

It does score predictably higher than its less powerful mobile CPU siblings, the performance-focused i7-1360P and the i7-1355U, designed for lower power draw. In a Geekbench 6 CPU test, three laptops featuring the same chip outrank the IdeaCentre Mini, including two XPS variants from Dell.
LENOVO VANTAGE WONT OPEN SOFTWARE
Running the IdeaCentre Mini through our usual suite of benchmarking software exposes some apparent throttling to the components, chiefly the Intel 13th Gen Core i7-13700H processor. The default IdeaCentre wallpaper is painfully low resolution, though, crushed by JPG compression. It only takes roughly 18 seconds to cold boot to the desktop, and my 4K displays work without issue, no matter which connection method I choose.
LENOVO VANTAGE WONT OPEN WINDOWS
The IdeaCentre Mini appeals more in its port selection and compact form factor, leaving the everyday experience feeling as smooth as you would expect in Windows 11. Past that, you're just getting a standard Windows machine. Not a big deal, and overall, a surprisingly low count for bloatware. Even if you prefer third-party antivirus software, you may soon find the same frustrations with McAfee's persistent notifications, and you can save a cool ~1GB of space if you uninstall. On the downside, Lenovo's continued partnership with McAfee means LiveSafe and WebAdvisor are pre-installed, and I'll continue to suggest removal and sticking with Windows Defender. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central) It's almost unnecessary to need the Settings app on Windows, for the most part. Despite the high praise, Lenovo Vantage is relentless in its notifications, so I'd recommend at least turning those off. A hardware scan option checks the health of your CPU, RAM, and various controllers, including the Wi-Fi adapter, reporting any issues and offering to troubleshoot should it find any.


Still, I rate it reasonably highly as far as companion apps go, especially with how simplistic it makes Lenovo's hardware to use for any users who might be less tech-savvy than others. Essentially a catch-all control panel listing components, storage space, and a list of necessary updates, Vantage isn't much different than finding all this information manually around Windows 11's many settings. On the positive side, you can access Lenovo Vantage, the fantastic companion app on most of its devices. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)įor the most part, the IdeaCentre Mini came loaded with a relatively clean installation of Windows 11 Home. I can't believe I actually like a bundled companion app, but I do.
