

With the ThinkPad L560 (20F10026GE), Lenovo brings a refreshed version of the ThinkPad L540 (20AV002YGE) from 2 years ago. The affordable L series settles between the E and the X series in Lenovo's lineup. The ThinkPad L series consists of notebooks with two different sizes: 14-inch or 15-inch. However, an Intel Core i7 is only an option in the 14-inch models, while Intel Core i5-6300U is the strongest CPU for the 15-inch models.

The ThinkPad L series starts from 679 Euros (~$755). Buyers will get a solid business notebook powered by an Intel Core i3-6100U with 4 GB of DDR3L RAM. Windows 10 Home 64-bit is pre-installed on a conventional 500 GB hard drive. Our test model comes with an Intel Core i5-6200U processor from the current Skylake series. With 8 GB of DDR3L RAM and a 1 TB HDD it features exactly double the memory capacity as the entry-level device. Windows 7 Professional is used as the operating system. The customer can select whether Windows 7 or Window 10 should be pre-installed on Lenovo's website. Its price of 899 Euros (~$999; from about 820 Euros/~$911 for university students and school children) still remains significantly below 1000 Euros (~$1111).

We set an upper price limit of 1000 Euros (~$1111) for selecting reference models. The following devices meet the criteria and will be used for comparisons in our in-depth review.

Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Processor
Intel Core i5-6200U 2 x 2.3 - 2.8 GHz, Skylake
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 520, Core: 1000 MHz, Memory: 800 MHz, 20.19.15.4312
Memory
8 GB 
, 1 of 2 RAM slots used, DDR3L SDRAM HYUNDAI, 16 GB max
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, LG LP156WF6-SPK1, AH-IPS, 262K, 6bit, CIE 1931 45%, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Skylake-U Premium PCH
Storage
WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0, 1000 GB 
, 5400 rpm, SATA, 873 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek High Definition Audio
Connections
1 Express Card 34mm, 4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm audio combo, Card Reader: MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC, 1 SmartCard, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor
Networking
Intel Ethernet Connection I219-V (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Optical drive
PLDS DVD-RW DA8A5SH
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 30.85 x 377 x 256 ( = 1.21 x 14.84 x 10.08 in)
Battery
48 Wh, 4100 mAh Lithium-Ion, removeable
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p-HD
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, power adapter, McAfee LifeSafe, Lenovo Solutions Center, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.4 kg ( = 84.66 oz / 5.29 pounds), Power Supply: 304 g ( = 10.72 oz / 0.67 pounds)
Price
899 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The ThinkPad L560 uses a tried and tested case made of black plastic with a slightly roughened surface. The usual edgy design of the ThinkPad series is easily recognizable and the current model continues to use it. There are minor changes in detail. For example, the interface layout has changed slightly and the fan grilles are only on the rear side now. The "Lenovo" logo has been moved to the lower corner of the lid and looks rather inconspicuous, but the "ThinkPad" family name has remained unchanged at the top left corner. The dot of the i, which is used as the status LED, is an eye catcher.

The opening angle of just above 180 degrees is very big. The lid twists easily. Pressure applied on the back produces slight image distortions. It also is possible to twist the base unit, although a more force is needed here. The top side can be depressed by about 2 to 3 mm (~0.08 to 0.12 in) when slightly pressing down on the center. You cannot complain about the build quality of the Lenovo ThinkPad L560. The gaps are exemplary and the notebook is manufactured flawlessly.

Stable metal display hinges hold the panel securely in position. The display wobbles slightly on vibrating surfaces. Like its predecessor (Lenovo ThinkPad L540), the successor has also been tested according to military standards. These tests cover robustness, durability, and quality of products. Among other things, test devices are exposed to adverse environments such as high pressure, humidity, high temperature, temperature changes, low air pressure (about 4500 meters/~4921 yd in altitude), low temperatures, and dust. In addition, glass fiber reinforced plastic adds extra durability and rigidity.

Connectivity

The Lenovo ThinkPad L560 delivers many interfaces. The ExpressCard slot is designed for cards with a width of 34 mm. All four USB ports support the USB 3.0 standard. One of the USB-ports also features sleep and charge. However, this feature has to be enabled in the BIOS. The card reader is able to handle all usual card formats (MMC, SD, SDHC, and SDXC). We measure the performance with our Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II reference card. 289 JPEG files with a total of 1.24 GB are transferred at an average of 75.3 MB/s, which is nothing to sneeze at. The built-in optical drive reads and writes DVDs in all usual formats.

The interface layout is good. However, problems might occur when simultaneously using the ExpressCard slot and the card reader on the left side. Since the expansion cards slightly stick out of the ExpressCard slot, it is rather inconvenient and difficult to insert cards into the card reader or pull them out again. In addition, the USB ports are well positioned and the LAN port also well  placed on the rear side. If the laptop is frequently used in a stationary position, it pays off to take a closer look at the ThinkPad Pro Dock, which connects to the docking port on the underside of the notebook. The SmartCard reader sits above the optical drive on the right side. Optionally, a 4 GB LTE broadband module can be incorporated.

left: power-in, Mini-DisplayPort, VGA-out, USB 3.0, ExpressCard-Slot, card reader
left: power-in, Mini-DisplayPort, VGA-out, USB 3.0, ExpressCard-Slot, card reader
right: audio, SmartCard reader, DVD-RW, 2x USB 3.0, Kensington lock slot
right: audio, SmartCard reader, DVD-RW, 2x USB 3.0, Kensington lock slot
rear: USB 3.0, battery, fan grilles, Gigabit-Ethernet
rear: USB 3.0, battery, fan grilles, Gigabit-Ethernet
front: speaker grilles
front: speaker grilles

Communication

dual band Wireless-AC 8260 module from Intel provides wireless communication. In addition, it supports the Bluetooth 4.2 standard. The theoretical gross transfer rate of this WLAN module is 867 Mbit/s (2x2) in 802.11ac. WLAN connections were always stable without unwanted connection losses during our tests. At about 15 m (~16 yd) distance from the router, the transfer speed fell to 55 Mbit/s. The Ethernet port on the back allows wired network connections. The maximum transfer rate is 1000 Mbit/s. The ThinkPad L560 handles copying large data volumes from a NAS without any problems.

Security

Bios Security Settings of the ThinkPad L560
Bios Security Settings of the ThinkPad L560

Security is considered important in the ThinkPad series. Lenovo offers a plethora of features. Apart from a fingerprint reader, the laptop also provides TPM 2.0 and a SmartCard reader. Intel's Anti-Theft and Secure Boot, which is disabled by default, is also on board. The BIOS offers many security settings.

Accessories

Lenovo offers specific accessories for the ThinkPad L560. Obviously, using a compatible docking station makes sense for stationary use in an office. However, these are not really bargains with starting prices of 155 Euros (~$172). An optional broadband module priced at about 98 Euros (~$109) allows mobile data connections.

Operating System

When configuring the laptop in Lenovo's online shop, buyers can select between Windows 7 Professional and Windows 10 Home or Professional. Since these devices are primarily used in the business range, we recommend using a Professional version. Among other things, these offer significantly more management and network features.

Maintenance

The Lenovo ThinkPad L560 has a maintenance hatch on the underside, which is fixed to the base unit with three screws. In addition, numerous plastic hooks make removing the cover more difficult. Once you have carefully removed the cover, you will get to the hardware components such as HDD, RAM, and the small CPU fan, which can be cleaned if needed.

Warranty

The price includes a 12-month warranty. Lenovo offers a 3-year on-site service on the next business day for a surcharge of 156 Euros (~$173). A third offer from Lenovo is a 2-year manufacturer warranty with on-site service on the next business day and accidental damage protection for an additional 172 Euros (~$191).

Input Devices

Keyboard

Keyboard of the ThinkPad L560
Keyboard of the ThinkPad L560

Lenovo does not make compromises in the L560 and has incorporated the familiar Chiclet keyboard already used in the ThinkPad L540. Good input devices are particularly important for office notebooks and we can confirm here that our test model delivers high-end ones. The keys have a good size (1.6 x 1.6 cm/~0.63 x 0.63 in) and are slightly concave. The slightly smaller arrow keys have remained unchanged, which might cause typing mistakes. The key travel is longer than that of Chiclet keyboards from other manufacturers. The pressure point is clearly noticeable and gives the user a good feedback. The typing noise is hardly audible. Unlike the ThinkPad L460, the ThinkPad L560 features a fully-fledged number pad.

Touchpad / TrackPoint

Touchpad and TrackPoint of the ThinkPad L560
Touchpad and TrackPoint of the ThinkPad L560

The ThinkPad L560 is still equipped with an excellent TrackPoint. It features a roughened rubber cap which provides a good grip and works very precisely and reliably. The Touchpad has been modified. The multi-touch capable ClickPad features a size of 10 x 5.7 cm (~3.9 x 2.2 in). Although it is slightly smaller than that of the ThinkPad L540, it still offers sufficient space for gesture control. Fingers glide easily on its smooth surface. The key travel of the ClickPad is short and its pressure point is well defined and audible through a loud clicking. As with the ThinkPad L460, there are three mouse buttons above the ClickPad, which are meant for use with the TrackPoint. They move easily and inputs are hardly audible.

Display

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid
almost no visible backlight bleeding
almost no visible backlight bleeding

Our test model comes with a matte 15.6-inch display from LG with a native resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, which gives a calculated pixel density of 141 DPI. The display has a good contrast (903:1). However, the average display brightness of 250.2 cd/m² falls short of expectations. In various scenarios, including difficult lightning we would wish for a brightness of at least 300 cd/m². Positive aspects include no PWM flickering at all and almost no noticeable backlight bleeding in dark images. The entry level variant of the ThinkPad L560 models features an HD display (1366x768 pixels). The FHD variant is 30 Euros (~$33) more expensive.

254
cd/m²
241
cd/m²
255
cd/m²
250
cd/m²
262
cd/m²
256
cd/m²
241
cd/m²
245
cd/m²
248
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LG LP156WF6-SPK1 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 262 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 250.2 cd/m² Minimum: 7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 261 cd/m²
Contrast: 903:1 (Black: 0.29 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 8.49 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 8.11 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
57.94% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
37.07% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
40.33% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
58.3% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
39% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.37
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
1920x1080, AH-IPS
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
1920x1080, TN LED
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
1920x1080, IPS
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
1920x1080, TN-Panel
HP ProBook 450 G3
1920x1080, TN LED
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
1920x1080, IPS
Display
35%
8%
2%
-2%
6%
Display P3 Coverage
39
53.5
37%
42.2
8%
39.84
2%
38.1
-2%
41.22
6%
sRGB Coverage
58.3
76.7
32%
62.3
7%
59.3
2%
57.3
-2%
61.8
6%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
40.33
54.8
36%
43.72
8%
41.2
2%
39.37
-2%
42.58
6%
Response Times
-10%
-3%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
39.2 ?(18.8, 20.4)
44.4 ?(20.4, 24)
-13%
41.2 ?(22.4, 18.8)
-5%
Response Time Black / White *
28 ?(12.4, 15.6)
29.6 ?(17.2, 12.4)
-6%
28 ?(10, 18)
-0%
PWM Frequency
Screen
-29%
6%
-22%
-18%
-1%
Brightness middle
262
303
16%
245
-6%
195
-26%
211
-19%
177
-32%
Brightness
250
290
16%
225
-10%
188
-25%
214
-14%
176
-30%
Brightness Distribution
92
85
-8%
83
-10%
90
-2%
91
-1%
78
-15%
Black Level *
0.29
0.7
-141%
0.24
17%
0.46
-59%
0.43
-48%
0.15
48%
Contrast
903
433
-52%
1021
13%
424
-53%
491
-46%
1180
31%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
8.49
11.58
-36%
6.89
19%
9.92
-17%
9.25
-9%
8.52
-0%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
17.99
17.62
2%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
8.11
13.65
-68%
6.45
20%
10.06
-24%
9.83
-21%
9.72
-20%
Gamma
2.37 93%
2.59 85%
2.46 89%
2.37 93%
2.82 78%
1.85 119%
CCT
6300 103%
13248 49%
6857 95%
11552 56%
10890 60%
5036 129%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
37.07
51.12
38%
40.1
8%
38
3%
36.4
-2%
39
5%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
57.94
61.8
7%
59.3
2%
57.3
-1%
61
5%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
3% / -12%
1% / 4%
-10% / -16%
-8% / -12%
3% / 1%

* ... smaller is better

AdobeRGB color coverage (37.07%)
AdobeRGB color coverage (37.07%)
sRGB color coverage (57.94%)
sRGB color coverage (57.94%)

The LG display shows a DeltaE 2000 color deviation of 8.49 out-of-the-box. A value smaller than 3 would be ideal. The LG panel is slightly greenish without calibration. Calibration improves the values. It decreases the DeltaE 2000 color deviation to 4.66, which is still higher than the target range. Grayscales improve significantly after calibration. The AdobeRGB and sRGB color spaces can be partially covered. However, only 37.07% (AdobeRGB) and 57.94% (sRGB) are significantly too low for professional applications.

As usual, we provided the ICC profile for download.

Grayscales
Grayscales
Grayscales (after calibration)
Grayscales (after calibration)
Color fidelity
Color fidelity
Color fidelity (after calibration)
Color fidelity (after calibration)
Color saturation
Color saturation
Color fidelity (after calibration)
Color fidelity (after calibration)

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
28 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 12.4 ms rise
↘ 15.6 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
39.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 18.8 ms rise
↘ 20.4 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. » 54 % 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 18100 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Viewing angles of the Lenovo ThinkPad L560
Viewing angles of the Lenovo ThinkPad L560

The viewing angle stability of the IPS display is good and remains quite legible from any position. Outdoor use is possible thanks to its matte surface and good contrast. However, a place in the shade is recommended because of the low display brightness. In direct sunlight, almost nothing can be read from the screen.

Outdoor use in direct sunlight
Outdoor use in direct sunlight
Outdoor use on a sunny day
Outdoor use on a sunny day

Performance

The Lenovo ThinkPad L560 is a mid-range 15-inch business notebook. Its performance is definitely sufficient for everyday office tasks. The ThinkPad series offers a number of security features for protecting important data. Our test model can be protected by biometric access control. In addition, TPM and a SmartCard reader are available. Lenovo charges about 899 Euros (~$999) for this configuration. The cheapest variant for 679 Euros (~$755) does not have all the components on board by default. However, they can be configured in Lenovo's online shop. For mobile data connections, an LTE module is also an option.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWiNFO
DPC latency
Intel Extreme Tuning Utility
 

Processor

soldered CPU in the ThinkPad L560
soldered CPU in the ThinkPad L560

Before selecting the processor, customers should carefully consider the required performance, since it is not possible to replace this component after purchase. Lenovo equips the current ThinkPad L modules only with soldered ULV processors.

Our test model comes with an Intel Core i5-6200U dual core processor. The Skylake CPU provides good battery runtimes thanks to a 15-watt TDP, while the predecessor used the power-hungry standard volt Haswell models. The base clock of the CPU is 2.3 GHz. Thanks to the Turbo mode, the clock rate can increase to 2.8 GHz (1 core) and 2.7 GHz (2 cores), respectively. In Cinebench R15, it is 4 and 9%slower than the Intel Core i5-4200M in the ThinkPad L540 respectively. This is caused by the low clock rates of the 6200U.

CINEBENCH R10
CINEBENCH R10
CINEBENCH R11.5
CINEBENCH R11.5
CINEBENCH R15
CINEBENCH R15
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U
116 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
Intel Core i5-4200M
115 Points -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Intel Core i7-6500U
127 Points +9%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U
123 Points +6%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
116 Points 0%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
Intel Core i5-5200U
108 Points -7%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U
290 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
Intel Core i5-4200M
294 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Intel Core i7-6500U
303 Points +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U
282 Points -3%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
288 Points -1%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
Intel Core i5-5200U
261 Points -10%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U
1.32 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
Intel Core i5-4200M
1.36 Points +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Intel Core i7-6500U
1.41 Points +7%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U
1.42 Points +8%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
1.32 Points 0%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
Intel Core i5-5200U
1.26 Points -5%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U
3.19 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
Intel Core i5-4200M
3.25 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Intel Core i7-6500U
3.4 Points +7%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U
3.13 Points -2%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
3.21 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
Intel Core i5-5200U
2.8 Points -12%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U
12676 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U
12255 Points -3%
Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U
5596 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U
6077 Points +9%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U
110.1 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Intel Core i7-6500U
210.8 Points +91%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U
114.7 Points +4%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
190.4 Points +73%
Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U
14411 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Intel Core i7-6500U
31034 Points +115%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U
14711 Points +2%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
27580 Points +91%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
Intel Core i5-5200U
12753 Points -12%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U
2420 ms *
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Intel Core i7-6500U
1111 ms * +54%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U
2263 ms * +6%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
1281 ms * +47%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
Intel Core i5-5200U
2554 ms * -6%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
7170
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
9987
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4313
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
6097 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
12676 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
5596 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
3.19 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
25.46 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.32 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
290 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
116 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
32.34 fps
Help

System Performance

The system performance suffers from the use of a conventional hard drive. An SSD would have improved the performance. The results of the PCMark 8 Benchmarks meet the expected performance of the system. The HP ProBook 450 G3 with an almost identical hardware achieved almost the same results. As in the Cinebench tests, the ThinkPad L560 performs slightly worse than the ThinkPad L540. In some cases, devices in our comparison group with a more powerful Intel Core i7 perform significantly better.

PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Creative
PCMark 8 Creative
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 7
PCMark 7
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
2886 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
3008 Points +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Radeon R5 M330, 6500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSFJ256GCSU
3092 Points +7%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Radeon R7 M265, 5500U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-22HWST0
3960 Points +37%
HP ProBook 450 G3
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
2910 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
GeForce 920M, 5200U, Toshiba MQ01ABD100
2830 Points -2%
Creative Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
3024 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
2795 Points -8%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Radeon R5 M330, 6500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSFJ256GCSU
3738 Points +24%
HP ProBook 450 G3
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
3460 Points +14%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
GeForce 920M, 5200U, Toshiba MQ01ABD100
3225 Points +7%
Work Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
3861 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
4077 Points +6%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Radeon R5 M330, 6500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSFJ256GCSU
4591 Points +19%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Radeon R7 M265, 5500U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-22HWST0
4020 Points +4%
HP ProBook 450 G3
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
3901 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
GeForce 920M, 5200U, Toshiba MQ01ABD100
3609 Points -7%
Storage Score v2 (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
2075 Points
PCMark 7
Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
2441 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
2805 Points +15%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Radeon R5 M330, 6500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSFJ256GCSU
4911 Points +101%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Radeon R7 M265, 5500U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-22HWST0
2819 Points +15%
HP ProBook 450 G3
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
3075 Points +26%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
GeForce 920M, 5200U, Toshiba MQ01ABD100
2736 Points +12%
Productivity (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
1418 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
1719 Points +21%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Radeon R5 M330, 6500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSFJ256GCSU
4271 Points +201%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Radeon R7 M265, 5500U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-22HWST0
1523 Points +7%
HP ProBook 450 G3
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
1855 Points +31%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
GeForce 920M, 5200U, Toshiba MQ01ABD100
1454 Points +3%
System Storage (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
1475 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
1803 Points +22%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Radeon R5 M330, 6500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSFJ256GCSU
5402 Points +266%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Radeon R7 M265, 5500U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-22HWST0
1579 Points +7%
HP ProBook 450 G3
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
1906 Points +29%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
GeForce 920M, 5200U, Toshiba MQ01ABD100
1523 Points +3%
PCMark 7 Score
2441 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
2886 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
3024 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
3861 points
Help

Storage Device

M.2 slot is only WWAN-capable
M.2 slot is only WWAN-capable

Lenovo has equipped our test model with a 1 TB HDD from Western Digital. The 5400 RPM drive performs as expected. It achieves an average transfer rate of 76.6 MB/s in HD Tune. When processing large data volumes, you had better select a 7200 RPM model or even better, an SSD.

When configuring the device in Lenovo's online shop you can select between a 1 TB HDD and a 192 GB SSD at no extra costs. The latter delivers significantly higher performance, yet also a significantly lower storage capacity. Buyers have to decide, which compromise they want to make.

CrystalDiskMark
CrystalDiskMark
HD Tune
HD Tune
WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
Transfer Rate Minimum: 44.1 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 92.8 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 76.6 MB/s
Access Time: 19 ms
Burst Rate: 50.7 MB/s

Graphics Card

An Intel HD Graphics 520, which does not feature dedicated VRAM, but uses the system RAM, is used as GPU. Since the system comes with a single RAM module only, it works in the slower single channel mode that in turn has a negative impact on the graphics performance. Adding a second, identical RAM module will help here. The graphics core supports DirectX 12 and decodes H.265/HEVC videos. However, under Windows 7, you will need alternative software in order to run such videos since the Windows Media Player does not support H.265 videos.

In our test model, the HD Graphics 520 clocks at 300 MHz to 1.000 MHz. In addition, the performance depends on the CPU model used. The performance gain compared to the predecessor is up to 18% in 3DMark 2013 and even significantly higher in 3DMark 11. Among the devices in our comparison group, only rivals with a dedicated graphics card perform better.

3DMark Ice Storm
3DMark Ice Storm
3DMark Cloud Gate
3DMark Cloud Gate
3DMark Fire Strike
3DMark Fire Strike
3DMark 11
3DMark 11
3DMark 06
3DMark 06
3DMark
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U, Intel HD Graphics 520
41900 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
Intel Core i5-4200M, Intel HD Graphics 4600
36385 Points -13%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Intel Core i7-6500U, AMD Radeon R5 M330
29533 Points -30%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U, AMD Radeon R7 M265
35932 Points -14%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U, Intel HD Graphics 520
40691 Points -3%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 920M
44189 Points +5%
Acer TravelMate P278-MG-76L2
Intel Core i7-6500U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
44853 Points +7%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U, Intel HD Graphics 520
5038 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
Intel Core i5-4200M, Intel HD Graphics 4600
4421 Points -12%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Intel Core i7-6500U, AMD Radeon R5 M330
4630 Points -8%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U, AMD Radeon R7 M265
6547 Points +30%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U, Intel HD Graphics 520
4847 Points -4%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 920M
5193 Points +3%
Acer TravelMate P278-MG-76L2
Intel Core i7-6500U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
6636 Points +32%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U, Intel HD Graphics 520
616 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
Intel Core i5-4200M, Intel HD Graphics 4600
524 Points -15%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Intel Core i7-6500U, AMD Radeon R5 M330
898 Points +46%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U, AMD Radeon R7 M265
1302 Points +111%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U, Intel HD Graphics 520
574 Points -7%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 920M
1050 Points +70%
Acer TravelMate P278-MG-76L2
Intel Core i7-6500U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
1466 Points +138%
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U, Intel HD Graphics 520
1339 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
Intel Core i5-4200M, Intel HD Graphics 4600
849 Points -37%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Intel Core i7-6500U, AMD Radeon R5 M330
1869 Points +40%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U, AMD Radeon R7 M265
2241 Points +67%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U, Intel HD Graphics 520
1260 Points -6%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 920M
1793 Points +34%
Acer TravelMate P278-MG-76L2
Intel Core i7-6500U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
2490 Points +86%
1280x720 Performance GPU (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
Intel Core i5-6200U, Intel HD Graphics 520
1225 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
Intel Core i5-4200M, Intel HD Graphics 4600
751 Points -39%
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Intel Core i7-6500U, AMD Radeon R5 M330
1736 Points +42%
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Intel Core i7-5500U, AMD Radeon R7 M265
2073 Points +69%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U, Intel HD Graphics 520
1165 Points -5%
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
Intel Core i5-5200U, NVIDIA GeForce 920M
1704 Points +39%
Acer TravelMate P278-MG-76L2
Intel Core i7-6500U, NVIDIA GeForce 940M
2376 Points +94%
3DMark 06 1280x720 Score
6847 points
3DMark 11 Performance
1339 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
41900 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
5038 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
616 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
286 points
Help

Gaming Performance

You should not expect too much in terms of gaming performance. The performance of the HD Graphics 520 is higher than that of the HD Graphics 4600. Nevertheless, the performance is only sufficient for playing older games in HD resolution and with minimum presets. Since the L560 is purely a business notebook, a more powerful graphics solution is not required. However, the HD Graphics is quite sufficient for enjoying a break with a game of solitaire.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 35.9 20.6 16.8 5.1
Battlefield 4 (2013) 32.3 24.8 14.7 4.1
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 11.2 8.7 4.2

Emissions

System Noise

Frequency characteristics of the fan (idle, partial load, full load)
Frequency characteristics of the fan (idle, partial load, full load)

While idling, the device works very quietly at a measured noise level of 30.1 dB(A). In this scenario, the small fan is mostly at a standstill and only the hard drive is audible. The quietest devices in our comparison are almost all on par. Only the Dell Inspiron 15-5558 and the Acer TravelMate P278-MG-76L2 work significantly louder while idling and under load. Moreover, access to CDs/DVDs is clearly audible, yet not too loud. Our test model reaches a maximum system noise of only 34.7 dB(A) under load and is on par with the HP ProBook450 G3. Finally, we can confirm that Lenovo has significantly improved the system noise compared to the predecessor model.

Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Radeon R5 M330, 6500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSFJ256GCSU
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Radeon R7 M265, 5500U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-22HWST0
HP ProBook 450 G3
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
GeForce 920M, 5200U, Toshiba MQ01ABD100
Noise
-6%
1%
-1%
1%
-20%
off / environment *
29.4
29.2
1%
Idle Minimum *
30.1
31.9
-6%
29.2
3%
29.8
1%
29.7
1%
33.5
-11%
Idle Average *
30.1
32.4
-8%
29.2
3%
29.8
1%
29.7
1%
33.5
-11%
Idle Maximum *
30.1
32.4
-8%
29.2
3%
31.1
-3%
29.7
1%
33.5
-11%
Load Average *
33.4
34.8
-4%
32.5
3%
33.1
1%
33.1
1%
45.9
-37%
Load Maximum *
34.7
36.1
-4%
37.2
-7%
35.6
-3%
34.2
1%
45.3
-31%

* ... smaller is better

Noise Level

Idle
30.1 / 30.1 / 30.1 dB(A)
Load
33.4 / 34.7 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   ECM8000 + Voltcraft SL-451 (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 29.4 dB(A)

Temperature

Prime95 + FurMark stress
Prime95 + FurMark stress
FurMark stress
FurMark stress
Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress

While idling, the surfaces of the Lenovo ThinkPad always remain cool. The maximum temperature of 32.8 °C (~91 °F) was measured close to the fan grille. None of the devices in our comparison group have problems in this regard. During our stress test, in which Prime95 and FurMark put CPU and GPU at maximum load for at least one hour, the case temperature increased to 36 °C (~97 °F) at the fan grille. The processor reached a maximum temperature of 73 °C (~163 °F), which is not alarming. At the beginning of the test, the maximum frequency was 2.7 GHz for both cores. It fell to 2.4 GHz after about 2 minutes and constantly remained there. However, we could not observe such a behavior during Cinebench. We recorded a maximum GPU temperature of 70 °C (~158 °F). During the stress test the HD Graphics 520 continuously clocks at 950 MHz from the start.

Max. Load
 35.8 °C
96 F
31.4 °C
89 F
26.5 °C
80 F
 
 37.2 °C
99 F
33 °C
91 F
26.1 °C
79 F
 
 29 °C
84 F
28 °C
82 F
25.1 °C
77 F
 
Maximum: 37.2 °C = 99 F
Average: 30.2 °C = 86 F
25.8 °C
78 F
27.4 °C
81 F
36 °C
97 F
25.4 °C
78 F
29.8 °C
86 F
34.6 °C
94 F
25.2 °C
77 F
32.3 °C
90 F
31 °C
88 F
Maximum: 36 °C = 97 F
Average: 29.7 °C = 85 F
Power Supply (max.)  43.3 °C = 110 F | Room Temperature 22.2 °C = 72 F | Fluke 62 Max
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.2 °C / 86 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 37.2 °C / 99 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 36 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.6 °C / 83 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 29.2 °C / 84.6 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 (-1.5 °C / -2.7 F).

Speakers

Frequency characteristics of the speakers (off, half volume, maximum volume)
Frequency characteristics of the speakers (off, half volume, maximum volume)

The small stereo speakers of the Lenovo ThinkPad L560 sit left and right on the front edge. They are good for video telephony. High tones sound clear up to maximum volume. Mid tones and basses can be imagined, but they are hardly noticeable. The maximum volume is suitable for this notebook and you will probably only rarely need it - since the speakers are really loud. We recommend the use of a small 2.1 sound system for playing music or videos. As in the predecessor, sound output via a stereo jack works flawlessly.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

45-watt power adapter
45-watt power adapter

Lenovo has significantly improved the power consumption compared to the ThinkPad L540. This is probably due to the new, frugal CPU. As much as 60% lower energy demand is really remarkable and shows what Intel has achieved in the new Skylake architecture. While the system is idling and additional energy saving functionality is enabled, the power consumption is about 8.6 watts. Although this is a good value, the smaller ThinkPad L460 sibling gets along with 7.9 watts. However, at 14 inches also is slightly smaller. The small power adapter has to be able to provide a maximum of 33.7 watts. This is an excellent value, which makes all other devices in our comparison group appear inferior. Even the HP ProBook 450 G3, which uses almost the same hardware, requires 7% more energy under load (36.1 watts).

Thus, the Lenovo ThinkPad L560's small power adapter rated at 45 watts provides sufficient capacity.

Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
Radeon R5 M330, 6500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSFJ256GCSU
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
Radeon R7 M265, 5500U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-22HWST0
HP ProBook 450 G3
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
GeForce 920M, 5200U, Toshiba MQ01ABD100
Acer TravelMate P278-MG-76L2
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Lite-On CV1-8B256
Power Consumption
-60%
-2%
-11%
-5%
3%
-62%
Idle Minimum *
5
9.5
-90%
3.1
38%
4.1
18%
4.9
2%
4.3
14%
5.8
-16%
Idle Average *
7.9
13.1
-66%
6.3
20%
6.7
15%
8.2
-4%
6.5
18%
11.6
-47%
Idle Maximum *
8.6
13.4
-56%
7.9
8%
7.7
10%
9
-5%
7.4
14%
13.6
-58%
Load Average *
27.5
38.6
-40%
29.5
-7%
37.6
-37%
30.1
-9%
33.3
-21%
51
-85%
Load Maximum *
33.7
49.5
-47%
57.3
-70%
54.7
-62%
36.1
-7%
36.3
-8%
69
-105%

* ... smaller is better

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.36 / 0.55 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 5 / 7.9 / 8.6 Watt
Load midlight 27.5 / 33.7 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Life

48 Wh battery
48 Wh battery

The battery life reflects the good results in power consumption. The easily removable lithium ion battery has a capacity of 48 Wh and provides a maximum battery life of 11:38 h. Under load, the battery lasts 1:49 h. In the practical Wi-Fi test (web sites are opened at 30 s intervals), the laptop achieves a runtime of 6:46 h. The technological progress becomes apparent in direct comparison to the ThinkPad L540 predecessor. In addition, it has skipped a CPU generation and the advantages of the Skylake CPUs have become more pronounced.

maximum battery life
maximum battery life
minimum battery life
minimum battery life
WiFi battery life
WiFi battery life
H.264 battery life
H.264 battery life
Charge time
Charge time
Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE
48 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
56 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad L460-20FVS01400
48 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad E550-20DF00CNGE
48 Wh
HP ProBook 450 G3
44 Wh
Dell Inspiron 15-5558
40 Wh
Acer TravelMate P278-MG-76L2
37 Wh
Battery Runtime
-30%
29%
-12%
-9%
-4%
-11%
Reader / Idle
698
391
-44%
1153
65%
663
-5%
575
-18%
666
-5%
601
-14%
H.264
277
431
56%
311
12%
337
22%
315
14%
288
4%
WiFi v1.3
406
425
5%
293
-28%
309
-24%
337
-17%
297
-27%
Load
109
93
-15%
97
-11%
82
-25%
90
-17%
103
-6%
104
-5%
WiFi
298
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
11h 38min
WiFi Websurfing (IE 11.0.9600.18097)
6h 46min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
4h 37min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 49min

Pros

+ low power consumption
+ good battery runtimes
+ free M.2 slot
+ maintenance hatch
+ docking port
+ many security options
+ display with wide viewing angles
+ battery can be easily replaced
+ very quiet system noise
+ price policy

Cons

- moderate display brightness
- poor color coverage
- case should be more stable
- no SSD
- no keyboard light

Verdict

In review: Lenovo ThinkPad L560. Test model provided by Campuspoint.de
In review: Lenovo ThinkPad L560. Test model provided by Campuspoint.de

The Lenovo ThinkPad L560 is a worthy successor to theThinkPad L540. In using more frugal ULV processors, Lenovo has done everything right in this device. The lower power consumption is reflected in good battery runtimes. The aggressive price of less than 1000 Euros (~$1111) is supposed to attract buyers. The expandability of the ThinkPad models is good and security features have not been neglected. You can hardly complain about the good interface layout. Moreover, the connectivity can be enhanced by using a docking station.

With the upgrade from Haswell to Skylake, Lenovo has made the right decision, but the ThinkPad L560 lacks several minor details for a really good business notebook.

Nevertheless, there are several points of criticism including the relatively poor display. While it provides wide viewing angles, it performs only modestly in color coverage. In addition, the display brightness is rather average and makes working in very bright environments more difficult. Use of an SSD would increase the system performance. We would wish, the keyboard had a subtle background light for better legibility in dark environments.

Despite the criticism, the Lenovo ThinkPad L560 is a good business notebook. The performance of the frugal Skylake SoC is more than sufficient for everyday office tasks. Those who cannot do without a docking station or the TrackPoint have almost no alternative to the ThinkPad models.

Lenovo ThinkPad L560-20F10026GE - 05/03/2016 v5.1(old)
Sebastian Bade

Chassis
81 / 98 → 83%
Keyboard
89%
Pointing Device
85%
Connectivity
66 / 80 → 82%
Weight
60 / 20-67 → 85%
Battery
83%
Display
82%
Games Performance
53 / 68 → 78%
Application Performance
68 / 92 → 74%
Temperature
93%
Noise
94%
Audio
62%
Camera
48 / 85 → 56%
Average
74%
85%
Office - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo ThinkPad L560 (Core i5, HDD) Notebook Review
Sebastian Bade, 2016-05-29 (Update: 2019-04-30)