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Lenovo Yoga 260 Review: A Versatile Business Laptop with Remarkable Mobility and Performance

In today’s fast-paced world, professionals need a laptop that can keep up with their demanding lifestyles. The Lenovo Yoga 260, equipped with a Core i5-6300U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a speedy 256GB SSD, is positioned as a flexible and robust solution for on-the-go productivity. This in-depth review will explore every aspect of the Lenovo Yoga 260, from its design and build quality to its performance, display, keyboard, battery life, and software. By the end of this review, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of whether the Lenovo Yoga 260 is the right choice for your business and mobility needs.

Design and Build Quality (4.5/5)

The Lenovo Yoga 260 follows the traditional Yoga series design philosophy with its 360-degree hinge that allows it to function as both a laptop and a tablet. The laptop features a sleek, professional look with its matte black finish and a compact form factor. At first glance, it’s evident that Lenovo has paid close attention to build quality and aesthetics.

The device feels durable and well-constructed, which is crucial for a laptop intended for business use. The chassis is primarily made of magnesium alloy, ensuring that it can withstand the rigors of daily travel and use. The Yoga 260 also passes MIL-SPEC 810G testing, which is a standard for durability and reliability. This means it can endure some harsh conditions and still perform optimally, making it a solid choice for business professionals who are constantly on the move.

The Yoga 260’s 12.5-inch display is surrounded by slim bezels, contributing to its modern appearance. While it doesn’t have the thinnest bezels on the market, they are still quite slim for a laptop in this category. The hinges, which allow for the 360-degree rotation, are sturdy and well-built. They provide a smooth transition between the laptop and tablet modes, allowing you to switch between tasks with ease.

The device is also impressively portable, weighing in at just 2.9 pounds and measuring 12.2 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches. This slim and lightweight design makes it convenient to carry in a backpack or briefcase, ensuring that it won’t weigh you down during your daily commute or business trips.

Overall, the Lenovo Yoga 260 is a well-designed and sturdily built laptop that combines a professional aesthetic with the flexibility to adapt to various work scenarios. Its compact size and durability make it an excellent choice for professionals constantly on the go, whether they’re in the office, on a plane, or at a client meeting.

Display and Audio (4/5)

The Lenovo Yoga 260 features a 12.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display, which is common for laptops in this size and price range. The touchscreen panel is bright and produces vibrant colors, making it suitable for both work and entertainment. The display has wide viewing angles, and the matte finish helps reduce glare and reflections, which is crucial for working in different lighting conditions.

However, one of the drawbacks of the Yoga 260’s display is its brightness. While it’s sufficient for indoor use, it may struggle in bright outdoor environments. Additionally, it lacks the color accuracy and gamut coverage of more premium laptops, making it less ideal for tasks like professional photo or video editing. Nonetheless, for general office work, web browsing, and multimedia consumption, the display should meet most users’ needs.

The laptop’s audio quality is decent, with two downward-firing speakers that provide clear and reasonably loud sound. However, the audio quality doesn’t excel in comparison to other aspects of the laptop. While it’s adequate for video conferencing and casual media consumption, it’s advisable to use headphones or external speakers for a more immersive audio experience.

Keyboard and Touchpad (4/5)

The keyboard on the Lenovo Yoga 260 is well-designed and comfortable for extended typing sessions. The keys are nicely spaced, providing a satisfying tactile feedback and a reasonable amount of key travel. This is particularly important for business users who spend a significant amount of time typing reports, emails, or code.

The keyboard is also spill-resistant, which is a handy feature to have in case of accidental liquid mishaps. Furthermore, the keyboard is backlit, making it easy to work in low-light conditions. The backlighting has two brightness levels, allowing you to choose the one that suits your preference.

The touchpad on the Yoga 260 is responsive and accurate, with multi-touch gestures supported for smooth navigation. The two physical buttons are integrated into the touchpad, offering a satisfying click when pressed. The inclusion of TrackPoint, a red pointing stick nestled in the middle of the keyboard, is a nice touch for those who prefer it over the touchpad or an external mouse.

Overall, the keyboard and touchpad on the Lenovo Yoga 260 are commendable, offering a comfortable typing experience and precise cursor control. Business professionals who rely on their laptops for extensive work tasks will appreciate these features.

Performance of the Lenovo Yoga 260 (4/5)

The Lenovo Yoga 260 comes equipped with an Intel Core i5-6300U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. This hardware configuration is a solid choice for business users, offering a good balance between performance and power efficiency. Let’s break down the performance aspects of the Yoga 260:

CPU Performance

The Intel Core i5-6300U is a 6th generation dual-core processor with a base clock speed of 2.4GHz and a turbo boost frequency of up to 3GHz. While it’s not the latest and greatest processor available, it’s more than capable of handling everyday office tasks, web browsing, and even some light multitasking. For common business applications like word processing, spreadsheet management, email, and web conferencing, the Core i5-6300U is more than sufficient.

RAM and Multitasking

With 8GB of RAM, the Yoga 260 provides ample memory for multitasking. You can comfortably have several browser tabs open, run office applications, and switch between various tasks without experiencing significant slowdowns. For most business users, this amount of RAM is more than enough.

Storage Speed

The 256GB SSD in the Yoga 260 ensures fast boot times and snappy application launches. It significantly contributes to the overall responsiveness of the laptop. Files and data access is swift, and you won’t find yourself waiting for the laptop to catch up with your demands.

Graphics Performance

While the integrated Intel HD Graphics 520 isn’t suitable for demanding 3D gaming or heavy graphics work, it handles casual games and multimedia playback without issues. For business users who rely on the Yoga 260 for productivity tasks and occasional entertainment, the integrated graphics are adequate.

In real-world use, the Lenovo Yoga 260 performs admirably. It handles typical office tasks with ease, and the SSD makes a noticeable difference in terms of overall system responsiveness. This laptop is a workhorse for business professionals who need to stay productive on the go.

Battery Life (4/5)

Battery life is a crucial factor for mobile professionals, and the Yoga 260 offers respectable endurance. The laptop is equipped with a 44Whr battery, which provides enough power to keep you going through a full workday with moderate use.

In our battery tests, which involve continuous web browsing and video playback, the Yoga 260 lasted approximately 7

-8 hours on a single charge. This is a good result, considering its compact size and powerful hardware. It means you can use the laptop during your work hours without constantly searching for a power outlet.

Lenovo’s Power Bridge technology is another significant advantage. This feature allows you to swap out the battery without shutting down the laptop, making it possible to extend your runtime even further by carrying a spare battery.

The battery life of the Yoga 260 is competitive and should meet the needs of most professionals, especially when combined with the convenience of the Power Bridge technology.

Connectivity and Ports (4/5)

The Lenovo Yoga 260 offers a decent selection of ports and connectivity options for a laptop of its size. Here’s an overview of the available ports:

• 2 x USB 3.0 ports
• 1 x USB-C port
• Mini DisplayPort
• HDMI
• MicroSD card reader
• 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack
• Ethernet extension connector (via a proprietary adapter)
• Optional LTE-A (4G) connectivity

The inclusion of a USB-C port is a forward-thinking move, as it provides versatility for connecting to various peripherals and external displays. The Mini DisplayPort and HDMI ports are valuable for presentations and connecting to external monitors. The laptop’s microSD card reader is handy for quickly transferring photos and documents from digital cameras or other devices.

The optional LTE-A (4G) connectivity is a standout feature, as it allows you to stay connected to the internet even in areas without Wi-Fi. This is a valuable addition for professionals who frequently work while traveling.

However, the Yoga 260 lacks an Ethernet port, which some business users may find inconvenient. It’s possible to add this capability via a proprietary adapter, but having an integrated Ethernet port would have been more convenient. Additionally, the laptop only has two USB 3.0 ports, and while this should suffice for most users, having an extra port would have been a bonus.

Software and Operating System (4/5)

The Lenovo Yoga 260 comes with Windows 10 Pro pre-installed, making it suitable for business users who need access to additional features like BitLocker encryption and remote desktop functionality. While it’s worth noting that Windows 10 is no longer the latest version, as of my knowledge cutoff date, it remains a reliable and widely-used operating system in the business world.

Lenovo has a good reputation for including useful software tools with their laptops, and the Yoga 260 is no exception. Some of the noteworthy software features include:

• Lenovo Vantage: This software provides system health and security diagnostics, driver updates, and support resources. It’s a convenient one-stop shop for managing your Lenovo device.
• Lenovo Companion: This tool offers quick access to user guides, warranty information, and system performance optimization.
• Lenovo WRITEit: Designed for use with the touchscreen and stylus, this software allows you to write directly on the screen and convert your handwriting to text. It’s a helpful tool for note-taking and annotations.
• McAfee LiveSafe: The Yoga 260 comes with a 30-day trial of McAfee LiveSafe antivirus software. While this offers security benefits, some users prefer alternative antivirus solutions.

While these software features can be useful, some users may prefer a cleaner, bloatware-free Windows installation. However, Lenovo’s software additions are generally non-intrusive and can be beneficial for those who take advantage of the additional features they offer.

Security (4/5)

Security is a top priority for business laptops, and the Lenovo Yoga 260 incorporates several features to help protect your data and privacy. Here are some of the security features included:

• Fingerprint Reader: The laptop features a fingerprint sensor for biometric login, adding an extra layer of security to protect your data. It’s a convenient and secure way to access your device.
• TPM (Trusted Platform Module): The Yoga 260 includes a TPM chip, which enhances data encryption and security. It’s a valuable feature for businesses that handle sensitive information.
• Webcam Privacy Shutter: Lenovo includes a physical webcam shutter that allows you to cover the camera lens when not in use, preventing potential privacy breaches through unauthorized camera access.
• Kensington Lock Slot: For physical security, the laptop has a Kensington lock slot, enabling you to secure it to a desk or other immovable object.

These security features make the Lenovo Yoga 260 a suitable choice for business professionals who require robust protection for their data and privacy. The combination of biometric authentication, encryption, and physical security measures ensures that your laptop and the information it contains remain secure.

Overall Experience (4/5)

In conclusion, the Lenovo Yoga 260 is a versatile and well-rounded business laptop that offers impressive mobility and performance. Its design and build quality are top-notch, with a sturdy and professional look that’s well-suited for the corporate world. The 360-degree hinge adds a layer of versatility, allowing users to switch between laptop and tablet modes with ease.

Performance-wise, the laptop handles everyday business tasks with ease, thanks to the capable Core i5 processor and ample RAM. The fast SSD ensures swift system responsiveness, and the inclusion of optional LTE connectivity provides extra mobility for professionals who are frequently on the move.

Battery life is commendable, making it possible to get through a full workday without needing to recharge. The inclusion of Power Bridge technology allows for extended runtime by swapping out the battery, which is a unique and valuable feature.

Connectivity and port options are decent, with the addition of a USB-C port and optional LTE connectivity being standout features. The inclusion of security measures like a fingerprint reader, TPM, and webcam privacy shutter makes the Yoga 260 a secure choice for business use.

However, the laptop is not without some drawbacks. The display, while decent, could be brighter for outdoor use, and the lack of an integrated Ethernet port may inconvenience some users. Additionally, the pre-installed McAfee LiveSafe antivirus software may not be to everyone’s liking.

Ultimately, the Lenovo Yoga 260 is a reliable and well-rounded business laptop that’s particularly well-suited for professionals who are frequently on the move. Its durability, versatile design, and security features make it a compelling choice for business users who value performance and mobility in a single package.

Pros:

• Sturdy and professional design
• Versatile 360-degree hinge
• Good overall performance for business tasks
• Fast SSD for snappy responsiveness
• Decent battery life with Power Bridge technology
• Optional LTE connectivity for on-the-go internet access
• Strong security features, including a fingerprint reader and TPM

Cons:

• Display could be brighter for outdoor use
• No integrated Ethernet port (requires proprietary adapter)
• Pre-installed McAfee LiveSafe antivirus software may not be preferred by all users

In summary, the Lenovo Yoga 260 lives up to the expectations of the Yoga series by offering flexibility and quality that cater to the needs of business professionals. Its sleek design, reliable performance, and robust security features make it a compelling choice for those seeking a mobile and productive computing experience. Whether you’re in the office or on the road, the Lenovo Yoga 260 is a dependable companion for your daily tasks.
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