Lenovo IdeaPad Z580 review

It’s a shame, really, as the IdeaPad Z580 is otherwise a highly capable machine. It has an Intel Core i5-3210M dual-core processor running at 2.5GHz, and it scored a very respectable 52 overall in our multimedia benchmark tests. This puts it ahead of most budget laptops for performance, and this power along with the laptop’s 8GB of RAM means you’ll be able to run several intensive programs simultaneously.

The Z580 is also no gaming slouch, thanks to a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 635M chipset. This led it to a smooth average of 32.48fps on High Quality settings at 1,280×720 in our Dirt Showdown test, showing this laptop to be capable of modern gaming at decent detail levels. The laptop’s battery life was slightly disappointing, with 4h 45m in our light-use test, so there is a price to pay for all that power.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Z580 will be perfect for students who like watching films or playing games, but at £550 it faces stiff competition from the excellent Samsung Series 3 NP355V5C, which has better gaming performance and an easier-to-use touchpad. However, it’s not quite as quick in 2D applications as the Z580, so if you’re after a mix of entertainment and productivity power, the Z580 could be for you.