Lenovo Thinkpad L380 Yoga review: Get this one

The Yoga series of devices from Lenovo has for many years been the most innovative and versatile of Windows devices. Now, the Yoga concept is making its presence felt in the work-oriented Lenovo ThinkPad range too. The latest here is the Thinkpad L380 Yoga, a notebook that merges the attitude of a ThinkPad with the physique of a Yoga.

The Thinkpad L380 Yoga is a ThinkPad in every respect and if you had any doubts, the iconic red think point in the middle of the keyboard is all you need to be convinced. The Thinkpad L380 Yoga is slim and light with a rubberised matte finish that you expect from this range. The keyboard is well laid out and one of the best I have used in a long time. The keys offer just the right mix of travel and feedback that makes you want to write more. The function keys in the top row give you one-touch access to most of the settings you would need and that’s something I really liked about this laptop.

Under the keyboard, is a large trackpad with separate left-right clickers, which again add to the usability of this device. Now with a touch screen, the keypoint and the trackpad, this is among the few devices you can actually operate to full potential without an external mouse. Then there is the fingerprint scanner next to the trackpad that saves you from the irritation of having to key in your password every single time. This one is also worth a thumps up.

But what sets Thinkpad L380 Yoga apart is its ability to stretch flat, stand up like a tent and fold backwards to become a tablet enabling consumption and creativity in different modes. This is something Yoga has mastered over the year, but this version gives you the sense that Lenovo has perfected the hinges and ironed out the hinderances. It switches to the tablet mode very easily, though its tougher to type on a smooth touch screen after you have been spoilt by a keyboard this good. Also, while typing on the screen the cursor keeps banishing.

The Thinkpad L380 Yoga has a Full HD touch display that is really crisp and bright. The brightness is important as in tablet mode, you might end up using the device a lot under the sun. The audio quality, however, is a bit of a let down.