The weight and measurements are typical for a 15.6-inch notebook. Despite the Ultrabook processor, the IdeaPad is a classic laptop.

All-in-all, Lenovo is offering a case which is appropriate for the price tag.

The usual suspects can be found on this laptop. We did not like the fact that there is only one USB 3.0 port on the test model. Furthermore, the model does not have USB Type-C. To be fair, it is rare to see this port in cheap laptops. We like the VGA interface, as it will allow users to connect VGA screens or beamers. However, this also limits the laptop, as it will not be possible for the user to use a 4K monitor at 60 Hz. This would only be possible with a DisplayPort and Lenovo uses the HDMI and VGA combo.

The placement of the ports also raises issues. The two USB 2.0 ports are placed poorly on the right side, as they are very close together and near the front. If you only have one USB device, you can stick with the USB 3.0 port on the other side. Otherwise, this placement is disadvantageous (especially for right-handed users), as it will create cable clutter at the front of the laptop and prevent the comfortable use of an external mouse. The Ethernet interface has a flap on it, which makes connecting a cable a clumsy operation.

In the SD-card reader performance benchmark, we use the Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II as a reference memory card. The benchmark revealed that Lenovo uses a very cheap and slow card reader in our test model. Obviously, the laptop is going to be far off from the great numbers posted by a high-end model, like the Dell XPS 13. However, the performance is so bad, that the user might have to consider using an SD card as a storage device only as a last possible option. Furthermore, the SD cards stick out a little, which will make them a less attractive long-term solution.

The WLAN performance is a little better. The Lenovo model uses a 1x1 Intel module: the Wireless-AC 3165. The performance is decent and we did not encounter any instability during our test. However, once again, it seems more money for a stronger Wi-Fi module might be the way to go: the Mi Notebook Air 13 is much faster while up-/downloading.

Thankfully, Lenovo has used a Gigabit Ethernet port from Realtek. Fast Ethernet is truly outdated.

No additional accessories are included in the delivery and, aside from USB docks, the manufacturer is not offering any docking solutions. For laptops of this class and price, this is acceptable.

The warranty of the IdeaPad 310-15IKB will last 24 months (12 months for the battery). This is a "Bring-In" service, which means the laptop needs to be sent to the manufacturer. The warranty can be changed or extended. For example, the user could add accident coverage so that the laptop is insured against drops. The warranty may be upgrade up to 36 months with on-site service, which means the service employee would repair the device in the shop directly.

Keyboard

The IdeaPad 310-15IKB is a 15-inch laptop with a wide chiclet keyboard, which includes a number pad. All keys are full-sized, including the cursor keys. This leaves little space for certain keys, such as the right Shift key which has been made smaller. If you use this key often, you might need to take some time to get acquainted with the size difference.

The keys have a comfortable stroke distance and typing feel. Lenovo has earned a reputation for providing the best keyboards. However, the IdeaPad is far from the ThinkPad level. Subjective: the laptop keyboard does not bend too much while typing. In fact, the keyboard only deforms under strong pressure, which makes it very similar to other cheap laptops.

A backlight or some other form of key lighting has not been provided.

Touchpad

The touchpad of the test model uses the same metallic-looking plastic as the hand-rest regions. The device is very smooth, which means the finger easily glides over it. The touchpad is very quick to respond and accurate. Sadly, it cannot match the qualities of a Microsoft Precision touchpad or a MacBook. Two-finger scrolling works quite well, but scrolling with a single finger might be a little laggy.

This is not a ClickPad: Lenovo has built in a single bar with two separate keys on each end. This is a poor solution, as the user will only be able to really press at the very far ends of the bar. Furthermore, the click mechanism is not great, as clicks feel hard and are barely audible. The manufacturer should either have gone with a ClickPad or a touchpad with separate mouse keys.