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Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga (i5-8250U, FHD) Convertible Review

Bikram Yoga. The ThinkPad X380 Yoga steps back into the limelight, this time with a less powerful processor. Despite the reduction in clock speed, the i5 variant still sweats under pressure. This and other small shortcomings make for a good package with some small flaws.
Business Convertible / 2-in-1 Laptop Security Touchscreen Ultrabook Windows ThinkPad

Another year, another Yoga. We recently reviewed the highest-end ThinkPad X380 Yoga from Lenovo, a 2-in-1 equipped with Intel's new Kaby Lake R ULV Core i7-8550U. While we lauded the overall package, there were a few problems. Most notable were the poor CPU stability and thermal throttling issues over lengthy workloads. For a notebook bearing the ThinkPad moniker and priced at north of USD $1800, these omissions poisoned the well. Is the Core i5-8250U variant the remedy to these headaches?

As a premium convertible, the ThinkPad X380 Yoga competes against devices like HP's Spectre x360 13, Dell's Latitude 7390, and Lenovo's own ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018. We will also compare the Microsoft Surface Book 2. Since this review is merely a differently specced variant of the ThinkPad X380 Yoga, we will not focus on the exterior factors of the notebook (case, maintenance, etc.), instead focusing on the performances differences between models. Let's dive in.

Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 4 x 1.6 - 3.4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh, Quad-Core, Hyperthreading
Graphics adapter
Intel UHD Graphics 620 - 1024 MB VRAM, Core: 400 MHz, Memory: 1197 MHz, Integrated, intel UHD Graphics 620 23.20.16.4905
Memory
7.9 GB 
, 1x8 GB, DDR4-2400 / PC19200, 1200 MHz, soldered
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 166 PPI, 10-point multitouch, Lenovo LEN4094, IPS, 360-degree hinge, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U + iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, 512 GB 
, PCIe NVMe SSD, removable, 475 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Combo Mic/Headset, Card Reader: MicroSD/SDHC/SDXC, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor
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 BT 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 18.2 x 313.5 x 222.2 ( = 0.72 x 12.34 x 8.75 in)
Battery
51 Wh Lithium-Ion, 4-cell
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
Speakers: Dolby, 2 x 2W, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.36 kg ( = 47.97 oz / 3 pounds), Power Supply: 260 g ( = 9.17 oz / 0.57 pounds)
Price
1550 USD
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.

 

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
 
196.5 MB/s ∼100% +164%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 UHS-II)
166.2 MB/s ∼85% +124%
Microsoft Surface Book 2
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
159.2 MB/s ∼81% +114%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
157.2 MB/s ∼80% +112%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 UHS-II)
74.3 MB/s ∼38%
Average of class Convertible
  (17.7 - 177.7, n=47, last 2 years)
67 MB/s ∼34% -10%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
61.9 MB/s ∼32% -17%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Microsoft Surface Book 2
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
234.4 MB/s ∼100% +171%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 UHS-II)
229.6 MB/s ∼98% +166%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
 
220.8 MB/s ∼94% +156%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
206.9 MB/s ∼88% +139%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
87.8 MB/s ∼37% +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 UHS-II)
86.4 MB/s ∼37%
Average of class Convertible
  (22.6 - 256, n=43, last 2 years)
84.6 MB/s ∼36% -2%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Convertible
  (138 - 1468, n=23, last 2 years)
966 MBit/s ∼100% +86%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
666 MBit/s ∼69% +28%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
655 MBit/s ∼68% +26%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
520 (616min) MBit/s ∼54%
Microsoft Surface Book 2
Marvell AVASTAR Wireless-AC Network Controller
498 MBit/s ∼52% -4%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
495 MBit/s ∼51% -5%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
492 MBit/s ∼51% -5%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Convertible
  (263 - 1585, n=23, last 2 years)
1131 MBit/s ∼100% +84%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
639 MBit/s ∼56% +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
616 MBit/s ∼54%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
594 MBit/s ∼53% -4%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
517 MBit/s ∼46% -16%
Microsoft Surface Book 2
Marvell AVASTAR Wireless-AC Network Controller
515 MBit/s ∼46% -16%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
484 MBit/s ∼43% -21%

Display

Subpixel array
Subpixel array

The Full HD touchscreen is very similar to the previous X380 Yoga's; response times are very similar, as is the presence of PWM. While it should not bother most users, other convertibles like the X1 Yoga and Latitude 7390 have no PWM at all. Aside from PWM, the panel is fairly good. The screen gets reasonably bright, averaging about 322 nits. The backlight is also fairly even (91% brightness distribution). Contrast is decent at 989:1, but there are better options with deeper black levels (including the previously reviewed X380 Yoga). That said, the screen is excellent overall and leaves little room for complaint.

312.6
cd/m²		325.7
cd/m²		320.7
cd/m²
323.4
cd/m²		336.3
cd/m²		317.7
cd/m²
314.4
cd/m²		339.8
cd/m²		307.8
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Lenovo LEN4094
X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 339.8 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 322 cd/m² Minimum: 7.22 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 336.3 cd/m²
Contrast: 989:1 (Black: 0.34 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.77 | 0.55-29.43 Ø5.1, calibrated: 1.46
ΔE Greyscale 7.8 | 0.57-6493 Ø6.6
96% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
61% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
67.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
95.8% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
65.4% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 1.99
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Lenovo LEN4094, IPS, 13.30, 1920x1080		Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Lenovo M133NWF4 R3, IPS, 13.30, 1920x1080		Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Lenovo LEN40A9, IPS, 14.00, 1920x1080		HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Chi Mei (CMN1376), IPS, 13.30, 1920x1080		Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
AUO462D, IPS, 13.30, 1920x1080		Microsoft Surface Book 2
Panasonic MEI96A2 , IPS, 13.50, 3000x2000
Display
1%
-8%
4%
-7%
2%
Display P3 Coverage
65.4
65.9
1%
60.9
-7%
68.1
4%
62.5
-4%
67.9
4%
sRGB Coverage
95.8
95.8
0%
86.4
-10%
99.5
4%
86.1
-10%
95.7
0%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
67.2
67.8
1%
61.9
-8%
70.2
4%
62.9
-6%
69.4
3%
Response Times
-3%
6%
842%
-7%
-11%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
44 ?(21.2, 22.8)
50 ?(24, 26)
-14%
40.4 ?(22.4, 18)
8%
36 ?(18, 18)
18%
48.8 ?(23.6, 25.2)
-11%
52.8 ?(25.2, 27.6)
-20%
Response Time Black / White *
29.6 ?(15.6, 14)
29 ?(15, 14)
2%
28.8 ?(17.2, 11.6)
3%
27 ?(13, 14)
9%
30.4 ?(16.4, 14)
-3%
30 ?(16.4, 13.6)
-1%
PWM Frequency
962 ?(99)
1000 ?(90)
4%
25000 ?(40)
2499%
Screen
14%
-6%
15%
-10%
37%
Brightness middle
336.3
314
-7%
267.2
-21%
311
-8%
318.2
-5%
385
14%
Brightness
322
302
-6%
239
-26%
278
-14%
312
-3%
372
16%
Brightness Distribution
91
84
-8%
75
-18%
82
-10%
83
-9%
89
-2%
Black Level *
0.34
0.16
53%
0.27
21%
0.2
41%
0.3
12%
0.21
38%
Contrast
989
1963
98%
990
0%
1555
57%
1061
7%
1833
85%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.77
5.73
1%
3.5
39%
3.98
31%
4.25
26%
1.6
72%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
10.59
10.43
2%
6.4
40%
8.48
20%
9.49
10%
4.5
58%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
1.46
3.81
-161%
4.38
-200%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
7.8
7.39
5%
1.3
83%
5.57
29%
2.1
73%
1.5
81%
Gamma
1.99 111%
2.14 103%
2.146 103%
2.51 88%
2.311 95%
2.22 99%
CCT
6408 101%
6351 102%
6523 100%
7810 83%
6588 99%
6502 100%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
61
61
0%
56
-8%
64
5%
56
-8%
64
5%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
96
96
0%
86
-10%
99
3%
85
-11%
95.9
0%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
4% / 8%
-3% / -5%
287% / 168%
-8% / -9%
9% / 24%

* ... smaller is better

Color gamut coverage matches that of the i7 X380 Yoga exactly. Covering 96% of the sRGB gamut and 61% of the AdobeRGB color space, the X380 Yoga stands among the best convertibles. Combined with its excellent color accuracy (see below), the X380 Yoga is a serious contender for professionals (at least those that work in the sRGB color space).

vs sRGB: 96%
vs sRGB: 96%
vs. AdobeRGB: 61%
vs. AdobeRGB: 61%

Color accuracy is, again, almost a carbon copy of its bigger brother's. Out of the box, the X380 Yoga is somewhat accurate with a DeltaE 2000 score of 5.77 for colors and 7.8 for blacks. Other convertibles have the X380 Yoga beat, but calibration tips the scales in the Yoga's favor. After a bit of work, the X380 Yoga sees excellent color reproduction; DeltaE 2000 scores drop to 1.46 and 1 for colors and blacks, respectively. Generally, a DeltaE 2000 score of 3 is considered acceptable for professional color work.

ColorChecker
ColorChecker
ColorChecker (calibrated)
ColorChecker (calibrated)
Grayscale
Grayscale
Grayscale (calibrated)
Grayscale (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)

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
29.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15.6 ms rise
↘ 14 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 75 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.9 ms).
   ↔    Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
44 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 21.2 ms rise
↘ 22.8 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.25 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 68 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (34.6 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 962 Hz ≤ 99 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 962 Hz (Likely utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 99 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 962 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 54 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 19019 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Viewing angles are good, as should be expected of an IPS panel. No matter how the X380 is held, images and text should remain clear and accurate. The screen gets dimmer when viewed from angles greater than about 60°, but this does not detract much from the overall viewing experience. Backlight bleed is almost non-existent; only the top corners show any signs of bleed, and even then, it is minimal. The X380 Yoga has an anti-reflective coating across the display glass. This coating greatly cuts reflections and allows for outdoor use. There is an iridescent band that appears when bright light hits the screen from an angle. 

Minimal backlight bleed in the upper corners.
Minimal backlight bleed in the upper corners.
Exposure increased to detail backlight bleed.
Exposure increased to detail backlight bleed.
Screen in direct sunlight.
Screen in direct sunlight.

Performance

The disappointing performance we saw in the i7-equipped X380 Yoga begs the question: how much performance will actually be lost by downgrading to a Core i5? In short: not much. 

CPU-Z: CPU
CPU-Z: CPU
CPU-Z: Caches
CPU-Z: Caches
CPU-Z: Mainboard
CPU-Z: Mainboard
CPU-Z: Memory
CPU-Z: Memory
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWiNFO64
HWiNFO64

Processor

Intel's Kaby Lake R CPUs have brought huge gains to Ultrabooks without much sacrifice in power consumption. The 15 W Core i5-8250U is a prime example of the improvements to be had over the previous generation. In Cinebench R15's multicore test, the X380 shows almost a 50% increase in performance over the older Core i5-7300U. The X380 also beats out the higher-end Core i7 ULV CPUs (namely the i7-7500U and i7-7600U) by a similar margin. The doubled core count should make some users seriously consider an upgrade over devices sporting Intel's 7th gen CPUs.

The one stumbling block for the X380 Yoga is long-term stress testing. In our Cinebench R15 loop test, CPU performance steadily declines. Over the first half of the test, scores drop by about 46%. The latter half sees a rise and fall pattern. Lengthy CPU-intensive projects may experience similar instability. We will revisit this topic in the stress test section below.

For more information on 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
0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390400410420430440450460470480490500510520Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15 | Cinebench R11.5 | Cinebench R10 | wPrime 2.10
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (68.6 - 287, n=80, last 2 years)
211 Points ∼64% +56%
Dell Latitude 5490
Intel Core i7-8650U
178 Points ∼54% +32%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
161 Points ∼49% +19%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
155 Points ∼47% +15%
Dell Latitude 5290 2-in-1
Intel Core i5-8350U
151 Points ∼46% +12%
Lenovo ThinkPad 13 20J1005TPB
Intel Core i7-7500U
146 Points ∼45% +8%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (81 - 147, n=97)
141.1 Points ∼43% +5%
Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5
Intel Core i5-7300U
141 Points ∼43% +4%
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-30YA
Intel Core i3-8130U
140 Points ∼43% +4%
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13ARR
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
135 Points ∼41% 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Intel Core i5-8250U
135 Points ∼41%
Dell Inspiron 15 5575-98MH4
AMD Ryzen 3 2200U
107 Points ∼33% -21%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (110.1 - 2633, n=83, last 2 years)
1221 Points ∼13% +135%
Dell Latitude 5490
Intel Core i7-8650U
661 Points ∼7% +27%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (320 - 730, n=101)
570 Points ∼6% +10%
Dell Latitude 5290 2-in-1
Intel Core i5-8350U
569 Points ∼6% +10%
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13ARR
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
546 Points ∼6% +5%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Intel Core i5-8250U
519 Points ∼5%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
509 Points ∼5% -2%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
353 Points ∼4% -32%
Lenovo ThinkPad 13 20J1005TPB
Intel Core i7-7500U
338 Points ∼3% -35%
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-30YA
Intel Core i3-8130U
338 Points ∼3% -35%
Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5
Intel Core i5-7300U
334 Points ∼3% -36%
Dell Inspiron 15 5575-98MH4
AMD Ryzen 3 2200U
306 Points ∼3% -41%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (1.39 - 3.26, n=10, last 2 years)
2.36 Points ∼60% +51%
Dell Latitude 5490
Intel Core i7-8650U
2.04 Points ∼52% +31%
Dell Latitude 5290 2-in-1
Intel Core i5-8350U
1.71 Points ∼44% +10%
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-30YA
Intel Core i3-8130U
1.63 Points ∼41% +4%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (0.91 - 1.79, n=35)
1.615 Points ∼41% +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Intel Core i5-8250U
1.56 Points ∼40%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
1.51 Points ∼38% -3%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
1.48 Points ∼38% -5%
Dell Inspiron 15 5575-98MH4
AMD Ryzen 3 2200U
0.85 Points ∼22% -46%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (2.53 - 25, n=10, last 2 years)
13.5 Points ∼19% +147%
Dell Latitude 5490
Intel Core i7-8650U
6.97 Points ∼10% +27%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (3.15 - 7.76, n=35)
6.02 Points ∼9% +10%
Dell Latitude 5290 2-in-1
Intel Core i5-8350U
5.95 Points ∼8% +9%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Intel Core i5-8250U
5.47 Points ∼8%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
4.38 Points ∼6% -20%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
3.96 Points ∼6% -28%
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-30YA
Intel Core i3-8130U
3.77 Points ∼5% -31%
Dell Inspiron 15 5575-98MH4
AMD Ryzen 3 2200U
2.68 Points ∼4% -51%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (9659 - 53525, n=9, last 2 years)
26518 Points ∼19% +65%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (14148 - 22097, n=42)
18261 Points ∼13% +14%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Intel Core i5-8250U
16043 Points ∼12%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
15705 Points ∼11% -2%
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-30YA
Intel Core i3-8130U
12142 Points ∼9% -24%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
11324 Points ∼8% -29%
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13ARR
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
9812 Points ∼7% -39%
Dell Inspiron 15 5575-98MH4
AMD Ryzen 3 2200U
6745 Points ∼5% -58%
Rendering Single 32Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (4088 - 10510, n=9, last 2 years)
7270 Points ∼44% +32%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
6098 Points ∼37% +11%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (5349 - 8356, n=42)
5631 Points ∼34% +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Intel Core i5-8250U
5510 Points ∼33%
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-30YA
Intel Core i3-8130U
5476 Points ∼33% -1%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
5145 Points ∼31% -7%
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13ARR
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
4379 Points ∼26% -21%
Dell Inspiron 15 5575-98MH4
AMD Ryzen 3 2200U
3729 Points ∼23% -32%
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Lenovo ThinkPad 13 20J1005TPB
Intel Core i7-7500U
490.2 s * ∼6% -60%
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-30YA
Intel Core i3-8130U
485.5 s * ∼6% -59%
Average of class Convertible
  (98.3 - 1260, n=9, last 2 years)
462 s * ∼5% -51%
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2
Intel Core i7-7600U
436.1 s * ∼5% -42%
Dell Latitude 5490
Intel Core i7-8650U
334.6 s * ∼4% -9%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (243 - 402, n=13)
309 s * ∼4% -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Intel Core i5-8250U
306.2 s * ∼4%
Dell Latitude 5290 2-in-1
Intel Core i5-8350U
305.7 s * ∼4% -0%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
8913
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
16043
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5510
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
35.42 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
5.47 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.56 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
45.77 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
519 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
135 Points
Help

System Performance

Processor-reliant tasks aside, total system performance is excellent. Office tasks, web browsing, and media streaming are all handled with aplomb. The combination of Intel's quad-core Kaby Lake R CPUs and Samsung's insanely fast PM981 NVMe drive create a snappy system that won't leave users waiting. Apps open almost instantly, and there are no hiccups or stutters during normal system use.

PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 10 | PCMark 8
PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Convertible
  (1486 - 7676, n=68, last 2 years)
5192 Points ∼49% +47%
Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
4347 Points ∼41% +23%
Microsoft Surface Book 2
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-8650U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4119 (4106min - 4190max) Points ∼39% +16%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3632 Points ∼34% +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3538 Points ∼34%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
3520 Points ∼33% -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3461 Points ∼33% -2%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3358 - 4081, n=67)
3296 Points ∼31% -7%
Essentials
Average of class Convertible
  (3975 - 12059, n=68, last 2 years)
10060 Points ∼48% +25%
Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
8258 Points ∼40% +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
8072 Points ∼39%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
7763 Points ∼37% -4%
Microsoft Surface Book 2
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-8650U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
7659 (7643min - 7746max) Points ∼37% -5%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
7509 Points ∼36% -7%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (5855 - 9289, n=67)
7398 Points ∼35% -8%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
7213 Points ∼35% -11%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Convertible
  (3057 - 5830, n=5, last 2 years)
4482 Points ∼67% +19%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3946 Points ∼59% +5%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
3760 Points ∼56% 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3760 Points ∼56%
Microsoft Surface Book 2
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-8650U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3694 (3691min - 3696max) Points ∼55% -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3687 Points ∼55% -2%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN51T02DUK
3605 Points ∼54% -4%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2986 - 4458, n=69)
3584 Points ∼54% -5%
Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
3505 Points ∼53% -7%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
4978 Points ∼70% +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4823 Points ∼68% +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4781 Points ∼67%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4656 Points ∼66% -3%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2699 - 5106, n=58)
4646 Points ∼65% -3%
Microsoft Surface Book 2
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-8650U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4522 (4500min - 4528max) Points ∼64% -5%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN51T02DUK
4463 Points ∼63% -7%
Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
4382 Points ∼62% -8%
Average of class Convertible
  (2921 - 6089, n=5, last 2 years)
3924 Points ∼55% -18%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3760 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4781 points
PCMark 10 Score
3538 points
Help

Storage Devices

As mentioned above, the Samsung PM981 NVMe drive is fast and responsive. CrystalDiskMark 5 pegs read and write speeds at about 3.3 and 2.0 GB/s. The 512 GB of storage should be adequate for most, but the NVMe drive is accessible and can be swapped out with relative ease. Lenovo also sells a 1 TB NVMe drive, albeit at about USD $320 more.

CrystalDiskMark 5.2.1
CrystalDiskMark 5.2.1
AS SSD
AS SSD
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ		Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ		Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ		HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Toshiba NVMe THNSN51T02DUK		Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB		Average Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
 
AS SSD
-7%
11%
-596%
-25%
6%
Copy Game MB/s
962
607
856
473.6
1057 ?(547 - 1639, n=43)
Copy Program MB/s
343
233.5
281.8
223.5
454 ?(206 - 828, n=43)
Copy ISO MB/s
1770
917
1205
1377
1755 ?(917 - 3259, n=43)
Score Total
3487
2543
-27%
3594
3%
455
-87%
2057
-41%
3966 ?(2348 - 5316, n=62)
14%
Score Write
1099
1165
6%
1359
24%
42
-96%
781
-29%
1780 ?(147 - 2992, n=62)
62%
Score Read
1619
896
-45%
1487
-8%
305
-81%
877
-46%
1451 ?(752 - 2125, n=62)
-10%
Access Time Write *
0.04
0.032
20%
0.037
7%
2.391
-5878%
0.052
-30%
0.08337 ?(0.025 - 2.52, n=62)
-108%
Access Time Read *
0.04
0.039
2%
0.043
-8%
0.044
-10%
0.045
-13%
0.05092 ?(0.029 - 0.103, n=62)
-27%
4K-64 Write
907
926
2%
1072
18%
2.09
-100%
606
-33%
1504 ?(96.2 - 2716, n=62)
66%
4K-64 Read
1350
735
-46%
1216
-10%
115.6
-91%
643
-52%
1203 ?(530 - 1823, n=62)
-11%
4K Write
91.3
111.6
22%
102.3
12%
1.73
-98%
103.4
13%
112 ?(1.76 - 145.8, n=62)
23%
4K Read
43.1
51.5
19%
49.11
14%
31.73
-26%
42.12
-2%
50.5 ?(31.7 - 61, n=62)
17%
Seq Write
1044
1272
22%
1840
76%
377.1
-64%
711
-32%
1637 ?(487 - 2564, n=62)
57%
Seq Read
2260
1099
-51%
2218
-2%
1574
-30%
1911
-15%
1976 ?(1030 - 2806, n=62)
-13%

* ... smaller is better

CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
AS SSD
hddimg
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3367 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 2028 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 297.8 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 422.7 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 2182 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 969 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 41.05 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 106.5 MB/s

GPU Performance

Intel's UHD Graphics 620 integrated GPU is adequate for office work, media streaming, and some light graphical loads, but not much more. The updated iGPU now supports the H.265/HEVC Main10 video codec, allowing it to playback 4K video with ease. Online streaming of UHD content (via sites like Netflix) is also possible; there are no stutters present in our testing.

Outside of video streaming, the iGPU is mostly useless. Very light rendering work (e.g., light Photoshop work) is possible, but the system will quickly reach its limits with heavier workloads. Users in need of more graphical horsepower should look to the HP Spectre x360 (or similarly-specced convertibles); the Nvidia GeForce MX150 offers a significant bump in graphical power.

For more information about the Intel UHD Graphics 620 iGPU, please see our dedicated page here.

Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
3DMark 11 | 3DMark
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
7790 Points ∼7% +385%
Average of class Convertible
  (471 - 28708, n=76, last 2 years)
6053 Points ∼5% +277%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
4708 Points ∼4% +193%
Asus VivoBook 15 F510UF-ES71
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, i5-8550U
2802 Points ∼2% +75%
Asus VivoBook S410UQ-NH74
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i5-8550U
2613 Points ∼2% +63%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points ∼2% +9%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ
1732 Points ∼1% +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
1605 Points ∼1%
Huawei Matebook E
Intel HD Graphics 615, i5-7Y54
1256 Points ∼1% -22%
Fujitsu Lifebook E756
Intel HD Graphics 520, 6600U
1224 Points ∼1% -24%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
7607 Points ∼23% +409%
Average of class Convertible
  (458 - 19888, n=76, last 2 years)
5107 Points ∼16% +242%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
4296 Points ∼13% +187%
Asus VivoBook 15 F510UF-ES71
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, i5-8550U
2756 Points ∼8% +84%
Asus VivoBook S410UQ-NH74
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i5-8550U
2395 Points ∼7% +60%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ
1829 Points ∼6% +22%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (927 - 2505, n=244)
1578 Points ∼5% +6%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
1495 Points ∼5%
Fujitsu Lifebook E756
Intel HD Graphics 520, 6600U
1228 Points ∼4% -18%
Huawei Matebook E
Intel HD Graphics 615, i5-7Y54
1181 Points ∼4% -21%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
39896 Points ∼10% +369%
Average of class Convertible
  (2965 - 135871, n=63, last 2 years)
26253 Points ∼7% +209%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
19900 Points ∼5% +134%
Asus VivoBook 15 F510UF-ES71
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, i5-8550U
12406 Points ∼3% +46%
Asus VivoBook S410UQ-NH74
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i5-8550U
10816 Points ∼3% +27%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ
9921 Points ∼3% +17%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6205 - 16400, n=225)
9262 Points ∼2% +9%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
8500 Points ∼2%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
6216 Points ∼7% +456%
Average of class Convertible
  (365 - 21810, n=78, last 2 years)
4516 Points ∼5% +304%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
3622 Points ∼4% +224%
Asus VivoBook 15 F510UF-ES71
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, i5-8550U
2322 Points ∼3% +108%
Asus VivoBook S410UQ-NH74
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i5-8550U
2069 Points ∼2% +85%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ
1198 Points ∼1% +7%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (557 - 2608, n=213)
1161 Points ∼1% +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U
1118 Points ∼1%
3DMark 06 Standard Score
10245 points
3DMark 11 Performance
1790 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
7672 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1030 points
Help

Gaming Performance

In the same vein as the previous section, the X380 Yoga is not a suitable gaming machine. Older titles, such as Bioshock Infinite, are playable only at the lowest settings and resolutions; anything higher is a frustrating experience. Lighter titles such as Stardew Valley and other Indie games are certainly playable, but the latest AAA games are far out of reach.

Stress Test

As seen when testing CPU performance, the X380 Yoga is inconsistent in long or stressful workloads. Under synthetic CPU load via Prime95, the CPU throttles back to 1.3-1.6 GHz for the majority of the test, intermittently boosting to its rated maximum of 3.4 GHz. This is curious, as temperatures never exceed 76° C. There is plenty of thermal headroom to push the CPU harder and for longer periods, but the X380 Yoga doesn't seem tuned to take advantage of this. FurMark is a similar story; while the UHD 620 Graphics iGPU is by no means a graphical workhorse, we should still see higher numbers than those recorded. However, the GPU remains flat at its base clock of 450 MHz. Again, temperatures are low and stay under 60° C.

Running Prime95 and FurMark concurrently sees an even worse result. The CPU hovers at a mere 700 MHz for most of the test, refusing to boost. The GPU remains flat at its base clock as well. Temperatures never push past 70° C. All said, performance under stress is odd; while some systems buckle and throttle their CPU and/or GPU, this usually occurs as the result of high internal temperatures. It could be that Lenovo has very conservatively tuned the X380 Yoga so as to mitigate any problems with heat management. Either way, the end result is disappointing.

Prime95
Prime95
FurMark
FurMark
Prime95 + FurMark
Prime95 + FurMark
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 1.6 - 63 -
FurMark Stress 3.2 448 59 59
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 0.7 450 60 60

Emissions

System Noise

Fan noise profile
Fan noise profile

There is a silver lining to the aggressive throttling witnessed while stress testing the machine. Fan noise is quiet, even under load. The system stays under 38 dB(A) no matter the workload. Light tasks (word processing, web browsing, etc.) do not engage the fan at all, making for a near-silent experience. When the fan does ramp up, it has an even pitch that quickly blends in with ambient noises. There is no noticeable coil whine.

Noise Level

Idle
28 / 28 / 29.1 dB(A)
Load
34.5 / 36.4 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: 28 dB(A)
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ		Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ		Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ		HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN51T02DUK		Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB		Microsoft Surface Book 2
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-8650U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Noise
-5%
-0%
-3%
-1%
-7%
off / environment *
28
30.4
-9%
27.8
1%
30.13
-8%
28.2
-1%
29.4
-5%
Idle Minimum *
28
30.4
-9%
27.8
1%
30.13
-8%
28.2
-1%
29.4
-5%
Idle Average *
28
30.4
-9%
27.8
1%
30
-7%
28.2
-1%
29.4
-5%
Idle Maximum *
29.1
30.4
-4%
27.8
4%
30.13
-4%
28.2
3%
29.4
-1%
Load Average *
34.5
34.2
1%
33.9
2%
33.4
3%
32
7%
31.4
9%
Load Maximum *
36.4
35.2
3%
39.9
-10%
33
9%
41.6
-14%
49
-35%
Witcher 3 ultra *
49

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Exhaust
Exhaust

Exterior temperatures are well-managed, for the most part. When idle, the system remains relatively cool and comfortable. Under load, the keyboard warms up a bit but does not become uncomfortable. However, there is a hot spot directly over the CPU (upper-right corner of the bottom panel). This point can get uncomfortable when the machine is taxed, making lap use undesirable during heavier tasks.

In tablet mode, users should be careful not to place their hands in the middle of the hinge. The sole exhaust vent dumps heat here. Gripping the convertible here not only blocks this vent but grows uncomfortable rather quickly.

Max. Load
 40.2 °C
104 F		38 °C
100 F		29 °C
84 F		 
 37.6 °C
100 F		40.4 °C
105 F		28.4 °C
83 F		 
 31.4 °C
89 F		28.4 °C
83 F		26.8 °C
80 F		 
Maximum: 40.4 °C = 105 F
Average: 33.4 °C = 92 F
30.4 °C
87 F		44 °C
111 F		51 °C
124 F
30.2 °C
86 F		39.2 °C
103 F		40.8 °C
105 F
28 °C
82 F		29.4 °C
85 F		30.6 °C
87 F
Maximum: 51 °C = 124 F
Average: 36 °C = 97 F
Power Supply (max.)  36 °C = 97 F | Room Temperature 22.4 °C = 72 F | Fluke 62 Mini
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.4 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 40.4 °C / 105 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 51 °C / 124 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.2 °C / 81 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 31.4 °C / 88.5 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 (-3.3 °C / -5.9 F).
Keyboard, load
Keyboard, load
Underside, load
Underside, load
Keyboard, idle
Keyboard, idle
Underside, idle
Underside, idle

Speakers

Speaker profile
Speaker profile

The speakers are typical for a small ultrabook. Sound is thin and tinny, and bass is almost non-existent. While not suitable for enjoying music, the speakers are fine for voice and video chats. The primary problem is overall loudness; at 68 dB, users may have a hard time clearly hearing audio in a coffee shop, airport, or noisy office. Further hindering the speakers is a nasty rattling that occurs at volume levels over 90%. The speakers crackle and the distorted sound will grate on the ears. Headphones are highly encouraged.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2037.736.82536.434.83133.834.84033.7315033.431.66331.433.68029.531.510030.230.812529.930.916028.529.720027.532.525026.840.931526.450.140026.15550025.560.863024.86380024.461.4100024.559.4125024.361.2160023.668.1200023.765250023.762.5315023.562.9400023.464.4500023.357.8630023.153.6800023.153.71000023.147.9125002343160002340.8SPL36.174.5N2.631.6median 24.3median 55Delta1.710.935.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUSApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (68.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 19.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.7% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (11.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (9.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (35.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 94% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 5% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 92% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 7% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 26%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 4% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 94% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 20%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 26%, worst was 134%

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Prime95. Note the small drop in power consumption at the 1 minute mark. There are also some inconsistencies in power draw.
Prime95. Note the small drop in power consumption at the 1 minute mark. There are also some inconsistencies in power draw.

Power draw is in line with other 2-in-1 notebooks powered by an Intel ULV CPU. Under load, the machine pulls about 35 Watts, which is comparable to similarly-specced machines. Measuring power draw during our hour-long Prime95 stress test, we observe that the machine throttles about 1 minute 15 seconds in, which could explain the poor performance during that benchmark. The included 65 Watt adapter supplies more than enough power.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.36 / 0.6 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.7 / 6.9 / 11.3 Watt
Load midlight 34.2 / 35.6 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 X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30		Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00		HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Toshiba NVMe THNSN51T02DUK, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30		Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
i7-8650U, UHD Graphics 620, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30		Microsoft Surface Book 2
i7-8650U, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 3000x2000, 13.50		Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Power Consumption
-0%
12%
20%
-82%
12%
Idle Minimum *
3.7
3
19%
3.2
14%
2.6
30%
4.7
-27%
4
-8%
Idle Average *
6.9
5.4
22%
6
13%
5.7
17%
10.6
-54%
4.9
29%
Idle Maximum *
11.3
7.5
34%
9.2
19%
6
47%
12.3
-9%
6.9
39%
Load Average *
34.2
40.1
-17%
29.5
14%
29.2
15%
81
-137%
36
-5%
Load Maximum *
35.6
57.1
-60%
35.6
-0%
38.8
-9%
100.3
-182%
34.4
3%
Witcher 3 ultra *
97

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Battery life is excellent and shouldn't be a concern for most users; the X380 Yoga lasted more than 9 hours in our WiFi v1.3 battery test, which simulates constant web browsing under Windows' Balanced power profile. The lower-clocked Core i5-8250U grants this variant of the X380 Yoga an extra hour in this benchmark, so road warriors may see the reduced performance a worthy sacrifice for improved run times. The X380 Yoga is an efficient machine and keeps up with most other Ultrabook convertibles.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
22h 10min
WiFi Websurfing
9h 21min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 24min
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 51 Wh		Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 20LJS02W00
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 51 Wh		Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 54 Wh		HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 60 Wh		Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
i7-8650U, UHD Graphics 620, 60 Wh		Microsoft Surface Book 2
i7-8650U, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 75 Wh
Battery Runtime
-6%
1%
5%
-4%
20%
Reader / Idle
1330
1250
-6%
1218
-8%
1469
10%
WiFi v1.3
561
511
-9%
651
16%
527
-6%
553
-1%
663
18%
Load
144
138
-4%
135
-6%
166
15%
135
-6%
190
32%
Witcher 3 ultra
230

Pros

+ excellent build quality
+ relatively lightweight
+ good battery life
+ great input devices
+ Thunderbolt 3
+ good selection of ports
+ low fan noise
+ varied port selection
+ good CPU performance

Cons

- hot spots make lap use uncomfortable
- no WWAN
- limited upgrade options (e.g., soldered RAM)
- throttled performance under stress
- weak speakers

Verdict

In review: Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga. Test model provided by Lenovo US
In review: Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga. Test model provided by Lenovo US

Lenovo's X380 Yoga scored well in our initial review but had some shortcomings. While the Core i7-8550U has an 18% faster clock speed on paper than the Core i5-8250U, it proved to be a bit too much for the X380 Yoga. The 8250U appears to be a better companion for the flexible device in most workloads. The device is excellent in almost every area, save for long-term CPU performance. The case is sturdy, port selection is excellent, and the durable hinges and retracting keyboard make tablet use comfortable and easy.

As an office machine, the X380 is excellent. Lenovo's ThinkPad Yoga line has long been at the top of the heap for business professionals in search of a well-built convertible. However, competitors have caught up and even surpassed Lenovo in some ways. HP's Spectre x360 13 is a beautifully crafted machine that doesn't suffer from the heavy throttling the X380 Yoga does. Dell's Latitude 7390 has enough room for two storage drives and a compact footprint. Microsoft's Surface Book 2 packs a ton of power in a convertible and smokes competitors in graphically-intensive tasks.

That said, each of these has its own shortcomings. The Spectre x360 has a limited selection of ports, the Latitude 7390 has a poor screen with a highly reflective finish, and the Surface Book 2 is prohibitively expensive. The X380 Yoga is a well-rounded machine with a reasonable price tag and is overall a joy to use.

The X380 Yoga, particularly the Core i5-8250U variant, is perhaps the best overall compact convertible for business users. While there are some flaws, the total package marries a well-built case with an excellent array of ports and throws in great battery life and a beautiful and color-accurate screen. Other office convertibles may cover one area of the notebook experience with excellence, but the X380 Yoga does them all well without leaving much behind.

Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga-20LH000LUS - 07/18/2018 v6(old)
Sam Medley

Chassis
87 / 98 → 89%
Keyboard
92%
Pointing Device
94 / 35-78 → 100%
Connectivity
75%
Weight
71%
Battery
0 / 87 → 0%
Display
82%
Games Performance
62%
Application Performance
89 / 91 → 98%
Temperature
89%
Noise
96%
Audio
50%
Camera
45%
Average
78%
87%
Convertible - Weighted Average

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> Notebook / Laptop Reviews and News > Reviews > Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga (i5-8250U, FHD) Convertible Review
Sam Medley, 2018-07-22 (Update: 2019-04-30)