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Lenovo V155 Review: Budget laptop turns out as a storage giant

Optical drive optional. Lenovo advertises the V155 as a productivity platform for businesses. But a first glance at the notebook shows that buyers are looking at a device in one of the lower price ranges. Apart from this impression, our test reveals the real performance of the V155.
Lenovo V155-15API

In our tests, the various series of Lenovo models show different strengths and weaknesses. Particularly with the more affordable consumer devices such as the IdeaPad L340, users have to live with a mediocre display or the lack of a storage card reader. At this point, the latter can also be seen in the business models, such as the ThinkPad L490. It is therefore not surprising that our current test model also does not offer a card reader anymore, although this was still present in its predecessor, the Lenovo V145-15AST.

With AMD's Ryzen 5 3500U and a Radeon RX Vega 8, the rest of the equipment is appropriate for office operation. There is also 12 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD. In our test unit, the slot for the optional optical drive contains a 1 TB HDD. At a price of about 500 Euros (~$553), Lenovo's V155 is confronted by similarly affordable notebooks from the competitors. For our comparison in this test, we select the Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A, Chuwi's LapBook Plus, the HP 250 G7, and MSI's PL62. Underneath each of the charts, you can also include additional notebooks from our database for comparison.

Lenovo V155-15API (V155 Series)
Processor
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U 4 x 2.1 - 3.7 GHz, Picasso-U (Zen+)
Memory
12 GB 
, dual-channel
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, AUO61ED, TN, glossy: no
Mainboard
AMD Promontory/Bixby FCH
Storage
Union Memory RTOTJ128VGD3EYX, 128 GB 
, + 1 TB WD Blue WD10SPZX-24, 1080 GB free
Soundcard
AMD Raven - Audio Processor - HD Audio Controller
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: combined 3.5 mm audio port
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 23 x 363 x 254 ( = 0.91 x 14.29 x 10 in)
Battery
36 Wh, 3280 mAh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 0.9 MP, 16:9 (1280x720)
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.2 kg ( = 77.6 oz / 4.85 pounds), Power Supply: 160 g ( = 5.64 oz / 0.35 pounds)
Price
500 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case and Equipment - An affordable Lenovo notebook with ac-WLAN and an optical drive

Maintenance
Maintenance

The Lenovo V155 is made from simple plastic that yields in the area around the keyboard to a limited amount of pressure. The workmanship is of a high quality, and there are no uneven clearances or sharp edges. The same goes for the lid of the V155, which can just barely be opened with one hand without lifting up the base at the same time.

All the connections are on the left side, with the selection only including the most necessary ports. There is no USB Type-C connection and also no storage card reader. On the right side, there is a covered slot for a drive, which contains a second SATA hard drive in our test unit. This can be taken out after removing a screw on the bottom. 

If you remove all the screws, you can take off the bottom of the case, giving you access to the SATA SSD and the working memory. With a size of 4 GB, the latter is soldered-in on the main board in the Lenovo V155. In addition, there is a single RAM slot that is equipped with 8 GB in our equipment model.

For wireless data transfer, WLAN in the standards a, b, g, n, and ac is available to users of the Lenovo V155. Due to the lack of 2x2 MIMO antenna technology, the speeds do not turn out to be outstanding, but at an average of 292 Mb/s while receiving and 303 Mb/s while transferring data they place in the solid mid-range of the field of our selected comparison devices.

Lenovo V155-15API
Lenovo V155-15API
Lenovo V155-15API
Lenovo V155-15API
Lenovo V155-15API
Lenovo V155-15API

Size Comparison

413 mm / 16.3 inch 284.6 mm / 11.2 inch 24.3 mm / 0.957 inch 2.8 kg6.17 lbs383 mm / 15.1 inch 260 mm / 10.2 inch 22 mm / 0.866 inch 2.2 kg4.85 lbs381 mm / 15 inch 263 mm / 10.4 inch 21.6 mm / 0.85 inch 2.2 kg4.85 lbs376 mm / 14.8 inch 246 mm / 9.69 inch 22.5 mm / 0.886 inch 1.9 kg4.18 lbs363 mm / 14.3 inch 254 mm / 10 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 2.2 kg4.85 lbs362 mm / 14.3 inch 242 mm / 9.53 inch 15.9 mm / 0.626 inch 1.5 kg3.37 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connections

Left side: power, GigabitLAN, HDMI, 2x USB 3.0, 3.5-mm audio port
Left side: power, GigabitLAN, HDMI, 2x USB 3.0, 3.5-mm audio port
Right side: drive slot, Kensington lock
Right side: drive slot, Kensington lock
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
340 MBit/s +12%
Lenovo V155-15API
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
303 (253min - 352max) MBit/s
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
301 (277min - 342max) MBit/s -1%
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES
RealTek Semiconductor, Device ID: C821
269 (182min - 363max) MBit/s -11%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
248 MBit/s -18%
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
193 MBit/s -36%
iperf3 receive AX12
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
330 MBit/s +13%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
329 (316min - 337max) MBit/s +13%
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
312 MBit/s +7%
Lenovo V155-15API
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
292 (159min - 312max) MBit/s
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
290 MBit/s -1%
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES
RealTek Semiconductor, Device ID: C821
281 (257min - 287max) MBit/s -4%
020406080100120140160180200220240260280300320340Tooltip
Lenovo V155-15API; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø291 (159-312)
Lenovo V155-15API; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø303 (253-352)

Input Devices - A good keyboard, but a loose ClickPad

The keyboard of the Lenovo V155 offers a full-size number block and keys of an appropriate size. While typing, the fingers find a good support in the slightly roughened surface of the keys, and despite the small stroke, their pressure point can be felt easily. Thus also longer typing tasks can be performed easily. 

As mouse replacement, Lenovo uses a ClickPad that sits slightly loose in its enclosure. However, navigation of the mouse pointer still works well, and the "mouse keys" respond reliably, even when pressed lightly.

Lenovo V155 - Input devices
Lenovo V155 - Input devices

Display - A TN panel in the V155 with a low brightness

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid

The display of the Lenovo V155 is a 15.6-inch TN panel that offers a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. At an average of 200 cd/m², the brightness is relatively low. On the other hand, since PWM is not used to control the brightness, users with sensitive eyes do not need to worry about problems in reaction to the display.

Lenovo also offers the V155 with a matte HD display that has a resolution of 1366x768 pixels.

212
cd/m²
201
cd/m²
219
cd/m²
185
cd/m²
220
cd/m²
192
cd/m²
176
cd/m²
204
cd/m²
194
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO61ED tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 220 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 200.3 cd/m² Minimum: 10 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 80 %
Center on Battery: 220 cd/m²
Contrast: 620:1 (Black: 0.355 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 10.36 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 12.49 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
57% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
36% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
39.4% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
57.4% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
38.14% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.3
Lenovo V155-15API
AUO61ED, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
Chi Mei (CMN15D5), , 1920x1080, 15.60
Chuwi LapBook Plus
BOE NV156QUM-N51, , 3840x2160, 15.60
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES
BOE0687, , 1920x1080, 15.60
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ
Chi Mei CMN15D6, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AU Optronics B173RTN02.1, , 1600x900, 17.30
Display
66%
4%
103%
32%
Display P3 Coverage
38.14
68.1
79%
39.61
4%
85.4
124%
51.1
34%
sRGB Coverage
57.4
88.2
54%
59.5
4%
99.6
74%
73.9
29%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
39.4
64.5
64%
40.93
4%
82.9
110%
52.7
34%
Response Times
2%
-36%
11%
0%
13%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
44 ?(23, 21)
43.3 ?(22, 21.3)
2%
40 ?(21.2, 18.8)
9%
41 ?(22, 19)
7%
44 ?(23, 21)
-0%
42 ?(22, 20)
5%
Response Time Black / White *
14 ?(10, 4)
13.8 ?(9.5, 4.3)
1%
25.2 ?(14, 11.2)
-80%
12 ?(7, 5)
14%
14 ?(10, 4)
-0%
11 ?(7, 4)
21%
PWM Frequency
25970 ?(19)
962 ?(99)
25000 ?(90)
250 ?(20)
Screen
-14%
51%
-8%
7%
1%
Brightness middle
220
246
12%
360.2
64%
205
-7%
227
3%
230
5%
Brightness
200
225
13%
337
69%
205
3%
200
0%
201
1%
Brightness Distribution
80
81
1%
82
3%
88
10%
82
3%
78
-2%
Black Level *
0.355
0.51
-44%
0.33
7%
0.52
-46%
0.46
-30%
0.46
-30%
Contrast
620
482
-22%
1092
76%
394
-36%
493
-20%
500
-19%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
10.36
11
-6%
4.13
60%
11.15
-8%
10.88
-5%
10.36
-0%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
18.91
32.4
-71%
8.15
57%
19.08
-1%
18.36
3%
18.63
1%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
12.49
11.6
7%
5
60%
12.62
-1%
12.18
2%
13.32
-7%
Gamma
2.3 96%
1.91 115%
2.23 99%
2.38 92%
2.58 85%
2.54 87%
CCT
12808 51%
11807 55%
7532 86%
14189 46%
14446 45%
14124 46%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
36
57.3
59%
38
6%
74
106%
48
33%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
57
87.8
54%
59
4%
63
11%
74
30%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
4.6
3.8
2.98
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-6% / -11%
27% / 42%
2% / -3%
37% / 25%
15% / 9%

* ... smaller is better

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
14 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 10 ms rise
↘ 4 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 29 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
44 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 23 ms rise
↘ 21 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. » 69 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Color-space coverage (sRGB) - 57%
Color-space coverage (sRGB) - 57%
Color-space coverage (AdobeRGB) - 36%
Color-space coverage (AdobeRGB) - 36%

Our measurements attest the display of the V155 with a low contrast ratio of 620:1 and a slightly elevated black value of 0.355 cd/m². This prevents black tones from appearing saturated and colors from appearing clearly delineated. The CalMAN analysis also shows that colors are displayed with a blue color content that is significantly too high.

Outdoors, the Lenovo notebook is still barely usable, as long as you choose shady places. However, the low brightness is insufficient to display the image content easily readable. In addition, the color space coverage of the display is very low, and colors are distorted from steep viewing angles.

CalMAN - Color Accuracy
CalMAN - Color Accuracy
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Saturation
CalMAN - Saturation
Viewing-angle stability
Viewing-angle stability
Outdoor use
Outdoor use
Outdoor use
Outdoor use

Performance - An AMD processor offers good performance

An AMD Ryzen 5 3500U and 12 GB of RAM ensure a smooth system operation of the Lenovo V155. In addition, there is a 128 GB SATA SSD, a 1 TB HDD, and AMD's integrated Radeon RX Vega 8 graphics unit. The latter is suited for display of image content with low demands on the graphics performance. With this equipment, the V155 finds its place in everyday office operation but can also be used for the consumption of media content or simple gaming. Those who can make do without the second hard drive can also choose an optional optical drive. 

Processor

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U is a quad-core processor that can run up to eight threads simultaneously. With the same power consumption and a base clock speed of 2.1 GHz and Turbo speed of 3.7 GHz, it offers slightly higher clock speeds than its Ryzen 5 2500U predecessor model. How long the corresponding performance can be maintained depends significantly on the built-in cooling system.

In our Cinebench R15 endurance test, the Ryzen 5 3500U in the V155 shows a performance drop of about 6% only after the fourth run of the loop, thus demonstrating a similar behavior as the IdeaPad L340-17API with the same CPU. However, the IdeaPad is able to make use of the CPU performance a bit better than is the case with the Lenovo V155.

03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630Tooltip
Lenovo V155-15API AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Ryzen 5 3500U: Ø609 (600.38-643.97)
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Ryzen 5 3500U: Ø626 (614.9-661.93)
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES Intel Core i5-8265U, Intel Core i5-8265U: Ø486 (482.38-503.85)
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel Core i5-8250U: Ø493 (481.04-518.17)
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ Intel Core i5-7300HQ, Intel Core i5-7300HQ: Ø512 (506.14-515.23)

In the Cinebench R15 single tests, the results of the V155 correspond to our expectations on the built-in CPU in terms of the single-core performance. However, the multi-core value turns out slightly lower than in other notebooks with the Ryzen 5 3500U.

You can find out about the performance other processors were able to achieve in our tests on our CPU benchmark page.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (82.6 - 284, n=118, last 2 years)
215 Points +50%
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES
Intel Core i5-8265U
153 Points +7%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
Intel Core i5-8250U
145 Points +1%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
143 Points 0%
Lenovo V155-15API
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
143 Points
Average AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
  (131 - 147, n=18)
142.4 Points 0%
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
142 Points -1%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Atom x7-E3950
41 Points -71%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (160.8 - 2642, n=120, last 2 years)
1380 Points +115%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
662 Points +3%
Lenovo V155-15API
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
642 Points
Average AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
  (482 - 682, n=19)
642 Points 0%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
Intel Core i5-8250U
518 Points -19%
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
511 Points -20%
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES
Intel Core i5-8265U
504 Points -21%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel Atom x7-E3950
125 Points -81%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
143 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
642 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
50.9 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
98 %
Help

System Performance

In the PCMark benchmarks, the Lenovo V155 shows a good system performance and achieves values in the upper middle of the field of our selected comparison devices. During our testing period, the V155 always ran smoothly and without any micro-stutters or such. Applications started quickly, and there were no wait times when accessing data or files.

PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Office
  (2325 - 7157, n=105, last 2 years)
5312 Points +43%
Average AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
  (3485 - 3972, n=16)
3766 Points +1%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZ7LN256HAJQ
3754 Points +1%
Lenovo V155-15API
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Union Memory RTOTJ128VGD3EYX
3713 Points
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
3573 Points -4%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
3175 Points -14%
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ
GeForce MX150, i5-7300HQ
3157 Points -15%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
HD Graphics 505, x7-E3950, Kimtigo KT256GM28S3
1144 Points -69%
Essentials
Average of class Office
  (5095 - 20841, n=105, last 2 years)
9781 Points +33%
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
7660 Points +4%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
7589 Points +3%
Average AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
  (6690 - 8300, n=16)
7533 Points +2%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZ7LN256HAJQ
7507 Points +2%
Lenovo V155-15API
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Union Memory RTOTJ128VGD3EYX
7363 Points
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ
GeForce MX150, i5-7300HQ
5513 Points -25%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
HD Graphics 505, x7-E3950, Kimtigo KT256GM28S3
2891 Points -61%
Productivity
Average of class Office
  (3041 - 10198, n=105, last 2 years)
7439 Points +36%
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
6171 Points +13%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZ7LN256HAJQ
5921 Points +9%
Average AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
  (5456 - 6074, n=16)
5774 Points +6%
Lenovo V155-15API
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Union Memory RTOTJ128VGD3EYX
5456 Points
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ
GeForce MX150, i5-7300HQ
5241 Points -4%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
4474 Points -18%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
HD Graphics 505, x7-E3950, Kimtigo KT256GM28S3
1407 Points -74%
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Office
  (1912 - 9056, n=105, last 2 years)
5732 Points +66%
Lenovo V155-15API
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Union Memory RTOTJ128VGD3EYX
3459 Points
Average AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
  (2989 - 3526, n=16)
3337 Points -4%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZ7LN256HAJQ
3232 Points -7%
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ
GeForce MX150, i5-7300HQ
2957 Points -15%
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
2620 Points -24%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
2560 Points -26%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
HD Graphics 505, x7-E3950, Kimtigo KT256GM28S3
1001 Points -71%
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Office
  (2304 - 4830, n=12, last 2 years)
4261 Points +21%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
3903 Points +11%
Average AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
  (3316 - 4235, n=13)
3600 Points +2%
Lenovo V155-15API
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Union Memory RTOTJ128VGD3EYX
3524 Points
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ
GeForce MX150, i5-7300HQ
3424 Points -3%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZ7LN256HAJQ
3423 Points -3%
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8265U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
3254 Points -8%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
HD Graphics 505, x7-E3950, Kimtigo KT256GM28S3
1371 Points -61%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3524 points
PCMark 10 Score
3713 points
Help

Storage Solution

Lenovo has equipped our test unit of the V155 with a 128 GB SATA SSD and a 1 TB SATA HDD. In the storage benchmarks, the built-in SSD achieves relatively low values, but it is by no means slow. Particularly in comparison with conventional HDDs, the advantages of a significantly higher speed become noticeable.

On our HDD/SSD benchmark page, you can find out about the performance of the SSD used here compared to other storage solutions.

Lenovo V155-15API
Union Memory RTOTJ128VGD3EYX
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Kimtigo KT256GM28S3
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES
WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ
 
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Samsung SSD PM871b MZ7LN256HAJQ
Average Union Memory RTOTJ128VGD3EYX
 
Average of class Office
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
41%
29%
335%
-71%
79%
0%
654%
Write 4K
72.4
80.9
12%
58.7
-19%
179.3
148%
7.507
-90%
94.4
30%
72.4
0%
156.6 ?(50.1 - 291, n=69, last 2 years)
116%
Read 4K
27.84
28.23
1%
13.04
-53%
47.7
71%
0.419
-98%
32.45
17%
27.8
0%
61 ?(20.6 - 90.2, n=69, last 2 years)
119%
Write Seq
145.1
266.3
84%
395.8
173%
1265
772%
113.7
-22%
482.8
233%
145.1
0%
2378 ?(315 - 5030, n=53, last 2 years)
1539%
Read Seq
496
495.5
0%
455.5
-8%
1184
139%
120.4
-76%
524
6%
496
0%
2593 ?(507 - 5559, n=53, last 2 years)
423%
Write 4K Q32T1
129.6
255
97%
81.3
-37%
450.6
248%
14.96
-88%
232
79%
129.6
0%
400 ?(162.5 - 809, n=69, last 2 years)
209%
Read 4K Q32T1
200.9
288.3
44%
92.1
-54%
556
177%
1.3
-99%
253.6
26%
201
0%
511 ?(184.2 - 899, n=69, last 2 years)
154%
Write Seq Q32T1
146.4
265.6
81%
476.8
226%
1455
894%
117.7
-20%
496.5
239%
146.4
0%
3018 ?(259 - 6207, n=69, last 2 years)
1961%
Read Seq Q32T1
522
556
7%
547
5%
1717
229%
117.2
-78%
540
3%
522
0%
4226 ?(454 - 7123, n=69, last 2 years)
710%
AS SSD
55%
-34%
449%
75%
0%
605%
Seq Read
480.8
513
7%
391.5
-19%
1477
207%
489.9
2%
481
0%
3122 ?(508 - 5796, n=102, last 2 years)
549%
Seq Write
135.8
254.6
87%
419.4
209%
1339
886%
472.2
248%
135.8
0%
2036 ?(304 - 5880, n=102, last 2 years)
1399%
4K Read
23.55
29.29
24%
7.36
-69%
46.26
96%
29.14
24%
23.6
0%
56.1 ?(18.7 - 91.1, n=102, last 2 years)
138%
4K Write
47.43
71.6
51%
15.16
-68%
143.9
203%
59.8
26%
47.4
0%
156.7 ?(35.4 - 350, n=102, last 2 years)
230%
4K-64 Read
186.5
374.1
101%
139.4
-25%
937
402%
262.2
41%
186.5
0%
1044 ?(182.3 - 2713, n=102, last 2 years)
460%
4K-64 Write
86.8
198.2
128%
137.7
59%
1190
1271%
236.2
172%
86.8
0%
1458 ?(132.3 - 3394, n=102, last 2 years)
1580%
Access Time Read *
0.118
0.101
14%
0.361
-206%
0.046
61%
0.085
28%
0.118
-0%
0.08214 ?(0.022 - 0.295, n=102, last 2 years)
30%
Access Time Write *
0.132
0.226
-71%
0.462
-250%
0.024
82%
0.061
54%
0.132
-0%
0.06413 ?(0.017 - 0.619, n=102, last 2 years)
51%
Score Read
258
455
76%
186
-28%
1131
338%
342
33%
258
0%
1413 ?(252 - 3364, n=102, last 2 years)
448%
Score Write
148
295
99%
195
32%
1468
892%
343
132%
148
0%
1818 ?(320 - 4111, n=102, last 2 years)
1128%
Score Total
529
979
85%
479
-9%
3181
501%
869
64%
529
0%
3911 ?(704 - 9204, n=102, last 2 years)
639%
Copy ISO MB/s
213.5
464.9
765
282.8
1642 ?(230 - 3489, n=89, last 2 years)
Copy Program MB/s
135.9
77.7
239.9
128.1
504 ?(80.4 - 1049, n=89, last 2 years)
Copy Game MB/s
169.9
162
528
184.9
1156 ?(142.7 - 2780, n=89, last 2 years)
Total Average (Program / Settings)
48% / 49%
-3% / -7%
392% / 401%
-71% / -71%
77% / 77%
0% / 0%
630% / 625%

* ... smaller is better

Union Memory RTOTJ128VGD3EYX
Sequential Read: 489.5 MB/s
Sequential Write: 134.5 MB/s
512K Read: 375.7 MB/s
512K Write: 125 MB/s
4K Read: 27.19 MB/s
4K Write: 53.8 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 192.7 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 120.5 MB/s

Graphics Card

The Radeon RX Vega 8 built into the Lenovo V155 is an integrated graphics unit that profits from fast working memory in dual-channel mode. In combination with the 12 GB dual-channel RAM of the V155, it achieves values in the 3DMark 11 benchmark that are about 14% above the average of the other notebooks with AMD's Vega 8 that we tested. With this, applications with low demands on the graphics performance, such as simple image-processing, are possible without any problems.

You can find out on our GPU benchmark page about the performance of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 used here, compared to other graphics cards.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Office
  (1474 - 12230, n=115, last 2 years)
5878 Points +57%
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-7300HQ
4876 Points +30%
Lenovo V155-15API
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
3742 Points
Average AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
  (1668 - 4317, n=44)
3447 Points -8%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
3146 Points -16%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
2882 Points -23%
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8265U
1658 Points -56%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Intel HD Graphics 505, Intel Atom x7-E3950
765 Points -80%
3DMark 11 Performance
3861 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The integrated AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 graphics unit is only suited for slightly older games or those that have only low demands on the graphics performance. In our test with the already four-year-old Dota 2 Reborn game, smooth frame rates with many details were also possible in Full HD resolution. However, in current games, you have to make do with lower graphics settings.

You can find out on our GPU benchmark page about the performance that you can expect from AMD's Radeon RX Vega 8 when playing games.

Dota 2 Reborn
1280x720 min (0/3) fastest
Average of class Office
  (14.8 - 154.1, n=124, last 2 years)
100.4 fps +42%
Lenovo V155-15API
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
70.8 (60.8min) fps
Average AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
  (56.2 - 97.2, n=29)
70.4 fps -1%
1366x768 med (1/3)
Average of class Office
  (10.9 - 127, n=124, last 2 years)
75.8 fps +24%
Lenovo V155-15API
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
61.2 (53.7min) fps
Average AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
  (39.9 - 76.3, n=29)
58.9 fps -4%
1920x1080 high (2/3)
Average of class Office
  (8.9 - 110.4, n=124, last 2 years)
49.6 fps +30%
Lenovo V155-15API
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
38.1 (35.1min) fps
Average AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
  (20.4 - 47.8, n=29)
35.8 fps -6%
low med. high ultra
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 70.8 61.2 38.1 35.4

Emissions and Power Management - Quiet fans and mediocre speakers in the V155 from Lenovo

Noise Emissions

Noise characteristics
Noise characteristics

In office operation, the fan of the Lenovo V155 is hardly audible, and even under load, the noise level increases only slightly. The fan noise is very even and can be easily ignored even in quiet surroundings. We did not notice any other noises in our test unit, such as coil whine or clicking of the built-in HDD.

Noise Level

Idle
29.8 / 29.8 / 29.8 dB(A)
Load
32.1 / 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   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 29.8 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2028.532.731.131.428.52530.83230.23030.83128.932.630.831.628.94029.328.631.830.429.35028.927.830.63128.96329.326.626.428.329.38026.626.826.525.426.610026.525.726.226.526.512524.923.924.824.424.916024.123.924.123.224.120023.924.223.322.623.925023.22321.522.523.231524.422.721.221.124.440023.722.220.420.223.750022.620.819.619.122.663022.120.218.818.322.180023.220.717.618.123.210002521.817.617.925125026.122.817.117.426.1160023.620.417.117.323.6200023.219.617.217.223.2250022.52017.217.222.5315021.61917.217.421.6400020.118.317.317.420.1500019.117.917.517.519.1630018.81817.617.618.8800018.21817.817.718.2100001817.918.217.7181250017.917.817.817.717.91600017.817.817.717.817.8SPL34.532.1303034.5N2.11.71.41.42.1median 23.2median 20.4median 17.8median 17.8median 23.2Delta2.42.11.81.62.4hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseLenovo V155-15API

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

Our measurements attest the Lenovo V155 with temperatures of 27 °C (~81 °F) on average during idle operation and up to 45.4 °C (~114 °F) under load. The hottest spot is at the bottom in the center on the left. However, despite the slightly elevated temperature, you can still use it on your lap without any problems.

During our hour-long stress test, the temperatures inside the Lenovo V155 rose to more than 70 °C (158 °F), and the clock speeds dropped significantly below the base clock speed of 2.1 GHz. Until the end of the test, the affordable notebook was unable to stabilize the temperatures, and the clock speeds also remained significantly too low at 1.6 GHz on average. However, since a load like in our stress test almost never occurs in real life, users don't have to expect any limitations due to high temperatures in everyday operation.

Max. Load
 37.3 °C
99 F
39.6 °C
103 F
36 °C
97 F
 
 40.8 °C
105 F
42 °C
108 F
32 °C
90 F
 
 35 °C
95 F
32 °C
90 F
30.3 °C
87 F
 
Maximum: 42 °C = 108 F
Average: 36.1 °C = 97 F
39.7 °C
103 F
41.7 °C
107 F
36 °C
97 F
31.9 °C
89 F
43.6 °C
110 F
45.4 °C
114 F
30.1 °C
86 F
33 °C
91 F
35.4 °C
96 F
Maximum: 45.4 °C = 114 F
Average: 37.4 °C = 99 F
Power Supply (max.)  45.4 °C = 114 F | Room Temperature 23.6 °C = 74 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 36.1 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 29.5 °C / 85 F for the devices in the class Office.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 42 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 34.2 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 45.4 °C / 114 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (35 °C / 95 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (-7.3 °C / -13.1 F).
Heat map in idle operation - top
Heat map in idle operation - top
Heat map in idle operation - bottom
Heat map in idle operation - bottom
Heat map under load - top
Heat map under load - top
Heat map under load - bottom
Heat map under load - bottom

Speakers

Speaker characteristics
Speaker characteristics

The speakers of the Lenovo V155 produce a low volume and a slightly imbalanced sound spectrum. Sounds down to the lower mids can still be produced, making the speaker also suited for reproduction of media content in quiet surroundings. However, in the long run, external speakers or headphones are recommended. They can be connected to the Lenovo notebook via the 3.5-mm audio port that accepts the corresponding plugs tightly and has no negative influence on the sound quality.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.731.431.72529.93029.93130.931.630.94029.730.429.75029.73129.7632828.3288026.725.426.710026.726.526.712524.524.424.516024.823.224.820026.522.626.525033.722.533.73155121.15140061.420.261.450054.819.154.863054.518.354.580062.118.162.1100060.517.960.5125057.417.457.4160058.117.358.1200057.717.257.7250053.417.253.4315053.817.453.8400051.917.451.950005717.557630058.117.658.1800057.217.757.21000051.917.751.9125005617.7561600053.417.853.4SPL69.33069.3N25.21.425.2median 54.5median 17.8median 54.5Delta7.71.67.735.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo V155-15APIApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Lenovo V155-15API audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (62.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 23.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.8% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (10.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.3% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 75% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 19% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 74% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 21% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, 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
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, 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 25%, worst was 134%

Power Consumption

We measure power consumption for the Lenovo V155 of at least 4.7 watts during idle operation and up to 42 watts under load. The included power supply is rated at 65 watts and thus sufficiently sized to provide power to Lenovo's notebook at all times.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.29 / 0.4 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.7 / 7.4 / 8 Watt
Load midlight 40.7 / 42 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.

Battery Life

In our realistic WLAN test, the V155 achieves a battery life of 4 hours and 39 minutes. With that, the Lenovo notebook uses its 36 Wh battery relatively well, but it is only able to place in the lower middle of the field in our comparison list.

Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Average of class Office
  (272 - 1137, n=107, last 2 years)
589 min +111%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
R5 3500U, Vega 8, 36 Wh
414 min +48%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
i5-8250U, GeForce MX130, 48 Wh
350 min +25%
HP 250 G7 6HM85ES
i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620, 41 Wh
339 min +22%
Lenovo V155-15API
R5 3500U, Vega 8, 36 Wh
279 min
MSI PL62 MX150 7300HQ
i5-7300HQ, GeForce MX150, 41.4 Wh
262 min -6%
Chuwi LapBook Plus
x7-E3950, HD Graphics 505, 36 Wh
211 min -24%
Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
4h 39min

Pros

+ affordable price
+ good keyboard
+ space for a second SATA hard drive

Cons

- mediocre battery life
- TN panel with low brightness
- few connection options
- no USB Type-C

Verdict - A solid performance for little money

In review: Lenovo V155. Test unit provided by Lenovo Germany.
In review: Lenovo V155. Test unit provided by Lenovo Germany.

In our test, the Lenovo V155 presents itself as a solid notebook for limited demands. The affordable price is mainly reflected in the display and the limited connection equipment. The system performance is more than sufficient for office operation and the consumption of simple media content. With 4 GB on-board and 8 GB in a slot, the memory equipment is slightly unusual, but at least it ensures a sufficiently large amount of working memory. Those who can make do without the optional optical drive will also get the choice to insert a second large hard drive.

The Lenovo V155 is very affordable and offers a good system performance with the AMD CPU. However, the battery life and the display could be better.

In addition, there are good input devices, and the WLAN offers average speeds. While the battery could have lasted a bit longer, at least it can get you through a few hours without the charger. Here, you should again consider the price of about 500 Euros (~$553), for which the Lenovo V155 delivers a performance that is quite good.

Lenovo V155-15API - 09/19/2019 v7
Mike Wobker

Chassis
71 / 98 → 72%
Keyboard
80%
Pointing Device
78%
Connectivity
36 / 80 → 45%
Weight
62 / 20-75 → 76%
Battery
62%
Display
73%
Games Performance
60 / 78 → 77%
Application Performance
74 / 95 → 78%
Temperature
83%
Noise
98%
Audio
49%
Camera
24 / 85 → 28%
Average
65%
75%
Office - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo V155 Review: Budget laptop turns out as a storage giant
Mike Wobker, 2019-09-20 (Update: 2019-09-22)