27 Aug
Blog

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 Review: The Legacy Continues

Lenovo Ideapad Slim 7 review Thinkpad X1 Yoga Gen5 01

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5

"The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 continues the old ThinkPad legacy without missing out on modern features."

  • Excellent workmanship

  • Tactile keyboard

  • Additional security functions

  • The pen is included

  • Convenient port selection

  • Thick bezels and outdated design

  • Too expensive

  • Uses Comet Lake processors

ThinkPads don't change. The decades-old design is part of its enduring legacy, and its looks have become iconic over the years.

The ThinkPad X1 Yoga, however, has always been a deviation from the norm. With an aluminum case, touchscreen, and included stylus, it's not your father's ThinkPad – that's the saying.

Now in its fifth generation, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga has been updated with the latest internals, and sky-high prices remain. My test unit was $ 2,303, and even the base model is a whopping $ 1,439. Does the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 live up to the venerable ThinkPad legacy? Let's find out.

design

The aluminum case is the standout feature of this laptop, which is strange to say. Since the days of the early MacBook Air, the silver color scheme has been brought to death. Of course, not every silver laptop is created equal, and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 gets it right. It's a discreet dark gray – dare I say "Space Gray" in tone.

The aluminum material makes it even more robust than your average ThinkPad. This builds on the brand's pedigree for great build quality, and it's even more important for a convertible laptop with a 360-degree hinge. The X1 Yoga should be used as a laptop, but it should also be rotated in "media" mode or even turned upside down in "tent" mode. It's a device that you should touch, and that's what durability is important for. The aluminum also helps in reducing fingerprints for which the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is known.

Whether it's the distinctive keyboard or the TrackPoint node, you won't confuse this with a MacBook.

The hinge is constructed tightly – maybe even a little too tight. Like most laptops, it cannot be opened with one finger and requires a two-handed grip to pull it apart. However, the aluminum adds to the weight of the device. It comes in at just under three pounds, which is over half a pound heavier than the X1 Carbon.

Outside of the aluminum, the X1 Yoga is a ThinkPad through and through. Whether it's the distinctive keyboard or the TrackPoint node, you won't confuse this with a MacBook or anything else.

Thick bezels are also part of this specialty. On all sides, they're not as slim as I would expect from a laptop released in 2020, even when compared to some other 14-inch laptops from Lenovo. The lower chin is a particularly notable culprit. Other 2-in-1 laptops like the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 or the HP Specter x360 can maximize screen space better.

Ports

ThinkPads have always offered a wide variety of ports, and the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 is no exception. On the left side there are two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a USB-A port, HDMI and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Lenovo's proprietary mechanical docking connection is connected to one of the Thunderbolt 3 ports and can be helpful when setting up a new home office. However, the dock itself is sold separately.

On the right side you will find another USB-A port, the power switch, a Kensington lock and the pen slot. The included pen, the ThinkPad Pen Pro, is a great addition. Many manufacturers such as HP and Dell charge a surcharge for a pen and do not offer a housing for the device. Unfortunately, the ThinkPad Pen Pro cannot be pulled out when the laptop is flat on the table. Other pen slots, such as those used by Samsung, have a spring mechanism that allows them to pop out.

The pen itself is light and simple, precise enough to take notes and scroll through web pages. For a pen that's better for illustrating, consider using either an Apple Pencil or a Surface Pen.

The ports on the right have been moved towards you to make room for a sizeable exhaust vent. The location of the vent also means that if you're right-handed and want to use an external mouse, a wave of hot air will be pushed towards you. Plus, the single USB-A port is in an awkward spot where cables can dangle.

Although the device has two Thunderbolt 3 ports, both of which can be charged, I would have preferred if Lenovo split them up. Charging from both sides of the laptop can definitely come in handy.

Keyboard and touchpad

ThinkPads are known for their keyboards. I understand why – that extra travel in the keys is a rare feature these days. After a few days of typing, I began to appreciate the luxury of this long trip. The slight concavity of the keys is comfortable, and the additional force exerted on the key presses ensures tactile precision.

But I have to admit, I have problems with the layout of this keyboard. In line with ThinkPad tradition, the X1 Yoga still swaps the fn and ctrl keys on the left. The different layout bothers me every time I type on a ThinkPad computer and it never stops being frustrating. It took me several days to type Ctrl + T and Ctrl + Z incorrectly to unlearn the layout.

But there is more. ThinkPads use the standard half-size arrow keys that are just below the rest of the keys. That alone can cause me to trip a bit, but placing PgUp and PgDn keys right next to them is additionally problematic. As a touch typist, I can't tell you the number of times I accidentally jumped to the page because of small errors.

Touch typists have to unlearn some keyboard commands.

My final layout complaint is about the keyboard backlight. While the ThinkPad X1 Yoga has a backlight, you will have to rely on the Fn + Space keyboard command to turn it on. Neither of these layout problems is new to ThinkPad users, but they are an issue for those who came from other laptops or keyboards.

As always, the touchpad hardware buttons are located above the touchpad for easy access while using the TrackPoint. The red nub in the middle of the keyboard is an icon and a unique feature. However, if you want to rely mainly on the touchpad, the buttons take up valuable space where a larger touchpad surface could have been. My fingers often ran against it while wiping with two fingers or gesturing with three fingers. The glass touchpad itself feels precise and smooth, and the click is quieter than other laptops.

The fingerprint scanner is unfortunately to the right of the touchpad. I would prefer something built into the keyboard itself, but the reader that comes with it is good. Above the screen, you also get an IR camera for Windows Hello face recognition and a 720p webcam.

Display and speaker

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 has a 14-inch 4K display. However, you can also go for a 1080p model that will save you a few hundred dollars. However, the 4K display is brighter, sharper and more colorful. The maximum is just under 500 nits, which is bright enough to overcome glare even in brightly lit rooms. Although the X1 Yoga Gen 5 is not like the ThinkPad X1 Extreme OLED, in contrast it does well at 1,020: 1.

The colors are a bit mixed up though. For a 4K display, I expect the broadest possible color range and precise color accuracy. The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 is a bit behind some of the leading companies in this area, such as the Dell XPS 13 or the HP Specter x360. While 86% of Adobe RGB is better than the average laptop, the color accuracy isn't quite up to par. Professional photo editing or graphic design are not the type of work the X1 Yoga Gen 5 is good for.

The 1080p screen is a better choice for most potential buyers as it translates into longer battery life.

The speakers face down and are located under the edges of the case. Unsurprisingly, the audio quality is a bit squishy. The speakers don't have the quiet highs of many laptops, but they won't impress you either.

performance

Despite the desire of the X1 Yoga to be more attractive, all ThinkPads are business computers at heart. The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 pays tribute to that legacy with the latest 10th generation vPro Core i7 processors. These are business-specific chips from Intel that provide additional security and manageability features that your IT department will appreciate.

The decision for vPro over a normal processor of the 10th generation has one disadvantage: pure speed and graphics performance. The Intel Core i7-10610U vPro is a quad-core processor, but it belongs to the older 14nm Comet Lake variant. The newer Ice Lake processors, like those of the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 or the HP Specter x360, are said to be faster. This was true for Cinebench R20, where the XPS 13 was 10% faster than the X1 Yoga Gen 5 in both single-core and multi-core tests.

The business class processor results in a slight performance penalty.

The X1 Yoga Gen 5 wasn't the fastest in real world performance either, such as when it came to video encoding in Handbrake. Laptops like the XPS 13 and the 13-inch MacBook Pro blow it out of the water thanks to their improved multi-core performance. The new generation of AMD laptops extends this lead even further. Unfortunately, choosing a business processor with additional security features still results in a slight performance penalty.

I'm not saying the X1 Yoga is a slow computer for everyday tasks. Creating multiple 4K monitors, extensive multitasking, and even light content is no problem.

Graphics are the only performance area where the difference is most evident. Comet Lake processors use Intel's terrible built-in UHD graphics, while laptops like the XPS 13 2-in-1 or the Specter x360 have the option for Intel's improved Iris Plus graphics. Neither of these will turn your laptop into a hardcore slot machine, but Iris Plus is at least enough to get past lighter games on low settings.

Battery life

All 4K laptops have battery life issues. More pixels mean more power to power them, and the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 is no different. It took me about five hours in my daily use which consists of lots of multitasking and browsing tabs but not lots of heavy applications. That's not bad, but you can't safely stay away from an electrical outlet for an entire day at work.

In our lightest test, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga lasted 7 hours and 49 minutes while looping a local 1080p video file. The HP Specter x360 lasted almost two hours longer in the same test, despite a 4K OLED panel. The ThinkPad X1 Yoga matched the battery performance of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon.

Our heaviest test is the Basemark web benchmark, which simulates the battery life in a heavy application. The ThinkPad X1 Yoga ran out of juice after just two hours, which is not uncommon for a 4K laptop.

Our opinion

The ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5 is a modern business laptop, but it still has a commercial heart. This is no excuse for some of his cumbersome design choices, especially the beefy bezels. The ThinkPad X1 brand still has its advantages, especially when it comes to the keyboard, TrackPoint, and world-famous build quality. The included pen is also a unique feature that is unique to the Samsung Galaxy Book Flex.

Is there a better alternative?

There are two ThinkPad X1 alternatives to Yoga: the X1 Carbon and the X1 Extreme. The X1 Carbon is lighter and the X1 Extreme is bigger and far more powerful. Neither the aluminum housing nor the 2-in-1 functions.

Both the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 and the HP Specter x360 13 are better 2-in-1 laptops for the average person, with better performance and a more modern design. Both are cheaper than the X1 Yoga, but neither are business-class laptops.

If the business pedigree is a must, both the HP Elite Dragonfly and Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 are worthy rivals of the X1 Yoga.

How long it will take?

The ThinkPad brand is known for durability and the X1 Yoga Gen 5 is no different. It should take up to five years, although the standard warranty is only one year.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The X1 Yoga won't win conversions in its fifth generation, but it's a good choice if you're upgrading from an older ThinkPad.

Editor's recommendations




05 Aug
Blog

The Power Of Yoga For Glowing Skin

Yoga is celebrated for its stress-relieving and strength-building abilities – but did you know that it can also benefit your skin? Yoga glow is one thing, and if you practice regularly, you've probably noticed positive changes in your complexion. Dr. Genieve Burley tells us: "Moving your body is medicine. It enables detoxification by flushing all organs, increases breathing, lubricates the joints and strengthens the muscles. Breathing and moving in yoga can help balance hormones and move stagnant waste in the gut. All of this leads to healthier and happier skin. " In honor of Wellness month in August and National yoga month In September you can see the power of yoga for radiant skin on and next to the mat.

On the mat: 5 yoga poses for healthy skin

Yoga benefits for the skin start on the mat. Dendy Engelman, MD tells SELF: "Yoga causes vasodilation (enlargement of the blood vessels), which leads to increased blood flow to the skin, provides it with more oxygen and nutrients and is suitable for skin reddening or a" glow "." Whether you practice at home or in the studio, here are five yoga poses for a glowing complexion.

Tadasana (mountain pose)Yoga Tadasana Standing Pose

With its focus on deep, rhythmic breathing, this simple standing posture helps to relieve stress and improve oxygen flow. According to NDTV: "Taking in more oxygen through controlled breathing helps the body release harmful toxins and keep the skin healthy and glowing." By improving blood circulation, Tadasana improves lymphatic drainage, which lightens the complexion and reduces swelling around the eyes.

How to do mountain pose:

  • Stand comfortably with your big toes touching and your heels slightly apart
  • Press the soles of your feet into the ground, grab your thighs and pull them in and up
  • Extend your tailbone to the floor and pull your stomach in
  • Keep your chin parallel to the mat and pull your shoulders back and down
  • Soften your eyes and neck and let your arms hang next to your torso
  • Optional: Raise your hands in a prayer position in front of your chest
  • Close your eyes
  • Breathe in and out for 5 breaths

Uttanasana (standing forward fold)Uttanasana Forward Fold Yoga Pose

Inversions are one of the best ways to stimulate facial blood flow and increase skin cell oxygenation. Yoga teacher Jessica Bellofatto tells Shape: "If I don't have the opportunity for an entire yoga practice, I take at least five minutes and turn my head – it works against gravity and against aging and gives the skin an absolutely healthy glow."

How to make a standing forward fold:

  • Stand in a mountain pose with your hands on your hips
  • Exhale slowly and bend forward from your hips (not your waist)
  • Bend your knees as far as necessary to relieve tension in the lower back
  • Let your head hang hard
  • If possible, put your palms on the floor or against the back of your ankles. If not, cross your arms in front of you and hold your elbows
  • Lift and lengthen your torso slightly each time you breathe in. Be careful not to round off your back
  • Breathe in and out for 5 breaths

Parivrtta Sukhasana (simple seated turn)

Seated twist yoga pose

A healthy intestine is important for healthy skin. Dendy Engelman says to SELF: "Toxins that are not eliminated from the body often accumulate in the adipose tissue and in the skin, which can lead to acne, discoloration and accelerated aging." Parivrtta sukhasana is a gentle, sedentary twist that aids digestion and toxin removal by increasing circulation and energy for the stomach, small intestine, colon, and liver.

How to make a simple seat rotation:

  • Sit cross-legged on the floor (if your hips are tight, you may need a block)
  • Align the head, neck and spine and extend the tailbone to the floor
  • Place your right hand flat on the floor behind you
  • Place your left hand on the outside of your right knee
  • As you exhale, gently turn to the right and look over your right shoulder
  • Extend your spine each time you breathe in. Turn lower each time you exhale
  • Practice this for 5 breaths and then switch sides

Matsyasana (fish farming)Yoga fish pose

Another yoga pose for better skin is matsyasana or fish pose. By gently stretching the neck muscles, fish farming helps flush your thyroid and parathyroid glands Keep hormones – and hormone-related skin problems – at bay. In addition, Matsyasana has great anti-aging benefits. The social says: "This posture gives the muscles of the face and throat a good stretch, which makes it one of the useful exercises to reduce the appearance of a double chin."

How to do fish pose:

  • Lie on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat
  • Raise your hips and put your hands, palms down, under your buttocks
  • Pull your forearms and elbows firmly towards your body
  • As you inhale, press your forearms and elbows into the floor and gently bend your back to lift your torso off the floor
  • Stretch your spine by tightening your shoulder blades and lifting your chest higher
  • Gently tilt your head back and let the crown of your head rest on the floor
  • Keep your legs energized
  • Breathe in and out for 5 breaths

Bhujangasana (Cobra)

Cobra yoga pose

Stress is one of the worst culprits for skin problems. Chiropractor and yoga teacher Genieve Burley tells us: “Emotional stress takes a huge toll on your hormones and your skin. If you live in harmony with work, friends and obligations, your stress will be reduced and your skin will shine. “The cobra pose reduces tension, stress and fatigue by opening the lungs and supplying the body with energy. By Yoga lowers cortisol (the "stress hormone") and reduces oxidative stress. It helps to minimize and prevent the visible signs of aging caused by dehydration and loss of elasticity.

How to do cobra pose:

  • Lie down on your stomach
  • Extend your legs behind you, with your knees touching and your toes resting on the floor
  • Spread your hands on the floor under your shoulders and press your elbows into your sides
  • Press your feet and thighs firmly into the ground
  • As you inhale, stretch your arms to push your chest forward and up from the floor
  • Slowly roll your shoulders back and away from your ears to lengthen your neck
  • Hold for 5 breaths

Off the mat: healthy body, healthy skin

You can extend the benefits of yoga to your skin by considering yoga principles in your daily life. One of the basic principles of yoga is "niyama" and refers to how you take care of your body. Practicing Niyama involves adopting lifestyle habits that support your body's health. This includes paying attention to what you eat and how you care for your skin. Genieve says, "We have layers of the epidermis in the gut and skin, so what we put in the gut is reflected on your skin." A diet rich in Plant foods and antioxidants can help minimize the wear and tear on your skin caused by environmental stressors such as the sun, seasonal changes, and pollution.

It is equally important to treat your skin from the outside in. Genieve tells us: "We need products that are filled with nutrients and made from natural ingredients such as plants. Our skin recognizes elements from nature, not plastics.“Natural and organic products that are filled with vitamins, minerals and ingredients rich in antioxidants are extremely beneficial for a healthy and youthful looking complexion. Not sure where to start? Yoga diaryRecommend beauty experts Eminence Organics Rosehip and lemongrass lip balm, acai peeling with firm skin and facial restoration oil ensure that your skin looks healthy and youthful.

Product selection

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Facial Recovery Oil

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Also note this product: rose hips & lemongrass lip balm

Has Yoga Improved Your Skin? We'd love to hear from you. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on social media.

This entry was originally published in August 2018 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.

10 Jun
Blog

Lenovo Yoga C640 Review: The Ultimate Student Laptop?

Lenovo Yoga C640 Review C740 01

Lenovo Yoga C640 Review: The Ultimate Student Laptop?

"The Lenovo Yoga C640 is a killer value for students and budget laptop buyers."

  • Great battery life

  • Clean, portable design

  • Excellent ad for the price

  • Enormous value

  • Solid build quality

  • The keyboard is a bit flat

  • No Thunderbolt 3 port

You don't have to spend more than a thousand dollars on your next laptop. This is especially true if you are a student or a person who prefers office apps.

Lenovo apparently agrees, as its new Yoga C640 for $ 600 is specifically targeted at this target group. This is a very attractive price for a laptop that makes few compromises.

Unlike its adventurous predecessor, the Yoga C640 is a proven Intel laptop with a 10th generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8 GB RAM and a 128 GB SSD. Did Lenovo make the best laptop you can buy at this price?

design

The Yoga C640 has a fully aluminum construction that does not do justice to the low prices. There is a small piece of flex in the keyboard shelf and on the bottom of the case, and there is no flex on the lid. It doesn't quite match the build quality of some other Yoga models, like the much more expensive Yoga C930.

The lid can be opened almost with one hand, with only a little friction lifting the chassis floor off the surface of the desk. However, this is a 360-degree convertible 2-in-1, which means that the display changes from clamshell to tent, media and tablet modes. The tight hinge ensures that the display stays in place in all of these modes.

The Yoga C640 feels more elegant and modern than most $ 600 laptops.

Like many yogas today, the aesthetics are pretty conservative. It is a gray color in gunmetal without bling. There is no chrome stitch on the laptop, except for a small stain that surrounds the logo. It won't be noticed in a crowd, especially not compared to laptops like the Specter x360 13 from HP, the "Look at me!" Compared to the $ 650 Acer Swift 3 with its typical silver chassis, the Yoga C640 seems to me to have a more elegant and modern design. The same is true compared to the $ 560 HP Pavilion x360, which isn't as refined and slim as the Yoga C640.

The Yoga C640 is not the smallest 13-inch notebook. At first, the bezels are not huge, but not as small as the Specter x360 13 or the Dell XPS 13. This makes the case a bit larger than that of very small 13-inch laptops. However, the Yoga C640 is quite thin. It measures 0.67 inches thick, which is identical to the Specter x360 and only slightly thicker than the XPS 13. The Yoga C640 weighs 2.98 pounds compared to the HP at 2.88 pounds and the Dell at 2.8 pounds. Portability is comparable to these high-end laptops, although they are much cheaper.

The Yoga C640 receives the same type of privacy screen for the webcam that adorns the ThinkPad line. This is called TrueBlock Privacy Shutter and works similarly. Simply slide it over to physically block the webcam. I prefer the HP button on the Specter x360 13, which turns the webcam off electronically and hackers don't have anything in the system they can access if you want to turn off the 720p webcam.

Connectivity is mediocre even for a budget microlight. There are two USB-A 3.1 ports, a USB-C 3.1 port and a 3.5 mm audio jack. There's no Thunderbolt 3 port – not that we're expecting one for this price – and no microSD card reader, which is disappointing. Wireless connectivity is also a step back with Wi-Fi 5 (instead of the newer Wi-Fi 6 standard) and Bluetooth 5.0.

Keyboard and touchpad

If you like the typical Lenovo Yoga keyboard, you will love the Yoga C640. As always, it has a lot of space and a crisp mechanism. The trip is a little too flat for my taste, but I consistently hit about 90% of my usual 90 words per minute or so. I still prefer the keyboard of the HP Specter x360, and the new Magic keyboard of the latest Apple MacBooks is my absolute favorite.

Thanks to the Microsoft Precision touchpad drivers and a smooth and comfortable surface, the touchpad also works well. It's not a big touchpad, but it takes up most of the available space under the keyboard for a modern, efficient design.

As with all 2-in-1 devices, the display is touch sensitive and as precise as expected. Lenovo has added support for its active pen with 4,096 pressure sensitivity levels (the pen itself is an option for $ 69). This is acceptable at this price, and although I haven't had a chance to test the coloring on the Yoga C640, I suspect it will be as good as the rest of the Yoga line.

Windows 10 Hello login support without a password is provided by a fingerprint reader in the top right corner of the keyboard deck. It is very accurate and fairly quick – I never had to swipe again to log on to the Yoga C640. Once again, Lenovo has built a valuable feature into an affordable laptop.

display

One area where budget laptops are often neglected is the display quality. And that makes sense – manufacturers have to cut costs somewhere in order to fit in a cheap price range. After so much good news with the Yoga C640, I approached the display test with some concern.

As it turns out, I shouldn't have worried. According to my colorimeter, Lenovo chose an average display, that is, an average display for premium laptops. For a $ 600 laptop, it's excellent. The colors weren't particularly wide at 73% of AdobeRGB and 96% of sRGB, but they're suitable for everyone except the most demanding photo and video editors.

The contrast was very good at 1040: 1, which is above our preferred threshold of 1000: 1, and the color accuracy was excellent for an inexpensive laptop at 1.07 (anything below 1.0 is considered excellent). The ZenBook 13 UX333's display had slightly more colors and contrasts, but the Yoga's display was more accurate, even though creative people wouldn't like it. The brightness was her weak point at 242 nits. I like it when displays in brightly lit environments reach at least 300 nits for good graphics.

Still, the Yoga C640's display is comfortable for both productivity work and watching Netflix. The latter was made more pleasant by audio, which as usual had little bass, but was loud and clear and had clear mids and highs. You want to connect headphones to get the best music quality. However, you can flip the display and enjoy Netflix bingeing without having to worry about connecting an external sound.

performance

If you switch from the Qualcomm 650 ARM CPU of the C730 to an Intel Core processor, you can expect a leap in performance. The dual-core core i3 is the entry-level model in the current core product line from Intel and does not quite correspond to the four standard cores that you see in premium laptops. However, Windows 10 runs faster than an ARM CPU and doesn't give up compatibility with older desktop applications and peripherals.

I couldn't make a direct objective comparison between the two processors because not all of our benchmarks are run on ARM. I ran Geekbench 4 on the Yoga C640 and it doubled the performance of the Yoga C630 in the single-core test and was more than 30% faster in the multi-core test. With 4,670 single-core and 8,750 multi-core values, the Core i3 is far behind the next level of the core CPU, the Core i5, which achieved over 15,000 points in the multi-core test. A laptop like the Lenovo Yoga C740 equipped with the Core i5 is significantly faster with more demanding workloads and multitasking.

The Yoga C640 will be fast enough for office workers and students.

The Yoga C640 took almost 6.5 minutes to complete our handbrake test, which converted 4K video at 420MB to H.265. The Yoga C740 ended 2 minutes faster. Our previous low-cost laptop, the Asus ZenBook UX333, was completed around the same time with its 8th generation Core i5. Suffice it to say that this entry-level Yoga C640 is not suitable for heavy-duty applications.

While it's far from the fastest laptop I've tested, I found it fast enough for my usual work. For ordinary office workers and students, the Yoga C640 is fast enough to keep up with their work. Note, however, that you can upgrade to a 10th generation quad-core Core i5 and a 256GB SSD for just $ 170 more while keeping the laptop's budget and increasing performance and storage significantly. This is around $ 100 less than the comparable ZenBook UX333 (8th generation).

Note that if you are a player, this is not the right laptop for you. You're limited to Intel UHD graphics, which let you play older titles with lower resolutions and graphic details, but choke on modern things.

Battery life

Next is the battery life, the main strength of the predecessor of the Yoga C640. This year's model still has the same battery life of 60 watt hours and has a CPU that may be less efficient on paper. So I was looking forward to seeing how it was compared in our standard battery tests.

The results were fascinating. First, the Yoga C640 took around 3.5 hours in our demanding Basemark web benchmark test, which loads the CPU, an average score for a Windows 10 laptop. The Yoga C630 lasted almost 9 hours, a spectacular score. The benchmark was slower, but it shows that ARM CPUs can consume power even under stress. The ZenBook 13 UX333 took almost 5 hours to complete this test, making it a longer-lasting option for demanding jobs.

With a single charge, you can watch amazing videos on the Yoga C640 for 24 hours.

In our web browsing test, which is a good indicator of overall productivity longevity, the Yoga C640 took about 10.5 hours, an hour behind the Yoga C630. Again, the Yoga C640 did a good job on a Windows 10 laptop – for example, it surpasses the 8 hours of the Acer Swift 3 – but it's not in a completely different class. When I ran our video test, where a 1080p Avengers trailer was looped until the battery showed that the Yoga C640 shocked me. It ran just over 23 hours, the best score we saw in this test. This even exceeded the very expensive Dell Latitude 7400, our previous leader, by a full 80 minutes.

The bottom line: if you want to watch videos on the Yoga C640, you can do that for almost 24 hours, which is remarkable. When you do standard productivity work, you get a whole day of work with the laptop.

Our opinion

The Lenogo Yoga C640 is an excellent laptop for $ 600 and a very good budget option for $ 770 if you upgrade to a Core i5 and 256 GB of storage. It's well built, has great input options, offers good productivity performance and superior battery life for the price, and looks good too.

In fact, it is so good that it replaces the Asus ZenBook UX333 as our favorite affordable laptop. The fact that you get the flexibility of a 2-in-1 for less money is just the icing on the cake.

Are there alternatives?

The ZenBook UX333 is a competitive option if you only need a Clamshell laptop. Hopefully Asus will update it to 10th generation CPUs as it is limited to 8th generation parts.

If you can spend more money, the HP Specter x360 13 is a great 2-in-1 alternative. It's faster, has a better display option with its OLED panel, and is one of the hottest laptops ever.

If you are looking for a laptop with a 360 degree hinge, I recommend the HP Specter x360. It's small and nifty like the Dell XPS 13 and a little cheaper.

If you're a MacOS fan, you can consider the new MacBook Air. It's faster, has the superb Magic keyboard, and comes as close to the budget as you'll find in the Apple range.

How long it will take?

Thanks to up-to-date components and a solid construction, the Yoga C640 lasts as long as you need it. The only real limitation is the lack of Thunderbolt 3 support, but you can't expect this high-speed sport for just $ 600. As usual, the 1-year warranty is standard and disappointing.

Should you buy it

Yes. The Yoga C640 is an uncomplicated laptop set at an attractive price.

Editor's recommendations




16 Apr
Blog

Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab Review: Flexible and Smart

Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab Rating 2 hands on 4 of 21

"As the name suggests, this Android tablet proves to be intelligent and flexible with many useful functions."

  • Built-in stand

  • You can hang it up

  • Works as a smart home hub

  • Google Assistant built in

  • The YouTube dashboard is broken

  • Unbalanced weight

The Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab is an Android tablet that really stands out from its competitors. It offers a number of useful functions in a 10.1-inch device, including a versatile stand, Google Assistant, Smart Hub functions and much more. Here you can see how intelligent the Yoga Smart Tab really is.

design

Yoga Smart Tab hangs on a wall

Where most tablets need outside help in the form of covers or stands, the Yoga Smart Tab is designed to do everything you need. It has a built-in stand that pops out to watch films at the push of a button and can be adjusted to the desired angle. It also has a support to make typing easier when it is on a flat surface. You can even hang it on a wall with the stand if ever needed.

Since there are speakers on one side of the tablet, holding is a bit cumbersome, especially in portrait mode, as it is heavier on one side than the other. It's also a bit chunky which made my arm tired. It weighs 581 grams. The Galaxy Tab S6 weighs 420 g and the Amazon Fire HD 10 504 g. That doesn't seem to make much difference, but if you hold a tablet in your hand for an hour or two, every little bit counts.

The 10.1-inch FHD IPS screen (1920 x 1200) is very clear and shows no major distortions when viewed from different angles. The colors are vivid and when looking at photos it almost seemed like I was looking at a high quality print.

software

The Yoga Smart Tab is smarter than a regular tablet because it has a special Google Assistant mode and a variety of skills. Opening the tablet stand automatically activates the Google Assistant environment mode. The tablet turns the constantly on display into an intelligent screen that shows the weather, your agenda, entertainment, memories and much more. Most tablets don't have environmental mode access, so this is a great additional feature.

I really like the ambient option because it's even more useful than your average Android tablet.

If you don't want all that jazz on your screen, you can also use the feature to turn your tablet into a photo frame or remote control for your Google Assistant-compatible smart home devices. I really like the ambient option because it is even more useful than the average Android tablet. In addition, it has 360-degree far-field voice recognition, so Google Assistant can hear you no matter where you are in the room.

Audio quality

Yoga Smart Tab speaker

Another feature that distinguishes the Yoga Smart Tab from other tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is the fact that it has speakers on both sides of the screen. The two JBL HiFi speakers and Dolby Atmos support do a pretty good job.

If you turn up the volume all the way, it loses its quality.

The bass is nice as long as you don't want it to knock too hard or to listen at full volume. If you turn the volume all the way up, it loses quality. This can be a problem if you enjoy listening to YouTube videos on your tablet, although most tablets have this problem.

performance

Yoga smart tab screen

The Yoga Smart Tab also has a literal Smart Tab. You drag the tab to the right and a YouTube dashboard opens. While this is practical, it is also incorrect. Sometimes I wasn't able to play videos on the dashboard (I just saw the sinking circle of doom). However, when I opened the actual YouTube app, the videos played perfectly.

The screen's performance was excellent. Scrolling, navigating, and opening apps went smoothly without the lag you see on some tablets. However, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 processor and 4 GB of RAM, it's not a good choice for graphics-intensive games. Many 3D titles will stutter and hesitate.

The battery life on the tab is decent. It can take up to 11 hours if you only surf the Internet and offers up to 10 hours of video playback. This is comparable to the battery life of the Galaxy Tab S6.

Our opinion

The Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab may not be perfect, but it is a reliable, dual-purpose device that combines the smart display with a tablet. Thanks to its versatile stand and smart home hub functions, it is more useful than many tablets on the market. Otherwise, the screen and sound are on par with the competition. The only real downside is the unbalanced feel and extra weight when you hold the Smart Tab.

Are there any better options out there?

Perhaps. It just depends on your needs. If you're looking for an excellent Android tablet, the Galaxy Tab S6 is hard to beat. However, one thing that the S6 doesn't have is the Google Assistant environment mode feature. This means that it cannot be used as a hub for your smart devices like the Yoga Smart Tab. If the hub was not so interesting for you, you can choose the S6. If the price matters, the Yoga Smart Tab is around half the price of the S6 at around $ 300.

How long it will take?

The Smart Tab is very well made and I think it will go the distance because it is made of aluminum instead of just plastic. It also comes with a one year warranty.

Should you buy it

Yes, if you have many smart home products compatible with Google Assistant, this tablet is a good choice.

Editor's recommendations




16 Feb
Blog

Golfer Tony Finau on Doing Yoga and His Favorite Courses to Play

Although he has never won one in his PGA tour career, golfer Tony Finau is on the verge of winning a major championship. Finau has a top 10 result on tour with all four majors, including a career-best third place at the Open Championship 2019. With his way of playing in recent years, 2020 could be the time to finally win one of these trophies.

How 7 golfers train to start powerful rides on the PGA tour

One place that Finau focuses on is the first major of the year, the Masters tournament in April, in which he finishes in the top five. The place also happens to be one of his favorite places. (Finau and the tournament have also been connected since he went viral in 2018 after celebrating a hole-in-one hole during the par-3 competition. Finau found it difficult to do the rest of the tournament. )

"It's one of the best designed golf courses in the world," Finau told Men’s Journal. "If you combine that with the story and the games that are played there, it definitely has to be at the top of my list."

MJ5: Russell Wilson on his favorite equipment, travel destination and advice he will never forget

For his MJ5, Finau spoke to Men's Journal about how he's trying to attack his gym workouts, his favorite lifts, the best advice he's got, and more. Further interviews with Chris Evans, Russell Wilson, Michael Strahan, Tony Hawk and P.K. can be found in the complete MJ5 archive. Subban, Ewan McGregor and more.

He focuses most on the areas in his training: “The three areas that I attack during my training are stability, mobility and flexibility in the whole body. I think these three areas are very important in golf swing. I attack all parts of my body, just like when I play golf. I go to the gym pretty hard to get stronger every year. I try to gain an advantage by becoming stronger and more fit than other players. At the end of the season it makes a big difference – the special thing about the PGA Tour is that it is such a long season and we have no off-season. So you have to train and stay in shape all year round. "

On his favorite exercises: "I like to use kettlebells for power clean, Olympic lifts and squats – but that's about all the weights I'm going to use. Apart from that, I do a lot of floor work. I'll mix yoga with Pilates for the core and then get on the bike. I also use a lot of bands. "

MJ5: NHL Star P.K. Subban at 5 a.m. workouts, starting Pilates and his "big" wine cellar

The best advice he has received: The best advice I've ever been given is "Be yourself". I learned that when you can be your most authentic self, things will happen the way they should in your life. I think we all learn things about ourselves, we are all unique and have unique things about ourselves – and that makes everyone great. That is probably the best advice I can give. "

To travel on his favorite courses: “My favorite course is my home course, where I grew up in Salt Lake City, the Jordan River Par Three. Unfortunately it is no longer there, but I just have so many great memories when I started there and played with my father and brother. It is my favorite place and it is the place where I would like to play my last round if I ever had a chance. As for a golf course that every golfer should play before they die, it's Augusta National. It is a pleasure to be there and play, and there is so much history there. "

About his dream golf matchup: "I had my opportunity with Tiger Woods at the Masters in Augusta National last year and I would love this opportunity again this year. Hopefully I can have this chance again this year and achieve a different result. "

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