Within the years for the reason that launch of the Yoga model in late 2012, Lenovo has taken its convertible laptop computer choices very severely—maybe extra severely than some other PC maker. Now, nevertheless, the Chinese language electronics firm has determined that its clients aren’t confused sufficient by model names. That is why the names change. In consequence, its newest Yoga mannequin, the Yoga S940, will not be a convertible. However the latest IdeaPad—the IdeaPad C340—is.
Lenovo’s advertising and marketing crew could have gotten the title of its 2019 lineup incorrect, however it nailed the positioning of the brand new IdeaPad C340. The brand new convertible begins at an affordable value of Rs 46,190 and goes as much as a formidable Rs 89,490. Within the value vary, you possibly can select an choice with an Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processor. You can even select between built-in or discrete graphics. All this makes the brand new cabriolet extensive configurations. Now let’s have a look at the way it performs in our take a look at lab.
Productiveness and gaming
Whereas PC makers like Asus and MSI are keen to supply tenth Gen Intel chips of their laptops, Lenovo does not appear to be in a rush to do the identical. Our evaluate unit IdeaPad C340 is provided with an eighth technology Intel Core i5 processor, an Nvidia GeForce MX230 graphics card and eight GB of RAM. A 512 GB Samsung PCIe NVMe solid-state drive took care of the storage. Due to the MX230 graphics card, the IdeaPad C340 will get 2GB of devoted video reminiscence for playback, which not many convertibles provide within the Indian market.
The Lenovo IdeaPad C340 carried out very properly in our CPU and GPU exams. Within the PCMark 8 Accelerated Inventive take a look at, the evaluate unit scored 3749 factors, which is a number of factors forward of the results of the up to date HP Specter x360 launched earlier this yr. The identical story was with the storage take a look at. On 3DMark Hearth Strike and Cloud Gate, the evaluate unit scored 2427 and 7921 factors, respectively. The IdeaPad C340’s Hearth Strike rating is the very best I’ve seen for a convertible laptop computer since Lenovo launched the IdeaPad 530S final yr.
The day-to-day efficiency of the evaluate unit was fairly good. I used to be in a position to multitask in a number of purposes like Phrase, Excel, Chrome, File Explorer, Steam, and WhatsApp for PC throughout a number of digital desktops with out experiencing any noticeable stuttering. Nevertheless, I did discover occasional delays (a couple of second lengthy) in pointer motion and window switching, however I attribute that to a doable driver bug. The video games had been a busy affair for the evaluate unit. Doom ran on medium graphics settings at Full HD with a median body fee of 30 frames per second. Metro: Final Gentle, then again, managed round 20fps. Each video games skilled noticeable lag occasionally. All issues thought-about, the IdeaPad C340 is a strong performer with some room for enchancment within the gaming and graphics division.
Battery
In our customary battery take a look at, the take a look at system was in a position to final 3 hours and 38 minutes of battery life. That is disappointingly low for any fashionable laptop computer with an Intel U-series processor, however it’s comprehensible, for the reason that IdeaPad C340 is closely burdened by the presence of two fundamental power-hungry elements: the discrete graphics card and the contact show. The latter, as a rule, drains the battery greater than the previous.
In our day-to-day exams, the evaluate unit needed to multitask in frequent purposes like Chrome, Excel, Steam, and so forth., with the display brightness set at 80 %. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth had been additionally left on throughout this time. The battery stage dropped from full to 78 % in an hour and a half. Once I elevated the display brightness to most, the discharge fee elevated dramatically and shockingly. The battery stage dropped from 76 % to 38 % in the identical hour and a half. As such, the IdeaPad C340 is not precisely appropriate for long-haul flights, however it’ll do the job should you’re flying domestically.
Show, contact display, audio and IO
IdeaPad C340 is provided with a 14-inch contact panel with Full HD decision. Colours on the system are a bit hotter than regular by default, however that is good as a result of it makes textual content simpler to learn even when the evening mild is turned off in Home windows 10. The brightness is sadly decrease. The display does not attain its most brightness of 250 nits till you increase the brightness slider to one hundred pc in Home windows. All issues thought-about, it is nonetheless panel for shopping the net, enjoying movies, and enhancing paperwork, so long as you do not thoughts cranking up the brightness.
Like a real convertible, the IdeaPad C340 has a 14-inch show that may be absolutely become pill mode. Furthermore, the laptop computer comes bundled with a Lenovo Energetic Pen stylus. The show floor has good palm deviation accuracy, however it might be higher. In any other case, the floor is clean and cozy for drawing and annotation. Utilizing a pill is hindered by the massive weight of the laptop computer – 1.65 kilograms. On the plus aspect, Home windows immediately switches to pill mode if you fold the show and return the system to portrait mode. In any case, the IdeaPad C340 might have been geared up with a built-in drive for the stylus.
Sound from the IdeaPad C340’s two downward-firing audio system is loud sufficient to fill a big workplace room when it is not too noisy, however not very clear. Well-known electro pop tunes like The Weeknd Starboy the sound is usually flat in any respect quantity ranges. Mids and highs escape the speaker grills when the quantity is someplace between 60 and 80 %, however lows are nowhere to be heard. As the quantity approaches most, there’s vital distortion, leaving the pair greatest used for vocals and speeches.
Lenovo IdeaPad C340 has first rate connectivity choices. On the left aspect of its physique, we see a round energy port, a full-sized HDMI port, a USB-C 3.1 port and a 3.5 mm audio jack for headsets. On the precise aspect we see two USB-A 3.1 ports (one in every of which may cost a cell system when the PC is asleep) and a slot for a full-sized SD card. The facility button can be situated right here, so the laptop computer may be began even in pill mode. The one drawback is that the button is difficult to search out except you are trying on the system, and it has little or no suggestions, so it is onerous to inform should you pressed it appropriately in a rush.
Beneath the backlit keyboard is a sq. fingerprint scanner that works shortly with Home windows Hey for consumer login and app authentication. Like its 2019 siblings (with the exception of the entry-level IdeaPad S145), the IdeaPad C340 has a bodily shutter for the webcam on the prime of the show. It is a small element, however the sliding blind goes a good distance in offering full privateness and peace of thoughts. It additionally means you do not have to go round sticking a tiny piece of tape in there simply to close out the world.
Keyboard and touchpad
The keyboard on the IdeaPad C340 is identical or barely higher than the IdeaPad S340. The keyboards are massive sufficient to be simple to search out, however not well-shaped for straightforward urgent. In different phrases, the keys on this keyboard are curved outwards, whereas the keys on most different laptops do their greatest to curve inwards. The keys on the IdeaPad C340 additionally lack depth and ample suggestions. Nevertheless, they aren’t horrible for each day printing. This keyboard is okay for e-mails and quick paperwork, however not for customers who kind loads. A plus is the two-stage illumination for all these evening compositions.
The touchpad, being a contemporary precision system, is nice for single and multi-finger faucets and swipes. What these faucets and swipes ought to do may be modified straight within the Home windows settings, with out the necessity for a third-party driver or utility. The floor can be massive and clean for ease of operation. The 2 keyboard keys below the floor are pretty simple to press, though a bit extra spring could be good. Total, it is a fantastic touchpad for enhancing spreadsheets and shopping the net.
Development and design
The IdeaPad C340 shares the construct and design of the IdeaPad S340, and that is factor, as a result of the IdeaPad S340 is constructed fairly properly and appears fairly skilled within the workplace. Like its non-tablet counterpart, the IdeaPad C340 makes use of a steel development for the highest cowl and plastic for the bottom panel. The consequence is a reasonably skinny laptop computer that’s simple to carry and carry round. Sadly, it isn’t simple. The IdeaPad C340 weighs 1.65 kilograms, which is undoubtedly extra for a convertible laptop computer. This further weight may be attributed to the inclusion of a discrete graphics card and a glass panel for the contact show.
While you open the lid of the IdeaPad C340, you will notice a shiny 14-inch show with pretty skinny bezels on three sides. Whereas the laptop computer itself is painted a boring mild silver, there are many darkish accents round to create some distinction. For instance, the keyboard has a darkish grey shade, whereas the touchpad and fingerprint scanner have a barely lighter shade of silver. The IdeaPad C340’s show hinge appears to be like fairly strong. There is no such thing as a play or wobble when the system switches between laptop computer and pill modes. Total, the IdeaPad C340 is a well-built machine for its value. As I mentioned earlier than, a stylus storage hopper could be appreciated.
The underside line
In contrast to the skinny and lightweight pocket book market, the convertible pocket book market is way from being stuffed with affordable fashions. The Lenovo IdeaPad C340 makes a notable distinction on this entrance as a result of it’s a true convertible that prices solely round half a lakh rupees, a fraction of the worth of the likes of the Lenovo Yoga 730, Yoga C930, HP Envy x360, HP. Specter x360 and extra. What’s extra, it affords discrete graphics within the type of an Nvidia GeForce MX230 GPU. Then it straight competes with final yr’s HP Pavilion x360.
The Lenovo IdeaPad C340 is a superb convertible laptop computer with sufficient energy for on a regular basis duties. Due to the built-in devoted graphics processor, you possibly can even attempt your hand at video games. Its show, though not vivid sufficient, is nice for annotations and drawings with the included stylus. The place then does the system fail? At 1.65 kilograms, it’s fairly heavy for a pill. Its battery life can be disappointingly quick, particularly should you crank up the display brightness to most. If you happen to can put up with these two drawbacks and the truth that the audio is not all that nice, the Lenovo IdeaPad C340 is a convertible value selecting up.
