Lenovo LaVie Z 360 review

The Lenovo LaVie Z 360 is a marvel that's been marred with missteps. On the one hand, Lenovo has achieved much bringing us the world's lightest 2-in-1 laptop that is a performance beast in its own right.

But on the other, between the disappointing build quality, poor battery life and questionable keyboard choice, this machine's many flaws make its exorbitant price tough to justify.

We liked

Aside from weighing nearly nothing in your bag, the Lenovo LaVie Z 360 is by far one of the easiest 2-in-1 laptops to hold up as a tablet device. It truly is astounding how light this notebook is. Despite nearly matching the new MacBook as the biggest loser, the Z 360 a much fuller featured machine with full-size ports and a processor with bite.

We disliked

The Lenovo LaVie Z 360 has a long list of sins that tarnish this otherwise revolutionary device. Firstly, for $1,599 (about £1,026, AU$2,138), this machine should feel much more solid and not like it's made of shallow plastic.

Perhaps the biggest issue I have with the laptop is the bizzaro keyboard that likely won't irk just me. Worse yet, the battery simply does not last long enough. To top it off, the subpar screen and abysmal speakers are both thing you will have to contend with day in and out.

Final verdict

Ultimately, the Lenovo LaVie Z 360's asking price is too high for what it actually is. Sure, it's lighter than any 2-in-1 laptop on Earth, but the cuts made to get there have severely hamper its versatility. If you're looking for a machine that offers more modes of use, then the HP Spectre x360 and, more so, the Acer Aspire R13 should be up your alley. Both of these rivals are also better choices if you're looking for a longer lasting machine, especially the Spectre x360.

Carrying the LaVie Z 360 was a joy for several weeks – not having worry about a sore shoulder was fantastic. But Lenovo's hybrid simply sacrificed too much for that nicety.

If Lenovo continues the LaVie line, somehow introducing a larger battery,going with a more rigid shell and returning to its beloved keyboard would go a long way in making the next Z 360 a more useable machine. Yes, even if that means losing the coveted "world's lightest" title.