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I’ve tested more than a hundred laptops in my career, and the Dell 16 Premium is the only MacBook Pro rival worth considering

5:00 pm | August 2, 2025

Dell 16 Premium: One-minute review

The Dell 16 Premium is Dell’s newest flagship machine for professionals, creatives, and developers who demand a blend of portability, performance, and polish, and it has a pretty high bar to clear.

Its predecessor, the Dell XPS 16, was consistently one of the best laptops produced in every year it was available, and a lot of XPS fans were disappointed to hear about its rebranding. But, at the end of the day, that’s really all it is, as the 16 Premium is everything people loved about the XPS 16 in recent years along with some fancy new tricks.

Starting at $1,799.99 / £1,699 / AU$4,379.10, the Dell 16 Premium isn’t necessarily cheap, but it is fairly in line with similar creative-focused laptops like the MacBook Pro, and given how often Dell has sales on its laptops, you can often find it for much cheaper than the competition.

There are a few configuration options available, but you do start off with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU with Intel Arc 140V graphics, 16GB LPDDR5x RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 16.3-inch non-touch 2K display. From there, you can add in RTX 5050, RTX 5060, and RTX 5070 GPUs, depending on the region, and configure it up to 64GB memory and 4TB SSD storage (though these options will limit which GPU you can pick).

Right now, the Dell 16 Premium is on sale starting at $1,549.99 in the US, while the review configuration is available for $2,799.99, a $400 discount.View Deal

What truly sets it apart, though, is the outstanding 16.3-inch 4K OLED touchscreen with 120Hz refresh rate, perfect for high-res content creation, editing, and media consumption, though the OLED display will substantially cut into the device’s battery life.

With premium build quality, great speakers, and modern I/O, this laptop nails almost everything it sets out to do, though its borderless touchpad and keyless function bar design remain controversial.

All that said, chances are you’re really looking for performance with this laptop, and here, the unit I reviewed often ran circles around the competing MacBook Pro 16-inch with M4 Pro, especially in creative workloads where the MacBook Pro’s strong industry reputation does a lot of heavy lifting. In this regard, the Dell 16 Premium is easily the best laptop for creative pros who want MacBook Pro performance on a Windows 11 device.

Dell 16 Premium: Price & availability

A Dell 16 Premium on a table — (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

How much does it cost? Starts at $1,799.99 / £1,699 / AU$4,379.10
When is it available? It's available now
Where can you get it? You can buy it in the US, UK, and Australia through Dell’s website and other retailers.

The Dell 16 Premium is available now in the US, UK, and Australia through Dell’s official website and major retailers. Prices start at $1,799 in the US, £1,699 in the UK, and AU$4,379.10 in Australia.

Upgrading the configuration can significantly increase the price, but even when the price is maxed out, the highest level configuration is still substantially less than a competing MacBook Pro 16-inch with M4 Pro, much less one with an M4 Max chip.

Value: 4 / 5

Dell 16 Premium: Specs

Up to RTX 5070 GPU
Up to Thunderbolt 5
Wi-Fi 7

Dell offers multiple configurations of the Dell 16 Premium laptop across different regions. The starting models include a Core Ultra 7 processor, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, 512GB SSD, and integrated Intel Arc graphics (Australia starts with an RTX 5050 GPU), as well as a 2K IPS non-touch display.

Dell 16 Premium Base Specs
	US	UK	Australia
Price	$1,799.99 at Dell.com	£1,699 at Dell.com	AU$5,353.60 at Dell.com
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 7 255H	Intel Core Ultra 7 255H	Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
GPU	Integrated Intel Arc 140T	Integrated Intel Arc 140T	Nvidia RTX 5050
Memory	16GB LPDDR5x - 7467MT/s	16GB LPDDR5x - 7467MT/s	16GB LPDDR5x - 7467MT/s
Storage	512GB PCIe NVMe	512GB PCIe NVMe	512GB PCIe NVMe
Display	16.3-inch non-touch 2K IPS 120Hz	16.3-inch non-touch 2K IPS 120Hz	16.3-inch non-touch 2K IPS 120Hz
Ports	1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 3 x Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 (DP 2.1, Power Delivery), 1 x microSDXC 7.1	1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 3 x Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 (DP 2.1, Power Delivery), 1 x microSDXC 7.1	1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 3 x Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 (DP 2.1, Power Delivery), 1 x microSDXC 7.1
Battery	99.5WHr	99.5WHr	99.5WHr
Wireless	Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4	Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4	Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4
Camera	1080p IR camera	1080p IR camera	1080p IR camera
Weight	4.56 lbs \| 2.06kg	4.56 lbs \| 2.06kg	4.56 lbs \| 2.06kg
Dimensions	14.1 x 9.4 x 0.75 ins \| 358.1 x 240 x 19mm	14.1 x 9.4 x 0.75 ins \| 358.1 x 240 x 19mm	14.1 x 9.4 x 0.75 ins \| 358.1 x 240 x 19mm

The max spec on the 16 Premium vary by region, with the US topping out at an RTX 5070 GPU, which also comes with three Thunderbolt 5 ports rather than the three Thunderbolt 4 ports on RTX 5060 models and lower. In the UK and Australia, there are no RTX 5070 configurations available yet, but they do max out with a 4TB PCIe SSD. All models max out at a UHD+ (2400p) OLED panel with 100% DCI-P3 color coverage.

Dell 16 Premium Max Specs
	US	UK	Australia
Price	$3,199.99 at Dell.com	£2,899 at Dell.com	AU$7,089.50 at Dell.com
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 7 255H	Intel Core Ultra 7 255H	Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
GPU	Nvidia RTX 5070	Nvidia RTX 5060	Nvidia RTX 5060
Memory	32GB LPDDR5x - 8400MT/s	32GB LPDDR5x - 7467MT/s	32GB LPDDR5x - 7467MT/s
Storage	1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe	4TB M.2 PCIe NVMe	4TB M.2 PCIe NVMe
Display	16.3-inch Touch 4K OLED 120Hz	16.3-inch Touch 4K OLED 120Hz	16.3-inch Touch 4K OLED 120Hz
Ports	1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 3 x Thunderbolt 5 (DP 2.1, Power Delivery), 1 x microSDXC 7.1	1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 3 x Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 (DP 2.1, Power Delivery), 1 x microSDXC 7.1	1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 3 x Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 (DP 2.1, Power Delivery), 1 x microSDXC 7.1
Battery	99.5WHr	99.5WHr	99.5WHr
Wireless	Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4	Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4	Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4
Camera	1080p IR camera	1080p IR camera	1080p IR camera
Weight	4.65 lbs \| 2.11kg	4.65 lbs \| 2.11kg	4.65 lbs \| 2.11kg
Dimensions	14.1 x 9.4 x 0.75 ins \| 358.1 x 240 x 19mm	14.1 x 9.4 x 0.75 ins \| 358.1 x 240 x 19mm	14.1 x 9.4 x 0.75 ins \| 358.1 x 240 x 19mm

All configurations come with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, a substantial boost over the rival MacBook Pro 16-inch, as well as a microSDXC 7.1 slot.

The configuration I tested for review is the maximum configuration available in the US.

Specs: 5 / 5

Dell 16 Premium: Design

Gorgeous OLED display
Excellent port selection
Trackpad and function key row still controversial

Design-wise, there is little difference between the Dell 16 Premium and the Dell XPS 16 it replaces. The same borderless trackpad and keyless function bar remain from the XPS, and for the most part, the form factor is essentially unchanged.

The touchbar is definitely one of the more controversial design choices of the Dell 16 Premium, held over from the earlier XPS redesign from 2023. It's a bit of an accessibility challenge for those who struggle with low vision, as the only thing that indicates where a given function key is is a backlit label on a completely smooth and flat glossy surface.

Even if you don't have limited vision though, if there's an especially bright light (say, a sunny day outside), finding any given F-key might be challenging.

Likewise, the borderless trackpad isn't great either, and for similar reasons. It takes some time to learn and figure out where exactly the trackpad is, but once you do, it works pretty well.

The keyboard is ok. It's never been the best feature on the Dell XPS line, but it's not terrible and functions well enough.

For ports, you get at least three Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 ports, a MicroSD card slot, and a 3.5mm combo jack. This is about as much as you can expect on a chassis this size, and while it would be nice to have a USB-A port, there is an adapter dongle that you can buy while configuring your laptop (about $35) that lets you get HDMI 2.0 and USB-A 3.0 connectivity if your have a mouse and monitor that require it.

The audio is pretty good on the 16 Premium, largely thanks to the top-firing speakers, but it's not spectacular. If you plan on working on audio projects, a headset would be advised.

The webcam is a 1080p IR camera, meaning that it's compatible with Windows Hello, and it's fairly good for video conferencing and the like. That said, it lacks a physical privacy shutter, which isn't really acceptable in 2025, so I have to take some points off for that.

While it might seem like I have a lot of complaints about the design of the 16 Premium, I only highlight the above issues because they are somewhat controversial in some corners, as is the rebranding away from XPS to Premium.

I get those concerns, but in my estimation, this is an exceptionally built laptop, and the issues I have with it don't detract that much from the overall quality of the device. If you opt for the OLED panel rather than the base IPS, pretty much every other consideration feels like nitpicking for a device that looks and feels great—better than the MacBook Pro in many ways.

Design: 4 / 5

Dell 16 Premium: Performance

Often outperforms the MacBook Pro 16-inch with M4 Pro
Discrete RTX GPU embarrasses the MacBook Pro in several workloads
Not a bad gaming laptop either

Ultimately, if you're paying this much for this laptop, performance is going to be front of mind, especially since this is really targeted toward the MacBook Pro creative crowd.

In that regard, the 16 Premium might even be a better creative laptop than the MacBook Pro 16-inch, despite the strong performance of the MacBook Pro 16-inch in some areas.

In terms of synthetic CPU performance, the MacBook Pro 16-inch with M4 Pro greatly outperforms the Dell 16 Premium in workloads like GeekBench 6.4.

However, once you start adding in real-world tests that actually test its performance in workloads creatives and gamers are actually interested in, the MacBook Pro only wins out in our PugetBench Photoshop benchmarks. Otherwise, the RTX 5070 GPU in the 16 Premium wrecks the MacBook Pro 16-inch just about everywhere else.

Now, the MacBook Pro 16-inch can be configured with an M4 Max chip, which might substantially change the comparative assessment, but it would add more than a grand to the price you'd pay compared to the best Dell 16 Premium.

Plus, even though the MacBook Pro 16 can now play Cyberpunk 2077 natively, Macs just aren't serious PC gaming devices. They've come a long way in recent years, but you simply don't have anything concerns about that with the Dell 16 Premium. If a game is on Steam, the Dell 16 Premium will be able to play it, something that even the best MacBook will never be able to claim.

Performance: 5 / 5

Dell 16 Premium: Battery Life

How long does it last on a single charge? 5 hours, 18 minutes

So, there is a major caveat when it comes to battery life on the 16 Premium unit I tested. OLED displays are notoriously unforgiving toward battery life. Add in the power-hungry RTX 5070 GPU, and we are really talking about battery life that is just slightly better than you'd find with the best gaming laptops.

With a max battery life of about 9 hours, according to Dell, the OLED configuration cannot keep pace with the MacBook Pro 16-inch, which can make it about 20 hours on a charge in our testing. In my testing, the Dell 16 Premium only gets about 5 hours in mixed use, and at best, about 2.5 hours under heavy load.

Of course, the MacBook Pro 16-inch isn't going to make it 20 hours if it's playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider or rendering a 4K video overnight on battery power, so the difference between the two laptops is probably closer than my tests show. But there's no getting around the fact that the MacBook Pro 16-inch is going to last far longer than the Dell 16 Premium, and that's something to consider.

Battery Life: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Dell 16 Premium?

Dell 16 Premium Scorecard
Category	Notes	Rating
Value	Premium priced, but delivers excellent performance and features	4 / 5
Specs	Lots of options, including powerful GPUs with Thunderbolt 5 and a gorgeous OLED display.	5 / 5
Design	Though it has great port selection, display, and aesthetics, there are legacy issues from its XPS heritage.	4.5 / 5
Performance	Simply outstanding performance across every workload, beating out the MacBook Pro 16-inch in all but a few cases.	5 / 5
Battery Life	Not great if you get an OLED panel, but better than other similar laptops with its specs.	3 / 5
Final Score	On balance, if the Dell 16 Premium fixed some of its design issues, it would be a true MacBook Pro killer, but it does battle Apple's best to a draw.	4.3 / 5

Buy the Dell 16 Premium if...

You want a high-performance laptop with discrete graphics
With up to an RTX 5070, the Dell 16 Premium has outstanding configuration options for top-tier performance.

You need a stunning OLED display for creative work
The OLED display option is simply gorgeous and fantastic for creative pros.

Don't buy it if...

You need long battery life
The battery life on the 16 Premium is not great, but it's in line with what you'd expect for an OLED laptop.

You're on a tight budget
The base spec for this laptop starts out expensive and only gets pricier the better you configure it.

Also consider

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch
If you're considering the Dell 16 Premium, the only other laptop worth considering is the MacBook Pro 16-inch, especially if you're a creative pro.

Read our full Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro) review

How I tested the Dell 16 Premium

I spent about two weeks with the Dell 16 Premium
I used it for everyday work and creative tasks
I ran it through our standard battery of benchmark tests

I used the Dell 16 Premium for everyday work and creative tasks for about two weeks, including writing this review and editing all the photos therein on the device.

I put it through our standard battery of benchmark tests, as well as used it for everything from creative work to gaming to really push it to its limits.

I've tested several dozen laptops for TechRadar over the past several years, so I am very familiar with what makes a laptop a great value for its market, and my extensive experience gives me insight that lets me better assess its benchmark results.

First reviewed August 2025

I test gaming PCs for a living, and I was more impressed by the build and performance of the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) than I was expecting

11:18 pm | July 31, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Gaming Computers Gaming PCs | Tags: CPU, PC, RAM, Total War | Comments: Off

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Two-minute review

The NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) is an ideal PC for the kind of gamer interested in building a gaming desktop, but finds picking parts and the process of assembly overwhelming. The price does reflect that, as you could conceivably save a few bucks doing everything yourself.

That said, the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) is a well-built and organized machine that’s easy to get into for future upgrades, while offering the convenience that the best gaming PCs provide. And with the powerful internals, it can do just about whatever one could want.

A NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) sitting on a desk — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

You’ll find that some of the best desktops with higher spec’ed CPUs and GPUs have more oomph, but that’s more important if you’re rendering video or 3D projects. For gaming, what this desktop has to offer is more than enough.

As long as you’re willing to cover the price tag, there’s little to fault here. My only nitpick is that there isn’t a clear way to expand internally as opposed to swapping and upgrading parts. This might be minor for many people, but for those who haven’t built a PC, this might be a sticking point.

After all, this kind of desktop is going to be more appealing to those who don’t want to go with the usual pre-built machines and their proprietary parts, but aren’t yet ready to build their own.

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Price & availability

How much does it cost? $2,033 (about £1539 / AU$3,162)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US

The NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition), along with the other models on offer, is only available in the US. And since this model only has one configuration, it has one price: $2,033 (about £1539 / AU$3,162). NZXT does have a controversial PC rental option called NZXT Flex that is essentially like leasing a gaming PC available to consumers, but that doesn’t seem to be available for this model.

The price tag of this model is not cheap, but it’s not surprising either. If you want to build your own, getting an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 will set you back at least $549 / £549 / AU$1,109 if not more (especially if you live in the US with impending tariffs). That’s a quarter of the cost of this computer just in the GPU.

Consider that the RTX 5070 is not quite the upgrade over the previous generation’s 4070 Super one would expect, you can get most of the way there performance-wise with something like the Alienware Aurora R16, which ran for $1,749 / £1,349 / around AU$2,670 at launch and is still available at certain retailers at a discount. It is a little older, but it’s also a little more compact.

However, if you compare the NZXT model reviewed here to the current version of the Maingear MG-1 (our review is from last year so the components are older), which costs $2,049 for a similar model, specifically with a Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RGB DDR5 6000MT/s, and 1TB SSD, you can see that the NZXT Player PC is not overpriced. It does come with more RAM than the Maingear MG-1, though the MG-1 comes with more customization options, including a completely personalized front panel.

Value: 4 / 5

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Specs

The NZXT lineup is interesting insofar that there are a number of models in the company’s prebuilt lineup totaling twelve unique listings, but they all revolve around three models – the Player: One, Player: Two, and, of course, Player: Three – differentiated by the case.

Of course, they’re all slightly different with a range of CPUs, GPUs, and so forth. The NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) uses the H5 Flow case that the Player: One and Player: One Prime uses. This model reviewed here is the most powerful NZXT model with this case with a 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, and 32GB of RAM, not to mention 2TB SSD storage. There’s not really any customizations here, so you have to choose the model that fits your budget and performance needs.

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) specs
Price:		$1,999.99
CPU:		Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF
Graphics:		NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070
RAM:		32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5 5200MHz
Storage:		2TB NVMe M.2 SSD
Ports:		Front I/O: 1x USB 3.2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Type-C, 1x Headset Audio Jack Back I/O: 6x USB 3.2 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Type-C, DisplayPort, Mic In / Line In / Line Out
Wireless:		Wi-Fi 7 / BlueTooth

On the bright side, there’s plenty of after-the-fact customization available with the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) since the parts are standardized, such as a Z890 motherboard. And getting inside the desktop is very simple, which I’ll get into in the next section.

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Design

Lots of venting
Tool-less tempered glass side panel
No clear expansion slots inside

The NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) uses the black version of the company’s H5 Flow case (the case itself is also available in white), which is a compact mid-tower ATX form, measuring 18.31 x 8.86 x 16.93 inches (465 x 225 x 430 mm). The “Flow” in its name refers to all of the venting covering the front, top, back, and bottom of the case to keep things cool.

Most of the case is a very durable galvanized steel (SGCC), but the side panel is made of tempered glass so you can easily see what’s inside. And the internals are arranged very cleanly in a way that’s fairly aesthetically pleasing. Most of the wiring is hidden or fed into a compartment at the bottom that’s separated by a steel plate so that you can only see it through the venting near the bottom of the case.

It’s worth noting that the top fans do have some backlighting but the NZXT Player PC does not come with RGB lighting despite the fact that this case is available with RGB. At least, the side panel is also a nice touch because it allows tool less entry, allowing for easy upgrades and swaps without having to grab a screwdriver.

As far as ports go, there’s quite the selection. There’s a USB-C, USB-A, and headphone jack on top of the case next to the power button. And on the back, there’s an additional six USB-A along with two USB-C ports, three audio jacks, and, a bit more unusually, it has attachments for an included Wi-Fi Antenna that helps boost its Wi-Fi 7 support.

All in all, it’s a pretty impressive-looking PC. Being very nitpicky, it’s not apparent where any expansion slots are for upgrades. I didn’t see any additional places for an SSD either on the motherboard or anywhere else inside the case even though there’s plenty of space.

Design: 4.5 / 5

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Performance

Powerful internal components
Easily runs performance-heavy games
Stays fairly cool under duress

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) CPU benchmarks
Benchmark		Score
Geekbench 6.4 Single-core		3,081
Geekbench 6.4 Multi-core		18,984
Crossmark Overall		2,298
Crossmark Productivity		2,159
Crossmark Creativity		2,495
Crossmark Responsiveness		2,166

Unless there’s some poorly planned layout or issues with a case that cause overheating, you can usually tell how a gaming PC will perform almost completely based on the internal components.

Considering, then, that the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) has an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF with 20 cores and 20 threads as well as 25 TOPS, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, and 32GB of DDR5 5200Hz RAM, it’s no surprise that it’s able to run all the latest games at or near the highest settings.

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) GPU benchmarks
Benchmarks		Score
3DMark Fire Strike		45,049
3DMark Time Spy		21,414
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra		14,727
3DMark Time Spy Extreme		10,943
3DMark Speed Way		5,855
3DMark Steel Nomad		4,967
3DMark Port Royal		14,139

I’ve had no issues not only playing games like South of Midnight, Monster Hunter Wilds, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Cyberpunk 2077 but running them at High or Ultra settings on an ultrawide 5K monitor with HDR on, which requires quite a bit of power in and of itself. I didn’t have any issues with screen tearing, stuttering, or any other performance-related issues. And all the games stayed at the 165Hz refresh rate the monitor supports.

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) gaming benchmarks
Game		Average FPS
Black Myth: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p)		60
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, 1080p)		70
Monster Hunter Wilds (Max, 1080p)		83
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Very high, 1080p)		201
Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p)		182

It’s also worth mentioning that I’ve never had Cyberpunk 2077 boot up as quickly as it did on this PC. Speaking of that game, it’s still a very demanding title with all its updates for newer tech like DLSS 4.

Yet, running the game only pushed the system a little, and the overall affair stayed fairly cool, thanks to the various fans placed around inside the case.

Performance: 5 / 5

Should I buy the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition)?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	The price tag is high, but it’s what one would expect for a computer sporting an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU.	4 / 5
Design	Tool-less entry, lots of venting, and a durable, clean build are all part of the package. Too bad, expansion slots aren’t well marked and you can’t upgrade to RGB.	4.5 / 5
Performance	There’s little to fault when it comes to performance as the desktop can do it all gaming-wise.	4.5 / 5
Average rating	It’s a little pricey, but the convenience, durability, and performance are all worth it.	4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a powerful gaming PC
The NZXT Player PC reviewed here has enough power to handle any gaming situation. Whether you want something capable of supporting a 5K ultrawide monitor, high ray tracing, DLSS 4, and any other performance-heavy technologies, this PC can do it.

You want easy upgradability
Sure, there’s only one configuration out of the gate. But, once you have the PC in hand, its tool-less entry and use of standardized parts make upgrading the CPU, GPU, RAM, or anything else pretty straightforward.

You want an attractive-looking PC
With all the ventilation, tempered glass side panel, and clean, organized internal setup, this is an attractive, if straightforward-looking desktop.

Don't buy it if...

You want lots of options
While you can certainly upgrade quite easily after the fact, you can’t do so or customize when purchasing. If that’s important to you out of the gate, then you should probably look elsewhere.

You’re on a budget
As good as the NZXT Player PC is, it’s not cheap. There are other options, including within the company’s own product line, that are more affordable. You just have to be willing to go with less powerful components.

Also Consider

If our NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) review has you considering other options, here are two desktops to consider...

Alienware Aurora R16
The Alienware Aurora R16 is compact with great port selection, more than adequate ventilation, and, most importantly, excellent performance. It does have an aesthetic that can’t decide if it’s for professional settings or gamers, but that’s a small complaint. Though the R16 has been discontinued by Dell, it’s available through some online retailers and at a discount.

Read our full Alienware Aurora R16 review

Maingear MG-1
The Maingear MG-1 is powerful if pricey, and comes with a lot of customization options – many more than NZXT including the ability to get a personalized front panel. Of course, depending on the upgrades, it can get very expensive, but, as they say, you get what you pay for.

Read our full Maingear MG-1 review

How I tested the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition)

Tested for a couple of weeks
Used it for heavy gaming
Spent some time looking at the build

I used the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) for a couple of weeks, mainly using it for heavy gaming. I poked around inside the desktop to get an idea of the quality of the parts, as well as explored the software to see what tricks this desktop had up its sleeves.

The NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) is a gaming PC that’s ideal for the kind of person who wants all the benefits of building one’s own desktop, but doesn’t want to for the headaches that come with doing so. It has the kind of quality control and clean build that one doesn’t always see in prebuilts, while making it convenient to get inside and swap out parts.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear for gaming and otherwise, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation.

Alienware 16 Area-51: Two-minute review

There are only a few gaming laptop releases that’ll impress buyers this year as much as the Alienware 16 Area-51. Everything about this work of premium art and technology oozes perfection.

Though the configuration I reviewed came out to around $3,249.99 / £3,349 / AU$5,497.80, there’s plenty of scalability in terms of both price and component options, with systems starting at $1,999.99 / £2,149.01 / AU$4,198.70.

The design alone places this as one of the best gaming laptops going, thanks to a futuristically sleek design that mirrors its desktop sibling with “fluid contours and soft surfaces” that blends nice angles, lovely multi-zone customizable lighting, smart port placement, clever ventilation, a clear glass panel on the bottom to show of the internals, and much more.

The phenomenal design philosophy is matched with gaming performance that’ll impress enthusiasts and competitive gamers alike. All of that power is pumped out through a 16-inch 2560x1600 display that offers a 240Hz refresh rate as well.

However, holding the display back significantly is the image quality. Despite featuring 100% DCI-P3, 500 nits of brightness, and Nvidia G-Sync, images lack crispness and can come off as smudged a bit as well. Thankfully, the Dolby Atmos-certified speakers provide great, nuanced sound for gaming alongside general music listening.

That doesn’t even count the amount of extras that are featured on the Area-51 16, such as the option to have a full RGB mechanical keyboard, which makes it to where serious players don’t have to use a USB slot and lug an extra keyboard around.

Even outside of gaming, the mechanical keyboard makes general computing tasks a thrill thanks to how fantastic keystrokes feel. In a cool touch, the touchpad itself glows with customizable lighting too.

All of this greatness does come at the cost of borderline abysmal battery life, which comes with the territory of most high-end gaming laptops.

Those in need of more juice for long flights or times without a nearby electrical socket may be in some trouble. Regardless, the Alienware 16 Area-51 is out of this world when it comes to laptop gaming.

Alienware 16 Area-51: Price & availability

An Alienware Area-51 16 laptop on a desk — (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

How much does it cost? Starting at $1,999.99 / £2,149.01 / AU$4,198.70

When is it available? Available now

Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Alienware 16 Area-51 is now available through Dell’s online store and other digital retailers, starting at $1999.99 / £2,149.01 / AU$4,198.70. Buyers in the US, UK, and Australia can choose from a range of configurations and options tailored to their Windows gaming needs.

My review unit was configured with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD Storage comes in at $2,849.99 / £3,298.99 / AU$5,497.80. Other features include the 4K web camera and mechanical keyboard options.

While not the most expensive laptop in its size class, it's not the cheapest either, but its starting price is very good for a laptop with this kind of premium feel.

Value: 4 / 5

Alienware 16 Area-51: Specs

	Alienware Area-51 16 (Lowest Configuration)	Alienware Area-51 16 (Review)	Alienware Area-51 16 (Highest Configuration)
Price:	$1,999.99 at Dell.com \| £2,149.01 at Dell.com \| AU$4,198.70 at Dell.com	$2,849.99 at Dell.com \| £3,298.99 at Dell.com \| AU$5,497.80 at Dell.com	$5,499.99 at Dell.com \| £5,779 at Dell.com \| AU$$8,847.30 at Dell.com
CPU:	Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 255HX	Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX	Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX
Graphics:	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
RAM:	16GB DDR5-6400MT/s	32GB DDR5-6400MT/s	64GB DDR5-6400MT/s
Screen:	16" WQXGA 2560x1600 240Hz 3ms 100% DCI-P3 500 nit, NVIDIA G-SYNC + Advanced Optimus	16" WQXGA 2560x1600 240Hz 3ms 100% DCI-P3 500 nit, NVIDIA G-SYNC + Advanced Optimus	16" WQXGA 2560x1600 240Hz 3ms 100% DCI-P3 500 nit, NVIDIA G-SYNC + Advanced Optimus
Storage:	1TB SSD	1TB SSD	12TB (3 x 4TB) PCIe SSD (4TB PCIe SSD in Australia)
Ports:	1X SD Card Slot, 1 x 3.5mm Headset Jack, 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1	1X SD Card Slot, 1 x 3.5mm Headset Jack, 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1	1X SD Card Slot, 1 x 3.5mm Headset Jack, 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Wireless:	Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 (2x2 320Hz) MIMO 802.11be Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.4	Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 (2x2 320Hz) MIMO 802.11be Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.4	Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 (2x2 320Hz) MIMO 802.11be Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.4
Camera:	1080P Webcam	4K Webcam	4K Webcam
Weight:	7.49 lbs \| 3.40 kg	7.49 lbs \| 3.40 kg	7.49 lbs \| 3.40 kg
Dimensions:	14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 ins \| 365 x 290 x 28.5mm (W x D x H)	14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 ins \| 365 x 290 x 28.5mm (W x D x H)	14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 ins \| 365 x 290 x 28.5mm (W x D x H)

Alienware 16 Area-51: Design

Sleek, rounded design with a beautiful liquid teal colorway and RGB lighting nearly everywhere
Nice rear port selection and SD Card slot
Comfortable experience with the mechanical keyboard

As noted before—and it bears repeating—the Alienware 16 Area-51’s design is truly breathtaking. From the moment you unbox it, the spaceship-inspired curves and sleek, dark liquid teal finish immediately signal a premium, high-end machine that stands out in any setting. While closed, there are some noticeable design choices that truly set this gaming laptop apart from others.

Every angle of the Area-51 16 is picturesque from top to bottom. This includes the top panel featuring the standard Alienware logo that is backlit by customizable RGB.

At the bottom, you get to see the laptop’s Cryo-Chamber structure, allowing direct airflow to the laptop’s core components. This also raises the device for both comfort and larger air intake. For added measure, there’s a clear Gorilla Glass panel showing the AlienFX fans that also has customizable lighting.

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A nice selection of ports is located on the rear, which offsets the display hinge by about a few inches. That portion also features a customizable RGB light ring that circles it from top to bottom, too.

This allows access to three USB-A, two USB-C with Thunderbolt, a single HDMI port, and a power port. Those are joined on the left side by an SD Card slot and a 3.5mm headset jack. Smartly designed V-Rail edges make opening and closing the gaming laptop a smooth

When opened, the display offers either an FHD or a 4K webcam at the top. Below, the mechanical keyboard provides a satisfying feel for both gaming and typing, complete with customizable RGB lighting, and is flanked by a speaker system with two 2W woofers, two 2W tweeters, and Dolby Atmos certification.

The smooth, precision glass touchpad at the bottom also features customizable RGB lighting, adding to the laptop’s premium, tailored experience. Usage is made extra comfortable through a pillowed palm rest, which helps when gaming or when doing general web browsing tasks for long periods.

The Alienware Area-51 16 is just so thoughtful in the engineering and design. There’s a visual appeal and functional enhancements that elevate the ownership experience here in ways that feel luxurious yet cool.

Design: 5 / 5

Alienware 16 Area-51: Performance

Incredible power for modern AAA games with high frame rates
Can control power output through Alienware Command Center
Display performance is awesome though image quality suffers

Alienware 16 Area-51 CPU benchmarks
Benchmark		Score
Geekbench 6.4 Single-core		3,126
Geekbench 6.4 Multi-core		20,498
Crossmark Overall		2,338
Crossmark Productivity		2,173
Crossmark Creativity		2,587
Crossmark Responsiveness		2,145

Gaming and high-end creative task performance match the design perfectly on the Alienware 16 Area-51. The Intel Core Ultra 9, Nvidia RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD in my configuration was probably the ideal way to make the most of the 16-inch 2560x1600 resolution display when it comes to configuration options.

I was able to play all the latest, visually arresting AAA games at 60+ frames per second without problems using Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong, Forza Motorsport (2023), Doom: The Dark Ages, and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.

Alienware 16 Area-51 GPU benchmarks
Benchmarks		Score
3DMark Fire Strike		37,813
3DMark Time Spy		21,070
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra		14,073
3DMark Time Spy Extreme		10,558
3DMark Speed Way		5,613
3DMark Steel Nomad		5,142
3DMark Port Royal		13,966

There are ways to push frame rates even higher thanks to Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology. The base configuration option is great for 1080p and 1440p gaming, while the max configuration is good enough for 4K gaming if users plan on connecting to a compatible monitor.

The Area-51 16-inch is powerful enough to edit high-resolution photo and video content without any problems in apps like Adobe Premiere and Photoshop.

Despite pushing the Area-51 16-inch to max capabilities, I didn’t hear much fan noise and it didn’t get too hot, mostly thanks to the Area-51 16-inch's Cryotech cooling and smart vent placement.

Game		Average FPS
Assassin's Creed Shadows (Ultra, 1080p)		52
Black Myth: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p)		58
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, 1080p)		63
Monster Hunter Wilds (Max, 1080p)		83
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Very high, 1080p)		183
Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p)		201

Like other Alienware devices, the Command Center app is a great way to augment power delivery to focus on a quieter fan speed, focus on battery (though it doesn’t help much), and full-on performance power. Other features of the Command Center include the ability to manage various game settings alongside customizing the various RGB lighting zones around the gaming laptop.

Gaming and the display performance are good enough to make me forget how average-looking the display is when it comes to image quality, suffering from washed-out colors that aren’t very crisp.

Performance: 5 / 5

Alienware 16 Area-51: Battery life

General computing tasks usage will give around 4 hours of usage between charges
Trying to game is only going to provide about two hours

Gaming laptops at this level rarely excel in battery life, and the Alienware 16 Area-51 is no exception. In our PCMark 10 gaming battery test, it lasted around two hours, typical for machines in this category.

More disappointing is its performance in everyday tasks: during our Battery Informant Web Surfing test, it managed just over four hours with power-saving settings like reduced RGB lighting and lower brightness.

With lighting and medium volume levels on, the battery dipped to roughly three hours before needing a recharge. It would be nice to see the power-focused sect of gaming laptops reach the level of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14.

On the positive side, the Alienware Battery Defender technology promises to balance power consumption with temperature monitoring to give the battery a longer life.

Charging takes a little over a few hours to reach full battery life, and there isn’t any quick charging. The power adapter brick is also pretty large as well so be mindful when traveling.

Battery life: 3 / 5

Should I buy the Alienware 16 Area-51?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	Gaming laptops are expensive by nature but the lower configuration versions of the Alienware 16 Area-51 do come at an attractive price.	4 / 5
Design	Between the smooth sleek chassis with lovely RGB lighting everywhere, port placements, fan placement and see-through bottom, this is the coolest looking gaming laptop ever made. This is the perfect match of form and function.	5 / 5
Performance	No matter which configuration you choose, you’re getting top-tier components that offer impressive scalability in performance options.	5 / 5
Battery	Battery life is pretty average so users are going to have to make sure they are near some power outlet.	3 / 5
Average rating	Image quality and battery life issues aside, this gaming laptop is worth every penny.	4.25 / 5

Buy the Alienware 16 Area-51 if...

You require one of the best-designed gaming laptops available
The Alienware 16 Area-51 is beautifully designed with a lovely chassis, properly placed ports, and awesome RGB lighting.

You need premium performance
Various configurations for top-of-the-line Intel Core CPUs and Nvidia RTX 50 series GPUs mean a variety of performance options.

You want some good extras
Great sounding speakers and a mechanical keyboard mean that serious gamers don’t have to use a USB port for an external one.

Don't buy it if...

You need better image quality
Though the performance of the 16-inch display is great, colors aren’t crisp and can feel a bit washed out. This means that gamers who are on the creative content side may have some issues.

You want better battery life
Gaming laptops aren’t usually known for their battery life, so expect similar results with the Area-51 16-inch.

Also Consider

If our Alienware Area-51 16 has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...

Razer Blade 14 (2024) review

Though it may not have the colorful lighting of the Area-51 16 and loses about two inches of display real estate, the Razer Blade 14 is a powerhouse that’s also portable.

Read the review here

MSI Katana 15

Anyone looking for an ultra-affordable gaming laptop that’s good for 1080p gaming performance should definitely check out the MSI Katana 15.

Read the review here

How I tested the Alienware 16 Area-51

Tested the gaming laptop over the course of a week
Games tested include Forza Motorsport (2023), Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II and Doom: The Dark Ages among others
General computing tasks include Tidal, Google Chrome and Adobe Suite

During my week with the Alienware 16 Area-51, I spent my time split between work during the day and gaming at night.

During the day, I used Google Chrome for web browsing, Gmail, Docs, and Sheets. Other software used includes Tidal to test speakers and Adobe Suite software like Photoshop, alongside Premiere Pro for creative tasks.

Outside of standard benchmark tests for games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, I tested out plenty of modern games, including Forza Motorsport (2023), Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, and Doom: The Dark Ages. I also managed to handle a few video conferences, which allowed me to test out the webcam as well.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Two-minute review

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is an ideal desktop replacement with more than enough power to take on just about everything in PC gaming spaces and at max settings for the most part.

While there are some situations you might need to bring some settings down a smidge (cough*Cyberpunk 2077*cough), that’s only really due to the higher resolution OLED panel that only requires a bit of power.

Starting at $2,909.99 / £2,700 / AU$4,999, the Legion Pro 7i comes with an Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, Nvidia RTX 50-series GPUs, a 16-inch 2560 x 1600p OLED display, and up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and 2TB PCIe SSD storage.

Along with the performance and OLED screen are a nice assortment of ports, a full keyboard, and a responsive touchpad that is, unfortunately, not ideally aligned.

For some, especially those who don’t take their gaming laptops on the road all that much, this might be among the best gaming laptops out there. But poor battery life might make one take pause if you plan on getting a laptop that you want to use regularly untethered.

Still, if you have the cash and don’t plan on transporting your gaming laptop often (or have a big backpack), the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is worth a look, especially if you want a larger 16-inch screen for your gaming experience.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Price and availability

A Lenovo Legion Pro 7i on a table — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

How much does it cost? Starting at $2,909.99 / £2,700 / AU$4,999
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i might not be Lenovo’s most expensive gaming laptop – that honor goes to the Legion Pro 9i – but it’s still very expensive. Its most affordable price is a sizable $2,909.99 / £2,700 / AU$4,999.

Starting out with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD, pricing goes up from there. The review unit I have, upgraded with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 and 2TB SSD, costs $3,559.99 / £2,990.00 / AU$6,839.00, while the maxed-out configuration of Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, 64GB DDR5 RAM, and 2TB SSD is a jaw-dropping $4,424.49 / £3,900.00 / AU$7,079.00.

As expensive as the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is, larger gaming laptops tend to come with an even heftier price tag. The Origin EON17-X v2 I reviewed last year started at $3,400.00 (about £2,610.00 / AU$5,120.00) for a configuration of Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, 16GB of RAM, and a 17-inch 1440p@240Hz screen.

Of course, you can customize the lid on the EON17-X v2 with whatever design you want, but this does make the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i look affordable in comparison.

Price: 4 / 5

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Specs

The underside of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

No matter which configuration you choose, the CPU you get is the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, a 24-core/24-thread processor with a peak frequency of 5.4GHz.

However, there is some wiggle room with the GPU where you can choose from an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, or RTX 5090, 32GB or 64GB RAM, and between 1TB or 2TB SSD storage.

	Lenovo Legion Pro 7i base configuration	Lenovo Legion Pro 7i review configuration	Lenovo Legion Pro 7i max configuration
Price:	$2,909.99 / £2,799.99 / AU$4,999.00	$3,559.99 / £2,990.00 / AU$6,839.00	$4,424.49 / £3,900.00 / AU$7,079.00
CPU:	Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX	Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX	Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
Graphics:	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU
RAM:	32GB DDR5	32GB DDR5	64GB DDR5
Screen:	16" WQXGA (2560 x 1600), OLED, HDR 1000 True Black, 500 nits, 240Hz	16" WQXGA (2560 x 1600), OLED, HDR 1000 True Black, 500 nits, 240Hz	16" WQXGA (2560 x 1600), OLED, HDR 1000 True Black, 500 nits, 240Hz
Storage:	1TB SSD	2TB SSD	2TB SSD
Ports:	HDMI 2.1, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C (power delivery 140W), 3x USB-A, Headphone / mic Combo, RJ45	HDMI 2.1, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C (power delivery 140W), 3x USB-A, Headphone / mic Combo, RJ45	HDMI 2.1, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C (power delivery 140W), 3x USB-A, Headphone / mic Combo, RJ45
Wireless:	Wi-Fi 7 / BlueTooth 5.4	Wi-Fi 7 / BlueTooth 5.4	Wi-Fi 7 / BlueTooth 5.4
Camera:	720p with e-privacy shutter	720p with e-privacy shutter	720p with e-privacy shutter
Weight:	Starting at < 2.72kg / 6lbs	Starting at < 2.72kg / 6lbs	Starting at < 2.72kg / 6lbs
Dimensions:	21.9mm-26.6mm x 364mm x 275.9mm / 0.86″- 1.04″ x 14.33″ x 10.86″	21.9mm-26.6mm x 364mm x 275.9mm / 0.86″- 1.04″ x 14.33″ x 10.86″	21.9mm-26.6mm x 364mm x 275.9mm / 0.86″- 1.04″ x 14.33″ x 10.86″

Considering that the base configuration is still fairly expensive, it’s no wonder that all the configurations keep the more premium appointments. Specifically, no matter what you do, you’ll get that OLED 1600p @ 240Hz panel with HDR 1000.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Design

The right-side ports on the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

This is a big computer
Large keyboard, touchpad aligned to the left
Lots of ports including Thunderbolt 4

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is big. It is a 16-inch laptop, after all. It’s fairly imposing in its matte “Eclipse Black” finish with only Legion emblazoned on the back of the lid and Lenovo in silver on the top back as flourishes. It’s also a little over an inch at its thickest.

This is not the most portable of gaming laptops. So, while it makes for a great desktop replacement, leave plenty of space in your backpack if you plan on getting this.

The left-side ports on the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Almost all the venting is underneath and back, so you don’t have to worry about hot air being blown onto you when gaming, assuming you’re using a mouse situated next to the laptop.

Besides the large 16-inch OLED screen, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i comes with a full-size keyboard complete with a ten-key numpad. There aren’t any standalone hotkeys, but plenty of keys have secondary functions, so I didn’t really miss them.

The keyboard of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

The keycaps have a quality feel to them with a concave shape and textured feel that makes typing a relative pleasure. I do find the keyboard to feel a little big for some reason and find myself sometimes pressing the wrong button when reaching (mainly when gaming).

The touchpad is not oversized, but it’s set off to the left, which makes sense as the keyboard with the Numpad pushes the natural hand placement to the left as well. However, I’m not a fan of the touchpad’s placement – I would prefer it to be a bit more centered. At least, it’s accurate and responsive.

If you do want to use the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i as a desktop replacement, you’ll be happy to know that the port selection is fairly plentiful. It comes with an HDMI 2.1 port, a Thunderbolt 4 port, and a USB-C port, both of which support DisplayPort 2.1. There are also three USB-A ports and an Ethernet one, along with an eShutter button for privacy’s sake.

Design: 4 / 5

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Performance

A Lenovo Legion Pro 7i on a table playing a game — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Strong performance that’s limited somewhat by the power-hungry panel
Can run most games at max settings with speedy results
Sound quality is pretty good

Considering the powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and higher-end Nvidia 5000-series GPUs – I tested the model with an RTX 5080 – not to mention a minimum of 32GB of RAM, the gaming performance here is going to be quite robust.

Now, all that hardware has to power the 16-inch OLED panel which has a 2560 x 1600p resolution with a refresh rate of 240Hz. That panel also manages 500 nits of brightness and has HDR 1000 True Black support.

So, that can knock off up to 20 or 30 fps from the Lenovo Legion 7i’s performance if you want to take full advantage of this laptop’s display. It’s worth noting that it also achieves a DCI-P3 of 100%, making this a sharp looking, vibrant display. I definitely preferred running games like South of Midnight, Starfield, RoboCop: Rogue City, and Cyberpunk 2077 at that higher resolution.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Synthetic Benchmarks
Benchmark		Score
Geekbench 6.4 Single Core		3,103
Geekbench 6.4 Multi Core		19,829
Crossmark Overall		2,163
Crossmark Productivity		1,998
Crossmark Creativity		2,525
Crossmark Responsiveness		1,727
25GB File Copy Transfer Rate (MB/s)		2,030.38
3DMark Fire Strike		34,434
3DMark Time Spy		16,928
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra		11,388
3DMark Time Spy Extreme		8,337
3DMark Speed Way		4,301
3DMark Steel Nomad		3,999
3DMark Port Royal		10,958

Speaking of, I was able to run all those games at basically max settings, including Ray Tracing where applicable, with smooth results and crisp, clear images. I didn’t experience any skipping, stuttering, or screen tearing. Any way you cut it, this is a powerful gaming laptop that will hold up.

If you look at our benchmarks, you can get a solid idea of what to expect. Cyberpunk 2077 with everything maxed will look good and will be smooth enough, but won’t really take advantage of that high refresh rate as it gets just an okay 30 fps on average on 1600p, so if you plan on playing at the display's native resolution, make sure to use DLSS for the best experience.

However, there are plenty of games where I can achieve up to and above 100 fps even before compromising on settings.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gaming Benchmarks
Game & settings		Frames per second
Assassin's Creed Shadows (Ultra High, 1080p)		45 fps
Black Myth: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p)		45 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, 1080p)		50 fps
Metro: Exodus (Extreme, 1080p)		63 fps
Monster Hunter Wilds (Very High, 1080p)		73 fps
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Very High, 1080p)		163 fps
Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p)		144 fps
Web Surfing Battery Informant		4:37
PCMark 10 Gaming Battery Test		1:36

As mentioned before, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has a four-speaker system. I didn’t mention that it supports Nahimic Audio, so you get some spatial audio support. Laptops often have mediocre audio at best, but this one sounds pretty good.

Besides the usual caveat that laptop speakers will never surpass dedicated headphones or speakers, the sound is full with plenty of clarity. There’s not a lot of rumble (to be expected, of course), but there’s not anything else missing from the frequency range.

Lastly, the webcam with its 5MP resolution looks good and is pretty smooth to boot. If you get this laptop to stream, you might not need to get a dedicated webcam. It’s also nice that it has a privacy eShutter button.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Battery life

Suffers from the typical short battery life of a gaming laptop
Doesn’t do a great job of retaining charge while in sleep mode

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Battery Test Results
Web Surfing Battery Informant		4:37 hours
PCMark 10 Gaming Battery Test		1:36 hours

The battery life on gaming laptops is typically not all that great. There are some exceptions, but a powerhouse sporting a 16-inch OLED screen with a 1600p resolution is not going to be one of them.

For proof, just look at our benchmarks. In our web surfing test, it lasted a whopping four and a half hours. That’s not great, but this isn’t a new MacBook Air that lasts almost 15 hours, nor is it supposed to be.

It’s not surprising that in the PCMark 10 gaming benchmark, it lasts just over an hour and a half. If you want extended cordless gaming, you should probably get a Steam Deck (or one of its competitors).

A little more concerning and a little more unexpected is the fact that the battery runs down even when in sleep mode. Now, this is not atypical, but there are plenty of laptops that don’t drop down to 35% battery life after being unplugged for a day, even though they haven’t been used.

Battery life: 3.5 / 5

Should you buy the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i?

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i scorecard
Category	Notes	Rating
Value	It may start at a hefty two grand asking price, but that’s not unusual for large screen gaming laptops.	4 / 5
Design	This laptop is massive, making it more of a desktop replacement than a portable gaming machine. At least, it has plenty of ports.	4 / 5
Performance	The gaming performance here is pretty great, only really limited by the fact that it also has to power an OLED screen.	4.5 / 5
Battery Life	The battery life is not great, though about what one would expect with a gaming powerhouse. However, it could do better holding a charge when asleep.	3.5 / 5
Final score	Despite a high cost and low battery life, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is a very powerful machine, ideal for those wanting a gaming desktop replacement.	4 / 5

Buy the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i if...

You want a powerful desktop replacement
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is quite big, and it’s quite powerful. If you’re looking for something that can replace a gaming desktop, this model is more than capable.

You want an OLED screen
The OLED screen here comes with a higher resolution and frame rate, not to mention strong HDR support and DCI-P3 color coverage. If you want a good OLED screen with your gaming laptop, you’re certainly getting it here.

You can afford it
This laptop has the latest and greatest powerful components (at least for a laptop), so it comes with a hefty price tag. Consider this one if money is no object.

Don't buy it if...

You have a limited budget
If you have limited cash for a gaming laptop, then the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is going to be out of your price range, considering its starting price is around 2K.

You want good battery life
Gaming laptops typically don’t have good battery life, and this laptop is no different. If you want one that can last a while without being plugged in, there’s a short list of options out there that don’t include this one.

How I tested the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i

Tested for a couple weeks
Used it for work, gaming, and streaming
Played different types of games

I used the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i for a couple of weeks, playing all sorts of games including Battlefield 2042, RoboCop: Rogue City, and Cyberpunk 2077, to get a feel for what this laptop is capable of.

I tried them at max settings, including Ray Tracing where applicable, mainly Cyberpunk, to see where their limitations are. I wrote most of this article on it and used it for some day-to-day browsing and streaming.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is ideal for gamers who want a desktop replacement that can handle just about everything gaming-wise and have the budget to afford that kind of gaming rig.

First reviewed July 2025

I tested a $6,799 Velocity Micro workstation – and it’s not what I expected

9:02 pm | July 17, 2025

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

Velocity Micro's ProMagix HD80 is a powerhouse desktop computer, with a focus on professional users rather than gamers. That distinction is necessary because gamers notoriously require the best graphics available.

Unlike many of the best workstations I've seen, this computer does not boast the newest GPU; however, it does have a top-of-the-line CPU, ample RAM, solid storage, powerful ports, and effective cooling, making it an excellent machine for productivity and business work that may not be as graphics-intensive.

The GPU is no slouch, but it's not an RTX 5090, so don't expect to game at maximum settings. However, this is a work machine, and sometimes that distinction is still necessary, even in 2025, where the lines between work and home are more blurred than ever.

Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: Pricing and Availability

The Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80 is a pre-built computer from Velocity Micro. They specialize in building computers to the specifications that are best suited for certain groups of people. A middleman that helps connect great computer hardware with consumers.

This model is meant for business productivity and is spec'd out to cost nearly $7,000. If you are interested in something like this, reach out to Velocity Micro or check out their website for their builds.

Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: Unboxing & first impressions

The ProMagix HD80 packaging is very well done. It's packed in the box tightly to prevent damage in transit. The box is massive, and since I knew what was inside, I made sure to buddy-lift this box, rather than try to muscle it up myself and risk dropping it. Once I had everything moved to where I needed it, I opened the box and set up the items.

The case build looks fantastic, even on first glance. If you're not familiar with Velocity Micro, the brief answer is that they specialize in building custom PCs for gaming and workstations. They also offer builds like these, where they pre-select a great combination of gear to create a dream setup with a specific outcome in mind. This outcome, of course, is business productivity. One of the things that Velocity Micro is known for is its excellence, and let me tell you, taking a look at the build quality of this PC, I can agree that Velocity Micro has gone above and beyond in assembling this computer with precision, care, and intentionality.

The whole build is simplistic, but not in a cheap way. They intentionally chose to omit the RGB colorways everywhere except for the CPU cooler, as RGB is a pretty clear gaming aesthetic. To further the minimalist branding and loud design, a slight Velocity Micro badge is visible on the glass case, paying homage to the company that built this beast.

Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: Design & Build Quality

Specs

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (24-core, up to 5.70GHz Turbo)
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4500 Ada, 24GB GDDR6
RAM: 64GB DDR5-6000 Kingston Fury RGB
Storage: 4TB Samsung 990 Pro + 2TB Kingston NV3 NVMe SSD
Motherboard: ASUS ProArt Z890-Creator (Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, 10Gb Ethernet)
Cooling: Velocity Micro 360mm liquid cooler + ARGB fans
PSU: 1000W 80+ Gold, Zero-RPM fan mode
Chassis: SX3 steel mid-tower (ATX/EATX), tool-less side panels

The ProMagix HD80 features a solid steel construction with mesh front and top panels, creating overall fantastic airflow for this machine. The internals of this PC feature clean routing and sleek, modular components that are easy to access, service, and upgrade in the future when needed.

The materials chosen are solid and intentionally understated. Velocity Micro understands that this is not intended for gamers; it's not designed for that purpose. It's intended for professionals.

Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: In use

The design for the ProMagix HD80 from Velocity Micro is intended for creative professionals, specifically those who would use software such as Adobe, CAD, Revit, Blender, and similar applications. The Intel Ultra 9 effortlessly handles any workload I throw at it, thanks to its 64GB of RAM. For large files, the 6TB of storage works great, making it easy to store even massive files on this machine.

Another thing that this machine is excellent for is coding. I was able to run large databases, huge Postman files, and large codebases without any issue. The only spot that I began to notice issues was with GPU-heavy tasks or programs. The RTX 4500 is not the most cutting-edge GPU, but considering the focus of this machine, I'm not too upset. Plus, if you wanted one of the brand-new RTX 5090, you could pop one in here without hardly any work.

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	Sleek and minimal	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease of use	Very easy to use	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Practicality	Practical for some	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Highly priced	⭐⭐⭐⭐

Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: Final verdict

Velocity Micro's ProMagix HD80 is a beautifully crafted custom build that is ideal for professionals who need to have a machine that they know will perform even with intensive apps and programs, but it's also good to keep in mind that just becuase it's a powerful machine.

For more performance-driven machines, we've reviewed the best mobile workstations around.

Can a gaming laptop replace your PC? I put the MSI Titan 18 HX AI to the test for three weeks

2:43 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Gaming Computers Gaming Laptops | Tags: CPU, GPU, PC, Razer Blade | Comments: Off

MSI Titan 18 HX AI: Two-minute review

MSI Titan 18 HX AI gaming laptop's back lid — (Image credit: Future / Marcus Mears III)

When I think "gaming laptop," I think of a portable machine with just enough juice to squeeze out 60 FPS in modern titles at medium settings. The MSI Titan 18 HX AI, however, seeks to break that mold and offer something closer to a desktop replacement, boasting a tagline of "total dominance."

With enough power under the hood to crank out 90+ FPS in fairly demanding titles like NBA 2K25 and Black Myth: Wukong, the MSI Titan 18 HX AI lives up to its name. It's a behemoth of a laptop, weighing in at 7.93 lbs (3.6kg) and sporting an RTX 50-series GPU.

It's not going to live out of your backpack - it's going to sit still on your desk and look pretty doing it. But it does offer much more portability than a traditional desktop PC.

As for that massive 18-inch display, it's a joy to game on. The miniLED 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate offer the perfect balance between high refresh rate competitive gaming and high fidelity story gameplay. You're probably not going to hit 4K and 120 FPS in most titles, but the ability to pick is enough for me, especially on a laptop.

There are only a few areas I wish the Titan 18 HX executed differently - namely, the trackpad and cooling system. While the trackpad is a nice size, I found myself muttering under my breath at the accidental inputs and unclear distinction between left- and right-clicks far too often.

As for the cooling system, I can tell you with complete certainty that this is not a fanless laptop. If you've ever heard a jet engine whirring up, you have a good idea of what the MSI Titan 18 HX AI sounds like under load.

And then there's the price. There's no beating around the bush; this system is going to cost you an arm and a leg. But when you consider the hardware on offer in a (somewhat) portable machine, that price point starts to make more sense. Still, it's a tough pill to swallow.

When all is said and done, the MSI Titan 18 HX AI is an incredibly performant machine with a few scant drawbacks and a price point that makes it perfect for a select few.

MSI Titan 18 HX AI: Price and availability

How much does it cost? Starting at $5,799.99 / £5,999.99 / $11,799AU
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? US, UK, and Australia

With great power comes great...asking prices. You get what you pay for with the MSI Titan 18 HX AI, and you get quite a bit. At a starting price point of just under $6,000, with options to upgrade the CPU, RAM, and display for a higher premium, that's going to prove a very high barrier to entry for most.

Frankly, you can find a lot of the best gaming PCs on the market well under that price point and still have some cash left over to get yourself a gaming handheld or decent gaming laptop.

But if you're set on a top-of-the-line laptop, you'll have to pay for it.

It looks like the only model available in Australia is the MSI Titan 18 HX AI Dragon Edition Norse Myth, which features the same set of specs along with a unique graphic on the lid and trackpad.

Price: 2.5 / 5

MSI Titan 18 HX AI: Specs

MSI Titan 18 HX AI A2XWJG: Specs
Price	Starting at $5,799
CPU	Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 200HX series
GPU	Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 laptop GPU, 24GB GDDR7
RAM	Up to 96GB DDR5-6400
Display	18-inch UHD+ (3840x2400), MiniLED, 120Hz
Storage	3x M.2 SSD slot (NVMe PCIe Gen4), 1x M.2 SSD slot (NVMe PCIe Gen5)
Ports	2x Thunderbolt 5, 3x Type-A USB3.2 Gen2, 1x SD Express Card Reader, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
Wireless	802.11 be Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth v5.4
Camera	IR FHD (1080p, 30 FPS)
Weight	3.6 kg (7.93 lbs)
Dimensions	404 x 307.5 x 24-32.05 mm

MSI Titan 18 HX AI: Design

MSI Titan 18 HX AI gaming laptop on black mouse pad — (Image credit: Future / Marcus Mears III)

Big and bulky
Clean aesthetics
Noisy fans under stress

In terms of design, the first thing you'll notice is how large this laptop really is. It's not afraid to take up space, and at 7.93 lbs (3.6kg), there's some serious heft to it. It's not making our list of the best thin and light gaming laptops anytime soon, but it was never trying to.

Instead, the MSI Titan 18 HX AI's design lends itself more to a desktop replacement than a portable gaming rig. Don't get me wrong, it would still be far easier to lug this laptop around in a large backpack, tote, or suitcase than a traditional gaming PC. But I wouldn't opt for a Titan if you're planning to take your gaming laptop to and from college or a friend's house.

Imposing size aside, the Titan 18 HX looks great. It features an understated black and grey design with subtle accents like an MSI logo on the clamshell lid and light texturing on the speakers and chassis. If you have to have your RGB, you'll be happy to know the Cherry mechanical keyboard is per-key customizable.

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MSI Titan 18 HX AI's keyboard and trackpad — (Image credit: Future / Marcus Mears III)

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MSI Titan 18 HX AI keyboard and trackpad — (Image credit: Future / Marcus Mears III)

Speaking of the keys, this is one of the first gaming laptops that didn't make me want to break out my own typing piece. It does come with a high-pitched metallic pinging sound on some keys that I'm not crazy about, but the typing feel is quite springy and satisfying. Plus, you get a full-sized keyboard with a tenkey numpad and function keys here, which is a big plus for quick adjustments and games that utilize a lot of inputs.

Moving to the port selection, you've got a Kensington security slot, two USB-A 3.2 Gen2 ports, and an SD Express card reader on the left side. On the right, you get two Thunderbolt 5 USB-C ports, another USB-A 3.2 Gen2 slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Around the back side, there's an HDMI 2.1 port, an RJ45 slot, and a slot for your 400W power adapter.

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MSI Titan 18 HX AI port selection — (Image credit: Future / Marcus Mears III)

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Overall, that's a really solid port selection you'd be hard-pressed to complain about. I love seeing the USB-A and USB-C combo here as a lot of PC peripherals (including the best gaming mice) still use that tried and true USB-A connection.

Now, for something I wish were a bit different: the cooling. When I tell you these fans are loud, it doesn't quite do it justice until you've heard them yourself. I had to raise the volume of the game I was playing multiple times just to hear over the whir required to keep that RTX 5090 cool.

This is only when the laptop is under load, so if you're just browsing the web or listening to music, you get a pretty noise-free experience. But this is a gaming laptop after all, and unless you're sticking to Stardew Valley (in which case, don't shell out for this laptop), those fans are going to make themselves known.

Design: 4 / 5

MSI Titan 18 HX AI: Performance

MSI Titan 18 HX AI Intel and Nvidia stickers — (Image credit: Future / Marcus Mears III)

Outstanding 1080p and 1440p performance
Solid 4K capabilities
Offers fast-paced, competitive gaming and gorgeous story gameplay

Performance is the name of the game for the MSI Titan 18 HX AI. With an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor, RTX 5090 laptop GPU, and a whopping 64GB of DDR5 RAM (upgradeable to 96GB), this laptop is the heavyweight main event of the evening.

MSI Titan 18 HX AI Benchmarks
Benchmark		Score
Geekbench 6.4 Single Core		3,046
Geekbench 6.4 Single Core		22,082
Crossmark Overall		2,269
Crossmark Productivity		2,033
Crossmark Creativity		2,757
Crossmark Responsiveness		1,760
25GB File Copy Transfer Rate (MB/s)		2,636
3DMark Fire Strike		40,374
3DMark Time Spy		22,437
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra		15,621
3DMark Time Spy Extreme		11,644
3DMark Speed Way		6,094
3DMark Steel Nomad		5,530
3DMark Port Royal		15,289
Assassin's Creed Shadows (Ultra High, 1080p)		54 fps
Black Myth: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p)		59 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, 1080p)		71 fps
Metro: Exodus (Extreme, 1080p)		93 fps
Monster Hunter Wilds (Very High, 1080p)		87 fps
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Very High, 1080p)		196 fps
Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p)		220 fps
Web Surfing Battery Informant		2:16
PCMark 10 Gaming Battery Test		1:37

I've been on a sports sim kick lately, with titles like NBA 2K25 and Rematch dominating my playtime. While 2K25 is fairly demanding, the Titan chewed through it like nothing, easily spitting out 90-120 FPS at 2K resolution. Rematch, on the other hand, is pretty lightweight, but that just means the 120Hz display can really shine.

I also ran the MSI Titan 18 HX AI through synthetic benchmarks and tested it in several triple-A games, including Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong, and more, which you can check out in the chart above.

Performance definitely takes a hit at 4K, but many of the games are still playable at around 30-70 FPS. Plus, if you tweak a few settings and use upscaling where available, you can definitely land a sweet spot between decent frame rates and gorgeous 4K visuals, even without Frame Generation.

You'll also get a solid rendered FPS at 4K with DLSS 4, so Multi-Frame Generation won't introduce the kind of noticeable input latency that it would on less powerful devices, so feel free to turn it on and maximize the capacity of the 120Hz display when you can.

Performance: 5 / 5

MSI Titan 18 HX AI: Battery life

MSI Titan 18 HX AI gaming laptop closed lid — (Image credit: Future / Marcus Mears III)

Considering this is a gaming laptop with a 50 series GPU, Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX and a massive 120Hz display, the battery life here is actually pretty passable. Not to mention that with a machine this bulky, it's going to be plugged in most of the time anyway, so battery life isn't a big concern in my eyes.

It's not going head-to-head with the Razer Blade 16 anytime soon in terms of battery life, so if you're looking to game on the go at 4K without a power bank or outlet nearby, forget it.

But it does buy you about an hour and a half from full charge to dead under moderate stress (at 60Hz with RGB off), and if you need to break it out of your bag to send a few quick emails and watch a little Netflix, it'll get the job done.

Battery life: 3 / 5

Should you buy the MSI Titan 18 HX AI?

MSI Titan 18 HX AI scorecard
Category	Notes	Rating
Value	While you do get a lot of horsepower with the MSI Titan 18 HX AI, the price tag isn't pretty. You're looking at well over $5,000 for a gaming laptop here, even if you do get a mobile RTX 5090.	2.5 / 5
Design	Gripes are far and few between when it comes to design - I wish the trackpad was a bit more consistent, and the fans get very loud under load. But you get a fantastic port selection, gorgeous display, satisfying keyboard, and sleek aesthetics.	4 / 5
Performance	This is where the Titan 18 HX really shines. You can crank the settings at 1080p or 1440p, and even get a respectable 60FPS at 4K with some settings tweaks.	5 / 5
Battery Life	It's a powerful gaming laptop, so you shouldn't expect all-day battery here. But for the hardware under the hood, it's actually pretty decent.	3 / 5
Final score	Overall, the MSI Titan 18 HX AI is a fantastic desktop replacement that offers more portability than a traditional tower PC.	4 / 5

Buy the MSI Titan 18 HX AI if...

You need more portability than a tower PC
While "portable" isn't one of the first words I would use to describe the MSI Titan 18 HX AI, it is definitely easier to move than a traditional tower PC, monitor, and peripherals setup.

You want paramount performance from your laptop
There's serious power packed into this gaming laptop, including an RTX 5090, Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, and 64GB of DDR5 RAM.

Don't buy it if...

You're looking for something affordable
While the MSI Titan 18 HX AI is many things, affordable is far from one of them. You're going to have to pay for what you get here, and there are plenty of gaming laptops at half the price or cheaper.

You need to move your laptop often
While the Titan offers some semblance of portability, it wouldn't be my first pick for tossing in a bag and taking to work or a friend's house.

Also consider

MSI Vector A18 HX A9W
The Vector A18 HX A9W is like the Titan's little brother. It still packs a punch in the performance department, but at half the asking price.

Read our full MSI Vector A18 HX A9W review

Razer Blade 16 (2025)
The Razer Blade 16 (2025) is our top pick of the best gaming laptops for a reason - well, several reasons actually. It also comes equipped with an RTX 5090, but comes in at nearly $2,000 cheaper.

Read our full Razer Blade 16 (2025) review

How I tested

I used the MSI Titan 18 HX AI for over three weeks
Gaming, media, and everyday browsing
Our suite of gaming laptop benchmarks, including synthetic and in-game

I used the MSI Titan 18 HX AI A2XWJG as my primary gaming system for three weeks. I played several different titles, including NBA 2K25, Rematch, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. I also put the Titan to the test with everyday browsing and media enjoyment on YouTube, Max, Gmail, and more.

We put the Titan 18 HX through its paces in our suite of gaming laptop benchmarks, including synthetic tests and in-game benchmarking.

If you want to learn more about how we test our laptops and desktops, check out this page.

First reviewed July 2025

I tested the EnGenius EOC655 bridge, an innovative product that combines Bluetooth and GPS

1:59 pm | June 27, 2025

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

The EnGenius EOC655 outdoor bridge features two Wi-Fi 6 radios offering a combined throughput of 2 Gbps.

Specification

CPU: Dual-core Qualcomm ARM CPU

RAM: 1GB

Storage: 8GB NAND

Radios: Two 2x2 5GHz Wi-Fi 6, One 2.4GHz Wi-Fi for management

Wireless throughput: Theoretical 2Gbps

Ports: 1Gb Ethernet with PoE, 2.5Gb Ethernet with proprietary PoE

Weight: 1.84 kg

Dimensions: 26.7 cm x 22.7 cm x 8.2 cm

Power Consumption: 21W maximum consumption, 15W with one client connected

MSRP: $999

The manufacturer-specified range of 10km is under ideal conditions. In reality, a reliable link is achieved at 1km or less. Its IP67 rating delivers reliable operation under harsh outdoor conditions, and with dual GbE ports, it can extend the reach of a remote location with wired Ethernet to over 100 meters. AES-256 encryption boosts security, and optional support for FIPS-140-2 compliance ensures reliable and secure communication.

The built-in GPS enables accurate device location and network mapping, making it essential for asset tracking and seamless network integration.

Web-based monitoring and management through the unified cloud service and mobile app allow auto-provisioning and large-scale deployments. The EOC655 consumes 21W, making it ideal for remote locations where energy supply is limited, such as a solar farm. A dual-core A53 CPU, supported by 1GB of RAM and 8GB of eMMC, provides premium features such as quality of service and VLAN support.

The EOC655 costs $999 per unit and does not include an external antenna. The same unit, equipped with two 18dBi antennas, costs $1100 and can cover up to 10 km. The EOC655 can be bundled with an even better antenna, providing up to 10km of range at higher throughput for $1300.

EnGenius EOC655: Design

The EnGenius wireless bridge ships with one accessory box containing the mounting kit, Ethernet wires, and a PoE adapter. A metal ring secures the unit to a outdoor post with screws. The white plastic enclosure lacks a heat dissipator and will become warm over time. Two Ethernet connectors link the box to the network while two N-type female connectors allow the addition of external antennas to boost the bridge’s range. The box measures 27 cm x 23 cm x 82 mm and weighs 1.84kg.

Internally, the EOC655 is based on a Qualcomm chipset. The processor is a Dual-Core 1GHz ARM CPU supported by 1GB of RAM and 8GB of flash memory. The two Ethernet ports can connect to 2.5 Gb and 1 Gb networks, supporting speeds as low as 10 Mbps. The connectors have a plastic enclosure that surrounds the Ethernet cable, preventing water from entering the bridge.

The two Ethernet ports function as PoE ports, but they differ slightly in operation. The 2.5 Gb port supports a proprietary version of PoE that is compatible only with the supplied adapter. The 1Gb port supports the regular 48V PoE and can be connected to a standard PoE switch. To facilitate installation, the bridge features additional hardware, including a GPS module and Bluetooth connectivity.

The two-radio architecture allows the use of both internal and external antennas. The maximum power for transmission is set to 27 dBm, which is higher than that of consumer products. The C18 model has built-in antennas with gains of 3.5 dBi at 2.4 GHz and eight dBi at 5 GHz. The second radio uses an N-type connector for the 5 GHz band. The base version of the bridge drops the 5GHz internal antenna, resulting in both radios operating through N-type connectors.

EnGenius EOC655 bottom — (Image credit: Future)

EnGenius EOC655: In Use

At least two units are needed to start the setup. A base unit connects to the wired network that needs extension. A second EOC655 is a subscriber and associates with the base over Wi-Fi 6. There is no visual indicator to show if things are working well. If a PoE switch is available, connecting the base unit will likely occur through the 1G port, as the faster 2.5G port is only compatible with the proprietary power supply.

The setup is entirely completed through the Engenius SkyConnect mobile app, available on Android and iOS. It is frustrating that an additional app is required for this process, as Engenius's other products, including access points, utilize the more familiar Cloud-To-Go platform. Once powered, the base unit emits a management SSID and waits for remote units to reply. The EOC655 supports up to 16 subscriber stations, working in a star configuration. As such, adding stations won’t necessarily increase the network's range.

Integrating a GPS module and a dedicated 2.4 GHz radio for management simplifies the installation process. The GPS provides real-time unit location and an accurate time source for the embedded NTP server. The 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth channels prevent downtime during Wi-Fi 6 radios configuration and firmware updates. Finally, a built-in compass provides additional help when no GPS signal is present.

EnGenius EOC655 back — (Image credit: Future)

EnGenius EOC655: Competition

The EOC655 bridge is an innovative product that combines various technologies, including Bluetooth and GPS, under a single roof. For this reason, it is challenging to find a suitable competitor.

The Zyxel WAX655E offers many features similar to those of the EnGenius, and it is faster, boasting a 4x4 radio architecture. The WAX655E lacks the convenience provided by the GPS module, making installation more difficult. The Zyxel product does not have a second Ethernet port, which prevents the network from being extended further without an Ethernet switch.

EnGenius EOC655: Final Verdict

The EOC655 meets the requirements when long-range Wi-Fi is needed. It's not a router or an access point; it is pretty useless on its own. It shines when two or more are used in a mesh configuration to extend the reach beyond one kilometer. And it does it well. The installation is smooth, thanks to features such as geolocation via GPS and setup via Bluetooth or 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. The throughput isn’t the best, but it will be reliable over larger distances.

We appreciated that you could install external antennas, which offer better gain than embedded ones. However, the lack of visual cues on the unit makes working with the mobile app a necessity.

Buy the EOC655 if you want to extend the reach of your network without sacrificing reliability.

Don’t buy the EOC655 if you want the best throughput available.

We list the best mesh Wi-Fi systems.

DCS: Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is being tested with CPU clocks over 5GHz

11:58 am | June 25, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: CPU | Comments: Off

It seems that Qualcomm and ARM have diverging ideas on what the future looks like for smartphone chipsets. A few days ago, the popular Weibo leakster Digital Chat Station reported that ARM’s new prime CPU core will have higher IPC to make it fast at lower clock speeds, which should be more efficient. Now DCS is saying that Qualcomm is aiming for record high clock speeds for the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. The upcoming flagship chip is being tested at frequencies around 5GHz, according to the leakster. An earlier version of the post claimed 5.3GHz for the overclocked version (“for Galaxy”,...

Leakster: ARM’s new prime CPU core will improve IPC to run more efficiently

4:34 pm | June 17, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: CPU | Comments: Off

Yesterday, MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 surfaced on Geekbench, which was our first brush with ARM’s new prime core. It is codenamed “Travis” and no, it wasn’t running at 4GHz, just 3.23GHz. Travis is not official yet, but leakster Digital Chat Station reports that it will be unveiled in September. The key metric for flagship chips will become IPC, “instructions per clock cycle”, according to DCS. This may spell the end of the gigahertz race on mobile. The simplest explanation of IPC is that a CPU with double the IPC needs half the clock speed to do the same amount of work. Reality is not so...

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Dell 16 Premium: One-minute review

Dell 16 Premium: Price & availability

Dell 16 Premium: Specs

Dell 16 Premium: Design

Dell 16 Premium: Performance

Dell 16 Premium: Battery Life

Should you buy the Dell 16 Premium?

Buy the Dell 16 Premium if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Dell 16 Premium

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Two-minute review

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Price & availability

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Specs

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Design

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Performance

Should I buy the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition)?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also Consider

How I tested the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition)

Alienware 16 Area-51: Two-minute review

Alienware 16 Area-51: Price & availability

Alienware 16 Area-51: Specs

Alienware 16 Area-51: Design

Alienware 16 Area-51: Performance

Alienware 16 Area-51: Battery life

Should I buy the Alienware 16 Area-51?

Buy the Alienware 16 Area-51 if...

Don't buy it if...

Also Consider

How I tested the Alienware 16 Area-51

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Two-minute review

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Price and availability

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Specs

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Design

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Performance

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Battery life

Should you buy the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i?

Buy the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i

Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: Pricing and Availability

Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: Unboxing & first impressions

Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: Design & Build Quality

Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: In use

Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: Final verdict

MSI Titan 18 HX AI: Two-minute review

MSI Titan 18 HX AI: Price and availability

MSI Titan 18 HX AI: Specs

MSI Titan 18 HX AI: Design

MSI Titan 18 HX AI: Performance

MSI Titan 18 HX AI: Battery life

Should you buy the MSI Titan 18 HX AI?

Buy the MSI Titan 18 HX AI if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested

EnGenius EOC655: Design

EnGenius EOC655: In Use

EnGenius EOC655: Competition

EnGenius EOC655: Final Verdict

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