The Technet Laptop Cooling Pad is an inexpensive cooling solution for any heavy-duty tasks you throw at your laptop, whether you’re gaming or rendering 3D animation. It rocks two fans capable of up to 1800rpm and is compatible with laptops up to 17 inches.
As those fans would suggest, the Technet Laptop Cooling Pad offers genuinely impressive cooling. The baseline 3D Mark Stress Test I ran on our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 saw its temperature rise from 20.2°C to 52.1°C, an increase of 31.9°C. With the Tecknet running at its highest output, our gaming laptop hit a high of 41.8°C, a much more modest warming of 17.9°C. That’s one of the best results I’ve seen in my testing so far.
With this kind of cooling, you’d expect some pretty serious fan noise from the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad. However, in my experience it wasn't too disruptive – while the noise was noticeable, it didn’t distract from the tunes I was listening to.
And this was borne out by empirical testing – 10 minutes into the stress test, I measured the noise levels from three inches away and the combined noise of the cooling pad and laptop was quieter at 58dB than the 60dB benchmark of the laptop’s fans working alone. At my head height (21 inches away), this evened out a little, registering a little louder at 45dB combined compared to 42dB alone. Still, this rivals some of the best laptop cooling pads.
The Tecknet felt comfortable to use. The ergonomics were just right for me, with its angle allowing me to comfortably rest my wrists without any flexion or extension.
Speaking purely aesthetically, its looks are perhaps a little on the basic side – it’s essentially just made of textured matt plastic and a grille over the fans. You won’t see them most of the time, but when in use the fans are lit by a subtle blue light, which I think looks a bit more classy than some of the flamboyant RGB lighting its rivals opt for. One slight worry I do have, though, is the textured grips that hold your laptop in place. While my laptop didn’t slip around too much during testing, I have concerns about how well they’ll keep one in place during extra vigorous gaming sessions.
Ultimately, though, I can’t argue with the results. Despite being toward the cheaper end of the spectrum at $19.99 / £19.99, the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad offers seriously decent performance, even if it doesn't look quite as fancy as more stereotypically gaming-focused cooling solutions. All in all, it's definitely worth the spend if your biggest priority is shaving off those degrees for as little dough as possible.
(Image credit: Future)
Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad review: specs
(Image credit: Future)
Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad review: price and availability
Released August 18, 2015
MSRP of $29.99 / £24.99
The Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad first went on sale on August 18, 2015, and is still available now. It retails for an MSRP of $29.99 / £24.99, but there are plenty of deals out there. It’s currently on sale for $26.99 on Amazon US, while you can buy it direct from Tecknet in the UK for just £12.49, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for bargains.
There aren’t many different options available, with most retailers only offering it with blue lighting and detailing. However, Amazon US does currently offer it with red lighting and highlights, so if that’s more your bag, it’s worth snapping that option up.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad?
Buy it if…
You want impressive cooling Able to keep our testing laptop a full 14°C cooler even during a 3D stress test, this cooling pad is seriously frosty. It should go a long way to stop your laptop overheating, even during the most demanding gaming sessions.
You want reduced noise Thanks to those ultra-quiet fans, this cooling doesn’t come at the cost of loads of noise. In fact, the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad seems to be no louder than our testing laptop’s built-in fans.
Don’t buy it if…
You want souped-up gaming aesthetics If you want psychedelic RGB lighting and the sharp, angular geometry typical of most gaming equipment, you might be disappointed here. The Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad has understated blue lighting and is made of relatively basic materials, so it’s more for cooling than drooling over.
You want to ensure your laptop will stay put Unlike some cooling pads with physical rests for keeping your laptop in place, the Tecknet only offers some textured grips. These are not a guarantee your laptop won’t slip during vigorous gaming sessions.
Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad review: also consider
TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad The TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad looks stunning, with its vibrant RGB lighting and quality build, while the braces at its bottom end keep your laptop firmly in place. It didn’t quite manage to keep up with the Tecknet’s cooling in our test, allowing our laptop to warm up by 22.8°C, but it was just as quiet. If you’re willing to spend $29.99 / £29.77, this will definitely earn you some extra style points.
How I tested the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad
Tested it over several days
Used a thermal camera to measure temperature difference before and after test
Used a sound level meter to measure fan noise 10 minutes into test
I spent several days testing and using the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad. I ran it through several standardized benchmarks that we use for all laptop cooling pads. I checked the temperature of the hottest point of our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 testing laptop using a handheld thermal camera, ran a 15-minute 3DMark Stress Test with the cooling pad on its highest setting, then checked its temperature again.
To test the noise it generated, I used a sound level meter to check the noise generated 10 minutes into the test both with the laptop alone and with the laptop cooler running. I tested this from three inches to get an accurate reading of the noise generated, as well as from my head height to gain a reading of how loud it will sound in practice.
In terms of my experience, I’ve been a committed gamer and laptop user for over 30 years, and I’ve been covering tech and gadgets as a journalist for well over a decade.
The MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) is the latest edition of Apple’s large-screen thin and light laptop, launched alongside the smaller MacBook Air 13-inch (M4). Many of us have been waiting for Apple’s most popular laptops to get the powerful M4 chip since it debuted last year with the iPad Pro.
Since then, we’ve had M4 versions of the MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini, which has left MacBook Air fans (and there are a lot of them, with the MacBook Air being the most popular Mac product) waiting for their turn.
It’s perhaps understandable that some people might feel like the M4 MacBook Airs are an afterthought, with Apple taking so long to bring its latest chip to its most affordable laptops, but it seems Apple has settled into this release schedule. After all, the M3 MacBook Air (in both 13-inch and 15-inch configurations) launched pretty much exactly a year ago, in March 2024.
It seems Apple doesn’t want to get into another controversy by releasing a new MacBook model less than a year after the previous one. It did that with the MacBook Pro M3, which launched around nine months after the MacBook Pro M2, and it got a lot of flak for that.
By spacing the launches out for a year, it’s less likely to annoy people who have bought the previous model, and I get the feeling that Apple’s made the calculation that because the MacBook Air is aimed at a more casual, mainstream audience, there’s less clamor to get the latest and greatest hardware.
To be fair, that’s probably the right call, and no one who has an M3 MacBook Air should feel the need to upgrade to the M4 model. We go into more depth about what the M4 brings to the MacBook Air in our MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review, but this release is more of a refinement than a complete reimagining.
(Image credit: Future)
When a laptop is as good as the MacBook Air (in either size), then that’s no bad thing at all, and if you’re looking for a new laptop, especially coming from a much older MacBook or Windows laptop, then there’s a very good chance that you’ll absolutely love the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4).
With a starting price of $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,099, Apple gave us all a pleasant surprise, as like the 13-inch model, the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) has actually had a price cut, as the base model of the 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 started at $1,299 / £1,399 / AU$2,199.
A better model for less money is fantastic to see, especially these days where things seem to be getting ever more expensive, and I’ve got to give Apple credit for this. One of the best things about the MacBook Air is its affordability compared to laptops of a similar spec, and it’s great to see that Apple understands this.
This lower price does come at some cost, however, as unlike with previous generations, Apple is no longer officially selling any of the older MacBook Airs. When the MacBook Air M2 came out, for example, Apple reduced the price of the M1 model and sold it as a more affordable option, and the same thing happened with the M3 model (the M2 model got a price cut).
Instead, Apple is only selling the M4 models of the new MacBook Airs, so if you want to buy direct from the company, there’s no cheaper option available. However, third party retailers will continue to sell older MacBook Airs as they clear their inventory, and we’ve already seen some impressive MacBook Air deals since the announcement of the M4 model.
The base model of the 15-inch MacBook Air comes with the M4 chip with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory and 256GB of SSD storage – similar to the base model of the new 13-inch MacBook Air, except the cheapest configuration of the smaller MacBook comes with an 8-core CPU.
Otherwise, in many ways the M4 MacBook Air 15-inch is the same as the 13-inch model, but with a larger screen, and therefore larger overall size. Even the sharpness of the two screens are essentially the same, due to the larger 15.3-inch screen coming with a higher resolution of 2880 x 1864 which works out at 224 pixels per inch, compared to the 13.6-inch screen’s 2560 x 1664 resolution, which also offers 224 pixels per inch.
(Image credit: Future)
This means the screens offer the same level of sharpness, and with the other similarities of the hardware, it really boils down to which screen size you’d prefer. The 15-inch MacBook Air offers a larger screen that some people will find more comfortable to work on, while the 13-inch model’s smaller size will appeal more to people who want a laptop they can rely on while traveling.
One big difference between the 13-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Airs is that the larger MacBook comes with six built-in speakers with force-cancelling woofers, while the smaller laptop makes do with four speakers, and no force-cancelling.
So, the 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 offers a much richer and more immersive sound experience, while the woofers offer deeper bass without shaking or vibrating the MacBook. The sound is certainly impressive considering the thin and light design of the 15-inch MacBook Air – it’s certainly one of the best sounding laptops you can buy, and if audio quality is of the utmost importance to you, then you will likely be better off buying the 15-inch model rather than the 13-inch.
There have also been some slight design tweaks since the last generation of MacBook Airs. The MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) (as with the 13-inch model) now comes with a 12MP Center Stage webcam. When broadcasting, you can move around and the Center Stage camera will keep you in frame (within reason – you can’t move too far). It does a decent job, and the video quality is clean and crisp.
The new webcam also supports Desk View, which cleverly keeps you in shot, while also showing your desk in another shot. This can be useful if you’re demonstrating something to an audience, and previously you’d need two cameras to achieve the same effect – one to shoot you from the front, the second angled to shoot your hands.
While not everyone is going to make use of this feature, it’s pretty clever, and works well. The new webcam also uses the M4 chip to offer machine learning-enhanced video effects such as Studio Light, which adjusts the lighting, brightness and contrast of your footage to give you a more professional look. It’s similar to the Windows Studio Effects tool found in Windows 11 laptops which come with AI-capable processors.
The new M4-powered MacBook Airs also come with a new color choice: Sky Blue. Don’t go thinking this is a vibrant, iMac-like hue, however. It’s a more subtle, metallic color with a hint of blue, and while understated, I do like it (Apple was kind enough to send me a review unit in the new color). The MagSafe charge cable comes in a color that matches the color of the MacBook Air, which is a nice touch.
Overall, the new MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) is an excellent thin and light laptop, and one of the best 15-inch laptops you can currently buy. However, if you have an M3, or even M2, version, there’s not much different that will make you feel the need to upgrade. That’s no particular slight on the M4 chip, but rather a testament to how good the M2 and M3 remain.
(Image credit: Future)
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review: Price and availability
In a very welcome move, Apple has released the new MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) at a lower price than the M3 model launched at, beginning at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,099, which gives you an M4 chip with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory and 256GB of SSD storage.
If you’re a student, then you can get a further price cut which makes the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) much better value, and even without that discount, you’ll be hard pushed to find a 15-inch laptop that offers the same level of performance, design and build quality for a similar price. A recent model of the Dell XPS 15, for example, launched at $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,498.
In fact, the only competition the 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 has is… the 13-inch model, which offers similar levels of performance, but with a smaller screen and fewer built-in speakers, and starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699. As impressed as I am with the price of the 15-inch MacBook Air, I’m not sure the larger screen, better sound and two extra CPU cores justify the extra $200 / £200 / AU$400.
Unlike with previous generations, where Apple continued selling an earlier model as a more affordable option, it’s no longer selling M2 or M3 MacBook Airs, and while third party retailers will continue selling those models whilst stock lasts, the M4 models are now the only option available to buy direct from Apple, which means you have less choice if you want to get a cheaper MacBook.
The good news is that since the launch of the M4 MacBook Airs, we’ve seen some fantastic deals on the older models already.
Price: 4.5 / 5
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review: Specs
Here are the specs for the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) at a glance.
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review: Design
New Sky Blue color
Upgraded webcam
Otherwise same design
Since getting a major design overhaul with the M2 model back in 2022, Apple has pretty much stuck to the same design for its MacBook Air releases, with the 15-inch model essentially looking identical to the 13-inch model – just larger.
This is pretty much true with the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4), which largely keeps the look of the M3 model, but with a few welcome tweaks. The lack of a major new look isn’t too much of an issue, as the design remains stylish and modern.
With dimensions of 0.45 x 13.40 x 9.35 inches (1.15 x 34.04 x 23.76cm) and a weight of 3.3lbs (1.51kg), it remains an impressively slim and light 15-inch laptop, though the smaller dimensions of the 13-inch MacBook Air mean that’s the laptop I’d recommend to people who want the most portable machine.
While some rival laptop makers are putting out stylish and incredibly light laptops, especially LG with its ‘gram’ lineup of laptops, the 15-inch MacBook Air is unmistakably a premium Apple product with a stylish design and solid build quality.
(Image credit: Future)
On the left-hand side are two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a MagSafe 3 charging port (which contains magnets which makes plugging and unplugging the power connector convenient – and protects the MacBook from damage should the cable be yanked out by accident), and on the right-hand side is a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The Thunderbolt 4 ports offer speeds of up to 40Gb/s, and while it would have been nice to have faster Thunderbolt 5 ports, for most people this will be plenty fast enough for transferring large files to and from an external hard drive.
It’s not the best selection of ports, and we’ve seen rival thin and light laptops feature a greater array of ports, such as HDMI, without sacrificing their svelte looks, but at least the inclusion of the MagSafe 3 port means you don’t have to give up one of the Thunderbolt 4 ports when charging (though you can still use a USB-C charger to top up the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4)’s battery if you leave your MagSafe charger at home.
(Image credit: Future)
There have been a few changes to the design, however. For a start, the webcam is now a 12MP Center Stage camera which also offers the Desk View feature, which effectively splits your footage into two – a front-on portrait shot, and a wide angled view of your hands and desk. The image quality is excellent (boosted by the M4 chip), though the divisive ‘notch’ that surrounds the webcam and dips down into the screen remains.
This has been a part of the MacBook Air’s design for three years now, so most people who had a problem with this have likely made peace with its inclusion, and I’ve never had an issue with it, but it’s worth pointing out, especially as there are rival Windows 11 laptops that include just as good a webcam into thin bezels without needing a notch.
(Image credit: Future)
Another very minor design change is with the keyboard. It remains backlit, with a Touch ID button for quickly logging into macOS or confirming Apple Pay payments using a fingerprint, and is comfortable to use (and no longer plagued by stuck keys, which older MacBooks sometimes suffered from). What’s changed, however, is the mute icon on the F10 key, which has changed from a symbol of a speaker to a symbol of a speaker with a line through it.
This might seem like a minor change, but it’s actually one I welcome, as it means the symbol now matches the icon that appears on screen when you mute the sound of the laptop. It also matches what most other devices use as a mute symbol, and also means the mute button and the volume down button (which also has a speaker icon) are less easily confused, as they now look more distinct.
The biggest design change, however, is the new Sky Blue color. Apple sent me the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) in this color, and you’ll be able to see what it looks like in the photos that accompany this review. It’s a subtle, metallic color that means it doesn’t look out of place next to the existing Midnight, Starlight and Silver colors, and while it’s not as vibrant as the iMac colors, it does mean it looks professional, while offering a hint of personality. It’s always nice to see the braided MagSafe cable that’s included in the package match the color of the MacBook Air you choose as well.
Overall, the design of the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) remains stylish, thin and portable. If you’re looking for a 15-inch laptop with a premium look, then you’ll be very happy with the design of this machine.
Design: 4 / 5
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review: Performance
Very good performance
M4 remains impressive
Big leap over Intel Macs
While the design of the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) feels like an iterative update over the previous model, the hardware and performance of the new MacBook Air… also feels like a limited leap rather than a generational one.
In some ways this is to be expected due to Apple’s yearly release schedule for its M-class chips. There’s only so many improvements and refinements you can make, and unlike with an iPhone, you’re unlikely to want to upgrade your laptop every year or so.
What this means is that if you already own an M3-powered MacBook Air, the performance upgrade you’re going to get by moving to the M4 isn’t going to be huge.
This is why in most of Apple’s marketing and documentation for the new MacBook Air 15-inch (M4), the company highlights the performance gains over the 13-inch MacBook Air with an Intel Core i7 processor from around 2020.
According to Apple, the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) offers around 20 times the performance of the Intel MacBook Air in certain tasks. Meanwhile, the difference between the M3 and M4 MacBook Air, according to Apple’s own figures, is much more modest (I’m talking single digit increases).
Having used both the M2 and M3 MacBook Airs extensively, as well as my time testing the M4 MacBook Air, I have to say that there was little noticeable performance difference. Pretty much every app, and the macOS operating system itself, ran smoothly, and almost every major application now supports the Arm-based M4 chip natively, which meant I didn’t need to rely on the Rosetta 2 tool which allows apps designed for Intel Macs to run (which comes with a slight hit to performance).
(Image credit: Future)
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) benchmarks
Here's how the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) performed in our suite of industry-standard benchmarks and game tests.
Geekbench 6.4: Single - 3,799 Multi - 14,921 Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Read: 3,012.5MB/s Write: 3,335.1MB/s Cinebench: Single-core - 172 Multi-core - 904 GPU - 3,860 Battery life test: 15 hours 14 minutes
More intensive tasks, such as editing 4K raw footage in Premiere Pro, saw a bigger improvement, but, again, not enough to warrant upgrading from the M3. Most people looking to buy a MacBook Air won’t be performing heavy duty tasks with it, but for day-to-day use, the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) is truly excellent. The efficiency of the M4 chip means that it is also once again fanless, so the MacBook Air remains silent throughout use – a lovely change from many Windows 11 laptops that like to whirr up their fans seemingly at the drop of a hat.
The screen remains excellent, with bright, vivid colors, though an increasing number of competitors, such as the Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ threaten to beat Apple here with support for OLED screen technology which makes a huge difference to image quality. We’re also seeing an increasing number of 4K laptops that offer sharper resolutions as well.
That’s not to say that the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4)’s screen is bad – far from it – but rivals are catching up fast at this price point. A new feature with the M4 chip is that the MacBook Air can now support two external displays at once, while also powering its built-in screen as well – a welcome tweak that people who like to use multiple monitors at once will be very pleased with.
Where the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) remains a leader in its class is with the audio. Watching shows and movies in Apple TV+ looked good, but sounded even better thanks to the six-speaker sound system offers a depth and clarity that other thin and light laptops can’t match. In movies especially, the six speakers offer a wide soundstage, with sound effects coming from either side of the screen. Apple also talks up the spatial audio abilities of the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4)’s speakers, and while it doesn’t compare to my physical Dolby Atmos home theatre setup, there are still moments of impressive immersion as the sound envelops you. Considering the slimline design of the 15-inch MacBook Air, this is very impressive.
(Image credit: Future)
What does disappoint, slightly, is that Apple has stuck with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless networking and peripheral connections, two last-gen technologies that lack some of the features and performance that Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 offer.
Overall, the performance of the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) is superb for the price, and if you’re coming from an Intel-based MacBook, or even a traditional Windows 11 laptop, then you’re going to be very impressed with what the new MacBook Air offers.
However, if you already have an M2 or M3 MacBook Air, I don’t think there’s enough of a performance leap to justify upgrading just yet – and I’d recommend holding out for the (almost) inevitable M5-powered MacBook Air which could land sometime next year.
Performance: 4 / 5
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review: Battery life
Apple promises 18 hours
We found it lasted over 15 hours
Slightly longer battery life than the 13-inch model
Ever since Apple switched from Intel hardware to its own Arm-based M-series chips, I’ve been incredibly impressed with the power efficiency of the MacBook Air. Even when performing complex tasks, the performance of the new MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) didn’t drop when on battery power (some laptops will throttle performance to prolong battery life), and in our battery life benchmark tests, it easily cleared 15 hours of continuous use.
This means you can confidently use the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) for several work days without worrying about plugging it in – something I did myself while testing.
Because of the bigger body, Apple has added a larger battery to the 15-inch MacBook Air compared to the 13-inch model, and this resulted in a slightly longer battery life for the 15-inch MacBook Air, though the extra energy needed to power the larger screen means there’s not a huge amount in it.
Battery: 4.5 / 5
Should you buy the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4)?
Buy it if...
You want a 15-inch laptop Apple has done it again, and the new MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) is the best 15-inch laptop you can buy.
You want a laptop that lasts several work days The battery life of this laptop is excellent, and you should be able to use it over several work days on a single charge.
You have an Intel-based MacBook If you have an old Intel-based MacBook, then the new M4 MacBook Air will offer a tremendous upgrade.
Don't buy it if...
You have an M2 or M3 MacBook While the M4 chip is a great performer, you don't need to upgrade if you have an M2 or M3 MacBook, as the leap isn't quite worth it.
You prefer Windows 11 As you'd expect, the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) runs macOS, Apple's own operating system. If you want to stick with Windows 11, look elsewhere.
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4): Also consider
Mac mini (M4) Like the sound of the M4 chip, but want something cheaper? The Mac mini from late 2024 is a great, affordable choice that comes with the same M4 hardware that the 15-inch MacBook Air has. It's a desktop PC, however, so it's not as portable.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) The 13-inch MacBook Air has also got an M4 makeover, and offers very similar performance but in a smaller form factor, making it a great choice if you want a more easily portable laptop to travel with.
I've used the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) over the past week as my main work laptop, writing most of this review on it, as well as browsing the web, attending meetings via video call and running our suite of benchmarks. I also played around with video and photo editing during my time with the laptop. I've been reviewing MacBooks for TechRadar for well over a decade, and have extensively used and tested all models of Apple's M-series chips.
How do you make the best MacBook, and arguably one of the best laptops on the market, better? You could redesign it, but that’s a move fraught with potential downsides; if the current design is popular, you risk disenfranchising fans. In that case, making small changes, especially under-the-hood ones, is probably the smart move, and it’s clearly Apple’s strategy.
The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is virtually indistinguishable from the M3 model. Apple has left the exquisite keyboard and responsive trackpad untouched, and the same goes for the brilliant Liquid Retina display. The 2.7lbs. weight is unchanged, and even the two Thunderbolt 4 ports are essentially the same. Visually, the only thing that's new is a new color option, and the Sky Blue finish is a subtle hue that can, depending on the light, look almost gray, but a second glance always reveals that pleasing almost pastel-like azure. It’s a color that should sell out fast.
The other two significant changes are to the hardware. Replacing the FaceTime camera is the new 12MP Center Stage Camera. It’s an ultra-wide lens in a screen notch that can keep you in the frame during video calls, and it’s a nice-to-have though not earth-shattering update.
There’s also the M4 chip, which adds cores and performance over the M3 Apple silicon it replaces. Like the M3, this is a fast, efficient, 3-nanometer chip with plenty of headroom for AAA gaming, video editing, music creation and, of course, Apple Intelligence.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
From one perspective, the biggest upgrade might be in the value space. Apple doubled the base memory from 8GB of unified memory to 16GB while reducing the price to $999 / £999 / AU$1,699. That’s a shocking, and very welcome, turn of events. The best MacBook is now back to its pre–MacBook Air M3 price, and better value because of it.
It really is hard to find any fault with the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4). It’s lightweight, attractive, powerful, easy to use, and up for anything. I gamed, streamed video, browsed the web, answered email, texted friends, conducted FaceTime calls, edited video, practiced guitar, and wrote this review on it. I’m not concerned about the lack of design changes, and I like the new color, the Center Stage Camera, and especially the price. I would not be surprised to see the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) rise to the very top of our best laptops list.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Price and availability
Starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699
Lower launch price than the discontinued M3 model
M2 and M3 models no longer on the Apple Store, but M2 MacBooks can be found at third-party retailers
Rarely do I get to write about a price drop for a new product that arrives with feature enhancements. Usually, we get the same or sometimes a little less for the money. That is not the case with the MacBook Air 13-inch M4.
Even though Apple hasn't radically refreshed its best MacBook, the updates in performance, memory, and video conferencing, plus a new color, hit all the right notes – and when paired with a now $100 (in the US) lower price, they have me singing a happy tune.
Funnily enough, the first 3lb MacBook Air – the one that slid out of a manilla envelope in 2008 – cost $1,799. It would take a few years for it to hit that $999 sweet spot, which it maintained until recently.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Sometimes that $999 got you a lower-end Intel Core I, but in the age of Apple silicon we’re getting great performance and efficiency at an excellent price.
The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) comes in three base configurations. If you upgrade to the $1,199 / £1,199 model the GPU gets a bump from eight to 10 cores, and the storage doubles to 512GB. Go for the $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,399 top-tier model and the base unified memory is increased from 16GB to 24GB, and you can get up to 2TB of storage. Whichever option you go for, you can upgrade the RAM to 32GB.
It’s available in the new Sky Blue (like my 256GB review unit), Midnight, Starlight, and Silver. Apple has discontinued Space Gray (for now).
Apple unveiled the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) on March 5, 2025, and the laptop starts shipping on March 12.
Price score: 4.5/5
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Specs
The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) comes in three pre-configured options.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Design
No major redesign
Sky Blue is subtle but attractive
Excellent construction, materials, keyboard, and trackpad
There are still some who mourn the passing of the original MacBook Air’s wedge design, the one that started at a more than half inch (1.61 cm) at one end and ended at 0.16 inches (4.064mm) at the other. That design remains so popular that the M1 model featuring it is still a top seller at Walmart.
I’ve moved on. The MacBook Air M4 is just 2.7lbs / 1.24kg, and at 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches / 30.41 x 21.5 x 1.13cm, is thinner than the OG MacBook Air was at its thickest point. This is a laptop that's built for your backpack and, yes, it’s light enough that you might forget it’s there.
Everything about the MacBook Air M4 feels premium. The 100% recycled aluminum enclosure is light but solid and has all the exacting tolerances Apple is known for. It’s a finely machined, eye-catching piece of hardware, and few laptops can match its elegance.
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The backlit keyboard is an absolute pleasure to type on, and has remarkable travel and response for such a thin design. It includes all your function keys and a multipurpose power / sleep / Touch ID button that’s useful for unlocking the MacBook Air and logging into various apps and services with your registered fingertips.
I do prefer the Microsoft Surface Laptop’s Windows Hello feature, which lets you log on using your face in much the way you do with Face ID on any of the best iPhones, although I don’t have to touch anything because I set the MacBook Air to unlock automatically with my Apple Watch.
While Apple hasn't redesigned the keyboard, there is one small change that you might not notice at first glance: the mute key now features a speaker icon with a line through it, which matches what you see on-screen when you press the key. It's a small but clarifying change.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
There’s ample room to rest your palms, and the glass-covered multi-touch trackpad is huge and responsive.
Ports and other elements are unchanged from the last two MacBook Air generations. There are two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left side with up to 40GBps of throughput and which are capable of driving two external screens, even with the MacBook Air lid open. Next to those is the MagSafe charging port, and on the right side is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
The four-speaker stereo sound system is hidden in the hinge below the display. It can fill a room with bright, crisp audio, although it mostly lacks bass (the 15-inch model offers a 6-speaker sound system with force-cancelling sound woofers).
Design score: 4.5/5
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Display and Center Stage
With one exception, the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air’s display is identical to the last generation. It’s still a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina panel with 2560 x 1664 resolution and 500 nits of sustained brightness, which in my experience is viewable in direct sunlight, and support for one billion colors. It’s a fantastic display for everything from gaming to streaming to content creation.
There is a notch at the top for the camera, but most apps do not wrap around that cutout, and it’s not distracting on the desktop.
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The notch also contains the new 12MP Center Stage Camera. The idea here is that the lens is an ultra-wide camera, but for the purposes of video conferencing it crops to an undistorted rectangle. Then, as you move around, the frame moves around to keep you in the frame. If you like to get up and walk around, or people walk in and out of the video conversation, this can be tremendously useful, and it worked well for me as long as I didn't stray too far out of frame. If you need the camera to stay still (as I do when I use the 1080p camera to go on TV), you can easily turn Center Stage off.
(Image credit: Future)
Compared to Microsoft’s excellent Surface Laptop 7, the screen is missing one feature: touch. I used Surface laptops for years, and I did enjoy being able to touch and even draw on the display with a dedicated Bluetooth pen. Apple has steadfastly resisted introducing touch on its MacBook line – and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs didn’t think it made sense. If you require that kind of multipurpose device, you may want to consider the M4 iPad Pro 13-inch plus a Magic Keyboard.
Display score: 4.5/5
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: macOS and Apple Intelligence
macOS Sequoia is a rich, deep, and well-organized platform
Everything is well integrated into Apple's wider ecosystem
Apple Intelligence can be useful, but it's not yet compelling
With macOS Sequoia, Apple has built one of the most consistent and stable desktop platforms on the planet. It virtually never crashes, and it’s full of useful features.
The latest version is mostly a refinement of the platform, but if it’s been a while since you’ve upgraded you will notice feature enhancement like better widgets and window-management tools, the excellent new Passwords app, and audio transcription on Notes.
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What’s more, macOS makes excellent use of the M4’s power.
At one point I ran Garage Band, and I was pleased to discover that not only could I use the MacBook Air to tune my guitar, but it could also tell me if I was playing my chords correctly. I also used Pixelmator Pro image and video editor (now owned by Apple) to effortlessly apply complex masks.
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Of course, the big news on the software side is Apple Intelligence, Apple’s own brand of AI, which is supported by the M4’s 16-core neural engine.
It enables features like Image Playground, which lets you imagine wild scenes that can include representations of you and others from your Photos library. It’s good fun, but I still struggle to see the utility, and I wonder when Apple will offer a more open-range image-generation platform, one that enables me to describe a complex scene in a prompt and get a result. Most Windows laptops running Copilot can do this.
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Writing Tools, which is available in Apple's native text composition apps like Notes and Mail, is useful, especially if you struggle to write clear, cogent sentences. It's of limited utility to me.
Similarly, Siri got a few nice upgrades, like the ability to respond to text prompts and better handle broken speech patterns, but it's still unable to carry on longer conversations or learn anything about you, and you still can't use it to comprehensively control your MacBook. What’s worse is that promised updates to Siri that would have made it a more able competitor to ChatGPT and Gemini have failed to materialize. At least Siri can now tap into ChatGPT (if you allow it) for more complex queries.
Safari is an excellent browser, but I still find myself using Chrome.
Software score: 4/5
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Performance
M4 has more CPU cores than the M3 that preceded it
Ample power
Decent but not massive performance upgrade
Excellent platform and increasing Apple Intelligence capabilities
Benchmarks
Here’s how the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
Geekbench 6.2.2 Single-Core: 3679; Multi-Core: 14430 Geekbench Metal score (8-core GPU): 48515 Cinebench 2024 Single-core: 165; Multi-core: 652 Battery life (web surfing): 14 hours 51 minutes, and 59 seconds
For comparison, here’s how the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
Ever since Apple switched from Intel to Apple silicon we’ve seen significant gains in performance and efficiency. The power of these lightweight laptops and the M-class chips can appear limitless, and all-day battery life is now usually a given.
Of course, the world has not stood still. Some Windows laptops are now arriving with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, and these ultraportables often nearly match Apple silicon for performance and battery life.
The M4 10-core CPU and 8-Core GPU backed by 16GB of unified memory inside my test system generally outperformed the X Elite on single-core scores but are now matched for multi-core performance.
These are just numbers of course, and I prefer to rely on real-world performance. In my tests, the MacBook Air 13 and its M4 chip handled everything I threw at it. It can be difficult to stress out the system – I played the AAA game Lies of Pi at maximum settings and it was smooth as butter, thanks no doubt in part to the new Game Mode that optimizes performance for gaming.
I highly recommend getting a controller (I use one designed for the Xbox), but regardless, the new MacBook Air offers a great gaming experience with thrilling, smooth graphics, and excellent sound.
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I often ran the game alongside multiple background apps, including Final Cut Pro. I had no trouble editing four 4K 30fps streams at once, but when I loaded up four 4K 120fps clips, I did notice some stuttering on video playback, although as this is not a considerably more expensive MacBook Pro, that doesn’t concern me.
I noticed in my benchmarking that the Metal Score on the MacBook Air M3 was slightly higher than that of the M4 system, but that’s because I had a 10-core GPU on the older MacBook and just an eight-core GPU on the new M4 system. You can, as I noted earlier in the price section, pay a bit more for the two extra cores. It’s worth noting, though, that the differences in performance between the M3 10 Core and M4 8-Core GPU were minimal.
The system supports WiFi 6e and Bluetooth 5.3, which is good, if not entirely forward-leaning – I'd like to see WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Battery life
14 hours battery life (web activities)
Effectively lasts all day (mixed use)
Charges to 50% in 90 minutes; 100% in three hours
Apple is promising up to 18 hours of battery life from the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4), which is mostly a test of how long the laptop can play 1080p video for; for comparison, Microsoft promises 20 hours from its Surface Laptop 7 for a similar task. The MacBook Air 13 M4’s real-world battery life numbers will vary significantly when performing a mix of sometimes CPU-intensive tasks.
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In my tests, which included playing games (which made the base of the laptop quite warm), editing video, opening multiple browser windows and streaming video, battery life came in around eight hours. That’s quite good for a hard day of work, and especially for such a thin and light laptop. In our Future Labs test, which is primarily web browsing, the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) managed 14 hours, 51 minutes, which is about 30 minutes longer than the M3 but for slightly different tasks.
Overall, you're getting good, all-day battery life, but your experience will vary based on the tasks you perform.
After I drained the laptop to zero, I recharged it with the included 30W charger (the more expensive 24GB model comes with a 35W charger) and (matching Sky Blue) woven MagSafe charger to 50% in 90 minutes, and 100% in three-and-a-half hours.
Battery score: 5/5
Should you buy the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)?
Buy it if...
You want the best ultraportable experience The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) might look the same as last year's model, but it's a definite upgrade – and that price makes it a winner.
You like your laptops thin and light At 0.44 inches / 1.13cm thick and just 2.7lbs /1.24kg, the new 13-inch Air is a perfect backpack companion.
You need a good blend of power and efficiency The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) packs more than enough power for most users and you can bank on all-day battery life.
Don't buy it if...
You want a touchscreen Apple may never introduce a touchscreen MacBook. For that, look to the Surface Laptop, or an iPad Pro paired with a Magic Keyboard.
You want more AI Apple Intelligence is showing promise, but it still pales in comparison to what you'll find on some Windows Laptops with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) review: Also consider
If our Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) The MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) is virtually the same as the 13-inch model in every aspect except size (and screen size), but the base model does start with two extra GPU cores. It also gets a price reduction compared to the M3 model, so if screen real estate matters to you, this is the MacBook Air to go for.
Dell XPS 13 Plus Its thin and light design, stunning OLED screen, great sound quality, and comfortable keyboard make this a premium Windows 11 laptop that in many ways rivals the MacBook Air. However, it’s prone to overheating, and the touch bar is divisive.
I used the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) for five days
I worked, played, listened, edited, and wrote this review on it
I usually ran multiple apps at once
After receiving my MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review unit I immediately unboxed it and began testing, and it did not leave my side for much of the next five days.
I ran benchmarks, installed multiple apps, and then began using it to edit images and video, play AAA games, listen to music, stream movies and shows, answer email, browse the web, and generate words and images with Apple Intelligence.
I've been reviewing technology for over 30 years, and I've tested everything from DOS-based word processors to Apple's Vision Pro. I've reviewed laptops of all stripes, including traditional clamshells and convertibles. I regularly work on macOS but also use the Windows platform almost every day – I like to keep my hands in all the ecosystems.
If ever there were a tale of two halves, it's the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025). This dual-screen laptop-megatablet offers some of the most impressive mobile hardware currently available. It absolutely holds its ground with any of the very best laptops you can buy in 2025 in that regard.
That starts with its cutting-edge Intel Arrow Lake CPU, but just like last year's 2024 model, this revised-for-2025 device really centers on its beautifully built chassis containing dual 14-inch OLED touchscreens, plus a clever wireless clip-on keyboard and a kickstand that adds an additional ergonomic flourish.
Yes, there are compromises in terms of the pure hardware. The otherwise similar best touchscreen laptops in 2025 offer a slimmer and lighter form factor, plus better battery life and outright performance. There are thermal limitations with this kind of design. But Asus has clearly put in some serious engineering legwork to realize this remarkable machine.
Then there's the software side of the equation. For starters, Windows 11 has never been well optimized for touch input and a system like this only serves to highlight that shortcoming. Then there's Asus' own suite of touch optimized apps and features, all designed to make the most of the extraordinary dual-screen hardware.
You can see what Asus is trying to do, including a highly modular and user configurable touch control interface that in theory can be set up to suit almost any preference. You even get ready-made configurations for specific apps, be that content creation or media consumption.
However, in practice the learning curve is extremely steep, and even once you've scaled that peak, the results are a little patchy and a touch buggy. A slick, fully polished touch experience this ultimately is not. There's a slight vibe of concept hardware or a design study going on here despite this 2025 model being a second generation product.
Some of that is thanks to Windows itself as ever being half baked, some of it is surely down to Asus. In the end, the reasons don't matter, the result is at least occasional frustration. That doesn't make the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) unbuyable, but especially for a machine this expensive it does make for some significant caveats.
If you're willing to put up with some pain, there are rewards to be had. This system can do things that a conventional laptop can't dream of. But in return you'll have to accept aspects that feel clunky and unfinished to enjoy them.
Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
How much does it cost? $1,699 (with 1TB SSD) / £2,099 (with 2TB SSD)/ AU$TBC
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK
At $1,699 in the US, the latest 2025 revision of the Asus Zenbook Duo is actually remarkable value when you consider that you're getting dual OLED and a high-end version of Intel's latest Arrow Lake laptop CPU, plus 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
It's definitely a lot of mobile machine for the money. The £2,099 price in the UK looks like conspicuously poor value by comparison. That works out to $2,650, or thereabouts. Admittedly, the UK price includes 20% sales tax and you're also getting the 2TB SSD on the UK version as reviewed here as opposed to the 1TB of the cheaper US model. But there's still around $500 that's gone missing in the translation from US to UK pricing.
All of which means that in the US the Zenbook Duo 2025 compares well with the likes of a high-spec conventional laptop like a Dell XPS 13 with the options maxed out, which is impressive, while in the UK you're paying a very notable premium for the two-screen experience, more's the pity.
Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Specs
The Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) currently comes in one configuration in the US and one in the UK. Further configurations should follow soon.
Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Design
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
Without question, the design and features of the Asus Zenbook Duo OLED (2025) really stand out. But, actually, it's those dual OLED panels that really shine.
The screens are identical 14-inch OLED panels with 2,880 x 1,800 pixels each, a peak HDR brightness of 500 nits and simply eye-popping visuals. They also run at up to 120Hz, which is important not just for things like scrolling around web pages and documents, but also for ensuring that the touch input with the bundled Asus Zenpen 2 is responsive, precise and lag free.
Along with the main chassis you also get a clip-in wireless keyboard. Snapped into place, the Asus Zenbook Duo 2025 looks like a pretty conventional laptop, albeit a slightly portly machine compared to your usual thin-and-light machine. At over 1.6kg (3.5 lbs), it's also heavier than many 15-inch systems, such as a MacBook Air 15.
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
Still, the key strokes feel much better than you'd expect for a clip-in board and it works wirelessly when you detach it, enabling all manner of intriguing ergonomic setups when combined with the dual screens.
Anyway, the basic form factor does come with some compromises. But it's also beautifully put together with a lush alloy chassis, a very sturdy feeling hinge, plus a kickstand on the bottom slice that allows you to prop both screens up vertically.
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
That's absolutely fabulous for some use cases, for instance running collaboration software, such as Slack or Teams or whatever video conferencing platform you use on the top screen and your documents and apps on the bottom screen. Going back to a single-screen laptop once you get used to the Zenbook Duo feels awfully constraining, that's for sure.
Asus has also located a Thunderbolt port on both sides of the chassis, which is a welcome change from the otherwise physically pretty similar 2024 model that placed both ports on the same side. You also get a full-sized HDMI port and a headphone jack. This 2025 model has also been upgraded to Wi-Fi 7, so the lack of an ethernet socket is even less of an issue than before.
Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Performance
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
Cramming the latest Intel Arrow Lake CPU under an OLED screen was never going to be a recipe for absolutely peak performance. But it's not just any Arrow Lake chip in this case, but the top spec Intel Core Ultra 9 285H CPU with 16 cores. Overall, this is a very powerful processor, though as an Arrow Lake model as opposed to Lunar Lake, it has a relatively weak NPU that doesn't qualify for Windows Copilot+ AI assistant functionality, which is a bit of a frustration.
Indeed, there is a very strong case for this laptop being better suited all round to that Lunar Lake chip with its lower power footprint. The Zenbook Duo (2025) gets pretty toasty even under very light load and the fans are frequently audible. That said, with all cores ignited, this is a powerful portable with plenty of grunt for all but the most demanding tasks. Just expect some thermal throttling if you really lean on those CPU cores for long periods.
Asus Zenbook Duo (2025): Benchmarks - Laptops only
Here's how the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Night Raid: 30787; Fire Strike: 8004; Time Spy: 3800
Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm: 15.951ms average frame time
PCMark 10 Battery Life: 8 hours and 29 minutes
The Intel Arc 140T graphics is also pretty speedy for an integrated GPU. Don't expect desktop-class gaming performance. But you can get a reasonable experience in most games at 1080p, albeit you'll typically have to turn down a fair few settings.
The two OLED panels are also pretty much impeccable and offer a fabulous viewing experience, with good pixel density and fantastic colors and response. Rated at 400 nits, both screens are essentially identical and run at up to 120Hz for responsive touch input. In hardware terms, those screens are stunning.
The problems come with the software and interface ergonomics. Windows 11 simply isn't well optimized for touch and while the Asus ScreenXpert software is absolutely crammed with features, tools and widgets for every possible need, there's a steep initial learning curve getting used to both the various gestures for doing things like expanding windows across the two screen, bringing up items like the the various virtual keyboards and trackpads, and then getting app-specific toolbars setup and optimized.
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
Even when you have got a setup that you're happy with, it can feel a little flaky as various items, for instance, can occasionally be obscured by the taskbar, touch controls can be unresponsive and some elements are well thought through. You'll also notice little oddities, like the top screen only dimming slightly for a while before both screens shut down to save power.
After the initial delight of using a five finger gesture to expand a webpage across two screens fades, then, you're left with an interface that can feel slightly like quite hard work. Moreover, the core dual-screen experience using the lower screen as a keyboard and trackpad is no substitute for physical input devices. You're going to want to take that clip-on keyboard with you. The upsides, of course, involve a wealth of ergonomic options no normal laptop can match.
Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Battery life
Battery life can be a concern with any single-screen OLED laptop, but with two screens? Yikes. Actually, the Zenbook Duo (2025) probably outperforms expectations.
In PCMark 10's web test with the screens set to half brightness at the full 120Hz, the Zenbook soldiered on for eight and a half hours. Set the screens to 60Hz and merely watch some video and you may well see the Zenbook sail past the 10 hour mark.
For sure, conventional laptops can last longer. But that's still a very good result and makes for usable near-enough all day battery life.
Should I buy the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025)?
Buy it if...
You love that dual-screen setup
The dual OLED screens allow for use cases that make it very hard to go back to a conventional single-screen laptop.
You like touch input
The Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) two OLED panels are both touch enabled and 120Hz, making for an unbeatable touch experience.
You like quality engineering
The Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) is beautifully put together and very nicely designed. The clip-in keyboard is a delight, too.
Don't buy it if...
You want a thin-and-light laptop
The Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) isn't a brick. But there are certainly much thinner and lighter laptops with similar performance available for less money.
You're expecting a fully polished experience
Windows 11 itself isn't terribly well optimized for touch and the extras Asus has added including gestures and tools can be a bit hit and miss.
You want maximum battery life
The Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) isn't a disaster when it comes to battery life. But if that's a high priority, there are laptops available for less that last longer.
Also Consider
If our Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...
Dell XPS 13 2025
The latest Dell XPS 13 (2025) brings Intel's Lunar Lake chips to the iconic laptop line, delivering truly all-day battery life and strong performance across the board in a sleek and stylish MacBook-esque design.
With the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8, Lenovo has nailed it thanks to its elevated design, speedy performance, and wonderful elements like a stunning OLED screen and a stylus included – all for a very competitive price.
I used the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) as my at-home and on-the-go machine for doing almost everything for a week. That means everything from basic web browsing to watching brain-rot content on YouTube and the usual collab' tools and video conferencing. Oh, and getting more serious work done including image editing.
The latter was particularly interesting given the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025)'s dual touch screens and funky interface tools. That said, it was actually more mundane tasks, namely video conferencing and general work collaboration where the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) really shines. Once you've got used to having a spare screen to have those tools running while retaining a primary display for your other actual work, you won't want to go back to a single-screen laptop.
I essay that having been a laptop geek for about 20 years and assessing them professionally for about 15. Most laptops don't move the game on or make you think that you might actually need it in your life. The Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) is far from perfect, but it's novel enough to do just that.
If ever there were a tale of two halves, it's the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025). This dual-screen laptop-megatablet offers some of the most impressive mobile hardware currently available. It absolutely holds its ground with any of the very best laptops you can buy in 2025 in that regard.
That starts with its cutting-edge Intel Arrow Lake CPU, but just like last year's 2024 model, this revised-for-2025 device really centers on its beautifully built chassis containing dual 14-inch OLED touchscreens, plus a clever wireless clip-on keyboard and a kickstand that adds an additional ergonomic flourish.
Yes, there are compromises in terms of the pure hardware. The otherwise similar best touchscreen laptops in 2025 offer a slimmer and lighter form factor, plus better battery life and outright performance. There are thermal limitations with this kind of design. But Asus has clearly put in some serious engineering legwork to realize this remarkable machine.
Then there's the software side of the equation. For starters, Windows 11 has never been well optimized for touch input and a system like this only serves to highlight that shortcoming. Then there's Asus' own suite of touch optimized apps and features, all designed to make the most of the extraordinary dual-screen hardware.
You can see what Asus is trying to do, including a highly modular and user configurable touch control interface that in theory can be set up to suit almost any preference. You even get ready-made configurations for specific apps, be that content creation or media consumption.
However, in practice the learning curve is extremely steep, and even once you've scaled that peak, the results are a little patchy and a touch buggy. A slick, fully polished touch experience this ultimately is not. There's a slight vibe of concept hardware or a design study going on here despite this 2025 model being a second generation product.
Some of that is thanks to Windows itself as ever being half baked, some of it is surely down to Asus. In the end, the reasons don't matter, the result is at least occasional frustration. That doesn't make the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) unbuyable, but especially for a machine this expensive it does make for some significant caveats.
If you're willing to put up with some pain, there are rewards to be had. This system can do things that a conventional laptop can't dream of. But in return you'll have to accept aspects that feel clunky and unfinished to enjoy them.
Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
How much does it cost? $1,699 (with 1TB SSD) / £2,099 (with 2TB SSD)/ AU$TBC
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK
At $1,699 in the US, the latest 2025 revision of the Asus Zenbook Duo is actually remarkable value when you consider that you're getting dual OLED and a high-end version of Intel's latest Arrow Lake laptop CPU, plus 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
It's definitely a lot of mobile machine for the money. The £2,099 price in the UK looks like conspicuously poor value by comparison. That works out to $2,650, or thereabouts. Admittedly, the UK price includes 20% sales tax and you're also getting the 2TB SSD on the UK version as reviewed here as opposed to the 1TB of the cheaper US model. But there's still around $500 that's gone missing in the translation from US to UK pricing.
All of which means that in the US the Zenbook Duo 2025 compares well with the likes of a high-spec conventional laptop like a Dell XPS 13 with the options maxed out, which is impressive, while in the UK you're paying a very notable premium for the two-screen experience, more's the pity.
Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Specs
The Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) currently comes in one configuration in the US and one in the UK. Further configurations should follow soon.
Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Design
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
Without question, the design and features of the Asus Zenbook Duo OLED (2025) really stand out. But, actually, it's those dual OLED panels that really shine.
The screens are identical 14-inch OLED panels with 2,880 x 1,800 pixels each, a peak HDR brightness of 500 nits and simply eye-popping visuals. They also run at up to 120Hz, which is important not just for things like scrolling around web pages and documents, but also for ensuring that the touch input with the bundled Asus Zenpen 2 is responsive, precise and lag free.
Along with the main chassis you also get a clip-in wireless keyboard. Snapped into place, the Asus Zenbook Duo 2025 looks like a pretty conventional laptop, albeit a slightly portly machine compared to your usual thin-and-light machine. At over 1.6kg (3.5 lbs), it's also heavier than many 15-inch systems, such as a MacBook Air 15.
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
Still, the key strokes feel much better than you'd expect for a clip-in board and it works wirelessly when you detach it, enabling all manner of intriguing ergonomic setups when combined with the dual screens.
Anyway, the basic form factor does come with some compromises. But it's also beautifully put together with a lush alloy chassis, a very sturdy feeling hinge, plus a kickstand on the bottom slice that allows you to prop both screens up vertically.
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
That's absolutely fabulous for some use cases, for instance running collaboration software, such as Slack or Teams or whatever video conferencing platform you use on the top screen and your documents and apps on the bottom screen. Going back to a single-screen laptop once you get used to the Zenbook Duo feels awfully constraining, that's for sure.
Asus has also located a Thunderbolt port on both sides of the chassis, which is a welcome change from the otherwise physically pretty similar 2024 model that placed both ports on the same side. You also get a full-sized HDMI port and a headphone jack. This 2025 model has also been upgraded to Wi-Fi 7, so the lack of an ethernet socket is even less of an issue than before.
Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Performance
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
Cramming the latest Intel Arrow Lake CPU under an OLED screen was never going to be a recipe for absolutely peak performance. But it's not just any Arrow Lake chip in this case, but the top spec Intel Core Ultra 9 285H CPU with 16 cores. Overall, this is a very powerful processor, though as an Arrow Lake model as opposed to Lunar Lake, it has a relatively weak NPU that doesn't qualify for Windows Copilot+ AI assistant functionality, which is a bit of a frustration.
Indeed, there is a very strong case for this laptop being better suited all round to that Lunar Lake chip with its lower power footprint. The Zenbook Duo (2025) gets pretty toasty even under very light load and the fans are frequently audible. That said, with all cores ignited, this is a powerful portable with plenty of grunt for all but the most demanding tasks. Just expect some thermal throttling if you really lean on those CPU cores for long periods.
Asus Zenbook Duo (2025): Benchmarks - Laptops only
Here's how the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Night Raid: 30787; Fire Strike: 8004; Time Spy: 3800
Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm: 15.951ms average frame time
PCMark 10 Battery Life: 8 hours and 29 minutes
The Intel Arc 140T graphics is also pretty speedy for an integrated GPU. Don't expect desktop-class gaming performance. But you can get a reasonable experience in most games at 1080p, albeit you'll typically have to turn down a fair few settings.
The two OLED panels are also pretty much impeccable and offer a fabulous viewing experience, with good pixel density and fantastic colors and response. Rated at 400 nits, both screens are essentially identical and run at up to 120Hz for responsive touch input. In hardware terms, those screens are stunning.
The problems come with the software and interface ergonomics. Windows 11 simply isn't well optimized for touch and while the Asus ScreenXpert software is absolutely crammed with features, tools and widgets for every possible need, there's a steep initial learning curve getting used to both the various gestures for doing things like expanding windows across the two screen, bringing up items like the the various virtual keyboards and trackpads, and then getting app-specific toolbars setup and optimized.
(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)
Even when you have got a setup that you're happy with, it can feel a little flaky as various items, for instance, can occasionally be obscured by the taskbar, touch controls can be unresponsive and some elements are well thought through. You'll also notice little oddities, like the top screen only dimming slightly for a while before both screens shut down to save power.
After the initial delight of using a five finger gesture to expand a webpage across two screens fades, then, you're left with an interface that can feel slightly like quite hard work. Moreover, the core dual-screen experience using the lower screen as a keyboard and trackpad is no substitute for physical input devices. You're going to want to take that clip-on keyboard with you. The upsides, of course, involve a wealth of ergonomic options no normal laptop can match.
Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Battery life
Battery life can be a concern with any single-screen OLED laptop, but with two screens? Yikes. Actually, the Zenbook Duo (2025) probably outperforms expectations.
In PCMark 10's web test with the screens set to half brightness at the full 120Hz, the Zenbook soldiered on for eight and a half hours. Set the screens to 60Hz and merely watch some video and you may well see the Zenbook sail past the 10 hour mark.
For sure, conventional laptops can last longer. But that's still a very good result and makes for usable near-enough all day battery life.
Should I buy the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025)?
Buy it if...
You love that dual-screen setup
The dual OLED screens allow for use cases that make it very hard to go back to a conventional single-screen laptop.
You like touch input
The Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) two OLED panels are both touch enabled and 120Hz, making for an unbeatable touch experience.
You like quality engineering
The Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) is beautifully put together and very nicely designed. The clip-in keyboard is a delight, too.
Don't buy it if...
You want a thin-and-light laptop
The Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) isn't a brick. But there are certainly much thinner and lighter laptops with similar performance available for less money.
You're expecting a fully polished experience
Windows 11 itself isn't terribly well optimized for touch and the extras Asus has added including gestures and tools can be a bit hit and miss.
You want maximum battery life
The Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) isn't a disaster when it comes to battery life. But if that's a high priority, there are laptops available for less that last longer.
Also Consider
If our Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...
Dell XPS 13 2025
The latest Dell XPS 13 (2025) brings Intel's Lunar Lake chips to the iconic laptop line, delivering truly all-day battery life and strong performance across the board in a sleek and stylish MacBook-esque design.
With the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8, Lenovo has nailed it thanks to its elevated design, speedy performance, and wonderful elements like a stunning OLED screen and a stylus included – all for a very competitive price.
I used the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) as my at-home and on-the-go machine for doing almost everything for a week. That means everything from basic web browsing to watching brain-rot content on YouTube and the usual collab' tools and video conferencing. Oh, and getting more serious work done including image editing.
The latter was particularly interesting given the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025)'s dual touch screens and funky interface tools. That said, it was actually more mundane tasks, namely video conferencing and general work collaboration where the Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) really shines. Once you've got used to having a spare screen to have those tools running while retaining a primary display for your other actual work, you won't want to go back to a single-screen laptop.
I essay that having been a laptop geek for about 20 years and assessing them professionally for about 15. Most laptops don't move the game on or make you think that you might actually need it in your life. The Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) is far from perfect, but it's novel enough to do just that.
With so many laptops hitting the scene at the moment, Acer has thrown it’s hat in the ring with the Acer Swift 14 AI. This mighty laptop has swept me off of my feet almost immediately and could very well be a contender for one of the best laptops on the market right now.
Boasting a gorgeous OLED screen, I was stunned by the visuals I was getting when watching videos or editing pictures. You also get a great battery life which will last you all day when working and with some juice left in the tank afterwards. While it didn’t live up to the 17 hours claimed by Acer, it came in pretty close at 14 hours. I took some issues with the design because it just felt a bit clunky, but this is something that you likely wouldn’t notice unless you were specifically looking for issues.
Coming in at $1,199 / £899 / AU$1,899 (currently on sale in the UK), this laptop is on the pricier side, with similar alternatives also coming in around this price point. However, when factoring in the sale price, I am genuinely gobsmacked that you’re able to get a laptop of this quality in terms of both hardware and performance, for less than £900 ($1,200).
Acer Swift 14 AI: Price and availability
How much does it cost? $1,199 / £899 / AU$1,899
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The Acer Swift 14 AI comes in at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$1,899, which is definitely not a budget-friendly option when it comes to laptops, however you get some very good specifications for this price point. You can currently pick it up in most regions. It’s on sale at Currys in the UK at the moment, with the Intel edition sitting at a much more affordable £899. On the US side of the map, you can pick it up on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and other similar retailers.
Alternatives on the market include the Asus Zenbook A14, which has similar specs and also features an OLED screen. It sits at a higher price point of $1,399.99, though. Another alternative is the Apple MacBook Air 2024 edition, which features the M3 chip and comes in at $1,199. This makes the Acer Swift 14 AI a great option to pick up while it's on sale, but it’s still decent value when it's not.
Value: 5 / 5
Acer Swift 14 AI: Specs
You can get an Intel or a Qualcomm version of the Acer Swift 14 AI. In the UK these are the same price, however the sale over at Currys only applies to the Intel version, which does make the Qualcomm one more expensive. Elsewhere in the world, you’ll also spend more on the Qualcomm edition as it can deliver more power. All of the rest of the specifications are the same.
As of right now, you can’t configure these specifications, however considering everything other than the processor is identical it doesn’t seem like you’d need to. The Acer website does state that this laptop comes with up to 32GB of RAM suggesting that other configurations may be in the works.
Acer Swift 14 AI: Design
(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)
When first unboxing the Acer Swift 14 AI, I was somewhat underwhelmed. While it is housed in a high quality and sturdy chassis, it doesn’t have any particular flare in terms of design. It weighs in at 1.28kg (2.82 lbs), which is definitely lightweight, but not the lightest option on the market with the Asus Zenbook 14 coming in at under a kilogram (2.2 lbs).
Something that particularly irked me when using this laptop was the fact that the edges weren’t rounded off properly which made it feel a bit clunky. You’ll also find a slightly thicker bezel around the webcam which again subtracts from the sleekness of the design. However, the Acer Swift 14 AI is 1.49cm (0.59 inches) thick, which keeps it slimline. It’s easy to stick in a backpack or sleeve and take on the go with you.
You get two USB-C ports, either can be used for charging. You also get two USB-A ports which is greatly appreciated. As someone who uses a range of peripherals, whether it be a USB headset, keyboard, mouse or extra monitors, I found there were enough ports for me to use this laptop as part of my workstation, just about. You also get an HDMI port.
The chassis of this laptop is made of metal rather than plastic like some other lightweight alternatives making for a more premium feel. The keyboard is very low profile, making for satisfying key presses. You’ll find that the keys are the same texture as the rest of the laptop too rather than being made from plastic which again contributes to the higher quality feeling.
Design: 4 / 5
Acer Swift 14 AI: Performance
(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)
Using the Acer Swift 14 AI did feel like a bit of a step down from the Asus Zenbook A14 I just tested, however at £200 less this is to be expected. Using it on the go wasn’t as satisfying as my typical MacBook Air despite it being a similar size and weight, with it feeling more clunky when putting it in my bag.
When booting up the laptop, I was stunned by the screen. The 2K OLED panel is gorgeous and makes for a fantastic experience when watching videos or movies. For creatives who design graphics or video assets, seeing the screen bring your creations to life through color is amazing. With most laptops being able to deliver great performance, they now have to stand out with other features and the OLED screen does a great job of this.
Acer Swift 14 AI: Benchmarks - Gaming laptops only
Here's how the Acer Swift 14 AI performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Night Raid: 36616 ; Fire Strike: 8898 ; Time Spy: 4438
While this laptop isn’t made for intensive tasks, I still put it to the test. Things like basic photo and video editing on Abode Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro worked absolutely fine, and while Premiere Pro did feel a bit sluggish, it was by no means unusable. Taxing 3D animation is certainly off the table here but using this laptop for standard everyday productivity is perfectly fine.
I was sure to try multitasking here too, with a range of programs open at once and to my surprise, it functioned quite well even with just 16GB of RAM. Even being in a video call while also creating a PowerPoint and watching a video, the laptop didn’t stutter at all. This felt like a decent upgrade from my old Macbook Air which immediately starts whining when I open a second Chrome tab.
Even when using this laptop on the go, it stayed very quiet which was great. One of my biggest fears is booting up my MacBook on a train and its begins to sound like a rocket taking off, and I never had to worry about that with the Acer Swift 14 AI.
Of course you get the benefits of CoPilot+ with this laptop too but for me this is no longer a standout feature and instead just expected.
Performance: 5 / 5
Acer Swift 14 AI: Battery life
When using the Acer Swift 14 AI in my day to day life I found that the battery life was pretty impressive. It wasn’t a device you could go days without charging by any means, but you could certainly get through a full workday and still have some battery left over at the end of the day.
Acer claim that this laptop boasts 17 hours of battery life and our testing came in pretty close…but no cigar, at 14 hours of continuous video playback - which is obviously not how many people will be using their device on a day-to-day basis.
Battery life: 4 / 5
Should I buy the Acer Swift 14 AI?
Buy it if...
You want a slightly more affordable laptop
Currently on sale to £899 ($1,199), the Acer Swift 14 AI delivers the same performance as higher priced alternativesView Deal
You want good battery life
You can easily work all day and have battery left over. View Deal
You want to be able to multitask
The laptop will happily run multiple programs at once without stuttering or slowing downView Deal
Don't buy it if...
You want something easy and satisfying to travel with
Despite being thin and lightweight, the design leads to a clunky feeling device. View Deal
You want something with a lot of processing power
While this device is powerful, it won’t be able to undertake super intensive tasksView Deal
You want a device you can game on
This laptop is just not made for gaming and while you likely could play some titles on here, they wouldn’t be the best performanceView Deal
Also Consider
If our Acer Swift 14 AI review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...
Asus Zenbook A14
If you’re looking for a premium option that's lightweight and easy to take with you on the go then the Asus Zenbook A14 is the laptop for you. You still get the stunning OLED display and a powerful processor with even better portability. It does come with a slight price tag increase, though.
If you want a laptop that's capable of performing more intensive tasks like 3D Animation or heavy video rendering then the M4 Pro processor in the Apple Macbook Pro is going to help you out more.
I spent two weeks using the Acer Swift 14 AI as my every day laptop for work and leisure. I was sure to use the device all day for my typical work day, and then also watched videos, movies and browsed social media on it in the evenings. I took it on the go with me to different locations where I needed to work to see how it would feel outside of my workstation. As well as using it every day I also benchmarked the laptop using a range of different benchmarking software.
Despite it only being February, Asus has already had it’s fair share of laptops revealed this year. From the brand new Asus Zenbook Duo showcased at CES, down to the shiny ROG Ally gaming lines, it’s clear that Asus has been busy in the workshop. The Asus Zenbook A14 is no stranger to the limelight, and this new 2025 edition could just be the best Asus laptop you can pick up right now if not one of the best laptops on the market.
Coming in at less than a kilo, the Asus Zenbook A14 is extremely lightweight, to the point I often forgot it was in my backpack making it a great laptop to use on the go. Despite being so small, you also get an impressive battery life with Asus promising up to 32 hours of video playback, which although the laptop didn’t quite live up to, the battery was still pretty impressive.
While you can find other laptops which can provide you with a similar performance at a cheaper price point, the Asus Zenbook A14 also features a stunning display which makes using this device to watch movies an absolute pleasure.
However, with great performance and some amazing features comes a high price point. If you’re not ready to splash the cash with a price point of $1,399.99 / £1,099.99 / AU$2,899, then this might not be the right one for you.
Asus Zenbook A14: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)
How much does it cost? $1,399.99 / £1,099.99 / AU$2,899
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
You can currently pick up the Asus Zenbook A14 in most regions, though certain configurations are not available in the US. Sitting at a pretty steep $1,399.99, it’s definitely a premium option in the world of productivity laptops. It’s currently on sale in the UK, coming down to just £1,099.99 over at the Asus website, but still costing above the £1,000 mark, there’s no doubt the Asus Zenbook A14 is expensive.
Alternatives on the market at this price point include the Apple MacBook Air 2024 edition, which features the M3 chip and comes in at $1199. You can also pick up the Microsoft Surface Laptop which comes in at around $1,099 for 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD, while it doesn’t have a flashy OLED screen, the specs are very similar for $200 less.
Value: 3 / 5
Asus Zenbook A14: Specs
The Asus Zenbook A14 comes in 2 configurations, with the main difference being the CPU. You can also opt for different RAM options, but overall you’ll find a major leap in the performance of the higher specification laptop compared to the more budget friendly option. Either way, you get your hands on an absolutely stunning display and lightweight chassis.
As of right now, while the second model is listed on the Asus website, no retailers are stocking it and no prices are shown just yet.
As of right now, you can’t adjust each of these specification options individually. If you want the SnapdragonX X1 with 32GB of RAM, then you’re out of luck. It’s also worth noting that the memory in the laptops is maxed out too, so if you pick up a model with 16GB of RAM, you can’t add more yourself.
Asus Zenbook A14: Design
(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)
When first unboxing the laptop, the packaging already blew me away. Coming in an ultra-thin, lightweight box, I originally wasn’t even sure there was anything in it because of how light the laptop is. When picking it up and moving it around, the laptop felt more like an iPad or tablet in terms of thickness and weight. Measuring in at just 1.34cm (0.53 in) thick, the Asus Zenbook 14 was practically thinner than my fingertip, and while my current Macbook Air is thinner at 1.13cm (0.44 in), the Zenbook actually felt lighter and smaller thanks to the smooth casing.
While being sleek and stunning, the aluminum casing on the laptop does feel somewhat like plastic making for a seemingly cheap finish. You can pick up the laptop in a Zabriskie Beige, which we tested, or an Iceland Gray. Looking back, I would have opted for the Gray version instead as the beige somewhat resembles the color of recycled cardboard.
The keyboard is very low profile but still makes for satisfying key presses with large spaced-out buttons to prevent too much fat fingering when typing. You also get a large, smooth trackpad which has a range of alternative functions built into the edges such as increasing the volume and brightness.
You get a few ports on the Asus Zenbook A14, including one USB-A port, two USB-C ports, a HDMI port and an audio jack. While this is a decent amount of ports by modern laptop standards, it certainly wasn’t enough for me when plugging in peripherals such as a mouse, USB headset, extra monitors etc. I used a USB extender most of the time I used the laptop. I preferably would have had an extra USB-A port.
Design: 4 / 5
Asus Zenbook A14: Performance
(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)
Generally, using the Asus Zenbook A14 has been a great experience and I’m actually disappointed that my review period with it is coming to an end. Right off the bat, having a laptop this lightweight is such a pleasure, I can take it anywhere with me and don’t have to think twice. Often I get frustrated taking my laptop on the go due to the weight and impending back pains but I didn’t feel that for a second with this device.
When actually booting up the Zenbook, the first thing I noticed was how beautiful the screen was. The OLED panel is beyond spectacular and watching movies or videos on this thing was great. Given how similar specifications for laptops can be nowadays, the main standout for me is when a device can deliver power as well as some flashy features, and the OLED screen does just that.
Asus Zenbook A14: Benchmarks - Laptops only
Here's how the Asus Zenbook A14 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark:Night Raid: 16215; Fire Strike: 3606; Time Spy Extreme: 507
While the Asus Zenbook A14 didn’t deliver the best score in our Time Spy Extreme test, this device obviously isn’t made for gaming or high intensive processes. If you’re intending to complete pro level tasks on your laptop, like 4K video rendering, then this probably isn’t the laptop for you. I did attempt some editing on Photoshop while also being in a video call on Teams and the device didn’t stutter even for a second, which was a breath of fresh air from my Macbook Air which starts screeching if I open too many Chrome tabs at once.
Even when having a load of different programs open at once, or while putting the laptop through its paces during benchmarking, it stayed extremely quiet the whole time. At first I was worried it wasn’t cooling very efficiently but it stayed at a reasonable temperature while also being quiet enough for me to barely hear it - it's a great choice if you don’t want to disturb everyone around you while you use your laptop on a train or plane.
Performance: 5 / 5
Asus Zenbook A14: Battery life
One of the main selling points of the Asus Zenbook A14 is the battery life, with Asus claiming 32 hours of video playback on one charge and I have to say it definitely felt like I was able to stretch the battery out of this thing. Despite using it every day for work and then watching movies and videos on it in the evening, a single charge would last a couple of days easily.
In my PCMark 10 battery life test, I found that despite turning off the lighting on the keyboard, it would sometimes come back on periodically. I would then turn it back off with the tap of the F4 key, however this does make me believe that I probably could have gotten some more usage time out of the device had this not happened. My TechRadar movie test felt a bit more accurate thanks to the lighting staying off, coming in at over 22 hours.
While neither of these scores stack up to the promised 32 hours, when not using the laptop with constant video playback, it's clear that you’ll get your money’s worth out of the battery.
Battery: 4 / 5
Should I buy the Asus Zenbook A14?
Buy it if...
You want a long-lasting battery
You can comfortably use this laptop for days at a time without needing to charge it.
You need something portable
Weighing less than a Kilo, this laptop is perfect for taking on the go with you.
You want stunning visuals
The OLED panel is beyond beautiful, and makes watching movies and videos a great experience.
Don't buy it if...
You want a powerhouse of a machine
While you do get excellent performance here, this laptop is not designed for heavy duty usage like intensive gaming or video rendering.
You need a load of ports
There are some ports on the Zenbook A14, but there definitely aren’t enough here to power a whole set up without some USB extenders
You’re on a budget
While you do get the performance and features to back up the price here, the Asus Zenbook A14 is by no means cheap.
Also Consider
If our Asus Zenbook A14 review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...
Apple Macbook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024)
If you’re on the hunt for a more powerful device that can handle more intensive tasks like video rendering or 3D animation then the Apple Macbook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) could be the one for you thanks to its meaty M4 Pro processor.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a device that can handle some pretty intense gaming, then the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is likely a better option. Hosting a AMD Radeon RX 7600S 8GB GPU.
I spent two weeks using the Asus Zenbook A14, replacing my typical laptop for everyday usage. I used the laptop for productivity including work purposes as well as leisure and entertainment like watching videos and movies.On top of typical everyday usage, I benchmarked the laptop using a wide range of software such as 3DMark, Geekbench and PC Mark.
Dell's XPS 13 laptop line has been kicking about for quite a while now, and it's come a long way. The XPS brand debuted more than two decades ago, with the very first XPS laptop launching back in 2007; needless to say, the latest iteration of the Dell XPS 13 looks and feels far more modern, sharing very little DNA with that first XPS laptop, and it's (almost) flawless.
Sporting the same sleek design we saw in the 2024 Dell XPS 13 with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip, the new model basically takes everything that laptop did and does it better, thanks to new Lunar Lake processors from Intel. In our review model, that's the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, which delivers staggeringly good battery life and a general uptick in performance over the Snapdragon model.
When I say staggeringly good, I do mean staggeringly good – I'll get into the details later in this review, but in our video playback test the Lunar Lake XPS 13 clocked in just shy of 24 hours, beating most of the machines on our current list of the best laptops. In terms of general use, it can literally go for days without a charge if you're just doing basic tasks like word processing and answering emails. It feels like a giant middle finger from Dell and Intel to the MacBook Air's generational drops in battery life, and I'm so here for it.
(Image credit: Future)
Performance-wise, things are a bit less impressive, but still basically excellent. The laptop ran smoothly no matter what I threw at it, and overall performance in my benchmarking tests exceeded that offered by the previous Snapdragon-powered XPS 13 – and many other laptops at this price point.
Speaking of price, I should probably clarify right now that this isn't a cheap laptop; our review unit is priced at $1,999.99 / £2,049 / AU$3,998.50, placing it squarely in 'premium ultrabook' territory. Still, it delivers great value for money when you look at the specs and performance, with an absolutely gorgeous OLED display
The only reason this isn't an immediate five-star review is the fact that Dell hasn't resolved some issues with the design that I've noticed in previous models, dating back to the 2023 Dell XPS 13 Plus. These are mainly related to usability and accessibility; while the design looks incredible, the edgeless touchpad and lack of physical Fn keys hurt the laptop's functionality a little, stopping it from achieving perfection.
Despite these niggling issues, the new XPS 13 is still an absolutely fantastic laptop that I'd happily use for the next five years or more – how do you feel about letting me keep this one, Dell?
Dell XPS 13: Price and availability
How much does it cost? Starts at $1,199.99 / £1,399 / AU$3,198.80
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
There are multiple configurations of the 2nd-gen Intel Core Ultra version of the XPS 13, with prices starting at $1,199.99 / £1,399 / AU$3,198.80 for the non-touchscreen model. In a strange twist, the Core Ultra 5 configuration is actually $50 moreexpensive in the US for no discernible reason; elsewhere, that's the cheapest model.
You'll likely at least want a touchscreen and a Core Ultra 7 processor to get the full experience from this laptop, which is what our review unit offers, and that model checks in at a cool $1,999.99 / £2,049 / AU$3,998.50 – certainly not inexpensive, but about par for the course for premium ultrabooks. It is notably more expensive than the latest M3 MacBook Air, which is almost a year old now – in other words, macOS fans likely won't be making the switch to Windows 11 based on this review.
The top-end configuration of the Dell XPS 13 will cost you $2,349.99 / £2,634 / AU$4,899.40, and offers an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V chip, 32GB of RAM, 2TB of SSD storage, and the same lovely 3K OLED touchscreen in my review model.
Price score: 4/5
Dell XPS 13: Specs
Dell XPS 13: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Lightweight but sturdy
Looks fantastic
Still has some accessibility issues
Aesthetically speaking, Dell didn't need to change a thing for this new iteration of the XPS 13: it's still rocking the same sleek chassis as last year's model, combining a modern style with a robust traditional clamshell design in either Platinum (featured here) or Graphite colorways.
The screen is the star of the show here: my review unit has the top-spec 3K (2880 x 1800) InfinityEdge OLED touch display, and it's glorious. Colors are bright and vivid, contrast is deep, and picture quality is generally very sharp and detailed. Even in more demanding tests that battered the frame rate a bit (like 3DMark's Time Spy benchmark), it looked magnificent.
The keyboard feels great to type on, with a decent amount of key travel and a satisfying bounce despite the super-thin chassis (it measures just 1.48cm in total thickness), and the cool backlighting makes it easy to use in low-light conditions. Naturally, it features a dedicated Copilot key as well as a fingerprint scanner integrated into the power button.
Unfortunately, I have the aforementioned beef with aspects of the keyboard and touchpad layout. The touchpad is 'invisible', integrated edgelessly into the palm rest, and while it's very responsive, and the palm rejection works perfectly, the lack of tactile edges is actually a little irritating in practice. While testing the XPS 13, I would sometimes unknowingly slide my fingertip past the edge of the pad's sensor range and try to click, to no avail.
These frustrations continue with the function bar above the keyboard, which is actually an LED-backlit touch bar that can swap seamlessly between traditional Fn keys and media keys when you hold down the Fn button. While this is a clever (and rather visually satisfying) solution, the lack of physical feedback is annoying, and in brightly-lit conditions – like working outside on a sunny day – these backlit 'keys' become virtually impossible to actually see. It's annoying, and both of these problems pose accessibility issues for sight-impaired users; not being able to feel a button or the edge of the touchpad with your finger would make using this laptop extremely difficult for a blind or partially-sighted person, even with screen reader tools.
(Image credit: Future)
The quad-array speakers and 1080p webcam are both very good – not the best I've ever seen, but perfectly capable of handling high-quality video calls and even playing music or videos out loud. I do generally recommend using a headset over integrated speakers when it comes to laptops (especially for gaming), but these do the job well. The webcam array also features an IR camera for facial recognition logins, although it lacks any sort of privacy shutter or kill switch, which would have been a nice inclusion for security-conscious users.
In terms of overall construction, this is one very sturdy laptop in spite of its thin-and-light design. The outer metal shell is scratch-resistant machined aluminum with a matte finish (though it does pick up fingerprints), and the internal plastic of the keyboard and palm rest feels durable too.
One downside to the overall design is the dearth of physical ports: you get two Thunderbolt 4 USB-Cs, and that's literally it. No USB-A, no Ethernet or video output (although those USB-C ports do support DisplayPort video), no microSD slot, not even a humble 3.5mm audio jack. I get it; USB-C is a great multipurpose connection standard, and this sort of port layout is increasingly common in modern ultrabooks, but if you need to use the laptop while it's plugged in, you're limited to just a single Thunderbolt port, which is a shame. Prepare to buy a USB-C hub if you're planning to connect a lot of devices to your XPS 13, basically.
Design score: 4/5
Dell XPS 13: Performance
Lunar Lake performs excellently
Copilot+ works as advertised
As expected, the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V in my XPS 13 review unit performs admirably, delivering strong performance in virtually every department, helped along by its hefty 32GB of DDR5 memory. It's truly mind-blowing to me how rapidly laptops have improved in the past decade. Speaking as someone who's been testing them for years, being able to play modern games on an ultralight compact laptop like this just feels unreal.
That said, this isn't a gaming laptop – though I'll discuss the graphical performance in a bit – so let's focus on what the XPS 13 is really for: everyday productivity. Across almost all of our synthetic benchmarks, it beats last year's Snapdragon X Elite model handily by a decent margin. Multi-core performance in Geekbench 6.4 was notably a bit weaker, but still good, while single-core performance was stronger.
Dell XPS 13 review: Benchmarks
Here's how the Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, 2024) performed in our suite of benchmark tests: 3DMark: Night Raid: 34,618; Fire Strike: 9,058; Time Spy: 4,407; Steel Nomad: 889 Cinebench R23: Multi-core: 8,494; Single-core: 1,874 Geekbench 6.4: Multicore: 11,001; Single-core: 2,716 Geekbench AI: Single Precision Score: 2,359; Half Precision Score: 1,217; Quantized Score: 4,811 PCMark 10: 6,827 Crossmark: Overall: 1,839; Productivity: 1,684; Creativity: 2,174; Responsiveness: 1,467 Sid Meier's Civilization VI: (1080p, Ultra): 65fps; (1080p, Low): 155fps Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 23 hours, 26 minutes
In any case, when it came to real-world use, I had zero problems. Opening 20 Chrome tabs and multitasking between them caused no slowdown, and the laptop boots up and wakes from sleep mode incredibly fast. General responsiveness and functionality were excellent. Dell's own pre-installed software is here, naturally, but it's mercifully quite unobtrusive – no bloatware here, besides the usual Windows 11 stuff.
Given that the Core Ultra 7 258V packs an Intel AI Boost neural processing unit (NPU), I put that to the test as well. In the Geekbench AI benchmark, it produced a quantized score of 4,811; a reasonable showing, but weak compared to a system with a discrete GPU for advanced AI processing. However, in practice, Windows Copilot worked quickly and effectively on the XPS 13.
The Dell XPS 13 handled everything I threw at it with relative calm, only spinning up its fans to any noticeable volume during the 3DMark rendering tests. In most tests, I heard barely a whisper from the fans, and general use was completely silent most of the time.
(Image credit: Future)
Intel's focus on power efficiency and thermal performance for the 2nd-gen Core Ultra chips has clearly paid off. The laptop barely got warm throughout my entire testing process – opting for a rear exhaust vent rather than the underside vents I often see on ultrabooks was a wise move from Dell, as it means using the laptop on a soft surface (like a duvet, or your own thighs) won't block any heat output.
When it comes to gaming, it's surprisingly viable on the XPS 13: toss in features like Intel XeSS upscaling (or AMD's open-source FSR 3.1), and you can reasonably play the vast majority of PC games on this laptop, even modern titles – just be aware that you'll probably need to tweak down some of the graphical settings in order to get a decent frame rate. This certainly isn't one of the best gaming laptops, but it'll happily stand up to a bit of casual gaming when the workday is done.
(Image credit: Future)
Performance score: 4.5/5
Dell XPS 13: Battery
You probably got this from me raving about the battery further up in this review, but wowzers. Yeah, never saying that again. Seriously though, the battery life on this thing is absurd, beating out virtually every other laptop I've tested. Dell promised 24-hour battery life, and I'll be damned if it didn't deliver.
Our battery test involves running a looped 1080p video clip with the laptop set to standard power efficiency mode in Windows 11, with Bluetooth off, the volume at zero, and brightness at 50%. Running on battery power, the XPS 13 shut down after 23 hours and 26 minutes of playback – if you were using it at minimum brightness with additional low-power modes enabled, you could probably stretch it even further.
Granted, this isn't indicative of everyday use; many people will want brightness set to maximum or Bluetooth turned on to support a mouse or headset (because, you know... not enough ports on this bad boy). Still, it's a phenomenal showing that batters most of the competition, and virtually guarantees that this laptop will see you through a full workday.
One thing I really value in a laptop battery is its ability to hold charge when turned off or in sleep mode, and the XPS 13 also excels in this area. After sitting on a desk for several days, unplugged and unused, I cracked it open and found it still had more than 50% battery. Thanks to Thunderbolt 4 power delivery, it also charges very fast, going from empty to 80%-plus in one hour when not in use.
Battery score: 5/5
Should you buy the Dell XPS 13?
Buy it if...
You need long battery life If you want your laptop to last through a full day's work and then some (or you're just prone to forgetting your charger), then Dell has you covered.
You want something lightweight but powerful With a thin chassis and low overall package weight, the XPS 13 is a compact powerhouse that doesn't skimp on performance for its lightweight design.
You want to use AI locally Intel’s Lunar Lake chips bring boosted NPU performance against previous models, so anyone who wants an ultrabook capable of running on-device AI tools should consider the XPS 13.
Don't buy it if...
You’re on a tight budget Even though it backs up its price tag with excellent performance and a strong spec sheet, there's no denying that the Dell XPS 13 is a pricey piece of hardware.
You're sight-impaired The edgeless touchpad and lack of tactile feedback on the function bar above the keyboard will prove to be a real issue for blind or partially-sighted users – this feels like a case of form over function.
You like plugging stuff in Two USB-Cs, Dell? That's all we get? A measly showing for physical connectivity, something that won't bother some users but will really irritate others.
Also Consider
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M3 is one of the best compact laptops on the market, and its performance is top-notch too – the XPS 13 beats it in some areas, but if you prefer macOS to Windows, this is the one to pick.
Dell XPS 17 (9730) If you want a powerful laptop but would prefer a larger display (and you're not overly concerned about portability), then the Dell XPS 17 is worth a look.
I used the Dell XPS 13 for a week, both for work and personal projects
I ran it through our full suite of benchmarks
I tested the battery using the TechRadar movie test as well as general use
As usual with laptops, my process for reviewing the Dell XPS 13 involved replacing my daily driver with it for a week (usually I'd like a little longer, but deadlines are deadlines). This helps me get a feel for how the laptop handles everyday workloads, as well as giving me a good amount of insight into the build quality and user experience.
Once I'd used the XPS 13 for a little while, I ran it through our grueling gauntlet of synthetic and real-world benchmarking tests, running every test at least three times to produce accurate averages.
Lastly, I always try to play some games on every laptop I review, and the XPS 13's performance genuinely surprised me – I was able to play Warframe and Elite Dangerous with few to no hiccups after a bit of tweaking in the graphical settings, although the demanding Black Myth: Wukong proved a bit much for the integrated graphics in this laptop.
The HP Chromebook Plus has a high-spec for this class of device, hoping to offer seamless performance whether you’re working, browsing, streaming, or gaming. Its two-tone dark grey and black color scheme does little to elevate its appearance, but it’s inoffensive enough to suit any situation. Its overall form is sleek, though, and the relative lightness and thinness are bonuses too.
What’s more, the build quality is high, thanks to its solid construction and premium feel to every surface, including the keys and trackpad. I also appreciated the thin side bezels around the display, letting it make full use of the space. It’s a small shame, though, that the lid doesn’t open particularly wide.
The port selection is not bad for a Chromebook, if a little sparse. However, it has most of the important interfaces that most users would need, including two USB-C ports either side that can both be used for charging, which is very convenient. However, it’s a little strange that they aren’t at the very rear of each side (the audio jack precedes the one on the left, while the USB-A port precedes the one on the right), but I’m nitpicking here. There’s also a microSD slot to round-out the line-up.
In use, the HP Chromebook Plus acquits itself very well. Navigating ChromeOS and using its various interface features, such as window switching, is a largely seamless experience. Productivity apps are handled with ease, although the cramped layout of the keyboard – caused by the inclusion of a number pad – did make typing trickier than with some of the best Chromebook devices, but I adapted somewhat after a while.
Streaming 4K video is within its grasp too, as is light multitasking. I was particularly surprised with its gaming performance, though, as it managed to run Asphalt Legends Unite with high graphics settings pretty much perfectly, which is impressive.
The display of the HP Chromebook Plus is another highlight. Although it might not offer the highest levels of brightness, it’s still perfectly clear, rendering color accurately and vibrantly no matter the viewing angle or lighting conditions.
Battery life is good, with the HP Chromebook Plus lasting close to 11 hours in our test. There are other Chromebooks that last longer, such as the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook, but considering its size and spec, it’s a valiant effort. It also charges relatively quickly.
The original list price of the HP Chromebook Plus is quite steep, but fortunately, we’ve seen it on offer for significantly less, which means it competes with some of the best Chromebooks on the market, like the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 and Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook. It might lack the portability and tablet functionality of these two, but it makes up for this omission with a large screen and great performance, which makes it worthy of your consideration.
HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
$549.99 / £449.99 / AU$749
Available now
Can be found for much less
The HP Chromebook Plus costs $549.99 / £449.99 / AU$749 and comes in one colorway. The unit I had was equipped with an Intel Core i3 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage, but it can also be configured with an Intel Celeron N4500 Processor and 4GB of RAM.
Despite its nominal price, we’ve seen it for considerably less when we’ve shopped around, sometimes by as much as half price, which brings it in-line with the more budget-friendly competition. This includes the Acer Chromebook Spin 314, which is the best Chromebook overall in our view, thanks to its great display and typing amenability.
There’s also the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook, which is our pick as the best Chromebook for those on a budget. Like the Spin 314, this Chromebook is also convertible, letting you fold it in half to use it like a tablet. However, neither can match the performance of the HP Chromebook Plus, nor are their screens as big, although some may prefer having a smaller device for greater portability.
Value: 4 / 5
HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review: Specs
My review unit of the HP Chromebook Plus was configured with 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core i3-N305 (8 threads, 3.80GHz)
HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Well built
Light and thin for its size
Slightly odd placement of USB-C ports
The HP Chromebook Plus adopts a fairly typical design, with a grey and black color scheme that looks more formal than some other Chromebooks. While it’s not the most exciting Chromebook to gawp at, it’s nice to know it’s made from sustainable materials, including recycled aluminum and plastic that otherwise might’ve ended up in the ocean.
What’s more, the high build quality reveals itself on close inspection. The whole body feels solid, yet it’s also quite light and thin for a device this size. It’s not as thin as some other Chromebooks or laptops, but given its 15.6-inch size, it’s relatively easy to carry around and travel with.
Every panel is excellently fitted too. It even comes close to rivalling some of the best MacBook Pro devices in terms of its finely machined construction. The keys follow the same trend, feeling premium to the touch, and tightly slotted with minimal play. The trackpad is smooth and covers a large surface area, which enhances its usability.
The hinge for the lid is easy to operate yet secures the screen in place once open with hardly any wobble. However, it doesn’t open as wide as I would’ve liked, which inhibits its versatility somewhat. But the bezel for the screen is pleasingly thin, especially around the sides, which means the display can make the most of its allotted real estate.
Port selection on the HP Chromebook Plus is good, if a little limited for a device this size. It has two USB-C ports either side, both of which can be used for charging. There’s also a USB-A on the right side, and a microSD slot and 3.5mm audio output jack on the left.
The order of these ports is a little odd, though, since neither USB-C port is at the rear of their respective sides: the audio jack on the left and USB-A port on the right sit behind them. This can cause cables to get crossed when charging, given that many will be positioned with outlets in front of them. However, this is a small grievance in the grand scheme of things.
Design score: 4 / 5
HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Handles most tasks well
Surprisingly good for gaming
Cramped typing layout
Benchmarks
These are the results of our benchmarking tests for the HP Chromebook Plus:
TechRadar Battery Life Test: 10 hours and 41 minutes Jetstream2 Benchmark: 205.246 Kraken Benchmark: 720.3ms Speedometer 3.0: 10.5 (±0.37)
The HP Chromebook Plus performs very well on most counts. ChromeOS is very responsive for the most part, with window switching and other system actions working without much hesitation, making it easy to live with.
It also handles the kinds of tasks Chromebook users typically demand from their devices very well. Light to medium productivity is competently dispatched with, and the 8GB of RAM in my unit meant it barely faltered when multitasking across various apps.
The HP Chromebook Plus is equally capable of entertaining you as well. Watching HD and 4K content is entirely possible, streaming such content without a hitch during my time with it, keeping buffering times to a minimum.
Gaming was also a pleasant surprise. I managed to play Asphalt Legends Unite on high graphics settings at 60fps with hardly a hiccup, which is impressive. It’s certainly not going to trouble the best cheap gaming laptops, but considering the HP Chromebook Plus has integrated graphics rather than a dedicated GPU, it puts in an admirable effort.
I should note that I did try to play Call of Duty: Mobile, but this repeatedly failed to run, crashing almost immediately upon opening. Whether this is a fault of the HP Chromebook Plus or of the game itself – or of the Games app launcher – is hard to determine.
Under heavy and sustained workloads, it can get quite warm towards the rear, but the area is small and it's not a concern. Thankfully, though, it stays relatively silent.
(Image credit: Future)
For typing, the HP Chromebook Plus is somewhat mixed. The keys feel great, offering plenty of feedback while being easy to actuate. However, since it features a number pad, the layout of the character keys is somewhat squeezed, so it took me a while to get used to the smaller spacing between them, although I was never entirely comfortable with using them.
The trackpad, on the other hand, performs without issue; it’s very responsive and super smooth to swipe with. Despite its large size, I only rarely experienced the occasional mis-click or mis-scroll when resting my palm on it while typing (a position inevitably forced upon me, due to the aforementioned key layout).
One of the main highlights of the HP Chromebook Plus is the display. The 1080p resolution is appropriate for the 15.6-inch size, with only a minimal amount of fuzz on the ChromeOS GUI. It’s also quite vibrant, displaying colors with great accuracy and avoiding the washed-out look that some Chromebooks suffer from.
Most impressively, the display remains clearly visible across a wide range of view angles and lighting conditions – again, not something that can be said about every Chromebook. I even tried using it next to a window with bright sunlight streaking unfavorably across the screen, and it did remarkably well to retain visibility. My one minor gripe, though, is that the maximum brightness isn’t as high as some other laptops and Chromebooks, but for the most part I had no problem with its levels.
The speakers on the HP Chromebook Plus provide clear sound that’s balanced across the frequency range. They generate minimal distortion, and largely eschew the tinny quality that other Chromebook and laptop speakers can suffer from. However, since they’re located underneath, audio can be somewhat muffled, but the effect isn’t so egregious as to ruin the experience.
Performance score: 4 / 5
HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review: Battery life
(Image credit: Future)
The HP Chromebook Plus has a good battery life. During our battery test, where I ran a 1080p video on a continuous loop, it managed to last just shy of 11 hours (10 hours and 41 minutes), which falls short of HP’s claim of 13 hours, but is nevertheless an admirable performance.
This places it near the top of the rankings for Chromebooks we’ve tested. It beat what we think is the best Chromebook overall, the Acer Chromebook Spin 314, which only managed a little over 10 hours. However, it couldn’t beat the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook, which achieved over 16 hours.
Charging the HP Chromebook Plus from 30% to full took about 90 minutes, which again is an impressive performance.
Battery life: 4 / 5
Should I buy the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch?
Buy it if...
You want a great performer The HP Chromebook Plus performs well across all areas, especially gaming. It also stays relatively cool and quiet.
You want a well-made machine Not only is it built to a high standard, but the HP Chromebook Plus is also pleasantly thin and light given its size.
Don't buy it if...
You want a 2-in-1 Unfortunately, the HP Chromebook Plus isn't convertible, and neither does it have a touch screen, so you can't use it like a tablet.
You want the best typing experience Since the HP Chromebook Plus includes a number pad, the rest of the keys are rather squeezed together, which I never fully got used to while typing.
HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch: Also consider
Here are other Chromebooks to consider besides the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch:
Acer Chromebook Spin 314
The Acer Chromebook Spin 314 is a convertible Chromebook that’s easy to live with thanks to its typing prowess, portability, and great display. It can be found for less than the HP Chromebook Plus, but bear in mind that the performance isn’t as good, and it can get hot when under load. Also, at 14 inches, the display isn’t as big either, but all things considered, it’s still the best Chromebook overall in our view. Read our Acer Chromebook Spin 314 review.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook Another 2-in-1 model, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook is the best Chromebook for those on a budget. At 11.6-inches, it’s much smaller than the HP Chromebook Plus, although this will be a positive or a negative depending on your requirements. Regardless, you’re getting a versatile and very well-made Chromebook at this price, with a great battery life in addition. Read our Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook review.
How I tested the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch
Tested for several days
Used for working, browsing, gaming, and streaming
Plentiful laptop experience
I tested the HP Chromebook Plus for several days, during which I used it for working and entertainment.
I typed with it a lot, and made sure to use various productivity apps, such as Google Docs and Google Sheets. I also played games, such as Asphalt Legends Unite, which I tried at various graphics settings. I also streamed video content at various resolutions, including HD and 4K. And I connected headphones and a gamepad via Bluetooth.
I have plentiful experience with all kinds of laptops and Chromebooks, including those designed for productivity and those for gaming. I have experience reviewing laptops and Chromebooks too.
You’re not going to be wowed by the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3. But, if you’re looking for a laptop that’s “good enough,” a phrase you’ll see me use throughout this review, then you might be a fan of this laptop, especially considering that you can get it for fairly cheap.
In fact, its portability, decent enough performance, and pleasant aesthetics, particularly the Abyss Blue colorway, make it a contender for the best budget laptops out there right now. Considering that this is a slightly older model, you most likely will find it at a discount.
Being a more budget-oriented product does mean that it comes with a whole heap of compromises, from a mostly plastic built to shorter battery life and subpar audio quality. But, if you’re looking for one of the best laptops overall, you’ll probably need to spend a little more to get it.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is purely for those people who just need a laptop and want something that’s new, portable, and comes with Windows.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
How much does it cost? Starting at $539.99 / £510 / AU$1,149.00
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The 15-inch version of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is available in the US, UK, and Australia, but, like most things Lenovo, is available in slightly different configurations per territory. For instance, the cheapest version of this laptop, which goes for $539.99 / £510 / AU$1,149.00, is available in the US, whereas the more powerful versions are available in the other territories.
While the highest configuration’s price tag is a bit exorbitant, especially since it’s mostly for more storage, the cheapest configurations make it a good idea for those looking to just get a laptop that’s thin, light, and doesn’t look cheap.
There are other options out there, such as the Acer Aspire 5, that offers a little more in terms of performance and battery life, but is a bit more limited when it comes to ports. It’s also almost half a pound heavier than the IdeaPad Slim 3.
Value: 4.5 / 5
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9: Specs
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9 may be a more budget-oriented model but it still comes with some customizations. For starters, you can choose between three CPUs: the Intel Core 3 100U, Intel Core 5 120U, and the Intel Core 7 150U. The more powerful the processor the snappier the response will be for browsing and day-to-day tasks. There’s also a choice between 8 and 16GB of RAM, though you can only get 8GB with the Intel Core 3 and 16GB with the Intel Core 7 CPU. Lastly, you can choose an SSD ranging from 256GB (there is the ability to just do a 128GB flash drive in the UK) to 1TB of space.
There is some light customization available outside of the internal components as well. You can upgrade from a non-touch to a touch screen. And you can choose whether to pay extra for a fingerprint reader. There’s also a color choice between Abyss Blue (reviewed here) and gray.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9: Design
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Is thin, light, and looks nice, though it’s not the most premium build
Keyboard and touchpad are fine
Has some appreciated security features like a webcam privacy shutter
Available in either Abyss Blue or gray, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 offers up that distinctive Ultrabook aesthetic. It’s thin, light, and, from afar, looks like a MacBook competitor. Of course, upon closer look, its mid-range bones are more apparent, like the fact that its chassis is made out of plastic.
However, it’s a nice option for people who just need a computer and don’t care about getting something expensive or top-of-the-line. It comes with a decently-sized 15.6-inch display that, at 1080p, is good enough for most people. Plus, that display on upgraded models such as the one reviewed is a responsive touchscreen.
The keyboard falls into the “good enough” camp, as it does the job but isn't particularly special. The keys are a bit stiff to the touch, so may not be a favorite of those typing out long essays. And there’s no backlighting either. At least there’s a numpad. The touchpad is equally fine; it’s accurate and responsive, but isn’t the smoothest to the touch.
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(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
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(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Port-wise, you do get a nice assortment such as there’s an HDMI and SD card reader port, both of which you don’t always get in this caliber of computer. Of course, there’s the typical USB-C and USB-A ports as well as a headphone jack.
Lastly, there are some security features on hand that I do appreciate. Namely, there’s a fingerprint reader on the power button and privacy shutter on the webcam.
Design: 4 / 5
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9: Performance
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Good enough performance for day-to-day work
Webcam is sufficient but limited
Audio is underwhelming
When it comes to performance, the bar is somewhat low for the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 in that it doesn’t need to power demanding programs like games or editing software (if you’re looking for that kind of power, there are plenty of other laptops to consider as this is not one). What it needs to do and does well enough is handle day-to-day tasks such as browsing, streaming, emails, word processing, and the like. And it does those just fine. This laptop is meant for people who “just need a computer” at an affordable price.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9: Benchmarks
3DMark: Fire Strike: 4113; Time Spy: 1501; Night Raid: 14442
During use, I was able to use it normally with 15 tabs open in a browser, including some streaming, without much of a slowdown other than a split second refresh when switching tabs. The cheapest configuration, with its 6-core Intel Core 3 100U CPU and 8GB of RAM, will probably start to slow after just a couple years as it already has somewhat weak internals. The review configuration, however, has a 10-core CPU and 16GB of RAM, so should offer an additional year of use, in my opinion, before starting to feel slow.
Since this fits into that category of devices that look like an Ultrabook, but are more of a budget laptop, there are some compromises elsewhere. The webcam, for instance, is good enough but at 720p @ 30 fps, is not the sharpest or smoothest. Plus, it does have a little grain to the image in low light settings.
More egregiously, the audio is underwhelming. While this is somewhat typical for budget and mid-range laptops, it’s worth pointing out. There’s not much in the way of bass or high-end, leaving you with a boxy, mid-range quality, like hearing something through a phone. Considering how many people simply stream stuff onto their laptops these days, it’s surprising that this isn’t better.
Lastly, it should be mentioned that, like most budget laptops, this comes with some bloatware.
Performance: 4 / 5
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9: Battery life
Decent but not great battery life
Has fast charging on hand
With a benchmark of six hours and almost 15 minutes, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is not going to win any awards. That length of time is good enough if you need to do a little work on the road, but not enough to get through a full work day without a charge. And it’s pretty low compared to what a lot of thin and light laptops, particularly Ultrabooks (that happen to be a little pricier on the whole), are able to achieve. The only laptops that this really beats out are gaming laptops that have to also supply power to dedicated graphics cards and older models that you probably wouldn’t compare this to in the first place.
On the bright side, there is fast charging on hand so that you can quickly get some extra juice with a short trip to an outlet. I was able to charge back up from 55% after about 40 minutes. So, if you want to go untethered to work while in front of the TV, you have enough battery life on hand and get a quick charge for more while taking a quick break.
Battery life: 3.5 / 5
Should I buy the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9?
Buy it if…
You just want a computer
I’m not trying to be facetious. Some people want the Honda Civic equivalent of a laptop that looks good enough and does its job. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 fits that bill.
You want the portability of an Ultrabook without the price or small screen
This laptop offers the kind of portability most people want in a laptop without breaking the bank or limiting screen size.
You’re laptop hunting on a budget
If you’re worried about cash and don’t have any niche needs, you’ll find this laptop to be more than enough for the price.
Don't buy it if...
You want an Ultrabook
Considering that this is a solidly budget product masquerading as a premium one, you might be underwhelmed if you’re expecting an Ultrabook. It might be worth spending the difference for a MacBook Air.
You need long battery life
The battery life for this type of laptop is not what one would expect. It’s just good enough, but won’t make it through an entire day of work on a single charge.
Also Consider
If our Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9 review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...
Acer Aspire 5
If you’re willing to deal with a little more weight and a poorer port selection, not to mention skip the attractive Abyss Blue colorway, then the Acer Aspire 5 offers more in terms of performance and battery life than the IdeaPad Slim 3 does.
If you actually want an Ultrabook, particularly something that still packs a punch in terms of performance and battery life, you’re better off paying a little more and getting the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3). It also provides an intuitive user experience the way most Apple products do. Of course, its base configuration comes with just 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, and upgrading either adds quite a bit to the price tag.
I used the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9 for a couple weeks, doing some light gaming, watching some online content, and working on it. I also used it on the go and tested its various features like the webcam and audio. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9 is one of those laptops meant for people who don’t need crazy powerful computers, but instead just need a decent sized screen, good portability, and enough power for normal day-to-day work without costing too much money.
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.
