Lenovo IdeaPads Get 8th Gen Intel Processors, Discrete Graphics

April showers bring... IdeaPads? They do if you happen to be Lenovo.

The laptop manufacturer is releasing a slew of notebooks from its IdeaPad line starting this May. The systems will cover a variety of budgets, starting with the $249.99 IdeaPad 330 and going all the way to the $799.99 IdeaPad 530S.

For consumers looking for a sub-$300 system that isn't a Chromebook, Lenovo has the IdeaPad 330. Available in 14, 15 and 17-inch iterations, the 330 is available starting at $249.99 (the 17 inch costs $499.99), which gets you a laptop that weighs approximately 4 pounds with an Intel Celeron Dual Core N4000 processor, integrated graphics and a HD display.

However, depending on the size, the 330 can be configured with an 8th-generation Intel Core i7-8750H CPU with up to 16GB of RAM, a discrete Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 GPU and a 1920 x 1080 display. The laptops can also be tricked out with fingerprint readers, optical drives and touchscreen and are available in a number of colors including Mint Green, Midnight Blue, Chocolate or Blizzard White depending on screen size.

MORE: Lenovo Laptops - Brand Review and Rating

While the 330 is more of a system for entry-level or casual use, those looking for a system with better performance and full HD screens by default can check out the $449.99 IdeaPad 330S. Available in 14 and 15-inch models, the 330S weighs in at 3.5 pounds, making it ideal for travel.

Unlike it's cheaper cousin, the 330S has an aluminum lid flanked by a plastic undercarriage for a more sophisticated look. The other key difference is the full HD IPS display, which should offer up brighter, more vivid vistas. Like the 330, the 330S is available in a number of colors and can be scaled up to an 8th Gen Intel CPU and a GTX 1050 GPU.

 

Lenovo is also launching the IdeaPad 530S in 14 and 15-inch configurations starting at $799.99. Targeting mobile professionals, the all-aluminum system weighs a little under 3 pounds and is only 0.6-inch thick. Starting with a 1080p display, the 530S can be configured with a 2560 x 1440 wide-angle display with up to an 8th Gen Intel CPU and a discrete Nvidia GeForce MX150 for light gaming.

We're excited to get the new crop of IdeaPads into our lab for testing and review. Stay tuned.

Sherri L. Smith
Editor in Chief

Sherri L. Smith has been cranking out product reviews for Laptopmag.com since 2011. In that time, she's reviewed more than her share of laptops, tablets, smartphones and everything in between. The resident gamer and audio junkie, Sherri was previously a managing editor for Black Web 2.0 and contributed to BET.Com and Popgadget.