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Alienware m18 review: king of laptop gaming performance

10:11 pm | April 14, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: Australia, CPU, UK, US | Comments: Off

Alienware m18: Two-minute review

Alienware m18, Dell’s refresh of its largest Alienware laptop line and some of the best Dell laptops, has gone in a different direction from the previous Alienware X14 (2022) and Alienware x15 R2. This latest model is unabashedly a desktop replacement in every sense of the word, from the thick and bulky chassis to its heavy weight to the same black color. However, it separates itself from the pack with its incredible performance and, if you select the upgrade, its fully mechanical CherryMX RGB keyboard.

The keyboard is, by far, the best I have ever tested, rivaling some of the best gaming keyboards I’ve used. It strikes the perfect balance between the switches being thin enough to allow the laptop to close (it does cheat a little by using some of the thickness to create a slight divet for the keyboard to rest in). The keys themselves have 1.8mm of key travel as well as that perfect satisfying feedback despite the thinner size. Nothing is sacrificed in its quality; I could and have typed for hours without it ever losing its luster. The touchpad is large and responsive, everything you could ask for if you’re a fan of them.

Its 18-inch display is absolutely phenomenal, with either a QHD+ 165Hz panel like my own review model or a beyond incredible FHD+ 480Hz panel for the truly passionate professional gamer. The webcam is a standard one, not particularly amazing but works well enough if you need to jump in a conference call or livestream. The audio quality is quite good as well, as the speakers are able to handle music and general sound design with ease. When gaming or streaming movies on this, you should only really need headsets for privacy reasons.

One major improvement from the previous Alienware x15 R2 laptop is the ventilation, which is by and far much better. That’s thanks to the quad-fan design that circulates and expels from several vents across seven heat pipes, along with improved thermal paste quality for both the CPU and GPU. As a drawback, it almost sounds like a jet engine whenever the fans even slightly rev up, but most video streaming services and software have noise reduction properties so that’s not an issue there.

Performance is where the Alienware m18 shines, as it makes its mark as one of the best gaming laptops by completely beating out every other desktop replacement gaming PC we’ve tested in terms of GPU benchmark testing, including the much more expensive MSI GT77 Titan. However, CPU testing is a little less consistent, with some laptops like the Lenovo Legion 7i Pro or the Titan beating out the m18 in certain scores while falling behind in others.

Of course, if you want the full gaming experience and aren't in need of portability, then you might want to invest in the best gaming PC instead since the performance can't be matched due to superior specs. And if a cheaper price is more your game, then the best budget gaming laptops will definitely be more of your speed.

Alienware m18: Price & availability

closeup of keys — (Image credit: Future)

Starting at $1,999.99 / £2,068.99 / around AU$2,999
Available now
Available in the US and UK, and Australia

For a desktop replacement, the Alienware m18 pricing starts at a rather affordable rate of $1,999.99 / £2,068.99 / around AU$2,999 – still expensive but definitely leagues cheaper than the current competition. But if you’re getting a hardcore gaming machine 512GB of storage isn’t what you’re looking for. Even my own review unit, priced at $3,549 / £3,299.99 / around AU$5,316, is far cheaper than the Lenovo Legion 7i Pro and around the same price as the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) and has similar specs to both.

As with most other Dell products, this laptop is available in a wide variety of regions, including the US, UK, and Australia. The UK is mostly the same as the US in terms of specs and pricing, with the exception of the 480Hz display panel that’s only available for lower specs, which is an odd choice to say the least. Meanwhile, Australia has only one high-spec model equipped with the RTX 4080 and packing 64GB of RAM, but there’s no 480Hz option either.

Price score: 4.5 / 5

Alienware m18: Specs

black gaming laptop — (Image credit: Future)

The specs for the Alienware m18 review unit sent to me are as follows: an Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD of storage, and 18-inch (2560 x 1600), 16:10 QHD+, 165Hz display.

The Alienware m18 comes in several customizable configurations, depending on which options you choose. These specs include the choice of display, CPU, GPU, memory, storage space, and even the choice of membrane or mechanical keys.

Specs score: 5 / 5

black gaming laptop facing back — (Image credit: Future)

Alienware m18: Design

Extremely heavy and bulky
Excellent keyboard
Port selection is fantastic

Like older models, the Alienware m18 uses the same distinctive chassis design that accommodates mostly rear-situated ports and includes customizable RGB lighting on both that and the Alienware logo on the top cover. Despite this, the extremely heavy and bulky form factor, combined with the rather boring all-black color palette, almost completely cancels out the effect, making it look noticeably less visually appealing. Considering that this laptop is built more for performance and ventilation, the decision to cut back on aesthetics is understandable.

But it cannot be understated how heavy and big this laptop is. It weighs nearly nine pounds, and you can feel every single pound of it. It couldn’t even fully fit in my Lo & Sons O.G. 2 overnight bag, which has fit both 17 and 18-inch laptops just fine. With this big boy, I had to leave my bag open as I traveled home. If you purchase it, make sure to keep it home or only pack it in your travel luggage.

The 18-inch display is phenomenal, and in the US and UK, you can choose between either a QHD+ 165Hz panel like my own review model or a ridiculous FHD+ 480Hz panel for the truly serious. I wish the webcam was just as amazing, but it’s a pretty standard 1080p HD camera found in most gaming laptops, that works fine in good lighting but suffers if you have a dimmer setup. If you livestream seriously, you’ll want to upgrade; otherwise, it’s fine for a conference call.

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black gaming laptop on side — (Image credit: Future)

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closeup of keyboard — (Image credit: Future)

What I enjoy the most about its design is the keyboard, which can be updated to Alienware CherryMX ultra-low profile mechanical keys with N-key rollover tech. This is by and far the best keyboard I’ve ever used, combining that satisfying click and feedback of mechanical switches with the slimmer keys expected of any laptop. Its touchpad is quite nice; smooth, large, and responsive, perfect for those like me who use them frequently. The speakers are quite excellent as well, delivering a nice robust sound with solid bass that conveys both music and sound effects in your games well.

Its port selection is absolutely fantastic, featuring every type of port you could possibly want including four USB 3.2 Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 Type-C ports with DisplayPort Alt Mode/USB4, one Ethernet port, one audio port, one HDMI 2.1 port, one power-adapter port, one mini-Display port, and one SD card slot.

Design score: 4 / 5

Alienware m18: Performance

Gaming performance is top-notch
Clears benchmarks
CPU struggles a bit

Alienware m18: Benchmarks

Here's how the Alienware m18 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark: Night Raid: 71,818; Fire Strike: 35,465; Time Spy: 21,040; Port Royal: 14,171
Cinebench R23 Multi-core: 28,341 points
GeekBench 5: 2,027 (single-core); 21,488 (multi-core)
PCMark 10 (Home Test): 7,681 points
25GB File Copy: 17.5
Handbrake 1.6: 2:35
CrossMark: Overall: 2179; Productivity: 2007; Creativity: 2508; Responsiveness: 1831
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 3 hours, 25 minutes
Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 155 fps; (1080p, Low): 372 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 102 fps; (1080p, Low): 139 fps
Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 157 fps; (1080p, Low): 200 fps

Ventilation has improved by leaps and bounds with the Alienware m18, fixing every issue from the previous Alienware x15 R2 and making the much thicker design completely understandable. It features a quad-fan design that circulates and expels from several vents across seven heat pipes, along with improved thermal paste quality for both the CPU and GPU. The trade-off is a laptop that sounds almost like a jet engine, but if you’re passionate about performance and especially overclocking, then it’s more than worth it.

Speaking of performance, the Alienware m18 is currently king on the GPU front. It beats out the other desktop replacements that we’ve tested so far, including the MSI GT77 Titan, which is way more expensive for similar specs. And it’s not only benchmarking that it reigns over, as those scores translate to higher frame rates as well. There’s not a single game, whether Cyberpunk 2077 or Dirt 5, in which this laptop scored under 100fps on average, even on maxed-out settings. And yes, even when ray tracing is enabled.

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screenshot of Alienware Command Center — (Image credit: Future)

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Keep in mind that these are results taken straight from a setup right out of the box, with the only change being that I set it to the generic Performance mode in Windows 11. The updated and redesigned Alienware Command Center software is even easier to use now thanks to a complete UI overhaul, making overclocking a breeze and performance results skyrocket. Since I had the old version equipped before I updated, I could see the difference, and it's leagues better than below.

When it comes to CPU results, it’s not as consistent with some scores being higher than the competition and others much lower, the latter of which happened most often against the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i. In general, it follows the same current-gen trend of the CPU performance potential being throttled by the GPU, as well as occasionally slowdown and webpage or video loading issues. Despite that, I was able to use it as a productivity machine for a full day of work without much issue.

Performance score: 5 / 5

Alienware m18: Battery

closeup of battery information — (Image credit: Future)

Awful battery
Charges fast

Unsurprisingly, the battery life on the Alienware m18 is pretty atrocious. Our HD movie battery test found that it barely lasts three and a half hours, and when used for productivity work, it reaches about four hours before dying.

As with any other desktop replacement, this is not meant to be taken off the charger unless you need to carry it somewhere. That said, it does at least charge quickly, so you won’t be stuck at an AC adaptor for very long.

Battery score: 2 / 5

Should you buy the Alienware m18?

Buy it if...

You want a gaming performance monster
It chews up and spits out any PC game on the highest possible settings, even with both ray-tracing and DLSS 3 enabled.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
Though this is a premium-quality gaming laptop, that level of performance comes at a steep price. This is definitely above the budget of the average gamer.

Alienware m18: Also consider

If the Alienware m18 has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...

How I tested the Alienware m18

I tested the Alienware m18 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 Alienware m18 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 4090 GPU.

The Alienware m18 is a 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'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.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2023

Acer Travelmate P2 review

12:27 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: CPU, GPU, OS, RAM | Comments: Off

Acer Travelmate P2: 30 second review

If asked, most users would like the sleekness and portability of an Ultrabook but at an affordable price point. They’re unlikely to get that combination, but they might get a system like the Acer Travelmate P2 and at least feel that its technology is comparable with those more expensive laptops.

The Acer Travelmate P2 (TMP215-54), is a general-purpose machine with a powerful processor, NVMe storage, upgradable memory and a good selection of ports.

At the volume point in the Acer laptop model, the Travelmate P2 comes in a very wide range of SKUs, starting with Intel Core i3 models. Moving up from the popular I5 machines, Acer also makes Core i7 variants for those that need even more power.

Alternatively, Acer has AMD Ryzen 3, 5 or 7 options for those that don’t want Intel hardware.

Depending on the spec, and if they have a 14” or 15.6” display, they range in price from around $400 to over $1000 and can come with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of NVMe SSD space.

That relatively low pricing hints that these machines aren’t sophisticated designs, constructed largely of plastic and polycarbonate, and the components, such as the screen, aren’t of the highest specification.

The weakness of this model is that the integrated GPU isn’t anything special (on Intel), but if you’re not editing video or connecting to a 4K external monitor, the Travelmate P2 is a decent daily driver.

The Travelmate P2 might not be the best budget laptop we’ve seen, but it is far from the worst.

Acer Travelmate P2: Price and availability

Acer Travelmate P2 TMP215-54 — (Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

How much does it cost? $400-$1500
When is it out? It is available now
Where can you get it? You can get it in most regions direct from Acer or through an online retailer.

Travelmate P2 TMP215-54 Specs

The Acer Travelmate P2 that was sent to us for review came with the following hardware:

Model: TMP215-54 (NX.VVSEK.004)
CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U
GPU: Iris Xe 80EU Graphics
RAM: 8GB DDR4 (single DIMM)
Storage: 256GB Hynix NVME
Screen: 15.6" LED backlight 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz
Weight: 1.9 kg
Dimensions: 35.97 x 24.425 x 2.07 cm
Camera: Webcam (1280 x 1024)
Networking: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Ports: 1x HDMI, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (with power off charging), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1x Ethernet LAN, Headphone/microphone combo jack, 1x MicroSD card reader
OS: Win 10 Pro 64-bit + Windows 11 Pro Licence
Battery: 56 Whr 3-cell Li-ion battery

Our review machine, the Travelmate P2 TMP215-54 (NX.VVSEK.004) isn’t one of those sold directly in the UK, but is available through Curry’s business channel and other retail outlets.

The pricing of this machine can vary wildly depending on the SKU, and in the UK alone Acer sells 28 different specifications. It has a UK cost of £764.38 inclusive of VAT.

The closest equivalent US customers have to that model is the TMP215-54-52X7 (NX.VVRAA.001), which has the same processor as our review hardware, but 16GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD, all for $949.99.

With this wide selection of potential hardware, it's probably the best plan to decide what your budget limits are and then see what options Acer has for that money.

As we’ll talk about later, upgrading the SSD and RAM on these machines is possible, which might save you money over having lots of either item pre-installed.

Value: 4 / 5

Acer Travelmate P2: Design

Black is not optional
Excellent port selection
On the heavy side

This laptop is a by-the-numbers design in that there isn’t anything exotic or special to talk about, either inside or out. It comes only in black, and this colour scheme inherently attracts dust the moment after it comes out of the box.

A feature we appreciated most was that it came with an Ethernet port, although Acer was forced to make one that expands to accommodate the cable end in this case. That’s useful, especially getting the system over the tsunami of updates that any new Windows machine will be subjected.

We also liked the keyboard, which is big enough to have a numeric pad, even if it’s a little narrow, and the touchpad is also well-sized, but because of the numeric pad offset, it’s not very central.

One curiosity is the screen hinges that tease that they might be fully reversible but aren’t. These hinges do allow the screen to fold flat, travelling 180 degrees from the close position to fully extended. Not sure what the value is in this much rotation, but it’s what it can do.

Ports are mostly along either side, other than a MicroSD card slot on the front edge. The rear edge is exclusively allocated to an exhaust vent, and the underside has extensive vent holes for bringing air in to be expelled rearwards.

One slight disappointment is that the webcam doesn’t have a physical privacy cover, instead opting for a software solution. The Acer Spin 714 Chromebook had a physical cover, so why not this PC?

Considering that this laptop is designated a ‘Travelmate’, the mass of this machine is on the high side at 1.9 kg or over 4 lbs. That’s plenty to be carrying around, and this isn’t the machine you can practically hold with one hand and operate with the other.

With so much mass involved, at least those designing it kept a reasonable balance between the display and base so that it's stable even if the screen is angled extremely.

However, for those that travel extensively with their machine, the Travelmate P2 probably isn’t ideal from a portability perspective.

Where it might be better fitted is in a home office where it operates as a desktop replacement system connecting to the house router with ethernet and peripherals with its many ports.

Though, as we’ll cover later, the battery capacity of this model does enable a working day away from a power socket if required.

In short, the Travelmate P2 was built to a price, but that cost looks reasonable value for money when you look at the part specifications.

Design: 4 / 5

Acer Travelmate P2: Hardware

12th Gen CPU
Cheap SSD
User upgrades possible

The highlight of this P2 SKU is undoubtedly the 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U processor, a design we’ve seen previously that sports ten cores and can process 12 threads simultaneously.

What’s slightly odd about this intel design is that instead of balancing the performance and efficiency cores, it has just two P-cores and eight E-Cores. That makes it good for both multitasking and power efficiency, but it lacks performance punch for the most demanding applications.

We’ll talk about raw performance below, but for general use, this is a good processor.

Where this machine is less impressive are some of the OEM parts that Acer chose to install on it, and the SK Hynix SSD is one of those. The 256GB capacity seems on the modest side of capacity, and we found this model being sold on retail for only $25.

It doesn’t cost much to boost the SSD to something much more suitable, and thankfully with this machine, that type of enhancement is possible.

To gain access inside requires the removal of 12 screws and a small plastic spudger to free the back. Once inside, both the DDR4 memory slots and the M.2 NVMe drive are both accessible. As the P2 isn’t one of those stupidly thin Ultrabook designs the memory is slotted, it could easily be enhanced beyond the 8GB it came with. The maximum memory of this processor is 64GB, but even 16GB by adding another 8GB module would enhance operations.

Included in the box was a small tray and ribbon cable that allows a SATA SSD or hard drive to be mounted inside, and this could be very useful if only for cloning the existing drive to temporary storage before upgrading the M.2 drive. The M.2 slot will take Gen 3 drives that don’t have a heatsink attached, and those can be found with capacities up to 4TB.

One side note to our internal investigations was the battery, the one that Acer claims is 56 Whr. Based on a quoted voltage and amperage printed on the battery, our maths says 54.5 Whr is a more accurate number.

That said, whatever it is, the battery in this laptop is undoubtedly one of the best aspects.

If that’s one of the best, the worst is undoubtedly the screen. We’re unsure what the exact technology used in the display is, but it is not bright, and the viewing angles aren’t great, suggesting that it isn’t an IPS screen.

To make it workable, we were forced to use full brightness, and even then, the colours it produced were subdued. Like the SSD, this looks like another cost-saving choice on Acer’s part.

Hardware: 4 / 5

Acer Travelmate P2: Performance

Good processor
Lower spec Iris Xe GPU
User upgrades possible

Acer Travelmate P2 Benchmarks

This is how the Acer Travelmate P2 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark Wild Life: 6891; Fire Strike: 2525; Time Spy: 1123;
Cinebench R23 CPU pts: 1596 (single-core); 6869 (multi-core)
GeekBench 5: 1557(single-core); 6356 (multi-core), 11369 (OpenCL)
CrystalDiskMark: Sequential Read: 3395MB/s; Sequential Write: 1988 MB/s
PCMark 10 (Office Test): 4995
PCMark 10 (Battery Test): 10h 43m
Windows Experience Index: 8.0

The performance offered on this machine is something of a mixed bag. We’ve previously tested other machines using the same Core i5-1235U and got better scores than these, and the difference may be down to the memory specs.

While the Iris Xe 80EU GPU is better than the dire UHD Graphics that older Intel processors offered, the 96EU version used on the Intel Core i7-1260P and Core i7-1195G7 is twice as fast when pushed by a Core-i7 class processor.

The graphics performance is acceptable for web use and even video playback, but it isn’t anything we’d recommend trying to game with or is ideal for using CAD applications.

The SK Hynix SSD is reasonably quick at reading, allowing the laptop to boot smartly, but its write speed is less compelling. As already mentioned, a higher-performance SSD with greater capacity would be a good upgrade for this SKU.

What’s interesting is that the Windows Experience Index number and the PCMark 10 scores are decent, and with a faster SSD, these would be even better.

What doesn’t need any help is the battery score as tested by PCMark10. At over ten hours, with the screen brightness turned down to 120 nits, that’s more than a working day of use.

To summarise, the processing power of this model is probably overkill for general office use, but the GPU isn’t anything special.

In the American SKUs of the Travelmate P2, we noticed a few machines with discrete Nvidia GeForce MX330. That would make a modest difference to graphics performance, and probably a better choice would be an AMD Ryzen-based P2 with its faster integrated Radeon RX Vega 7 or 8 Graphics.

But, these specification machines are at the higher end of the cost spectrum.

Performance: 4 / 5

This version of the Travelmate P2 had some highs and a few lows, but most models are good value for money, considering the functionality and performance offered and the price asked.

Our review machine using a 12th Gen Core-i5 processor looks like a sweet spot where you get the best deal without spending excessively.

However, there is one aspect of the P2 we didn’t care for, and that was the liberal plastering of bloatware on the Windows 11 installation.

Users don’t want to have Norton leap up five seconds after the first boot to tell them the sky is falling or some of the other dubious software installed on this machine. If users want those things badly enough, they will install them, and to assume otherwise is just rude.

Customers should therefore budget an afternoon to strip the machine of everything they didn’t pay for so they can use the one thing they did.

Not sure why some brands seem so unwilling to accept most customers don’t want bloatware, but Acer remains one of them.

Acer Travelmate P2: Report card

Should I buy a Acer Travelmate P2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition review: my new favorite Chromebook

8:00 pm | April 6, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: CPU, Intel Core, US | Comments: Off

Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition: Two-minute review

Honestly, I wish I was allowed to put more items in that ‘Pros’ list up there. The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition (which, I will admit, is something of a mouthful) genuinely might be the best Chromebook I’ve ever reviewed. It’s beautiful. It’s perfect. It’s, uh… wait, it’s a thousand bucks?

Yes, the entry price is sure to make some folks’ wallets shrivel in horror, but don’t run for the hills just yet. That $999 price tag is still less than the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook that currently sits at the top of our carefully-curated best Chromebooks list - and while Framework’s entry doesn’t quite offer the same level of performance, it does plenty to justify the cost.

For those unfamiliar with Framework, it’s a company that specializes in ‘fixing’ consumer electronics - not physically repairing them but fixing the broken nature of our transient, wasteful consumption of technological goods. Hardware - in particular, laptops - is becoming less and less repairable and long-lasting. Planned obsolescence is a huge problem, with kit designed to essentially become redundant after just a few years so you’re forced to drop more cash on a newer model.

To hell with all that, says Framework - and I couldn’t agree more. Laptops should be user-repairable and user-upgradable; I should be able to crack open my MacBook Air to slap in a bigger drive, faster memory, or a new battery, not be beholden to the whims (and fees) of a teenaged Apple store ‘genius’.

The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition photographed on a wooden desk. — (Image credit: Future)

Back when we reviewed the original Windows-powered ‘DIY edition’ of the Framework Laptop, we praised its design, repairability, and performance - and I fully believe that Chrome OS is the perfect home for this sort of device.

Since it relies mainly on web apps and cloud computing, Chrome OS demands less system resources from your laptop, allowing Framework to outfit this Chromebook with a relatively tame Intel Core i5 CPU and 8GB of RAM. On a Windows laptop, I might look at those specs with that price tag and scoff; here, it makes a lot more sense. Sure, you’re still paying a hearty sum, but the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition’s solid performance and unique features make it more than worth the money in my eyes.

In keeping with previous non-Chrome models (and Framework’s overall design ethos), this Chromebook is constructed and packaged using recycled materials, contains easily replaceable internal components, and - best of all - features hot-swappable ‘expansion cards’ that enable you to customize your laptop’s port selection in seconds.

I’m gonna say it: this is the future of laptops. Buy one, buy your kid one, buy your grandma one. I want Framework to succeed so badly; because we’re in a downward spiral of tech hardware consumption that’s only going to get worse for us all.

I don’t like doomsaying, but the numbers don’t lie. We now produce 50 million metric tons of e-waste annually - and a lot of that is down to laptops, tablets, and phones that (by design!) can’t be repaired by consumers. I hope that one day, all the best laptops will be like this one. It’s time for change. It’s time for Framework.

Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition review: Price and availability

Base price of $999 (around £800 / AU$1,500)
Expansion cards range from $9 to $149
Only available in the US at time of writing

I’m not going to claim that the Framework Chromebook is one of the best cheap laptops, although it does offer a lot for the asking price. $999 is fairly expensive for a Chromebook, no doubt. But with a 12th-gen Intel processor, 2K display, and generally solid construction, it’s already well on the way to marking itself as solid value for money.

Customizability is a big selling point here. I’ll get more into it later, but the upshot of the ‘expansion card’ system is that the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition effectively has four Thunderbolt 4 ports - something that’s still missing from plenty of Chromebooks.

These cards vary in price from $9 for a simple USB-A or USB-C port to $149 for a hefty 1TB slot-in drive, which can be easily removed to take with you. You can buy them from Framework’s own online marketplace, along with a variety of other components for replacing or upgrading your laptop’s internals.

As you’ll learn in the Design section further down, Framework hasn’t skimped on quality. In addition to Thunderbolt 4 support, we’ve got a Full HD webcam, the latest Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and a robust brushed aluminum outer casing. It certainly feels the way a premium Chromebook should.

It’s worth noting that the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition isn’t available outside the US at present, hence the pricing estimates provided above for the UK and Australia. There’s currently no news on whether this model will make it to other regions, but if you opt to import one you can purchase regional keyboards - since that’s user-replaceable too!

Price: 4 / 5

Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition review: Specs

There's only one configuration of the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition available for you to buy - but due to the nature of the laptop, you can upgrade and customize it to an impressive degree.

The default configuration uses a 12th-gen Intel Core i5-1240P with 8GB of DDR4 and a 256GB SSD. The laptop essentially has four Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, but these are hidden beneath the casing for you to slot the expansion cards into them, letting you decide exactly which ports you want and how you want them positioned.

While the SSDs, RAM, keyboard, screen bezel, and obviously the expansion cards are available to purchase and upgrade individually, you can't buy a specific CPU for Framework's laptops. Instead, the company sells integrated mainboards that incorporate a processor, motherboard, and cooling solution. You can now get 13th-gen Intel models, as Framework has started to make new configurations for its Windows laptops - and those are fully backwards-compatible with this version.

Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition review: Design

Almost unmatched build quality for a Chromebook
Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
Swappable ports are amazing

Not content with just making a Chromebook that was sustainably designed and user-friendly, Framework also had to flex a little, didn’t they? This is one of the best Chromebooks out there in terms of physical design, mirroring the best aspects of the regular Framework Laptop but with a few Google-inspired twists.

The outer shell is clean, brushed aluminum with the Framework logo stamped in black on the lid along with the ubiquitous Chromebook logo in the top corner - though here it’s in greyscale, so as not to detract from the laptop’s straightforward aesthetic. Opening it up, we’ve got a pleasingly large trackpad and a black keyboard with soft white LED backlighting.

The keys themselves are a good size and well-spaced, making typing on the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition feel nice and comfortable even for extended periods. The Chromebook keyboard layout may feel a little alien to Windows users at first, with the caps lock and Esc key replaced by the ‘Everything Button’ and lock key, but it’s an otherwise easy adjustment.

The display is frankly far beyond what I’ve seen in the vast majority of Chromebooks I’ve tested, a 3:2 aspect ratio ‘productivity screen’ with a 2K resolution that matches the great display on the aforementioned HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook. The maximum brightness is great at over 400 nits, and 100% sRGB gamut means bright colors look vibrant.

Google already touts improved digital security as a key selling point of Chrome OS, and we’ve got some decent physical security features here too. The square power button doubles as a fingerprint scanner, while the excellent 1080p 60fps webcam and dual microphone array both feature dedicated kill switches on the top bezel of the screen - a nice touch that far too many laptops forgo.

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Of course, I couldn’t not talk about the expansion cards here. They’re phenomenally easy to slot in and remove, with a simple button on the underside of the laptop to release them so they’ll never fall out while the laptop is in your bag.

Framework was kind enough to send us a selection of cards featuring USB-A, USB-C, MicroSD, and HDMI outputs, but you can also get Ethernet, DisplayPort, and 3.5mm jack adaptors (though the latter is already included separately to the card slots).

Continuing the theme of customizability, Framework also sells swappable keyboard covers and screen bezels, and the fully-recyclable box also comes with a small Torx driver to open up the laptop and swap out the memory, storage, or even the entire mainboard. Like the look of this Chromebook, but wish it came with a more powerful 13th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU and 32GB of DDR5 RAM instead? You can make that a reality. I can’t stress this enough: that’s cool as hell.

Design: 5 / 5

Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition review: Performance

Intel Core i5-1240P is a solid CPU
Doesn’t get as noisy as its Windows counterpart
Chrome OS is still limited in some areas

Benchmarks

Here's how the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

TechRadar Battery Life Test: 9 hours and 2 minutes
Chromium Github Octane Benchmark: 81,533
Browserbench Jetstream Benchmark: 238.96
Kraken Benchmark: 470ms
WebGL Aquarium (30,000 fish): 42 fps

If those specs up above were for a $999 Windows laptop, I’d be a tad concerned. But Chrome OS has always been able to do more with less compared to Microsoft’s nigh-omnipresent operating system, able to run smoothly on far less powerful hardware than what’s on offer here.

So that Core i5-1240P processor and 8GB of RAM found in my review model is more than enough: Chrome OS runs buttery-smooth here, with no slowdown whatsoever through my entire testing process. Opening a ton of Chrome tabs? No problem. Running games from the Google Play Store? You’ve got it.

In fact, the graphical performance on offer here is impressive. Sure, you won’t be playing all of the best PC games here, but WebGL performance was strong, and when I downloaded some Play Store games to give the integrated Iris Xe graphics more of a workout, I got an impressively steady framerate north of 30fps. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: iGPUs are the future of gaming. Who needs a graphics card, right?

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General CPU performance is also fairly strong, providing speedy operating in just about every area and giving solid results across the rest of our benchmark suite. The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition also runs very cool and quiet; in our review of the original Framework Laptop, we critiqued the noisy fans, but they rarely kicked in here - only while downloading Genshin Impact’s massive update pack and after running a hardware stress test for several minutes.

One of the best things about the Framework Chromebook is still the fact that if you’re ever even remotely dissatisfied with the performance, you can just go ahead and upgrade it!

A simple bump up to 16GB of RAM (if you happen to be running more memory-intensive software) will only cost you $30, while an SSD upgrade to a healthy terabyte of storage will run you $99. As someone who got his start in tech journalism by building custom computers, I have to say that Framework’s pricing is pretty damn reasonable.

Of course, this is a Chrome OS system, so you’ll want to be mindful if you’re switching over from Windows or MacOS. While it’s lighter on system requirements and offers better child safety and data security features, it’s also limited in terms of which apps it can run. If you’re aiming to use a specific piece of software that isn’t on the Play Store (or otherwise downloadable for Chrome OS), consider yourself warned.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition review: Battery life

Decent all-day battery life
Doesn’t quite measure up given the price
Does charge fast, however

Our default Chromebook battery test, which sees us looping a 720p video at 50% brightness and letting the battery run down to empty from a full charge, turned up a respectable but not amazing nine hours of runtime. It also charges fast via USB-C, and you can change which side the charge port is thanks to the slottable expansion cards.

If you’re using the Framework Chromebook for more demanding work, it’ll be less; if you opt to turn on the battery-saver mode and lower the brightness, it’ll be more. Framework has previously noted that there’s a known bug with the battery involving certain expansion cards (including the HDMI output, which I was using during my testing process) so it’s possible that with some future firmware updates, the longevity could be improved.

It’s worth noting here that 50% brightness on this particular Chromebook is actually a fair bit brighter than many cheaper options. Nonetheless, this is still a very middle-of-the-road score. Nine hours of battery life is good and should see you through a full day of work, but we’ve seen plenty of Chromebooks that surpass it - most recently the similarly eco-friendly Acer Chromebook Vero 514, which managed a solid 10+ hours.

Battery life: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition?

Buy it if...

You’re eco-conscious
If you’re worried about e-waste and want to make an impact, this is the laptop to buy. Framework’s ethos is unquestionably the best around right now when it comes to sustainable hardware.

You want future-proof
The durability and repairability of the Framework Laptop Chromework Edition are simply a cut above the competition, meaning this laptop will last you for years with some periodic upgrades.

You need an office laptop
With its bright 3:2 display, the Framework Chromebook offers plenty of vertical screen real estate for scrolling through web pages and documents, making it great for office work. It’s also compact and light enough to easily take on your commute.

Don't buy it if...

You’re a serious gamer
The Intel Core i5-1240P inside this laptop actually offers decent graphical performance, but it’s not going to measure up to the power of a dedicated graphics card in a proper gaming laptop.

You want ultra-long battery life
The battery life here isn’t terrible, comfortably eclipsing many Windows laptops, but it’s still decidedly average compared as far as Chromebooks go - and it doesn’t even come close to the MacBook Air.

You’re on a tight budget
Yes, $999 is a lot of money for a Chromebook. I’m sticking to my guns; I still maintain that the price is fair for what you get, especially since Framework’s products are so unique, but it’s an entry price that may be simply too high for some people.

Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition review: Also consider

If our Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition review has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...

How I tested the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

Used it for everyday work
Watched Netflix in bed in the evenings
Ran some games as well as our standard suite of benchmark tests

As is custom for my laptop reviews, I incorporated the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition into my daily routine to properly get to grips with it - using it for my everyday work as well as personal activities (mostly watching Netflix and scrolling through Reddit in bed) in the evenings.

I naturally used it to write most of this review, and found it very comfortable for long typing sessions, which was nice to see - I've typed some negative reviews on some pretty crummy laptop keyboards.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2023

Acer Spin 714 Chromebook review

11:27 am | April 1, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: CPU, GPU, RAM, SIM | Comments: Off

Acer Spin 714 Chromebook: Two minute review

Chromebooks started their rise by being popular with students, who liked their web-based nature and long battery life, but eventually, businesses realised its virtues.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (CP714-1WN) isn’t a low-cost plastic Chromebook for students but an elegant Ultrabook concept with a 14-inch HD touchscreen and an aluminium body.

Designed as a web-based workhorse, Acer gave it a durable, full-size keyboard with a backlit design that makes it easy to type in low light.

Even with a lightweight metal and plastic exterior, the Spin is a hefty 3.09 lbs (1.4 kg) and is 0.7 inches (18.05 mm) thick. That’s an almost identical weight to its predecessor and not so heavy that you would have trouble carrying it.

Acer has previously released two versions of its 713 design, and the new 714 builds on that legacy by providing more power and functionality while retaining much of the form factor and styling that made the 713 series so popular.

However, in this transition to 12th Gen technology, Acer managed to misplace the MicroSD card slot from the previous model, lost the terrific 2256 x 1504 resolution screen, and the battery life of 10 hours hasn’t gotten any better.

What you do get here is a much better Intel 12th Gen processor with more powerful graphics, HDMI out, a Thunderbolt 4 port and a stylus that is neatly housed in the chassis.

The jury is still unsure if this constitutes a significant improvement over the 713, but it’s a classy piece of hardware and a notch above most hybrid Chromebooks.

Acer Spin 714 Chromebook: Price and availability

How much does it cost? $730/ £799
When is it out? It is available now
Where can you get it? You can get it in most regions direct from Acer or through an online retailer.

Acer Spin 714 Chromebook Specs

The Acer Spin 714 Chromebook that was sent to us for review came with the following hardware:

Model: CP714-1WN
CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: 8GB LPDDR5
Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen 3, 8Gb/s, NVME
Screen: 35.6 cm (14") Touch screen
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
SIM: N/A
Weight: 3.09 lbs (1.4 kg)
Dimensions: 312.6 x 224 x 18.05 mm
Robustness: MIL-STD 810H
Camera: FHD MIPI webcam (1920 x 1080),1080 HD video at 60fps
Networking: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
OS: ChromeOS
Battery: 56Wh 3-cell Li-ion battery

At more than $700, the Spin 714 is at the more expensive end of the Chromebook spectrum, but it is cheaper than ASUS CB9400CEA Chromebook and the Google Pixelbook.

Acer also makes an Enterprise edition of this model that costs £1,099.99 in the UK and is priced specifically for Corporate customers in the USA at around $1049.99.

The Enterprise versions typically come with more RAM, up to 16GB, and business administration tools are preinstalled on them for easier rollouts.

T1here are cheaper Chromebook options from Acer and other brands that can offer a similar specification for much less. Intel, Lenovo, HP, Asus and Acer all make ARM-based designs that are less than half this cost.

As a good example, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i is closer to $500 for a similar if less powerful design.

Value: 3 / 5

Acer Spin 714 Chromebook: Design

Attractive styling
Excellent port selection
Inbuilt stylus

We’ve seen enough broken Chromebooks to know that they can be abused by their owners, so being able to take a few knocks is essential for a business tool like the Spin 714.

The Spin 714 uses a very similar physical design to the 713, and given how successful that machine was, that Acer stuck with a similar plan isn’t a big surprise.

However, the devil is most certainly in the detail here, and the Spin 714 has arguably lost as much as it gained from the 713.

For those unsure about the ‘Spin’ aspect of this design, this Chromebook has a fully extensible hinge that allows the screen to go from fully closed to 360 degrees open, allowing the machine to operate as a tablet. It can do all the positions between those extremes to provide tent mode for watching a presentation or streamed content.

This flexibility allows for a hybrid use model, where the 714 can be a conventional laptop or a tablet, depending on the demands.

Mostly for tablet mode, the screen is touch-sensitive, and Acer does include an integrated stylus if smudgy fingerprints annoy you as much as they do us. The stylus isn’t a pressure sensitive one or has any buttons, but it's better than using your finger.

A nice touch is that the slot it lives in is also the charger for the stylus, and just 15 minutes inserted in its home is enough to recharge power for four hours of use.

If it wasn’t running ChromeOS, the same hardware could run Windows or Linux happily since it has all the ports and Intel x86/64 parts needed for a good computing experience.

On the left side is a Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, a full-size HDMI out, the 2.5mm audio jack and a power button. And on the right is another Thunderbolt 4 port, a USB 3.0 Type-A port and a volume rocker.

We’ve seen some poor USB-C implementations on Windows laptops, where the port used for charging is exclusive to that job and can’t be utilised for any other purpose. But here, the Thunderbolt 4 ports on each side are interchangeable, allowing charging on whichever side is most convenient.

This isn’t the biggest keyboard we’ve seen on a machine this size, but it is backlit and has a pleasant key travel for typing. We’re less convinced about the touchpad. It’s small, but as you have a touch screen, you’re not forced to use it without a mouse.

A fingerprint sensor below the keyboard and to the left of the touchpad, and a 1080p webcam at the top centre of the screen with a physical privacy cover (hooray).

Probably the most significant difference over the 713 is the display, which is a less bright and less impressive resolution than what came before.

For those that never saw the lovely 400 nit panel on the 713, the one on the 714 is fine, but it doesn’t offer the same refined experience, sadly.

Design: 4 / 5

Acer Spin 714 Chromebook: Hardware

12th Gen CPU
Thunderbolt 4 port
Same battery size as 713
No LTE or SIM slot

Where the 713 used 10th and 11th Gen Intel parts, the 714 has the Intel Core i5-1235U, a 12th Gen CPU with ten cores. Depending on the 713 model, that machine either had a Core i7-1185G7, i5-1135G7, i5-10210U or i3-1115G4, but the i5-1235U used in the 714 is probably better than all of those options.

Because of the way ChromeOS works and its inherent web functionality, seeing the processing power in this machine in action is challenging. But, we did notice that when using the machine for standard tasks, it didn’t run the fans, something the 713 did, irrespective of the processor model.

Keeping cooler has advantages for power consumption and the life expectancy of the chips, so we’re all for those changes.

A major selling point on the Acer website for this model is that it offers a Thunderbolt 4 port, which has backward compatibility with USB 3.2. On a Windows laptop, this would be a desirable feature, as it would allow the connecting of external Thunderbolt or USB-C SSD storage and high-speed transfers.

However, moving files on and off the device is a 20th-century approach to problems. Because the advantage of a Chromebook is that everything is stored on the Cloud and not shuffled around using file managers.

The deeper we delved into the different strategies that a Windows PC and a Chromebook have to file management, the more we wondered why does this machine have a 12 Gen Core-i5 class processor? Can its power never be effectively used on web-based applications or data? This high-end class of Chromebook ends up wanting to be one thing but acting much more like a Windows PC, and the inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 only highlights this contradiction.

If you’re an IT person who has a user that has a Chromebook that insists on moving files from the system to external storage and back, they evidently don’t understand how to use it.

There are some exceptions to this, like video editing and graphics design, and it could be useful for bringing a media movie collection along on a trip, but the majority of owners that understand Chromebooks are unlikely to use it, ever.

While we did see less fan activity and a cooler running processor, we didn’t notice that this machine lasted any longer on battery.

The 56Wh 3-cell Li-ion battery seems the same as was in the 713, and the quoted ten hours of operating lifespan is effectively the same.

That the battery doesn’t go further with a 12th Gen processor onboard hints that other factors, like the NVMe storage and the new screen, are consuming the extra power that the Core i5-1235U efficiency provides.

Whatever the power consumption equations are, it provides enough power for a good working day, and a 65W Liteon branded USB-C charger is provided that can give you four hours of running time for 30 minutes of charging.

A bigger battery would have been appreciated, but it might have made the 714 heavier than a Chromebook should be.

The missing part of the 714 hardware ensemble is mobile comms because when they’re not connected to the Internet, Chromebooks aren’t at their best.

Why Acer didn’t include a SIM slot to allow for LTE and 5G connections on the move is a genuine head-scratcher, and it forces owners to use a phone as a WiFi access point to get it connected away from the office. That they didn’t even offer this in the Spin 714 Enterprise edition (that has more RAM and preinstalled remote admin tools), is even more bemusing.

Removing the MicroSD card slot from the 713, we’ll forgive, but not including any mobile comms options is less defensible.

Hardware: 4 / 5

Acer Spin 714 Chromebook: Performance

ChromeOS
Too powerful for some benchmarks

Acer Spin 714 Chromebook Benchmarks

Here's how the Acer Spin 714 Chromebook performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

Mozilla Kraken: 488.5ms
Speedometer: 202 runs/minute
JetStream 2: 214.896
GeekBench: Single (1398), Multi (5555), Compute (10773)
3DMark Wild Life: 7830
PCMark Work 3.0: 12135

Chromebooks are difficult to judge from a performance perspective as they don’t typically run predefined executables like Windows machines. This Chromebook can run Android applications, but this is done using hardware emulation. Making it not an apples-for-apples comparison with an ARM-based phone or tablet.

We ran PCMark for Android and 3DMark, with varying results. 3DMark refused to run most tests declaring the system to be too powerful, but we did extract a Wild Life result from it.

What scores we did get told us that this is a powerful machine, which isn’t much of a shock. The performance of a Chromebook is dependent on many things that aren’t internal hardware in most scenarios, so does the power in this one ever get fully exploited? We have our doubts.

The Acer Spin 714 Chromebook desperately wants to be a Windows PC, and that’s somewhat at odds with running ChromeOS and being designated a Chromebook.

Performance: 5 / 5

The Acer Spin 714 Chromebook is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-quality Chromebook and is prepared to pay for a refined experience. It has a sleek design, excellent performance, and works effectively with ChromeOS.

It is significantly cheaper than other Chromebooks in its class, but its special features, such as the 360-degree hinge, stylus, and Thunderbolt ports, make it more appealing to power users.

However, as this is a Chromebook and not a Windows PC, will the power in this machine ever be effectively leveraged? And, if it isn’t, then what is the point of such a high specification?

The new 714 design does offer a few new twists over the 713, but owners of the previous generation might miss its superior screen and MicroSD card slot. But the technology that this design most needed was LTE/5G comms, and for whatever reason, Acer engineers didn’t consider that to be something worth including.

Acer Spin 714 Chromebook: Report card

Acer Spin 714 Chromebook?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

Acer Swift X 16 review: a good laptop, but Intel Arc simply isn’t there yet

4:45 pm | March 30, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: CPU | Comments: Off

Acer Swift X 16: Two-minute review

Acer’s Swift series of laptops has consistently produced some of the best laptops around for productivity - from the balanced all-rounder Swift 5 to the surprisingly budget-friendly Swift 3 OLED - and the Acer Swift X 16 is arguably the powerhouse of the Swift family.

Designed to be larger and more powerful than its numerical counterparts, the latest Swift X 16 offers a break from tradition: instead of running on integrated graphics or a compact Nvidia laptop GPU, this model uses a new Intel graphics card - more specifically, the Intel Arc A370M.

Intel’s Arc graphics technology is still relatively unproven, with Intel returning to the discrete GPU market to do battle with AMD and Nvidia after 24 years of absence. Naturally, this Swift X pairs the A370M graphics card with a powerful 12th-gen ‘Alder Lake’ Intel laptop processor, and the results are… mixed.

CPU performance is strong, and Intel’s hard focus on AV1 video encode and decode makes this laptop a solid choice for content creators and video editors, but it falls down a bit when it comes to gaming and more demanding 3D rendering tasks. It’s worth noting, though, that the A370M is very power-efficient, meaning that the Swift X 16 gets more longevity from a single battery charge than laptops running comparable Nvidia GPUs.

Acer Swift X 16 on wooden table — (Image credit: Future)

Fortunately, the Swift X 16 has more going for it than just this new Arc GPU - this laptop packs an excellent 2.5K screen and a generally very robust chassis with plenty of physical connections (including HDMI and Thunderbolt 4 for connecting additional displays). The backlit keyboard is also great, comfortable no matter what you’re using it for.

It runs cool and quiet, and while it’s a little chunky for an office laptop, that’s a tradeoff made for the large display and full-size keyboard layout. I found the touchpad wasn’t as responsive as I’d like, though. The design is clean but lacks the sleek style of many other productivity laptops, like Acer’s own Swift Edge, making it look a tad outdated in comparison.

Considering that it comes in at $999 (£899 / around AU$1,499), the Acer Swift X 16 isn’t exactly a budget piece of kit, but it works hard to justify its price tag and should prove a valuable asset to any budding content creators or professional video editors.

Acer Swift X 16 review: Price and availability

Starts at $999 / £899 / around AU$1,499
Can opt for 512GB or 1TB SSD
Nvidia RTX models also available

With a base price of $999 / £899 / around AU$1,499, the Acer Swift X 16 sits pretty squarely in the midrange when it comes to laptops for creative and office work. That’s the current price, by the way - this model of the Swift X 16 originally launched in the US with a $1,299 price tag, but that was evidently deemed a bit steep. Intel’s consistent price-cutting on its desktop Arc GPUs could have been a factor here.

So it’s not going to go on our list of the best cheap laptops, but in terms of the performance offered I’m reasonably happy with the new pricing - bear in mind that in the US, there’s also a 512GB SSD model available, which is a little cheaper. The Swift X doesn’t appear to be officially available in Australia at the time of writing, so the Australian pricing provided here is only a guideline.

Price score: 4 / 5

Acer Swift X 16 review: Specs

There aren't many variants of the Swift X 16, unless you start looking toward older 11th-gen Intel CPU models. You can configure it with up to a 2TB SSD, but the RAM configurations are tied to the processor - the i5 variants come with 8GB of LPDDR5 instead of the 16GB in our review unit.

If you like the look of the Acer Swift X 16 but don’t plan to take advantage of the Intel Arc A370M’s superior video encode capabilities, there’s also a 14-inch variant that uses a less powerful 12th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU - alternatively, you could opt for a slightly older model with the superior RTX 3050 Ti and an 11th-gen Intel CPU.

Acer Swift X 16 review: Design

Big, bright display
Robust but unexciting chassis
Touchpad isn’t great - buy a mouse

One of the first features of the Acer Swift X 16 that jumps out at you is right there in the name: the 16-inch 2.5K display has a 16:10 aspect ratio and excellent maximum brightness, making it perfect for editing work and reading documents. The bezel is tiny, and the 100 sRGB color reproduction makes it a solid choice for artistic endeavors.

I used the Swift X 16 as my daily work laptop for more than a week, and I never found that it caused me any eye strain; that’s a frequent problem for me personally, since I suffer from occasional migraines and eye strain ever since I was hospitalized for cancer treatment in 2021 (I sometimes use blue-light-filtering glasses when working with very bright screens). The glossy finish on the display here means that it’s not particularly well-suited for use outdoors or in very brightly-lit environments, so bear that in mind.

At 1.75kg, my review model of the Swift X 16 isn’t exactly super-lightweight thanks to its discrete graphics card and machined aluminum casing, but it’s actually not as heavy as many laptops of the same size; for comparison, this year’s MacBook Pro 16-inch weighs in at 2.2kg. The Swift X is also pretty thin, measuring just 18mm thick with the lid closed.

That aluminum chassis feels very durable, able to stand up to roughing it for the busy professional on the go, but I can’t help but feel that the whole thing looks a little… old-fashioned. The entire design puts function over form, which will be amazing for some users, but makes the Swift X look a bit tired next to some of its more aesthetically pleasing competitors.

As I mentioned above, the keyboard here is truly wonderful: it’s a 95% layout that includes a full numpad and function keys, with only a small handful of the keycaps (such as L-shift and the up and down arrows) getting squished in order to fit inside the rectangular profile. The keys themselves have a decent amount of travel with a small bounce, but there’s little to no flex in the casing even on very firm keypresses, which is great. The keys are mostly large enough that typing (or gaming) for extended periods is very comfortable.

Unfortunately, the touchpad lets it all down a bit. While it’s suitably large and the palm rejection is solid, I found the click action to be flimsy and unsatisfying, with far too much depth along the bottom edge - I was actually worried about breaking it. While it generally worked fine, there was more than one occasion where I found its accuracy faltering too, so be sure to pick up a good computer mouse if you do choose to buy a Swift X 16.

When it comes to physical connectivity, you’ve got two USB-A and two USB-C ports, the latter of which are both Thunderbolt 4 enabled for video output and power delivery (this is also how the Swift X charges). There’s an HDMI 2.1 port too, if that’s your display medium of choice, but no SD card reader, which is a shame since that could’ve helped the Swift X 16 appeal to digital photographers.

The webcam is a 1080p one, which puts it ahead of competitors still using lower-res 720p cameras. The speakers were actually better than I expected, but didn’t blow me away - they’re sufficient for video calls and perhaps listening to music while you work, but we’d still recommend getting a headset for heavy use.

Design score: 4 / 5

Acer Swift X 16 review: Performance

Intel i7 CPU works hard
Arc graphics aren’t quite up to par yet
Fans aren’t too noisy

Benchmarks

Here's how the Acer Swift X 16 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark Night Raid: 24,374; Fire Strike: 7,901; Time Spy: 3,897
GeekBench 5.4: 1,752 (single-core); 10,340 (multi-core)
25GB File Copy: 1236.5MBps
Handbrake 1.6: 7m 5s
CrossMark: Overall: 1,689 Productivity: 1,618 Creativity: 1,812 Responsiveness: 1,560
Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm: 44fps
Web Surfing (Battery Informant): 7hrs 5m
PCMark 10 Battery Life: 9hrs 44m

CPU performance here is undeniably strong, with good scores in CrossMark and GeekBench as well as generally speedy operation during regular use; I had two dozen Chrome tabs open at one point and wasn’t seeing any slowdown whatsoever. Intel’s 12th-gen ‘Alder Lake’ processors are powerful little chips, put to good use here by Acer.

Looking over at that Intel Arc graphics card, it performs reasonably well in synthetic testing (see the 3DMark results) when compared to similar competing GPUs like the RTX 3050, but when I actually tried using it for gaming, I was getting lower scores than I would with Nvidia and AMD’s cards. It definitely can’t swing with the best gaming laptops.

This is because the Arc graphics platform is still relatively new, with fledgling drivers and some kinks that Intel has yet to iron out. Performance should actually improve over time, and you definitely can already play games on the A370M GPU found in this Swift X - just don’t expect to be running all the best PC games at maximum graphical settings. For a spot of casual gaming at 1080p, the Swift X 16 does just fine, comfortably clearing the 30fps barrier in Sid Meier's Civilization VI.

It’s worth noting here that Raja Koduri, previously the big dog in charge of the Arc graphics project, recently departed Intel to start his own AI gaming software firm. That doesn’t mean Arc is in dire straits - in fact, it could be an opportunity for Intel’s infant graphics division to reset and get back on track after the many teething issues that plagued the original launch of Arc.

Outside of gaming, the Intel Arc GPU is a solid performer when it comes video encoding and decoding; since it uses the more efficient AV1 encode (as opposed HEVC), it gave us a strong showing in our Handbrake 1.6 video encode benchmark - at this price point, anyway. There’s always the risk third-party platforms like YouTube and TikTok will compress the hell out of your footage, but at least the A370M will give you quick, clean, uncompressed video from your editing software of choice.

While the Swift X 16 isn’t exactly a monster in terms of internal components, it’s still good to see that Acer hasn’t skimped on the cooling solution here. Air is drawn in from the laptop’s underside and (in a novel design choice) tiny gaps in the keyboard by two fans, which then expel heat from vents on the laptop’s right edge and above the keyboard.

Normally this would annoy me, because the right-hand exhaust runs the risk of spewing hot air over your hand when you’re using a mouse, but the Swift X ran cool and near-silently during my entire time using it, only kicking up the fans to a level I could call ‘noisy’ while I was running the stress-testing program Prime95. Even then, they’re a far cry from the screeching fans found in most gaming laptops.

Performance score: 4 / 5

Acer Swift X 16 review: Battery life

Good for a full workday of basic office tasks
More intensive software drains the battery fast
Better battery life available elsewhere

The Acer Swift X 16’s battery life is a mixed bag, because while sub-10-hours isn’t particularly impressive for a non-gaming laptop, it’s also worth bearing in mind that this Swift packs a dedicated GPU - which, were it made by Nvidia or AMD, would probably drain the battery faster than the Intel Arc A370M does.

Overall, you’re looking at between 7 and 10 hours of use (assuming you’re not running it at maximum brightness and volume), for everyday office tasks such as web browsing, word processing, and answering emails. If you’re going to use the Swift X 16 for more demanding workloads like video editing or digital art, be aware that your charge will run out faster

It’s perfectly okay, but you can definitely get better battery life at the same price point elsewhere; the most recent M2 MacBook Air is only a bit more expensive and absolutely blows the Swift X out of the water when it comes to longevity. This is due to the Swift X’s relatively small battery capacity of 52Wh; the similarly-sized LG Gram 16 packs an 80Wh battery, for example.

Fortunately, the AC adapter supplied with the laptop is nice and compact, and it charges via USB-C as mentioned above - something we’re going to be seeing more and more of in the near future. Charge times were typical, going from zero to full in about an hour.

Battery life: 3.5 / 5

Should you buy the Acer Swift X 16?

Buy it if...

You want to edit video
The Intel Arc A370M’s powerful AV1 encode capabilities make this Swift a snap choice for video editing - just bear in mind that you’ll need a separate monitor to edit in 4K, since the resolution caps out at 2.5K here.

You’re going to be typing a lot
The Swift X 16’s large, comfortable keyboard will keep your fingers free of strain even after a full day’s typing away in the office, and the inclusion of a numpad is good too.

You want Thunderbolt 4
With two Thunderbolt 4 enabled USB-C ports, the Swift X offers better physical connectivity than many of its peers - though bear in mind that you’ll sometimes need one of those ports to charge it.

Don't buy it if...

You want to game
While the Intel Arc GPU is solid for video editing work, it’s not really up to scratch when it comes to gaming.

You want ultra-portability
While the Acer Swift X 16 is relatively thin and light for a 16-inch laptop, if you want something super portable you’ll be better served by a smaller ultrabook.

You’re going for style points
Look, the Swift X has a perfectly functional and durable design, but it’s not the most eye-catching laptop I’ve ever seen. If aesthetics are important to you, look elsewhere.

Acer Swift X 16 review: Also consider

If our Acer Swift X 16 review has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...

How I tested the Acer Swift X 16

Used as my regular work laptop for over a week
Tried playing some games on it
Watched TV shows in bed in the evenings

As with every laptop I review, I essentially just swapped the Acer Swift X 16 into my daily routine for about a week and a half. This meant using it for researching and producing my articles, watching videos on YouTube, conducting video meetings, and working on my own fiction writing - plus a bit of gaming here and there, when I had the time.

Although I generally used the Swift X 16 plugged in during my testing process, I did make sure to unplug it and take it with me (along with my dog) to a cafe where I could do some work on battery power. I also used it unplugged in the evening to watch Netflix in bed on three separate occasions, and it never died on me.

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.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) review: great gaming laptop with a unique gimmick

2:45 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: Australia, CPU, UK, US | Comments: Off

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023): Two-minute review

The refresh of last year’s model, 2023’s Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 sets out to be a monster of a gaming machine while avoiding the pitfall of taking on the weight and bulk issue of desktop replacements (to a point of course). It comes in only black, a bit boring for color choices, but the chassis itself is surprisingly thinner than most, which is especially impressive for a laptop housing a GeForce RTX 4090 GPU.

The 16-inch display is a beauty, as it’s a QHD+ (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) mini-LED with a ridiculously high 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time that also supports HDR and G-Sync. The sound system is one that befits what the best gaming laptop would be outfitted with, as it’s powered by Dolby Atmos, uses Smart Amp Tech, and features two 2W Tweeter and a 2W dual-force woofer. This ensures that during your session, the laptop conveys every bit of audio design and music, making for a more immersive experience.

It seems that RGB lighting is a requirement for any gaming keyboard, and this one doesn’t disappoint, as both the touchpad and keys are beautifully backlit. The Chiclet keyboard itself is smooth and easy to type on, which helps if you prefer gaming on a keyboard versus connecting a controller.

Gaming performance is the crown jewel of this laptop, with some serious specs, memory, and storage even in the lowest configuration. The base model has an RTX 4070 and the highest is equipped with the incredibly powerful RTX 4090. While testing out the latter graphics card in the review unit I received, I found its boosting capabilities to be quite impeccable, thanks to its max TGP of 150W when using Dynamic Boost on Manual Mode.

Another feature of note and one that sets this refresh apart from previous models as well as other gaming laptops is the AniMe Matrix mode. This mode allows you to activate either default animations and messages or create your own, then display them on the outside chassis. It’s a fun, if not useful, feature that’s best for showing off and entertaining others. But you can easily save money by opting for a model without it.

Though it may be a contender for one of the best Asus laptops, there are some drawbacks to this laptop. First, the throttling issue concerning the CPU is more pronounced in this laptop, which not only lowers the potential of the normally powerful Core i9-13900H but even causes stuttering with any tasks not directly related to gaming. The software, while possessing many features and modes, is counterintuitive and requires a lot of time and effort to navigate.

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023): Price & availability

black closed gaming laptop — (Image credit: Future)

Starting at $2.999.99 / £2,399.99 (around AU$4,417)
Available now
Available in the US and UK, and possibly Australia in the future

The Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) is an incredibly expensive and luxurious gaming laptop. Its starting price is $2.999.99 in the US and £2,399.99 in the UK through the official Asus online store. That pricing works to around AU$4,417. Compared to other similar desktop replacements released with current-gen components like the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, this laptop is definitely a step above in cost. However, compared to something as premium as the MSI GT77 Titan (2023), it’s a more affordable choice for a high-end machine.

Currently, it isn’t available in Australia just yet. According to a representative, that’s likely to change in the future. As of this writing, the ROG Zephyrus M16 is sold out in the US as well, which makes obtaining it a bit more difficult.

Price score: 4 / 5

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023): Specs

closeup of laptop stickers — (Image credit: Future)

The specs for the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) review unit sent to me are as follows: an Intel Core i9-13900H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 2TB of storage, as well as the AniMe Matrix mode that comes with only certain models. The base version is nearly identical in specs except for an RTX 4070 GPU, while the most premium version has the same GPU but with 64GB of RAM.

While there are plenty of models to choose from, each model cannot be configured to your unique specifications.

Specs score: 4 / 5

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023): Design

Simple color, sleek form factor
AniMe Matrix mode is a fun gimmick
Display and sound system are great

Though the color of the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) is a pretty standard black, overall it has a surprisingly sleeker design than most desktop replacements, especially as my own review model is housing an RTX 4090. That beefy card also increases the weight, putting it at five pounds compared to the RTX 4070 laptop at about four and a half pounds. Despite that, its form factor is well-balanced enough that you barely feel it. The chassis is solid, though not as hardy as other heavier laptops.

It has both an excellent display and audio system that’s built for the best portable gaming experience possible. The 16-inch display is a QHD+ (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) mini-LED with a ridiculously high 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time. It also supports HDR and G-Sync for those extra smooth and crisp visuals. As an extra bonus, the bezels are thin enough to offer over 90% screen-to-body ratio, meaning more of your favorite PC game’s UI is visible.

AniMe Matrix mode is the defining feature of this laptop, and it’s pretty cool. You use the built-in software to create messages or animations, which is then displayed on the back of the chassis for others to see. It makes for some fun conversation starters but otherwise has no impact on the laptop’s performance. Not all models have this mode, so feel free to purchase a different version if you need to save some money.

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black gaming laptop with techradar logo

(Image credit: Future)

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gaming laptop keyboard — (Image credit: Future)

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closeup of vent — (Image credit: Future)

The sound is much better quality than most other laptops, as it’s powered by Dolby Atmos, uses Smart Amp Tech, and packs two 2W Tweeter and a 2W dual-force woofer. It’s crystal clear and loses nothing in quality when turned up, perfect for capturing audio design and music. It’s complemented by a superior mic quality that keeps background noises out of your conference calls when the webcam is activated, though the webcam visuals are slightly above average.

The keyboard is a Chiclet type, which makes for nicely snappy, responsive keys. However, the downside is that since the speakers are hugging said keyboard, it doesn’t leave room for a numlock pad, which is an important part of any gaming rig. Both the keyboard and touchpad have RGB lighting, great for illuminating a night session and just pretty to look at.

There’s plenty of ventilation going on as well including liquid metal, a vapor chamber, a heat sink, heat pipes, and fans. It can get a bit noisy at times, and despite all the precautions, some parts – namely the underside and space between the keyboard and screen – are prone to warming up. I also noticed that having AniMe Matrix mode active puts even more of a burden on the ventilation so after a while I had to turn it off.

It has a solid port selection as well, including one 3.5mm combo audio jack, one HDMI 2.1 FRL, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, one Thunderbolt 4, one microSD reader, and one Kensington Lock. It is missing an ethernet cable, which for a normal laptop wouldn’t be too big of a deal but for a dedicated gaming laptop that’s supposed to replace a desktop PC? It forces you to rely on wireless connections only, a kiss of death for connection-reliant fighting games for instance.

Design score: 4 / 5

black gaming laptop with rgb lit keyboard — (Image credit: Future)

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023): Performance

Gaming performance is top-notch
Clears benchmarks
CPU struggles along

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023): Benchmarks

Here's how the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark: Night Raid: 64,312; Fire Strike: 32,053; Time Spy: 14,925; Port Royal: 9,843
Cinebench R23 Multi-core: 19,761 points
GeekBench 5: 1,999 (single-core); 14,823 (multi-core)
PCMark 10 (Home Test): 8,148 points
25GB File Copy: 14.35
Handbrake 1.6: 6:52
CrossMark: Overall: 1997; Productivity: 1937; Creativity: 2072; Responsiveness: 1956
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 4 hours, 45 minutes
Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 104 fps; (1080p, Low): 270 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 71 fps; (1080p, Low): 72 fps
Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 34 fps; (1080p, Low): 193 fps

If there’s one thing the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) does extremely well, it’s gaming. Even the base model of the gaming laptop is absolutely ripped and the most tricked-out version can flex its way through any title at absolutely max settings plus ray-tracing with no issues.

Compared to other gaming laptops like the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i or the MSI GT77 Titan (2023), benchmark scores are lower, except for the latter which loses out on the PCMark 10 benchmark to the ROG Zephyrus M16. And considering that the pricing of said laptop is higher than Lenovo’s own offerings, it calls into question what you’re paying for. Especially since the Pro 7i is using a 4080 compared to the 4090 of the M16.

But that’s not to say that you aren’t getting your money’s worth either. The fact that this laptop weighs significantly less than the other two laptops, can run every possible graphical and performance enhancement, can be overclocked for even better performance, and will still fit into a modest-sized laptop bag is nothing to sneeze at.

Other than the standard benchmarks, I also performed some personalized ones to test out what it could handle in terms of DLSS 3-enabled ray-tracing. Cyberpunk 2077 performed beautifully, with frame rates consistently above 100. Both the Dartmoor and Dubai benchmark in Hitman 3 also stayed above 100fps and 115fps, respectively. Finally, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered was the clear winner, averaging between 115-150fps during web-swinging and above 150fps during intense combat sections.

However, while the GPU worked splendidly when it came to any PC game I tested it with, there’s a major flaw that could turn away those needing a more well-rounded machine. Not only did the few CPU-based benchmarks feature plenty of throttled results thanks to the overpowered GPU, but there was very noticeable stuttering when I tried out regular productivity tasks like typing documents and browsing the internet. It’s nothing significant but enough that it made anything other than gaming a bit tedious.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023): Battery

closeup of battery display — (Image credit: Future)

Mediocre battery
Charges fast

I tested the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) using TechRadar’s movie battery test and found that it managed to last, at most, four hours and 45 minutes. That is generally quite bad for a laptop, but for a gaming laptop it’s about average. It’s certainly an improvement over the Legion 7i Pro, which can’t pass the two-and-a-half-hour mark, and it squeaks by with a victory over the GT77 Titan by about 15 minutes.

Of course, this is meant as a desktop replacement, so you won’t be unplugging this machine from the AC power, even to do some productivity work unless you can get anything done in less than five hours. If you need to transport it to another location, though, it’ll definitely last long enough for that transfer. And it also charges fast, about 30 minutes for a half charge, so at least you won’t be waiting long.

Battery score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023)?

Buy it if...

You want a gaming performance beast
It chews up and spits out any PC game on the highest possible settings with both ray-tracing and DLSS 3 enabled.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
Though this is a high-quality laptop that can truly do it all, it also comes at a steep price. The average worker or creative person might have trouble affording it.

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023): Also consider

If the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...

How I tested the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023)

I tested the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) 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 Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) by carrying it around in a laptop bag. After I set it up, I ran several benchmarks to thoroughly test out how much the graphics card affected gaming 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 4090 GPU.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 is a 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.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023

Dell OptiPlex 7000 Micro PC review

7:38 pm | March 28, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: CPU, Dell Latitude | Comments: Off

The Dell OptiPlex 7000 Micro is an impressive little desktop machine that can fit on almost any desk, adding a powerful business computer with to any space with ease. Considering its size, we were impressed with the performance that came from this pint-sized box.

Unboxing and First Impressions

We were shocked at the small size when we first unboxed the Dell OptiPlex 7000 Micro. It doesn't seem, at first glance, like it would be a powerful machine worth relying on for business tasks. However, once we booted up, we noticed that this desktop had a decent amount of power under the hood.

Design and Build Quality

This desktop's overall design certainly fits its micro nomenclature.

Specs

Specs as tested

CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i7

Memory: 16GB DDR5

Storage: 512GB

Ports:

Front

Rear

Connectivity: WiFi 6E running AX211

Weight: 2.06lbs / 0.94kg

Dimensions:

Height: 7.17in / 182.00mm

Width: 1.42in / 36.00mm

Depth: 7.00in / 178.00mm

The footprint is tiny lying down and takes up even less desk space if upright. The casing is easy to mount to the underside of a desk, cabinet, or shelf if you want it to take up even less desk space. While we have yet to mount this to a desktop or cabinet, Dell's website shows that the Micro can mount just about anywhere with the suitable adapter. The build quality is solid, and it could take a beating before breaking - although, as it's designed for office space, it shouldn't have to do that.

Most of the ports are found on the back of the computer, consisting of three DisplayPort, one HDMI, three USB-A, one Ethernet, and a port for power via a barrel connector. On the front is a power button, an indicator light, a mic line, a headphone line, another USB-A port, and a single USB-C. Though it has an impressive video output ability, the computer is less than 2.1 pounds (less than 1kg) and could hide behind a book thanks to its small stature.

In Use

When we first booted up the Micro, we noted its size and assumed its performance would match its stature. However, after using this computer for a few weeks now, we can say with certainty that this is an impressive computer regarding power and performance.

The ports mentioned above have proven to be well-placed. The DisplayPorts on the back, along with the network and HDMI, stay hidden behind the computer without having to see the cables. Additionally, the USB-A ports on the back are great for plugging in headsets, external drives, and more that do not require daily interaction. The ports on the front have been great for quickly plugging in thumb drives, charging devices, and other quick-access devices.

The Dell OptiPlex 7000 Micro has been our main computer for a few weeks, and thanks to its minuscule size, we can integrate it into multiple desk setups to test efficiently. Whether running one standard monitor or four 4K monitors at 60Hz, this microcomputer can perform and adapt to the setup well.

> Read our full Dell Latitude 9330 2-in-1 Laptop review

> Check out our pick of the best business monitors

> Your workplace Zoom meetings are about to get an OpenAI boost, you lucky things

Our day-to-day use of this machine has naturally been entirely business focused. We have used it for research, emails, virtual meetings, spreadsheets, text documents, light photo editing, project management, and things of that nature.

For confirmation, we ran some benchmark tests to see how this machine would compare to the competition, and all in all, the Dell OptiPlex 7000 Micro has proven to perform far above what it looks like it can do. After rounds of PCMark testing, our exporting tests, and keeping an eye on the task manager to see how hard it was working, we can confidently say this computer is the little engine that could.

The overall PCMark 10 score was 5,858, with essentials topping out at 11,870 and productivity hitting 7,606. What was quite impressive was that the digital content creation score was still up at 6,044, which was admittedly higher than we expected, as that is not the focus of this computer.

It's not the fastest computer in the world, nor should it be - it is a phenomenal solution for those looking for a more miniature PC in an office, a clinic, a business, or the like. While it’s not meant to rip through 4K video at record speeds, like a professional video editing computer, this machine can operate as a business computer, maybe occasionally touching on those elements but not as a main purpose for the machine.

One thing that we were disappointed about was the lack of Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. However, as the design for this computer is business focused, we understood opting for USB-C instead.

Final Verdict

The Dell OptiPlex 7000 Micro is a small-form-factor PC that can get some serious work done. Its frame is well-built, durable, and easy to mount to just about anywhere you may need it in your workspace.

Want something a bit more portable? Check out our best business laptops

Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola review

1:25 pm | March 22, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: CPU, GPU, RAM, SIM | Comments: Off

30-second review

This phone isn’t a ThinkPad computer, but it has been themed to look similar and work alongside Windows systems.

However, there are a few big reasons why you might want to deploy this Android phone in business, the first being security.

Alongside the usual protections offered by Android 13 (not 12), Motorola put a special security module in this device that isolates encryption keys and other security information from main memory, making them much more difficult to access nefariously.

When you combine that with a centralised management service that allows phones to be wiped, locked, and specific software to be installed remotely, then this is a device that the IT department will hopefully like and not curse.

And, sporting the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, this is easily one of the most powerful phones we’ve ever tested. In short, it can handle computing tasks that would crush other designs.

We should also mention that it is drop, dust and water resistant (freshwater, not salt), has a fantastic camera that can shoot 8K video, and is dual SIM.

While it has a few minor omissions, the only significant caveat here is the price. But considering the technology that Motorola stuffed inside, the ThinkPhone might well be worth that inflated asking price.

Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola — (Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Lenovo ThinkPhone price and availability

How much does it cost? $900/ £899
When is it out? It is available now
Where can you get it? You can get it in most regions direct Lenovo, Motorola or through an online retailer.

Business phones often aren’t expected to be cheap, and the ThinkPhone isn’t. At almost £900 in the UK, and the same number in dollars in the USA, that’s more than a 256GB Apple iPhone 14 and slightly less than the iPhone 14 Plus.

Alongside the phone, Motorola has designed a wireless charging stand, but the pricing for that accessory isn’t currently available.

Value score: 4/5

Lenovo ThinkPhone design

Thin and lightweight
Rugged without rubber plugs
Narrow screen border

When the term ‘rugged’ is used for a phone. It is normal to expect chunky and heavy designs that look destined for life on a building site or farm. The ThinkPhone isn’t remotely like that, yet it still achieves the same drop standards and waterproofing as those with industrial styling.

Weighing only 188.5g, this is half the mass of a typical rugged Chinese phone and should easily fit inside a jacked or even a trouser pocket.

Yet, it still has a 6.6-inch display, is dust and waterproof according to IP68 without rubber plugs, and it can handle being dropped 1.5m.

However, there are a few caveats about the robust side of this design that Motorola placed in the copious notes on its product page.

These include the fact that liquid damage isn’t covered by the warranty and that the water immersion of 1.5m for up to 30 minutes is only for fresh water and not the ocean. And, that last detail explains why the camera has all manner of photographic modes, but underwater photography isn’t one of them.

The button layout is predictably Android, with the power and volume controls on the right and a user-customisable button on the left. We should complement Motorola on the user-assignable button, as we’ve seen plenty of implementations that weren’t as flexible as the one in the ThinkPhone.

The SIM slot isn’t on the left side but on the bottom next to the USB-C port. The phone accepts Nano-sized SIMs but has no place for a MicroSD card.

Given how new this design is and the cutting-edge technology in it, that it didn’t use eSIMs or have any MicroSD card reader was disappointing.

The camera cluster is on the top left, and it stands proud of the flat underside of the phone, causing it to rock when placed on a flat surface. The flat base is designed to make charging the ThinkPhone wirelessly easier, but the camera cluster does the complete opposite.

One other design curiosity with the ThinkPhone is that the screen has a very narrow border minimising the chassis of the phone noticeably. As nice as this looks, we had a few occasions when the phone didn’t react to a finger press. We eventually realised that another fingertip had inadvertently made contact with the screen due to the thin border, which interfered with the touch sensor.

For those curious, the fingerprint reader is embedded in the screen, making it equally accessible for right and left-handed owners.

Once we realised this, it was relatively easy to counter, but a new owner might think the phone isn’t working correctly and send it back.

Design score: 4/5

Lenovo ThinkPhone hardware

Ultra powerhouse
Amazing camera specs
Modest battery size

Specs

The Lenovo ThinkPhone that was sent to us for review came with the following hardware:
CPU: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
GPU: Adreno 730
RAM: 8GB LPDDR5
Storage: 256GB
Screen: 6.6-inch pOLED 144Hz HDR10+
Resolution: 1080 x 2400 FHD+ (402ppi)
SIM: Dual Nano SIM
Weight: 188.5g
Dimensions: 158.76 x 74.38 x 8.26 mm
Rugged Spec: IP68, IP69K and MIL-STD-810H
Rear cameras: 50MP Sensor, 13MP ultrawide
Front camera: 32MP Sensor (wide)
Networking: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Comms: 2G, 3G, LTE, 4G, 5G
OS: Android 13
Battery: 5000 mAh

With Chinese phone makers pressing more powerful SoCs into their rugged designs from MediaTek, the Qualcomm SoC in the ThinkPhone takes phone performance to a whole new level.

The details of how powerful the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is are further documented in the performance section, but this is easily the most powerful phone this reviewer has tested.

What makes it so powerful is the tri-cluster core arrangement, headed by a single Cortex-X2 core that runs at a blistering 3.0GHz. To that headline act are added three fast Cortex-A710 cores at 2.5GHz, and the final cluster has four efficiency Corex-A510 at 1.8GHz.

The supporting GPU is an Adreno 730, a notch up from that used in the Snapdragon 888 and 865. The icing on this architectural cake is that the SoC connects to 3.2GHz LPDDR5 memory, with 8GB in this model.

That power level will eat most phone tasks for breakfast, but it’s also critical in the camera functions that require that performance.

Another standout choice in this phone is the pOLED display technology that’s rated for HDR10+ presentation. The natural resolution of 1080 x 2400 allows for 1080p video to be fully shown and allows extra pixels for the interface.

The quality of this panel is remarkably high, but it would all be just window dressing if the video encryption technology wasn’t onboard to allow the best streaming quality. Thankfully this phone, unlike so many others, does support Widevine L1, meaning that streaming Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon should result in the best quality images with a good connection.

The ThinkPhone is one of the few phones that is HDR10+, Amazon HDR Playback, and YouTube HDR Playback certified that we’ve seen.

The review phone came with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but it may be that Motorola will make versions of the ThinkPhone with 128Gb or 512GB depending on demand. Memory can be bumped to 12GB by subverting some of the storage into what appears to be RAM to the system, a feature we’ve seen on Android 12 phones.

Other hardware features include dual Dolby Atmos capable speakers, WiFi 6E networking, and 5G comms.

There are only blemishes on this hardware tour de force, and those are the lack of any support for a MicroSD card and that it doesn’t support eSIMs.

Hardware score: 5/5

Lenovo ThinkPhone cameras

Rear cameras: 50MP f/1.8 primary, 13MP f/2.2 ultrawide, 2MP, f/2.4, (depth)
Front camera: 32MP f/2.5 (wide)

With so many cameras using the Samsung HM2 108MP sensor, it's refreshing to see one that goes for fewer pixels and instead focuses on the delivery of high quality images and video.

The best video resolution we’ve seen from the HM2 is 4K, but the sensor on the ThinkPhone (and we believe it is an Omnivision OV50A) offers 8K at 30fps, 4K at 60fps and slow-motion video of up to 960 fps for 1080p captures. And, its gyro-EIS stabilised to help with getting those smooth shots.

For portrait work, the camera can use Phase detection autofocus (PDAF) to keep the objective in focus while allowing the background to blur. And there is also a continuous shooting mode that’s ideal for getting sporting events or similar.

But even without the special modes, and there are plenty, the results from this camera are excellent, almost irrespective of lighting conditions.

The output is almost certainly the result of a four-way pixel binning algorithm that reduces chromatic aberrations and clarity but still manages images of a good resolution.

And, for those wanting the very best results, it can shoot in RAW mode.

Overall, the camera on the ThinkPhone is excellent, and the photo application has, with a few small exceptions, got all the special modes and manual controls for those that use them.

Camera samples

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Picture taken with the Lenovo ThinkPhone — (Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

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Pictures taken with the Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola — (Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

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Camera score: 4/5

Lenovo ThinkPhone performance

Benchmark breaking performance
Game capable SoC

Benchmarks

This is how the Lenovo ThinkPhone performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

Geekbench: 1314 (single-core); 4259 (multi-core); 6357 (OpenCL)
PCMark (Work 3.0): 16474
Passmark: 16535
Passmark CPU: 8080
3DMark Wild Life Extreme: 2840
GFXBench Aztec Ruins OpenGL: 1080p Offscreen 117fps, 1440p Offscreen 45fps, 4K Onscreen 21fps.
GFXBench Aztec Ruins Vulkan: 1080p Offscreen 126fps, 1440p Offscreen 48fps, 4K Onscreen 22fps.

Having an SoC fail to run a test is usually down to a missing feature, but with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, several of our standard benchmarks refused to execute because it was ‘Maxed Out’. When trying to run Slingshot and Wild Life on 3DMark, the benchmark declared that “Your Motorola ThinkPhone is too powerful for this test”. And, the only 3DMark bench we managed to run successfully was Wild Life Extreme.

As a result of these issues, we’ve included a selection of GFXBench results to represent better the performance envelope that the ThinkPhone is capable.

This phone strongly suggests that we need a whole new slew of testing tools for phones because the performance of the new Snapdragon SoCs is on a whole new level.

However, Qualcomm also has the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with its Adreno 740 GPU that has been seen previously in the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Xiaomi 13. Tests on those devices show that the Gen 2 and Adreno 740 silicon is marginally faster than Gen 1 and Adreno 730 combination.

Unless you already have a Samsung S23 or an iPhone 14, the speed and power of the ThinkPhone should impress you.

Performance score: 5/5

Lenovo ThinkPhone battery

Decent 5000 mAh capacity
68W Fast charging
15W Wireless charging

As rugged phones go, 5000 mAh is a modest amount of battery capacity, and realistically the most you can expect from this platform is a couple of working days of use.

But because of the modest-for-a-rugged-phone battery capacity and the 68W charging from the included TurboPower charger, charging is rapid, and you are soon ready to go.

Alternatively, for those that like to charge overnight, the Qi-compliant 15W wireless charging will work equally well and saves the USB-C port from wearing out.

The only aspect of the battery and charging of the ThinkPhone that is mildly disconcerting is how warm the phone can become when rapidly charging over USB. It doesn’t get excessively hot, but it is noticeable when you pick it up.

While all batteries do heat up charging, we’d be wary of this one if it suddenly started to get any warmer than normal.

There is a balance here that Motorola is making about keeping the ThinkPhone light and thin and having enough battery to operate for long enough. The ThinkPhone should get you through two working days unless you play games, but it isn’t enough time for an extended adventure holiday or hiking expedition.

Battery score: 4/5

The hardware in the ThinkPhone is exceptional, and when combined with management tools like Moto OEMConfig and Moto Device Manage, this becomes more than just another Android phone.

There are a few minor issues, like the lack of a MicroSD card slot, but mostly the phone's specification is excellent.

More of an issue is the price because being more expensive than Apple isn’t a notoriety that most phone makers wish to have. With the high quality of the hardware and software platform, we appreciate that Lenovo sees the ThinkPhone as a premium solution. But more aggressive pricing might have been a better choice as it would have attracted more customers not having a business pay for their phone.

Lenovo ThinkPhone score card

Should I buy a Lenovo ThinkPhone?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

Dell OptiPlex 7400 All-in-One Review

4:30 pm | March 17, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: CPU, RAM | Comments: Off

Dell's OptiPlex 7400 All-in-one is an all-around powerhouse that shoehorns the power of a tower into a monitor's form factor. Many people think that All-in-ones can only handle lighter workloads, but thanks to the 12th Gen Intel core processors, the OptiPlex 7400 is a true workhorse capable enough for power users.

Unboxing

Unboxing the All-in-One was incredibly simple. We merely opened the box, pulled the OptiPlex 7400 AIO out, attached the base, plugged the disc drive base into the back of the unit, and then plugged in the power supply.

Dell OptiPlex 7400 AIO — (Image credit: Future)

First Impressions

Dell's OptiPlex 7400 All-in-One is a handy all-in-one computer with great ports and impressive power.

Specs

Screen: 23.8-inch FHD 1920 x 1080, 60Hz

CPU: 12th Generation i3 - 12th Generation i9

Graphics: Intel® UHD Graphics 730 with 12th Generation Intel® CoreTM i3-12100, i3-12300, and i5-12400 processors

Intel® UHD Graphics 770 with 12th Generation Intel® CoreTM i5-12500/i5-12700/i7/i9 processors

AMD RadeonTM R21M-P50-50, GDDR6

RAM: 4GB - 32GB

Storage: 256GB - 1TB

Connectivity:

Side Ports:

- USB Type-C® port with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 capability

- USB 3.2 Gen 1 port with PowerShare

- Universal audio port

Rear Ports:

- RJ-45 Ethernet port

- (2) USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports

- (2) USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports with Smart Power On

- Line-out audio port

- DisplayPort++ 1.4a/HDCP 2.3 port

- HDMI-IN - HDMI 1.4a port

- HDMI-OUT - HDMI 2.0 port

Dimensions: 13.54 x 21.26 x 2.07 in / 344.00 x 540.20 x 52.60 mm

Weight: 13.62 lbs. / 6.18 Kg (minimum) - without stand 15.06 lbs. / 6.83 Kg (maximum) - without stand

While all-in-ones have their place, the most obvious benefit is not needing separate units for the monitor and the computer itself. Better yet, this computer has a camera built into the top of the display that retracts when not in use and, when needed, can be popped out (albeit manually). All in all, this all-in-one is ready to go out of the box. Thanks to its touch screen, we only needed to plug in a keyboard and mouse if we wanted to. Eventually, we added a keyboard for ease of typing and a mouse for a more traditional feel, but being able to operate the OptiPlex 7400 without peripherals was quite an interesting experience.

Another noteworthy feature of this computer is the disc drive built into the base. This does not come with all Dell OptiPlex 7400 AIO models, but ours did. For those needing a DVD+/-RW drive, having one integrated within the base of your all-in-one is incredibly handy.

Lastly, even with the stand that has the built-in disc drive, we immediately noticed how adjustable the monitor stand was. Looking at what else is available from Dell, other stand options feature a wider range of motion, yet we could still get the monitor to a comfortable position that allowed for touch, mouse, and keyboard input.

Design and Build Quality

All around, the OptiPlex 7400 is quite sturdy and sleek, thanks to its aluminum chassis. It has built-in speakers that have decent sound quality for a computer. On the back, the all-in-one has a large range of I/O ports, including DisplayPort, HDMI, USB-A, USB-C, and Thunderbolt.

We appreciated the location of them too on this all-in-one. The ports in the back were high enough on the computer that when we had it tilted down, we weren't worried about needing to adjust for the cables sticking out of the back.

In Use

Using this AIO for the last few weeks, we quickly realized just how well it caters to its target market. It is a wonderful option for business computers where space is at a premium in your workplace. The OptiPlex 7400 takes up the same space as an average monitor but being all-inclusive, there’s no need for extra space to store a separate tower unit. Furthermore, the stand can be removed entirely, presenting a VESA mounting bracket so it can be attached to a vast array of stands, arms, and brackets, thus occupying even less space.

The 10-point touchscreen is responsive and easy to use, making a keyboard and mouse redundant for some workflows. The touchscreen has a 23.8-inch anti-glare and anti-smudge coating and up to a 4K resolution. If the screen is rotated to portrait orientation, the computer recognizes that it has been turned and automatically matches the display to the proper direction.

Turning to the audio, the built-in speakers are better than your average monitor speakers.

> These are the best Mobile Workstations

> Lenovo's new all-in-one system looks to solve all your video call issues

> HP Chromebase all-in-one 22

However, they are nothing mind-blowing. They will be more than satisfactory if used in an office setting for quick videos, quiet music, video calls, or notification dings, but nothing more.

This all-in-one has a wide range of ports on the back and left side. There are multiple video outputs, several USB ports - including USB-C - and an ethernet port. Since this is an all-in-one, this computer also has an HDMI-IN, allowing the computer to become a display for a separate client.

Final Verdict

Throughout our time using this all-in-one, we noticed it ran relatively quietly and stayed cool, even during benchmark testing. Though that is not to say it is designed to take on the most intensive tasks. It fared well in our tests; however, if you are looking for an incredibly powerful workstation, this is not your computer. But it is an excellent option if you need something for an office, meeting space or the like.

Looking for a standing desk for your office? Check out our Best Standing Desks

Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review: Lenovo delivers again – and it won’t cost the world

4:01 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: CPU, Total War, UK | Comments: Off

Lenovo Legion 5i (2022): Two-minute review

Lenovo’s Legion line of gaming laptops has been putting out bangers for years. Back in 2021, we reviewed the previous model of this laptop - the RTX 2060-equipped Lenovo Legion 5i - and were generally impressed by the solid performance and fair pricing. More recently, we awarded the Legion 5 Pro a rare 5-star review, again citing its excellent gaming capabilities and sensible price tag.

We’re pleased to report that having spent some time with the most recent 2022 model of the Lenovo Legion 5i, it remains able to trade blows with the best gaming laptops and packs a punch despite its humble appearance.

The model we tested came with an Intel Core i7-12700H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, which puts it pretty squarely in the mid-range space as far as gaming laptops go. There’s a variety of other models with different processors and GPUs, all of which look to offer a comparable price-to-performance ratio to our review unit.

The Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) gaming laptop on a wooden desk. — (Image credit: Future)

Although this model of the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) comes with a 1440p display, the RTX 3060 inside it is arguably more of a 1080p card. You can squeeze some extra frames out of it at 1440p using Nvidia’s nifty DLSS tech, however, so the pairing isn’t entirely foolish. There are models of the Legion 5i (and the AMD Ryzen-powered Legion 5) that use a 1080p display instead, but we think opting for the higher resolution is worth it here since the display on our review model is actually excellent for the asking price.

On top of generally solid performance and specs, the Lenovo Legion 5i is also just a very nice piece of hardware. It might sound like a silly thing to fixate on, but all of the best laptops have an appealing physical design, and the Legion 5i is no exception; a sleek metallic grey finish with a backlit keyboard and a robust hinge.

Lenovo hasn’t skimped on the features here either, with a solid selection of physical ports and the latest Wi-Fi 6E capabilities. The DDR5 memory is a great added bonus (especially since a lot of more affordable gaming laptops are still rocking DDR4, and it’s not a mandatory upgrade for the 12th-gen Intel CPU), and we were surprised to see not just regular USB-C ports but also a Thunderbolt 4 port.

It’s a bit on the heavy side, and the battery life is unsurprisingly garbage, two pitfalls that almost every gaming laptop trips into. Ultimately though, this isn’t a laptop for on-the-go gaming; it’s a desktop replacement system, and it does that just fantastically.

Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review: Price and availability

Starts at $1,099.99 / £1,293.49 / AU$2,349
UK version tested costs £1,800
Massive variety of configurations

The Lenovo Legion 5i starts at $1,099.99 in the US, which gets you essentially the same system as the one we’ve reviewed here, but with a 1080p display and an RTX 3050 Ti instead of an RTX 3060. For our money, the 1080p RTX 3060 model available in the US is a massively better value since it’s only marginally more expensive at $1,229.99.

The highest-spec model - which packs double the RAM and an RTX 3070 Ti GPU - costs $2,499.99 - not quite as much bang for your buck, in our opinion. There are also the Legion 5i Pro models and Legion 5 models of both (which use AMD Ryzen CPUs; note the lack of ‘i’ denoting ‘Intel’). The cheapest Legion 5 available costs $1,049.99, but we wouldn’t recommend getting the bottom-dollar model.

Our review model is a UK unit that costs £1,500 (AU$3,169), which doesn’t quite hold up to the US pricing but is still decent considering the 1440p screen and i7 processor (the cheaper models in the US use a Core i5-12500H). It looks like this exact model isn’t available in the US; if you want a higher resolution, it means opting for a slightly bigger screen. We ran our tests in 1080p, though, so the performance stats found below will be useful for both British and American readers.

Overall, it’s not going to touch the best cheap laptops out there if you’re looking for a super-budget device, but it does offer a strong level of performance and a wide feature set for the asking price. It’s also worth noting that Lenovo has regular flash sales on its own online store, and many of its gaming laptops come with a free 3-month trial of PC Game Pass, further adding to the value.

Price score: 4.5/5

Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review: Specs

The Lenovo Legion 5i comes in a wide range of configurations, with the CPU and GPU being the primary varying factor. It can come with an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and a variety of Nvidia RTX 3000 GPUs, from the 3050 up to the 3070 Ti. RAM and SSD capacity also vary between models; you can see the version we received below, along with the highest-spec and lowest-spec configurations.

Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review: Design

Robust, well-designed chassis
Relatively thin, but heavy
Ports are mostly on the rear edge

Lenovo hasn’t made any huge changes to the physical design of the Legion laptop line for a little while, but that’s fine by us. This Legion 5i is a good-looking laptop with a relatively minimalist style, a far cry from the gaudy RGB-laden products that typically populate the gaming laptop section of your local tech hardware store.

The exterior is mostly brushed metal, which gives the chassis a solid, durable feel that should hold up to bumps and drops. It’s also thinner than many gaming laptops in its power and price class, making it a bit more portable, but this is somewhat counteracted by the metal construction resulting in increased overall weight. It’s not the heaviest gaming laptop we’ve reviewed, but at two and a half kilos for a 15-inch model, it’s certainly not lightweight.

While there are some USB ports and a headphone jack on the sides of the laptop, most of the physical ports are situated along the back edge. This will be a matter of personal taste; we’re divided here on the TechRadar team as to whether these rear ports are actually more convenient. Some gaming laptops position literally all the ports on the rear edge, which can make plugging in a USB mouse or flash drive inconvenient, so it’s good to see that at least some of the ports are more accessible here.

The keyboard isn’t doing anything particularly revolutionary here, but it’s comfortable to use and the slightly curved shape of the keycaps means that your fingers easily find each key when you’re typing. Lenovo has done a good job of packing in a full-scale keyboard with a numpad here. Nothing feels cramped, and the arrow keys jut out slightly from the keyboard’s outline to avoid compacting the up and down buttons (as many laptops do).

The touchpad is perfectly fine but isn’t likely to see much use since this is a gaming laptop, and anyone using it for extended periods is almost certainly going to connect a gaming mouse. The same goes for the twin stereo speakers, which are functional but decidedly unimpressive. Know that you’re going to want a proper gaming headset - though again, this is a criticism we could level at the majority of gaming laptops.

Design score: 4/5

Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review: Features

Wi-Fi 6E and Thunderbolt 4 support
Good display
Legion software suite is just okay

The Lenovo Legion 5i’s display is a pretty straightforward 1440p panel, which offers a snappy 165Hz refresh rate for esports gaming and generally pretty excellent color reproduction. We do wish the blacks were a little deeper, but considering the price point here, we couldn’t reasonably expect visual perfection. Some cheaper versions are available with a 1080p display instead (specific model availability varies a lot between regions, though).

Above the display is a 720p webcam and mic array, which feel like a bit of an afterthought but are a welcome inclusion nonetheless for anyone who might want to use this laptop for video calls. We were pleased to see a physical kill switch for the camera on the side of the laptop, so you can disable it when you’re not using it. Don’t expect to use it for streaming, though, since we’d say 1080p is really the minimum for that.

All models of the Legion 5i (including the entry-level configurations) use Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1. The former has been around for a while in more premium gaming laptops, so it’s good to see that it’s now becoming the norm - replacing the slower Wi-Fi 6 standard - in more budget-friendly devices too.

There’s also Thunderbolt 4 support, specifically for one of the USB-C ports on the laptop's right-hand side. It can’t be used for input power delivery so you won’t be able to charge the laptop with this port, but the speed of Thunderbolt 4 will no doubt be a boon for users who intend to take advantage of the USB-C ports.

Lastly, we need to discuss the preinstalled software that comes with the Legion 5i. Lenovo Vantage is a relatively straightforward utility software for monitoring and tweaking your system performance; it’s nothing groundbreaking, but it does the job well enough. There’s also the Legion AI Engine, which uses deep learning to intelligently redirect power between the CPU and GPU to optimize performance.

Legion Arena, on the other hand, is pointless. It’s a ‘shared launcher’ tool that allows you to launch games from different apps (like Steam, Epic, or GoG) all in one convenient place. Every gaming laptop seems to have a version of this now, and it’s broadly useless. What’s wrong with desktop shortcuts?

Features: 4.5/5

Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review: Performance

1080p is ideal; 1440p is an option for most games
12th-gen Intel i7 CPU works hard
Gets a little warm when gaming

Benchmarks

Here's how the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark Night Raid: 52,681; Fire Strike: 20,792; Time Spy: 9,753
Cinebench R20 multi-core: 7,313
GeekBench 5: 1,768 (single-core); 12,904 (multi-core)
PCMark 10 (Modern Office): 8,062
PCMark 10 (Battery life test): 3 hours and 32 minutes
TechRadar Battery Life Test: 3 hours and 59 minutes
Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 66 fps; (1080p, Low): 175 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 70 fps; (1080p, Low): 113 fps
Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 75 fps; (1080p, Low): 159 fps

Considering the price point, the overall performance of the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) is incredible. Sure, that RTX 3060 isn’t going to blow you away with 4K gaming delights, but it provides excellent framerates at 1080p in all the best PC games. You can comfortably play Cyberpunk 2077 at maxed-out settings in FHD without your fps dropping below 60.

It’s definitely competent enough to make full use of the 1440p display in our review model, too - provided you dial back the graphical settings a bit. You can also use DLSS to boost the framerate at higher resolutions. We don’t feature these in our benchmarking tests since they’re not running natively, but you should be aware that it’s an option!

The Intel Core i7-12700H at the heart of this Legion laptop is fantastic; the upgraded performance/efficiency split core architecture of Intel’s 12th-generation processors produces amazing multicore performance, meaning that the Legion 5i sings in CPU-intensive games such as real-time strategy titles. DDR5 memory support is also a nice bonus here; Lenovo could’ve easily stuck with cheaper DDR4 instead.

CPU performance outside of games is great too, with decent results in the Cinebench R20 and GeekBench 5 multicore tests. The midrange GPU means that this isn’t going to be the perfect machine for high-end workloads like video editing or 3D animation, but it should be able to handle some casual creative work - something that is in increasing demand among younger users.

The twin fans that comprise the Legion 5i’s cooling solution aren’t too noisy - a rare sight among gaming laptops these days, which frequently sound like they’re about to blast off Team Rocket-style - but the laptop’s metal casing does get a bit warm on the underside during extended use.

It’s nothing too egregious (we’ve reviewed laptops that could double as space heaters) but it’s too hot to actually put it on your lap while you’re gaming. If you’re planning on using this laptop for long gaming sessions, you might want to invest in one of the best laptop cooling pads - or just get a hardback book to prop up the back edge and give the fans underneath some breathing room.

Performance score: 4.5/5

The Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) AC adapter on a wooden desk. — (Image credit: Future)

Lenovo Legion 5i review: Battery life

Maxes out at four hours
Significantly less for actual gaming use
Supports fast charging

We could fill this entire section in basically every gaming laptop review with a single sentence reading ‘look, it’s a gaming laptop; the battery life is bad’. But we won’t, because we’re professional journalists (and our editorial overlords would shout at us).

This wasn’t a shock. With any modern gaming laptop you’re going to spend most of your time near a wall outlet, and the overall battery life isn’t terrible, so we can’t count it too much against the Legion 5i. On the bright side, it charges very fast indeed, topping the battery up by as much as 80% in just half an hour.

Battery life: 3.5/5

Should you buy the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022)?

Buy it if...

You want bang for your buck
While there are certainly cheaper laptops out there, the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) offers a perfectly sound price-to-performance proposition with affordable entry-level configurations.

You need lots of ports
The Legion 5i has basically every physical connection you could want from a gaming laptop, including Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and an Ethernet port to ensure your internet connection remains speedy and stable.

You like esports games
The 165Hz screen is great for twitchy esports shooters like CS:GO and Valorant, where high refresh rates are king, and the RTX 3060 GPU should be able to easily handle running those games at buttery-smooth framerates.

Don't buy it if...

You’re a streamer
Anyone hunting for a gaming laptop to stream on Twitch with should probably be looking at some slightly higher-end hardware; the 720p camera and RTX 3060 on offer here aren’t quite going to cut it.

You don’t want to wear a headset
While most gamers will be perfectly happy with donning a pair of cans to play, some prefer speaker audio - and in this area, the Legion 5i underdelivers. If you want to be playing music, movies, or game audio out loud, you may be better served elsewhere.

You want ultra portability
The Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) is actually fairly thin and compact for a gaming laptop, but its all-metal construction makes it quite heavy overall, and it’s still a 15-inch laptop so it won’t fit in smaller bags.

Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review: Also consider

If our Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...

How I tested the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022)

I used the laptop for everyday work for two weeks
I played games on it for just under eight hours in total
I dropped it on my kitchen floor

Anyone who knows me won't be shocked to hear that I've reviewed dozens upon dozens of gaming laptops, and at this point, my testing process is quite refined. I spent close to eight hours just playing games such as Destiny 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 on the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) - outside of work hours, to be clear - as well as using it for general tasks during the day.

I specifically used it to write the majority of this review (along with some other articles) in order to get a good feel of the keyboard quality, and specifically used it without a mouse for the majority of my non-gaming time with it - something I would never normally do, but it's useful for gauging the performance of the trackpad.

I also, upon first unboxing the Legion 5i, managed to drop it directly onto the wooden floor of my kitchen. This was not an intentional piece of durability testing, but the laptop was mercifully undamaged, allowing me to remark on its robust chassis. While years of testing laptops may have attuned me to their strengths and flaws, it has not made me any less of a klutz.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023

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