Review: Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 700

Introduction and design

Lenovo has been a trailblazer in the hybrid laptop market. Its original Yoga ushered in a new era of portable computing with four modes of use - laptop, stand, tent, and tablet - meaning laptops and tablets were no longer separate entities.

The company's latest device, the IdeaPad Miix 700, is aimed firmly at Surface Pro 3 buyers - but there's plenty here to turn heads of Surface Pro 4 fans too. Here's the killer move: the Miix 700 with 256GB of solid-stage storage (SSD) comes bundled with both a pen and keyboard, making it a complete hybrid device, for £899 (around $1,313 or AUS$1,813).

The Surface Pro 4, on the other hand, can be had with a 256GB SSD and an Intel Core i5 processor for £1,079 (around $1,575 or AUS$2,176). While that includes a pen, the keyboard is an extra £109.99 (around $150 or AUS$222), which adds up to £1188.99 (around $1,753 or AUS$2,397). Yes - that includes a faster Intel Core-series processor, but if you don't need the extra power under the hood then the Miix is a compelling alternative.

With no hidden costs, it could be the clincher if you're after a Windows 10 hybrid that just works straight out of the box. There's no fiddling round with purchasing peripherals here.

Another alternative to the Miix 700, Apple's 12-inch iPad Pro, is just sold as a tablet. It comes in at £1,019 ($1,229 or AUS$1,599) for the version with 256GB of flash storage. The keyboard accessory is an extra £139 (around $203 or AUS$280) and the pen is another £79 (around $115 or AUS$159), pushing the Wi-Fi-only model up to £1,237 ($1,547 or AUS$2,038). The iPad Pro runs Apple's tablet-friendly iOS 9 operating system, making it more of a consumption device than one geared for mouse-and-keyboard work like the Miix 700.

Design

With many laptops such as the Surface Book and XPS 13 opting for silver-inspired designs, it's refreshing to see Lenovo stick to 1980s-inspired black. Like Dell's XPS 12, another convertible, it looks positively executive rather than dated.

Tablets and hybrids tend to take a lot more life abuse than a traditional laptop. They're not just used in offices, but kitchens, public transport, cafes wherever, so the ability to look good whatever the weather is appreciated.

Design-wise it's a slightly blocky square shape which fits the 80s matte black look. There are stereo speakers, one on each side, which are a little tinny but functional - certainly decent enough for the odd Skype call. It's worth noting that the IdeaPad Miix 700 is also available in Champagne Gold, so if that tickles your tastebuds then quaff away.

Lenovo's famous Watchband Hinge-inspired design, which is borrowed from the Yoga 900, lets the kickstand fold almost flat and is very discreet. While it's not as thin as an iPad Pro, the hinge means that in tablet mode it's slimmer by 0.02 inches than a Surface Pro 4 in tablet mode. However the large bezel around the screen makes it a little chunkier than the one on Microsoft's machine. The Miix 700's stand can be a little stiff to pull out but that does mean it's extremely sturdy.

There's a small eight-pin connector on the keyboard that neatly grabs onto the base of the screen with ease, latching on like a magnet. It's the same satisfaction to be had when flapping shut the smart case on an iPad, even sounds off a similar click.

The keyboard can be laid flat while featuring a clever little kink just close to where it attaches to the screen. This provides elevation at the back so there's a small slope that makes typing easier. Admittedly this adds a little bit of bounce when typing quickly, but it's not a deal-breaker. The back of the keyboard is decked in plush material with a leather effect that doesn't feel cheap and is hard-wearing.

Lenovo's placing of the keys on the right-hand side where the Enter and Shift keys are located is slightly different to a normal office keyboard. I tested its performance with a words-per-minute online app and found the results were only slightly less than when using a wireless Apple keyboard. The IdeaPad's keyboard is not backlit, which is reflected in the relatively cheap price of the unit.

Screen and pen

The display is bright and its colours are clear and defined. On the highest brightness the screen shines in even harsh outdoor light. The touchscreen is responsive, and because the resolution is so high it's good to have the pen handy for more intricate work.

The pen takes one AAAA battery (that's not a typo - they're one smaller than AAA). It's light and made of metal with two buttons on top. The upper of the two serves as a right click, or you can just hold down the pen to right click too. In the box is a small plastic clip with three holes which is designed to fit in either of the two USB slots (one on each side).

The pen can be placed downwards, so parallel to the screen. Or it can be perpendicular sticking straight out like a 1980s executive pen holder, so be careful you don't take your eye out with it.

Specifications and performance

The Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 700 can be equipped with a 4G LTE modem which is incredibly handy for firing up webpages on the move. There's another model that comes with a 3D camera, but this means that you can't have the modem included as it's Wi-Fi only.

Spec sheet

Here is the Lenovo MIIX 700 configuration sent to Techradar for review:

• CPU: 1.20GHz Intel Core m7-6Y75 (1866MHz 4MB)
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515
• RAM: 8GB Onboard LPDDR3 1866MHz
• Screen: 12.0-inch FHD+ IPS LED MultiTouch (2160x1440)
• Storage: 256GB SSD SATA III
• Ports: 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, Micro HDMI™-out, microSD™, Audio Combo Jack
• Connectivity: Intel Wireless 8260 (2x2 AC) with BT4.1 + 4G LTE modem
• Camera: Front : 5MP / Rear : 5MP with Auto Focus and Flash
• Weight: Tablet: 1.7 lbs (780 g), Keyboard: 0.7 lbs (330 g)
• Size: 11.5" x 0.35" x 8.27" (W x D x H) / Keyboard: 11.53" x 0.22" x 8.82"

The IdeaPad Miix 700's catchily titled m7-6Y75 processor is of similar strength to the one in the Surface 3. Like that device, the Miix has no internal fan so it's completely silent even on high loads.

The power supply cable is proprietary and slots into one of two USB sockets, which are similar to USB plugs with a little extra lip in one corner. This means that if you're using the charger and pen holder at the same time there won't be any USBs free. Hopefully in the future Lenovo's hybrids will merge use Micro USB chargers, as a number of Chromebooks already do, or even use USB-C like Dell's XPS 12 and Latitude 13 7000.

Benchmarks

Here's how the Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 700 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

• Cinebench: CPU: 139 points; Graphics: 18.66 fps
• GeekBench: GeekBench: 2275 (single-core); 4530 (multi-core)
• PCMark 8 (Home Test): 2,131 points
• PCMark 8 Battery Life: 4 hours and 39 minutes

The Skylake processor inside is designed to be power efficient (hence the lack of fan) and is the same one can be found in Apple's 12-inch MacBook (Early 2016). It's not as powerful in tests as the Surface Pro 4's i5-6300U, which scores 2,406 in the PC Mark Home test compared to the Miix's 2,131 points.

The generous 256GB SSD is quick, as is the 8GB of RAM. Both equal the Surface Pros 3 and Surface Pro 4 models we previously tested.

The Miix 700's power efficiency certainly stands out. In the battery test the device trounces both Surfaces, clocking up a whopping 4 hours and 39 minutes compared to the Surface 4's 3 hours and 15 minutes, and the Surface 3's weedy 2 hours 38 minutes. However, as our review notes, these were not entirely indicative of its day-to-day performance. The Lenovo is fast to charge, and at 42% remaining Windows stated that it was 1 hr 15 until the device would be fully-charged.

In other benchmarks, the Miix 700 scores the lowest in Geekbench's CPU test, with the Surface Pro 4 taking the crown at over 6,500, the iPad Pro at nearly 5,500, and Lenovo's machine at 4,530.

The onboard Intel Graphics 515 isn't going to play GTA V at 60 fps but it's adequate for playing older games - such as Team Fortress 2.

Bundled software

The following software was bundled with the device:

• Lenovo Photo Master
• McAfee
• Lenovo Solution Center
• Lenovo OneKey Recovery
• Lenovo Companion 3.0
• Lenovo Photo Master
• Lenovo SHAREit
• Lenovo REACHit
• Lenovo WRITEit

Verdict

We liked

I loved the Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 700's sturdy design, matte black finish and high-quality screen. It's an impressive device for the cost and runs quiet too. In terms of value, there's no need to purchase extras like a pen, keyboard and case as they're all included which may help the Miix 700 get its nose in front of Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 if you're deciding between the two.

Doodlers will appreciate the provided stylus, which is accurate and doesn't feel flimsy. The Miix 700 is ever-so-slightly lighter than a Surface Pro 4 and Intel's fanless m7-6Y75 processor inside is zippy. In most office tasks and it's very quick to boot and wake from sleep.

We disliked

While having two USBs is great, the problem is that both can be taken up with the pen holder and charger - so it's not a particularly clever design. Also having the pen on the side, it can feel a little vulnerable, you might want to pop it in a case for safe keeping.

Final verdict

Overall, the IdeaPad Miix 700 is a very well-built hybrid that's a genuine Surface Pro 3 rival. You may even consider it as an alternative to Microsoft's Surface Pro 4. Its price point makes it an attractive offer and with no hidden peripheral costs and it could be a winner if you're looking to dip your toes into a 2-in-1 that comes with a pen and keyboard for the first time.

If you're looking for all-out power, however, then it's probably not what you're looking for - the Surface Pro 4 is a more viable device in that situation thanks to its meatier Intel Core-series processors. But for general office work, surfing the web and even light photo editing, the Miix 700 does the job all while looking slick and getting down to action straight out of the box.