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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018 (Core i5-8250U, FHD) Convertible Review

Best of both worlds. Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Yoga is a sleek 2-in-1 for business professionals. While the top of the line configuration is an excellent machine, this mid-tier model may be the best solution for most users in need of a well-styled hybrid business device.

We recently looked at the 2018 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga by reviewing the top-of-the-line model. While we deemed it an excellent notebook, we judged the price to be a bit too high. However, more budget-constricted users hoping to get their hands on Lenovo's sleek new hybrid may be in luck: today's review covers the mid-tier option of the ThinkPad X1 Yoga line. While users will have to sacrifice a bit on power and panache by settling for a Core i5-8250U and Full HD display, our review will show what (if anything) is really given up by downgrading the processor and screen resolution. Take heed: even this model is still a bit pricey at just under USD $1900 (MSRP).

Since the only changes lie in the choice of CPU and the display panel, we will forgo sections covering the exterior chassis of the device. For more information about the case, input devices, and other aspects not enumerated in this review, please read our write-up on the Core i7-8550U model of the X1 Yoga

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US (ThinkPad X1 Yoga Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 4 x 1.6 - 3.4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh, 4 cores, hyperthreaded, 15 W TDP
Graphics adapter
Intel UHD Graphics 620 - 1024 MB VRAM, Core: 400 MHz, Memory: 1064 MHz, Integrated GPU, Intel UHD Graphics 620 23.20.16.4905
Memory
7.9 GB 
, LPDDR3 1200MHz
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 157 PPI, Yes, native pen support, Lenovo LEN40A9, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, 512 GB 
, PCIe NVMe SSD, 475 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 2 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Combo headphone/microphone, Card Reader: SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC microSD Card Reader, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Accelerometer
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 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 17.05 x 333 x 229 ( = 0.67 x 13.11 x 9.02 in)
Battery
54 Wh Lithium-Ion, 4-cell
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
Speakers: 2x 1 W, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Lenovo ThinkPad Active Pen, Lenovo Advantage, Autodesk Sketchbook, Windows Ink, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.426 kg ( = 50.3 oz / 3.14 pounds), Power Supply: 287 g ( = 10.12 oz / 0.63 pounds)
Price
1860 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Display

Subpixel matrix
Subpixel matrix

The glossy Full HD touchscreen is a considerable step down from the HDR WQHD display of the higher-end X1 Yoga. Response times of the FHD model are on the slower side of average but are within reason for an IPS display. The biggest weakness of the Full HD panel is its relatively dim backlight. Brightness averages only about 240 nits, which is comparatively low to many other business notebooks. The HDR X1 Yoga is in another league, more than doubling the luminosity of the FHD display. Brightness distribution across the 1080p panel is also low at about 75%, but as the screen is already dim, this isn't noticeable in day to day use and won't be distracting. Contrast is about average.

237.2
cd/m²
276.2
cd/m²
247.8
cd/m²
241.9
cd/m²
267.2
cd/m²
227.9
cd/m²
217.9
cd/m²
232
cd/m²
206.3
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Lenovo LEN40A9 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 276.2 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 239.4 cd/m² Minimum: 3.67 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 75 %
Center on Battery: 267.2 cd/m²
Contrast: 990:1 (Black: 0.27 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.5 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 3.81
ΔE Greyscale 1.3 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
86% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
56% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
61.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
86.4% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
60.9% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.146
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Lenovo LEN40A9, IPS, 14.00, 1920x1080
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Lenovo 40AE / B140QAN02.0, IPS Dolby Vision HDR, 14.00, 2560x1440
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
AU Optronics B139HAN03.0, IPS, 13.90, 1920x1080
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
IPS, 13.30, 1920x1080
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
CMN1374, IPS, 13.30, 1920x1080
Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5
LG Display LP123WQ112604, IPS, 12.30, 2736x1824
Asus ZenBook Flip 14 UX461UA
BOE NV140FHM-N62, IPS, 14.00, 1920x1080
Display
40%
4%
-20%
5%
13%
1%
Display P3 Coverage
60.9
86.5
42%
62.5
3%
47.32
-22%
65.5
8%
67.6
11%
64.4
6%
sRGB Coverage
86.4
100
16%
91.7
6%
71.1
-18%
88.8
3%
99
15%
84.6
-2%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
61.9
99.4
61%
64.1
4%
48.83
-21%
64.9
5%
69.1
12%
61.8
0%
Response Times
-12%
-12%
-17%
-16%
-3%
-12%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
40.4 ?(22.4, 18)
56.8 ?(21.2, 35.6)
-41%
46 ?(20.8, 25.2)
-14%
48 ?(16.4, 31.6)
-19%
55.2 ?(21.2, 34)
-37%
42 ?(20, 22)
-4%
44 ?(24, 20)
-9%
Response Time Black / White *
28.8 ?(17.2, 11.6)
24 ?(6.8, 17.2)
17%
31.6 ?(18.4, 13.2)
-10%
32.8 ?(7.6, 25.2)
-14%
27.2 ?(7.6, 19.6)
6%
29 ?(18, 11)
-1%
33 ?(19, 14)
-15%
PWM Frequency
1042 ?(29)
21000
200 ?(90)
Screen
18%
-57%
-57%
-44%
13%
-33%
Brightness middle
267.2
562
110%
297.9
11%
322.6
21%
262
-2%
417
56%
302
13%
Brightness
239
522
118%
278
16%
306
28%
256
7%
401
68%
288
21%
Brightness Distribution
75
86
15%
81
8%
91
21%
83
11%
88
17%
90
20%
Black Level *
0.27
0.3
-11%
0.44
-63%
0.19
30%
0.25
7%
0.29
-7%
0.57
-111%
Contrast
990
1873
89%
677
-32%
1698
72%
1048
6%
1438
45%
530
-46%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.5
2.8
20%
5.1
-46%
7.7
-120%
5.13
-47%
3.63
-4%
5.17
-48%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
6.4
5.8
9%
11
-72%
11.1
-73%
9.46
-48%
6.74
-5%
7.68
-20%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
3.81
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.3
4.5
-246%
6.7
-415%
7.9
-508%
6.23
-379%
2.18
-68%
3.26
-151%
Gamma
2.146 103%
2.16 102%
2.9 76%
2.88 76%
2.45 90%
3.09 71%
2.45 90%
CCT
6523 100%
7205 90%
6839 95%
7044 92%
6413 101%
6767 96%
7142 91%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
56
88.9
59%
64.1
14%
44.1
-21%
57.84
3%
63
13%
55
-2%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
86
100
16%
91.7
7%
69.9
-19%
88.57
3%
99
15%
85
-1%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
15% / 18%
-22% / -39%
-31% / -44%
-18% / -30%
8% / 11%
-15% / -23%

* ... smaller is better

In spite of the FHD X1 Yoga falling flat compared to its HDR-enabled big brother, the screen is passable for office use. While it is fairly dim, color temperature is almost spot on at 6523 K. (6500 K is generally considered perfect.) Whites look balanced on this screen, as opposed to the blue shift we noticed with the WQHD model. Color accuracy is also respectable; the FHD X1 Yoga manages to hit DeltaE 2000 values of 3.5 and 1.3 for colors and grays, respectively. Ideally, these numbers should be at or below 3. Colors look vibrant and true-to-life. Most other business notebooks need some calibration to approach the level of this panel.

Color space coverage is adequate at about 56% of the AdobeRGB and 86% of the sRGB gamuts. This isn't best-in-class but should be more than good enough for productivity tasks and is about average for a business laptop. The HDR-capable X1 Yoga is a much better choice for those that need a wide berth of colors as it covers almost 90% of the AdobeRGB space and all of the sRGB gamut.


Colorchecker
Colorchecker
Colorchecker (calibrated)
Colorchecker (calibrated)
Grayscale
Grayscale
Grayscale (calibrated)
Grayscale (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
vs. sRGB: 86%
vs. sRGB: 86%
vs. AdobeRGB: 56%
vs. AdobeRGB: 56%

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
28.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 17.2 ms rise
↘ 11.6 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. » 72 % 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
40.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22.4 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. » 58 % 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 lackluster brightness of the panel will cause some visibility issues outdoors. While Lenovo uses an anti-glare coating across the touchscreen, glare is still problematic, and the backlight cannot get bright enough to cut through direct sunlight. The screen is fine in shade or indoors, so long as light is not shining directly on it. Viewing angles are excellent; our test image remains vibrant and crisp at almost any angle. 

Some slight backlight bleedin the corners.
Some slight backlight bleedin the corners.
Exposure increased to emphasize backlight bleed.
Exposure increased to emphasize backlight bleed.
White screen showing even color temperature.
White screen showing even color temperature.
Screen in direct sunlight.
Screen in direct sunlight.
Screen in shade.
Screen in shade.
 

Performance

We have so far been impressed with the 8th generation of Intel's ULV processors; the new four-core design has shown massive gains in performance, particularly in multi-threaded workloads. We have already looks at the Core i7-8550U in our previous X1 Yoga review. How does the lower-clocked Core i5-8250U compare? Let's find out.

Processor

Intel's Core i5-8250U (1.6 GHz base, 3.4 GHz boost) is a boon for mid-tier ultrabooks and business laptops. As with the other 8th generation Core i5 and i7 processors, the 8250U doubles the core count of Intel's previous Ultrabook-class processors; the additional two cores should (in theory) result in near-doubled multi-threaded performance. This is indeed what we see in benchmarks. In Cinebench R15's multi-core test, the Core i5-8250U scores 94% higher than the Core i5-7300U in HP's EliteBook x360 1030 G2. Interestingly, the 8250U also bests the Core i7-7600U by 90%. It should be noted that our mid-tier X1 Yoga is able to keep pace with the higher-end model equipped with a Core i7-8550U in multi-threaded workloads.

Despite scoring well in single runs, long-term performance is disappointing. After a strong initial pass through Cinebench R15's mutli-core test, performance takes a measureable dip in performance. The X1 Yoga posts inconsistent results over the next several runs, which may mean it will deliver decreased performance during longer workloads for end users. On battery power, performance is about 90-95% of that when plugged in.

For more information about the Intel Core i5-8250U, please see our dedicated CPU page here.

Cinebench R10
Cinebench R10
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15
0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390400410420430440450460470480490500510520530540550560570580590600610620630640650660670680690Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (68.6 - 287, n=64, last 2 years)
229 Points +62%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
170 Points +21%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
168 Points +19%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Core i7-7820HQ
166 Points +18%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
161 Points +14%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
157 Points +11%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Intel Core i5-7300U
144 Points +2%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (81 - 147, n=97)
141.1 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel Core i5-8250U
141 Points
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
Intel Core i7-7Y75
130 Points -8%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (110.1 - 2889, n=66, last 2 years)
1554 Points +128%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
735 Points +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
699 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel Core i5-8250U
682 Points
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Core i7-7820HQ
663 Points -3%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
576 Points -16%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (320 - 730, n=101)
570 Points -16%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
353 Points -48%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Intel Core i5-7300U
346 Points -49%
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
Intel Core i7-7Y75
258 Points -62%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (1.86 - 3.26, n=7, last 2 years)
2.65 Points +69%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
1.91 Points +22%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Core i7-7820HQ
1.83 Points +17%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.78 Points +13%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Intel Core i5-7300U
1.64 Points +4%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (0.91 - 1.79, n=35)
1.615 Points +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel Core i5-8250U
1.57 Points
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
Intel Core i7-7Y75
1.54 Points -2%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
1.48 Points -6%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (4.31 - 25, n=7, last 2 years)
17.3 Points +131%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.14 Points +9%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel Core i5-8250U
7.5 Points
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Core i7-7820HQ
7.36 Points -2%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (3.15 - 7.76, n=35)
6.02 Points -20%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
5.94 Points -21%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
3.96 Points -47%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Intel Core i5-7300U
3.57 Points -52%
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
Intel Core i7-7Y75
2.98 Points -60%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (13139 - 53525, n=6, last 2 years)
33259 Points +54%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
21671 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel Core i5-8250U
21643 Points
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Core i7-7820HQ
21534 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (14148 - 22097, n=42)
18261 Points -16%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
15599 Points -28%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Intel Core i5-7300U
12524 Points -42%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
11324 Points -48%
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
Intel Core i7-7Y75
9392 Points -57%
Rendering Single 32Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (6243 - 10510, n=6, last 2 years)
8047 Points +47%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
6452 Points +18%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Core i7-7820HQ
6128 Points +12%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5825 Points +6%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (5349 - 8356, n=42)
5631 Points +3%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Intel Core i5-7300U
5524 Points +1%
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
Intel Core i7-7Y75
5496 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel Core i5-8250U
5485 Points
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
5145 Points -6%
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
Intel Core i7-7Y75
619 s * -153%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
436.1 s * -78%
Average of class Convertible
  (98.3 - 1260, n=7, last 2 years)
422 s * -73%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
378 s * -55%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Core i7-7820HQ
317 s * -30%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (243 - 402, n=13)
309 s * -26%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel Core i5-8250U
244.6 s *
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
214.9 s * +12%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
8154
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
21643
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5485
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
46.31 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
7.5 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.57 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
53.8 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
682 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
141 Points
Help

System Performance

Overall system performance is excellent and above average for most other mid-range business notebooks. The combination of a quad-core CPU with Samsung's blazing fast PM981 NVMe drive makes for incredibly quick system response times. The device will not leave users waiting; apps open almost instantly, and workloads finish quickly. The biggest bottleneck is the internal GPU (discussed below), which may be a point of contention for creative professionals.

PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Creative
PCMark 8 Creative
PCMark 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Convertible
  (4404 - 5830, n=3, last 2 years)
4890 Points +24%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3999 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3946 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3824 Points -3%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Sandisk SD8TN8U-256G-1006
3774 Points -4%
Asus ZenBook Flip 14 UX461UA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1002
3660 Points -7%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2986 - 4458, n=69)
3584 Points -9%
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
HD Graphics 615, i7-7Y75, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
3134 Points -21%
Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Samsung PM971 KUS030202M
2936 Points -26%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5154 Points +7%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4823 Points
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Sandisk SD8TN8U-256G-1006
4803 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4719 Points -2%
Asus ZenBook Flip 14 UX461UA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1002
4700 Points -3%
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
HD Graphics 615, i7-7Y75, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
4674 Points -3%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2699 - 5106, n=58)
4646 Points -4%
Average of class Convertible
  (2921 - 6089, n=3, last 2 years)
4045 Points -16%
Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Samsung PM971 KUS030202M
3983 Points -17%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5342 Points +9%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4879 Points
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Sandisk SD8TN8U-256G-1006
4781 Points -2%
Asus ZenBook Flip 14 UX461UA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1002
4666 Points -4%
Average of class Convertible
  (last 2 years)
4645 Points -5%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3308 - 5090, n=35)
4594 Points -6%
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
HD Graphics 615, i7-7Y75, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
4277 Points -12%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3946 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4879 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4823 points
PCMark 10 Score
3461 points
Help

Storage Devices

Samsung's new PM981 PCIe NVMe solid-state drive is one of the fastest currently available on the market. Read and write speeds are insanely fast, hitting 3.4 GB/s and 2.01 GB/s, respectively. The biggest improvement is in write speeds; compared to the PM961, the PM981 in our X1 Yoga manages about 50% faster write speeds in AS SSD. 4K-64 write speeds (which measures how quickly the drive handles chunks of smaller piece of data) are also greatly improved. It should be noted that the larger drive size in our unit (512 GB) contributes to this performance; larger SSDs tend to be noticeably faster than smaller ones.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CrystalDiskMark 5.2
CrystalDiskMark 5.2
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 8 Storage
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Sandisk SD8TN8U-256G-1006
Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5
Samsung PM971 KUS030202M
Asus ZenBook Flip 14 UX461UA
SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1002
Average Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
 
AS SSD
-6%
-29%
-86%
-6942%
-81%
13%
Copy Game MB/s
607
319.2
-47%
726
20%
178.5
-71%
389
-36%
186.1
-69%
1057 ?(547 - 1639, n=43)
74%
Copy Program MB/s
233.5
463.3
98%
263.8
13%
110.6
-53%
141
-40%
118.6
-49%
454 ?(206 - 828, n=43)
94%
Copy ISO MB/s
917
1341
46%
950
4%
255.9
-72%
572
-38%
324.1
-65%
1755 ?(917 - 3259, n=43)
91%
Score Total
3594
2536
-29%
1495
-58%
736
-80%
908
-75%
3966 ?(2348 - 5316, n=62)
10%
Score Write
1359
608
-55%
375
-72%
194
-86%
236
-83%
1780 ?(147 - 2992, n=62)
31%
Score Read
1487
1316
-11%
752
-49%
362
-76%
441
-70%
1451 ?(752 - 2125, n=62)
-2%
Access Time Write *
0.037
0.028
24%
0.037
-0%
0.075
-103%
23
-62062%
0.086
-132%
0.08337 ?(0.025 - 2.52, n=62)
-125%
Access Time Read *
0.043
0.044
-2%
0.045
-5%
0.143
-233%
0.071
-65%
0.123
-186%
0.05092 ?(0.029 - 0.103, n=62)
-18%
4K-64 Write
1072
391.3
-63%
204.7
-81%
120.9
-89%
75
-93%
146.4
-86%
1504 ?(96.2 - 2716, n=62)
40%
4K-64 Read
1216
1039
-15%
586
-52%
286.2
-76%
1222
0%
368.3
-70%
1203 ?(530 - 1823, n=62)
-1%
4K Write
102.3
128.1
25%
96.9
-5%
52.6
-49%
50.7
-50%
112 ?(1.76 - 145.8, n=62)
9%
4K Read
49.11
48.46
-1%
37.69
-23%
27.37
-44%
26.93
-45%
50.5 ?(31.7 - 61, n=62)
3%
Seq Write
1840
885
-52%
735
-60%
201.9
-89%
156.7
-91%
388.2
-79%
1637 ?(487 - 2564, n=62)
-11%
Seq Read
2218
2282
3%
1283
-42%
486.9
-78%
1037
-53%
459.9
-79%
1976 ?(1030 - 2806, n=62)
-11%

* ... smaller is better

Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3409 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 2007 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 288.8 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 198.2 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1232 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1253 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 44.38 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 122.1 MB/s

GPU Performance

The Intel UHD Graphics 620 integrated GPU is adequate for office tasks and basic media consumption but not much else. The iGPU supports the H.265/HEVC codec and HDCP 2.2, meaning that 4K video streaming is possible. The graphics chip can also support a 4K monitor or up to three separate displays (two via the Thunderbolt ports plus the internal display), albeit not at 4K/60p. Complex 3D modelling is not viable with this chipset; users in need of a more powerful GPU should look to devices like the ThinkPad T480s, which sports an Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics card; this device scored about 130% higher in 3DMark's Fire Strike benchmark. There are also other options with even more powerful graphics solutions, like the Dell XPS 15 (Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050) and Asus Zenbook Pro (Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti).

For more information on the Intel UHD Graphics 620 iGPU, please see our dedicate GPU page hereIntel UHD Graphics 620 GPU Review - Benchmarks and Specs.

Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Ice Storm Extreme
Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
9240 Points +409%
Average of class Convertible
  (471 - 40768, n=64, last 2 years)
7541 Points +316%
Lenovo ThinkPad T480s-20L8S02E00
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
3551 Points +96%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1869 Points +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
1814 Points
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points -4%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ
1732 Points -5%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1709 Points -6%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U
1666 Points -8%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
8503 Points +388%
Average of class Convertible
  (458 - 21287, n=64, last 2 years)
6106 Points +251%
Lenovo ThinkPad T480s-20L8S02E00
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
3547 Points +104%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ
1829 Points +5%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1752 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
1741 Points
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1640 Points -6%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U
1595 Points -8%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (927 - 2505, n=244)
1578 Points -9%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
48597 Points +389%
Average of class Convertible
  (2965 - 154219, n=50, last 2 years)
31444 Points +216%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
31274 Points +214%
Lenovo ThinkPad T480s-20L8S02E00
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
17743 Points +78%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
10493 Points +5%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
9946 Points
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ
9921 Points 0%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
9678 Points -3%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6205 - 16400, n=225)
9262 Points -7%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U
9023 Points -9%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
7457 Points +517%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
6074 Points +403%
Average of class Convertible
  (365 - 29684, n=64, last 2 years)
5690 Points +371%
Lenovo ThinkPad T480s-20L8S02E00
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
2807 Points +132%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1288 Points +7%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
1208 Points
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ
1198 Points -1%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (557 - 2608, n=213)
1161 Points -4%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1150 Points -5%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U
1073 Points -11%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Graphics
Average of class Convertible
  (60398 - 459924, n=2, last 2 years)
260161 Points
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
146935 Points
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
84368 Points
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
54785 Points
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U
48428 Points
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (26409 - 59483, n=71)
42924 Points
3DMark 06 Standard Score
12344 points
3DMark 11 Performance
2040 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
9206 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1119 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The Intel iGPU is not suitable for most games, but some lighter or older titles are playable. The GPU can handle games like Rocket League, Civilization VI, and Bioshock Infinite, but settings and the resolution will need to be turned down. Most indie titles (Stardew Valley, Papers Please, etc.) are well within reason.

BioShock Infinite - 1280x720 Very Low Preset (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
56 fps
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
67.1 fps +20%
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
HD Graphics 615, i7-7Y75, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
38.4 fps -31%
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Sandisk SD8TN8U-256G-1006
54.4 fps -3%
Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Samsung PM971 KUS030202M
42.9 fps -23%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (18.3 - 90.2, n=187)
60.7 fps +8%
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 56 35 30 10
Civilization VI (2016) 37 16 7 6
Farming Simulator 17 (2016) 65 44 25 10

Stress Test

The X1 Yoga performs well under stress but experiences small spikes of high temperature. Running Prime95 to fully load all cores, the Core i5-8250U is able to boost to its rated maximum of 3.4 GHz, but temperatures rise to 97-98° C shortly after hitting this peak. This chokes the CPU to about 2.4 GHz in order to bring temperatures down (about 85° C). Running Prime95 and FurMark concurrently forces the CPU to pull back even further to 1.4 GHz, 200 MHz below its base clock. Again, there are intermittent boosts to 3.4 GHz, but these are short lived. The system doesn't seem to manage synthetic graphical stress well; FurMark (by itself) is able to run for about 20-30 minutes before crashing. CPU temperatures peak around 98-99° C prior to a crash, suggesting that heat limits are responsible for the failure.

Unigine Valley gives us a better idea of a more realistic load. Under this test, the CPU typically hangs near its base clock of 1.6 GHz, boosting as needed. The GPU performs well, clocking in at about 1100 MHz. Temperatures across the CPU package stay well within check, average about 79° C. Temperatures of 90° C can be recorded, but only after a single core hits its maximum rated boost. Overall, temperatures and performance are well-balanced under real-world stress.

Prime 95
Prime 95
FurMark
FurMark
Prime95 + FurMark
Prime95 + FurMark
Unigine Valley
Unigine Valley
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 2.4 - 85 -
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 1.4 900 78 78
Unigine Valley 1.7 1090 79 79

Emissions

System Noise

Fan noise profile
Fan noise profile

The fan is quiet and generally inaudible except under strenuous load. When doing light tasks (word processing, checking email, etc.), the fan stays inert. Under medium load (browsing the web), the fan will begin to spin after about 10-15 seconds but remains fairly unobtrusive, quickly fading underneath normal ambient volume. The fan will sometimes ramp up for 10-20 seconds under these kinds of workloads but will fall back under room noise. Under full load, the fan hits about 40 dB(A), but its lower pitch means that even at this level, it will not sound harsh or shrill. There is no discernible coil whine or any other unwarranted system noise.

Noise Level

Idle
27.8 / 27.8 / 27.8 dB(A)
Load
33.9 / 39.9 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   BK Precision 732A (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 27.8 dB(A)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Sandisk SD8TN8U-256G-1006
Asus ZenBook Flip 14 UX461UA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1002
Noise
-6%
-1%
-1%
-4%
off / environment *
27.8
29.1
-5%
28
-1%
29
-4%
30.4
-9%
Idle Minimum *
27.8
29.1
-5%
28
-1%
29
-4%
30.4
-9%
Idle Average *
27.8
29.1
-5%
28.8
-4%
29
-4%
30.4
-9%
Idle Maximum *
27.8
31.3
-13%
30.3
-9%
29
-4%
32
-15%
Load Average *
33.9
37.6
-11%
34.5
-2%
33.6
1%
31.7
6%
Load Maximum *
39.9
37.6
6%
34.3
14%
35.8
10%
35.9
10%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Heat exhaust out rear of device
Heat exhaust out rear of device

External temperatures are very well managed. Even under full load, the keyboard and most of the bottom panel remain cool to the touch. There is a hotspot directly over the center of the keyboard; while this spot gets warm, it never gets uncomfortable. The corresponding area on the bottom panel will feel uncomfortable after a short time. When the device is in tablet mode, these areas rarely (if ever) come into contact with the user's hand.

Max. Load
 31.2 °C
88 F
43 °C
109 F
29 °C
84 F
 
 28.2 °C
83 F
40.8 °C
105 F
25.4 °C
78 F
 
 26 °C
79 F
25.6 °C
78 F
24 °C
75 F
 
Maximum: 43 °C = 109 F
Average: 30.4 °C = 87 F
30 °C
86 F
47.4 °C
117 F
33.6 °C
92 F
29.6 °C
85 F
40 °C
104 F
32.8 °C
91 F
27.6 °C
82 F
29.2 °C
85 F
29.4 °C
85 F
Maximum: 47.4 °C = 117 F
Average: 33.3 °C = 92 F
Power Supply (max.)  37.4 °C = 99 F | Room Temperature 21.4 °C = 71 F | Fluke 62 Mini
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.4 °C / 87 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 55.7 °C for the class Convertible.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 47.4 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22.8 °C / 73 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 26 °C / 78.8 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (+2.1 °C / 3.8 F).
Keyboard, idle
Keyboard, idle
Bottom panel, idle
Bottom panel, idle
Keyboard,load
Keyboard,load
Bottom panel, load
Bottom panel, load

Speakers

Speaker noise profile.
Speaker noise profile.

As is the norm for business notebooks, the speakers are fairly weak. Bass is absent, but mids and highs are reasonably level. The biggest problem with the speakers is their small size (1 Watt); the resultant sound is thin and tinny. Music will not be done justice, but web calls and vocals are adequately clear.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs203841.32534.132.33132.233.74032.832.55031.331.76330.631.58030.4321002830.512528.230.416026.939.120026.952.325025.660.831524.46140024.26250023.863.363023.960.980023.468.110002372.9125022.865.5160022.664.3200022.560.9250022.360.5315022.457.2400022.260.7500022.463.4630022.454.9800022.359.61000022.462.81250022.562.91600022.558SPL34.976.6N2.338.6median 22.8median 60.9Delta0.74.93641.837.137.74535.835.347.750.746.655.659.5596056.562.668.973.870.277.375.873.478.27774.672.169.767.8626086.363.8median 67.87.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015USHP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (72.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.9% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (9.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.3% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (9.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 38% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 54% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 39% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 53% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.3 dB)
Analysis not possible as minimum curve is missing or too high

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Power draw is a bit higher than average for a mid-range business laptop. Power usage when idle is within the expected range. Under maximum load, our device pulls 57 Watts from the wall. The i7 model, in contrast, draws 71 Watts, or 25% more. However, other mid-tier business 2-in-1s, like the EliteBook x360 1030, pull almost 30% less under load.

Brigthness level shift rom minimum to maximum. Note the small jump in draw at 20 seconds (when the shift occurs).
Brigthness level shift rom minimum to maximum. Note the small jump in draw at 20 seconds (when the shift occurs).
Prime95. This graph echoes the throttling we observed in the stress test.
Prime95. This graph echoes the throttling we observed in the stress test.
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.33 / 0.36 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3 / 5.4 / 7.5 Watt
Load midlight 40.1 / 57.1 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 X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS Dolby Vision HDR, 2560x1440, 14.00
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.90
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
i7-7Y75, HD Graphics 615, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, Sandisk SD8TN8U-256G-1006, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5
i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM971 KUS030202M, IPS, 2736x1824, 12.30
Asus ZenBook Flip 14 UX461UA
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1002, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Power Consumption
-37%
7%
30%
12%
2%
-2%
Idle Minimum *
3
3.4
-13%
3.1
-3%
3.1
-3%
3.2
-7%
3.6
-20%
3.3
-10%
Idle Average *
5.4
8.8
-63%
6.6
-22%
4.3
20%
5.5
-2%
8.1
-50%
6.3
-17%
Idle Maximum *
7.5
11.9
-59%
7
7%
4.9
35%
6.5
13%
8.7
-16%
11
-47%
Load Average *
40.1
50.4
-26%
35.2
12%
24.3
39%
29.7
26%
25.5
36%
30
25%
Load Maximum *
57.1
71.2
-25%
34.6
39%
22.8
60%
41.3
28%
23.5
59%
35.4
38%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Battery life is excellent for a 2-in-1 device, especially considering the size of the battery. The X1 Yoga chugs through our WiFi test for almost 11 hours before calling it quits, which is rather impressive. Despite its larger 70 Wh battery, the Yoga 920 only manages about a half hour more during this test. The X1 Yoga should get most users through an entire business day, but for those that run the battery dry, the included 65 Watt charger is relatively small and can charge the device in about 1.5 hours. The X1 Yoga can be charged through either USB Type-C port.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
20h 18min
WiFi Websurfing
10h 51min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 15min
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 54 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 54 Wh
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 70 Wh
Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1
i7-7Y75, HD Graphics 615, 46 Wh
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2
i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, 57 Wh
Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5
i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, 45 Wh
Asus ZenBook Flip 14 UX461UA
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 57 Wh
Battery Runtime
-18%
15%
5%
31%
8%
-9%
Reader / Idle
1218
1203
-1%
1655
36%
971
-20%
1387
14%
1054
-13%
1131
-7%
WiFi v1.3
651
517
-21%
685
5%
686
5%
630
-3%
744
14%
566
-13%
Load
135
91
-33%
140
4%
175
30%
244
81%
168
24%
125
-7%

Pros

+ excellent build quality
+ versatile modes
+ well-balanced keyboard
+ good security options
+ great port selection w/ 2x Thunderbolt 3
+ accurate and comfortable TrackPoint
+ good color accuracy
+ no PWM
+ blazing fast storage
+ excellent performance without much sacrifice in fan noise or heat
+ very slim, portable chassis
+ great battery life
+ included stylus is recharged by the laptop
+ retractable keyboard works well

Cons

- on the pricey side
- mediocre color space coverage
- heavy for a 2-in-1
- display is a bit too dim
- problems with glare
- thin and unpleasant speakers
- somewhat awkward to use in tablet mode due to size
- no dedicated volume keys make volume adjustment cumbersome in tablet mode

Verdict

In review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga. Review unit courtesy of Lenovo.
In review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga. Review unit courtesy of Lenovo.

We held the Core i7 HDR variant of the 2018 X1 Yoga in a positive light. We lauded its well-built chassis, good performance, and quiet operation but took some issue with its high price tag. At USD $2400, that model of the X1 Yoga may be out of the price range of most users. At $600 less, the Core i5 FHD model is better for the budget while maintaining most of the niceties of the more expensive model.

The performance difference between the Core i5-8250U and Core i7-8550U is negligible at best. As such, most users won't see any noticeable change by dropping the CPU down. Rather than investing in a slightly faster processor, potential buyers should put that money toward the HDR WQHD display, which is about $170 more. The more expensive panel doubles the brightness and has nearly unparalleled contrast and color reproduction. The best configuration available would be a pairing of the Core i5-8250U and WQHD HDR display.

The Core i5 variant of the X1 Yoga retains the best pieces from its more expensive brother while cutting costs. for $600 less, the Core i5 FHD X1 Yoga offers similar performance wrapped in the same excellent chassis. If you are hunting for a business-class convertible and can forego a 5% bump in processing power for the HDR screen, this is the machine to get.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US - 04/15/2018 v6(old)
Sam Medley

Chassis
87 / 98 → 88%
Keyboard
92%
Pointing Device
96%
Connectivity
71 / 80 → 89%
Weight
70 / 35-78 → 81%
Battery
94%
Display
84%
Games Performance
64 / 68 → 94%
Application Performance
91 / 87 → 100%
Temperature
92%
Noise
96%
Audio
60 / 91 → 66%
Camera
42 / 85 → 50%
Average
80%
88%
Convertible - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018 (Core i5-8250U, FHD) Convertible Review
Sam Medley, 2018-04-20 (Update: 2019-04-30)