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Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB Convertible Review

Imperfect. Lenovo has put a largely useless dedicated graphics card in its new 14-inch convertible. Thankfully, the other components ensure the device can do its job as a mobile office companion. In our detailed review, we will check this model and see how its limited battery life and other flaws stack up in comparison to the competition.

For the original German review, see here.

A 14-inch convertible? That is quite unusual. There are few convertibles of this size in our database and those, that do exist, have to compete with a disproportionately higher number of 13-inch or smaller convertibles. The Yoga 510 uses the 360-degree hinge which other manufacturers, such as, Asus, also use. This allows the convertible to transform between various modes: notebook, stand, tent or tablet. The exact name of our test model is the Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB and, sadly, it is the only model currently available on the German Lenovo website. After a little research, we were able to find nine different models for the Yoga 510 (thanks to a price comparison website). These models differed in various aspects: CPU, memory, storage capacity and color. Our test model is listed with 15 different prices, whereas the other models have a maximum of three.

The Yoga 510 is designed as an office notebook, which, thanks to the dedicated graphics card (AMD Radeon R5 M430), can also be used for multimedia work. The CPU is a brand-new Kaby Lake dual-core processor, the Intel Core i5-7200U (2x 2.5-3.1 GHz, Hyperthreading, TDP 15 W) and the model is equipped with 8 GB of DDR4 RAM. The shiny IPS touch display has a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and the SSD has a capacity of 256 GB. At the time of testing, Lenovo was asking for 799 Euros (~$847) for the Yoga 510-14IKB and we did not find any other shop, which offered it for a significantly lower amount.

We selected three convertibles for our comparison. For the purpose of this review, we decided to ignore the minor size difference (13.3 to 14-inch) and focus rather on the similarities in connectivity, performance and price, which make these models closer competitors to our test model than other 14-inch convertibles. This list includes:

Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB (Yoga 510 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-7200U 2 x 2.5 - 3.1 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
AMD Radeon R5 M430 - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1030 MHz, Memory: 2000 MHz, DDR3, Crimson 16.9.2, AMD Enduro
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4, 2133 MHz, Single Channel, 1 of 1 memory slot occupied
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 157 PPI, 10 points, BOE0637 / BOE DT NV140FHM-N41, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U Premium PCH
Storage
Samsung MZYTY256HDHP, 256 GB 
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Audio in/out combo, 3.5 mm jack, Card Reader: SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor
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 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 20.9 x 336 x 232 ( = 0.82 x 13.23 x 9.13 in)
Battery
35 Wh, 0 mAh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD 1 MP
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, below, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes
Weight
1.73 kg ( = 61.02 oz / 3.81 pounds), Power Supply: 232 g ( = 8.18 oz / 0.51 pounds)
Price
799 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The author had not seen a (new) white notebook for almost a year, but in recent times, he has come across two such models: one of them is the test model, the Yoga 510. Is this a trend? Normally, when manufacturers use metal for the case, they like to advertise it. However, as the test model did not boast any such characteristics, we believe it is made mostly of plastic material, which is not inherently a disadvantage, as the case feels nice.

Lenovo does claim that the hand-rest regions have received a diamond polish, but we do not see anything special: the synthetic material in these areas is a little rough but offers a nice grip. It is also used for the back of the display and the bottom of the laptop. Thankfully, it is very resistant to fingerprints, as we could not see any after using it for a while. The case has clear visual accents thanks to the silver hinges, shiny edges and the raised Yoga logo on the back. The protective glass cover of the display also covers its borders (typical for touch laptops).

It is possible to flex the case slightly, but the user will need to press hard. Although, the case creaks a little, it never feels weak. Despite being quite stiff, the display is not as strong as the case under pressure. It requires two hands to open and can wobble easily. We looked closely for workmanship flaws, but could not find any. The components have a very precise fit. Indeed, it is not every day that we have an 800 Euro (~$848) notebook that gets 5 out of 5 stars for workmanship.

Lenovo Yoga 510
Lenovo Yoga 510
Lenovo Yoga 510
Lenovo Yoga 510
Lenovo Yoga 510
Lenovo Yoga 510
Lenovo Yoga 510
Lenovo Yoga 510
Lenovo Yoga 510
Lenovo Yoga 510

As the Lenovo Yoga 510 is the only 14-inch device in our comparison, it is not surprising that it has the largest surface area. Otherwise, the differences between the comparison models are minimal. For example, the Dell Inspiron is 1 cm wider and slightly thicker than the Yoga 510. The Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro is noticeably more compact. The HP Spectre x360 has the smallest measurements, which means it is around 400 grams (~0.9 lb) lighter than our test model. However, it can only take second place in terms of weight (1.3 kg/2.9 lb), as the Yoga 3 Pro is even lighter.

Size Comparison

336 mm / 13.2 inch 232 mm / 9.13 inch 20.9 mm / 0.823 inch 1.7 kg3.81 lbs330 mm / 13 inch 222 mm / 8.74 inch 19 mm / 0.748 inch 1.7 kg3.66 lbs330 mm / 13 inch 228 mm / 8.98 inch 12.8 mm / 0.504 inch 1.2 kg2.62 lbs305.6 mm / 12 inch 217.9 mm / 8.58 inch 13.7 mm / 0.539 inch 1.3 kg2.81 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The only port, which we did not expect in a convertible, is the Ethernet port, which is hidden by a flap. The convertible offers all the usual suspects: HDMI (full size), 3x USB (1 is USB 2.0) and so on. The ports are all placed towards the back, which will help users looking to keep their external mouse untangled. The webcam did not produce an image, but we believe this to be due to driver issues (can be fixed with an update).

Left: Kensington, power, USB 2.0, audio in/out, SD card
Left: Kensington, power, USB 2.0, audio in/out, SD card
On/Off, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet (can be opened)
On/Off, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet (can be opened)

SD Cardreader

The SD card reader in our test model can trump the slow USB 2.0 speeds of its competitor, the Dell Inspiron 13. However, when we tried to copy multiple jpg pictures, it did not perform to the expected level and was stuck behind the others at an average of 64 MB/s. We used our reference memory card, the Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II, for testing.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 13 80HE004LGE
 
77.8 MB/s +30%
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB
 
59.7 MB/s
Dell Inspiron 13 7359-4839
 
23.7 MB/s -60%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 13 80HE004LGE
 
88.1 MB/s +3%
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB
 
85.3 MB/s
Dell Inspiron 13 7359-4839
 
26.4 MB/s -69%

Communication

Instead of siding with Intel, Lenovo has picked a Qualcomm Atheros wireless network adapter (QCA9377). This module supports the typical standards of the 2.4 GHz frequency and the latest ac standard, but only on the 5 GHz frequency. We could not determine the MIMO configuration of our test model, but even in ideal conditions (1 meter/3 ft from router), it produced relatively low speeds of 125 MB/s (receiving) and 103 MB/s (sending). This performance hints at a MIMO 1x1 setup, which (theoretically) would allow for a transfer speed up to 433 MB/s. If you need to download/upload a lot of stuff, look elsewhere.

Networking
iperf Server (receive) TCP 1 m
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
125 MBit/s
iperf Client (transmit) TCP 1 m
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
103 MBit/s

Security

Lenovo has included a touch fingerprint reader and the second revision of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) in this model to improve its security.

Accessories

No surprise here: the obligatory power adapter and other assorted leaflets (warranty information, use, etc.) are included. So far, Lenovo has not offered any special, optional accessories for the convertible. We recommend leaving the recovery partition untouched as there is no recovery media included in the delivery.

Maintenance

Apparently, Lenovo does not want to encourage the user to fumble around inside the laptop. The battery is not removable from the outside and the user must take the entire laptop apart to gain access to the insides. After removing the 10 screws from the bottom plate, the user probably needs to lift the top of the laptop off to peek inside. This method of entry (from the top of the laptop) can cause more problems than an access path from below.

Warranty

Lenovo has provided 2-year manufacturer warranty, but has not mentioned any further details. For detailed information, we recommend entering your serial number here.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The keyboard of the test model is quite good. The surface is resistant and the black, flat keys with a slight rubber texture have a white caption that provides great contrast. The keys are clearly legible with no lighting, but the user can turn up the backlight whenever necessary (two levels). The average stroke distance and clear pressure point provide good feedback. The impact is a little too soft (subjective).

The layout is standard and thanks to the generous size of the keyboard, the user can comfortably type without worrying about accidentally pressing two keys at a time. Sadly, this is true for all the keys except the ones in the upper row, which are half the size of the others. This makes their use a little clumsy. The cursor keys are placed in the bottom right and are full sized, which means that special keys, such as, "Shift" (right), had to be resized to the size of the letter keys. The keys produce a distinct, clacking noise, which makes this keyboard a little inconvenient in quiet surroundings.

Touchpad

Lenovo has decided to go with a ClickPad without physical keys (separate). The size of the device is good (subjective), but it does not react to touch in the outer regions. It is possible to slide the finger (even when wet) over the slightly rough surface comfortably. The ClickPad is precise and reacts quickly. Drag&Drop, double click and fast movements are all recognized and executed without issues.

The replacement mouse keys are quite nice. They have a short stroke distance, but, thanks to the great pressure point, the comfortably loud clicking noise and the hard impact, the user will receive clear feedback. Gestures are supported for up to four fingers and can be configured in the Synaptics driver settings.

Touchscreen

The 10-point touchscreen can be hard to interact with, if you have slightly moist fingers. The fingers end up sticking to the reflective surface, which is not very nice. However, if you keep your fingers dry, the screen will work reliably, even recognizing input in its furthest corners. The reaction time is low and it works without (major) issues.

Display

Pixel grid and touchscreen layer
Pixel grid and touchscreen layer

Lenovo has chosen an IPS FHD display and, due to the touch functionality (10 points), it is reflective. The 2 million pixels are distributed over 14 inches, resulting in a pixel density of 157 ppi. At a distance of 45 cm, this density feels close to the maximum resolution the human eye can distinguish: 188 ppi. This means that up close, you might be able to make out a few pixels here and there. Lenovo does not offer alternative screens.

At 91%, the illumination is great. Subjectively, we were not as happy, due to the clear "Screen Bleeding" we noticed with black or even bright content. The convertible will have to be used in varying surroundings, which means that the brightness of 248 cd/m² is far too low to ensure legibility at all times. At least, indoors, the convertible does a decent job and content is clearly recognizable. The HP Spectre x360 is much brighter, but it has worse illumination (measured values). 

239
cd/m²
249
cd/m²
254
cd/m²
239
cd/m²
243
cd/m²
251
cd/m²
247
cd/m²
245
cd/m²
262
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
BOE0637 / BOE DT NV140FHM-N41 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 262 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 247.7 cd/m² Minimum: 4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 242 cd/m²
Contrast: 759:1 (Black: 0.32 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.44 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.74 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
62.5% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
39.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
43.17% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
62.9% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
41.78% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.38
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB
BOE0637 / BOE DT NV140FHM-N41, , 1920x1080, 14.00
HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx
Chi Mei CMN1367, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 13 80HE004LGE
Samsung L_LLTN133YL03L01, , 3200x1800, 13.30
Dell Inspiron 13 7359-4839
Samsung SDC864D / 133HL [Dell P/N: PVFF5], , 1920x1080, 13.30
Display
51%
50%
-4%
Display P3 Coverage
41.78
65.4
57%
64.6
55%
40.31
-4%
sRGB Coverage
62.9
90.4
44%
89.5
42%
60.5
-4%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
43.17
65.8
52%
65.5
52%
41.65
-4%
Response Times
33%
113%
27%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
53 ?(20, 33)
33.2 ?(16, 17.2)
37%
36 ?(15, 21)
32%
38 ?(19, 19)
28%
Response Time Black / White *
39 ?(12, 27)
28 ?(5.6, 22.4)
28%
28 ?(11, 17)
28%
29 ?(6, 23)
26%
PWM Frequency
350 ?(60)
1330 ?(60)
280%
Screen
8%
16%
-15%
Brightness middle
243
334.6
38%
314
29%
253
4%
Brightness
248
319
29%
294
19%
232
-6%
Brightness Distribution
91
90
-1%
83
-9%
83
-9%
Black Level *
0.32
0.336
-5%
0.57
-78%
0.28
12%
Contrast
759
996
31%
551
-27%
904
19%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.44
6.21
-14%
2.18
60%
6.36
-17%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9.73
12
-23%
6.48
33%
12.72
-31%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.74
7.71
-63%
2.45
48%
10.26
-116%
Gamma
2.38 92%
2.36 93%
2.39 92%
2.28 96%
CCT
7799 83%
6458 101%
6745 96%
6500 100%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
39.6
58.6
48%
58
46%
38
-4%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
62.5
90
44%
89
42%
60
-4%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
31% / 20%
60% / 41%
3% / -7%

* ... smaller is better

The decent black value of 0.32 cd/m2 allows the Lenovo Yoga 510 to present a good contrast ratio of 759:1. The HP Spectre x360 takes the cherry with a great 996:1, which, combined with the high brightness and identical black value, makes it an attractive competitor. The black value of the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro is far too high at 0.57, which translates to a modest 551:1.

With factory settings, the color accuracy (ideally Delta E values should be lower than 3, color profile is linked) is too far from the optimal value: CCT value of 7,799 Kelvin is too high compared to the ideal of 6,500 Kelvin. This causes a slight blue tinge on the panel. The color space coverage is limited when compared to modern IPS standards. This means that unlike the Spectre x360 and the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro, our Yoga 510 and the Inspiron 13 are not even suitable for picture editing during free time.

CalMAN Grey Levels (factory settings)
CalMAN Grey Levels (factory settings)
CalMAN ColorChecker (factory settings)
CalMAN ColorChecker (factory settings)
CalMAN Saturation (factory settings)
CalMAN Saturation (factory settings)
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB vs. AdobeRGB
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB vs. AdobeRGB
CalMAN Grey Levels calibrated/profiled
CalMAN Grey Levels calibrated/profiled
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated/profiled
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated/profiled
CalMAN Saturation calibrated/profiled
CalMAN Saturation calibrated/profiled
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB vs. sRGB
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB vs. sRGB

Due to the reflective surface of the panel and the low brightness, the convertible cannot be comfortably used in all scenarios. For example, outdoors, the device will have issues displaying any content clearly. Even on a dark, cloudy day, it was not easy for us to look past the reflections. The photo on the right shows that it is possible with the right conditions (house entrance to the back).

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
39 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 12 ms rise
↘ 27 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. » 96 % 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
53 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 20 ms rise
↘ 33 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. » 88 % 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 detected 350 Hz ≤ 60 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 350 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 60 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 350 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware.

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.

Viewing angle stability is a unique strength of IPS panels, as even the latest TN panels cannot match their IPS competitors in this section. The Yoga 510 does exhibit some slight color deviations when the panel is moved to extreme angles (see photos). If the screen stays levels after being adjusted, the user will only notice a drop in contrast and brightness. However, this will mainly affect the use of the device while in tablet mode.

Performance

Processor

The Intel Core i5-7200U is a brand-new Kaby Lake processor and the direct successor of the very popular i5-6200U (Skylake, 2x 2.3-2.8 GHz, Hyperthreading, TDP 15 W). Despite having an almost identical architecture and the same Per-MHz performance, our CPU offers 10-15% more processor operations (thanks to the higher clock speeds of 2.5-3.1 GHz). This is partially possible thanks to the matured 14 nm manufacturing process. 

Like Skylake, Kaby Lake can work well with DDR4 RAM. The CPU has an integrated memory controller and the conservative Intel HD Graphics 620 graphics chip, which shares the main memory with the CPU. The performance of the CPU matches the slightly older, similarly clocked i7-6500U, which means that our processor can handle demanding tasks.

So far, the few benchmark results we have of this processor indicate that it is quite strong. For example, the processor can produce a 7% lead over the i7-6500U used in the Dell competitor. The higher clocked i7-7500U in the HP competitor should have scored higher and secured first place in our benchmarks, but it seems to have problems with Turbo. The i5-7200U of our test model does a great job of utilizing this feature, as both cores often run at 3.1 GHz when the laptop is at load. The test model exhibits the same performance even on battery.

 
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB
Intel Core i5-7200U
130 Points
HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx
Intel Core i7-7500U
126 Points -3%
Dell Inspiron 13 7359-4839
Intel Core i7-6500U
120 Points -8%
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 13 80HE004LGE
Intel Core M-5Y70
92 Points -29%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB
Intel Core i5-7200U
332 Points
HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx
Intel Core i7-7500U
314 Points -5%
Dell Inspiron 13 7359-4839
Intel Core i7-6500U
310 Points -7%
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 13 80HE004LGE
Intel Core M-5Y70
184 Points -45%
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6225
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
25.8 fps
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
32 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
98 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
130 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
332 Points
Help

System Performance

We must caution the reader that during our test we had a faulty Windows installation. We were not able to perform any file operations in the Steam and Origin folders (placed in "Program Files (x86)"). Our attempts to gain access for these operations left us with an error report from Microsoft detailing a failure to secure required rights. After running a system check, we started the laptop is safe mode and ran the desired file operations again. This solved the issue, but symptoms lingered: Steam and Origin clients started very slowly and the PCMark 8 Work benchmark refused to run multiple times.

Otherwise, the system performance of our test model was great, as expected of a laptop equipped with a Core-i processor, sufficient RAM and an SSD.

PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512
3795 Points +7%
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB
Radeon R5 M430, i5-7200U, Samsung MZYTY256HDHP
3550 Points
Dell Inspiron 13 7359-4839
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Liteonit LCH-256V2S
3224 Points -9%
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 13 80HE004LGE
HD Graphics 5300, 5Y70, Samsung SSD PM851 MZNTE512HMJH
2307 Points -35%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3550 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4529 points
Help

Storage Device

Lenovo is using an upper-end, SATA 3-limited SSD. While loading games, the maximum sequential read speed of the interface of 500 MB/s is easily reached. This is also true when starting the OS or programs. 4K read tests procured speeds of 30 MB/s, which is decent. The SSDs of the Dell competitor are relatively worse while the PCIe memory module (Samsung PM 951) of the HP competitor can score higher speeds in some categories. All-in-all, our test model offers good storage performance for everyday use.

Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB
Samsung MZYTY256HDHP
HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx
Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 13 80HE004LGE
Samsung SSD PM851 MZNTE512HMJH
Dell Inspiron 13 7359-4839
Liteonit LCH-256V2S
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
63%
-9%
-15%
Read Seq
518
1376
166%
521
1%
486.3
-6%
Write Seq
476.5
571
20%
238.6
-50%
283.7
-40%
Read 512
408
679
66%
417.3
2%
337.5
-17%
Write 512
274.5
571
108%
237.7
-13%
283.5
3%
Read 4k
35.66
42.66
20%
35.9
1%
26.75
-25%
Write 4k
106.7
137.9
29%
99.9
-6%
85.3
-20%
Read 4k QD32
368.7
535
45%
366.6
-1%
309.7
-16%
Write 4k QD32
246.3
361.2
47%
236.7
-4%
250.8
2%
Samsung MZYTY256HDHP
Sequential Read: 518 MB/s
Sequential Write: 476.5 MB/s
512K Read: 408 MB/s
512K Write: 274.5 MB/s
4K Read: 35.66 MB/s
4K Write: 106.7 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 368.7 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 246.3 MB/s

Graphics Card

The AMD Radeon R5 M430 is a DirectX-12-ready, entry-level graphics card, which has 2 GB of its own memory and access to a little DDR3 RAM (2,000 MHz) via a 64-bit interface. The driver (Crimson 16.9.2) of our GPU, which closely resembles the Radeon R5 M330, records a maximum clock speed of 1,030 MHz. The performance of the dedicated GPU cannot surpass the integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 graphics chip in any game we have tested so far. We asked ourselves: does it make sense to even shell out for such a dedicated GPU? It seems more likely that the manufacturer was focused on meeting marketing goals than performance standards.

In comparison to the Radeon R5 M330 (same build), the R5 M430 of our test model performed as expected. Popular, low-level Nvidia graphics cards, like the GeForce 920M(X), can match the performance of our device. On battery, the GPU performs at a similar level in 3DMark 11.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB
AMD Radeon R5 M430, Intel Core i5-7200U
1643 Points
HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1560 Points -5%
Dell Inspiron 13 7359-4839
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i7-6500U
1268 Points -23%
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 13 80HE004LGE
Intel HD Graphics 5300, Intel Core M-5Y70
740 Points -55%
3DMark - 1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
7969 Points +52%
Dell Inspiron 13 7359-4839
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i7-6500U
5896 Points +12%
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB
AMD Radeon R5 M430, Intel Core i5-7200U
5249 Points
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 13 80HE004LGE
Intel HD Graphics 5300, Intel Core M-5Y70
3202 Points -39%
3DMark 06 Standard Score
6246 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
4697 points
3DMark 11 Performance
1772 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
39823 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
4744 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
899 points
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Gaming Performance

As mentioned above, the Radeon R5 M430 is hard put to run any game better than the Intel HD 620 (which has no dedicated memory). The latest hit, Farming Simulator 17, is a good example: the HD 620 is behind the integrated Intel chip by around 15% at low settings and at medium settings it can claim a small lead over its counterpart. We observe a similar pattern in Bioshock Infinite from 2013, which we have tested with numerous graphics cards. With low presets, the R5 M430 is beaten by around half of all tested Intel HD 520 chips and at medium presets, the GPU is beaten by the majority of the tested HD 620 chips. The dedicated GPU of the Yoga 510 can only claim a modest lead in a few games, like Rainbow Six Siege.

The latest, demanding games, like Battlefield 1, are completely unplayable (<=30 FPS). With medium presets, the user will have to look towards older or less demanding games, such as, Dota 2, Diablo III, StarCraft II or Dirt Rally. Overall, the GPU was not able to convince us of its worth, especially with the strong Intel graphics chip performing at a similar level in most games.

low med. high ultra
Diablo III (2012) 66.1 42.3 34.2 21.4
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm (2013) 43.9 25.9 10
BioShock Infinite (2013) 42.3 26.5 22.5 8.2
Metro: Last Light (2013) 29.1 21.2 12.4
Battlefield 4 (2013) 42.9 29.9 19.1
Dirt Rally (2015) 117.3 32.5 15.9
The Witcher 3 (2015) 18
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 74 50.6 20.6 19.1
Anno 2205 (2015) 27.7 14.1
Fallout 4 (2015) 19.4 12.8
Star Wars Battlefront (2015) 36.3 22.2 10.1
Rainbow Six Siege (2015) 47 29.3 14.2
Just Cause 3 (2015) 25.1 19.5
Far Cry Primal (2016) 19 9
The Division (2016) 0 game wont start
Overwatch (2016) 41.3 31.3 14.5
Mirror's Edge Catalyst (2016) 27 16.3
Deus Ex Mankind Divided (2016) 13.5
Farming Simulator 17 (2016) 66.1 43 17.3

Emissions

Fan characteristics (idle, load)
Fan characteristics (idle, load)

System Noise

The nervous fan of the test model stays quiet when idle. We switched to power-saver mode for further testing, as this is the most likely power mode for mobile use. At low load, or when the laptop has load spikes, the fan kicks in and starts spinning at low speeds for short or long periods of time. At a distance of half a meter (~1.6 feet), the fan noise sounds like a whirring sound.

If the Yoga 510 is pushed to its limits with Prime95 + FurMark, the whirring gets a lot louder. Despite the fan running at medium speeds, it can be disturbing as it is accompanied by an unidentified, high frequency noise. At maximum speed, the noise is surprisingly more bearable at a distance of multiple meters, due to its softer and less disturbing pattern.

Noise Level

Idle
29 / 29 / 29 dB(A)
Load
37.3 / 43.1 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 dB(A)

Temperature

Speeds - Prime95+FurMark
Speeds - Prime95+FurMark

When idle, the temperatures of the test model are fine. At load, the bottom of the model can hit up to 46 °C (114.8 °F), which can be a little uncomfortable. However, at no time were the hand-rest regions hotter than 28 °C (82.4 °F).

If you thought that the separation of the GPU and the processor would mean better clock speeds, think again: during our stress test with Prime95 + FurMark, only the Radeon R5 M430 was able to maintain a regular clock speed (the HD 620 would have also performed similarly). The CPU cores throttle heavily. Despite reaching a mere 72 °C (161.6 °F), the clock speeds fluctuate between 1.7 and 1.8 GHz (base clock speed: 2.5 GHz).

Max. Load
 27.9 °C
82 F
40.1 °C
104 F
37.6 °C
100 F
 
 23.9 °C
75 F
33.9 °C
93 F
33.5 °C
92 F
 
 23.5 °C
74 F
23.9 °C
75 F
28.2 °C
83 F
 
Maximum: 40.1 °C = 104 F
Average: 30.3 °C = 87 F
38.1 °C
101 F
46.1 °C
115 F
27.2 °C
81 F
35.1 °C
95 F
36.7 °C
98 F
23.1 °C
74 F
28.7 °C
84 F
23.9 °C
75 F
23.3 °C
74 F
Maximum: 46.1 °C = 115 F
Average: 31.4 °C = 89 F
Power Supply (max.)  37.9 °C = 100 F | Room Temperature 19.5 °C = 67 F | Fluke 62 Max
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.3 °C / 87 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 40.1 °C / 104 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 46.1 °C / 115 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.1 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 28.2 °C / 82.8 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (-0.1 °C / -0.2 F).

Speakers

Harman Audio Menu
Harman Audio Menu
Realtek HD Audio Manager
Realtek HD Audio Manager

Harman does not help. The sound system produces a palette that is heavy on the middle and high notes. The sound can best be described as "compressed". The speakers can only fill rooms up to 15 m2 with their maximum volume. There is a hint of dynamic, but this by far not spatial sound.

If multiple heavy-bass instruments kick in, the system will produce a lighter sound, which will be noticed as a drop in volume by the user. The system even ends up mixing the sound. Songs with sparse instrument use, like "Walk On The Wild Side" by Lou Reed sounds acceptable, but a song like "Something For Nothing" by Foo Fighters, which relies heavily on instruments, will end up sounding shrill, distorted and mixed up. This sound system will not excite any multimedia fan.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.133.62534.135.23136.533.24038.538.15040.950.66337.947.380363310038.737.612536.83816029.738.120029.745.725030.260.831528.565.540027.561.450026.664.763025.966.980025.469.710002566.2125025.864.1160024.671.220002467.1250023.967.2315024.462.7400023.863.1500025.265.4630024.560800023.255.81000024.6561250024.853.41600023.247.1SPL37.478N3.142.3median 25.2median 62.7Delta2.17.239.339.536.838.136.336.234.733.933.935.233.335.332.831.932.2313131.429.435.829.648.52955.228.657.42859.826.260.125.660.22561.624.36724.57024.466.923.864.523.757.723.757.323.560.223.562.423.663.523.964.92461.72462.125.166.336.676.22.837.2median 24.5median 60.21.35.535.334.833.535.332.931.842.632.938.13636.438.132.331.931.232.330.433.731.530.429.728.331.729.726.827.829.726.827.22727.527.22826.227.32827.628.932.127.628.133.736.628.13337.442.5334753.356.44755.46165.355.452.258.162.252.246.752.456.846.751.357.46151.349.55558.949.541.447.450.941.444.349.953.944.350.856.460.550.847.553.657.447.548.35458.448.348.654.858.648.652.758.662.552.754.760.564.454.757.563.567.257.558.464.468.258.4586467.85857.963.967.757.964.370.374.164.317.825.632.717.8median 48.6median 54.8median 58.6median 48.68.79.59.48.741.340.641.341.635.541.64033.44042.132.442.142.731.842.742.833.642.841.430.841.443.53143.547.528.347.551.527.851.554.427.554.456.825.356.857.624.657.658.22458.261.223.461.264.322.364.370.221.670.265.520.965.565.520.565.566.819.966.863.819.763.857.819.757.860.419.760.461.519.561.565.119.665.160.319.460.359.819.559.856.419.356.459.419.359.46119.2617632.87638.21.938.2median 60.3median 20.5median 60.34.72.64.7hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo Yoga 510-14IKBHP Spectre x360 13-w023dxLenovo Yoga 3 Pro 13 80HE004LGEDell Inspiron 13 7359-4839
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (78 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 16% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.1% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (9.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (22.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 64% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 30% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 62% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 32% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (76.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.7% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.4% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (21.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 58% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 34% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 58% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 36% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 13 80HE004LGE audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (68 dB)
Analysis not possible as minimum curve is missing or too high

Dell Inspiron 13 7359-4839 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (68 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 8.4% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.7% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.9% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 16% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 81% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 13% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 84% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram for comparison (Checkboxes above can be selected!)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

This section requires a look at our test model class. As we do not yet have other 14-inch convertibles with an i5-7200U, a R5 M430 and an SSD, we will have to compare apples and oranges. If we limit ourselves to 14-inch models, the consumption of the Lenovo Yoga 510-14ISK is average in most scenarios. The idle maximum consumption is an exception as here the level is above the class average. This is also true for the load maximum, where the test model needs 55.9 W, which is significantly more than the average of 38.6 W.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.25 / 0.37 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.9 / 7.1 / 7.7 Watt
Load midlight 33.4 / 55.9 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 Yoga 510-14IKB
i5-7200U, Radeon R5 M430, Samsung MZYTY256HDHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 13 80HE004LGE
5Y70, HD Graphics 5300, Samsung SSD PM851 MZNTE512HMJH, IPS, 3200x1800, 13.30
Dell Inspiron 13 7359-4839
6500U, HD Graphics 520, Liteonit LCH-256V2S, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Power Consumption
2%
-3%
18%
Idle Minimum *
3.9
5.5
-41%
4.8
-23%
4
-3%
Idle Average *
7.1
6.7
6%
10.7
-51%
4.8
32%
Idle Maximum *
7.7
7.1
8%
11.8
-53%
7.6
1%
Load Average *
33.4
33.1
1%
18.3
45%
30
10%
Load Maximum *
55.9
35.2
37%
19.7
65%
29.3
48%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

As mentioned at the start, the battery life is not the best. A look at our table will tell you the reason: at 35 Wh, the battery of the Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB is far too small. We simply cannot understand why the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro, which has a larger battery and a smaller screen, has a 29% shorter battery life than our test model in our practical WLAN test (medium brightness). We expected the run times, which, for example, the Dell Inspiron 13 offers with its 44 Wh battery. Every user has to decide for themselves if the roughly 6.2 hours of surfing time on this test model is enough for them.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
12h 02min
WiFi Websurfing
6h 13min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 40min
Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB
i5-7200U, Radeon R5 M430, 35 Wh
HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 57.8 Wh
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 13 80HE004LGE
5Y70, HD Graphics 5300, 44 Wh
Dell Inspiron 13 7359-4839
6500U, HD Graphics 520, 44 Wh
Battery Runtime
47%
-29%
21%
Reader / Idle
722
1233
71%
886
23%
WiFi v1.3
373
558
50%
263
-29%
486
30%
Load
100
121
21%
109
9%

Pros

+ nice design (subjective)
+ fingerprints are not visible
+ great workmanship (on the outside)
+ ports are placed ergonomically
+ TPM + fingerprint sensor
+ good keyboard
+ very good touchpad
+ runs cool

Cons

- display cover can not be opened with one hand
- weak WLAN module
- have to dismantle the laptop to gain access to the hardware
- battery can not be removed from the outside
- display should be brighter
- PWN flickering
- screen bleeding
- slight blue tinge with the standard color profile
- Radeon R5 M430 is not strong enough
- battery life is limited

Verdict

In review: Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB. Test model provided by Campuspoint.
In review: Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB. Test model provided by Campuspoint.

Before we start running through the numerous flaws listed in the contra list, let us keep in mind the price tag of 800 Euros (~$848). For this price, we believe the display of the Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB is sub-par, but aside from "Screen Bleeding", it is acceptable. However, there is no justification for the weak WLAN performance. Furthermore, the fact that almost no convertibles offer a maintenance flap, does not save Lenovo from installing one in this model, as this would increase the convenience of upgrading and maintenance significantly. Of course, the manufacturers claim that the requirement for easy maintenance would prevent them from building a slim and light case, but, as this saves the user high repair and upgrade prices, it might be reasonable for them to find a way to put in a maintenance flap.

On the pro side, we have the great workmanship and the stylish case (subjective). The security mechanisms are also a surprise as few devices of this price class offer them. 

The Yoga convertible should be a lot cheaper, as Lenovo did not need a dedicated graphics card. This, combined with the short battery life, has left us with mixed feelings. We cannot wholeheartedly recommend this convertible to our readers.

Lenovo Yoga 510-14IKB - 11/17/2016 v5.1(old)
Sven Kloevekorn

Chassis
78 / 98 → 80%
Keyboard
85%
Pointing Device
94%
Connectivity
49 / 80 → 61%
Weight
66 / 35-78 → 72%
Battery
88%
Display
80%
Games Performance
56 / 68 → 82%
Application Performance
86 / 87 → 99%
Temperature
91%
Noise
91%
Audio
44 / 91 → 48%
Average
76%
82%
Convertible - Weighted Average

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Sven Kloevekorn, 2016-11-25 (Update: 2018-05-15)