Performance: Overall this laptop's performance was only Fair, well below that of many models but still good enough for routine tasks like email, word processing and web browsing. It was among the fastest with productivity and Web-based tasks such as word processing, Web browsing, and scanning for malware. It was among the fastest for viewing and editing photos, and among the fastest for viewing and editing HD videos.
Portability: This laptop is a Fair choice for traveling. Battery life lasted 3.25 hours in a light load of web browsing tests, and 2.5 hours in a heavier load of 4K video playback tests. Results were inadequate for 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 2.8 lbs, weight was typical for a laptop of this size category.
Ergonomics: Some features of the keyboard, touchpad, and labeling, were well-designed, and were comfortable or convenient to use. The keyboard has large keys and was comfortably sized. Its high contrast letters were easy to read. The power button was well labeled and conveniently located.
Display: The display quality was Very Good overall. Colors were accurately reproduced, realistic, and natural looking. The display was highly prone to glare making it difficult to see 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: There's a 32GB solid-state drive, which uses less power and accesses data more quickly. You can connect common external devices such as hard drives and Blu-ray burners to the USB 3.0 ports for maximum performance. This laptop has a micro HDMI port for connecting to an HDTV or monitor.
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. The primary drive only has 32GB of storage, which can quickly run out of room. There is a microSD card reader for adding extra space, but you may need to delete unused files in order to install large system updates.
