The Lenovo Ideapad 720S-15 is one of those laptops that kinda sneaks up on you. Like, it’s not in-your-face flashy, but it’s got this quiet confidence — like the kid in high school who wore the same hoodie every day but somehow had a black belt in jiu-jitsu.
I first got my hands on the lenovo ideapad 720s-15 when I was staying at my cousin’s place. Long story short, I spilled soda on his laptop and had to buy him a new one. That’s how this whole review started — with root beer and panic.
Anyway, let’s dive in.
Design and Build – Sleek, But Not Fragile
So, right outta the box, the lenovo ideapad 720s-15 feels premium. It’s got that brushed aluminum look that pretends it’s a MacBook but doesn’t make you want to sell a kidney.
The Weight Game
- Around 4.4 pounds — light-ish, but not ultralight
- Thin enough to slide into your bag without wrestling it in
- Doesn’t wobble when you open it one-handed (trust me, I tested it 12 times)
Honestly, I expected it to feel a little cheap because some Lenovo models do — but nope. Solid. Sturdy. Like it knows you’ll probably drop it once and keeps quiet about it.
Keyboard & Trackpad Vibes
The keys are smooth, backlit, and don’t clack like my grandma’s old typewriter.
- Full-sized layout
- Decent travel
- Arrow keys aren’t crammed (finally)
The trackpad? Big enough. Responsive. Though I did once try to scroll with three fingers and accidentally opened like five apps. My bad, not its.
Display – Not Just a Pretty Face
Let me be blunt: The display on the lenovo ideapad 720s-15 is weirdly underrated. You get a 15.6-inch IPS 4K UHD panel, and that sucker is crisp.
Like, I rewatched a few episodes of The Expanse on it, and I swear I noticed details I missed on my big screen TV.
What You See Is What You Get
- Super sharp
- Colors are actually pretty true to life (reds aren’t radioactive, thank god)
- Bright enough to use in a sunlit room, but not beach-bright
There’s an anti-glare coating that sort of works. If you’re sitting by a window with the sun slapping your screen like it owes money, yeah — you’ll still squint.
Performance – Can It Handle My Chaos?
So this is where the lenovo ideapad 720s-15 surprised me most.
I was running Chrome (10 tabs), Spotify, Lightroom, and a Zoom call simultaneously — and it didn’t even blink. My old laptop would’ve started wheezing like it just ran up stairs.
Inside the Belly of the Beast
- Intel Core i7-7700HQ
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 512GB PCIe SSD
It’s got some bite. Not gaming-laptop crazy, but definitely fast. Like “edit a 1080p video without waiting 40 minutes to render” fast.
Honestly, I tried gaming on it — played Apex Legends on medium. It ran. Not perfectly. But it ran. I was impressed. Also very dead in the game. But impressed.
Battery Life – The Real-Life Letdown?
Here’s where I gotta keep it real with you. The lenovo ideapad 720s-15 does a lot of things right. Battery life is… meh.
You’ll get around 5–6 hours with regular use.
- Browsing? Cool.
- Watching Netflix? Aight.
- Video editing? Plug that charger in, buddy.
I mean, it’s got a big ol’ screen and powerful guts, so it’s not exactly surprising. Just… I wish it lasted a bit longer. My train rides are like 90 minutes, and this thing taps out before I even finish an episode of Better Call Saul.
Ports & Connectivity – No Dongle Drama
Praise whatever tech gods exist — the lenovo ideapad 720s-15 doesn’t force you into Dongle Hell.
You get:
- 2 USB 3.0 ports
- 1 Thunderbolt 3 USB-C
- HDMI
- Audio jack
- SD card reader
No Ethernet, though. Which I found out mid-meeting when WiFi dropped. I ended up using my phone as a hotspot. It was one of those “please don’t lag, please don’t lag” moments.
Speakers & Audio – Surprisingly Loud
I expected tiny, tinny laptop sound. I was wrong.
- JBL speakers
- Dolby Audio built-in
- Loud enough to annoy your neighbor
Do they replace a proper Bluetooth speaker? Nah. But for YouTube, Netflix, and random Spotify listening, they’re totally fine. Plus, the stereo separation’s decent — like you can hear where footsteps are coming from in a game. Or in your haunted basement. Up to you.
Value – Worth the Price or Just Hype?
When I bought the lenovo ideapad 720s-15, I was skeptical. Like, Is this gonna be one of those laptops that looks good but crashes when I sneeze near it?
Turns out: nope.
You’re getting:
- Solid build
- High-res display
- Capable GPU
- Respectable keyboard
- No dongle nonsense
It’s like finding a legit leather jacket at a thrift store. You kinda feel like you scammed someone.
Pros and Cons – Real Talk Time
Pros:
- Excellent 4K screen
- Snappy performance
- Premium build
- Backlit keyboard
- Thunderbolt 3 support
Cons:
- Battery life is so-so
- GPU isn’t for hardcore gaming
- Webcam is just okay
- Gets warm if you push it hard
Honestly, that last one? I put it on my lap while editing and had to move it after 30 minutes. Felt like I was slow-roasting my thighs.
A Day in My Life With It
I once wrote an entire short story on the lenovo ideapad 720s-15, sitting in my kitchen, trying to ignore my cat swatting at the screen. It was raining outside, the power flickered, and I thought, “Hey, if this thing shuts off, I’m screwed.”
It didn’t. The autosave even worked. Felt like magic.
Also spilled coffee on the touchpad. It still works. Wiped it off with my shirt sleeve — not proud of that moment.
Comparisons – How Does It Stack Up?
I tested this against my buddy’s Dell XPS 15.
Here’s how it felt:
| Feature | Lenovo Ideapad 720S-15 | Dell XPS 15 |
| Display | Gorgeous 4K, slightly less vibrant | Brighter, more contrast |
| Build | Slightly lighter | Heavier, but feels denser |
| Keyboard | Comfy, well-spaced | Tighter layout |
| Battery | Meh | Slightly better |
| GPU | GTX 1050 Ti | GTX 1650 |
I still liked the lenovo ideapad 720s-15 more — mostly ’cause I didn’t feel like I was paying for the brand name.
Who Should Buy This?
If you:
- Want a solid workhorse that looks good
- Need 4K for design, editing, or just enjoying sharp content
- Don’t mind carrying a charger in your bag
Then yeah — the lenovo ideapad 720s-15 is worth checking out.
But if you’re a hardcore gamer, or want a battery that’ll last a 12-hour flight? Might wanna keep shopping.
Weirdly Specific Things I Love
- The little status light on the power button — it’s subtle but useful
- The hinge doesn’t creak (some laptops do and it drives me nuts)
- Fan noise isn’t obnoxious. Like a soft whisper. Almost calming.
Also: I once dropped it (by accident, I swear) on a carpeted floor. Thought it was a goner. It booted up like nothing happened. That kind of durability isn’t in the specs, but it matters.
What Could’ve Been Better?
You know that feeling when your toast falls butter-side down? That’s how I felt about the webcam. It’s not bad — just… grainy. Like an old flip phone camera.
Also, charging speed is average. Not slow, but not blazing fast either. I kept checking the battery like, “C’mon, c’mon, give me juice.”
And hey — the fans do kick up under pressure. Not jet-engine loud, but enough that you’ll notice during rendering or gaming.
My Final Word
The lenovo ideapad 720s-15 is like that indie band your friend told you about — not mainstream, but real good. It doesn’t try too hard. It just shows up and does its job like a boss.
Sure, it’s not perfect. But it hits way above its weight class.
I’ve used mine for video editing, writing, light gaming, and watching horror movies I immediately regretted. It’s held up through all of it.
Would I recommend it? Yep. Especially if you’re not obsessed with gaming frame rates or 12-hour unplugged sessions. It’s a sleeper hit, straight up.
Wrote this paragraph by hand. Then spilled coffee on it. Classic.
Still, the lenovo ideapad 720s-15 keeps doing its thing. Quietly reliable. A little warm. Slightly sarcastic (okay, that’s just me projecting).
Reminds me of that scene from House of Leaves, where the hallway keeps changing length and no one knows why. That’s the vibe here — a machine that feels like it’s hiding more than it shows.