Notebookcheck Logo

Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL (FHD, Core i7-8565U) Laptop Review

Meagre model. Lenovo is trying to make a splash in the compact ultrabook market by giving its laptops a makeover. The company has introduced new branding, the latest Intel CPUs and slimmer cases, but has it done enough to disrupt an already saturated market? Read on to find out whether its first non-convertible Yoga laptop, the Yoga S730-13IWL, or confusingly the 730s-13IWL in North America, can challenge its competitors.

The Yoga series has become a well-known brand since its introduction in 2012, with Lenovo exclusively releasing its convertible laptops under the Yoga name, such as the Yoga 730-13IKB. However, the company announced at IFA 2018 in Berlin that it would be expanding its Yoga range to position it alongside the Dell XPS and HP Envy series. Convertible Yoga devices will now have the letter “C” in their model names, such as the Yoga C930-13IKB, to signify that they are convertibles. Likewise, the model numbers of Yoga tablets or 2-in-1s will now be preceded by the letter “D”, while Lenovo will use “S” to denote its traditional laptops. The first model in the Yoga S series is the S730-13IWL, which is the focus of this review. 

Please note: Lenovo has not changed its naming scheme for its Yoga series in Canada and the US. The company sells the device as the IdeaPad 730S-13IWL rather than the Yoga S730-13IWL.

Our test device is the most expensive S730-13IWL variant that Lenovo currently sells in Germany. The device is equipped with a 1-TB SSD, 16 GB of RAM and an Intel Core i7-8565U processor, which is based on the new Intel Whiskey Lake architecture. We have chosen to compare the S730-13IWL against other compact 13.3-inch laptops such as the Apple MacBook Air 2018, the ASUS ZenBook S UX391U, the Dell XPS 13 9370 and the HP Envy 13.

Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL (Yoga S730 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-8565U 4 x 1.8 - 4.6 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
Memory
16 GB 
, LPDDR3 2133, soldered
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 166 PPI, B133HAN05.1, IPS LED, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Cannon Lake-U PCH-LP Premium
Storage
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR, 1024 GB 
, M.2-2280, PCIe NVMe SSD
Soundcard
Intel Cannon Lake-H/S - cAVS (Audio, Voice, Speech)
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 2 Thunderbolt, 2 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 11.9 x 307 x 210 ( = 0.47 x 12.09 x 8.27 in)
Battery
42 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: 6-row keyboard, Keyboard Light: yes, Lenovo App Explorer, Lenovo Vantage, McAfee LiveSafe, Microsoft Office Trial, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.096 kg ( = 38.66 oz / 2.42 pounds), Power Supply: 346 g ( = 12.2 oz / 0.76 pounds)
Price
1429 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL / IdeaPad 730S-13IWL
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL / IdeaPad 730S-13IWL

The Yoga S730-13IWL comes in silver or grey finishes. Our test device is the former variant and looks like a subtly redesigned IdeaPad 720s-13IKB. Basically, the keyboard area is roughly the same size, but the Yoga S730-13IWL is visibly slimmer, and Lenovo has equipped its new device with a glass display compared to the plastic display frame that it used in the IdeaPad 720s-13IKB.

Lenovo has constructed the S730-13IWL from aluminium, as well as the glass that it has used for the display. The use of materials is a good thing too as the device feels somewhat structurally unsound. The S730-13IWL is so thin that it feels like we could bend it slightly when we hold it by one of the front corners. Overall though, our test device feels robust, which is what we have come to expect from laptops in this price range. Moreover, the workmanship is to a high level with no uneven gaps between materials.

Lenovo has designed the S730-13IWL with a drop-down hinge that is covered by a plastic cover. It is well balanced too, as we can open the display with one hand. Also, the display hardly shakes when we open it, and it can open to 180°, which is unusually obtuse for a consumer-grade laptop. 

The Yoga S730-13IWL is comfortable to handle thanks to its thin frame and its light weight of around 1.1 kg (~2.4 lb). Our test device has a smaller overall footprint than the Envy 13 and the MacBook Air 2018. The XPS 13 9370 is marginally heavier though, although it is slightly more compact thanks to a narrower display bezel. By contrast, the ZenBook S UX391 is larger, but lighter than the Yoga S730-13IWL.

Size Comparison

311 mm / 12.2 inch 213 mm / 8.39 inch 12.9 mm / 0.508 inch 1 kg2.24 lbs307 mm / 12.1 inch 212 mm / 8.35 inch 14.9 mm / 0.587 inch 1.2 kg2.67 lbs304.1 mm / 12 inch 212.4 mm / 8.36 inch 15.6 mm / 0.614 inch 1.2 kg2.73 lbs306 mm / 12 inch 214 mm / 8.43 inch 13.6 mm / 0.535 inch 1.1 kg2.43 lbs307 mm / 12.1 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 11.9 mm / 0.4685 inch 1.1 kg2.42 lbs302 mm / 11.9 inch 199 mm / 7.83 inch 11.6 mm / 0.4567 inch 1.2 kg2.67 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Lenovo has taken a step in the right direction with ports. The Yoga S730-13IWL only has USB Type-C ports but for the headphone jack. The frame is too slim for USB Type-A or HDMI ports, although that was a Lenovo design decision. The S730-13IWL has lost the two USB Type-A ports that the IdeaPad 720s-13IKB has, which have been replaced with three USB Type-C ports. Two are on the right-hand side of the device with the third flanked by the headphone jack on the opposite side. The two right-hand USB Type-C ports support DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 and USB-PD, while the third only supports charging.

Only the Envy 13 has USB Type-A ports of our comparison devices with the others having USB Type-C ports exclusively. The Envy 13 and XPS 13 9370 have microSD card readers too, but the IdeaPad 720s-13IKB did not have this either, so at least Lenovo is being consistent in this regard.

Right-hand side: 2 x USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports
Right-hand side: 2 x USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports
Left-hand side: USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, Headphone jack
Left-hand side: USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, Headphone jack

Communication

Lenovo's datasheet states that it equips the S730-13IWL with either a 1x1 or 2x2 Wi-Fi module. Unfortunately, our test device has the slower 1x1 module, which is an Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165, as is the case for all models sold in Germany. The Wi-Fi performance is fine for daily use, but iperf3 Client benchmarks demonstrate the limitations that the 3165 module has compared to the more expensive Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 with its 2x2 antenna.

The webcam and microphones are typical for current laptops, and are good enough for video conferencing. In short, the microphones are better than the webcam, the latter of which takes pictures that are dominated by image noise.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Office
  (819 - 1332, n=4, last 2 years)
990 MBit/s +527%
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
611 MBit/s +287%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
557 MBit/s +253%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
507 MBit/s +221%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Broadcom 802.11ac
461 (216min - 525max) MBit/s +192%
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13IKB
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
343 MBit/s +117%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
158 (111min - 194max) MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Office
  (721 - 1690, n=4, last 2 years)
1067 MBit/s +272%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
625 MBit/s +118%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
588 MBit/s +105%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Broadcom 802.11ac
570 (566min - 572max) MBit/s +99%
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
510 MBit/s +78%
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13IKB
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
311 MBit/s +8%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
287 (207min - 312max) MBit/s

Accessories

Lenovo typically equips its Yoga devices with an active pen, but the Yoga S730-13IWL comes with only a 65 W-USB Type-C charger. Lenovo does not currently sell any S730-13IWL specific accessories either.

Maintenance

Unlike many other ultra-slimlaptops, the Yoga S730-13IWL can be maintained and repaired to a limited extent. Accessing the internal components requires unscrewing nine Torx T5 screws and carefully prying the bottom case free from several small plastic hooks. Removing the bottom case reveals the battery, the Wi-Fi module, the M.2-2280 SSD, the fan and the heatpipes. The RAM is not upgradable though, as it is soldered to the motherboard.

A look at the inside of the Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL / 730S-13IWL
A look at the inside of the Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL / 730S-13IWL

Warranty

The Yoga S730-13IWL comes with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty, which requires that you return the laptop when it needs to be serviced. This level of warranty cover is standard for laptops at this price. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties article for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The Yoga S730-13IWL has a six-row chiclet keyboard with a white two-stage backlight. The chiclet keys are rounded and have a smooth finish, which are not as comfortable to type on as Lenovo’s ThinkPad keyboards primarily because of their shorter stroke. However, the keys have more travel than the ones in the MacBook Air 2018. Overall, there is little to complain about the keyboard, but the vertical arrow keys are too small for our liking.

A look at the keyboard and trackpad
A look at the keyboard and trackpad

Trackpad

The Yoga S730-13IWL is the first Yoga device to lack a touchscreen and active pen support. The trackpad is therefore the only mouse replacement, a job that it does with flying colours. The trackpad is made from glass and measures 10.5 x 7 cm (~4.1 x 2.7 in), which is a great size in our opinion for a 13.3-inch laptop. The trackpad supports Windows Precision drivers and is smooth to execute multi-finger gestures efficiently.

There are no dedicated mouse buttons either, with Lenovo integrating the ClickPad within the bottom third of the trackpad. The buttons worked well during testing, and the trackpad did not wobble either, which can sometimes prove an issue with cheaper laptops.

Display

Sub-pixel array
Sub-pixel array
Our test device suffers from minor backlight bleeding, which looks stronger here than in daily use
Our test device suffers from minor backlight bleeding, which looks stronger here than in daily use

Lenovo sells the Yoga S730-13IWL with just one display option. The device has a 13.3-inch Full HD IPS screen with a glossy finish, with the lack of a 4K option making the S730-13IWL more of a mid-range laptop than something that could challenge the more premium variants of some of our comparison devices. 

Lenovo’s datasheet claims that the display should reach a maximum of 300 cd/m². However, X-Rite i1Pro 2 recorded our test device as reaching an average maximum brightness of 323 cd/m². Lenovo has equipped the device with a display that gets just as bright as many of comparison devices, although the XPS 13 9370 gets around 25% brighter than the S730-13IWL.

Our test device also hardly suffers from any backlight bleeding, and we could not measure any pulse-width modulation (PWM), which can cause eye strain and headaches for some people. Moreover, our test device has an 85% evenly lit display, which is on par with many of our comparison devices.

309
cd/m²
334
cd/m²
316
cd/m²
313
cd/m²
343
cd/m²
319
cd/m²
305
cd/m²
359
cd/m²
313
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
B133HAN05.1 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 359 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 323.4 cd/m² Minimum: 1.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 85 %
Center on Battery: 343 cd/m²
Contrast: 1039:1 (Black: 0.33 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.38 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.01 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
98% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
67.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
98.2% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.3% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.44
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
B133HAN05.1, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13IKB
LG Philips LGD04EF, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
SHP1484, , 1920x1080, 13.30
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
M133NVF3 R0, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
AUO B133HAN04.9, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Apple MacBook Air 2018
APPA039, , 2560x1600, 13.30
Display
-10%
2%
-17%
-5%
1%
Display P3 Coverage
66.3
64.3
-3%
68.9
4%
54.8
-17%
64.4
-3%
67.8
2%
sRGB Coverage
98.2
82.3
-16%
96.6
-2%
82.5
-16%
90.5
-8%
96.1
-2%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
67.8
60.2
-11%
69.6
3%
56.6
-17%
65.2
-4%
69.8
3%
Response Times
27%
-33%
33%
11%
18%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
53 ?(27, 26)
35 ?(17, 18)
34%
62.4 ?(32.4, 30)
-18%
31 ?(15, 16)
42%
44.8 ?(22.8, 22)
15%
39.6 ?(20.8, 18.8)
25%
Response Time Black / White *
31 ?(16, 15)
25 ?(14, 11)
19%
45.6 ?(24.4, 21.2)
-47%
24 ?(14, 10)
23%
29.2 ?(16, 13.2)
6%
28 ?(15.6, 12.4)
10%
PWM Frequency
131000 ?(90)
1008 ?(20)
1000 ?(90)
113600 ?(75)
Screen
-46%
-8%
8%
-37%
15%
Brightness middle
343
335
-2%
428
25%
289
-16%
299
-13%
320
-7%
Brightness
323
303
-6%
405
25%
310
-4%
300
-7%
315
-2%
Brightness Distribution
85
85
0%
87
2%
85
0%
92
8%
95
12%
Black Level *
0.33
0.46
-39%
0.26
21%
0.23
30%
0.26
21%
0.29
12%
Contrast
1039
728
-30%
1646
58%
1257
21%
1150
11%
1103
6%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
2.38
5.09
-114%
3.8
-60%
1.64
31%
5.6
-135%
1.2
50%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
3.55
11.92
-236%
7.2
-103%
3.31
7%
9.1
-156%
3.2
10%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.01
3.23
-7%
4.4
-46%
1.71
43%
5.5
-83%
0.8
73%
Gamma
2.44 90%
2.18 101%
2.21 100%
2.32 95%
2.47 89%
2.2 100%
CCT
7198 90%
6214 105%
7067 92%
6291 103%
7533 86%
6548 99%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
62
54
-13%
62.8
1%
52
-16%
58.9
-5%
62.1
0%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
98
82
-16%
96.4
-2%
82
-16%
90.3
-8%
96
-2%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
0.99
2.6
0.5
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-10% / -29%
-13% / -9%
8% / 6%
-10% / -24%
11% / 13%

* ... smaller is better

CalMAN: Colour Accuracy​​ - calibrated
CalMAN: Colour Accuracy​​ - calibrated
CalMAN: Colour Saturation - calibrated
CalMAN: Colour Saturation - calibrated
CalMAN: Greyscale – calibrated
CalMAN: Greyscale – calibrated

Subjectively, our test device has a decent display. The screen achieved a 1,039:1 contrast ratio in our tests, which is an acceptable level for a device at this price. Moreover, the display has low DeltaE deviations with additional calibration, the ICC profile for which we have included in the box above our comparison table. The display also reproduces images sharply, although a 4K option would do a better job. A 165 PPI pixel density is still suitable for a 13.3-inch display though.

The S730-13IWL also has solid colour space coverage. Lenovo has equipped our test device with an AUO display, although the company may use multiple display manufacturers as many other OEMs do. Our test device achieves 98% sRGB colour space coverage, which is higher than any of our comparison devices, although its AdobeRGB coverage is marginally short of what the XPS 13 9370 and MacBook Air 2018 manage. In short, the S730-13IWL has a display that is colour-accurate enough for semi-professional image editing, while the high colour space coverage ensures decent image quality.

98% sRGB coverage
98% sRGB coverage
62% AdobeRGB coverage
62% AdobeRGB coverage
Using the Lenovo Toga S730-13IWL / IdeaPad 730S-13IWL outside on a cloudy day
Using the Lenovo Toga S730-13IWL / IdeaPad 730S-13IWL outside on a cloudy day

Unfortunately, the S730-13IWL does not get bright enough for outdoor use. The glossy finish to the display attracts reflections even on cloudy days, which would completely overwhelm the display in direct sunlight.

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
31 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16 ms rise
↘ 15 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. » 81 % 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↗ 27 ms rise
↘ 26 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 not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18071 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Our test device has stable viewing angles, thanks to its IPS display. We did not notice any glowing effects at acute viewing angles that is typical of many IPS display, nor did we notice any brightness or colour distortions.

Viewing Angles
Viewing Angles

Performance

Lenovo currently sells the S730-13IWL in seven configurations in Germany, the cheapest of which is equipped with an Intel Core i5-8265U processor. All other models are equipped with the more powerful Intel Core i7-8565U processor, while RAM varies between 8 GB and 16 GB of DDR3L-2133 memory that is soldered to the motherboard. Lenovo equips the S730-13IWL with either a 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB SSD. The company also sells the device in two colours, on which we elaborated towards the beginning of our review.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z Caches
CPU-Z Caches
CPU-Z Mainboard
CPU-Z Mainboard
CPU-Z Memory
CPU-Z Memory
HWiNFO
HWiNFO
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
LatencyMon
LatencyMon
 

Processor

The Core i7-8565U is a new quad-core CPU from Intel’s 8th generation Core processors that is based on the company’s "Whiskey Lake" architecture. The CPU is just a minor update over the Core i7-8550U, with Intel increasing the Turbo Boost clock speed from 4 GHz to 4.6 GHz. Please see our CPU comparison page for more information about various CPUs, including the Core i7-8565U.

The higher clock speed only affected single-core performance in our tests. The CPU consumes 25 W for 30 seconds during a Cinebench R15 multi-core benchmark loop, with the processor clocking between 3.1-3.3 GHz. The TDP then drops to 17 W after 30 seconds, which causes the clock speed to reduce to around 2.6 GHz. Our Cinebench loop demonstrates that our test device cannot even maintain this clock speed though with the TDP sinking to 11 W and the clock speed falling to 2.1 GHz. The CPU core temperatures average around 70 °C (~158 °F) when the TDP is at 11 W, which indicates to us that Lenovo prefers the S730-13IWL to run quieter and cooler than for it to reach its maximum potential performance.

03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630665Tooltip
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL Intel Core i7-8565U, Intel Core i7-8565U: Ø479 (455-638)
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5 Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel Core i5-8250U: Ø593 (543-676.82)
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng Intel Core i7-8550U, Intel Core i7-8550U: Ø445 (425.56-530.84)
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13IKB Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel Core i5-8250U: Ø513 (509.4-516.39)

The Core i7-8565U achieves a slightly higher score than the Core i7-8550U in the single-core portion of Cinebench R15, with our test device scoring around 4% higher than the XPS 13 9370 and the ZenBook S UX391U with their Core i7-8550U processors. There is no such advantage in multi-core benchmarks though as the Core i7-8565U could not reach its 600 MHz higher boost clock speed. As a result, our test device only scored 1 more point than the XPS 13 9370 in the Cinebench R15 multi-core benchmark. The XPS gets the most from its processor though, with the S730-13IWL scoring 6% higher than the ZenBook S UX391U and 21% higher than the Envy 13 in the same benchmark.

Predictably, the S730-13IWL wipes the floor with the MacBook Air 2018 and its energy-efficient Core i5-8210Y processor. Interestingly, the 720s-13IKB outscores our test device by the end of our benchmark loop, despite being powered by a Core i5-8250U processor, which is theoretically weaker than the Core i7-8565U. It is worth keeping in mind that our test device does not restrict CPU performance when on battery.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (82.6 - 284, n=117, last 2 years)
216 Points +26%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (138.3 - 193, n=51)
172.5 Points +1%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
Intel Core i7-8565U
171 Points
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Intel Core i7-8550U
165 Points -4%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
Intel Core i7-8550U
165 Points -4%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
Intel Core i7-8550U
108 Points -37%
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
Intel Core i7-8550U
160 Points -6%
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13IKB
Intel Core i5-8250U
138 Points -19%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Intel Core i5-8210Y
132 Points -23%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (160.8 - 2642, n=119, last 2 years)
1392 Points +118%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
Intel Core i7-8565U
640 Points
Dell XPS 13 9370 i7 UHD
Intel Core i7-8550U
639 Points 0%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (452 - 815, n=52)
612 Points -4%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
Intel Core i7-8550U
602 Points -6%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
Intel Core i7-8550U
301 Points -53%
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
Intel Core i7-8550U
531 Points -17%
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13IKB
Intel Core i5-8250U
506 Points -21%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Intel Core i5-8210Y
285 Points -55%
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
26851 Points
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
8635 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
6640
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
19910
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
7305
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
8720 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 32Bit
1.65 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
45.22 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
7.11 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 32Bit
6.52 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 32Bit
44.71 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.87 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
171 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
640 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
57.5 fps
Help

System Performance

The Yoga S730-13IWL performed well in PCMark benchmarks too, although it did not finish top of all our PCMark comparison tables. We have nothing to complain about from using our test device daily either.

PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Office
  (2325 - 7157, n=104, last 2 years)
5340 Points +33%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
4022 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2486 - 4178, n=21)
3906 Points -3%
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG
3802 Points -5%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
3764 Points -6%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
3321 Points -17%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y, Apple SSD AP0256
2174 Points -46%
Essentials
Average of class Office
  (5095 - 20841, n=104, last 2 years)
9828 Points +12%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
8787 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (5450 - 9029, n=21)
8273 Points -6%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
7988 Points -9%
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG
7614 Points -13%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
7087 Points -19%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y, Apple SSD AP0256
4504 Points -49%
Productivity
Average of class Office
  (3041 - 10198, n=104, last 2 years)
7453 Points +12%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3381 - 7588, n=21)
6707 Points +1%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
6667 Points
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG
6378 Points -4%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
6111 Points -8%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
5926 Points -11%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y, Apple SSD AP0256
3902 Points -41%
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Office
  (1912 - 9056, n=104, last 2 years)
5782 Points +92%
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG
3071 Points +2%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
3058 Points +1%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
3014 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2264 - 3370, n=21)
2926 Points -3%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
2296 Points -24%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y, Apple SSD AP0256
1609 Points -47%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Office
  (2304 - 4830, n=12, last 2 years)
4261 Points +38%
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG
4051 Points +31%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
3994 Points +29%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
3554 Points +15%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2577 - 4179, n=20)
3539 Points +14%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
3096 Points
Apple MacBook Air 2018
UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y, Apple SSD AP0256
2484 Points -20%
Work Score Accelerated v2
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG
5069 Points +7%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
4906 Points +4%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4882 Points +3%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3596 - 5189, n=19)
4762 Points +1%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8565U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
4733 Points
Average of class Office
  (1854 - 5610, n=12, last 2 years)
3746 Points -21%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
UHD Graphics 617, i5-8210Y, Apple SSD AP0256
3209 Points -32%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3096 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4733 points
PCMark 10 Score
4022 points
Help

Storage Devices

Our test device is equipped with a 1-TB Samsung PM981 M.2-2280 SSD, which is an extremely fast PCIe NVMe drive. The PM981 is currently the standard against which other SSDs are measured; none of our comparison devices are equipped with faster SSDs.

Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13IKB
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Average Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-0%
-30%
-12%
-5%
16%
Write 4K
139.6
128.2
-8%
112.9
-19%
98.9
-29%
115
-18%
165.7 ?(92.4 - 1107, n=25)
19%
Read 4K
36.97
48.09
30%
38.69
5%
38.33
4%
41.36
12%
44.6 ?(37 - 52.6, n=25)
21%
Write Seq
1490
1088
-27%
654
-56%
1414
-5%
1208
-19%
1982 ?(981 - 2389, n=25)
33%
Read Seq
1321
1877
42%
642
-51%
1051
-20%
1448
10%
1764 ?(976 - 2543, n=25)
34%
Write 4K Q32T1
302.4
367.1
21%
305.9
1%
370.7
23%
395
31%
395 ?(205 - 603, n=25)
31%
Read 4K Q32T1
375.4
411.9
10%
351.6
-6%
251.4
-33%
373.9
0%
434 ?(270 - 592, n=25)
16%
Write Seq Q32T1
2391
1078
-55%
869
-64%
1606
-33%
1217
-49%
2351 ?(1706 - 2404, n=25)
-2%
Read Seq Q32T1
3272
2771
-15%
1683
-49%
3218
-2%
3167
-3%
3234 ?(1758 - 3505, n=25)
-1%
Write 4K Q8T8
1254
1408 ?(1254 - 1562, n=2)
12%
Read 4K Q8T8
1525
1449 ?(1373 - 1525, n=2)
-5%
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
Sequential Read: 1570 MB/s
Sequential Write: 1700 MB/s
512K Read: 1054 MB/s
512K Write: 1853 MB/s
4K Read: 64.3 MB/s
4K Write: 158.3 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 512 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 419.5 MB/s

Graphics Card

The Core i7-8565U integrates an Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU, which Intel also uses in its Kaby Lake Refresh CPUs such as the Core i7-8550U and Core i5-8250U.

The S730-13IWL has dual-channel RAM, which allows the system to fully exploit its integrated GPU. The performance pales in comparison to the NVIDIA GeForce MX150 GPU that Lenovo equips in the IdeaPad 720s-13IKB and which HP uses in the Envy 13. Unfortunately, the company does not offer a dedicated GPU option with the S730-13IWL. Our test device does not limit GPU performance when running on battery either.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Office
  (1474 - 12230, n=113, last 2 years)
5932 Points +226%
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
3512 Points +93%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8565U
1817 Points
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1776 Points -2%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points -4%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Intel UHD Graphics 617, Intel Core i5-8210Y
1572 Points -13%
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13IKB
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1537 Points -15%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1440 Points -21%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Office
  (5681 - 58068, n=96, last 2 years)
24181 Points +186%
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
17325 Points +105%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6205 - 16400, n=225)
9262 Points +10%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8565U
8446 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13IKB
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
8025 Points -5%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
7372 Points -13%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Intel UHD Graphics 617, Intel Core i5-8210Y
7231 Points -14%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Office
  (712 - 8815, n=115, last 2 years)
4125 Points +245%
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
2874 Points +140%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8565U
1196 Points
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (557 - 2608, n=213)
1161 Points -3%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1100 Points -8%
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
997 Points -17%
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13IKB
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
954 Points -20%
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Intel UHD Graphics 617, Intel Core i5-8210Y
947 Points -21%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Office
  (242 - 3186, n=111, last 2 years)
1341 Points +247%
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
843 Points +118%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (299 - 797, n=88)
389 Points +1%
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8565U
387 Points
Apple MacBook Air 2018
Intel UHD Graphics 617, Intel Core i5-8210Y
286 Points -26%
3DMark 11 Performance
2025 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
6769 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1073 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
444 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The gaming performance of the Intel UHD Graphics 620 is not worth mentioning. The integrated GPU can run some older games smoothly at reduced graphics and low resolutions, but playing newer or more complex games is out of the question.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 81.7 41 34.1 10.38
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 19
Civilization VI (2016) 39.9 17.2

Emissions

Fan Noise

The fan in our test device is always off when the system is idling. Unfortunately, the device does not operate silently, as it emits an electronic noise that sounds like coil whine. The fan reaches a maximum of 37.5 dB(A) under load, which is neither exceptionally loud nor an annoyingly high frequency.

Noise Level

Idle
30.6 / 30.6 / 30.6 dB(A)
Load
37.5 / 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: 30.6 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2033.932.432.331.833.92532.333.233.233.132.33131.832.533.533.931.84032.529.63231.932.55031.830.530.630.831.86329.627.929.728.729.68026.527.528.227.626.510026.12627.326.426.112525.525.42625.225.516024.824.42423.624.820023.72323.122.823.725022.621.822.422.622.631522.220.821.621.222.240021.421.120.620.421.450020.820.420.119.820.86302119.819.219.32180020.719.618.618.820.7100023.421.11817.823.4125022.320.418.317.822.3160024.222.11817.724.2200026.42417.917.826.425002926.11817.729315028.224.218.517.928.2400026.122.518.318.226.1500026.92318.218.226.9630025.721.418.218.425.780002319.918.718.6231000021.119.218.718.621.11250020.318.918.718.520.3160001918.618.618.519SPL37.534.630.830.637.5N2.41.91.31.32.4median 23.4median 21.4median 18.7median 18.6median 23.4Delta2.32.11.82.12.333.136.830.134.236.329.228.629.529.730.133.429.529.530.23431.628.927.23032.539.638.427.927.540.927.226.426.626.82823.725.825.124.925.725.827.323.823.826.523.623.822.8232521.622.422.721.921.721.92222.721.721.721.521.621.32121.822.220.621.219.520.120.319.819.919.119.921.619.819.918.220.22219.62018.219.722.119.719.217.319.724.520.42017.320.225.320.419.616.720.225.921.520.41619.626.821.120.115.620.227.120.919.215.919.927.721.618.916.11927.22018.116.4182618.417.716.517.622.818.317.716.917.620.117.617.417.117.318.417.517.517.117.317.617.417.417.117.217.117.117.11717.137.332.231.229.131.32.51.71.51.21.5median 22.2median 20.4median 19.9median 17.1median 19.92.81.61.41.61.7hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseLenovo Yoga S730-13IWLDell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5

Temperature

FurMark & Prime95 stress test
FurMark & Prime95 stress test

The S730-13IWL also maintains its surface temperatures well despite its slim metal case. Our test device reaches a maximum of 46 °C (~115 °F) on the top case, which is well below the critical 50 °C (~122 °F) threshold, above which we would consider a device to get too hot to use on your lap when it is being pushed hard. On the positive side, the palm rest remained cool throughout testing.

Our test device aggressively manages its temperatures to achieve cool surface temperatures. The CPU core temperatures exceed 90 °C (~194 °F) for a short period during a combined FurMark and Prime95 stress test, but this is only when the CPU is consuming its full 25 W. The core temperatures the drop significantly after 30 seconds when the Turbo Boost switches off. The CPU eventually drops to 8 W during our one-hour stress test, during which the CPU operates at only 600 MHz. The CPU core temperatures stabilise at around 60 °C (~140 °F), but our test device has thermal throttled heavily to cool itself down.

Our test device scored around 300 points lower in 3DMark 11 too when we ran the benchmark immediately after our stress test compared to when we ran after the machine had been idling. In short, expect the S730-13IWL to thermal throttle when pushed hard in daily use too.

Max. Load
 40.6 °C
105 F
46.1 °C
115 F
40 °C
104 F
 
 32.9 °C
91 F
42.7 °C
109 F
36 °C
97 F
 
 28.5 °C
83 F
27.5 °C
82 F
30 °C
86 F
 
Maximum: 46.1 °C = 115 F
Average: 36 °C = 97 F
40.1 °C
104 F
43.9 °C
111 F
33.5 °C
92 F
35 °C
95 F
35 °C
95 F
30.9 °C
88 F
31.6 °C
89 F
31.7 °C
89 F
30.4 °C
87 F
Maximum: 43.9 °C = 111 F
Average: 34.7 °C = 94 F
Power Supply (max.)  36.3 °C = 97 F | Room Temperature 22.8 °C = 73 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 36 °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 46.1 °C / 115 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 43.9 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.4 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 30 °C / 86 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (-2.3 °C / -4.1 F).
Heatmap of the top of the device at idle
Heatmap of the top of the device at idle
Heatmap of the bottom of the device at idle
Heatmap of the bottom of the device at idle
Heatmap of the top of the device under load
Heatmap of the top of the device under load
Heatmap of the bottom of the device under load
Heatmap of the bottom of the device under load

Speakers

The S730-13IWL has stereo speakers that are on the underside of the device, which deliver average audio quality for laptop speakers. By contrast, the speakers in the MacBook Air 2018 sound significantly better than those in our test device. The speakers in the Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB sound better too, thanks to being placed within the hinge. We would recommend connecting external speakers or headphones over Bluetooth or the headphone jack for a better audio experience.

Lenovo advertises the S730-13IWL as having "Dolby Atmos Speakers". Lenovo has pre-installed the Dolby Atmos app to its credit, which is typically a paid app on the Microsoft Store. Activating Atmos causes audio to sound noticeably louder, and there are also sound profile options should you wish to tinker with how your audio sounds. Naturally, it is a matter of taste whether Dolby Atmos and its audio profiles improve audio quality though.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2032.431.832.42533.533.133.53132.633.932.64033.231.933.25028.830.828.86328.128.728.18032.727.632.710039.726.439.712548.925.248.916052.323.652.320044.922.844.92505322.65331557.221.257.240061.420.461.45006419.86463064.419.364.480068.918.868.9100068.117.868.1125067.617.867.6160066.517.766.5200067.617.867.6250065.917.765.9315066.817.966.8400063.318.263.3500059.718.259.7630058.818.458.8800059.218.659.21000056.218.656.21250058.918.558.91600052.818.552.8SPL77.530.677.5N38.41.338.4median 59.7median 18.6median 59.7Delta6.72.16.730.128.225.925.324.925.522.526.322.225.323.836.722.135.621.243.220.450.620.256.12054.32053.719.356.719.26018.862.818.463.91860.617.564.617.263.316.364.215.966.915.465.515.261.715.160.61561.614.960.614.657.514.65514.456.614.657.128.5751.136.1median 17.2median 60.62.2428.729.926.826.429.325.126.224.725.233.523.430.121.84120.848.920.953.720.460.720.562.120.561.720.363.919.966.719.865.918.768.618.7681862.917.66317.564.417.267.716.867.216.467.415.96715.762.615.857.115.557.51551.914.848.414.441.229.377.41.242.5median 17.6median 62.92.36hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo Yoga S730-13IWLApple MacBook Air 2018Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (68.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 10.4% lower than median
(-) | bass is not linear (15.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.3% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 23% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 71% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 30% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 62% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook Air 2018 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (75 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 8.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (12.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 13% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 84% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 7% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 90% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo Yoga C930-13IKB audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (77.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(+) | good bass - only 4.8% away from median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | reduced highs - on average 5.1% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (5.4% 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, 80% 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%

Power Management

Power Consumption

Strikingly, the S730-13IWL has almost the lowest minimum power consumption of our comparison devices with only the MacBook Air 2018 being more energy efficient. However, power consumption rises to a maximum of 53 W under load, which puts our test device bottom in our comparison table in this respect. Fortunately, the Yoga S730-13IWL’s average power consumption under load is on par with our quad-core comparison devices.

The 65-W USB Type-C charger had no issues with recharging our test device throughout our time with it. We do not expect any charging issues in daily use either as its 53-W maximum power consumption is well short of the charger’s rated wattage.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.47 / 0.45 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3 / 5.6 / 11 Watt
Load midlight 38 / 53 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 S730-13IWL
i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Apple MacBook Air 2018
i5-8210Y, UHD Graphics 617, Apple SSD AP0256, IPS, 2560x1600, 13.30
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13IKB
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
 
Average of class Office
 
Power Consumption
10%
-16%
-0%
21%
-3%
-3%
-15%
Idle Minimum *
3
3.14
-5%
5.3
-77%
3.24
-8%
2.2
27%
3.9
-30%
3.81 ?(1 - 12.4, n=259)
-27%
4.28 ?(2.2 - 9.6, n=106, last 2 years)
-43%
Idle Average *
5.6
5.22
7%
7.3
-30%
6.1
-9%
5.7
-2%
7.7
-38%
6.94 ?(2.8 - 15.7, n=261)
-24%
7.34 ?(3.8 - 20.6, n=106, last 2 years)
-31%
Idle Maximum *
11
6
45%
9.3
15%
9.2
16%
10.3
6%
10.4
5%
8.75 ?(3.8 - 30, n=259)
20%
9.11 ?(4.8 - 23.9, n=106, last 2 years)
17%
Load Average *
38
38.5
-1%
39
-3%
38.8
-2%
25.6
33%
33.3
12%
35 ?(8.1 - 51.6, n=259)
8%
40.8 ?(8.7 - 75.2, n=105, last 2 years)
-7%
Load Maximum *
53
50.4
5%
46
13%
52.6
1%
30.6
42%
34
36%
47.5 ?(22 - 96.3, n=261)
10%
57.8 ?(11.1 - 101.4, n=106, last 2 years)
-9%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Charging time: 121 minutes
Charging time: 121 minutes

The Yoga S730-13IWL has a 42 Wh battery, which is smaller than the batteries in all our comparison devices. By contrast, all our comparison devices but the IdeaPad 720s-13IKB have at least 50 Wh batteries. Predictably, the S730-13IWL has worse battery life than our comparison devices too.

Our test device still achieves a respectable 6:54 hours in our Wi-Fi battery life test, which is just short of a full day’s use. However, the S730-13IWL falls well short of all our comparison devices here, with the XPS 13 9370, MacBook Air 2018 and IdeaPad 720s-13IKB all lasting over 10 hours in the same battery life test. The Envy 13 and ZenBook S UX391U lasted 16% and 19% longer respectively than our test device, which is likely to be the difference between needing to find a charger before the end of the day and having just enough battery life to see you beyond 7/8 hours mixed use on battery.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
15h 54min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge)
6h 54min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
8h 52min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 40min
Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL
i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620, 42 Wh
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 52 Wh
HP Envy 13-ah0003ng
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, 53.2 Wh
Asus ZenBook S UX391U
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 50 Wh
Apple MacBook Air 2018
i5-8210Y, UHD Graphics 617, 50.3 Wh
Lenovo Ideapad 720S-13IKB
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 46 Wh
Average of class Office
 
Battery Runtime
45%
0%
23%
44%
15%
36%
Reader / Idle
954
1417
49%
931
-2%
1340
40%
1035
8%
1435 ?(527 - 2359, n=22, last 2 years)
50%
H.264
532
831
56%
378
-29%
621
17%
740
39%
699 ?(348 - 1112, n=39, last 2 years)
31%
WiFi v1.3
414
644
56%
481
16%
491
19%
668
61%
608
47%
594 ?(300 - 1137, n=106, last 2 years)
43%
Load
100
119
19%
116
16%
115
15%
131
31%
91
-9%
119.4 ?(56 - 218, n=65, last 2 years)
19%

Verdict

Pros

+ thin, premium aluminium case
+ 180° display
+ USB Type-C ports on both sides of the frame
+ high-quality IPS display
+ almost 100% sRGB coverage
+ solid input devices
+ fast Samsung PCIe NVMe SSD
+ the fan is silent at idle

Cons

- Comparatively poor battery life
- no USB Type-A ports
- no dedicated GPU option
- the CPU performance is worse than its predecessor under sustained load
- heavy thermal throttling under load
- glossy display
- 1x1 Wi-Fi module
- no 4K display option
- coil whine
The Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL / IdeaPad 730s-13IWL laptop review. Test device courtesy of Notebooksbilliger.de.
The Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL / IdeaPad 730s-13IWL laptop review. Test device courtesy of Notebooksbilliger.de.

Lenovo has left the popular ways of its Yoga series behind with the release of the Yoga S730-13IWL; at least in Europe and Asia anyway, as the company sells the device as the IdeaPad 730s-13IWL in Canada and the US. Lenovo tried undercutting the Dell XPS 13 with the IdeaPad 710s-13ISK and the IdeaPad 720s-13IKB, but the concept is wearing thin with the S730-13IWL.

Lenovo has made too many compromises with the Yoga S730-13IWL, which causes it to fall just short of the best compact ultrabooks that Lenovo is desperately trying to outdo.

Some changes are welcome though, such as the premium aluminium case, which is comfortable to hold thanks to being a few millimetres slimmer. Moreover, we applaud Lenovo for including three USB Type-C ports and for making two of them Thunderbolt 3. Having USB Type-C ports on either side of the device allows you to charge it from either side, which is inherently more flexible than having one side from which to choose.

The display is much better too with a high colour space coverage and no PWM. The keyboard also has a good stroke to it, although it is not at ThinkPad level. Likewise, we like the glass trackpad, while the inclusion of a Samsung PM981 SSD is commendable as it is currently the standard-bearer of NVMe drives. Finally, the 180° hinge opening is useful and is something we are more used to seeing with business laptops than with consumes ones.

Unfortunately, there are some downsides, which mainly stem from the slim case. The battery is comparatively small and yields disappointing battery life. Equally, the lack of USB Type-A may frustrate some people, as could the absence of a dedicated GPU option. Furthermore, Lenovo has equipped the device with a single fan, which causes the processor to thermal throttle heavily. We would have liked matte or 4K display options too because the glossy finish attracts fingerprints and reflections. Moreover, the Wi-Fi card is a weak choice for an expensive laptop, while the coil whine could become irritating in the long run.

The Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL is a decent laptop overall, but it is not one that we can recommend over its competitors. It is a solid ultrabook in most respect, but devices such as the Dell XPS 13 9370 are more complete all-rounders, while other competitors such as the HP Envy 13 have 4K display options and dedicated GPUs. In short, we would recommend considering the best of our comparison devices before you think about buying the Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL.

Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL - 12/22/2018 v6(old)
Benjamin Herzig

Chassis
87 / 98 → 89%
Keyboard
82%
Pointing Device
91%
Connectivity
56 / 80 → 70%
Weight
74 / 20-67 → 100%
Battery
90%
Display
88%
Games Performance
60 / 68 → 88%
Application Performance
83 / 92 → 90%
Temperature
90%
Noise
91%
Audio
61%
Camera
39 / 85 → 46%
Average
76%
86%
Office - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

Read all 5 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo Yoga S730-13IWL (FHD, Core i7-8565U) Laptop Review
Benjamin Herzig, 2018-12-24 (Update: 2019-02-23)