Lenovo G570 review

The Lenovo G570 is a budget 15.6-inch laptop aimed at the general consumer. Powered by an Intel Core i5-2410M 2.3GHz processor, the G570 features 4GB of dual-channel 1333MHz DDR3 RAM. As a budget machine the G570 opts for the Intel HD 3000 graphics solution. A 500GB 5400rpm Western Digital hard drive should provide ample storage. The display is a 15.6-inch 1366 x 768 720p HD LED-backlit glare display. Wi-Fi-n and Bluetooth are the Lenovo G570′s mobile connectivity solutions.

The G570 measures 14.8 x 9.8 x 0.7~1.4 inches – it tapers markedly – and at 5.73 pounds it’s a heavy notebook. It’s a sign of how far notebook specs have come that an i5 laptop with 4GB of DDR3 memory qualifies as only a general use machine. Those specs should be good for multitasking too. Current 3D games are not playable on the integrated HD 3000 graphics card – and upgrade options do not stretch to dedicated graphics. Enjoy these Lenovo G570 pictures:

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Externally the G570 is very similar to its predecessor, the G560, an uncomplicated design with moulded plastics and brushed aluminum around the keyboard. The drawback of its sensual glossy lid is having to clean fingerprints more frequently, but it lends style to the overall appearance. Despite the abundance of plastic, overall build quality is good and the G570 feels solid. But obviously being plastic it’s less durable.

Ports are largely unchanged since the G560, though the ExpressCard/34 slot has disappeared into the mists of time. The G570 is actually well-furnished for an entry-level notebook – HDMI, VGA, Wireless On/Off switch, media card reader (MMC/MS/MS Pro/SD/xD), USB/eSATA, three USB 2.0 sockets, headphone and mic jacks, and a multi/CD RW drive.

The 15.6-inch 720p 1366 x 768 HD glare LED backlit display is glossy, giving fine clarity but reflection will possibly make outdoor use more problematical. The colours on the screen aren’t particularly vibrant – it’s a shame there are no upgrade options for the G570′s screen.

The Lenovo G570 boasts Conexant SmartAudio HD speakers, making audio for the G570 above average amongst its competitors. Easily loud enough for casual listening, sound was crisp even at 95% volume.

The G570 now has a Chiclet-type “island” keyboard, meaning flatter, squarer, widely-separated keys to help with typing. A full number pad on the right makes entering figures much easier. The touchpad is much improved too – gone is the unified ‘clickpad’ button in favour of separate left and right buttons, and the textured surface aids fine-grained cursor control, especially when using the inbuilt scrollbar.

Compared to the previous generation benchmark scores are much-improved. The i5 processor and 4GB DDR3 RAM, as well as Intel’s tweaks to its onboard GPU all help the Lenovo G570′s multitasking abilities. Light gaming and movies are within the G570′s capabilities, and in general programs respond promptly and task flow jogs along nicely.

The 6-cell 10.8V 48Wh battery lasted more than four-and-a-half hours of moderate use on the “balanced” setting.

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