Reviews

AUSU is a popular brand famed for manufacturing high-end, affordable laptops. The company has a number of laptop series, such as TUF, ROG, VivoBook and ZenBook. Each one of these series serves a particular purpose and caters to the specific needs of users. The VivoBook line is known for keeping the perfect balance between performance, productivity and pricing. ASUS VivoBook X512FA is a relatively latest and high-end addition to this line.

The VivoBook X512FA is large yet smart laptop for those who need a good computing machine. The laptop features an aesthetic design with updated Ergolift hinges, a powerful CPU and 15.6-inch large display. It also comes with a relatively smaller 14-inch variant featuring almost the same specs.

We have reviewed the VivoBook X512FA-EJ1503T for its design, functionality and performance. In this article, you are about to find out the strengths and weakness of this 15″ budget laptop.

Specs Sheet

Processor: Intel Quad-Core i7-10510U (10th Gen.) / 1.8GHz Max. Turbo Speed 4.9GHz

RAM: 8GB RAM + 32GB Intel Optane Memory

Storage: 512GB SSD

Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Resolution

Graphics: Intel UHD Integrated

Battery: 37Wh

Weight: around 3.85 lbs (1.75 kg)

Operating System: Windows 10 Home

SKU: X512FA-EJ1503T

On paper, the X512FA has got everything that you would expect in a VivoBook. Let’s find out whether it can handle the load and offers what ASUS claims.

Design

ASUS VivoBook X512FA is a sleek notebook, but it doesn’t carry anything fancy. Its chassis and lid is made of plastic which is durable. However, we found some flex in its keyboard deck and display. The base of the laptop is firm and we found it convenient even on a slightly uneven surface.

It is not a fingerprint magnet, thanks to the smooth matte finish on both top and bottom panels. The laptop features a classic ASUS Ergolift hinge design that lifts the main-body when you open the lid.

Display

The VivoBook X512FA comes with frameless four-sided 15.6-inch wide FHD NanoEdge display. With an amazing 88% screen-to-body ratio, the laptop boasts an ultra-slim 5.7mm bezel. The frameless display not only keeps the dimensions down to a minimum but also offer a smaller footprint than previous models.

Thanks to the Intel UHG graphics, the display offers crisp and clear output. It provides supremely immersive visual experience with lively bright colours.

Keyboard

The X512FA has an aesthetically pleasant keyboard that adds a seamless feel. It is a chiclet style keyboard with the same colour accent that we have seen on its predecessors. The keys have appropriate spacing and depth, but we assume their colour might fade with time.

Coming to the touchpad, which features the same colour treatment like the keyboard. It is a responsive touchpad that follow the commands perfectly. In addition, ASUS has introduced the fingerprint scanner on the top right corner of the trackpad. This is a security feature that works well with the ‘Windows Hello’ feature.

Connectivity

As a business laptop, ASUS VivoBook X512FA comes with a sufficient collection of ports. It features a Type-A USB, a Type-C USB along with an HDMI port, a microSd card reader, a 3.5mm audio jack and a charging port on the right side. On the left side, the laptop houses two more Type-A USB ports. However, the Type-C USB doesn’t support Thunderbolt 3 which might be an issue for some users.

Performance

Performance and specs are the best part of the VivoBook X512FA. ASUS has armed it with a 10th generation Core i7 processor that offers a base clock speed of 1.8GHz. This is a quad-core processor that runs on the Windows 10 Home OS and can deliver a maximum turbo speed of 4.9GHz.

Moreover, there is an 8GB memory paired with 512GB SSD storage to ensure smooth performance. But the best part is it 32GB Intel Optane Memory which enables high-capacity data transfer and guarantees high-speed performance.

The laptop performs well and can run heavy software without any lags. We tested its performance by running office software and opening a dozen Chrome tabs. The VivoBook X512FA didn’t hold back when we switched between software and tabs.

Battery Life

This 15.6-inch VivoBook comes with a 2 cell 37Wh battery. It is not so bad considering the competition, but we find it below average. It only lasted for 6 hours on a single charge during the test and that too on low settings. So, you may get a lower battery life than this based on brightness settings and heavy usage.

Verdict

The VivoBook X512FA-EJ1503T is a good laptop and fits the bill, thanks to its splendid features. A latest Core i7 CPU, high memory, SSD drive and a large display are its major advantages. However, its battery is not up to the mark and doesn’t offer much juice. Overall, this is a perfect choice for some who want to get the job done and doesn’t care much about portability and battery life.

The MateBook 13 is the latest Windows laptop by Huawei and a fine addition in the Huawei Matebook series. The Chinese tech giant had been planning to launch the MateBook 13 since May 2019. However, the launch was cancelled after trade sanctions by the US government which has been lifted for now. And the latest MateBook 13 is here at last after a year-long delay.

This is another high-end business-class laptop from Huawei with premium looks and features. Although Huawei has not released it across the globe yet, you can pre-order the MateBook 13 online. Not only you can get your hands on this striking Windows laptop, but you can also get a special Matebook offer.

Huawei MateBook 13 is the most value-packed flagship laptop around just like the previous Huawei Mate book model, Huawei MateBook X Pro. However, the MateBook 13 follows Apple MacBook’s design and mirrors MacBook Air’s scheme of ports. On the contrary, it features the elegance of a MateBook and runs on the Windows operating system.

For those who are more curious about its strengths and weaknesses, we have written a detailed review. Let’s see what Huawei Mate book has to offer and what specs it hides inside.

Specs sheet

Processor: Intel Quad-Core i5-8265U / 1.6GHz Max. Turbo Speed 3.9GHz

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 512GB SSD

Display: 13-inch Quad HD (2160 x 1440) Resolution

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX250 Dedicated (GDDR5, 2GB)

Battery: Weight: around 2.87 lbs (1.3 kg)

Operating System: Windows 10 Home

SKU: 53010UGD

Huawei Matebook 13 looks good on paper, but does it carry the mantle in terms of performance as well? We have evaluated its design, specs and functionality to assess its overall performance.

Design

At a glance, the MateBook 13 appears identical to the X Pro in design, only with a smaller body. Huawei has gone with the same aluminium body and two colour choices. You can get it either in Space Grey or Mystic Silver colour. The main difference that we noticed upon opening the laptop was its webcam.

In the MateBook X pro, the webcam was hidden beneath the keyboard, which many users found irritating. However, Huawei had made up for the mistake and has restored the webcam above the display. The company has kept the integrated fingerprint sensor which it first introduced in the previous models.

Huawei MateBook 13 weighs around 2.87 lbs (1.3 kg) with a thin profile of 14.9mm. This is impressive considering the fact that it contains a dedicated graphics chip as well as a full-fat Intel mobile processor.

Display

Huawei MateBook 13 has a more square display than the typical 16:9 models. Its 13-inch Quad HD screen comes with an aspect ratio of 3:2. It offers more vertical screen real estate and you will find this aspect ratio ideal for office productivity work. If you have the chance to use the MateBook X Pro’s touchscreen display, you’ll love the MateBook 13 too.

The screen itself is bright and deliver crispy visuals with 1,440p resolution. The MateBook has an auto-brightness feature which is good but dimmed the display a bit aggressively. However, you can disable this feature if you find it non-productive. With a brightness of 300 nits, the MateBook 13 offers a contrast ratio of 1,000:1.

Keyboard

The keyboard of Huawei MateBook 13 extends from one edge to the other. This is a good thing as it minimizes the footprint. We felt the keyboard shallow with large keys and little key travel, but it offers a decent tactile feel. The key travel is about 1.2mm if you are a writer, you would find its feedback punchy and a bit forceful.

The touchpad is equally as impressive as its keyboard and also offer a clicky feedback. It is a Microsoft Precision touchpad and nothing but a delight to use. Although it does not have a glass coating, it is smoothly accurate.

Connectivity

Huawei MateBook 13 features two Type-C USB 3.1 Gen 1, one on each side. In addition, it houses a 3.5mm audio jack for audio support.

Performance

Huawei has equipped the MateBook 13 with a Core i5 CPU that offers a base clock speed of 1.6GHz. This is a quad-core processor that runs on the Windows 10 Home OS and could deliver a maximum turbo boost speed of 3.9GHz. Moreover, there is an 8GB RAM paired with 512GB SSD storage to ensure smooth performance.

We found the MateBook 13 highly responsive and easy to use. It opens apps promptly and while browsing the internet, we were able to surf smoothly between tabs. The MateBook can handle office programs and heavy software without showing any lags. You can work on media editing tools and can enjoy casual gaming as well.

Battery Life

The MateBook features a 41.7Wh battery and Huawei claims it can run up to 9.5 hours on a single charge. Of course, the laptop did not meet the expectation when we tested it for 1080p video playback. However, we were able to extract more than 8 hours of battery life which is still impressive.

Verdict

All in all, the MateBook 13 appears to be an impressive device as a flagship laptop. It has all the good features that you would want to have in a modern laptop. A sleek, stylish design, compact body, responsive display, high-end specs along with a good battery life. If you are looking for an affordable flagship laptop, Huawei MateBook 13 is the one.

Honor has established itself as a well-known brand and a leading smartphone manufacturer. However, the company is now trying to expand its horizons in order to seek additional revenue streams. And like most of its competitors, it is dipping its toes in the laptop industry. The company has recently released its first MagicBook laptops in two different sizes, the HONOR MagicBook 14 and MagicBook 15.

This is a mid-range budget laptop that offers high-end hardware at a reasonable price. It is very rare to see a budget laptop in which style goes hand in hand with price and specs. Surprisingly, the MagicBook 14 performs well in all three major selling factors i.e. style, specifications ad price.

But can it compete in the laptop market with other budget laptops? Does it have what customers want in their next laptop? You are going to find answers to these questions in this review post. We have evaluated the MagicBook 14 – 53010WHW for its strengths and weakness.

Specs sheet

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U (Quad-Core) / 2.10GHz Max Turbo Speed 3.70GHz

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 256GB SSD

Display: 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Resolution

Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 8 Integrated

Battery: 56Wh Weight: around 3 lbs (1.38 kg)

Operating System: Windows 10 Home

Instead of Intel parts, Honor has loaded the MagicBook 14 with AMD components. But these are good specs for a budget laptop at this price.

Design

HONOR MagicBook 14 comes with an aluminium chassis and plastic bezel parts around the screen. It is a strong, sturdy budget laptop that can withstand knocks and bumps. The downside of having a metal chassis is that it is slightly heavy. It weighs around 3 lbs (1.38 kg) which is not an ideal weight for a laptop of this size.

However, you won’t find it too heavy unless you carry it on your shoulder all day. On the bright side, the extra weight brings strength and you won’t find any flex points. Opening the lid with a single hand is a tough task and you have to hold its base.

The area around the palm rest and hinges is rigid and tough. We didn’t find any wobble when it was placed on an unstable surface, and we were able to open the lid to 180 degrees.

Display

The display is the key selling point of HONOR MagicBook 14. It has a 14-inch wide FHD display with thin bezels and a resolution of 1080p. This budget laptop stands out among the competition and delivers vivid colours with lively contrast. Unfortunately, its display struggled when we tried to use it outside on a bright sunny day.

Keyboard

The MagicBook 14 features a decent keyboard with a backlight feature. We found the LED illumination to be discreet which comes with two adjustable levels. Its keys are well spaced, have decent depth and offer nice clicky feedback. We were able to achieve our normal typing speed and enjoyed the gentle rattle sound of the keyboard.

The touchpad is responsive, but we found the upper half a bit hard to press. Also, it is slightly wider than the average which we found useful.

Connectivity

Honor has distributed the ports wisely on both sides of the MagicBook 14. The right side houses a Type-A USB 2.0 port and a 3.5mm audio jack. On the left side, there is an HDMI connector, a Type-A USB 3.0 and a USB-C connector for data transfer and charging.

It would be cruel if we don’t mention that the port distribution is really useful for tech geeks. Unlike many laptops, the HDMI cable and charging cable won’t get in your way if you decide to attach an external monitor.

Performance

As we mentioned earlier, Honor has equipped the MagicBook 14 – 53010WHW with AMD components. It comes with the Ryzen 5 CPU that can deliver a base clock speed of 2.10GHz. This quad-core processor runs on the Windows 10 Home OS and can offer a maximum turbo speed of 3.70GHz. In addition, it features Radeon Vega 8 Integrated graphics.

This is the same specification and speed that Intel Core i5-8250U CPU delivers along with Intel UHD 620 graphics. Moreover, there is a 256GB SSD drive and an 8GB memory, which is a high-speed combo. We tested the Honor MagicBook 14 by running office programs, browsing a dozen Chrome tabs and streaming videos.

Verdict

We found the MagicBook 14 to be a laptop that lives up to your expectations. It is a budget laptop that can easily handle your everyday computing needs. You can use it for entertainment, work and casual gaming. With a 56Whr battery, it can offer a battery time up to 9 hours which is impressive.

The laptop industry is always undergoing transformation, thanks to advanced technology and innovative ideas. Tech manufacturers are putting their efforts to take the customer experience to the next level. From futuristic flexibility and versatile features to uncompromising power and ultra-portable designs, manufacturers are bringing intuitive ideas to life. Today’s laptops are nothing but a picture of our imaginations encompassing everything we can wish. The new Viglen Ultrabook is the latest example of how far the laptop industry has evolved.

The Viglen Ultrabook – VUBW10PRO is a 13.3-inch compact laptop that is ultra-portable and powerful. This convertible Ultrabook features an exquisite design and boasts powerful hardware. Its lightweight design makes it a suitable choice for professionals who like to work on the go. But one needs to know more when it comes to making a decision about buying an Ultrabook.

You need to know about the specs and features as well as strengths and weaknesses of a device. And that’s exactly what we are going to find out about the Viglen 13.3″ in this review.

Specs Sheet

Processor: Intel Quad-Core i5-8250U (8th Gen.) / 1.6GHz Max. Turbo Speed 3.4GHz

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 256GB SSD

Display: 13.3-inch FHD Touchscreen IPS (1920 x 1080) Resolution

Graphics: Intel UHD 620 Integrated

Weight: around 4.0 lbs (1.54 kg)

Operating System: Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)

SKU: VUBW10PRO

Design

The Viglen Ultrabook – VUBW10PRO is a smartly built convertible laptop that features a stylish, thin design. It boasts a unibody chassis that is built of aluminium and provides a stylish, premium look. The model we tested was a smart 2-in-1 Ultrabook that came in a steel grey colour.

The chassis comes with rotatable hinges that offer full 360° rotation and let you get the most out of it. The best thing is that its hinges are easy to move yet adjustable at desirable angles. You can use it as a laptop, tab or in tent mode to work comfortably.

The Viglen 13.3″ weighs around 4.0 lbs (1.54 kg) and you can easily carry it. This compact convertible laptop is ultra-portable and you can easily fit it in your backpack.

Display

Viglen Ultrabook features a 13.3-inch wide FHD display that comes with touchscreen IPS technology. Surprisingly, it has a screen resolution of 1080p that delivers vivid, bright colours. We found its screen to be perfectly contrasted and were able to fetch sharp details, thanks to Intel UHD 620 Integrated graphics.

The rotatable display lets you view and work at varying angles, which we find extremely friendly. Whether you want to edit data files or create innovative graphics, the Viglen 13.3″ is a perfect device to work on. In addition, you can watch your favourite Netflix series and play games anywhere.

Keyboard

The Viglen 13.3″ carries an impressive backlit keyboard that performs well. Although it is small, the key travel and spacing is appropriate. We found it comfortable to work on and it is an ideal keyboard for bloggers and writes. However, you may not need it as its touchscreen is impressively responsive and let you access data quickly.

Connectivity

Convertible laptops are normally small in sizes and don’t have many ports on them. The same goes for Viglen Ultrabook as it only has enough ports to connect peripherals. It houses two USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI, a charging connector and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Performance

Viglen Ultrabook features high-end components that has enough power to handle tough tasks. It comes with an 8th generation quad-core i5 CPU that runs on the Windows 10 Pro operating system. The processor can deliver a base clock speed of 1.6GHz and offer a clock speed of 3.4GHz while running at a maximum turbo speed.

The Viglen 13.3″ also features an 8GB memory along with an SSD storage. This powerful duo ensures snappy responsiveness and provides a smooth performance. You can enjoy fast data access, switch between apps and multitask without experiencing any lags or breaks. From writing to media editing, you can throw any task towards the Viglen Ultrabook.

We found The Viglen 13.3″ an impressive convertible Ultrabook with the right specs and enough power. This is a decent device you can count on to uptake tasks and get them done. Furthermore, it has a good battery life that allows you to work without battery anxiety.

Verdict

Viglen Ultrabook 13.3″- VUBW10PRO features amazing specs that you don’t see in a device with such a price tag. It is impressively fast and offers plenty of features that can make your work easy. In short, this is a computing machine you can rely on whether you are a creative professional, writer or a businessman who commute often.

Lenovo ThinkPad T490 is a 14-inch Ultrabook, which is both versatile and durable. This is a compact laptop that encloses powerful hardware including an 8^th generation core i5 processor, SSD storage drive, a high RAM and long-lasting battery. In addition, it has the looks and properties of a ThinkPad. However, it has a smaller footprint, weighs less and is slightly thinner as compared to its processor ThinkPad T480.

The ThinkPad T490 boasts high-end specs as a 14-inch laptop at this price. But can it handle heavy software and withstand the tough tasks thrown towards it? This is a question that urged us to review this ThinkPad. We have tried to find out the strengths and weaknesses of this 14-inch device.

We reviewed the ThinkPad T490 – 20N20009UK for its design, functionality, and performance. In our review, we have looked into its specs to find out whether this device is worth the price. So, if you are thinking to purchase the ThinkPad T490 or want to know how it performs, continue to read.

Specs Sheet

Processor: Intel Quad-Core i5-8265U (8th Gen.) / 1.6GHz Max. Turbo Speed 3.9GHz

RAM: 8GB Storage: 256GB SSD

Display: 14-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) Resolution

Graphics: Intel UHD 620 Integrated

Battery: Up to 16 hours Weight: around 3.23 lbs (1.46 kg)

Operating System: Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)

SKU: 20N20009UK

Design

Lenovo ThinkPad T490 – 20N20009UK does not offer an exciting look. But this is something that is true about all the ThinkPads. The ThinkPad T490 offers around 180 degrees of movement, thanks to its dual-hinge system. Its entire chassis is covered with black paint which is soft-touch and could be a problem for many users. Its chassis easily picks up fingerprints and smudges, which is somewhat irritating.

With a thin profile of 17.9mm, the ThinkPad T490 weighs around 3.23 lbs (1.46 kg). Lenovo claims that it has tested the laptop against 200 quality checks and 12 military-grade requirements to ensure sturdiness. And we found the claim to be right as Lenovo ThinkPad T490 can handle the casual knocks and bumps.

Display

The ThinkPad T490 features a 14-inch wide display with a screen resolution of 1080p. It is a low-power FHD display but works well unless you want to work with a high-definition designing software. Its glossy finish can create issues while you are in a sun-drenched room. However, screen brightness makes up for this weakness with incredibly bright 500 nits.

Keyboard

ThinkPads are known for their remarkable keyboards and this one is no different. Lenovo has gone with a similar keyboard that we have seen on the ThinkPad T480. It has the perfect travel distance and the same cupped keys, which bottom out without feeling springy. In addition, Lenovo ThinkPad T490 features the ThinkPad TrackPoint system.

This is a touchpad with the same physical buttons, placed between the touchpad and keyboard. Then there is the iconic red pointer nub, present in the middle of the ThinkPad keyboard. The surface tracks perfectly and offers an overall smooth experience.

Connectivity

Lenovo ThinkPad T490 comes with a generous selection of ports as a business laptop. It houses a microSD card reader, a 3.5 audio jack, an HDMI 1.4, a Type-A USB 3.1, Thunderbolt 3 and a Type-C fast charging port. On the right side, there is an optional Smart Card reader along with another Type-A USB 3.1 and an RJ45 Ethernet port.

Performance

We reviewed the Lenovo ThinkPad T490 – 20N20009UK, which comes with an 8th generation i5 Whiskey Lake processor, a256GB SSD, an 8GB memory and Intel UHD graphics. These are impressive components and fulfil the requirements of today’s business laptop. The quad-core processor runs on the Windows 10 Pro operating system, offering a basic clock speed of 1.6GHz.

Intel’s Whiskey Lake CPU gives a little boost when it comes to performance. You won’t feel any lags unless you decide to run specialised designing tools. However, if you are planning to use such programs, Lenovo has added an additional slot that lets you upgrade your RAM.

Battery Life

Lenovo claims that on a single charge, the ThinkPad T490 could offers up to 16 hours of battery life. This is something impressive considering the price and specs but unfortunately does not live up to the expectations. Nevertheless, it still delivers you an all-day long performance when you are on the go.

Verdict

The ThinkPad T490 – 20N20009UK is an outstanding Ultrabook that fits the bill. This is undeniably an exciting business laptop that comes with high-end specs and features. An 8th-gen i5 CPU, SSD drive, 8GB memory and long-lasting battery are some features that make it a good business gadget.

Lenovo V15-IIL is one of Lenovo’s versatile core-i5 laptop that splashes unconditional power within its terminologies.  Where Lenovo has always been in the air for producing one of the innovative and productive laptops, the Lenovo V15-IIL also stands midway. In a very affordable budget, this laptop has to offer us some commendable features that seem powerful on paper especially when we compare them with its rival laptops. The core i5 is perfectly blended with the RAM and storage provided in this laptop, so you can work for extended hours reluctantly.

The screen and graphics are not as appealing specifications we get within its mainframe, but they manage to collaborate adequately for multitasking. Every Lenovo budget-friendly device is equipped with plenty credible features mostly, but we can face minor drawbacks, which shouldn’t be as surprising considering the price factor.

The Lenovo V15-IIL – 82C50075UK is also one of the stellar devices that allow you to play around for extensive usage of applications or programs. While its battery is sufficient, not over-the-top, you will also enjoy binge-watching videos or browsing for longer hours. Let’s get in detail with its review!

SPECS

SKU: 82C50075UK

Processor: (10th Gen) Intel Core i5-1035G1 | 1.0 GHz – 3.6 GHz Max Turbo Speed | Quad Core

RAM: 8GB,

Storage: 256GB SSD

Display: 15.6-inch screen with Full HD (1920 x 1080) Resolution

GPU: Integrated Graphics Intel UHD

OS: Windows 10 Home 64-bit

Weight: 1.85kg

DESIGN & DISPLAY

The design of this laptop is packed in a slim body with sleek chassis and narrow bezels around the display. The screen of 15.6 inches comes with a full HD Resolution and has a nice colour representation that delivers vivid and bright colours. But, the TN panel used here isn’t impressive to provide comfortable viewing angles, although the narrower shape of bezels enhances your view point.

The Lenovo V15-IIL weighs around 1.85 kg, which makes this device a great portable option. Carrying it around for your digital chores won’t bother you much burden, while you hold it single handedly or like to load the backpack. There is also a TPM 2.0 technology being used in the mainframe for keeping the system safe and sound.

PERFORMANCE

The most essential functionality within a laptop is based on its processor and how well it copes with the RAM management and storage. A perfect blend makes the overall speed and performance much higher, so Lenovo V15-IIL lacks nowhere behind in providing us a credible combination. This laptop packs superb power with its core-i5 Intel processor along with 8GB RAM and 256 GB storage. We didn’t experience any particular lag or slowdown while playing or running several applications or programs.

If we talk about gaming aspect, this laptop can stand decently in conducting standard games; however it won’t be able to fully contemplate running excessively heavy games like PUBG or more. But, you can continue to play these games if you are fine with minimal lagging. The graphics we face here are the Integrated UHD graphics by Intel that allow multimedia file editing or watching regular videos.

BATTERY & CONNECTIVITY

The 35 Wh battery pack is included in Lenovo V15-IIL , but the maximum time you will be able to pour out of its usage is around 6 hours, which isn’t too less and isn’t more either. According to the battery level it provides us, there weren’t great expectations of more long lasting hours, so we were fine with the result here. The battery is not super lasting but it’s reliable for traditional users who like to spend their time on extra digital activities. But, we can’t say it’s vulnerable for office or professional users because if you don’t have any issue in plugging your device after some while, then it is definitely for you.

VERDICT

There are number of factors that make the Lenovo V15-IIL a most commonly needed device, whether we talk about Intel core-i5 processor or reliable RAM management. Besides an average screen, this laptop tends to provide maximum productivity and efficient execution with its 8GB RAM and Quad core processor. Mostly this laptop accomplished all its necessary benchmarks in providing us a durable machine, except the screen colour accuracy. The battery isn’t worst, but surely not on the top list. But, within this budget the Lenovo V15-IIL doesn’t fall behind in any major capabilities. This core i5 laptop will come in great use for students and job folks, who have various errands to attain every day.

Lenovo ThinkPad E495 is an affordable business laptop in the ThinkPad E-series. Although Lenovo has opted for AMD components rather than Intel, it is still one of the best office laptops at this price. That is the reason why this AMD Ryzen 5 laptop is creating serious buzz in the laptop market.

We have reviewed the ThinkPad E495 – 20NE000JUK in this article. In case you are considering buying this ThinkPad laptop, continue to read. This review will offer you appropriate and ample information about the Lenovo ThinkPad E495. We have evaluated its specs, design, display, keyboard and battery life as well as its performance.

Specs Sheet

Processor: AMD Quad-Core Ryzen-5 3500U / 2.1GHz Max. Turbo Speed 3.7GHz

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 256GB SSD

Display: 14-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) Resolution

Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 8 Integrated

Battery: Up to 11 hours

Weight: around 3.85 lbs (1.75 Kg)

Operating System: Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)

SKU: 20NE000JUK

Lenovo ThinkPad E495 looks solid on paper, thanks to its high-end components. Let’s find out whether it can handle tough tasks and live up to the expectations as a business laptop.

Design

As soon as you unbox the ThinkPad E495 – 20NE000JUK, you would notice its top surface. It features a slightly rough surface made of plastic that feels robust and sturdy. You can open its lid with one hand that comes with a durable hinge, which lifts the bottom a bit when you open it.

On the bottom, there are discontinuous grills for hot air vent. The slight lift that hinge provides space for air circulation and helps the fan. We found no flex on the palm rest or the keyboard inside the ThinkPad E495. The build material looks long-lasting and did not scratch when we used it roughly.

Display

The ThinkPad E495 features a 14-inch wide display with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080. Lenovo claims that its 1080p panel could deliver a screen brightness of 250 nits. Although it is nearly true for the middles of the screen, the average screen brightness of its screen is around 230 nits.

In addition, the manufacturer has integrated the ThinkPad E495 with AMD’s Radeon Vega 8. This is a powerful graphics card and delivers immersive visuals with vivid colours. Overall, its display provides superb visual experience, whether you are streaming videos or working on media editing tools.

Keyboard

Lenovo has included the typical ThinkPad keyboard in this laptop which is nothing but a treat. To be honest, we very much like this keyboard for its long-travel keys, clicky feedback and large keys. Moreover, there are there is a nipple while the trackpad features dedicated mouse buttons on it.

The surface of the trackpad is made of plastic, but you get the feeling of an aluminium lid. However, this business laptop does not have LED-backlit lights on its keyboard.

Connectivity

There is a range of ports on the ThinkPad E495 that you can use to connect peripherals or other devices. These up to date ports include two Type-A ports (USB 3.1 / USB 3.2), a USB 2.0 Type-A and a Type-C 3.1 USB port. In addition, there is an HDMI port and a 3.5mm audio jack. Unfortunately, there is no MicroSD or full-sized SD card reader slot.

Performance

Lenovo has armed the ThinkPad E495 – 20NE000JUK with an AMD processor instead of an Intel one. This is an AMD Ryzen 5 laptop that runs on the Windows 10 Pro operating system. Its quad-core processor offers a basic frequency of 2.1GHz and can deliver the maximum clock speed of 3.7GHz.

Also, there is a 256GB storage drive which is paired with an 8GB RAM. This is a single-channel RAM, but you can always add another RAM module. Adding another model will not only increase speed but also improve the Vega 8 graphics card performance. Nevertheless, its processor is still ahead of competitors, thanks to its SSD drive.

Coming to its battery performance, Lenovo claims that the ThinkPad E495 can deliver up to 11 hours of battery life. However, we tested this claim by putting the ThinkPad E495 under stress and ran some heavy software and media tools. Although the claim was never met, the laptop still performs good and delivered a battery life of more than 9 hours.

Verdict

Lenovo ThinkPad E495 is an affordable business laptop that comes with an 8GB memory, SSD storage and an FHD display. This is a quad-core laptop with a small footprint that lives up to the expectations. All in all, the ThinkPad E495 – 20NE000JUK is a decent choice for creative professionals. You can work on it whether you are sitting in your office, home or on the go.

Medion Akoya S6445 is a budget laptop that helps you accomplish more in less time. The Akoya series has earned fame for its usability and is manufactured by a Lenovo owned German company, Medion. So, one could expect that Akoya laptops would feature the good qualities that we have seen in Lenovo laptops. The Akoya series offer budget-friendly laptops that assist you in compiling data, editing pictures and other daily tasks.

As an entry-level laptop, the Akoya S6445 has incredibly powerful hardware on it. This budget laptop features a Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD drive along with a 15.6-inch wide NanoEdge display. These are powerful features that you only get in high-end mid-range laptops. And that is exactly why we decided to review its performance and functionality.

The model we tested to evaluate performance was the Akoya S6445 – 30025959. We reviewed its design, display, keyboard functionality and evaluated its performance under different circumstances. Here’s a detailed review of the strengths and weaknesses of Medion Akoya S6445.

Specs Sheet

Processor: Intel Quad-Core i5-8265U (8th Gen.) / 1.6GHz Max. Turbo Speed 3.9GHz

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 512GB SSD

Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Resolution

Graphics: Intel UHD 620 Integrated

Battery: Up to 4.5 hours Weight: around 3.92lbs (1.78kg)

Operating System: Windows 10 Home

SKU: 30025959

The hardware appears to be worth the price when one looks at its specs sheet. But can it handle tough tasks and live up to expectations? Or it is just another average laptop that boasts powerful components but delivers less. That’s something that you are going to find out at the end of this review article.

Design

Medion Akoya S6445 – 30025959 is a modest example of German quality and design. It is made of super-light aluminium material that offers it a thin, ultra-portable look. Medion has equipped it with a lightweight chassis that weighs around 3.92lbs (1.78kg). We found the Akoya S6445 to be extremely friendly for commuters and its eye-catching design makes it a handy laptop.

Display

Akoya S6445 comes with a 15.6-inch wide FHD NanoEdge Display with a 1080p screen resolution. Medion has equipped it with the Intel UHD 620 GPU that makes sure you get rich visuals. You will get a bright screen with vivid colours whether you are streaming Netflix or editing an image. Plus, 15.6-inch widescreen means you can open and work on multiple files with ease.

Keyboard

Medion Akoya S6445 comes with a full-sized keyboard that has appropriate key travel. It is an island-style keyboard that offers help you type more without putting pressure on your fingers. The keys have nice tactile depth and deliver a pleasant click impression when you press them. The numeric keyboard is an additional feature which accountants and students will find very useful.

Connectivity

The Akoya S6445 has enough ports to connect you with the peripherals. It houses two Type-A USB (3.2 Gen. 2) ports, a traditional USB 2.0 port, an HDMI and a 3.5mm audio/mic jack. In addition to these, there is a Type-C USB (3.2 Gen. 2) port to facilitates fast data transfer.

However, the device does not have a Thunderbolt 3 port on it. Although its good to have such a port, we find this selection of ports satisfactory at this price.

Performance

The Akoya S6445 – 30025959 is equipped with an 8th generation core i5 CPU with a base clock speed of 1.6GHz. This is a quad-core processor that can deliver a maximum turbo speed of 3.9GHz and runs on the Windows 10 Home OS. Moreover, there is an 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD drive attached to it.

This is a decent combination of components that can offer powerful performance on demand. You can run office programs, compile and work on data files and use it for entertainment. The Akoya S6445 can withstand tough tasks and handle your everyday workload. We tested its performance by running a dozen Chrome tabs and find no delays.

Medion Akoya S6445 is good for multitasking but if you are an avid gamer, this is not the laptop for you. However, you can enjoy modern games with low settings and at low resolution. We find its webcam to be good for video calling, while the built-in ‘Dolby Audio’ speakers are a real treat

Battery Life

The laptop features a 42.6 Wh, 3-cell battery that the manufacturer claim can offer up to 4.5 hours of battery life. This is a below-average battery, not only for such a high-end laptop but also considering its competitors. However, the rapid charging technology makes up for this, while DDR4 memory also saved energy by consuming lower voltage.

Verdict

Medion Akoya S6445 – 30025959 surprises you with its hardware selection at such a low price. This is a powerful computing device with the latest tech that can handle tough office tasks. There are a few better options available in the laptop market with such specs and features. The Akoya S6445 is a good pick if you are willing to gulp a below-average battery.

Lenovo ThinkPad X270 is a 12.5-inch productive powerhouse that offers the best value for money. It promises a long battery life, a fantastic keyboard and durable design without compromising over hardware. Although it does not come cheap, its high-end components make up for the price. You get a lightweight package that possesses plenty of ports and is lap friendly. It is the perfect device for productivity-centric users, thanks to its superior usability.

The ThinkPad X270 i3 can handle your everyday tasks and run office programs with ease. It is highly manageable and features a convenient setup in case you need to service or upgrade it. Lenovo has built the X270 with a user-friendly design, keeping in mind the work needs of both an IT technician and a business professional.

We have reviewed the ThinkPad X270 – 20K5S5T900 to evaluate its performance. We have tested this small business laptop for its design, display, keyboard functionality and battery life performance.

Specs Sheet

SKU: 20K5S5T900

Processor: Intel Core i3-6100U (6th Gen.) / 2.30GHz

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 128GB SSD

Display: 12.5-inch HD (1366 x 768) Resolution

Graphics: Intel HD 520 Integrated

Battery: Up to 13 hours Weight: around 3 lbs (1.36kg)

Operating System: Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)

Design

The ThinkPad X270 – 20K5S5T900 boasts the same raven-black, rectangular aesthetics as most ThinkPads. Its deck features the regular, hard texture, while the chassis is made of glass-fibre-reinforced plastic. The lid has a soft touch, but what we liked about its design was its compactness. You can easily place it on a small tray table, your lap or in a backpack.

Regardless Of its small size, the X270 has a generous screen, supportive palm rest and a full-size keyboard. It can withstand the knocks and bumps, as it has been tested against 12 military-grade requirements. So, you can go on hiking, with your ThinkPad X270 in your backpack.

Display

The ThinkPad X270 features a 12.5-inch wide HD display with a screen resolution of 1366 x 768. Thanks to Intel HD 520 Integrated graphics, the screen delivers vibrant visuals. You get to enjoy bright, vivid colours with sharp visuals and high-quality images. Whether you want to enjoy a movie or want to edit images, the X270 delivers what you could expect from it.

We played ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ on the ThinkPad X270 and it was awesome. The colour stayed true to the left and right, and even up to 45 degrees.

Keyboard

One of the best features of Lenovo ThinkPad X270 is its keyboard. In fact, this is one of the best keyboards that we have tested so far. The keys are gently curved and feel nice without looking, while their placement is just perfect. There is a 17mm deep travel and keys require an actuation force of 62 grams.

Connectivity

Lenovo has added plenty of ports on the ThinkPad X270, in fact, it has almost every port that a professional may want. Its left side houses an optional smart card reader, an HDMI, a power connector, and a USB 3 port. In addition, there is a Type-C USB port that can be used to output multiple monitors or charge the device.

On the right side, there is a 3.5mm audio jack, another USB 3.0 port, a Kensington lock slot, and a SIM card slot. Also, there is an SD card reader and a full-size Ethernet port.

Performance

Lenovo ThinkPad X270 – 20K5S5T900 comes with a 6th generation core i3 processor with a base frequency of 2.30GHz. The processor runs on the Windows 10 Pro operating system. In addition, Lenovo has added a 128GB SSD storage and an 8GB high memory to this lap friendly business laptop.

As far as its performance is concerned, the X270 is a power-packed business laptop. Lenovo has housed the right specs that look just perfect and work flawlessly. It only took 20 seconds to copy 5GB data files, which is impressive. Thanks to its SSD storage and Intel HD 520 graphics, you can edit light media files.

Battery Life

The ThinkPad X270 features a high-capacity battery that Lenovo claims could last for up to 13 hours. We tested this claim by continuous surfing and writing this review. Although it did not last for 13 hours, we are able to extract more than 12.5 hours of battery life. This is almost 50% longer than its competitors and the class average.

Verdict

All in all, we found the ThinkPad X270 – 20K5S5T900 an exceptional business laptop. Not only it has the right specs, but it also delivers in terms of performance. A long-lasting battery, ultra-portability and superior usability are its major benefits that we liked the most.

Those are in quest of an affordable all-rounder laptop; they should look into Lenovo’s S540 series. Lenovo IdeaPad S540 is a budget-friendly multimedia laptop that offers a premium look and feel. Inside its sleek body, the IdeaPad S540 packs high-end hardware that can deliver heavy-duty performance. Reviewing this model for its performance was nothing but a treat for us.

Lenovo has launched the IdeaPad S540 in 13, 14, or 15-inch versions with varying specs. We tested the IdeaPad S540 – 81NE0024UK which is a 15.6-inch laptop. You have to look for “15IWL” label in case you want to buy this display size.

Let’s see what Lenovo IdeaPad S540 has to offer and what are its weaknesses and strengths. We have reviewed its design and build as well as display, keyboard and battery for functionality and performance.

Specs sheet

SKU: 81NE0024UK

Processor: Intel (Quad-Core) i7-8565U (8th Gen.) / 1.8GHz Max. Turbo Speed 4.6GHz

Storage: 1TB HDD

RAM: 8GB

Display: 15.6-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) Resolution

Graphics: Intel UHD 620 Integrated

Battery: Up to 12 hours

Weight: around 4.18 lbs (1.9 kg)

Operating System: Windows 10 Home (64-bit)

Design

We reviewed the Lenovo IdeaPad S540 – 81NE0024UK model in mineral grey colour. It amazed us with its ultra-slim luxurious look and diamond-cut, anodized aluminium body. This specific model weighs around 4.18 lbs (1.9 kg) with a 19 mm thick profile. Corners are rounded throughout the body and give it a premium look.

Aluminium makes sure that its base can’t be wrapped, while the slim bezels inside the lid are made of plastic. Lenovo has placed the fan vent in the back instead of the sides.

Display

The IdeaPad S540 features matte IPS display along with a 15.6-inch widescreen. It offers a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 with a brightness of 300 nits. The screen brightness percentage is 88%, which is great for a laptop with such a price. The screen showed slow display response and we find it unsatisfactory for gaming.

However, the display is great if you want to stream videos or edit images. Thanks to Intel UHD 620 graphic card, you get magnificent visuals with bright colours.

Keyboard

Keys on the IdeaPad S540 are well-labelled and sufficiently large and the pressure point is reasonably comfortable. The noise development is curtailed and although the stroke is quiet, it is still noticeable. Lenovo has added a two-step keyboard illumination which is optional and helps you type in the dark surroundings. Up and Down arrow keys are reduced in size, almost by half which we find annoying.

The touchpad is appropriate for a laptop of this size and is about 4.1 x 2.8 inches in size. Lenovo has integrated the keys into the touchpad which you cannot press at the same time. The surface is relatively gliding, and we find the input to be accurate, even around the edges and corners.

Connectivity

Lenovo IdeaPad S540 features a full-sized SD card reader and three USB slots of which one is Type C. In addition, there is an audio jack port and an HDMI port. Sadly, it lacks Thunderbolt 3 or a LAN connection, which is kind of ungenerous. Absence of Type-C charging port is another issue that could break the hearts of many potential buyers.

Performance

Lenovo IdeaPad S540 – 81NE0024UK packs some solid components when it comes to specs. It is armed with an 8th generation Core i7 processor that runs on the Windows 10 Home PS. This is a quad-core processor that could deliver a basic clock speed of 1.8GHz with a maximum turbo speed of 4.6GHz.

In addition, there is an 8GB RAM to ensure smooth, high-speed performance. Then there is an enormous 1TB HDD storage, which is enough to store data for years. Practically, the IdeaPad S540 is an all-rounder laptop that could handle any task that you would throw towards it. There is an additional slot for a single RAM, and you could upgrade its memory up to 36GB.

Battery Life

The IdeaPad S540 comes with a built-in battery that is also the best part of this budget laptop. Lenovo claims that you would get up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge. Of course, it lasted less than 12 hours of WLAN test, but it is still a good battery. At reduced brightens, we get around 14 hours of video playback and more than 7 hours at maximum brightness.

Verdict

Lenovo IdeaPad S540 is an outstanding laptop with some serious specs and features. An elegant design, enormous storage, high-speed CPU and long-lasting battery are some main advantages. Of course, it has some demerits as well such as a noisy fan and average keyboard. Overall, the IdeaPad S540 offers the real value for money and performs well as an all-rounder multimedia laptop.