Cheaper, slower and, somehow, better to live with. If you already own last year’s model, there is no reason to upgrade. If you are replacing something older than four years, this is an easy recommendation, with caveats about the price.
Our testing methodology is unchanged: each device is used as a daily driver for at least two weeks, and all measurements are repeated three times.
What stayed with us
After three weeks of daily use, the first thing that stands out is how little there is to complain about. Battery life comfortably clears a working day, and the screen is bright enough to use outdoors.
The details are never the small part.
Benchmarks only tell part of the story. In everyday tasks like exporting video, juggling dozens of browser tabs and video calls, the difference between this and last year’s model is smaller than the marketing suggests.
Where it falls short is repairability. Opening the case voids the warranty, the battery is glued in, and the manufacturer sells spare parts only through authorised centres.
Before you go
- Take your time with it.
- Notice the small things.
- Write down what you want to remember.
Setup took about ten minutes. We migrated from an older device using the built-in transfer tool, and everything, including saved Wi-Fi networks and two-factor tokens, came across intact.
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