Keyboard backlight stopped working entirely on one side of the device after a routine firmware update. Build quality is downright cheap feeling with sharp edges inside the chassis that I can feel through the vents. I bought this specifically for photography and the camera is somehow worse in low light than my previous midrange device.
I ran a two-hour video call with the webcam on and the camera held exposure beautifully the entire time. Camera stabilization keeps handheld shots steady at ridiculous shutter speeds in low light.
Image processing on the camera handles skin tones so naturally that family photos finally look like real people. Carry case included is actually useful instead of flimsy plastic I would throw away.
Fingerprint reader works maybe half the time and the fallback PIN is slower than it was on my decade-old device.
Repairability is finally improving, with standard screws and clearly labeled components inside.
Haptics feel subtle and precise rather than the lazy buzzing most devices still ship with.
Running cool enough on battery that I can actually use it on my lap during long flights.
Companion app is lightweight and actually useful instead of a bloated advertisement for other products. Fast charging gets me from near-dead to seventy percent in roughly half an hour, which is wild.
Keyboard backlight evenness is excellent and the per-key lighting is actually usable in a dim room. Panel coating is matte enough to kill reflections without turning white colors into grainy mush. Battery easily lasts a full workday with brightness cranked and I still get home with twenty percent left.
Micro-pattern on the trackpad gives a nice tactile cue that stops my fingers from slipping during long edits. Fast storage finally made my development workflow feel instant instead of a series of small waits. I ran a two-hour video call with the webcam on and the camera held exposure beautifully the entire time.
I like most of what it does but there is one quirk with power management that trips me up weekly. Panel is bright but uniform backlighting it is not, especially around the top edge in dark rooms. Memory feels generous for most tasks but opening a few more browser tabs quickly eats the headroom.
This replaced three separate gadgets I used to carry and does every job as well or better.
Pairing to multiple devices is seamless and switching between phone and laptop takes under a second.
Wi-Fi performance at close range is excellent but the signal drops off faster than I expected in another room. Audio drivers sound balanced but the fit is loose enough that any walking jostles them out of my ears. Audio latency over Bluetooth is low enough for video but noticeable in rhythm games where timing really matters.
Multitasking between creative apps feels snappier than my previous machine that cost almost twice as much. Mic clarity on calls is so good people kept asking if I was in a studio.
Battery indicator is accurate most of the time but occasionally jumps ten percent in a single refresh.
Software is refreshingly clean with almost no preinstalled junk I had to spend an afternoon uninstalling. I love being able to charge over the same cable I already use for my other devices around the house.
Noise cancellation genuinely drowns out a plane cabin, which is honestly the only test that matters to me. I was skeptical about mini-LED but the local dimming makes HDR movies look genuinely cinematic.
Fan noise even at full load stays below the ambient hum of my office, which is honestly impressive. Repairability is finally improving, with standard screws and clearly labeled components inside.
I appreciate the physical shutter on the webcam because it means I never have to think about privacy stickers.
Build has survived two unintentional drops onto tile and only picked up a tiny scuff on one corner. I replaced an aging ultrabook and the difference in boot time and app launch speed is immediately obvious.
I replaced an aging ultrabook and the difference in boot time and app launch speed is immediately obvious. Boot from cold power to logged-in desktop is under ten seconds, which is a joy every morning.
Camera finally handles mixed lighting indoors without blowing out the windows behind the subject.
Reception is strong even in the elevator at work where my old phone used to drop every call. Image processing on the camera handles skin tones so naturally that family photos finally look like real people. A single tap on the lock screen gets me straight to the camera, which has saved several shots.
Audio stage from the built-in speakers is honestly surprising for a device this thin. Even at full brightness outdoors the display is readable, which is rare in this size class.
Weight shed from last year's model is immediately noticeable in a backpack across any decent walking distance.
Panel finally supports true blacks and watching dark movies no longer feels like staring into gray fog. Audio latency on the Bluetooth link is so low that I can play rhythm games with no issues.
I appreciate that it finally runs full desktop software without choking on larger project files. This GPU handles native 4K at high settings in modern titles without me having to lean on upscaling.
Wi-Fi 7 range reaches every corner of my house including the basement where every router before has given up. Standby battery drain is almost unmeasurable overnight, which has not been true of my last three devices.
Fast enough that I retired a desktop I was planning to upgrade and never looked back.
Charging port feels sturdy and I have zero worry about yanking the cable in a hurry. Noise cancellation genuinely drowns out a plane cabin, which is honestly the only test that matters to me. Mic clarity on calls is so good people kept asking if I was in a studio.
I love that the sleep mode wakes instantly instead of making me wait for a laggy animation.
Weight distribution makes it feel much lighter in the bag than the spec sheet would suggest. Even heavy multitasking with a dozen tabs and two editors open does not cause any noticeable slowdown. I love how light this feels in a backpack after years of lugging around a brick of a laptop.
Hinge finally feels like it will last, holding any angle rock-steady without a hint of sag. I never thought I would call charging cables premium, but the braided one included here is genuinely nice.
Even heavy multitasking with a dozen tabs and two editors open does not cause any noticeable slowdown. Zero coil whine under load, which is honestly a minor miracle at this price range. I never thought I would call charging cables premium, but the braided one included here is genuinely nice.
I use it daily but every time I show it to someone they ask why I did not get the pricier model. Game library is impressive but the storefront interface is clunky and slow even on this fast device.
This GPU handles native 4K at high settings in modern titles without me having to lean on upscaling. Panel coating stays smudge-free much longer than my previous device and wipes clean in one pass.
Haptic feedback on individual keys is subtle enough that I can type for hours without the buzz becoming annoying. Weight distribution makes it feel much lighter in the bag than the spec sheet would suggest.
I was ready to send it back on day one but after a week it has completely won me over. Game load times dropped so dramatically that I had to recheck I was running on the right drive.
Image noise handling has clearly improved generation over generation and shadow detail finally looks natural.
I was skeptical about mini-LED but the local dimming makes HDR movies look genuinely cinematic.
I love that the remote has backlit buttons and I never fumble in the dark anymore.
Battery health reporting is actually transparent, with a real cycle count and capacity readout.
Haptic feedback on the trigger buttons makes racing games feel way more connected to the road.
Fast charging gets me from near-dead to seventy percent in roughly half an hour, which is wild. Response time on this panel is low enough that fast motion in sports and action games stays crisp. Panel coating stays smudge-free much longer than my previous device and wipes clean in one pass.
Game library loads from external storage so fast that I honestly cannot tell it is not internal. This replaced three separate gadgets I used to carry and does every job as well or better.
Carry case included is actually useful instead of flimsy plastic I would throw away.
Response time on this panel is low enough that fast motion in sports and action games stays crisp.
Keyboard travel is just right for long typing sessions and my wrists feel better after full days of writing. Firmware had a nice option to tune fan curves manually and now the whole system runs much quieter.
I appreciate that the device finally supports every modern codec without me installing sketchy extras. Game library loads from external storage so fast that I honestly cannot tell it is not internal. Multitasking between creative apps feels snappier than my previous machine that cost almost twice as much.