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Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM (Pentium N5000) Laptop Review

Disappointing display. The Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM runs on a passively cooled Pentium Silver N5000 quad-core processor that performance-wise is on par with Broadwell Core i3s. The laptop is almost entirely silent and offers good battery life. However, Lenovo's choice of display proves to be a serious blunder.

The Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM is an 11.6-inch convertible laptop. The device runs on a Pentium Silver quad-core processor from the Gemini Lake generation. The convertible's competitors include devices such as the Acer Spin 1 SP111-31, the Medion Akoya E2228T and the Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH.

Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM (Yoga 330 Series)
Processor
Intel Pentium Silver N5000 4 x 1.1 - 2.7 GHz, Gemini Lake
Graphics adapter
Intel UHD Graphics 605, Core: 750 MHz, single-channel, 24.20.100.6136
Memory
4 GB 
, DDR4-2400, single-channel, no RAM banks, RAM soldered
Display
11.60 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel 135 PPI, capacitive, 10 touchpoints, BOE CQ NT116WHM-N42, TN LED, glossy: yes
Storage
128 GB eMMC Flash, 128 GB 
, + unoccupied M.2 2280 SATA III slot, 96 GB free
Soundcard
Conexant CX20751/2 @ Intel Gemini Lake SoC - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: audio combo, Card Reader: SD, Sensors: motion sensor, TPM 2.0
Networking
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 17.9 x 294 x 204 ( = 0.7 x 11.57 x 8.03 in)
Battery
36 Wh, 3166 mAh Lithium-Ion, 11.52 V
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Primary Camera: 0.9 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, McAfee Live Safe (trial version), Microsoft Office 365 (trial version), 24 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
1.25 kg ( = 44.09 oz / 2.76 pounds), Power Supply: 173 g ( = 6.1 oz / 0.38 pounds)
Price
449 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case & Connectivity - Lenovo Yoga convertible made of plastic and metal

The Yoga's case is constructed of both plastic (back of the lid, lower shell) and metal (top side of the base unit). Our test device is dressed in light gray ("mineral gray"). Alternatively, buyers can also select a black model ("onyx black"). In terms of manufacturing quality, the chassis does not appear to have any serious defects. The laptop's stability is also reasonably good. The battery is permanently installed, and the computer lacks a maintenance hatch.

In order to reach the inner workings, the bottom of the device must be removed: After all the screws on the bottom have been taken out, the lower shell can be released with the help of a putty knife or flat spatula. This must be executed carefully, as the shell is quite firmly affixed.

The little computer is equipped with the most important connections. There are two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (1x Type C, 1x Type A) and one USB 2.0 port (Type A). An HDMI connection is also available for video output. We are pleased with the way the connections are laid out. The aforementioned ports are located towards the back on both sides of the laptop.

The built-in memory card reader is not one of the fastest of its kind. While copying large blocks of data, the reader reached a maximum transfer rate of 67.5 MB/s. The card reader transferred 250 JPG image files (each around 5 MB) at a speed of 59.5 MB/s. We test memory card readers with a reference memory card (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDCX 64 GB UHS-II). Memory cards do not slide fully into the reader - they stick out a good 18 mm (~0.7 inches).

The Yoga 330's WLAN module has an Intel chip (Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165) that supports the WLAN standards 802.11a/b/g/n, as well as the fast ac standard. Our WLAN test, which is performed under optimal conditions (no other WLAN devices in the vicinity, short distance between the laptop and server PC), revealed data transfer rates in the below-average range.

Size Comparison

298 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 20.3 mm / 0.799 inch 1.5 kg3.31 lbs293.4 mm / 11.6 inch 198 mm / 7.8 inch 21.35 mm / 0.841 inch 1.3 kg2.87 lbs294 mm / 11.6 inch 204 mm / 8.03 inch 17.9 mm / 0.705 inch 1.3 kg2.76 lbs278 mm / 10.9 inch 199 mm / 7.83 inch 18.3 mm / 0.72 inch 1.1 kg2.51 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connections

left side: power connection, USB 2.0 (Type A), memory card reader (SD), audio combo
left side: power connection, USB 2.0 (Type A), memory card reader (SD), audio combo
right side: power button, 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (1x Type C, 1x Type A), HDMI
right side: power button, 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (1x Type C, 1x Type A), HDMI
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Average of class Convertible
  (17.7 - 177.7, n=36, last 2 years)
73.8 MB/s +24%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
59.5 MB/s
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
21.8 MB/s -63%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Average of class Convertible
  (22.6 - 263, n=34, last 2 years)
95.1 MB/s +41%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
67.5 MB/s
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
30.2 MB/s -55%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
338 MBit/s +9%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
310 MBit/s
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
271 MBit/s -13%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
214 MBit/s -31%
iperf3 receive AX12
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
344 MBit/s +15%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
338 MBit/s +13%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
300 MBit/s
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
297 MBit/s -1%

Input Devices - Lenovo's 2-in-1 device does not have a backlit keyboard

Lenovo's convertible is equipped with a non-backlit chiclet keyboard. The flat, slightly roughened keys have a short travel and clear click-point. The keys offer a good level of resistance for our taste. The keyboard bends somewhat in the center during typing, but we did not experience this as particularly bothersome. All in all, Lenovo delivers a reasonably good keyboard that is well-suited for regular use. 

The multitouch-capable ClickPad measures about 9 x 6 cm (~3.5 x 2.4 inches), providing plenty of space for the execution of touchpad gestures. Fingers glide easily over the pad's smooth surface. The pad reacts to input in all areas, including the corners. It has a short travel and a clear click point.

The touchscreen did not give us any trouble. It supports 10 touchpoints and reacts to input immediately.

input devices
input devices

Display - The Lenovo computer's display does not look correct from every angle

pixel grid
pixel grid

The Yoga's 11.6-inch touchscreen display has a native resolution of 1366x768 pixels. The brightness (212.6 cd/m²) and contrast (431:1) are too low. The competition has more to offer in both of these areas.

At brightness levels of 90 percent and below, the display uses PWM backlight flickering at a frequency of 200 Hz. A frequency in that low range could cause sensitive users eye problems and/or headaches.

227
cd/m²
226
cd/m²
206
cd/m²
234
cd/m²
224
cd/m²
207
cd/m²
197
cd/m²
205
cd/m²
187
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
BOE CQ NT116WHM-N42 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 234 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 212.6 cd/m² Minimum: 1.7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 80 %
Center on Battery: 225 cd/m²
Contrast: 431:1 (Black: 0.52 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 11.64 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 13.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
61% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
38% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
41.76% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
60.8% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
40.42% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.57
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
TN LED, 1366x768, 11.60
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
IPS, 1920x1080, 11.60
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
IPS, 1366x768, 11.60
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
IPS, 1920x1080, 11.60
Display
22%
9%
36%
Display P3 Coverage
40.42
49.67
23%
44.23
9%
59.3
47%
sRGB Coverage
60.8
72.6
19%
66.3
9%
77.3
27%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
41.76
51.4
23%
45.73
10%
56.5
35%
Response Times
-22%
-29%
-6%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
50 ?(30, 20)
36 ?(19, 17)
28%
39 ?(18, 21)
22%
30 ?(15, 15)
40%
Response Time Black / White *
14 ?(9, 5)
24 ?(14, 10)
-71%
25 ?(13, 12)
-79%
22 ?(12, 10)
-57%
PWM Frequency
200 ?(90)
200 ?(90)
0%
Screen
50%
56%
66%
Brightness middle
224
251
12%
253
13%
504
125%
Brightness
213
247
16%
245
15%
497
133%
Brightness Distribution
80
86
8%
65
-19%
86
8%
Black Level *
0.52
0.21
60%
0.17
67%
0.52
-0%
Contrast
431
1195
177%
1488
245%
969
125%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
11.64
4.27
63%
3.17
73%
4.48
62%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
20.8
11
47%
8.13
61%
9.38
55%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
13.4
3.77
72%
2
85%
1.63
88%
Gamma
2.57 86%
2.26 97%
2.43 91%
2.41 91%
CCT
15186 43%
6524 100%
6850 95%
6715 97%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
38
47
24%
42
11%
51
34%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
61
72
18%
66
8%
77
26%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
17% / 35%
12% / 35%
32% / 47%

* ... smaller is better

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 detected 200 Hz ≤ 90 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 200 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 90 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 200 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

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

The display's color reproduction in factory default also leaves something to be desired. The Delta E 2000 color deviation of 11.64 misses the target range by a long way (DeltaE less than 3). The screen also suffers from a noticeable blue cast.

The color profile that we have provided above markedly improves the display's color reproduction. Before utilizing our profile, it is important to verify that the display model is the same as in our test device (manufacturer + model number). Otherwise, the color reproduction could get worse rather than better. Within a single series of models, laptop producers often use panels from multiple manufacturers.

CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - grayscale
CalMAN - grayscale
CalMAN - color saturation
CalMAN - color saturation

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↗ 9 ms rise
↘ 5 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
50 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 30 ms rise
↘ 20 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. » 84 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Unfortunately, Lenovo has equipped the convertible with a TN panel that does not offer stable viewing angles. As a result, the screen content does not look correct from every position. Outdoors, the Yoga can be used in shady spots and/or completely overcast skies at best. In brighter environments, the low display brightness and reflective display surface make it impossible to see the screen content.

the Yoga outdoors (photographed on a sunny day; direct sunshine)
the Yoga outdoors (photographed on a sunny day; direct sunshine)
the Yoga outdoors (photographed on a sunny day; sun is behind the device)
the Yoga outdoors (photographed on a sunny day; sun is behind the device)

Performance - Sufficient for office and internet-related applications

Lenovo's Yoga 330-11IGM is an 11.6-inch convertible with enough performance power for office and internet-related applications. Our test device is priced at around 450 Euros (~$515). Lenovo also offers other versions of the computer with different hardware components. Prices start at around 300 Euros (~$340).

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
HWInfo

Processor

The Yoga runs on a Pentium Silver N5000 quad-core processor from Intel's Gemini Lake platform. The CPU runs at a base clock speed of 1.1 GHz. Using turbo, it is possible to increase the speed to up to 2.6 GHz (four cores) or 2.7 GHz (one core). Thanks to its low TDP (6 watts), the SoC can be passively cooled. The Pentium chip completed our CPU tests at 2.4 to 2.6 GHz (single-thread) and 2.6 GHz (multi-thread) in both AC power and battery mode. 

To determine whether the CPU fully utilizes its turbo without interruption, we ran the Cinebench R15 multi-thread test for about 30 minutes in a continuous loop. The results remained constant throughout. The turbo constantly runs at full power.

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
2305
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
8195
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
3773
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
77 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
284 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
17.17 fps
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (68.6 - 287, n=64, last 2 years)
229 Points +197%
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000
  (73 - 80, n=12)
77.5 Points +1%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
77 Points
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Intel Pentium N4200
53 Points -31%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
48 Points -38%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
28 Points -64%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (110.1 - 2889, n=66, last 2 years)
1554 Points +447%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
284 Points
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000
  (210 - 284, n=12)
240 Points -15%
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Intel Pentium N4200
167 Points -41%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
135 Points -52%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
97 Points -66%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single 32Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (6243 - 10510, n=6, last 2 years)
8047 Points +249%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
2305 Points
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000
  (2260 - 2310, n=6)
2292 Points -1%
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Intel Pentium N4200
1680 Points -27%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
1451 Points -37%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
817 Points -65%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (13139 - 53525, n=6, last 2 years)
33259 Points +306%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
8195 Points
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000
  (5730 - 8195, n=6)
6794 Points -17%
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Intel Pentium N4200
4673 Points -43%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
3959 Points -52%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
2963 Points -64%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
5546 Points
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000
  (5045 - 5868, n=6)
5523 Points 0%
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Intel Pentium N4200
4682 Points -16%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
3958 Points -29%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
2159 Points -61%
32 Bit Single-Core Score
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000
  (1707 - 1876, n=6)
1781 Points +2%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
1746 Points
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Intel Pentium N4200
1430 Points -18%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
1202 Points -31%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
709 Points -59%
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
5467 Points
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000
  (5211 - 5654, n=4)
5460 Points 0%
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Intel Pentium N4200
4491 Points -18%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
3821 Points -30%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
2177 Points -60%
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
2051 Points
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000
  (2009 - 2084, n=4)
2046 Points 0%
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Intel Pentium N4200
1609 Points -22%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
1385 Points -32%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
836 Points -59%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Average of class Convertible
  (3462 - 30452, n=9, last 2 years)
23641 Points +314%
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000
  (5467 - 6202, n=7)
5841 Points +2%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
5705 Points
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Intel Pentium N4200
4729 Points -17%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
4001 Points -30%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
2296 Points -60%
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Average of class Convertible
  (1989 - 6801, n=9, last 2 years)
4777 Points +136%
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000
  (1975 - 2054, n=7)
2027 Points 0%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
2021 Points
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Intel Pentium N4200
1616 Points -20%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450
1399 Points -31%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
880 Points -56%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Convertible
  (124.8 - 443, n=5, last 2 years)
339 Points +209%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel Pentium Silver N5000 (Edge 42)
109.8 Points
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000
  (104.4 - 109.8, n=6)
106.8 Points -3%
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Intel Pentium N4200 (Edge 40)
91.5 Points -17%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel Celeron N3450 (Edge 40)
76 Points -31%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel Atom x5-Z8350 (Edge 41)
40.31 Points -63%

System Performance

The system behavior is fluid and stable; we did not run into any problems. The Pentium N5000 provides enough processing power for office and internet-related applications. The laptop's good scores in the PC Mark benchmarks substantiate this.

Nevertheless, the system performs beneath its potential. Because the RAM runs in single-channel rather than dual-channel mode, the system performance is needlessly a few percentage points lower. Dual-channel mode cannot be activated retroactively. The RAM is soldered to the mainboard and there are no additional RAM slots.

PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
2321 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
2637 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
3525 points
PCMark 10 Score
1934 points
Help
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Convertible
  (4404 - 5830, n=3, last 2 years)
4890 Points +111%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, 128 GB eMMC Flash
2321 Points
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000, Intel UHD Graphics 605
  (1933 - 2393, n=9)
2186 Points -6%
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
HD Graphics 505, Pentium N4200, Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LM035
2094 Points -10%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, Toshiba MQ01ABF050
1530 Points -34%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8350, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1303 Points -44%
PCMark 10
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Convertible
  (811 - 12360, n=59, last 2 years)
6335 Points +353%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, 128 GB eMMC Flash
1399 Points
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000, Intel UHD Graphics 605
  (1276 - 1424, n=10)
1344 Points -4%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, Toshiba MQ01ABF050
795 Points -43%
Productivity
Average of class Convertible
  (2764 - 10800, n=59, last 2 years)
7383 Points +144%
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000, Intel UHD Graphics 605
  (2775 - 3336, n=10)
3060 Points +1%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, 128 GB eMMC Flash
3029 Points
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, Toshiba MQ01ABF050
1926 Points -36%
Essentials
Average of class Convertible
  (3975 - 12059, n=59, last 2 years)
10504 Points +126%
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000, Intel UHD Graphics 605
  (4519 - 5061, n=10)
4764 Points +3%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, 128 GB eMMC Flash
4638 Points
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, Toshiba MQ01ABF050
2927 Points -37%
Score
Average of class Convertible
  (1486 - 7963, n=59, last 2 years)
5616 Points +190%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, 128 GB eMMC Flash
1934 Points
Average Intel Pentium Silver N5000, Intel UHD Graphics 605
  (1862 - 2052, n=10)
1934 Points 0%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
HD Graphics 500, Celeron N3450, Toshiba MQ01ABF050
1181 Points -39%

Storage Solution

An eMMC storage module with a total capacity of 128 GB serves as the system storage. On first start-up, around 96 GB remains available to the user. The remaining disk space is occupied by the Windows installation and the recovery partition. The transfer rates are normal for an eMMC storage module. The laptop's storage space can be expanded: Inside the computer, users will find an empty M.2 2280 SATA III slot into which a compatible SSD can be installed.

an unoccupied M.2 2280 SATA III slot is available
an unoccupied M.2 2280 SATA III slot is available
128 GB eMMC Flash
Sequential Read: 293.4 MB/s
Sequential Write: 91.9 MB/s
512K Read: 239.6 MB/s
512K Write: 76.3 MB/s
4K Read: 13.66 MB/s
4K Write: 12.58 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 36.75 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 12.47 MB/s
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
128 GB eMMC Flash
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Toshiba MQ01ABF050
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LM035
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
64 GB eMMC Flash
Average 128 GB eMMC Flash
 
Average of class Convertible
 
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-69%
-75%
-38%
-10%
1648%
Read Seq
293.4
109.1
-63%
53.9
-82%
119.3
-59%
184.8 ?(82.4 - 293, n=12)
-37%
2596 ?(last 2 years)
785%
Write Seq
91.9
107.3
17%
66.4
-28%
41.38
-55%
86.4 ?(24.6 - 215, n=12)
-6%
1614 ?(last 2 years)
1656%
Read 512
239.6
35.89
-85%
22.62
-91%
101.3
-58%
157.8 ?(66.6 - 241, n=12)
-34%
2154 ?(last 2 years)
799%
Write 512
76.3
45.28
-41%
67.3
-12%
34.28
-55%
73.5 ?(16.6 - 206, n=12)
-4%
1660 ?(last 2 years)
2076%
Read 4k
13.66
0.482
-96%
0.378
-97%
10.74
-21%
14.5 ?(7.31 - 25.2, n=12)
6%
436 ?(last 2 years)
3092%
Write 4k
12.58
1.037
-92%
0.263
-98%
11.3
-10%
13.1 ?(3.55 - 35.5, n=12)
4%
495 ?(last 2 years)
3835%
Read 4k QD32
36.75
1.003
-97%
0.998
-97%
14.76
-60%
26.6 ?(10.8 - 36.8, n=12)
-28%
59.5 ?(last 2 years)
62%
Write 4k QD32
12.47
1.043
-92%
0.518
-96%
14.57
17%
15.3 ?(4.3 - 46.5, n=12)
23%
122.4 ?(last 2 years)
882%

Graphics Card

An integrated UHD Graphics 605 graphics core is responsible for graphics-related tasks. This GPU supports DirectX 12 and runs at speeds of up to 750 MHz. The results in the 3D Mark benchmarks are in the normal range for this GPU. The GPU is unable to outpace its predecessor (HD Graphics 505) because their architecture and operating speeds are identical. As a result of Lenovo's choice not to run the RAM in dual-channel mode, some of the GPU's performance potential lies dormant.

GPU-Z
GPU-Z
DXVAChecker
DXVAChecker
3DMark 11 Performance
703 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
3230 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
400 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Convertible
  (471 - 40768, n=64, last 2 years)
7541 Points +1105%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 605
  (588 - 902, n=13)
701 Points +12%
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Intel UHD Graphics 605, Intel Pentium Silver N5000
626 Points
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Intel HD Graphics 505, Intel Pentium N4200
616 Points -2%
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Intel HD Graphics 500, Intel Celeron N3450
368 Points -41%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Intel HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Intel Atom x5-Z8350
292 Points -53%

Gaming Performance

The Yoga's hardware is certainly capable of running the odd game or two. Users will simply have to select titles that have little in the way of hardware demands. Many games will also have to run at low resolutions and low quality settings. Users can find many playable games in the "casual games" category in the Microsoft Store.

low med. high ultra
Counter-Strike: GO (2012) 44.4 26.4 17.1
BioShock Infinite (2013) 25.3 13.7 11.6
Alien: Isolation (2014) 17.5 13.1
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 35.9 14.3
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 6.9
Resident Evil 7 (2017) 7.9
Rocket League (2017) 27.8
Dirt 4 (2017) 18.8
ELEX (2017) 5.2
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) 3.4
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018) 5.5

Emissions & Energy - The Yoga 330-11IGM proves to be long-lasting

Because the Yoga has neither a fan nor a mechanical drive, the system runs silently.

Temperature

the Yoga in the stress test
the Yoga in the stress test

The Yoga 330 completed our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark running simultaneously for at least an hour) in the same way in both AC power mode and battery mode. The processor started the test at 2.1 GHz, then the speed throttled down to between 1.6 and 1.8 GHz and remained there. The graphics core behaved similarly. Here, the speed fell from 500 MHz to between 200 and 250 MHz.

The laptop never heated to a particularly high temperature. During the stress test, the temperatures remained below 40°C (104°F) in every spot that we measured. Our stress test is an extremely taxing scenario that will not occur in everyday use. We use this test to examine whether the system is stable even under full load.

Max. Load
 32.4 °C
90 F
36.4 °C
98 F
37.7 °C
100 F
 
 32.2 °C
90 F
35.2 °C
95 F
37.2 °C
99 F
 
 30 °C
86 F
31.6 °C
89 F
34.4 °C
94 F
 
Maximum: 37.7 °C = 100 F
Average: 34.1 °C = 93 F
39.5 °C
103 F
38.3 °C
101 F
32.2 °C
90 F
35 °C
95 F
33.6 °C
92 F
32.2 °C
90 F
31 °C
88 F
29.9 °C
86 F
29.3 °C
85 F
Maximum: 39.5 °C = 103 F
Average: 33.4 °C = 92 F
Power Supply (max.)  35.6 °C = 96 F | Room Temperature 23.4 °C = 74 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.1 °C / 93 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 37.7 °C / 100 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 39.5 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.2 °C / 79 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (34.4 °C / 93.9 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (-6.3 °C / -11.3 F).
heat development top (load)
heat development top (load)
heat development bottom (load)
heat development bottom (load)
heat development top (idle)
heat development top (idle)
heat development bottom (idle)
heat development bottom (idle)

Speakers

The laptop's stereo speakers are located on the bottom of the device. They generate a very thin sound that lacks bass. Users will need to rely on headphones or external speakers for a better auditory experience.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2034.532.234.52537.132.937.1314232.6424034.932.434.95035.529.135.56330.328.130.38028.927.228.910030.326.330.312531.125.231.116031.123.231.12002923.52925038.821.638.83154521.84540048.420.248.450052.719.452.763052.31952.380064.218.364.2100070.317.870.312506617.766160062.217.462.2200061.717.561.7250059.417.759.4315057.317.857.3400059.41859.4500053.818.253.863005018.45080005418.7541000052.818.952.81250051.719.151.71600049.119.549.1SPL74.130.574.1N26.81.326.8median 52.7median 18.9median 52.7Delta8.41.38.435.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo Yoga 330-11IGMApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (70.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 8.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (12.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.3% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (29.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 86% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 11% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 86% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 11% 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%

Energy Consumption

The little convertible does not need much energy under any level of load. In idle mode, we registered a maximum energy consumption rate of 5.4 watts. During the stress test (Prime95 and FurMark running simultaneously for at least an hour), the power consumption only rose to up to 21.4 watts. The power supply's output rating is 45 watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.36 / 0.45 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.3 / 4.2 / 5.4 Watt
Load midlight 15.4 / 21.4 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

Our WLAN test - designed to simulate normal, everyday use - uses a script to load new websites at regular intervals. The "balanced" profile is active, the device's energy saving functions are deactivated, and the display brightness is set to about 150 cd/m². The Yoga reached a run time of 9:25 hours.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 42)
9h 25min
Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM
Pentium N5000, UHD Graphics 605, 36 Wh
565 min
Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C79E
Celeron N3450, HD Graphics 500, 48.9 Wh
564 min 0%
Average of class Convertible
  (329 - 876, n=63, last 2 years)
557 min -1%
Medion Akoya E2228T-MD61250
Z8350, HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), 37 Wh
472 min -16%
Asus VivoBook Flip 12 TP203NAH-BP049T
Pentium N4200, HD Graphics 505, 42 Wh
365 min -35%

Pros

+ runs silently
+ unoccupied M.2 2280 SATA 3 slot
+ good battery life
+ ac WLAN
+ USB Type C

Cons

- TN display with unstable viewing angles
- dark, low-contrast panel

Verdict

The Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM 81A6001PGE, courtesy of notebooksbilliger.de.
The Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM 81A6001PGE, courtesy of notebooksbilliger.de.

The 11.6-inch Yoga 330-11IGM has a Pentium Silver N5000 CPU on board whose processing power is on par with that of Broadwell Core i3 processors. As a result, the computer offers sufficient performance for office and internet-related applications. Despite the system's passive cooling, Lenovo coaxes the maximum turbo performance out of the CPU - even over longer periods under load. 

The decoder integrated into the GPU eases the processor's burden during video playback. As a result, the use of streaming services should pose no problem for the little convertible. Overall, the built-in keyboard makes a good impression. These features are accompanied by a good battery life.

While cheaper Yoga models have to make do with 64 GB or just 32 GB of storage space, Lenovo has installed 128 GB of eMMC storage in our test device. In case storage space gets tight, the user has another option: The convertible is equipped with a slot for an M.2 2280 SATA III SSD. Another tip: If you are looking at a cheaper Yoga model, we recommend you take care to select a computer with at least 64 GB of storage space. 32 GB of storage is too tight for a Windows 10 system.

Despite the Yoga's good overall impression, Lenovo's choice of display sullies the whole thing.

The manufacturer has selected a dark, low-contrast TN panel that only displays the screen content accurately from a very limited range of angles. To equip a convertible or a tablet with a display with unstable viewing angles in the year 2018 is, to put it mildly, a risky decision. IPS displays with stable viewing angles are simply compulsory in these kinds of devices.

Please note: We updated this review on 09/26/2019 to our new rating version 7. The former rating according to version 6 was at 81 %. If you would like to learn more about our new rating system please click here.

Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM - 09/26/2019 v7
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
72 / 98 → 73%
Keyboard
74%
Pointing Device
88%
Connectivity
42 / 75 → 56%
Weight
72 / 20-75 → 95%
Battery
88%
Display
69%
Games Performance
22 / 78 → 28%
Application Performance
59 / 85 → 69%
Temperature
93%
Noise
100%
Audio
40 / 91 → 44%
Camera
40 / 85 → 47%
Average
66%
77%
Convertible - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo Yoga 330-11IGM (Pentium N5000) Laptop Review
Sascha Mölck, 2018-08-10 (Update: 2019-09-26)