Performance, portability and precision
With the new Yoga 730-131KB 2-in-1, you'll never have problems connecting
CONVERTIBLE computers have soared in popularity since being pioneered by Lenovo a few years ago and now the Beijing-based tech company is satisfying the mobile generation once again with the release of the Yoga 730-131KB 2-in-1.
It’s powered by the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and is positively skinny at just 14.1mm thin. Weighing in just 1.19 kg – 13-per-cent lighter than previous models – and boasting 11.5 hours of battery life, the Yoga 730 is the most mobile computer to date.
It looks good too with its polished and durable anodised aluminium casing in Iron Grey.
The Yoga 730 runs on Windows 10 Pro edition and its performance packs a powerful punch thanks to the processor, which runs at 1.80GHz, the fast 8 gigabytes DDR4 2,400 MHz working memory or RAM and the 512 GB PCIe SSD storage.
It uses Intel UHD Graphics 620, which shares the RAM, and boasts a 13.3-inch Full HD IPS Anti-Glare multi-touch display with 1920x1080 pixel resolution. The screen is bright too with 300 nits.
The display is great for viewing photos and watching HD video clips. During the test, I found the Yoga 730 played HD video clips smoothly and I enjoyed watching movies streamed from iflix.com.
The immersive sounds are good too, thanks to Dolby Atmos, which creates a three-dimensional audio space when you listen through headphones. It also comes with JBL speakers.
The laptop handled business applications fast and smoothly. I had no problem using Microsoft Office and browsing websites during the test.
The Yoga series is renowned for its convertible design. Like other models in the series, the Yoga 730 can be folded back on its keyboard for use as a tablet computer.
When in tablet mode, the Yoga 730 can be used with an optional Lenovo Active Pen 2, which is sold separately for Bt1,990.
The Active Pen 2 provides the natural feel of a pen-on-paper experience and comes with 4,096 levels of pen sensitivity. The stylus connects to the Yoga 730 using Bluetooth connection.
The Yoga 730 comes with a fingerprint reader that allows you to log in and make secure payments through PayPal fast via the Windows Hello function.
The laptop can be connected to fast wireless network using Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2x2) adapter. I tested it on my Linksys EA8500 Wi-Fi router and can confirm that the Yoga 730 is quick when it comes to Internet browsing.
The Yoga 730 comes with both Amazon Alexa and Microsoft Cortana voice-enabled AI assistants.
You can use Cortana on your Yoga 730 during the day to schedule meetings, get reminders, search and send emails and manage to-do lists with just your voice.
Do be aware though that some Alexa features are not available in Thailand though I had no trouble using it to dim the lights and turn up the music.
Far-field microphones make it easy for Alexa and Cortana to listen and respond even from across the room. You can now do thousands of things with just your voice as Alexa and Cortana continue to get smarter, adding more apps and skills to help you save time at work and at home.
The Yoga 730 comes with dual Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports on the left side. The ports offer swift and versatile connection to high-res display, high-performance data devices, and more.
The USB-C ports can also be used to recharge the battery at speeds. Apart from having 11.5 hours of battery life, the Yoga 730 supports Rapid Charge technology, which give you two hours of use from just 15 minutes of charging.
The laptop also provides a full-size USB 3.0 port on the right side and a 3.5mm audio jack on the left.
The Yoga 730 also comes with 720 HD webcam with dual array microphone for sharp and clear video calling.
Lenovo Yoga 730-131KB 2-in-1 has a suggested retail price of Bt45,900.
>> Processor: 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8550U Processor 1.80GHz
>> Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
>> Display: 13.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Anti-Glare |Multi-touch
>> Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
>> Memory: 8 GB DDR4 2400 MHz (Onboard)
>> Storage: 512 GB PCIe SSD
>> Battery: Up to 11.5 hours
>> Audio: JBL speakers; Dolby Atmos with headphones
>> Camera: 720p HD with dual array microphone
>> Ports/Slots: 2 x Type-C Thunderbolt, USB 3.0, Audio jack
>> Connectivity: 802.11 AC |(2 x 2) + Bluetooth 4.1
>> Weight: 1.19 kg)
>> Dimensions (H x W x D): 306.8 x 216.3 x 14.1 (mm)
