The MSI Pro MP165 E6 is a budget portable monitor that fits the bill if you need a simple display to extend or add to your current setup.

I found it slim and lightweight, and a good way to get a bit more screen real estate without breaking the bank. The USB-C connection means you can hook it up to plenty of other devices, from laptops to games consoles.

While the specs aren't dazzling, the price certainly catches the eye, making it one of the best portable monitors for business travel.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: Price and availability

The MSI Pro MP165 E6 is an affordable portable display, retailing for $95 at Amazon.com and £90 at Amazon.co.uk.

I'm also seeing it available from other retailers, too, for around the same price. There aren't many sub-$100 portable monitors worth your money, but this is one of them.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: Unboxing and First Impressions

The MSI Pro MP165 E6 shows off its lightweight frame right out of the box. Something was missing when I was opening everything up because the entire package was so light. The packaging was minimal, with only a USB-C and HDMI cable and a protective sleeve in the box —no frills, just the basics. I appreciate that MSI chose a sleeve rather than a case/folio. It comes off easily, allowing me to plug in the monitor and set it up semi-permanently without needing to store the cover.

I have tested many portable monitors and found a wide range in quality, usability, and functionality. The MSI Pro MP165 E6 sits beautifully in the budget category, offering good value for a great price. It ticks most of the boxes in terms of functionality without knocking it out of the park in quality, but that is where the budget-friendly nature comes into play. But, more on that later.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: Design & Build Quality

Picture the top half of a budget laptop, no keyboard, just the display. Now you've pictured the MSI Pro MP165 E6. It's a simple display, with simple inputs: no battery, no heft, no fuss.

MSI did choose to add some innovative features, even for a budget item, such as VESA mounting screws, a stand, and 90-degree cables in the box. These are all really little, simple things that go the extra mile.

Even though this panel could be used for an abundance of different use cases, MSI positioned the ports at the bottom edge of the display, making them super accessible, while still allowing you to tuck cables away if and when necessary.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: In use

Given this display's nature, I have many uses for it in the professional world. I've used this in my IT professional world as a display for some desktops I was working on, so I could keep them in my tech area without needing to remote in or connect a larger display. I have also used this display to set up an Apple TV and to check a camera's output.

The monitor was used quite a bit on a VESA-mountable stand for a camera playback feature, and then moved to a custom upright piano casing. This monitor still lives in that upright piano casing, serving as a display for a Mac mini plugged in and running all the tracks for a Music Director rig. This display was great for that, as it's quickly deployable, lightweight, only needs a USB-C port, and offers standard 1080p resolution, making it larger than 4K and easier to see.

For those who are not in the niche music industry, this panel is great to throw in your backpack and take with you to board meetings to display content to those across the table from you, for productive work in a co-working space or coffee shop, or even for photographers who need a reference display to make sure their camera shot is lined up.

The USB-C connectivity makes this display super accessible to most devices made in the last few years, and if that doesn't work, there is always an HDMI too. In my testing, I found no issues between macOS and Windows, nor did I encounter any problems with Chromebooks, Apple TVs, or Nintendo Switches.

While this is a fantastic display for the price, it is in no way a tremendous display panel. It's standard 1080p, it's got mediocre brightness, and the speakers that should have just been skipped.

But, if you are looking for something to get you into portable monitors, or if you want a backup, or if you just need a basic panel to display some information, and you don't care if it's the best quality, you should check out this display, but for those who need something a bit higher-tier, check out my guide to the best portable monitors.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: Final verdict

The MSI Pro MP165 is a solid choice if you're looking to get into the world of portable monitors and don't have any specs in mind. It's a great entry point into this world, and it won't hurt the budget too badly, coming in under $100.

If you're in the market for a portable monitor, I'd recommend starting out with this one and see how you like having that second screen before you go off and spend absurd amounts of money on the more expensive ones.

For more options for your workspace set-up, we've tested the best business monitors.

The UPerfect UColor O Lite is a 13.3-inch 4K OLED portable monitor with one cable power and display, a few ports for those who may need them, and the ability to be slightly modified to make a massive difference.

I’ve reviewed plenty of the best portable monitors. I have one or two tucked away in just about every single one of my workspaces. And after testing out this particular model, it's earned a place on my tech cart where I run Systems and IT.

This display is spectacular for those niche workspaces - it's touted by UPerfect as a portable monitor for MacBooks thanks to the high resolutions and and 109% DCI-P3 color coverage. And I get that.

I will say, a 13-inch screen may not be the best for your primary display at your workstation, as it’s the same size as most smaller laptops out there, but for secondary screens or those unique spots, I found the UColor O Lite fits the bill beautifully.

UPerfect UColor O Lite: Price and availability

This monitor is usually sold for around $330 / £247 direct from UPerfect - although at the time of review, it's discounted to $280 / £209. It comes with the basic cables you need, and a little folio case that doubles as a kickstand. So, a neat all-in-package.

UPerfect UColor O Lite: Unboxing and First Impressions

Right out of the gate, this monitor shows off its thinness and portability. It’s lightweight on purpose. Its best use case is a single USB-C to your device. Simple, easy. But there is the flexibility to run a full-size HDMI to a display, or to plug in another USB-C device in a pinch.

I paired this monitor with the Rolling Square Edge Pro - although I suspect any strong mag-lock will be suitable. This little magnetic hinge has made this monitor 10x more valuable in my arsenal. Since it’s so lightweight, these magnetic brackets can hold the portable display on the side of a standard display, hanging from a door frame, mount on the side of a metal cart, mount to the side of a laptop if you want to, or just free-stand at any angle you desire. It unlocks a whole new tier of usability.

UPerfect UColor O Lite: Design & Build Quality

Like all good portable monitors, this one is thin and light. It feels like an iPad when you hold it, without Apple's premium build. However, it still feels like it’s a quality display.

Then, you turn it on and realize it’s actually a pretty solid display after all, putting out a good amount of brightness, brilliant colors and 4K resolution, all in a tiny little package. I test a lot of monitors, and I fully expected it to be average across the board. This panel proved me wrong.

It has enough ports to do what it needs to do, it crammed in a full-size, all-grown-up, standard HDMI, and it still managed to stay as small as it is. This is the panel that once you start looking, you’ll be able to find a dozen little ways you could use it.

UPerfect UColor O Lite: In use

I've been running the UColor O Lite typically plugged into a Mac mini that I use as a server. This gives me quick access to pop in, control from my phone, and see what I am doing on a bigger screen, or to use a mouse and keyboard.

When not in use, it is mounted on the cart using the previously mentioned magnets. I can pop it off with one tug and use it with my MacBook, another Mac mini, whatever laptop I am testing at the time, or with any number of other devices I may need to test and fix. When I need a little more screen real estate for a big project at my desk, I have a mounting plate on my Dell monitor, so I pop this display over there and immediately add another display to my setup. For quick meetings where I need to showcase something, I can bring this display for whoever is in the meeting.

When I am testing a Mac mini for issues, I can plug right in; the same goes for old laptops, old servers, and Apple TVs. My creative team can even pull this display if needed as a camera output for a photo shoot, or I could use it for digital signage in a pinch. It’s the perfect little display to have on hand for so many things if you’re in that kind of work.

So, it's had a pretty thorough work-out for a portable monitor. I’ve used this display for over 100 days, and I have had absolutely zero issues with it. No qualms, no disappointments. For those who need a little display for anything, this is it.

During this 100+ day stretch, I’ve pushed this display with Mac, Windows, iPads, Cameras, Servers, AppleTV, Switch, iPhone, a PlayStation, an XBOX, and a Nex Playground system. I even used this display for a quick test to make sure that my Eufy POE NVR camera system I was installing for a client was working before tucking the brain away.

In short, if you are the kind of person who does a lot, works in tech, may use a portable display, or just have a lot of gadgets around you or in your life, then you should check out this portable monitor. Don’t just think of it as a portable monitor; think of it as a 13-inch Swiss Army Knife that can do just about anything you may need it to do.

For those who are working out of a backpack, have a lot of portable meetings, work from a coffee shop or maybe just not a dedicated office, this can add to the power of an office in a backpack

UPerfect UColor O Lite: Final verdict

The UColor O Lite 13-inch display is a spectacular little device that can truly do just about anything you may need a display output for. It’s got a great panel, a beautiful OLED, with a wide color coverage and a high resolution (even if you don't really need 4K on a screen this small).

Beyond the great display, I really liked the hyper-portability. It's thin, light, and perfect for business travel or carrying around the office - which is how I use it. And yes, the screen may be too small for some users, but there are plenty of 15- and 16-inch portable displays out there. At the 13-inch mark, this is one of the best.

For more options, we've tested the best business monitors.

The Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 is a unique power station in my army of different options.

It's got a sleek, perhaps even beautiful style - a design that separates it from the best portable power stations I've tested. It proved reliable during my time using it, I appreciated the 1.5kWh capacity And I like the port selection here.

However, what really lets it down is the app. It's difficult to navigate, and I'm hoping that a future update will sort out the issues I experienced, because beyond that, there's a lot to like about this power station.

Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: Price and availability

The Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 is available for $ 1549 on their website; however, at the time of writing, it is on sale for $1199. It's also available on Amazon.com, with the base model costing $1299, but also variants bundled with solar panels or the cart.

For those who want the whole experience, make sure you pick up the portable solar panel and IQ Cart as well. While not vital, both add an extra little bit to the PowerPack 1500.

Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: Unboxing and First Impressions

I've unboxed a lot of power stations. This one was the first to have the box-opening stand out. In a pleasing Apple-esque fashion, the boxes open up, lifting the front panel almost like a Tesla Model X gullwing door. Once open, I can grab out the power station, cables, and documentation, lifting easily out of the front and top of the box rather than just the top.

Upon my first inspection, this unit appears to follow Apple's design language. It has rounded edges, handles that look like Apple could have designed them, a simple yet functional front screen, and functional port covers that can be popped off when helpful.

The box includes the unit, some power cables, and basic documentation. Grabbing the app, installing, and connecting was easy too. After the initial setup, I found the app pretty clunky, but more on that later.

Right off the bat, this power station looked well-equipped to handle what I may throw at it. The interface is a touchscreen, which is unique for the power stations I usually work with, which use a button-first design. Further, the port coverings, handle, and build quality make this feel like a professional-grade power station, not just something you'd bring with you on a camping trip for a few nights of phone charging.

One more nice touch is that this unit has a proximity sensor, so when you get close, a faint light comes on. Small, but it's a nice touch that adds to this unit's premium feel.

Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: Design & Build Quality

The IQ PowerPack 1500 is rugged, yet refined. It's built for indoor or outdoor use, and functions well in both environments, though I wouldn't want to keep this out in the rain or freezing weather. The handles are comfortable and make transporting significantly easier.

But, if you want an even easier time toting this hefty piece of kit around, Enphase has an optional cart accessory that the IQ PowerPack 1500 clips into. Sadly, there are no stacking units, but the cart is nice if you are older, have a bad back, don't want to tote it around in your hands, or enjoy an easy way to carry it.

One more thing I will mention about the design is that, in a moment of curiosity getting the better of me, the power port covers pop off super easily and pop back on just as easily. I don't know if this is a feature or just a happy accident, but if you have ports you don't want covered, popping off the rubber flip-down covers is super easy.

Lastly, for those who do plan to run the IQ PowerPack 1500 on a job site, as a battery backup, or in a place they are not going to be, the IQ PowerPack 1500 has both LTE and Wi-Fi, allowing you to stay connected even when you're away.

Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: In use

I have had this in my arsenal of portable power solutions for 104 days now, and in that time, I have gotten several opportunities to get quite a bit out of it. I used this to run a leaf mulcher in my yard for several hours at a time, recharge my drills, test Christmas lights, charge up some review gear, and more.

For the leaf mulcher, I was able to get 5 hours of mulching without going below 50% of my battery, if I remember correctly. I placed the power station in a good central spot and then went to town, mulching as much as I could reach.

For a few months, while I was handling some installation jobs for my business, I kept the Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 in the back of my Jeep. I used it to recharge my drills, my Hoto Electric Screwdrivers, some lights I was using on the job, and I even used it to test power to some gear before installing it in a hard-to-reach area.

Using the physical unit itself is a great experience. No complaints. The UI is easy, the buttons are sleek. The touchscreen is responsive, and the whole experience makes sense.

The software side of things, on the other hand, is where my frustration kicks in. The software, in my experience is lacking considerably. It's clunky, has only one particular use in mind, not the general pro-user, and it works, but in an odd way.

While the Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 is so much more, keep in mind it can also serve as a UPS, providing reliable power to essential devices if the power goes out.

Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: Final verdict

All in all, the Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 is a beautiful unit that is severly hamstringed by it's software, though the software is what can be modified with a simple push update in the future. This power station has LTE, Wi-Fi, fast charging, LFP Cells and a great build, making it a spectacular pro-level option for those who need power on a job site, or somewhere that is not with them at all times.

The Blacklyte Atlas Lite is a heavy-duty yet straightforward desk with solid adjustability, bold branding, and the ability to transition seamlessly between work and play. The instructions are easy to follow for setting this desk up, the controls are easy to learn, and the desk motors are very quiet.

Blacklyte is well known in the gaming world, but then started making some professional desks as well, or at minimum, desks that gamers could also use for professional desks. The Atlas Lite is a good example of that. It still has some gamer vibes, but is also very much a professional desk, transforming your gamer central to a business professional workspace for your day job as well.

Ignore that branding on the desktop - if you can. If you prefer a more stylish design over the standard metal frame and wood-colored desk, and demand a truly useful cable tray (often lacking on similar models), it's one of the best standing desks I've used for work and play.

Blacklyte Atlas Lite: Pricing and Availability

The Blacklyte Atlas Lite is usually sold for around $700 but is currently on sale for $569 from the official US site and UK site (for £439) at the time of review. It's also available from a handful of other retailers, but availability seems sporadic right now.

There are a handful of sizing and color options. I chose Obsidian Black, but Moonstone White looks gorgeous too. The natural oak to me was a third option, but it didn’t look nearly as good as the Obsidian or Moonstone to me.

Blacklyte Atlas Lite: Unboxing and First Impressions

The Blacklyte Atlas Lite shipped in two boxes, as most standing desks do: the desktop for one and the legs and building materials in the other. These pieces were pretty well tucked into the box with packaging. One thing I couldn’t help but think about while unboxing was that the boxes were super deep black. I had a moment of worry about ink transfer or it rubbing off on my carpet or walls, but that worry quickly dissipated.

A lot of desks are the same main idea for assembly, but most people don't build a plethora of desks; some may build only one ever. So, it’s nice to see Blacklyte including a QR code to a YouTube assembly video for those who are more visual learners, are not familiar with assembling a desk, or perhaps run into issues with assembly.

If you have experience building desks, though, the entire process should be an absolute dream. The bags of screws are labeled, the instructions are actually helpful, and the parts are easy to get together. All in all, this shouldn’t take you more than 30 minutes to assemble from boxes in your living room, office, or wherever you open large boxes into a fully assembled desk.

Blacklyte Atlas Lite: Design & Build Quality

The Blacklyte Atlas Lite feels heavy-duty. I’ve tested a lot of desks. Some feel flimsy but look pretty; some are all-around bad; some are a whole art piece. The Blacklyte Atlas Lite sits in the middle. It’s a functional piece that feels like a real workhorse with a bit more style than most.

The desktop itself is a bit textured, but it feels nice even for long periods of use and work sessions. I also like it as it doesn’t feel like I need to baby the desktop. Granted, I don't plan on beating it up anytime soon, but it’s nice to know that I can use this desk without worry of a scratch from moving something across the desktop.

Another thing worth mentioning in the design is the cable management. The rear notch allows for easy cable drops, especially if you have the back of your desk up against a wall in your workspace, or even to keep things clean, so your cables aren’t draping over the edge of the desk. I also like the built-in cable management tray. While this one isn't a grid or mounting plate like some, the tray is a welcome addition.

Blacklyte Atlas Lite: In use

I've got this desk set up for a simple laptop, podcast, or meeting setup for some of my team. While I haven't added a monitor, there is plenty of room for one here alongside a laptop, with room to spread out your tablet, notes, diagrams, or whatever else you may need.

Switching between sitting and standing is rarely timed for me; I usually work, and when my knees start aching, or I get antsy, I'll jump up to stand. For the desks that don't have presets, that takes switching focus to choose where I want the height, then adjusting ever so slightly because it's slightly off, and so on. For desks with presets, such as this one, it's so much easier. Once I decide whether to stand or sit, I can press the corresponding preset button and get to work. And it works flawlessly here.

Another thing that makes switching between sit and stand more enjoyable is that it's smooth and relatively quiet. I don't hear clicking, knocking, creaking, or anything else. Just smooth up and down.

Perhaps that's Blacklyte perfecting the art of quiet motors, especially for their gamer crowd, or maybe that's something else. Still, regardless, the Atlas Lite is noticeably quiet (or is that un-noticeably quiet?).

Blacklyte Atlas Lite: Final verdict

This desk is for those who want a gaming vibe and a desk they enjoy, while still looking professional enough for work, before a night of gaming, or for those who want a simple, high-quality standing desk that lifts and lowers smoothly.

Maybe standing desks have become too complex, maybe not, but either way, the Atlas Lite is a solid option for most people. It's solid, quiet, has good lifting capacity, is durable, and offers enough space and options for most users.

For more workspace essentials, we've tested the best office chairs.

Checkr is a next-generation background-check platform that accelerates and simplifies hiring through automation and advanced data analysis. It draws from thousands of official databases, including county courts, criminal registries, and motor vehicle departments, to produce timely, accurate reports.

Using artificial intelligence, Checkr standardizes diverse legal terms and classifications, helping hiring teams interpret results quickly and consistently.

The service has become particularly popular among companies handling high hiring volumes, such as gig platforms, retail chains, staffing agencies, and tech firms, thanks to its real-time data retrieval, API-driven integrations, and intuitive dashboards.

Checkr: Plans and pricing

Checkr structures its pricing into tiered packages that scale with organizational needs:

• Basic+ Plan ($29.99 per check): Includes SSN trace, sex offender search, national criminal database screening, and global watchlist monitoring. County verifications, when necessary, add roughly $15 per record.
• Essential Plan ($54.99 per check): Expands on Basic+ by adding searches for all counties tied to a candidate's past seven years of residence.
• Professional Plan ($79.99 per check): Adds employment and education verification to the Essential Plan to provide more complete candidate profiles.

International background checks cost $32 to $124 per report, and add-ons, such as motor vehicle record (MVR) checks or employment verifications, range from $6 to $40. Organizations conducting 300+ checks annually typically qualify for volume discounts.

This transparent, mix-and-match pricing model helps businesses tailor their screening programs to job types while controlling costs.

Checkr: Features

Checkr stands out for its extensive automation and advanced data-handling capabilities:

• AI-powered charge classification: Automatically interprets and standardizes criminal charges from multiple jurisdictions, translating complex terminology into consistent, easy-to-read summaries.
• Extensive data coverage: Accesses county criminal courts, sex offender registries, global watchlists, and other verified government sources for comprehensive results.
• Integration ecosystem: Connects with over 100 HR platforms and applicant tracking systems (ATS), streamlining the hiring pipeline.
• Automated candidate communication: Sends real-time notifications--including check initiation, progress updates, results, and adverse action letters--to both employers and candidates.
• Bulk and batch tools: Ideal for high-volume hiring, allowing employers to process multiple candidates simultaneously and trigger workflows at scale.

Checkr's speed, often delivering results within one or two business days, remains a primary selling point for companies that can't afford delays in staffing or onboarding.

Checkr: Setup

The onboarding process is straightforward. After signing up, administrators can invite team members, configure access controls, and connect Checkr to their HR systems through prebuilt integrations or APIs.

Organizations can choose which screening packages to apply to specific job roles, set compliance notifications, and automate report delivery. For candidates, setup requires little more than completing a brief authorization form and submitting personal details through a secure online portal.

Checkr: Ease of use

Checkr's web dashboard emphasizes visual clarity and efficiency. Reports are organized into collapsible panels covering criminal searches, employment history, and motor vehicle records. Color-coded highlights signal pending charges, clear results, or items needing review.

Because of its automation-first design, HR teams can handle large batches of background checks with minimal manual input. Candidates also benefit from transparency: they can track progress, upload documents, or dispute errors through a 24/7 self-service portal.

That said, customer support primarily operates via a ticket-based system, which can delay responses during peak periods--an area where some competing services still outperform Checkr.

Checkr: Security and privacy

Checkr employs enterprise-grade security measures, including encryption in transit and at rest, strict data access controls, and continuous system monitoring.

The company complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable, ensuring candidates' data is handled lawfully and privately.

Candidates must provide explicit consent before a background check begins, and all adverse action notices are automatically sent to maintain compliance with federal and state laws. Checkr also allows users to dispute information directly through the candidate portal, providing added transparency.

Checkr: The competition

Checkr's closest competitors include GoodHire, Sterling, and HireRight, all of which offer employment background screening with varying emphases on compliance, support, and global coverage.

Checkr stands out for its automation, real-time data network, and speed, making it especially strong for high-volume, tech-forward employers that care about quick turnaround and HRIS/ATS integrations.

Compared with GoodHire, Checkr offers similar per-check pricing tiers and overlapping core checks. Still, GoodHire offers robust U.S.-based phone and email support and a very low reported error rate, which may appeal to smaller businesses that prefer more hand-holding.

GoodHire also supports very low-volume, pay-per-check use and historically charges a one-time setup fee. At the same time, Checkr leans toward scalable, API-driven workflows with no prominent setup fees, making it better suited to companies that expect frequent or bulk screenings.

When stacked against Sterling, Checkr takes the lead in automation and speed, with a higher percentage of criminal checks completed within an hour and more steps handled without manual review.

Sterling, on the other hand, offers a long-established, compliance-heavy product set, including drug testing, I-9, and specialized packages, making it more attractive to large enterprises or regulated industries that need deeper policy support and more customized verification programs.

Checkr's self-service package customization from the dashboard is generally more straightforward. In contrast, Sterling often routes customization through account managers, which can be helpful for complex but slower for fast-moving teams.

Versus HireRight, Checkr typically delivers faster turnaround times and a higher "hit rate" for specific criminal searches due to its AI-driven data-matching engine and more automated workflows.

HireRight is stronger for organizations with extensive global hiring, offering mature international coverage and compliance tools. Still, it may involve slower processing and more traditional, enterprise-style onboarding and support, which can feel heavier for smaller or more agile businesses.

In practice, Checkr tends to be the better fit for gig platforms, tech companies, and staffing firms prioritizing speed and modern UX. At the same time, HireRight is often chosen by large, globally distributed enterprises that value broad jurisdictional coverage and long-standing compliance expertise.

Checkr: Final verdict

Checkr brings innovation and efficiency to background screening, emphasizing automation, speed, and integration. Its AI classification tools, real-time data retrieval, and candidate transparency make it a forward-looking choice for companies scaling their hiring operations.

Despite its limited human-support options and less robust compliance in highly regulated fields, Checkr remains one of the most compelling solutions for fast-moving organizations that prioritize digital workflows.

For gig employers, startups, and HR teams seeking speed and scalability without sacrificing accuracy, Checkr strikes a smart balance between cost, functionality, and user experience.

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: 30-second review

The Alldocube IWork GT Ultra is a 2-in-1 Windows tablet designed to deliver a blend of portability, performance, and versatility for both professional and personal use. At its core, the device is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, which features a hybrid architecture with 4 performance cores, 8 efficient cores, and 2 low-power efficient cores, totalling 18 threads. This configuration ensures robust multitasking capabilities and efficient power consumption, making it suitable for demanding productivity tasks as well as everyday computing.

Equipped with 16GB of LPDDR5 memory and a useful 1TB PCIe SSD, this device provides ample storage and swift data access. The GPU in this CPU generation is the integrated Intel Arc Graphics, making it suitable for creative work, media consumption, and light gaming.

In terms of connectivity, the IWork GT Ultra is well-optioned with one USB 3.0 Type-A port, two USB 3.1 Type-C ports (supporting charging) and a 5-pin magnetic PogoPin keyboard interface. Wireless connectivity is provided by Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6, ensuring fast and reliable network access.

The device features a robust magnesium-aluminium alloy chassis, weighing only 850g and less than 1cm in thickness. This makes it highly portable without compromising on durability. The battery is rated at 42.72Wh, supporting Type-C PD100W fast charging for extended use on the go.

Additional features include dual digital microphones, dual speakers, front and rear 5MP cameras (the rear with autofocus), and essential sensors such as a gravity sensor and Hall effect sensor. The IWork GT Ultra ships with Windows 11 Home, though it could run Windows 11 Pro or Linux, easily.

While Alldocube isn’t a familiar brand, the hardware is professionally designed and assembled, and as this is a recent Intel platform, it should be fully compatible with Windows and its apps.

The only technical caveat to this machine, and something I cover later in the review, is how long it lasts on battery, which is a little disappointing. That’s the one thing stopping the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra from being one of our choices for best business laptops.

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From £700, €800
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Amazon in most European countries

Often, 2-in-1 laptops are initially available only in the USA and maybe China before becoming more widely available. But this one is available via the global website for Europe via Amazon in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

You can buy this machine in Europe, and I did notice that ordering it from the German Amazon, it was possible to set my address in the UK, so it's probably purchasable in any part of Europe. The UK cost is £703.50, and the EU cost is €799.99.

While Alldocube does have a store as part of the US Amazon.com, this machine isn’t on that currently. I suspect that tariffs have impacted the potential pathway for this product to come to the USA.

And, Alldocube has regional websites for China, Russia and South Korea. I should mention that Intel customers aren’t supposed to ship systems containing Intel processors to Russia, at this time. Together with AMD, they have been litigated against in Texas for “willful ignorance” that allowed US semiconductors into Russian and Iranian weapons.

For a machine with this specification, the price is extremely aggressive, and you would be lucky to find a branded system with this capability for less than £1000.

• Value: 4/ 5

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Specs

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Design

• Elegant engineering
• Noisey fan
• Zero upgrades

I recall when various pieces of classic Apple hardware were launched, and fans of that brand declared that only that company could make and design that level of quality. Except Apple didn’t make those items, and the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra is a decent example of how Chinese factories can turn out things just as well-crafted as anything with a fruit logo on it when the need arises.

While not quite the absolute best quality, the IWork GT Ultra is a beautifully engineered 2-in-1 system which can operate as a 13-inch tablet or with its flexible keyboard cover, a laptop.

The only caveat is that, like the original Microsoft Surface machines, the flexible keyboard makes it practically impossible to type with it balanced on your lap, irrespective of what rabid Microsoft marketing people insist.

This machine apes the Surface considerably, except it doesn’t try to oversell its capabilities, and it's significantly cheaper. For those interested in a comparable Surface, the Surface Pro 10 for Business does have the series 2 Core Ultra processor and Thunderbolt ports, but you will be spending more than double the cost of the iWork GT Ultra, and that’s for a machine with only 256GB of storage.

One of the evident changes of this design for Alldocube’s engineers was heat dissipation, because on the top and side of the tablet are vents, and it does get warm in use and while charging. Under duress, the fan can also be on the noisy side.

The one edge without vents is the bottom, where the flexible keyboard attaches. I’ve had plenty of 2-in-1 systems where the keyboard will detach at the slightest encouragement, but this design with two engaging lugs stays put neatly.

The keyboard is USB, and the pogo pins along that interface connect it effectively when the two are brought together.

Connectivity on this tablet design is predictably limited, with only three USB ports and no HDMI out or LAN ports. Two of the ports are USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C, and the other USB-A port is Gen 1. It would have been nice to have had USB4, but given the price point, I’m not surprised that wasn’t included.

With Gen 2 ports, you can add LAN and HDMI out, but note that one of these ports is required for charging.

The big disappointment, which isn’t uncommon in tablet designs, is that there’s no obvious way to get inside this system, which rules out any memory or storage upgrades. I suspect that the memory is soldered, but a removable panel to get to the M.2 module would have been helpful. Therefore, the maximum memory this system will ever have is 16GB, and should the 1TB storage fail, the system is junk, unless you are a ninja with a spudger.

While I can’t directly confirm the maker of the SDD, or how the drive is connected, so trying to open it to replace that module would be an act of desperation.

• Design: 4 / 5

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Hardware

• Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
• Intel Arc Graphics
• 28 PCIe Lanes

This machine uses the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, from the first generation of Core Ultra models that were released in December 2023.

The thinking behind these chips was to make Intel king of power efficiency, while not bothering so much about performance. And they succeeded in dramatically improving laptop battery life, but they were technically slower than the Intel 13th Gen silicon they replaced. Since then, these Meteor Lake designs have been superseded by the second generation, where Intel tried to rebalance the performance and efficiency equation.

In the Core Ultra 5 125H design, there are only four performance cores, and only those cores support hyperthreading. The other Efficient-cores (8) and Low Power Efficient-cores (2) do not have hyperthreading, giving a total of 18 potential threads. Many demanding applications ignore the Efficient-cores, since getting threads to sync and not waiting for slower cores is inherently inefficient.

One good thing about this platform is that it has Arc Graphics, a reworking of the Xe architecture from its Iris Xe era. This implementation of Arc Graphics has seven Xe cores and can deliver 10 TOPS (int8) performance for AI processing. This isn’t very different from what the replacement Core Ultra 5 135H offers, since the Arc in that chip only adds an extra Xe core to make 8, and increases the execution units from 112 to 128, TMUs from 56 to 64 and ROPs from 24 to 32.

For typical office graphics requirements, the Arc Graphics in the Core Ultra 5 125H is more than adequate, unless you are trying to use dedicated CAD or develop AI models.

The best aspect of the Core Ultra 5 125H is its 28 PCIe lanes, but unfortunately, in this system, more of those lanes go unused. All of the USB probably uses less than a couple of PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and the storage uses a maximum of four lanes. Even with WiFi and Bluetooth, probably twenty of these lanes never see any traffic.

This is why the Core Ultra 5 125H has been popular in Mini PC designs, since those can use the lanes for Thunderbolt and multiple storage devices, but here they’re largely superfluous.

Another strong aspect of this hardware is the display, which isn’t something I’d usually call out on a low-cost solution.

This 13-inch IPS panel has a natural resolution of 2560×1600 and a brightness of 500 cd/㎡m², which is probably the highest resolution you might practically want in a screen of this size.

Its colour accuracy isn’t amazing, so I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone working with exacting hues, but it's bright, and the 10-point touch sensor is configured for a 4096-level USI pressure-sensitive pen. There wasn’t a pen in my review model, but I have noticed that some of the retailers selling them do include this item.

Overall, the specification of the IWork GT Ultra is better than the price might suggest, although some of the better aspects, like the PCIe lanes, are largely moot.

• Hardware: 4 / 5

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Performance

It was difficult to find another laptop in my data collection that used a similar platform, so I chose to offer the Asus Expertbook, a machine that uses a more recent Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor. However, the Asus hardware is significantly more expensive.

What’s interesting is that the Asus Expertbook was clearly calibrated for the best possible battery life, whereas the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra was oriented more to raw performance.

A significant change that Intel executed between the Core Ultra 5 125H and Intel Core Ultra 5 226V was that the latter chip has no hyperthreading at all, reducing the thread count to eight, four each from the performance and efficiency cores.

The end result is that the Core Ultra 5 226V performs well at single-thread operations and better in multithreading, but it doesn’t push its Arc Graphics GPU as hard.

But the parts of this data that tell the most revealing story are those to do with power consumption, and that’s not good news for the IWork GT Ultra. Admittedly, the iWork GT Ultra has less battery, just 42.72 Whr, but the running time of the expert book is almost three times as long, with only 50 Whr.

Therefore, if you can’t guarantee a place to recharge during a working day, then the Expertbook is a much better proposition. The recharging of the expert book was also slower than it might have been, recovering just 24% of capacity in 30 minutes.

In short, the IWork GT Ultra is fine for the short sprint, but not ideal for the long haul.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Final verdict

If it weren’t for the lacklustre battery life, this would be a system I’d strongly recommend. The need to carry a power pack or the PSU with you undermines the ultra-lightweight profile of this machine.

That one rather critical point aside, this is an excellent piece of equipment if an Intel Series 1 processor, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage work for your use.

The inspiration for the IWork GT Ultra is obviously the Microsoft Surface, and it does a decent job of offering a workable solution if you like that concept.

I do hope that Alldocube now makes an Intel Core Ultra Series 2 or modern AMD Ryzen version, and brings the power efficiency that is the Achilles heel of this device.

Should you buy a Alldocube IWork GT Ultra?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

For more productivity machines, we reviewed the best laptops for work and gaming and the best laptops for working from home.

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: 30-second review

The Alldocube IWork GT Ultra is a 2-in-1 Windows tablet designed to deliver a blend of portability, performance, and versatility for both professional and personal use. At its core, the device is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, which features a hybrid architecture with 4 performance cores, 8 efficient cores, and 2 low-power efficient cores, totalling 18 threads. This configuration ensures robust multitasking capabilities and efficient power consumption, making it suitable for demanding productivity tasks as well as everyday computing.

Equipped with 16GB of LPDDR5 memory and a useful 1TB PCIe SSD, this device provides ample storage and swift data access. The GPU in this CPU generation is the integrated Intel Arc Graphics, making it suitable for creative work, media consumption, and light gaming.

In terms of connectivity, the IWork GT Ultra is well-optioned with one USB 3.0 Type-A port, two USB 3.1 Type-C ports (supporting charging) and a 5-pin magnetic PogoPin keyboard interface. Wireless connectivity is provided by Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6, ensuring fast and reliable network access.

The device features a robust magnesium-aluminium alloy chassis, weighing only 850g and less than 1cm in thickness. This makes it highly portable without compromising on durability. The battery is rated at 42.72Wh, supporting Type-C PD100W fast charging for extended use on the go.

Additional features include dual digital microphones, dual speakers, front and rear 5MP cameras (the rear with autofocus), and essential sensors such as a gravity sensor and Hall effect sensor. The IWork GT Ultra ships with Windows 11 Home, though it could run Windows 11 Pro or Linux, easily.

While Alldocube isn’t a familiar brand, the hardware is professionally designed and assembled, and as this is a recent Intel platform, it should be fully compatible with Windows and its apps.

The only technical caveat to this machine, and something I cover later in the review, is how long it lasts on battery, which is a little disappointing. That’s the one thing stopping the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra from being one of our choices for best business laptops.

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From £700, €800
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Amazon in most European countries

At the time of review, you can get this from the official Alldocube website - click the 'Buy' button and it'll show links to a host of European Amazon sites, including Amazon.de.

I did notice that ordering it from the German Amazon, it was possible to set my address in the UK, so it's probably purchasable in any part of Europe. The UK cost is £703.50, and the EU cost is €799.99.

While Alldocube does have a store as part of the US Amazon.com, this machine isn’t on that currently. I suspect that tariffs have impacted the potential pathway for this product to come to the USA.

And, Alldocube has regional websites for China, Russia and South Korea. I should mention that Intel customers aren’t supposed to ship systems containing Intel processors to Russia, at this time. Together with AMD, they have been litigated against in Texas for “wilful ignorance” that allowed US semiconductors into Russian and Iranian weapons.

For a machine with this specification, the price is extremely aggressive, and you would be lucky to find a branded system with this capability for less than £1000.

• Value: 4/ 5

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Specs

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Design

• Elegant engineering
• Noisey fan
• Zero upgrades

I recall when various pieces of classic Apple hardware were launched, and fans of that brand declared that only that company could make and design that level of quality. Except Apple didn’t make those items, and the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra is a decent example of how Chinese factories can turn out things just as well-crafted as anything with a fruit logo on it when the need arises.

While not quite the absolute best quality, the IWork GT Ultra is a beautifully engineered 2-in-1 system which can operate as a 13-inch tablet or with its flexible keyboard cover, a laptop.

The only caveat is that, like the original Microsoft Surface machines, the flexible keyboard makes it practically impossible to type with it balanced on your lap, irrespective of what rabid Microsoft marketing people insist.

This machine apes the Surface considerably, except it doesn’t try to oversell its capabilities, and it's significantly cheaper. For those interested in a comparable Surface, the Surface Pro 10 for Business does have the series 2 Core Ultra processor and Thunderbolt ports, but you will be spending more than double the cost of the iWork GT Ultra, and that’s for a machine with only 256GB of storage.

One of the evident changes of this design for Alldocube’s engineers was heat dissipation, because on the top and side of the tablet are vents, and it does get warm in use and while charging. Under duress, the fan can also be on the noisy side.

The one edge without vents is the bottom, where the flexible keyboard attaches. I’ve had plenty of 2-in-1 systems where the keyboard will detach at the slightest encouragement, but this design with two engaging lugs stays put neatly.

The keyboard is USB, and the pogo pins along that interface connect it effectively when the two are brought together.

Connectivity on this tablet design is predictably limited, with only three USB ports and no HDMI out or LAN ports. Two of the ports are USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C, and the other USB-A port is Gen 1. It would have been nice to have had USB4, but given the price point, I’m not surprised that wasn’t included.

With Gen 2 ports, you can add LAN and HDMI out, but note that one of these ports is required for charging.

The big disappointment, which isn’t uncommon in tablet designs, is that there’s no obvious way to get inside this system, which rules out any memory or storage upgrades. I suspect that the memory is soldered, but a removable panel to get to the M.2 module would have been helpful. Therefore, the maximum memory this system will ever have is 16GB, and should the 1TB storage fail, the system is junk, unless you are a ninja with a spudger.

While I can’t directly confirm the maker of the SDD, or how the drive is connected, so trying to open it to replace that module would be an act of desperation.

• Design: 4 / 5

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Hardware

• Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
• Intel Arc Graphics
• 28 PCIe Lanes

This machine uses the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, from the first generation of Core Ultra models that were released in December 2023.

The thinking behind these chips was to make Intel king of power efficiency, while not bothering so much about performance. And they succeeded in dramatically improving laptop battery life, but they were technically slower than the Intel 13th Gen silicon they replaced. Since then, these Meteor Lake designs have been superseded by the second generation, where Intel tried to rebalance the performance and efficiency equation.

In the Core Ultra 5 125H design, there are only four performance cores, and only those cores support hyperthreading. The other Efficient-cores (8) and Low Power Efficient-cores (2) do not have hyperthreading, giving a total of 18 potential threads. Many demanding applications ignore the Efficient-cores, since getting threads to sync and not waiting for slower cores is inherently inefficient.

One good thing about this platform is that it has Arc Graphics, a reworking of the Xe architecture from its Iris Xe era. This implementation of Arc Graphics has seven Xe cores and can deliver 10 TOPS (int8) performance for AI processing. This isn’t very different from what the replacement Core Ultra 5 135H offers, since the Arc in that chip only adds an extra Xe core to make 8, and increases the execution units from 112 to 128, TMUs from 56 to 64 and ROPs from 24 to 32.

For typical office graphics requirements, the Arc Graphics in the Core Ultra 5 125H is more than adequate, unless you are trying to use dedicated CAD or develop AI models.

The best aspect of the Core Ultra 5 125H is its 28 PCIe lanes, but unfortunately, in this system, more of those lanes go unused. All of the USB probably uses less than a couple of PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and the storage uses a maximum of four lanes. Even with WiFi and Bluetooth, probably twenty of these lanes never see any traffic.

This is why the Core Ultra 5 125H has been popular in Mini PC designs, since those can use the lanes for Thunderbolt and multiple storage devices, but here they’re largely superfluous.

Another strong aspect of this hardware is the display, which isn’t something I’d usually call out on a low-cost solution.

This 13-inch IPS panel has a natural resolution of 2560×1600 and a brightness of 500 cd/㎡m², which is probably the highest resolution you might practically want in a screen of this size.

Its colour accuracy isn’t amazing, so I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone working with exacting hues, but it's bright, and the 10-point touch sensor is configured for a 4096-level USI pressure-sensitive pen. There wasn’t a pen in my review model, but I have noticed that some of the retailers selling them do include this item.

Overall, the specification of the IWork GT Ultra is better than the price might suggest, although some of the better aspects, like the PCIe lanes, are largely moot.

• Hardware: 4 / 5

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Performance

It was difficult to find another laptop in my data collection that used a similar platform, so I chose to offer the Asus Expertbook, a machine that uses a more recent Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor. However, the Asus hardware is significantly more expensive.

What’s interesting is that the Asus Expertbook was clearly calibrated for the best possible battery life, whereas the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra was oriented more to raw performance.

A significant change that Intel executed between the Core Ultra 5 125H and Intel Core Ultra 5 226V was that the latter chip has no hyperthreading at all, reducing the thread count to eight, four each from the performance and efficiency cores.

The end result is that the Core Ultra 5 226V performs well at single-thread operations and better in multithreading, but it doesn’t push its Arc Graphics GPU as hard.

But the parts of this data that tell the most revealing story are those to do with power consumption, and that’s not good news for the IWork GT Ultra. Admittedly, the iWork GT Ultra has less battery, just 42.72 Whr, but the running time of the expert book is almost three times as long, with only 50 Whr.

Therefore, if you can’t guarantee a place to recharge during a working day, then the Expertbook is a much better proposition. The recharging of the expert book was also slower than it might have been, recovering just 24% of capacity in 30 minutes.

In short, the IWork GT Ultra is fine for the short sprint, but not ideal for the long haul.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Final verdict

If it weren’t for the lacklustre battery life, this would be a system I’d strongly recommend. The need to carry a power pack or the PSU with you undermines the ultra-lightweight profile of this machine.

That one rather critical point aside, this is an excellent piece of equipment if an Intel Series 1 processor, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage work for your use.

The inspiration for the IWork GT Ultra is obviously the Microsoft Surface, and it does a decent job of offering a workable solution if you like that concept.

I do hope that Alldocube now makes an Intel Core Ultra Series 2 or modern AMD Ryzen version, and brings the power efficiency that is the Achilles heel of this device.

Should you buy a Alldocube IWork GT Ultra?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

For more productivity machines, we reviewed the best laptops for work and gaming and the best laptops for working from home.