Looking over the different configurations of the Y480 available from Lenovo, from $999-$1,200, all are stuck with the same display. If that doesn’t bother you, this is the least expensive Ivy Bridge quad-core laptop to date, and has Lenovo’s excellent build quality and keyboard, but that resolution will be a deal-killer for many.
| Price as reviewed / starting price | $1,079 / $999 |
| Processor | 2.3GHz Intel Core i7-3610QM |
| Memory | 8GB, 1,600MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 750GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | Intel HM77 |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GT 640M / Intel HD4000 |
| Operating system | Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) |
| Dimensions (WD) | 13.6×9.4 inches |
| Height | 1.3 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 14 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 4.5 pounds / 5.6 pounds |
| Category | Midsize |
The 14-inch display has a native resolution of 1,366×768 pixels, which is standard for 13-inch and smaller laptops, and fine on less-expensive 14- and 15-inch ones. But, this is a high-end system, selling for over $1,000, and with the latest Intel processor and Nvidia graphics. A 1,600×900-pixel display would be much more appropriate.
No one who wants to play games with the GeForce 640M GPU will want to keep the resolution that low, and the screen can’t play 1080p full-HD video at its native resolution. The display makes the Y480 look and feel like a much less expensive laptop. The JBL-branded speakers were above average, however, and a good choice for a smaller system.
