The 15.6-inch screen, ergonomic keyboard, and adequate processing power of the Lenovo Idea Pad 330-15 AMD make it an excellent budget laptop option.
Lenovo idea pad 330
You may tailor an Idea Pad 330 to your specific needs by choosing from three different display sizes (14, 15.6, and 17.3 inches). Whatever model you choose, you’ll get a low-cost system with a sleek, high-quality appearance and several flexible connection possibilities.
In this review, we’ll be looking at the 15.6-inch variant of the Lenovo Idea Pad 330 15 AMD, which is equipped with an Intel Core i3-8130U processor, 8GB of RAM, With a 1 terabyte hard drive and Intel UHD Graphics 620, this computer is a powerhouse.
Technically, it has the specs of a low-end laptop, but its sturdy construction and top-tier work performance make it worth a lot more. It’s a no-brainer for us to name it the best cheap laptop of the year.
For a slightly higher price, you can get the Idea Pad outfitted with a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB solid-state drive. While there is a lot of rivalry in this market, the option to tailor your laptop to your exact needs makes it an intriguing purchase.
Design
The 2019 Idea Pad 330 appears compact and lightweight, weighing only 4.85 pounds and measuring 0.9 by 10.2 by 14.9 inches (HWD). In comparison to its rivals, however, it is more easily transportable due to its low weight. Our favorite lightweight and inexpensive laptop is the Acer Aspire E15 (E5-576-392H), which measures in at 5.27 pounds and a thickness of 1.19 inches.
Its slim, platinum grey body is surprisingly solid, giving the impression of an aluminum construction even when that isn’t the case. Metal builds can be found in ultra-books and other high-end notebooks. Similar to other notebooks made from the same material, the platinum grey profile utilized in Lenovo’s higher-end devices shows dirt and fingerprints easily.
Display AMD for Lenovo Idea Pad 330-15
The Lenovo Idea Pad 330-15 AMD 15.6-inch 720p screen is the only thing we’re not crazy about, but it’s plenty bright and legible for the price. Lenovo went with a lower-res (1366 x 768) TN panel to justify the low price, when full HD (1920 x 1080) is readily available on rival laptops like the Acer Aspire E5-576-392H (see review here).
As compared to similarly priced budget notebooks with similarly washed-out displays, you may not immediately notice the low resolution. In the beginning, you’ll have to use some creative angling to find a spot that won’t get washed away. We’re willing to overlook its flaws given its reasonable pricing.
Lenovo deserves some credit for including an anti-glare coating on the screen; this helps to prevent reflections and makes the laptop an excellent choice for a sub-HD media machine, so long as you find a good viewing angle.
Combination Keyboard/Touchpad
The non-backlit, 6-row Chiclet keyboard on the Lenovo Idea Pad 330 15 AMD is well-spaced and has a comfortable feel under finger. The arrow keys are in the right spot, and the addition of a numeric keypad is welcome. The keys have limited individual travel and a distinct pressure point. A quick tap of the keys will take you where you need to go, and even brisk typists will find them to be dependable.
The touchpad blends in with the rest of the device’s design. It faces somewhat to the left, although it can still be used to make gesture-based inputs. Touchpad gestures can be customized per user via the device’s settings menu. It accurately recognizes physical inputs and reacts nicely to Windows 10 gestures.
Ports and Storage Space on the Lenovo Idea Pad 330
The Lenovo Idea pad 330 impressive array of ports is a clincher. A Type-C connector is included, which is unusual for low-cost laptops. In total, you’ll find two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 3.0 Type-C port, an HDMI port, and an SD card slot. Using an SD card is a great option for transferring media files and expanding the storage capacity of a device.
There are also extras such a DVD drive, Ethernet port, and headphone jack. Bluetooth 4.1 and Wi-Fi (802.11ac) provide for wireless connectivity.
The machine already has a 1TB 5400RPM hard disc installed, so adding more storage isn’t necessary unless you have an extremely large amount of data to store. This storage space, though, is significantly larger than what you’d get on the typical low-cost Chrome book. In addition, an SSD can be added as additional storage during the ordering process if desired.
330Performance Lenovo Idea Pad
The AMD Quad-Core Risen 5 2500U processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, and an integrated Intel HD 620 graphics card are all included in this Lenovo Idea Pad 330-15 AMD model. Compared to its predecessor, the AMD A12-9700P, the Risen 5 is a quad-core processor with a focus on mainstream notebooks and Chrome books. The processor, graphics card, amount of memory, and even the size of the display can all be upgraded throughout the ordering process, as was previously noted.
Neither of these processors is designed for heavy lifting, but they provide more than adequate speed for the average office environment and web-based programmers. The inbuilt Intel HD 620 graphics card is an improvement over its predecessor and supports most games from 2015 and 2016 at low settings with little to no lag.
Powered-Up Time
The Lenovo Idea Pad 330-15 AMD laptop’s battery life isn’t great, but it’s better than what you get with other budget notebooks. This specific model of the Idea Pad 330 isn’t energy efficient, as evidenced by its dismal battery life. The average battery life is quite poor for a modern device at roughly 3 hours and 20 minutes. Single-charge endurance for the Aspire E 15 (E5-576-392H) is a remarkable 10 hours 51 minutes.
Insightful Review and Final Opinion of the Lenovo Idea Pad 330-15 with AMD
The Lenovo Idea Pad 330-15 AMD is indicative of the company’s ability to produce a 15-inch laptop that is surprisingly light while still remaining competitively priced. The Idea Pad 330 is a practical laptop overall, with a good display and respectable productivity performance. However, it is now several generations behind the current state of the art. Unfortunately, the battery life it suffers as a result of trying to win the cheap price crown isn’t quite adequate.
Is there a more suitable substitute?
Lenovo Idea Pad 330-15 AMD similar to the Idea Pad 330, the Acer Aspire 5 A515-54-51DJ is a reliable laptop option. It has 8GB of RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD), a Full HD (1920 x 1080) display, and an 8th-generation Intel Core i5-8265U processor. Also, it includes a lightweight, compact chassis and a keyboard that lights up in the dark.
The Lenovo Flex 14 81SS0005US is a great choice if you’re in the market for a 2-in-1 convertible because of its Full HD touchscreen, Stylus Pen, AMD Radeon Vega 8 graphics card, and AMD Risen 5 processor. It’s portable and ideal for students and professionals due to the touchscreen’s extended battery life and increased functionality.
