The Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025 is a direct update to last year's impressive MagicBook Art 14 2024, and as you would expect, it boosts almost every aspect of the specifications and performance.
The new model is just as slim and light; however, the performance takes a huge leap forward. When it comes to the performance, it's worth noting that the "Art" is more in the name rather than indicating a creative focus for its use.
The ultrabook's slimline profile and weight are key features, which meant that throughout the review period I was able to take it comfortably with me without it adding too much weight or bulk; an additional kilo really doesn't feel like a great deal in a backpack.
There's also the build quality to consider, which once again feels good and robust. The main chassis is made from aerospace-engineered magnesium alloy, while the keyboard utilises titanium. The ceramic-style surface also gives the machine one of the best aesthetic finishes I have seen, especially with the way it reflects the light.
Away from the build and style of the machine, the performance is equally impressive. Although the "Art" label is once again a little confusing, this really refers to the art of the machine rather than it being aimed at the creative market, such as the ASUS ProArt series.
This laptop is aimed at those looking for a high-end office, lifestyle or general machine that looks great and has a decent amount of power to match.
Through the benchmark and real-world tests, the high-level performance became apparent, and there was no doubt about just how good the new Intel Core Ultra CPUs are. Microsoft Office apps ran quickly, with the high-resolution display affording greater screen real estate for spreadsheets and Word documents. Likewise, utilising cloud-based office applications proved strong with a stable internet connection.
Used for general office work, the machine is exemplary, keeping up with demands placed on it as well as enabling superb audio for media playback. The integrated Arc graphics handled all day-to-day tasks with ease, although it did start to struggle under more intensive tasks such as video production and gaming.
However, as an office-focused machine that's slimline, lightweight and looks great, there is little to fault in one of the best ultrabooks (and best-looking) on the market.
HONOR MagicBook Art 14 2025: Price & availability
How much does it cost? $950 / £950
When is it out? Available soon
Where can you get it? Widely available
The Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025 will be available soon with several different iterations. No US pricing is available yet, but in the UK, it's retailing for £1499.99.
You can check it out on Honor's official site by clicking here.
Value: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025: Design
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Specifications
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 225H / Ultra 7 255H Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics 140T (integrated) RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5x Storage: 1 TB or 2 TB SSD Left Ports: Webcam dock, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Thunderbolt 4 Right Ports: USB‑A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm audio Connectivity: Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 Audio: 6-speaker setup, DTS spatial audio Camera: 1080p removable magnetic webcam Size: 316.8 × 223.6 × 11.3 mm Weight: 1.03 kg OS installed: Windows 11 Home Accessories: USB-C charger, cable, webcam, documentation
The quality of the build, style, design and materials really do stand out. Like the previous version that offered an attractive matte green surface, my review sample of the Art 2025 features a white ceramic finish that accents colours in different environments. It's instantly striking, sometimes looking like a flat colour and other times as though there's a gradient.
The size and weight of ultrabooks are always important factors, and here the machine measures 316.77 x 223.63mm x 11.5mm and weighs approximately 1.03kg, much the same as the previous version. Once again, the chassis is made from aerospace-grade magnesium alloy with a triangular topology that helps provide the strength of the design. Titanium alloy is used for the keyboard, and there's an aluminium alloy fan inside, helping to keep the components cool while also keeping the weight down.
Around the edges of the machine, there's a small but good selection of ports including USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, USB4/Thunderbolt 4, USB-A 3.0, HDMI 2.1 and 3.5mm audio jack.
The screen is one of the big features of this machine. At 14.6 inches with a resolution of 3120x2080, it's also a touchscreen and offers a massive 1600 nits of brightness, making it a great solution for use at a café or other outdoor venue.
While the laptop isn't designed for creative use, it still offers decent colour accuracy with 100% DCI-P3, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 60/120Hz refresh rate.
Another feature I liked in the previous model that once again appears here is the removable webcam. This inserts into the side of the laptop and can be removed and popped on top as required. This means there's no break in the screen or thick bezel to house the camera, it's a great solution and one that obviously increases security as well.
On biometrics, the laptop features a dedicated fingerprint recognition key in the top right of the keyboard, enabling fast access when needed.
Design: 5 / 5
Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Delving into the features of this ultrabook, there's a little bit more to this machine than most. Firstly, there's the ultra-slim design that houses the Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 255H and integrated Intel Arc 140T GPU. The machine is available in a series of configurations depending on your needs, with the review sample featuring a 1TB SSD and 32GB of LPDDR5x 8400MT/s.
One of the fetaures that I liked when I reviewed the precious version was the small detachable magnetic webcam. While the quality is relatively low at 2.1MP and a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080, this is more than enough for most conference calls. What I do like is that it can also be placed to face forward or backwards.
The screen is superb and fully touchscreen, and the hinge has been designed to enable easy one-hand opening and offers a good range of movement, although it won't lie fully flat.
In use, complementing the screen are the six small DTS audio speakers that give good depth of sound in line with other premium laptops.
Despite the sleek design, the keyboard and touchpad are full-sized, with only the up and down cursor key half sized. The touchpad is also large and responsive, with several preset gestures for volume, brightness, screenshots and more.
Alongside the impressive array of features, there's enough processing potential to take the workflow beyond spreadsheets. As this machine offers the latest AI-enabled CPU, it can handle more than most machines of this size. HONOR has ensured the internal cooling can cope and it stays impressively quite at just 3dB.
Overall, when it comes to features, from aesthetics, build materials to ports and connectivity, this is a machine clearly focused on those looking for a premium work laptop with plenty of power.
Features: 5 / 5
Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
CrystalDiskMark Read: 7114.89MB/s CrystalDiskMark Write: 6352.79MB/s Geekbench CPU Multi: 2659 Geekbench CPU Single: 13615 Geekbench GPU: 32073 PCMark Overall: 5752 Cinebench CPU Multi: 14375 Cinebench CPU Single: 1970 Fire Strike Overall: 8436 Fire Strike Graphics: 9128 Fire Strike Physics: 27605 Fire Strike Combined: 3233 Time Spy Overall: 4323 Time Spy Graphics: 3933 Time Spy CPU: 9884 Wild Life Overall: 25169 Steel Nomad Overall: 839 Windows Experience Overall: 8.4
From the outset, the MagicBook Art 14 2025 impressed, especially with Windows 11 Home edition installed as standard. Opening apps and general use felt fast and responsive, and the quality of the screen and touchscreen responsiveness stood out.
One aspect that impressed me was the power of the small speakers, that despite the slim chassis, they delivered a decent depth of sound.
Opening large spreadsheets, I found that the increased resolution enabled easier viewing of more content than expected from a laptop this size. The screen throughout is a strong feature, with the 1600 nits maximum brightness allowing it to be seen in most situations, even outside a café. However, as is common with office-focused machines, the reflective surface did reduce visibility in bright environments.
For office and Windows-based tasks, including web browsing and multimedia playback, this machine performs as well as any I've used. This was reflected in a Windows Experience score of 8.4, one of the highest I've recorded.
RAM and storage are well balanced, and during testing, the machine easily handled switching between multiple apps. When using CapCut to edit a quick video, the speed of the SSD really stood out. While it doesn't quite reach PCIe 5.0 speeds, with read speeds of 7114MB/s and write speeds of 6352.79MB/s, it is still one of the fastest laptop SSDs I've used, this also means it boots up exceptionally fast.
As I started to push the system further, the CPU performance boost became clear. The Cinebench Multi result of 14375 showed that CapCut, Lightroom and Photoshop were all handled easily. Even with multiple layers and high-resolution images from the Canon EOS R5 C, performance remained good. However, storage became an issue, and I needed an external SSD. Fortunately, the Thunderbolt 4 port enables ultrafast SSDs, such as the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5, to be connected.
Impressed by the image enhancement, I moved on to video editing. iPhone 15 Pro 4K footage was handled well in CapCut, allowing fast social media edits with some complexity. However, switching to Log3 footage from a Sony A7 IV pushed the machine to its limits, and performance began to falter.
Having reached the limits for work, I tested a few games. I was initially surprised that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle loaded, but while initially playable, there were plenty of dropped frames and frequent crashes. Other newer titles also struggled, though I did manage a round of DiRT Rally.
When pushed, the fans do kick in, but they remain well-balanced and quiet.
The final note is on the 60W battery, which provided around 4 to 6 hours during multimedia, office and light creative work. For pure office use, I'd expect closer to the quoted 10 hours. Gaming would naturally yield much less.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
HONOR MagicBook Art 14 2025: Final verdict
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025 is an impressive ultrabook that will suit anyone looking for a powerful, premium machine for office and general use.
The aesthetics are stunning, and I think that this is one of the best-looking ultrabooks available, with a slimline design and lightweight build that means it will easily slip into a backpack or laptop bag without adding much bulk.
In the office or on the move, there are plenty of connectivity options, and while there's no network port, Wi-Fi speed and signal strength proved impressive during testing.
In use, the screen really impressed with its large, bright, crisp display and touchscreen functionality. I just wish it would fold flat or, better yet, fold over to be used as a straight tablet.
The power for most tasks is impressive. As long as you don't plan on playing the latest games or editing high-bitrate, high-resolution video, it can handle most creative applications. When it comes to Windows and Microsoft Office, this laptop handles everything with ease with the best Windows Experience score I've seen which was ultimately reflected in the real world use.
If you're after a premium ultrabook, the MagicBook Art 14 2025 is a great option.
Should I buy a HONOR MagicBook Art 14 2025?
Value
A premium laptop with a price and build quality to match
4
Design
The materials ensure that the laptop remains lightweight and strong, with one of the nicest finishes I've seen
5
Features
A strong set of features for a powerful laptop for general use, while remaining compact
5
Performance
Keeping in mind this is a high-performance office machine, it supplies power where needed
4.5
Overalls
Outstanding machine for office and general use with a great look and premium feel
4.5
Buy it if...
You need a work-focused machine.
Everything from the premium build to the hardware configuration has been optimised for business use and portability.
You need something small and ultra-light
The fact that this laptop is so thin and light makes it ultra-portable, yet it still offers good levels of connectivity.
Don't buy it if...
You're a creative
While this machine packs plenty of power, it shouldn't be seen as a creative option, as that integrated GPU and the storage will struggle.
You want to play games.
Again, while the Intel Arc graphics are exceptionally good for all-around use, they lack the power required for modern gaming.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i may face some stiff competition from the usual excellent offerings from Apple, Dell, and the like, but it’s more than up to the challenge. In fact, I believe it deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the best Ultrabooks of this generation.
It’s very slim and portable, helped by the fact that the webcam is hidden under the display in a unique and space-saving measure. And its performance is snappy and responsive, comparing well to the best laptops of this type (don’t expect it to match the power of a gaming laptop, of course). Just as important, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is a gorgeous-looking laptop with an equally gorgeous-looking OLED display.
Really, there are only two drawbacks. The first is price. It’s not anywhere near a budget offering, though that's to be expected of this type of laptop, not to mention that an OLED display always brings a price bump.
The other issue is a little more concerning. The port selection is worse than on an Apple MacBook Air, which is saying something, as that’s already very minimal. More specifically, there’s no audio jack, so hopefully, you have a good pair of Bluetooth earbuds on hand.
However, that’s a pretty short list of things to be concerned about, and one of them (price) is to be expected with a nice Ultrabook. All in all, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is a wonderful laptop that will make a solid upgrade for anyone looking for an attractive, portable, and powerful Ultrabook.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
How much does it cost? Starting at $1,759.99 / £1,800.00 / AU$3,829.00
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The 10th-generation model of the Yoga Slim 9i comes in two configurations, with both available in the US, UK, and Australia. And both configurations are very similar.
The more basic configuration goes for $1,759.99 / £1,800 / AU$3,829 and comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU and 16GB of RAM. The more robust configuration with Intel Core Ultra 7 258V and 32GB of RAM costs a nominally higher price tag of $1,899.99 / £1,900 / AU$4,179. There’s very little difference in performance between the CPUs – it’s just that the 258v supports 32GB of RAM. Essentially, the price difference comes down to whether you want 16 or 32GB of RAM. Everything else is the same, from the color options to the screen and the storage capacity.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) makes for an easy comparison. Not just because they have a similar-sized screen, though the Yoga Slim 9i has better resolution, but because they have similar price points. This 14-incher from Apple starts at $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,499, but that gets you a 512GB SSD. If you want the same amount of storage (1TB), the price goes up to $1,799 / £1,999 / AU$3,299, which is a little more than the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i. Of course, you’ll probably gravitate towards one over the other, mostly depending on whether you want macOS or Windows.
The Dell XPS 13 offers an interesting comparison, too. It comes in at a similar price – $1,999.99 / £2,049 / AU$3,998.50 – if you opt for a touchscreen like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i has, but the screen is smaller. And while the Dell XPS 13 does have an OLED display, it’s at a lower, though still pretty good, 2880 x 1800p resolution. Both laptops have limited ports, but both have plenty of power.
However, the Dell XPS 13 has an interesting design with its edgeless keyboard (meaning it stretches edge to edge) and a touchpad that just uses haptic feedback and doesn’t have a defined physical boundary. This is one of those love-it-or-hate-it design choices and will probably be a deciding factor for most.
Price: 4 / 5
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Specs
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Of the two available configurations, there’s very little difference. You basically get to choose between two almost identical CPUs, the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V and the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, which is about 0.5% better.
However, if you select the ever-so-slightly better CPU, you get 32GB of RAM instead of 16GB, since that CPU supports the higher amount of RAM.
14" WQUXGA (3840 x 2400), OLED, Glare, Touch, HDR 600 True Black, 100%DCI-P3, 400 nits, 120Hz, Glass, Camera Under Display
14" WQUXGA (3840 x 2400), OLED, Glare, Touch, HDR 600 True Black, 100%DCI-P3, 400 nits, 120Hz, Glass, Camera Under Display
Storage:
1TB SSD
1TB SSD
Ports:
2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4
2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4
Wireless:
Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE 320MHz & Bluetooth 5.4
Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE 320MHz & Bluetooth 5.4
Camera:
32MP camera-under-display with e-privacy shutter
32MP camera-under-display with e-privacy shutter
Weight:
Starting at 1.25kg / 2.76lbs
Starting at 1.25kg / 2.76lbs
Dimensions:
312.93mm x 203.5mm x as thin as 14.55mm / 12.32 x 8.01 x as thin as 0.57 inches
312.93mm x 203.5mm x as thin as 14.55mm / 12.32 x 8.01 x as thin as 0.57 inches
Outside of the internal upgrades to CPU and RAM, there are no other upgrades. Both configurations come in one color, Tidal Teal, which is admittedly beautiful.
And there’s just the one display available. Thankfully, it’s also very nice with high-resolution and responsive touchscreen capabilities.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Design
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Attractive and slim
Gorgeous and impressive display
Limited ports, including a lack of an audio jack
Available in Tidal Teal, a shimmery blue with hints of green, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is a beautiful laptop even before opening it up. It’s slim and light, even for a laptop of this size, and is about as portable as it gets.
In terms of form factor, the one unusual thing I noticed is that there is a raised bar near the top of the lid. This houses the 32-megapixel webcam that’s hidden under the display and pops up near the top-middle of the screen when in use. Though there’s no physical shutter for the webcam, it does have an effective e-privacy toggle next to the right USB-C port.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
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(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
It’s also worth noting that, despite having a touchscreen, this is not a 2-in-1, so don’t expect to be able to fold it to use as a tablet. That said, the touchscreen is very responsive and very sensitive, enough so that I’ve accidentally closed my browser multiple times when lightly touching the corner of the screen without thinking.
The screen is pretty remarkable beyond its touch capabilities. This 14-inch OLED panel has a 4K or 3840 x 2400 resolution (that’s a 16:10 aspect ratio) with a 120Hz refresh rate, along with 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 color coverage, which is ideal for photo editing. It also has a Vesa Certified DisplayHDR True Black 600 rating. It even supports Dolby Vision. You get the idea – the display is pretty spectacular.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
The keyboard is a bit shallow, so it's not the most comfortable one I’ve used, but that’s to be expected with a laptop this slim. It’s otherwise accurate and responsive, and I had no trouble pounding out a couple of articles on it.
The touchpad is just as snappy and accurate. While a lot of newer laptops seem to increase the size of the touchpad, that’s not the case here. If you want a really big touchpad, you’re not going to get it here.
Finally, the port selection is very, very minimal. There are just two USB-C ports, one on each side. They’re both Thunderbolt 4, so there’s plenty of throughput if you want to use a dongle. Still, it’s very limited. What I’m most upset about is the fact that Lenovo has done away with any kind of audio jack. As ubiquitous as wireless earbuds are, some of us still use wired headphones from time to time.
Design: 4.5 / 5
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Performance
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Snappy, responsive performance
Copilot+
Great audio quality with spatial audio
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is quite powerful. It can handle day-to-day work easily. Opening, scrolling, clicking links, typing, photo editing: all the sorts of things most people want from an Ultrabook. For example, I was able to open 20 browser windows very quickly, just by pressing the Plus sign in Microsoft Edge.
Each window, which opens the MSN homepage filled with different news stories and information, loaded up almost immediately. Of course, I reviewed the 32GB configuration, but the CPU and RAM still do quite a bit of heavy lifting.
Even the camera behind the screen pops up promptly. Speaking of which, the webcam performs smoothly and looks good, though it does struggle with noise in low light.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i CPU / System Benchmarks
Benchmark
Score
Geekbench 6.4 Single Core
2,755
Geekbench 6.4 Single Core
11,186
Crossmark Overall
1,689
Crossmark Productivity
1,638
Crossmark Creativity
1,934
Crossmark Responsiveness
1,234
25GB File Copy Transfer Rate (MB/s)
1,032.87
Now, it’s not a gaming laptop, but I was able to run some less demanding or older games without any trouble, like Sable and Alan Wake. For those games, the action was crisp, clear, and smooth. That gorgeous OLED screen really helps. Still, there were some games I tried to run that wouldn’t even open.
As this is a newer laptop, it comes with Copilot+. Using the app is quick and responsive, though I still don’t find it to be a game-changer in my computing experience.
I’ve rarely been impressed by the audio from a laptop. I was when I reviewed the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i, and I am here. That’s probably because there are more than two speakers in the Lenovo Yoga Slom 9i. Specifically, there are two 2-watt tweeters and two 3-watt woofers. There’s also some virtual spatial audio since the laptop supports Dolby Atmos.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Battery life
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Decent if disappointing battery life
Doesn’t seem to do fast charging
Laptops with OLED displays aren’t always the most efficient, so the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i’s just under 10 hours of battery life in the PCMark 10 Battery benchmark is not surprising, though it is a bit disappointing. It did manage a better showing in our Web Surfing test, where it managed to get just over 11 hours of battery life.
While not the best results we've seen, this isn't terrible battery life. However, we’re seeing a few laptops, particularly ones that this one competes with, hitting up to double those numbers. To be fair, I turned off the laptop’s battery-saver feature, which makes the laptop run more efficiently when the battery is low, so you might manage to squeeze more juice from the battery depending on the settings.
On the bright side, it was very good at maintaining battery life when the lid was closed. I’ve used and tested some laptops where the battery would continue to run down when idling, and that’s not an issue here.
Battery life: 3 / 5
Should you buy the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i?
Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i scorecard
Category
Notes
Rating
Value
While pricey, this laptop is thin, powerful, and comes with a wonderful OLED screen.
4 / 5
Design
It’s not only thin and light, but it is gorgeous. Too bad it lacks an audio jack and only comes with two USB-C ports.
4.5 / 5
Performance
The performance (and audio quality) is excellent, especially for productivity work.
4.5 / 5
Battery Life
The battery life is decent, but compared to the competition is lower than expected.
4 / 5
Final score
It’s gorgeous, light, and comes with robust performance. Plus, it has that OLED screen.
4.25 / 5
Buy the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i if...
You want a thin, light laptop At under three pounds (and with a 14-inch screen), this laptop is about as portable as it gets.
You want a gorgeous screen Not only is the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i a looker, but it comes with a high-resolution OLED display that might be the centerpiece.
You want responsive performance This might not be a gaming laptop, but its performance is snappy and responsive, exactly what one needs for most productivity work.
Don't buy it if...
You want more ports Only two USB-C Thunderbolt ports are limiting enough. The fact that there’s no audio jack is pretty disappointing.
You have limited funds While worth the cost, this is not a cheap machine. If you’re limited on funds, there are some great laptops out there without an OLED screen that are probably within reach.
Also consider
If my Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...
Dell XPS 13 Between the long-lasting battery life, strong performance, and gorgeous OLED screen, the Intel Core Ultra 2nd Gen version of the Dell XPS 13 is the ideal Ultrabook. That is, if you’re game for an innovative design change that some will love and others not so much – essentially a haptic-only touch bar and touchpad.
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) may not have WiFi 7 or any major physical design upgrades, but it’s an almost perfect laptop otherwise. It has powerful and incredibly efficient performance (meaning it also has a very long battery life) and comes with some unique features such as the centerstage camera and optional nano-texture screen.
I used the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i for a month, testing it for work, including this review (along with the requisite online research). I used it to stream video. I even did some light gaming. I played with the webcam, the audio, and the AI features as well.
After spending time with the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i, it’s clear that this is perfect for those who want a premium experience (and can pay for it) in a gorgeous wrapping.
I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear for gaming and otherwise, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation.
The Google Pixel 10 is Google’s best Pixel yet, and the most competitive Pixel so far if you’re considering switching from an iPhone to Android. The design is cool and refined inside and out, from the great colors to the sharp design to the appealing interface and easy software. This is a great Pixel that nails everything Pixel phones do well.
The display on the Pixel 10 is spectacular. It’s really one of the best displays you’ll see on any smartphone, and I don’t think Google brags enough about the bright, clear screens on all of its Pixel phones. The Pixel 10 was easy to use in any conditions, and the bright display is especially helpful for seeing the screen when I’m taking photos in bright sunlight.
The Pixel 10 also takes fantastic photos, and Google has done a great job of tuning the cameras on this less-expensive Pixel, to the point where it takes photos that look remarkably like images captured with the Pixel 10 Pro XL – which is one of the best camera phones you can buy, and maybe the best overall.
There are new AI features, and some of them are simply mind-blowing. Like the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 10 has the new Live Translation feature that not only translates your voice into another language, but makes that translation sound like your original voice. This feature works shockingly well, even though the processing is all handled on the Pixel 10 itself, and none of your conversation or the sound of your voice are kept on Google’s servers.
There’s also Magic Cue, which is Google’s quiet attempt to insert AI into many, many more screens in the Android interface. When it works, it's imminently useful, and it might save you a load of frustration and time. Unfortunately, like most AI features phone companies have made extravagant claims about over the past couple of years, Magic Cue doesn’t deliver on everything it’s supposed to do; and if it isn’t consistent (and may not be accurate), why does it exist?
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Of course, this isn’t the best Pixel you can buy this year; however, despite this being the cheapest handset in Google's lineup I'm disappointed that it misses out on so many of my favorite Pixel 10 Pro features.
Phone calls on the Pixel 10 Pro get some great AI assistance, like call screening for numbers you don’t recognize, and Call Notes that will transcribe notes during a call – great for talking to the doctor, or getting an athletic practice schedule over the phone. The Pixel 10 gets none of those features, which is troubling in more ways than one.
It's not just that I miss those features. What troubles me is the Pixel 10 is supposed to get seven years of major Android OS updates, but it’s already being left behind. If the Pixel 10 can’t even handle AI call-screening features like the Pixel 10 Pro, what happens in four years when my phone’s AI is even more amazing? How much farther behind will the Pixel 10 be?
If you like the Pixel 10, you’d be wise to hold off on buying if you can, because Google tends to drop the price of its base-model Pixel phone throughout the year. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 8 often saw discounts of $150-$300 in the US, and both spent about half of their first year on sale at a discounted price.
The Pixel 10 is a great phone with a unique look that's durable and functional, and it’s one of the easiest Android phones to use and enjoy. It takes great photos, and it has some (but not all) great AI features that make AI seem useful, not frightening.
The Pixel 10 Pro is the better phone to buy, not just for its better cameras but also because it already seems more future-proofed, but it’s much more expensive. If the Pixel 10 is on sale for a great price, I’d recommend buying it with confidence; but if you can swing the Pixel 10 Pro instead, that’s the phone that will pay off in the years to come.
Google Pixel 10 review: Price & availability
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,349 for 128GB and 12GB of RAM
Bright colors include Indigo and Lemongrass, alongside black and white
The Pixel 10 starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,349, which is the same price as last year’s model. That’s a relief, as phone prices have crept up this year. The phone still packs only 128GB of storage at this price, which is enough if you don’t load too many apps or games, and you keep your photos and videos stored in the cloud.
You can get the phone with 256GB of storage, though for only a bit more you can get the Pixel 10 Pro model, and that’s the upgrade you really want (unless you want bright colors, in which case I’d stick with the Lemongrass Pixel 10, like my review unit, or the Indigo color that most Googlers I met were carrying).
The Pixel 10 price is fine, but I like this phone better at a discount, and every Pixel phone before has dropped in price around the November US holiday shopping season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a $150 discount later this year – so if you don’t need a phone immediately, you may want to wait.
Google Pixel 10 pricing
Storage
US Price
UK Price
AU Price
128GB
$799
£799
AU $1,349
256GB
$899
£899
AU $1,499
Value score: 3 / 5
Google Pixel 10 review: Specifications
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The Pixel 10 gets a big boost over last year’s Pixel 9 – on paper at least. The phone gets magnetic charging built-in with the new Pixelsnap feature. It has a larger battery than before, and it even gets a new camera, a telephoto option that you won’t find on the competing iPhone 16.
This year’s Pixel phone features a 5x zoom camera, a third lens in addition to the wide and ultra-wide cameras. Unfortunately, all of the cameras are shrunk a bit to make room, both in terms of megapixels and sensor size. In my experience, the photos were still very good, but if you want the absolute best Pixel photos get the Pro model.
Google Pixel 10 specifications
Dimensions:
152.8 x 72.0 x 8.6mm
Weight:
204g
Display:
6.3-inch Actua display
Resolution:
1080 x 2424 pixels
Refresh rate:
60-120Hz
Peak brightness:
3,000 nits
Chipset:
Google Tensor G5
RAM:
12GB
Storage:
128GB / 256GB
OS:
Android 16
Wide camera:
48MP; f/1.7; 0.5-inch sensor
Ultrawide camera:
13MP; f/2.2; 0.33-inch sensor
Telephoto camera:
10.8MP; f/3.1; 0.31-inch sensor
Selfie camera:
10.5MP; f/2.2
Battery:
4,970mAh
Charging:
25W wired; 15W wireless Qi2
Colors:
Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, Obsidian
Google Pixel 10 review: Design
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Sleek and durable, just like last year’s Pixel 9
Actually, it’s exactly the same as the Pixel 9 – and that’s good!
The Pixel 10 is a sleek, attractive phone that keeps the same design as last year’s model. Actually, it’s pretty much the same as last year’s Pixel 9 and this year’s Pixel 10 Pro – so close that you can use the same case for each of those phones. That’s not a problem – the Pixel 10 has a great design, and it’s one of the more appealing smartphones you could carry.
The biggest difference between last year’s model and the Pixel 10 are the magnets inside the new phone. You can’t see the magnets, and the Pixel 10 isn’t thicker, but you can feel them. Google has made its Pixelsnap feature with very strong magnets, and Googlers demonstrated the phone’s ability to hold fast to the various Pixelsnap accessories, even if you shake it around a bit.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Surprisingly, the Pixel 10 isn’t thicker than the Pixel 9, but it did gain 6g of weight. It’s a heavy phone. The Pixel 10 is more than an ounce heavier than the iPhone 16, and an ounce-and-a-half heavier than the Galaxy S25.
The Pixel 10 also has a slightly larger display and a larger battery than the iPhone 16 or Galaxy S25, but the larger battery doesn’t equate to longer battery life, so I can’t give Google credit here.
Google will be marketing the bright blue Indigo color heavily, but I prefer the bright green Lemongrass, which was the color of my review sample. The Frost color is more of a very light blue than a white; kind of a friendlier version of the Pixel 10 Pro’s Moonstone color.
Design score: 5 / 5
Google Pixel 10 review: Display
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Incredibly bright and very clear
Not as sharp or colorful as the Pixel 10 Pro display
The Google Pixel 10 has a remarkable display, one of the brightest you’ll find on any smartphone today. In our Future Labs tests, the Pixel 10 was brighter by far than the iPhone 16 or Galaxy S25, and in my real-world time with the phone it was incredibly easy to read in every situation, especially when I was taking photos in bright outdoor sunshine.
Google’s Pixel displays have quietly taken the crown as the best screens you’ll find – at least on the day they're launched. Screens are getting brighter with every new phone, but for now Google’s Pixel 10 phones have the brightest, most pleasing displays you’ll see.
The Pixel 10 Pro does have an edge in our testing: it was more colorful than the Pixel 10, and it’s more sharp with a higher pixel density. The Pixel 10 is still no slouch, and the display is a standout feature on this phone. If you mostly read and watch videos with some gaming on the side, the Pixel 10 would be a great choice for you.
Display score: 5 / 5
Google Pixel 10 review: Software
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
New Magic Cue has promise, but isn’t fully baked
Pixel 10 misses out on some important AI features
Software on the Pixel 10 isn’t just about AI, though there is more AI working on this phone than you might think. From the start, the latest Pixel 10 phones are about simplicity, and more elegance than you’d expect from an Android phone. Google has been improving Android for its phones, and unlike some competitors it hasn’t been afraid to remove useless features and unnecessary bloat to make the experience better (I’m looking at you, Samsung).
The home screens are easy to set up with app shortcuts and plenty of great-looking widgets. I love that Google’s widgets now color-coordinate to the theme of your phone, and can even change color to darker hues as the sun sets and night begins.
Settings menus are still a mess, with a jumble of disorganized features popping up in long lists of options. You can avoid most of it, but not every feature Google talks about is turned on from the start, so you might miss out on some AI tools if you don’t dig through the Settings menu, for better and for worse.
Every Pixel 10 phone gets the latest Google AI, of course, and that includes the fascinating new Magic Cue feature. When it comes to AI assistants, every phone maker starts with this same basic promise: the phone will now read your messages and listen to your conversations so that it can help you recall important information about your life.
Mostly these features have flopped. Apple ran advertisements for its version starring the actor Bella Thorne, then had to pull the ads because the features didn’t exist. Other phone makers like Motorola and OnePlus rely heavily on screenshots and other information gathering.
Google, with its access to your Gmail, your Google Calendar, and many other Google tools, has a unique advantage… as well as a unique challenge. Thankfully it doesn't read all of my Gmail. I think I’ve had my account for 20 years – that’s a lot of messages.
In practice, Magic Cue is kind of… charming? For an AI, at least. I’m used to AI features that are pushy and obtrusive – many of the Google Gemini features get in the way by constantly asking if I want to revise my email or ask questions about my own photographs. Magic Cue is quiet, almost anonymous. You may use it without knowing you’ve used an AI feature at all, and that should be the goal of every AI feature.
What can Magic Cue do? The list of things is growing, but you don’t have to do anything at all. Magic Cue will simply make suggestions in a small oval window in a place you can see them. They won’t be in the way. They will light up with a rainbow for a second or two, then they will sit quietly.
If a friend sends you a text message asking about a dinner reservation you made, it might offer you a button that opens the email you got from OpenTable, or a link to Google Maps where it will locate the restaurant’s address.
If your friend John wants to meet your friend Susan, Magic Cue will give you Susan’s phone number and contact card to send to John, if you wish. It will save you some steps.
In some ways, Google may have overpromised Magic Cue’s abilities. Google said it would offer relevant information about travel, but when I had a conversation about an upcoming trip, I got no suggestions from Magic Cue. I asked Google about this, and Magic Cue experts told me it only looks through a month or so of my email. My travel reservations were made three months back – perhaps if I forward the email from Vrbo.com back to myself, Magic Cue might pick it up again and start offering that information. We shall see.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Even if it isn’t perfect, I’m not mad about it because it isn’t in the way. It isn’t rewriting my News headlines with fake news, or summarizing my notifications in hilariously inaccurate ways. It’s just giving me a button here or there that I can press to recall more information, or take a quick action that would normally involve opening a second app.
I expect Magic Cue's capabilities will expand dramatically, to the point where it will someday be a major part of the Android interface. My hope is that it will work so reliably well that I won’t ever need to know what it can do; I'll just assume that it will offer me the information I need and help with the actions I want to take.
Unfortunately, the Pixel 10 doesn’t get all of the software features that the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL phones can run. The biggest disappointment for me was losing all of my favorite calling features. I will often use my Pro Pixel to screen calls from numbers I don’t recognize, or take notes during important work conversations. The Pixel 10 Pro can also do these things, but the Pixel 10 cannot.
This has me worried. The Pixel 10 is scheduled to receive seven years of major Android OS updates and security patches. I’ve always wondered what those updates would look like – will the Pixel 10 still get the same version of Android as the Pixel 15? Or the Pixel 17? I worry about what features will be missing, and whether it will still be recognizable as Android.
The Pixel 10 has already been left out. It can use Magic Cue and the amazing new live translation features, but it can’t do everything. The Pixel 10 can’t listen to phone calls that might be a scam and warn you when it thinks you’re being conned. It can’t take notes during a call with my doctor.
These features don’t seem that advanced – so why can’t my Pixel 10 do these things? I worry about what it won’t be able to do in the future, and how Google’s seven-year promise might change over time.
Software score: 4 / 5
Google Pixel 10 review: Cameras
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Takes photos that look almost as good as those from the Pro Pixel phones
Camera Coach offers useful tips… but where are they from?
The Pixel 10 isn’t the best camera phone of the new Pixel bunch, but you might not notice the difference. Google has done a great job of tuning its least-expensive Pixel so that it takes photos that look just like similar shots from the Pro models. You don’t get the same resolution, but the color and lighting on these photos looks remarkable, and nearly identical to the balance you’d get shooting with a Pixel 10 Pro.
There’s a fascinating new Camera Coach button in the Pixel 10’s camera app, in addition to an improved version of last year’s Add Me feature, which can add the photographer back into a group photo using some AI cut and paste tricks.
The Camera Coach is more passive than I expected. I thought it would interrupt my photography with useless AI tips, but that’s not what it does at all. When you line up your shot, if you press the Camera Coach button instead of the shutter button it will create a step-by-step process to help you improve your shot, and your photography in general.
First, it will suggest a theme for your scene. Take a photo of a flower and it might ask if you want a close-up on the flower’s details, or a photo that highlights the flower growing amongst the roadside clutter, or a photo that skips the flower and focuses on the blooming buds the AI noticed at the bottom of your frame.
Then it thinks for a few seconds, and soon suggests steps. Move your camera there. Aim up instead of down. Zoom in close, or get farther away. After four or five steps, it leaves you to take the photo… and that’s it. Then it goes away until you press the button next time.
Camera Coach guiding me to take a better photo (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I actually liked the Camera Coach, but as with all generative AI features, I have to wonder about the cost. Sure, it might make interesting suggestions for framing, or teach me to use the zoom lens on my phone more often, but where did it learn those tips?
Camera Coach doesn’t offer links to its sources, and I have to wonder if experts at sites like TechRadar unwittingly fed their tips to a generative AI that's now being used to replace them. I could have read an article about taking better flower photos, but instead I let the Camera Coach tell me what to do, and the expert doesn’t get my clicks.
So I’ll pass on Camera Coach, but I won’t judge you for using it. It really does work, and it sometimes offers suggestions I hadn’t considered. I’ll bet our Cameras Editor considered them, though.
Camera score: 4 / 5
Google Pixel 10 review: Camera samples
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Google Pixel 10 review: Performance
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Slow performance, on par with phones from a couple years back
Not slower than the Pixel 10 Pro in our benchmarks
The Pixel 10 is a slow phone by benchmark standards, but most users will never notice. For daily tasks and navigating the phone’s menus, it felt plenty fast to me, even zippy. It opened apps quickly, and the menus and home screens flashed by as I swiped through them.
There was some slowdown when playing intense games that require a lot of graphics or processing power. The Pixel 10 stutters if you try to play Call of Duty Mobile with all of the performance settings maxed out, or if you run through Vampire Survivors with hundreds of enemies on the screen at once. If you don’t play a lot of games, I promise you won’t notice any performance problems.
Google’s AI features load more snappily on this phone than on previous ones, and that’s probably because the Pixel 10 is running many more machine-learning models on the device itself – using Google's Tensor G5 platform – than we’ve seen on previous Pixels. The more the phone can rely on its own power instead of tapping the cloud for help, the faster the phone will feel.
Strangely, the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL did not outperform the Pixel 10 in our benchmark tests, even though they have 16GB of RAM instead of 12GB, and they use a faster storage technology. In some cases, the Pixel 10 was actually faster than both of those phones. There are other tangible benefits to buying the Pro models, but it makes me wonder why Google held back great features, like the call-screening tools that I use every time I get a spam call, from the Pixel 10.
Too many AI features are only available on the Pixel 10 Pro, even though benchmarks suggest that the Pro model has no apparent benefit… yet. That extra RAM may come in much more handy over the next seven years of software updates as more AI features are added – so if you care about the longest long term, you may want to go Pro instead of buying the Pixel 10.
Performance score: 3 / 5
Google Pixel 10 review: Battery
Battery life is fine, but not excellent
Qi2 is very convenient for keeping the phone charged
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
If you buy a Pixel 10, do yourself a favor and get a magnetic Qi2 (or MagSafe) charging stand. It’s so easy to simply pop your phone on and off a magnetic stand that you’ll make a habit of it, and you won’t worry about the disappointing battery life or slower charging speeds you might otherwise experience.
The Pixel 10 battery life is fine – it usually lasted through a full day of testing, unless I was hitting the Camera app extra hard. Excessive AI use didn’t seem to drain the phone any faster than normal.
In our Future Labs tests, the Pixel 10 was about average, but other recent Android phones have been exceptional. Every phone with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset inside has lasted hours longer than the generation before, while the Pixel 10 shows no improvement over last year’s Pixel 9.
In Future Labs tests, the Pixel 10 lasted around 13 hours and 15 minutes, which was a few minutes less than the Pixel 9 managed. The Samsung Galaxy S25, which has a smaller battery inside, lasted two hours longer than the Pixel 10. At least the Pixel 10 beat the iPhone 16 by over an hour, because the iPhone has a much smaller battery inside.
Why do iPhone fans accept paltry battery life? Because MagSafe makes it easy to top off your phone throughout the day and forget about long charging sessions. You don’t need to worry about how long the battery lasts if you charge it for 15 minutes twice a day – you’ll have more than enough power to last.
Battery score: 3 / 5
Should you buy the Google Pixel 10?
Google Pixel 10 scorecard
Value
The Pixel 10 isn’t bad value, but Google has a strong history of discounting its Pixel phone around the US holidays, so maybe wait for the best deal. The Pixel 9 was discounted for half of its first year.
3/5
Design
Not much has changed since the Pixel 9, and that’s a good thing because the Pixel design is stellar. The brighter Indigo and Lemongrass colors are especially appealing. Hidden magnets add weight but not thickness.
5/5
Display
One of the best smartphone displays you’ll see (until you see the Pixel 10 Pro). This screen is very bright and sharp, and a joy to use. Google should brag more about its screens.
5/5
Software
The interface design is crisp and colorful without looking silly, and many of the latest AI features are actually useful without being annoying. Watch out, Apple – Google is delivering on software promises the iPhone couldn’t keep.
5/5
Cameras
The Pixel 10 isn’t the best Pixel camera, but it takes photos that could have come from a Pro model (if you don’t zoom in too close). Camera Coach offers a unique and helpful tool, but I worry it’s putting experts out of work.
4/5
Performance
Not a top performer, though the Pixel 10 does all the Pixel stuff very quickly. The interface and features are super-snappy, but don’t expect to dominate mobile games that require a heavy graphics load.
3/5
Battery
Battery life should be much better – there’s no improvement over the Pixel 9. Thankfully, Pixelsnap (and MagSafe) charging make a big difference and will help you keep this phone powered up all day and then some.
3/5
Buy it if...
You liked the Pixel 9 but wish it were more iPhone-y With magnetic charging and its sleek, simple interface, the Pixel 10 should be the first stop for iPhone switchersView Deal
You see it discounted The Pixel 10 is competitive at this price, but Google often gives its base-model Pixel phones strong discounts throughout the year – we’ll keep you posted if we see a good deal.View Deal
You want Pixel cameras for less money The Pixel 10 doesn’t have the resolution of the Pro Pixel cameras, but it takes photos that look very similar to shots the Pro phones take.View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You can afford the Pixel 10 Pro instead The Pixel 10 Pro is a big step up, and not just in terms of camera hardware. It gets some very useful AI features that the Pixel 10 lacks.View Deal
You have a Pixel 9 already The differences between last year’s model and the Pixel 10 are minor, and you can copy the magnet features with a magnetic case.View Deal
You play a lot of hardcore mobile games I didn’t have a big problem with the Pixel 10’s lackluster performance, but if you’re looking for the top performer, keep looking.View Deal
Also consider...
Apple iPhone 16 The iPhone 16 is about to be superseded, but it's still a great iPhone, with all the best iOS 26 features coming.
Samsung Galaxy S25 The Galaxy S25 gets better battery life and performs faster than the Pixel 10, so if you want a gaming powerhouse, I’d check out Samsung’s latest.
I tested the Google Pixel 10 for a week, alongside the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL. I used the Pixel 10 as my primary work phone for half of that time, and as a backup phone and camera for the remainder. I loaded the phone with more than a hundred apps, and multiple Google accounts.
I used the Pixel 10 as a camera, testing every photography feature. I used AI features to ask questions and generate sample images. I connected Magic Cue to all of my personal Google account information, and I fed the Pixel 10 a regular diet of screenshots of all of my personal dealings for the Screenshots app.
I connected the Pixel 10 to my Pixel Watch 3, my Pixel Buds Pro, and various other Bluetooth headsets and devices. I used Android Auto in my Kia and my friends’ Acura and Subaru cars, and connected to Bluetooth in an older BMW.
I've been testing phones for more than 20 years, since the days of BlackBerry and Palm OS smartphones and Samsung flip phones. I've tested hundreds of devices myself, and our Future Labs experts have tested hundreds more.
Future Labs tests phones using a mix of third-party benchmark software and proprietary, real-world tests. We use Geekbench, CrossMark, JetStream, WebXPRT and Mobile XPRT, and 3DMark for performance testing. We test a phone's performance on video editing tasks using Adobe Premiere Rush. We also measure display color output and brightness.
For battery testing, we have proprietary rundown tests that are the same for every phone, which we use to determine how long it takes for the battery to run down.
Checking through the specifications of the Chuwi GameBook 9955HX and the CPU and GPU both hint at a high-performance laptop, just without the usual astronomical high price. Checking over the machine highlights the balance Chuwi has struck with the design and quality of the materials. While they might not match the likes of the Asus ProArt P16 and other high-end creative and gaming laptops, it still offers a good overall build quality.
Unlike other gaming laptops, Chuwi has really kept the design aesthetics reserved, so like many of the best business laptops, this machine will look equally at home, in the office, or design studio as it would in a gaming environment. With a sleek, plain top, a good array of ports around the sides and back, and the only hint that this is something different from your standard office laptop being the honeycomb design on the base.
Several key features instantly appeal when you open up the GameBook 9955HX. First and foremost is the large screen and full-size keyboard with a number pad on the right, making it ideal for anyone scouting for the best laptops for photo editing or the best laptops for video editing.
Getting into the use, Windows 11 Pro runs smoothly from the outset, with the CPU and GPU combo alongside the 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD providing all the speed you need for all standard applications, which is proven through the PCMark scores.
Content creation, again using Premiere Pro, Adobe Lightroom, and Photoshop, showed the machine had absolutely no issues with editing 4K and even some 8K video, although expansion storage was needed. With two USB Type-C ports, you get a relatively fast connection to the machine. This is the first highlight where cost has been cut, with USB 3.2 Gen 2 used over the faster USB Type-C interfaces, meaning you only get 10GB/s, considerably lower than the later USB4 that you'd expect to see on a machine with these specifications.
However, the reduction in USB interface generation is one of the only areas where the specifications have been pared back. Internally, there is space for additional RAM and increased storage, including the PCIe 5 M.2 slot and fast connection through Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 wireless connectivity options, both of which are tried and tested rather than being the latest generation.
Overall, the test showed the machine put in a great performance, with an easy access turbo power option, when you're connected to AC power, to accelerate the CPU and GPU further, giving a boost when playing games, especially. There is little not to like about the raw performance of this GameBook.
When you consider the price and what's on offer, it's hard not to be impressed with what Chuwi has managed to offer at this price.
Chuwi GameBook 9955HX: Price & availability
How much does it cost? £1804
When is it out? Now
Where can you get it? Widely available
The Chuwi GameBook is available directly through the Chuwi website for £1,804, which, considering the specification including 32GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive, is exceptional value for money.
Value: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Chuwi GameBook 9955HX: Design
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX (16 cores, 32 threads, up to 5.4GHz) Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU (12GB GDDR6) RAM: 32GB DDR5 5600MHz (2 x 16GB, dual channel, upgradable to 64GB) Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD (supports two M.2 2280 slots, one Gen4, one Gen5, upgradable) Left Ports: 2.5G RJ45 LAN, USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (supports 100W PD charging), 3.5mm audio jack Right Ports: USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, Kensington lock slot Rear Ports: HDMI 2.1 Port (Support 4K@120Hz), USB 3.2 Gen 2, Mini DP (DP2.1a, UHBR20 80Gbps) Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 Audio: 2W stereo speakers, Dual microphone array Camera: 1080p IR webcam (supports Windows Hello, with physical privacy cover) Size: 356.7 x 253.8 x 21.4 mm Weight: 2.3kg OS Installed: Windows 11 Pro Accessories: 140W USB-C power adapter
Removing the Chuwi GameBook 9955HX from the box, the first thing that strikes you, especially at this price point, is just how good and robust the laptop feels, with the monitor protected in an aluminium casing, while the main body is made from a similar colour, high-impact plastic. While it doesn't give quite the same premium feel as some other laptops, it is nevertheless of decent quality.
When it comes to size and weight, because this is a gaming-focused PC requiring lots of cooling for the powerful CPU and GPU, the size and weight are slightly heavier than many work-focused laptops. It measures 356.7 x 253.8 x 21.4 mm and weighs in at 2.3kg.
Despite all that processing power and features, it's still a relatively decent-sized machine and more than portable, as I found during the process of this test.
Looking over the body of the laptop, there's a good rubber bar on the base along with two small feet to keep it securely in place on the desktop, and there's a good amount of venting on the bottom and across the back of the machine, ensuring that the powerful CPU/GPU combo stays cool.
On the left-hand side, you have a LAN port with an ingenious flip-down door design that helps partially protect the port and integrates with the design of the case. This network port is joined by a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port that enables 100W of PD power for charging when the laptop is off, and a USB Type-A Gen 1 port, alongside a standard 3.5mm audio jack.
Alongside venting at the back, there's also a USB Type-C port at up to 140W PD power again when the power is off, a mini DP 2.1 and an HDMI 2.1 port enabling 4K at 120Hz, and finally, on the right-hand side, there are two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports and a lock slot for securing the laptop if needed.
Opening up the lid reveals the 16-inch, 2.5K (2560 x 1600), IPS, 300Hz refresh rate and up to 500 nits brightness 16:10 screen that offers a clear display for office work, content creation, as well as gaming.
One of the big features for anyone looking at this laptop for work, as well as content creation and gaming, is the full-size keyboard, even down to the four cursor keys, all full-sized with a handy numeric pad, which is slightly reduced in size, giving plenty of control and input options. While the keyboard is of decent quality, it doesn't quite have the same precise actuation that you would find with some of the more premium models.
Still, that's not to say it doesn't feel good to type on, and it is responsive. Likewise, the trackpad is a decent size and supports gesture control, again, of a decent quality, but doesn't quite have the high-end premium feel you might expect with some of the more premium laptops.
One final design feature to point out is across the top bar of the laptop, alongside gaming detailing. There is the power button, and next to this is the turbo button, which gives the laptop a power boost for gaming and other applications that need a little bit more grunt from the CPU and GPU, with an Office, Balanced and Turbo mode.
Design: 4 / 5
Chuwi GameBook 9955HX: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Featuring an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX CPU with 16 cores, 32 threads, 64MB cache and up to 5.4GHz clock speed within Zen 5 architecture, this mobile CPU is an ideal fit if you're looking for a laptop that can handle high-demand applications and games. It's supported by an impressive GPU in the form of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti laptop GPU, which features 12GB of GDDR7 VRAM, 140W TGP, 1406 AI TOPS, and supports full ray tracing.
Complementing the CPU and GPU is the dual-channel SODIMM RAM, and the standard machine comes equipped with 2×16GB DDR5 5600MHz modules, but you can expand this up to two 32GB sticks if required. Access to the inner workings is through the base with 11 screws needing to be removed before the base of the machine can be lifted away. From there, the layout is extremely neat and easy to work with.
For storage, the machine features two slots and comes pre-installed with a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, placed in the PCIe 5.0 slot. You can also add a second M.2 2280 PCIe SSD card into the secondary slot, which is a PCIe 4.0 slot. Ideally, you buy yourself a PCIe 5.0 M.2 2280 module and insert that into the PCIe 5.0 slot to make the most of that additional speed, and place the operating system onto the PCIe 4.0 slot.
Powering the machine is a 77.77Wh battery that offers 15.4V and 5,050mAh capacity. While this is impressive considering the power draw, used for high-end gaming or content creation, battery life is going to be rather limited.
However, there has to be a balance between the size of the machine and the battery used, with a 140W AC power supply for high-demand applications. It's probably worth swapping over to AC power rather than using the battery. It's also worth noting that while there are two USB-C ports that enable PD power, this is only for use when the machine is off.
Connectivity options are as described previously, with a good range of ports, although the USB Type-C port is an older generation USB3.2 Gen 2 rather than USB4.
As you'd expect, there is a webcam built in, supporting Windows Hello face recognition. One feature I like here is that there's a physical privacy cover. It can be slid across the camera, and once it is down, the camera shows a red cover to highlight the status.
For gaming and content creation, there are two relatively powerful two-watt speakers and a dual mic on the camera. These are all of decent quality, although nowhere near the depth or clarity of sound you would expect from a premium model.
All in all, considering the price point, the features are well balanced, giving you all the power you need for high-demand applications and games, while balancing out some features, such as the USB interfaces, to manage overall cost.
Features: 4.5 / 5
Chuwi GameBook 9955HX: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Benchmarks
CrystalDiskMark Read: 5538.97 CrystalDiskMark Write: 5208.69 Geekbench CPU Multi: 18134 Geekbench CPU Single: 3220 Geekbench GPU: 150671 PCMark Overall: 8367 Cinebench CPU Multi: 32863 Cinebench CPU Single: 2175 Fire Strike Overall: 35793 Fire Strike Graphics: 40250 Fire Strike Physics: 37287 Fire Strike Combined: 18934 Time Spy Overall: 15855 Time Spy Graphics: 16763 Time Spy CPU: 12135 Wild Life Overall: 40003 Steel Nomad Overall: 3743 Windows Experience Overall: 8.1
The Chuwi GameBook 9955HX impresses first and foremost with the speed at which Windows boots up from cold, enabling you to load up apps and get started in a couple of minutes if not less. All Microsoft Office applications run smoothly, and if you prefer Google Docs, the wireless internet connection using Wi-Fi 6 is good and robust, with the option to hardwire into the network if you prefer. From a work perspective, this machine provides a solid foundation for standard administration software.
Through tests for Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel, all applications loaded quickly, and with a large 16-inch screen in decent resolution, it's easy to navigate and update multiple documents and presentations with ease.
One of the things that stands out is the full-size keyboard. When you are used to using a MacBook Pro or similar high-end premium laptop with a reduced keyboard, the fact that it has the number pad, full-size cursors, and access to the F keys at the top just makes workflow much easier without having to use key combinations.
Moving on from the base applications and starting to look at content creation options, I loaded up Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop and Lightroom to see how the machine would handle an 8K video shot on a Canon EOS R5C and Sony A7 IV. The performance was superb. However, the one-terabyte SSD quickly filled up, and I was pleased to see that I could quickly pop in a secondary SSD, boosting internal storage up to 3TB.
For ease, this was installed in the secondary PCIe slot, enabling transfer rates of up to 5,000MB/s when benchmarked in CrystalDiskMark.
During the test, I checked the USB-C port transfer rate when connected to an external SSD, using a Lexar Armour 700 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 drive. The port managed just under 1,000MB/s transfer rate, with a score of 976.27MB/s read and 968.92MB/s write, showing that this is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface, while not the fastest, it still delivers decent transfer rates if you need to use an external drive for video or images.
When it came to render speed from Adobe Premiere Pro, the RTX 5070 Ti did the brunt of the processing, reflected in the Cinebench scores with a CPU multi score of 32,863 and single CPU score of 2,175, which are within the range for premium creative and gaming laptops.
As testing continued, I was able to batch edit multiple images shot on the Sony A7 IV within Adobe Bridge and Photoshop, as well as apply quick changes and organise files within Adobe Lightroom. The machine rendered thumbnails and effects quickly. I was impressed with the quality of the screen, which I didn't expect to be quite as good for a laptop that's firstly gaming and secondly at this price.
Checking the quality of the screen with DataColor Spyder X2 Ultra, it was awarded an overall rating of 4.5, which is very good, scoring maximum points on both gamut and contrast, while the white point and colour uniformity both came in at 4.5. While colour accuracy was slightly down, this isn't a creative-focused laptop, but with a colour accuracy of 4, it still displayed sRGB at 100%, Adobe RGB 79%, and P3 at a respectable 81%.
Essentially, for workflow, gaming, and multimedia playback, this monitor is high quality; however, if you are looking to use this machine for critical creative work, you need to be mindful that the colours won't be 100% accurate.
For gaming, this is where it really comes into its own. While it can't compete with a dedicated desktop gaming machine, the performance afforded by the AMD Ryzen 9 HX CPU and GeForce RTX really does make it stand out, with some of the fastest benchmarking results I have seen for a laptop of this type, including a Wild Life overall score of 40,003, Fire Strike at 35,793, and Time Spy at 15,855. These are in line with premium laptops that can cost almost double what you'd pay for the Chuwi GameBook.
When it comes to performance, the display, keyboard and touchpad layout are all well considered, and while the fans do kick in under load, considering the price, that is more than acceptable.
Alongside all the hardware is the Chuwi Easy Care maintenance application, which is an in-depth dashboard for your system. It enables you to monitor the machine, the use of internal memory, and gives you access to easy driver updates, system optimisation, and the health of the system.
There are also three different power modes: Office, Balanced and Turbo, two of which can be activated when on battery power, with the third only accessible when plugged into the AC main power. The first mode is Office, taking the CPU right down to minimum, conserving power, so if you're commuting or working on battery, you can maximise battery life.
Then there's Balance, which balances CPU and fan power but gives a bit more performance, and Turbo, which can only be used when plugged into AC power and boosts overall performance, making it ideal for content creation or gaming. The most significant performance boost is when you push the turbo button, running a side-by-side test with 3D Mark Fire Strike on Office mode, it scored 34,958, switching to Balanced produced a score of 35689, and Turbo mode produced 37,417 at each stage, marking a noticeable change in performance.
What I also like is that you can go into the BIOS and select which power mode to use as default, so if you always game, you can leave it in Turbo mode, though once you're unplugged from AC, it will switch to Balanced. If you mostly work on office documents, select Office mode to maximise battery, and if you do a bit of everything, Balanced would be the one to set as default.
Chuwi has put the work into making this extremely usable, and the BIOS is testament to this. It looks modern and, for once, is easy to navigate with all the options and settings clearly laid out, and if you need to swap boot drives, change default performance modes, or anything else you'd usually do in the BIOS, it's all here and easy to find.
At the end of the test, I am impressed with just how good this laptop is for the price, its performance puts it well within the premium laptop range, yet while it's expensive, it's far cheaper than other laptops with similar specifications, and the fact that it includes some of the latest technology means that it's great for gaming and office work, as well as content creation, although you do need to check the colour accuracy for critical creative work.
Performance: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Chuwi GameBook 9955HX: Final verdict
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
If you were to write a wish list for a high-performance laptop, the GameBook 9955HX pretty much hits almost every point. It has a large 16-inch screen which is beautifully uniform, with a slightly matte finish making it extremely viewable, and the large keyboard just makes it easy to use for office applications and gaming.
Connectivity options might be a little limited in comparison with premium laptops, for example, downgrading to USB 3.2 Gen 2 rather than USB4, but still, with a 1,000MB/s average transfer rate, it's decent.
The different power modes take it from Balance, Office to Turbo, essentially giving the machine a huge boost in power, making it ideal as you swap from low-to mid-demand applications, across to higher, and the machine just gives you that additional power needed to complete tasks that would otherwise be time-consuming on a slower machine, though there is a sacrifice in battery life.
Across the board, I've been impressed with the build quality, hardware, upgradeability, and performance. Chuwi has also included their own health management software in the form of Chuwi Easy Care to enable you to keep an eye on the overall health of the machine. If you go into the BIOS, there is a comprehensive set of options that look easy to navigate and understand, with a modern design that is a breakaway from what is more ordinarily seen on most other laptops.
As a complete solution, the GameBook is a solid option that's well priced, powerful, and offers enough to satisfy all types of users.
Should I buy a Chuwi GameBook 9955HX?
Value
Exceptional value for money for top-of-the-range CPU/GPU, usually at a much greater price
5
Design
The design is a little mixed, with a high-quality monitor casing, coupled with a plastic main body
4
Features
Has a good range of features that help to balance the cost of components with performance
4.5
Performance
With three easy-to-access power modes, you can adjust how the machine performs to suit your needs
5
Overall
Exceptional value for money with performance you expect from a premium laptop
5
Buy it if...
You want a high-performance machine on a budget.
It's hard to believe you get as much as you do for the price. While it is still an expensive machine compared with rivals, it is considerably less expensive.
You want lots of storage capacity.
There are 2 x M.2 2280 SSD slots in the machine, one of which is a PCIe 5.0, giving flexibility over the internal storage, which is easily upgraded.
Don't buy it if...
You need fast external storage.
While there is USB-C, it is only USB 3.2 Gen 2, offering a maximum of 10GB per second, which might not be fast enough for some working in the creative sector.
You need colour accuracy.
While the monitor is very good when it comes to colour gamut, it is limited and really aimed at games, multimedia and general use rather than critical creative accuracy.
I started this test not overly taken with the colour scheme of this phone, although I did really like the textured surface on the back as well as the overall aesthetic. It was more the brown, gold and black colour scheme; however, I was pleased to see that alongside this colour profile, there is also a pure black version, which looks amazing.
As I looked through the specifications, it came with all the usual rugged credentials, which is great to see, meaning that I could drop and submerge the phone in water as I pleased. Whatever the conditions, I could be sure that the phone would survive, making it a great option for use in the field on photographic projects.
The only issue is that this is the middle of summer, and outside temperatures are topping 30 °C, so there are few puddles to drop the phone into. I did my best to drop the phone, finding what was left of a stream of stream in order to test just how waterproof it was, alongside the usual performance test using various Google applications, media creation and games to test out the full spectrum of uses for the mobile phone.
From the outset, it was apparent that for general use, this phone was perfectly optimised. What I really liked was the large screen, which had a decent brightness up to 900 nits, meaning that even in the abnormally bright conditions we have here in the UK at present, scrolling through documents and reading content online was possible. Whilst the screen is reflective, that brightness just cuts through the reflections enough to easily make out what is on screen.
I also found the 5G connection was good and robust, and whilst most of the test was carried out on a 4G connection, popping up to the local town of Salisbury proved that it could cope with good, fast network connections, providing decent transfer rates and speeds.
Call clarity also seemed good. Even when used out in the New Forest, where there was little to no signal, voice calls came through clearly, and I was impressed by the clarity of the small internal speaker.
That speaker proved to be exceptionally good for watching back media and listening to music, although it isn't quite the quality of a decent consumer smartphone.
One area that suffered slightly was gaming, as highlighted by the benchmarking results. Through all of the 3DMark benchmarks, including Steel Nomad, Wild Life and Sling Shot, frame rates were slightly reduced compared with more expensive models with many of the more intensive games highlighting the mid performance GPU. Need for Speed: Asphalt ran absolutely fine; however, if you want to play Call of Duty, this might not be the best option for you.
For the most part, performance was excellent. One area that really stood out was the cameras, which were lower in megapixels compared with many rugged smartphones that top out at 200 million pixels. Here, the 64 million-pixel Sony-backed camera produced excellent results, far better than I would usually expect. Crossing over to video, the clarity of the visuals was equally impressive.
The audio quality of the video recordings varied greatly depending on whether you were recording with the rear or front camera. Oddly, filming with the rear camera captured far better vocals than when using the front-facing selfie camera.
Overall, after using this phone for a few weeks, I was generally impressed by the overall performance - it's up there with the best rugged phones I've used. As long as you are thinking about using this for work situations where a standard consumer phone would struggle due to the physical demands placed on them, or alternatively it's a great option for adventuring.
I'm also seeing with major online retailers including Amazon.com for $230 at time of review, and £230 on Amazon.co.uk.
Value: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Ulefone Armor X16 Pro: Design
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Specifications
CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 6300 Graphics: Mali-G57 MC2 RAM: Up to 16 GB (plus 8 GB extended virtual) Storage: 256 GB ROM, microSD up to 2 TB Ports: USB-C (33 W), dual-SIM slot, Waterproof-plugged ports for charging/audio Connectivity: 5 G, dual-SIM, IR blaster, NFC & Google Pay Audio: Mono speaker (rugged) + front camera microphone Camera: Rear 64 MP (Sony IMX682, f/1.9), 25 MP night vision (Sony IMX550), 2 MP macro; Front: 16 MP Samsung Size: 173.78 × 83.4 × 17.95 mm Weight: 394.5 g OS: Android 15 with Google Gemini AI assistant, AI Recorder, Widevine L1 Accessories: 33 W charger included, optional rugged case/holster/mounts available
The design of the Ulefone Armor X16 Pro really stands out, with its textured back, brown and gold accents, and an aesthetic that is also available in pure black. It gives a slightly sci-fi-inspired and decidedly rugged look inline many other rugged smartphones on the market.
I have to say, this particular phone feels a lot more comfortable in the hands. Although it’s still quite wide and large, it is a decent proportion for most people’s grip.
The weight is also well balanced considering the size of the internal battery and the robustness of the device, which makes it far more usable than many of its larger alternatives.
In terms of size and weight, measuring 173.78 × 83.4 × 17.95 mm, it can easily slip into a jacket or pocket without adding too much bulk. Considering it weighs 394.5 g, it isn’t overly heavy either.
On the front, the phone is dominated by the large 6.56-inch screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Integrated into the screen is the selfie camera, which offers a 16 million-pixel sensor, perfect for video calls and vlogs.
On the back, the octagon-shaped cluster of cameras features a 64 million-pixel main camera, a 25 million-pixel night camera and a 2 million-pixel macro camera. There’s also a built-in LED flash, which is handy when camping, as well as a standard camera light.
One of the main features of any rugged smartphone is its rugged credentials, and the phone offers IP69K, IP68 and MIL-STD-810H certification, meaning that it is waterproof, dustproof and drop proof, as tested in this review.
It’s also nice to see that outputs such as the 3.5 mm headphone socket and USB-C data/charging port are both covered with secure rubber flaps.
On the left-hand side of the handset, as you look at the screen, there is a TF/SIM card slot with space for two SIMs and a microSD card to expand storage. Below this is a customisable button that you can assign to different apps. Over on the right-hand side are the volume toggle, power button and biometric fingerprint recognition button. That’s all, keeping it nice and simple.
Design: 5 / 5
Ulefone Armor X16 Pro: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Armor X16 Pro sits at the entry level of rugged smartphones, yet despite that, it packs in plenty of features to suit most people looking for a phone that can survive more than a standard consumer unit.
Some of the key features highlighted by Ulefone for this smartphone include a dedicated flashlight, which is great if you’re working outdoors and need a torch to throw a decent spread of light.
Powering the phone is a 10,360 mAh battery that offers 33 W fast charging and 5 W reverse charging, so not only does it power the phone, but it can also give other devices a boost.
Inside there’s a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 eight-core CPU with a 6 nm advanced process and clock speed of up to 2.4 GHz, including Cortex-A76 gaming cores. This is partnered with a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. There’s also up to 16 GB of RAM, 8 GB on board and a further 8 GB accessible through dynamic RAM.
For storage, there’s 256 GB of ROM, which can be expanded up to 2 TB using a separately purchased microSD card.
On the back of the phone is the octagon design cluster of cameras detailed in the Build and Handling section, offering decent quality far beyond most other smartphones of this type.
Dominating the front of the phone is the 6.56-inch IPS display with a 720 × 1612 resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate and 910 nits of brightness. This is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, which in testing proved to be exceptionally tough.
Tying all the hardware together is Android 15. The version on this phone is relatively lightweight, so it’s not bogged down by proprietary apps, and also features the latest Google Gemini, so you can use the phone’s AI potential, including the AI Recorder, which is a handy additional feature.
Surprisingly this phone is also Widevine L1 certified, meaning it has full digital rights management certification, enabling you to stream higher quality from major providers such as Disney+ and Netflix. For an entry-level rugged smartphone, the visuals and audio quality are surprisingly good.
Features: 3.5 / 5
Ulefone Armor X16 Pro: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Getting started with the smartphone, the first thing I did was check the reception quality. Putting it side-by-side against an iPhone 15 Pro on the Vodafone network, the Armor X16 Pro actually proved to have better reception with four bars over the iPhone’s three.
When it came to browsing the internet, where the iPhone 15 Pro was slow to respond, page load speed on the Armor X16 Pro was relatively fast.
Using both 4G and 5G networks, the Armor X16 Pro proved to be exceptionally robust. Making voice calls demonstrated how clear the audio quality was, both from my perspective and to my caller, clear and crisp in both directions.
Starting with basic performance tests, I opened Google Docs and reviewed this part written document. It was easy to read through the text on the bright, clear screen. While the resolution is lower than I’ve come to expect from many smartphones, the text was still very clear and readable.
One thing I noted was that as you scroll, the quality of the screen stands out. With plenty of adjustment over brightness, tone and clarity, it offers exceptional viewing for a phone at this level.
Exploring the options and settings, I was impressed with the ease of use and the speed with which the phone navigated Android 15’s menus. The MediaTek Dimensity 6300 CPU provided plenty of performance for general use.
Pushing performance further, I used Lightroom to adjust images I had taken during a work outing. The clarity of the images was impressive, and unlike some phones I’ve used in the past that struggle when applying effects, the Armor X16 Pro handled it with relative ease. The screen clarity also made the adjustments easier.
Using CapCut to quickly edit video content shot with the phone, I was again impressed with the speed. Although CapCut is highly optimised for mobile, some phones still struggle. For basic edits, the phone handled 1080p video without issue. Pushing to 4K and adding graphics, the phone began to slow down, and the limits of its processing power became apparent.
Gaming performance followed a similar pattern. Need for Speed: Asphalt ran perfectly smoothly, but Asphalt 9: Legends, Call of Duty Mobile, and PUBG Mobile all began to drop in graphics quality. This was reflected in the 3DMark scores, Steel Nomad Light: 145, Wild Life: 4,137, and Sling Shot: 3,657.
While these scores aren’t particularly high, they are in line with most rugged smartphones. What gives this phone a slight edge is its exceptionally high read speed of 1,246 MB per second.
Benchmarks
Disk Speed Test Read: 1246 MB/s Disk Speed Test Write: 347 MB/s Geekbench CPU Single: 731 Geekbench CPU Multi: 1975 Geekbench GPU: 1401 3D Mark Steel Nomad Lite: 145 3D Mark Wildlife: 1373 3D Mark Slingshot: 3657
Performance: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Ulefone Armor X16 Pro: Final verdict
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
After using the phone solidly for a few weeks, I’ve been really impressed, firstly by the build quality and the comfort of using this phone. It is far more usable and ergonomic than many other rugged smartphones.
Secondly, the battery life was exceptional for the size and weight. At the start of the test, I charged it to 100%, and after three weeks it had only dropped to 25%, highlighting just how robust that internal battery is, although I wasn’t in full use all the time.
Overall, the battery performance was excellent, and the fact that I could reverse charge my iPhone using the 5 W reverse charging feature was very handy.
The standout features for me were the cameras. I wasn’t expecting the clarity of images that the 64 million-pixel main camera produced. The stills were great, and the video capture was equally impressive. Coupled with some wireless mics, it’s a great option if you need to capture video out in the field, perfectly suitable for most social media platforms.
When editing media using CapCut or Lightroom, I was impressed by the performance of this mobile phone. Considering that it’s at the entry level of the rugged phone market, it performs surprisingly well.
At the end of the test, having submerged the phone in water, dropped it from a height and tested it in the field, I’m surprised at how inexpensive this rugged smartphone is. While graphics performance and for that matter the screen resolution is at the lower end of the scale, for Google Docs and multimedia content, it works absolutely fine.
If you’re looking for a decent rugged smartphone for work and you don’t want to spend too much, then this is a great option. Likewise, if you’re heading off on an adventure, and need a solid phone with good battery life that’s isn't too heavy then again this also an ideal solution.
What really makes it stand out for me is the quality of the camera. While it can’t rival premium smartphones, it’s still decent enough to satisfy most people who want to take great images. The Armor X16 Pro is one of the best-performing budget rugged smartphones out there today.
Should I buy a Ulefone Armor X16 Pro?
Value
Excellent value for money and a great option if you need a simple, rugged smartphone.
4.5
Design
Stylish design with a textured surface that makes this one of the most comfortable rugged smartphones to hold.
4
Features
Decent range of features, with the camera and battery life being the standout.
3.5
Performance
Considering the entry-level price tag, this phone packs a decent amount of power for day-to-day tasks.
4
Overalls
Excellent rugged smartphone that provides power for everyday use, but is limited for higher-end gaming.
4
Buy it if...
You want a great option for working outdoors
The price, build quality, and the fact that it can stand up to all sorts of conditions make this a cheap and well-balanced option for anyone working outdoors.
You want a tough backup phone
The large capacity battery in a relatively small and lightweight form makes this a superb option to take as a main or backup phone if you’re heading off on an adventure.
Don't buy it if...
You need a phone for gaming.
While you can play many games at moderate quality, if you want to play anything that relies heavily on graphics processing, you should consider another option.
You need something small and lightweight.
While in this review I’ve said this is a small and relatively lightweight rugged smartphone, compared with general consumer phones, it is still larger and more bulky.
NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Two-minute review
The NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) is an ideal PC for the kind of gamer interested in building a gaming desktop, but finds picking parts and the process of assembly overwhelming. The price does reflect that, as you could conceivably save a few bucks doing everything yourself.
That said, the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) is a well-built and organized machine that’s easy to get into for future upgrades, while offering the convenience that the best gaming PCs provide. And with the powerful internals, it can do just about whatever one could want.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
You’ll find that some of the best desktops with higher spec’ed CPUs and GPUs have more oomph, but that’s more important if you’re rendering video or 3D projects. For gaming, what this desktop has to offer is more than enough.
As long as you’re willing to cover the price tag, there’s little to fault here. My only nitpick is that there isn’t a clear way to expand internally as opposed to swapping and upgrading parts. This might be minor for many people, but for those who haven’t built a PC, this might be a sticking point.
After all, this kind of desktop is going to be more appealing to those who don’t want to go with the usual pre-built machines and their proprietary parts, but aren’t yet ready to build their own.
NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
How much does it cost? $2,033 (about £1539 / AU$3,162) When is it available? Available now Where can you get it? Available in the US
The NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition), along with the other models on offer, is only available in the US. And since this model only has one configuration, it has one price: $2,033 (about £1539 / AU$3,162). NZXT does have a controversial PC rental option called NZXT Flex that is essentially like leasing a gaming PC available to consumers, but that doesn’t seem to be available for this model.
The price tag of this model is not cheap, but it’s not surprising either. If you want to build your own, getting an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 will set you back at least $549 / £549 / AU$1,109 if not more (especially if you live in the US with impending tariffs). That’s a quarter of the cost of this computer just in the GPU.
Consider that the RTX 5070 is not quite the upgrade over the previous generation’s 4070 Super one would expect, you can get most of the way there performance-wise with something like the Alienware Aurora R16, which ran for $1,749 / £1,349 / around AU$2,670 at launch and is still available at certain retailers at a discount. It is a little older, but it’s also a little more compact.
However, if you compare the NZXT model reviewed here to the current version of the Maingear MG-1 (our review is from last year so the components are older), which costs $2,049 for a similar model, specifically with a Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RGB DDR5 6000MT/s, and 1TB SSD, you can see that the NZXT Player PC is not overpriced. It does come with more RAM than the Maingear MG-1, though the MG-1 comes with more customization options, including a completely personalized front panel.
Value: 4 / 5
NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Specs
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
The NZXT lineup is interesting insofar that there are a number of models in the company’s prebuilt lineup totaling twelve unique listings, but they all revolve around three models – the Player: One, Player: Two, and, of course, Player: Three – differentiated by the case.
Of course, they’re all slightly different with a range of CPUs, GPUs, and so forth. The NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) uses the H5 Flow case that the Player: One and Player: One Prime uses. This model reviewed here is the most powerful NZXT model with this case with a 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, and 32GB of RAM, not to mention 2TB SSD storage. There’s not really any customizations here, so you have to choose the model that fits your budget and performance needs.
NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) specs
Price:
$1,999.99
CPU:
Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF
Graphics:
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070
RAM:
32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5 5200MHz
Storage:
2TB NVMe M.2 SSD
Ports:
Front I/O: 1x USB 3.2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Type-C, 1x Headset Audio Jack
Back I/O: 6x USB 3.2 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Type-C, DisplayPort, Mic In / Line In / Line Out
Wireless:
Wi-Fi 7 / BlueTooth
On the bright side, there’s plenty of after-the-fact customization available with the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) since the parts are standardized, such as a Z890 motherboard. And getting inside the desktop is very simple, which I’ll get into in the next section.
NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Design
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Lots of venting
Tool-less tempered glass side panel
No clear expansion slots inside
The NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) uses the black version of the company’s H5 Flow case (the case itself is also available in white), which is a compact mid-tower ATX form, measuring 18.31 x 8.86 x 16.93 inches (465 x 225 x 430 mm). The “Flow” in its name refers to all of the venting covering the front, top, back, and bottom of the case to keep things cool.
Most of the case is a very durable galvanized steel (SGCC), but the side panel is made of tempered glass so you can easily see what’s inside. And the internals are arranged very cleanly in a way that’s fairly aesthetically pleasing. Most of the wiring is hidden or fed into a compartment at the bottom that’s separated by a steel plate so that you can only see it through the venting near the bottom of the case.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
It’s worth noting that the top fans do have some backlighting but the NZXT Player PC does not come with RGB lighting despite the fact that this case is available with RGB. At least, the side panel is also a nice touch because it allows tool less entry, allowing for easy upgrades and swaps without having to grab a screwdriver.
As far as ports go, there’s quite the selection. There’s a USB-C, USB-A, and headphone jack on top of the case next to the power button. And on the back, there’s an additional six USB-A along with two USB-C ports, three audio jacks, and, a bit more unusually, it has attachments for an included Wi-Fi Antenna that helps boost its Wi-Fi 7 support.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
All in all, it’s a pretty impressive-looking PC. Being very nitpicky, it’s not apparent where any expansion slots are for upgrades. I didn’t see any additional places for an SSD either on the motherboard or anywhere else inside the case even though there’s plenty of space.
Design: 4.5 / 5
NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition): Performance
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Powerful internal components
Easily runs performance-heavy games
Stays fairly cool under duress
NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) CPU benchmarks
Benchmark
Score
Geekbench 6.4 Single-core
3,081
Geekbench 6.4 Multi-core
18,984
Crossmark Overall
2,298
Crossmark Productivity
2,159
Crossmark Creativity
2,495
Crossmark Responsiveness
2,166
Unless there’s some poorly planned layout or issues with a case that cause overheating, you can usually tell how a gaming PC will perform almost completely based on the internal components.
Considering, then, that the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) has an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF with 20 cores and 20 threads as well as 25 TOPS, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, and 32GB of DDR5 5200Hz RAM, it’s no surprise that it’s able to run all the latest games at or near the highest settings.
NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) GPU benchmarks
Benchmarks
Score
3DMark Fire Strike
45,049
3DMark Time Spy
21,414
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra
14,727
3DMark Time Spy Extreme
10,943
3DMark Speed Way
5,855
3DMark Steel Nomad
4,967
3DMark Port Royal
14,139
I’ve had no issues not only playing games like South of Midnight, Monster Hunter Wilds, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Cyberpunk 2077 but running them at High or Ultra settings on an ultrawide 5K monitor with HDR on, which requires quite a bit of power in and of itself. I didn’t have any issues with screen tearing, stuttering, or any other performance-related issues. And all the games stayed at the 165Hz refresh rate the monitor supports.
NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) gaming benchmarks
Game
Average FPS
Black Myth: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p)
60
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, 1080p)
70
Monster Hunter Wilds (Max, 1080p)
83
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Very high, 1080p)
201
Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p)
182
It’s also worth mentioning that I’ve never had Cyberpunk 2077 boot up as quickly as it did on this PC. Speaking of that game, it’s still a very demanding title with all its updates for newer tech like DLSS 4.
Yet, running the game only pushed the system a little, and the overall affair stayed fairly cool, thanks to the various fans placed around inside the case.
Performance: 5 / 5
Should I buy the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition)?
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
The price tag is high, but it’s what one would expect for a computer sporting an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU.
4 / 5
Design
Tool-less entry, lots of venting, and a durable, clean build are all part of the package. Too bad, expansion slots aren’t well marked and you can’t upgrade to RGB.
4.5 / 5
Performance
There’s little to fault when it comes to performance as the desktop can do it all gaming-wise.
4.5 / 5
Average rating
It’s a little pricey, but the convenience, durability, and performance are all worth it.
4.5 / 5
Buy it if...
You want a powerful gaming PC The NZXT Player PC reviewed here has enough power to handle any gaming situation. Whether you want something capable of supporting a 5K ultrawide monitor, high ray tracing, DLSS 4, and any other performance-heavy technologies, this PC can do it.
You want easy upgradability Sure, there’s only one configuration out of the gate. But, once you have the PC in hand, its tool-less entry and use of standardized parts make upgrading the CPU, GPU, RAM, or anything else pretty straightforward.
You want an attractive-looking PC With all the ventilation, tempered glass side panel, and clean, organized internal setup, this is an attractive, if straightforward-looking desktop.
Don't buy it if...
You want lots of options While you can certainly upgrade quite easily after the fact, you can’t do so or customize when purchasing. If that’s important to you out of the gate, then you should probably look elsewhere.
You’re on a budget As good as the NZXT Player PC is, it’s not cheap. There are other options, including within the company’s own product line, that are more affordable. You just have to be willing to go with less powerful components.
Also Consider
If our NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) review has you considering other options, here are two desktops to consider...
Alienware Aurora R16 The Alienware Aurora R16 is compact with great port selection, more than adequate ventilation, and, most importantly, excellent performance. It does have an aesthetic that can’t decide if it’s for professional settings or gamers, but that’s a small complaint. Though the R16 has been discontinued by Dell, it’s available through some online retailers and at a discount.
Maingear MG-1 The Maingear MG-1 is powerful if pricey, and comes with a lot of customization options – many more than NZXT including the ability to get a personalized front panel. Of course, depending on the upgrades, it can get very expensive, but, as they say, you get what you pay for.
How I tested the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition)
Tested for a couple of weeks
Used it for heavy gaming
Spent some time looking at the build
I used the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) for a couple of weeks, mainly using it for heavy gaming. I poked around inside the desktop to get an idea of the quality of the parts, as well as explored the software to see what tricks this desktop had up its sleeves.
The NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) is a gaming PC that’s ideal for the kind of person who wants all the benefits of building one’s own desktop, but doesn’t want to for the headaches that come with doing so. It has the kind of quality control and clean build that one doesn’t always see in prebuilts, while making it convenient to get inside and swap out parts.
I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear for gaming and otherwise, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation.
Zoner Studio is a WIndows-only take on both Photoshop and Lightroom - not as powerful as either (although a slew of regular updates is changing that), but a good entry-level/intermediate photo editor and organizer that comes in at a fair price.
After a recent name change from Zoner Photo Studio X to Zoner Studio, to better reflect the broader usage, the company says, I took the latest version out for a spin to see how it measures up against some of the best Adobe Photoshop alternatives.
Zoner Studio: Pricing & plans
Zoner Studio is available for a monthly subscription of $5.99, or $59 for the year. A family plan, letting two or more users in the same household use the app, is available for $9.98 a month or $98 a year.
For me, the pricing here is a big plus. There may not be a free version available (although there is a welcome free trial), but the cost is low, especially when compared to Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite of apps. The Photoshop and Lightroom Photography plan is currently priced at $22.99 a month. Your other option would be a tool like Affinity Photo, which has a one-off cost of $70.
The main differences between Zoner Studio and its rivals is that Zoner is only available on Windows machines, and it leans slightly more towards entry-level and intermediate users compared to Affinity Photo and Photoshop’s professional-grade photo editor.
Processor: Intel or AMD CPU 64-bit with SSE 4.2 support
RAM: 8GB
Storage space: 2GB
Screen resolution: 1280 × 800
If you’re familiar with photo editing software, you’ll have no problems navigating Zoner Studio. And, if you’re not, it’s not especially tricky to figure out - for me, that’s part of the appeal of the app, making it pretty welcoming to new users who want to do more with their photographs.
The main part of the screen is devoted to your selected image, with files and folders beneath, which can be scrolled through with your mouse. It’s a nice touch, making navigation that much easier.
Where new users may come unstuck are the five options to the right of the screen. Manager, Develop, Editor, Print, and Video (ok, those last two are self-explanatory). So, a little exploration wouldn’t go amiss - Zoner does at least feature non-destructive editing, letting you experiment with new tools without irretrievably modifying the original file.
Basically, Manager is for organizing and tagging photos. Develop is Zoner’s take on Lightroom, where you can edit RAW images, and Editor is for all other tweaks you want to make to your media, like adjusting the color temperature, or sharpening images. It’s all nicely laid out and generally easy to find what you’re looking for - and most options are also replicated in menus along the ribbon, which contextually change depending on which mode you’re in.
Zoner Studio: In use
(Image credit: Zoner // Future)
Using Zoner Studio isn’t especially tricky, but it may still feel a little overwhelming if you’re new to image editing given the sheer amount of options available here. I’d also advise beginners to hover over the side-panel icons - there are a lot here, and not all of them are especially intuitive, so hovering your mouse will serve up a name and brief description of each.
Your photos automatically appear in Zoner, since there’s a file explorer tab to the left of the screen (there is an import function along the ribbon, too, but I never found the need to use this). These will appear on a timeline at the foot of the main panel. When you’ve selected your image, it can then be edited and adjusted via the Editor tab.
All the familiar tools are here, from cropping and rotating to adding watermarks or directional blurring. As expected, then, there are heaps of tools for toying with the exposure (shadows, contrast, and so on), white balance (temperature and tint), and color (like saturation). I also like the addition of the tone curve, as you’d find in Lightroom, for lightening or darkening an image, or bringing specific color channels to the fore.
(Image credit: Zoner // Future)
There’s also a Quick Edit option, which populates the panel with the core tools most photographers and designers use without needing to fumble through the menus. The editing process can further be streamlined with the likes of Quick Fix and, ideal for social media, Quick Filters. All of these work instantly, just a press of the button.
The software includes some AI-powered tools, all of which deliver good results impressively quickly. This includes AI Masking, found in the Develop tab. Choosing this gives you the option to let Zoner automatically select the photo’s subject, background, objects, or sky for fine-tuning. For anyone looking to streamline the workflow, these are must-use tools, and I was pretty pleased with the speed and accuracy here.
One of the stand-outs for me is the AI Background Remover, which I found generally works very well. Once completed, I could then add a color background or create a transparent one for compositing into other images. Occasionally, the process removed elements of the image subject - typically when on darker or a similarly colored backgrounds - but on the whole, I had no serious complaints with this one-click background removal tool.
Perhaps the biggest issue, at least for those looking to make the switch away from Photoshop, is the lack of support for .PSD files. Instead, the software uses its own .ZPS files, which functionally work the same with layers and effects. But there’s no way to import or export Photoshop files into the app.
Overall, Zoner Studio packs in a wealth of tools for photo editing. It will take some getting used to if you’re new (and absolutely no time at all if you’re familiar with any of the best photo editors). But if you don’t need .PSD file support, there’s plenty to like here, especially for the price.
Should I buy Zoner Studio?
(Image credit: Zoner // Future)
Buy it if...
You’re new to photo editing: This is a great place to start if you’re new to editing images but want a good amount of powerful tools for bringing out the best in your photos.
You don’t want to spend too much: Zoner Studio is a lot cheaper than Adobe Photoshop or similar pro-grade packages.
Don't buy it if...
You want a basic app: If you’re just looking to crop or brighten images, you’ll find plenty of other options that won’t overwhelm.
You want a professional-level app: Similarly, if you want a pro-level software that delivers the very best results, you’ll get better results from the likes of Photoshop and Lightroom.
There are only a few gaming laptop releases that’ll impress buyers this year as much as the Alienware 16 Area-51. Everything about this work of premium art and technology oozes perfection.
Though the configuration I reviewed came out to around $3,249.99 / £3,349 / AU$5,497.80, there’s plenty of scalability in terms of both price and component options, with systems starting at $1,999.99 / £2,149.01 / AU$4,198.70.
The design alone places this as one of the best gaming laptops going, thanks to a futuristically sleek design that mirrors its desktop sibling with “fluid contours and soft surfaces” that blends nice angles, lovely multi-zone customizable lighting, smart port placement, clever ventilation, a clear glass panel on the bottom to show of the internals, and much more.
The phenomenal design philosophy is matched with gaming performance that’ll impress enthusiasts and competitive gamers alike. All of that power is pumped out through a 16-inch 2560x1600 display that offers a 240Hz refresh rate as well.
However, holding the display back significantly is the image quality. Despite featuring 100% DCI-P3, 500 nits of brightness, and Nvidia G-Sync, images lack crispness and can come off as smudged a bit as well. Thankfully, the Dolby Atmos-certified speakers provide great, nuanced sound for gaming alongside general music listening.
That doesn’t even count the amount of extras that are featured on the Area-51 16, such as the option to have a full RGB mechanical keyboard, which makes it to where serious players don’t have to use a USB slot and lug an extra keyboard around.
Even outside of gaming, the mechanical keyboard makes general computing tasks a thrill thanks to how fantastic keystrokes feel. In a cool touch, the touchpad itself glows with customizable lighting too.
All of this greatness does come at the cost of borderline abysmal battery life, which comes with the territory of most high-end gaming laptops.
Those in need of more juice for long flights or times without a nearby electrical socket may be in some trouble. Regardless, the Alienware 16 Area-51 is out of this world when it comes to laptop gaming.
Alienware 16 Area-51: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
How much does it cost? Starting at $1,999.99 / £2,149.01 / AU$4,198.70
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The Alienware 16 Area-51 is now available through Dell’s online store and other digital retailers, starting at $1999.99 / £2,149.01 / AU$4,198.70. Buyers in the US, UK, and Australia can choose from a range of configurations and options tailored to their Windows gaming needs.
My review unit was configured with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD Storage comes in at $2,849.99 / £3,298.99 / AU$5,497.80. Other features include the 4K web camera and mechanical keyboard options.
While not the most expensive laptop in its size class, it's not the cheapest either, but its starting price is very good for a laptop with this kind of premium feel.
12TB (3 x 4TB) PCIe SSD (4TB PCIe SSD in Australia)
Ports:
1X SD Card Slot, 1 x 3.5mm Headset Jack, 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1
1X SD Card Slot, 1 x 3.5mm Headset Jack, 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1
1X SD Card Slot, 1 x 3.5mm Headset Jack, 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Wireless:
Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 (2x2 320Hz) MIMO 802.11be Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.4
Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 (2x2 320Hz) MIMO 802.11be Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.4
Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 (2x2 320Hz) MIMO 802.11be Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.4
Camera:
1080P Webcam
4K Webcam
4K Webcam
Weight:
7.49 lbs | 3.40 kg
7.49 lbs | 3.40 kg
7.49 lbs | 3.40 kg
Dimensions:
14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 ins | 365 x 290 x 28.5mm (W x D x H)
14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 ins | 365 x 290 x 28.5mm (W x D x H)
14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 ins | 365 x 290 x 28.5mm (W x D x H)
Alienware 16 Area-51: Design
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Sleek, rounded design with a beautiful liquid teal colorway and RGB lighting nearly everywhere
Nice rear port selection and SD Card slot
Comfortable experience with the mechanical keyboard
As noted before—and it bears repeating—the Alienware 16 Area-51’s design is truly breathtaking. From the moment you unbox it, the spaceship-inspired curves and sleek, dark liquid teal finish immediately signal a premium, high-end machine that stands out in any setting. While closed, there are some noticeable design choices that truly set this gaming laptop apart from others.
Every angle of the Area-51 16 is picturesque from top to bottom. This includes the top panel featuring the standard Alienware logo that is backlit by customizable RGB.
At the bottom, you get to see the laptop’s Cryo-Chamber structure, allowing direct airflow to the laptop’s core components. This also raises the device for both comfort and larger air intake. For added measure, there’s a clear Gorilla Glass panel showing the AlienFX fans that also has customizable lighting.
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(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
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(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
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(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
A nice selection of ports is located on the rear, which offsets the display hinge by about a few inches. That portion also features a customizable RGB light ring that circles it from top to bottom, too.
This allows access to three USB-A, two USB-C with Thunderbolt, a single HDMI port, and a power port. Those are joined on the left side by an SD Card slot and a 3.5mm headset jack. Smartly designed V-Rail edges make opening and closing the gaming laptop a smooth
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
When opened, the display offers either an FHD or a 4K webcam at the top. Below, the mechanical keyboard provides a satisfying feel for both gaming and typing, complete with customizable RGB lighting, and is flanked by a speaker system with two 2W woofers, two 2W tweeters, and Dolby Atmos certification.
The smooth, precision glass touchpad at the bottom also features customizable RGB lighting, adding to the laptop’s premium, tailored experience. Usage is made extra comfortable through a pillowed palm rest, which helps when gaming or when doing general web browsing tasks for long periods.
The Alienware Area-51 16 is just so thoughtful in the engineering and design. There’s a visual appeal and functional enhancements that elevate the ownership experience here in ways that feel luxurious yet cool.
Design: 5 / 5
Alienware 16 Area-51: Performance
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Incredible power for modern AAA games with high frame rates
Can control power output through Alienware Command Center
Display performance is awesome though image quality suffers
Alienware 16 Area-51 CPU benchmarks
Benchmark
Score
Geekbench 6.4 Single-core
3,126
Geekbench 6.4 Multi-core
20,498
Crossmark Overall
2,338
Crossmark Productivity
2,173
Crossmark Creativity
2,587
Crossmark Responsiveness
2,145
Gaming and high-end creative task performance match the design perfectly on the Alienware 16 Area-51. The Intel Core Ultra 9, Nvidia RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD in my configuration was probably the ideal way to make the most of the 16-inch 2560x1600 resolution display when it comes to configuration options.
I was able to play all the latest, visually arresting AAA games at 60+ frames per second without problems using Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong,Forza Motorsport (2023), Doom: The Dark Ages, and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.
Alienware 16 Area-51 GPU benchmarks
Benchmarks
Score
3DMark Fire Strike
37,813
3DMark Time Spy
21,070
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra
14,073
3DMark Time Spy Extreme
10,558
3DMark Speed Way
5,613
3DMark Steel Nomad
5,142
3DMark Port Royal
13,966
There are ways to push frame rates even higher thanks to Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology. The base configuration option is great for 1080p and 1440p gaming, while the max configuration is good enough for 4K gaming if users plan on connecting to a compatible monitor.
The Area-51 16-inch is powerful enough to edit high-resolution photo and video content without any problems in apps like Adobe Premiere and Photoshop.
Despite pushing the Area-51 16-inch to max capabilities, I didn’t hear much fan noise and it didn’t get too hot, mostly thanks to the Area-51 16-inch's Cryotech cooling and smart vent placement.
Game
Average FPS
Assassin's Creed Shadows (Ultra, 1080p)
52
Black Myth: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p)
58
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, 1080p)
63
Monster Hunter Wilds (Max, 1080p)
83
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Very high, 1080p)
183
Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p)
201
Like other Alienware devices, the Command Center app is a great way to augment power delivery to focus on a quieter fan speed, focus on battery (though it doesn’t help much), and full-on performance power. Other features of the Command Center include the ability to manage various game settings alongside customizing the various RGB lighting zones around the gaming laptop.
Gaming and the display performance are good enough to make me forget how average-looking the display is when it comes to image quality, suffering from washed-out colors that aren’t very crisp.
Performance: 5 / 5
Alienware 16 Area-51: Battery life
General computing tasks usage will give around 4 hours of usage between charges
Trying to game is only going to provide about two hours
Gaming laptops at this level rarely excel in battery life, and the Alienware 16 Area-51 is no exception. In our PCMark 10 gaming battery test, it lasted around two hours, typical for machines in this category.
More disappointing is its performance in everyday tasks: during our Battery Informant Web Surfing test, it managed just over four hours with power-saving settings like reduced RGB lighting and lower brightness.
With lighting and medium volume levels on, the battery dipped to roughly three hours before needing a recharge. It would be nice to see the power-focused sect of gaming laptops reach the level of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14.
On the positive side, the Alienware Battery Defender technology promises to balance power consumption with temperature monitoring to give the battery a longer life.
Charging takes a little over a few hours to reach full battery life, and there isn’t any quick charging. The power adapter brick is also pretty large as well so be mindful when traveling.
Battery life: 3 / 5
Should I buy the Alienware 16 Area-51?
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
Gaming laptops are expensive by nature but the lower configuration versions of the Alienware 16 Area-51 do come at an attractive price.
4 / 5
Design
Between the smooth sleek chassis with lovely RGB lighting everywhere, port placements, fan placement and see-through bottom, this is the coolest looking gaming laptop ever made. This is the perfect match of form and function.
5 / 5
Performance
No matter which configuration you choose, you’re getting top-tier components that offer impressive scalability in performance options.
5 / 5
Battery
Battery life is pretty average so users are going to have to make sure they are near some power outlet.
3 / 5
Average rating
Image quality and battery life issues aside, this gaming laptop is worth every penny.
4.25 / 5
Buy the Alienware 16 Area-51 if...
You require one of the best-designed gaming laptops available The Alienware 16 Area-51 is beautifully designed with a lovely chassis, properly placed ports, and awesome RGB lighting.
You need premium performance Various configurations for top-of-the-line Intel Core CPUs and Nvidia RTX 50 series GPUs mean a variety of performance options.
You want some good extras Great sounding speakers and a mechanical keyboard mean that serious gamers don’t have to use a USB port for an external one.
Don't buy it if...
You need better image quality Though the performance of the 16-inch display is great, colors aren’t crisp and can feel a bit washed out. This means that gamers who are on the creative content side may have some issues.
You want better battery life Gaming laptops aren’t usually known for their battery life, so expect similar results with the Area-51 16-inch.
Also Consider
If our Alienware Area-51 16 has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...
Razer Blade 14 (2024) review
Though it may not have the colorful lighting of the Area-51 16 and loses about two inches of display real estate, the Razer Blade 14 is a powerhouse that’s also portable.
Tested the gaming laptop over the course of a week
Games tested include Forza Motorsport (2023), Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II and Doom: The Dark Ages among others
General computing tasks include Tidal, Google Chrome and Adobe Suite
During my week with the Alienware 16 Area-51, I spent my time split between work during the day and gaming at night.
During the day, I used Google Chrome for web browsing, Gmail, Docs, and Sheets. Other software used includes Tidal to test speakers and Adobe Suite software like Photoshop, alongside Premiere Pro for creative tasks.
Outside of standard benchmark tests for games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, I tested out plenty of modern games, including Forza Motorsport (2023), Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, and Doom: The Dark Ages. I also managed to handle a few video conferences, which allowed me to test out the webcam as well.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is an ideal desktop replacement with more than enough power to take on just about everything in PC gaming spaces and at max settings for the most part.
While there are some situations you might need to bring some settings down a smidge (cough*Cyberpunk 2077*cough), that’s only really due to the higher resolution OLED panel that only requires a bit of power.
Starting at $2,909.99 / £2,700 / AU$4,999, the Legion Pro 7i comes with an Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, Nvidia RTX 50-series GPUs, a 16-inch 2560 x 1600p OLED display, and up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and 2TB PCIe SSD storage.
Along with the performance and OLED screen are a nice assortment of ports, a full keyboard, and a responsive touchpad that is, unfortunately, not ideally aligned.
For some, especially those who don’t take their gaming laptops on the road all that much, this might be among the best gaming laptops out there. But poor battery life might make one take pause if you plan on getting a laptop that you want to use regularly untethered.
Still, if you have the cash and don’t plan on transporting your gaming laptop often (or have a big backpack), the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is worth a look, especially if you want a larger 16-inch screen for your gaming experience.
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i might not be Lenovo’s most expensive gaming laptop – that honor goes to the Legion Pro 9i – but it’s still very expensive. Its most affordable price is a sizable $2,909.99 / £2,700 / AU$4,999.
Starting out with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD, pricing goes up from there. The review unit I have, upgraded with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 and 2TB SSD, costs $3,559.99 / £2,990.00 / AU$6,839.00, while the maxed-out configuration of Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, 64GB DDR5 RAM, and 2TB SSD is a jaw-dropping $4,424.49 / £3,900.00 / AU$7,079.00.
As expensive as the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is, larger gaming laptops tend to come with an even heftier price tag. The Origin EON17-X v2 I reviewed last year started at $3,400.00 (about £2,610.00 / AU$5,120.00) for a configuration of Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, 16GB of RAM, and a 17-inch 1440p@240Hz screen.
Of course, you can customize the lid on the EON17-X v2 with whatever design you want, but this does make the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i look affordable in comparison.
Price: 4 / 5
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Specs
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
No matter which configuration you choose, the CPU you get is the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, a 24-core/24-thread processor with a peak frequency of 5.4GHz.
However, there is some wiggle room with the GPU where you can choose from an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, or RTX 5090, 32GB or 64GB RAM, and between 1TB or 2TB SSD storage.
21.9mm-26.6mm x 364mm x 275.9mm / 0.86″- 1.04″ x 14.33″ x 10.86″
21.9mm-26.6mm x 364mm x 275.9mm / 0.86″- 1.04″ x 14.33″ x 10.86″
21.9mm-26.6mm x 364mm x 275.9mm / 0.86″- 1.04″ x 14.33″ x 10.86″
Considering that the base configuration is still fairly expensive, it’s no wonder that all the configurations keep the more premium appointments. Specifically, no matter what you do, you’ll get that OLED 1600p @ 240Hz panel with HDR 1000.
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Design
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
This is a big computer
Large keyboard, touchpad aligned to the left
Lots of ports including Thunderbolt 4
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is big. It is a 16-inch laptop, after all. It’s fairly imposing in its matte “Eclipse Black” finish with only Legion emblazoned on the back of the lid and Lenovo in silver on the top back as flourishes. It’s also a little over an inch at its thickest.
This is not the most portable of gaming laptops. So, while it makes for a great desktop replacement, leave plenty of space in your backpack if you plan on getting this.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Almost all the venting is underneath and back, so you don’t have to worry about hot air being blown onto you when gaming, assuming you’re using a mouse situated next to the laptop.
Besides the large 16-inch OLED screen, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i comes with a full-size keyboard complete with a ten-key numpad. There aren’t any standalone hotkeys, but plenty of keys have secondary functions, so I didn’t really miss them.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
The keycaps have a quality feel to them with a concave shape and textured feel that makes typing a relative pleasure. I do find the keyboard to feel a little big for some reason and find myself sometimes pressing the wrong button when reaching (mainly when gaming).
The touchpad is not oversized, but it’s set off to the left, which makes sense as the keyboard with the Numpad pushes the natural hand placement to the left as well. However, I’m not a fan of the touchpad’s placement – I would prefer it to be a bit more centered. At least, it’s accurate and responsive.
If you do want to use the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i as a desktop replacement, you’ll be happy to know that the port selection is fairly plentiful. It comes with an HDMI 2.1 port, a Thunderbolt 4 port, and a USB-C port, both of which support DisplayPort 2.1. There are also three USB-A ports and an Ethernet one, along with an eShutter button for privacy’s sake.
Design: 4 / 5
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Performance
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Strong performance that’s limited somewhat by the power-hungry panel
Can run most games at max settings with speedy results
Sound quality is pretty good
Considering the powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and higher-end Nvidia 5000-series GPUs – I tested the model with an RTX 5080 – not to mention a minimum of 32GB of RAM, the gaming performance here is going to be quite robust.
Now, all that hardware has to power the 16-inch OLED panel which has a 2560 x 1600p resolution with a refresh rate of 240Hz. That panel also manages 500 nits of brightness and has HDR 1000 True Black support.
So, that can knock off up to 20 or 30 fps from the Lenovo Legion 7i’s performance if you want to take full advantage of this laptop’s display. It’s worth noting that it also achieves a DCI-P3 of 100%, making this a sharp looking, vibrant display. I definitely preferred running games like South of Midnight, Starfield, RoboCop: Rogue City, and Cyberpunk 2077 at that higher resolution.
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Synthetic Benchmarks
Benchmark
Score
Geekbench 6.4 Single Core
3,103
Geekbench 6.4 Multi Core
19,829
Crossmark Overall
2,163
Crossmark Productivity
1,998
Crossmark Creativity
2,525
Crossmark Responsiveness
1,727
25GB File Copy Transfer Rate (MB/s)
2,030.38
3DMark Fire Strike
34,434
3DMark Time Spy
16,928
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra
11,388
3DMark Time Spy Extreme
8,337
3DMark Speed Way
4,301
3DMark Steel Nomad
3,999
3DMark Port Royal
10,958
Speaking of, I was able to run all those games at basically max settings, including Ray Tracing where applicable, with smooth results and crisp, clear images. I didn’t experience any skipping, stuttering, or screen tearing. Any way you cut it, this is a powerful gaming laptop that will hold up.
If you look at our benchmarks, you can get a solid idea of what to expect. Cyberpunk 2077 with everything maxed will look good and will be smooth enough, but won’t really take advantage of that high refresh rate as it gets just an okay 30 fps on average on 1600p, so if you plan on playing at the display's native resolution, make sure to use DLSS for the best experience.
However, there are plenty of games where I can achieve up to and above 100 fps even before compromising on settings.
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gaming Benchmarks
Game & settings
Frames per second
Assassin's Creed Shadows (Ultra High, 1080p)
45 fps
Black Myth: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p)
45 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, 1080p)
50 fps
Metro: Exodus (Extreme, 1080p)
63 fps
Monster Hunter Wilds (Very High, 1080p)
73 fps
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Very High, 1080p)
163 fps
Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p)
144 fps
Web Surfing Battery Informant
4:37
PCMark 10 Gaming Battery Test
1:36
As mentioned before, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has a four-speaker system. I didn’t mention that it supports Nahimic Audio, so you get some spatial audio support. Laptops often have mediocre audio at best, but this one sounds pretty good.
Besides the usual caveat that laptop speakers will never surpass dedicated headphones or speakers, the sound is full with plenty of clarity. There’s not a lot of rumble (to be expected, of course), but there’s not anything else missing from the frequency range.
Lastly, the webcam with its 5MP resolution looks good and is pretty smooth to boot. If you get this laptop to stream, you might not need to get a dedicated webcam. It’s also nice that it has a privacy eShutter button.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Battery life
Suffers from the typical short battery life of a gaming laptop
Doesn’t do a great job of retaining charge while in sleep mode
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Battery Test Results
Web Surfing Battery Informant
4:37 hours
PCMark 10 Gaming Battery Test
1:36 hours
The battery life on gaming laptops is typically not all that great. There are some exceptions, but a powerhouse sporting a 16-inch OLED screen with a 1600p resolution is not going to be one of them.
For proof, just look at our benchmarks. In our web surfing test, it lasted a whopping four and a half hours. That’s not great, but this isn’t a new MacBook Air that lasts almost 15 hours, nor is it supposed to be.
It’s not surprising that in the PCMark 10 gaming benchmark, it lasts just over an hour and a half. If you want extended cordless gaming, you should probably get a Steam Deck (or one of its competitors).
A little more concerning and a little more unexpected is the fact that the battery runs down even when in sleep mode. Now, this is not atypical, but there are plenty of laptops that don’t drop down to 35% battery life after being unplugged for a day, even though they haven’t been used.
Battery life: 3.5 / 5
Should you buy the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i?
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i scorecard
Category
Notes
Rating
Value
It may start at a hefty two grand asking price, but that’s not unusual for large screen gaming laptops.
4 / 5
Design
This laptop is massive, making it more of a desktop replacement than a portable gaming machine. At least, it has plenty of ports.
4 / 5
Performance
The gaming performance here is pretty great, only really limited by the fact that it also has to power an OLED screen.
4.5 / 5
Battery Life
The battery life is not great, though about what one would expect with a gaming powerhouse. However, it could do better holding a charge when asleep.
3.5 / 5
Final score
Despite a high cost and low battery life, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is a very powerful machine, ideal for those wanting a gaming desktop replacement.
4 / 5
Buy the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i if...
You want a powerful desktop replacement The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is quite big, and it’s quite powerful. If you’re looking for something that can replace a gaming desktop, this model is more than capable.
You want an OLED screen The OLED screen here comes with a higher resolution and frame rate, not to mention strong HDR support and DCI-P3 color coverage. If you want a good OLED screen with your gaming laptop, you’re certainly getting it here.
You can afford it This laptop has the latest and greatest powerful components (at least for a laptop), so it comes with a hefty price tag. Consider this one if money is no object.
Don't buy it if...
You have a limited budget If you have limited cash for a gaming laptop, then the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is going to be out of your price range, considering its starting price is around 2K.
You want good battery life Gaming laptops typically don’t have good battery life, and this laptop is no different. If you want one that can last a while without being plugged in, there’s a short list of options out there that don’t include this one.
How I tested the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i
Tested for a couple weeks
Used it for work, gaming, and streaming
Played different types of games
I used the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i for a couple of weeks, playing all sorts of games including Battlefield 2042, RoboCop: Rogue City, and Cyberpunk 2077, to get a feel for what this laptop is capable of.
I tried them at max settings, including Ray Tracing where applicable, mainly Cyberpunk, to see where their limitations are. I wrote most of this article on it and used it for some day-to-day browsing and streaming.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is ideal for gamers who want a desktop replacement that can handle just about everything gaming-wise and have the budget to afford that kind of gaming rig.
I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear for gaming and otherwise, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation.
Velocity Micro's ProMagix HD80 is a powerhouse desktop computer, with a focus on professional users rather than gamers. That distinction is necessary because gamers notoriously require the best graphics available.
Unlike many of the best workstations I've seen, this computer does not boast the newest GPU; however, it does have a top-of-the-line CPU, ample RAM, solid storage, powerful ports, and effective cooling, making it an excellent machine for productivity and business work that may not be as graphics-intensive.
The GPU is no slouch, but it's not an RTX 5090, so don't expect to game at maximum settings. However, this is a work machine, and sometimes that distinction is still necessary, even in 2025, where the lines between work and home are more blurred than ever.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: Pricing and Availability
The Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80 is a pre-built computer from Velocity Micro. They specialize in building computers to the specifications that are best suited for certain groups of people. A middleman that helps connect great computer hardware with consumers.
This model is meant for business productivity and is spec'd out to cost nearly $7,000. If you are interested in something like this, reach out to Velocity Micro or check out their website for their builds.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: Unboxing & first impressions
The ProMagix HD80 packaging is very well done. It's packed in the box tightly to prevent damage in transit. The box is massive, and since I knew what was inside, I made sure to buddy-lift this box, rather than try to muscle it up myself and risk dropping it. Once I had everything moved to where I needed it, I opened the box and set up the items.
The case build looks fantastic, even on first glance. If you're not familiar with Velocity Micro, the brief answer is that they specialize in building custom PCs for gaming and workstations. They also offer builds like these, where they pre-select a great combination of gear to create a dream setup with a specific outcome in mind. This outcome, of course, is business productivity. One of the things that Velocity Micro is known for is its excellence, and let me tell you, taking a look at the build quality of this PC, I can agree that Velocity Micro has gone above and beyond in assembling this computer with precision, care, and intentionality.
The whole build is simplistic, but not in a cheap way. They intentionally chose to omit the RGB colorways everywhere except for the CPU cooler, as RGB is a pretty clear gaming aesthetic. To further the minimalist branding and loud design, a slight Velocity Micro badge is visible on the glass case, paying homage to the company that built this beast.
The ProMagix HD80 features a solid steel construction with mesh front and top panels, creating overall fantastic airflow for this machine. The internals of this PC feature clean routing and sleek, modular components that are easy to access, service, and upgrade in the future when needed.
The materials chosen are solid and intentionally understated. Velocity Micro understands that this is not intended for gamers; it's not designed for that purpose. It's intended for professionals.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: In use
The design for the ProMagix HD80 from Velocity Micro is intended for creative professionals, specifically those who would use software such as Adobe, CAD, Revit, Blender, and similar applications. The Intel Ultra 9 effortlessly handles any workload I throw at it, thanks to its 64GB of RAM. For large files, the 6TB of storage works great, making it easy to store even massive files on this machine.
Another thing that this machine is excellent for is coding. I was able to run large databases, huge Postman files, and large codebases without any issue. The only spot that I began to notice issues was with GPU-heavy tasks or programs. The RTX 4500 is not the most cutting-edge GPU, but considering the focus of this machine, I'm not too upset. Plus, if you wanted one of the brand-new RTX 5090, you could pop one in here without hardly any work.
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design
Sleek and minimal
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease of use
Very easy to use
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Practicality
Practical for some
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price
Highly priced
⭐⭐⭐⭐
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Velocity Micro ProMagix HD80: Final verdict
Velocity Micro's ProMagix HD80 is a beautifully crafted custom build that is ideal for professionals who need to have a machine that they know will perform even with intensive apps and programs, but it's also good to keep in mind that just becuase it's a powerful machine.
