Meet the Lenovo Ideapad 530S
Lenovo's IdeaPad 530S is a meat-and-potatoes, middle-of-the-road laptop that relies on its slim chassis, long battery life, and lack of deal-breakers to distinguish itself.
Ports on the Left...
Examine the left side of the laptop, and you'll spot an LED battery indicator. The power adapter also plugs into this edge. Also over here are HDMI out and USB Type-A and -C ports.
...and the Right
Another USB Type-A port and an SD-card reader are on the other side.
On the Hinge
We like the clean lines and diagonal cuts of the chassis.
Front On, the Screen
Lenovo surrounds the 15.6-inch 1080p display with narrow (0.23-inch-wide) bezels on the left and right sides, with the top bezel just slightly roomier to fit a 720p camera.
Panel Edge-On
As for the display, anything less than maximum brightness was hard to see in dimly lit rooms, and even on the highest setting, the display was still much darker than any other screen in my home.
Trim and Angular
The IdeaPad 530S is just 0.65 inch thick, 9.6 inches tall, and 14.1 inches wide, and the diagonal-cut edges make it feel even smaller in hand.
Fingers on the Keyboard...
The keys are easy to find when touch-typing and don't feel as abrasive as the flat-topped keys used by other laptops.
On the Underside...
The speakers vent out from below, so they get muffled if you rest the laptop on something soft. Legs count.
A Clean Mainstream Machine
If you're looking for a dependable laptop with a trim look and a trim price, plus a long-lasting battery, this model has plenty of appeal.