RAM - Organizer

Samsung Galaxy S26 is getting faster RAM

1:53 am | November 13, 2025

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

In today’s Galaxy S26 leak, Samsung is reportedly bringing faster RAM speeds on its next-gen flagships. According to Ice Universe, the entire Galaxy S26 series will feature LPDDR5X RAM with 10.7Gbps speeds. Samsung has been using LPDDR5X RAM on its S-series since the S24 generation, with the S25 series offering up to 9.6 Gbps speeds. The S26 series will come with 12GB RAM as standard across the range, just like the S25 series, but all models will get the 10% faster transfer RAM speeds. Samsung introduced its LPDDR5X RAM back in 2022 with 8.5Gbps speeds. That was followed by the...

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro review: this restricted RTX 5080 machine holds its own thanks to 5070 Ti pricing

4:22 am | November 10, 2025

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

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Two-minute review

Powered by an RTX 5080 and featuring a large 16-inch, 165 Hz display, the A16 Pro delivers excellent gaming performance while doubling as a capable workstation. At the time of writing, there are two A16 Pro variants for sale – both equipped with the Intel Core 7 240H CPU, 32GB of (soldered) 5600MHz LPDDR5x RAM, a 1TB SSD and either an RTX 5070 Ti or, as tested, the RTX 5080.

The large screen folds back through 180 degrees to lie flat, has a 2560 x 1600 resolution, a 3 ms response time, a decent 400 nits of brightness and displays an excellent 100% of the sRGB color gamut. Ports include HDMI 2.1, a 5 Gbps USB-C port with power delivery and DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB-A 5 Gbps (plus a USB-A 2.0 port), Gigabit Ethernet and a 3.5mm headset jack.

For the Gaming A16 Pro, Gigabyte includes a MUX switch but caps the GPU TGP for the 5080 at 115W. The laptop RTX 5080 can run at up to 150W, so a 115W limit means raw performance sits about halfway between that of an unfettered 5080 and a 5070, and is similar to a 5070 Ti.

While this seems like a major downside, what matters is performance for your dollar, and the Gaming A16 Pro is cheaper than a lot of higher TGP 5080 machines. At 36 x 26 x 2.3 cm, and weighing 2.3 kg, it’s also slimmer and lighter, making it a better choice for those who want to carry it every day. In fact, most thin and light laptops that feature powerful GPUs limit the TGP to keep heat under control.

For demanding games at the screen's native resolution, you will need to scale back the quality settings to maintain over 60 fps, while older ones will happily run at over 100 fps. To push towards the 165 Hz the screen is capable of, you will need to drop back to 1080p or use frame generation.

It depends on your game (or app) of choice, but in less demanding titles the 115W TGP 5080 is about 25% slower than one at 150W, and up to 22% faster than a 5070. In more intensive games, I saw the CPU create a bottleneck, bringing frame rates closer to that of the 5070. At full tilt, the Gaming A16 Pro emits a fairly loud roar from the cooling fans, but despite this, for sustained loads, performance is limited by the cooling capacity.

The A16 Pro is also a very capable workstation and we measured up to 90W charging via USB-C, so it can provide decent productivity performance without having to lug the larger power brick around. We wish it had a larger battery than the 76Wh models used, as while the 10 hours, 37 minutes of video playback is a decent result, we were disappointed by under five hours of light-duty work.

The keyboard and trackpad are both excellent, and the customizable RGB lighting modes are fun but also easily toned down to white if you want to blend in at the office. The 1080p webcam is nothing special in terms of image quality, but it does facial recognition for fast logins.

While the A16 Pro is an excellent machine overall despite a few foibles, the purchase decision comes back to price. If you can buy it for 30% less than a comparable full TGP 5080 machine (or on par or less than a full TGP 5070 Ti laptop) then it’s a solid buy, but otherwise wait for a sale.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro lie flat screen — The A16 Pro display can fold through 180° to lie flat (Image credit: Future)

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Price & availability

How much does it cost? Starting from $1,899 / £1,699 / AU$3,299
When is it available? It's available now
Where can you get it? You can get it in the US, UK and Australia

At the full list price, the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro doesn’t offer standout value, but third-party retailer prices can be considerably lower, making it a good buy.

Gigabyte does not list a recommended retail price for the A16 Pro in every market, but below is a table of typical non-discounted pricing for the RTX 5080 and 5070 Ti variants at the time of writing.

When on sale, we have seen it at up to 25% less than these prices.

	RTX 5080	RTX 5070 Ti
US List Price	$2,199	$1,899
UK List Price	£2,099	£1,799
AU List Price	AU$4,299	AU$3,299

Value score: 4 / 5

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Specs

Availability is the same in the US, UK and Australia, with the main difference being the inclusion of an RTX 5070 Ti GPU or the RTX 5080 card. If comparing models, be aware there is a non-Pro Gigabyte Gaming A16 available as well that has lower spec and TGP.

Below is the specs list for the A16 Pro models available.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro specs
	RTX 5070 Ti variant	RTX 5080 variant
US Price	$1,899	$2,199
UK Price	£1,799	£2,099
AU Price	AU$3,299	AU$4,299

CPU	Intel Core 7 240H	Intel Core 7 240H
GPU	RTX 5070 Ti	RTX 5080
RAM	32GB LPDDR5x 5600 MHz	32GB LPDDR5x 5600 MHz
Storage	1TB	1TB
Display	2560 x 1600 IPS, 100% sRGB, 400 nits, 165 Hz	2560 x 1600 IPS, 100% sRGB, 400 nits, 165 Hz
Ports	1x USB-C 5 Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4, PD charging, 2x USB-A 5 Gbps, HDMI 2.1, 1 Gb Ethernet, 3.5mm headset jack.	1x USB-C 5 Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4, PD charging, 2x USB-A 5 Gbps, HDMI 2.1, 1 Gb Ethernet, 3.5mm headset jack.
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11ax 2x2 + BT5.2	Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11ax 2x2 + BT5.2
Battery	76Wh	76Wh
Dimensions	358.3 x 262.5 x 19.45 - 22.99 mm (14.11 x 10.33 x 0.77 - 0.91 inches)	358.3 x 262.5 x 19.45 - 22.99 mm (14.11 x 10.33 x 0.77 - 0.91 inches)
Weight	2.3 kg (5.1 lbs)	2.3 kg (5.1 lbs)

Specs score: 4 / 5

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Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro left side ports — Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro open on desk showing left hand side ports (Image credit: Future)

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Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro right side ports — (Image credit: Future)

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Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro keyboard from above — (Image credit: Future)

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Design

Conservative power ratings
Customizable lighting
Facial recognition webcam

The A16 Pro is a large 16-inch laptop, but the display has fairly slim bezels and overall it fits into a footprint small enough that I think it’s reasonable to carry it on the go every day. This is helped by Gigabyte’s inclusion of 100W USB-C PD charging, so you can leave the big power brick at home if you’re not going to be gaming.

The laptop measures in at 358.3 x 262.5 x 19.45 - 22.99 mm, but this is at the most optimistic points. At the front, I get about 20 mm, and 25 mm at the rear, and 28 mm if you include the feet. On the scale, it weighs 2.36 kg (not far off the 2.3 kg from Gigabyte) and the power brick is another 0.54 kg.

The A16 Pro stands out with a display that can fold through 180 degrees to lie flat. I love this design for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it means you can toggle the display upside down and share it with someone sitting across from you. Secondly, it makes it easy to use the laptop in your own unique way.

For example, with the A16 Pro plugged into a second screen or dock, and using a keyboard and mouse, I liked to open the screen fully, and place the laptop in a vertical stand. That way the laptop screen is raised to the right level to be placed next to a second screen, plus it leaves the vents unobstructed and takes up very little desk space.

The A16 Pro includes a MUX switch for Advanced Optimus graphics switching. This means the laptop can optimize graphics performance and power use automatically based on need, such as shutting down the discrete GPU, without needing to restart when switching modes.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro rear vents with screen open — Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro rear vents (Image credit: Future)

The A16 Pro opts for plastic on the main chassis and display to save weight. While I like the strength of metal, the stiff plastic used is still pretty good and the laptop feels capable of handling any bumps or drops. The laptop is equipped with a large keyboard with 1.7 mm key travel, but there’s no numpad. Still, it’s pleasant enough to type on despite a little bounce. The keyboard has customizable RGB 1-zone backlighting that can be used to add some bling, or toned down to muted colors (or white) if trying to blend in at the office or university.

Port selection is reasonable but not outstanding, with a single USB-C that includes DisplayPort output and USB-C charging. At 5 Gbps, the data rate is lower than I would like and I’d ideally want to see at least one 40 Gbps USB4 port for a laptop in this class, and at the very minimum 20 Gbps USB-C. You also get two 5Gbps USB-A ports, plus a standard USB 2.0 port.

It also has HDMI 2.1, plus Ethernet and a 3.5mm headset jack – though no card reader. The ports are well located on the sides of the laptop, with plenty of spacing between them ensuring easy access.

The choice to include Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax 2x2) means the A16 Pro doesn’t have the absolute fastest networking, but is still relatively future-proof in terms of high-speed connectivity. The A16 Pro doesn’t include a privacy e-shutter on the webcam, but on the plus side it’s capable of facial recognition for fast Windows login.

The 76Wh battery is decently sized but I’d have much preferred to have seen a larger 99Wh battery – as is featured in some competitors – to help eke out a little extra time unplugged.

Design score: 4 / 5

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro keyboard close up — The A16 Pro keyboard has 1-zone RGB (plus white) LED lighting (Image credit: Future)

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Performance

Solid gaming results
Somewhat noisy under load
Decent CPU performance for workstation use

I’ve tested a range of similarly priced laptops that use the RTX 5080 GPU and, generally speaking, for the same GPU thermal design power (TGP) and similar CPU / RAM spec, gaming results don’t vary a huge amount if the cooling is up to the task. But subtle differences in how manufacturers configure their CPU and GPU power profiles, as well as other design choices, can lead to consistent differences overall.

For the A16 Pro, Gigabyte caps the GPU TGP for the 5080 at 115W. The 5080 can run at up to 150W (plus dynamic boost), so the 115W limit in the A16 Pro means performance sits about halfway between that of an unfettered 5080 and a 5070, and is similar to a 5070 Ti. While this seems like a major downside, what matters is performance for your dollar, and the Gaming A16 Pro is cheaper than a lot of higher TGP 5080 machines. Gigabyte does not confirm the TGP of the RTX 5070 Ti, though it can likely run at the full 115W the GPU is rated for, but without higher dynamic boost power levels.

Now, it’s important to mention that a capped 115W RTX 5080 still has major benefits over a full power 5070 Ti or 5070. You get 16GB of VRAM instead of 12GB or 8GB, which means you can run higher quality textures at 2560 x 1600 and keep ray tracing on in games like Cyberpunk 2077. The 5080 also has a wider 256-bit memory bus, so busy scenes with path-traced lighting or dense city areas will drop the frame rate less than with the 128-bit 5070 or 192-bit 5070 Ti.

The 5080 has more ray-tracing and Tensor hardware too, so DLSS 4 can run at a higher preset without impacting playability. Plus, it’s more powerful for creator work. The GPU will stay relevant longer too, as more new titles call for loads of VRAM, so the 16GB 5080 will handle them better than a 12GB 5070 Ti or an 8GB 5070.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro underside cooling vents (Image credit: Future)

Overall, the A16 Pro manages decent gaming performance but does run at the limits of its cooling. In most scenarios, we found that the CPU hit its thermal throttling point before the GPU, limiting performance. Older or less intense games still tended to have the CPU thermally throttled, but the GPU could still run flat out. On more demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, the performance was bottlenecked by the CPU and the 5080 was often running up to 20% or so behind its full potential.

The Core 7 240H isn’t a bad CPU, but as a refreshed Raptor Lake-H part launched in late 2024, it’s not the most efficient option. This isn’t a problem normally, but with the limited thermal ability of the laptop, heavy load on the CPU and GPU push heat levels to the point the CPU has to throttle itself.

This can be helped somewhat by scaling back settings that put more load on the CPU, like reducing crowd depth, but ultimately the 5080 is still often limited by the CPU. This meant that for games like Cyberpunk 2077, we struggled to push frame rates to the 165 Hz the display is capable of (with frame generation), even when dropping detail or resolution back.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro rear screen closed — (Image credit: Future)

To give some context, I have compared the A16 Pro benchmark results to the Alienware 16X Aurora with a 5070 and the Alienware 16 Area-51 with a 150W TGP 5080. In synthetic benchmarks (which don’t get CPU bottlenecked), the A16 Pro sits right between the two, as expected. But for gaming benchmarks, the A16 Pro has a smaller lead over the 5070.

Now, this is not necessarily a problem, as, for example, the A16 Pro is significantly cheaper than the RTX 5070 equipped Alienware 16X Aurora, making it a much better bang for buck machine. While we wish Gigabyte had used a more efficient CPU, ultimately the design trade-offs here are fine overall.

Still, it does mean you need to be slightly more careful when comparing pricing, and make sure the A16 Pro is on par with or slightly less than a 5070 Ti-based machine with a more powerful cooling system, and significantly less than a full TGP 5080 laptop.

One potential wildcard is the performance of the A16 Pro with 5070 Ti. While the 5070 Ti will likely experience the same CPU bottleneck as the 5080, the overall performance difference may be small. We will update this review once we can test the 5070 Ti variant or confirm third-party benchmark results.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro benchmark results
	Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro	Alienware 16X Aurora	Alienware 16 Area-51

CPU	Intel Core 7 240H	Intel Ultra 9 275HX	Intel Ultra 9 275HX
GPU	RTX 5080 (115W TGP)	RTX 5070 (115W TGP)	RTX 5080 (150W TGP)
RAM	32GB	32GB	32GB
Battery	76 Wh	96 Wh	96 Wh

General performance
PCMark 10 - Overall (score)	7,523	8,437	8,639
Geekbench 6 - Multi-core	13,503	19,615	20,244
Geekbench 6 - Single-core	2,744	3,068	3,149
Geekbench 6 - GPU	177,521	136,686	213,178
Cinebench R24 - CPU Single Core	117	133	133
Cinebench R24 - CPU Multi Core	832	1,964	2,106

Battery
PCMark 10 - Battery Work (HH:MM)	3:19	6:01	3:09
TechRadar video test (HH:MM)	10:37	6:16	4:27

Graphics performance
3DMark SpeedWay	4,247	3,664	5,610
3DMark Port Royal	10,744	9,031	11,999
Steel Nomad	3,967	2,846	5,109

Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Low (DLSS)	84	76	114
Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Low (DLSS off)	52	50	79
Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Ultra (DLSS)	55	54	72
Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Ultra (DLSS off)	25	16	37

Black Myth: Wukong - 1600p Cinematic (DLSS)	77	76	104

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1600p (DLSS off)	137	131	175

Storage
CrystalDiskMark Read/Write (MB/s)	6,982 / 6,481	6,939 / 6,740	6,575 / 5,890

Overall, even at 115W the RTX 5080 is a solid choice for 2560 x 1600 gaming, and can run most games at very playable frame rates without dropping back the details. For especially demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 set to ultra ray tracing and high texture detail, the A16 Pro manages 55 fps, or 84 fps if the ray tracing is on low. Turn on frame generation, and you can be gaming at the display's 165 Hz limit with no problems at all.

While the fan profiles keep the A16 Pro quiet in non-gaming use, at full tilt they are quite loud and if gaming, we highly recommend using a headset. Heat is directed out of both the sides and rear of the laptop, and after an intense gaming session, the trackpad reached a low 24.6°C / 76.3°F, the keyboard hit a toasty 41.3°C / 106.3°F and the underside was the hottest part at 42.4°C / 108.3°F. The keyboard temp here is significantly hotter than many competing gaming laptops, though not at the point it is uncomfortable to use.

The A16 Pro uses the GiMate control software and includes five modes – Balanced, Game, Creator, Power Saving and Online meeting – which vary the performance levels, as well as the amount of noise and heat created. For each mode, you can also adjust the individual settings, like fan control profile, display brightness and more. Stability is also good and I had no glitches or strange behavior from the Gigabyte software, or problems running any games, benchmarks or applications.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro keyboard close up with trackpad — The trackpad stays cool, but the keyboard gets a little toasty under load (Image credit: Future)

The A16 Pro cooling system may struggle with the GPU, but is good enough to let the grunty Intel Core 7 240H CPU use up to 85W in our testing. It’s not as powerful as the Core Ultra series CPUs, or the new AMD Ryzen AI processors, but still makes for a competent workstation when not gaming, and it will happily handle heavy workloads such as video editing.

If you leave the software in charge of profile selection, performance on battery takes a hit compared to being plugged in, and is about 60% slower in CPU workloads.

The A16 Pro can also be run on or charged from USB-C using PD spec 100W (20V/5A) and we saw a max of 90W in use. Unlike the questionable USB-C power profiles on the otherwise excellent Gigabyte 16X, the A16 Pro gives solid performance on USB-C, and is about 50% faster than on battery for CPU workloads and about 35% behind full performance. Gaming on USB-C is about half the performance compared to using the main PSU.

In other words, workstation use feels snappy when running on USB-C (such as when plugged into a dock) or if charging from a power bank, but don’t expect to do much more than casual gaming without the larger PSU.

Performance score: 4 / 5

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Battery life and Charging

4 hours and 49 minutes of regular use when unplugged
10 hours and 37 minutes of video playback
58 minutes of gaming

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro power supply size comparison at rear of laptop — (Image credit: Future)

The Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro uses a 76Wh battery, which is decent size but not quite as good as the 99Wh featured in some competing models.

Still, five hours or so of work unplugged (and around an hour longer if just browsing the internet or watching YouTube videos) is enough to be useful, but still not a great result overall. In contrast, other gaming laptops I've tested with similar spec hardware (including more powerful CPUs) use a 96Wh battery and can last up to 7 hours unplugged. The A16 Pro doesn’t handle medium level loads too well on battery (like video editing), and I saw run times at under three hours. On the plus side, the A16 Pro offers relatively quick charging and it gets back to full charge in under an hour.

The PSU is medium sized (and not as chunky as many gaming laptops) and weighs 537 grams (including the cable), so it has a measurable impact if carried around all day. Fortunately USB-C charging is decent and it could top up in just over an hour. The A16 Pro also charges well from a power bank and a large, but flight safe, 27,000mAh (99Wh) model will just give the laptop a full charge.

Battery life and charging score: 3.5 / 5

Should you buy the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro?

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro scorecard
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	Expensive at list price, but great value when discounted	4 / 5
Specs	Reasonable but not standout	3.5 / 5
Design	Decent features but some compromises like noisy fans	4 / 5
Performance	Solid gaming and workstation performance	4 / 5
Battery	Short battery life for work but decent video playback	3.5 / 5
Overall	A gaming laptop that is also very well equipped for workstation or creator use – but don’t pay full list price	4 / 5

Buy it if…

You want decent gaming performance in a relatively portable package
The A16 Pro isn’t exactly tiny, but considering the large 16-inch screen and full performance GPU, it’s still pretty good for carrying every day.

You want CPU performance
The Intel Core 7 240H CPU is grunty enough for demanding Uni students, or workstation and creator use.

You want to use it for more than just gaming
Options like the fold-flat screen mean the Gigabyte is also a great option for plugging in alongside a second monitor.

Don’t buy it if...

You want a very portable gaming option
The A16 Pro isn’t too heavy or thick, but if portability is a prime concern, then consider a slimmer model, or a 14-inch gaming machine.

You want a more powerful GPU
The A16 Pro caps the 5080 to 115W, and you will need to look at models like the Aorus Master 16 or 18 for better gaming frame rates.

You want a very affordable laptop
The A16 Pro is a great-value machine (when discounted), but it’s still a pricey laptop. If you crave affordable RTX 5050 and 5060 focused gaming, check out the non-Pro Gigabyte Gaming A16.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Also consider

If my Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro review has you considering other options, here are some more gaming laptops to consider:

Razer Blade 14 (2025)
Smaller and lighter than the 16-inch Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro, the Razer Blade 14 offers pretty good performance in a small package.

Check out the full Razer Blade 14 (2025) review

Alienware 16 Area-51
A powerful 16-inch gaming laptop that’s sold with an RTX 5060, 5080 or 5090, this is a chunky machine that’s all about performance.

Take a look at the full Alienware 16 Area-51 review

I tested the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro for two weeks
I used it both on a desk and carried it in a backpack for travel
I used it for gaming, as well as office productivity work and video editing

I ran the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro through the usual comprehensive array of TechRadar benchmarks, as well as using it for actual day-to-day work at a desk and on the go. I used the TechRadar movie test for assessing battery life during video playback, and a range of productivity battery benchmarks to further gauge battery life. I also logged power use in a variety of scenarios, including when charging from USB-C, and tested the laptop with a variety of USB-C chargers and power banks.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Two-minute review

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Price & availability

How much does it cost? Starting from $1,899 / £1,699 / AU$3,299
When is it available? It's available now
Where can you get it? You can get it in the US, UK and Australia

At the full list price, the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro doesn’t offer standout value, but third-party retailer prices can be considerably lower, making it a good buy.

Gigabyte does not list a recommended retail price for the A16 Pro in every market, but below is a table of typical non-discounted pricing for the RTX 5080 and 5070 Ti variants at the time of writing.

When on sale, we have seen it at up to 25% less than these prices.

	RTX 5080	RTX 5070 Ti
US List Price	$2,199	$1,899
UK List Price	£2,099	£1,799
AU List Price	AU$4,299	AU$3,299

Value score: 4 / 5

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Specs

Below is the specs list for the A16 Pro models available.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro specs
	RTX 5070 Ti variant	RTX 5080 variant
US Price	$1,899	$2,199
UK Price	£1,799	£2,099
AU Price	AU$3,299	AU$4,299

CPU	Intel Core 7 240H	Intel Core 7 240H
GPU	RTX 5070 Ti	RTX 5080
RAM	32GB LPDDR5x 5600 MHz	32GB LPDDR5x 5600 MHz
Storage	1TB	1TB
Display	2560 x 1600 IPS, 100% sRGB, 400 nits, 165 Hz	2560 x 1600 IPS, 100% sRGB, 400 nits, 165 Hz
Ports	1x USB-C 5 Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4, PD charging, 2x USB-A 5 Gbps, HDMI 2.1, 1 Gb Ethernet, 3.5mm headset jack.	1x USB-C 5 Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4, PD charging, 2x USB-A 5 Gbps, HDMI 2.1, 1 Gb Ethernet, 3.5mm headset jack.
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11ax 2x2 + BT5.2	Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11ax 2x2 + BT5.2
Battery	76Wh	76Wh
Dimensions	358.3 x 262.5 x 19.45 - 22.99 mm (14.11 x 10.33 x 0.77 - 0.91 inches)	358.3 x 262.5 x 19.45 - 22.99 mm (14.11 x 10.33 x 0.77 - 0.91 inches)
Weight	2.3 kg (5.1 lbs)	2.3 kg (5.1 lbs)

Specs score: 4 / 5

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Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Design

Conservative power ratings
Customizable lighting
Facial recognition webcam

The 76Wh battery is decently sized but I’d have much preferred to have seen a larger 99Wh battery – as is featured in some competitors – to help eke out a little extra time unplugged.

Design score: 4 / 5

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Performance

Solid gaming results
Somewhat noisy under load
Decent CPU performance for workstation use

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro benchmark results
	Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro	Alienware 16X Aurora	Alienware 16 Area-51

CPU	Intel Core 7 240H	Intel Ultra 9 275HX	Intel Ultra 9 275HX
GPU	RTX 5080 (115W TGP)	RTX 5070 (115W TGP)	RTX 5080 (150W TGP)
RAM	32GB	32GB	32GB
Battery	76 Wh	96 Wh	96 Wh

General performance
PCMark 10 - Overall (score)	7,523	8,437	8,639
Geekbench 6 - Multi-core	13,503	19,615	20,244
Geekbench 6 - Single-core	2,744	3,068	3,149
Geekbench 6 - GPU	177,521	136,686	213,178
Cinebench R24 - CPU Single Core	117	133	133
Cinebench R24 - CPU Multi Core	832	1,964	2,106

Battery
PCMark 10 - Battery Work (HH:MM)	3:19	6:01	3:09
TechRadar video test (HH:MM)	10:37	6:16	4:27

Graphics performance
3DMark SpeedWay	4,247	3,664	5,610
3DMark Port Royal	10,744	9,031	11,999
Steel Nomad	3,967	2,846	5,109

Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Low (DLSS)	84	76	114
Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Low (DLSS off)	52	50	79
Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Ultra (DLSS)	55	54	72
Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Ultra (DLSS off)	25	16	37

Black Myth: Wukong - 1600p Cinematic (DLSS)	77	76	104

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1600p (DLSS off)	137	131	175

Storage
CrystalDiskMark Read/Write (MB/s)	6,982 / 6,481	6,939 / 6,740	6,575 / 5,890

If you leave the software in charge of profile selection, performance on battery takes a hit compared to being plugged in, and is about 60% slower in CPU workloads.

Performance score: 4 / 5

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Battery life and Charging

4 hours and 49 minutes of regular use when unplugged
10 hours and 37 minutes of video playback
58 minutes of gaming

The Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro uses a 76Wh battery, which is decent size but not quite as good as the 99Wh featured in some competing models.

Battery life and charging score: 3.5 / 5

Should you buy the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro?

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro scorecard
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	Expensive at list price, but great value when discounted	4 / 5
Specs	Reasonable but not standout	3.5 / 5
Design	Decent features but some compromises like noisy fans	4 / 5
Performance	Solid gaming and workstation performance	4 / 5
Battery	Short battery life for work but decent video playback	3.5 / 5
Overall	A gaming laptop that is also very well equipped for workstation or creator use – but don’t pay full list price	4 / 5

Buy it if…

You want CPU performance
The Intel Core 7 240H CPU is grunty enough for demanding Uni students, or workstation and creator use.

You want to use it for more than just gaming
Options like the fold-flat screen mean the Gigabyte is also a great option for plugging in alongside a second monitor.

Don’t buy it if...

You want a very portable gaming option
The A16 Pro isn’t too heavy or thick, but if portability is a prime concern, then consider a slimmer model, or a 14-inch gaming machine.

You want a more powerful GPU
The A16 Pro caps the 5080 to 115W, and you will need to look at models like the Aorus Master 16 or 18 for better gaming frame rates.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Also consider

If my Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro review has you considering other options, here are some more gaming laptops to consider:

Razer Blade 14 (2025)
Smaller and lighter than the 16-inch Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro, the Razer Blade 14 offers pretty good performance in a small package.

Check out the full Razer Blade 14 (2025) review

Alienware 16 Area-51
A powerful 16-inch gaming laptop that’s sold with an RTX 5060, 5080 or 5090, this is a chunky machine that’s all about performance.

Take a look at the full Alienware 16 Area-51 review

I tested the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro for two weeks
I used it both on a desk and carried it in a backpack for travel
I used it for gaming, as well as office productivity work and video editing

Dell Chromebook 3120: Two-minute review

The Dell Chromebook 3120 is a small but tough laptop designed to withstand the rigors of student life.

Its compact and rounded design is certainly different. The softer material around its edges help protect it from impacts, making the Chromebook 3120 tougher than many others in this field.

Not only is it more rugged than the best Chromebook constructions, it’s also easier to repair, thanks to its top-mounted keyboard and captive screws that keep the various materials together.

The price paid for this toughness, however, is the huge bezel around the screen, which reduces the display size by a disappointing amount. At least it features screws in each corner, which again should help with servicing.

There are only four ports on the Chromebook 3120: two USB-C, one USB-A, and a headset jack. The type-C ports are located on either side, which improves versatility, and both support charging and external display connections.

The performance of the Chromebook 3120 is respectable, handling the sorts of tasks students demand of their laptops quite well. It can also handle HD video streaming and even light gaming, though nowhere near as well as many of the best laptops, so temper expectations.

Back three-quarter view of Dell Chromebook 3120 open on desk with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

The display is sharp and vibrant enough to enjoy such content, although its lack of brightness can cause some visibility issues, especially when viewing darker scenes. It’s also a little too reflective at times.

I was pleased to see that even the non-convertible model of the Chromebook 3120 features a touchscreen, which can be useful for navigation, although it’s not smooth enough for dedicated illustrators and handwriters.

The keyboard layout is good, with plenty of space between keys to make typing comfortable. However, presses frequently failed to register when I used it, which was frustrating. Worse, though, was the touchpad, which is too small and imprecise for accurate and smooth navigation.

Battery life, on the other hand, is up to expected standards. It lasted close to 11 hours when I played a movie on a continuous loop, which eclipses many of its rivals, although there are others that can endure for longer.

Considering its budget pricing, the Dell Chromebook 3120 is a worthwhile proposition. Thanks to its durability, portability, and performance, it really shines as a study companion—but I would recommend pairing it with an external mouse to eschew the wayward touchpad.

Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Price & availability

Close-up of webcam on Dell Chromebook 3120 — (Image credit: Future)

Starts from $179.99 / £369.68 (about AU$350)
Available now
Reasonable price

The Dell Chromebook 3120 starts from $179.99 / £369.68 (about AU$350) and is available now. It can be configured with 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and a 2-in-1 version is also available, with a display made with Gorilla Glass.

This is a fantastic price for a Chromebook of this spec, making it one of the best student laptops around thanks to its performance and touchscreen functionality.

If you’re looking for something even cheaper, the Asus Chromebook CX1505 is a great alternative. It doesn’t have a tough exterior or a compact form like the Chromebook 3120, but it has respectable performance and a great display.

Meanwhile, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is one of the best student Chromebooks in our view, thanks to its truly convertible nature and lively performance.

Value: 5 / 5

Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Specs

These are the specs for the Dell Chromebook 3120:

Dell Chromebook 3120 specs
	Base configuration (Non-touch)	Review configuration	Max configuration
Price	$179 (about £135 / AU$275)	Clamshell: $299.99 / £369.68 (about AU$460) 2-in-1: $369.99 (about £280, AU$565)	Clamshell: $329.99 (about £250, AU$400) 2-in-1: $399.99 (about £305, AU$610)
CPU	Intel N100 (4-core/4-thread, 3.4GHz)	Intel N100 (4-core/4-thread, 3.4GHz)	Intel N100 (4-core/4-thread, 3.4GHz)
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics (Integrated)	Intel UHD Graphics (Integrated)	Intel UHD Graphics (Integrated)
RAM	4GB LPDDR5-4800	4GB LPDDR5-4800	8GB LPDDR5-4800
Screen	11.6-inch Non-touch HD LCD (1366 x 768p), Anti-Glare	11.6-inch Touch HD LCD (1366 x 768p), Anti-Glare	11.6-inch Touch HD LCD, (1366 x 768p), Anti-Glare
Storage	64GB eMMC	64GB eMMC	64GB eMMC
Ports	2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm combo audio	2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm combo audio	2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
Camera	720p	720p	720p
Battery	42WHr	42WHr	42WHr
Weight	2.82 lbs \| 1.28 kg	Clamshell: 2.82 lbs \| 1.28 kg 2-in-1: 3.17 lbs \| 1.44 kg	Clamshell: 2.82 lbs \| 1.28 kg 2-in-1: 3.17 lbs \| 1.44 kg
Dimensions	11.96 x 8.19 x 0.82 ins \| 303.9 x 207.9 x 20.8 mm	Clamshell: 11.96 x 8.19 x 0.82 ins \| 303.9 x 207.9 x 20.8 mm 2-in-1: 11.96 x 8.19 x 0.85 ins \| 303.9 x 207.9 x 21.5 mm	Clamshell: 11.96 x 8.19 x 0.82 ins \| 303.9 x 207.9 x 20.8 mm 2-in-1: 11.96 x 8.19 x 0.85 ins \| 303.9 x 207.9 x 21.5 mm

Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Design

Close-up of keyboard on Dell Chromebook 3120 — (Image credit: Future)

Rugged construction
Compact form
Large screen bezel

The Dell Chromebook 3120 has an unusual outer shell for a laptop nowadays. It has rounded edges covered in a soft-touch material, almost as if it has been fitted with a bumper case. This makes it look more like one of the best rugged laptops than a budget Chromebook, and Dell claims it’s as durable as those more durable devices. According to Dell, the Chromebook 3120 can withstand 30-inch drops onto steel and 48-inch drops onto plywood, something that'll probably matter if this is going to be used by a child.

In keeping with the durable chassis, the lid is also reassuringly solid, with no wobble to it at all. What’s more, it’s also very flexible – even the non-hybrid variant can still recline all the way back to 180 degrees, making it very amenable to various setups.

Despite all this ruggedness, the Chromebook 3120 is very compact, making it very easy to carry around. It’s heavier than you might expect, but not to an onerous extent.

Another advantage of the design of the Chromebook 3120 is the fact that it’s easy to maintain. It features a top-mounted keyboard and a captive screw in the chassis that keep its various materials together, both of which make the Chromebook 3120 readily repairable.

One of the worst aspects of its design, however, is the huge bezel around the display. No doubt this helps with durability as well as repairability (there are easily accessible screws in each corner), but it severely compromises the already small real estate.

There aren’t many ports on the Chromebook 3120, but they’re wisely chosen. There are two USB-C ports, which should help the device to stay relevant for longer, and both accept charging and external monitor connections.

What’s more, they’re located on either side to improve versatility. The only other ports on the Chromebook 3120 are a USB-A and a headset jack, both located on the left, but these are the next two interfaces I would’ve chosen to include on a Chromebook.

The keys have a slight but noticeable texture to them that feels smooth yet tactile. There are some useful shortcuts on the top row, but there aren’t as many as you’ll find on other Chromebooks – even those the same size as the Chromebook 3120.

Design score: 4 / 5

Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Performance

Close-up of left-side ports on Dell Chromebook 3120 — (Image credit: Future)

Good all-round performance
Reflective display
Poor touchpad

Benchmarks

These are the benchmark scores for the Dell Chromebook 3120:

TechRadar Battery Life Video Test: 10 hours and 44 minutes
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 181.945
Kraken Benchmark (lower is better): 743.3ms
Speedometer 3.0: 11.2 (±0.71)

The general performance of the Dell Chromebook 3120 is pretty good. It’s fast and snappy enough for basic tasking, from notetaking and essay writing to spreadsheet creation and browsing.

It can handle video streaming very well, too, even at 1440p. However, higher resolutions are beyond it, since you’ll have to contend with frequent and lengthy buffering times.

It’s even capable enough for some light gaming. I managed to play Asphalt Legends on medium settings smoothly, with no disruptive stutters or lag. Be warned, however, that not all Android games are compatible with the Chromebook 3120, including Alien: Isolation and Hitman: Blood Money—Reprisal.

The 1366 x 768p resolution is sharp enough for a display this small, and colors are pleasingly vibrant. Brightness is sufficient for the most part, although I wish it had more when viewing content featuring dark tones, as these can be hard to see at times.

The display also has a tendency to plunge into total blackness if the angle isn’t set just right for your particular environment. What’s more, it can be quite reflective, which further sullies the viewing experience.

Close-up of right-side ports on Dell Chromebook 3120 — (Image credit: Future)

The keys felt good to use, and their generous spacing makes them easy to navigate, even with the limited real estate. However, they lack feedback, and frequently my presses would fail to register while typing, requiring a firmer touch than with many other keyboards.

The touchpad, however, is more frustrating. It’s very small, which can make navigation and certain productivity tasks awkward, such as dragging items from one side of the screen to the other.

It also lacks refinement, with its jerky tracking spoiling my attempts at smooth, precise movements: the cursor either moved slower than expected or jumped too far ahead of where I wanted it to go. I also found that taps were very inconsistent, failing to register at least half of the time.

The touchscreen proved more responsive, but it can be quite grabby, resulting in unsmooth swipes and gestures. This isn’t the device for you if you plan on making copious amounts of drawings or handwritten notes, but the functionality is still useful for navigation purposes. It’s a shame that finger marks are quite visible, though.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Battery life

Close-up of touchpad on Dell Chromebook 3120 — (Image credit: Future)

The battery life of the Chromebook 3120 is very good. In our movie playback test, it lasted close to 11 hours, which is an impressive performance considering the smaller 43Whr battery, and puts it ahead of much of the competition.

It beats the Asus Chromebook CX1505, for example, which managed about 7 hours in the same test, but just fails to match the Acer Chromebook Spin 312, which managed over 11 hours.

It’s also reasonably quick to charge, taking about two hours to completely replenish.

Battery life: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Dell Chromebook 3120?

	Notes	Rating
Value	The can outlast it is well-priced given the spec and functionality.	5 / 5
Design	The tough chassis is welcome, as is the small size. Shame about the large bezel, though.	4 / 5
Performance	The Chromebook 3120 can be used for all sorts of tasks, and it deals with them all pretty well. The touchpad is poor, though.	4.5 / 5
Battery life	Battery life is above average, although there are others that slightly edge past it.	4.5 / 5
Total Score	The Chromebook 3120 does a sterling job as a student device, providing all the functionality and performance you could need for the classroom. But you’re best off using it with an external mouse.	4.5 / 5

Buy the Dell Chromebook 3120 if...

You want a durable machine
Thanks to its drop resistance and repairability credentials, the 3120 should last from term to term.

You want something easy to carry around
It might be surprisingly heavy, but it’s still very portable, largely thanks to its compact form factor.

Don't buy it if...

You want a great touchpad
The touchpad is too small and inaccurate for heavy use – get yourself one of the best mouse picks to go with it.

You want a large display
The lid housing the display is small enough, but the large bezel compromises it even further. It can also succumb to darkness and reflections under certain conditions.

Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Also consider

Here are some alternatives to the Dell Chromebook 3120 that are also fantastic for students:

Asus Chromebook CX15
It’s not as portable as the 3120, but it’s still quite thin. And its large width means you get a widescreen display, which is one of the highlights of the CX1505. It also performs rather well—and it’s cheaper than the Chromebook 3120.

Read our full Asus Chromebook CX15 review.

Acer Chromebook Spin 312
If you’re looking for one of the best 2-in-1 Chromebooks, the Spin 312 is a great choice. Its capable performance and sleek, portable design make it yet another student favorite. Plus, its display, though small, is a treat for the eyes, thanks to its sharp resolution. It’s a little reflective like the 3120, though.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review.

How I tested the Dell Chromebook 3120

Tested for two days
Used for a variety of tasks
Chromebook reviewing experience

I tested the Dell Chromebook 3120 for two days, during which time I used it for a multitude of tasks.

I used it for productivity, general browsing, streaming video content, and gaming. I also ran our series of benchmarks for Chromebooks and tested its battery life by running a movie on a continuous loop.

I’ve been using Chromebooks and other laptops for years, and have reviewed plenty of them as well, ranging in their price points, form factors, and purposes.

First reviewed November 2025
Read more about how we test

I just tested the best cheap Chromebook I’ve seen so far – and I’m amazed by one aspect in particular

7:16 am |

Author: admin | Category: Chromebooks Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops | Tags: Acer Chromebook Spin, CPU, RAM | Comments: Off

Asus Chromebook CX15: Two-minute review

The Asus Chromebook CX1505 certainly has a budget price tag, but its features and spec hope to counter the charge that it’s a compromised device unfit for modern purposes.

While it might appear sleek, on closer inspection it’s not as thin or as light as its looks might lead you to believe. That ultra wide display and the long underside support bar sully its portability credentials somewhat.

Build quality isn’t the greatest, either, and isn’t up there with the best Chromebook constructions. It’s still within reasonable bounds, but there’s some flexing to the plastic chassis.

The thin bezel for the display is a welcome touch, though, helping to maximize its already generous width. The keyboard also feels built to a higher standard, which is fortunate since you’ll be making plenty of contact with it.

All the ports on the CX1505 are located on its left-hand side, which may be a little inconvenient for those wishing to connect multiple peripherals. More of a problem, however, is their paucity: there are only four, and only two of them are USB (one type-A and one type-C port).

What’s more, the Type-C must be used for charging, so it won’t be available to you all of the time. An HDMI 1.4 port and a 3.5mm combo audio jack round out the rest of the physical connectivity options, and they’re at least sensibly ordered.

The CX1505 acquits itself well in terms of performance. It can handle the productivity and entertainment tasks well enough, although 4K content streaming is just beyond its reach. It can handle some light gaming, though, albeit with relatively undemanding titles at low graphical settings.

More impressive is that large display. The width is useful for both entertainment and productivity purposes, while the Full HD resolution is still sharp enough for its size. It’s also bright and reasonably vibrant, making for pleasant viewing in all scenarios.

While the CX1505 is great for typing on, the trackpad is a let down. It’s jerky and imprecise when making small, slow movements, and its clicks feel unsatisfying.

The battery life of the CX1505 is reasonable, lasting seven hours in our movie playback test. However, many of its rivals can beat this figure – some by a considerable margin.

There was a time when a Chromebook costing this little wouldn’t have been worth your time, lacking the power and features to suit even basic usage. But the commendable – if not outstanding – performance of the CX1505, coupled with its generous and high-quality display, are certainly impressive aspects at this price, making it a contender for one of the best budget Chromebooks around right now.

Asus Chromebook CX1505 review: Price and availability

Hand typing on Asus Chromebook CX1505 on desk — (Image credit: Future)

Starts from $159.99 / £249.99 / AU$499
Available now in multiple colorways
Budget end of the market

The CX1505 starts from $159.99 / £249.99 / AU$499 and is available now in various colorways, including green and pink. It can be configured with 4GB or 8GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage. An Intel Core version is also available.

This is a great price, even in the Chromebook market. It’s considerably cheaper than the Asus Chromebook CM14, which we think is one of the best budget Chromebooks. However, the CX1505 performs better, and that wider display makes it better for productivity and entertainment – if not portability.

If you want a high-performing Chromebook, then the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch is a better choice. This dispatches all kinds of tasks with ease, including harsher workloads such as gaming and multitasking; no wonder we think it’s the best student Chromebook. Its keyboard isn’t as good as that on the CX1505, though.

If you want to stay closer to the budget-end of the market and want something more compact but also powerful, the Dell Chromebook 3120 fits the bill very well, with more processing power and faster memory for a little bit more of an investment.

Value: 5 / 5

Asus Chromebook CX1505 review: Specs

My Asus Chromebook CX1505 review unit had an Intel Celeron N4500, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage.

	ASUS Chromebook CX1505
Price	Starting from $159.99 / £249.99 / AU$499
CPU	Intel Celeron N4500 Processor 1.1 GHz (2 cores)
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics
RAM	4GB LPDDR4X
Screen	15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080, 16:9, Anti-glare display, 300nits
Storage	64GB eMMC
Ports	1x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) (Dual band) 2*2, Bluetooth 5.4
Camera	720p with privacy shutter
Weight	3.51lbs (1.59kg)
Dimensions	14.15 x 9.14 x 0.79in (360 x 232 x 20mm)

ASUS Chromebook CX1505 review: Design

Close-up of camera on ASUS Chromebook CX15, with wooden panels, pink wall, and plant in background — (Image credit: Future)

Sleek and vibrant looks
Compromised portability
Lacks ports

The CX1505 has a neat, minimalist appearance buoyed by the vibrant colorways; I found the light green finish of my review unit particularly fetching, suiting its overall design well. The rounded corners and smooth, flat planes add to its appeal.

It’s quite a thin unit, although the prominent support bar running underneath rather spoils its sleekness. It’s also heavier than you might expect; coupled with the atypical width, the portability of the CX1505 is somewhat compromised.

What’s more, build quality isn’t particularly impressive, either. The slightly textured plastics may look and feel interesting, but they’re not the sturdiest and can succumb to considerable flexing.

The hinge for the lid feels sturdy in operation, but its looseness becomes evident once set in position. This isn’t disruptive, but it is noticeable, and isn’t exactly an auspicious sign for its longevity.

On a positive note, the bezel around the display is pleasingly thin, which allows the already generous real estate to be realized to its full potential, while the keys have a subtle graining which makes them feel tactile to use. They also actuate smoothly and solidly, with very little play or uncertain feedback.

If you’re looking for a Chromebook with plenty of connectivity options, you’ll be disappointed with the CX15. Despite its large size, there are only four ports (five on the Intel Core model, thanks to its extra USB-C port), all located on the left-hand side.

There’s one USB-C port (which is used for charging as well), one USB-A port, one HDMI 1.4 port, and a combo audio jack. At least they’re sensibly ordered; I’m always happy to see the power port at the end and the audio jack at the very front.

Design score: 3.5 / 5

ASUS Chromebook CX1505 review: Performance

Close-up of touchpad on ASUS Chromebook CX15, open on desk — (Image credit: Future)

Reasonable multitasking capabilities
More demanding tasks
Good wide display

Benchmarks

These are the results of our benchmarking tests for the ASUS Chromebook CX1505:

TechRadar Battery Life Test: 7 hours
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 121.752
Kraken Benchmark: 1254.9ms
Speedometer 3.1: 5.74 (±0.20)

The CX1505 is capable enough for everyday tasking. It can handle word processing and spreadsheet creation with ease, while streaming hi-definition content is also well within its grasp. However, expect some significant buffering if you’re watching anything above 1440p.

Even with the modest 4GB of RAM installed in my review unit, the CX1505 managed to juggle multiple browser tabs admirably. I still encountered some lag in such instances, but not to a frustrating extent. However, more demanding multitasking scenarios, such as running numerous apps simultaneously, lead to more severe slowdowns, as you might expect.

Light gaming is just about within its reach as well. Asphalt Legends ran smoothly enough when I reduced the maximum frame rate to 30fps, but I encountered frequent stuttering when ratcheting it up to 60fps, even on the default medium graphics settings. Those after some casual enjoyment are catered for, then – but those who take their gaming a little more seriously will be disappointed.

The display is pleasingly bright and vibrant. Colors are vividly reproduced rather than washed-out, as they can be on other Chromebook displays in my experience.

Back of ASUS Chromebook CX1505, open on desk with wooden panels, pink wall, and plant in background — (Image credit: Future)

And despite its large size, the 1920 x 1080p resolution still looks sharp and clear. That wide ratio also makes various productivity tasks easier, as well as serving entertainment content well.

The keys of the CX1505 are well damped, resulting in softer presses than you might expect, but they’re still as snappy and as light as you would expect from a laptop keyboard. They’re well spaced, too, and thanks to that wide chassis, the numberpad doesn’t cramp the layout, as is the case with some other laptops and Chromebooks.

The trackpad has a solid and noticeable click, but it feels nasty and cheap, owing to the lack of dampening. Gliding isn’t the smoothest, either, with attempts to make small and precise movements resulting in lag and cursor jumps.

Taps are better, but inconsistent: being unresponsive at times, and too eager at others. The surface area of the pad is quite small, too, despite there being plenty of space for a larger module. At least it’s solidly installed, with no wobble to it.

The overall connectivity of the CX1505 is good for the most part. However, the Bluetooth radio stopped working on one occasion, severing connection with all my devices. Thankfully, fixing the issue merely required disabling and then re-enabling Bluetooth from the status area in the bottom-right corner.

Performance score: 4 / 5

ASUS Chromebook CX1505 review: Battery life

Close-up of ports on ASUS Chromebook CX15, open on desk with wooden panels, pink wall, and plant in background — (Image credit: Future)

The CX1505 has a respectable, if not impressive, battery life. It should see you throughout the day, but it only managed seven hours in our playback test, where we ran a movie on a continuous loop.

This beats the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360, which only managed six and a half hours, but it’s bested by rivals such as the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 and the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch, which both achieved times around the 11-hour mark. And the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook can last a hugely impressive 16-plus hours.

Battery life: 3 / 5

Should I buy the ASUS Chromebook CX1505?

	Notes	Rating
Value	There aren’t many new Chromebooks priced this low, still less those with competing specs.	5 / 5
Design	It may look sleek and minimal, but it’s surprisingly heavy, and it’s not the sturdiest, either.	3.5 / 5
Performance	Considering its middling spec, the CX1505 is impressive in action, if not spectacular.	4 / 5
Battery life	Battery life is good but not outstanding; there are plenty of Chromebooks that can outlast it.	3 / 5
Total Score	It might not be a powerhouse, but the CX1505 is capable and cheap enough to make it excellent value.	4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a wide display
The 87% screen-to-body ratio certainly looks striking and helps with both productivity and entertainment.

You’ll be doing a lot of typing
The keyboard on the CX1505 is great, offering a satisfying feel and generous spacing, despite the inclusion of a number pad.

Don't buy it if...

You want serious performance
Some light multitasking and entertainment are possible, but demand anything more and the CX1505 will struggle.

You want something very portable
The wide and relatively hefty body of the CX1505 makes it less portable than you might imagine.

ASUS Chromebook CX15: Also consider

If the ASUS Chromebook CX1505 doesn't sound right for you, here are some alternatives:

Acer Chromebook Spin 312
The Chromebook Spin 312 is a more compact and versatile device, thanks to its small 12.2-inch screen and convertibility, allowing you to use it like a tablet. In truth, its touchscreen is best used when the unit is propped on a desk, rather than held in the hand, but it’s still one of the best 2-in-1 Chromebooks, and its amenable keyboard and keen display only add to its appeal. Battery life is pretty good, too.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review.

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch
For a more capable Chromebook, look no further than the HP Chromebook Plus. It’s great for all kinds of tasks, while the display renders all sorts of content well. Its most disappointing aspect is probably its keyboard, as the number pad squeezes the other keys, which may take some getting used to. Its official pricing might look high, but we’ve seen it around for a lot less.

Read our full HP Chromebook Plus review 15.6-inch

How I tested the ASUS Chromebook CX15

Tested for several days
Used for various tasks
Plentiful Chromebook experience

I tested the CX1505 for several days, during which time I used it for productivity, entertainment, and general browsing.

I used it for word processing and spreadsheet editing, as well as streaming HD and 4K content. I also played mobile games downloaded from the Play Store, and ran our series of benchmark tests for Chromebooks.

I’ve been using Chromebooks for years and have extensive experience reviewing them. I’ve also reviewed other kinds of mobile devices, including tablets and laptops designed for productivity and gaming.

First reviewed November 2025
Read more about how we test

I review computers for a living and I was wowed by the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 as soon as I started using it

12:30 pm | November 1, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Desktop PCs Gadgets Windows PCs | Tags: CPU, OK, PC, RAM | Comments: Off

Lenovo Yoga AiO 27: One-minute review

The Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 might make me a convert to the all-in-one PC, thanks to its sleek and ergonomic build, vibrant screen, and solid performance. The fact that it can be used as an external monitor is not only the cherry on top, but a point in favor of it being considered among the best all-in-one computers out there.

Of course, the lack of modularity, as with any all-in-one, can frustrate those who are used to digging into cases and upgrading parts, but as far as a hassle-free package, this is one of the best computers you're going to find on the market.

That said, even outside of its form factor, there are a few issues, such as the 'just okay' sound quality and a confusing array of configurations.

I will admit that if you go on the Lenovo website or Best Buy in the US (where my review unit can be purchased), you won’t be quite as confused as me. But UK and Australia shoppers will have some very different configurations available to you.

Whatever configuration you go with though, they're all more than enough to satisfy your general computing and productivity needs, so if you’re in the market for an all-in-one PC, the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 is a very easy recommendation.

Lenovo Yoga AiO 27: Price & availability

Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 colors and contrast on screen — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

How much does it cost? Starting at $979.99 / £1,020.00 / AU$1,149.00
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

Thanks in part to the continuing relevance of the Apple iMac and its current iteration, the Apple iMac 24-inch M4, every brand has some kind of sleek, attractive all-in-One computer on offer. And like the iMac, the hardware seems eerily similar to what you would get from a powerful Ultrabook or Macbook.

As such, AiO models like the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 are generally reasonably priced. The Yoga AiO 27 starts at $979.99 / £1,020.00 / AU$1,149.00, while the iMac M4 has a more expensive starting price of $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$1,999, plus it has a smaller 24-inch screen. On top of that, Apple’s upgrades, whether for RAM or hard drive space, come at a premium.

Another good benchmark as far as price goes is the HP OmniStudio X 31.5. Its lowest configuration is actually cheaper at $830.99 (about £620 / AU$1,270) for an Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD, as well as a 1080p 27-inch screen.

It’s worth noting that there are some serious variations between what’s available in the US, UK, and Australia. The UK and Australia both have customizations (more on that below) unlike the US with Australia actually offering discrete graphics.

So, Australians, at least, can probably game with this AiO, though everyone else will need to temper their expectations.

Value: 4.5 / 5

Lenovo Yoga AiO 27: Specs

Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 ports — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Soldered RAM
Configurations can vary widely by region

The offerings from Lenovo on the Yoga AiO 27 (specifically the 27IAH10 model) is pretty straightforward, however, there’s a lot of variance between territories.

In the US, you have two models available directly through Lenovo. The base configuration comes with a Intel Core Ultra 5 125H, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD.

The more expensive model is the same, but with a more powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU and 1GB SSD. Best Buy offers a different model that’s similar to the more robust one, but without the touchscreen, which is what was reviewed here.

Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 specs
	Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 base configuration	Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 review configuration	Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 max configuration
Price:	$979.99 / £1,020.00 / AU$1,149.00	$1,319.99 (about £990 / AU$2020)	AU$4,559.00 (about $2990 / £2230)
CPU:	Intel Core Ultra 5 125H	Intel Core Ultra 7 255H	Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
Graphics:	Integrated Intel Arc Graphics	Integrated Intel Arc 140T GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6GB GDDR6
RAM:	16 GB LPDDR5X-7467MT/s (Soldered)	16 GB LPDDR5X-7467MT/s (Soldered)	32 GB LPDDR5X-7467MT/s (Soldered)
Storage:	512 GB SSD M.2	1 TB SSD M.2	1 TB SSD M.2
Display:	27" QHD (2560 x 1440), IPS, Anti-Glare, Touch, 99%sRGB, 400 nits, 120Hz, 4 Side Narrow Bezel	27" QHD (2560 x 1440), IPS, Anti-Glare, Non-Touch, 99%sRGB, 400 nits, 120Hz, 4 Side Narrow Bezel	27" QHD (2560 x 1440), IPS, Anti-Glare, Touch, 99%sRGB, 400 nits, 120Hz, 4 Side Narrow Bezel
Ports:	Ethernet (RJ45), USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI-in, HDMI-out / Side: USB-C (USB 10Gbps), USB-A (USB 10Gbps), Headphone / mic combo	Ethernet (RJ45), USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI-in, HDMI-out / Side: USB-C (USB 10Gbps), USB-A (USB 10Gbps), Headphone / mic combo	Ethernet (RJ45), USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI-in, HDMI-out / Side: USB-C (USB 10Gbps), USB-A (USB 10Gbps), Headphone / mic combo
Wireless:	Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE 160MHz & Bluetooth® 5.4	Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE 160MHz & Bluetooth® 5.4	Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE 160MHz & Bluetooth® 5.4
Camera:	5MP IR/RGB with Dual Array Microphone	5MP IR/RGB with Dual Array Microphone	5MP IR/RGB with Dual Array Microphone
Weight:	Starting at 18.51 lbs \| 8.4 kg	Starting at 18.51 lbs \| 8.4 kg	Starting at 18.51 lbs \| 8.4 kg
Dimensions (H x W x D):	22.26 x 24.13 x 9.25 ins \| 565.5 x 613 x 235 mm	565.5mm x 613mm x 235mm / 22.26″ x 24.13″ x 9.25″	565.5mm x 613mm x 235mm / 22.26″ x 24.13″ x 9.25″

In the UK, you can choose CPUs including an even more powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, between 512GB and a 1TB SSD, and you can choose between touch and non-touch screens. You are locked into 32GB of RAM.

Australia only allows you to choose the size of the hard drive, but is more powerful since it has that Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, 32GB of RAM, and actual discrete graphics in the form of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU.

Regardless of what you choose (or have available to you), the RAM is soldered in, unfortunately.

As mentioned earlier, you are able to choose between a touch and non-touch screen, though the resolution (1440p), refresh rate (120Hz), and basically everything else about it is the same.

You can also choose whether you get an IR-enabled webcam or not for a nominal upgrade. Otherwise, everything on the exterior including the color called Luna Grey is the same regardless of model.

Specs: 3.5 / 5

Lenovo Yoga AiO 27: design

A Lenovo Yoga AIO 27 on a desk — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Sleek, attractive look with good ergonomics
Good ergonomics
Great looking screen that can be used with other computers

I remember when I first started seeing Windows all-in-one computers start to pop (long before I was a writer) and they were not pretty. The word I would probably use is egalitarian. So it was a bit of a surprise when I got the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 in all its Ultrabook glory.

Yes, in my opinion, this AiO is basically what you get when you take a Lenovo Yoga laptop and turn it into an all-in-one. It’s sleek, comes in a very attractive colorway called Luna Grey, and has a gorgeous screen (more on that later).

In fact, it’s so nice looking, I had to double check that it didn’t have an aluminum case. Instead, it’s made of 30% ocean-bound plastic – pretty cool for those worried about the environment. The box it comes in is also fairly sustainable as it’s all paper or cardboard.

Back to the computer, it has some good ergonomics. First, it has a round base that can pivot in either direction 90 degrees, while the screen itself can pivot and additional 45 degrees to each side. Its tilt is up 10 degrees and down 5, which I do wish was a little more. And it has a lift of 70mm. It’s pretty easy to adjust the screen to your liking.

Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 keyboard and mouse — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Speaking of the 27-inch screen, its resolution is decent at 1440p, much higher than I'm used to seeing on AiOs. But what’s more impressive are its other aspects. It has a solid refresh rate of 120Hz, supports HDR (though Lenovo doesn’t specify to what degree), and has quite wide color coverage and accuracy.

In our benchmarks, it had a sRGB rating of 116.5% and DCI-P3 of 82.6%, meaning it’s great for colors but not as good for contrast. It does have an accuracy of Delta>0.21.

Other design details include two three watt tweeters and two five watt tweeters to support Dolby Atmos, dual microphones, and a five megapixel camera.

Some models have IR capabilities like the one reviewed and some do not, a feature useful for Windows Hello that unlocks the computer when you log in instead of having to type in a password or use a fingerprint reader.

If that’s worrisome, don’t worry. Among the buttons on the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 is an e-privacy shutter.

Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 another computer plugged in closeupA Lenovo Yoga AIO 27 on a desk — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

There’s also a power button, an OSD button for controlling screen settings, and a switch button as you can actually use the screen as a standalone screen for another computer or use just the computer part with an external screen.

That means that there are two HDMI ports, one out and one in. The port selection in general is pretty robust and also includes three USB-A and two USB-C ports along with an ethernet and aux jack. Some of them are on the back of the stand while some of them are on the side.

Lastly, the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 comes with its own matching keyboard and mouse. They’re both wireless and work fine, but if you’re particular about your accessories, you might want to upgrade to one of the best keyboards and best mice, especially the mouse as it doesn’t have any side buttons.

That said, I didn't have any issues with them during general use or even spending a bit of time working on them.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Lenovo Yoga AiO 27: Performance

A Lenovo Yoga AIO 27 on a desk playing Grand Theft Auto IV — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Good performance for most work
Using it as a monitor for another PC is seamless
Sound quality is OK

Here's how the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

GeekBench 6.4 (single-core) 2889; (multi-core): 15,500

3DMark Fire Strike: 8,072; Time Spy: 4,396; Night Raid: 34,260

CrossMark Overall: 1,865; Productivity: 1,756; Responsiveness: 1,430; Creativity: 2,164

Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (1080p, High): 56 fps; (1440p, High) 47 fps

I threw around the Ultrabook label earlier for the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27, and I mean it. The PC comes with the same CPU, integrated graphics, and RAM configurations that you would find on one of the best laptops that wasn't specifically for gaming.

In terms of day-to-day use, that means you can easily have a bunch of tabs open and do just about any productivity work you could think of. It can handle some creative work, such as photo editing, but is a bit underpowered for editing video or 3D design. That is unless you like long rendering times.

It can do light gaming, but won’t be able to handle the latest AAA titles unless you can get your hands on a model with a discrete Nvidia GPU, which is currently limited to Australia.

Really, I find this best for having a large, pretty screen to do regular productivity work and maybe some streaming.

I’m more impressed by the fact I can use the screen as a monitor for another computer. That 1440p resolution can be limiting if you have a souped up gaming laptop, but it does allow some device consolidation if you like to have one computer for productivity and one for gaming. Regardless, using it as an external monitor is pretty seamless.

While it’s nice that the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 can support Dolby Atmos, the sound quality is decent but not great. It’s a bit mid-heavy and doesn’t quite have the clarity that having the best computer speakers would.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27?

Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 scorecard
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	Though the various configurations in different territories is a bit confusing, what you get for the price is pretty good.	4.5 / 5
Specs	The specs on the Yoga AiO 27 are more akin to an ultrabook than a dedicated desktop PC, but its components are more than enough for general computing, streaming, and even light gaming in some cases.	3.5 / 5
Design	It’s sleek and attractive. More importantly, it has a great screen and very flexible ergonomics.	4.5 / 5
Performance	The performance is more than enough for most people. The only real let down is the sound quality, which is still fine.	4.5 / 5
Total score	As a package, the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 punches above its weight considering the price, flexibility, and vibrant screen.	4.25 / 5

Buy the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 if...

You want an attractive all-in-one computer
This AiO is not like the models of yore. It’s sleek and attractive the way Ultrabooks are. Plus, it has a great, vibrant screen.

You need ergonomics
This AiO can turn every which way, so it’s very easy to adjust it to your eye level or to swivel it around to show someone else your screen.

You want something that also works as a monitor
The fact that you can plug another computer into the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 as if it’s a monitor is a very cool feature and adds to its versatility.

Don't buy it if...

You want upgradability
This computer is the opposite of upgradability. Not only is the screen and computer in one package (as is always the case with these types of computers), the RAM is soldered in place. There’s no upgrading this down the line.

You want discrete graphics
If you’re in Australia, you can get this with an Nvidia GPU. Otherwise, you’re just not going to be able to get it (at least for now), meaning demanding tasks like 3D design, video editing, or AAA gaming will struggle.

Also consider

If my Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 review has you considering other options, here are two other AiO PCs to consider...

Apple iMac 24-inch M4
The Apple iMac 24-inch M4 is the pinacle of this type of computer and still sets the bar, especially in the looks department. It’s also fairly powerful thanks to Apple’s M4 chip, but it hasn’t gotten a meaningful update outside of that Apple silicon and upgraded RAM in quite awhile.

Read the full Apple iMac 24-inch M4 review

HP OmniStudio X 31.5
The HP OmniStudio X 31.5 is a bit more powerful than the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 thanks to its discrete graphics, plus it comes with a 4K display. It is a bit more utilitarian, though, not to mention its base model is much weaker than the Yoga AiO 27 I've been using.

Read the full HP OmniStudio X 31.5 review

How I tested the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27

Tested for a couple weeks
Used it for productivity, streaming, gaming
Tried out its various features

I used the Lenovo Yoga AiO 27 for a couple weeks, mainly for productivity, and I also used it for some streaming and tried to do some light gaming as well, not to mention tested its various features.

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.

First reviewed November 2025

After a couple weeks of using the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250), I’m as impressed as I am perplexed by it

11:00 am | October 29, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets | Tags: Apple Mac, CPU, PC, RAM | Comments: Off

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Two-minute review

Dell Tower Plus desktop's logo

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

The Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is a hard computer to pin down just because its configurations vary so wildly. It’s almost like the Tower Plus is more of a concept than an actual model with the only thing really remaining the same are its most barebones aspects, such as its chassis and ports. There’s such variation in availability of CPUs, RAM, GPUs, and storage that you can configure this tower to be an efficient budget option or a robust gaming or creative content machine.

Despite the fact that you can end up on opposite sides of the desktop spectrum depending on the configuration you choose or customize, it has an argument for consideration among the best desktops. The flexibility in customization it offers is a point in its favor if you’re okay spending a little time picking out what exactly you need. But even if you get a lower-end build, it’s made to be expanded upon at a later date; so if you want to save up and get a discrete graphics card at a later date, you can.

Dell Tower Plus included keyboard and mouse — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

I also appreciate the amount of ports on offer, particularly accessible on the front. Really, there’s not much to dislike with the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250). Sure, the wired keyboard and mouse Dell included are not much more than functional. But they work well enough and I expect most people to probably want to upgrade to one of the best keyboards or mice anyway.

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Price and availability

Dell Tower Plus desktop resting on carpet — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

How much does it cost? Starting at $949.99 / £849.01 (about AU$1,460)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

Since Dell is one of the biggest brands in the world, the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is available just about everywhere. The only real issue to keep in mind is that, while those in the US and UK have access to the full gamut of customizations, potential users in Australia only have a list of about eight more premium (in price and components) configurations. That means no budget machines for Oceania, at least for this model.

As far as the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250)’s price, it’s all over the place since the customizations vary so wildly. The only consistent factor is that whatever configuration you get will be well-priced, if not quite a steal, for what you end up with. The cheapest configuration with an Intel Core Ultra 5 and integrated graphics has an MSRP of $949.99 / £849.01 (about AU$1,460), though it is discounted by $200 on Dell’s direct site at the time of writing (all the configurations are on the US site).

The maxed out configuration goes for $3,679.99 / £3,399.00 (about AU$5,630), but that gives you an Intel Core Ultra 9, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080, 64GB of RAM, and 4TB of SSD storage. Backing off on the RAM from 64 to 32GB and the SSD from 4TB to 1TB, both still more than enough for the vast majority of people, gets you a lot closer to $2,500.

The review configuration with its slightly weaker CPU and GPU (both the Intel Core Ultra 7 and RTX 5070 are still quite robust) gets you a surprisingly decent price tag of $1,899.99 / £1,899.00 / AU$3,399.00 for what’s still a fairly powerful gaming machine.

For comparison’s sake, let’s take a look at the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) I reviewed not too long ago. It comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, RTX 5070, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB SSD. This lineup targets more dedicated gamers and is on offer for $1,999.99.

So, the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is priced right, though it’s not quite a knockout in terms of value. That is, unless you get it at one of Dell’s regular discounts - in which case it becomes a very tempting deal.

Value: 4 / 5

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Specs

There are a lot of options to choose from with the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250). The CPU ranges from the Intel Core Ultra 5 255 10-core CPU to an Intel Core Ultra 285K 24-core option. The GPU offering is even wider as you can either stick with Intel integrated graphics or get a wide variety of Nvidia GeForce Now GPUs, starting with the RTX 3050 and 4060 Ti to just about every offering of the 5000 series except for the 5090 (the 5080 is the most premium option).

RAM ranges from 16 to 64GB, while the SSD goes from 512GB to 4TB in various configurations, such as getting two 1TB drives instead of one 2TB drive.

	Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) base configuration	Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) review configuration	Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) max configuration
Price:	$949.99 / £849.01 (about AU$1,460)	$1,899.99 / £1,899.00 / AU$3,399.00	$3,679.99 / £3,399.00 (about AU$5,630)
CPU:	Intel Core Ultra 5 255	Intel Core Ultra 7 265K	Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
Graphics:	Intel UHD Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 (12GB)	Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 (16GB)
RAM:	16GB DDR5	32GB DDR5	64GB DDR5
Storage:	512GB SSD	1TB SSD	4TB SSD
Ports:	Front Ports: 3x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, USB 3.2 Type-C Gen 2, Headset jack, SD card slot Rear Ports: 4x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, Thunderbolt 4 (includes 4K video output), HDMI (includes 4K video output), RJ45 Ethernet Port, 2.5GbE, 2x Stereo Audio (Line In / Line Out), S/PDIF Optical, Kensington lock slot	Front Ports: 3x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, USB 3.2 Type-C Gen 2, Headset jack, SD card slot Rear Ports: 4x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, Thunderbolt 4 (includes 4K video output), HDMI (includes 4K video output), RJ45 Ethernet Port, 2.5GbE, 2x Stereo Audio (Line In / Line Out), S/PDIF Optical, Kensington lock slot	Front Ports: 3x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, USB 3.2 Type-C Gen 2, Headset jack, SD card slot Rear Ports: 4x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, Thunderbolt 4 (includes 4K video output), HDMI (includes 4K video output), RJ45 Ethernet Port, 2.5GbE, 2x Stereo Audio (Line In / Line Out), S/PDIF Optical, Kensington lock slot
Wireless:	Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE, Bluetooth	Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE, Bluetooth	Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE, Bluetooth
Weight:	Starting at 19.00 lb (8.62 kg)	Starting at 19.00 lb (8.62 kg)	Starting at 19.00 lb (8.62 kg)
Dimensions:	14.68 x 6.81 x 16.80 inches (372.90 x 173.00 x 426.90 mm)	14.68 x 6.81 x 16.80 inches (372.90 x 173.00 x 426.90 mm)	14.68 x 6.81 x 16.80 inches (372.90 x 173.00 x 426.90 mm)

You can also upgrade the power supply (and you might be limited in choice depending on the other components selected), which is strangely paired with colorway, though the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) only comes in platinum or graphite. You can also upgrade, for a fairly nominal fee ($29), to the wireless Dell Pro Keyboard and Mouse combo.

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Design

Dell Tower Plus desktop — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Discreet office-style look
Plenty of ports
Future upgradeability is a big boon

Despite the fact that you can soup the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) into a gaming machine, it fits the aesthetic of an upscale office the same way that a Dell 14 Premium laptop does. It’s clean and minimalist looking with fairly neutral colors, either platinum or graphite (aka gray or black), and some well-placed venting to not only help with cooling efficiency but also keep it from looking too boring. It’s also just a bit on the smaller size for a regular ATX-style desktop tower.

Image 1 of 3

Image 2 of 3

Dell Tower Plus desktop PC — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Image 3 of 3

As far as ports go, the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is fully stocked. There’s a plethora of USB ports as well as Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI (on top of the inputs on the graphics card), but more importantly, there are some easily accessible ones on the front including three USB, a USB-C, headphone hack, and a microSD card reader.

But none of that is unexpected. The one thing that the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) does that I only really see in gaming machines for enthusiasts is an eye toward expansion in its setup. Not only can you upgrade the RAM to hold up to two 32GB sticks of RAM, but there are two M.2 SSD slots along with two regular hard drive slots, as well as three PCIe slots for later additions or upgrades in the graphics card department.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Performance

Dell Tower Plus desktop with its side panel taken off to reveal components — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

It can be as powerful as you want it to be
Review configuration is a powerhouse
Can handle demanding gaming and editing tasks

It’s hard to really pin down the performance of the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) just because computers are rarely more than the sum of their parts. A computer with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, 32GB or RAM, and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU is going to perform similarly to any other computer with similar hardware.

Now, sometimes manufacturers do cut corners or have issues with cooling efficiency that can make a difference. The difference between the configuration I reviewed with those components I just mentioned and the most basic configuration is going to be night and day to the point of feeling like different computers (because they are).

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Benchmarks

Here's how the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark: Fire Strike: 38910; Time Spy: 21176; Port Royal: 13981

GeekBench 6.4 2985 (single-core); 19181 (multi-core)

Handbrake 1.9.2: 2:06

CrossMark: Overall: 2230 Productivity: 2130 Creativity: 2426 Responsiveness: 1986

Cyberpunk 2077: 68.42 FPS (1080p), 19.43 FPS (4K), 73.20 FPS (Ultra, upscaling)

Monster Hunter Wilds: 81.57 FPS (1080p), 39.22 FPS (4K)

That basic build is great for anyone who wants a working desktop that they want to upgrade at a later time or just want something cost effective to get them online and doing regular productivity work. Keep in mind that the most affordable model runs on Ubuntu Linux, not Windows (but all other Dell Tower Plus configurations run Windows).

The model I reviewed ran like a gaming computer, however. In fact, it did very well even running beautifully with a 120Hz 4K monitor. I never had any performance issues; there was no stuttering or screen tearing when gaming, and no noticeable slowdown during any other kind of use.

The difference between my review model and a regular gaming computer is simply aesthetics. It was able to get over 80 FPS in 1080p and almost 40 FPS in 4K when running Monster Hunter Wilds, for instance.

And its results in Cyberpunk 2077, specifically its almost 70 FPS in 1080p and 20 FPS in 4K (not including DLSS upscaling) give a good idea of the RTX 5070’s limitations more than anything else. For powerful gaming performance, you’ll probably want the 5080.

If you’re looking for a desktop that can handle other demanding tasks, the Dell Tower Plus is capable of doing that as well. Its benchmark of 2:06 in Handbrake represents how quickly it can convert video, for instance. And any horsepower that can be used for gaming does well for 3D design and video editing as well.

Lastly, I want to mention that when I tried to push this computer, mostly by running demanding games, it still operated fairly quietly. That’s not always the case with powerful computers.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250)?

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) Scorecard
Category		Rating
Value	While the price tag can vary by the thousands, any configuration you get will be a good price if not quite a steal.	4 / 5
Design	On the outside, it looks like a nice office computer. On the inside, it has enough expandability for just about any need. The keyboard and mouse are a little basic, though.	4.5 / 5
Performance	The review configuration is a powerhouse and candle just about anything, especially at 1080p. Plus, it runs quietly.	4.5 / 5
Final score	Between its solid price tag, good performance, and extra expandability, this desktop is an easy recommendation.	4.5 / 5

Buy the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) if...

You want expandability without building your own PC

If you don’t want to build your PC, but want the expandability and future-proofing that most mass-produced desktops don’t have, then the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) might be the ideal computer for you.

You want something that looks discreet

Between its platinum and graphite colorways and more minimalist case, this computer doesn’t call too much attention to itself, making it an attractive addition for your office.

You need power

With the right configuration, you can get enough power to run just about anything one could want out of a consumer computer.

Don't buy it if...

You want something exciting

The Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) can do whatever you need it to depending on the configuration. Regardless of that, there’s really nothing sexy or exciting about this. There’s no glass panel, water cooling, RGB lighting, or interesting colorways.

You need something small

It might be smaller than other mid-size desktops, but the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is still, as the name suggests, a tower PC. If you want something small, you can either get a laptop and connect it to a monitor or go with a small form factor computer.

Also consider

If our Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) review has you considering other options, here are two desktops to consider...

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition)

The NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) is very comparable when it comes to spec’s, but it has fans with backlighting (and you can always upgrade or add RGB) as well as a glass side panel for peaking inside. It is a tiny bit more and doesn’t come with a keyboard and mouse, but is a good option for gamers.

Read our full NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) reviewView Deal

Apple Mac mini (M4, 2024)

If you want a desktop for the office and don’t need that gaming or video editing process, then there are some better and cheaper options, particularly if you don’t need to stick with Windows. The Apple Mac mini (M4, 2024) is powerful in its own right and starts at a price that’s lower than a mid-tier laptop, Mac or otherwise.

Read our full Apple Mac mini (M4, 2024) reviewView Deal

How I tested the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250)

Tested for a couple weeks
Used it for productivity, streaming, gaming
Played with the included accessories

I used the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) for a couple weeks to get a feel for it. I did some productivity work including researching and typing up most of this article. I also did a bit of streaming and played some demanding games, all while using the included keyboard and mouse for the majority of the testing.

The Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is interesting because it can be so many different things, like a budget productivity machine or a powerful gaming workhorse, that just happen to share the same basic building blocks and look. This computer seems to be ideal for someone who wants a discreet desktop, possibly for an office, that can be upgraded at a later date.

First reviewed October 2025

I tried Lenovo’s new gaming PC and its build and performance are top-tier – but another aspect impressed me even more

12:36 am | October 28, 2025

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

Lenovo Legion Tower 5: Two-minute review

The Lenovo Legion Tower 5 is a high-end gaming PC with a formidable spec designed to handle modern games without sacrificing much in the way of graphical fidelity.

It looks understated yet elegant as far as tower PCs go, thanks in no small part to the matte finish and rounded corners. The vibrant yet tasteful RGB lighting on the fans and through the front panel logo also adds to its allure.

What’s more, its premium appeal is more than skin deep: the Legion Tower 5 can lay claim to having one of the best gaming PC cases in terms of build quality. Every material feels solid and durable, including the glass side cover.

The only aspect I disliked was the top ventilation panel, since its sharp undulating design is uncomfortable to hold. Thankfully, there’s a grab handle at the front for when you need to move the Legion Tower 5; and you’ll certainly need the purchase it provides, since it’s a monstrously heavy unit.

There’s some scope to expand the potential of the Legion Tower 5, but not by much. Three M.2 drives and one HDD can be installed simultaneously, but 32GB is the maximum RAM allowance. I could see two spare SATA ports and one PCIe slot free, but that’s all.

The usual ports can be found on the Legion Tower 5, with plenty of USB-A ports and audio ports on the rear. The front panel is quite sparse though, and the inclusion of a USB-C port at this end might be disappointing to some, depending on the peripherals they have.

As you would expect given its components, the general performance of the Legion Tower 5 is excellent. It’s also free from bloatware, with Lenovo’s bundled software proving unintrusive and even useful. Lenovo Vantage offers some useful system functions and details, while LegionSpace is a simple and effective way to adjust performance settings and fan speeds.

Gaming with the Legion Tower 5 is a joy. It effortlessly runs AAA titles with fps figures in the hundreds. What’s more, it does so in near-silence and without approaching temperatures beyond the mildly tepid.

All this quality and performance does come at a price, but it’s not as eye-watering as some rivals. There are cheaper 5070 builds, but considering the quality of the case and components, not to mention its exceptional cooling abilities, the Legion Tower 5 might just be worth it for those after top-draw performance without sacrificing peace and quiet.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5: Price & availability

Close-up of Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU inside the Lenovo Legion Tower 5, on a desk with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Starts from $1,449.99 / £1,395 / AU$2,069
Available now
Decent value

The Legion Tower 5 is available now in the US, UK, and Australia, starting at $1,449.99 / £1,395 / AU$2,069 for the AMD Ryzen 10th Gen builds, while the Intel-based Tower 5i Gen 10 starts at $1,319.99 / £1,116 / AU$2,519.

For the AMD builds, numerous configurations are available, peaking at builds with a Ryzen 9 7950X3D and an RTX 5070 Ti, while the Intel builds feature up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F and an Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti. Maximum capacities for RAM and storage are 32GB and 2TB, respectively – although the latter is expandable with separately purchased drives, thanks to its three M.2 slots and an extra space for a HDD (although storage bays are only available on some models).

This isn’t a bad price considering what’s on offer, but there are still cheaper alternatives. The HP Victus 15L and HP Omen 16L cost significantly less, but you will have to settle for much lower specs. However, we found their performance capable enough for 1080p gaming and their relatively small size and generous front port selection add to their appeal.

A more closely-matched rival to the Legion Tower 5 is the NZXT Player PC, which is similarly priced to the Legion Tower 5 and likewise features an RTX 5070. Like the Legion Tower 5, it’s built to a very high standard, yet it just about undercuts it on price in some regions.

Value: 4 / 5

Lenovo Legion Tower 5: Specs

Close-up of rear fan with RGB lighting on inside the Lenovo Legion Tower 5, with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Lenovo Legion Tower 5 (30L, Gen10) review specs
CPU		AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (8 cores), 4.2GHz
Graphics		NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, 12GB
RAM		32 GB DDR5-5600MT/s (UDIMM) - (2 x 16 GB)
Storage		1TB NVMe M.2 SSD
Ports		Front I/O: 1x USB-A (5Gbps), 1x USB-C (5Gbps), 1x combo audio Back I/O: 1x RJ45, 1x USB-C (10Gbps), 2x USB-A (5Gbps), 4x USB-A (hi-speed USB), 3x audio
Wireless		Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Lenovo Legion Tower 5: Design

Close-up of ports on front panel of the Lenovo Legion Tower 5 — (Image credit: Future)

Superb case
Very heavy
Limited expandability

The Legion Tower 5 makes a good first impression, with its steely but elegantly designed case. The bright RGB lighting of the fans and front “Legion” logo livens up the unit without being brash.

It’s built to a high standard, too. The materials feel as premium as they look, and every panel feels sturdy and durable, even the glass side cover. The downside, however, is that the Legion Tower 5 is quite large and very heavy, so moving around can be difficult.

And you won’t want to grab it from the top, as the ventilation mesh has a spiked design that can dig uncomfortably into the hand. Fortunately, there’s a useful grab handle just behind the front ports you can hold instead.

There’s some scope for expanding components, but not much. There are four DDR5 memory slots, but only a maximum of 32GB is supported. Up to three M.2 SSDs and one HDD can be installed simultaneously, and there are two spare SATA ports and a spare PCIe 4x slot.

On the rear you’ll find the usual selection of ports. There are six USB ports, although only two of them utilize the SuperSpeed standard. There are also the obligatory headphone, microphone, and line-in connections.

Birds-eye view of black mouse and keyboard and bottom portion the Lenovo Legion Tower 5, on a grey desk — (Image credit: Future)

Oddly, the PSU is located at the top, resulting in a dangling power cable: this is never ideal, but here it can potentially obscure other rearside connections, too. What’s more, this placement effectively shortens the length of the cable if your outlet is close to the floor.

At the front, port selection is more scarce. There are two USB ports, although one is type-C, which could prove contentious depending on what you’re connecting. Personally, I would’ve preferred both to have been type-A, given most of my peripherals use this standard – and I suspect many others’ do as well.

My Legion Tower 5 review unit came with a mouse and keyboard: basic affairs that were perfectly functional, but clearly designed for productivity rather than gaming. The keys’ short travel and lack of feedback make them better for typing than WASD use, while the mouse has no DPI selector or even side buttons. Needless to say, Lenovo certainly hasn’t provided the best gaming keyboard or the best gaming mouse here.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Lenovo Legion Tower 5: Performance

Close-up of power button and grab handle on the Lenovo Legion Tower 5, with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Excellent AAA performance
Impressively cool and quiet

Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 10 (30L AMD) CPU benchmarks:
Benchmark	Score
Geekbench 6.4 Single-core	2,594
Geekbench 6.4 Multi-core	13,554
Crossmark Overall	1,846
Crossmark Productivity	1,734
Crossmark Creativity	2,127
Crossmark Responsiveness	1,454
Cinebench R23 Single Core	1,693
Cinebench R23 Multi Core	17,376
Cinebench R24 Single Core	104
Cinebench R24 Multi Core	934

The performance of the Legion Tower 5 is excellent, with the RTX 5070 in my review unit delivering on its promises.

As you would imagine, everyday tasks are handled equally well. Document and spreadsheet workloads are processed instantly, while 4K streaming is seamless, lacking the significant buffering times that can plague less capable machines.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 10 (30L AMD) GPU benchmarks
Benchmarks	Score
3DMark Fire Strike	43,845
3DMark Steel Nomad	5,495
3DMark Solar Bay	107,638
3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited	105,290
3DMark Speed Way	5,960
3DMark Port Royal	14,302
3DMark Wild Life Extreme	43,652
3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited	42,947

More impressive, however, is just how quiet the Legion Tower 5 is. During my entire time with it, the fans never rose above a gentle whir, even when the system was set to Performance mode.

What’s more, the unit remained remarkably cool throughout, never exceeding lukewarm temperatures. The Legion Tower 5 is exclusively air-cooled, utilizing six fans that offer up to 180W of power – and they certainly seem effective.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 10 (30L AMD) gaming benchmarks
Game	Average FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra)	72
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Highest, 1080p)	208
F1 2024 (Max, 1080p)	119
Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p)	172

Thankfully, the Legion Tower 5 isn’t saddled with bloatware. In fact, the two included utility apps, LegionSpace and Lenovo Vantage, are unobtrusive and quite useful; the former for viewing detailed system specs and performing functions such as BIOS updates, and the latter for adjusting performance and fan settings.

The Wi-Fi card was also exemplary. My connection speeds were fast, and I experienced no dropouts or instability.

Performance: 5 / 5

Should I buy the Lenovo Legion Tower 5?

Close-up of bottom-rear portion of the Lenovo Legion Tower 5, with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	The Legion Tower 5 is expensive, but the value is good considering the performance and build quality.	3.5 / 5
Design	The case feels very premium and durable, although it’s very heavy. It’s not the most expandable, either.	4.5 / 5
Performance	The Legion Tower 5 tears through AAA titles without breaking a sweat. It’s also eerily quiet.	5 / 5
Average rating	The Legion Tower 5 is a top-tier gaming desktop that delivers superb gaming performance. It’s large and heavy, and not the most expandable, but the premium design and its hushed operation might be enough to justify its cost.	4.34 / 5

Buy it if...

You want great build quality
The case is as premium as they come, looking smart and seeming very durable.

You want excellent gaming performance
The 5070 in my review unit blasted through AAA games without issue, all the while staying perfectly cool and incredibly silent.

Don't buy it if...

You want plenty of expandability
You can only have up to 32GB of RAM, and there aren’t many other slots left spare for upgrading.

You want minimal real estate
The Legion Tower 5 is no mini PC; it’s large and heavy, and the sharp vent panel on the top doesn’t exactly help with ergonomics.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5: Also Consider

Here are some equally desirable alternatives to the Lenovo Legion Tower 5:

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition)
Despite having the same RTX card and the same RAM capacity, but twice the installed storage, the NZXT Player PC is a little cheaper than the Legion Tower 5. It doesn’t skimp on quality, either: we were impressed with its ample ventilation and smart, solid construction. The lack of visible expansion slots was about the only drawback we could find.

Read the full NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) review

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250)
The Alienware Aurora ACT1250 offers an excellent experience at 1440p and beyond, as well as a host of configuration options that allow you to build up the perfect gaming PC for performance needs. It's not great on expandability, though.

Read the full Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) review

How I tested the Lenovo Legion Tower 5

Tested for two days
Used for gaming and benchmarked
Plentiful PC gaming experience

I tested the Legion Tower 5 for a couple of days, during which time I used it for a variety of tasks.

I used it for working, browsing, streaming video, and, of course, gaming. I played AAA titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 at various settings, including the highest preset. I also ran TechRadar’s series of benchmarks, to assess various aspects of its performance.

I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and have used a variety of systems and components during that time, and have built my own machines. I’ve also reviewed plenty of gaming hardware and laptops.

First reviewed October 2025

I used the Honor Magic V5 for a week and it put a spell on me

5:00 pm | October 19, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Honor Phones Phones | Tags: AI, Google Pixel, Qualcomm Snapdragon, RAM | Comments: Off

Honor Magic V5: Two-minute review

The Honor Magic V5 with a pond in the background — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

The Honor Magic V5 is a truly impressive folding phone. It’s the thinnest booklet-style folding phone ever, with two excellent displays, a design that expertly balances ergonomics and aesthetics, and fantastic battery life. Its rear camera system stands up to some of the best folding phones, while its internal hardware is as powerful as you’d expect from a device marketed on its multitasking capabilities.

The first thing you notice about the Honor Magic V5 is just how thin it is. At just 4.1mm thick (not including the sizeable camera bump), the Magic V5 is thinner than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Google Pixel 10 Pro, and even the region-locked Oppo Find N5, only beaten by the tri-folding Huawei Mate XT (another China exclusive). It’s so thin that it’s made me ask whether folding phones should keep getting thinner – its 7.95-inch inner screen really does disappear into your hand thanks to that ultra-thin frame.

Speaking of displays, the Magic V5 sports two excellent panels. Its 6.43-inch cover screen strikes a nice balance between compact and useable, and its 20:9 aspect ratio isn’t far off that of the iPhone 17 or Samsung Galaxy S25. The inner display measures 7.95-inches, with an approximate aspect ratio of 18:19.5.

That almost-square display is one of the best I’ve used on a folding phone, and makes reading articles, watching videos, taking photos a real joy. I also can’t get over just how similar the viewing experience is between the two displays – that’s a hard thing to nail given the change in material between the glass cover screen and plastic inner display, but Honor has done an excellent job.

The winning streak continues when it comes to the Magic V5’s battery, which is huge not only for a folding phone, but for a smartphone in general. With incredible engineering and straight-up alchemy, Honor has fit a 5920mAh battery into this phone – that’s larger than the battery in any comparable folding phone, and it's even bigger than the battery in the current-gen iPad mini. Charging is fast, battery life is long.

The Honor Magic V5 is the strongest contender to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Magic V5 outclasses Samsung’s latest booklet foldable in so many ways, and where Samsung does take the lead it isn’t by much. At £1,699 the Magic V5 decisively undercuts the Z Fold 7, which starts at £1,899 – though like all other Honor phones, the Magic V5 is unfortunately unavailable in the US. That limited availability will keep it off of our lists of the best phones and best folding phones, but if you’re looking for a folding phone in the UK or Europe, the Honor Magic V5 should be a serious contender.

Honor Magic V5: Price and Specs

The Honor Magic V5 with some foliage in the background — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

Not available in the US
Costs £1,699 in the UK (512GB of storage)
Comes in three colors, including a unique gold option

Like all Honor phones, whether you can get the Honor Magic V5 depends on where you live. It’s not available in the US, but can be bought online or through carriers in the UK, Europe, and other regions.

In the UK, the Honor Magic V5 costs £1699.99 for the model with 512GB of storage – there are no other configurations to choose from. Honor is bundling a 66W power adapter and Magic Pen stylus in the UK – though as there is no stylus in the box, I'm not going to cover the accessory in this review.

Let’s address the elephant in the room – £1,699.99 is a lot of money for a phone. However, the Honor Magic V5 does manage to undercut its rivals quite significantly. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at £1,899.99, while the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold starts at £1,799.99 – and both come with 256GB of storage, half of what the Honor Magic V5 offers.

And when you consider the Honor Magic V5’s impressive hardware specs, class-leading thinness and design, and impressive camera system, the value for money becomes even more apparent.

As for colors, the Magic V5 comes in Black, Ivory White (an online-exclusive option) and Dawn Gold, which has an eye-catching ripple effect on the rear panel. The specs below are for the Ivory White model I tested; the other two colors are actually a little thicker, at 4.2mm unfolded and 9mm folded, and are slightly heavier at 222g.

Honor Magic V5 specs
	Honor Magic V5
Dimensions (folded):	156.8 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm
Dimensions (unfolded):	156.8 x 145.9 x 4.1 mm
Weight:	217g
Main display:	7.95-inch LTPO AMOLED 2172 x 2352, 120Hz, 403ppi
Cover display::	6.43-inch LTPO OLED 2520 x 1080, 20:9, 120Hz, 404ppi
Chipset:	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
RAM:	16GB
Storage:	512GB
OS:	Android 15 / MagicOS 9
Primary camera:	50MP, f1.6, 23mm
Ultrawide camera:	50MP, f/2.0, 13mm
Telephoto	64MP, f/2.5, 70mm (3x)
Cover Camera:	20MP f2.2
Inner Camera:	20MP f2.2
Battery:	5,820mAh
Charging:	66W wired, 50W wireless
Colors:	Ivory White, Black, Dawn Gold

Value score: 4 / 5

Honor Magic V5: Design

Honor Magic V5, top edge, red tree in background — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

Looks simply phenomenal, and feels built to last
Very comfortable to use
Large camera bump and slightly noisy hinge

The Honor Magic V5 is the best-looking phone I’ve ever reviewed. This is a truly gorgeous piece of technology, and it’s clear that maximal attention has been given to achieving as much symmetry and ergonomic balance as the folding phone form factor will allow. The Ivory White color model is also the world’s thinnest folding phone at just 4.1mm thick when opened (not counting the substantial camera module). It’s a technical wonder that has me asking whether folding phones actually need to get any thinner.

Besides thinness, I noticed that the Magic V5 goes further than its contemporaries in providing a more comfortable experience. In the past, I’ve used folding phones with sharp edges and awkward bumps that make them uncomfortable to use for long sessions. On the Magic V5, Honor has flattened and rounded all the corners around the hinge, as well as the edges of the hinge itself – the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is almost as svelte, but has much sharper edges. The outer corners of the phone are also rounded off, which makes the unit very comfortable for one-handed or unfolded use.

Functionally, that hinge works well. It feels light to open, but not loose – it takes no real effort to open but won’t wobble much when partially unfolded.

The Honor Magic V5's smoothed hinge and corner — Check out those rounded corners - this is the first foldable I've used that feels actually comfortable. (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

As for construction, the Honor Magic V5 is composed of an aluminum chassis and a woven fiber rear panel that feels as solid as glass or ceramic materials used in other phones. The cover display is glass and the inner display is plastic, with raised plastic bezels housing the magnets that keep the phone snapped shut. Moreso than any other folding phone I’ve used the Honor Magic V5 lays totally flat when opened – and the crease on the inner display is so minimal that I had to remind myself to look for it when I set the phone up for the first time.

The camera housing is also superbly designed, and perfectly walks the line between subtlety and flair with its all-black coloring, textured metal ring, and octagonal bracketing. The phone also sports dual IP58 and IP59 dust and water resistance ratings – better than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 but not quite dust-sealed as the IP68-rated Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Fresh water shouldn’t be an issue, but keep it well away from fine dust, gravel, and sand.

The Honor Magic V5 is a wonder of engineering and the most comfortable folding phone I’ve ever used. I’m a large guy with a pretty big handspan, so I sometimes found it a bit difficult to get enough purchase on the phone to get it open, but I’m sure this experience varies.

However... after my test period for this review had concluded and about two months of use in total, I noticed that the inner screen protector had begun to separate from the folding display. That's not the type of thing we want to see from any folding phone, especially after such a short period of use. For now, we can't say whether this is a design flaw or just a one-off issue: we've contacted Honor directly to ask for comment and another test unit.

Design score: 5 / 5

Honor Magic V5: Displays

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The Honor Magic V5's cover display — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

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Honor Magic V5 unfolded on home screen — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

6.43-inch cover display
7.95-inch folding display
Both display have near-identical pixel density and top out at 3000 nits

The displays on the Honor Magic V5 are wonderful. The 6.43-inch cover display is amongst the sharpest and most vibrant screens I’ve used, and the 7.95-inch inner display is bright and immersive – what’s more, the viewing experience feels very consistent when switching between the two displays, something other folding phones have struggled to achieve.

In fact, when I unfolded the phone for the first time, I had to remind myself to look for a crease in the inner screen. It’s a far cry from the view-warping creases of folding phones from even a few years ago – I also noticed that, unlike some folding phones, the Magic V5 unfolds nearly perfectly flat, which makes it even easier to get lost in the expansive inner display.

In terms of technical specs, the Honor Magic V5’s cover display sports a resolution of 1060 x 2376 pixels, with 404 pixels per inch, while the inner display has a resolution of 2172 x 2352 pixels at 403 pixels per inch. What’s more, both panels top out at an absolutely ludicrous 5000 nits of brightness. Of course, those are theoretical limits, and your actual experience won't reflect those potentially harmful levels.

Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Magic V5 offers a sharper, higher resolution inner display, but can’t quite match the resolution and pixel density of the Galaxy’s cover screen.

Of all the folding devices I’ve used, the Magic V5 feels the most frictionless when switching between the two displays. Naturally, the glass cover display is a tiny bit sharper and looks a touch clearer, but Honor has calibrated these panels such that there’s little noticeable difference in color, brightness, or detail.

If there is an issue with the Honor Magic V5’s 7.95-inch folding display, it’s the issue common to all folding phones – that being that its larger screen space isn’t always efficiently used. Videos with a typical 16:9 aspect ratio can’t fill out the almost-square panel, and games often struggle to find a suitable safe zone (particularly first person games like Call of Duty). The inner screen is wonderful to look at, and perfect for reading, scrolling, and video calls, but a proper tablet might be better for streaming the best new shows.

Display score: 5 / 5

Honor Magic V5: Cameras

The Honor Magic V5's camera island — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

50MP main camera
64MP telephoto camera with 3x zoom
50MP ultra-wide camera
Twin 10MP selfie cameras

Folding phones have, until this year, had slightly weaker camera systems than their slab-phone counterparts – but times are changing. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched with a 200MP main lens, resetting expectations for the types of pictures that folding phones can produce.

The Honor Magic V5 sports three great rear cameras that come very close to producing flagship-standard images. Across a variety of shooting conditions I was able to take great photos with the Magic V5 – I was particularly impressed by how much detail the sensors captured; even noisy scenes with lots of foliage were reproduced with good definition, even if the contrast sometimes left me wanting. The image stabilization is also great all the way out to the maximum 100x digital zoom.

However, I found the post-processing could be fairly aggressive, and was often unsure of how much AI had impacted the final image, especially at long zoom ranges. That’s something to keep in mind if you prefer your photos to be a true reflection of the camera’s abilities, as there’s no way to fully disable the image processing pipeline.

The Magic V5 sports a triple-camera array housed on its rear panel, composed of a 50MP main camera, 50MP ultra-wide camera, and 64MP 3x telephoto camera. This gives the phone a lot of range and flexibility for still photography – the telephoto camera in particular strikes a nice balance between reach and usability for portraits and tighter landscape shots. Photos from all three cameras are bright and vibrant without looking unrealistically colorful, though there are some more vibrant profiles to choose from.

The Honor Magic V5 unfolded with the camera app open — Taking photos with the inner screen's huge viewfinder is a real joy. (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

Taking photos with the inner display is really intuitive – that 8-inch panel makes for a great viewfinder, and the unfolded frame allows the phone to rest steadily in-hand. However, I found the default camera app a little bit clunky, with some quick options (most notably aspect ratio) hidden behind an in-app menu.

The Magic V5 supports video shooting at 720p, 1080p, and 4K resolutions at either 30fps or 60fps. That large display is a boost for shooting video too, with plenty of blank space around the 16:9 frame to place your thumbs (though, for some reason, some controls are still placed over the viewfinder).

One of the only true let-downs on the Magic V5 is its pair of selfie cameras. The inner and outer displays house identical punch-hole 10MP selfie cameras that prove lacking in almost every situation. This is allayed by the rear camera selfie feature, which uses the cover display as a viewfinder, but that won’t always be the most convenient option.

Honor Magic V5: Camera samples

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A crossroads with a man on an e-bike riding past — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

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A building with mosaic decal — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

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A florist shop — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

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A viaduct bridge — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

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A building with gothic windows and towers — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

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A red flower up close — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

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A red tree with a bluey-grey sky — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

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A carved owl on a totem — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

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A red London bus — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

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A stream in a natural setting — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

Cameras score: 3 / 5

Honor Magic V5: Software and AI

The Honor Magic V5 in splitscreen mode — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

Android 15 with MagicOS 9
Honor AI and Google Gemini
Comprehensive multitasking tools

Like other Honor phones, the Magic V5 runs MagicOS 9, an Android iteration based on Android 15. As far as Android interfaces go, MagicOS sits somewhere between the speed and looseness of OnePlus’ OxygenOS and the stiffer, more structured feel of Samsung’s OneUI. It does the job.

As you might have guessed, the Honor Magic V5’s software shines brightest when it comes to foldable-specific features – the phone has a large suite of multitasking tools that allow for split screen and multi-windowed usage.

You can use a maximum of three apps at once in split screen mode (with one partially hidden off to one side), with another open in a floating overlay. To activate split screen mode you can either drag another app up from the taskbar or hold the bar that appears at the top of the screen. You can also open a single floating window when the phone is folded.

The situations that call for this level of multitasking are honestly pretty rare, but this is still an impressive amount of flexibility that helps the Honor Magic V5 feel like more than just a really big phone. Similarly to Apple’s Stage Manager tool for iPadOS, groups of windows stay together when you swipe up to see your opened apps, and I found it pretty easy to swap between split screen, multi-window, and full-screen modes with the on-screen buttons and contextual menus. However, some software isn't optimized for the folding display; I can give a pass to Honor on third party apps, but even pre-installed Google-made apps like YouTube sometimes gave me weird UI glitches. Luckily, this isn't too common.

MagicOS has a few more tricks up its sleeve. The phone can drive an external display at up to 1080p with the Magic Desktop feature, which is similar to Samsung’s DeX environment and allows for desktop-style usage with a keyboard and mouse. Back on the touchscreen, certain apps have a pull-down tab on the homescreen icon itself, which allows you to, say, quickly glance the time in another timezone or type down a quick note.

The phone is also loaded with AI tools from both Honor and Google (via Gemini, Circle to Search etc). These are found all over the OS, from generative note writing to AI image editing, and an uncanny feature that generates short videos from still images (first seen on the Honor 400 earlier this year). I personally found that Honor has been pretty heavy handed with implementing AI, to the point that it can be harder to find basic functions. For example, to crop an image in the photo gallery, you have to select “AI Edit”, which is now the catch-all term for photo editing.

Software and AI score: 4 / 5

Honor Magic V5: Performance

Crossy Road open on the Honor Magic V5 — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset
16GB of RAM
Never slow, but does heat up a bit

As is typical for high-end folding phones, the Honor Magic V5 is fully loaded with top-end internal hardware, which translates to consistently great performance across multitasking and gaming. It’s got the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a full 16GB of RAM – that’s as good as it gets for Android phones, so you won’t come up against hardware constraints. The Magic V5 also comes with 512GB of storage, so no matter which configuration you choose you’ll have plenty of space for photos, videos, and apps.

I was able to make full use of the Magic V5’s software capabilities thanks to this array of high-end silicon. I never encountered any stuttering in the UI, and loading various apps was snappy and seamless, whether in full-screen or in MagicOS 9’s multitasking modes. There’s no lag when switching between apps or in games like Call of Duty Mobile – everything just runs, which is, in fairness, what you want from a phone that costs this much.

However, all that power in such a thin frame does mean the Magic V5 gets pretty warm. It never got uncomfortably hot, but it did seem to warm up very quickly compared to flagship slab phones. This is an these common to thin phone designs, as we’ve recently seen with the iPhone Air – the Magic V5 never got uncomfortably hot, but heat can have negative effects on battery life and potential performance over time, so it's something to keep an eye on.

With that said, I reviewed the Oppo Find N5 earlier this year – another ultra-thin folding phone with a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset – and didn’t notice much in the way of heat.

Performance score: 4 / 5

Honor Magic V5: Battery

The Honor Magic V5 USB-C port — (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

5820mAh battery capacity would be impressive on a slab phone, let alone a foldable
All-day battery life with plenty to spare
66W wired charging with 50W wireless charging

By some miracle of physics, the Honor Magic V5 has a 5,820mAh battery. Let’s put that into perspective – the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a 4,400mAh battery, the OnePlus Open has a 4,805mAh battery, and the Honor Magic 7 – a flagship slab phone – has a 5,650mAh battery. Folding phones are typically consigned to smaller batteries due to their split construction, but the Honor Magic V5 sports cells that add up to a fractionally smaller total than a massive Pro-grade cameraphone. It’s really quite something.

This translates to excellent battery life. I’ve used a few folding phones that sport ‘all-day’ battery life, but the Honor Magic V5 gets through a full day of mixed use so effortlessly that I might not think about recharging until midway through the next day. The phone supports 66W fast wired charging with Honor’s proprietary charging kit, but as there’s no brick in the box I could only test it with third party chargers (I got up to 80% in just under an hour with a 40W brick). The handset also supports an impressive 50W power draw in wireless charging. That’s much higher than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and many slab phones.

I will concede that the Honor Magic V5 seems to chew through battery a bit faster than slab phones, but the phone’s low-power mode is a real lifesaver when you’re caught away from an outlet. I felt fine leaving the house in the morning with around 50% charge, knowing that this would carry me through half a day or more of mixed use very comfortably. Of the folding phones I've used, this has the best battery life for sure.

Folding phones are known to be less efficient with their battery capacities than their slab phone contemporaries, as the cell is typically split between the two halves of the phone. That the Honor Magic V5 offers such impressive battery life is testament to Honor's engineering prowess.

Battery score: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Honor Magic V5?

Honor Magic V5 score card

Attribute	Notes	Rating
Value	The Magic V5 isn't cheap by any means, but offers more than the competition for less money.	4 / 5
Design	The thinnest and most comfortable folding phone on the market, and beautifully built too.	5 / 5
Displays	Two beautiful and remarkably consistent displays.	5 / 5
Cameras	Three great rear cameras that get close to flagship standard. Selfie cameras are terrible.	3 / 5
Performance	Never slows down, even in the throes of multitasking. Warms up quickly.	4 / 5
Software	MagicOS 9 is loaded with multitasking and AI tools. It can be a little complicated at times, but flexibility is always welcome.	4 / 5
Battery	A larger battery than most flagship slabs keeps things moving all day. No notes.	5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a powerful all-in-one device

The Honor Magic V5 has enough hardware power and software flexibility to get through most everyday tasks with ease. It's a great pick for light productivity/View Deal

You want a beautiful phone

The Honor Magic V5 is the thinnest folding phone on the global market and looks absolutely gorgeous. Everything in its construction looks and feels premium.View Deal

You want a cheaper folding phone

At £1,699.99, the Honor Magic V5 costs a lot. That said, it's cheaper than the competition from Samsung and Google, and is possibly even more capable. View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget

Despite the above, the Honor Magic V5 is still several hundred pounds more expensive than even the best slab phones. View Deal

You keep it simple

The Magic V5 has two screens, a suite of multitasking tools, an abundance of AI, and a total of five cameras. If you don't need loads of power, you might be better off saving some money on a simpler phone. View Deal

You want a familiar experience

The Honor Magic V5 runs MagicOS 9, which is a variant of Android, but those who value familiarity might prefer the simplicity of a Google Pixel or a phone in the well-known Samsung ecosystem. View Deal

Honor Magic V5: Also consider

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

I've spent most of this review recounting the ways the Honor Magic V5 beats the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but if you're after a more familiar software experience, class-leading cameras, or Samsung DeX, you'll only get it with the latter.

Read our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review View Deal

iPhone Air

If you just want a thin, light, and powerful phone but don't think you'll use the folding display that much, the iPhone Air is the new thin and powerful handset that's got the entire tech world talking about it.

Read our iPhone Air review View Deal

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold isn't the thinnest or most powerful folding phone, but it is the only one on the market that offers IP68 certification (that means it's dust sealed and submersion resistant). Our phones go everywhere with us, so durability is something to seriously consider.

Read our Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review View Deal

How I tested the Honor Magic V5

I used the Honor Magic V5 for an extended review period, culminating in a week-long stint as my daily driver. I used the Magic V5 to make calls, send messages, scroll through the internet and social media, play games, take pictures, and shoot video. I made sure to balance my use between the cover screen and folding display, and found that both screens could handle most tasks very well.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition review: I tested this convertible business laptop and the pros far outweigh the cons

9:47 am | September 20, 2025

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

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition is a convertible two-in-one laptop well-suited to both business and creative tasks.

It’s a highly portable machine, measuring 0.31 in - 0.64 in x 12.31 in x 8.57in and with a starting weight of 2.97lb (1.35kg). As I’d expect from a true ThinkPad - even a 2-in-1 model - it’s robustly built and ideal for home and office working.

As an Aura Edition laptop, it’s an AI PC running on an Intel Core Ultra chip which, according to Lenovo “accelerates your AI experience” without being a drag on the battery. Whether that’s a plus or a minus in your book will vary. In my experience it was…fine. But I’m not the world’s biggest AI user anyway.

But as a self-confessed ThinkPad fan, I was excited to check out the overall feel and performance.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition: Price & availability

Prices for the laptop start from $1892 / £1820 (currently discounted from £2250 at time of review).

At that price, the US version of the machine comes loaded with Windows 11 Home running on the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, 16GB RAM, and 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 SSD.

In the UK, the base model runs W11 Home on the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V chip, 32GB RAM, and 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen5 SSD.

You can also spec-up the machine with up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 268V vPro processor, 2TB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro operating system.

Either way, the base model 14in IPS touchscreen display panel has a resolution of 1920 x 1200, with Anti-Glare. It hits 100% sRGB, has a brightness of 500 nits, and a 60Hz refresh rate.

There are two other screen options, too - either the business-oriented display with its ePrivacy filter, which is otherwise identical to the base model. Or the more complex 2.8K OLED Low Blue Light display with HDR 500 True Black with 100% DCI-P3, 500 nits, VRR 30-120Hz, making it the better pick for creators.

The ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition is available from Lenovo US and Lenovo UK, as well as online retailers.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition: Design & features

Specs

As reviewed:

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
RAM: 32GB
GPU: Integrated Intel Arc 140V GPU (16GB)
Storage: 1TB
Display: 14in OLED
Brightness: 500 nits
Refresh rate: 30-120Hz
Color gamut: 100% DCI-P3
Ports & connectivity: 2x USB-A, 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 1x Nano SIM, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x audio jack, 1x Kensington Nano Security slot, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 7
Operating system: Windows 11 Pro

The look and feel of the X1 2-in-1 is distinctly ThinkPad - I found it robust in hand thanks to its aluminum chassis, which boasts MIL-STD-810H construction. Not exactly a true rugged laptop, then, but durable enough for the most hardened commuters. Besides the silvery accents, the main body is a stylish space grey that I thought looked professional without being boring.

The 14in screen has a thin bezel that sits behind the glass, with an elevated notch where the camera sits. The camera itself is 5MP, comes complete with physical privacy shutter, and supports Windows Hello for a passwordless sign-in.

Along the right-hand side is a USB-A and two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a Nano SIM slot. To the left, there’s another USB-A port, as well as HDMI 2.1 port, audio jack, a Kensington Nano Security slot, and a discrete power button that sits flush with the frame. In a world where laptop makers are gradually stripping back connectivity, I find this array generous enough, and I didn’t feel the immediate need to hook up a laptop docking station. Another bonus here is the support for Wi-Fi 7, perfect for future-proofing connectivity.

Now, I’m a big champion of ThinkPad laptops (I use the T14s on a daily basis, but I’ve been a fan since I first got my trusty old T431s). In my experience, they easily offer the best typing experience compared to other laptop brands. Alright, the new Lenovo models may lack the key travel of the older IBM ThinkPads (1.5mm vs 1.8mm), but even still, they’re a joy to use.

In this regard, I was a little wary of trying out X1 2-in-1 Gen 10, as some older X1 laptops had previously used a keyboard with a stubby 1.35mm travel depth. Lenovo has, thankfully, done away with that - here, you get the same 1.5mm backlit board you’ll find on the T-series ThinkPads. As such, using this for long writing sessions is a total breeze.

However, I spotted a few differences here compared to your more traditional business laptops. Of course, there’s the iconic red Trackpoint, but there’s also a fingerprint scanner for signing in without a password and beside it, a dedicated Microsoft Copilot button - clicking this unlocks the AI assistant, while granting easy access to all the usual Office apps.

Interestingly, Lenovo has switched the Fn and Ctrl keys around here, bringing it in line with most keyboards. Older ThinkPads place the Fn key to the left, rather than the right, and I have to change this using the Lenovo Vantage app.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition: Display

My review model featured an OLED screen at 2880 x 1800 resolution with 60-120Hz refresh rate. Colors are vivid and bright, near-perfect in reproduction due to the 100% DCI-P3 gamut. For those looking for a general laptop for photo editing as well as productivity tasks, this is a pretty safe bet, I found.

The laptop operates in four ways - laptop, tablet, tent, and presentation mode, and all four work very well. I experienced no issues here at all, with the screen orientation changing swiftly and without lag when I switched from one configuration to the next. The movement feels sturdy and smooth, and pleasingly there’s no additional play to the 360-degree hinges.

What I didn’t like, however, was how reflective the screen was. Turn off the laptop and it’s like staring into a black mirror. That might not be a deal-breaker for some, but it certainly gave me pause and if you’re going to be using this outside or in direct sunlight, you’ll want to crank up the brightness to mitigate it as much as possible.

As a touchscreen device, this unit also included a stylus, which magnetically clamps to the right side of the screen. Using this in tablet mode was a total joy. Input was instant and the whole experience felt smooth.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition: Performance

I experienced no issues when using the laptop - running Microsoft’s Office suite, browsing the internet, opening many, many, many, many tabs in Chrome, at this level, nothing seemed to slow down this machine.

Under heavier workloads, there is a tendency for the X1 to run a little warm, and there, I did experience some minor slowing. But even, the impact felt negligible and it’s unlikely to prove an issue for professionals using this for general business tasks.

For a convertible business laptop, then, I found it well-specced and impressively powerful enough for day-to-day operations. Ok, it won’t deliver the same performance you’ll find from a mobile workstation or gaming laptop, but that’s not what it’s been designed for.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition: Battery life

One of the stand-out areas with the X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition is the battery life. The machine is rocking a 57Whr battery, which is hardly massive, but acceptable. Don’t let that fool you, though, because battery life is surprisingly spectacular.

The device itself is rated for up to 20.2 hours when benchmarked using MobileMark 25, according to Lenovo. But this assumes minimal use. Streaming video playback should net up to 16.3 hours. For those using this laptop on the go, it’s positively perfect.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition: Final verdict

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Overall, I enjoyed my time with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition - whether I was using it as a tablet or laptop.

It’s more than capable of handling the usual suite of business apps and software, and here, the laptop performs brilliantly. Everything feels smooth, responsive, and efficient, making it a good pick for those who prize productivity above all else.

True, it’s not the most powerful around, it’s expensive for what it is, and I’m still not a fan of the glossy screen, but all told, there’s little else to complain about.

Couple that durable design with a good port selection, excellent battery life, and a neat, multi-use design, and you have one of the best 2-in-1 laptops for professionals around.

Should I buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	Convertible, durable, and distinctly ThinkPad in style	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Performance	Perfect for office duties as well as lighter weight creative tasks	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	A steeper cost than I'd like, but par for the course with a business laptop	⭐⭐⭐⭐

Buy it if…

You want a business 2-in-1: As a convertible laptop, this works superbly well in all its configurations. I especially like the smooth efficiency when using it as a tablet alongside the Yoga Pen stylus.

Battery life is a concern: I found the longevity of the battery to be superb here, and if you’re working on the go or away from a mains outlet, it’s perfect.

Don’t buy it if…

You need absolute power: Yes, it’s a powerful little machine, but with these specs, it can’t measure up to the performance of the ThinkPad P-series. This is, after all, a business laptop first and foremost.

You’re on a budget: Arguably the biggest issue with this device is the cost - it’s a pricey number, as business machines tend to be.

For more productivity performance, we tested the best business computers and the best business tablets.