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Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 Convertible Review

Luxury Yoga. Lenovo brings the flexible Yoga design to the desks of business people with its ThinkPad Yoga 14. In this report, we will discover whether the Ultrabook, based on a Broadwell processor and dedicated graphics card, is well equipped for office use.
In review: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell), courtesy of notebooksandmore.de

For the original German review, see here.

After testing Lenovo's ThinkPad Yoga 14 based on a Haswell processor in early February, our American colleagues concluded that the device sits on the fence despite its flexibility. It was deemed too heavy and too pricey for students, and did not provide enough business features for business customers. Regardless of that, it was a decent convertible with input devices in the known ThinkPad quality, and even had enough power for an occasional game.

Now the ThinkPad Yoga 14 is also available with the new Broadwell processors, which promise a bit more power and a higher efficiency. Reason enough for us to take hold of the ThinkPad Yoga 14 again and find out just how much has changed owing to Intel's new processor generation.

There are not many 14-inch convertibles available, but Acer's Aspire R14 is a comparable device although for a much lower price. Otherwise, classic business laptops like Fujitsu's Lifebook E544 or Lenovo's ThinkPad L440 would sooner come in question.After testing Lenovo's ThinkPad Yoga 14 based on a Haswell processor in early February, our American colleagues concluded that the device sits on the fence despite its flexibility. It was deemed too heavy and too expensive for students, and did not provide enough business features for business customers. Nevertheless, it was a decent convertible with input devices of the familiar ThinkPad quality, and even enough power for occasional gaming.

Now the ThinkPad Yoga 14 is also available with the new Broadwell processors, which promises a little more power and higher efficiency. Reason enough for us to take hold of the ThinkPad Yoga 14 again and find out just how much has changed thanks to Intel's new processor generation.

There are not many 14-inch convertibles available, but Acer's Aspire R14 is a comparable device, although at a much lower price. Otherwise, classic business laptops like Fujitsu's LifeBook E544 or Lenovo's ThinkPad L440 would come into the equation.

Case & Connectivity

The chassis has not changed compared with the Haswell-processor model. After unpacking the ThinkPad Yoga 14, the user will still hold a high-quality magnesium-aluminum chassis in their hand. The design is plain yet elegant. Of course, thanks to the flexible hinges, the four operation modes are possible.

However, there are still stability constraints that should not exist at this price. For example, the image distorts visibly when the display is twisted, and the lower part of the convertible with the keyboard and touchpad can be warped significantly, especially at the corners. The ThinkPad Yoga 14 is an Ultrabook, but not really a lightweight one, at 1.9 kilograms (~4.2 lb). However, it has a slim outline with a height of only 20.3 millimeters (~0.8 in).

The configuration comprised of a 512 GB SSD, 8 GB of RAM, three USB ports, an HDMI port as well as a Full HD touchscreen is impressive. However, business-relevant security features, like a fingerprint reader, are virtually non-existent. A version with mobile Internet is not on the market.

Front: No interfaces
Front: No interfaces
Rear: No interfaces
Rear: No interfaces
Left: Power socket, docking port, USB 2.0, 3.5 mm combo jack, SD card reader
Left: Power socket, docking port, USB 2.0, 3.5 mm combo jack, SD card reader
Right: On/off, volume rocker, key lock, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI
Right: On/off, volume rocker, key lock, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI

Input Devices

The keyboard has always been one of the ThinkPads' core virtues. The unit in the ThinkPad Yoga 14 is even protected against spills to a certain degree. It has lightly concave chiclet keys with a spacing of over 3 millimeters (~0.2 in), and offers a good, very direct stroke with clear feedback. The drop is less than other ThinkPads due to its slim design. The keys are retracted into the casing when the screen is tilted back, which prevents unintentional entries.

Fortunately, once again, Lenovo has opted for using a touchpad with dedicated buttons - at least for the TrackPoint located between the "G", "H" and "B" keys. The touchpad itself can be combined with the buttons above it, or the lower corners are used for clicking. The combination of ClickPad and dedicated buttons is satisfactory, but the keys are a little too smooth-running. Sometimes we triggered them unintentionally because their resistance was too low.

The capacitive touchscreen supports ten touch-points simultaneously and functions accurately. The hinges provide the necessary resistance in "Laptop Mode", which prevent the screen from falling over when touched.

Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad
Touchpad
TrackPoint
TrackPoint

Display

The Full HD screen in the ThinkPad Yoga 14 provides a relatively high resolution, which is manifested in sharp images. However, the PenTile matrix that the screen uses leads to visibly unfocused fonts time and again, which lessens the image impression. We have previously observed this effect in other Lenovo Yoga devices.

The screen is moderately bright with an average brightness of 274.4 cd/m², and the illumination of 90% is good. The naked eye will see virtually no color differences in large areas.

286
cd/m²
277
cd/m²
269
cd/m²
283
cd/m²
286
cd/m²
257
cd/m²
276
cd/m²
280
cd/m²
256
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LP140WF3-SPD1 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 286 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 274.4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 286 cd/m²
Contrast: 953:1 (Black: 0.3 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.62 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.93
ΔE Greyscale 6.19 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
Gamma: 2.35

The black level of 0.3 cd/m² is relatively low, and black areas look quite dark and deep on the screen. The contrast of 953:1 is also good, and ensures a vivid color reproduction, for example in the Windows 8.1 Metro interface.

A closer look with the photospectrometer and CalMAN software reveals that colors clearly shift into brown-yellow, which is particularly evident even to the naked eye in brown hues. On average, the colors also deviate too much from the sRGB color space reference, making the screen uninteresting for professional users.

CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN Grayscale
CalMAN Grayscale
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps
Outdoors
Outdoors
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Thanks to the IPS screen, the viewing angles are very good. Even outdoor use is possible because although Lenovo has opted for a glossy surface, it is coated with a lightly matte layer that reduces reflections. However, on very bright days outdoor use is difficult and strains the eyes. Nevertheless, the slightly matte surface is a good method for lessening reflections in bright rooms.

Performance

Our review sample represents the top-of-the-line configuration of Lenovo's ThinkPad 14. An Intel Core i7-5500U with a clock rate of 2.4 GHz and dedicated GeForce 840M graphics card  should even provide some gaming power. In addition, 8 GB of working memory and a 512 GB SSD are installed.

Processor

The processor is a member of Intel's new Broadwell generation that is now built in the 14 nm process. The The processor comes from Intel's new Broadwell generation that is now built in the 14 nm process. The Intel Core i7-5500U dual-core processor has a base speed of 2.4 GHz, but it can increase its clock up to 3 GHz when more power is needed. Hyperthreading also makes it possible to process up to four tasks simultaneously. The TDP of 15 watts has not changed compared to the previous generation.

Although the processor is a low-voltage model, it should still be strong enough for demanding applications. In fact, it can sometimes keep pace with the Intel Core i5-4210M in the LifeBook E544, which features a standard voltage CPU with a higher clock rate.

Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4662
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
9632
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
110 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
260 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
24.17 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
98 %
Help
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single 32Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell)
4662 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
3850 Points -17%
Acer Aspire R14 R3-471TG-552E
3849 Points -17%
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
4585 Points -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad L440 20AT004QGE
4726 Points +1%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell)
9632 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
7545 Points -22%
Acer Aspire R14 R3-471TG-552E
6763 Points -30%
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
10144 Points +5%
Lenovo ThinkPad L440 20AT004QGE
10709 Points +11%
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell)
110 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
87 Points -21%
Acer Aspire R14 R3-471TG-552E
89 Points -19%
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
121 Points +10%
Lenovo ThinkPad L440 20AT004QGE
126 Points +15%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell)
260 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
232 Points -11%
Acer Aspire R14 R3-471TG-552E
239 Points -8%
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
304 Points +17%
Lenovo ThinkPad L440 20AT004QGE
313 Points +20%
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell)
99.8 ms *
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
164.7 ms * -65%
Lenovo ThinkPad L440 20AT004QGE
87.1 ms * +13%

Legend

 
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 Intel Core i7-5500U, NVIDIA GeForce 840M, Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
 
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 Intel Core i5-4210U, NVIDIA GeForce 840M, WDC WD10SPCX-08WST0 + SanDisk SSD U110 16 GB SSD Cache
 
Acer Aspire R14 R3-471TG-552E Intel Core i5-4210U, NVIDIA GeForce 820M, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
 
Fujitsu Lifebook E544 Intel Core i5-4210M, Intel HD Graphics 4600, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
 
Lenovo ThinkPad L440 20AT004QGE Intel Core i5-4300M, Intel HD Graphics 4600, Intel SSD 520 Series SSDSC2BW180A3L

* ... smaller is better

System Performance

Thanks to its fast SSD, the ThinkPad 14 clearly outperforms both its Haswell brother as well as the other comparison devices in the system benchmarks. The buyer gets a well-balanced configuration and fast system.

PCMark 7 Score
4967 points
Help
PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell)
4967 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
3226 Points -35%
Acer Aspire R14 R3-471TG-552E
2940 Points -41%
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
3439 Points -31%

Storage Device

None of the comparison devices can offer such a fast, 512 GB SSD as installed in the ThinkPad Yoga 14. Consequently, our review sample has a clear lead. However, it would be possible to retrofit an SSD in most devices, making this an advantage that can be compensated.

Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP
Sequential Read: 499 MB/s
Sequential Write: 438 MB/s
512K Read: 424 MB/s
512K Write: 405 MB/s
4K Read: 27 MB/s
4K Write: 50 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 395 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 345 MB/s

Graphics Card

Intel's HD Graphics 5500 is integrated in the processor. Although it is even faster than the last generation, it is still not up-to-date enough for 3D games in a decent resolution. On the other hand, Nvidia's GeForce 840M, which is installed as a dedicated graphics card, should manage games in medium details. Slight speed advantages over the Haswell review sample are probably due to the faster processor and possibly the SSD, which can make files available faster.

3DMark 11 Performance
0 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
41030 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1595 points
Help
3DMark
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell)
41030 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
44782 Points +9%
Acer Aspire R14 R3-471TG-552E
49810 Points +21%
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
34337 Points -16%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Graphics (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell)
44337 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
53173 Points +20%
Acer Aspire R14 R3-471TG-552E
62398 Points +41%
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
35603 Points -20%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Physics (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell)
32537 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
28849 Points -11%
Acer Aspire R14 R3-471TG-552E
29196 Points -10%
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
30540 Points -6%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell)
1595 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
1398 Points -12%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell)
1631 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
1604 Points -2%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Physics (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell)
4129 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14
3420 Points -17%

Gaming Performance

We have previously ascertained that the GeForce 840M is more suitable for gaming in 720p than in the screen's native resolution when we reviewed the ThinkPad Yoga 14 with a Haswell processor. Not much has changed with regard to this, since the Broadwell update uses the same dedicated graphics card. Only marginally higher frame rates were recorded in “BioShock: Infinite”. The Intel HD Graphics 5500 processor is considerably faster than the precursor’s integrated GPU, but does not help much here because it is significantly slower than the GeForce 840M. Users who only want to play games occasionally, and do not set the graphics to high, will at least have basic gaming capability in the ThinkPad Yoga 14.

lowmed.highultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 82.6 53.6 42.3 13.2

Emissions

System Noise

While idling, the ThinkPad Yoga 14 is silent because the fan is permanently off and a silent SSD is installed. Under load, the fan is enabled quite quickly, but it is relatively restrained with a maximum of 34.5 dB(A). We had to place our ear quite close to the device in a quiet room to make sure that the fan was spinning.

Noise Level

Idle
29.6 / 29.6 / 29.6 dB(A)
Load
34.2 / 34.5 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Voltcraft sl-320 (15 cm distance)

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

Compared to Lenovo's ThinkPad Yoga 14, based on a considerably weaker Haswell processor, the temperatures of our present review sample are somewhat lower. However, 47 degrees Celsius (~117 °F) on the underside during full load is still very noticeable. On the upper side, the maximum is 43.5 degrees (~110 °F), but the wrist rest always remains cool. A temperature increase is barely noticed while idling. We put both the processor and graphics card under full load for our stress test. Unfortunately, FurMark refused to use the dedicated graphics card. However, the processor could not maintain its clock even when the processor graphics card was loaded, and only achieved around 1.3 to 1.4 GHz. However, it is pleasing that the temperature development stays within limits at 73 degrees (~163 °F).

 23.3 °C
74 F
25.1 °C
77 F
26.7 °C
80 F
 
 22.2 °C
72 F
24.3 °C
76 F
24.5 °C
76 F
 
 22.5 °C
73 F
22.3 °C
72 F
23.3 °C
74 F
 
Maximum: 26.7 °C = 80 F
Average: 23.8 °C = 75 F
28.8 °C
84 F
26.5 °C
80 F
22.2 °C
72 F
24.6 °C
76 F
23.7 °C
75 F
22.7 °C
73 F
23.8 °C
75 F
23 °C
73 F
21.9 °C
71 F
Maximum: 28.8 °C = 84 F
Average: 24.1 °C = 75 F
Power Supply (max.)  29.2 °C = 85 F | Room Temperature 21.4 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-360
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 32.9 °C / 91 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 43.5 °C / 110 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 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 36.8 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.8 °C / 75 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 27.5 °C / 81.5 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 (+0.6 °C / 1.1 F).

Speakers

Both speakers are on the laptop's underside, but their sound does not change as long as the small openings are not covered. The lack of low pitches is quite audible; otherwise, the sound is relatively clear, balanced, and sufficiently loud. Overall, the speakers are acceptable for an occasional video or music piece. However, investing in an external solution is recommended if audio is to be used frequently.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Although the ThinkPad Yoga 14 is equipped with a relatively strong processor and a reasonably bright touchscreen, its consumption is actually quite moderate. The device has a maximum idle consumption of just 3.1 watts. Its absolute maximum is 38.5 watts. However, it is not very pleasing that 0.1 watts are still drained from the power supply or the battery in a completely shut down state. Unfortunately, we do not have any comparison rates from the ThinkPad Yoga 14 with a Haswell processor. However, we can provide rates from Acer's Aspire R14 based on the same processor, which consumes significantly more energy than our Broadwell review sample.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.1 / 7.2 / 7.7 Watt
Load midlight 36.2 / 38.5 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940

Battery Runtime

The same battery is used as in Lenovo's ThinkPad Yoga 14 with a Haswell processor. The lithium-polymer battery can provide 56 Wh from four cells. However, the idle runtime has improved by one hour thanks to the processor's higher energy efficiency. However, only marginal differences were ascertained in the real-life Wi-Fi test. In view of the more powerful Broadwell processor, this is not bad for the ThinkPad Yoga 14.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
12h 27min
WiFi Surfing
5h 52min

Verdict

In review: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell).

Basically, the verdict of the ThinkPad Yoga 14 with a Haswell processor still applies to the device with a Broadwell processor: A business convertible with a weight of almost two kilograms (~4.4 lb) and without security features will not satisfy either students or system administrators. Then there is the very high price; Acer offers a  similar device with its Aspire R14, but at almost half the price.

On the other hand, the ThinkPad Yoga 14 does have quite a bit to offer, such as its plain yet elegant metal casing, the accurate input devices including a TrackPoint, the decent speakers, and the screen's lightly AR-coated surface. Furthermore, the processor is strong, and overall, the battery life is impressive.

The multiple modes of use should be of general importance; otherwise, a conventional Ultrabook might be the better choice. Buyers, who want basic gaming suitability and have the necessary loose cash, will find a solid and flexible convertible in the ThinkPad Yoga.

Price comparison

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In Review: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell). Test model courtesy of notebooksandmore.de
In Review: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (Broadwell). Test model courtesy of notebooksandmore.de

Specifications

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 (ThinkPad Yoga Series)
Processor
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce 840M - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1029 MHz, RAM: 1000 MHz, 9.18.13.3319, + Intel HD Graphics 5500
Memory
8 GB 
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, capacitive touchscreen, LP140WF3-SPD1, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Broadwell-U PCH-LP (Premium)
Storage
Samsung SSD PM851 512 GB MZ7TE512HMHP, 512 GB 
, 461 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo audio jack, Card Reader: SD
Networking
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 20.3 x 337.8 x 238.8 ( = 0.8 x 13.3 x 9.4 in)
Battery
56 Wh Lithium-Polymer, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 8 h
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 1 megapixel
Additional features
Speakers: stereo speakers on the underside, Keyboard: chiclet keyboard, Keyboard Light: yes, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.9 kg ( = 67.02 oz / 4.19 pounds), Power Supply: 250 g ( = 8.82 oz / 0.55 pounds)
Price
1399 Euro

 

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Links

  • Tips for buying a notebook - notebookCHECK Purchase Advisory

  • Find the right notebook - notebookCHECK Hardware Guide

  • Display resolution comparison - DPI (grain size) of displays

  • Our test criteria
  • Manufacturer's information

Pros

+ Elegant metal casing
+ Flexible and stable hinges
+ Decent speakers
+ Very good input devices
+ High performance
+ Screen lightly AR coated
+ Useful battery life
+ Suitable for basic gaming

Cons

- No security features
- Casing too pressure sensitive in some places
- Relatively heavy
- Quite expensive
- TrackPoint keys too smooth-running

Shortcut

What we like

Plenty of power, good casing, flexible modes of use.

What we'd like to see

The label "ThinkPad" arouses high expectations. However, the device would have to be a bit lighter and the casing stabler to fulfill them.

What surprises us

The complete lack of security features in a business device.

The competition

Acer Aspire R14, Fujitsu Lifebook E544, Lenovo ThinkPad L440.

Rating

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 - 03/06/2015 v4 (old)
Florian Wimmer

Chassis
88 / 98 → 90%
Keyboard
90%
Pointing Device
93%
Connectivity
55 / 80 → 69%
Weight
64 / 35-78 → 67%
Battery
91%
Display
84%
Games Performance
69 / 68 → 100%
Application Performance
84 / 87 → 97%
Temperature
89%
Noise
94%
Audio
55 / 91 → 60%
Camera
50 / 85 → 59%
Average
77%
83%
Convertible - Weighted Average
Florian Wimmer, 2015-03-23 (Update: 2019-04-30)