Review: Lenovo Yoga 730

As life continues to remind me, sometimes, it's really more convenient not to have to carry around a separate laptop and tablet at the same time. And Lenovo is continuing to drive home the point that their devices are suitable for 'anywhere, anytime'. The brand's Yoga series is arguably its most popular line-up, thanks to powerful computing and multi-functionality combined with sleek looks - and the latest Yoga 730 2-in-1 is right on point.
The newest multi-mode laptop from Lenovo acts as both computer and tablet, just like its predecessors. And while it is indeed a 2-in-1, it has four modes that you can use as you please: notebook, tent, theatre and tablet. Side note: tent and theatre basically serve the same function - you can view content with the keyboard out of the way (though, we have to say, the latter is more comfortable when you're using it on your lap). Also, though durable, try not to place the device on rough surfaces while in tent or theatre mode - you don't want those scratches ruining its beauty.

A minus point to note here is that it doesn't have those beautiful hinges found on the Yoga 900
series. But its aluminium body comes in two shades: platinum and iron grey; personally, I love the latter more.
The Yoga 730 comes in two sizes - 13.3 and 15.6 inches - and retains the slimness that has defined the series; we were handed the latter for this review. You can switch your screen resolution to either FHD or UHD, but this may take a toll on its battery. Lenovo says that the device can last up to 11 hours for UHD; nine if it's on FHD. Our standard one-hour-YouTube-at-full-brightness test revealed that on FHD, it lost 13 per cent, while on UHD 16 per cent was drained out.

The JBL speakers seem a bit weak; they're fair quality, just not as loud as other 2-in-1s I've tested. Meanwhile, you can enjoy Dolby Atmos sound by using a headphone.

Depending on the size you choose, a different cast of ports surround it: for the 13.3-inches, you'll get two Type-C Thunderbolt slots, a USB 3.0 port and a 3.5mm audio jack. For the 15.6-inch option, you'll get a bit more with a couple of USB 3.0 slots, one Thunderbolt, a full-sized HDMI port and the audio jack. You could make the case that two Thunderbolts would've been great on both. There's no card reader either, so good luck with that.
The keys are well-built and feel smooth under your fingers. The trackpad is also very responsive to gestures. Towards the bottom right of the keyboard, the fingerprint scanner is pretty accurate; only once did I have to repeat the attempt to unlock the device. It's powered by Windows Hello, meaning you can also unlock the device with your face, which didn't disappoint.

As far as performance goes, the Yoga 730 is buttery-smooth. I tried opening several tabs on the Web browser while trying to edit one really large image, and it worked fine. It's also built for gaming, though it's worth noting that there are some lags on graphics-heavy titles - which would force you to play on lower settings; titles with lesser graphics didn't give me any issues.

The optional Active Pen 2 transforms the Yoga 730 into a canvas for the artist in you. I had tested out the Pen on the Yoga 920 last June, and the stylus remains as precise as ever. Again, since there are no magnets to begin with, the only way you can have the Pen hang around on the device is by using a holder that you need to insert into the USB 3.0 slot.
AND SO.
I'm rating the Lenovo Yoga 730 on the basis that it is, if I may say so, comfortably an in-betweener: its price point is below other ultra-portables with comparable specs, and it's also safely above lower-priced devices that have lower configurations and don't have the same sleek style. It's not the highest of the high, but it will get the job done - and entertain you at the same time.
Processor
Up to 8th-gen Intel Core i7
Memory
Up to 8GB DDR4 + 8GB DIMM
Storage
256/512GB/1TB SSD
Display
15.6" IPS touchscreen, 1920 x 1080 (FHD), 3840 x 2160 (UHD)
Graphics Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050, Intel Integrated Graphics
Battery
Up to 9h (FHD), 11h (UHD)
Camera
720p HD
Connectivity
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth; USB 3.0, Type-C Thunderbolt, HDMI, 3.5mm audio
Features
Windows Hello (fingerprint, face), Active Pen 2
Price
Starting from Dh5,599 (13.3"); Dh5,799 (15.6")
Pros
Smooth performance; sleek looks; accurate trackpad
Cons
Battery life could've been more; lags on graphics-heavy games; no card reader
Author's rating
4/5
alvin@khaleejtimes.com