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Lenovo ThinkPad L580 Laptop Review: Reliable office notebook with a good keyboard

All you need in the office. Those who are looking for an affordable laptop for the office will invariably encounter Lenovo's L series. We are testing the 15.6-inch L580 that is able to convince particularly with its good input devices.
Business Kaby Lake Laptop Windows ThinkPad

With the ThinkPad L-series, Lenovo offers affordable office devices for everyday office tasks. In the past, these solid laptops often went without the latest features, but still offered some things that you could not find in higher-range laptops anymore, such as a VGA port or an optical drive. With the L580, Lenovo has slightly changed its tactics and aligned the device more with its other siblings. The advantages are a significantly lighter case and the support of the current docking stations via the side-dock connection. 

Our test unit of the ThinkPad L580 carries the label 20LW000VGE and costs around 900-930 Euros (~$988-1021; $739 in the US) in stores. Students can get it for about 60 Euros (~$66) less. For that, you get a Core-i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB NVMe SSD. The 15.6-inch display (IPS) supports the Full HD resolution and has a matte surface. The competition among office laptops is particularly intense in the lower price range. In addition to the L570 direct predecessor, we will use the following devices for our comparison: Acer TravelMate P2510, HP ProBook 450 G6, and Lenovo ThinkPad E590.

Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE (ThinkPad L580 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 4 x 1.6 - 3.4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
Intel UHD Graphics 620
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4-2400, single channel, 1 of 2 slots occupied, max. 32 GB
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, N156HCE-EAA, IPS, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, 256 GB 
, 213 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm audio port, Card Reader: microSD, 1 SmartCard
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): 23 x 376.5 x 254.5 ( = 0.91 x 14.82 x 10.02 in)
Battery
45 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p HD
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 65-watt charger, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.039 kg ( = 71.92 oz / 4.5 pounds), Power Supply: 367 g ( = 12.95 oz / 0.81 pounds)
Price
929 Euro
Links
Lenovo homepage
Lenovo notebook section
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case and Equipment

The greatest change happened in the case, since the Lenovo ThinkPad L580 has become significantly slimmer and lighter compared to its predecessor. On the other hand, it had to forgo for example the optical drive for this. In terms of the design, the black case with the silver lettering and red accents is immediately recognizable as a ThinkPad, and at first glance it remains indistinguishable from its more expensive siblings.

Unlike the more expensive models, only plastic is used in the ThinkPad L580 case. The top of the base unit feels particularly rough. Fortunately, this cost-cutting measure has no effect on the stability during everyday use, and the base unit as well as the lid are stable. The two hinges perform their task reliably and are able to prevent some wobbling. 

Other than in the old L470, there are no maintenance flaps anymore. So if you want to access the components now, you have to remove the entire bottom of the case. In addition to several screws, there are also some plastic clips that should best be opened with a suitable tool. After that, you gain access to the two RAM slots, the communication modules, and the slot for the hard drive. The fan can also be cleaned.

Size Comparison

❌
377 mm / 14.8 inch 255 mm / 10 inch 30.85 mm / 1.215 inch 2.4 kg5.25 lbs379.5 mm / 14.9 inch 254 mm / 10 inch 22.1 mm / 0.87 inch 2.1 kg4.63 lbs376.5 mm / 14.8 inch 254.5 mm / 10 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 2 kg4.5 lbs369 mm / 14.5 inch 252.5 mm / 9.94 inch 19.9 mm / 0.783 inch 1.9 kg4.24 lbs365 mm / 14.4 inch 257 mm / 10.1 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 2 kg4.39 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs
Right: 3.5-mm audio, USB 3.1 Type-A, security lock slot
Right: 3.5-mm audio, USB 3.1 Type-A, security lock slot
Left: USB-C Gen.1, side-dock connector (USB-C Gen.1 + network), USB 3.1 Type-A, HDMI 1.4b, nano-SIM, microSD, RJ45, SmartCard
Left: USB-C Gen.1, side-dock connector (USB-C Gen.1 + network), USB 3.1 Type-A, HDMI 1.4b, nano-SIM, microSD, RJ45, SmartCard

The size of the card reader has also been reduced, and it now only accepts microSD cards, although the case would surely offer enough space for the large module.  At least, in terms of the performance nothing has changed, since it is at the same level as last year and also as the competitors. Using our Toshiba (Exceria Pro M501) reference storage card, we measure transfer rates of about 80 MB/s.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II)
77.6 MB/s +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
76.3 MB/s
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
76.1 MB/s 0%
Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
72.6 MB/s -5%
Average of class Office
  (8 - 196.8, n=53, last 2 years)
55.2 MB/s -28%
Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
32.6 MB/s -57%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
86.1 MB/s
Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II)
85.2 MB/s -1%
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
82.1 MB/s -5%
Average of class Office
  (25.8 - 173.2, n=49, last 2 years)
64 MB/s -26%
Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
24.2 MB/s -72%

In addition to the Gigabit Ethernet connection, of course the L580 also offers a WLAN module. While we already know the Intel 8265 card well from many other laptops, the sending performance turns out surprisingly weak in our test using the Linksys EA8500 router. On the other hand, everything was normal while receiving data, and we did not notice any limitations during the test. The L580 also offers an empty M.2-2242 slot for an optional WWAN module, but the necessary antennas are not preinstalled. Alternatively, you can also add another M.2 SSD.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Office
  (87 - 1404, n=18, last 2 years)
850 MBit/s +137%
Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
Intel Wireless-AC 9260
683 (667min - 691max) MBit/s +90%
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
682 (650min - 687max) MBit/s +90%
Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
651 MBit/s +81%
Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
620 MBit/s +73%
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
359 MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Office
  (333 - 1690, n=18, last 2 years)
903 MBit/s +52%
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
634 (437min - 666max) MBit/s +7%
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
594 MBit/s
Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
Intel Wireless-AC 9260
592 (552min - 637max) MBit/s 0%
Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
513 MBit/s -14%
Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
361 MBit/s -39%

Warranty

The low purchase price of the business laptop becomes noticeable in terms of the warranty, since unlike the more expensive models of the T oder X series, the ThinkPad L580 only comes with a 12-month warranty. However, you can still expand the service and extend its duration at an additional cost.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The keyboard is definitely one of the highlights of the ThinkPad L580. Thanks to the relatively long key stroke and the good feedback, the typing experience is very good. Those who have to type a lot or simply need a good keyboard in the office have come to the right place here. A two-step keyboard illumination is also included.

Touchpad/TrackPoint

To control the mouse pointer, you can either use the large ClickPad or the TrackPoint. We did not encounter any problems with our inputs, and the two TrackPoint keys produce an even clicking noise.

Input devices
Input devices

Display - An IPS screen in the ThinkPad L580

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid
Light halos at the bottom edge
Light halos at the bottom edge

Lenovo offers two different displays for the ThinkPad L580, but you should leave your hands off the more affordable TN option. For just 25 Euros (~$27) more, you can choose the Full-HD panel in the configurator, which is based on the superior IPS technology. Both options have a matte surface and do not offer a touchscreen.

Our test unit is also equipped with the better of the two displays (Innolux, N156HCE-EAA). Subjectively, it leaves a decent impression. The image is not too grainy and there is no color tint, which is not a given in affordable models. In the data sheet, Lenovo specifies a brightness of 250 cd/m², however, we were only able to confirm this in two of the nine measured spots. At 237 cd/m², the average brightness turns out slightly lower. This is still a normal value for affordable office laptops, which is also shown by our comparison chart. 

We did not detect any classical PWM flickering, but there was some flickering in the background illumination. However, due to the very high frequency, this should not cause any limitations. Particularly at the lower edge, there are some light halos that you can see mainly with a dark background.

233
cd/m²		232
cd/m²		234
cd/m²
224
cd/m²		269
cd/m²		237
cd/m²
214
cd/m²		252
cd/m²		239
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
N156HCE-EAA tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 269 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 237.1 cd/m² Minimum: 3.1 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 80 %
Center on Battery: 269 cd/m²
Contrast: 1281:1 (Black: 0.21 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.9 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5.1, calibrated: 3.7
ΔE Greyscale 1.5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
64.3% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
40.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
44.29% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
64.4% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
42.86% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.21
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
N156HCE-EAA, , 1920x1080, 15.60		Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
Lenovo LP156WF6-SPK4, , 1920x1080, 15.60		Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
LP156WFC-SPDB, , 1920x1080, 15.60		Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
Chi Mei CMN15D3, , 1920x1080, 15.60		HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
Chi Mei CMN15FE, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Display
-12%
-11%
-1%
0%
Display P3 Coverage
42.86
37.68
-12%
38.21
-11%
42.27
-1%
42.83
0%
sRGB Coverage
64.4
56.4
-12%
57.5
-11%
63.5
-1%
64.2
0%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
44.29
38.97
-12%
39.47
-11%
43.69
-1%
44.29
0%
Response Times
16%
-10%
-11%
5%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
33.6 ?(15.6, 18)
43 ?(24, 19, Plateau)
-28%
40 ?(21.2, 18.8)
-19%
40 ?(23, 17)
-19%
34.4 ?(17.2, 17.2)
-2%
Response Time Black / White *
27.6 ?(15.2, 12.4)
11 ?(7, 4)
60%
27.6 ?(16.8, 10.8)
-0%
32 ?(13, 10)
-16%
24.4 ?(14.4, 10)
12%
PWM Frequency
24750 ?(40)
25000 ?(10)
1%
26040 ?(40)
5%
Screen
-31%
-17%
9%
-12%
Brightness middle
269
276
3%
254
-6%
259
-4%
242
-10%
Brightness
237
252
6%
251
6%
230
-3%
226
-5%
Brightness Distribution
80
85
6%
90
13%
82
3%
88
10%
Black Level *
0.21
0.45
-114%
0.2
5%
0.19
10%
0.21
-0%
Contrast
1281
613
-52%
1270
-1%
1363
6%
1152
-10%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.9
5.01
-28%
5.6
-44%
3.13
20%
4.7
-21%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
16.3
9.71
40%
15.4
6%
7.81
52%
18.5
-13%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
3.7
4.9
-32%
3.09
16%
4
-8%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.5
3.69
-146%
3.1
-107%
1.42
5%
2.7
-80%
Gamma
2.21 100%
2.39 92%
2.22 99%
2.36 93%
2.26 97%
CCT
6332 103%
7023 93%
6450 101%
6391 102%
6442 101%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
40.8
36
-12%
36.3
-11%
40
-2%
40.8
0%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
64.3
56.3
-12%
57.1
-11%
63
-2%
64
0%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-9% / -21%
-13% / -15%
-1% / 4%
-2% / -7%

* ... smaller is better

Grayscale
Grayscale
Saturation
Saturation
ColorChecker
ColorChecker
Grayscale calibrated
Grayscale calibrated
Saturation calibrated
Saturation calibrated
ColorChecker calibrated
ColorChecker calibrated

The accuracy in the grayscale is already very good in the state of delivery, and the color temperature is also okay. However, the price of the panel becomes noticeable in the color reproduction, since some colors such as blue tones are simply not displayed accurately. The color space coverage is also not particularly high at 64% of the smaller sRGB color space. This makes the ThinkPad L580 not at all suited for image processing. On the other hand, there are no limitations for everyday office tasks, and if necessary, you can always connect an external display.

vs. sRGB: 64.3%
vs. sRGB: 64.3%
vs. AdobeRGB: 40.8%
vs. AdobeRGB: 40.8%

Display Response Times

ℹ
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
27.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15.2 ms rise
↘ 12.4 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. » 65 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.8 ms).
   ↔    Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
33.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15.6 ms rise
↘ 18 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 38 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (34.3 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

ℹ
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 24750 Hz ≤ 40 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 24750 Hz (Likely utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 40 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 24750 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18704 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Viewing angle stability of the ThinkPad L580
Viewing angle stability of the ThinkPad L580

In terms of the viewing angle stability of the IPS display, there is nothing to complain and the contents also remain stable when viewed from the sides. Those who opt for the more affordable TN model should expect some significant limitations in this regard.

In principle, you can also use the matte panel outdoors. However, the brightness becomes a limiting factor here, and you should definitely try to avoid reflections of bright areas or light sources.

With reflections outdoors
With reflections outdoors
Without reflections outdoors
Without reflections outdoors

Performance - A Lenovo PC with sufficient performance

LatencyMon - WLAN activated
LatencyMon - WLAN activated
LatencyMon - WLAN deactivated
LatencyMon - WLAN deactivated

Processor - A Core i5-8250U

Inside the ThinkPad L580 runs a Core-i5 processor from Intel's Kaby Lake R generation. The quad-core i5-8250U offers more than sufficient performance for regular office tasks. Optionally, Lenovo also offers models with vPro support, which might be interesting, particularly for some larger companies. You can find additional information on the i5-8250U here.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (82.6 - 284, n=127, last 2 years)
210 Points +49%
Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
Intel Core i7-8565U
178 Points +26%
Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
Intel Core i5-8250U
142 Points +1%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (81 - 147, n=97)
141.1 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
141 Points
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
Intel Core i7-8565U
138.3 Points -2%
Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
Intel Core i5-7200U
128 Points -9%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (160.8 - 2492, n=131, last 2 years)
1264 Points +115%
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
589 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (320 - 730, n=101)
570 Points -3%
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
Intel Core i7-8565U
553 (490.31min - 513.51max) Points -6%
Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
Intel Core i7-8565U
553 Points -6%
Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
Intel Core i5-8250U
533 (432.57min - 532.94max) Points -10%
Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
Intel Core i5-7200U
330 Points -44%

While the performance development of the L580 is not optimal, the mobile quad-core offers sufficient performance for everyday office tasks. After the first run in our CB multi-loop, the result drops slightly, but then remains stable at almost 560 points. 

0306090120150180210240270300330360390420450480510540570Tooltip
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP: Ø556 (551.19-589.21)
Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600 HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP: Ø330 (327.43-331.67)
Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE UHD Graphics 620, i7-8565U, Toshiba KBG30ZMT512G: Ø503 (498-544)
Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A: Ø500 (432.57-532.94)
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA GeForce MX130, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ: Ø511 (506.9-545.23)
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
589 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
141 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
44.1 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Help

System Performance – The ThinkPad with a PCIe SSD

There are no surprises in the benchmarks, and in practice, the ThinkPad L580 also convinces as a fast and responsive system. This is mainly a result of the balanced configuration with the quad-core processor and the fast NVMe SSD from Samsung.

PCMark 8 | PCMark 10
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Office
  (2304 - 4830, n=12, last 2 years)
4152 Points +29%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2986 - 4458, n=69)
3584 Points +12%
Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
3520 Points +10%
Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
3461 Points +8%
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
GeForce MX130, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3457 Points +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3211 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8565U, Toshiba KBG30ZMT512G
2577 Points -20%
Work Score Accelerated v2
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
GeForce MX130, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5033 Points +8%
Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
4769 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4653 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2699 - 5106, n=58)
4646 Points 0%
Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4600 Points -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8565U, Toshiba KBG30ZMT512G
3596 Points -23%
Average of class Office
  (1854 - 5610, n=12, last 2 years)
3518 Points -24%
PCMark 10 - Score
Average of class Office
  (2325 - 7157, n=111, last 2 years)
5216 Points +48%
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
GeForce MX130, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3668 Points +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3519 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3358 - 4081, n=67)
3296 Points -6%
Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8565U, Toshiba KBG30ZMT512G
2486 Points -29%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3211 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4653 points
PCMark 10 Score
3519 points
Help
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
AS SSD
hddimg
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Sequential Read: 1483 MB/s
Sequential Write: 808 MB/s
512K Read: 1085 MB/s
512K Write: 658 MB/s
4K Read: 52 MB/s
4K Write: 116.7 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 388.3 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 600 MB/s

Graphics Card

The integrated UHD Graphics 620 of the processor is responsible for the graphics output. It offers sufficient performance for everyday tasks in the office and is also able to handle the reproduction of high-resolution videos without any problems. However, the iGPU is only suitable for gaming to a limited extent, if you limit yourself to older or less demanding games.

3DMark 11 | 3DMark
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Office
  (1474 - 12195, n=124, last 2 years)
5540 Points +230%
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i7-8565U
2908 Points +73%
Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
2786 Points +66%
Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8565U
1844 Points +10%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1680 Points
Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1440 Points -14%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Office
  (5681 - 58068, n=106, last 2 years)
22290 Points +165%
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i7-8565U
13776 Points +64%
Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
13246 Points +58%
Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8565U
9446 Points +12%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6205 - 16400, n=225)
9262 Points +10%
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
8406 Points
Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
7032 Points -16%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Office
  (712 - 8815, n=126, last 2 years)
3869 Points +273%
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i7-8565U
2383 Points +130%
Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
2311 Points +123%
Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8565U
1183 Points +14%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (557 - 2608, n=213)
1161 Points +12%
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1037 Points
Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
819 Points -21%
3DMark 11 Performance
1816 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
7733 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
963 points
Help
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 46.6 27.5 23.3 7.7

Emissions

Noise Emissions

The fan of the L580
The fan of the L580

The L580 is a very quiet companion in the office. It is often completely silent, since there are no annoying electronic noises. On the other hand, under full load (particularly with demands on the CPU), the 15.6-inch notebook can definitely be heard, and at a maximum of 36 dB(A), it is also louder than its immediate predecessor. This is mainly due to the move to the quad-core processor, which uses more power and thus produces more heat.

Noise Level

Idle
29.9 / 29.9 / 31.6 dB(A)
Load
33.1 / 36 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: 29.9 dB(A)
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP		Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP		Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8565U, Toshiba KBG30ZMT512G		Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A		HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
GeForce MX130, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Noise
2%
6%
-3%
1%
off / environment *
29.9
30.3
-1%
29.3
2%
30.3
-1%
29
3%
Idle Minimum *
29.9
30.3
-1%
29.3
2%
30.3
-1%
29
3%
Idle Average *
29.9
30.3
-1%
29.3
2%
30.3
-1%
29
3%
Idle Maximum *
31.6
30.3
4%
29.3
7%
31
2%
29
8%
Load Average *
33.1
33.2
-0%
30.6
8%
35.6
-8%
34.2
-3%
Load Maximum *
36
33.1
8%
30.6
15%
38.6
-7%
38.4
-7%
Witcher 3 ultra *
34.2

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

The surface temperatures of the ThinkPad L580 are in no way critical. However, under load the central area of the bottom warms up noticeably to around 46 °C (115 °F), so you should not really place the device on your lap in this scenario. The upper area of the keyboard also warms up slightly. As expected, under low loads or during idle operation, there are no problems. 

The stress test with the two Prime95 and FurMark tools shows that Lenovo prioritizes the GPU performance under combined load. The GPU still runs at 700 MHz, while the four processor cores only run at 1.2 GHz each. But there should not be any problems during regular tasks, and a 3DMark-11 run right after the stress test did not result in any lower scores either.

Max. Load
 43 °C
109 F		42.5 °C
109 F		39 °C
102 F		 
 35.6 °C
96 F		36.7 °C
98 F		38.8 °C
102 F		 
 22.8 °C
73 F		24.3 °C
76 F		22.7 °C
73 F		 
Maximum: 43 °C = 109 F
Average: 33.9 °C = 93 F
43.1 °C
110 F		46.2 °C
115 F		44.3 °C
112 F
37.2 °C
99 F		41.1 °C
106 F		37 °C
99 F
22.2 °C
72 F		23.4 °C
74 F		22.4 °C
72 F
Maximum: 46.2 °C = 115 F
Average: 35.2 °C = 95 F
Power Supply (max.)  33.7 °C = 93 F | Room Temperature 19.9 °C = 68 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.9 °C / 93 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 43 °C / 109 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 46.2 °C / 115 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.1 °C / 74 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 24.3 °C / 75.7 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 (+3.4 °C / 6.2 F).
Stress test - overall
Stress test - overall
Stress test - top
Stress test - top
Stress test - bottom
Stress test - bottom

Speakers

The two stereo speakers represent the usual office fare. While voice reproduction is fairly decent, when listening to music or movies, the sound becomes quite thin and tinny. Here we recommend to connect external speakers or headphones, which can be done without any problems using the 3.5-mm audio port. The microphone records voices well, which means that you usually will not need an external microphone.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2034.734.22530.529.63131.333.84030.935.45037.438.76328.628.68025.826.410026.527.612526.92816024.636.620024.949.125022.955.231520.956.640019.959.250019.45963018.359.680017.866.5100017.362.612501764.6160016.560.7200016.765.5250016.765.6315016.971.240001766.9500017.458.2630017.761.3800017.867.61000017.870.81250017.8641600017.856.4SPL29.978N1.441.8median 17.8median 60.7Delta27.530.329.52627.326.926.528.524.825.724.826.523.823.623.623.923.722.923.222.628.821.7402244.72147.120.85120.251.519.452.819.159.318.561.117.566.617.564.116.862.215.962.515.663.415.462.515.464.715.462.315.458.615.256.315.153.614.950.329.474.41.232median 17.5median 56.32.69.333.435.224.927.727.928.827.327.523.924.223.623.123.522.72322.422.122.821.727.522.53722.145.221.251.920.455.419.952.519.651.919.158.817.96017.661.21759.316.559.616.251.915.757.915.555.815.449.515.454.215.461.515.358.715.157.914.952.329.3701.225.8median 17.6median 54.22.68.7hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGEHP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EALenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (78 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.6% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (10.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 37% of all tested devices in this class were better, 11% similar, 52% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 46% of all tested devices were better, 9% similar, 45% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 26%, worst was 134%

HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (74.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.7% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.1% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (27.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 82% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 12% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 79% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 17% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 26%, worst was 134%

Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (70 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 19.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.1% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.5% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (14.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 70% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 22% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 71% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 23% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 26%, worst was 134%

Power Management

Power Consumption

There is nothing unusual about the consumption values, which correspond to the usual values for the office segment. We measure a maximum consumption of 42.5 watts, but during the course of the stress test, it levels out at around 30 watts. With this, the 65-watt charger is completely sufficient.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.7 / 0.89 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.4 / 7.2 / 8.3 Watt
Load midlight 36.4 / 42.5 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 L580-20LW000VGE
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60		Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60		Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620, Toshiba KBG30ZMT512G, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 15.60		Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
i5-8250U, GeForce MX130, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60		HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
i7-8565U, GeForce MX130, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Power Consumption
13%
-1%
-9%
-19%
Idle Minimum *
4.4
4
9%
3.72
15%
3.3
25%
3.12
29%
Idle Average *
7.2
7.4
-3%
7.8
-8%
5.6
22%
6.3
12%
Idle Maximum *
8.3
7.7
7%
10.32
-24%
7.8
6%
9.78
-18%
Load Average *
36.4
30.6
16%
30.24
17%
54
-48%
57.6
-58%
Load Maximum *
42.5
28.2
34%
44
-4%
63
-48%
67.3
-58%
Witcher 3 ultra *
42

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

The 45-Wh battery
The 45-Wh battery

In terms of the battery life, you should not expect any new records. Compared to the previous model, the battery capacity has been reduced to 45 Wh, which is still sufficient for about 7.5 hours in our WLAN test with an adjusted brightness of 150 nits. Here the competitors often fare slightly better.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 42)
7h 35min
Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 45 Wh		Lenovo Thinkpad L570 20J9S01600
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 48 Wh		Lenovo ThinkPad E590-20NC0003GE
i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620, 45 Wh		Acer TravelMate P2510-G2-MG-50WE
i5-8250U, GeForce MX130, 48 Wh		HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
i7-8565U, GeForce MX130, 45 Wh		Average of class Office
 
Battery Runtime
WiFi v1.3
455
534
17%
383
-16%
505
11%
583
28%
582 ?(272 - 1715, n=111, last 2 years)
28%

Verdict - The ThinkPad is a solid office companion

Pros

+ IPS display
+ very good keyboard
+ USB-C and side-dock connector
+ decent system performance
+ good security equipment

Cons

- only 12 months of warranty
- microSD card reader only
- varying WLAN performance
- no maintenance flap anymore
Testing the Lenovo ThinkPad L580. Test unit provided by lapstars.de
Testing the Lenovo ThinkPad L580. Test unit provided by lapstars.de

With the ThinkPad L580, Lenovo offers a solid office notebook, which mainly distinguishes itself with its very good input devices. However, you look in vain for any other highlights, since in all other areas, you get the standard fare for the office segment. While the display is not particularly bright, the same also goes for the competitors. 

Although the ThinkPad L580 is unable to make use of the full performance of the processor, in comparison to its dual-core predecessor, the quad-core notebook is of course faster and completely sufficient for most of the usual tasks. There is a sufficient amount of connections, the fan noise is not annoying, and the device does not become too warm.

In the office, the ThinkPad L580 mainly distinguishes itself with its excellent keyboard, and there are no real weak points. Overall, it is a completely solid office notebook.

Lenovo ThinkPad L580-20LW000VGE - 10/04/2019 v7
Andreas Osthoff

Chassis
76 / 98 → 78%
Keyboard
91%
Pointing Device
86 / 20-75 → 100%
Connectivity
69%
Weight
63%
Battery
77 / 95 → 81%
Display
82%
Games Performance
49%
Application Performance
80%
Temperature
92%
Noise
95%
Audio
68%
Camera
38%
Average
74%
84%
Office - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo ThinkPad L580 Laptop Review: Reliable office notebook with a good keyboard
Andreas Osthoff, 2019-10- 7 (Update: 2019-10-10)