Laptops

Lenovo IdeaPad S340 review: When both size and performance matter

For those who like it big

Published

October 27, 2019

MJ Jucutan

Life recently seemed like a dating adventure. After my laptop broke down last June, I started hopping from one laptop to another. In search of a potential GadgetMatch, I started exploring options and allowed myself to try new laptops so I can find the one.

In my quest, I stumbled upon the Lenovo IdeaPad S340.

Humongous, but also head-turner

The IdeaPad S340 is huge, despite being called “ultrathin.” It has a plastic build and an aluminum finish on the lid, which looks smooth and sleek. Despite the classy approach, this laptop is a magnet for smudge — something I really hate in every smartphone and laptop of 2019.

The unit I got came in Sand Pink. This color is a definite head-turner, especially if you’re a guy. However, there’s an adage that real men wear pink so don’t let this color halt you from flaunting it in cafes and in meetings.

If this doesn’t match your personality, the IdeaPad S340 is available in three more colors: Onyx Black, Abyss Blue, and Platinum Grey.

This laptop has a 14″ Full HD display. Despite the big screen, it has a wide bezel on its chin which is annoying to look at, unless you make your toolbar dark.

It uses an IPS panel that doesn’t present the colors accurately. I tried to fix the display settings in hopes that maybe there’s a solution to its color balance problem. After several attempts, I gave up and accepted the fact that my screen is either be bluish or orange-y.

Lots of ports to insert your cables to

Moving on to the ports and slots, the IdeaPad S340 provides what I need as an old-school guy. Unlike the Dell XPS 13 (2019) I reviewed which didn’t come with any USB 3.1 Ports, this laptop has what I’m looking for.

On the left side, it has a port for USB-C and HDMI, as well as a power connector input and a headphone jack. Sweet, right?

On the right side, you can find the two USB-A ports which made my life easy, and a 4-in-1 SD card reader, too! As a designer, my life depended on my external hard drive and a trusty, wired mouse I bought back in 2013 which comes in USB Type-A connectors.

People kept telling me to get a dongle, buy a wireless mouse, and get a new cable. However, I’m that type of person who doesn’t buy things he doesn’t need, especially when his stuff is still working. This is why this laptop is such a blessing for a slotty person like me.

Joyful to use for work

Some people don’t realize but your experience with the keyboard and a touchpad can make or break your experience.

The IdeaPad S340’s keyboard is evenly placed. It’s soft and responsive, which I find delightful to type at. For someone with little fingers, it’s joyful to type and write in big keys since I don’t encounter typos a lot. There’s also an option for a backlit keyboard, in case you need to type in dimly lit places.

When it comes to its trackpad, I’m not sure I have something good to say about it as it’s unresponsive AF. My fingers had a hard time sliding especially when it creates that cringey sound caused by friction, most likely because of its plastic build. It’s one of the reasons why I opt to use my trusty mouse, especially when I need to edit and design.

A big performer

The IdeaPad S340 presents itself as a laptop for work and productivity. Fair enough, it’s packed with an 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, and 128GB SSD storage. Additionally, it runs the latest 8th-gen Intel i7 processor.

As a designer, I was able to run Adobe Photoshop (to an extent, Adobe Premiere Pro) hiccup-free. The only thing that bugged me is its bluish tint interfering with my work. But its performance is really sweet.

For instance, while I was resizing photos, I was streaming music on Spotify, and I’m running Google Chrome as my browser with six tabs open mainly for Slack, GadgetMatch.com, Gmail, Google Drive, Facebook, and Twitter. Despite multitasking, the laptop didn’t lag one bit.

However, my usage seems to be the limit for this laptop. Anything beyond what I did made the laptop heat up and I had to cool it down. On several occasions, there’s a delay especially when I run multiple tabs (like, fifteen?) on Google Chrome (which we know takes a lot of RAM).

Even in my line of work, it can’t handle heavy editing for graphics and video so I’m not suggesting to push this laptop beyond its limits. If you want to go for a multimedia laptop, this is just not it.

Get entertained wherever you go

Of course, it’s not all work and no play. The IdeaPad S340 doubles as a mini TV with its humongous screen. It may only run an IPS panel, but it’s capable of producing a theatre-like sound with Dolby Audio speakers.

The experience was immersive. I watched the trailer for Weathering With You by Makoto Shinkai and I got even more excited to see it. Anyhow, it’s not as great as any other laptop with calibrated screens meant for entertainment. But for its price, the IdeaPad S340 suffices.

It has all the juice you need

What I love about the IdeaPad S340 is its long battery life. It lets you work throughout the day without worry especially if you only do basic tasks such as browsing, emails, chats, and video calls. Add some entertainment and multimedia work, then you’re gonna have to bring the charger wherever you go. Fret not, it’s equipped with rapid charging technology so you can get the juice back up if it runs out.

True to its advertisement, the IdeaPad S340 can really last up to 10 hours, albeit my usage made the laptop lasts for only six to seven hours. Nonetheless, it has all the juice that I need. If this heavy and huge laptop lasts only for a short time, I’d be pretty disappointed.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

The IdeaPad S340 is an all-around laptop that gets the work done. It’s capable of running creative software and doing basic multimedia editing, providing theatre-like entertainment, and allowing its users to multitask.

For PhP 52,995, the price isn’t bad and if you’re looking for a speedy, work laptop then this might be your GadgetMatch. However, for me, this laptop is not the one. Due to my issues — and high standards — I can totally say that I need to find another one. Time to hop to another laptop — and dating — adventure.

Related Topics:Lenovo Lenovo IdeaPad S340

CES 2026

Spotlight: ASUS Zenbook at CES 2026

Did They Perfect the Dual-Screen Laptop?

Published

January 15, 2026

GadgetMatch

THE Michael Josh just got back from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas — the annual tech event that attracts all the biggest tech brands.

One of which is none other than ASUS, Taiwan’s biggest computing giant. They have launched the first wave of Windows laptops for 2026. There’s a full lineup — models for everyday folks, creators, and gamers.

However, we are focusing on these Zenbooks favorites the show: the updated 2026 Zenbook DUO and Zenbook A14, as well as a bigger Zenbook A16 model.

Eager to know more about them? Here’s our Spotlight on the three power-packed ASUS Zenbooks at CES 2026.

CES 2026

Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept was possible thanks to TCL

Also responsible behind the foldable display of the new motorola razr fold

Published

January 8, 2026

Vincenz

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

At this year’s CES 2026 in Las Vegas, TCL CSOT (China Star Optoelectronics Technology) and Lenovo have further proved their long-term partnership. The newest Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept and the motorola razr fold are equipped with displays by TCL CSOT.

Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept

The continuous collaboration of the two mighty Chinese companies bring out something that has been envisioned in laptops for quite a while now.

Ever imagined of a conventional laptop with standard 16:9 display that can instantly stretch into a 21:9 widescreen monitor? Well, the Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept proves it’s more than possible.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Pioneering this partnership starts with TCL CSOT’s rollable display. Dubbed as the Lenovo PureSight OLED Gaming display. From a regular 16-inch 16:9 display, it completely transforms into an ultra-wide screen — stretching between 21.5 all the way to 24 inches.

For gamers and even e-sports athletes who seek visual flexibility (literally and figuratively), the display adapts to three (3) different training phases.

Focus Mode (16 inches) for honing reflexes
Tactical Mode (21.5 inches) for enhanced situational awareness
Arena Mode (24 inches) for full-scale competitive simulation

Behind that rollable display tech by TCL CSOT lies a dual-motor, tension-based system. This not only means that the rollable display can unroll smoothly, the expansion is not just controlled, its contraction also delivers minimal vibration and noise.

There’s also a dedicated tensioning mechanism that ensures consistent tautness across the OLED panel. Low-friction materials then secures durability throughout the rolling cycle.

motorola razr fold

Finally, after a long wait, motorola finally unveils their first ever book-style foldable.

The motorola razr fold headlines TCL CSOT’s 8.1-inch 2K LTPO flexible inner display. And unlike most foldable offerings in the market today, it supports a stylus!

When closed, its 6.6-inch external display delivers the familiarity of a candy-bar smartphone. Furthermore, its sleek, striking, and slim silhouette will feel comfortable in one’s hands.

Not much has been shared but more details will soon be unfolded by motorola.

The Co-Innovation Legacy

The steady legacy of TCL CSOT and Lenovo has already delivered consumer-ready products past the convention center show floor showcase.

Those include the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i with a flexible 4K OLED display unveiled at CES 2025. Even the motorola razr 60 series flip-style foldables launched last July 2025 was not missed.

And, with the introduction of the Legion Pro Rollable Concept and the motorola razr fold, both companies continue to turn advanced display research into practical, user-focused products — setting new standards for performance, comfort, and sustainability.

With past display innovations, these newer advancements offer a more immersive viewing experience, better eye comfort, and flexiblility across various user applications.

This continuous collaboration highlights the companies shared commitment to advancing display technology and elevating the visual experience for users worldwide.

TCL CSOT’s constant strive for innovation is mainly driven by their APEX values:

A-mazing Display Experience
P-rotective of Eye Health
E-co-Friendly to build and use; and
X-Unlimited Imaginative Potential

Jun Zhao, the Senior Vice President of TCL Technology and CEO of TCL CSOT, states that the company is dedicated in providing Lenovo high-quality displays and custom diplay solutions that turn advanced technology into something “We are dedicated to providing Lenovo with high-quality, custom display solutions that turn advanced technology into everyday excellence, and

He also says “they look forward to exploring new frontiers together.”

Editors' Choice

Favorite Laptops of 2025

This year had some hidden gems.

Published

December 23, 2025

GadgetMatch and Luigi Leonardo

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The mystique of laptops has not abated since the pandemic. Portable PCs are still finding niches in today’s market. Whether you need an on-the-go office machine or a plug-and-play gaming rig, there is a laptop out there for you. This year is no different. As the year closes, it’s time to show some love to our Favorite Laptops of 2025.

ROG Zephyrus G14

As a gaming laptop, the ROG Zephyrus G14 brandishes a lot of the industry’s most powerful hardware. Shining with only a little more accoutrements as a MacBook, this notebook is sleek but a force to be reckoned with under its aluminum chassis.

We described the Zephyrus G14 as a laptop’s equivalent of “quiet luxury”; it doesn’t stand out, but anyone who knows the brand will give you a silent nod of approval. As part of the premium luxury segment, it does have a pretty high price tag, but that’s about the only thing that stops this laptop from being an immediate buy. Everything else is perfect.

Apple M5 MacBook Pro

Before the year ended, Apple dropped a surprising bombshell for its fans. The M5 MacBook Pro brings out a more powerful processor for Apple’s notebook segment. A premium alternative to the M4 MacBook Air, the notebook is “Pro but without the overkill.”

Obviously, it’s not for everyone. But, to those who need an additional jolt of power, the M5 MacBook Pro delivers everything you need and more.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Aura Edition

If you’ve dabbled in notebooks over the past decade, you should recognize Lenovo’s Yoga lineup. The 2-in-1 notebook popularized foldables before foldables were even a thing. With a 360-degree hinge, users can fold the notebook back into a tablet and vice versa.

The Lenovo Yoga 7i Aura Edition is the perfection of this technology, infused with today’s hardware. It’s not a perfect laptop or a perfect tablet, but if you need both, this notebook saves you the hassle of shopping for two separate devices. It’s a great deal.

ASUS Gaming V16

A robust gaming rig might be one of the most expensive things you can spend on today, especially because of rising RAM prices. Thankfully, being a gamer doesn’t have to be just as pricey. The new ASUS Gaming series brings decent gaming performance for a fraction of the price.

The ASUS Gaming V16 is your gateway drug to portable gaming. Starting at only PhP 59,995, the notebook offers users a taste of what the gaming world can do. It has a decent Intel Core 5 chipset and an RTX 40 series GPU. Plus, with a 63Whr battery, it’s built for grinding.

Apple M4 MacBook Air

If the MacBook Pro is too much power for you, this year’s M4 MacBook Air might fit your needs more. Though it doesn’t have Apple’s latest chipset, it’s still a decent all-around notebook for everyday use.

Because it doesn’t have the most robust hardware, the new MacBook Air is a master of portability. Even if it came out in the first quarter of this year, we were quick to call it one of the best laptops of 2025. As the year winds down, we’re still not taking away that distinction.

Lenovo Legion Go S

In the strictest sense of the word, the Legion Go S technically is not a laptop. Hear us out, though: Being a Windows-powered device, the handheld gaming device can act like a notebook in a pinch. Most importantly, it deserves some love as a computer, too.

For those who were expecting more traditional laptop fare, here’s a refresher: The Legion Go S is a portable gaming device that’s shaped like a Nintendo Switch. One version comes with Windows and can do much of what a laptop can do. Though it doesn’t have a standard keyboard, the power lurking underneath earns it a spot on this list.

ASUS Zenbook A14

There’s only so many ways you can differentiate a laptop from another, while keeping its essence as a notebook intact. In the case of the Zenbook A14, beauty takes center stage. Yes, it looks like any run-of-the-mill notebook, but it will still feel like one of the most premium devices you’ve ever touched.

The notebook sports ASUS’s iconic Ceraluminum which gives the Zenbook A14 a smooth, tactile finish that feels great to lug around. Plus, it weighs only 899 grams, making it handy for portability. If that’s not enough, the PhP 65,996 price tag is so affordable for its quality.