Laptops are going through hard times today. It is believed that modern smartphones can perform all important tasks, and many manufacturers are trying to add more and more functions to them to bring them closer to the capabilities of computers. However, completely replacing laptops is unlikely to succeed. People are still better off working on a full keyboard and with a large screen. It is precisely this fact that Lenovo takes advantage of.
Users like compact and multi-tasking laptops, because it is very convenient to be able to print text documents at the same time, as well as watch online video. However, this requires hardware, and all these wishes can be fulfilled only if the processor is located next to a dedicated video card. We can say that the Lenovo IdeaPad 520 15IKB 15.6 is a compromise tool that can offer high functionality and a stylish design.
When Lenovo first launched the Ideapad 510 line, many users were very impressed with the performance and features that were presented at the same time as the affordable price. Fortunately, the next Ideapad 520 series offered even more improvements, albeit without price reductions. The new generation of devices offers better build quality and a good selection of materials, making them look more reliable and impressive. Reviews of the Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB only confirm this.
The laptop is equipped with updated equipment, which includes a new generation of Kaby Lake-R processors (most often the Core i5-8250U paired with an NVIDIA GeForce MX150 and 8 GB DDR4-2400). It is also interesting that the Ideapad 520 now has a slot for M.2 SSD. In any case, this is a good update to the previous 510 line, equipped with a new high-quality IPS screen.
Its appearance only emphasizes the luxury of a classic style, since the gadget's case is glossy metal and has beautiful beveled edges. The touch panel has been updated this time to provide users with more convenient operation of the device. The difference between the old and new equipment can be felt with every touch.
Outer casing
Lenovo IdeaPad 520 with a weight of 2.2 kg can not be called ultraportable, but still it is considered quite light. In addition, in this case you are dealing with high-quality materials, mainly aluminum and durable plastic.
The frame around the screen is not too thin, but you can’t say that it looks terribly repulsive. Perhaps it would be better if she was black. From an ergonomic point of view, a laptop looks pretty expensive. As noted above, the beveled edges and glossy metal finish make the gadget look luxurious.
Communication
The integrated Intel Wireless 3165 is a 1 × 1 AC-WLAN card found on less expensive laptops. Its performance is sufficient in everyday life, although the connection speed is not record high. The device also has Bluetooth, plus a webcam above the screen if you like to chat in video chats. As follows from the reviews, the image is quite bright and distinct, and the picture does not freeze in the process of communication.
Architecture and Assembly
Unlike the previous series, all Ideapad 520 devices are made of aluminum. This material can be found on the lid and sides, but the bottom of the laptops remains plastic. As follows from reviews of the Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB, this combination led to a feeling of strength and reliability. There are three colors of the case: bronze, gold and gray, and each of them has a nice glossy look.
It is also interesting that this did not affect weight and mobility. The laptops of this line still have a thickness of 22.9 mm and weigh about 2.2 kg.
As mentioned above, the device cover is made of anodized aluminum sheet, which provides a fairly high strength. If you press the lid in the middle, the deformation will be almost imperceptible. It is also quite torsion resistant, and a single-hinge design ensures smooth opening up to 180 degrees. The lower part of the device, on the other hand, is made of plastic imitating anodized aluminum. It has several gratings for additional cooling of the laptop during operation.
All standard connectors are installed on the sides, which are distributed along the left and right sides. On the left side of the laptop Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB there are an RJ-45 port, HDMI, two USB 3.0, one USB-C 3.1, a 3.5 mm audio jack and an SD card reader. On the right is only an optical drive.
Keyboard
As for the design, it is made of anodized aluminum with rounded edges on the sides and around the trackpad. It looks really good and at the same time protects the device. Even a strong press on the side faces and the center of the keyboard does not cause any visible deformations. The keyboard is equipped with soft comfortable keys. However, according to reviews of the Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB laptop, some users will need some time to configure the keys conveniently. The keyboard layout is standard, but still provides some useful shortcuts, such as media controls. Available and key illumination, which is especially appreciated by lovers to work at night.
As for the touchpad, its surface is smooth and glossy, mouse clicks are easy, and the trackpad seems stable.
As can be seen from the reviews on the Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB laptop, most users are definitely impressed with the build quality of the device, especially considering its price. In addition, input devices are convenient, and the case is quite portable and provides all the necessary input-output operations, including a USB-C connector. In any case, this is a significant improvement over the previous generation of laptops.
Disassembly and update features
An overview of the Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB can be started by describing its internal designs. Access to internal elements is quite simple and easy. You only need to remove the optical drive, and then remove the remaining screws from below. Loosening the bottom plate should be easy.
Although the laptop is equipped with an M.2 SSD slot and a standard 2.5-inch drive bay, you cannot fit an M.2 SSD inside, because the optical drive prevents this. This is a really strange solution from the manufacturer. According to reviews of the Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB 80YL005GRK, you will have to remove the optical drive to insert an additional disk.
The motherboard comes with 4 GB of internal (soldered) DDR4-2400 memory module, and you can store up to 16 GB of DDR4-2400 memory (this depends on the device configuration). Other components you'll find here include the Qualcomm Atheros QCFA435 Wi-Fi adapter, located next to the screen hinge. The battery pack is located under the wrist area and is designed for only 30 watts. The cooling system consists of a single pipe passing through both radiators and one fan that pushes out hot air.
The video card presented here is the latest, so you can use a laptop without any problems to perform several complex graphic tasks. So, you can easily edit video, run games of modern generations, and also use professional software that requires high power.
Image quality
Interestingly, the laptop is equipped with the already familiar IPS Full HD panel (1920 × 1080). A display of the same type can also be found in two other well-known gaming laptops - Acer Predator Helios 300 (15 inches) and Acer Nitro 5. In any case, the viewing angles are excellent.
According to reviews, the Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB is capable of almost perfectly reproducing the really dark parts of the image, which can be important when watching movies or playing games in low light conditions.
If you touch the image settings, the following will open. The left part of the screen is a display with display settings, and the right is an activated game and design management profile. On the horizontal axis, you will find the grayscale adjustment, on the vertical axis, the brightness of the display. This way, you can easily check how your display handles the darkest color nuances, but keep in mind that this also depends on your current screen settings, calibration, viewing angle, and ambient lighting conditions. Reviews about the laptop Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB 81BF0059RK note especially that the image on the screen of the device remains excellent at any angle.
PWM (Screen Flicker)
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is an easy way to control monitor brightness. When you lower the brightness, the backlight intensity does not decrease, but instead turns off and on by the electronics at a frequency indistinguishable to the human eye. In these light pulses, the ratio of the time of light to its absence changes, and the brightness remains unchanged. However, it is believed that it is harmful to your eyes. Nevertheless, in this case, the manufacturer guarantees that the Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB i5 display is safe to use for a long time, even for users with sensitive eyes.
Webcam and audio
The webcam in laptops of this line has the standard parameters 720p / 30fps, which are excellent for main video chat and streaming. The image is a bit grainy, but it reproduces colors and shades quite decently and copes well with low light. In addition, the built-in microphone provides suppression of echo and keystrokes, as well as the formation of a sound beam to hone the voice.
When it comes to audio production, each laptop has a pair of speakers, one in each corner on the underside of the leading edge. Thanks to this, the sound does not just come out of the device to create a surprisingly effective stereo image. According to reviews of the Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB 81BG00KXRU, the sound quality is very good. It remains without distortion even at maximum volume. Of course, sometimes there is not enough bass, but there is a sound depth, unlike some low-power speakers installed on cheaper laptops.
Performance
Notebook Lenovo IdeaPad 520 15IKB is available in several configurations. They all use the same screen and 8 GB of RAM, because the available options are CPU, SSD and graphics card. However, if you wish, you can reinstall RAM, increasing its capacity to 16 GB. This is especially true if you intend to use your gadget as a gaming one. The cost of these devices can vary from 32 to 65 thousand rubles, depending on the configuration.
The cheapest model includes an Intel Core i3-7100U processor and a 128 GB solid state drive, while the most expensive device features an Intel Core i7-7500U and 256 GB SSD. Approximately in the middle are models with an Intel Core i5-7200U, 256 GB SSD and Nvidia GT 940MX graphics.
The device has a fingerprint scanner, so that logging in is carried out in seconds. This convenience cannot be compared with standard password entry.
Battery
According to reviews of the Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB 81BF0059RK, this device model has a slight decrease in power consumption, which leads to a slightly longer battery life, which is especially noticeable when playing video. Nevertheless, this is still not enough to call the battery even medium-performance.
However, Lenovo claims that any such laptop can work up to 12 hours, in practice this figure will be lower. Only if you minimize the brightness to an almost unusable level can you come closer to the declared indicator, but with more reasonable settings, you are unlikely to increase the life of the device by more than six hours.
Additional software
In this line, the manufacturer generally excluded previous versions of antivirus programs. The company this time combines the trial version of McAfee LiveSafe, Microsoft Office applications (which require an Office 365 subscription to activate) and Minecraft, as well as some other famous games.
Oddly enough, the manufacturer combined their own applications into separate points, thereby creating Lenovo Vantage - a smart utility that allows you to do everything from updating management to researching several services. However, when you open the settings, they simply inform the user that the Settings and Vantage applications are combined, and the first can be deleted.
How does the device work?
According to users, during standard operation, the device almost does not heat up. If you use a device with a significant load, heating near the keyboard begins to appear, but it is not too intense. It does not cause any uncomfortable sensations. With long work, the case may become warm at the bottom, but this does not interfere.
When the device is turned on, the cooler operates continuously, never turning off. However, the sound of his work is usually heard only at home. If the device operates at maximum speed, the sound of the cooler can be heard in the student audience or in the office. In this case, warm air goes towards the hinges. This design feature can also be attributed to positive features, since this does not create discomfort during operation, in contrast to models with heat output from the side faces.
Preinstalled OS
Currently, laptops come pre-installed with Windows, as indicated on the manufacturer’s official website. Reviews about the Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB in this regard differ significantly. Some users consider this an advantage, while others consider it a disadvantage. Mostly, lovers of alternative operating systems respond in a negative way, since this causes difficulties with installing drivers.
If you are not opposed to using this OS, then you can fully enjoy all its powers. From the wide range of services offered by Cortana’s personal assistant to the default applications, this shell can cater to even the most demanding customers.
In addition, there is Lenovo App Explorer, which is able to help you download any service as quickly and efficiently as possible. According to reviews, such functionality makes using the device as simple as possible.
What drivers are needed for this laptop?
First of all, you will need drivers for the video card, as well as for the Internet connection. In addition, these programs are necessary for bluetooth and other additional connections. You can download and update drivers for Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB on the official website of the manufacturer.
Output
Given the price of the laptop, it would be strange to expect outstanding image quality, but it is worth noting that Lenovo now uses the IPS panel instead of TN. And despite the limited sRGB coverage and relatively low maximum brightness, the screen fits perfectly into the price, offering a high contrast ratio.
Should I buy the Lenovo IdeaPad 520?
For those looking for a device that offers a bit more mobility, a sleek design and longer battery life than a typical entry-level laptop, the IdeaPad 520 might be a great choice.
This device cannot offer the compactness or build quality of the latest generation, but its appearance seems modern. In addition, it has a good screen and performance. According to some reviews of the Lenovo Ideapad 520 15IKB 81BG00KXRU laptop, the ability to add an nVidia graphics card can make this gadget gaming.