The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 is Lenovo's answer to the Microsoft Surface, perhaps even the Microsoft Surface Pro. Regardless, Lenovo has positioned this 12.3-inch detachable computer as a fantastic choice for business users who need a lightweight and durable device.
The ThinkPad line-up has been a favorite of many for years, and the X12 Detachable Gen 2 has potential to be great. But how does this sleek two-in-one compare to the best business laptops around? I put it to the test.
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2: Price and Availability
The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable starts at $1,430 but can easily cross $2,000 once you start upgrading elements of the computer. The best place to grab this device would be through Lenovo or any other partner. However, you can frequently find them for sale at other computer retailers. One great benefit to the pricing on this model is that the keyboard and precision pen are included in the order.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2: Unboxing and First Impressions
Lenovo's ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 comes in fairly minimalist packaging, including the detachable keyboard and precision pen, packaged separately from the slab of glass that is the ThinkPad X12 Gen 2. Right off the bat, especially with the keyboard detached, the computer feels incredibly light and minimalist. At first glance, believing it's a fully-baked computer can be challenging. However, I noticed all of the iconic ThinkPad aesthetics and realized this was just a detachable ThinkPad computer.
The keyboard attaches easily, and the precision pen has a lovely home to store it when not in use. Everything feels like it intentionally goes together, though as a heavy iPad user, it feels silly not to magnetically attach the pen to the top of the device, much like I do on my iPads.
The kickstand on the back of the computer works well. It's the same as I have seen on other and similar devices.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2: Design and Build Quality
Specs
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5/7 RAM: Up to 32GB Storage: Up to 1TB SSD Screen: 12.3-inch FHD+ IPS touchscreen with Gorilla Glass protection Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, optional LTE
The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 has a Magnesium-aluminum body with a sleek matte black finish across the entire device case. Lenovo has an excellent build quality with this device, and even though the keyboard may pop off easily if not magnetically holding to the screen while folded up in clamshell, the device boasts the MIL-STD 810H standard. It is an excellent piece of mind for a computer that is this easy to carry around and used to have this level of durability and rigidity.
As briefly mentioned, the ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 is a detachable computer, meaning it's a slab, much like a tablet, with a keyboard that can be magnetically attached to operate more like a computer. This keyboard features a Trackpoint and backlighting in addition to a standard trackpad.
One thing worth noting is that while this device can look and feel and even be described much like an iPad with a Magic Keyboard, an Android tablet with a Bluetooth keyboard case, or similar, this is very much a full-blown computer; it just has a different form factor than a standard laptop (or even the best ThinkPad laptops).
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2: In use
Laptops have become commonplace in our day-to-day lives. Laptops in 2024 have a near-perfect balance between impressive power and portability. However, modularity has yet to be perfected, where a device can be multiple. It's still commonplace to see people with tablets, computers, laptops, and desktops, especially in the professional world.
What the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 is attempting to do is to create the perfect all-in-one device. And while it's not ideal, it's heading in the right direction. I like having a laptop and a tablet separate. But this is an excellent option for those looking for that all-in-one design. I don't love the kickstand, though I understand why it's there.
Additionally, I don't love the flimsy feeling of a keyboard, but then again, I'm coming from a place where my everyday driver is a classic laptop where the screen is thin, and the bulk of the computer comes from under the keyboard; this design changes that and puts the bulk under the display.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Performance-wise, the X12 Detachable Gen 2 is good but could be better. It works well for basic productivity but then struggles with intensive tasks, plus the battery is not as good as I can get in a "comparable" laptop.
I stand with this device because if you are looking for a quality device that can act as both a tablet and a laptop, Lenovo's ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 is worth considering. However, if you are looking for a productivity laptop, something other than this might fit you. And, if you're looking for a tablet, this is not what you're looking for.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2: Final verdict
The ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 scores high in durability and design but falters in performance and battery life. While a compelling choice for ThinkPad enthusiasts, other options may provide better value for performance-focused users. Right now, these 2-in-1 machines feel like they are a decent computer and a decent tablet rather than a great version of either of those two things.
The Precision 5690 is considered a flagship in Dell's Mobile Workstation line-up, and for good reason. And like all the best mobile workstations we've reviewed, this heavy-duty laptop caters to professionals who need the extra power, even at the cost. These individuals who need this kind of computer need exceptional portable computing power. The Precision 5690 boasts the latest Intel Meteor Lake processors, AI integration, NVIDIA's Ada-generation GPU, and a fantastic build quality, making it a highly versatile tool for even the most demanding tasks. Granted, it does take some design inspiration from the ever-popular Dell XPS range and some from the competitors at Apple; the Precision 5690 stands tall as a fantastic contender for serious productivity and workload.
Dell Precision 5690: Price and Availability
The base model costs around $2,300 and includes an Intel Core Ultra 5, integrated graphics, and an FHD+ non-touch display. Our test model is spec'd out with an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H 2.5GHz processor with 64GB of RAM, Windows 11 Pro, an NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation GPU, 4TB of internal storage, and a 4K OLED display. This test model comes in around $6,500.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Dell Precision 5690: Unboxing and First Impressions
Though this computer is quite robust in power, the packaging for the Dell Precision 5690 is humble. Its minimalistic approach reflects Dell's commitment to sustainability with recycled materials. Within the product box are the laptop, a 165W USB-C Charger, a USB-C to USB-A dongle, and some protective papers ensuring the computer makes it to you without a scratch. From the moment I took the protective sleeve off, I loved the anodized aluminum chassis. It looks premium and feels like it can be used daily and shouldn't get destroyed. it's right up there with the best business laptops I've tried.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Dell Precision 5690: Design and Build Quality
Specs
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, 16 cores. GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada with 16GB GDDR6. Display: 16-inch UHD+ OLED, 3840 x 2400, 400 nits, 100% DCI-P3. RAM: Up to 64GB LPDDR5x. Storage: Configurable up to 8TB SSD. Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI 2.1, SD card reader.
The Dell Precision 5690 showcases a sleek yet professional design made of a Titan Gray anodized aluminum case material. It's hefty, yet it is pretty portable for the workstation at only 4.5 lbs. Just as importantly, it can maintain a sturdy build with overall minimal flex. This is not a flimsy device, which is excellent for those who use their laptops daily. It can be used without worrying about snapping or breaking the first time used in the real world.
Coming from a guy with a personal MacBook Pro, I am particular about my touchpads; I don't put up with anything less than excellent. And the Precision 5690's touchpad is fantastic. It has a tremendously wide shape and fantastic haptic feedback and feel in general. Further, the keyboard is another thing that needs to be excellent for a laptop to be genuinely great since part of the reason people choose a laptop over a desktop is to be able to use it on the go. If the keyboard is excellent and built-in, that's one less thing that needs to be carried alongside the laptop, further bulking up the otherwise portable setup. Much like the touchpad, the keyboard is also great on this computer. Granted, it's no Keychron custom mechanical keyboard, but it's a fantastic keyboard with backlit keys. If it had a numpad, it might've been perfect.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Dell Precision 5690: In use
I'll say it one more time. I am used to working on a MacBook Pro day in and out. So, I frequently compare laptops I test to that as a litmus test. The Dell Precision 5690 has made me confident that I could run with just the Precision 5690 and fly through every single thing in my workflow with the slightest of ease and then some, with only having to re-learn keyboard shortcuts. Jokes aside, this machine is incredible. Yes, there are even more powerful computers. Yes, there are more portable laptops, too. Many laptops are "more" of one thing or another, but the Dell Precision 5690 has been one of those unique computers that fits the sweet spot of being a device that does everything well.
It performs very well in all categories it's intended to. I've taken this as my only laptop for several days now, and I have zero hangups or hiccups when it comes to getting work done on this laptop, which is across all the various types of tasks I do. I have been able to do admin work, emails, spreadsheets, web-browsing, and project management, along with also getting a photo and some video editing done; I've been able to run programs, try my hand at some coding, I've gamed, I have run remote desktops, I have run benchmarks to know that this could be a serious contender even in engineering and running massive code bases, deliver exceptional performance across CAD, and CGI work,
And through all that, this laptop is still portable enough that I don't mind throwing it in a backpack and carrying it to wherever work takes me that day. Even the battery is excellent for this kind of machine. I'll keep a power bank and charger in my bag because that's the kind of person I am, but I don't feel like I need to top off every couple of hours; I can buckle down for a long working session without the anxiety of getting charged.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Because of the 4K OLED display, I enjoy using this display. Some professional laptops opt for a 1080p display, which is fine, but then I go from my iPhone 16 Pro's beautiful display and I find myself wishing for a better screen. I don't have this issue here. With the Precision 5690, that beautiful screen makes watching content feel right, and adds a little extra to editing photos and videos.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Dell Precision 5690: Final verdict
The Dell Precision 5690 is a workstation marvel, combining portability with uncompromising performance. While its price and limited port options may deter some, its sheer power, stunning display, and premium build make it a no-brainer for professionals needing the best. Whether you’re an architect, data scientist, creative professional, or someone who needs reliable power in their primary machine, the Precision 5690 delivers impressive results that justify its premium price tag.
Lenovo is a well-known brand in the world of professional business computing. They make phenomenal computers of all shapes, sizes, budgets, and performance. The ThinkStation P3 Ultra targets design, engineering, and video editing professionals who need high-powered machines capable of some serious computing power.
The ThinkStation P3 Ultra is on the higher end of Lenovo Workstations, and can be spec'd up to a 14th Gen i9, Windows 11 Pro for Business, NVIDIA RTX A5500, up to 128 GB RAM, up to 4TB of storage, and even an M.2 RAID. This can be a pretty hefty computer with a pretty hefty price tag. But how does it compare to the best workstations we've reviewed? We put the ThinkStation P3 Ultra to the test.
Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra: Price and Availability
Since there are so many upgrades available to the ThinkStation P3 Ultra, there are even more possible price tags thanks to the different possible combinations of these upgrades. However, what is easy to state is that the starting price for all base features is $934.45 at the time of writing this article, and the price, of course, climbs from there. The highest-end model can reach nearly $5,000. Compared to similar PCs, there is some competitive pricing for some of the features.
The Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra is available in multiple regions, such as the US and the UK. For more information on whether this computer is available for you, the best place to start looking is on Lenovo's website. However, it is available on multiple other retailers as well.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra: Unboxing and First Impressions
Unboxing the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra was about like unboxing any other Lenovo computer. The box is simple and contains the workstation, a power cable, an adapter for Wi-Fi, and setup guides. Right away, I could tell this machine meant power, partly due to the abundance of DisplayPorts in the back and partially because it looked beefy, like every square millimeter of space packed with power on the inside. The compact nature was immediately noticeable, yet it does not feel compact when using it; instead, it feels quite expansive, powerful, and like a supercar at the start of an open highway.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra: Design and Build Quality
As expected for a high-end workstation, the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra has excellent build quality. It seems durable -- though I don't feel any desire to push this to the limit due to the cost of this machine -- it feels like it cools pretty easily, the machine is relatively quiet even when under heavy loads, and it has easy to access ports, without any being hidden, or in dumb spots, as some compact units choose to do to save space. However, one thing that I did notice that I did not love was the absence of Thunderbolt ports at the back of the unit. There are two in the front, which is helpful, especially for large file transfers, but none in the back.
As someone who loves and gets to utilize some of the best Thunderbolt Docks on the market, I am pretty bummed none of mine will reach full potential unless the Thunderbolt cable is plugged into the front of the unit. Additionally, if I had a Thunderbolt or even a USB-C display I wanted to use, I would have to also run a DisplayPort cable up to my monitor of choice. But, especially with the newest Apple Computers releasing Thunderbolt 5, having the Thunderbolt 4 ports on the front of the machine will help with data transfer, and that's probably why they are there in the first place.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra: In use
Specs
CPU: Intel 13th-gen Core (up to i9) or Xeon GPU: NVIDIA RTX A2000 to A5000 options RAM: Up to 64GB DDR5 ECC memory Storage: Up to 4TB SSD Ports: USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt OS: Windows 11 Pro
The Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra is not the computer you would get to run a few Chrome (or any other browser) Tabs. It's different from one you would use for essential business or admin work. This is the kind of machine you get when you have advanced 3D rendering jobs, CAD projects, or even video editing that need to be done. During my testing, I pushed the RAM and GPU by exporting four lines of 4k footage through DaVinci Resolve, and it sliced through it like butter. I also used this to finish some CAD projects I had started for some 3D printing projects I am working on (for more, see our round-up of the best 3D printers). I found the workstation was able to render incredibly fast, and it sliced the .stl so I could send it to my 3D printer super quick, too.
I will be the first to admit I am a heavy and intense computer user, but at the same time, I am nowhere near the most powerful user there is. I wouldn't need this kind of power in my day-to-day, but it is very nice to have. This powerhouse would be helpful for professional video editors, those who use CAD for 3D renderings, and even some intense coders or programmers.
For the raw power that this computer can output, even when under heavy load, it remains pretty quiet. And, when it's not maxing out its cores, it's pretty quiet and could sit out on your desk without needing to be tucked away due to loud fans.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra: Final verdict
Overall, The ThinkStation P3 Ultra from Lenovo is an excellent choice for those who prioritize power and want a compact form factor. Granted, there are some limitations in ports when it comes to Thunderbolt placement and lack of HDMI, but even with that being the case, this computer is still highly versatile and incredibly powerful for those who need a powerful compact desktop.
Samsung's Galaxy S25 family is coming in January, though there's currently a bit of confusion as to whether it will land in early or late January. Still, we're getting ever closer to the official unveiling, and now a benchmark run has revealed the fact that the base model will have 12GB of RAM. That's a nice step up from the 8GB of the entry-level S24, although that one did have a 12GB iteration as well.
We're hoping the S25 loses the 8GB tier entirely, but we can never be 100% sure until the actual announcement, so do keep that in mind.
The Galaxy S25 models will either all go with...
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X Graphics: ASUS ProArt RTX 4060Ti RAM: 32GB DDR5 5200 Storage: 2 x 1TB M.2 1 x 4TB IronWolf Rear Ports: 2 x USB 2.0, HDMI, BIOS Flashback button, USB 3.2 Gen 2, 3 of which are Type-A and 1 Type-C, Display Port, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DP, optical S/PDIF out port, 5 x audio jacks, HDMI 2.1a 3 DisplayPort 1.4a and HDCP Support. Top Ports: 3.5mm audio in, 3.5mm audio in-out, 2 x USB A and a USB Type-C Connectivity: Dual Band 1200Mbps, Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet, Realtek 1Gb Ethernet Audio: Realtek 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio Camera: N/A Size: 435 x 215 x 465mm OS installed: Windows 11 Pro Accessories: N/A
Stormforce Gaming is known for making high-end gaming machines. However, they also make some of the most stylish creative machines on the market, including the Stormforce Pro Creator 0601.
This machine is pitched as a workstation for creatives with the hardware and feature set that is perfectly tuned to what designers, illustrators, photographers and even videographers require from a machine. The system is based on an ASUS ProArt B650-Creator motherboard, which is complemented by a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 7700x CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060TI GPU. While this combination sounds incredibly high-end when it comes to power and abilities for a standard desktop, these specifications actually pitch the machine at the entry-level when it comes to professional creative use. I've reviewed plenty of the best video editing computers and best photo editing PCs, and this one of the top machines I've tested.
What's interesting here is that Stormforce has pulled on the company's years of experience with their high-powered gaming machines and adapted them to suit the needs of high-end enthusiasts and professional creatives. As such, this machine strikes a balance between performance and price and offers a core system that will enable you to get up and running with ample power and capacity to handle most jobs.
Then, as your demands on the machine grow for additional storage and other expansions, the machine can grow and adapt as needed. This is a full-sized powered workstation that has been designed to grow and adapt to you.
While the machine itself offers plenty of power from the outset, it's the look and design of the machine that initially stand out. The case from Fractal Design reflects the styling of modern creative spaces. While the casing is larger than your standard desktop machine, the style will make you want this computer on display with the wooden frontage, glass side panels, and matte black finish, not only being functional but also a real statement.
Meanwhile, Stormforce Pro Creator 0601 is powerful when it comes to professional workstations that power sit at the entry-level, with the option to upgrade all components easily around the motherboard. However, the CPU and GPU are powerful mid-range models, as are the RAM and internal SSDs, which will be more than enough for most pro users, with upgrades really only required to the system if you need to edit longer-length 4K and 8K RAW video. As it stands, however, this machine is outstanding at a price and for the features and future potential that it offers.
Stormforce Pro Creator 0601: Price & availability
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Stormforce Pro Creator 0601 is available directly from Stormforce Gaming for £1999 - you can check out the full details by clicking here.
Price: 4/5
Stormforce Pro Creator 0601: Design & build
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Like almost all the best workstations tested here, the Stormforce Pro Creator 0601 is essentially designed for professional use or, at the very least, for high-end enthusiasts. Considering what you get for the price, it's extremely well-balanced. When it comes to the base design, it looks like a standard desktop, just a touch larger, which is due to the fact that it has been designed to house a large CPU and GPU, along with all the additional support that those components require. It also means that there's plenty of room for expansion and additional drives and, more importantly, enables lots of airflow around the machine to keep things cool when under load.
While the Stormforce Pro Creator 0601 is large, the company has been careful to balance style with functionality, and the choice of the Fractal Design North Mid Tower case is striking. The front of the machine features a wooden slatted design reminiscent of the style that is being adopted by many design studios installing soundproof walling panels.
Otherwise, when it comes to the design and function, the machine is nice and simple, with a few quick access ports along with the power button on the top and the rest of the ports and connectivity at the back.
If you want to gain access to the inside of the machine to install additional hardware or upgrade the existing, then the side panel is held in place by a few hand-tightened bolts, which are easily removed. Once done, the glass side panel that gives you a view of the inner workings can be removed, and the internals can be accessed. Again, the design is stylish and neat. Colourful LEDs are common in gaming machines, and again, here, there are a few lights. Still, it's all nicely understated and gives the machine an altogether more professional and stylish aesthetic.
Design: 5/5
Stormforce Pro Creator 0601: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Workstation is larger than your average desktop, so it is really more likely to be placed on the floor rather than on the desk, where it would dominate the surface. As such, the casing has been designed with a range of sockets on top, such as the 3.5mm audio in and out as separate sockets, two USB A and a USB Type-C, enabling you to plug in hard drives and other accessories easily and these all sit alongside the large gold power button.
On one side there's the glass tinted window so that you can see the layout of the inside of the machine's components; then, around the back, you have the full array of ports, including 2 x USB 2.0, HDMI, BIOS Flashback button, USB 3.2 Gen 2, 3 of which are Type-A and 1 Type-C, Display Port, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DP, optical S/PDIF out port, 5 x audio jacks, these are all from the motherboard. In addition to these ports there's also an HDMI 2.1a 3 DisplayPort 1.4a and HDCP Support which are intergrated into the GPU.
As this is a workstation, everything is easily accessible, so if you want to get into the inner workings to swap the SSDs, RAM or otherwise, all you need to do is unscrew the securing knobs, which can be done by hand, and the panel to access the inside can be removed. In our review sample, the machine arrived with 32GB of DDR5 RAM, which can be upgraded to 192 GB. There's also plenty of storage with 3 x M.2 slots and 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports. As standard, there are 2 x 1TB drives and a 4TB IronWolf Pro, which is an ideal starting point. You then have the option to add more storage in the form of additional SATA drives.
The volume of accessibility options further reinforces the professional level of this machine; there's plenty more to add to the highlights. But at the core its the ASUS ProArt B650-Creator motherboard with AMD Ryzen 7 7700X AMD Wraith Optimised cooling, ASUS ProArt NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060Ti, 32GB DDR5 5200 RAM, 4TB IronWolf Pro SSD alongside two 1TB SSDs that give this machine the power needed for most types of creative use. Essentially, if you put together a no-fuss wish list for a high end entry-level creative machine, then this is it.
Features: 5/5
Stormforce Pro Creator 0601: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Benchmarks
Crystal Disk Read: 3653.70MB/s Crystal Disk Write: 2611.94MB/s GeekBench CPU Single: 2457 GeekBench CPU Multi: 13525 GeekBench Compute: 135702 PC Mark: 8087 CineBench CPU Multi: 17175 CineBench CPU Single: 1616 Fire Strike Overall: 29901 Fire Strike Graphics: 33701 Fire Strike Physics: 30592 Fire Strike Combined: 15909 Time Spy Overall: 13288 Time Spy Graphics: 13464 Time Spy CPU: 12374 Wild Life: 74864 Windows Experience: 8.9
Setup of the Stormforce Pro Creator 0601 is fast enough, and once unboxed and plugged in, it boots into the standard Windows 11 Pro setup process, and you can fly through the options and settings quickly. The Wi-Fi connection is fast, with the dual band wifi card, enabling fast connection to the local network and enabling the applications required for the test to be downloaded and installed quickly.
Starting a look at the benchmarks and the CrystalDiskMark scores of 3653.70MB/s read and 2611.94MB/s write show a mid-range performance for the SSD, enabling applications to open quickly and for Creative Cloud apps to access and write files to the drive at speed. While the drive is mid-range when it comes to speed, it's more than enough for most tasks, including working with Premiere Pro and reviewing footage prior to editing. Likewise, the speed at which edits are rendered and exported is fast, and for standard 4K and 8K video, the overall performance on this front is impressive.
Checking out the Geekbench scores and the single-core result shows excellent performance, this result is experienced with smooth, fluid brush strokes in Photoshop and scrubbing through footage in Premiere Pro. There are essentially no glitches, and the workflow is smooth and natural. Reinforcing the CrystalDiskMark scores the Multi-Core score from Geekbench again sees the speed of video renders in the timeline and exported from various apps. handled with ease. Finally, looking at the Compute scores from Geekbench and you can see the impact on applications as visual filters and effects are applied to footage, and again, these are handled well. The only time things do start to slow is when RAW footage is used and effects start to get layered, but again, this is just part of the process of waiting for the timeline to render properly.
Again, checking the results for Cinebench and 3D Mark further reinforces just how good this machine is for content creation across the board. Its level pitches it at designers, illustrators, and photographers, and in all those cases, this machine has all the power that you need, with the option to expand on the storage if and when you need. Likewise, videographers and content creators using DSLR and Camcorders to shoot standard 4 and 8K footage will be able to edit short-form video without issue; however, as you start to add effects or switch to RAW footage, you'll start to see the system slow a little as rendering takes place.
When it comes to gaming, Stormforce obviously makes gaming PCs. While this PC is aimed directly at the creative sector, it has the power and ability to handle most games with ease. Through the test, we played Hogwarts Legacy, Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption II, and all played smoothly using the standard settings. Many enabled the options to be pushed to enhance the graphics further.
Looking at the final results from the benchmark tests and the PC Mark and Windows experience scores, we see that the machine takes word processing, spreadsheets, and administrative work in its stride without breaking a sweat.
Performance: 4.5/5
Should you buy the Stormforce Pro Creator 0601?
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Stormforce Pro Creator 0601 has been designed with creatives in mind, and with this machine, you can run any of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of applications without issue. If you're a designer, illustrator, artist or photographer; you'll be able to get on with your work without issues or slow down from this machine. What Stormforce has done with this machine is perfectly balance quality components with the requirements of the intended user, as such, it doesn't go over the top processing power, graphics, RAM or storage; it just balances it at a point that is slightly above what most people will need and at a great price.
However, this is more than a machine that will just meet your business's demands for today; the ASUS ProArt B650-Creator motherboard is one of the best out there and utilises the latest technologies for speed as well as upgrade potential and expandability. Essentially, for most professionals, this machine will meet your needs directly from the box; if you do need an extra boost of power for higher-end video editing, then the RAM, storage and all other components can essentially be upgraded as far as your budget allows.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Buy it if...
It would help if you had creative power
Featuring the ASUS ProArt motherboard and Ryzen 7 7700X CPU, the Stormforce Pro Creator 0601 is perfect for artists, designers, and photographers needing strong processing and graphic performance with plenty of upgrade options.
Want a stylish design
The Fractal Design North Mid Tower case with the wooden front panel and tinted glass side provides a modern style and aesthetic, making it a perfect workstation choice for a studio or office.
Don't buy it if...
You prefer compact desktops
While it looks like a desktop, it is larger and better suited for floor placement and may feel intrusive on a smaller desk. If you need more workspace or a compact, minimalist setup, a smaller form factor might be a better fit.
You edit RAW video footage
Even then, this is a great starting point. It's just that on occasion, you will need to wait for some footage to render before making the edits and if you're just editing short-form video, It'll be fine; anything longer than five minutes with effects, and you'll want a power boost.
Firewalla’s new Gold Pro is one of the best firewalls money can buy. It vastly improves over the previous generation of firewalls, providing twice as much processing power and memory.
Specifications
CPU: Intel Quad-Core N97 at 3.4GHz
RAM: 8GB of DDR4 3200MHz
FLASH: 32GB eMMC
Display: 1 x HDMI
Ethernet connectivity: Two 2.5GbE, two 10GbE
General connectivity: Two USB3.1, one Type-C console
Power Consumption: About 35W
Size: 218mm x 165mm x 44mm
Weight: 1.1 Kg
Connectivity has also been boosted, shifting to four copper Ethernet with two that support up to 10Gb. The unit consumes over 35W with all ports connected, while a cooling fan makes it less reliable in the long run.
The hardware is really half the story of this user-friendly firewall. The software is as polished as one can ask for, requiring just two steps to activate a feature in most cases. Firewalla is keen on adding new ideas in every software release, with recent features such as Wi-Fi tests. The Gold Pro has become more than a regular firewall; as a router, it greatly demystifies network setup and fine-tuning.
The Gold Pro is available in only one variant: one based on an N97 Intel CPU with 8GB of RAM and 32GB of flash memory. The price is steep, just under $1000 (currently at $899 for a limited time), when looking only at the hardware. Firewalla offers cheaper models, ranging from the lowly ARM-based Purple SE to the Gold Plus based on the J4125. All products carry a one-year limited warranty and unlimited software updates.
Firewalla Gold Pro: Design
The Gold Pro ships in a brown box with a 40W AC adapter and a user guide. The white and yellow metal enclosure measures 218mm x 165mm x 44mm and weighs 1.1 Kg, almost twice as big as the previous flagship device. Four rubber feet prevent the Gold Pro from moving if too much force is applied to Ethernet cables. Air vents and four mounting holes are on each side of the unit, while the back contains one socket for power. The unit becomes warm after a while, but the small internal fan makes no noticeable noise.
The front panel contains four RJ45 sockets, two USB 3.0 Type-A, one USB Type-C connector for the serial console, and one HDMI socket. Two recessed buttons on the right allow users to reset and enter recovery mode or reboot. The front LEDs are for the RJ45, showing linkup speed and activity. The status LED on the right comes alive during the boot process and remains off under regular operation. A USB key, which ships with the unit, acts as a security and Bluetooth dongle and must be plugged at all times.
Under the hood, Firewalla provides an Intel N97 quad-core x86 processor to do all the heavy lifting. It is the only processor available onboard, and all network traffic passes through it. The board includes two 2.5Gb and two 10Gb Ethernet MACs from Intel to connect the CPU to the network. Application memories consist of a single channel 8 GB RAM in SO-DIMM format, which can be expanded to 16GB, and 32GB of flash as an eMMC chip.
The Gold Pro's power consumption varies between 17W and 33W, slightly higher than that of the Gold Plus. The fan turns on when the CPU operates at maximum power and is completely silent, making it great as a desktop unit in an office setting. The unit is entirely RJ45-based, so upgrading to fiber is impossible without an SFP media converter. This somewhat limits the utility of the firewall in a home setting, the software supporting PPPoE while most residential Internet is fiber-to-home and thus cannot be connected directly.
Firewalla Gold Pro: In Use
The Gold Pro turns on with power applied to the box. The Linux boot process takes less than one minute, and an LED on the right lights up to show the progress. The software setup requires scanning a QR code at the bottom of the case into the Firewalla mobile app. An Internet connection is needed on the WAN-dedicated port to complete the setup. The Internet port can achieve speeds of up to 10Gbps, keeping the Gold Pro safe from obsolescence.
The Gold Pro can either work as a standalone firewall or as a router behind a firewall. In the router mode, the unit can assign IPs on demand while inspecting inbound and outbound traffic for threats. VLANs have been included for extra security, allowing different networks to reside on the same physical connection. Applications such as VLANs take full advantage of the CPU upgrade, with the N97 achieving over 100% performance uptick over the previous CPU generation.
Firewalla’s mobile application is polished and avoids intimidating the user with too many technical details. The first panel shows the firewall's health status and warnings about potential threats. The mobile app contains features that can be enabled, such as a Wi-Fi tester, VPN clients and servers, or an Adblocker. The list of add-ons, in addition to the threat list, is updated periodically.
Although not recommended, the Gold Pro's software can be customized by the end user through Docker containers. Commercial applications such as unRaid for NAS or home automation can be installed remotely through SSH.
Firewalla Gold Pro: The competition
A good firewall requires constant updates from a service provider. Firewalla’s propositions are more than just good firewalls with regular updates. They are, in fact, network appliances with features such as VPN and ad blocker. These features bring more responsibility from manufacturers on the testing and prevention side since they have more points of failure and potential vulnerabilities.
Many OEM PCs with two or more 2.5GbE connections require an OS like pfSense to work. They usually have a competitive price since one only pays for the hardware but needs a steep learning curve to build a working system. A mobile app is also non-existent, while the threat database usually depends on the open-source community, which isn’t true for the Firewalla Gold Pro.
Firewalla Gold Pro: Final verdict
The Firewalla Gold Pro outperforms its predecessor in terms of processing power by a factor of two, while its 10G connectivity is beyond what most people have at home. The ecosystem, including the app, cloud and threat update services, and tech support, sets it apart from the competition. The mobile app is one of the best available and will make setting up the unit a breeze. Services such as VPN and Adblocker make life easier at home or in the office.
A price tag of just below $1000 means the unit remains beyond what most people are willing to pay for a prosumer firewall. With four Ethernet LAN ports, the hardware can route packets on four high-speed links at 2.5Gb and over. Finally, the system is user-customizable thanks to Firewalla's willingness to open access to the underlying Linux system through SSH.
Buy the Gold Pro if ... you need 10G speed and a fuss-free mobile app.
Don’t buy if ... you are on a tight budget or if saving power is essential.
Lenovo's ThinkPad lineup continues to impress, particularly with the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 featuring Snapdragon. I have been a fan of the ThinkPad series for years, and appreciation won't fade soon. The ThinkPad T14s is part of the T series, positioning it as a business ultrabook with enterprise features geared more towards professionals than casual users or entry-level business laptops.
We're big fans of the AMD-powered Gen 4 (see out Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 4 business laptop review). But how does the Gen 6 Snapdragon stack up against some of the best Lenovo ThinkPad laptops? Well, this model boasts excellent ports, outstanding battery life, a fanless design, and a strong balance of power, weight, and battery performance. Additionally, it offers a decent display for business purposes. This laptop is excellent for what it's meant to be great for, and that's a good thing.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 Snapdragon: Price & availability
The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 with Snapdragon starts around $1,700 for base configurations and climbs with additional RAM and storage options. This laptop is available in North America and Europe, though there are some limitations with connectivity options for the European models. You can buy these laptops at most retail stores that sell ThinkBooks. However, another great place to look would be Lenovo's website.
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 Snapdragon: Unboxing & first impressions
Unboxing this laptop was a straightforward process typical for most ThinkBooks. Inside the box, I found the computer, a 65W USB-C charger, and the standard documentation accompanying nearly every laptop. Lenovo does an excellent job with minimalist packaging, and although I cannot confirm it, they claim to use eco-friendly and recyclable materials, which aligns with their sustainability goals.
My ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 features a sleek matte black finish, a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic lid, and a magnesium alloy body. It exhibits the classic ThinkPad design, showcasing how timeless this aesthetic is. The design has endured for years, much like that of the MacBook. When a company finds a design language that works, they tend to stick with it.
The materials used are smooth to the touch yet durable enough to withstand heavy daily use. It boasts sturdy hinges and solid keys and is both lightweight and robust.
As you'd expect from any of the best business laptops, from the first boot-up, the computer starts quickly, runs smoothly, and operates effortlessly.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 Snapdragon: Design & build quality
Specs
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E78100, 12 cores RAM: 32GB LPDDR5X (onboard) Storage: 1TB SSD (non-upgradable) Display: 14-inch, FHD (1920 x 1200) IPS, 452 nits brightness Connectivity: 2 USB-C, 2 USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio jack OS: Windows 11 Pro for ARM
As mentioned, the laptop is made from recycled magnesium alloy and carbon fiber. This is the classic combo that Lenovo has used for the ThinkPad lineup for quite some time. It's great, it's pretty durable, it's soft to the touch, and it's premium in look and feel. In parallel to the premium feel, this laptop is light. It weighs around 2.7 pounds, which is not the lightest laptop; even the ThinkPad X1 Carbon came under 2.5lb. However, it weighs nearly the same as the popular Apple MacBook Air.
The T14s Gen 6 also has the signature ThinkPad keyboard, TrackPoint, and Trackpad. For additional privacy, there is a physical slider to cover the camera and a dedicated key in the function row to mute the onboard microphone.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 Snapdragon: In use
I've had the opportunity to use this laptop in my rotation for the last few weeks, and it has been one of my favorite laptops to grab. It tackles my day-to-day work easily and is a nice break from some heavier laptops I rotate. I'm convinced, much like many seem to be these days, that the 14-inch 16:9 screen is perfect on a computer. My personal daily driver is an M2 MacBook Pro, but it has a 13-inch screen because it was released just before Apple jumped to 14- and 16-inch displays. That extra inch adds so much screen real estate without adding a lot more to carry, making it an excellent no-brainer.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
The ThinkPad T14s has been more than suitable for productivity tasks. However, I wouldn't use this computer for video editing, partially because of the power this laptop has, the graphics, and the screen resolution. However, as a business laptop, as it is designed to be, this laptop excels. I can run my heavy workloads (I push my computers hard for long days, 6.5 days a week) without missing a beat; I can render file compression and run heavy project management boards, heavy Excel files, and nearly 50 Chrome tabs, all processing efficiently. I can have Jira, Notion, Excel, Basecamp, Slack, Chrome, Spotify, Asana, and more all up and running without needing to close things down, as I would potentially have to do on less powerful laptops.
My day-to-day work ranges from working at a desk at a coffee shop to roaming around hot desks and traveling. So far, I've been thrilled with this battery life. While I may not get a total of 21 hours because I run these laptops hard, as I mentioned, and usually with pretty high brightness, I quickly achieve an average and extended day of work. I can consistently get through a 12-hour day, even a 16-hour day, without needing to grab a charger. I've worked an 18-hour day and only grabbed a charger towards the end of the day so that I could start my next day topped off.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
I recently upgraded my home office Wi-Fi to Wi-Fi 6E thanks to the TP-Link XE75 Pro [review coming soon]. Though the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 can utilize up to Wi-Fi 7, getting it to work seamlessly with my Wi-Fi 6 channel has been great. Things download and upload quickly, meetings are transparent, buffering or skipping is avoided, and it's been great. Further, the fanless design, like that of a MacBook Air, is excellent. It's quiet yet keeps a stable temperature, not getting too hot even at my peak productivity.
Overall, the keyboard performed as expected. It features a compact function row at the top, which includes some additional function keys that are an excellent addition. The Trackpad is solid, although nothing compares to the Apple Trackpad. It's also important to note that this device does not have a touchscreen.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 Snapdragon: Final verdict
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 with Snapdragon excels with its stellar battery life, reliable design, and lightweight build, making it ideal for users who prioritize mobility and connectivity. This computer is worth checking out for the average and even prosumer in the business world. It's a great combination of features and design that would be a great fit.
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus Graphics: Adreno X1 RAM: 16GB Storage: 1TB SSD Rear Ports: 2 x USB-C 4.0, microSD reader Front Ports: None Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 Audio: Dual speakers, average quality Camera: Rear 13MP, Front 5MP Size: 297.5 x 202.9 x 9.4 mm, 0.85 kg OS installed: Windows 11 Home Copilot+ Accessories: Keyboard cover, Asus Pen 2.0 stylus
The Asus ProArt PZ13 complements the two ProArt laptops from Asus and, of the three, is the one that raises the most interest. It's essentially a tablet and laptop in one and is not only packed with AI processing power but also features a DCI-P3 colour gamut 13.3-inch OLED screen that will instantly appeal to creatives.
However, while this machine runs on Windows 11 Home, it's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus, which is partnered with Adreno X1 graphics. That combination produces a performance that excels in many tasks, especially with Adobe and creative apps, which for the most part it handle absolute ease. However, with some apps, including our 3DMark and PCMark benchmarking software as well as many games, they refused to run.
Through testing, many aspects made this machine stand out, and it truly is a viable alternative to the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, offering excellent battery life and a lightweight but ultimately robust build. General performance across Adobe apps such as Photoshop and Premiere Pro was excellent, even without the full compatibility for Premiere Pro, with high-resolution images from the Sony A7 IV and Canon EOS R5 C being handled easily. The touchscreen and stylus, with all those points of sensitivity, made working directly on the images a fluid process. Likewise, editing 4K video, with a little storage capacity boost from a Samsung T5 EVO 8TB, was equally smooth, even if the edits for the particular piece were relatively simple.
It's worth noting, that Premiere Pro isn't 100% compatible as with several other apps, and as you start to install further apps and games, the limitations of the ARM processor become apparent. So, not yet the best video editing laptop option, even with the broad color space coverage - although during installation of Premiere Pro, for example, there is a note that Adobe is working on the ARM version of the software. Until then, the Intel version will be used. In reality, most jobs run smoothly enough, but as the processing power demands increase or more graphically demanding tasks are applied, the machine does, at present, start to struggle.
Likewise, when it came to gaming, things weren't so smooth, as quite a few of the games refused to load at all since they were designed for different processing architectures. So, while this tablet has power and puts in impressive performance, at present, there are some compatibility issues.
Asus ProArt PZ13: Price & availability
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Priced at around $1,099.99, the Asus ProArt PZ13 is available through retailers such as Best Buy, Amazon, and the Asus website.
Price: 4/5
Asus ProArt PZ13: Design & build
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The ProArt PZ13 is designed as a two-in-one machine, so that you can use it as a creative tablet or laptop. As such, it comes with a removable keyboard, which is sleek and slim and doubles as a protective case and stand, although the link between the keyboard and monitor free moving so unlike a laptop won't support itself. This essentially means that on a table you can open it up like a laptop of the stand will support the monitor, however, on a lap that support is a little more tricky although not impossible.
One standout feature especially it you're working out in the field is that the PZ13 is IP52-rated, meaning it's dust-resistant and splash-proof, as well as being far more durable than your average tablet or laptop. This is something Asus has emphasised across its full line of ProArt laptops, and sure enough, in use, the ProArt has travelled through a variety of photo and video shoots, as well as delivering workshops and lectures, and not always in the most computer-friendly environments, where it proved to be an excellent, robust choice.
When it comes to size and weight, the PZ13 is slim and well weighted, measuring 29.75 x 20.29 x 0.90 cm and weighing just 850g. As you'd expect for a tablet, there's also a stylus, and if you want to remove the keyboard for a more slimline machine, it's quickly detached from the base. The case, of which the keyboard is part, further enhances the design with a green finish and a kickstand that enables you to prop up the screen when used as a laptop, although it's not ideal when supported on a lap.
A clever feature of the design is that the magnetic keyboard can be detached, rotated 180 degrees, and folded under the screen where it holds in place. This means that the keys are against the screen rather than facing down, offering a far more comfortable feel to the tablet compared with other devices.
The overall design and build is excellent, with a high-quality feel throughout the usage and design of the machine. Connecting to external devices is also quick and easy using one of the two USB4 ports, one of which can be used as the power in. There are also the usual array of wireless connection options including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
The 13.3-inch, 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED 16:10 aspect ratio screen is fully touch responsive and also features stylus support. The screen-to-body ratio is 87% so essentially covers most of the front of the tablet when used with the stylus which provides one of the most responsive and natural-feeling digital work surfaces available. What really stands out about the screen, aside from the 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, is the surface itself. While glossy, reflections are well managed, and the viewing angle is superb, making it easy to adjust and enhance images directly on the screen.
When it comes to physical ports, again, the PZ13 is tailored to creative users, and while there are only a couple of options with two USB4 ports and an SD Express 7.0 slot if you're on the move then this should for the most part suffice. One of those USB4 ports is used for the power, although it can also be used for accessories and storage when not connected to power. These ports can be used to maximise transfer speeds to the machine and ensure that when dealing with high-resolution video stored on an external device, the speed of transfer is fast enough to keep up with the pace of the application—specifically, Premiere Pro in this test.
Overall, the Asus ProArt PZ13 is one of the sleekest tablet/laptops available. The size and connectivity options, touch screen and USB4 ports when coupled with the full version of Windows, make this an excellent choice in terms of design for creative users.
Design: 4.5/5
Asus ProArt PZ13: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The big features of the ProArt PZ13, aside from the large 13.3-inch OLED touch display with a 2880 x 1800 resolution, include its two-in-one design and integration with AI toolsets and CoPilot.
As a tablet, the computing power delivered by the Snapdragon X Plus chip, while not as powerful as Intel or AMD alternatives, provides solid AI-enhanced performance, especially for creative apps that support this technology.
The ProArt PZ13 is equipped with the Snapdragon X Plus X1P 42 100 Processor (3.4GHz, 30MB Cache, up to 3.4GHz, 8 cores, 8 threads) alongside the Qualcomm Hexagon NPU, which offers up to 45 TOPS (trillion operations per second) and supports AI processing. Graphics are handled by a Qualcomm Adreno GPU, which is relatively untested with larger creative apps, but despite the lack of full support, especially for Premiere Pro the tablet still delivered an impressive performance during testing.
Due to its tablet design, the RAM and ROM are fixed, with 16GB LPDDR5X on board and a 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. However, as we did in this test you can utilise the USB4 ports to boost the storage at up to 40Gbps.
One of the standout software features enhanced by artificial intelligence is the Asus suite of AI-powered workflow apps, and these are accessible through the ProArt Creator Hub. This suite includes applications such as the AI-powered StoryCube, which utilises the machine's AI capabilities to help organise media files.
Alongside the apps, the Creator Hub enables you to manage system resources. If an application requires more allocated processing power than others, the Hub lets you assign resources as needed. It also provides an overview of hardware performance, such as heat levels and usage, and allows you to switch between modes depending on whether you need longer battery life or full power.
For creative users the Hub also gives you quick control over various display settings, including colour gamut adjustments. This feature enables you to quickly switching between modes such as standard, vivid colours, sRGB for web content, DCI-P3 for cinematic tones, and Display P3 for photography.
When you combine these display modes with Asus 2.0 stylus support, you get a highly natural way of interacting with the screen and pen strokes, making the PZ13 ideal for both photographic and art-based work.
As for power, the PZ13 comes with a 65W power supply but is also compatible with most PD power banks and stations. During testing, it was paired with a Bluetti AC60 and charged in the field via USB Type-C. Internally, it houses a 70WHrs, 3S1P, 3-cell Li-ion battery, which offers a surprising amount of battery life, considering the tasks the tablet was used for.
Features: 4/5
Asus ProArt PZ13: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Benchmarks
Crystal Disk Read: 5130.53MB/s Crystal Disk Write: 4883.76MB/s GeekBench CPU Single: 10746 GeekBench CPU Multi: 2294 GeekBench Compute: 10073 PC Mark: n/a CineBench CPU Multi: 5494 CineBench CPU Single: 1065 Fire Strike Overall: 906 Fire Strike Graphics: 860 Fire Strike Physics: 13589 Fire Strike Combined: 455 Time Spy Overall: n/a Time Spy Graphics: n/a Time Spy CPU: n/a Wild Life: 11377 Windows Experience: n/a
The ProArt PZ13 is by no means the first two-in-one tablet in this price range, but considering the competition, it packs a surprising amount of processing power for the price.
From the outset, it's worth noting that there are some compatibility issues with certain applications. For instance, Adobe Premiere Pro on installation shows a message indicating that it hasn't been programmed for use with the ARM processor. However, the Intel version of the application can still be used.
In practice, through the test Premiere Pro worked without issue, handling files from the Sony A7 IV, and delivering an impressive performance, capable of editing and grading FHD and 4K video footage with relative ease.
That said, some games present challenges. For example, Hogwarts Legacy refused to load beyond a certain point just going to a black screen, and many other games experienced similar issues, although some did play without issue. So, if you're considering this device for gaming, it might be best to wait until full support arrives for the CPU and GPU, those games that do play, play smoothly. However, for video streaming and playback, the speed of the machine is clearly evident.
In regular use, the PZ13 performs exceptionally well. For tasks like Google Docs and web browsing, the laptop ran for a full working day—well over 10 hours with some breaks—without needing a charge. With more power-intensive applications such as Photoshop and Premiere Pro, the battery life dropped more swiftly. However, it still managed a solid 4-6 hours, again factoring in breaks during working sessions.
While the PZ13 generally feels like using any other high-powered PC laptop or tablet, you may occasionally notice that some applications, particularly games, won't load. Overall, the performance of this two-in-one is exceptional with the high quality screen, along with the robust yet stylish design making it a great option if you're looking for an on-the-go solution.
Performance: 4/5
Should you buy the Asus ProArt PZ13?
The Asus ProArt PZ13 2-in-1 design is an ideal option for creative professionals, but it does have its limitations. The incredible touch screen and its pressure point sensitivity, along with tablet-to-laptop flexibility and AI-powered features, make it perfect for artists, photographers, videographers, and content creators who need a lightweight computer. However, its ARM-based Snapdragon X Plus processor does create compatibility issues with certain applications, especially those that demand high processing power or still need to be optimised for ARM architecture.
All things considered, this is a great machine that balances battery life, features, and power. As long as gaming isn't high on your priorities and creative applications such as the Adobe suite are, then this is a perfect choice.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Buy it if...
Portability is a priority
If you need a lightweight, versatile device with a long battery life for creative work on the move, the ProArt PZ13 excels. It's perfect for those who travel frequently or require a compact yet powerful setup for fieldwork.
It would help if you had a colour-accurate display
The OLED display with 100% DCI-P3 support makes it an excellent choice for photographers, videographers, and graphic designers. Its vibrant and accurate colour reproduction is ideal for creatives working with visual content.
Don't buy it if...
It would help if you had extensive port options
With only two USB-C ports and a microSD slot, connectivity may be limited without the use of external hubs or dongles. If you rely heavily on multiple peripherals or wired connections, this could be a drawback.
You rely on heavy-duty apps
The ARM-based Snapdragon X Plus chip might struggle with more demanding software that isn't optimised for ARM architecture. If your workflow involves power-hungry apps or games, this limitation may affect performance.
The variety in iPad sizes is impressive. You can get everything from a 13-inch giant iPad Pro down to an 8.3-inch iPad mini. Most people probably live in the middle with the popular 10.9-inch iPad Air or the new 11-inch Air, but that little one with the 8.3-inch Liquid Retina Display has its adherents.
It's an almost pocket-friendly device that's popular with pilots, artists, ardent notetakers, social media scrollers, students, and readers. It's the color reading screen for those who don't want to read comics on a black-and-white Kindle (though that new Colorsoft does change things, am I right?). It's sometimes the second multipurpose slab in your arsenal, small and light enough to join you on vacation, and it's sometimes the perfect back-porch streaming companion.
The iPad mini is also a product that's been on the bubble. Many worried that Apple might simply cancel it. It was among the last two iPad holdouts to not get an M-class Apple silicon chip, and also the last mobile device to still include the 'mini' name (RIP iPhone mini) – the only other Apple product with that designation is the Mac mini.
Instead of killing it, Apple has essentially done a brain transplant, upgrading the previous model's A15 Bionic mobile CPU to the much more powerful A17 Pro. The choice is surprising, because Apple seems almost anxious to stuff its latest Apple silicon into every new device (see the M4-running iPad Pro); but this time Apple tapped the brakes a bit. There's nothing wrong with the A17 Pro, which is the same chip you'll find in last year's iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. It's Apple Intelligence-capable, and has more than enough power for a screen of almost any size.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
If I have a frustration with the latest iPad, alternatively known as the iPad mini 7th Generation or iPad Mini A17 Pro, it's that it's virtually identical in every respect to the three-year-old iPad mini 6th generation. Apple didn't bother to upgrade the design, the screen, the cameras, or the speakers. The only hardware change that expresses itself on the outside of the tablet is one you can only see if you have an Apple Pencil.
The new iPad mini supports just two styluses: the Apple Pencil USB-C and the new Apple Pencil Pro. I wouldn't expect it to support the original Apple Pencil, but I am a little surprised that there's no support for the Apple Pencil 2. You can't even properly seat that Pencil on the charging base that sits on one long edge of the iPad, because Apple has reengineered the hardware underneath.
It's a small thing, really, and you will appreciate all the cool stuff you can do with a Pencil Pro, like squeeze it or use gestures to change tools and Scribble. And with 18.1 and Apple Intelligence, you can even Scribble to Siri.
What might matter most to iPad mini fans, though, is its ability to support Apple Intelligence. Only the A17 Pro and above (along with all M-class Apple chips) supports it, but you need to be running iPadOS 18.1. If you buy this new iPad, it will likely arrive with iPadOS 18 and, like my test unit, not yet support Apple Intelligence. That speaks to the general frustration many of us have when it comes to Apple's own brand of AI. It's dribbling out slowly, and still lacks core features like Siri with app access, user activity knowledge, contextual awareness, and ChatGPT access.
Some of these features may arrive by the end of October; others might not arrive until 2025. It's a mystery to me why Apple is moving so slowly in this regard. Eventually, I got a developer beta of iPadOS 18.1 onto the iPad mini, and it performs just as well as I hoped, enabling you, among other things, to quickly summarize notes or change the tone of an email with Writing Tools, have your Notifications summarized, and even get a priority look into your inbox. Hand-writing queries to Siri is pretty much tailor-made for the iPad, and you can be more precise when cleaning up photos.
Even without Apple Intelligence, the iPad mini is an excellent tablet. It's also a premium device, and priced like one, starting at $499 / £499 / AU$799 for 128GB of storage. At 9.7 inches, that iPad was larger and heavier (it weighed a pound and a half). The nice thing about the modern iPad mini is that the screen isn't much smaller than the one on the OG iPad, but it's a much higher resolution, and the device is so much smaller and lighter.
Few tablets are as versatile and powerful as the iPad mini. I used it for all kinds of work, creative, and entertainment activities and was never disappointed. It remains one of my favorite drawing devices.
If you own an iPad mini 6th generation, hold onto it and upgrade to iPadOS 18. Even without Apple intelligence, you'll be happy. If you've never owned an iPad and think the new iPad Air 11-inch and 10.9-inch iPad 10th gen are too large, and a 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max is too small, perhaps the iPad mini is the sweet spot you've been looking for. Plus, it supports a stylus, and even though the iPhone screens are getting mighty big, that's one thing they still don't offer.
Apple iPad Mini A 17 Pro (2024) review: price and availability
Pricey for its size
Fresh new colors
Apple unveiled the iPad mini A 17 Pro on October 15, 2025. It starts at $499 / £499 / AU$799 for 128GB of storage – that's the same price as the 2021 iPad mini in the US, but a £20 increase in the UK and AU$50 more if you’re in Australia. It costs $150 / £170 / AU$200 more than a 10th Gen iPad, which only has an A14 Bionic, and $100 / £100 / AU$200 less than the base iPad Air. There are cheaper mini-tablet options on the market, like the 8-inch Amazon Kindle Fire HD, which starts at $99.99 / £99.99 (it's not currently available in Australia), although you're only getting 32GB of storage, a pair of not-so-great 2MP cameras, and a Hexa-core CPU. Apple is essentially asking you to pay a premium price for a well-equipped product to perform premium and professional tasks. The new iPad mini is available in four colors: Space Gray, Blue, Purple, and Starlight (somewhere between silver and rose gold).
Value score: 4 / 5
iPad Mini A17 Pro (2024) review: specs
iPad Mini A17 Pro (2024) review: display
Still a brilliant and colorful screen
500 nits max
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
When Apple first introduced the iPad mini 6th generation in 2021, it was a big deal not only because of the wholesale redesign that brought the mini more in line with the iPad Air 4th Gen, which was released a year earlier, but also because was fitting a relatively large screen into a much smaller body.
The new mini also came with new display technologies, introducing the 326ppi Liquid Retina Display and LED backlighting to the mini line.
It's an excellent and responsive touchscreen that offers a wide color gamut, and, of course, Apple Pencil support. It has an antireflective coating, and is somewhat resistant to fingerprints. I'm not thrilled that the peak brightness is stuck at 500 nits when Apple's other mobile devices are pumping out, under certain conditions 2,000 nits. Still, this is a three-year-old technology, so I should not expect 2024 display updates.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
My experience with the iPad Mini A 17 Pro was, in many ways, no different than with the 6th Gen model, and this is a good thing. As before, everything looks fantastic on the 8.3-inch display; games, photos, movies, apps, and web browsing are all great (I especially enjoyed perusing photos of baby animals on National Geographic – it tells me we're all hardwired to love baby animals, and I totally believe it).
The iPad mini truly shines, though, when you add an Apple Pencil. The mini now only supports the Pencil Pro and Pencil USB-C, and only the former can magnetically charge on the edge of the iPad Mini. The pens are optional extras though, so you'll pay an additional $129 for the Pro or $79 for the USB-C model – I think they're a worthwhile investment.
Apple Pencil Accessory
As an amateur artist, few things make me happier than drawing on an iPad, usually in Procreate. I alternate between drawing on a large 13-inch iPad Pro and the pint-sized mini, and even though the screen on the latter is comparatively small, I never find it constraining.
I can understand how some might think the 8.3-inch screen is too small a canvas or not large enough to multitask, but I'd have to disagree. I spent hours drawing the puppy you can see below in Procreate, and I did most of it on a split screen. I dragged the Safari browser window with my reference images up to the left and gave two-thirds of the screen to Procreate. It's enough space, I promise you.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
One of the reasons why sketching on the iPad mini works is the feel of drawing with an Apple Pencil on the screen. Even though the screen is perfectly smooth, the Pencil tip provides just enough friction to make it feel like I'm drawing on something other than glass. In some apps, I can hover my pencil over the screen and see the cursor or drawing dot move with the Pencil. I can also squeeze it to change tools.
The Pencil is not just for drawing. For those who don't want to type, you can scribble words in various fields and, depending on the quality of your writing, the iPad will convert them to text. In Notes, I used the new Math Notes to write equations and had the iPad solve them for me in something that looked like my own handwriting. I wrote '200+36=' and the iPad quickly returned '236'. When I added a line under my original equation and the number 2 under that, Math Notes automatically knew to divide by two and updated my sum to '118'. Impressive – and fun.
With Apple Intelligence you'll be able to double tap near the bottom of the screen to open the Siri Text window, but instead of typing you'll write in your query with the Apple Pencil.
Display score: 4.5 / 5
iPad Mini A17 Pro (2024) review: design
This looks familiar
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 2 of 4
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 3 of 4
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 4 of 4
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
I've spent quite a bit of time examining the new iPad mini 7th gen from every angle, and there's virtually no difference between it and the previous model. I'm fine with that – this is a good and solid design. The 100% recycled aluminum chassis is thin, 6.5mm, and light, just 293 grams. To put that in perspective, the iPhone 16 Pro Max weighs 227 grams, so Apple's smallest iPad is just 66g heavier. I have big hands, and I can comfortably hold the 7.69in x 5.3-inch tablet in one hand; I usually have the Apple Pencil in the other.
The bezel around the screen is perhaps a bit thick by modern iPad standards, and I'm surprised that the FaceTime camera still lives on the narrow side of the display (Apple moved it for the iPad Pro). This means that if you want to make eye contact during a call you need to look at the left side of the iPad mini.
On one short edge is the very effective Touch ID (also power and sleep) button that I use not only to unlock the device but to sign into myriad accounts. Opposite it are the two volume buttons, and in between are a pair of speaker grilles; the other half of the stereo speaker system is on the other side of the iPad, which also houses the USB-C port.
The iPad mini offers no water resistance and doesn't have a dust rating. If you plan to take it to the beach, buy a case. There are still four colors to come from, but joining Starlight and Space Gray are new Purple and Blue shades. At first, I was very drawn to the Blue, a sort of light anodized take on the color that can change depending on how the light hits it, but Apple's latest take on Purple is surprisingly airy in lower light and can really pop when under direct light. These two new shades and Starlight – perfectly match the new AirPods Max.
Design score: 4.5 / 5
iPad Mini A17 Pro (2024) review: cameras
Decent 12MP cameras
Centerstage
No telephoto
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The iPad mini is just small enough that I could imagine people carrying it and taking pictures wherever they go. With a single 12MP wide-angle camera on the back, it will get the job done, and the photos it produces are rich in detail and color. However, they don't hold up to close scrutiny as well as photos from the iPhone 16 Pro Max's 48MP main camera.
The front camera takes nice selfies, but not portrait-mode shots. It's far more useful as a FaceTime camera and, when I used Centerstage, the ultrawide camera auto-cropped the frame to follow me around. It's a nice feature, especially if you like to walk and talk while conducting Facetime calls.
Image 1 of 6
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 2 of 6
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 3 of 6
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 4 of 6
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 5 of 6
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 6 of 6
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Camera score: 3.5 / 5
iPad Mini A17 Pro (2024) review: software
Control Center customization
Home screen and widgets are more customizable
Calculator
New Photos app
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 2 of 4
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 3 of 4
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 4 of 4
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The iPad mini A17 Pro ships with iPadOS 18, which brings with it many of the same features you'll find on iOS 18, including a customizable Control Center, the Photos app redesign, the new Passwords app, updated Messages, and the aforementioned Math Notes (one of my favorites).
Apple Intelligence is coming, too, bringing writing tools to help you craft better prose in almost any situation, Siri with a completely new look, and, eventually, better insights into how you use your iPad.
Aside from what's coming with Apple Intelligence, none of these changes will radically alter your iPad experience, though I do think most of them will make it better. I'm still on the fence about the Photos app, which is so different that I can't seem to find anything. At least it now includes natural language search queries that should make finding photos across vast libraries far easier.
In my brief time with Apple Intelligence on the iPad mini, courtesy of a developer beta of iPadOS 18.1, I was mostly impressed. Similar to the Apple Intelligence experience on the iPad Air, iPad Pro, Mac, or iPhone, it's currently a well-rounded set of firsts.
You can summarize notifications automatically, which makes it easier to triage them after your device has been in sleep mode overnight, or while you have 'Do Not Disturb' engaged during a long meeting. I especially like how it summarizes Slack and Group messages, generally providing a good gist and summary. The same goes for Mail in Apple's own app or third-party ones in Gmail.
The Apple Pencil Pro (or the Pencil USB-C) really shines when it comes taking notes, and while it's not an Apple Intelligence feature, Smart Script is still really impressive in use, as it cleans up your handwriting in a way that matches your style. I also still desperately wish I had Math Notes when I was growing up.
Maybe the most purpose-built part of Apple Intelligence for the iPad is Scribble to Siri, though, and it's handy for those times when you're taking notes or just using the Apple Pencil. You can double-tap on the bottom of the screen and start writing in the Siri box that appears to get answers – it could be a question about your calendar, the weather, a sports score, or even a smart home command.
Of course, there are still many Apple Intelligence features we're still waiting for, from the completely redesigned Siri with personal context and the ability to work within apps deeply, to Genmoji, Image Playground, and ChatGPT integration. When those do arrive, the iPad mini will be able to handle them all, and will be the cheapest way to get any of these or future Apple Intelligence features.
Software score: 4.5 / 5
iPad Mini A17 Pro (2024) review: performance
A17 Pro is a generation back
Still has ample power
Double the RAM
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 2 of 4
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 3 of 4
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Image 4 of 4
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
While I'm surprised the iPad mini 7th generation is not running on top-of-M-class Apple silicon (not even a now last-gen M3), the A17 Pro is no slouch. Plus, it's the first A-class chip that could support Apple Intelligence.
Adding a Pro-level chip to the mini is almost a recognition of the iPad's mini place in the creative and professional world. Pilots run apps like ForeFlight on it to plan trips. It's a complex and rich app that's not for the faint of heart (me) or a lightweight CPU. The iPad is also a popular drawing and image editing platform, and running pro-level image editing app Adobe Lightroom on it is no problem.
(Image credit: Future)
Similarly, I edited four streams of 4K videos at once in Adobe Premiere Rush. And when it came time to unwind, I played Asphalt Legends Unite, Madden NFL 25 Mobile, and Fallout Shelter.
The performance boost you'll see in the new iPad mini is borne out in its Geekbench 6 numbers. The CPU scores are all measurably higher.
It's not just the CPU that's powering all this performance – Apple has doubled the RAM from 4GB to 8GB. Most people believe this has to do with Apple Intelligence support, which appears to require at least that much RAM to perform Apple Intelligence's generative AI tasks locally (some tasks will still have to be done in Apple's encrypted Private Cloud Compute).
Performance score: 4.5 / 5
iPad Mini A17 Pro (2024) review: battery
A long work or play day
Apple rates the iPad Mini 7th Gen at about 10 hours of battery, and in my anecdotal tests that's about right. It's not great battery life, and I wonder if we might have gotten more had Apple made the switch from the A17 Pro to a more efficient M2.
In our Future Labs tests, the new iPad mini managed around 10 hours and 36 minutes.
There's no wireless charging, which is a shame since this iPad seems like the perfect size to rest on a Qi MagSafe charger. At least the iPad ships with a woven USB-C cable and a nice 20W adapter.
Battery score: 4 / 5
Should you buy the iPad Mini A17 Pro (2024)?
Buy it if…
You want the most affordable Apple Intelligence Experience The iPad mini might be expensive for its size, but it's also a rare sub-$500 Apple Intelligence experience.
You want a powerful iPad that doesn't weigh you down This 8.3-inch device is light, thin, and very powerful.
Don’t buy it if…
You're on a tight tablet budget This is a lot of money for the smallest iPad, especially when you can get an 8-inch Amazon Fire HD tablet for $100 / £100.
You'll never buy an Apple Pencil The iPad mini is wonderful, but it truly flourishes with an Apple Pencil Pro. If you'll never invest in one, perhaps look at a different tablet.
iPad Mini A17 Pro (2024): Also consider
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus
With storage expandable up to 1TB and a cheaper price than the Pad Go (if you go for Wi-Fi only version), the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus is a similarly capable media playback device. The display isn't as sharp, with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, but it does feature Samsung's useful split-screen multitasking abilities.
Amazon Fire Max 11
Another budget 11-inch tablet, the Fire Max 11 has the same 2.2GHz Octo-Core chip as the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus. The display has a resolution of 1200 x 2000, and it has an expandable storage capacity up to 1TB. Like the Pad Go, it also features Dolby Atmos capability. It is more expensive, though, and Google Play isn't supported. You'll also have to pay slightly more if you want the ad-free version.
How I tested the iPad Mini A17 Pro (2024)
Drew
Watched TV
Played Games
Browsed the web
Edited movies
Edited photos
I used the Apple iPad mini A17 Pro as I would any other iPad, for every activity I do throughout the day, including Slack, email, conducting video meetings, drawing, editing, videos, and photos, playing games, and watching the Mets lose through the my favorite streaming platform.
I also spent several hours with the iPadOS 18.1 developer beta installed on the iPad mini seventh-generation, testing the currently available Apple Intelligence features, to get a sense of how they perform here.
