The Intel Arc A750 is probably the one graphics card I've most wanted to get my hands on this year, and now that I've put it through a fairly rigorous testing regime, I can honestly say I am very impressed with Intel's first effort at a discrete GPU. At the same time, it's also not an easy card to recommend right now, which is a tragedy.
First, to the good, namely the great price and stylish look of the Intel Limited Edition reference card. The Intel Arc A750 Limited Edition card has an MSRP of just $249.99 (about £200 / AU$375), and the limited number of third-party cards out there are retailing at roughly the same price.
The Arc A750 I tested also looks spectacular compared to the reference cards from Nvidia and AMD, thanks to its matte black look, subtle lighting, and silver trim along the edge of the card. It will look great in a case, especially for those who don't need their PCs to look like a carnival.
When it comes to performance, I was most surprised by how the Arc A750 handled modern AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Returnal, both of which put a lot of demands on a graphics card in order to maintain a stable frame rate. The Arc A750 handled them much better than the RTX 3050 it is ostensibly competing against. It even outperformed the RTX 3060 in many cases, putting it just under halfway between the RTX 3060 and the RTX 3060 Ti, two of the best graphics cards ever made.
The Arc A750 manages to pull this off while costing substantially less, which is definitely a huge point in its column.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Test system specs
This is the system we used to test the Intel Arc A750:
The thing about the Arc A750 is that the things it does well, it does really well, but those areas where it flounders, like older DirectX9 and DirectX10 workloads, it does so pretty badly.
It's a tale of two halves, really. Nothing exposes the issues with the Arc A750 more than its synthetic performance scores, which on average trounce the RTX 3060, 23,924 to 20,216. In that average though is its PassMark 3D score, a good measure of the card's ability to render content that wasn't just put out within the last couple of years. Here, the Arc A750 scored a dismal 9,766 to the RTX 3060's 20,786 - a 10,000 point deficit.
The story is similar when gaming, where the Arc A750 generally outperforms its rival cards, even in ray tracing in which Intel is the newcomer behind mature leader Nvidia and fiesty, determined AMD. In fact, when gaming with ray tracing at 1080p, the Intel Arc A750 comes in a close second behind Nvidia's RTX 3060 8GB, 37fps on average to the 3060's 44fps.
Bump that up to 1440p, however, and the Intel Arc A750 actually does better than the RTX 3060 8GB - 33fps on average to the 3060's 29fps average. When running Intel XeSS and Nvidia DLSS, the Arc A750 averages about 56fps on max settings with full ray tracing at 1080p, while the RX 6600 can only muster 46fps on average.
These are much lower than the RTX 3060's 77fps, thanks to DLSS, but getting roughly 60fps gaming with full ray tracing and max settings at 1080p is a hell of an accomplishment for the first generation of Intel discrete graphics. The Arc A750 can even run even with the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT in ray tracing performance with upscaling at 1440p, getting 42fps on average.
If only this performance were consistent across every game, then there would be no question that the Intel Arc A750 is the best cheap graphics card on the market. But it is exactly that inconsistency that drags this card down. Some games, like Tiny Tina's Wonderland, won't even run on the Arc A750, and it really, really should. How many games are there out there like Tiny Tina's? It's impossible to say, which is the heartbreaking thing about this card.
I really can't recommend people drop $250 on a graphics card that might not play their favorite games. That is simply not a problem that AMD or Nvidia have. Their performance might be rough for a few days or weeks after a game launches, but the game plays. The same can't be said of the A750, and only you, the buyer, can decide if that is worth the risk.
In the end, the Intel Arc A750 is a journeyman blacksmith's work: showing enormous potential but not of enough quality to merit selling in the shop. Those pieces are how craftspeople learn to become great, and I can very clearly see the greatness that future Arc cards can achieve as Intel continues to work on lingering issues and partners with more game developers.
It's just not there yet. As Intel's drivers improve, a lot of these issues might fade away, and the Intel Arc A750 will grow into the formidable card it seems like it should be. If you're comfortable dropping this kind of cash and taking that chance, you will still find this card does a lot of things great and can serve as a bridge to Intel's next generation of cards, Arc Battlemage, due out in 2024.
Intel Arc A750 Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
How much does it cost? MSRP of $249.99 (about £200 / AU$375)
When can you get it? It is available now
Where can you get it? It is available in the US, UK, and Australia, but stock may be an issue
The Intel Arc A750 is available now, starting at $249.99 (about £200 / AU$375). There are a limited number of third-party partners who also make the A750, though these tend to sell at or very close to Intel's MSRP from what I've seen.
This puts the Arc A750 on the same level price-wise as the Nvidia RTX 3050, but it definitely offers better performance, making it a better value so long as you're ok with the varying compatibility of the Arc A750 with some PC games out there.
Value: 4 / 5
Intel Arc A750 Specs
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Should you buy the Intel Arc A750?
Buy it if...
You're looking for a cheap GPU
At $249.99, this is one of the best cheap GPUs you're going to find.
You want a stylish looking card
This card is very cool looking in a way that Nvidia and AMD reference cards simply aren't.
You want strong ray tracing and upscaling Not only do Intel's AI cores make XeSS upscaling a serious contender, the Arc A750's ray tracing performance is quite strong.
Don't buy it if...
You are concerned about compatibility
While only one game I tested wouldn't work, that's one game too many for many gamers out there.
You're concerned about power consumption At 225W TGP, this card soaks up way more power than a card in this class reasonably should.
Intel Arc A750: Also consider
If my Intel Arc A750 has you considering other options, here are two more cards to consider...
How I tested the Intel Arc A750
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
I spent several days with the Intel Arc A750
I used the A750 in my personal PC playing games and doing creative work
I ran our standard battery of tests on the Arc A750
I spent several days with the Intel Arc A750 to test its gaming and creative performance, including at 1080p and 1440p. In addition to gaming, I ran our standard suite of GPU tests at it using the same system set up I use for all our graphics card tests.
Besides my extensive computer science education or practical experience, I have been a hardware reviewer for a few years now, and a PC gamer for even longer, so I know how well graphics cards are supposed to perform with a given set of specs.
Unlike the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i that was released earlier this year, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is a much more affordable gaming laptop that offers excellent performance for its price point. It comes in two separate types: the Legion Pro 5i outfitted with an Intel CPU and the Legion Pro 5 which comes with an AMD CPU.
Both versions use an Nvidia 4000-series GPU, as AMD The cheapest configuration you can nab without having to customize one yourself is about $1,259.99 / £1,410 (including VAT) / AU$2,499, which is far more affordable than most of the best gaming laptops on the market while still commanding respectable specs.
Just as many of the other desktop replacements we’ve seen in 2023, this one comes in the standard black color with nothing particularly interesting about its shape and design. The chassis feels decently sturdy, with a nice metal finish on the top of the laptop. Opening it, the keyboard keys are more uniquely shaped, with a roundness to them you normally don’t see. It makes typing a bit weird at first until you adjust to it. The trackpad is pretty solid in terms of sensitivity, and I’m always a fan of mechanical feedback versus haptic feedback.
It has an excellent, well-balanced 16-inch WQXGA (2560x1600) display, with a choice to upgrade to HDR and from 165Hz to 240Hz refresh rate. For most gamers, the difference doesn’t matter, and if you’re purchasing this laptop in particular to save money, then you can do without the pricier upgrade. I also enjoy the fact that there’s a manual switch to turn the webcam off and on, which is lacking in the vast majority of laptops, though I wish it linked up to a physical shutter instead.
There are two downsides to the Legion Pro 5i, however. The first is the audio, specifically how low it is. Of course, you could mitigate this by simply using a headset, but the fact that the speakers are so quiet compared to every other laptop I’ve reviewed in 2023 so far is a huge inconvenience. The second issue is the placement of the keyboard and trackpad. Both feel like they’re too far to the left, requiring you to adjust to the orientation. Until you do, typos and mis-presses are commonplace. This isn’t much of an issue if you use a controller or mouse, but for those who use a keyboard for gaming or productivity work, this could be an issue.
I received two personal review units — the first came with the Intel Core i7-13700HX and the second with an AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX. Both come with an Nvidia GPU, as AMD hasn’t yet released gaming laptops with mobile processors. The Intel and AMD CPUs are mostly comparable in theory but in practice, the Ryzen 7 7745HX completely blows the i7-13700HX out of the water in every benchmark.
Despite these differences, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i’s gaming performance is excellent, handling any of the best PC games easily, including Cyberpunk 2077 at max settings and ray tracing on while maintaining 60fps on average. Other titles like Final Fantasy VII Remake and Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered also look and run great, with very little slowdown at max settings. The former is able to lock in at 60fps when the option is chosen, while the latter consistently stays above that with the proper frame rate settings.
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future)
Starting at $1,259.99 / £1,410 (including VAT) / AU$2,499
Available now
Available in the US and UK, and Australia
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i sits firmly in the affordable market of gaming laptops — never quite dipping down to budget levels but still a well-rounded choice for those wanting great gaming performance for a solid price. The price is especially impressive for a gaming laptop with a 4000-series GPU and a 13th Gen CPU.
It’s available in the US, UK, and Australia, with a nice range of configurations for each region. The US has the most choices, with several models available for purchase as well as an option to customize your laptop, while the UK and Australia only have the preset models.
It’s difficult to compare to other gaming laptops in the 2023 market, as many of them are meant to either be super expensive desktop replacements or ultra-cheap laptops. The Legion Pro 5i is meant as an affordable option that sits in mid-range pricing. The closest are the Alienware m18 and the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16, which are nearly double the price but feature the best specs in return.
Price score: 5 / 5
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
The specs for the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i review unit sent to me are as follows: Intel Core i7-13700HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6 GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB SSD of storage, and a 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) display with 100% sRGB, 300 nits, and 165Hz.
I was also sent a Lenovo Legion Pro 5 for comparison, which features the following specs: AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 8GB GDDR6 GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB SSD of storage, and a 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) display with 100% sRGB, 300 nits, and 165Hz.
Like the Pro 7, the Legion Pro 5 comes in two main types: the Legion Pro 5i outfitted with an Intel CPU, and the Legion Pro 5 with an AMD CPU. The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i comes in several configurations depending on the region. The main difference in configurations will have you choose between Intel Core i5-13500HX and i9-13900HX CPUs, between the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 and RTX 4070 GPUs, RAM, storage, and displays.
Only those in the US can configure their laptop based on several specs. Those in the UK and Australia can only choose from the available models, with no customization options.
Specs score: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i: Design
Plain looks
Great port selection
Great display, average keyboard and touchpad
The sound is very low
Like many affordably priced gaming laptops, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is rather plain looking from the outside. Its chassis has a nice metal finish, and its weight is hefty but not unmanageable. The size of the display makes it a little tricky to carry around in bags, but a large enough one won’t struggle with the five-pound weight as well.
It has an excellent port selection with a wide selection of slots including four USB Type-A ports, two USB Type-C (both with DisplayPort 1.4), one HDMI port, one ethernet port, one headphone/microphone combo jack, and one power connector.
Many of the ports are located in the back but are thankfully labeled, making it a breeze to know which port is what without having to turn around the laptop. Unfortunately, there’s no SD card reader, which is a shame as that’s one of the most useful ports for a laptop to have.
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
The display is a thin-bezel beauty 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) with its brightness between 300 to 500 nits, 100% sRGB coverage for creatives and editors (which pairs perfectly with the gaming-level GPU and CPU), and a choice of either 165Hz or 240Hz refresh rate, as well as a screen that supports HDR.
It would be nice if the HDR support was included and we had a choice for an OLED screen instead, which many other gaming laptops have been offering. Rounding that out is a handy manual switch on the side for the largely average webcam, which is always preferable to a key press, but a physical shutter for the camera would have made things even sweeter.
Though I always appreciate the RGB backlighting of the keyboard and the unique shape of the keys that afford more space to type on, the keyboard and touchpad are positioned in an odd way. They’re a little more to the left than normal, which requires a period of adjustment that can cause mistyping and missed presses on the touchpad in the meantime. This could be an issue for those who heavily rely on both for work and gaming. Otherwise, feedback from the keys and pad is perfectly serviceable and shouldn’t hamper gamers who use a controller and gaming mouse instead.
Ventilation is probably the biggest issue with this laptop, which is strange considering it has more than enough vents. The largest ones are located at the bottom – a standard gaming laptop design, but for some reason, they aren’t quite up to snuff when it comes to encouraging airflow properly. I found myself having to prop up the laptop using the cable itself, giving it just enough wiggle room to cool down. You may have to invest in a cooling pad or prop if you have these issues too.
Design score: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i: Performance
Gaming performance is excellent
CPU performance is fine
But underperforms in benchmarks
Alienware m18: Benchmarks
Here's how the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
At this point, it’s difficult to directly compare the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i to other gaming laptops in 2023, as most of them are running on high-end GPUs like the RTX 4070, 4080, and 4090. However, comparing benchmark scores between those and last-gen laptops give us a better range of how well the Legion Pro 5i performs. I’ve found that the RTX 4060 scores quite high on its own merits, far surpassing the 3000-series and merely 30K points behind the two most powerful GPUs.
This, in turn, is well reflected in its general gaming performance and frame rate stability. When maxing out Cyberpunk 2077’s settings and turning on both tray-racing and DLSS 3, the laptop was able to maintain a stable 60fps. On Final Fantasy VII Remake, I chose to lock in gameplay at 60fps while maxing out the graphic setting, and it ran beautifully with no slowdown to speak off. And Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered also runs incredibly well, staying above 60fps at all times, even during the more intensive web-swinging sections.
Testing out the Intel Core i7-13700HX CPU, however, and the results aren’t nearly as impressive. Benchmark scores across the board for the 13th Gen Core i7 are far lower than any of the laptops with a 13th Gen Core i9. Even worse, many of the scores are comparable to the 12th Gen CPUs. I also tested out the AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX CPU in my other review unit, and in benchmarks like Geekbench, Cinebench, and PCMark10 the results were definitively superior to the i7-13700HX.
When testing out how this translated to creative and productivity performance, however, I found no slowdown or sluggishness in either model, with responsiveness that never waivered no matter how many tasks were going off at once. But if you’re looking for which is the better-performing processor, the AMD version is the way to go. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test which version has the better-performing Nvidia 4000-series GPU, since the Legion Pro 5 uses a 4070 instead of the 4060 in the Legion Pro 5i.
Performance score: 4 / 5
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i: Battery
(Image credit: Future)
Terrible battery life
Charges fast
I regret to inform you that, as with most other desktop replacement gaming laptops, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i’s battery life is horrible. At most, it lasts about three and a half hours for productivity and creative work, less than half a standard workday and about the same amount of time if you’re streaming videos or movies instead.
Keeping this baby plugged in at all times is the way to go, especially for intensive gaming sessions that will drain the power even faster. Its saving grace is the fast charge time, which will give you a full battery in about an hour.
Battery score: 2.5 / 5
Should you buy the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i?
Buy it if...
You need great gaming performance For its pricing, the gaming performance is quite great, maintaining a solid framerate even on the highest settings.
Don't buy it if...
You need a high-volume audio system For some reason, the audio is extremely low and you'll most likely have to purchase a headset or headphones to get anything adequate.
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i: Also consider
If the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...
How I tested the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i
I tested two models of the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 for several weeks
I tested it using both benchmark tests and video game benchmarks
I stress-tested the battery using the TechRadar movie test
First, I tested the general weight and portability of the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i by carrying it around in a laptop bag for a day. After I set it up, I ran several CPU and GPU benchmarks to thoroughly test out the graphics card's performance and how much it affected processing performance. Finally, I used a variety of programs and applications to test out both battery life and general performance during work-like conditions, as well as gaming benchmarks to test the RTX 4060 GPU.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is an average desktop replacement for gaming, meaning it's meant to be used for hardcore gaming sessions. I made sure to thoroughly test out this laptop in that regard, to make sure it reached certain levels of performance. I also tested out the CPU to see how it fared against the current competition.
I've tested plenty of gaming PCs and laptops, making me more than qualified to understand benchmark test results and how to properly stress test machines to see how well they perform as a work machine.
MediaTek is on a roll and has unveiled its third chipset this month. Today’s item is the Dimensity 9200+, which schooled the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in preliminary Geekbench 6 tests. As the name suggests, this is a boosted version of the Dimensity 9200 chipset from last year.
It’s still fabbed on TSMC’s N4P node (4nm, second gen) but is able to run its CPU and GPU at higher clock speeds. This includes all three CPU clusters, which promises a 10% uplift over the original version of the chip.
The new Dimensity 9200+ chipset at a glance
As for the ARM Immortalis G715 GPU, MediaTek...
MediaTek is on a roll and has unveiled its third chipset this month. Today’s item is the Dimensity 9200+, which schooled the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in preliminary Geekbench 6 tests. As the name suggests, this is a boosted version of the Dimensity 9200 chipset from last year.
It’s still fabbed on TSMC’s N4P node (4nm, second gen) but is able to run its CPU and GPU at higher clock speeds. This includes all three CPU clusters, which promises a 10% uplift over the original version of the chip.
The new Dimensity 9200+ chipset at a glance
As for the ARM Immortalis G715 GPU, MediaTek...
MediaTek just announced the Dimensity 8050 - a new chip in name only, as it's basically identical to the Dimensity 1300 and 1200.
The Dimensity 8050 is built on TSMC's N6 (6nm) process and comes with a 5G modem.
The octa-core processor has four fast Cortex-A78 cores and four efficient Cortex-A55 cores. The Cortex-A78 units are actually divided between 1 Super Core running at up to 3GHz, and three Performance Cores ticking at up to 2.6Ghz. The chipsets supports up to 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.
Arm Mali-G77 with 9 cores is in charge of graphics. The Dimensity 8050...
The Intel Core i5-13600K follows up one of the top budget chips ever and manages to improve on just about everything across the board, except for the price.
When Intel announced its Raptor Lake processors, a lot of us were a bit dismayed that the price of the Core i5 went up by nearly 15% over the Intel Core i5-12600K that preceded it. That chip was arguably the best processor ever made for budget gaming PCs and those who need good performance without a whole lot of extras at a fair price.
At $329 (about £280 / AU$475), the Intel Core i5-13600K puts itself just outside of the budget class of processors. And that's a shame because otherwise, this is the best processor for the vast majority of people and even for a lot of those who tell themselves that they absolutely must have something more powerful like the Intel Core i7-13700K.
Across the general lineup of performance tests I threw at this chip, it pretty much came out on top in every one of them, beating out the competing AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and substantially outperforming the Core i5-12600K. Getting into the nitty-gritty, the Ryzen 5 7600X puts up a much better fight against the i5-13600K than I was expecting, beating the 13600K to a rough draw by the end.
That does mean that if you're looking for a budget gaming CPU, you're probably going to be better off with the Ryzen 5 7600X since you can save a bit of money in the process. But that savings can easily be gobbled up and then some by the extra cost to upgrade to DDR5 RAM, which the i5-13600K still lets you skip in favor of the aging DDR4 RAM that most people still have. So there is definitely a trade-off to be made in either case.
Ultimately though, there's just no denying that the Intel Core i5-13600K has better specs and performance at this price range, give or take a little spare change. So this is a very easy processor to recommend to just about anybody who isn't a gamer or creative professional.
Intel Core i5-13600K: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
MSRP: $329 (about £280 / AU$475)
More expensive than competing Ryzen 5 7600X
The Intel Core i5-13600K is on sale now for $329 (about £280 / AU$475). This puts it at about 10% more expensive than the competing AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and about 14% more expensive than the Core i5-12600K.
Considering that the Intel Core i9-13900K didn't get a price increase over its 12th-gen counterpart, the price hike here is probably the biggest disappointment with this chip. Enthusiast users are used to spending the extra money to have the best right out the gate, so they could absorb some of the price inflation rather than let it fall squarely on the one chip that most people are going to use.
This is especially bad considering that AMD's competing chip is right there for a good bit less. There are performance considerations here, obviously, and we'll get to those soon. Still, at this level, the performance difference is not so great as to really justify taking the best Intel processor in the budget class and pushing it into the lower mid-range for a few extra bucks.
Price score: 3.5 / 5
Intel Core i5-13600K: Chipset & features
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Overclockable
Supports DDR4 and DDR5
The Intel Core i5-13600K is Intel's second-gen big.LITTLE mainstream processor, following up the i5-12600K, and there have been some big improvements on the architecture side.
My test bench specs
These are the systems I used to test desktop CPU performance for both AMD and Intel systems in this review:
CPU Cooler: Cougar Poseidon GT 360 AIO
Graphics card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
SSD: Samsung 980 Pro SSD @ 1TB
Power Supply: Corsair AX1000 80-Plus Titanium (1000W)
Case: Praxis Wetbench
While Intel Meteor Lake chips still use the same 10nm "Intel 7" process as the previous 12th-gen Alder Lake chips, the 13th-gen chips improve on the previous architecture in a number of key ways.
In addition to more cache memory, there have been some improved clock speeds on the high-end, so that the i5-13600K runs slightly slower at base frequency while boosts slightly higher than the 12600K — though both Intel chips have a lower base and boost frequency than the competing AMD Ryzen 5 7600X.
In terms of core counts, the i5-13600K doubles the efficiency cores over the i5-12600K, for a total of 14 cores and 20 threads to the i5-12600K's 10 cores and 16 thread. This is also substantially more than the Ryzen 5 7600X, which is a straight six-core/12-thread chip with all its cores being full-power performance cores.
And while the rated 125W TDP for the i5-13600K remains the same as with the 12600K, it pulls substantially more power under load than its predecessor in my tests, so plan your build accordingly.
Finally, like its predecessor, the Core i5-13600K supports both PCIe 5.0 and DDR4 and DDR5 RAM, so you can either upgrade to new DDR5 RAM or stick with the best RAM of the DDR4 generation, which definitely helps defray the cost of an upgrade.
Chipset & features score: 4 / 5
Intel Core i5-13600K: Performance
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Fantastic all around performance
Decent gaming chip
Low performance per watt rating
The Intel Core i5-13600K is the best processor all-around for most people right now, though that does come with a number of caveats.
Generally, the Core i5-13600K outperforms both the Core i5-12600K and Ryzen 5 7600X by a substantial amount, and while the Ryzen 5 7600X holds its own against the i5-13600K, it's a qualified success rather than a straightforward win.
When it comes to synthetic performance, the Intel Core i5-13600K simply overpowers both chips with a larger number of cores, faster clocks, and raw power wattage. Overall, the Core i5-13600K performs about 42% better than the Ryzen 5 7600X and about 26% better than the Core i5-12600K.
In creative workloads, the Core i5-13600K is a great option for folks on a budget who want to dabble in some creative work like 3D rendering or photo editing. But with only six performance cores, using the best graphics card possible will be far more determinative in most cases. That said, the Core i5-13600K outperforms the Ryzen 5 7600X by about 21% and the 12600K by about 12%.
In my gaming performance tests, the Ryzen 5 7600X actually scores a technical win here, chalking up an extra 2 fps on average over the 13600K, but this might as well be a wash. The 13600K does manage a very solid improvement over its predecessor though, getting as much as 34% higher fps, but landing a solid 20% average performance improvement.
In the end, the Core i5-13600K outperforms the Ryzen 5 7600X by about 40%, while improving on the Core i5-12600K's performance by about 25%. As far as bottom line results go, this would make this processor a slam dunk, but one thing keeps this chip from true greatness: its power consumption.
While the 13600K has the lowest minimum power draw of the three chips tested with 1.973W (an 18% lower power consumption than the 12600K's minimum of 2.415W), it also maxes out at an astonishing 204.634W, which is about 83% more power to achieve a roughly 40% better performance.
This chip also draws 65% more power than the Core i5-12600K for a roughly 25% better performance. These are hardly signs of efficiency, and it continues the exact wrong trend we saw with Intel Alder Lake. For comparison, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X has a max power draw of 211.483W, and its 3D V-Cache variant has an incredibly tight 136.414W power draw in my AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D review.
So yeah, it's not hard to put up the kind of numbers that the Core i5-13600K does when Intel turns the electron firehose to full on its processor. Considering how this is the ideal chip for a budget build, that build will now have to factor in a bigger PSU than it should account for a burst of power demand from a chip "rated" for 125W.
Is this a dealbreaker? Not yet, but if Intel thinks it can keep the top spot by just keeping its foot on the gas while AMD is making real investments in power efficiency within a single generation of processors, this won't be good for Intel in the long run.
Performance: 4 / 5
Should you buy the Intel Core i5-13600K?
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Also Consider
If my Intel Core i5-13600K review has you considering other options, here are two processors to consider...
How I tested the Intel Core i5-13600K
I spent nearly two weeks testing the Intel Core i5-13600K
I ran comparable benchmarks between this chip and rival processors
I gamed with this chip for several days
I spent an extensive amount of time testing the Core i5-13600K over the past two weeks, including using the processor in my primary work and gaming machine at home.
In addition to general work tasks and gaming, I used the processor extensively for content creation work like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Blender 3D modeling.
I also ran an extensive battery of benchmark tests on this chip and rival CPUs a customer might consider, using as close to identical hardware as possible in order to gather sufficient comparable data to determine how the chips performed in real-life and simulated workloads.
‘Foldable laptops’ - what a ridiculous term. All laptops are foldable, surely? They’ve all got a hinge; some are arguably more foldable than the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, like the 360-degree convertibles found on our best 2-in-1 laptops list. If you try to open this laptop that far, you’ll snap it in two!
But I digress. The Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is a huge technological achievement for Asus - even if it’s one the manufacturer mirrored from Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2. Fortunately, both of these large-scale foldables are a lot better than the original ThinkPad X1 Fold; unfortunately, though, the Zenbook 17 Fold still has some pretty major drawbacks.
Before I get into the meat and potatoes of this review, I’ll provide a quick breakdown of exactly how this weird, awesome laptop works. Fully unfolded, the Zenbook 17 Fold looks and feels like the world’s most luxurious tablet: a huge 17.3-inch touchscreen with a rear kickstand and a separate Bluetooth keyboard. That OLED display is undeniably gorgeous, with excellent maximum brightness and color density.
(Image credit: Future)
But of course, colors that pop aren’t all this screen has to offer. Thanks to a sliding rear panel and concealed hinge, you can fold (see what they did with the name? Truly ingenious) the display and snap the keyboard magnetically to the lower half, turning it into a much more compact 12.5-inch ‘conventional’ laptop. Alternatively, you can leave the keyboard off and split the display in two at the hinge, or turn it horizontally for a sort of ‘book’ configuration.
It’s a clever, versatile device, and a great deal of work has clearly gone into making it feel durable. I’ve long been wary of folding displays - though they’re stylish and appealing, I’m dubious about the longevity of the best foldable phones - but this one at least feels very robust. When I first saw this product unveiled at IFA 2022 in Berlin, Asus had set up a big machine to repeatedly fold and unfold the display; it’s reportedly rated for 30,000 cycles, which should be more than enough.
(Image credit: Future)
When folded away, you can either clip the incredibly thin keyboard between the two sides of the screen, or fold it shut without the keyboard (though the angle of the hinge when I did this made me a little anxious). However, at almost two kilograms, it’s undeniably pretty thick and heavy when folded up - one of the best ultrabooks, this ain’t.
There are other sacrifices - and advantages - involved in the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED’s novel design, but is it really worthy of being called one of the best laptops purely for its innovation and, well, how boastful you could be if you bought one? I’m not so convinced…
Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED review: Price and availability
Starts at $3,499 / £3,299 / around AU$5,200
Only one configuration available
Bluetooth keyboard and carry case included
And here we come to one of the biggest drawbacks of the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED: the insanely high asking price. Sure, this is essentially an entirely unique product barring Lenovo’s competing (and similarly expensive) model, but $3,499 / £3,299 / around AU$5,200 is still a sky-high barrier to entry. At least the wireless keyboard and leather carry case doesn’t cost extra.
So no, it won’t be going on our best cheap laptops list - and don’t expect to see any foldable tech on that list anytime soon, frankly. Folding displays of this size are still a fledgling science; I’m sure they’ll become more widely available with time, but we’re definitely a long way off from Westworld-style ultra-foldable tablets.
(Image credit: Future)
I wouldn’t even say it’s particularly good value for money, unless you’re in it solely for the wow factor (and don’t get me wrong, this laptop will wow people). For that steep retail price, you’re only getting a 12th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU, with no discrete GPU and only 16GB of RAM.
There is at least 1TB of storage, but you can’t open up the case to upgrade or replace any components yourself without voiding the warranty, since that could damage the sliding hinge mechanism.
Price score: 2 / 5
Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED review: Specs
There's only one model of the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED available - you're getting the Intel Core i7-1250U processor with Iris Xe integrated graphics, 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD.
Obviously there are no screen variants here either - Asus wasn't going to mess about with multiple versions of its uber-complex foldable panel. We've got a 5MP front webcam, which is top-mounted in the 12.5-inch layout and side-mounted in the full 17-inch layout.
(Image credit: Future)
Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED review: Design
Bezels are a bit chunky, but that’s understandable
Keyboard has good travel considering its thinness
IR webcam, but only 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports
I won’t waste more space here waxing lyrical about the Zenbook 17 Fold’s beautiful 4:3 OLED display - so beautiful, clearly, that Asus had to include it in the name of the product. Yes, it’s bright and colorful and generally fantastic. In fact, I’d say it would be incredible for content creators; but there are two significant problems with that.
Firstly, the lack of a dedicated graphics card means that you’re relying entirely on the CPU’s integrated Iris Xe graphics, which are fine, but won’t be carrying you through intensive workloads like video editing or 3D rendering. Second, and arguably the thing I dislike the most about the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED: there’s no stylus support.
No stylus support! I could hardly believe it when I heard this. Surely, the huge tablet mode of this Zenbook would make it a perfect fit for digital artists? Apparently not; as Asus informed me, it was decided that the official line would be ‘don’t use a stylus’, since while the display actually does support stylus input, there were concerns that using one could potentially damage the foldable display where it creases in the middle. So if you do happen to wreck the screen with a hardpoint smartpen, you’ll be $3,499 out of pocket.
Speaking of that screen crease - I do have to admit that it’s not too noticeable to the naked eye when the screen is turned on, an impressive feat considering how new this technology is. You can definitely feel a slight ridge when running your finger across the display, but I never found it disruptive while using the laptop in tablet mode.
The bezels surrounding the display are a bit beefier than I’d like for a high-end laptop, but this was a necessary move to include more stuff behind the folding panel. Notably, this includes a genuinely very impressive set of Dolby Vision Atmos speakers with great clarity and maximum volume, among the best I’ve seen on any laptop, which surprised me. Also included here is a pretty decent 5MP webcam and an IR camera for facial recognition logins via Windows Hello.
(Image credit: Future)
Unfortunately, it doesn’t include much in the way of ports for physical connectivity. All you get is two Thunderbolt 4-enabled USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack - and you’ll need to use one of those USB-C outlets for charging the laptop too, so be prepared to shell out some extra cash for a Thunderbolt 4 dock. I think even a single USB-A port would’ve been an excellent inclusion here.
Externally, I will say that the Zenbook Fold 17 OLED looks and feels great; the exterior finish is a combination of reflective brushed metal and leatherette padding that wraps around the rear of the hinge and the kickstand, which itself feels very sturdy. There are tiny rubber feet on two edges, providing some grip on flat surfaces regardless of configuration.
Lastly, let’s discuss that snap-on Bluetooth keyboard. It’s got rubber pads on the underside to keep it from sliding around when it’s not magnetically connected to the main chassis of the laptop, and it sits quite firmly atop the lower half of the screen when you’re in 12.5-inch mode.
Despite its incredible thinness (less than 4mm), it actually has very good key travel and the size of the keycaps themselves is good, even if some buttons have been compacted a bit to fit the small form factor. The trackpad is responsive enough, though the click action feels a bit floaty. Overall, I was quite impressed with how good the keyboard felt to use - but since it uses Bluetooth, you’ll basically need to leave that on at all times, which will drain your battery life.
Design score: 3.5 / 5
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Future)
Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED review: Performance
12th-gen Intel i7 CPU is strong for everyday tasks…
…but falters in gaming and content creation
‘ScreenXpert’ software is useful but fiddly
Benchmarks
Here's how the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
Well, I’ve certainly seen more impressive benchmark results. Don’t get me wrong; the 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processor powering the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is perfectly fine - to the point where I’d argue that limiting yourself to the newer 13th-gen Intel CPUs when looking at which laptop to buy is a fool’s errand - but we’ve definitely seen better performance elsewhere.
Synthetic CPU tests in GeekBench and CrossMark turned up perfectly adequate if unspectacular results, proving that at the very least, the Zenbook 17 Fold will be able to handle everyday office tasks. Opening numerous Chrome tabs didn’t cause any noticeable slowdown, and file transfers were speedy thanks to the PCIe 4.0 SSD.
However, it’s badly outclassed by other large laptops, like the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2023) and the similarly-sized Dell XPS 17. The lack of a dedicated GPU causes it plenty of issues in graphical tests; synthetic results using the 3DMark benchmarking suite were underwhelming, and it struggled to play 3D games at all at native resolution - even the generally very lightweight Civilization VI.
(Image credit: Future)
I was able to play some 2D games smoothly - Into The Breach and Slay The Spire both ran fine - so if you’re planning to mostly use this device for everyday tasks like editing documents and browsing the internet with a bit of light indie gaming on the side, you should be okay. If you’re looking for something to do high-end video editing or 3D modeling tasks, this simply isn’t it.
I feel like I should also discuss the screen-switching software employed here too, dubbed ‘ScreenXpert’ by Asus. This tool is essentially designed to allow you to quickly swap between different modes - whether that’s simply folding the screen into a ‘book’ configuration to easily
The simple fact is that at this price point, you should be able to expect far superior performance. Needless to say, the Zenbook 17 Fold probably won’t be showing up on our list of the best 17-inch laptops - and if we had a list of the best 12.5-inch models, it wouldn’t be on that one either.
Performance score: 3.5 / 5
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 3
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 3
(Image credit: Future)
Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED review: Battery life
Adequate but unspectacular battery life
Drains fast at maximum brightness with Bluetooth keyboard connected
Keyboard battery life is good
I have no strong feelings about the battery life on this laptop. It’s fine; at 50% brightness (which is perfectly sufficient in an averagely-lit space), it lasted for a little over 9 hours in the PCMark 10 battery life test - though that was with the keyboard disconnected and Bluetooth turned off.
Whack the brightness up to full and connect the keyboard, and you’re looking at less than 6 hours - even lower if you’re playing audio out of those booming speakers. At 50% brightness, zero volume, and Bluetooth turned on, it did last for almost 8 hours in our web surfing test, so you should be able to just about squeeze a full workday out of this laptop without needing to charge.
Those tests were conducted with the laptop in full 17-inch mode; I re-ran the PCMark 10 test in 12.5-inch mode hoping for better longevity, but cutting the screen in half only bought me a measly half-hour of extra use.
Of course, the wireless keyboard has its own battery, which I found lasted surprisingly well - I only had to charge it twice during my time with the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED. Both the keyboard and the laptop itself charge via the same Thunderbolt 4 adaptor, which is convenient, and the charge time seemed pretty speedy.
Battery life: 3.5 / 5
Should you buy the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED?
Buy it if...
You want to show off Look, this thing is on the cutting edge. Anyone who sees you using it in the office or a cafe is going to be mesmerized; if you’ve got the cash and want to be seen, this is the laptop for you.
You value flexibility
The versatility of the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is almost unmatched. You want a big tablet? A small laptop? A book with a screen? You’ve got it.
You want to watch stuff
That 17.3-inch bendable OLED panel sure is something; it looks fantastic, and the speakers are great too. Watching videos and movies on this Zenbook in ‘giant tablet’ mode feels like a strange sort of techy decadence.
Don't buy it if...
You’re a digital artist
No official stylus support. Boo! This product would’ve been incredible for creatives if it packed a garaged smartpen. Maybe next time, Asus.
You want super-portability
Sure, it folds up pretty compact and the included leatherette carry case is very nice, but this thing is heavier than I’d like and requires a lot of desk space to use the 17-inch configuration.
You’re not loaded
It’s too expensive. End of story. I know there’s a price to pay to be on the cutting edge of innovation, but this price is a tad too high for what you’re getting here.
Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED review: Also consider
If our Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED review has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...
How I tested the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED
(Image credit: Future)
Used in every possible configuration
Played games on it and did my day-to-day work
Took it to a friend's house (to show it off!)
I used this bad boy for weeks, doing all sorts of things! It's literally perfect for watching YouTube in bed - I felt strangely opulent sitting propped up by pillows with my huge 17.3-inch tablet, watching Brian David Gilbert's weird-ass cooking videos. I also used it for browsing Readly in 'book' mode, which felt pretty good.
Naturally, I had to use it in 12.5-inch 'laptop' mode too, and I used that for working (as well as writing part of this review). I mostly used the Bluetooth keyboard magnetically snapped onto the lower half, but I was sure to also test it in 'screen-only' mode using the virtual keyboard instead.
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
The Chromebook Vero 514 Enterprise edition is an impressive Chromebook with some serious power under the keyboard, hindered only by the limitations of ChromeOS.
This Chromebook performs exceptionally well as a business laptop and has a keyboard we enjoy using for extended periods. Our model had the Enterprise upgrade from Chrome, showcasing Acer's drive to be a proper business computer through fleet management and more included in the enterprise upgrade, compared to the standard Chromebook Vero 514.
Unboxing and First Impressions
Initially, unboxing the computer was a typical process involving a box within a box and some packaging around the computer. However, upon examining the packaging, we discovered that all the packing materials were recyclable and made from recycled materials, which is an excellent to see.
On the same track, the box that Acer wrapped around the power brick and cable to charge this Chromebook can fold together to create a laptop riser, fitting wonderfully under the back of the Vero 514, giving it a lift.
Another thing we noticed right away was the unique texture and coloring of the Chromebook Vero 514. The speckled grey color looks better in person than in pictures, and rather than looking cheap like we have seen with some past recycled computers, this one seems intentional. Acer calls this chassis its "Cobblestone Gray Finish," which includes 30% PCR plastic, and we don't mind it. Granted, it doesn't look like a luxury item, but it still looks well-built and of high quality.
The focus on recycled materials continues throughout the Vero 514. The keycaps are made of 50% PCR (post-consumer recycled) content, the screen itself is 99% recyclable, and the trackpad is 100% ocean-bound plastics. Acer calls this trackpad its OceanGlass touchpad, and we found it quite responsive and enjoyable to use. The overall chassis of this laptop is entirely paint free, giving it a unique look and feel.
While we initially expected the build quality of the Vero 514 to allow for some flex and cheap-feeling materials, we are pleasantly surprised with just how sturdy this laptop is with daily use. We can use this laptop, not keep it carefully placed on a desk, afraid to take it to work or on the go.
In Use
Having used this Chromebook for the last few weeks, we have been wildly impressed with its speed. While somewhat hindered by ChromeOS, the Vero 514 is snappy for those who only need a Chrome browser to complete their work. In addition, we were pleasantly surprised with the battery. While we couldn't run our standard benchmark software of choice due to this computer not having a full version of Windows, we tested through daily use, and we were able to achieve 8-10 hours of use regularly with standard settings and doing basic work - nothing too demanding.
Dimensions (W x D x H): 12.81 x 8.83 x 0.80in / 325.4 x 224.3 x 20.4mm
We found the Vero 514's 14-inch screen to be an excellent size for an enterprise laptop. We could see all the content we wanted to (understanding that it's a laptop and not one of our large ultrawide monitors) and, at the same time, did not feel like we were carrying around anything that was ridiculously large.
While using the Vero 514, we noticed the audio quality could have been better. It got the job done for virtual meetings or the occasional quick video. We frequently reached for headphones for music or any time we were in a long meeting, and there was a decent amount of background noise.
Acer Chromebook Vero 514 Enterprise Left side ports (Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
We chose the Enterprise Vero model, which includes an i7 upgrade, 16GB RAM, an anti-glare Corning Gorilla Glass touch display, and more. This bump-up in specs shows that Acer is genuinely trying to become a reasonable and quality option for a business fleet of computers. That could be possible depending on the workforce and the employees' tasks.
Acer Chromebook Vero 514 Enterprise right side ports (Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
The last thing we will mention about the Vero 514 is the overall display experience. It could have been better, but not great. It is a good enough screen for indoor use, but the brightness can't quite keep up once you get outside, and it gets tough to see. Again, if you or your business use these indoors, the 1920 x 1080 displays will be fine for most tasks.
Acer Chromebook Vero 514 Enterprise fully opened (Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Final Verdict
The Vero 514 is a snappy Chromebook model that is a solid contender for writers, web browsers, email responders, and Google Workspace lovers. Essentially, anyone who works from the web could look into this Chromebook as a wonderful option to upgrade their old laptop or find one that works better for what they do.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 brought a huge performance leap and better efficiency, but we now hear its successor has even higher ambitions. A noted tipster reveals the next generation of the flagship platform by Qualcomm will pack new CPU architecture, while pushing clock speeds significantly.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is said to have one prime Cortex-X4 CPU core at unprecedented 3.7 GHz, five powerful cores for performance and two small cores for efficiency.
According to Digital Chat Station the model number is SM8650, and the GPU will be called Adreno 750. Expectations are for TSMC to...
AyaNeo is making PC handhelds as fast as you can buy them. It seems only a few weeks have passed since we looked at the gorgeous AyaNeo 2, another excellent handheld gaming PC. Yet, here we are with the all-new AyaNeo Air Plus device — available in several different configurations, no less, and all very exciting.
The flagship version I’ve been testing packs in the same AMD Ryzen 7 6800U chipset that we saw in the more-premium AyaNeo 2, but in a smaller form factor that makes it a far more comfortable device for portable play. As a result, for my money, this is currently the best handheld gaming PC on the market. It offers the same AAA performance of the AyaNeo 2, at a price point closer to the Steam Deck, but in a device that’s just simply more comfortable to play for extended lengths of time by virtue of its compact design, fronted by a 6-inch 1080p display.
The end result is something quite special — a truly portable gaming PC capable of better performance than the Steam Deck, with full-fat Windows 11 to play about in. Yes, it remains more expensive than Valve’s handheld, and the Steam Deck is the recommended option for those who want a more console-like experience. But for those that are willing to trade a degree of convenience in favor of frame rate, resolution and portability, the AyaNeo Air Plus is an incredible device.
AyaNeo Air Plus: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future / Gerald Lynch)
How much does it cost? Starts at $599 (model reviewed RRP $979)
When is it available? Available now in Glacier Blue, Starlight Black and Classic Grey
Where can you get it? Available online direct from AyaNeo, with third-party retailers to follow soon
AyaNeo Air Plus: Specs
Here is the AyaNeo Air Plus configuration sent to TechRadar Gaming for review:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
RAM: 32GB LPDDR5 6400 (16GB option available)
SSD: 512GB (1TB and 2TB options available)
Size: 237mm X 91.4mm x 23.1mm
Weight: 525g
Screen: 1920 x 1080 / IPS / 6-inch / 400nits / 368 PPI / Touch-enabled
Input: Hall sensor joysticks / Hall sensor triggers / Fingerprint scanner
The AyaNeo Air Plus starts at an affordable $599 for its lower-powered models, but to get into the Steam Deck-beating territory, it stalks, you need to cough up for the premium AMD Ryzen 7 6800U model. At that point, you’ve comfortably got a machine that outperforms Valve’s model — at a significantly higher price, of course, which is fair enough, considering Valve helps to subsidize Steam Deck costs through Steam store game sales. In terms of value, you’ll likely get more pure gaming mileage with a gaming laptop of similar cost, and more functionality with keys and trackpad too. But you’ll lose the magic of it being a truly handheld machine along the way. And this is still cheaper than the premium AyaNeo 2, despite near-identical internal specs delivering the same fantastic AAA PC gaming performance.
AyaNeo also offers other variants of the Air Plus in less powerful configurations, including Intel Alder Lake Core i3 1215U builds starting at $649, and additional AMD Ryzen 3 7320U and Ryzen 5 7520U variants starting at $599. Each offers either 128GB or 512GB SSD storage, and 8GB or 16GB of LPDDR5 storage. All other specs remain the same.
Value: 3.5 / 5
AyaNeo Air Plus: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Great size for a Windows portable
Ergonomic controls
Premium Hall sensor triggers and sticks
AyaNeo has had a fair few goes at creating handheld PCs at this point, and the refinements it’s been making along the way are really starting to pay off. While this is not as luxurious as the AyaNeo 2, instead designed to land at a more affordable price point, I’d argue this is the better machine for portable play in many ways.
That’s in large part because of the screen size. The AyaNeo Air Plus opts for a 6-inch touch display compared to the 7-incher on the AyaNeo 2. Both are gorgeous; rich IPS displays with contrast ratios and color depth to rival an OLED panel. But the smaller screen on the Air Plus facilitates an overall smaller, lighter design, making it far easier to play and hold for longer play sessions. It puts the oversized Steam Deck to shame in this respect. And, as I’ll discuss in a bit, it also helps to increase battery life. Interestingly, the brightness steps on the AyaNeo Air Plus feel a little… off? After about 30% brightness, you’re so close to max visible brightness that I rarely went above that value, so it doesn't seem worth any potential battery trade-off to go any higher. Regardless, it’s a sharper, brighter display than you’ll find on a Steam Deck, even before you hit the halfway mark.
Not every difference in design next to its pricier AyaNeo 2 stablemate is for the better: you’ve only got two USB-C ports (one on the top edge, one on the bottom) compared to the three found on the AyaNeo 2, and the sticks are inferior Joy-Con clones rather than the Xbox-like sticks on the AyaNeo 2. But again, in service of a smaller overall device, they’re smart choices, and the drift-free Hall sensors are still present in the sticks for accurate control. Each has an adjustable RGB light underneath, too.
It's ergonomically very comfortable, and more traditional in size and shape than the Steam Deck. A slight curvature to the back shell where your palms sit lets your fingers hug the AyaNeo Air Plus without cramping (though it is a fingerprint magnet on the rear), and shoulder and trigger buttons are in easy reach, with just the right amount of travel and clickiness. Those triggers are analogue compatible too, again with Hall sensors, letting you dial in fine input — perfect for, say, revving an engine at just the right speed in a racing game like Forza Horizon 5. The D-Pad pivots well, and gives you the precision you need for platformers and brawlers. Start and select buttons sit under the D-Pad on the left, and X, Y, A, and B buttons sit above the right stick — buttons a little smaller perhaps than we’d like, but again in service of added portability.
There’s a few extra buttons that you won’t usually find on a traditional console handheld here. Next to the shoulder buttons are two clicky hotkey buttons that can be configured for whatever use you see fit —say, for instance, bringing up the onscreen touch keyboard, or Task Manager. Then below the right stick are two circular buttons, one larger than the other. The bigger opens up the Aya Space game launcher and device settings software with a long press, while a short press brings up an overlay for quick settings like TDP, brightness and volume control. The smaller button is configurable, but I left it as its default ‘Show Desktop’ function, which is always handy. Up top is a power button which also doubles up as a fingerprint scanner — it’s far, far more reliable than that seen on the AyaNeo 2, thankfully.
That top edge is capped off by a thin horizontal volume rocker, a mic spot, the first of the USB-C ports and a large exhaust vent, pushing out air pulled in from a fan intake grill on the rear of the device. The lower edge houses the AyaNeo Air Plus’s stereo speakers, the second USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD slot, covered by a flap. Those speakers are reasonably loud, and won’t be drowned out when the fans need to kick in.
Design: 4.5 / 5
AyaNeo Air Plus: Performance
(Image credit: Future / Gerald Lynch)
Great AAA gaming performance
Better-than-expected battery life
Could be quickly overshadowed by a growing number of rival devices
Though it’s not packing discrete graphics, the superb performance of AMD’s Ryzen 7 6800U chipset, paired with the 32GB of RAM in our review unit, means that the AyaNeo Air Plus can handle any game I throw at it. Yes, you may need to dial the resolution down a tad, drop the graphical presets to lower settings, and accept that you won’t get Cyberpunk 2077’s ray-tracing ‘Overdrive’ mode running here. But if you’ve ever dreamed of playing Elden Ring on the toilet (or should that be the nightmare?), the AyaNeo Air Plus makes that possible at solid frame rates.
Performance in many aspects is similar to that of the AyaNeo 2: though that’s a more premium device in its external design, reflected in its pricing, the internal specs are essentially identical.
As you’d expect, indie games like Hades and Night in the Woods will easily play at 1080p / 60fps without the AyaNeo Air Plus breaking a sweat, with a sweet spot between 5W and 8W for 2D titles and retro 3D games. Cranking things up a notch, a 10W TDP and 720p resolution saw an enjoyably stable 30fps for Grand Theft Auto V on medium settings — an experience that could scale to 60fp or higher resolutions with ease at a higher TDP (at the expense of battery life). Similar fun could be had with The Witcher 3 at a 30fps cap on Low settings at a 720p resolution by pushing the TDP on the chipset up to 20W — a superior handheld experience compared to the Nintendo Switch port, for instance. Those that are wanting to dabble with emulation will have a great time, too, with upscaled PS2 and Gamecube easily achieved across the vast majority of titles, and even solid performance with platforms as demanding as the PS3.
Where the AyaNeo Air Plus beats out the AyaNeo 2; however, by some distance is in battery life. With a smaller 6-inch display, the Air Plus is less power-hungry, and given that the smaller screen size facilitates a smaller handheld overall, that, combined with battery improvements, makes for a better device all around, in my opinion. Lower-end games, such as indies or retro titles, will happily run for between 3 and 4 hours at a 1080p resolution and between a 5W or 8W TDP, while an online shooter like Destiny 2 can get upwards of two hours of play at 720p and a 30fps cap. The real top-tier titles, like the PC God of War port, is still going to push the AyaNeo Air Plus to its limits in terms of battery life. But if you’re conservative in your settings, you can still eke out close to an hour and a half of play before the battery throws in the towel.
As has become the norm with PC portables, your mileage will vary based on your stomach for lower frame rates and resolutions versus battery life. You will have to be prepared to tweak TDP settings to find the happy balance you’re comfortable with. This isn’t quite pick-up-and-play, then, though honestly, PC gaming in any form factor never has been. But the compromise feels much fairer here than with its AyaNeo 2 predecessor. In portable PC terms, this is as good as it currently gets.
Just how long the AyaNeo Air Plus sits on top of the PC gaming handheld pile is debatable. However — as AyaNeo’s own recent, busy product roadmap shows, this is a product category growing at an incredible rate. Competition is landing thick and fast, and devices like the upcoming ASUS ROG Ally will give the AyaNeo Air Plus a run for its money. For now, however, the AyaNeo Air Plus is leading the pack.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
AyaNeo Air Plus: Software and features
(Image credit: Future / Gerald Lynch)
The AyaNeo Air Plus runs full-fat Windows 11 Home, meaning you can dig around in the back end of Microsoft’s operating system with impunity. If you want to install any and every Windows application, fire up a Word document or even run your business, nothing is stopping you from doing that on the AyaNeo Air Plus.
That’s a double-edged sword, however. Despite technically supporting touch input, it’s still an operating system best navigated with a keyboard and mouse, and AyaNeo’s efforts to translate that to touch, stick and face button mappings is admirable but ultimately flawed. Likewise, its Aya Space frontend, which acts as both a game launcher and hardware setting configuration application, is better in theory than in practice. It is not quite a match for the Steam Deck SteamOS experience, let alone something as well polished and focused as the Nintendo Switch operating system. The shortcut overlay, accessed by pressing the AyaNeo logo ‘Home’ button on the device, is more useful, though, letting you quickly tweak fan settings, TDP draws to eke more power from the device, as well as resolution settings, brightness, volume and quick-launch buttons for apps or features like the onscreen keyboard.
Should you buy the AyaNeo Air Plus?
Buy it if...
You want relatively powerful PC gaming on the go
This is a handheld PC with as much power as you can currently fit into a device this size, making for a great gameplay experience.
You want your mobile devices to actually feel portable
The size and shape of the AyaNeo Air Plus makes it far easier to actually travel with, without compromising comfort.
You are comfortable with Windows
AyaNeo Air Plus gives you access to the full functionality of the Windows operating system — and all the potential that brings with it.
Don't buy it if...
You’re on a tight budget
You’ll get a ‘good-enough’ handheld PC gaming experience from a Steam Deck, but at a much cheaper price.
You want a more console-like experience
The Aya Space software isn’t good enough to keep you from having to delve back into Windows constantly.
You want to be able to get real work done on your gaming PC
If that’s the case, you may want to pick up a keyboard-equipped gaming laptop instead.
Also Consider: Valve's Steam Deck
If our AyaNeo Air Plus review has you considering other options, you should consider…
How I tested the AyaNeo Air Plus
Review test period: two weeks
Gaming across Steam / Epic Games. AAA games and indie titles
Light web browsing and general Windows PC tasks
Over the course of two weeks testing the AyaNeo Air Plus, I played a range of modern, classic, indie, and AAA PC gaming titles, ranging from everything from Cyberpunk 2077 to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. I even played some retro titles via emulation software.
Though it’s pricier than the Steam Deck, the AyaNeo Air Plus justifies that by being the superior machine in many ways. For example, it’s more powerful, has a more comfortable form factor, and has better specs in key departments, including screen quality. Its only drawback is its software, which hasn’t been as perfectly optimized for handheld play in the same way that the Steam Deck equivalent has. Having said that, you get far more flexibility with the native full-fat Windows on offer here.
Working as a technology and gaming journalist for more than 15 years, I’ve tested (and in many cases owned) every major games console since the SNES, dozens of gaming PCs, and reviewed countless games along the way. I’m a regular gamer at home across Xbox Series X, PS5, and Nintendo Switch consoles, and I have my own gaming PC equipped with the latest generation of Intel processors and an Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU. I’ve also tested many of the new wave of gaming handhelds, including devices from Ayn, Anbernic, PowKiddy, and other AyaNeo models.
