Lenovo Vantage Review: Is It Worth It?

One-stop-shop for power and performance

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You’re probably wondering whether Lenovo Vantage is worth it so here’s our review so far and why we think you should keep it.

What is Lenovo Vantage?

If you have a Lenovo PC, Lenovo Vantage is one of those tools that will optimize its hardware performance. Of course, Windows PCs come with built-in settings that can do the same job. However, when it is brand-specific, you’re getting the best out of your hardware.

It’s basically a one-stop hub for driver updates, hardware diagnostics, battery and power management, security and other custom settings that can elevate your devices’s performance when performing resource-intensive tasks like playing games.

And it’s not just for the everyday user, whether you’re a gaming enthusiast or a business looking for a comprehensive tool that can deploy updates to a number of devices, Lenovo Vantage meets these requirements.

The tool comes pre-installed in newer devices but if not, you can download Lenovo Vantage on your Windows PC.

What are the key features of Lenovo Vantage?

Updates

We all know just how critical driver updates are for the smooth running of your device. Granted, there are different ways to install drivers on your Windows device but the downside of going through this route is possible driver download failure.

Still, even with a successful download, it may be outdated or the incorrect version. This is where Lenovo Vantage comes in and saves the day. Your drivers won’t need manual intervention to get an update. This will be done automatically and you can rest assured they will be the correct drivers from the manufacturer.

And it’s not just driver updates. Your BIOS also requires an update whenever available and still on Windows’ generic updates, there’s a possibility that it will not match your motherboard’s serial number.

The danger of installing the wrong BIOS update could cause system instability issues and render your motherboard unresponsive.

Hardware diagnostics

Again, Windows has its own hardware and devices troubleshooter but sometimes, it goes missing and for the most part, it is not as comprehensive as Lenovo Vantage. One advantage is that it is device-specific. All you have to do is enter your device’s serial number and you can scan your hardware for any issues.

The tool is comprehensive and if any issues are found, you can also check whether your warranty is still active and visit your nearest Lenovo service centre for a free checkup. The Windows tool does a basic checkup and most times, the results are vague and hard to pinpoint on a single issue.

Device optimization

Network boost

When browsing, there are some applications, particularly games that require more bandwidth than others. You can limit bandwidth on Windows but not on an app basis.

However, with Lenovo Vantage, when you turn Network Boost on, you get to prioritize your bandwidth-intensive app and reduce lag for a smoother performance.

This feature is a great way of managing or monitoring your bandwidth usage especially where unnecessary background apps and services use up your network resources.

Battery threshold

Laptops have a lifespan and this greatly depends on the battery life. Taking care of your device’s battery prolongs its lifespan. With Lenovo Vantage, the battery threshold feature sets thresholds for charging and stopping to charge the battery.

The thresholds can be default or you can preset them to a certain percentage as long as it is not 100% because a full charge degrades battery life over time. This may seem like a non-issue but it’s easy to get distracted or too focused and forget to plug in or unplug your laptop’s charger.

With Lenovo Vantage, once you turn on the battery threshold feature, you don’t have to worry about overcharging your device and squeeze out more out of its lifespan.

Hybrid mode

As an everyday user, you may lose sight of your tasks and forget to categorize resource-intensive tasks that affect the overall performance of your device. For instance, if you’re gaming a lot, your device will most likely generate a lot of heat and your fans will be overworked.

Of course, Windows has its own cooling system but if this continues, your system could easily become unstable. However, Lenovo Vantage has a thermal performance feature that can help you run your tasks efficiently and cool your system simultaneously.

With the different modes available, you get to select whether you want to prioritize performance, quiet down the noise or get a balance of the two.

While the different modes can be adjusted accordingly, there’s also a safety feature that can automatically adjust the fan speeds and prevent overheating especially when you’ve overclocked your GPU.

Another advantage of the thermal performance feature is you get real-time metrics on how your system is responding to different workloads. This way, you can create a custom profile for repetitive tasks for better resource management.

Still, on hybrid mode, you can also switch between your integrated and discrete GPU. This can help offload some tasks in unique scenarios when demanded for the best performance.

Security

At the very least, the security of your device is a top priority for any user. Lenovo Vantage comes with a smart lock feature and identity advisor. You can easily lock and recover your PC if lost or stolen.

The identity advisor on the other hand watches out for you when you’re browsing online. It actively monitors the sites you visit and puts out alerts in real time for any data breaches.

Other notable features include the migration assistant that helps you transfer your files from one PC to another seamlessly. The smart settings also let you tweak your audio and video settings for the best performance.

What are the pros and cons of Lenovo Vantage?

Pros

  • Has a clean and user-friendly interface
  • Comprehensive updates and hardware diagnosis
  • Optimizes device and prolongs lifespan

Cons

  • Can be resource-intensive since it runs in the background
  • May be unsuitable for lower-end or older devices hence doing more bad than good
  • Restricted to Lenovo devices
  • Installs additional software that adds unnecessary bloatware
  • Requires a paid subscription for commercial use and other advanced features

Anyone with Lenovo Vantage is obviously keeping it for their personal reasons. But if we had to narrow it down to its best features, we’d say the security and device optimization.

It takes away all the manual work involved if you were to do it natively in Windows. And even then. you’d probably end up with some generic drivers and basic troubleshooting. On a side note, we found the commercial option better because it had fewer ads and more features.

If you can’t get the paid version, do not fret. We have a comprehensive Vantage vs Legion Toolkit comparison or better yet, Lenovo Vantage alternatives that are resource-efficient and free.

If you use Lenovo Vantage, what’s the one feature that stands out for you? And if you had it once before and got rid of it, what was the last straw? Let us know in the comment section below.

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