Many Lenovo IdeaPad U310 13.1-Inch Touchscreen Ultrabook (Graphite Gray) reviews will focus on the presence of Windows 8 on this laptop, and how that is a large factor to consider when you are purchasing this laptop. And while the operating system is certainly among the most important elements of a laptop, there are other items that must also be considered when you are reading reviews.
So continue below to see all of the pros and cons of the IdeaPad U310 so that you can decide if it’s the right computer for you.
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Navigate this article
| Grid of specs and features | Pros of the computer | Cons of the computer |
| Performance | Portability | Connectivity |
| Conclusion | Similar Laptops |
Specs and Features
Lenovo IdeaPad U310 | |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5-3337U ULV Processor (1.8 GHz) |
| RAM | 4 GB DDR3 RAM |
| Hard Drive | 500 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive, 24 GB Solid-State Drive |
| Graphics | Integrated Intel HD Graphics |
| Screen | 13.1 inch HD (1366×768) |
| Total Number of USB Ports | 3 |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 1 |
| HDMI | Yes |
| Keyboard | Accutype |
| Battery Life | Lenovo claims up to 6 hours |
Pros of the Lenovo IdeaPad U310 13.1-Inch Touchscreen Ultrabook
- Touch screen
- Intel i5 processor
- Excellent value
- Compact and lightweight
- USB 3.0 connectivity
- Hybrid hard drive
- Comfortable keyboard
Cons of the Lenovo IdeaPad U310 13.1-Inch Touchscreen Ultrabook (Graphite Gray)
- Screen can get smeared easily due to touch
- Only 4 GB of RAM
- 13 inch screen can be small if you aren’t used to it
- Low-resolution screen
Performance
The key performance features of the Lenovo U310 are its’ Intel i5 processor, 4 GB of RAM, integrated Intel graphics, and hybrid hard drive. In case you are not familiar with the term, a hybrid hard drive is one that combines the storage space of a traditional spinning hard drive with the improved performance characteristics of a solid state drive. This gives you the best combination of hard drive performance and value. Other similar laptops, such as the MacBook Air, are priced much higher due to their inclusion of a full solid state drive. There are other factors that make the MacBook Air more expensive, but that is a big one.
If you are looking for a touchscreen Ultrabook in this price range, then you have likely seen that the competitors often use the i3 processor. And while that processor is good, the i5 exceeds it in performance capabilities. So if you need to do a lot of multi-tasking, or if you use more resource-intensive photo or video editing applications, then you would see a noticeable performance improvement with the Lenovo U310.
Portability
The portability area is where this laptop really shines, and is likely the determining factor for most people that end up purchasing it. The 13.1 inch screen size is much easier to accommodate in bags and on airplanes than a 15 inch alternative, and the 3.7 lb weight is incredible. If you are switching to this form factor from a non-ultrabook 15 inch laptop, then you are going to be surprised by how much space and weight is actually saved.
Lenovo claims that you can get up to 6 hours of battery life with this ultrabook, which means that you will be able to use it for an entire plane flight from New York to Los Angeles and still have enough power left to make a short Powerpoint presentation when you land. This may be a little optimistic and actual battery life will vary based upon your actual usage, but the long battery life is still a major selling point.
Connectivity
This Lenovo features an impressive collection of ports and connections for an ultrabook, so you shouldn’t have any problems connecting to most devices or networks. The complete listing of ports and connections includes:
- 802.11 b/g/n WiFi
- 10/100 wired ethernet port
- Bluetooth 4.0
- WiDi support
- 2 USB 2.0 ports
- 1 USB 3.0 port
- 2 in 1 card reader (SD/MMC)
- Headphone and microphone jack
- HDMI port
Conclusion
This is one of the best choices out there for affordable touch screen ultrabooks. Microsoft is clearly making a move towards increasing touchscreen usage with their implementation of Windows 8, and the increase in the number of affordable options has led to a rise in popularity. You have an impressive number of options available to you both for usage and for device and network interaction, and there was clearly a lot of thought that went into designing this computer. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, and the portability of the Lenovo U310 cannot be overstated. If you are ready to make the jump to a Windows 8 laptop that takes advantage of what that operating system has to offer, then you won’t be sorry if you pick this one.
Read more on Amazon about the Lenovo IdeaPad U310 13.1-Inch Touchscreen Ultrabook (Graphite Gray)
Read additional reviews on Amazon of the Lenovo IdeaPad U310
Similar Laptops
Listed below are a few other choices that are in this same price range. They all have good reviews on Amazon, but each one offers something slightly different than the Lenovo IdeaPad U310 13.1-Inch Touchscreen Ultrabook (Graphite Gray) discussed in this article.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.
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