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Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE Notebook Review

Lack of endurance. Lenovo's 13.3-inch subnotebook attracts with its good connectivity. However, the battery life is, unfortunately, just middling.

For the original German review, see here.

Lenovo's U31-70 is tantamount to 13.3-inch subnotebooks. The latest Skylake processors are not inside. Instead models from the former Broadwell generation are installed. That makes it obvious that the U31-70 lineup has been on the market for quite some time. Our review sample was built in the summer of 2015. Four months prior to that, we tested the 14-inch sister model, Lenovo's U41-70. The U31-70 finds its main opponent in Acer's Aspire V3-372. However, the models from the Zenbook UX303 and Zenbook UX305 lineups by Asus are also rivals.

Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE (U31 Series)
Processor
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce 920M - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 954 MHz, Memory: 900 MHz, DDR3, 64 bit interface, ForceWare 361.43 (10.18.13.6143)
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR3, single-channel, one memory bank (filled)
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, LG Philips LÜ133WF2-SPL1, IPS, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Broadwell-U PCH-LP (Premium)
Storage
Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache, 1000 GB 
, 5400 rpm, 860 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek High Definition Audio
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: combo audio, Card Reader: SD
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 20 x 323 x 230 ( = 0.79 x 12.72 x 9.06 in)
Battery
35 Wh, 4610 mAh Lithium-Ion, 7.6 V
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8.1 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD webcam
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Lenovo Photo Master, Cyberlink PowerDirector 10, McAfee LiveSafe-Internet Security (trial), MS Office (trial), 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.5 kg ( = 52.91 oz / 3.31 pounds), Power Supply: 350 g ( = 12.35 oz / 0.77 pounds)
Price
999 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The U31-70's base unit and display back are composed of metal. The display bezel is made of plastic. All these components are white. Black plastic encloses the laptop's sides. The U31-70 is optionally available in a completely black casing. Lenovo does not structure the surfaces, which are all sleek. The laptop does not have a maintenance hatch. However, it is quite easy to remove the bottom tray. The user can then access the non-removable battery.

No production flaws are obvious. The gaps are even, and all components are manufactured accurately. The U31-70 presents the same torsional behavior as most laptops. The casing yields on both sides of the keyboard and below the touchpad. The base unit proves to be quite stiff. It can only be twisted marginally. That is even more the case for the lid. Pressure on the lid's back only leads to minor image distortions in a few spots in the center. Opening the lid with one hand is easily possible. Its maximum opening angle is roughly 180 degrees.

Connectivity

The U31-70 comes with the current common interfaces. Three USB ports are installed. Two operate in the USB 3.0 standard. A Gigabit-Ethernet port is also present. The interfaces are situated in the back areas of both sides. Thus, the areas beside the wrist rest remain clear of cables.

Left: Kensington lock slot, power-in, USB 2.0, memory-card reader
Left: Kensington lock slot, power-in, USB 2.0, memory-card reader
Right: 2x USB 3.0, Gigabit-Ethernet, HDMI
Right: 2x USB 3.0, Gigabit-Ethernet, HDMI

Communication

Lenovo furnishes the U31-70 with a Wi-Fi module that carries a chip by Qualcomm (QCA6174). It supports the 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac standards and also provides Bluetooth 4.1 functionality. We did not experience any connection issues. The connection was always very stable in a radius of 15 meters to our router. A Gigabit-Ethernet chip from Realtek's RTL8168/8111 family takes care of cabled network connections. It is a familiar model that is found in innumerable laptops. It did an impeccable job.

Memory Card Reader

The memory-card reader in the U31-70 will not break any speed records. A maximum transfer rate of 30.8 MB/s is reached when copying large data blocks. Transferring 250 JPG image files (approx. 5 MB each) was finished at a speed of 27.4 MB/s. We always test the memory-card reader with our Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II memory card.

Accessories

The laptop is shipped with the usual accessories: A quick-start poster and warranty information.

Operating System

The laptop is delivered with Windows 8.1 (64-bit) preloaded. A recovery DVD is not included. Laptop owners can change to Windows 10 free of charge. Since Lenovo also has variants of the U31-70 that are shipped without a Windows operating system in its lineup, we also tested installing Windows 7. That was no problem.

Maintenance

The U31-70 does not have a maintenance hatch. It is nevertheless possible to access the innards without much effort. The bottom tray can be removed after releasing all screws on the bottom. No additional tool is needed. The laptop is furnished with one working memory bank that is filled. The 2.5-inch hard drive can be replaced without problems. The same is true for the battery. It is also possible to clean the fan.

Warranty

Lenovo includes a two-year warranty on the U31-70. Upgrading the warranty is possible. For example, Lenovo offers a three-year on-site warranty for approximately 55 Euros (~$62).

Input Devices

Keyboard

The U31-70 features a backlit chiclet keyboard. The backlight has two brightness levels. The keyboard's layout corresponds to the well-known Lenovo design. The flat, sleek keys have a short drop and clear pressure point. The keyboard yields marginally when typing on it, but that is not annoying. The keyboard leaves us with an overall pleasing typing feel.

Touchpad

The multitouch ClickPad has a surface area of approximately 10.5 x 7 cm. Thus, there is enough room for using gesture control. The pad's sleek surface makes it easy for the fingers to glide over it. The pad has a short drop and a clearly audible and palpable pressure point.

Input devices
Input devices

Display

Pixel grid
Pixel grid

The U31-70 is furnished with a 13.3-inch anti-glare panel that has a native resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. Both the screen's brightness (289.2 cd/m²) and contrast (814:1) are good. The screen displays quite visible clouding. It is strongest in the right-hand corners. Positive: The panel never exhibited PWM flickering.

The Full HD IPS screen installed here is not only reserved for higher-priced U31-70 models. Lower-priced members of the lineup are also equipped with this panel.

279
cd/m²
287
cd/m²
293
cd/m²
288
cd/m²
293
cd/m²
285
cd/m²
284
cd/m²
299
cd/m²
295
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LG Philips LÜ133WF2-SPL1 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 299 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 289.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 93 %
Center on Battery: 233 cd/m²
Contrast: 814:1 (Black: 0.36 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.94 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.11 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
58% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
37% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
40.17% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
58.3% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
38.85% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.48

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.

U31-70 vs. sRGB
U31-70 vs. sRGB
U31-70 vs. AdobeRGB
U31-70 vs. AdobeRGB

The screen's DeltaE shift of 4.94 in delivery state is decent. A rate less than 3 would be desirable. The screen does not exhibit a bluish tint. The AdobeRGB and sRGB color spaces cannot be reproduced. The coverage rates here are 37% (AdobeRGB) and 58% (sRGB).

CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN - Saturation Sweeps

The U31 is furnished with a viewing-angle stable IPS panel. Therefore, the screen remains legible from every position. The laptop is only conditionally outdoor suitable; the screen's brightness decreases in battery mode.

Outdoors
Outdoors
Viewing angles: U31-70
Viewing angles: U31-70

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
30 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 7 ms rise
↘ 23 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 77 % 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
54 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 19 ms rise
↘ 35 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. » 89 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
IPS, 1920x1080
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
IPS, 1920x1080
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
IPS, 1920x1080
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
IPS, 1920x1080
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
TN LED, 1440x900
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
TN, 1920x1080
Lenovo U41-70
TN LED, 1920x1080
Display
1%
66%
61%
3%
-3%
3%
Display P3 Coverage
38.85
39.05
1%
66.9
72%
63.9
64%
40.1
3%
37.82
-3%
40.07
3%
sRGB Coverage
58.3
58.7
1%
92.3
58%
91.6
57%
59.8
3%
56.9
-2%
59.8
3%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
40.17
40.35
0%
67.6
68%
65
62%
41.51
3%
39.07
-3%
41.45
3%
Response Times
18%
-22%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
54 ?(19, 35)
46 ?(19, 27)
15%
68 ?(25, 43)
-26%
Response Time Black / White *
30 ?(7, 23)
24 ?(5, 19)
20%
35 ?(15, 20)
-17%
PWM Frequency
178 ?(90)
Screen
-6%
24%
23%
6%
-49%
-38%
Brightness middle
293
250
-15%
385
31%
349
19%
329
12%
238
-19%
245
-16%
Brightness
289
247
-15%
394
36%
338
17%
310
7%
228
-21%
222
-23%
Brightness Distribution
93
87
-6%
89
-4%
87
-6%
82
-12%
90
-3%
84
-10%
Black Level *
0.36
0.43
-19%
0.41
-14%
0.25
31%
0.405
-13%
0.54
-50%
0.42
-17%
Contrast
814
581
-29%
939
15%
1396
71%
812
0%
441
-46%
583
-28%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.94
4.51
9%
3.84
22%
5.49
-11%
3.96
20%
10.64
-115%
9.55
-93%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9.98
7.51
25%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.11
3.18
23%
3.79
8%
5.43
-32%
3.51
15%
11.74
-186%
10.73
-161%
Gamma
2.48 89%
2.43 91%
2.23 99%
2.17 101%
3.83 57%
2.42 91%
2.34 94%
CCT
7508 87%
6743 96%
6499 100%
7055 92%
6711 97%
13043 50%
12167 53%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
37
37
0%
60
62%
60
62%
38.4
4%
36
-3%
38
3%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
58
58
0%
92
59%
92
59%
59.8
3%
57
-2%
60
3%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
4% / -1%
23% / 26%
42% / 33%
5% / 5%
-26% / -38%
-18% / -28%

* ... smaller is better

Performance

Lenovo's U31-70 belongs to subnotebooks with a 13.3-inch size. It has enough computing power for routine use and can render games smoothly. Our review sample costs approximately 970 Euros (~$1096). Lenovo also has other configurations available. The cheapest model (80M5006UGE, Core i3-5010U, 128 GB SSD, Full HD IPS screen, no Windows operating system) can be purchased for about 500 Euros (~$565).

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWInfo
LatencyMon
 

Processor

Intel's Core i7-5500U (Broadwell) dual-core processor is found inside the U31. It is a frugal ULV model with a TDP of 15 watts. The CPU is situated in the upper mid-range and has enough power for all common application scenarios. It clocks at a base speed of 2.4 GHz, which can be increased to 2.9 (two cores) or 3 GHz (one core) via Turbo. It can only unfold its full performance in single-thread applications. The CPU processes that at 2.9 to 3 GHz. The processor remains slightly behind its potential in multithread applications. It achieves rates of 2.5 to 2.7 GHz here. That is true for both AC and battery modes. It clearly outperforms its direct Haswell predecessor - the Core i7-4500U processor - in the CPU tests we performed. That is owed to the improvements in the Broadwell architecture.

The CPU is soldered.
The CPU is soldered.
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
5867
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
9543
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4695
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
33.4 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
3.07 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.43 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
44.28 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
276 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
123 Points
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
276 Points
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
291 Points +5%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
278 Points +1%
Asus Zenbook UX305CA-EHM1
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
200 Points -28%
Asus Zenbook UX303LB-R4079H
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
258 Points -7%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
296 Points +7%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
296 Points +7%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
280 Points +1%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
247 Points -11%
Toshiba Portege Z30t-A-10X
HD Graphics 4400, 4500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GMCU
223 Points -19%
Acer TravelMate P645-MG-74508G75tkk
Radeon HD 8750M, 4500U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCT
234 Points -15%
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
123 Points
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
97 Points -21%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
129 Points +5%
Asus Zenbook UX305CA-EHM1
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
72 Points -41%
Asus Zenbook UX303LB-R4079H
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
108 Points -12%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
121 Points -2%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
112 Points -9%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
105 Points -15%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
108 Points -12%
Toshiba Portege Z30t-A-10X
HD Graphics 4400, 4500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GMCU
112 Points -9%
Acer TravelMate P645-MG-74508G75tkk
Radeon HD 8750M, 4500U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCT
109 Points -11%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
3.07 Points
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
3.2 Points +4%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
3.14 Points +2%
Asus Zenbook UX305CA-EHM1
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
1.79 Points -42%
Asus Zenbook UX303LB-R4079H
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
2.84 Points -7%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
3.26 Points +6%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
3.14 Points +2%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
3.13 Points +2%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
2.75 Points -10%
Toshiba Portege Z30t-A-10X
HD Graphics 4400, 4500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GMCU
2.4 Points -22%
Acer TravelMate P645-MG-74508G75tkk
Radeon HD 8750M, 4500U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCT
2.55 Points -17%
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
1.43 Points
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
1.13 Points -21%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
1.47 Points +3%
Asus Zenbook UX305CA-EHM1
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
0.81 Points -43%
Asus Zenbook UX303LB-R4079H
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
1.24 Points -13%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
1.41 Points -1%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
1.47 Points +3%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
1.26 Points -12%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
1.24 Points -13%
Toshiba Portege Z30t-A-10X
HD Graphics 4400, 4500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GMCU
1.27 Points -11%
Acer TravelMate P645-MG-74508G75tkk
Radeon HD 8750M, 4500U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCT
1.24 Points -13%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
9543 Points
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
9942 Points +4%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
9869 Points +3%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
9767 Points +2%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
10008 Points +5%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
9625 Points +1%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
8384 Points -12%
Toshiba Portege Z30t-A-10X
HD Graphics 4400, 4500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GMCU
7448 Points -22%
Acer TravelMate P645-MG-74508G75tkk
Radeon HD 8750M, 4500U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCT
8813 Points -8%
Rendering Single 32Bit (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
4695 Points
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
4397 Points -6%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
4874 Points +4%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
4600 Points -2%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
4980 Points +6%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
4275 Points -9%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
4061 Points -14%
Toshiba Portege Z30t-A-10X
HD Graphics 4400, 4500U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GMCU
4230 Points -10%
Acer TravelMate P645-MG-74508G75tkk
Radeon HD 8750M, 4500U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCT
4190 Points -11%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
2747 Points
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
3036 Points +11%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
2846 Points +4%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
3053 Points +11%
32 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
5769 Points
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
6582 Points +14%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
6039 Points +5%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
6406 Points +11%
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
96.2 ms *
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
89 ms * +7%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
80.2 ms * +17%
Asus Zenbook UX305CA-EHM1
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
124.5 ms * -29%
Asus Zenbook UX303LB-R4079H
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
151 ms * -57%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
95.3 ms * +1%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
127.6 ms * -33%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
122.1 ms * -27%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
116.6 Points
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
214.5 Points +84%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
2251 ms *
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
1251 ms * +44%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
1118 ms * +50%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
2292 ms * -2%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
1332 ms * +41%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
9202 ms * -309%
Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
14491 Points
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
28525 Points +97%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
32020 Points +121%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
14493 Points 0%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
25269 Points +74%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
3311 Points -77%
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
2714 Points
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
2951 Points +9%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
2659 Points -2%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
2635 Points -3%

* ... smaller is better

System Performance

The system runs smoothly. We did not experience any problems. The PCMark benchmark scores are very good. Replacing the HDD with an SSD would increase system performance. The system would then respond faster and load times would be shorter. Buyers thinking about buying a laptop based on a Core i quad-core processor will be disappointed. Laptops with this configuration are scarce in the subnotebook sector. Besides that, the performance gain in routine use is only very slight. The processor could first demonstrate its advantages in CPU-driven tasks.

The U31-70 sports only one working memory bank. Consequently, dual-channel mode is not possible in the U31-70. That is tolerable in our review sample. It looks different with models that are configured with only integrated GPUs. The graphics performance cannot be increased by installing a second working memory module in these models.

Only one working memory bank is present.
Only one working memory bank is present.
PCMark 7 Score
3819 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
2841 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
3313 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
3811 points
Help
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
2841 Points
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
3209 Points +13%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
3320 Points +17%
Asus Zenbook UX305CA-EHM1
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
2833 Points 0%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
3167 Points +11%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
3579 Points +26%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
2883 Points +1%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
3167 Points +11%
PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
3819 Points
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
5197 Points +36%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
5162 Points +35%
Asus Zenbook UX305CA-EHM1
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
4635 Points +21%
Asus Zenbook UX303LB-R4079H
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
4909 Points +29%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
5180 Points +36%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
5205 Points +36%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
4889 Points +28%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
2780 Points -27%

Storage Device

Lenovo installs a (2.5-inch) hybrid hard drive by Western Digital in the U31-70. It spins at 5400 revolutions per minute and has a capacity of 1 TB. The drive also features an (8 GB) SSD cache, which ensures that frequently used programs open quickly. The drive's transfer rates are on a normal level for a 5400 RPM model.

The hard drive is easy to replace.
The hard drive is easy to replace.
Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
Transfer Rate Minimum: 35.7 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 112.8 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 76.9 MB/s
Access Time: 19.1 ms
Burst Rate: 56.2 MB/s
CPU Usage: 1.7 %

Graphics Card

Nvidia's GeForce 920M graphics core has moved into the U31-70. The GPU supports DirectX 11 and achieves speeds of up to 854 MHz. Its direct predecessor - the GeForce 820M GPU - achieves virtually the same maximum speed (955 MHz). However, a look in our comparison chart shows that the 920M core scores significantly better in the 3DMark benchmarks. The reason: Nvidia relies on the new Kepler architecture in the 920M. The predecessor comes from the Fermi generation. The Kepler architecture has a higher per-MHz performance, making better outcomes at the same speeds possible.

In addition to the GeForce GPU, the laptop also houses Intel's integrated HD Graphics 5500 graphics core. Together they create a graphics-switching solution (Optimus). Intel's GPU is enabled for routine and battery mode. The GeForce core is responsible for performance-driven applications, such as computer games. Switching between the cores is automated, and the user rarely has to intervene.

The GPU is also soldered.
The GPU is also soldered.
3DMark 06 Standard Score
9199 points
3DMark 11 Performance
1849 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
45983 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
5778 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1073 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
1849 Points
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
1487 Points -20%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
2488 Points +35%
Asus Zenbook UX305CA-EHM1
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
1151 Points -38%
Asus Zenbook UX303LB-R4079H
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
2485 Points +34%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
1198 Points -35%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
1459 Points -21%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
1447 Points -22%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
2560 Points +38%
Acer Aspire R14 R3-471TG-552E
GeForce 820M, 4210U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
1396 Points -24%
Asus X555LD-XX283H
GeForce 820M, 4010U, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E680
1349 Points -27%
3DMark
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
45983 Points
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
56687 Points +23%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
48845 Points +6%
Asus Zenbook UX305CA-EHM1
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
37002 Points -20%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
51649 Points +12%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
56022 Points +22%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
54790 Points +19%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
42423 Points -8%
Acer Aspire R14 R3-471TG-552E
GeForce 820M, 4210U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
49810 Points +8%
Asus X555LD-XX283H
GeForce 820M, 4010U, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E680
42918 Points -7%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
5778 Points
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU
5833 Points +1%
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
6223 Points +8%
Asus Zenbook UX305CA-EHM1
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
3778 Points -35%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
5461 Points -5%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
6061 Points +5%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
5710 Points -1%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
6231 Points +8%
Acer Aspire R14 R3-471TG-552E
GeForce 820M, 4210U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
4537 Points -21%
Asus X555LD-XX283H
GeForce 820M, 4010U, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E680
3954 Points -32%
1280x720 Sky Diver Score (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
4053 Points
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
5291 Points +31%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
2788 Points -31%
Asus X555LD-XX283H
GeForce 820M, 4010U, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E680
2872 Points -29%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Score (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
1073 Points
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
1428 Points +33%
Asus Zenbook UX305CA-EHM1
HD Graphics 515, 6Y30, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
596 Points -44%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
757 Points -29%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
903 Points -16%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
793 Points -26%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
1465 Points +37%
Asus X555LD-XX283H
GeForce 820M, 4010U, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E680
829 Points -23%
3DMark 06 - 1280x1024 Standard Score AA:0x AF:0x (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
9199 Points
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
11576 Points +26%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
7769 Points -16%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
9408 Points +2%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
12138 Points +32%

Gaming Performance

The combination of a Core i7 processor and GeForce 920M graphics core provides the U31-70 with at least a conditional gaming suitability. The laptop manages to reap in a clear advantage over GeForce 820M laptops in gaming routine. However, it is slighter than in the 3DMark benchmarks. The hardware renders many games in HD resolution (1366x768 pixels) smoothly using low to medium quality settings. Less demanding games allow even more. The screen's native resolution (Full HD) can rarely be used for gaming. Performance-driven games, such as Batman: Arkham Knight, never achieve playable frame rates. A different laptop will have to be selected for a plus on gaming power. There is hardly a way around Asus' Zenbook UX303 with a GeForce 940M graphics core in the 13.3-inch sector.

low med. high ultra
Tomb Raider (2013) 83.6 43.9 25.9 11.8
GRID: Autosport (2014) 124.8 52.5 22.7 12.5
Dirt Rally (2015) 135.2 34.3 17.3 12.5
FIFA 16 (2015) 81.5 46 28.2
Anno 2205 (2015) 30.4 17.5 8.5 5.3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (2015) 28.6 17.6
Fallout 4 (2015) 23.2 15.4 9.3 6.2
Star Wars Battlefront (2015) 34.7 21 9.6 8.6
Rainbow Six Siege (2015) 48.3 30.1 15.2 12.4
Just Cause 3 (2015) 26.9 21.2 10.3 9.1
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 18.3 11.3 6.4 3.7
Tomb Raider - 1366x768 Normal Preset AA:FX AF:4x (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
43.9 fps
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
59.2 fps +35%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
31.1 fps -29%
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
HD Graphics 6000, 5650U, Apple SSD SD0256F
34.5 fps -21%
HP Envy 13-d000ng
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
39.9 fps -9%
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
67.5 fps +54%
Acer Aspire R14 R3-471TG-552E
GeForce 820M, 4210U, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
38.9 fps -11%
Asus X555LD-XX283H
GeForce 820M, 4010U, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E680
39.6 fps -10%
Star Wars Battlefront - 1024x768 Low Preset (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
34.7 fps
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
48.9 fps +41%
FIFA 16 - 1366x768 High Preset AA:2x MS (sort by value)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
GeForce 920M, 5500U, Western Digital WD10S21X SSHD 1TB + 8GB SSD-Cache
46 fps
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAK512MBF
59.3 fps +29%
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
HD Graphics 5500, 5500U, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF M.2
33.8 fps -27%

Emissions

System Noise

The fan normally spins at low speeds in idle. However, it speeds up now and again during low load. The hard drive's noise is barely audible. The fan gets really active under load - after all, a strong processor and dedicated GPU need to be cooled. The noise level climbs to 46.6 dB in the stress test. This rate is a bit too high. Asus manages to cool its own Zenbook UX303 models with less effort.

Fan
Fan
Noise level in dB(A) depending on load/idle
Noise level in dB(A) depending on load/idle

Noise Level

Idle
31.9 / 32.3 / 32.3 dB(A)
HDD
32.5 dB(A)
Load
40.8 / 46.6 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1 Arta (15 cm distance)
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
5500U, GeForce 920M
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
6200U, HD Graphics 520
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
6500U, GeForce 940M
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
5500U, HD Graphics 5500
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
5650U, HD Graphics 6000
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
5200U, GeForce 940M
Lenovo U41-70
5500U, GeForce 940M
Noise
11%
7%
10%
6%
3%
6%
Idle Minimum *
31.9
31.5
1%
31.5
1%
29.6
7%
29.2
8%
32.2
-1%
29.6
7%
Idle Average *
32.3
31.5
2%
31.5
2%
29.6
8%
29.2
10%
32.4
-0%
29.6
8%
Idle Maximum *
32.3
31.5
2%
31.5
2%
29.6
8%
29.2
10%
33.4
-3%
32.4
-0%
Load Average *
40.8
32.4
21%
35.9
12%
39.3
4%
40.2
1%
37.7
8%
38
7%
Load Maximum *
46.6
32.3
31%
38.2
18%
36
23%
46.3
1%
41
12%
42.2
9%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

U31-70 in the stress test
U31-70 in the stress test

The U31-70 performs our stress test (Prime95 and Furmark run for at least one hour) in almost the same way in AC and battery modes. The graphics core always clocked at full speed (954 MHz). The processor throttled from 2.5 GHz to 2.1 GHz (battery mode) and to 2.1 to 2.2 GHz (AC mode) within the first 5 minutes where it ultimately remained. The U31-70 did not get excessively hot. 40 °C was only surpassed on some measuring points.

Max. Load
 35.1 °C
95 F
40.7 °C
105 F
38 °C
100 F
 
 27.6 °C
82 F
40.8 °C
105 F
37.1 °C
99 F
 
 25.2 °C
77 F
26.1 °C
79 F
30.9 °C
88 F
 
Maximum: 40.8 °C = 105 F
Average: 33.5 °C = 92 F
40.6 °C
105 F
43.2 °C
110 F
33.2 °C
92 F
35 °C
95 F
43.8 °C
111 F
26.7 °C
80 F
31.6 °C
89 F
27.9 °C
82 F
25.2 °C
77 F
Maximum: 43.8 °C = 111 F
Average: 34.1 °C = 93 F
Power Supply (max.)  39.2 °C = 103 F | Room Temperature 21.8 °C = 71 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.5 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 40.8 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 43.8 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.8 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 30.9 °C / 87.6 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-2.6 °C / -4.7 F).
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
5500U, GeForce 920M
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
6200U, HD Graphics 520
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
6500U, GeForce 940M
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
5500U, HD Graphics 5500
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
5650U, HD Graphics 6000
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
5200U, GeForce 940M
Lenovo U41-70
5500U, GeForce 940M
Heat
-10%
-5%
5%
2%
-11%
9%
Maximum Upper Side *
40.8
49.3
-21%
56.6
-39%
45.9
-13%
43.8
-7%
44.4
-9%
44
-8%
Maximum Bottom *
43.8
53.3
-22%
54.3
-24%
45
-3%
42.1
4%
46.7
-7%
40
9%
Idle Upper Side *
29.8
28.2
5%
24
19%
25.6
14%
28.5
4%
36
-21%
24.8
17%
Idle Bottom *
31.5
32.6
-3%
24.2
23%
25
21%
28.9
8%
33.4
-6%
26.2
17%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

The stereo speakers in the U31-70 are situated on the device's underside. They produce a very decent sound that also allows prolonged listening. As with most laptop speakers, they only render rudimentary bass.

The speakers are found on the underside
The speakers are found on the underside
Pink Noise
Pink Noise

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The laptop is satisfied with little energy when idling. We measured rates of up to 7 watts - which is as it should be. The requirement climbed up to 51 watts in the stress test. This rate is also acceptable. A look in our comparison chart reveals that the Zenbook UX303UB only has an insignificantly higher requirement in the stress test despite a stronger GPU. That is owed to the GPU's architecture. The 940M core is based on Nvidia's Maxwell architecture, which is more energy efficient than the Fermi architecture of the 920M core. The power supply has a nominal output of 65 watts.

Power supply
Power supply
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.25 / 0.4 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.9 / 6.8 / 7 Watt
Load midlight 40 / 51 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 U31-70 80M5003EGE
5500U, GeForce 920M
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
6200U, HD Graphics 520
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
6500U, GeForce 940M
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
5500U, HD Graphics 5500
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
5650U, HD Graphics 6000
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
5200U, GeForce 940M
Lenovo U41-70
5500U, GeForce 940M
Power Consumption
12%
-7%
24%
22%
-13%
13%
Idle Minimum *
3.9
3.8
3%
3.2
18%
2.6
33%
2.7
31%
4.6
-18%
3.2
18%
Idle Average *
6.8
5.8
15%
7.6
-12%
6.2
9%
5.7
16%
6.3
7%
5.6
18%
Idle Maximum *
7
8.1
-16%
8
-14%
6.5
7%
6
14%
8.8
-26%
5.7
19%
Load Average *
40
30.2
24%
47
-18%
30.8
23%
32.1
20%
43.3
-8%
35.8
10%
Load Maximum *
51
32.4
36%
55
-8%
27
47%
36.2
29%
61.5
-21%
50.3
1%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

Lenovo's laptop manages 4:13 hours in our real-world Wi-Fi test. This test simulates the load needed for opening websites. The "Balanced" profile is enabled, and the screen's brightness is dimmed to approximately 150 cd/m². The U31-70 achieves a runtime of 4:33 hours in the video test. We test playback time by running the short movie Big Buck Bunny (H.264 encoding, 1920x1080 pixels) in a loop. The wireless modules are disabled, and the screen is set to approximately 150 cd/m².

The battery life can at most be called middling. A portable 13.3-inch laptop has to offer more - especially at a price of almost 1000 Euros (~$1131). We would expect a minimum runtime of 5 to 6 hours in our Wi-Fi and videos tests from a laptop like the U31-70. The laptop's relatively low-capacity battery is noticed here. Rivals, such as the Zenbook U303UB, last considerably longer thanks to the higher battery capacity.

Note: The battery in our review sample displayed a wear level of approximately 7%. Consequently, 7% of the initial battery capacity cannot be used. A U31-70 model that has an intact battery should therefore last a few minutes longer.

The battery has a capacity of 35 Wh.
The battery has a capacity of 35 Wh.
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
8h 45min
WiFi Websurfing (IE 11)
4h 13min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
4h 33min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 10min
Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE
35 Wh
Acer Aspire V3-372-50LK
51 Wh
Asus Zenbook UX303UB-R4100T
50 Wh
Asus Zenbook UX305LA-FC012H
56 Wh
Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2015-03
54 Wh
Acer Aspire E5-473G-59QT
37 Wh
Lenovo U41-70
30 Wh
Battery Runtime
68%
68%
118%
128%
8%
13%
Reader / Idle
525
906
73%
997
90%
1469
180%
1572
199%
565
8%
544
4%
H.264
273
413
51%
582
113%
308
13%
WiFi v1.3
253
349
38%
410
62%
569
125%
620
145%
280
11%
233
-8%
Load
70
135
93%
118
69%
108
54%
97
39%
70
0%
100
43%

Pros

+ bright, high-contrast screen
+ Full HD resolution
+ high-capacity storage
+ limited gaming suitability

Cons

- middling battery life

Verdict

In review: Lenovo U31-70. Test model courtesy of Cyberport.de
In review: Lenovo U31-70. Test model courtesy of Cyberport.de

Lenovo's U31-70 belongs to the 13.3-inch subnotebook category. It provides plenty of computing power and can render games conditionally. The laptop runs quietly in routine use and does not heat up excessively. There is enough storage in the form of the 1 TB hard drive. Replacing the drive with an SSD is possible; the laptop's base tray is easy to remove. The viewing-angle stable IPS screen pleases with its good brightness and good contrast. The input devices are also compelling.

However, the battery life is too short. A 13.3-inch laptop has to shine particularly in this aspect seeing that it is made for mobile use.

The price also seems a bit high in our opinion. Almost 970 Euros (~$1096) is demanded for our review sample, which is also the top model in the U31-70 lineup. Asus' Zenbook UX303UB-R4044T is sold at just 1000 Euros (~$1131), and it offers a longer battery life and a stronger graphics core. The cheaper variants of the U31-70 are considerably more interesting. For example, the 80M5006UGE model with a Core i3-5010U, 128 GB SSD and Full HD IPS screen could be named here. However, it does not feature a dedicated graphics core or Windows operating system. It is priced at 500 Euros (~$565).

Lenovo U31-70 80M5003EGE - 02/03/2016 v4.1(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
82 /  98 → 84%
Keyboard
80%
Pointing Device
81%
Connectivity
60 / 80 → 75%
Weight
70 / 35-78 → 81%
Battery
82%
Display
84%
Games Performance
78 / 68 → 100%
Application Performance
80 / 87 → 92%
Temperature
89 / 91 → 98%
Noise
81%
Audio
50 / 91 → 55%
Camera
48 / 85 → 56%
Average
74%
81%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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Sascha Mölck, 2016-02- 9 (Update: 2018-05-15)