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Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452 (Core i5, Full HD) Notebook Review

Entry-level business companion. This 14-inch Acer model has a lot to offer: simple upgrade options, good battery life, fast SSD and a reliable keyboard. The screen is the only weak point of this package: a TN panel with poor viewing angles.

For the original German review, see here.

The TravelMate P2 series from Acer provides options for entry-level business users. This laptop is meant for a small company, independent contractors or even students at school or university. On our test bench, we have the TravelMate P249-M: the latest 14-inch addition to this series. The laptop does not hold any surprises under the hood, as it is equipped with a Skylake processor, a Full HD screen and an SSD. We will check what the laptop can offer in comparison to the competition. The competitors include the HP ProBook 440 G3, the Lenovo ThinkPad E460 and the Dell Latitude 14 3470. We added the Acer TravelMate X349-M to see how the test model fares against internal competition.

Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452 (TravelMate P249 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-6200U 2 x 2.3 - 2.8 GHz, Skylake
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 520, Core: 950 MHz, Dual-Channel, 20.19.15.4501
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4-2400, Dual-Channel, two memory slots (both occupied)
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 157 PPI, Chi Mei N140HGE-EAA, TN LED, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Skylake-U Premium PCH
Storage
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A, 256 GB 
, 180 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek ALC255 @ Intel Sunrise Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Audio combo, Card Reader: SD, TPM 2.0
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0
Optical drive
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GUE1N
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 30.4 x 346 x 248 ( = 1.2 x 13.62 x 9.76 in)
Battery
41 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (64 Bit) + Windows 10 Pro (64 Bit)
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, McAfee LiveSafe (trial), MS Office (trial), 36 Months Warranty
Weight
2.1 kg ( = 74.08 oz / 4.63 pounds), Power Supply: 267 g ( = 9.42 oz / 0.59 pounds)
Price
749 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Acer uses a mix of synthetic materials and metal in the test model. The entire laptop is black. The top and the base unit are made of brushed aluminum, whereas the rest of the components are shaped with synthetic material. The display cover and the bottom of the laptop are adorned by a pattern of lines. In addition, there is a maintenance flap on the bottom, which hides the RAM and the SSD. The battery is non-removable.

Acer does not leave behind any major flaws in the workmanship. The display borders should have been cleaned up a bit more, but there are no sharp edges. However, we would expect more sturdiness from a relatively heavy business notebook like this TravelMate. The base unit and the case, on both sides of the keyboard, are easily deformed. Pressure on the display cover will create display artifacts. The hinges keep the panel up but move ever so slightly. A one-hand opening of the cover is possible.

In comparison to the competition, the TravelMate is heavier and bigger. The competition includes models from HP, Lenovo and Dell, which are all 300 to 400 grams lighter than our test model.

Size Comparison

346 mm / 13.6 inch 248 mm / 9.76 inch 30.4 mm / 1.197 inch 2.1 kg4.63 lbs342 mm / 13.5 inch 243 mm / 9.57 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 1.8 kg3.99 lbs339 mm / 13.3 inch 239 mm / 9.41 inch 24 mm / 0.945 inch 1.8 kg4.01 lbs339 mm / 13.3 inch 244 mm / 9.61 inch 21 mm / 0.827 inch 1.7 kg3.68 lbs341 mm / 13.4 inch 236.6 mm / 9.31 inch 17.9 mm / 0.705 inch 1.5 kg3.37 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The TravelMate offers the standard fare of ports. Two of the three Type-A USB ports work with the USB 3.0 standard. A Type-C USB port is not included in the laptop, which is a pity as every laptop is expected to have one in 2016. Two video outputs are offered and the placement of all the ports could be improved. For example, the USB ports are placed level to the hand-rest regions. 

A tip: if you search different online shops for the TravelMate, you will find various pictures which show a Type-C USB port. However, this is the TravelMate P249-M, not the TravelMate P259-M. Acer has mixed up the pictures for the models. As such, the pictures of the sides of the TravelMate P259-M are actually of the TravelMate P249-M. Acer has confirmed this mix-up for us.

Left side: power outlet, VGA, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, 2x USB 3.0 (Type A)
Left side: power outlet, VGA, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, 2x USB 3.0 (Type A)
Right side: audio-combo jack, USB 2.0 (Type A), DVD burner, cable-lock slot
Right side: audio-combo jack, USB 2.0 (Type A), DVD burner, cable-lock slot
A memory-card reader (SD) is placed on the front.
A memory-card reader (SD) is placed on the front.

SD-Card Reader

The memory-card reader is in no hurry. The transfer rate of 250 jpg pictures (each around 5 MB) was 17.3 MB/s. We test memory-card readers with a reference memory card (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II).

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
 
73.2 MB/s +323%
HP ProBook 440 G3
 
72.3 MB/s +318%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
 
23.5 MB/s +36%
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
 
19.1 MB/s +10%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
 
17.3 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
HP ProBook 440 G3
 
86.4 MB/s
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
 
85.1 MB/s
Dell Latitude 14 3470
 
27.6 MB/s
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
 
26.1 MB/s

Communication

The WLAN module installed in the laptop contains an Intel chip (7265). This module supports the 802.11a/b/g/h/n WLAN standards and fast ac standard. We test the laptop with ideal settings (no other WLAN devices nearby, short distance between the notebook and the server PC). Despite these advantageous conditions, the surf speeds of our test model were not very fast. In contrast, the TravelMate X349-M can unlock the true speeds of the WLAN chip. Wired connections work over a Gigabit Ethernet chip made by Realtek (RTL8168/8111 family). This chip works without issues.

Networking
iperf Server (receive) TCP 1 m
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 (jseb)
563 MBit/s +512%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
Atheros AR5BWB222 Wireless Network Adapter
165 MBit/s +79%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
92 MBit/s
iperf Client (transmit) TCP 1 m
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 (jseb)
547 MBit/s +501%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
Atheros AR5BWB222 Wireless Network Adapter
143 MBit/s +57%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
91 MBit/s

Webcam

You should not expect any high quality images from the webcam. The camera suffices for video calls. The max resolution measures 1280x720 pixels.

Security

The P249-M is an entry-level model to the business world. As such, there are not many security measures on-board. On the hardware side, we only noticed the Trusted Platform Module (2.0). A fingerprint sensor is not provided. The TPM is complimented by the Acer ProShield security software.

Accessories

The laptop brings the usual: a quick-start manual and warranty information.

Maintenance

The bottom of the laptop has a maintenance flap, which covers the RAM slots and the Solid State Drive (SSD). A slot for a 2.5-inch hard drive is provided. However, as there is no SATA interface, we cannot add a storage device. To access the rest of the hardware, we have to take the case apart.

Maintenance flap
Maintenance flap

Warranty

Acer has provided a three-year warranty for the test model - including pick-up service. The warranty period can be extended. For example, an on-site warranty service will cost an additional 170 Euros (~$187).

Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies & Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The TravelMate is equipped with a backlit chiclet keyboard. A function key allows the user to control the lighting and adjust the brightness levels. The keys of the laptop offer a short stroke distance and a clear pressure point. The crisp resistance of the keys is satisfying. The letter and number keys have a concave curve, but the rest are flat. All keys have a smooth surface. During typing, the keyboard deforms a little. However, this does not affect the user negatively. Overall, Acer has provided a good keyboard, suitable for typists.

Touchpad

The multi-touch ClickPad of the TravelMate measures 10.5 x 6.5 cm. This provides a lot of space for multi-touch gestures. The various gestures can be configured in the touchpad settings. Furthermore, the smooth surface of the touchpad enables the user to comfortably slide their fingers. The touchpad is responsive in all areas - even the corners. The pad has a short stroke distance and a clear pressure point.

Input devices
Input devices

Display

Pixel grid
Pixel grid

Acer has put a 14-inch display in our test model. This panel has a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The brightness (237.8 cd/m²) and contrast (607:1) could be better, as this is supposed to be a mobile device, capable of being deployed in various locations. At the lowest brightness, the panel exhibits signs of PWM flickering at a frequency of 50 Hz. This can cause headaches or eye problems for users.

247
cd/m²
256
cd/m²
246
cd/m²
235
cd/m²
249
cd/m²
234
cd/m²
225
cd/m²
226
cd/m²
222
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Chi Mei N140HGE-EAA tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 256 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 237.8 cd/m² Minimum: 22.5 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 257 cd/m²
Contrast: 607:1 (Black: 0.41 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 9.09 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 9.92 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
56.7% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
36.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
39.48% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
56.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
38.15% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.42
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
TN LED, 1920x1080, 14.00
HP ProBook 440 G3
TN, 1920x1080, 14.00
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
IPS-Panel, 1920x1080, 14.00
Dell Latitude 14 3470
TN LED, 1366x768, 14.00
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Display
4%
3%
6%
-3%
Display P3 Coverage
38.15
39.6
4%
39.1
2%
40.21
5%
36.97
-3%
sRGB Coverage
56.7
59.1
4%
58.8
4%
60.5
7%
55.6
-2%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
39.48
40.94
4%
40.41
2%
41.55
5%
38.2
-3%
Response Times
-39%
-18%
-35%
-35%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
44 ?(23, 21)
46 ?(24, 22)
-5%
40 ?(17, 23)
9%
47 ?(25, 22)
-7%
42 ?(15, 27)
5%
Response Time Black / White *
16 ?(10, 6)
27.6 ?(11.2, 16.4)
-73%
23.2 ?(6.8, 16.4)
-45%
26 ?(18, 8)
-63%
28 ?(8, 20)
-75%
PWM Frequency
50 ?(10)
Screen
-4%
18%
-14%
26%
Brightness middle
249
246
-1%
233
-6%
206
-17%
230
-8%
Brightness
238
215
-10%
221
-7%
193
-19%
226
-5%
Brightness Distribution
87
84
-3%
88
1%
87
0%
86
-1%
Black Level *
0.41
0.5
-22%
0.3
27%
0.48
-17%
0.2
51%
Contrast
607
492
-19%
777
28%
429
-29%
1150
89%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
9.09
8.6
5%
4.43
51%
11
-21%
5.07
44%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
14.64
19.57
-34%
10.07
31%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
9.92
9.36
6%
3.78
62%
11.51
-16%
3.64
63%
Gamma
2.42 91%
2.39 92%
2.31 95%
2.23 99%
2.46 89%
CCT
11177 58%
11226 58%
7171 91%
13671 48%
6521 100%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
36.5
37.8
4%
37.3
2%
38.46
5%
35
-4%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
56.7
59.1
4%
58.7
4%
60.61
7%
55
-3%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-13% / -7%
1% / 10%
-14% / -13%
-4% / 12%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 50 Hz ≤ 10 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 50 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 10 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 50 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

TravelMate vs. sRGB
TravelMate vs. sRGB
TravelMate vs. AdobeRGB
TravelMate vs. AdobeRGB

Out-of-the-box, the DeltaE-2000 color deviation measures 9.09. Ideally, the value should be lower than 3. Furthermore, the display suffers from a blue tinge. The AdobeRGB and sRGB color spaces are not fully covered. The coverage measures 36.5% (AdobeRGB) and 56.7% (sRGB).

CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Saturation
CalMAN - Saturation

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
16 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 10 ms rise
↘ 6 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 31 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
44 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 23 ms rise
↘ 21 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 69 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Surprisingly, Acer has not installed an IPS panel, but rather a TN panel with unstable viewing angles. This means the user cannot view the content clearly from all sides. Thankfully, the TN panel is one of the better ones available on the market, which means the viewing angles are a little wider. The TravelMate can be used outdoors, as long as the user is not in direct sunlight.

Outdoors
Outdoors
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance

The Acer TravelMate P249-M is an entry-level, 14-inch business notebook. The laptop has sufficient performance for everyday tasks. Sadly, the manufacturer does not offer docking stations, fingerprint readers or an LTE modem for this model. Our test model is available in this configuration for 720 Euros (~$794). At the time of testing, only one other configuration was available and a review of it will be provided in the near future on Notebookcheck.com.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWInfo
LatencyMon
 

Processor

The TravelMate P249 M series uses the conservative ULV processors (TDP: 15 W) of the Skylake generation. Our test model is equipped with the Core i5-6200U dual-core processor. This is a middle-class CPU, which can fulfill most of our needs. We could not test the TravelMate P249 M models, which are equipped with a Core i7 processor, as these were not available at the time of testing. We cannot recommend buying such a model as the performance increase is not worth the premium. The Core i5 CPU of our test model runs at a base clock speed of 2.3 GHz. With Turbo, it can jump up to 2.7 GHz (both cores) and 2.8 GHz (single core). The Turbo can be used while on battery and while plugged in.

The Core i5-7200U is the Kaby Lake successor of the Core i5-6200U CPU. This new CPU is already on the market and offers a 10-15% increase in performance, due to its higher clock speeds (2.7 to 3.1 GHz). Otherwise, Skylake and Kaby Lake are quite similar on the technical side.

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
7845
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
10003
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4396
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
34.78 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
3.24 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.33 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
40.56 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
294 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
117 Points
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel Core i7-6500U
130 Points +11%
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
Intel Core i5-7200U
129 Points +10%
Dell Vostro 5468
Intel Core i5-7200U
129 Points +10%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel Core i5-6200U
117 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
Intel Core i5-6200U
114 Points -3%
HP ProBook 440 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
114 Points -3%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
Intel Core i3-6100U
97 Points -17%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
Intel Core i5-7200U
331 Points +13%
Dell Vostro 5468
Intel Core i5-7200U
327 Points +11%
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel Core i7-6500U
324 Points +10%
HP ProBook 440 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
294 Points 0%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel Core i5-6200U
294 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
Intel Core i5-6200U
290 Points -1%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
Intel Core i3-6100U
250 Points -15%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
Intel Core i5-7200U
11301 Points +13%
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel Core i7-6500U
11042 Points +10%
HP ProBook 440 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
10048 Points 0%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel Core i5-6200U
10003 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
Intel Core i5-6200U
9926 Points -1%
Rendering Single 32Bit
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
Intel Core i5-7200U
5022 Points +14%
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel Core i7-6500U
4911 Points +12%
HP ProBook 440 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
4441 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
Intel Core i5-6200U
4396 Points 0%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel Core i5-6200U
4396 Points
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Single-Core Score
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel Core i7-6500U
3191 Points +8%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel Core i5-6200U
2952 Points
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
Intel Core i5-7200U
2888 Points -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
Intel Core i5-6200U
2576 Points -13%
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel Core i7-6500U
6723 Points +10%
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
Intel Core i5-7200U
6370 Points +5%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel Core i5-6200U
6088 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
Intel Core i5-6200U
5530 Points -9%
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel Core i7-6500U
3906 Points +8%
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
Intel Core i5-7200U
3626 Points +1%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel Core i5-6200U
3601 Points
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel Core i7-6500U
7303 Points +8%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel Core i5-6200U
6780 Points
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
Intel Core i5-7200U
6760 Points 0%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
Intel Core i5-7200U
220.8 Points +14%
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel Core i7-6500U
213.8 Points +11%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel Core i5-6200U
193.4 Points
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel Core i5-6200U
97.6 Points -50%
HP ProBook 440 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
189.1 Points -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
Intel Core i5-6200U
174.3 Points -10%

System Performance

A fast SSD and strong processor ensure that the system runs smoothly. We did not encounter any issues. The result of the PCMark benchmark is very good. It is not possible to further increase the system performance.

PCMark 7 Score
4603 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3472 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
3760 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4463 points
Help
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Liteonit CV3-8D512
3545 Points +2%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
3472 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
Radeon R7 M360, 6200U, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS
3415 Points -2%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
HD Graphics 520, 6100U, Toshiba MQ01ACF050
3074 Points -11%
HP ProBook 440 G3
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
2871 Points -17%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
4463 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
Radeon R7 M360, 6200U, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS
4415 Points -1%
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Liteonit CV3-8D512
4361 Points -2%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
HD Graphics 520, 6100U, Toshiba MQ01ACF050
3982 Points -11%
HP ProBook 440 G3
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
3840 Points -14%

Storage Devices

The system drive is an SSD from HFS. This is an M.2 model (2280) with a capacity of 256 GB. Around 180 GB is available for use. The remaining space is occupied by the Windows installation and the recovery partition. The transfer speeds of the SSD are also quite good. All typical M.2 SSDs can be used (2240, 2260, 2280). The holder, to which the M.2 SSD is secured, can be removed and adjusted for smaller models.

The TravelMate has some free space available, which would accommodate a 2.5-inch hard drive. However, we could not install such a drive as there is no SATA interface provided. The SATA interface is normally included in the form of a connector cable. The buyer must ask Acer if such a cable is optionally available.

Swapping the SSD is possible.
Swapping the SSD is possible.
The mechanism to secure the SSD...
The mechanism to secure the SSD...
...can be adjusted.
...can be adjusted.
Even smaller M.2 SSDs (2260, 2240) can be used.
Even smaller M.2 SSDs (2260, 2240) can be used.
Not possible to install a 2.5-inch hard drive.
Not possible to install a 2.5-inch hard drive.
No SATA slot.
No SATA slot.
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
Sequential Read: 510 MB/s
Sequential Write: 267.2 MB/s
512K Read: 347.6 MB/s
512K Write: 267.5 MB/s
4K Read: 33.12 MB/s
4K Write: 95.9 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 392.8 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 266.4 MB/s
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
HP ProBook 440 G3
Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS
Dell Latitude 14 3470
Toshiba MQ01ACF050
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Liteonit CV3-8D512
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-87%
-44%
-90%
10%
Read Seq
510
124.8
-76%
497.6
-2%
108.9
-79%
484.1
-5%
Write Seq
267.2
123.6
-54%
180
-33%
103.2
-61%
449.8
68%
Read 512
347.6
42.34
-88%
297.1
-15%
399.1
15%
Write 512
267.5
61.9
-77%
169.1
-37%
355.1
33%
Read 4k
33.12
0.559
-98%
18.91
-43%
0.362
-99%
33.44
1%
Write 4k
95.9
1.277
-99%
37.13
-61%
0.946
-99%
67.5
-30%
Read 4k QD32
392.8
1.179
-100%
95.7
-76%
0.721
-100%
368.5
-6%
Write 4k QD32
266.4
1.304
-100%
37.26
-86%
0.901
-100%
280.6
5%

Graphics Card

The Intel HD Graphics 520 GPU is installed in our test model. It supports DirectX 12 and works at 300-950 MHz. Thanks to dual-channel mode, the RAM can provide higher performance and the results of the 3D Mark benchmarks are quite good, in comparison to devices using single-channel mode.

The GPU offers a decoder, which should alleviate the load on the processor while playing videos. The typical formats, like H.264 and its successor H.265, are supported. During playback of our test video (4k, 60 fps, H.265), the CPU load was below 10%. 

3DMark 06 Standard Score
9061 points
3DMark 11 Performance
1503 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
53902 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
5329 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
736 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
AMD Radeon R7 M360, Intel Core i5-6200U
1989 Points +48%
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i7-6500U
1481 Points +10%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i5-6200U
1343 Points
HP ProBook 440 G3
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i5-6200U
1143 Points -15%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i3-6100U
1063 Points -21%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i7-6500U
7407 Points +7%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i5-6200U
6924 Points
HP ProBook 440 G3
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i5-6200U
5600 Points -19%
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
AMD Radeon R7 M360, Intel Core i5-6200U
5330 Points -23%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i3-6100U
5238 Points -24%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
AMD Radeon R7 M360, Intel Core i5-6200U
1109 Points +41%
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i7-6500U
864 Points +10%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i5-6200U
786 Points
HP ProBook 440 G3
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i5-6200U
625 Points -20%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i3-6100U
569 Points -28%

Gaming Performance

The TravelMate can be used for gaming occasionally. This model is best suited for simple games, without high hardware requirements, as even less demanding games need to use lower settings to run at an acceptable rate. Current hits, like Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and Mafia 3, would be too demanding for this laptop to run.

low med. high ultra
Tomb Raider (2013) 76.4 38.4 23.8 11.1
BioShock Infinite (2013) 50.9 26.8 22.2 6.6
Battlefield 4 (2013) 31.2 23.3 10.6 4.2
Battlefield 1 (2016) 30.1 15.7 7.3 6.5
Farming Simulator 17 (2016) 82.1 52.2 20.6 12
Titanfall 2 (2016) 33.1 23.9 8.5

Emissions

Fan noise
Fan noise

System Noise

The test model is not very noisy. While idle, the fan is often off, which leads to the laptop being completely silent. During the stress test, the fan only turned up slightly. We measured 36 dB.

Noise Level

Idle
31.8 / 31.8 / 31.8 dB(A)
DVD
35.9 / dB(A)
Load
35.7 / 36 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 31.8 dB(A)
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
6200U, HD Graphics 520
HP ProBook 440 G3
6200U, HD Graphics 520
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
6200U, Radeon R7 M360
Dell Latitude 14 3470
6100U, HD Graphics 520
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
6500U, HD Graphics 520
Noise
6%
7%
3%
4%
off / environment *
31.8
29.2
8%
31.15
2%
Idle Minimum *
31.8
29.7
7%
29
9%
32.3
-2%
31.5
1%
Idle Average *
31.8
29.7
7%
29
9%
32.3
-2%
31.5
1%
Idle Maximum *
31.8
29.7
7%
29
9%
32.3
-2%
31.5
1%
Load Average *
35.7
32.7
8%
33.1
7%
33.3
7%
31.7
11%
Load Maximum *
36
35.1
2%
35.6
1%
33.4
7%
34.1
5%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

The TravelMate runs our stress test (Prime95 and Furmark run simultaneously for at least an hour) the same way while on battery and while plugged in. The CPU (2.7 GHz) and GPU (950 MHz) operate at full speeds. The laptop does not heat up much: We measured only two points on the case at which the laptop crossed the 40 °C mark during the stress test.

Max. Load
 33.7 °C
93 F
29.6 °C
85 F
26 °C
79 F
 
 34.8 °C
95 F
32.8 °C
91 F
26.9 °C
80 F
 
 3.9 °C
39 F
31.6 °C
89 F
27 °C
81 F
 
Maximum: 34.8 °C = 95 F
Average: 27.4 °C = 81 F
28.8 °C
84 F
30 °C
86 F
42.8 °C
109 F
30.4 °C
87 F
29.8 °C
86 F
41 °C
106 F
28.6 °C
83 F
31.6 °C
89 F
36.2 °C
97 F
Maximum: 42.8 °C = 109 F
Average: 33.2 °C = 92 F
Power Supply (max.)  37.4 °C = 99 F | Room Temperature 21 °C = 70 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 27.4 °C / 81 F, compared to the average of 29.5 °C / 85 F for the devices in the class Office.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 34.8 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 34.2 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42.8 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22.9 °C / 73 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 31.6 °C / 88.9 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (-3.9 °C / -7 F).
Heat-map top (load)
Heat-map top (load)
Heat-map bottom (load)
Heat-map bottom (load)
Heat-map top (idle)
Heat-map top (idle)
Heat-map bottom (idle)
Heat-map bottom (idle)
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
6200U, HD Graphics 520
HP ProBook 440 G3
6200U, HD Graphics 520
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
6200U, Radeon R7 M360
Dell Latitude 14 3470
6100U, HD Graphics 520
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
6500U, HD Graphics 520
Heat
-24%
-19%
-18%
1%
Maximum Upper Side *
34.8
41.4
-19%
47.8
-37%
38.9
-12%
38.6
-11%
Maximum Bottom *
42.8
50.2
-17%
48.3
-13%
37.7
12%
39.5
8%
Idle Upper Side *
24.6
34
-38%
28.6
-16%
35.1
-43%
24.8
-1%
Idle Bottom *
27.8
33.3
-20%
30.6
-10%
35.5
-28%
25.4
9%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

The stereo speakers of the TravelMate are installed on the bottom of the laptop. They produce clear sound but lack bass. For a better sound experience, we recommend external speakers or headphones.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs203932.8392538.335.338.33136.832.436.84039.232.139.25038.83338.8633833388039.429.639.410039.628.639.612541.426.941.416043.325.743.320045.926.445.925049.723.549.73155523.85540057.22257.250060.121.560.163064.421.464.480066.520.866.5100060.719.960.712505819.258160059.81959.8200061.718.761.7250063.218.663.2315068.918.468.9400074.218.574.2500070.918.370.9630070.718.370.7800068.918.368.9100006518.2651250065.31865.31600061.918.161.9SPL8031.680N44.11.744.1median 61.7median 19.2median 61.7Delta6.52.76.535.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAcer TravelMate P249-M-5452Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (72 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.9% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.5% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 7.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 32% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 61% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 41% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 51% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes can be selected)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

We did not notice any power consumption anomalies while operating the TravelMate. While idle, the laptop needs a max of 8 W. During the stress test, this rises to 32.5 W, which is normal for this hardware platform. The power adapter offers 45 W.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.15 / 0.19 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.8 / 7.6 / 8 Watt
Load midlight 30.5 / 32.5 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
6200U, HD Graphics 520
HP ProBook 440 G3
6200U, HD Graphics 520
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
6200U, Radeon R7 M360
Dell Latitude 14 3470
6100U, HD Graphics 520
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
6500U, HD Graphics 520
Power Consumption
-11%
-23%
-3%
-8%
Idle Minimum *
3.8
5.2
-37%
4.1
-8%
5
-32%
4.9
-29%
Idle Average *
7.6
8.2
-8%
8
-5%
6.8
11%
7.3
4%
Idle Maximum *
8
9
-13%
8.9
-11%
8.9
-11%
9.4
-18%
Load Average *
30.5
28.8
6%
39.3
-29%
26.2
14%
26
15%
Load Maximum *
32.5
34
-5%
52.2
-61%
31.8
2%
36
-11%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Our practical WLAN test runs for 6:40 hours on the test model. This test checks the battery life of the model while surfing the web. The "Balanced" power profile is active with power-saving options turned off and brightness set to around 150 cd/m². To check the battery life while playing movies, we ran the short film Big Buck Bunny (H.264 coding, 1920x1080 pixels) in a loop. The wireless modules were turned off with power-saving options inactive and brightness set to around 150 cd/m². This allows the laptop to run for 6:01 hours.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
13h 11min
WiFi Websurfing (IE 11)
6h 40min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
6h 01min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 27min
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
6200U, HD Graphics 520, 41 Wh
HP ProBook 440 G3
6200U, HD Graphics 520, 44 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad E460-20EUS00000
6200U, Radeon R7 M360, 47 Wh
Dell Latitude 14 3470
6100U, HD Graphics 520, 41 Wh
Acer TravelMate X3 X349-M-7261
6500U, HD Graphics 520, 48.9 Wh
Battery Runtime
-14%
3%
5%
5%
Reader / Idle
791
537
-32%
736
-7%
668
-16%
675
-15%
H.264
361
321
-11%
425
18%
400
11%
WiFi v1.3
400
293
-27%
292
-27%
278
-30%
392
-2%
Load
87
101
16%
112
29%
140
61%
109
25%

Pros

+ matte panel
+ fast SSD
+ quiet
+ reliable keyboard
+ keyboard backlight
+ good battery life
+ maintenance flap
+ 3 years warranty

Cons

- no IPS screen
- dark display with poor viewing angles
- no Type-C USB
- slow memory-card reader

Verdict

In review: Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452. Test model provided by Acer Germany.
In review: Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452. Test model provided by Acer Germany.

Acer wants to serve entry-level business users with the TravelMate P249-M. The user group includes companies, freelancers and students. Typical business features, like a fingerprint reader, docking port or LTE modem, are not included. The processor provides sufficient performance for everyday tasks and the laptop works quietly and barely heats up. A fast SSD ensures that the system runs smoothly. Swapping the SSD via the maintenance flap is not a problem. The battery life and input devices are also good. The manufacturer rounds off the package with a three-year warranty. We can only criticize the screen as Acer has chosen a TN panel, which offers decent contrast, but poor viewing angles and brightness.

The Acer TravelMate P249-M is a reliable work device, which deserves a better display.

Our test model is the top model of this series, as it is equipped with an FHD screen, Core-i5 CPU and SSD. If you prefer lower prices, look to the entry-level configuration (P249-M-3895). The price for the cheaper models is around 560-580 Euros (~$618-~$639). We will publish a review of this configuration in the near future on Notebookcheck.com.

If you do not like the looks of the P249-M, we recommend taking a look at the Acer TravelMate X349-M, which is a more stylish option. The X349-M is equipped with a slim, aluminum case, an IPS panel (P249-M: TN LED), a fingerprint sensor and a Type-C USB slot. The P249-M offers a better keyboard and upgrade options.

Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452 - 11/01/2016 v5.1(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
80 / 98 → 81%
Keyboard
85%
Pointing Device
87%
Connectivity
44 / 80 → 55%
Weight
62 / 20-67 → 89%
Battery
87%
Display
79%
Games Performance
54 / 68 → 80%
Application Performance
81 / 92 → 88%
Temperature
94%
Noise
90%
Audio
53%
Camera
40 / 85 → 47%
Average
72%
82%
Office - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452 (Core i5, Full HD) Notebook Review
Sascha Mölck, 2016-11- 7 (Update: 2019-04-21)