Lenovo Miix 520 Review: The Power Pack of Flexibility & Versatility

Whether you are a student or a professional, Lenovo laptops are the number one choice of folks from all walks of life. It might not be wrong to say that Lenovo aimed to provide an alternative to Microsoft Surface with Lenovo Miix 520 2-in-1 Laptop. Offering flexible design, solid performance, excellent display resolution and a price tag that’s nearly half of that of Microsoft Surface, Lenovo Miix 520 2-in-1 Laptop is a device worth having. Read on take a look at what this versatile laptop has to offer.

Key Specifications:

• Intel Core i3 (7th Gen) 7130U / 2.7 GHz Processor

• 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD

• 12.2" Full HD IPS Touchscreen Display (1920 x 1200) Resolution

• Integrated Intel UHD 620 Graphics

• Windows 10 Pro 64-bit

• Price: Was £599.99 / Now £549.99 (Save £50)

Design and Display

This Windows 2-in-1 tablet laptop sports a platinum silver exterior fashioned into a simple and sleek design. At 2.72 pounds, it features a watchband hinge that supports the weight of the tablet and reclines to 150 degrees to give the user a comfortable viewing experience. The speaker grilles are located on the top of the device while connectivity ports are clustered on the left. 

The 12.2” Full HD IPS touchscreen display boasts a resolution of 1920 x 1200. Powered by the integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics, Lenovo Miix 520 produces crisp and clear visuals. The only thing that it lacks in terms of design and added functionality is the fingerprint reader. 

Performance

Lenovo Miix 520 is powered by the 7th generation Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD. While the powerful processor lets you plough through any task, 4GB RAM coupled with 128GB SSD gives you the snappy responsiveness you need to multitask and handle power-hungry tasks. Browse the web, peruse social media, watch your favourite shows or play light games in the tablet mode, Lenovo Miix 520 is up for anything. 

While everything checks off in terms of power and speed, Lenovo Miix 520 doesn’t score big in the area of battery. You might have to plug it in for recharging after 5 hours of usage.

Keyboard and Pen

Lenovo laptops have excellent keyboards and Miix 520 is no different. Unlike Microsoft Surface that uses Alcantara fabric, Lenovo Miix 520 uses the basic pleather that extends over the entire keyboard giving it a simple yet professional look. The backlight on the keyboard can be toggled on and off which is quite convenient. The touchpad is smooth to touch and enables scrolling without a lag. The keyboard is attached to the tablet via a dual-hinge that provides a strong grip. 

Lenovo Miix 520 also comes with a stylus Active Pen 2 safely tucked into a plastic pen holster plugged into a USB port. So that takes care of any potential pen management problems. Assembling the Active Pen 2 can be a bit of a hassle but once done it works flawlessly. 

Verdict

Lenovo Miix 520 is a versatile and powerful 2-in-1 laptop worth getting your hands on, especially, if you are someone who’s always on the move and needs a more flexible device. For the cost-conscious users, it’s a perfect alternative to Microsoft Surface. You can also browse our website for more options in 2-in-1 laptops.

How important is a Graphics Card for your Computer?

Even if you are remotely into computers you might have heard the word ‘graphics card’ hurled around in conversations. For those of you who are confused about what it does and whether your computer needs a special one, let us explain it in detail.

What is a Graphics Card?

A graphics card is essentially a chip named GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) that dictates the quality of the images displayed on your computer. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) of your computer sends instructions and information to GPU that processes it and tells the computer what and how to display.

Integrated & Dedicated Graphics Card

Before we go further in, it is important to know that there are two types of GPUs. Integrated GPUs and Dedicated (or Discrete) GPUs. Integrated GPUs are the ones that come integrated into the CPU of your laptop or desktop PC. Since all CPUs have built-in GPUs, you don’t have to worry about getting one. They’re engineered for power-efficiency and standardisation so there’s no hassle of non-compatible drivers either. However, integrated GPUs are only meant for displaying basic graphics used to view emails, draft documents and sometimes to watch videos. An integrated GPU will crumble in the face of graphics-intensive tasks such as heavy-gaming, 3D modelling and video editing. 

Dedicated GPUs, on the other hand, constitute of separate hardware pieces designed for handling graphics needs. They don’t only have a chip specifically for this purpose but also a dedicated RAM for faster and smoother processing of images. In addition to delivering an extraordinary performance, GPUs also feature a wider variety of ports than your motherboard. But all of this comes at a price. While integrated GPUs are free of cost, Dedicated GPUs cost between £200-400!   

Do you need a Dedicated Graphics Card?

The real question is not whether or not you want a graphics card on your computer since all computers already have integrated graphics, it is whether you need a dedicated graphics card for high-end visual experience? If you are afraid that you are missing out on some wondrous creation of technology that would have altered your life, you should first consider the nature of your computer usage. If a normal day for you involves checking emails, writing reports, filling out spreadsheets and creating PowerPoint presentations, the integrated graphics card already configured on your laptop or desktop PC is more than enough to do the job and deliver decent graphics. 

However, if you play serious video games, edit photos or render videos, you might want to consider choosing a dedicated graphics card to offer the kind of visual results these tasks require. A dedicated graphics card also allows you to connect more than one monitor and experience crisp visuals. 

You can browse our website to look at graphics cards and other accessories for your computer.