Best price

IdeaPad Miix 700 Review: It’s been worth the wait

They used to say a week was a long time in polities. Given recent events, that’s probably been revised down to about five minutes. The tech industry also moves pretty quickly, so when a PC maker announces a new product, the clock is ticking to get it into shops before people start questioning its existence.

IdeaPad Miix 700 Review

After seeing Lenovo’s Miix concept at the I FA trade show in Berlin a year ago, we’d almost given up hope.

A slim design, crisp display and high performance levels.

Here it is, though, as promised: a stylish Windows 10 laptop-tablet with a slim touchscreen and an even slimmer keyboard (attached by a magnetic hinge). That was exciting a year ago, before Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 arrived. Since then, just about every laptop has evolved into some sort of hybrid, and the IdeaPad Miix 700 looks like a lot of other machines, including some of Lenovo’s own.

The metal case does feel very nice, though. It’s just a fraction thicker than the Surface Pro 4, but positively svelte compared with HP’s Elite X2. It’s also cheaper, while still offering impressive specifications.

The display has a crisp 2160×1440 resolution, giving you as many pixels in its 12in screen as you’d typically find in a 27in monitor. Although it doesn’t quite match the color accuracy of the Surface Pro 4, it covers 89 per cent of the sRGB range, which is more than adequate for tasks like editing photos.

We weren’t so happy with the keyboard. It connects neatly and securely, and can lie flat or at a slight angle (a kick-stand supports the screen – see image below left). But the keyboard feels much flimsier than the one on Lenovo’s ThinkPad XI, and bounces when you type (the keys feel cramped and lack travel, too). Occasionally, ours even failed to register characters, which may have been a problem with our particular review model. The touchpad worked fine, but was too small for comfort. Lenovo’s Active Pen stylus, which costs extra in the US, comes included in the UK (maybe we don’t live in ‘rip-off Britain’ after all!).

Battery life – at six hours 40 minutes of video playback in our tests – should get you through most periods between mains sockets, but lagged an hour behind the Surface Pro 4 and considerably short of Lenovo’s optimistic claim of nine hours. The m7 processor beats Intel’s low-power mobile range, but it’s no i7, and struggled with tasks like editing videos and 3D games. General Windows tasks felt very snappy, though, making this a good two-in-one system at a fair price.

SPECIFICATIONS

Intel Core M7-6Y75 processor • 8GB memory • 256GB SSD . 12in 2160 x 1440-pixel screen . 1x USB 3.0.1x USB 2.0 • Micro HDMI • MicroSD card reader • 802.11ac Wi-Fi • Bluetooth 4.0 • Windows 10 Home • 14.5x292x219mm (HxWxD) • 0.78kg • One-year warranty

VERDICT:

The keyboard leaves a lot to be desired, but if frequent typing isn’t your main reason for buying, this is a good all-round hybrid

Best IdeaPad Miix 700 prices ?

See also THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO…OLED laptops

1 Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Review

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Review

Lenovo's Legion 5 Pro is the upgraded version of our Elite-listed budget gaming laptop, so we've got high hopes for this mid-range machine. It gets off to a good start with its screen, which has an intriguing 16:10 aspect ratio. This gives you ...
Add to compare
8.6
2 HP Victus 16-e0097nr Review

HP Victus 16-e0097nr Review

HP's new Victus brand offers a more affordable alternative to its high-end Omen line, and this machine is one of the cheapest gaming laptops we've seen for ages. The low price doesn't mean cut-back silicon either. Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060 has a ...
Add to compare
7.7
3 HP Victus 16-d0097nr Review: This 16-inch gaming laptop delivers solid value

HP Victus 16-d0097nr Review: This 16-inch gaming laptop delivers solid value

HP Victus 16-d0097nr review - HP's Victus 16 gaming notebook keeps your focus on the screen, not what's under your fingers. by mark hachman The HP Victus 16 joins a small but growing crop of gaming notebooks whose ...
Add to compare
8
Editor choice 4 ASUS ROG FLOW X13 GV301 Review

ASUS ROG FLOW X13 GV301 Review

The Asus ROG Flow X13 is one of the most exciting gaming laptops on the market right now, as it's not just a laptop. This machine is at its best when you buy it alongside the ROG XG Mobile graphics dock, which turbo-charges its gaming ability. The ...
Add to compare
8.7

ALTERNATIVE:

Acer Switch Alpha 12

Specs are a bit lower all round, but if you want to pay a bit less, this is a decent hybrid with a stylus

Series Navigation<< Dell Inspiron 15 5570 Review: Decent PlayHP Envy 13 (2018) Review >>
TNR earns Amazon affiliate commissions from qualifying purchases. You can support the site directly via Paypal donations ☕. Thank you!

Tags:

Let us know your thoughts on a product or view reviews from our members, independent experts and other websites.

Leave a reply

Compare items
  • Total (0)
Compare
0
Shopping cart