Cisco’s Catalyst C1300-8MGP-2X enterprise-class Ethernet switch manages small and medium-sized networks at speeds up to 10Gb.
Specifications
CPU: Dual Core ARM 1.4GHz
RAM/Flash: 1GB/512MB
Ports: Four 1Gb, Four 2.5Gb
PoE budget: 30W per port, a total of 120W
Processing throughput: 41.66 Million packets per second
Dimensions/Weight: 26.8 cm x 32.3 cm x 4.4 cm/2.64 kg
It has eight wired interfaces, a 120W PoE, and two 10G SFP sockets. The compact fan-less unit consumes 20W when idle. As with all Cisco switches, a PC interface is available on the front panel to speed up installation through a Type-C USB socket, providing backup for the switch settings.
The Catalyst 1300 series uses a customized Linux OS and sports a dual-core network CPU, enabling an intuitive dashboard and fast packet processing with lower network latency. The high-end hardware simplifies network setup and provides security, and QOS features out-of-the-box. Cisco networking appliances integrate seamlessly with other devices, such as access points, through their cloud platform.
The Cisco C1300-8MGP-2X is available on Amazon for $718 and has a lifetime warranty. The eight-port unit supports 1Gb, 2.5Gb copper Ethernet, and 10Gb through SFP modules.
(Image credit: Future)
C1300-8MGP-2X: Design
The C1300-8MGP-2X is a compact unit measuring 26.8 cm x 32.3 cm x 4.4 cm and weighing 2.64 kg. As with other models in the C1300 series, all network and debugging ports are on the front. The back has two large heatsinks with no fan, which makes the switch ideal for an office where minimum noise is essential. Each side of the white enclosure has one screw hole for rack-mounting.
The front panel hosts eight RJ45 connectors, divided into two bandwidth groups. Four 1Gb Ethernet ports on the left provide around 30W each for PoE purposes to connected devices. The right offers a similar arrangement but with 2.5Gb Ethernet ports. The copper ports have a total PoE power budget of 120W. Two SFP slots support up to 10G modules and complete the list of interfaces.
Copper ports display their status on individual LEDs. The one LED per port approach differs from the previous model, which used two LEDs showing port activity and PoE warnings. As a result, the C1300 LEDs are more challenging to understand during troubleshooting. A reset button helps to restore factory settings should the switch become inaccessible.
Under the hood, the C1300 uses a Marvell dual-core 1.4GHz ARM processor, 1GB of RAM, and 512MB for application storage. The processor connects to two network ASICs that route packets at a maximum throughput of 10Gb per second to the eight copper ports and two SFPs. The processor can do packet analysis on the fly, significantly reducing latency while making the network more reactive to sudden changes.
(Image credit: Future)
C1300-8MGP-2X: In Use
The switch boots in less than two minutes. The system LED on the left shows progress and blinks green during the boot process, eventually settling on a solid green if all goes well. For each port, a single LED shows activity but not link-up speed. PoE is available as Ethernet becomes ready across the ports. Unlike older models, the SFP connectors do not share resources with any copper ports; using SFP will not turn off any copper port.
The C1300-8MGP-2X includes several new features compared to its predecessor. Bluetooth support is through a USB dongle, allowing remote and secure wireless access to the CLI and GUI. The PoE is undisturbed during reboots, allowing connected devices to retain power. Finally, a built-in REST API makes automation possible.
With an aggregated bandwidth of 56Gbps, the C1300-8MGP-2X should be enough for speedier 2.5G and 10G network appliances such as a NAS or a VPN. The processor can forward up to 42 million packets per second, thus maintaining minimum network lag. Moreover, the PoE budget of 120W makes connecting several outdoor devices, such as high-resolution cameras, a breeze. The unit consumes 20W idle with one 2.5G copper and one SFP connection.
The C1300 requires registration to be accessible from the Internet. For this, the Cisco Business mobile app initiates the installation using a QR code at the back of the case. The app offers most features available on the cloud, with many configurations done in less than four steps. The switch processes packets on Layer 2 and 3, providing security through VLANs or blocking unknown IPs.
(Image credit: Future)
C1300-8MGP-2X: The competition
The Engenius ECS2510FP targets a similar audience as the C1300-8MGP-2X switch. Its eight 2.5Gbps ports and double PoE power budget make it a serious contender, priced at less than $500. However, the ECS2510FP has two fans, which makes it impossible to use on a desk. The power consumption is also higher than the eight ports in the C1300 series, making it more costly in the long run.
C1300-8MGP-2X: Final verdict
With the new Catalyst C1300-8MGP-2X switch, Cisco improves on a tried and trusted platform, adding more security and practical features that make setup and configuration easier. The SOHO-type switch with a dual-core CPU is well equipped to fully utilize the quad 10 Gb and quad 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports. The companion mobile app is responsive and implements most of the functionality found on the cloud. Being passive, power consumption and noise are minimal, making the unit ideal in a small office.
The main drawbacks are the higher MSRP compared to similar units available elsewhere and the ports' status shown on a single LED.
you need a reliable switch with PoE and supporting 10G Ethernet.
CPU: Intel Core 14th Gen Ultra 9-185H Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics RAM: 32GB DDR5, up to 64GB Storage: 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD Rear Ports: 2 x USB 4.0, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x RJ45 LAN (2.5G), 1 x DC in, Front Ports: 4 x USB 3.2 Gen2, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x 3.5mm stereo jack, 1 Side Ports: SD Card 4.0, 1 x Kensington Lock Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Audio: HDA CODEC Camera: N/A Size: 135mm x 132mm x 46.9mm OS Installed: Windows 11 Pro Accessories: VESA Mount, free USB-C hub
The Geekom GT1 Mega instantly sets the tone with the high-quality metal exterior, with its row of USB Type-A ports across the front and a host of connection options across the rear, highlighting that this is something a little different. Inside is the latest 14th Gen Intel Ultra processor, which provides impressive performance in such a compact machine.
The new processor, which in our review sample is the U9-185H option, with the U7-155H also available, enables close integration with AI-enabled features. These work with the Intel NPU, which has the effect of significantly accelerating tasks like AI computation and video rendering, which in real-world terms is an invisible feature that you only witness through the speed of the processing.
There are other hints of this small machine’s power beyond editing 4K footage in DaVinci Resolve, which it handles as if it's a machine many times its own size, and the smooth running of high-impact games. Connecting up two 4K displays is well within its abilities, with an option to support up to four 4K monitors or one 8K through the two HDMI ports and USB4.
Sure enough, for video editing and 3D work, the Geekom ploughs through the processing without issue, and checking all Microsoft Office apps just doesn’t pose any type of stress on the system. While all this power and speed are impressive at such a small size, it is worth noting that the fans will kick in early—there’s a lot of cooling to be done—so if you like silence, while not loud, that fan whirr is apparent.
Then there are the options to upgrade, which, being a mini PC, are limited: a slight boost to the internal RAM and SSD but little else. However, the USB4 ports afford plenty of other expansion options with external SSDs and eGPUs.
As a true mini PC, the GT1 Mega will fit any workspace without issue, and the small VESA mount ensures that it’s easy to fit and mount as needed. That, coupled with the 65W power consumption, means that it can easily be transported and powered in the field with a power station such as the Bluetti AC70.
But is it the best mini PC we've tested? Well, while this is a great compact solution, it comes with a high price tag, especially considering the limited upgrade options. So, if you’re looking to spend this amount, it might be better to look at a larger desktop solution. However, considering the design and advanced technology, on its own or partnered with other devices to expand its function, it’s impressive and an ideal solution for any professional—creative or otherwise—who requires some serious processing power.
Geekom GT1 Mega: Price & availability
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Geekom GT1 Mega is priced at $1,099 and is available directly from Geekom with a 3-year warranty.
You can also save 5% with code TECHRADAGT1 from Amazon US.
Score: 4/5
Geekom GT1 Mega: Design & build
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The GT1 Mega is housed in a compact form factor (135mm x 132mm x 46.9mm) that is common for mini PCs, which instantly makes it an ideal choice for anyone with limited workspace or requiring a machine that is easily portable between places of work. The exterior of the machine is of an extremely high quality, with the all-metal finish instantly giving the impression of quality and style. The simple monocoque design of the casing, with the line of four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 3.5mm audio, and power button, are all neatly laid out, highlighting accessibility.
That look helps to define this system as a core unit that can adapt to what you need it to do. For creatives, accessories such as the Logitech MX Creative Console, keyboard, and mouse can all be plugged in easily without searching around the back. Then on the side, alongside plenty of venting, which alongside the IceBlast 2.0 cooling system helps to keep on top of the heat from the fast processor, is an SD 4.0 card slot—a feature that will appeal to photographers and videographers, although a CFExpress Type-B slot would be great to see. On the other side, for security, there's a Kensington port.
Flipping over to the back, and again there’s a host of connections, including two USB 4.0 and dual 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports, two HDMI 2.0, a USB Type-A 3.2, and one USB 2.0 port.
The overall build is of a high quality, and flipping the machine onto its back, there are four small rubber feet and the hole for the VESA mount. Unscrewing the base gives you access to the inside, where there’s the option to upgrade the RAM from the 32GB to 64GB and swap the PCIe SSD NVMe Gen 4, although our review sample was already fitted with the 2TB version, which is the maximum.
Design: 4.5/5
Geekom GT1 Mega: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Geekom GT1 Mega features Intel's 14th Gen Ultra U9-185H processor with 16 cores and 22 threads. It also features an AI-accelerated NPU, which is capable of delivering processing up to 8 times faster than the previous generation and enables you to access the latest machine learning tasks and compatibility with AI-enabled applications that can make full use of the new technology.
Visuals are supplied through Intel Arc graphics, which support both high-resolution video and gameplay, as well as the ability to run multiple displays from the system. This includes up to four 4K monitors or one 8K.
Inside, the machine features 32GB of Dual-channel DDR5-5600 SODIMM, which can be upgraded to 64GB. This is matched with 2TB of M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x 4 SSD, which is the maximum that the machine can take.
Connections are a key feature of this small machine, and when it comes to networking, alongside the dual RJ45 2.5Gbps ports, there's also Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, further enhancing connection options.
Alongside the latest Intel processing, the big point of interest here is the expansion options. While those are limited internally, the ability to utilise the two USB4 ports along with the USB 3.2 Gen ports gives you plenty of options. Although the internal graphics are good, if you need the boost of a dedicated external graphics card, then an eGPU can easily be fitted. Likewise, ultra-fast external SSDs, NAS, and mass storage devices are all easily compatible.
The USB4 ports offer plenty of flexibility, with the ability to connect data devices, monitors, graphics, and even deliver up to 15W of PD power to quickly charge devices such as phones, tablets, and camera gear.
When it comes to portability, the small form factor and solid metal build make it nice and robust, but if you're working in the field, then the fact that it only draws 65W of power means that it will sit alongside a portable computing suite that can be used in the field without too much of an issue and powered by a portable power station. However, it does utilise a 19V DC input rather than the more universal USB Type-C, so the external power adapter is required.
Features: 4.5/5
Geekom GT1 Mega: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Benchmarks
Crystal Disk Read: 5049.75MB/s Crystal Disk Write: 4399.79MB/s GeekBench CPU Single: 2498 GeekBench CPU Multi: 13916 GeekBench Compute: 39696 PC Mark: 6992 CineBench CPU Multi: 15911 CineBench CPU Single: 1888 Fire Strike Overall: 8133 Fire Strike Graphics: 8886 Fire Strike Physics: 29083 Fire Strike Combined: 2995 Time Spy Overall: 4072 Time Spy Graphics: 3642 Time Spy CPU: 12306 Wild Life: 20948 Windows Experience: 8.3
Getting started with the GT1 Mega is fast, with the usual run-through of options for Windows 11 Pro. Once installed, the WiFi connection to install updates and applications is fast, and there’s little slowdown as you switch from browsing to applications and general use of the machine. Starting with the range of Microsoft Office apps, the machine is simply fast and responsive, with the apps loading quickly. Navigating large Word documents, presentations, and long spreadsheets is handled with no issues or slowdowns. Essentially, the machine just makes short work of this level of applications.
Likewise, two of the best photo editors, Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, caused no issues, with the batch RAW processing of files from the Canon EOS R5C handled without a hitch. We also tested the machine with some of the best video editing software. RAW files along with 4K video Log3 footage from the Sony A7 IV were edited within Adobe Premiere Pro with the same ease. The only issue with video editing was the volume of internal storage; however, switching to using an external 8TB Samsung T5 Evo quickly resolved this, enabling impressive ease of editing for a 15-minute video.
Finally, looking at gaming performance, three games were tested: *Tekken 8*, *Cyberpunk 2077*, and *Hogwarts Legacy*. In all cases, the machine was able to handle most of the graphic processing, though with some minor lag in *Hogwarts Legacy*. However, a Razer Core X eGPU with ASUS GeForce 3060 Ti gave a boost to the graphics performance.
Once the external SSD and eGPU were added to the mix, the power of this small machine matched desktop PCs without issue, offering an incredibly small and effective solution for creative professionals looking for a compact and portable machine that can be used in the field.
Finally, with the performance tested, we checked out how the machine coped with our benchmarking tests. Here, the real-world tests were reflected, with the Geekom GT1 Mega excelling across the board. The Intel Ultra U9-185H processor offered strong multi-core performance, scoring 15,911 in Cinebench CPU multi-core tests, highlighting what we had witnessed during video editing. Storage speeds using the internal SSD are fast, with CrystalDisk scores of 5049.75MB/s for read and 4399.79MB/s for write, ensuring quick boot times and rapid data transfers. Although the 2TB storage will be ample for most users, creatives should look at an external storage solution such as the Samsung T5 Evo or OWC Envoy as an option.
If you do need to access the internal workings of the machine for an upgrade, the process is a little more involved than most. First, the four rubber feet need to be removed, then the four screws taken out, and the base prised off. Then there's the backing plate, which is again held by four screws; this needs to be carefully lifted away as there are two wires connected to the WiFi card. With the base plate propped up, you can access the M.2 Key-M slot for PCIe x4 Gen 4 NVMe SSD, 2280, and dual RAM slots, along with the M.2 Key-M slot PCIe x4 or SATA, 2242. It's also worth noting that the M.2 Key-E slot for CNVi/PCIe WiFi, 2230, can be upgraded, giving some future-proofing. Another interesting feature is the 16-pin FPC SATA connector to connect an FFC SATA cable to a 7mm 2.5" SATA, which opens up further options.
While overall the performance is excellent, the graphics performance is just above average, with the Intel Arc handling most tasks. However, the Fire Strike and Time Spy results show that when pushed, an eGPU should be considered, as we found with Hogwarts Legacy.
Overall, when it comes to performance, the core machine punches well above its size, but what really appeals is the fact that, with applications that support AI, this machine can see a real boost in performance. And if you need more storage for video or graphics for gaming, then an external drive or eGPU can be quickly fitted. The Geekom GT1 is one of the most impressive mini PCs available, with solid build and performance that will suit most creative and high-demand users.
Performance: 4/5
Should you buy the Geekom GT1 Mega?
The Geekom GT1 Mega is a great option for professionals or creatives who need robust computing power in a compact form. Its AI processing and excellent multitasking capabilities make it a great mini PC, though its high price and limited internal, might be an issue for some.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Buy it if...
You need AI-accelerated processing
If your work involves AI tasks, machine learning, or real-time data analysis, the GT1 Mega’s NPU will greatly enhance productivity.
You require multiple high-res displays
The ability to support four 4K monitors or one 8K display makes this mini PC perfect for video editing or digital content creation.
Don't buy it if...
You're on a budget
At nearly £1,000/$1,000, the GT1 Mega's cost is a barrier for casual users or those who don’t need cutting-edge performance.
You want extensive gaming capabilities
While capable, its Intel Arc graphics won't compete with a dedicated gaming PC for high-end gaming performance
A while back we saw the first results from what should be the Exynos 1580, Samsung's next mid-range chipset. Now we have a new batch of results coming from one of the key devices where the new chip will be used – the Samsung Galaxy A56.
Predictably, the phone has a model number SM-A566B, while the chipset goes under S5E8855.
Samsung Galaxy A56 (SM-A566B) scorecard from Geekbench 6.2.2
The Exynos 1580 has eight CPU cores: 1x prime core at 2.91GHz, 3x mid-cores at 2.60GHz and four small cores at 1.95GHz. We don’t actually know what those cores are yet, but Samsung has rebalanced...
The OnePlus 13 is expected to arrive in October, and the phone was just benchmarked on CPU-benchmark Geekbench, shedding more light on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip that will power the flagship. According to the listing, it will reach over 10,000 pts in multi-core score and will have two core clusters – 2x 4.32 GHz + 6x 3.53 GHz.
These numbers sound crazy high, even if we take into account the new SoC will be built on TSMC's smalles and most power-efficient 3 nm process technology. There is a high chance that these numbers are misrepresented or plain wronng because such clock rates would...
The Zenbook Duo has always been a bit of a curious laptop. These Asus portables lie on the fringes of what you’d expect from high-end premium notebooks, bringing something of a gimmick to the forefront to differentiate the Zenbook.
For the uninitiated, the Duo in the name refers to the fact that this Zenbook packs two separate screens. Now this specific edition for 2024 has twin OLED panels, both offering a 2,880 x 1,800 resolution at a 120Hz refresh rate. Both screens are 14 inches, and both are fixed together, with the laptop’s internal hardware interlinked between the two displays. Keyboard and mouse support is provided by a Bluetooth solution that can simultaneously pseudo “wirelessly” charge off the bottom display as well (there’s a pin connector basically).
(Image credit: Future)
It’s a very different laptop design, then, and one that brings some major caveats with it. In particular, cooling with the Zenbook Duo takes a hit because of the real-estate that those twin screens take up, and the need for this device to be relatively thin. Higher spec models of the Zenbook Duo (2024), like the one we’re reviewing here, are decent enough in short-term bursts of activity, but struggle with any form of prolonged and demanding CPU workloads. Gaming in particular feels sluggish and is often on the verge of being unplayable, even at 1080p resolution with medium settings.
Still, pricing isn’t entirely unreasonable. In the US the Zenbook Duo (2024) retails on average for around $1,829, and in the UK about £2,000 or so, and you get some serious hardware in the laptop. It is, however, still more of a MacBook alternative rather than a serious work machine, and certainly not one of the best laptops around. For that, you’ll need to look at the Asus Zenbook Pro instead.
Asus Zenbook Duo (2024): Price and availability
How much does it cost? $1,829 / £2,000
When is it available? It's on sale now
Where can you get it? Newegg in the US, or Currys in the UK
At least on the surface, the Zenbook Duo appears to be remarkably good value for money. In our review model, Asus crammed in an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (Meteor Lake) processor with six performance cores, eight efficiency cores and two low-power cores (22-threads in total). This CPU has a rated maximum clock speed of 5.1GHz, and sports a dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for accelerating AI tasks. You get 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM (soldered, of course), and for storage you’re looking at a 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD.
The biggest selling point, though, has to be those twin OLED displays. They’re vibrant, punchy, and really do make this laptop a joy to use, helping to justify the price tag.
There are a number of different Zenbook Duo (2024) models out there right now, and you can pick up one with a Core Ultra 7 processor, and a 1TB SSD plus 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM for a lot less than our review model here. Although be warned that lower-end variant does come with lower resolution (1080p) screens (and a slower refresh rate).
Price: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Asus Zenbook Duo (2024): Specs
Here are the specs for the Asus Zenbook Duo (2024) at a glance.
Asus Zenbook Duo (2024): Design
OLED screens are phenomenal
It all feels impressively premium
Some interesting hardware decisions
Okay, let me be clear here. I’ve been testing laptops for years, and have toyed around with a number of top-tier premium solutions, many of which have been Asus devices. The Zenbook Duo, from a purely physical perspective, is an absolutely outstanding notebook. Those dual screens are beautifully crisp, with an impressive response time (7.6ms MPRT when tested), and a buttery smooth refresh rate to cap it all. They’re bright, colorful, and gorgeous to behold.
(Image credit: Future)
The Duo’s not short on ports either, certainly not for a slim laptop. You get two USB Type-C, one USB-A (rated at 5Gbps), HDMI out, and a 4-pole 3.5mm analog jack as well. The keyboard (plus trackpad) is a Bluetooth affair, and, although not exactly thrilling with a simple design, it’s got an impressive battery life, and connects seamlessly to the Duo via magnets (and also charges pseudo-wirelessly via a pogo-pin off the Zenbook, as well).
The internal hardware is a little bit on the curious side, however. This particular model comes with the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, which is quite a thirsty – and toasty – chip. It has an NPU built in, making the processor somewhat more potent at handling AI operations (although nowhere near as powerful as a dedicated GPU), but it does require some serious cooling to keep all that potency in check. I’ll talk a little bit more about that later.
(Image credit: Future)
Other specs include 32GB of LPDDR5X soldered memory clocking in at an impressive 7,647MHz, and a 2TB WD SN740 M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD, which although hefty in capacity, does lack in some respects in terms of performance (I’ll come back to that, too).
Overall build quality is impressive, with tiny screen bezels, and the integrated webcam isn’t obtuse by any means. Asus has really done an incredible job of making this feel and act like a premium device.
(Image credit: Future)
You can use the Zenbook Duo in all manner of configurations. Detach the keyboard and run it wirelessly and you’ve got a flat screen on your table, and one propped up in front of you. Alternatively, you can pop the stand out on the bottom screen (the underside of the laptop) and perch both screens up on a table fairly seamlessly. You can also disable that bottom screen entirely by positioning the keyboard on top of it too, and even flip it onto its side, and run both displays in portrait mode, side-by-side.
It’s just a fantastically seamless experience all round really, and it’s a party trick that never quite gets old. Although one thing to note: if you do flip the Zenbook so both screens are portrait, you lose access to at least some of those ports on the bottom.
Design: 4.5 / 5
Asus Zenbook Duo (2024): Performance
Day-to-day use is fine
CPU throttles during longer more intense workloads
SSD performance is underwhelming
Asus Zenbook Duo (2024) benchmarks
Here's how the Asus Zenbook Duo (2024) performed in our suite of industry-standard benchmarks and game tests.
Geekbench 6:
Single - 2,330
Multi - 11,645 3DMark:
Night Raid - 23,008
Solar Bay - 11,989 CrossMark: Productivity - 1,533
Creativity - 2,060
Responsiveness - 1,350
Overall -1,709
Cyberpunk 2077:
1080p - 17.8fps (Medium)
Total War: Warhammer III:
1080p - 16.3 (Medium) Final Fantasy XIV:
1080p -37.3 (Medium) CrystalDiskMark:
Read: 5,242MB/s
Write: 4,813MB/s Cinebench R24:
Single-core - 106
Multi-core - 429 PCMark 10 Battery Test: 8h 4m
I ran the Zenbook Duo through a gamut of tests to really weigh up its worth and see just how it performs, covering everything from longer creative CPU workloads, to gaming, to AI operations and everything between. Across the board, the Asus laptop is pretty average, which is a challenging thing to say when looking at an $1,800 laptop. Clearly the bulk of the manufacturing cost is spent on the displays.
The Core Ultra 9 185H is a hot and hungry CPU by its very design. Run the Zenbook Duo through any relatively short benchmark, like Geekbench 6 or CrossMark, and it’ll typically spit out some fairly decent numbers. Geekbench gives it a score of around 11,645, and by comparison, Asus’s Vivobook S 15, with its Arm-based Snapdragon X processor, flirts with 13,864 (19% faster) in that test. The Acer Swift Go 14, with its Core Ultra 5 125H, manages 10,809 (7% slower) as well.
(Image credit: Future)
Throw something a little more intense at the Duo, though, and soon enough the heat issues become apparent. In Cinebench 2024 the Zenbook Duo scored a paltry 429 in the multi-core test. The Core Ultra 5 in the Acer Swift managed 636, and the Vivobook S 15 an impressive 925 by comparison. That is a big difference, and it’s mostly down to clock speed falling off a cliff as the Zenbook throttles under the thermal load.
Then there’s the storage. Top-line sequential figures generally come out fairly well here. The 2TB drive produces 5,242MB/s read and 4,813MB/s write speeds, about on par with an average PCIe 4.0 SSD in a laptop, most likely due to a larger onboard cache. Where it falls apart a little is in the random 4K writes. The SN740 managed only 120MB/s whereas the 500GB Kingston drive in the Swift hit 227MB/s, and the drive in the Vivobook S reached 211MB/s. Random 4K benchmarking reflects Windows and game-loading performance, so that’s not so great to see here.
(Image credit: Future)
Speaking of gaming, at 1080p on medium presets, it is possible to eke out some semi-tolerable performance. Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail managed 37.3 frames per second (fps), but Total War Warhammer 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 (without XeSS and no ray tracing) were both under the 20 fps mark. Enable XeSS and Cyberpunk jumps up to a 26 fps average, but it’s still not exactly comfortable for many modern titles. The results are predictably worse at the Duo’s native resolution on low graphical presets, with even Final Fantasy’s Dawntrail benchmark clocking in at just 22.1 fps.
For AI testing I used UL Procyon’s AI Computer Vision benchmark with Float16 accuracy. Under CPU power alone, and in Windows’ Machine Learning API, the Zenbook Duo scored just 28, whereas again the Core Ultra 5 in the Swift Go managed 32 by comparison. Matters do improve if you switch to using the integrated GPU in that scenario, with the Zenbook landing 230 versus the Swift’s 194, but it’s still not a patch on a dedicated GPU which typically reaches well above the 1,000 mark, if not much higher (an RTX 4080, for reference, nets a score of around 1,940).
(Image credit: Future)
For day-to-day work then, the Zenbook Duo is a good pick. Its crisp displays and smooth desktop experience are beautiful to behold. However, if you are looking at any major rendering operation, or something that involves consistent workloads over a longer period of time, you are going to be severely limited by that Core Ultra 9 chip. Unfortunately, the difference between the Core Ultra 7 and the Ultra 9 mostly comes down to professional-grade features, rather than a reduction in core count, so you’re not likely to see improved performance with lower spec models either.
Performance: 2.5 / 5
Asus Zenbook Duo (2024): Battery life
Battery life is solid
Intel chips still lag behind Arm, though
The Zenbook Duo comes with a 75WHr battery as standard, paired with a 65W charger. It’s rapid enough to charge up, although not the fastest by any means. I used the Zenbook Duo as my daily driver for around two weeks or so, and found it to be more than adequate for holding a day’s worth of charge in the office.
I also benchmarked it utilizing a mixture of tests in PCMark 10. The video test in particular, with 50% screen brightness and no audio, managed just over eight hours before the device hit 3% charge. Gaming, as you’d probably expect, was far more demanding (and tested at 75% screen brightness), lasting for only a smidge over two hours before meeting the same fate.
That’s not bad, all things considered – and the fact Asus has even managed to cram in a 75WHr battery is nothing short of impressive. The Acer Swift, which has a 65WHr battery (about 13% smaller), only lasted for six hours in PCMark’s video test. Still, in both scenarios those are solid numbers, certainly for laptops with x86 chips. Neither of them, however, hold a candle to the Snapdragon X Elite in the Vivobook S 15, which lasted a phenomenal 12 hours.
Battery: 3.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the Asus Zenbook Duo (2024)?
Buy it if...
You’re looking for a versatile notebook with stunning screens There’s no denying those twin 3K OLED panels are phenomenal to look at, with high refresh rates, a solid response time, and beautifully crisp colors. These screens themselves make the Zenbook Duo a tempting proposition.
You want a premium notebook ideal for office productivity work The Duo is perfect for those looking for a Windows alternative to a mid-range MacBook. It might not have the clout of an Arm processor, but if you’re not into that, this Zenbook will have you covered.
Don't buy it if...
You’re a creative with longer, more demanding, workloads Rendering video? Working with large datasets? Managing AI workloads? This isn’t the laptop for you. Thermal throttling seriously hinders its overall performance by no small margin.
You’re looking for the best battery life Similarly, Intel’s Core Ultra series may be better than its past mobile CPU offerings, and those from AMD, but Meteor Lake still doesn’t hold a candle to the Snapdragon processors now out in the wild.
Asus Zenbook Duo (2024): Also consider
Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ It’s the Arm-based Snapdragon chip in this notebook that really dominates in performance terms, but it’s all bundled together with a beautiful design, plus phenomenal pricing.
Acer Swift Go 14
This laptop is far more affordable than the Asus Zenbook Duo. What it lacks in extra screens, it makes up for with stellar performance for the price – plus it’s still an OLED display here, too.
With all the laptops I get in for review, I aim to use them for at least two weeks as my daily driver, answering emails, using them for work, doing a bit of light content streaming (Netflix, YouTube and Spotify), as well as some light Photoshop work and gaming too. I also run them through a myriad of benchmarks designed to push the laptops to the absolute limit of their potential, to ensure that they perform well in any scenario, not just day-to-day office use.
I’ve been reviewing laptops and PCs for well over nine years now, and have evaluated many, many devices in that time. Intel’s Core Ultra chips are certainly a step in the right direction, but I can’t help but feel that the time of x86 chips might be coming to an end.
There's something very pleasing about Lenovo's ThinkBook line-up - a series aimed at prosumers - and the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH fits well within that space.
From the ThinkBooks we've reviewed, they're not quite up there with the best Lenovo ThinkPad laptops, but they're leaps and bounds ahead of the company's consumer devices. ThinkBooks are famed for offering good power and cost, filling the gap between a machine for casual web browsing and the best business laptops.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH is a beautiful example of just how good the range can be. First, it's ultra-portable, only made more notable by its 13-inch, 3:2 screen. Second, it's crazy powerful, partly due to the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H 2.3 GHz processor and partially because of the 32GB of RAM. Regardless of the reasoning, this laptop is impressive all around.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
If I had to pick a downside, it would be the lack of ports. However, it is becoming increasingly common to have only a couple of Thunderbolt ports on a laptop and call it good, especially in something as thin as the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4. Gratefully, unlike even the best MacBook Pro laptops, the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH puts one Thunderbolt port on either side of the laptop rather than both on the left side as Apple does.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH: Unboxing & first impressions
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH is very well packaged in minimalist packaging, emphasizing its premium computer status from the beginning. The laptop's dual-tone Luna Gray aluminum body immediately caught my eye, and then, as fast as it caught my eye, my eyes jumped to the Magic Bay area -- more on that later.
I kept unboxing, and when I lifted the computer from the box, I was shocked and thrilled with just how lightweight the ThinkBook was. And it's easy to carry as it's smooth and doesn't feel bulky or rough. It's a beautiful machine with premium materials and an excellent design.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH: Design and Build Quality
Specs
as tested
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H Graphics: Integrated Intel Arc Graphics RAM: 32GB Screen: 13.5-inch IPS, 2880 x 1920 pixels, 500 nits, 100% sRGB Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD Ports: 3 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 1 x Headphone / Microphone combo jack (3.5mm), Connector for accessories, E-shutter switch Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 Camera: 1080p IR camera with Windows Hello, AI features (auto-framing, background blur) Audio: Four Harman Kardon speakers, Dolby Atmos support Battery: All-day battery life, up to 24 hours Dimensions: 0.5 x 11.6 x 8.1 inches (H x W x D) Weight: 2.7 pounds (1.22 kg) Operating System: Windows 11 Pro Additional Features: Power button with fingerprint reader, Magic Bay Light accessory for video calls
The fourh-generation ThinkBook 13x is a masterclass in modern laptop design. It's clean, simple, elegant, professional, and yet exciting and exciting. It has a 13.5-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio framed by ultra-thin bezels. Thanks to the aspect ratio, the taller screen gives more room for productivity tasks than the more common 16:9 aspect ratio. Despite its compact size and lightweight overall package, this laptop still feels premium, solid, and ultra-powerful.
The display boasts a 2880x1920 resolution, producing sharp and vibrant colors and text. So far, color accuracy has been great when using this laptop. I've enjoyed the beautiful display on this computer for a couple of weeks now, and in that time, the refresh rate has been smooth, the colors have been stunning, the text has been crisp, and the brightness has been pretty good.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
The speakers were also surprising, especially for how thin the laptop is. Four Harman Kardon speakers within the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 are decently loud and relatively clean audio until you get to max volumes. For virtual meetings, I was able to hear the other people clearly, and music for quick videos or voicemails or anything like that is just fine on these speakers, However, as an amateur audiophile with a background in music performance, I'll stick to my high-end headphones for listening to music. For others who may care less about the specific quality of the music, these speakers will be plenty.
Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH: In use
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor with an Intel Arc integrated graphics card. So far, even with heavy business use, I have yet to reach the limit. With high-end video editing, you could make this beast of a business machine begin to breathe a bit harder, but with my day-to-day work on it, I have not noticed any slowdowns, nor have I noticed long loading times or processing times. This laptop will be more than sufficient for most users for office work, business work, online work, and so on.
The laptop’s standout feature, the Magic Bay Light, magnetically attaches to the screen, utilizing the Magic Bay previously mentioned, and significantly improves visibility during video calls in low-light environments. It is a perfectly placed soft light to help light you as the subject for a virtual meeting. The 1080p IR webcam supports Windows Hello, and its AI features, like background blur and auto-framing, enhance video calls further, making this a fantastic computer for remote workers with many virtual meetings.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
The keyboard, however, was not my favorite, though it was excellent. I expected the typing experience to be better. The trackpad/touchpad had a slightly odd click if you choose to click in rather than tap, but I am also used to the gold standard of trackpads with a MacBook, so it is my preference.
Lenovo claims the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 has the largest battery of any 13-inch laptop and delivers impressive all-day battery life. In testing, the laptop lasted well over 10 hours on a single charge, making it an excellent choice for users who need a reliable device for extended work sessions.
Given how light it is, I have genuinely forgotten that this laptop is in my bag day to day. I'll pick up my backpack for the day and double-check that I have my laptop of choice loaded up. I love not worrying about sitting near an outlet or having my portable batteries charged up for an all-day workday outside my home office. The overall usage and power have been fantastic, and the form factor has been excellent for my daily laptop.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH: Final verdict
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 IMH is a stylish and capable ultraportable that will appeal to business users who prioritize design and portability. However, its high price and lack of some ports might make it less attractive compared to other ultraportables that offer better port offerings. If you are okay with only having Thunderbolt ports, this laptop is an absolutely fantastic option for most people, especially business professionals looking for a great all-around laptop.
CPU: AMD Ryzen™ AI 9 HX 370 Processor; AMD XDNA™ NPU up to 50TOPS Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4070 Laptop GPU, 8GB GDDR6; AMD Radeon™ 890M Graphics RAM: 64GB LPDDR5X on board Storage: 2TB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 4.0 SSD Left Ports: DC-in, HDMI 2.1 FRL, USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack Right Ports: SD Express 7.0 card reader, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) (Triple band) 2x2, Bluetooth® 5.4 Audio: Built-in array microphone, Harman/Kardon (Premium) Camera: FHD camera with IR function to support Windows Hello Size: 35.49 x 24.69 x 1.49 ~ 1.73 cm (13.97" x 9.72" x 0.59" ~ 0.68") Weight: 1.85 kg (4.08 lbs) OS Installed: Windows 11 Home Accessories: Stylus (Asus Pen SA203H-MPP2.0 support)
The Asus ProArt P16 is one of the fastest 16-inch laptops available with AI processing used to boost performance for demanding applications like Premiere Pro, After Effects, and DaVinci Resolve. ASUS has essentially designed this laptop to rival the Apple MacBook Pro, with features tailored specifically for creatives.
The ProArt P16 design supports easy connectivity to various accessories, monitors, projectors, and devices, making it ideal for travelling professionals. The intuitive keyboard and trackpad layout, along with the Asus DialPad, enhance usability in apps like Photoshop, with for example, the quick adjustments of brush sizes.
The touchscreen's 4096 pressure sensitivity and included stylus offer precise control for drawing and creative work. The Asus suite of creative software also provides AI-driven organisation of digital images and videos.
At its core, the ProArt P16 boasts superior power, outpacing many competitors, including the MacBook Pro. This is evident when handling 4K and 6K video footage from cameras like the Canon EOS R5C and Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K. While an external SSD is necessary for large files, the processor and graphics card handle advanced editing seamlessly.
Like all the best video editing laptops and best laptops for graphic design we've reviewed, the ProArt P16 is targeted at videographers, photographers, designers, and content creators. It meets the high demands of the creative sector. It stands out as a great alternative to the best MacBook Pro laptops, not just for budget reasons but for its performance and features.
Asus ProArt P16: Introduction
The Asus ProArt P16 is marketed as a laptop designed for and aimed at the creative sector—ideal for anyone needing a portable, powerful machine capable of content creation. This is no small feat, as the processing and graphics power required to edit, manipulate, and enhance the latest 4K and 8K video footage, high-resolution photography, AI content, and traditional sketching and drawing is immense for one machine to handle.
With the ProArt P16, you have a machine capable of handling the latest video files from cameras such as the Canon EOS R5 and the Sony Alpha 7 Mark IV. This laptop's ability to easily manage files from these high-end mirrorless hybrid cameras highlights just how powerful the ProArt P16 is.
What truly sets this machine apart is not just its processing power, which enables it to handle large and complex file formats, but its design, which is fine-tuned for creatives. The large monitor, which is 100% P3 compliant, ensures that the colours you see on the screen will be accurately reproduced elsewhere. Small details, such as the Asus DialPad and an extensive array of ports around the sides, will all provide easy connectivity. Additionally, the full touchscreen and supplied stylus all add to the desirability of this laptop for creatives.
Compared with a traditional laptop, the Asus ProArt P16 seems to be in a league of its own, but can a laptop designed for a niche sector really live up to the demands of creatives?
Asus ProArt P16: Price & availability
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Asus ProArt P16 isn't cheap, with the standard model starting at $2700 / £2600. When it comes to availability, you can purchase it directly through the Asus website, and it is also widely available at most major retailers and online stores.
Price: 5/5
Asus ProArt P16: Design & build
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Asus ProArt P16 boasts an incredibly sleek design, considering the size of the monitor and the powerful hardware it contains. The laptop measures 35.49 x 24.69 x 1.49 cm and weighs 1.85 kg, making it relatively easy to slip into a standard laptop or camera backpack or laptop bag. While the weight is on the heavier side compared to typical laptops, it is quite reasonable given its capabilities and on par with the MacBook Pro.
One important consideration is that this laptop requires a proprietary power adapter, which is especially crucial for intensive tasks like video editing that can drain the battery quickly. This adapter is needed as the laptop cannot be charged via a standard USB Type-C charger.
The laptop is extremely well-built and feels tough and durable. It meets the US MIL-STD 810H military-grade standard for durability, so it should withstand more than a knock or two out in the field.
When it comes to some of the standard laptop features, the sides of the laptop offer a good variety of ports. On the left side, there is the DC-in, HDMI 2.1, a USB 4 Type-C, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and an audio combo jack. Flipping over to the right-hand side, there's an SD Express 7.0 card reader, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C. The only thing missing here is a standard Ethernet port, so if you need to connect to a wired network, you will need a USB Type-C to Ethernet adapter.
The design of the keyboard is nice and large, with a full layout and all the usual keys that you would want for general admin and office work, as well as shortcuts when using creative applications. A nice feature is the large touchpad, which is really sensitive. You can pop into the settings and adjust its sensitivity as needed. Integrated into this touchpad is the Asus DialPad, which is essentially a circular indent that acts as a touch-sensitive control wheel. A nice function of this is that you can adjust its options and functions through the ProArt Creator Hub and settings.
Another notable design feature is the two speaker panels located on either side of the keyboard. These panels house powerful, high-quality Harman Kardon speakers.
When it comes to the screen, it has an almost edge-to-edge design, which is really nice to see, giving you a big and clear, distraction-free workspace. The monitor itself meets the P3 display standard to 100%, and if you want to delve into the settings, there's plenty of adjustment available if you need to calibrate the monitor using tools like the DataColor SpyderX2. Another nice feature of the monitor is that it is fully touchscreen enabled and a stylus is included in the package. While this makes the screen relatively glossy, it is not overly so, and reflections are kept to a minimum.
Overall, the slim and relatively lightweight build, combined with its powerful capabilities, makes the Asus ProArt P16 an ideal option for creatives on the move who need a powerhouse of a machine to run the best video editing software or best graphic design software. When sitting down and working at the machine, the full keyboard, trackpad, control dial, and touchscreen with stylus support all contribute to a very appealing laptop for anyone working in the creative sector.
Design: 5/5
Asus ProArt P16: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Many laptops are tuned for raw power, especially with the evolution of AI chips. The Asus ProArt P16 exemplifies this, featuring an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor coupled with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. The processor offers 50 TOPS, up to 70W CPU TDP, and 5.1 GHz with 12 cores, while the GPU delivers 321 TOPS and 8GB GDDR6 VRAM for real-time ray tracing and AI-augmented computing. Supporting these components is 64GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 2TB NVMe M.2 SSD for fast storage.
A notable addition is a dedicated AI NPU chip that powers AI features like Copilot in Windows and the Asus AI applications. Support from Adobe and others for this chip is growing, enhancing capabilities in Photoshop and Premiere Pro. The AI-powered apps MuseTree and StoryCube add further value.
The ProArt P16 boasts a large 16-inch OLED touchscreen with 4096 levels of sensitivity and meets the P3 colour standard at 100%. It offers a 4K (3840 x 2400) resolution and supports MPP 2.0. The screen is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 11, providing durability. Audio is impressive, too, with Harman Kardon speakers featuring Dolby Atmos and three array microphones.
Designed to be equally effective in the studio and field, the laptop meets US military-grade durability tests. Weighing 1.85 kg and measuring up to 14.9 mm thick, it is portable and robust, withstanding up to 95% humidity and temperatures from -32°C to 70°C.
The DialPad integrated into the touchpad and the ProArt Creator Hub software offer precise control for various tools, which is beneficial for photo retouching and other creative tasks. MuseTree allows AI-powered sketch realization, and StoryCube aids in managing digital assets. The ProArt Creator Hub provides access to all features, including a Pantone-developed colour management tool.
Despite its power, the laptop's advanced cooling system remains quiet, even under high-demand tasks like Adobe Premiere Pro. The ProArt P16 runs on Windows 11 Home, with an option to upgrade to Pro. It includes dedicated Asus applications like ProArt Creator Hub, MuseTree, and StoryCube, along with Asus DialPad control panel access.
Features: 5/5
Asus ProArt P16: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Benchmarks
Crystal Disk Read: 5001.01MB/s Crystal Disk Write: 3955.26MB/s GeekBench CPU Single: 15197 GeekBench CPU Multi: 2882 GeekBench Compute: 1000704 PC Mark: 8149 CineBench CPU Multi: 21915 CineBench CPU Single: 1948 Fire Strike Overall: 238909 Fire Strike Graphics: 26226 Fire Strike Physics: 31027 Fire Strike Combined: 11672 Time Spy Overall: 9953 Time Spy Graphics: 9791 Time Spy CPU: 10988 Wild Life: 45337 Windows Experience: 8.3
Testing out the laptop involved some creative work in the field. We took it along on a video shoot and used it with Premiere Pro to edit footage shot on the Canon EOS R5 C in Canon Log 3 format. The footage was copied over to a Samsung T5 Evo 1TB SSD for storage from an OWC Atlas CFExpress Type-B Card. The initial handling of the footage was impressive, allowing us to copy the S-Log files directly into the timeline and start editing and grading. For a 15-minute production, the laptop handled the processing with ease and quickly rendered out the file after three hours of editing, ready for uploading to YouTube.
Editing using just the keyboard and the Asus DialPad was intuitive, making it a nice alternative compared to using an accessory like the Monogram Creator Kit that we usually use. While not quite as intuitive, the small pad works incredibly well, allowing customization so it does exactly what you need, which is great for adjusting settings with a finger touch. The full-size keyboard is also a nice addition, and anyone used to a MacBook Pro will find that the layout isn't too dissimilar. The transition, especially for a shortcut wizard, isn't too much of a leap.
Another noticeable feature of the ProArt P16 is its battery life. Even when editing footage in a high-demand application, we were able to get
an hour and eighteen minutes of power before needing to plug into a Bluetti AC200 for portable power for the rest of the edit. For Photoshop and general administration work, the battery life was between three and a half to four and a half hours.
Switching over to using Adobe Photoshop, the laptop handled applications, including Lightroom, with ease. Even with the 45-megapixel images from the Canon EOS R5 C, there was absolutely no slowdown, even as the layering of images increased during focus stacking for an upcoming book. Used on a two-day shoot, the laptop worked well for tethered shooting, taking the images directly into Photoshop, stacking, and then exporting them out, and wirelessly transferring them to the designer, who was able to layout pages on the fly. It was a nice workflow, and the transition from usually using a MacBook Pro to this ASUS ProArt P16 wasn't as large a leap as we had initially anticipated.
When it came to creative apps, the ProArt P16 was finely tuned. The power of those AI chips made easy work of extremely heavy processing tasks. What was impressive was that even when editing large 4K video files and the machine was drawing maximum power, the noise from the fans remained minimal.
Another point to note is that while monitoring audio for video is best done through headphones, the small internal speakers had clarity, quality, and decent volume, allowing us to hear the audio even when working outdoors in a busy environment.
To double-check performance, this review was written using Microsoft Office on the machine, and some work on Excel spreadsheets was done to check the computer's ability to handle general admin tasks. As expected, since this computer can easily handle 4K video editing with ease, there were no issues with administration tasks. Browsing the internet and streaming video content were equally well handled.
Finally, for downtime, we checked out the gaming performance with titles like Hogwarts Legacy and Tekken 8. Once both games were loaded, the machine handled the processing and graphics exceptionally well, far beyond what you'd usually expect from a non-gaming laptop.
After testing and being impressed by the laptop's performance, especially with creative applications, it was time to switch our attention to benchmarking tests to see if the performance of this laptop really was as good as it seemed.
Performance: 5/5
Should you buy the Asus ProArt P16?
The ProArt P16 is specifically designed for the creative industry, offering a range of features finely tuned for this sector. Creatives—from illustrators and textile designers to photographers and videographers—will appreciate the ability to use a stylus accurately with various creative applications. This is a huge benefit, providing precision and enhancing workflow.
From the outset, this laptop impresses. It is slim, with a large screen and relatively light weight, making it highly portable. Its processing power and GPU capabilities enable the use of the best photo editors, design apps, and editing tools. If you're running high-end creative applications like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve, it's an appealing option for professionals.
The laptop includes a variety of ports, allowing easy connectivity to accessories, cameras, monitors, and more. This feature enhances its appeal to creatives who require a versatile and flexible workspace.
Durability is another strong point. With military-grade certification, the ProArt P16 can withstand knocks and bumps, ensuring it survives fieldwork. The full keyboard is excellent for shortcuts and navigation, though an application-specific keyboard for programs like Photoshop or video editing would be a welcome addition.
The Asus DialPad is a standout feature. While it takes some getting used to, it becomes a massive asset for adjusting settings and brush sizes in creative applications. The touchscreen display, with its high sensitivity, allows for direct interaction with artwork, providing precision and a more traditional feel compared to a keyboard and mouse.
Ultimately, the power of this laptop makes the user experience seamless. There is no waiting around, and the workflow is fluid and intuitive. While the Apple MacBook Pro has been a long-standing choice for creatives, the ProArt P16 challenges this dominance. With its powerful features, touchscreen, dial, and creative software suite—including MyAsus, MuseTree, and StoryCube—the ProArt P16 offers a compelling alternative that meets and exceeds the quality and functionality of its Apple counterpart.
Qualcomm has fallen into a pattern – launch a Snapdragon chip, then introduce a faster “+” variant and a cheaper “s” variant. There was the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 in late 2023, then came the beefy 7+ Gen 3 in March and, well, now an “s” model is on the horizon. It’s not official yet, maybe that will happen during Qualcomm’s big event in October. For now, we have this leaked slide that was shared by Evan Blass.
Focusing on the details at the bottom, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 will have a 20% faster CPU, 40% faster GPU and 30% faster NPU, while offering a modest 12% improvement in power...
CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Processor Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU RAM: 32GB LPDDR5X Storage: 2TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD Left Ports: DCI-in, HDMI 2.1 FRL, USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C, 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack Right Ports: Micro SD 4.0 card reader, USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) (Triple band) 2x2, Bluetooth 5.4 Audio: Built-in speakers with Harman/Kardon premium audio, Smart Amp technology, built-in array microphone Camera: FHD camera with IR function to support Windows Hello Size: 29.82 x 20.99 x 1.58 ~ 1.77 cm (11.74" x 8.26" x 0.62" ~ 0.70") Weight: 1.38 kg (3.04 lbs) OS Installed: Windows 11 Home Accessories: Includes stylus support with up to 4096 pressure levels
The Asus ProArt PX13 is a compact and powerful laptop designed for creatives. While its hybrid design, enabling it to flip from a laptop to a tablet, isn't unique, its power and features tailored to the creative sector are.
It comes equipped with an AI-enhanced AMD CPU and NVIDI GPU, Windows 11 Home, a 2TB SSD, and 32GB of RAM, it can handle almost anything you throw at it. And if you need additional storage, the PX13 provides extensive connectivity options, including ultra-fast 40GB/s USB4.
Having reviewed the best laptops for photo editing, best laptops for graphic design, and the best video editing laptops, we were impressed with the ProArt's performance. It excelled when running demanding applications like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Photoshop, and Lightroom, demonstrating its ability to power through intensive tasks effortlessly.
Alongside the AI-enhanced hardware is suite of Asus AI Apps, with the ProArt Creator Hub at its heart. These useful apps, such as MuseTree, which enables you to turn sketches into AI-generated creations, and StoryBoard, a powerful media manager, help you organize your images and videos automatically. The laptop's dual functionality as both a laptop and a tablet, combined with added features like the Asus DialPad for intuitive adjustments, all fine-tune its creative appeal.
Then there's the rugged design that meets military-grade durability standards, ensuring it can withstand more than a knock or two if you're involved with fieldwork or travel. Coupled with that compact and lightweight design, it makes this laptop perfect for if you're a creative professional who needs a portable, powerful computer to handle the latest media files, admin tasks, and even a bit of high-end gaming during work down times.
Few laptops can compete with the ProArt PX13 at this price point and power level. While alternatives like Windows tablets and the MacBook Pro exist, they don't offer the unique features that make the PX13 an excellent choice for creatives.
Asus ProArt PX13: Introduction
The Asus ProArt PX13 has been designed specifically for the creative industry, targeting professionals and content creators who demand high processing power, portability, and flexibility from their devices. With a price tag reflecting its premium features, this laptop stands out for its hybrid design, flipping seamlessly from a laptop to a tablet. This functionality, combined with advanced hardware and software, makes it a formidable tool for creatives and content creators.
A standout feature of the PX13 is its ability to transform into a tablet. While this isn't unique, it's the combination of this feature with software applications and hardware additions, such as an array of ports and the Asus DialPad, tailors this to the creative market.
Under the hood, the PX13 boasts an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Processor 2.0GHz processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, and the AMD XDNA NPU, which significantly boosts performance beyond typical expectations.
The screen is a critical component for creatives. While it's only 13.3 inches, it meets the 100% DCI-P3 colour standard, ensuring vibrant and accurate colour reproduction. The screen's brightness can be adjusted for optimal visibility both indoors and outdoors, making it perfect for fieldwork and studio use.
Durability is another key feature, with the PX13 meeting US MIL-STD 810H military-grade standards. This is particularly reassuring for creatives who know how much wear and tear their equipment can endure, especially during busy photo or video shoots where gear is constantly moved around.
The PX13 is ideal for creators working in the field, allowing them to use it as a standard laptop for administrative tasks and script checks and then switch to editing video and images with ease. Its hybrid design offers the best of both worlds, but does this combination truly meet the practical needs of creatives?
Asus ProArt PX13: Price & availability
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The ProArt PX13 (HN7306WI) costs approximately $2000/£2000 and can be purchased directly from the Asus website and major retailers such as Best Buy and Amazon.
Price: 5/5
Asus ProArt PX13: Design & build
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Asus ProArt PX13 is designed to be compact at; 29.82 x 20.99 x 1.58cm, and weighing in at 1.38kg, making it ideal if you work in the field or travel frequently. Despite its size, it houses a powerful CPU and GPU, along with advanced AI capabilities, offering performance far beyond typical 13-inch laptops.
The build quality is exceptional, with a tough, US MIL-STD 810H military-grade standard, casing that protects against rough handling. The robust hinges allow the screen to flip 360 degrees, transforming the laptop into a tablet. This flexibility of being able to flip from tablet to laptop is enhanced by the full-size keyboard and large trackpad, which includes the innovative Asus DialPad for intuitive control in creative applications such as adjusting brush sizes in Photoshop.
Connectivity is well catered for, with multiple ports, including USB Type-A, USB Type-C, and HDMI, making it easy to connect to external devices and display systems; there's also a MicroSD card slot, ideal for downloading footage from GoPro Hero12 Black and DJI Drones such as the Mavic 3 Pro. The keyboard and touchpad with that DialPad complement the 13.3-inch touchscreen, which supports 4096 pressure levels when used with the Asus Stylus, making it perfect for precise creative work, and it's possible to replicate the effects of traditional art tools.
The touchscreen's slightly glossy finish is less reflective than many others, ensuring visibility outdoors, and is designed to minimize fingerprints. The laptop's design is equally suited for studio and outdoor use, allowing for easy tethering to camera systems and monitors indoors, while outdoors its durable build makes it perfect for field use and travel.
Design: 5/5
Asus ProArt PX13: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
For a laptop with a 13.3-inch screen, the PX13 packs an impressive array of features. Weighing just 1.38 kg, it's compact and slim enough to fit into any standard camera backpack or laptop bag. It comes preinstalled with Windows 11 Home, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of apps, and can be used in laptop, tablet, stand, or tent mode. Asus recommends an upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for business use.
The PX13 features an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, providing up to 50 TOPS, 65W CPU TDP, and speeds up to 5.1 GHz with 12 cores. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM supports real-time ray tracing and AI-enhanced computing, ideal for video editing and 3D design. Additionally, the AMD XDNA NPU boosts AI capabilities, working seamlessly with Windows Copilot and Asus AI applications.
The advanced cooling system, with noticeable venting around the body, keeps the laptop cool even under heavy use. With 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM running at 7500 MHz and a 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, the PX13 offers robust performance and storage. For video editors, it's worth noting that this laptop features two USB4 ports to attach card readers and external SSDs with a max transfer speed of 40GB/s.
Software such as the ProArt Creator Hub, StoryCube, and MuseTree help you organize and manage files easily with a little AI assistance. The Asus DialPad, integrated into the touchpad, enhances control in creative applications, and the control and settings for this can be adjusted in the Creator Hub software.
The 3K OLED touchscreen (2880 x 1800) meets the DCI-P3 color standard at 100% and supports 4096 pressure levels with the MPP 2.0 stylus. It also boasts certifications for low blue light and colour accuracy.
Connectivity options include a DC-in port, HDMI 2.1, USB4 Type-C, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an SD card reader, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, and another USB4 Type-C port, which are well spaced along each side of the laptop. Wi-Fi 7 ensures high-speed wireless connectivity, though a USB Type-C adapter is needed for wired LAN networks.
Audio is powered by Harman Kardon with Dolby Atmos, featuring a smart amplifier and three microphones for better audio during video conferencing. When it comes to features, the ProArt PX13 is packed with hardware and software enhancements that have been chosen to appeal to the needs of the creative industry.
Features: 5/5
Asus ProArt PX13: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Benchmarks
CrystalDiskMark Read: 5279.99 MB/s CrystalDiskMark Write: 4891.72 MB/s GeekBench CPU Single: 15022 GeekBench CPU Multi: 2852 GeekBench Compute: 110282 PCMark: 7790 CineBench CPU Multi: 19459 CineBench CPU Single: 1952 Fire Strike Overall: 22823 Fire Strike Graphics: 25430 Fire Strike Physics: 27797 Fire Strike Combined: 11203 Time Spy Overall: 9556 Time Spy Graphics: 9491 Time Spy CPU: 9942 Wild Life: 49023 Windows Experience: 8.3
It is a bit surprising that a laptop of this size and price runs on Windows 11 Home rather than Pro, although Asus does recommend an upgrade for business use. Upgrading is easy. However, it does come at an additional cost. During this review, we utilized Windows 11 home and installed various creative apps, including Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve. To push the graphics capability, we also installed a variety of games alongside less processor-intensive application suites such as the Microsoft Office suite.
Starting with basic tasks like browsing the internet and using office applications, the PX13 performs exceptionally well. The small screen is just large enough for working on documents, checking spreadsheets, and browsing the internet. The touchscreen interaction, especially in Excel, allows for quick navigation and adjustments, making it incredibly intuitive. Using the stylus alongside Excel enhances this experience, making it far easier than without the touchscreen capability. If you're used to larger screens then the size of the small 13.3-inch screen will take a little getting used to.
Moving on to Microsoft Word and other Office applications, the laptop operates smoothly with no issues, providing a pleasant enough experience. The adjustable screen brightness is a nice and standard feature, ensuring comfortable usage in various lighting conditions.
Switching to more demanding tasks like editing images within Adobe Photoshop, the laptop handles high-resolution images from the Canon EOS R5C again with ease. Multiplying layers, making adjustments, and applying effects were all managed seamlessly. The integration of the Asus DialPad made brush adjustments intuitive, allowing for natural control over the adjustments, especially when using the dodge and burn tools.
The ability to adjust the brush size with the dial while adjusting the pressure to alter the intensity of the brush made enhancing images far quicker and a more natural process. The combination of the dial and the stylus make a huge difference to the quality of the work.
The stylus's 4096 pressure sensitivity levels make the experience of both enhancing and drawing more like traditional art, enabling precise control and natural-looking artwork.
For video editing, the PX13 excels. We started with 1080p footage shot on the Sony A7 Mark IV, and the laptop handled it effortlessly. Using an external SSD for additional storage, we edited and graded 15-minute sequences in Premiere Pro without issues. Moving on to 4K footage, the laptop again performed well, enabling smooth editing and grading.
Exporting footage for final output and uploading to YouTube was quick, again showing the laptop's power. It's worth noting that even when the laptop was working at full capacity, the fan noise remained acceptable.
The laptop's battery life is about five hours for general tasks. However, when video editing, this drops to around one hour and 10 minutes per charge.
We also tested gaming performance with titles like Tekken 8, Cyberpunk 2077, and Hogwarts Legacy. The PX13 handled these games well, providing a smooth experience even when connected to a larger TV screen.
Finally, benchmark tests backed up what we had experienced in the real world tests with the results seen in the benchmark tests:
Performance: 5/5
Should you buy the Asus ProArt PX13?
The performance of the Asus ProArt PX13 is impressive from the outset. While some laptops and tablets rival its performance, Asus has struck a perfect balance with the PX13, making it highly appealing to the creative industry. Many creatives rely on Apple MacBook Pros, but the prohibitive cost of these machines has led to an increased interest in Windows alternatives. The PX13 packs desirable features into a compact design.
The laptop's durability will appeal to creatives. The PX13 feels robust, and this is reinforced by its meeting military-grade standards. Its hybrid design enables it to quickly flip from a laptop into a tablet and with the addition of the stylus this becomes and increadibly powerful creative tool. One of the stand out feature is that ability to flip the keyboard and while this enables it to switch from PC to tablet that mechanism can also be used to positioned the screen for various uses, such as watching movies or playing games.
The processing power is impressive for such a small machine. It easily handles Microsoft Office applications and excels in creative applications like Photoshop and Lightroom. It also performs well when editing 4K video in Premiere Pro, although additional storage is necessary for larger projects. The 2TB of internal storage and the option to connect external SSDs via USB4 ports ensure that speed and storage capacity should meet your creative needs.
Like all the best 2-in-1 laptops, the Asus ProArt PX13 is a hybrid that converts to a tablet, giving you the best of both worlds, and making it an excellent solution for creatives. Its combination of power, durability, and flexibility makes it an ideal choice for professionals in the creative sector. Whether in the studio, café or on set, this laptop really does work well in adapting to all situations and uses.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS Graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics 780M RAM: 32GB DDR5 5600MT/s up to 64GB Storage: M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x 4 SSD 1TB up to 27B Rear Ports: DC Jack, USB 4.0. USB 3.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2.5GbE LAN Port, USB 2.0 Port, USB 3.2 Gen 2 port Front Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 3.5mm Headphone Connectivity: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 2.5G Ethernet Audio: 3.5mm audio Camera: n/a Size: 117 x 111 x 38.5mm OS installed: Windows 11 Pro (64bit) Accessories: VESA Mount
From the outset, the Geekom Mini PC AX8 Pro impresses with its full metal build and stylish design. From the box, you can instantly feel the weight, which is more than you normally expect from a machine of this size. However, as this is a mini PC, and at 545 g, it is going to add a small amount of weight or bulk to your desktop or bag.
Looking at that design and that full metal build does give the mini PC a real sense of quality. There's nothing flimsy about it, which gives you confidence that if you need something portable, then it will withstand more than a simple knock or two.
As with so many of the best mini PCs we've reviewed, there are several ports around the body of the machine, giving you plenty of connectivity options whether you're using it as a permanent desktop solution or as something more portable.
Inside the AX8 Pro, you have an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS coupled with AMD Radeon Graphics 780M, which proved to provide plenty of power when it mattered. Our review sample features 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD, which also provides plenty of power and decent storage capacity.
The machine comes with Windows 11 Pro 64-bit installed, so the initial setup process takes about 20 minutes. Once everything is in place, the machine performs impressively across all test programs that usually require a bit more processing, such as Photoshop and Premiere, which run smoothly for the most part.
However, you do start to see its slight lag in Adobe Premiere Pro with some of the high-resolution footage from the Canon EOS R5 C. Taking an in-depth look at the benchmarking results, we can see just how good this small machine is comparing well to some of the more powerful laptops on the market and some of the larger gaming mini PCs.
The benchmarks show that the AX8 is an outstanding machine, able to cope with a wide breadth of applications and uses. With its sleek, understated design, it's surprising just how powerful it is, which makes it an ideal solution for professional use. It's not only capable of ploughing through office admin applications but also doing an awful lot more, including handling all of your creative content and applications.
Geekom AX8 Pro: Price & availability
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The AX8 Pro is available directly from Geekom for $749 / £749, reflecting its premium quality build and outstanding performance. You can also find this machine on Amazon and several other online retailers, and the prices will vary depending on what offers are available.
Score: 4/5
Geekom AX8 Pro: Design & build
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The build quality of mini PCs is certainly on the up, and the AX8 Pro Mini PC is a testament to this. On close inspection, the full metal build of the exterior casing, the honeycomb design of vents along the sides and venting at the back along with the neat layout of the front and rear ports all give this mini PC an edge when it comes to absolute style and quality.
The front of the machine is minimalistic with two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, which enable 10 Gb/s data transfer. These are neatly laid out and great for plugging in occasional accessories. There is also a 3.5mm headphone socket, which accepts most wired headphones and then the main power button.
Flipping over to the rear, you have the 19V DC in, and the mini PC comes supplied with an external power supply that plugs straight into the mains socket. Next to this, you have a USB 4.0, which delivers 40 Gb/s. Below this is an HDMI 2.0 port. On the opposite side of the machine, there's a USB 3.2 port and HDMI 2.0 port coupling. The USB 4.0 port on the left is capable of delivering 8K at 30 Hz, while the USB 3.2 port on the right can deliver 4K at 60 Hz, providing future-proofing options. Additionally, you have a 2.5 GB LAN port, another USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, and a USB 2.0 port, giving you plenty of options for connecting peripherals and multiple displays.
On the base of the casing are two screw holes that enable a VESA mount to be attached, so this mini PC can easily be mounted in various locations using the standard mounting system. On the side of the mini PC, there is a security lock slot for added protection.
Design: 4.5/5
Geekom AX8 Pro: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The small size of this mini PC doesn't give you any impression of the scale of the features packed inside. Firstly, it boasts an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, coupled with AMD Radeon Graphics 780M. This combo is paired with 32GB of DDR5 5600MT/sRAM, expandable to 64GB if required. Storage wise it ships with a 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x 4 SSD, but will take an SSD up to 2TB. Then, for networking connectivity, it has a decent suite of ports, including a 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2 for connecting devices.
One of the big features of the AMD CPU used is that it's part of the 8000 series, featuring advanced AI capabilities to help allocate processing where and when it's needed. This aids with a variety of functions including predictive maintenance, improved energy efficiency, enhanced performance and security, and helps to personalise your experience in combination with Windows 11 Pro.
When you open up the machine by removing the four screws on the base, it reveals the RAM and SSD slots so upgrading is extremely easy.
The PC comes with Wi-Fi 6E to ensure a decent connection to your networks for conferencing work, light entertainment, and gaming. Its backward compatibility means that if you are transporting this small box around, it should easily connect with all sorts of networks without issue. For other forms of connection, it has Bluetooth 5.2, allowing you to connect wireless accessories and speakers without too much hassle.
A variety of ports around the body of the mini PC provide plenty of connection options. Notably the HDMI, USB 4.0 and USB 3.2 enable you to connect to large displays, with two standard HDMI 2.0 ports enabling you to connect to 4K 60Hz monitors. Additionally, the USB 4.0 port allows you to connect to an 8K 30Hz monitor, and a USB 3.2 port enables you to connect to a 4K 60Hz monitor, allowing for a total of four monitors to be connected at once.
The USB 4.0 and 3.2 ports can be used to connect to displays or provide ultra-fast data transfer to storage devices such as external SSDs, enabling transfer speeds up to 40 Gb/s. This makes it suitable for photographers and videographers looking for a machine that can handle the large data files required for image and video editing. The 2.5G Ethernet will enable you to connect to network drives easily.
One issue with having such a high-performance mini PC in a small frame is heat management. Geekom addresses this with its Ice Blast 5.0 cooling system, incorporating a large fan at the top of the machine. This fan helps draw heat from the electronics and pushes it out through a vent on the back of the machine, while the Honeycombe vents on the side draw in cooler air across the electronics.
Despite the high processing speeds, this mini PC is well-balanced and consumes only 45W, which is far lower than similarly powered laptops. One of the big features is that the AX8 Pro is a powerful computing solution in a small and robust package that's easy to carry and connect to displays and wireless systems, perfect for presentations or work. At 117 x 111 x 38.5 mm with the VESA mount in the package, it's also extremely mountable, so it can be positioned on the back of a monitor, TV, or beneath your monitor with ease.
An interesting feature highlighted by Geekom, which is quite rare for a mini PC, is its durability. The company states that it has undergone drop tests, vibration, altitude, temperature, and humidity tests to ensure it is a robust mini PC that will stand up to more than typical use.
This PC comes standard with Windows 11 Pro, which works seamlessly with all Microsoft Office apps, Google Suite, and the Adobe Creative Collection, as utilised throughout this review.
Features: 4.5/5
Geekom AX8 Pro: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Benchmarks
Crystal Disk Read: 7102.34MB/s Crystal Disk Write: 6192.86MB/s GeekBench CPU Single: 2662 GeekBench CPU Multi: 13392 GeekBench Compute: 31321 PC Mark: 7518 CineBench CPU Multi: 14602 CineBench CPU Single: 1800 Fire Strike Overall: 7734 Fire Strike Graphics: 8384 Fire Strike Physics: 26594 Fire Strike Combined: 2925 Time Spy Overall: 3359 Time Spy Graphics: 2997 Time Spy CPU: 10687 Wild Life: 17182 Windows Experience: 8.2
Unboxing the AX8 Pro from the packaging takes a couple of minutes and a further 20 minutes to run through the Windows 11 Pro setup process. The machine is very simple to set up, with the AC to DC transformer plugging into the back with a decent-length cable to plug into your AC mains wall socket. Following that, the two USB ports on the back can be used to connect your keyboard and mouse before a cable HDMI or USB type-C is run to the monitor.
For our test, we used a single 27-inch 4K monitor plugged in directly through the HDMI cable. It supplies a decent 4K resolution at 60 Hz, which is more than enough for most professional uses, including office work, creative and video editing.
To run through the tests the system was loaded with the usual benchmarking software, 3D Mark, PC Mark, Geekbench, Adobe Creative Cloud (ACC) with Photoshop and Premiere Pro, and a few games to test the graphics potential.
Starting with Microsoft Office apps, Microsoft Word and Excel ran absolutely seamlessly with no issues encountered with multiple documents and applications open.
Putting a little more pressure on the system, Adobe Photoshop and Premiere were loaded. Using Photoshop as a starting point, we tested the machine's capabilities, and it was able to happily open and manipulate images from the Canon EOS R5 C with 5 to 10 layers and multiple adjustments with minimal slowdown. This makes it an ideal solution for photographers who need a small and compact machine that can be used in a studio environment or out in the field.
Switching the processing over to some of the best video editing software out there, Premiere Pro, we edited a five-minute video taken from the Canon EOS R5 C in 4K. While the internal storage wasn't large enough to hold all the video captured, an external Lexar Armor 700 SSD was attached to the USB port on the back of the machine. This provides the transfer rates needed by Premiere Pro for smooth editing of the footage. The ease of use and the smoothness of the editing process highlight just how powerful this little machine is. With proxy media enabled, the AX8 Pro provided a smooth workflow, although, for larger productions, this small machine would start to struggle.
For office tasks using Google Suite or Microsoft Office within a professional environment, this machine will absolutely excel, enabling you to connect to multiple displays and storage devices without an issue. For creative tasks such as Photoshop or InDesign, this machine is more than adequate, handling data manipulation and layout with plenty of power. When it comes to video editing for full HD and 4K video, this machine handles the data with relative ease. However, for high bitrate footage, such as that produced by the Canon EOS R5C, the machine starts to need help with longer productions. Using Adobe Media Encoder to convert that footage to something more accessible will help the editing process. As it stands, it does a relatively good job.
Switching to benchmarking software, we see just how good this machine is, with some of the fastest results seen from any mini PC.
The benchmark results show the AX8 Pro's impressive storage speed. With read speeds of over 7000 MB/s and write speeds surpassing 6000 MB/s, the NVMe SSD ensures rapid boot times, fast file transfers, and runs multiple applications with ease.
The Geekbench and Cinebench scores highlight the capabilities of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS. The high single-core scores ensure that everyday tasks and applications like Microsoft Office and Google Chrome run smoothly. The impressive multi-core scores indicate excellent performance in multitasking and demanding applications like the best photo editors Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, as well as Premiere Pro.
A PC Mark score of 7518 and a Windows Experience Index of 8.2 reflect a balanced system optimised for productivity, entertainment, and creative tasks.
The gaming benchmarks reveal the AX8 Pro's abilities, with the AMD Radeon 780M providing solid performance. Fire Strike and Time Spy scores, particularly in graphics and physics, indicate that the AX8 Pro can handle graphically intensive games like Cyberpunk 2097 and Red Dead Redemption 2 in medium settings. The Wild Life score of 17182 further reinforces this - so if you do want to do a little gaming, then while you won't be able to crank up the graphics all the way, you'll still get a decent gaming experience.
One thing to note is that during the editing of 4K video and when playing games the fan noise was quite loud, so while the machine is more than happy to delve into heavy processing you will have the fan noise to contend with.
Performance: 4/5
Should you buy the Geekom AX8 Pro?
The Geekom AX8 Pro will undoubtedly suit any professional who needs a smaller, robust computer, whether for the office, studio, or on location. This mini PC is versatile enough to take out in the field or use in a presentation at an alternative workplace.
Unusually for a mini PC, build quality, and the robustness of the design really come into play. The style of this mini PC is so understated that you wouldn't realise just how tough it is. Geekom has gone to extra lengths to ensure that if you decide to carry this mini PC around, the build quality will protect the delicate components inside the metal casing.
Inside is a powerful PC, highlighted through both real-world tests and benchmarking. While the graphics abilities of this mini PC might not match those of top-flight gaming and production mini PCs, it is still among the best we've tested. If you need extra graphic processing, there is a USB 4.0 port on the back that will allow you to connect an external GPU of your choice, giving a significant boost in graphics performance.
Beneath the hood, there's a lot of processing power, and this machine will get hot. Thankfully, the cooling system that Geekom has implemented works well. Although you can hear the fans as they kick in to keep things cool, it's not overly loud. If you need a quiet editing environment for video work, there might be better machines for you, though the noise levels are generally acceptable.
As an all-around powerful PC, the Geekom AX8 Pro outperforms many others and is a great solution for demanding office work and medium creative applications.
