Performance: Overall this laptop's performance was Good, below that of many other models but still powerful enough for tasks such as email, word processing, web browsing, and streaming movies. Compared to other tested laptops, its speed was adequate for common tasks such as web browsing, video conferencing, and application startup. Speed was adequate when composing documents, working on data spreadsheets, and other productivity tasks, and it was fast for manipulating filters on multiple images, converting and editing videos, and rendering 3D models and calculating simulations.
Portability: This laptop is a Good choice for traveling, although not ideal. Battery life lasted 7.75 hours in a light load of web browsing tests, and 5.75 hours in a heavier load of 4K video playback tests. Results were sufficient to get through most of a workday of mixed use tasks, but not as notable as similar laptops. At 5.3 lbs, this laptop is too heavy for a laptop of this size category.
Ergonomics: The laptop features, such as its keyboard, touchpad, and labeling were well-designed, making it comfortable and convenient to use. The keyboard has large keys and was comfortably sized. Its high contrast letters were easy to read, and the backlighting can be useful in dark rooms. There's a dedicated number pad for faster data entry. Keys were conveniently positioned, good for touch typists who want to speed up typing. The power button was conveniently located, but its labeling was hard to read when the laptop is off. Testers thought the keyboard has nice contrast and good feedback when typing.
Display: The display quality was Excellent overall. Colors were near-accurate, and mostly realistic and natural looking. The laptop's display was brighter than most and it's anti-reflective, a plus for viewing in a brightly lit room or outdoors. 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 512GB 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 Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps) for maximum performance. Gigabit ethernet provides fast transfer of data over a local network. This laptop has a full-size HDMI port and supports DisplayPort over USB-C for connecting to an HDTV or monitor. At about 11.5 ft length, the power cable is longer than most others, so you can worry less about power outlet locations.
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. There is no memory-card reader, so you'll need to buy an external reader or connect your digital camera directly to this laptop to transfer photos. The power supply and chassis are heavier than the average weight of a comparable laptop and power supply.
