Dell has been in the game for quite some time for the business professional, so when I got word of their newest 18-inch flagship, I knew I’d have to get my hands on it. Most of the high-powered laptops that get the flashy marketing are focused on video and photos.
But there is an entirely different type of power needed for coders, developers, engineers, QA teams, and those who have to be able to bounce in and out of all of this as a hands-on PM to make sure everything that needs to get done gets done. Not everyone lives in a wonderful world where they can have dedicated machines for everything they need to manage; some only get a single machine.
Still, there are others who prefer the single machine that can do it all method, myself included, as then anything I need to do at any given time is accessible with a few keystrokes.
That’s where the best mobile workstations like the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus come into play. One machine with remarkable power that can dive into whatever, whenever, wherever. It’s designed very clearly for business professionals working in the engineering and development space, but could be used by people with similar needs. Just know that this is not the laptop for everyone, but it is the perfect laptop for those that need sort of desktop performance in a portable frame.
Dell Pro Max 18 Plus: Price and availability
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
As with most computers, the pricing varies drastically between base or entry model laptops and higher configurations. The base model of the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus starts at around $3500, and jumps up to over triple that. It's available from Dell US and Dell UK.
My model specifically is priced at $9,245, boasting an Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor, 128GB of RAM, a NVIDIA RTX Pro 5000 Blackwell with 24GB, 2TB of Storage, the 18-inch QHD+ 2560x1600 Display, and Wi-Fi 7, all with 96Whr battery life. It’s a tank.
If desired, you can upgrade even beyond what I have, with options to expand storage up to 16TB and 5G. I have pretty much every other feature in this setup, though.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Dell Pro Max 18 Plus: Unboxing and First Impressions
No matter how you slice it, 18 inches in a laptop is not a small machine. With most portable laptops measuring around 13 inches and the standard “large laptop” at 16 inches, this machine feels massive even next to my fleet of other workstations I have in for review.
The laptop, aside from its monstrous proportions, has a comfortable keyboard, a full-size numpad, a fingerprint reader, a robust port selection, and a full and helpful function row. The touchpad is responsive and easy to use, and the screen is sharp enough for all of the work I do.
The port layout is great as well. The Thunderbolt 5 ports are on the left, along with the RJ45, the HDMI, the Smart Card, and the SD Card slot. On the right, there is a Kensington Lock (not shocking with how valuable this laptop can be, not only in retail price but value of content being created and managed on the device), both USB-A’s, the other Thunderbolt Port and the Headphone Jack.
Personally, I really like how Dell doesn’t put any of their ports on the back of their machines, even their workstations. Making it easy to grab and go whenever needed.
The last thing I’ll mention is that it’s nice to see a physical camera shutter, which is always a mark of the best business laptops. In a world where I am getting increasingly paranoid, it’s nice to have a physical way to block that eye staring at me at all times.
All in all, the aesthetic is clean, professional, and business first. It’s a powerhouse but it looks like any other laptop at a quick glance. No RGB, no flashy or gaudy badging, no loud branding. Just a sleek machine that means business, and one you won’t be ashamed to bring to the board meeting.
Dell Pro Max 18 Plus: Design & Build Quality
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
The 18-inch display is the first thing that needs to be discussed with the Pro Max 18 Plus. It’s 18 inches for crying out loud. That’s not just a version number, that’s how big this thing is. It’s so big that it barely fits in my Nomatic Backpack. Meaning, that you’ll have to keep things like that in mind, most bags are designed to fit 16-inch laptops, not 18-inches.
However, with that added screen real estate, the odds of needing a portable monitor to bring with you probably drops, depending on what you do of course. Granted, you may still have a docking station at your main workstation with a monitor, but working on the go gets a lot easier with a screen like this always with you.
While this screen is good, even really good, it’s not great for photo editing or video editing. But, it’s not supposed to be. So, instead of Dell wasting engineering dollars and materials on making a nice screen for something this machine will most likely not be used for, they used those funds for making a more powerful, efficient, and power-hungry machine.
Perhaps that’s where they got the audacity to add not just one but two Thunderbolt 5 ports. And for that, I thank Dell. This display is more than enough for coding, project management, writing, database management, development, and related tasks. It’s spectacular for multitasking, and it’s snappy, really snappy.
The Dell Pro Max 18 Plus is not a laptop you casually use. It’s not one you “toss” in your bag or gingerly bring with you around the house. You can, but just as people are complaining that the 12.9-inch iPad, one of the thinnest technological advances in our computing history, is too large, cumbersome, and not portable enough, there is no way this computer will be considered ultra-portable. Portable, yes. But ultra portable or pleasant to carry around all day? Absolutely not. This is the kind of machine you bring to a place, and park it.
In real-world use, running large repos on GitHub, pulling up records in DBeaver, running projects in VS Code, working in Notion, responding to Slack, having an embarrassing amount of Chrome Tabs, PM’ing in Jira, Asana, Basecamp, and Trello, and taking virtual meetings all in sequence have not even made the fans spin up.
This machine is a beast. An absolute powerhouse. It’s got enough headroom that I don’t even think or wait for things to load anymore.
In my day-to-day, I wear many hats at the same time. In a given hour, I am working alongside four companies at a high level. I could be in a virtual meeting for one company, managing their data, responding to messages from a second, and physically talking to a third. All while loading data or a project for a fourth.
The Dell Pro 18 Plus is the kind of machine that can not only take on a massive project but also several at a time if needed. Again, I wouldn’t pick this as my laptop to carry around one-handed while walking between in-person meetings, but having a machine this powerful that could be brought out if needed is still mind-boggling to me sometimes.
Dell Pro Max 18 Plus: Final verdict
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
If you are the kind of person who needs a machine that can handle whatever codebase you’re working in, and you want it to be semi-portable, this is your machine. If you want a laptop that can tackle whatever project you throw at it, no matter how many projects at a time, this is your laptop.
If you are a graphics person, a video editor, a photo editor, or a 3D modeler, this machine could do it, but there are probably better options. If you are a commuter, I can say right now this machine is perhaps not one you want to tote around more than necessary, for many reasons.
But if you want high-powered desktop-level power in a laptop, then step right up and swipe that card.
The Geekom AX8 Max is a mid-range mini PC designed for office workers using Microsoft Office and Google Docs, but also needing a machine powerful enough for some light multimedia editing. Inside is a relatively powerful AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS CPU, complemented by an integrated Radeon 780M graphics processor that enables support for up to 4 displays or a single 8K monitor.
The small size of the machine is ideal for small home offices as well as general offices, with plenty of connection options for easy integration. One of the features I always like to see on a mini PC is a VESA mount on the back, so it can be neatly tucked away, further helping to save space.
The Geekom AX8 Max is a well-specified mid-range machine, and this is reflected in its price point. The mix of a new AI-ready CPU and PCIe Gen4 SSD all comes together in a solid mini PC that will suit many different types of users, although Geekom have tried to make this mini PC a little more interesting by giving it a slightly peculiar pale blue colourway.
For most day-to-day office tasks, the AX8 Max fares exceptionally well, ploughing through large PowerPoint presentations without issue. When working with Word and Excel on dual 4K monitors, it takes the whole process in its stride. Surprisingly for a mid-range machine, it also handles Premiere Pro, editing HD and straight 4K video, as long as the edits don't get too complex and there isn't too much colour grading applied. However, as the render process builds up for more complex projects, you can start to hear the fans kick in, helping to keep everything cool and avoid any thermal throttling.
Having edited a 30-minute video, it was possible to feel that some thermal throttling was happening, as the inner workings of the machine were pushed with 4K video from the Sony A7 IV. However, considering the form factor, it fared incredibly well, and whilst the fans were audible, they were by no means the loudest I’ve come across.
In reality, mobile phone 4K and HD video is better suited for editing on this machine. While it does have the power to edit higher resolution video, the limited upgrade options when it comes to memory, with maximum internal storage only reaching 2 TB and RAM capped at 64 GB, mean even with an upgrade, it only has enough clout for base 4K video editing, with little headroom if effects do get more complex.
When it comes to storage, there is the ability to upgrade the internal capacity. However, with two USB4 ports on the back, you have instant expandability with external SSDs that will provide very decent 40 GB/s transfer rates.
Another point that lends itself towards office use is the wide range of connectivity options. There are plenty of USB-A ports across the front, but unfortunately, no USB-C. Around the back, there’s a full array of HDMI, USB-A and USB4 ports, including network LAN, meaning if you’re working in an office, it’s easy to hook this into your network as well as connect accessories.
Like many of the best mini PC machines I've tested this year, the performance all around is exceptionally good. While its Windows Experience score was like other mid-range machines, an exceptionally fast SSD and DDR5 RAM ensure most applications run quickly and smoothly, giving extremely solid performance throughout the test.
Gaming, as with multimedia editing, is well-handled, but again, the fans kick in with anything too complex. Most games play without issue, and if you're into just a bit of light gaming, even with high-end titles, this small machine will suffice.
My only other comment on this machine is the colorway, which appears to be pale blue. While this machine is exceptionally good considering its mid-range profile, that seems a bit of an odd choice.
The price of mid-range mini PCs has definitely escalated, but then again, so has the processing power. The Geekom AX8 Max certainly raises the bar when it comes to what we now expect from a machine at this price level.
The review machine I tested will set you back around $629 directly from the Geekom website and can also be purchased through most major online retailers, including Amazon.com.
Value: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Geekom AX8 Max: Specs
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS Graphics: AMD Radeon 780M integrated GPU RAM: Dual‑channel DDR5, up to 64 GB Storage: M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4×4 SSD, up to 2 TB Front Ports: 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 3.5mm headphone, Power Rear Ports: DC Jack, HDMI 2.0, 2 x USB4, 2 x 2.5G RJ45 Connectivity: Dual 2.5G LAN, Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 Audio: HDA CODEC Size: approx. 135 × 132 × 46.9 mm OS Installed: Windows 11 Pro (64-bit) Accessories: VESA mount, HDMI cable, power adapter, user manual
Geekom AX8 Max: Design
Geekom mini PCs have continued to evolve, and with the AX8 Max, you can see an update in the quality of the design. The small mini PC feels exceptionally well built and robust, with a metal chassis that means it's equally at home in a static office setup, used in a van, or taken between locations as a powerful portable mini PC. As a choice for Van Life it’s also well suited offering more protection against moisture, shock and dust than most.
As I mentioned earlier in the review, while the build quality of the mini PC is exceptionally good, it is finished in a slightly peculiar colourway which will appeal to some, but for me personally is a little off-putting and doesn’t really feel very office-centric.
The size is also on the larger side for a mini PC, measuring 135 x 132 x 46.9 mm, still small, but slightly larger than what we've seen recently. Weight-wise, it's also well balanced, coming in at 800 g for the machine with an additional weight for the power adapter, meaning it's equally at home placed on the desktop or mounted onto a VESA mount and placed out of sight behind a monitor or on a dedicated wall mount.
Despite the colourway, it does have a premium finish, and this is reflected in the slightly higher mid-range pricing. This also reflects the quality of the internal components that enable this mid-range mini PC to make an impact with higher-demand applications that would have overwhelmed some older mid-range options.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Around the body, there's a good volume of ports. Across the front of the machine, there are 4 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and the power button. It is a bit of a shame there’s no USB Type-C on the front of any denomination. However, around the back, again, there's a good volume of ports. Alongside the DC jack for power, there are also 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, 2 USB4 ports, 2 2.5G RJ45 ports, a USB 2.0 Type-A and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A — enabling accessories both new and old to be plugged in without much issue.
Inside the machine, there is dual-channel DDR5 5600 MT/s RAM with a maximum of 64 GB. In the review sample, it arrived with 32 GB of RAM — more than enough for day-to-day office tasks and just enough for light multimedia editing. Surprisingly, the SSD storage is a little limited: it's only possible to install an M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4×4 SSD up to 2 TB. This is quite limited for this level of machine, and I would’ve expected support for at least 4 TB. However, while the maximum capacity is limited, I think more due to heat dissipation than anything else, it is exceptionally quick and one of the fastest internal SSDs I’ve seen in recent mini PC tests.
Helping to keep everything cool is the IceBlast 2.0 cooling system, which features air outlets on both sides of the machine to help dissipate internal heat from the CPU, memory and SSD. Access to these components is made through the bottom of the machine by simply undoing the screws and lifting away the base plate. Once removed, it reveals the dual-channel RAM and SSD slot, allowing quick upgrades or replacements.
Design: 3.5 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Geekom AX8 Max: Features
The speed and specifications of mid-range mini PCs have recently improved with the integration of the latest AI-ready CPUs. The Ryzen 7 8745HS features eight cores, 16 threads, and has been coupled with the integrated Radeon 780M GPU, which has a good track record for performance in mini PCs.
This combination of CPU and GPU, along with 32 GB of DDR5 RAM and a PCIe Gen4×4 SSD, is well-suited for anyone looking to use the machine for software beyond standard office applications, including creative programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop and Lightroom, and even photo and video editing at 1080p and light 4K.
What sets this mini PC apart from other mid-range options we’ve seen in the past is that it features the Ryzen 7 8745HS CPU, which includes AMD’s XDNA-based NPU architecture. This means it’s better able to handle lightweight AI workloads locally, such as background blur in video calls, speech transcription, and voice assistants in applications like Photoshop and Premiere Pro. It also enables faster localised AI processing.
It’s not just the CPU that has an AI boost, the integrated Radeon 780M GPU also supports AI-enhanced media. Although it doesn’t feature dedicated AI silicon, it still improves processing in enhanced video encoding and supports hardware-accelerated AV1 codec, which is useful for both DaVinci Resolve and Adobe products.
If you're looking for an AI workstation for development and thinking this mini PC might be a great option, then it’s worth noting that it's not designed for deep learning or running an LLM chatbot locally. Instead, it’s better suited for more mainstream AI use. For something more AI-tuned, it’s probably best to look at something like the Sapphire Edge AI 370.
As covered in the design section, there’s a good number of ports, including exceptional connectivity with USB4 ports on the back that offer 40 Gbps transfer and 100 W PD power. So, if you have other devices that need quick charging, that port is an option. Alongside the physical ports, there's also Bluetooth 5.2 for connecting most wireless keyboards and mice, and Wi-Fi 6E for fast internet connection speeds.
Another big feature is the ability to connect up to four 4K monitors — two through USB4 ports and two through the HDMI 2.0 ports. There's also the option to connect an 8K monitor, although you’ll only be able to use one 8K monitor at a time, rather than four 4K displays.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Features: 4 / 5
Geekom AX8 Max: Performance
Benchmark scores
CrystalDiskMark Read: 6,731.02 MB/s CrystalDiskMark Write: 6,023.3 MB/s Geekbench CPU Multi: 12,660 Geekbench CPU Single: 2,440 Geekbench GPU: 29,050 PCMark Overall: 6,741 Cinebench CPU Multi: 15,518 Cinebench CPU Single: 1,703 Fire Strike Overall: 7,346 Fire Strike Graphics: 7,965 Fire Strike Physics: 27,074 Fire Strike Combined: 2,746 Time Spy Overall: 3,162 Time Spy Graphics: 2,808 Time Spy CPU: 11,076 Wild Life Overall: 16,022 Steel Nomad Overall: 499 Windows Experience Overall: 8.2
Getting started with the Geekom AX8 Max is relatively straightforward. Once plugged in, all you need to do is run through the Windows 11 Pro setup screens, log into your Microsoft user account along with any others, and the machine is ready to go. This process now takes between five and ten minutes to complete, as Microsoft tries to encourage sign-ups to its various services.
However, once done, you don’t have to go through it again, and the speed of the internet connection from the outset, provided by the Wi-Fi 6E, helps speed things up.
During setup and plug-in, it’s worth noting that, while this mini PC is compact, the power adapter must also be considered. While not especially large, it is still a bulky addition.
Starting the tests, both Microsoft Office and Google Docs ran exceptionally smoothly. Microsoft Office applications opened quickly and ran without issue. Checking through the benchmark tests, the Windows Experience score of 8.2 is about average for mid-range mini PCs. While some may experience slight lag in more media-intensive apps like PowerPoint, the very fast SSD ensures image and large file processing is handled exceptionally quickly.
In fact, when I started looking at more advanced applications, I felt like this small machine was able to cope with a lot more than expected. That’s in part due to the speed of the internal SSD, which recorded one of the fastest transfer rates I’ve tested this year, 6,731.02 MB/s read and, more impressively, 6,023.3 MB/s write. This meant it didn’t just handle media-intensive Microsoft applications quickly, but also large image files in Photoshop and Lightroom, as well as video data within Premiere Pro.
This makes it a great option for office workers who need to create large presentations with images or video, or for those involved in multimedia creation using CapCut or Premiere Pro.
Taking processing demands up a notch I loaded a few images from the Canon EOS R5C into Photoshop, the speed was good, and it handled high-resolution image files, applying adjustment layers and effects without noticeable lag.
As I experimented with Lightroom, general use was excellent, and even batch editing was handled without issue. The only time I noticed a slowdown, compared with my desktop, was when using AI features such as Denoise or Enhance Details. While it processed the images, there was a marked difference compared to my desktop machine. In Photoshop, day-to-day work, including layers, effects and exports, was all good, but when using local smart features like Neural Filters or Smart Portrait, some slowdown was noticeable, especially with tasks requiring GPU power.
In multimedia production, starting with CapCut and footage from the iPhone 15 Pro, the machine handled the data with no issue. As templates were applied, the speed remained solid, and CapCut ran smoothly, making editing easy.
Upgrading the production using Premiere Pro, things began to slow down slightly, but the machine still handled thumbnail and timeline renders at a decent pace. It was only when I loaded in 4K video that it started to struggle, with the fans kicking in, especially during grading.
One of the main issues with Premiere Pro was that, while 1080p footage from an iPhone or DJI Action 5 edited without issue, moving to 4K footage led to stuttering during playback and increased render times, along with noticeable fan noise.
When it came to AI features such as Auto Reframe, Scene Edit Detection and Speech to Text, processing was considerably slower compared to my desktop PC.
To finish the test, I played a couple of games, Hogwarts Legacy and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Both were fortunately playable, but settings had to be reduced for smooth playback. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, in particular, showed noticeable stutter, the kind you often get when the CPU and GPU are struggling with the detail.
So overall, this is definitely a machine designed for mid-range office and light multimedia work, less suited to anything beyond that, and especially not a great option if you are gaming.
Performance: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Geekom AX8 Max: Final verdict
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Geekom AX8 Max is a great option for any office looking for a slightly quirky-coloured mini PC that enables them to complete day-to-day tasks, create relatively complex presentations, and do a little light multimedia editing.
Some highlights of this mini PC include its connectivity, with two RJ45 ports at the back enabling direct network connection and offering plenty of storage expansion. I also like that it comes with two USB4 ports, allowing connection to mass external storage or ultra-fast PC accessories.
Colourway aside, the build quality is exceptionally good, and with all those ports, it offers a great office solution. I am, however, a little surprised that upgrade options are limited to just 64 GB RAM and 2TB internal storage.
If you are in the market for a slightly quirky-coloured mini PC, this offers solid performance across the board and is reasonably well priced, particularly compared with a machine like the Beelink SER9.
Should I buy the Geekom AX8 Max?
Value
Good value for money for a solid office machine that allows light multimedia editing
4
Design
Solid design with plenty of ports that enable easy connectivity — just a shame about the colour
3.5
Features
A well-balanced mid-range mini PC with a good range of features, including AI readiness
4
Performance
SSD transfer speeds are exceptionally good, giving the CPU and GPU a performance boost compared with similarly specced machines
4
Overall
A great no-fuss machine for the office that offers excellent speed for day-to-day administration and multimedia editing
4
Buy it if...
You need office desk space You want a compact PC that doesn’t take up much desk space but handles office, coding and creative workloads smoothly.
You're creating a multi‑monitor setup You need 4K/8K output, multiple displays or a hidden setup, but still want good performance in a small form factor.
Don't buy it if...
You're running heavy‑duty GPU workloads You plan extensive 3D modelling, rendering, high-end gaming or anything where a GPU is needed.
You demand maximum performance under load If your workflows involve sustained heavy multi-core or graphics tasks, thermal throttling might limit performance compared with a full-size desktop tower.
As the successor to 2023’s OnePlus Pad Go, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 is the latest mid-range tablet from OnePlus, sitting between the budget-friendly OnePlus Pad Lite and the premium-tier OnePlus Pad 3. As with any mid-range device, there’s always the expectation that one or two big compromises have been made to keep the price down, but with the OnePlus Pad Go 2, I’ve struggled to find one.
This is as good a mid-range tablet as I’ve tested yet, and it's emboldened by a handful of upgrades that give it far more in common with the more expensive OnePlus Pad 3 than its more affordable sibling. The jump to using the MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra chipset is the biggest change of the bunch, as it doesn’t just pave the way for amazing gaming and everyday performance; it also allows for the inclusion of OnePlus’ excellent Open Canvas software, which is a big win for productivity users.
Having Open Canvas available in tandem with the now larger 12.1-inch display, which uses a 7:5 ratio, means the OnePlus Pad Go 2 is an instant win for students or buyers on a budget who want the productivity experience provided by the OnePlus Pad 3 without having to fork out such a substantial amount of cash.
In fact, with the inclusion of 5G connectivity (something which the Pad 3 does not have), there’s a case to be made that, until OnePlus’ more powerful tablet gets the same treatment, the Pad Go 2 might be more preferable by default for anyone who’s constantly on the move and can’t stay connected to a single Wi-Fi network for too long.
(Image credit: Future)
The battery in the OnePlus Pad Go 2 has also been beefed up, jumping from 8,000mAh to a whopping 10,050mAh cell, which means you can go for longer between charges (always helpful if there isn’t a power outlet in sight).
The only setback with the Pad Go 2 is that the design isn’t quite as striking as what we’ve had before, with the OnePlus moving away from the green colorway that made the original Pad Go stand out, and instead moving towards a subdued style that will feel familiar to anyone who’s seen the similarly redesigned OnePlus Nord 5.
Still, it’s a minor blemish on what is, overall, an outstanding tablet. The next time someone’s shopping on the mid-range market, I can’t imagine a world where the OnePlus Pad Go 2 isn’t immediately brought up as one of the first options to consider.
OnePlus Pad Go 2 review: price and availability
Starts at $399.99 / £319 for 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage
A more expensive 8GB RAM/256GB storage model is available in the UK, which comes with 5G connectivity
The OnePlus Pad Go 2 has a starting price of $399.99 / £319 for the 128GB Wi-Fi-only model, which then jumps up to £399 for the UK-exclusive 256GB, 5G-enabled variant. We're still waiting for confirmation of the tablet's availability in Australia.
For context, the OnePlus Pad Go cost £299/$299 at launch, making it something of a lower mid-range option designed to compete with the likes of Apple’s entry-level iPad at the time.
Even though there is a slight uptick over what the original Pad Go went for at launch, such a price increase is far from unexpected given the current state of the world economy. But it doesn’t derail the Pad Go 2’s value, which is the most important thing.
With that $399.99 / £319 starting price, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 is still $50 / £10 cheaper than the iPad 11-inch (2025), which is sure to make it a more tempting option for buyers who aren’t completely sold on Apple’s ecosystem.
Value score: 4 / 5
OnePlus Pad Go 2 review: specs
As for the Pad Go 2's specs, there are quite a few upgrades this time around, the most notable of which have been applied to the display. With a larger 12.1-inch size, the screen also has a higher resolution and a faster refresh rate of 120Hz.
Although the Wi-Fi and 5G models of the OnePlus Pad Go 2 share a lot of key specs, the latter is ever-so slightly heavier at 599g (as opposed to 597g).
Here are the OnePlus Pad Go 2's specs in full:
Starting price
£319
Operating system
OxygenOS 15.0.1
Chipset
MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra
RAM
8GB
Storage
128GB/256GB
Display
12.1-inch 2800 x 1980 LCD, 120Hz
Weight
597g/599g
Battery
10,050mAh
Charging
33W wired charging
Cameras
8MP main, 8MP front
OnePlus Pad Go 2 review: display
(Image credit: Future)
A large 12.1-inch display that's brilliantly bright
The 7:5 ratio is perfect for productivity
As much as I enjoyed testing the OnePlus Pad Lite for what it was (a budget buy) earlier this year, its lower-resolution screen made me realize just how good I had it when the OnePlus Pad 3 came in for testing. I was bracing myself for a similar compromise with the Go 2, but ended up being pleasantly surprised by what's on offer.
Instead of having a display that's a major step down from its more premium siblings, the Pad Go 2 has a gorgeous 12.1-inch display that's both larger than before (up from 11.35 inches) and brighter, at 600 nits. There's even a 2.8k resolution, which makes everything look crisp.
The viewing experience overall is fantastic, and I've been using the tablet to catch up on It: Welcome to Derry, being massively impressed with how well the screen conveys both the saturated colours of 1960s Derry and also the dark, foreboding sewers connected to Pennywise’s lair.
(Image credit: Future)
This alone would make it easy to recommend the OnePlus Pad Go 2 to users who just want a solid tablet to take with them on their next flight, but it's the use of a 7:5 ratio that allows it to double as a great productivity tablet.
With a more squat frame than the true wide-screen look of something like the Pad Lite, the Pad Go 2 is far more aligned with the Pad 3, offering plenty of space for multitasking with two apps sitting side by side. For when I'm studying a press release or testing notes for an article as I write, this is exactly the type of display I want – one that never asks me to squint to see what's right in front of me.
Display score: 5 / 5
OnePlus Pad Go 2 review: design
(Image credit: Future)
A bit more subdued than before
It can pick up fingerprints quite quickly
The OnePlus Pad Go 2 has undergone something of a design shift versus its predecessor, moving away from the green backing and center-facing rear camera of old and towards something that feels far more subdued – not too dissimilar to the changes implemented on the OnePlus Nord 5.
The Shadow Black variant that I had in for review feels particularly reminiscent of OnePlus’ mid-range phone, with a sleek albeit unexciting backing that’s designed to look confident rather than eye-catching. It’s also something of a fingerprint magnet, so you may want to put a case on the device before things get too smudgey. These sentiments don’t quite apply to the Lavender Drift alternative, but even that more colourful option is a world away from the head-turning pink of the 11th-gen iPad.
Before I run the risk of sounding overly negative, I want to point out that even though it’s less striking than before, I do like the design of the OnePlus Pad Go 2. As someone who regularly uses tablets for both productivity and entertainment, I appreciate having a device that can blend in as seamlessly as a laptop in my local cafe, and it’s now even easier to carry around in a backpack thanks to a slightly slimmed-down build.
(Image credit: Future)
While the height and width of the tablet have increased, owing to the slightly larger display, OnePlus has managed to fit everything into a thinner chassis that rings in at just 6.83 inches. Not only does this mean it takes up less room in a bag (handy for someone like me who’s constantly carrying multiple devices), but it also makes the Pad Go 2 more comfortable to hold.
With the Wi-Fi and 5G models of the Pad Go 2 coming in at 597g and 599g, respectively, the Pad Go 2 is heavier than its predecessor, but that increase doesn't result in any negative change to the way it feels in the hand. On the contrary, there’s a nice bit of heft that complements the smooth backing of the Go 2, making it comfortable to hold for long periods of time.
Thanks to the more squat nature of the design, my hands were never at risk of covering the center-placed front-facing camera, so even if you are taking a call while holding the tablet vertically, you won’t have any issues there.
Design score: 4 / 5
OnePlus Pad Go 2 review: software
(Image credit: Future)
A wonderfully uncluttered experience with next to no bloatware
Having Open Canvas on board is a big win for productivity users
I've tested enough tablets now to know that OnePlus’ secret weapon is its software. OxygenOS is already a delight to use on the best OnePlus phones (which is why next year’s best phones really have their work cut out against the stellar OnePlus 15), but its value feels more palpable when it comes to tablets.
There's no denying that Apple has a comfortable lead above all Android competitors in this area. Everything just works in iPadOS, and it's exactly why the entry-level iPad 11 is such a great-value buy. But for my money, OxygenOS is the next best thing.
For starters, there really isn't any bloatware to speak of, which already sets OnePlus’ software apart. This was also the case with the OnePlus Lite, and nothing’s changed with the Pad Go 2. The only thing that could vaguely be considered bloatware is a handful of OnePlus’ own brand apps, but they’re fairly well designed. OnePlus’ Notes app in particular is a much sleeker alternative to Google Keep, so these apps are worth exploring to see if they can work for you.
It also helps that OxygenOS has a much nicer look than most Android overlays. With circular app icons and easy-to-navigate menus, it feels far more akin to what you’ll find in Google’s stock Android package, and you get a nice selection of wallpapers built in, including OnePlus’ signature mountain range collection.
What really separates the Pad Go 2 from the Pad Lite, however, is the inclusion of Open Canvas. Whether it’s been on the Pad 3 or the OpenPlus Open, I've loved my time with OnePlus’ multitasking software, as it makes the process of setting up apps side by side an easy one. As mentioned earlier, it works so well with the Pad Go 2’s 7:5 display that you could easily use this tablet for work, either as a student or a professional.
(Image credit: Future)
Of all the layout options available via Open Canvas, it’s the 90/10 split that I really enjoy using. As its name implies, this allows one app to take up the majority of the display while another is just peeking out from the side, but the latter can be brought out in a 50/50 split the moment you tap on it. Again, when I want to quickly check on my notes while writing a review like this one, it works incredibly well.
Another key difference here is that, unlike the Pad Lite, the Go 2 has OnePlus’ AI features built in. This may differ for some people, but personally, I can’t stand the way in which a big push in AI is being shipped as a viable alternative to new features in modern tech. Honor is guilty of this, as is Apple, but OnePlus has a fairly relaxed approach, which I appreciate.
(Image credit: Future)
There are AI features onboard, like an AI writer as well as an AI summarizer for web pages, but neither of them is forced upon you and are fairly easy to miss if you’re not looking for them. While I don’t have much use for AI in general, I have appreciated OnePlus’ AI summarizer on occasion if I need to know more about a certain product but don’t have time to read a full breakdown, as it does a decent job of honing in on what’s important and getting that information to me in a concise way.
OnePlus has yet to confirm how long it will be supporting the OnePlus Pad Go 2, but this section will be updated once that information is made clear.
Software score: 4.5 / 5
OnePlus Pad Go 2 review: performance
(Image credit: Future)
The MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra is a capable chipset
The tablet doesn't buckle under heavy multitasking
Even though it was pitched as a more affordable tablet, the OnePlus Pad Go certainly wasn’t lacking in terms of performance for its price point. The MediaTek Helio G99 chip did a solid job of keeping day-to-day use feeling smooth, but now that the Go 2 has additional features like Open Canvas and AI integration to consider, a leap forward in performance was always going to be a necessity.
This time around, it’s the MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra powering the show, which is built on a more efficient 4nm process. Almost by design now, I get a bit weary whenever I see a chipset listed that isn’t from Qualcomm (almost certainly a result of Snapdragon chips dominating the flagship market), but any concerns were quickly abated the moment I switched on the Go 2 and started using it.
Jumping between apps felt very smooth, and they would load quickly, too. Wanting to see how far I could push the CPU, I jumped into Open Canvas with Chrome and YouTube sitting side by side, but then had picture-in-picture video playing from Sky Go on top of it, whilst also bringing in OnePlus Notes as a floating window. With effectively four apps running at the same time, I waited to see if the Go 2 would buckle under the pressure of it all, but to my amazement, such a moment never came to pass. For the mid-range market, the Pad Go 2 is a real powerhouse.
When swapping over to a bit of gaming, I connected a wireless Xbox controller over Bluetooth and dove into a match of Call of Duty: Mobile. As expected, based on my experience with the CPU up until that point, it all ran flawlessly (and I knew as much because I won the match, which is rarely a guarantee). Not only did the gameplay run smoothly without any lag or stuttering, but the colors came through tremendously, and I didn’t feel any disconnect between my actions on the controller and what was taking place onscreen.
Moving over to Honkai Star Rail – a more demanding title that can trip up a lot of lesser-powered tablets and phones, I’m glad to relay that the Pad Go 2 ran the game rather well. It didn't run quite as flawlessly as Call of Duty, with the odd frame rate dip when exploring the world of the game, but performance during battles was pretty solid, and even when performing special moves that can involve particle effects and more objects appearing onscreen, the tablet didn’t really budge under the pressure.
What helps the performance of the CPU in delivering a great entertainment experience is the jump to having a 120Hz refresh rate, which, as any gamer can attest, is a night and day difference, but the quad-speaker system that’s onboard is important, too. Even when using the speakers at a low volume, the Pad Go 2 does a great job at projecting its soundscape, so you won’t have to crank up the audio in order to hear anything.
The Pad Go 2 is also the first OnePlus tablet to feature 5G connectivity (in the UK at least), which, oddly enough, might make it a more tempting buy over the Pad 3 for productivity users who are constantly on the go. Even though the Pad 3 is more powerful overall, the ability to latch on to a 5G signal when you’re away from a trusted Wi-Fi network is a huge win.
Alongside my review unit of the tablet, OnePlus was kind enough to send over the OnePlus Pad Go 2 Stylo, which I’ve also put to use during this testing period. Admittedly, I’m not a digital artist (I only wish I had that talent), but I am someone who carries a Remarkable Paper Pro with me at all times for digital notetaking, and in that regard I found the Stylo to be quite handy. It’s a long way from the pen and paper feeling of the Remarkable and similar tablets like the Kindle Scribe (2024), but the Stylo itself is responsive and very comfortable to use, so I can see it being an instant buy alongside the tablet for some users.
Performance score: 4.5 / 5
OnePlus Pad Go 2 review: battery
(Image credit: Future)
A much larger 10,050mAh cell is included
Reverse charging is now possible
No charging brick included
One of my favourite aspects of the OnePlus Pad 3 is just how big the onboard battery is. The company’s flagship tablet packs a 12,140mAh cell, which can really go the distance, but what’s great to see is that the Pad Go 2 has been given such an upgrade in this department that it really isn’t all that far behind what’s achievable on its more powerful sibling.
For the Go 2, OnePlus has leapt from an 8,000mAh battery to a massive 10,050mAh alternative, and it makes a huge difference. OnePlus claims that you can now get up to 15 hours of video streaming at a time, as well as 60 days of standby, which is a big win for anyone who’s always worried about getting to a charger in time.
When testing the tablet on my own terms, I was able to get through about an hour of streaming, half an hour of gaming (which involved online play and downloaded texture packs/content), and another half an hour of web browsing, all with the brightness turned up almost to the max, and the battery had only gone down from 100% to 82%.
Under typical use, I wouldn’t have the brightness anywhere near as high as I did, so I have no worries about getting much closer to OnePlus’ claims of longevity when using the Pad Go 2.
Things have stayed the same where charging is concerned, with 33W SUPERVOOC available on the Pad Go 2, but I don’t see this as a major issue. Of the two options, I would much rather have a larger battery than faster charging, and with the Go 2 now able to run for longer between charges, you won’t have to spend all that much time topping up the tablet anyway.
As an added benefit, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 now supports reverse charging, so if you do need to give your phone or earbuds a quick top-up and you don’t have a battery pack to hand, the Go 2 can step in to plug the gap.
Battery score: 4.5 / 5
Should you buy the OnePlus Pad Go 2?
OnePlus Pad Go 2 scorecard
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
With only a minor uptick in price and a ton of upgrades, the Pad Go 2 is a mid-range bargain.
4.5 / 5
Display
The increased resolution and brightness make for a better viewing experience overall.
4.5 / 5
Design
While functional, the Pad Go 2 isn't as exciting as its predecessor, and it can catch fingerprints.
4 / 5
Software
With Open Canvas and OnePlus' AI features being brought into the mid-range, there's now greater functionality.
4.5 / 5
Performance
The newer chipset is capable of heavy-duty multitasking and solid gaming performance.
4.5 / 5
Battery
With a big 10,050mAh cell, you'll struggle to drain the entire battery in a day.
4.5 / 5
Buy it if…
You want a productivity tablet without spending too much Thanks to its 7:5 aspect ratio and Open Canvas multitasking software, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 is perfect for users who want to work on the go.
You want a proper all-day battery life With a massive 10,050mAh cell now under the hood, the Pad Go 2 is capable of going the distance over an intensive day of use.
You want a simple Android overlay free of clutter With a hands-off approach to AI alongside next to no bloatware, OxygenOS is a joy to use.
Don’t buy it if…
You only need a tablet for entertainment If all you want to do is stream films and TV shows, then the OnePlus Pad Lite fits the bill perfectly with a very affordable price tag.
You don’t plan on using 5G connectivity Even with the Wi-Fi version available, you can save more money by opting for a tablet that doesn’t feature network connectivity.
You want super-fast charging If you’re more concerned with having faster charging than a longer battery life, you may want to look elsewhere.
Also consider
Wondering whether or not the OnePlus Pad Go 2 is right for you? Here are some alternatives worth considering:
OnePlus Pad Go 2
Apple iPad 11-inch (2025)
OnePlus Pad Lite
Price
£319 / £399
$349 / £329
£199 / €229
Storage
128GB/256GB
128GB / 236GB / 512GB
128GB
Screen size
12.1-inch 2800 x 1980 LCD, 120Hz
11-inch Liquid Retina, 60Hz
11-inch 1920 x 1200 LCD, 90Hz
Chipset
MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra
Apple A16 Bionic
MediaTek Helio G100
Battery
10,050mAh
28.93Wh
9,340mAh
Charging
33W
20W
33W
Cameras
8MP main, 8MP front
12MP main, 12MP front
5MP main, 5MP front
OS
OxygenOS 16
iPadOS 18
OxygenOS w/ Android 15
Apple iPad 11-inch (2025) Apple’s entry-level iPad is a bargain, given that you’re getting access to almost all of the main features from iPadOS. Despite its low-level price tag, you can still use the tablet for productivity as well as entertainment, especially since the iPadOS 26 update, which allows apps to be windowed, much like how you’d see them on a Mac.
OnePlus Pad Lite Unless you’re dead set on having features like OpenCanvas and AI integration that make productivity feel more seamless, the OnePlus Pad Lite already has the entertainment side of things on lock. With a more portable build and a wide screen that’s perfect for cinematic viewing, the Pad Lite is a great device for on-the-go entertainment, and it’ll save you quite a bit at checkout as well.
For the purpose of this review, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 was used over the course of a week to determine how well it functions as an everyday tablet for both productivity and entertainment needs.
Streaming was conducted via the Sky Go app, whlie Call of Duty Mobile and Honkai Star Rail were used to verify the tablet’s abilities as a gaming machine.
You probably know that RAM prices have skyrocketed in recent months, which will have a major negative impact on smartphones in the coming months. Analyst firm Counterpoint has revised its predictions for 2026 – instead of level shipments, the firm is now forecasting that the global smartphone market will shrink by 2.1%.
The worrying thing is that the punishing rise in memory prices will persist – Counterpoint warns that prices can go up by another 40% through Q2 2026.
Global Smartphone Market Share and YoY Growth by Key OEM, 2026(E)
Currently, the Bill of Materials (BoM, i.e. the...
For a machine that just fits the mini PC classification, the Minisforum MS-S1 is something on another level and almost by definition, and this is reflected in the near £2,500 / $2,500 price tag. That price affords the latest components and technology inside, as well as an incredibly solid build. If you're thinking about buying this powerful mini PC, there are a few things to consider.
First and foremost, this isn't your average desktop machine. Sure, it will run all the usual applications like any other mini PC or desktop, but it goes far beyond, with its AI-tuned AMD CPU/GPU providing a perfect localised development workstation for AI or AI-enhanced applications.
It's also worth considering that the major components of this machine are soldered in place, so there's no option, unlike a desktop, to replace the CPU, GPU or RAM. However, there are plenty of options to boost the internal storage capacity, or even boost the graphics with a discrete card, as the machine has space for a full-sized PCIe x16 expansion, though you do need to consider that this is a mini PC, so whatever card you opt for will need to be relatively small.
Looking through the rest of the specifications, all features are cutting-edge, and Minisforum haven’t held back on any part of this machine, with unified RAM, those AI processes, USB4 and PCIe 4.0, with the ability to install up to 8TB of internal storage in the M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slot.
The specification of this machine is impressive, but it’s only once you navigate Windows that you can really start to feel that boost in processing power and the speed at which Windows 11 Pro operates. Applications open almost instantly. When you load Microsoft Office, everything is exceptionally fast and responsive. Copying and pasting huge documents from one application to another presents no issue, and even when you start to load up memory-hungry applications such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom, this machine just takes them in.
The real difference comes when you start to utilise the AI features in those applications, and even in Premiere Pro, with the CPU and GPU capable of processing Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro’s AI-at-heart features quickly, both locally and utilising remote processing options.
If you are into AI development, then the AI setup is going to work as a perfect starting point, with the ability to install a local LLM such as LM Studio on your machine.
Throughout the test, the machine just impressed. While the AMD Radeon graphics lag slightly behind Nvidia alternatives, it is still incredibly capable, flying through all video production I threw at it, as well as performing well when it came to gaming.
The Minisforum MS-S1 Max is essentially a specialist machine, especially when you consider its price point and the fact that it has been made to fit neatly into a U2 rack system, meaning that whether you use it on your desktop as a very compact and powerful mini PC for content creation, or as a machine that can take full advantage of most programs’ AI-enhanced features, or you’re looking to use the best mini PC for local AI development, the Minisforum MS-S1 Max is an option, especially when you cluster it with others.
What really appeals to me is that because of its small size and its durability, thanks to its full aluminium build, it’s also a great option to utilise in the field, offering a relatively compact and lightweight, yet extremely powerful machine that rivals many desktop video workstations.
Minisforum MS-S1 Max: Price and availability
How much does it cost? From £2399 / $2499
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? Directly from Minisforum or Amazon
CPU: AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (16-core Zen5) Graphics: AMD Radeon 8060S (Integrated) RAM: Up to 128 GB LPDDR5x-8000MT/s Storage: M.2 2280 SSD Left Ports: 1× USB4 v2, 2× USB-A, Mic jack Right Ports: 1× USB4 v2, Power, DisplayPort, HDMI, PCIe slot Connectivity: Dual 10GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Audio: 3.5mm combo jack Camera: None Size: Compact chassis; fits on desktop or 2U rack. OS Installed: Windows 11 Pro Accessories: Power cable, mounting options
Minisforum MS-S1 Max: Design
While the Minisforum MS-S1 Max is classed as a mini PC, you can tell from the outset that it is something far more, with a matte black industrial design that feels a level up from even standard premium mini PCs. The design is exceptional, with rubber feet on one of the longer edges as well as the base, so you have plenty of options for how to position it on your desk. It’s also been designed to fit directly into a U2 rack, so if you want to place it alongside your server, that’s easy enough.
The size, whilst not as small as most mini PCs, is still relatively compact at 222 x 206 x 77 mm, and it comes in at 2.8 kg, so it's substantially heavier than we usually expect.
However, unlike most mini PCs that remain small and compact yet always come with a power adapter that is almost the same size and weight as the actual machine, here with the MS-S1 Max, the power supply is built-in, so all you need is a standard kettle lead for the power.
Checking over the body of the machine, there are plenty of connectivity options. Very neatly on the front, there’s a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A with 10Gb/s transfer rate and 2 USB4 offering 40Gbps DP 2.0, PD power out (15W), and next to this is a 3.5mm audio combo jack enabling you to use standard headphones and mic.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Round the back, the selection of ports is equally impressive, with an HDMI 2.1 capable of providing 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 120Hz, 2 USB 2.0, 2 USB4 v2 (80Gbps, DP 2.0, PD out 15W), two USB 3.2 Gen 2, two 10GbE LAN RJ45 ports, anti-theft lock, and a reset hole to help clear the CMOS if you’ve been doing some development that’s gone wrong.
All these connections and interfaces are cutting-edge, but most mini PCs would stop there. Here with the MS-S1 Max, there’s a little bit more to it - and a feature that makes this closer to a desktop PC than a mini PC.
Opening up the machine (which is done by removing two screws at the back), the whole backplate and internals of the machine can be removed from the metal casing, revealing the SSD slot and the PCIe 4.0 expansion slot. While the connector is full-size, you will need to be a little bit wary about the size of the expansion card you purchase, but it still gives you plenty of options for discrete graphics and possibly AI enhancement cards in the future.
Design: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Minisforum MS-S1 Max: Features
For a mini PC, the specification and feature list are slightly abnormal, featuring the latest AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, and this is coupled with an AMD Radeon 8060S GPU. It’s also backed by an AMD Ryzen AI engine that gives this machine the full range of AI potential. The configuration of this machine has been built so that you can run large AI models locally, with all-scenario AI compute that offers up to 126 TOPS and runs 128B+ LLMs locally, such as LM Studio.
One of the other points about this machine is that it’s been designed so that you can either use it as a single machine or as part of a dual-unit 235B cluster or 2U rack cluster to really boost your AI workflow and development. In the marketing material, Minisforum actually state it’ll run the 235B Q4 large model locally if configured in that dual configuration, although that does obviously mean two of these machines and double the price.
If two machines aren’t enough for what you want to do, then that 2U rack deployment is also possible, where even more MS-S1 Max machines can be distributed into a cluster. Again, in the marketing material, Minisforum states that a four-unit cluster is powerful enough to run the DeepSeek-R1671B Q4 large model locally, which is impressive, firstly considering the size of the machines, and secondly, the fact that it comes in at less than $10,000 / £10,000.
What’s impressive here is that Minisforum have created a bespoke cluster design, which means that once configured and wired up, utilising the reserved cascade power-on header, you can then power on and off all machines in one go as if they were one.
As well as the future potential and upgradability into cluster systems, out of the box with just one unit, there are also a few key AI features, such as precise voice recognition with the AI noise-cancelling mic that will support mainstream AI models and help with speech-to-text and other voice commands.
Many of the internal components are also soldered to the motherboard, and it features 128GB of unified LPDDR5X-8000 MT/s RAM.
There an M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slot that’s able to take up to 8TB of storage.
As you look over the body of the machine, there are several things that really stand out. One of those features that’s really appealing is the inclusion of dual USB4 v2 and dual 10GbE LAN ports alongside Wi-Fi 7, enabling ultra-fast transfer speeds from external storage and accessories, and also the ability to connect to a local area network, and more importantly, a system for network editing.
Another of the huge differences between this machine and many others is the volume of I/O options. Including the latest USB4 v2 enables up to 80Gbps transfer rate, but on top of that, it also offers PCIe 4.0 x4, which offers space for full-length x16 slot expansion cards, giving you plenty of capability options from the outset.
As I previously mentioned, unlike other mini PCs, the PSU is actually incorporated into the casing of the machine and offers 320W, which is huge for this size of machine, but obviously needed for all the computing power it holds.
One of the other big features is the design, with the slide-out structure that enables you to slide the main computer out from the casing, so that upgrading and maintenance are exceptionally easy and fast.
There’s a lot going on with the MS-S1 Max, and cooling is essential. Here, they’ve tried to tackle this with an aerospace-grade aluminium chassis that offers both durability and superb airflow through the componentry.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Features: 5 / 5
Minisforum MS-S1 Max: Performance
Benchmark scores
CrystalDiskMark Read: 6061.76 MB/s CrystalDiskMark Write: 5374.64 MB/s Geekbench CPU Multi: 19,653 Geekbench CPU Single: 2,904 Geekbench GPU: 95,729 PCMark Overall: 8,425 Cinebench CPU Multi: 34,648 Cinebench CPU Single: 2,042 Fire Strike Overall: 26,639 Fire Strike Graphics: 29,838 Fire Strike Physics: 35,196 Fire Strike Combined: 12,283 Time Spy Overall: 1,106 Time Spy Graphics: 11,056 Time Spy CPU: 10,732 Wild Life Overall: 65,580 Steel Nomad Overall: 2,135 Windows Experience Overall: 9.1
Running through the setup process, it was apparent that the MS-S1 Max was quite a different machine from most of the mini PCs I tested, only the Sapphire Edge Ai 370 having hints of the same AI enhancement. The Windows 11 Pro setup required the usual final steps, signing into Microsoft and Google and downloading and installing updates.
What’s apparent with that Wi-Fi 7 connectivity is the speed at which you can connect to the wireless router (if, of course, your wireless router supports Wi-Fi 7).
Another noticeable point about this machine right from the outset is not only the number of connection options, enabling you to quickly connect up to 4K monitors. It is worth noting at this early point in the testing that the fans kick in from the outset, and this is far from a silent runner. Obviously, a lot is going on in this machine, and like any server, those fans and the cooling are consistent, unlike the almost silent running we’ve become used to with most mini PCs.
I started off with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. These all loaded almost instantly, even when I threw large documents at the machine, including a large PowerPoint presentation I’d already created on another PC. It was very evident just how well this machine can handle those larger files, and again, there was literally no lag or wait time when it came to saving the files down or editing and adjusting images within any PowerPoint presentation.
As I moved over to some of the imaging applications, such as Photoshop and Lightroom, again, it was apparent that the images from the Sony A7 IV and Canon EOS R5C posed absolutely no issue for this machine. Whilst the Radeon 8060S isn’t quite as powerful as some of the discrete graphics cards, the pure power of the CPU and iGPU is more than enough for these two applications. When it came to running the AI features, it proved just how capable this machine was, running those AI functions locally.
Moving on to Adobe Premiere Pro, I went straight in with some Pro 4K footage shot on the iPhone 15 Pro, and instantly, it was apparent that this machine was going to have no problems with that footage. I then went a level up with some RAW footage from the Canon EOS R5C.
While you could see a little bit of slowdown when it came to 4K after effects and grading, it could still handle a 15-minute edit with absolutely no issues whatsoever. If I were going to do a longer edit, I might consider putting in discrete graphics, but for most people, this machine out of the box will handle pretty much anything you throw at it when it comes to video editing.
One key point here was that I needed to transcribe one of the videos, and the speech-to-text was exceptionally fast, including expanding clips in the timeline, where the AI processing really becomes incredibly valuable.
When it came to CapCut (essentially a far lighter video editor than Premiere Pro and ideal for creating social media content for YouTube), there were no issues. Applying templates gave a really smooth experience; editing was fast and extremely agile.
Of course, this being an AI machine, I had to give some of the more in-depth AI features a go. So here I downloaded and installed LM Studio, as it’s free and has a very easy-to-use interface. Again, the performance was exceptional, and I was able to run that language model locally on the machine. While I’m still investigating the full use of LM Studio and its features, I have to say I was extremely impressed with the speed at which it was able to give responses and compute.
Finally, after trying to figure out the complexities of the AI features, I sat back for a little bit of gaming. This is where the machine starts to have a few issues, mainly because the Radeon 8060S, which, while incredibly powerful, does lag behind most discrete graphics cards I’ve recently seen in the latest Asus ProArt P16 laptop.
Still, playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Hogwarts Legacy, both were more than playable, getting good smooth motion, although not all settings could be turned up beyond medium.
Essentially, this is an extremely powerful mini PC and sits in between a dedicated desktop workstation and a smaller format machine. The power and capability are, of course, reflected in the price. This is a machine that’s been designed with a specific purpose, to utilise the power of AI locally, either as a single machine or as part of a cluster. For that purpose, while the price of the machine might seem high, it actually offers exceptional value for something this powerful and AI-ready.
Performance: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Minisforum MS-S1 Max: Final verdict
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
This isn’t the machine that’s going to suit everyone. Even for content creators, where this machine excels with 4K video editing and image enhancement, there are cheaper and better-suited machines out there. You’ll get the same performance for Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro from machines that cost considerably less and include a dedicated GPU.
Likewise, for gaming, all the games I tried on the system worked perfectly well, even at mid to low effects and graphic settings, but again, there are gaming PCs that are far cheaper and better suited for that purpose.
This machine, then, is really designed for AI developers, engineers, and users who want to investigate what the future of computing holds. The fact that it is a single machine, relatively well priced, and offers plenty of upgrade options, with the ability to put in up to 16TB of internal storage, USB4 V2, and with a PCIe 4.0 slot for expansion cards, gives you plenty of future potential.
What’s really interesting is that this machine is not just designed as a single standard unit, but as one that can be added to, so you can run it as a dual cluster or even build it into a far larger system as your budget and needs increase. For AI developers and engineers, this is an incredibly neat and simple out-of-the-box solution.
So for AI developers, this is a superb option that, while similarly expensive, is actually cheaper than many other alternatives. For everyone else, it would be a nice machine to own, but it might be a little overkill and not really tuned to mainstream use.
Should I buy the Minisforum MS-S1 Max?
Value
Extremely high-end AI computing in a compact box at a surprisingly balanced price
4
Design
Superb design that helps to dissipate heat, offers expansion options and cluster potential
4.5
Features
The big excitement here is the AI CPU and iGPU, alongside PCIe 4.0 expansion and cluster support
4
Performance
Closely matched to mid- to high-end desktops. This mini PC is in another class compared with what we normally expect
5
Overall
AI-focused compact workstation as a perfect option for AI developers
4
Buy it if...
You’re an AI developer
You’re running LLMs, multimodal models, or training workflows locally and need 128 GB RAM with 100+ TOPS AI compute
You want a true creative workstation
It's a top choice if you’re editing 4K video, building 3D models, or running simulations where GPU and fast RAM make a difference.
Don't buy it if...
Budget is tight While this is at the affordable end of AI development machines, if you’re looking for an affordable mini PC for browsing or light media use, this is complete overkill.
You're focused on upgrading everything
If you want to swap RAM and CPU later, unified memory and soldered components mean limited future-proofing.
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...
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.
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.
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 open on desk showing left hand side ports (Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
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(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 (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
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.
(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.
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
(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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 open on desk showing left hand side ports (Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
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(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 (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
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.
(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.
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
(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.
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.
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.
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 Chromebookconstructions, 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.
(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
(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.
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
(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
(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 Legendson 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.
(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
(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’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.
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.
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.
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
(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
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
(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:
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.
(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
(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.
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.
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.
