The Aimiuzi F2 Plus Laptop Cooling Pad is a relatively affordable cooling pad designed to prevent your laptop from overheating during serious gaming sessions or heavy creative workflows. Topping out at 1500RPM, its fans aren’t the fastest we’ve ever seen, but with four large fans and one small one, it should still be capable of reliable cooling.
While it doesn’t have the most premium build quality – there's a reasonable amount of give at the back, especially with my chunky 16-inch laptop on it – it has nice enough aesthetics. There are none of the razor-sharp angles that tend to dog gaming peripherals and the lighting is nicely understated, with just some blue lighting around the fans.
The Aimiuzi F2 Plus Laptop Cooling Pad is also pretty comfortable to use, with well-balanced ergonomics. It offers five adjustable height settings – far more than most of the best laptop cooling pads – meaning that finding a comfortable angle for your wrists is a breeze. Another detail I appreciated is the fact that its single laptop rest sits in the middle, rather than there being one on each side, meaning it side-steps the trap so many cooling pads fall into where the rests dig into your wrists when your arms are placed in a default typing position.
There are some odd design quirks on show here though. First, those height settings reach some pretty extreme angles. The top, 64-degree setting was just ludicrous – not only could I not rest my wrists at that angle, but even if I was just using my laptop as a second screen with an external mouse and keyboard, the angle was so steep that the screen hinge wouldn’t open far enough for the display to sit vertically.
I’m also not a huge fan of the fold-out phone stand. Yes, it’s a point of difference that few competitors offer, but there’s probably a reason for that: it feels like an unnecessary gimmick, and wasn’t sturdy enough to stop my phone rocking as I typed. Frankly, if you want a stand that’s stable and actually serves a purpose, you’re probably better off picking up one of the best wireless chargers instead.
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
Ultimately, though, when it comes to cooling pads, aesthetics are just window dressing – what matters most is how well they cool. So how did the Aimiuzi fare on this front?
If I were to sum it up in a single word, that word would be ‘unexceptional’. I ran a 3DMark Steel Nomad stress test on our Acer Predator Helios 300 testing laptop with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU for 15 minutes, measuring the temperature before and after with a thermal camera. The laptop’s temperature rose 33.1F / 18.4C – that’s significantly better than the laptop’s baseline rise of 57.4F (31.9C) without additional cooling, but it’s also worse than quite a few of the cooling pads I’ve tested. Only the Klim Wind and the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad performed worse, seeing a temperature rise of 35.1F (19.5C) and 41F (22.8C) respectively.
(Image credit: Future)
When it comes to the noise it kicks out, the F2 Plus also doesn’t really stand clear of the crowd. Using a sound level meter to measure the combined output of the cooling pad and the laptop’s fans, I recorded it as 61dB from a few inches away and 44dB from my head height, which is reasonably quiet. While the sound level up close and personal to the device was a few dB louder than many of the budget pads I’ve tested, that’s really not enough to register much of a difference – the Center for Hearing and Communication puts that at roughly the same level as a sewing machine, which should be tolerable in most contexts.
My lasting impression of the Aimiuzi F2 Plus Laptop Cooling Pad is that it’s merely so-so – it’s not the worst cooling pad I’ve tested, but it’s not the best by any means. And then there's its price: at a list price of $23.39 / £29.99, its more expensive than superior performers like the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad, which kept our laptop from warming any more than 27.5F (15.3C) and yet retails for just $19.99 / £23.69. Even factoring in a limited-time deal on Amazon – which at the time of writing reduces it down to $15.29 / £22.99 – I just don’t think the Aimiuzi F2 Plus offers enough value to be worth your while.
(Image credit: Future)
Aimiuzi F2 Plus Laptop Cooling Pad review: price & availability
Released on October 27, 2023
List price: $23.39 / £29.99
Can be found on sale for less, but that doesn't necessarily make it better value
Launched on October 27, 2023, the Aimiuzi F2 Plus Laptop Cooling Pad is available now. Its list price is $23.39 / £29.99 but you'll likely be able to get it cheaper – for example, at the time of writing, you can pick up its blue colorway from Amazon for $15.29 / £22.99. And if blue's not your bag, you can get it with red lighting instead, although this will set you back $17.99 / £25.79.
While this is a reasonable price, it doesn't necessarily translate to value. With its so-so performance, the F2 Plus doesn't exactly lead in its price category – in fact, there are several options that cost less yet offer superior performance, like the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad. In light of this, it's definitely worth shopping around and checking out our guide to the best laptop cooling pads to make sure you're getting the best breeze for your buck.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Aimiuzi F2 Plus Laptop Cooling Pad?
Buy it if…
You’re not a fan of gamer aesthetics If you’re not a fan of sharp angles and technicolor lighting, you’ll likely be happy with the F2 Plus’s more subtle design – some blue lighting around the fans is about its only concession to the gamer style.
You’re sensitive about noise Unlike more premium laptop cooling pads, the F2 Plus is still relatively quiet, even if it is a few dB louder than a few of the other budget pads out there.
Don’t buy it if…
You want the best cooling available Unfortunately, while the Aimiuzi isn’t the weakest performing cooling pad we’ve tested, its chilling is pretty mediocre. You can cool your laptop more effectively for less money.
You’re put off by odd design choices Some elements of the F2 Plus feel frankly unnecessary, like the fold-out phone stand and height settings that raise your laptop to an impractical angle.
Aimiuzi F2 Plus Laptop Cooling Pad review: Also consider
Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad Despite the fact that it has a lower list price of $19.99 / £23.69, the Liangstar still offers superior cooling to the F2 Plus. It kept our laptop’s heat rise to just 27.5F (15.3C) during stress testing, which is a solid 5.4F (3C) cooler than the F2 Plus, making it a bit of a no-brainer if you’re trying to choose between the two.
Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad If money’s simply not an object, then this is the laptop cooling pad you should buy. Absolutely the best cooling pad I’ve ever tested, it ensured our testing laptop only rose 14.4F (8C) during our stress test – which is positively arctic cooling. You will pay for the privilege though: at a list price of $139.99 / £129.99, it’s firmly at the premium end of the market.
How I tested the Aimiuzi F2 Plus Laptop Cooling Pad
I tested it over the course of several days
I used a thermal camera to track heat rise during a stress test
I recorded its noise output with a sound level meter
I spent several days testing the Aimiuzi F2 Plus Laptop Cooling Pad, using the standardized process I use to test all laptop cooling pads for TechRadar. First off, to test out its cooling performance, I used it to cool our testing laptop – an Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU – while I ran a 15-minute 3DMark Steel Nomad stress test. Using a thermal camera, I recorded the laptop’s peak temperature both before and after the test to assess how much it had risen compared to its baseline, and compared those results with those of other cooling pads.
To test the amount of noise the cooling pad generates I used a sound level meter to check the volume of the pad and the laptop’s combined fan output once the test had been underway for 10 minutes. To get a sense of how loud it was in both absolute terms as well as a subjective level, I recorded the noise level from a few inches away, as well as from my head height (approximately 21 inches from the surface of the laptop).
Finally, I wanted to test out the ergonomics and overall design of the laptop cooling pad in a real environment, so I used it while playing several games as well as during my typical working day to feel how comfortable it was during sustained use. Having been a laptop gamer for several decades, and being no stranger to creative workflows in my day job, I have a strong appreciation of the importance of keeping my CPU cool.
The Geekom A9 Max is a stylish, premium-styled mini PC that incorporates the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with NPU and integrated AMD graphics. It is a small, stylish machine that has been designed to handle general office work, AI workloads and applications that utilise an AI, such as CoPilot or Photoshop, are given a generative boost.
As I've seen from this line of mini PCs before, the machine is well equipped, with the review sample arriving with 32 GB of RAM and a 2 TB SSD that backs up the powerful CPU and integrated GPU. Sure enough, through the test, it proved to be an exceptional office-focused machine with more than enough power to handle heavy-duty day-to-day tasks, such as Microsoft Office and more intensive applications to a point.
The speed of handling large files and browsing documents on a 4K monitor all worked well within the processing abilities of this small machine. I also liked the fact that there were plenty of connectivity options, with LAN ports enabling me to plug directly into my NAS as well as the network for increased transfer rates.
Other connectivity options, such as Wi-Fi 7, proved robust, although I did have a few connection issues with the Eero 6 router. Once swapped to an updated Wi-Fi 7 network, the connection transformed in speed and reliability.
In use, the machine handled 1080p video editing in Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve with ease. However, as I started to tackle a couple of 4K video edits, it became apparent that although the CPU was capable, the integrated GPU slightly held it back.
For social media edits, the machine proved superb, offering plenty of power and flexibility, especially in CapCut. One aspect I liked about the design, especially if you need to handle larger files, is the ability to install a secondary M.2 SSD to boost internal storage.
The volume of connection options came in handy, enabling easy integration within an office or studio setup, with four USB ports in a line across the front. Working in the creative sector, it's also always nice to see an SD card slot at the side to quickly offload image and video files.
By the end of the test, I was genuinely impressed with the performance. It handled Windows, Office, and creative applications with relative ease, up to a certain point, where the GPU seemed to hold back its potential.
A key feature of this machine is that it's enhanced for any application that has AI integration, such as Photoshop, Copilot, Zoom, Teams background blur, noise cancellation, and real-time translation. During testing, I used the AI NPU in Photoshop and Lightroom for AI-powered selection, upscaling, and background removal.
The AI CPU also supports running local machine learning models and your own AI test bench, if that's your thing.
I finished the test with a bit of gaming. The limitations of the GPU became more apparent at this point. While gaming at 1080p was OK, once graphics were enhanced and resolution increased, frame drops became noticeable. Lighter games like DiRT Rally ran fine and were playable.
However, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle required all graphics settings to be reduced, and even then, there were still occasional image breakups.
It was clear this stylish machine has been finely tuned for office and creative space use. It's an ideal option with robust connectivity options and enough power for day-to-day office tasks and a bit more. It can handle many standard creative tasks, such as video editing and image enhancement, without many issues. Only when stepping up to high-resolution, high-bitrate 4K video did its limits become clear.
If you're in the market for one of the best mini PC units, with high-quality, high-performance for the home or office, then the Geekom A9 Max is a superb option.
Geekom A9 Max Mini PC: Price & availability
How much does it cost? $999 / £999
When is it out? Now
Where can you get it? Widely available
The GEEKOM A9 Max AI Mini PC is available directly from Geekom US for $999 and Geekom UK for £999 at time of review. This includes 32 GB of RAM and a 2 TB PCIe SSD.
It's also available from most major online retailers, including Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
Value: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennnings)
Geekom A9 Max Mini PC: Design
(Image credit: Alastair Jennnings)
Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Graphics: AMD Radeon 890M RAM: 32GB Dual Channel DDR5-5600 SODIMM (128GB MAX) Storage: 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 SSD, 1 x M.2 2230 SSD Front Ports: 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 3.5mm stereo headphone Rear Ports: USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, USB 2.0 Type-A, USB 4.0 Type-C DP-Alt mode / PD, USB 4.0 Type-C DP-Alt mode, 2 x RJ45, 2 x HDMI 2.1, DC Side Ports: SD Card slot Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Audio: 3.5mm Audio in Camera: N/A Size: 1135 x 132 x 46.9 mm OS Installed: Windows 11 Pro Accessories: VESA Mount
The A9 Max is a premium mini PC with a CNC-machined aluminium chassis, offering a durable and sleek aesthetic. Lifting it out of the box, there's no doubt this machine has a distinct premium feel.
It measures 135 x 132 x 46.9 mm, making it fairly average in size for this style of computer, and with a slightly heavier weight, it feels more substantial than many cheaper mini PCs on the market.
The premium build and extensive connectivity pitch this mini PC towards professional and mid-to-high-end home environments. It wouldn't look out of place in any design studio with its minimalistic design.
One feature that's instantly apparent over many other mini PCs is the sheer volume of connectivity options, both wireless and wired. Around the body of the machine, there's a row of four USB-A ports across the front, all of which are USB 3.2 Gen 2. The rest of the front is relatively minimalistic with just a 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack.
On the side, there's an SD card 4.0 slot to quickly download files from your camera or other devices.
Around the back, there's another USB 3.2 Gen 2 alongside a USB-A and USB 2.0. Also present are two USB 4.0 ports, one of which supports PD power. These are joined by two RJ45 networking ports, two HDMI 2.1 FRL ports, and the DC-in socket.
Inside, once opened, both RAM and storage are upgradeable. The RAM is dual-channel DDR5 5600 MHz, upgradeable to 128 GB. Storage includes two M.2 2280 SSD NVMe Gen 4 slots, and our review sample came pre-installed with 2 TB.
The aluminium chassis also contributes to cooling, integrating with a large heatsink, heat pipes, and a fan. While not fanless, the cooling system is necessary for the powerful CPU, NPU, and GPU.
A VESA mount is included, so it can be wall-mounted or attached to the back of a monitor.
Ultimately, the A9 Max offers a stunning minimalistic design that offers plenty of processing power, connectivity and a boost in performance for applications that support AI.
Design: 5 / 5
Geekom A9 Max Mini PC: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennnings)
The core highlight of this machine is its AI potential. Alongside the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, there's an integrated AMD Radeon 890M GPU and NPU powered by the XDNA 2 engine. This offers up to 50 TOPS of NPU performance and a total AI acceleration of 77–80 TOPS, ideal for Copilot, local LLMs, object detection, voice recognition, and any AI-integrated applications such as Windows 11 and Adobe Photoshop with generative features.
On the back, display options include two HDMI and two USB4 ports, supporting up to 8K monitor output.
The machine also offers ample flexibility for upgrades. Dual-channel DDR5 SO-DIMM slots can be upgraded to 128 GB, and the two PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD slots support up to 8 TB, which is substantial for a machine of this size.
Network connectivity is also good with Wi-Fi 7 and dual LAN for fast wired and wireless connections, making it suitable for both setups and streaming. The fact that it comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro means that it's ready to be used as part of a mid to large scale business, but if you're not a Windows fan it will also support alternative operating systems such as Ubuntu.
Features: 4.5 / 5
Geekom A9 Max Mini PC: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennnings)
CrystalDiskMark Read: 6234.88MB/s CrystalDiskMark Write: 5371.08MB/s Geekbench CPU Multi: 15190 Geekbench CPU Single: 2938 Geekbench GPU: 41100 PCMark Overall: 7638 Cinebench CPU Multi: 20802 Cinebench CPU Single: 2026 Fire Strike Overall: 8631 Fire Strike Graphics: 9396 Fire Strike Physics: 30023 Fire Strike Combined: 3222 Time Spy Overall: 3622 Time Spy Graphics: 3284 Time Spy CPU: 10559 Wild Life Overall: 19157 Steel Nomad Overall: 546 Windows Experience Overall: 8.2
Getting started with the Geekom A9 Max is straightforward. Simply run through the Windows 11 Pro setup, which takes around five to ten minutes, then after the updates, it's ready for your choice of applications to be installed.
Windows 11 Pro runs extremely smoothly from the outset, with the only issue I encountered being the wireless connectivity with my Eero 6 router. After switching to a Wi-Fi 7 router, both speed and reliability significantly improved, suggesting a conflict between the A9 Max and the Eero 6, which I've experienced before with Wi-Fi 7-enabled machines.
Running Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office applications went without issue. Using Microsoft Word with Copilot was fast and responsive, and that performance was pretty much reflected across all Office applications. In Adobe Photoshop, the generative fill feature processed quickly with good results.
Because applications were able to use the local AI CPU and NPU, there was no reliance on cloud-based AI, essentially helping to speed up the amount of processing time, especially with the Adobe Creative Apps, compared to machines that aren't AI-enhanced.
The performance in Photoshop and Lightroom was impressive and far smoother than I expected for a machine of this size, which led me on to testing higher resolution video. Using CapCut, Adobe Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve, initially for a simple 1080p edit with effects, the A9 Max handled everything smoothly. The 2 TB SSD and fast transfer speeds meant it could manage social media and small-scale video production, making it ideal for small-scale creative work.
However, when working with 4K footage shot on a Sony A7 IV, the GPU began to show its limits. Fans ramped up under load, timeline rendering slowed, and clip import times increased. That said, for a small form factor, performance remained impressive, and fan noise was generally well managed.
In gaming tests, DiRT Rally performed well, though it isn't graphically demanding. Tekken 8 also played well, though effects had to be reduced; however, when it came to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the performance was less fluid, with dropped frames and occasional stuttering. The gaming highlighted how the integrated GPU is adequate for light gaming, but not for graphics-intensive titles.
Benchmark results confirmed real-world impressions. Windows 11 Pro and Office are performing well, reflected in a PCMark score of 7638 and a Windows Experience Index of 8.2, both typical for premium mini PCs. Office applications such as Excel and PowerPoint loaded quickly and allowed for fast multitasking, thanks to strong Geekbench CPU single and multi-core scores.
Creative applications also performed well as a whole, with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom running smoothly, and the Geekbench GPU score of 41100 highlighted the machine's potential for mid-range graphics processing.
SSD speeds were particularly impressive, with a read speed of 6234 MB/s and a write speed of 5371 MB/s. These speeds helped with video editing, especially when handling larger files.
In Premiere Pro, 1080p editing went well, but at 4K, performance dropped as effects were applied. DaVinci Resolve was less stable overall and demanded more from the graphics system. While usable at 1080p, the experience was definitely less fluid as I had to wait for the renders to catch up.
By the end of testing, it was clear that the A9 Max is very capable for Windows 11 Pro, Office, and general productivity tasks. With internal upgrades available, there's good potential. Even the base 32 GB RAM and 2 TB storage are enough for social media editing at 1080p. It's worth noting that, like other Geekom machines of this level, replacing the RAM and SSD is relatively easy; simply take off the base, remove the antenna wires, and then remove the next plate to gain access. While some machines enable you to leave the antenna wires in place, here there isn't quite enough length, and if you do leave them in place, they'll disconnect from the wireless card, and refitting them can be a tedious and painstaking task.
Through the test the speed of the machine generally impressed with the only significant slowdown occurring during editing of high-bitrate 4K footage from a mirrorless camera. Standard 4K from a smartphone was manageable, though it has lower data rates by comparison.
In gaming, performance was average. The machine is clearly designed more for work than play. The extensive connectivity, four front USB-A ports, USB4 at the back, and dual LAN make integration into an office network easy, making it a great office-based solution.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennnings)
Geekom A9 Max Mini PC: Final verdict
(Image credit: Alastair Jennnings)
The Geekom A9 Max is a great mini PC that looks fantastic, with a CNC-machined aluminium chassis that fits perfectly in any office or studio.
Its standout features include build quality and upgradeability, essentially as your needs grow, internal storage and RAM can be increased. For multimedia editing, more RAM would help with higher-bitrate video and effect-heavy workflows. Storage can also be expanded from 2 TB up to 8 TB, reducing the need for external drives.
The dual LAN ports allow high-speed connections to a local network or NAS. For small office setups, this is a real advantage, although it's worth noting that LAN speeds are capped at 2.5 GbE, rather than the 5 or 10 GbE you might expect in a premium system.
If you find yourself regularly plugging and unplugging accessories, the row of front USB-A ports is a big time-saver; however, it's a shame there's no USB-C on the front for faster devices.
I also liked the fact that there's the inclusion of the SD card reader, which makes it easy to quickly offload image and video files to the internal SSD, which offers exceptionally fast read/write speeds and helps significantly in workflows involving large files or media.
By the end of testing, it was clear this is a premium-level office machine. There are some omissions, such as the lack of a front USB4 port or faster LAN, but for its main purpose as an office-based machine, it delivers.
Should I buy a Geekom A9 Max Mini PC?
Value
A great machine that is a perfect solution for office use, though the quality does come with a price premium
4
Design
The solid CNC-machined aluminium chassis looks fantastic and feels incredibly robust
5
Features
With AMD's latest CPU, NPU, and GPU all integrated into a single chip, this machine is office-ready
4.5
Performance
With AMD's latest CPU, NPU, and GPU all integrated into a single chip, this machine is office-ready
4.5
Overalls
A great option for any office, especially if you use Copilot or other applications that utilise AI integration
4.5
Buy it if...
You want an AI-ready PC
The latest CPU with NPU enables full use of AI services through local processing, which helps speed up results and improve workflow.
You need a future-proof option.
With the latest CPU, USB4, and Wi-Fi, this system includes new technologies that should remain relevant for years.
Don't buy it if...
You need discrete GPU performance.
The integrated graphics are good, but for high-end creative tasks or gaming, a dedicated GPU is still preferable.
You're on a tight budget.
This is a premium mini PC with premium pricing. Entry-level models may offer better value depending on your needs.
From the outset, the potential of the KTC MegPad A25Q5 is obvious, essentially offering a completely portable touchscreen monitor with the Android 14 operating system that gives you full access to the Play Store and all of the apps that come with it.
Starting out, everything looked positive with a solid build and great design, so I started by looking at some of the usual Android apps that I use when testing other Android devices. The integration proved to be good, especially if you want to watch streaming video from YouTube or your favourite streaming service.
However, while it's great seeing the Android 14 at such a scale, some apps seemed soft in clarity, as if the scale of the display was slightly beyond the limits of the screen size, as there was sometimes a lack of crispness of icons and text in some but not all apps.
The more I started to delve into video and games, the more I started to see the limitations of this monitor that's pushing physical size with the display resolution. It still looks good, but sit too close and you'll notice that the colour lacks tonal graduation and details are smoothed in much of the video content. The HD resolution just starts to make everything look a little bit soft, especially when I'm so used to high-resolution monitors 4K and above.
The ability to plug into a laptop is handy with that 25-inch screen. However, once again, because the pixel depth is reduced, the clarity of the text on screen, whilst perfectly readable, just isn't as crisp and smooth as I've come to expect with the latest laptops, phones and tablets, even at the entry level. And once again, there's the fine detail, and the colour that once again lacks. So if you are thinking of this as a portable monitor for creative or even office use, then it is going to be a little bit limiting.
I really did like the fact that it has an internal battery and gives you a relatively decent amount of usage time, but once again, if you're thinking about using this portable monitor out on site, then that battery life at 5 hours will be a limit. Whilst it's fine for the odd meeting or lengthy presentation, anything ongoing just isn't possible.
The other aspect to consider is if you think this monitor could be useful for gaming, but again, with a 1080p resolution and maximum refresh rate of only 60Hz, games lack the impact of other smaller portable monitors, and that refresh rate does make some games look a little bit jerky, and then there's the actual power of the processor and CPU to contend with.
So, whilst the design and build quality of this monitor is good and I love the concept, it lacks the quality of hardware to enable it to reach its potential.
KTC MegPad A25Q5 monitor: Price & availability
How much does it cost? $399
When is it out? Now
Where can you get it? Widely available
At present, the KTC MegPad A25Q5 is available directly from the KTC US website and is priced at US$399, with the usual regular price of US$599.
In the US, I'm also seeing it on Amazon.com for $390 and on Newegg, where it's priced at $346.
Value: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
KTC MegPad A25Q5 monitor: Design
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Specifications
CPU: Qualcomm SM6115 (Snapdragon 662-class) Graphics: Adreno 610 (integrated) RAM: 8GB LPDDR4 Storage: 128GB internal (expandable) Left Ports: USB-C, DC in Onboard controls: Power button, volume rocker Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2 Audio: Dual stereo speakers, 3.5mm jack Camera: 720p front camera with privacy slider Size: 568 × 332 × 39 mm OS Installed: Android 14 Accessories: Remote control, charger,
The aesthetic design of the KTC MegPad A25Q5 is striking, with its matte cream finish giving it a stylish and friendly aesthetic. The body is nicely curved with a textured back and fabric carry handle with a robust fold-out stand that enables you to position the monitor in both landscape and portrait orientation.
When it comes to the size, it measures in at 22.37 in x 13.09 in (568.3 mm x 332.5 mm) with the thickness just 1.54 in (39 mm). Overall, the build quality of the monitor is exceptionally high, not quite premium, but not far off.
Taking a look around the body of the monitor, there are only two ports: the first is for the power, and the second is for the USB-C connection that enables you to plug into a laptop or tablet so that the machine can be used as an external display. Alternatively, you can plug in an external storage device. Otherwise, the only other physical feature is the small webcam with a privacy slider that enables you to slide a physical cover over the camera.
The display itself has a gloss finish that handles reflections well, with bezels that are relatively thick at roughly 10 mm, although, as they're flat to the display, these days, you would expect a slightly thinner design.
The diagonal of the display is essentially 25 inches, which does give you a good viewing area, especially for a portable monitor. And as well as being an IPS, it also offers 10-point touch functionality, which, for the Android operating system,. However, if you're connecting to a laptop with touchscreen functionality, that touchscreen functionality isn't carried across to the monitor for Windows 11 or macOS.
Alongside the monitor comes a very handy remote control that enables you to sit back and actually interact with the monitor without needing to get up and touch the screen. The layout of the remote is intuitive, with physical buttons that make it easy to navigate around the Android screen interface and also adjust volume and the monitor settings, and has a nifty pointer option, which is more intuitive to use when using streaming and TV apps.
As a portable monitor, there is quite a lot on offer here. The fact that it can be used as a touchscreen Android tablet at scale for streaming and watching back web content, and also used as an external monitor for your laptop or tablet, and will playback media from external storage devices does give it plenty of potential, especially with a design and build quality that means it's durable enough to easily be carried around, making it a seemingly ideal solution for many creative and business users.
Design: 4 / 5
KTC MegPad A25Q5 monitor: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The feature list here is impressive, with the standout feature being the pure portability, thanks to the built-in internal battery that supplies it with a good few hours of use. Unlike other portable monitors, there's also an integrated Android device with full Android 14 OS, including the Play Store, readily accessible once powered up.
The monitor has also been exceptionally well conceived, so it's simple plug and play, so when you plug your laptop or another tablet device into the monitor through the USB-C connection on the side, the monitor instantly recognises that it is being required as an external display and automatically swaps its usage type from tablet to external display.
Going into some of the features and settings within the Android operating system enables you to adjust a lot of the visual settings, including the brightness and screen colour temperature. Through this test, I found that the default screen brightness of 55% was actually a really good balance for everyday use.
Internally powering the Android 14 operating system is 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which is relatively good for storing apps on the system. While the internal storage isn't huge, there is the option to connect other external storage devices through the side USB-C port, and this supports the ExFat file format, which is quite generic and widely used.
As I mentioned in the build section, there is an 8 million pixel webcam, which is good enough for 720p quality, not as high as you'd find on many premium mobile phones, but decent enough for a bit of web conferencing. One of the things I liked about the webcam is that it has a privacy shutter, so you can be absolutely 100% sure that when the shutter is slid across the lens, you won't be broadcasting.
If you're looking for a portable monitor for use as part of a display, then the touchscreen functionality is obviously quite handy, especially for presentations or interactive displays where you want people to interact with the monitor itself, as long as what you're using is Android-based.
There's also a physical remote control, so if you are using it for media or kiosk use, then you can interact with it using the remote from a distance. Whilst the remote is simple, it does give you lots of control over all of the options and settings, including playing back media.
Again, when it comes to the features, it is a shame that there is no HDMI, DP input, or Bluetooth; there's just that one USB-C port. However, through the test, I did find that the Wi-Fi connection was extremely robust.
Disk Speed Test Read 822 MB/s Disk Speed Test Write 185 MB/s Geekbench Single 319 Geekbench Multi 948 Geekbench GPU 297 3DMark Wildlife: 504 3DMark Slingshot: 1732
The KTC MegPad A25Q5 has, from the outset, so much potential. The design is elegant, it feels really robust, and with that carry handle on top, it is ultra-portable. So, if you need to carry it around the office or you're at a show and need to use this as a kiosk display, then its portability is a real bonus.
Personally, I also really like the simplicity of the design. The front of the screen is just nice and clean, and although it does have that rather thick bezel going all the way around, it isn't overly distracting.
While the number of input/output ports is relatively meagre, just the power and USB Type-C, they do offer enough to make this an extremely flexible portable monitor in use. With the ability to use it as a large-screen Android tablet, an external monitor for your laptop, or if you plug in external storage, it can be used as a playback device, obviously using the Android 14 operating system.
I started the test by taking a look at the Android functionality. And whilst at 25 inches the screen does push the Android operating system user interface, it still looks nice and clean and is very easy to navigate. In use, with that 8GB of RAM and decent volume of storage, the operating system does seem to run exceptionally smoothly. Loading up web streaming services from Netflix to YouTube, the streaming quality of video does seem exceptionally good. And whilst the screen is limited to 60Hz, for most TV and movies, the smoothness of motion is perfectly adequate.
However, I will say that with the resolution limited to just 1080p, you can really see that downscaling, detail and tonal graduation compared with a laptop or even many other higher resolution portable monitors.
I will say, however, that the two built-in speakers do provide a good depth of audio, which gives a far better audio experience than many other monitors, portable or otherwise.
Flicking through a few of the other Android apps, and for the most part, there is just enough processing power supplied by this Android operating system to plough through most tasks without too much issue.
Applications such as CapCut enable some video editing, although you do need to keep it light, and delving into a few Android games, while nice to see them on the larger screen, the system did struggle. But there again, the resolution is a little bit of an issue, as is the rather low refresh rate for gaming.
Where it did excel was with Google Docs and the Google Suite. That larger screen gave a much larger interface to type up and read documents, and whether it was typing on a document or scrolling through spreadsheets, the large font and space just make things nice and fluid.
Starting to push the processing again, and I loaded Lightroom to edit some photos again, which showed that there was a real issue with the lack of resolution for apps when displayed at this size. Essentially, it felt like the colour depth and the gradient handling just weren't up to scratch, and any issues just seemed to be amplified with this huge screen; however, the actual use and processing were absolutely fine.
As I started to run through the benchmarking tests, they reinforced that this is a mid-level Android device, perfectly good for basic use, browsing the internet, and streaming content. However, at all times, the lower resolution at 1080p on a 25-inch display just highlights those visual issues of lack of colour depth and detail.
Whilst you can weigh up the balance of cost, as this portable monitor does only cost $399, you can excuse some of that visual quality. And if you're looking for a portable display that can be used in meetings or in show kiosks, then it is actually a good option.
Through my test, running a series of benchmarking, streaming, and productivity tests on the monitor, I was able to get 5 hours of use. For me, I feel that's relatively decent. But if you want a monitor that lasts the distance, say half a day to a full day, then you will need to look at some sort of external power source for the monitor.
Performance: 2 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
KTC MegPad A25Q5 monitor: Final verdict
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The KTC MegPad A25Q5 has so much potential. It looks great and, on paper, everything about it seems to point at a product that will meet many different criteria, from a sleek portable monitor that you can use at home or in the office to stream back content, do video calls, watch TV and play games. And, of course, you can do all of this.
It also offers a full Android 14 touchscreen tablet experience, so you can utilise all the usual Android apps, and you have full access to the Google Play Store, which does give it plenty more potential.
So, when it comes to a functional smart display, the KTC A25Q5 could have been exceptional. However, it's limited by the quality of the actual display, with all of the innovation seemingly put into its workflow and functionality rather than its main focus, display quality.
From the outset, the quality of the display just seems to lack clarity. The Android 14 operating system, whilst working perfectly and generally giving a smooth experience (aside from gaming, where it's a little bit limited), just looks a little bit soft on this 25-inch screen. And the reason for that is not the size of the screen, but the resolution, which limits its pixel density.
As I started to run through the performance tests with Geekbench and 3DMark, it highlighted the limited processing power of the monitor. Then, as I delved into the more important feature, the qualities of the display, using Datacolor Spyder X2, it really started to highlight the limitations.
Across the board, the results in the Spyder X2 were average, again reinforcing the lack of detail and clarity that I was seeing, either using Android or a direct connection into a laptop, for both Mac and PC. So, whilst this portable monitor has huge potential, it really is limited by that display.
The battery was a highlight and I wasn't expecting much, however, it did seem to last the distance with a decent 5 hours of use. All things considered, especially the price that this monitor offers, is pure flexibility.
The fact that it could be used as a large-scale Android tablet so that you can watch back media at okay quality, that you can plug it into your laptop to give a bigger display when giving a presentation, and the ability to plug in external media so that you can play back content on the larger display using the Android operating system, still makes it extremely useful, just not the high quality that I would've expected.
Essentially, the concept for this monitor is absolutely spot on, and it's very easy to see how useful and how much potential this monitor has. It's just so unfortunate that the quality of the display underdelivers and lacks the sharpness and polish that I wanted.
Should I buy a KTC MegPad A25Q5 monitor?
Value
Great value for money considering that you get a large-scale Android tablet, external display and media playback monitor in one
4
Design
The build quality, design and aesthetics all look great, and with a simple carry handle, it just finishes off the design nicely
4
Features
Checking through the features, and on the surface at least it certainly has potential
4
Performance
While the MegPad shows potential, the lack of processing power and low resolution let it down
2
Overall
The concept is valid and the design aesthetically pleasing, but it is let down by the real-world performance
3
Buy it if...
You want a large Android display
Having the Android OS on such a large scale is definitely handy, and native apps run smoothly with good integration into Google's ecosystem.
You want a meeting screen with Android support
Running meetings through the tablet offers a large display with a relatively decent webcam for PC-free conferencing.
Don't buy it if...
You need to watch movies.
For both movies and gaming, the power of the hardware is slightly lacking, and the depth and low resolution really highlight the image issues.
You need to edit creative media.
Again, while the large screen lends itself to use for creative media, the lack of power and low resolution cancel this out as a viable option.
The Acer Nitro V 15 Intel is yet another gaming laptop from the esteemed brand that promises high-end performance for a relatively modest outlay.
It has a fairly muted design for the most part, although the variegated lines and Nitro symbol on the lid hint at its potential. It’s quite bulky and reasonably heavy, but still manages to be more portable than some of its rivals. This is also helped by the omission of a rear ventilation bulge common on many gaming laptops.
It’s not as well built as the best gaming laptops, though. It employs less-than premium materials in places, and the flex of the chassis doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. In the main, though, it’s perfectly acceptable, and the important aspects, such as the keys and the lid hinge, are of a higher standard.
Most of the usual ports are present and correct on the Nitro V 15 Intel, although they’re loaded on the left-hand side; all you get on the right is the headset jack and one USB-A port. I would’ve liked to have seen a few more here for versatility’s sake, but this is a minor gripe.
The performance of the Nitro V 15 Intel isn’t exactly off the charts, but it’s more than sufficient for solid 1080p gaming. You’ll get around 60fps or above with high – if not the highest – settings in many AAA titles.
(Image credit: Future)
The display impressed me with its vibrant color rendering colors and deep black tones. Reflections can get in the way somewhat, but its maximum brightness level is just about enough to mitigate the worst of them. It’s a small shame, however, that the lid doesn’t open all that wide.
There’s also a fair amount of fan noise, even when gaming with modest settings, although it’s still within tolerable bounds for the most part. Plenty of heat is also generated, which can be a little disruptive as it makes its way to the space bar and radiates from the right vent. It can also climb up to the display, which is less than ideal.
With its relatively low starting price, the Nitro V 15 Intel makes for a tempting proposition. However, there are some other great budget picks at this end of the market, including its bigger sibling, the Nitro 16. And if you don’t need the latest tech, the MSI Katana 15 (2023) is another admirable 1080p performer. But the Nitro V 15 Intel can stand proud alongside these as another reasonably priced gaming laptop worth the money.
Acer Nitro V 15 Intel review: Price & Availability
Starts from $899.99 / £849.99 (about AU$1370)
Available now
Budget end of the market
The Nitro V 15 Intel starts from $899.99 / £849.99 (about AU$1370) and is available now. It can be configured with an RTX 5050 or 5060, an Intel Core i5 or i7 of the 13th generation, and 512GB or 1TB of storage.
This is a good value for a gaming laptop with an RTX 5000 series GPU. It does face some stern competition at this price point, however – chiefly from its larger counterpart, the Nitro 16, which we think is the best budget gaming laptop around right now, and has the advantage of having a larger display (albeit only slightly).
If you don’t need the absolute latest components, then the MSI Katana 15 (2023) is another strong alternative with a reasonable price. It does have a few flaws, such as a poor trackpad and middling battery life, but there are worse areas to have made sacrifices.
Value: 4 / 5
Acer Nitro V 15 Intel review: Specs
Acer Nitro V 15 Intel Specs
Acer Nitro V 15 Intel Base Config
Acer Nitro V 15 Intel Review Config
Price
$899.99 / £849.99 (about AU$1370)
$1,199.99 / £999.99 (about AU$1830)
CPU
Intel Core i5-13420H (8 cores) 2.10GHz
Intel Core i7-13620H (10 cores) 2.40GHz
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 8GB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB
RAM
16GB DDR4 SDRAM
16GB DDR4 SDRAM
Storage
512GB PCI Express NVMe 4.0 M.2 SSD
1TB PCI Express NVMe 4.0 M.2 SSD
Display
15.6-inch Active Matrix TFT LCD (1920 x 1080), 16:9, IPS, 165Hz
15.6-inch Active Matrix TFT LCD (1920 x 1080), 16:9, IPS, 165Hz
Ports and Connectivity
3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (Thunderbolt 4), 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1x RJ-45, 1x 3,5mm Audio, WI
3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (Thunderbolt 4), 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1x RJ-45, 1x 3,5mm Audio, WI
Battery
76Wh
76Wh
Dimensions
14.3 x 9.4 x 0.9in / 362 x 240 x 24mm
14.3 x 9.4 x 0.9in / 362 x 240 x 24mm
Weight
4.65lbs / 2.11kg
4.65lbs / 2.11kg
Acer Nitro V 15 Intel review: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Minimal design
Reasonably thick and heavy
Well-made keyboard
The Nitro V 15 Intel adopts a fairly minimal aesthetic for a gaming laptop. About the only indication of its leanings is the multicolored linear pattern on the lid, which adds a small amount of interest to its appearance.
It’s a somewhat bulky, blocky unit and it weighs a considerable amount, although there are certainly thicker and heavier examples in this class. It also lacks the rear bulge for cooling purposes common on many gaming laptops, which improves its portability.
The materials employed throughout the unit don’t strike me as being among the most premium, feeling a little cheap compared to those of the competition. There’s also some flex to the enclosure for the keyboard and trackpad, but thankfully not to a disconcerting extent.
Thankfully, the lid hinge seems built to a higher standard, opening with ease and offering sufficient stability. It doesn’t open very wide, though, since the bottom of the lid hits the underlying surface if you take it even slightly past 90 degrees.
The keys are also a highlight in terms of build quality. They’re smooth to the touch and comfortably proportioned, as well as being generously spaced apart. And despite the inclusion of a number pad, the overall layout doesn’t feel cramped.
One strange omission, though, is the lack of an FN lock shortcut. Instead, you have to toggle this setting in the BIOS, which is very inconvenient – especially given there are no dedicated media control keys (they’re bound to the F row).
There are four rubber feet underneath the Nitro V 15 Intel that provide adequate grip and support, and raise the chassis from the surface by a small amount – but perhaps not enough for optimal airflow.
You’ll find most ports on the left-hand side of the Nitro V 15 Intel. The power port is furthest, followed by the ethernet and HDMI ports, and then two USB-A ports and one USB-C.
On the right there’s only a USB-A port and the headset jack. I would’ve preferred a better balance between the two sides – perhaps more USB-A ports on the right for connecting various peripherals, but this is a small gripe.
The power brick that comes with the Nitro V 15 Intel is pleasingly small, while the cable that runs from it to the laptop is relatively long, which makes it better suited to a wider variety of setups.
Design: 3.5/ 5
Acer Nitro V 15 Intel review: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Runs AAA titles at very high settings
Maximum settings not attainable
Vivid and bright display
With the RTX 5060 equipped in my review unit, the Nitro V 15 Intel performed quite well, if not blisteringly so. When I played Cyberpunk 2077 on the Ray Tracing: Low preset (which the game chose by default), I was getting somewhere in the region of 60-70fps. I’m sure many gamers are happy to play at these rates (myself included), but those looking for figures in the hundreds will be disappointed.
The display does a commendable job of rendering colors vibrantly and providing plenty of contrast, with blacks being particularly impressive. It’s also devoid of the washed-out tones that can plague other LCD displays. It can be overly reflective at times, but thankfully there’s enough brightness to combat the worst offenders.
A fair amount of fan noise accompanied most of my playing time with the Nitro V 15 Intel, but this was nothing a good pair of headphones or the best PC gaming headsets couldn’t mask. As expected, heat was also generated, which can make its way to the keyboard, even after a short time playing. I found it particularly concentrated around the space bar, which can exceed temperatures I find totally comfortable handling.
(Image credit: Future)
Also, since there’s no protrusion behind the lid, vents are placed in front of the display. And since the display housing reaches all the way down, level with the bottom of the chassis, the expelled hot air radiates onto the display, which isn’t exactly the best place for it.
As for the keys, their lack of dampening and surprising resistance can make them somewhat uncomfortable to game with, as I would sometimes experience fatigue when using the WASD keys for long periods. However, their clicky feel and short actuation point makes them snappy and responsive, which in turn makes them ideal for typing as well as gaming (their aforementioned size and spacing also help in this regard).
The trackpad, however, frequently got in my way while typing, registering swipes accidentally even when I made marginal contact with the palm of my thumb.
Performance: 4 / 5
Acer Nitro V 15 Intel review: Battery Life
(Image credit: Future)
Middling longevity
Quick to charge
The Nitro V 15 Intel has a reasonable, if not spectacular, battery life. It managed to last six and a half hours during our movie playback test, and one hour and 37 minutes in the PCMark battery test for gaming scenarios, neither of which are class-leading scores.
Having said that, there are certainly gaming laptops with worse batteries, and thankfully the Nitro V 15 Intel is very quick to charge, taking about an hour and twenty minutes to totally replenish.
Battery Life: 3.5 / 5
Should I buy the Acer Nitro V 15 Intel?
Acer Nitro V 15 Intel Scorecard
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
It’s well-priced for an RTX 5000 series laptop, and it hasn’t skimped on the important aspects of a gaming laptop.
4 / 5
Design
It might not have the most premium construction, but it suffices, and quality is high in the areas that matter most.
3.5 / 5
Performance
You’ll get decent 1080p gaming at high settings, but maximum ones are beyond it. There’s a fair amount of heat generated, too.
4 / 5
Battery Life
Nothing special, but not the worst either. At least it’s quick to charge.
3.5 / 5
Total
The Nitro V 15 Intel does well in the most important areas considering its low price tag, and it can hold its own against other budget offerings in the gaming laptop space.
4 / 5
Buy the Acer Nitro V 15 Intel if...
You want solid 1080p gaming AAA titles run smoothly on the Nitro V 15 Intel, and you won’t have to dip that far below maximum settings. The display is also impressive.
You want to save money The Nitro V 15 Intel is very well-priced considering its spec and performance, and the compromises made are sensible – for the most part.
Don't buy it if...
You want the best battery life The 76Wh battery can’t endure to the extent of some of its rivals, so those without a power outlet nearby might be disappointed.
You want the best gaming keyboard Although the keys are great for typing, their short travel yet surprising resistance can make gaming a little fatiguing.
Acer Nitro V 15 Intel review: Also Consider
Acer Nitro 16 Our pick for the best gaming laptop for those on a budget, the bigger sibling to the Nitro V 15 Intel is an equally enticing proposition. It’s similarly capable and features the same 165Hz refresh rate, but you do have to sacrifice some portability for that larger screen.
MSI Katana 15 (2023) If you’re willing to go for an older model, the MSI Katana 15 (2023) is a fine choice. Again, the 1080p performance here is admirable, and its low cost makes it the ideal gateway model. Of course, you won’t get top-tier performance, and it’s hardly the most portable of units, but these are drawbacks to expect given the price.
I tested the Nitro V 15 Intel for a few days, during which time I used it for gaming, working, and general browsing.
I played AAA titles and ran our series of benchmarks that test gaming and productivity performance, storage speeds, and battery life.
I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and have experienced various machines and components during that time. I’ve also reviewed a number of laptops previously, including other Acer and gaming-oriented models.
The Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) is a mid-range laptop with AI capabilities that aim to streamline advanced tasks without compromising processing power.
It looks smart and sleek with its minimal design. The blue colorway of my review unit also added an element of vibrancy to proceedings, offering something a little different from the usual black and silver finishes.
It’s also very light and thin, which makes it easy to use and carry around. The bezel around the screen is very small, too, which helps to maximize the size of the display.
The materials feel premium enough, especially the keys, but it’s not the sturdiest unit. There’s a considerable amount of flex to the lid and chassis, falling some way short of the best laptop constructions.
As you’d expect given its name, there are various AI features in the Aspire 14 AI (2025). However, there aren’t as many as you might think, with the flagship app appearing to be Acer LiveArt – a disappointingly basic image editing suite.
The AI apps run fairly smoothly in the main, though, and the Aspire 14 AI (2025) performs everyday tasks quite well, from productivity and browsing to streaming. However, it can succumb to the occasional slowdown and lag, and doesn’t handle 4K content particularly well. More strenuous tasks, such as gaming, are beyond it, as you might expect given the middling GPU it’s saddled with.
(Image credit: Future)
What’s more, there’s a pretty consistent fan noise, even during moderate workloads, which increases the harder the Aspire 14 AI (2025) is pushed. I also noticed a strange rattling sound at times, which was slightly concerning.
The display is more impressive, providing plenty of sharpness and brightness. Colors are rendered quite well, too, although they’re not the most vivid, with some of its rivals achieving greater saturation.
The keyboard is mostly pleasant to use, thanks in no small part to the sizable and generously spaced keys. The trackpad is smooth enough, but taps and clicks lack consistency and feedback.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Aspire 14 AI (2025) is the battery life. It lasted 22 hours in our movie playback test, which trounces most of the competition, even at the top end of the market.
Ultimately, the Aspire 14 AI (2025) ends up being a somewhat underwhelming laptop considering its price tag. You might be better off paying a little more to have a laptop with a better design and overall performance.
Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) review: Price & Availability
Starts from £699 / AU$1,399
Currently unavailable in the US
Well-price for the spec
The Aspire 14 AI (2025) starts from £699 / AU$1,399 and is available now in various finishes. It can be configured with 512GB or 1TB of storage. Currently, the only model available in the US is the larger Aspire 16 AI.
On the face of it, this is a reasonable price for a laptop with this spec. But it does face some stern competitors who, despite being a bit more expensive, might represent better value, all things considered.
Take the Microsoft Surface Laptop: this starts at $899.99 / £1,039 / AU$1,498, and while it has a similar everyday performance to the Aspire 14 AI (2025) and a marginally shorter – but still impressive – battery life, it’s built to a higher standard and more enjoyable to use in our view.
Similarly, there’s also the Dell Inspiron 14. Again, this is more expensive than the Aspire 14 AI (2025), but its everyday performance is better – although it still can’t handle the most intensive workloads, like video editing and AAA gaming. It too has an impressive battery life, although it’s still not quite as enduring as that of the Aspire 14 AI (2025).
Value: 3.5 / 5
Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) review: Specs
Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) Specs
Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) Base Config
Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) Max Config
Price
$TBA / £699 / AU$1,399
$TBA / £749 (about AU$1570)
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100 (8 cores), 3GHz
Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100 (8 cores), 3GHz
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno GPU (shared memory)
Qualcomm Adreno GPU (shared memory)
RAM
16GB LPDDR5X
16GB LPDDR5X
Storage
512GB PCI Express NVMe 4.0 (M.2)
1TB PCI Express NVMe 4.0 (M.2)
Display
14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200), 16:10, Active Matrix TFT LCD, IPS, 120Hz
14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200), 16:10, Active Matrix TFT LCD, IPS, 120Hz
The Aspire 14 AI (2025) is very portable, even for a 14-inch laptop, thanks to its light and slender frame, free from any bulges or protrusions. This also adds to its sleek appearance. The dark blue colorway of my review unit suited it very well, and helped distinguish it from the monochromatic homogeneity of the sector.
The lid is easy to open, yet offers sufficient stability. Pleasingly, it also reclines all the way back by 180 degrees, making it versatile for various stands and setups.
Instead of four feet, the Aspire 14 AI (2025) features two long bars running across its width, with the rear one being taller than the front. They don’t provide as much grip as more traditional rubber feet, but they suffice for keeping the Aspire 14 AI (2025) stable while in use. What’s more, some may find this lack of traction preferable, as it makes the laptop easier to slide around on a given surface.
Build quality is good in places, such as the keyboard, with the plastics looking and feeling premium. I also appreciated the very thin bezel around the screen, which serves to maximize the full real estate.
However, there’s a considerable amount of flex to the chassis and the lid, which is somewhat disconcerting. It’s probably not one to take on more extreme adventures – it’s certainly no match for the best rugged laptop units in this regard – but it should suffice for basic travel.
(Image credit: Future)
As for software, the Aspire 14 AI (2025) is mercifully free from bloatware – although that statement largely depends on how you feel about AI features. Thankfully, those that are installed are unintrusive and only there if you need them.
The included AI features of the Aspire 14 AI (2025) are mainly confined to image and video editing, courtesy of Acer LiveSense. This app has some very basic image editing and webcam effects to play around with, but to call this an AI feature is a stretch. Its generative features boil down to buttons that open Microsoft's Copilot app instead.
If you want more AI offerings from Acer than those preinstalled, you’ll have to download Acer Intelligence Space, which acts as a hub for its suite of AI apps. However, I couldn’t get this to install on my unit, with the app failing to appear once the installer had finished running.
As a side note, if you’re looking to install third-party apps, keep in mind that the Aspire 14 AI (2025) uses an ARM processor, so you may run into compatibility issues. Check with the software provider where you can to determine suitability for the architecture.
There’s a well-judged selection of ports on the Aspire 14 AI (2025). It features two USB-C ports, both of which employ the Thunderbolt 4 standard. These are both located on the left-hand side, in front of the HDMI 2.1 port and USB-A port, which may prove inconvenient for certain setups, since you’ll need to connect the power adapter to one of them.
On the right you’ll find a USB-A port, followed by a headset jack and a microSD slot. It’s a shame there isn’t at least one more port on this side, but this is a minor complaint.
Design: 3.5/ 5
Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) review: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Reasonable workaday performance
AI apps eat memory
Noisy even under moderate loads
The performance of the Aspire 14 AI (2025) is good, if nothing spectacular. It can handle most everyday tasks, including word processing, spreadsheet editing, and video streaming, although 4K content can result in significant pauses for buffering. There were also a few occasions where it was a little sluggish, such as when waking from sleep.
The AI apps and features run well enough, although they do tend to eat up a considerable amount of memory, despite the 16GB of RAM on board. Models with more would be preferable to deal with such workloads on a regular basis.
Even under moderate loads, the fans of the Aspire 14 AI (2025) are audible. The noise isn’t too loud or shrill, but it’s still noticeable and unexpected. The volume does increase with heavier tasking, though – but at least the unit remains cool throughout.
I also noticed a strange rattling sound at times, as if some part was loose and vibrating. Pressing the offending area fixed the issue temporarily, but this speaks further to the less-than-stellar build quality of the Aspire 14 AI (2025).
(Image credit: Future)
Intensive tasks are beyond the Aspire 14 AI (2025). It doesn’t handle gaming very well, even when playing moderately demanding titles with modest settings. I encountered severe stuttering and lag when playing Counter-Strike 2 on the Medium preset, rendering it virtually unplayable; this certainly isn’t a device to replace the best gaming laptops.
The 1920 x 1200 display is sharp and renders colors quite well, although it’s not the most vibrant you’ll ever see. It has high levels of brightness, too, which helps to keep reflections at bay.
The keys are large and generously spaced, which makes them easy to type with. They lack the feedback and satisfying feel of the best laptops for writers, and the omission of a number pad might deter those after maximum productivity, but for basic note taking and essay writing, the keyboard should suffice.
The trackpad manages to stay out of the way while typing for the most part, with it refraining from registering palm contact. It’s smooth and pleasingly large, but the taps are a little inconsistent, and the click feels quite nasty and lacks feedback, making it awkward to use for constant navigation around documents and web pages.
Performance: 3.5 / 5
Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) review: Battery Life
(Image credit: Future)
Incredible longevity
Beats all the competition
The battery life of the Aspire 14 AI (2025) is very impressive. During our movie playback test, it managed to last an incredible 22 hours – a few hours shy of Acer’s 28-hour claim, but this is forgivable given there are very few rivals that can match this kind of endurance.
It trounces even more premium laptops, such as the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) (the best student laptop in our view), which only managed a little over 14 hours. The Microsoft Surface Laptop managed just over 17 hours, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus lasted over 18 hours.
Battery Life: 5 / 5
Should I buy the Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025)?
Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) Scorecard
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
It’s at the lower end of the mid-range pack, but there are perhaps better value alternatives.
3.5 / 5
Design
It’s light and slender, but hardly the most solid. The included AI software is poor.
3.5 / 5
Performance
It’ll suffice for everyday tasks and productivity, but more serious workloads are beyond it. The display is bright and clear.
3.5 / 5
Battery Life
You’ll struggle to find many laptops that can last as long as the Aspire 14 AI (2025).
5 / 5
Total
The Aspire 14 AI (2025) is somewhat inconsistent, with great portability and battery life, but middling performance and build quality. There are better options if you’re prepared to pay a bit more.
3.5 / 5
Buy the Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) if...
You want the best battery life The battery life of the Aspire 14 AI (2025) is truly phenomenal – no other laptop can beat it.
You want something easy to use The light and thin chassis makes this easy to carry around, and the 180-degree folding display makes it versatile, too.
Don't buy it if...
You want the strongest build The Aspire 14 AI (2025) is far from the sturdiest laptop out there, so best kept out of intrepid situations.
You want the best performance For everyday tasks you should be fine, but it can’t handle demanding workloads. It can get noisy, too.
Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) review: Also Consider
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch As the best Windows 11 laptop in our eyes, the Surface Laptop is a great all-rounder. It’s better made than the Aspire 14 AI (2025), and although its battery life is shorter, it’s still top-tier. The starting price is higher, but you get a laptop that equates to better all-round value.
Dell 14 Plus If you’re looking for another affordable yet capable laptop, the 14 Plus fits the bill very well. This has a more impressive performance, and yet again has a battery that’ll last all day and then some.
I tested the Aspire 14 AI (2025) for a few days, using it for productivity, entertainment, and general browsing.
I did plenty of typing and content streaming, and even tested its gaming credentials. I also ran our series of benchmarks to assess various aspects of its performance, and made sure to use as many of its in-built AI apps and features as I could.
I have reviewed many laptops before, ranging in their price points and usage types. I’ve also used them consistently for decades for all manner of tasks.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025) is a gaming laptop that promises top-tier performance at an affordable price. It doesn’t exactly convey its power visually, looking rather muted compared to others in this class. However, it does exude a fair amount of elegance, which belies its budget price tag.
It’s surprisingly thin and free from bulk, although it’s still quite heavy. The lid hinges are pleasingly small, and the bezel around the screen is very minimal – in fact you’ll struggle to find a more slender frame on even the best gaming laptop models.
Build quality is also respectable, although the keyboard doesn’t look the most premium. Thankfully, the keys themselves feel great, offering sufficient dampening, travel, and feedback, which makes them a joy to use when gaming.
And, on that front, the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) acquits itself very well. The RTX 5050 in my unit performed remarkably well, achieving very high frame rates with demanding graphics settings selected, although Cyberpunk 2077 labored considerably on the highest preset, with disruptive stutters, lag, and visual glitches. But dropping the settings down slightly improved the experience greatly, while maintaining plenty of visual fidelity.
(Image credit: Future)
More bothersome, however, was the noise the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) generated, which is distractingly loud and pretty much rules out playing without headphones. At least the unit stays relatively cool for the most part, with any heat steering clear from any touchable surface.
The large 16-inch, 1920 x 1200 display of the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) is certainly good enough to represent AAA games faithfully, but it’s not the best in class, guilty of looking a little washed out at times. It also lacks the high brightness levels of its rivals, and is a little too reflective.
As mentioned, the keys feel great to use when gaming, but the cramped layout – owing to the inclusion of a number pad – can make typing awkward, at least for someone as ham-fisted as me.
This isn’t too big a gripe, though, and if you’re willing to put up with the incessant noise and can settle for gaming at close-to maximum settings, the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) is a respectable performer that won’t break the bank – at least not to the extent other gaming laptops will.
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025) review: Price & Availability
$1,449.99 / £1,399.99 / AU$2,499
Available now
Well-priced for the spec
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025) starts from $1,449.99 / £1,399.99 / AU$2,499 and is available now. In the US, we couldn't find a model equipped with an RTX 5050; the base model here appears to start with a 5060 instead.
This is a decent price for a 16-inch laptop with an RTX 5000 series GPU. There are few compromises, too, with the 1920 x 1200 resolution being the main concession. But the overall design and build quality of the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) aren’t what you’d call cheap.
However, the Acer Nitro 16 AMD is cheaper by a significant amount. This has a less impressive spec, though: the base Nitro 16 AMD gets an RTX 4050 GPU, an AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, and only 512GB of storage. It’s also quite bulky and doesn’t exactly look premium. We were very pleased with its 1080p performance, though, and we also liked its keyboard.
Value: 4 / 5
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025) review: Specs
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025) Base Config
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025) Maximum Config
Price
$1,449.99 / £1,399.99 / AU$2,499
$1,699.99 / £1,699.99
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 260 Processor 3.8GHz (24MB Cache, up to 5.1 GHz, 8 cores, 16 Threads)
AMD Ryzen 9 270 Processor 4.0GHz (24MB Cache, up to 5.2GHz, 8 cores, 16 Threads)
1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x USB-A (1x USB 2.0 and 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2), 2x USB-C (1x USB 3.2 Gen2 and 1x USB 4), 1x RJ45, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x USB-A (1x USB 2.0 and 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2), 2x USB-C (1x USB 3.2 Gen2 and 1x USB 4), 1x RJ45, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Battery
90WHrs
90WHrs
Dimensions
13.94 x 10.59 x 0.70 inches (354 x 269 x 17.9mm)
13.94 x 10.59 x 0.70 inches (354 x 269 x 17.9mm)
Weight
4.85lbs (2.20kg)
4.85lbs (2.20kg)
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025) review: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Surprisingly thin
Very thin screen bezel
Good-feeling keyboard
To my personal delight, ASUS hasn’t done much to gamify the appearance of the TUF Gaming A16 (2025). It has a minimal aesthetic and the whole unit looks surprisingly elegant for a gaming machine.
It isn’t saddled with the typical gaming laptop bulk, either. The chassis is pleasingly thin and the rear protrusion is comparatively small. While it's still quite weighty, again it’s not as heavy as some of its rivals.
The lid hinges look rather smart, and are easy to operate yet provide plenty of stability, while the bezel around the display is very small, allowing almost all of the allotted space to be used.
There are a few missteps in the design, though: the corners of the base are a little too sharp, and the keyboard looks a little cheap. A number pad is also included, which unfortunately makes the whole layout a little more cramped than it otherwise would be. Still, I did appreciate the translucent WASD keys, which distinguishes them from the others.
Underneath the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) are four rubber feet and plastic strips that raise the unit from the surface by a fair amount, which helps to improve airflow.
You’ll find the usual selection of ports on the TUF Gaming A16 (2025), with most of them located on the left side. They’re sensibly ordered, too; I particularly appreciated the headset jack being at the front and the power port at the back.
Along with an ethernet port and an HDMI port, you’ll also find two USB-C ports on the left – one is 3.2 Gen 2 and the other 4, but both support external display connections. On the right are two USB-A ports, which are again logically located, since it makes them amenable to connecting peripherals such as mice.
Design: 4/ 5
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025) review: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Impressive AAA performance
Quite loud
Display not the most vibrant
I was impressed by the overall performance of the TUF Gaming A16 (2025). When I played Cyberpunk 2077 on the Ray Tracing: Low preset – which the game selected by default – I was getting roughly between 175-200fps, depending on the in-game environment.
Turning the preset to Ray Tracing: Ultra naturally resulted in a decrease, but I was still in the respectable region of 115-150fps. Ray Tracing: Overdrive caused a further dip, down to 70-100fps, but with the added bane of significant stuttering and input lag, as well as some strange visual artefacts and pop-in effects. Suffice to say this isn’t a setting I can recommend playing on.
Nonetheless, the above demonstrates a laudable effort on the part of the TUF Gaming A16 (2025). However, the price is paid in noise – a loud one. Under load it’s a veritable cacophony, as the fans whir away with considerable force. Needless to say this can be quite disruptive, requiring one of the best PC gaming headsets with strong noise cancellation to drown it out.
At least the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) stays relatively cool. Any heat generated is confined to reasonable temperatures, and concentrated mainly at the very back of the unit – although this can spread to the underside, so if you are using the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) on your lap, your legs might get a little toasty. Mercifully, though, the heat doesn’t encroach on the keyboard or the sides of the chassis, so there’s no chance of scorching your fingers.
The 1920 x 1200 display on my unit provided sufficient sharpness, even at 16 inches, and proved to be very bit as smooth and responsive as you’d expect from its 165Hz refresh rate. Colors appear vibrant enough, but they can look a little washed out at times. What’s more, the maximum brightness level isn’t that high, and reflections can rear their ugly heads under certain lighting conditions.
(Image credit: Future)
The keys are tactile and well damped, and have more travel and resistance than those on your typical laptop, which makes them easy and satisfying to use when gaming. I also appreciated the prominent nub on the W key, making it easy to locate.
While the keys also feel good to type on, the aforementioned cramped layout can hamper the A16's productivity credentials. I never fully got used to it, and what’s more the large trackpad does encroach on your hand placement, so you need to take care in not pressing down too hard.
The trackpad is smooth and makes for effortless swipes and gestures, but it can be inconsistent in registering taps, sometimes requiring a harder hit than normal. This might be a moot point for many gamers, though, since they’ll likely be pairing the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) with one of the best gaming mice.
Typical of many Asus products, there are a few annoying pop-ups from Armory Crate, as well as some bizarre notifications from Nvidia about display mode changes, which usually appear when booting up a game; for some unknown reason the system frequently thought two displays were connected.
Thankfully, this didn’t seem to affect performance in any way, and Windows at least makes it easy to change projection settings with the Win+P shortcut. Aside from these niggles, the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) provides a pretty seamless experience overall, as you might expect given the power on tap.
Performance: 4 / 5
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025) review: Battery Life
(Image credit: Future)
The battery life of the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) is pretty impressive. It managed to last two hours and ten minutes in the PCMark gaming battery test, which is close to the time achieved by the Acer Nitro 16 AMD.
In our movie playback test, where we ran a short film on a continuous loop, it lasted an impressive 12 hours and 18 minutes. What’s more, the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) is also quick to charge, taking just under two hours to fully replenish.
Battery Life: 4 / 5
Should I buy the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025)?
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025) Scorecard
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
The TUF Gaming A16 (2025) is priced very competitively considering the spec. The relatively low resolution is about the only sacrifice.
4 / 5
Design
It’s surprisingly thin and elegant for a gaming laptop, and it also appears built to a high standard
4 / 5
Performance
The TUF Gaming A16 (2025) delivers high frame rates in AAA titles with demanding settings, although it won’t handle max presets all that well, and the noise is bothersome.
4 / 5
Battery Life
It performed well in our series of battery benchmarks, and it's fast to charge, too.
4 / 5
Total
The TUF Gaming A16 (2025) seems to have achieved its aim of delivering high performance at a relatively low price point, which makes it a tempting proposition for those on a budget – if they can put up with the noise.
4 / 5
Buy the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025) if...
You want a sleek design For a large powerhouse, the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) does remarkably well to keep the bulk to a minimum, and the build quality seems reasonably solid, too.
You’re on a budget The TUF Gaming A16 (2025) is very well priced, especially considering its powerful spec. The 1920 x 1200 resolution is about the only major cutback.
Don't buy it if...
You want the best display While it’s perfectly good enough for gaming, the colors can look a little washed out, and it’s prone to irksome reflections, too.
You want peace and quiet The sound of the fans when gaming, even at moderate settings, is persistent and distracting, so a good pair of headphones are a must.
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025) review: Also Consider
Acer Nitro 16 AMD Our current pick as the best affordable gaming laptop, the Nitro 16 AMD does most of the important things right. The 1080p performance impressed us, while the 165Hz refresh rate is very welcome at this price point, especially since it’s cheaper than the TUF Gaming A16 (2025). Read our full Acer Nitro 16 AMD review.
MSI Katana 15 (2023) If you’re willing to go with a model a few years old, the MSI Katana 15 (2023) is another capable gaming laptop at a relatively low cost. This again has solid 1080p performance and a fast refresh rate, although it’s let down somewhat by the middling battery life and poor trackpad. Thankfully, these areas are where compromises are some of the least egregious. Read our full MSI Katana 15 (2023) review.
How I tested the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025)
Tested for a few days
Used for gaming and everyday tasks
Plentiful PC gaming hardware experience
I tested the TUF Gaming A16 (2025) for a couple of days, during which time I used it for gaming and everyday tasks such as typing and browsing.
I played various games, including Cyberpunk 2077, which is a demanding test for systems and remains a cutting-edge AAA experience. I also ran our series of benchmark tests, designed to assess the gaming, creative, and productivity credentials of PCs, as well as storage speeds and battery life.
I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and during that time I’ve experienced plenty of systems and hardware. I’ve also reviewed a number of laptops, from gaming machines to those designed for productivity and general use.
The LG Ultragear GX9 is an impressive, immersive gaming monitor that’s ideal for a relatively small subset of gamers. Let's get a couple of things out the way early though: first, it’s not cheap, so any gamer on a budget will probably want to look elsewhere; and as awesome as a 45-inch (well, technically 44.5-inch) ultrawide screen is, some might find it too wide for practicality’s sake.
After all, it can be tough to focus on the action in the center of the screen and also keep tabs on your health bar in the top-left corner when you have to move your gaze over 20 inches to check on it. This also means it's not ideal for esports gamers, despite the impressive refresh rate and response time.
However, those are issues endemic to this ultrawide form factor and not necessarily a knock on the LG Ultragear GX9. All the best gaming monitors with an ultrawide screen are on the pricier side, and too wide to rely on peripheral vision to catch important information.
For those who have the money and aren’t playing esports (or still want that wrap-around experience), that wide display and 800R curvature, along with the 4K resolution, good color coverage, and speedy refresh rates and response times, make this monitor a delight to use with most games.
Cyberpunk 2077 or Monster Hunter Wilds, for example, look gorgeous and completely envelop my vision during gaming sessions. Of course, it helps that the built-in speakers sound pretty decent as well.
There are a few other pluses as well, such as all the necessary ports (minus a USB hub with KVM support), including a USB-C port with power delivery, and good ergonomics for such a wide monitor. This is a hearty recommendation as the best monitor for the right gamer.
LG Ultragear GX9: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
How much does it cost? $1,999.99 / £1,799.98 / AU$3,499.00
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
When you look at the best ultrawide monitors, the price of the LG Ultragear GX9 doesn’t seem out of place, though it’s still expensive. You can get a nice gaming laptop with an OLED panel or a powerful gaming desktop for the LG Ultragear GX9’s $1,999.99 / £1,799.98 / AU$3,499.00 asking price.
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9, which originally went for $2,199.99 / £1,599 / AU$3,399 and is now $400 cheaper, is a good comparison. It is a little bit older, hence the price drop, but it’s got a great OLED screen with sharp resolution, fast refresh rates/response times reaching up to 240Hz, and good color coverage. It’s also bigger than the Ultragear GX9 at 49 inches across.
However, like most ultrawide monitors, it peaks at a 5,120 x 1,440p resolution compared to the LG Ultragear GX9’s 5K2K or 5120 x 2160p resolution.
The LG Ultragear GX9 is a massive gaming monitor. Its 44.5-inch monitor (measured corner-to-corner diagonally) results in a length of 39 inches and a height of 18 inches, not including the stand. This can be an overwhelming monitor to use.
Of course, it has a nice 800R curvature, which brings the far ends of the screen in so that, experientially, its outer reaches fill out the peripheral vision.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
It’s big enough that I have to dart my eyes to the edges to read specific information, like a health bar, which makes the size and curvature great for immersive experiences but not for esports-type gaming (I’ll get into the actual performance aspect below).
Since the monitor is so big, it does have somewhat limited ergonomics. While no specifics are listed, its biggest possible adjustments are a height adjustment of about 5 inches. If I had to guess, it swivels and tilts about 15 degrees in each direction. It’s not a lot, but more than enough for this kind of monitor.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Since this is such a big monitor, it has a large, strong, and stable stand with a wide base. There is cable management, though it’s basic, with a passthrough hole in the middle of the stand so all the cables go in one direction out the back and towards whatever they’re connected to.
Speaking of ports, the selection is pretty good. There are two HDMI 2.1 ports, so you could use this with a next-gen console or gaming computer, a single 1.4 DisplayPort, and one USB-C with 90 watts of power delivery for use with Ultrabooks, MacBooks, and the like.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
There are also two USB-A downstream ports for charging peripherals. Unfortunately, there's no KVM capability via those USB ports.
Lastly, there’s a single button in the center of the lower back for power and navigating the OSD menu.
Design: 4.5 / 5
LG Ultragear GX9: Features
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Game modes in OSD menu
Supports variable refresh rates
Has picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture, but no KVM
The monitor has a couple of cool features baked into the OSD menu worth knowing about beyond the usual, such as HDR and curvature. For instance, there’s a Game Mode icon in the OSD that brings up four presets with settings such as color temperatures, refresh rate max, and whether VRR, HDR, and DAS Mode (Dynamic Action Sync to minimize lag) are on.
Beyond the different modes, you can change the aspect ratio in the OSD menu to a narrower image for when you need all your gaming info in front of you, offsetting the potential esports-related issue I’ve mentioned with using such a large screen.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Not only is there support for HDR, but the LG Ultragear GX9 also comes with support for VRR (variable refresh rate), which synchronizes the frame rates of the monitor with the source to minimize screen tearing, stuttering, and the like.
Picture-by-picture and picture-in-picture are both available as well if you want to use two sources at the same time. Unfortunately, as I’ve previously mentioned, there’s no KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) system where you can use a keyboard and mouse plugged into the monitor to control whichever source you have pulled up.
Features: 4.5 / 5
LG Ultragear GX9: Performance
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Can handle any game, though some are not ideal for the aspect ratio
Very good contrast and colors, along with a 5K2K resolution
Good but not great audio
I've played a number of games on the LG Ultragear GX9, namely Monster Hunter Wilds, South of Midnight, Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Gotham Knights, and found the monitor to be everything it's advertised to be.
Really, the only limitation is when loading up a game that doesn’t support the ultrawide resolution, such as South of Midnight – this just means there are black bars on the sides instead of the game stretching edge to edge – or when a game isn't ideal for that ultrawide resolution.
However, as mentioned before, you can change the aspect ratio. If you don’t change it, and then open up something fast-paced where you need to keep an eye on that health bar, you’re going to be in trouble.
The OLED screen and HDR support provide very good contrast – specifically DisplayHDR TRUE BLACK 400 – enabling me to see in the shadows in certain games. And the colors look more vibrant because of it. It also helps that the LG Ultragear GX9 has a rated 1500000:1 contrast ratio and 98.5% DCI-P3 color coverage.
Between the 165Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, and VRR support, the action is smooth no matter how fast. And the 5K2K resolution (5120 x 2160p) is sharper than most of the competition, as most ultrawide monitors I’ve come across use a 5120 x 1440p resolution.
Since this monitor is so large, I appreciate the fact that it comes with built-in speakers. And while they’re not as good as the best computer speakers, discounting the budget options, they sound pretty decent. You don’t get any real low-end or rumble, but the sound is full and packs a good punch otherwise.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
Should I buy the LG Ultragear GX9?
LG Ultragear GX9 scorecard
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
The LG Ultragear GX9 is very pricey. However, considering what it is and what it does, the price is more than justified.
4 / 5
Design
Yes, it’s massive, but it has decent if limited ergonomics and a good selection of ports.
4.5 / 5
Features
Variable refresh rates, picture by / in picture, and more make this fairly feature-rich, even if it doesn’t have KVM.
4.5 / 5
Performance
It’s gorgeous, immersive (sometimes a little too much), and has great contrast and colors.
4.5 / 5
Average rating
The good news is that it’s massive. The bad news is that it’s massive. Either way, you have to decide if it’s worth the price.
4.38 / 5
Buy the LG Ultragear GX9 if…
You want an immersive gaming experience The LG Ultragear GX9 is so massive that it will cover your peripheral vision, transporting you into any game that can take advantage of the ultrawide screen real estate.
You want a great-looking screen Not only is it OLED, but it has great contrast, helped by the HDR, as well as strong color coverage. Last but not least, it has 5K2K resolution – a higher resolution than what I usually see in the ultrawide monitor space.
You want a gaming monitor with USB-C There are a lot of good gaming monitors out there. However, USB-C with power delivery is still not standard. So, if you need that to plug in a MacBook when not gaming, it's available here.
Don’t buy it if…
You’re turned off by the price Whether it’s out of your budget or dropping 2K on a gaming monitor puts a pit in your stomach, there are much cheaper gaming monitors that still offer a good gaming experience.
You don’t want to be overwhelmed Even if the price doesn’t make you flinch, the sheer size of the monitor could be overwhelming for some, especially if you like playing esports and want a screen where you can see it all without having to constantly move your eyes.
Also Consider
If my LG Ultragear GX9 review has you considering other options, here are two more monitors to consider...
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is a little older, so its price is now much lower than the LG Ultragear GX9 while offering an even wider 49-inch size. The resolution is lower at 5120 x 1440p, but it has a lot of the same features, including the same level of HDR.
MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED The MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED might be a mouthful to say, but it’s a great ultrawide monitor. Again, it has that lower ultrawide 1440p resolution, but also an almost-as-fast 144Hz refresh rate, and the same HDR and color coverage, plus it goes for about half the price.
I used the LG Ultragear GX9 Gaming Monitor regularly for a couple of weeks. I tested it with various games and media, especially Monster Hunter Wilds, South of Midnight, Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Gotham Knights, to see how it would fare. I also played around with the OSD menu, features, and ergonomics.
The LG Ultragear GX9 Gaming Monitor is clearly meant for gamers who want an immersive experience, specifically those who like their games to feel more cinematic, and it does that job well. Of course, it comes with a price tag to match.
I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years, from laptops to keyboards and speakers, so I can use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i may face some stiff competition from the usual excellent offerings from Apple, Dell, and the like, but it’s more than up to the challenge. In fact, I believe it deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the best Ultrabooks of this generation.
It’s very slim and portable, helped by the fact that the webcam is hidden under the display in a unique and space-saving measure. And its performance is snappy and responsive, comparing well to the best laptops of this type (don’t expect it to match the power of a gaming laptop, of course). Just as important, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is a gorgeous-looking laptop with an equally gorgeous-looking OLED display.
Really, there are only two drawbacks. The first is price. It’s not anywhere near a budget offering, though that's to be expected of this type of laptop, not to mention that an OLED display always brings a price bump.
The other issue is a little more concerning. The port selection is worse than on an Apple MacBook Air, which is saying something, as that’s already very minimal. More specifically, there’s no audio jack, so hopefully, you have a good pair of Bluetooth earbuds on hand.
However, that’s a pretty short list of things to be concerned about, and one of them (price) is to be expected with a nice Ultrabook. All in all, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is a wonderful laptop that will make a solid upgrade for anyone looking for an attractive, portable, and powerful Ultrabook.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
How much does it cost? Starting at $1,759.99 / £1,800.00 / AU$3,829.00
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The 10th-generation model of the Yoga Slim 9i comes in two configurations, with both available in the US, UK, and Australia. And both configurations are very similar.
The more basic configuration goes for $1,759.99 / £1,800 / AU$3,829 and comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU and 16GB of RAM. The more robust configuration with Intel Core Ultra 7 258V and 32GB of RAM costs a nominally higher price tag of $1,899.99 / £1,900 / AU$4,179. There’s very little difference in performance between the CPUs – it’s just that the 258v supports 32GB of RAM. Essentially, the price difference comes down to whether you want 16 or 32GB of RAM. Everything else is the same, from the color options to the screen and the storage capacity.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) makes for an easy comparison. Not just because they have a similar-sized screen, though the Yoga Slim 9i has better resolution, but because they have similar price points. This 14-incher from Apple starts at $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,499, but that gets you a 512GB SSD. If you want the same amount of storage (1TB), the price goes up to $1,799 / £1,999 / AU$3,299, which is a little more than the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i. Of course, you’ll probably gravitate towards one over the other, mostly depending on whether you want macOS or Windows.
The Dell XPS 13 offers an interesting comparison, too. It comes in at a similar price – $1,999.99 / £2,049 / AU$3,998.50 – if you opt for a touchscreen like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i has, but the screen is smaller. And while the Dell XPS 13 does have an OLED display, it’s at a lower, though still pretty good, 2880 x 1800p resolution. Both laptops have limited ports, but both have plenty of power.
However, the Dell XPS 13 has an interesting design with its edgeless keyboard (meaning it stretches edge to edge) and a touchpad that just uses haptic feedback and doesn’t have a defined physical boundary. This is one of those love-it-or-hate-it design choices and will probably be a deciding factor for most.
Price: 4 / 5
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Specs
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Of the two available configurations, there’s very little difference. You basically get to choose between two almost identical CPUs, the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V and the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, which is about 0.5% better.
However, if you select the ever-so-slightly better CPU, you get 32GB of RAM instead of 16GB, since that CPU supports the higher amount of RAM.
14" WQUXGA (3840 x 2400), OLED, Glare, Touch, HDR 600 True Black, 100%DCI-P3, 400 nits, 120Hz, Glass, Camera Under Display
14" WQUXGA (3840 x 2400), OLED, Glare, Touch, HDR 600 True Black, 100%DCI-P3, 400 nits, 120Hz, Glass, Camera Under Display
Storage:
1TB SSD
1TB SSD
Ports:
2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4
2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4
Wireless:
Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE 320MHz & Bluetooth 5.4
Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE 320MHz & Bluetooth 5.4
Camera:
32MP camera-under-display with e-privacy shutter
32MP camera-under-display with e-privacy shutter
Weight:
Starting at 1.25kg / 2.76lbs
Starting at 1.25kg / 2.76lbs
Dimensions:
312.93mm x 203.5mm x as thin as 14.55mm / 12.32 x 8.01 x as thin as 0.57 inches
312.93mm x 203.5mm x as thin as 14.55mm / 12.32 x 8.01 x as thin as 0.57 inches
Outside of the internal upgrades to CPU and RAM, there are no other upgrades. Both configurations come in one color, Tidal Teal, which is admittedly beautiful.
And there’s just the one display available. Thankfully, it’s also very nice with high-resolution and responsive touchscreen capabilities.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Design
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Attractive and slim
Gorgeous and impressive display
Limited ports, including a lack of an audio jack
Available in Tidal Teal, a shimmery blue with hints of green, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is a beautiful laptop even before opening it up. It’s slim and light, even for a laptop of this size, and is about as portable as it gets.
In terms of form factor, the one unusual thing I noticed is that there is a raised bar near the top of the lid. This houses the 32-megapixel webcam that’s hidden under the display and pops up near the top-middle of the screen when in use. Though there’s no physical shutter for the webcam, it does have an effective e-privacy toggle next to the right USB-C port.
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(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
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(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
It’s also worth noting that, despite having a touchscreen, this is not a 2-in-1, so don’t expect to be able to fold it to use as a tablet. That said, the touchscreen is very responsive and very sensitive, enough so that I’ve accidentally closed my browser multiple times when lightly touching the corner of the screen without thinking.
The screen is pretty remarkable beyond its touch capabilities. This 14-inch OLED panel has a 4K or 3840 x 2400 resolution (that’s a 16:10 aspect ratio) with a 120Hz refresh rate, along with 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 color coverage, which is ideal for photo editing. It also has a Vesa Certified DisplayHDR True Black 600 rating. It even supports Dolby Vision. You get the idea – the display is pretty spectacular.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
The keyboard is a bit shallow, so it's not the most comfortable one I’ve used, but that’s to be expected with a laptop this slim. It’s otherwise accurate and responsive, and I had no trouble pounding out a couple of articles on it.
The touchpad is just as snappy and accurate. While a lot of newer laptops seem to increase the size of the touchpad, that’s not the case here. If you want a really big touchpad, you’re not going to get it here.
Finally, the port selection is very, very minimal. There are just two USB-C ports, one on each side. They’re both Thunderbolt 4, so there’s plenty of throughput if you want to use a dongle. Still, it’s very limited. What I’m most upset about is the fact that Lenovo has done away with any kind of audio jack. As ubiquitous as wireless earbuds are, some of us still use wired headphones from time to time.
Design: 4.5 / 5
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Performance
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Snappy, responsive performance
Copilot+
Great audio quality with spatial audio
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is quite powerful. It can handle day-to-day work easily. Opening, scrolling, clicking links, typing, photo editing: all the sorts of things most people want from an Ultrabook. For example, I was able to open 20 browser windows very quickly, just by pressing the Plus sign in Microsoft Edge.
Each window, which opens the MSN homepage filled with different news stories and information, loaded up almost immediately. Of course, I reviewed the 32GB configuration, but the CPU and RAM still do quite a bit of heavy lifting.
Even the camera behind the screen pops up promptly. Speaking of which, the webcam performs smoothly and looks good, though it does struggle with noise in low light.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i CPU / System Benchmarks
Benchmark
Score
Geekbench 6.4 Single Core
2,755
Geekbench 6.4 Single Core
11,186
Crossmark Overall
1,689
Crossmark Productivity
1,638
Crossmark Creativity
1,934
Crossmark Responsiveness
1,234
25GB File Copy Transfer Rate (MB/s)
1,032.87
Now, it’s not a gaming laptop, but I was able to run some less demanding or older games without any trouble, like Sable and Alan Wake. For those games, the action was crisp, clear, and smooth. That gorgeous OLED screen really helps. Still, there were some games I tried to run that wouldn’t even open.
As this is a newer laptop, it comes with Copilot+. Using the app is quick and responsive, though I still don’t find it to be a game-changer in my computing experience.
I’ve rarely been impressed by the audio from a laptop. I was when I reviewed the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i, and I am here. That’s probably because there are more than two speakers in the Lenovo Yoga Slom 9i. Specifically, there are two 2-watt tweeters and two 3-watt woofers. There’s also some virtual spatial audio since the laptop supports Dolby Atmos.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Battery life
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Decent if disappointing battery life
Doesn’t seem to do fast charging
Laptops with OLED displays aren’t always the most efficient, so the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i’s just under 10 hours of battery life in the PCMark 10 Battery benchmark is not surprising, though it is a bit disappointing. It did manage a better showing in our Web Surfing test, where it managed to get just over 11 hours of battery life.
While not the best results we've seen, this isn't terrible battery life. However, we’re seeing a few laptops, particularly ones that this one competes with, hitting up to double those numbers. To be fair, I turned off the laptop’s battery-saver feature, which makes the laptop run more efficiently when the battery is low, so you might manage to squeeze more juice from the battery depending on the settings.
On the bright side, it was very good at maintaining battery life when the lid was closed. I’ve used and tested some laptops where the battery would continue to run down when idling, and that’s not an issue here.
Battery life: 3 / 5
Should you buy the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i?
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i scorecard
Category
Notes
Rating
Value
While pricey, this laptop is thin, powerful, and comes with a wonderful OLED screen.
4 / 5
Design
It’s not only thin and light, but it is gorgeous. Too bad it lacks an audio jack and only comes with two USB-C ports.
4.5 / 5
Performance
The performance (and audio quality) is excellent, especially for productivity work.
4.5 / 5
Battery Life
The battery life is decent, but compared to the competition is lower than expected.
4 / 5
Final score
It’s gorgeous, light, and comes with robust performance. Plus, it has that OLED screen.
4.25 / 5
Buy the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i if...
You want a thin, light laptop At under three pounds (and with a 14-inch screen), this laptop is about as portable as it gets.
You want a gorgeous screen Not only is the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i a looker, but it comes with a high-resolution OLED display that might be the centerpiece.
You want responsive performance This might not be a gaming laptop, but its performance is snappy and responsive, exactly what one needs for most productivity work.
Don't buy it if...
You want more ports Only two USB-C Thunderbolt ports are limiting enough. The fact that there’s no audio jack is pretty disappointing.
You have limited funds While worth the cost, this is not a cheap machine. If you’re limited on funds, there are some great laptops out there without an OLED screen that are probably within reach.
Also consider
If my Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...
Dell XPS 13 Between the long-lasting battery life, strong performance, and gorgeous OLED screen, the Intel Core Ultra 2nd Gen version of the Dell XPS 13 is the ideal Ultrabook. That is, if you’re game for an innovative design change that some will love and others not so much – essentially a haptic-only touch bar and touchpad.
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) may not have WiFi 7 or any major physical design upgrades, but it’s an almost perfect laptop otherwise. It has powerful and incredibly efficient performance (meaning it also has a very long battery life) and comes with some unique features such as the centerstage camera and optional nano-texture screen.
I used the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i for a month, testing it for work, including this review (along with the requisite online research). I used it to stream video. I even did some light gaming. I played with the webcam, the audio, and the AI features as well.
After spending time with the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i, it’s clear that this is perfect for those who want a premium experience (and can pay for it) in a gorgeous wrapping.
I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear for gaming and otherwise, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation.
The MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme is yet another gaming PC handheld to hit the market. Taking all of the positives of the previous iteration of the MSI Claw, the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme seems promising on paper, being the first gaming handheld to pack the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, potentially giving gamers a whole new level of performance right in the palm of their hands.
In terms of availability, the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme has been slowly released over the past few months as different regions start to stock the device. The UK is still waiting for its opportunity to purchase, as well as the US, and with the new Asus ROG Xbox Ally hitting the shelves soon, it may be a race to the finish line in terms of the first device featuring AMD’s new chip to be on the shelf.
However, using the device at Gamescom 2025 actually proved to be a rather mediocre experience, and this wasn’t the fault of the handheld but rather the processor itself. While the device looked snazzy and was comfortable to use, it didn’t quite deliver the performance boost I was expecting from AMD’s latest chip, and instead felt practically identical to the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme.
Not only are my expectations for the device tainted, but I’m worried about the progression of handhelds in general if this level of performance is meant to be seen as an upgrade. Oh dear.
(Image credit: Future)
MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme hands-on: Price and availability
The price of the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme varies from region to region and with no stock available in the US or UK just yet, we don’t have a confirmed price.
However, with sales already underway in Germany starting at €999, we can therefore assume it will be at a similar price point in both dollars and pounds, though exchange rates, local taxes and tariffs will likely have an impact.
This is particularly expensive when compared to alternative handheld gaming devices on the market. However, this is currently the only gaming handheld to feature the brand new AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, which makes direct price comparison difficult. The previous MSI Claw was £899 / $899 on release, and other alternatives like the Asus ROG Ally X come in at around £799 / $799 with frequent sales and price cuts.
Right now, there's no confirmed release date for the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme for most of the world, but with it being on shelves in some areas of Europe, we shouldn’t be waiting too long.
(Image credit: Future)
MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme hands-on: Design
In terms of design, the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme comes in a fancy new colorway, Neon Green.
Being honest, I found this new color absolutely repugnant, but this is more of a personal taste issue rather than it being a major problem. Despite not being a fan, I can be the bigger person and admit that this new color definitely sets the device apart from the monochrome sea of gaming handhelds which are on the market right now.
You get an 8-inch screen which is just slightly higher in resolution than your standard 1080p at 1920x1200. Pair this with the variable 120Hz refresh rate, and this screen is one of the best options on the gaming handheld market.
The only thing that would improve this display would be if it was OLED. It was gorgeous to look at and would make a great option for both casual and competitive gamers alike - if competitive gamers would ever dare to play ranked on a gaming handheld.
(Image credit: Future)
The chassis definitely feels more ‘gamery’ in style when compared to its predecessor, with a more aggressive shape and clear cut edges rather than that smooth and sleek finish which we’re familiar with. Despite this, it was still comfortable to hold.
Coming in at 765g, it's one of the heavier devices on the market; the Asus ROG Ally X, for example, weighs less than 700g. This is to be expected given the difference in screens, but doesn’t detract from the fact that the handheld feels like it's slightly weighing you down while you’re playing it, but it didn’t cause any major issues.
MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme hands-on: Specs
In terms of specifications, the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme looks fantastic on paper, however the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme does majorly let it down. While using the device, I found that I wasn’t really getting any better performance when compared to the Z1 Extreme chip found in other (cheaper) gaming handhelds.
It managed good quality graphics in the games I played on the handheld, with solid frame rates which didn’t look or feel choppy. However, since this was just a brief hands-on session I wasn’t able to actually monitor the frame rates while playing, and it really didn’t feel like the device was delivering any significant boost in performance on a surface level.
MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme specs
CPU
AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme
Display
8-inch FHD+ (1920x1200), 120Hz, VRR, Touchscreen
Memory
24GB LPDDR5x-8000
Wireless
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Ports
2x Type-C, 1x Micro SD Card Reader
Battery
80Wh
Dimensions
299.5 x 126.2 x 24.0mm
Weight
765g
Aside from this, you also get 24GB of RAM, a major upgrade from some of the previous generation gaming handhelds. Lower RAM in previous handhelds has posed issues in the past, so it's nice to see MSI learning from the mistakes of their competitors.
You also get a chunky 80Wh battery, the same as the previous iteration of the MSI Claw. While it would have been nice for this to have been improved upon, it seems like this is slowly becoming industry standard.
I wasn’t able to actually monitor the battery level during my hands-on time with the device, but the AMD Ryzen Z2 series of chips come with a promise of better efficiency so we’ll have to wait for a full review to see if this proves to be true.
MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme hands-on: Early verdict
All in all, I feel like I was somewhat underwhelmed with the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme, but that wasn’t down to the device itself but rather the processor from AMD.
The device was comfortable to hold, looked stunning (apart from the new neon green colorway, sorry) and has a promising battery capacity.
However, with a high price point and a processor which wasn’t delivering that boost in performance that I was expecting over its predecessor, it’s hard to recommend picking up the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme based on first impressions alone. Our full review, where we'll put the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme through our suite of benchmark and real-world tests, should determine if it deserves a place amongst the best gaming handhelds.
Checking through the specifications of the Chuwi GameBook 9955HX and the CPU and GPU both hint at a high-performance laptop, just without the usual astronomical high price. Checking over the machine highlights the balance Chuwi has struck with the design and quality of the materials. While they might not match the likes of the Asus ProArt P16 and other high-end creative and gaming laptops, it still offers a good overall build quality.
Unlike other gaming laptops, Chuwi has really kept the design aesthetics reserved, so like many of the best business laptops, this machine will look equally at home, in the office, or design studio as it would in a gaming environment. With a sleek, plain top, a good array of ports around the sides and back, and the only hint that this is something different from your standard office laptop being the honeycomb design on the base.
Several key features instantly appeal when you open up the GameBook 9955HX. First and foremost is the large screen and full-size keyboard with a number pad on the right, making it ideal for anyone scouting for the best laptops for photo editing or the best laptops for video editing.
Getting into the use, Windows 11 Pro runs smoothly from the outset, with the CPU and GPU combo alongside the 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD providing all the speed you need for all standard applications, which is proven through the PCMark scores.
Content creation, again using Premiere Pro, Adobe Lightroom, and Photoshop, showed the machine had absolutely no issues with editing 4K and even some 8K video, although expansion storage was needed. With two USB Type-C ports, you get a relatively fast connection to the machine. This is the first highlight where cost has been cut, with USB 3.2 Gen 2 used over the faster USB Type-C interfaces, meaning you only get 10GB/s, considerably lower than the later USB4 that you'd expect to see on a machine with these specifications.
However, the reduction in USB interface generation is one of the only areas where the specifications have been pared back. Internally, there is space for additional RAM and increased storage, including the PCIe 5 M.2 slot and fast connection through Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 wireless connectivity options, both of which are tried and tested rather than being the latest generation.
Overall, the test showed the machine put in a great performance, with an easy access turbo power option, when you're connected to AC power, to accelerate the CPU and GPU further, giving a boost when playing games, especially. There is little not to like about the raw performance of this GameBook.
When you consider the price and what's on offer, it's hard not to be impressed with what Chuwi has managed to offer at this price.
Chuwi GameBook 9955HX: Price & availability
How much does it cost? £1804
When is it out? Now
Where can you get it? Widely available
The Chuwi GameBook is available directly through the Chuwi website for £1,804, which, considering the specification including 32GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive, is exceptional value for money.
Value: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Chuwi GameBook 9955HX: Design
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX (16 cores, 32 threads, up to 5.4GHz) Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU (12GB GDDR6) RAM: 32GB DDR5 5600MHz (2 x 16GB, dual channel, upgradable to 64GB) Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD (supports two M.2 2280 slots, one Gen4, one Gen5, upgradable) Left Ports: 2.5G RJ45 LAN, USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (supports 100W PD charging), 3.5mm audio jack Right Ports: USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, Kensington lock slot Rear Ports: HDMI 2.1 Port (Support 4K@120Hz), USB 3.2 Gen 2, Mini DP (DP2.1a, UHBR20 80Gbps) Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 Audio: 2W stereo speakers, Dual microphone array Camera: 1080p IR webcam (supports Windows Hello, with physical privacy cover) Size: 356.7 x 253.8 x 21.4 mm Weight: 2.3kg OS Installed: Windows 11 Pro Accessories: 140W USB-C power adapter
Removing the Chuwi GameBook 9955HX from the box, the first thing that strikes you, especially at this price point, is just how good and robust the laptop feels, with the monitor protected in an aluminium casing, while the main body is made from a similar colour, high-impact plastic. While it doesn't give quite the same premium feel as some other laptops, it is nevertheless of decent quality.
When it comes to size and weight, because this is a gaming-focused PC requiring lots of cooling for the powerful CPU and GPU, the size and weight are slightly heavier than many work-focused laptops. It measures 356.7 x 253.8 x 21.4 mm and weighs in at 2.3kg.
Despite all that processing power and features, it's still a relatively decent-sized machine and more than portable, as I found during the process of this test.
Looking over the body of the laptop, there's a good rubber bar on the base along with two small feet to keep it securely in place on the desktop, and there's a good amount of venting on the bottom and across the back of the machine, ensuring that the powerful CPU/GPU combo stays cool.
On the left-hand side, you have a LAN port with an ingenious flip-down door design that helps partially protect the port and integrates with the design of the case. This network port is joined by a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port that enables 100W of PD power for charging when the laptop is off, and a USB Type-A Gen 1 port, alongside a standard 3.5mm audio jack.
Alongside venting at the back, there's also a USB Type-C port at up to 140W PD power again when the power is off, a mini DP 2.1 and an HDMI 2.1 port enabling 4K at 120Hz, and finally, on the right-hand side, there are two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports and a lock slot for securing the laptop if needed.
Opening up the lid reveals the 16-inch, 2.5K (2560 x 1600), IPS, 300Hz refresh rate and up to 500 nits brightness 16:10 screen that offers a clear display for office work, content creation, as well as gaming.
One of the big features for anyone looking at this laptop for work, as well as content creation and gaming, is the full-size keyboard, even down to the four cursor keys, all full-sized with a handy numeric pad, which is slightly reduced in size, giving plenty of control and input options. While the keyboard is of decent quality, it doesn't quite have the same precise actuation that you would find with some of the more premium models.
Still, that's not to say it doesn't feel good to type on, and it is responsive. Likewise, the trackpad is a decent size and supports gesture control, again, of a decent quality, but doesn't quite have the high-end premium feel you might expect with some of the more premium laptops.
One final design feature to point out is across the top bar of the laptop, alongside gaming detailing. There is the power button, and next to this is the turbo button, which gives the laptop a power boost for gaming and other applications that need a little bit more grunt from the CPU and GPU, with an Office, Balanced and Turbo mode.
Design: 4 / 5
Chuwi GameBook 9955HX: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Featuring an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX CPU with 16 cores, 32 threads, 64MB cache and up to 5.4GHz clock speed within Zen 5 architecture, this mobile CPU is an ideal fit if you're looking for a laptop that can handle high-demand applications and games. It's supported by an impressive GPU in the form of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti laptop GPU, which features 12GB of GDDR7 VRAM, 140W TGP, 1406 AI TOPS, and supports full ray tracing.
Complementing the CPU and GPU is the dual-channel SODIMM RAM, and the standard machine comes equipped with 2×16GB DDR5 5600MHz modules, but you can expand this up to two 32GB sticks if required. Access to the inner workings is through the base with 11 screws needing to be removed before the base of the machine can be lifted away. From there, the layout is extremely neat and easy to work with.
For storage, the machine features two slots and comes pre-installed with a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, placed in the PCIe 5.0 slot. You can also add a second M.2 2280 PCIe SSD card into the secondary slot, which is a PCIe 4.0 slot. Ideally, you buy yourself a PCIe 5.0 M.2 2280 module and insert that into the PCIe 5.0 slot to make the most of that additional speed, and place the operating system onto the PCIe 4.0 slot.
Powering the machine is a 77.77Wh battery that offers 15.4V and 5,050mAh capacity. While this is impressive considering the power draw, used for high-end gaming or content creation, battery life is going to be rather limited.
However, there has to be a balance between the size of the machine and the battery used, with a 140W AC power supply for high-demand applications. It's probably worth swapping over to AC power rather than using the battery. It's also worth noting that while there are two USB-C ports that enable PD power, this is only for use when the machine is off.
Connectivity options are as described previously, with a good range of ports, although the USB Type-C port is an older generation USB3.2 Gen 2 rather than USB4.
As you'd expect, there is a webcam built in, supporting Windows Hello face recognition. One feature I like here is that there's a physical privacy cover. It can be slid across the camera, and once it is down, the camera shows a red cover to highlight the status.
For gaming and content creation, there are two relatively powerful two-watt speakers and a dual mic on the camera. These are all of decent quality, although nowhere near the depth or clarity of sound you would expect from a premium model.
All in all, considering the price point, the features are well balanced, giving you all the power you need for high-demand applications and games, while balancing out some features, such as the USB interfaces, to manage overall cost.
Features: 4.5 / 5
Chuwi GameBook 9955HX: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Benchmarks
CrystalDiskMark Read: 5538.97 CrystalDiskMark Write: 5208.69 Geekbench CPU Multi: 18134 Geekbench CPU Single: 3220 Geekbench GPU: 150671 PCMark Overall: 8367 Cinebench CPU Multi: 32863 Cinebench CPU Single: 2175 Fire Strike Overall: 35793 Fire Strike Graphics: 40250 Fire Strike Physics: 37287 Fire Strike Combined: 18934 Time Spy Overall: 15855 Time Spy Graphics: 16763 Time Spy CPU: 12135 Wild Life Overall: 40003 Steel Nomad Overall: 3743 Windows Experience Overall: 8.1
The Chuwi GameBook 9955HX impresses first and foremost with the speed at which Windows boots up from cold, enabling you to load up apps and get started in a couple of minutes if not less. All Microsoft Office applications run smoothly, and if you prefer Google Docs, the wireless internet connection using Wi-Fi 6 is good and robust, with the option to hardwire into the network if you prefer. From a work perspective, this machine provides a solid foundation for standard administration software.
Through tests for Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel, all applications loaded quickly, and with a large 16-inch screen in decent resolution, it's easy to navigate and update multiple documents and presentations with ease.
One of the things that stands out is the full-size keyboard. When you are used to using a MacBook Pro or similar high-end premium laptop with a reduced keyboard, the fact that it has the number pad, full-size cursors, and access to the F keys at the top just makes workflow much easier without having to use key combinations.
Moving on from the base applications and starting to look at content creation options, I loaded up Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop and Lightroom to see how the machine would handle an 8K video shot on a Canon EOS R5C and Sony A7 IV. The performance was superb. However, the one-terabyte SSD quickly filled up, and I was pleased to see that I could quickly pop in a secondary SSD, boosting internal storage up to 3TB.
For ease, this was installed in the secondary PCIe slot, enabling transfer rates of up to 5,000MB/s when benchmarked in CrystalDiskMark.
During the test, I checked the USB-C port transfer rate when connected to an external SSD, using a Lexar Armour 700 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 drive. The port managed just under 1,000MB/s transfer rate, with a score of 976.27MB/s read and 968.92MB/s write, showing that this is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface, while not the fastest, it still delivers decent transfer rates if you need to use an external drive for video or images.
When it came to render speed from Adobe Premiere Pro, the RTX 5070 Ti did the brunt of the processing, reflected in the Cinebench scores with a CPU multi score of 32,863 and single CPU score of 2,175, which are within the range for premium creative and gaming laptops.
As testing continued, I was able to batch edit multiple images shot on the Sony A7 IV within Adobe Bridge and Photoshop, as well as apply quick changes and organise files within Adobe Lightroom. The machine rendered thumbnails and effects quickly. I was impressed with the quality of the screen, which I didn't expect to be quite as good for a laptop that's firstly gaming and secondly at this price.
Checking the quality of the screen with DataColor Spyder X2 Ultra, it was awarded an overall rating of 4.5, which is very good, scoring maximum points on both gamut and contrast, while the white point and colour uniformity both came in at 4.5. While colour accuracy was slightly down, this isn't a creative-focused laptop, but with a colour accuracy of 4, it still displayed sRGB at 100%, Adobe RGB 79%, and P3 at a respectable 81%.
Essentially, for workflow, gaming, and multimedia playback, this monitor is high quality; however, if you are looking to use this machine for critical creative work, you need to be mindful that the colours won't be 100% accurate.
For gaming, this is where it really comes into its own. While it can't compete with a dedicated desktop gaming machine, the performance afforded by the AMD Ryzen 9 HX CPU and GeForce RTX really does make it stand out, with some of the fastest benchmarking results I have seen for a laptop of this type, including a Wild Life overall score of 40,003, Fire Strike at 35,793, and Time Spy at 15,855. These are in line with premium laptops that can cost almost double what you'd pay for the Chuwi GameBook.
When it comes to performance, the display, keyboard and touchpad layout are all well considered, and while the fans do kick in under load, considering the price, that is more than acceptable.
Alongside all the hardware is the Chuwi Easy Care maintenance application, which is an in-depth dashboard for your system. It enables you to monitor the machine, the use of internal memory, and gives you access to easy driver updates, system optimisation, and the health of the system.
There are also three different power modes: Office, Balanced and Turbo, two of which can be activated when on battery power, with the third only accessible when plugged into the AC main power. The first mode is Office, taking the CPU right down to minimum, conserving power, so if you're commuting or working on battery, you can maximise battery life.
Then there's Balance, which balances CPU and fan power but gives a bit more performance, and Turbo, which can only be used when plugged into AC power and boosts overall performance, making it ideal for content creation or gaming. The most significant performance boost is when you push the turbo button, running a side-by-side test with 3D Mark Fire Strike on Office mode, it scored 34,958, switching to Balanced produced a score of 35689, and Turbo mode produced 37,417 at each stage, marking a noticeable change in performance.
What I also like is that you can go into the BIOS and select which power mode to use as default, so if you always game, you can leave it in Turbo mode, though once you're unplugged from AC, it will switch to Balanced. If you mostly work on office documents, select Office mode to maximise battery, and if you do a bit of everything, Balanced would be the one to set as default.
Chuwi has put the work into making this extremely usable, and the BIOS is testament to this. It looks modern and, for once, is easy to navigate with all the options and settings clearly laid out, and if you need to swap boot drives, change default performance modes, or anything else you'd usually do in the BIOS, it's all here and easy to find.
At the end of the test, I am impressed with just how good this laptop is for the price, its performance puts it well within the premium laptop range, yet while it's expensive, it's far cheaper than other laptops with similar specifications, and the fact that it includes some of the latest technology means that it's great for gaming and office work, as well as content creation, although you do need to check the colour accuracy for critical creative work.
Performance: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Chuwi GameBook 9955HX: Final verdict
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
If you were to write a wish list for a high-performance laptop, the GameBook 9955HX pretty much hits almost every point. It has a large 16-inch screen which is beautifully uniform, with a slightly matte finish making it extremely viewable, and the large keyboard just makes it easy to use for office applications and gaming.
Connectivity options might be a little limited in comparison with premium laptops, for example, downgrading to USB 3.2 Gen 2 rather than USB4, but still, with a 1,000MB/s average transfer rate, it's decent.
The different power modes take it from Balance, Office to Turbo, essentially giving the machine a huge boost in power, making it ideal as you swap from low-to mid-demand applications, across to higher, and the machine just gives you that additional power needed to complete tasks that would otherwise be time-consuming on a slower machine, though there is a sacrifice in battery life.
Across the board, I've been impressed with the build quality, hardware, upgradeability, and performance. Chuwi has also included their own health management software in the form of Chuwi Easy Care to enable you to keep an eye on the overall health of the machine. If you go into the BIOS, there is a comprehensive set of options that look easy to navigate and understand, with a modern design that is a breakaway from what is more ordinarily seen on most other laptops.
As a complete solution, the GameBook is a solid option that's well priced, powerful, and offers enough to satisfy all types of users.
Should I buy a Chuwi GameBook 9955HX?
Value
Exceptional value for money for top-of-the-range CPU/GPU, usually at a much greater price
5
Design
The design is a little mixed, with a high-quality monitor casing, coupled with a plastic main body
4
Features
Has a good range of features that help to balance the cost of components with performance
4.5
Performance
With three easy-to-access power modes, you can adjust how the machine performs to suit your needs
5
Overall
Exceptional value for money with performance you expect from a premium laptop
5
Buy it if...
You want a high-performance machine on a budget.
It's hard to believe you get as much as you do for the price. While it is still an expensive machine compared with rivals, it is considerably less expensive.
You want lots of storage capacity.
There are 2 x M.2 2280 SSD slots in the machine, one of which is a PCIe 5.0, giving flexibility over the internal storage, which is easily upgraded.
Don't buy it if...
You need fast external storage.
While there is USB-C, it is only USB 3.2 Gen 2, offering a maximum of 10GB per second, which might not be fast enough for some working in the creative sector.
You need colour accuracy.
While the monitor is very good when it comes to colour gamut, it is limited and really aimed at games, multimedia and general use rather than critical creative accuracy.
