Does anyone know how durable Lenovo Y50 is?

[_PCJM_]

I've been researching laptops and the Lenovo Y50 definitely seems to be the most appealing product to me in most categories. My only concern is durability. The last laptop I owned was an Asus A53S and while I liked it quite a bit, it was far from durable, as the charging port frequently broke. The reviews on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Y50-Laptop-Generation-i7-4720HQ/dp/B00TC3EJ7Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1438941473&sr=1-2&keywords=Lenovo+Y50) seem to be very positive but many users also indicate hardware issues. However, from what I can tell complaining about hardware issues on Amazon seems to be fairly common for technology in general regardless of failure rates, and I can't find any other sources that really discuss this product in terms of durability.

If it's not incredibly durable, what are some suggestions for other laptops people here have, as far as durability goes? Something in a similar spec range as the Lenovo Y50 would be preferred.

Edit: Hm, thanks for the responses. I guess at this point I'm looking at the most durable laptop in the same price range at the Lenovo Y50. The ASUS K501LX (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YR6BMS2/ref=psdc_565108_t1_B00TCULFJ4) seems to be in a similar price range, and I'm still wondering about durability vs. the Lenovo Y50.

 

[hang-the-9]

I don't know specific failure rates on the Y50 but Lenovo overall is one of the top brands for reliability. If you want a reliable laptop, get a T series model, one of the most durable chassis out there outside of the systems designed to be durable like ToughBooks.

 

[GreyCatz]

Greetings, PCJM:

I'm a Lenovo guy myself with several of their products in my life, including a Y50. I agree with your sentiment about online reviews - it's a bit of a jungle out there, but here are a few thoughts on the Y50:

a) The Y50 'gaming laptop' isn't very old - little more than 1 year at this point - so any discussion about long-term durability is bound to be somewhat academic. From my own online research I've found that owners complain about:
- low battery life and a tendency to overheat (don't put it in your lap!)
- the standard TN screens are significantly below average, while IPS screens are quite decent. Unfortunately, the IPS versions tend to be combined with touch functionality which produces glare. The TN screen can be replaced with a better type - you can search YouTube for guides - but the process will, of course, void the warranty.
- people also complain about fingerprints on the non-treated surfaces. A cosmetic issue, of course, but you'll need to wipe it with a damp cloth every now and then.
- there are also quite a lot of charging issues (charging stops for no reason or the battery drains like a sieve) and while this certainly is annoying, it doesn't seem to be a problem exclusive to Lenovo; all laptops, even Apple's, are represented in this complaint category.

b) My personal experience with the Y50 only covers the past 4 months, so I wouldn't expect any issues already (though the TN screen really is god-awful). The machine has a heavy quality feel to it, and so far I haven't experienced any of the issues mentioned above. It is not a gaming machine - no matter what Lenovo says - but rather an extremely capable multi-tasker with a stylish design and very generous specs. It will play most games available today without breaking a sweat, but it will struggle with next-gen games like GTA V, Tomb Raider or Shadows of Mordor. Currently, Lenovo is aggressively marketing Y50s at almost cut-throat prices, so keep an eye out for a good deal.

c) I don't know if any of this is useful to you, but if you're considering a Y50, make sure to get a UHD screen above anything else. And if you're really serious about something "incredibly durable", then go for a Thinkpad T or W series - the build quality dates back to the early 1990s IBMs and is simply legendary!

Best of luck,
GreyCatz.