Performance: Overall this laptop's performance was Poor, well below that of many other models and you may notice slowdowns in such things as boot-up, application launching, and video editing.
Portability: This laptop is a Fair choice for traveling. Battery life lasted 5.5 hours in a light load of web browsing tests, and 3 hours in a heavier load of 4K video playback tests. Results were inadequate for a typical day of mixed use, and you'll need to charge the battery more often than similar laptops. Its max screen brightness was lower than our target for battery tests, which gave it a slight advantage. At 2 lbs, weight was typical for a laptop of this size category.
Ergonomics: Some features of the keyboard, touchpad, and labeling were not well-designed, so it's not especially comfortable or convenient to use. The keyboard was not full-sized, and might be uncomfortable for larger hands. Its high contrast letters were easy to read. The power button was well labeled and conveniently located. The touchpad was uncomfortably small, providing less space for gestures than most others tested. The smaller-sized keyboard might be uncomfortable to use for those with larger hands.
Display: The display quality was Very Good overall. Colors were near-accurate, and mostly realistic and natural looking. The laptop's display was dimmer than most but it's anti-reflective, so this laptop is a somewhat better choice for viewing in a well lit room. The display has a wide viewing angle, especially important if more than one person needs to see the screen at a time, say, for a video or presentation.
Useful features and attributes on this model include: The 64GB solid-state drive uses less power and accesses data more quickly than conventional hard-disk drives. You can connect common external devices such as hard drives and Blu-ray burners using USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) for maximum performance. This laptop has a mini HDMI port for connecting to an HDTV or monitor. The power supply adds a lightweight 0.3 lbs, not too much more than the laptop weight.
Downsides: There's no optical drive like a CD or DVD reader, so you'll have to buy an external drive if you need one. At about 6.6 ft length, the power cable is shorter than most others, so you'd need to be mindful of power outlet locations.
