Lenovo IdeaPad Y50 review

Lenovo IdeaPad Y50 review

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Lenovo’s Y50 with battery such as Lenovo 51J0226 Battery, Lenovo 57Y6266 Battery, Lenovo X1 Carbon 3448 Battery, Lenovo 45N1070 Battery, Lenovo FRU 42T4585 Battery, Lenovo X1 Carbon 3444 Battery, Lenovo X1 Carbon 3460 Battery, Lenovo L08L6Y02 Battery, Lenovo 3000 G555 Battery, Lenovo IdeaPad B460 Battery, Lenovo 45N1071 Battery, Lenovo X1 Carbon 3462 Battery, like most gaming laptops, features a 15.6-inch display. This of course means that the system is large relative to a 13-inch Ultrabook, but the Y50’s 24mm profile is among the thinnest in the segment. Only the Razer Blade provides comparable power in a smaller frame.

Size is the only trait that might make the Y50 stand out, however. In all other respects, it is a typical desktop replacement, and some observers might guess it to be priced lower than where it actually is. A black metal display lid is the system’s only touch of class. Red accents along the keyboard and speakers attempt to add spice, but the dark shade of maroon used here simply blends into the surrounding black plastic.

In short, the Y50 looks a bit boring, but it’s at least well built. Panel gaps are tight, and the chassis doesn’t allow much flex, despite its slim size. The lack of an optical drive, and the system’s light weight, no doubt help contribute to its solid feel.

We hoped the Y50’s portable dimensions and modest 5.3 pounds of heft were indications that it could serve as a road warrior. Alas, that’s far from true. The Peacekeeper Web browsing benchmark drained a full charge in just three hours and three minutes, which puts the Y50’s endurance an hour behind the MSI GT60 Dominator Pro, and 50 minutes south of the Clevo P157SM.

Power draw is part of the problem. We measured up to 31 watts of consumption at idle, which is higher than the Clevo P157SM’s 28 watts. At full load, the Lenovo takes the lead, drawing only 87 watts to the Clevo’s 157 watts, but any benefit this might have provided is marginalized by the Y50’s smaller battery.

Lenovo’s Y50 is affordable and reasonably quick, but it does more to damage the company’s gaming reputation than to enhance it. The system’s unforgivable flaw is the display, which would be disappointing on a system sold at half the price. A low-contrast panel with poor viewing angles has no business being part of a gaming laptop. Lenovo’s optional Ultra HD panel might be better, but it will cause another problem; the Y50’s GTX 860M graphics chip isn’t quick enough to handle games beyond 1080p.

There are other issues, as well. The touchpad is finicky, the keyboard is frustrating, and the battery gives out far too quickly. Ultimately, though, these are just nitpicks compared to the display, which disqualifies the Y50 from a recommendation by itself.

And that’s a shame, because the hardware inside is solid. The Y50 achieved at least 30 FPS at maximum detail in the three games we tested, which is no small feat for a gaming laptop that costs barely more than $1,000. This notebook could be a reasonable choice for gamers on a tight budget who are willing to make sacrifices at the altar of framerate, but it’s not the well-rounded, portable powerhouse it could have been.