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Fujitsu LifeBook A557 (Core i5, Full-HD) Laptop Review

A solid office device! With the introduction of the ULV processors into Fujitsu's LifeBooks, they had to suffer some losses in terms of performance. In this short test we have summarized for you whether things are looking up again with the new Kaby Lake processors.

For the original German review, see here.

Anyone looking for a low cost laptop primarily for office work will be well-served by the Fujitsu LifeBook A557. The LifeBook A557 is equipped with an Intel Core i5-7200U, which belongs to the latest generation of Intel processors. This laptop, which also offers 8 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB SSD, might be quite interesting, especially for students. Equipped with a 15.6-inch FHD display, our test device currently costs 649 Euro (~$682). Despite its low price, the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 can keep up with competing laptops that are slightly higher priced in terms of performance. We have prepared an overview of comparison laptops for you in the following chart. 

HP ProBook 450 G4 HP ProBook 655 G2 Dell Latitude 15 3570 Lenovo ThinkPad E560 Acer TravelMate P257
CPU Intel Core i7-7500U AMD Pro A8-8600B Intel Core i5-6200U Intel Core i7-6500U Intel Core i5-5200U
GPU Nvidia GeForce 930MX AMD Radeon R6 (Carrizo) Intel HD Graphics 520 AMD Radeon R7 M370 Intel HD Graphics 5500
Panel 15,6 Inch FHD 15,6 Inch HD 15,6 Inch HD 15,6 Inch FHD 15,6 Inch FHD
RAM 8 GB DDR4-2133 4 GB DDR3-1600 8 GB DDR3L-1600 8 GB DDR3L-1600 8 GB DDR3L-1600
Price 1.120 Euros (~$1176) 899 Euros (~$944) 629 Euros (~$660) 930 Euros (~$977) 899 Euros (~$944)
Lifebook A557 (LifeBook A Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-7200U 2 x 2.5 - 3.1 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 620, 21.20.16.4542 WHQL
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4-2133, 1/2 slots used, max. 32 GB
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, BOE NV156FHM-N42, a-Si TFT-LCD , LCM, 262K 47% (CIE1931), 60Hz, antiglare, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U Premium PCH
Storage
Samsung MZ7TN512HDHP-00000, 512 GB 
, 410 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek High Definition Audio
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: stereo, Card Reader: SD/SDHC/SDXC
Networking
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Wireless-AC 7265 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0
Optical drive
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GUD0N
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 30.9 x 378 x 256 ( = 1.22 x 14.88 x 10.08 in)
Battery
49 Wh, 4200 mAh Lithium-Ion, removeable
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: Full HD with Status-LED
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, power supply, MacAfee Life Safe (test version), 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.254 kg ( = 79.51 oz / 4.97 pounds), Power Supply: 313 g ( = 11.04 oz / 0.69 pounds)
Price
649 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case and Connectivity

Fujitsu carries the design of the LifeBook A555 into the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 without any changes to the form and color. With a thickness of 3.1 centimeters (~1.2 in), the black plastic casing appears massive, although its stability does not quite correspond to this visual impression. However, the build is very clean and there are no ugly gaps. The design is unspectacular, practical, and not too susceptible to fingerprints. Visually the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 appears slightly dated and cannot keep up with the competition in this subjective regard. However, the three maintenance flaps are very good and can be removed easily, so that nothing should hinder upgrading (the RAM or SSD) later. The display is well supported by the two hinges, though they cannot prevent some slight bounce back. The diversity of connectivity offered is also similar to that of the Fujitsu LifeBook A555. Altogether the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 has four USB ports, three of which offer the USB 3.0 standard. The icing on the cake, however, would have been if the manufacturer had gone with the times and provided our test device with a USB C port. In our opinion, this is more future-proof and should not be missing in a new purchase. Moreover, the position of the ports is not well-thought-out, since the three USB 3.0 connectors are positioned on the left side directly underneath the hand rest. The distance between the ports is also slightly too small, so that the neighboring USB port can be blocked easily.

Size Comparison

378 mm / 14.9 inch 256 mm / 10.1 inch 30.9 mm / 1.217 inch 2.3 kg4.97 lbs382 mm / 15 inch 256 mm / 10.1 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 2.4 kg5.29 lbs382 mm / 15 inch 263 mm / 10.4 inch 24 mm / 0.945 inch 2 kg4.5 lbs378 mm / 14.9 inch 257 mm / 10.1 inch 27.4 mm / 1.079 inch 2.3 kg5.09 lbs377 mm / 14.8 inch 256 mm / 10.1 inch 27.1 mm / 1.067 inch 2.4 kg5.18 lbs380 mm / 15 inch 260 mm / 10.2 inch 23.25 mm / 0.915 inch 2.1 kg4.54 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs
Left: Kensington Security Slot, Ethernet (RJ-45), air vents, VGA, HDMI, 3x USB 3.0
Left: Kensington Security Slot, Ethernet (RJ-45), air vents, VGA, HDMI, 3x USB 3.0
Right: audio in/out, 1x USB 2.0, DVD Super Multi, power
Right: audio in/out, 1x USB 2.0, DVD Super Multi, power
Front: status LED's, SD-card reader
Front: status LED's, SD-card reader
Back: no connections
Back: no connections
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
 
121 MB/s
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
 
72.7 MB/s -40%
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
 
66.3 MB/s -45%
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
 
36.3 MB/s -70%
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
 
25.5 MB/s -79%
Dell Latitude 15-3570
 
22.24 MB/s -82%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
 
180.5 MB/s
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
 
89 MB/s -51%
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
 
85.6 MB/s -53%
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
 
26 MB/s -86%
Dell Latitude 15-3570
 
24.15 MB/s -87%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Dell XPS 13 9360 QHD+ i5
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
680 MBit/s +22%
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
665 MBit/s +19%
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Wireless-AC 7265
558 MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Dell XPS 13 9360 QHD+ i5
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
676 MBit/s 0%
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Wireless-AC 7265
675 MBit/s
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
495 MBit/s -27%

Input Devices

Keyboard and Touchpad

The adequate chiclet keyboard of the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 is set slightly lowered into the top of the base. The individual keys have a comfortable size and a noticeable pressure point that does not feel spongy. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not offer a keyboard with a backlight. However, the white key lettering is easily readable. With a size of 10.5 x 5.9 centimeters (~4.1 x ~2.4 in), the touchpad is sufficiently large. Its smooth surface always registers the input correctly, and there were no problems during our testing period. The touchpad's two input keys worked similarly well without any problems, although they made a clicking noise that was clearly audible. 

Keyboard of the Fujitsu LifeBook A557
Keyboard of the Fujitsu LifeBook A557
Touchpad of the Fujitsu LifeBook A557
Touchpad of the Fujitsu LifeBook A557

Display

Subpixel structure
Subpixel structure
Clearly visible screen bleeding
Clearly visible screen bleeding

Despite its attractive price of 649 Euros (~$682), Fujitsu uses a 15.6-inch IPS panel with a 1920x1080 resolution in the LifeBook A557. Nevertheless, as an alternative the manufacturer also offers a lower priced HD panel (1366x768 Pixel). In our test system the average brightness is only 260 cd/m², even though the LifeBook A557 still has the brightest panel here in comparison. Furthermore, in terms of contrast (1305:1) and black level (0.22), our test sample fares well compared with the competition, sometimes by a clear margin. The brightness distribution of the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 does not convince however, since with 83% it falls considerably below the average. The panel used, clearly struggles with screen bleeding. As can be seen clearly in the image, the top corners as well as some areas at the bottom of the screen appear significantly lighter.

264
cd/m²
257
cd/m²
262
cd/m²
262
cd/m²
287
cd/m²
266
cd/m²
237
cd/m²
263
cd/m²
239
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
BOE NV156FHM-N42 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 287 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 259.7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 83 %
Center on Battery: 287 cd/m²
Contrast: 1305:1 (Black: 0.22 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.21 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.68 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
63% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
40% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
43.24% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
62.9% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
41.85% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.5
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
BOE NV156FHM-N42, , 1920x1080, 15.60
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
Chi Mei CMN15C4, , 1920x1080, 15.60
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
BOE, , 1366x768, 15.60
Dell Latitude 15-3570
LG Philips LGD04AF / 156WHU, , 1366x768, 15.60
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Lenovo LP156WF6-SPK2, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
AU Optronics AUO38ED, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Display
-5%
6%
-3%
-8%
-10%
Display P3 Coverage
41.85
39.89
-5%
44.49
6%
40.61
-3%
38.5
-8%
37.78
-10%
sRGB Coverage
62.9
59.5
-5%
66.9
6%
61.1
-3%
57.5
-9%
56.8
-10%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
43.24
41.24
-5%
45.97
6%
41.96
-3%
39.8
-8%
39.04
-10%
Response Times
-18%
12%
14%
33%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
55 ?(24, 31)
51 ?(23, 28)
7%
44 ?(21, 23)
20%
37 ?(13, 24)
33%
38.4 ?(13.2, 25.2)
30%
Response Time Black / White *
35 ?(19, 16)
30 ?(10, 20)
14%
29 ?(9, 20)
17%
37 ?(20, 17)
-6%
22.4 ?(6.4, 16)
36%
PWM Frequency
200 ?(90)
50 ?(40)
-75%
200 ?(90)
0%
Screen
-80%
-74%
-103%
-32%
-72%
Brightness middle
287
214
-25%
248
-14%
202
-30%
257
-10%
205
-29%
Brightness
260
201
-23%
230
-12%
211
-19%
234
-10%
210
-19%
Brightness Distribution
83
77
-7%
88
6%
88
6%
83
0%
71
-14%
Black Level *
0.22
0.43
-95%
0.56
-155%
0.62
-182%
0.27
-23%
0.4
-82%
Contrast
1305
498
-62%
443
-66%
326
-75%
952
-27%
513
-61%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.21
10.68
-154%
8.7
-107%
12.35
-193%
7.16
-70%
9.76
-132%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
8.81
18.07
-105%
14.96
-70%
19.9
-126%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.68
11.32
-322%
11.48
-328%
13.46
-402%
6.28
-134%
10.47
-291%
Gamma
2.5 88%
2.26 97%
2.38 92%
2.44 90%
2.44 90%
2.56 86%
CCT
6066 107%
12204 53%
11179 58%
15217 43%
6806 96%
12103 54%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
40
38
-5%
42
5%
39
-2%
36.6
-8%
36
-10%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
63
59
-6%
67
6%
61
-3%
57.3
-9%
57
-10%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-34% / -55%
-19% / -43%
-31% / -67%
-2% / -18%
-41% / -57%

* ... smaller is better

Grayscale
Grayscale
ColorChecker
ColorChecker
Saturation
Saturation
sRGB coverage: 63%
sRGB coverage: 63%
AdobeRGB coverage: 40%
AdobeRGB coverage: 40%

Thanks to the good contrast and low black level, the display quality is impressive. Colors are displayed vibrantly and do not appear washed out or blurry. 

With the average DeltaE 2000 shift in the grayscale levels as well as the colors compared to the sRGB reference color space, we are measuring values in the state of delivery that are quite good (2.68 and 4.21). By calibrating the display these values can still be optimized slightly further. The corresponding ICC profile is linked and can be downloaded. You can find it directly above the comparison chart.

Having said this, the color space coverage quite clearly shows that this is an entry-level laptop, because the display of the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 can reproduce only 63% of the sRGB color space and 40% of the AdobeRGB color space. With these values the display is only sufficient for amateur image processing.

Due to its matte screen that completely prevents reflections, the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 can also be used outside within limits. If using the laptop outside cannot be avoided, we primarily advise to find a shady place. Here you can see that, even though the average brightness of 260 cd/m² is sufficient, it cannot completely convince.

The Fujitsu LifeBook A557 in the shade ...
The Fujitsu LifeBook A557 in the shade ...
... and in the sun.
... and in the sun.

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
35 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 19 ms rise
↘ 16 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 91 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
55 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 24 ms rise
↘ 31 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. » 90 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

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 200 Hz ≤ 90 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 200 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 90 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 200 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

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.

The Fujitsu LifeBook A557 convinces in the test of viewing angles, and due to the IPS panel the reference image is displayed well from all nine positions. Only when viewing from the four corners a slight light veil overlays the image, which should however not impact everyday usage, since this phenomenon can only be seen looking from a very wide angle.

The viewing angles of the Fujitsu LifeBook A557
The viewing angles of the Fujitsu LifeBook A557

Performance

The Fujitsu LifeBook A557 is a pure office notebook that, due to its attractive price, is also a good option for students. With enough RAM at its disposal, the performance of the ULV processor proves clearly sufficient for the intended usage. Of course the SSD does its part in the system running smoothly. Though we recommend the SSD at this point, you can, however, also purchase the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 with a conventional hard drive.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWiNFO
DPC latency
Intel Extreme Tuning Utility
Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (benchmark)

Processor

The Intel Core i5-7200U is positioned under the heat pipe.
The Intel Core i5-7200U is positioned under the heat pipe.

The heart of the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 comes from Intel and bears the name Intel Core i5-7200U. The processor possesses two cores, can process four threads simultaneously, and is soldered in. The power of the small SoC is well implemented. Behind the HP ProBook 450 G4, our test system comes into second place in the comparison.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
Intel Core i7-7500U
146 Points +13%
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U
129 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U
124 Points -4%
Dell Latitude 15-3570
Intel Core i5-6200U
116 Points -10%
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
Intel Core i5-5200U
109 Points -16%
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
AMD Pro A8-8600B
69 Points -47%
CPU Multi 64Bit
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
Intel Core i7-7500U
355 Points +7%
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U
332 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U
319 Points -4%
Dell Latitude 15-3570
Intel Core i5-6200U
290 Points -13%
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
Intel Core i5-5200U
260 Points -22%
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
AMD Pro A8-8600B
181 Points -45%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U
1.47 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U
1.45 Points -1%
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
Intel Core i5-5200U
1.24 Points -16%
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
AMD Pro A8-8600B
0.81 Points -45%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U
3.67 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U
3.55 Points -3%
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
Intel Core i5-5200U
2.85 Points -22%
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
AMD Pro A8-8600B
2.18 Points -41%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U
6395 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U
6343 Points -1%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U
14554 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U
14045 Points -3%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
Intel Core i7-7500U
238.6 Points +17%
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U
203.9 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U
189.6 Points -7%
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
AMD Pro A8-8600B
61.4 Points -70%
Octane V2 - Total Score
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
Intel Core i7-7500U
35703 Points +23%
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U
29745 Points +3%
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U
28982 Points
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
Intel Core i5-5200U
13295 Points -54%
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
AMD Pro A8-8600B
8351 Points -71%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
AMD Pro A8-8600B
3826 ms * -230%
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
Intel Core i5-5200U
2551 ms * -120%
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U
1161 ms *
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U
1104 ms * +5%
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
Intel Core i7-7500U
998 ms * +14%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10
Cinebench R10
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15
Jetstream 1.1
Jetstream 1.1
Octane V2
Octane V2
Mozilla Kraken 1.1
Mozilla Kraken 1.1
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
8271
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
11009
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5011
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
8393 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
14554 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
6395 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
3.67 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
30.16 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.47 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
332 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
129 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.7 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
39.02 fps
Help
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Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

Even under constant load, the power of the processor can be retrieved well. All results in the Cinebench R15 Multi repetition remain relatively constant and there are no outliers.

System Performance

The separate components in our test system are well attuned to each other. This can also be seen in the results of the PCMark 8 tests. In terms of points, the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 joins the top. In contrast, the HP ProBook 655 G2, which is equipped with the AMD Pro A8-8600B, ended up far behind in the last place. The results of the PCMark 8 tests confirm the subjective impressions that we have gathered during the tests. Due to the SSD, the system becomes quickly operational after turning it on, and it rarely interrupts for processing. The 8 GB of RAM is sufficient for the intended purpose and if necessary can be expanded up to 32 GB.

It is also worth mentioning the performance of the SD-card reader which, with its very good results, shames the competition.

PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Creative
PCMark 8 Creative
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 7
PCMark 7
PCMark Vantage
PCMark Vantage
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS
3595 Points +1%
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U, 2500 MHz, Samsung MZ7TN512HDHP-00000
3556 Points
Dell Latitude 15-3570
Intel Core i5-6200U, 2300 MHz, Samsung CM871 MZNLF128HCHP
3337 Points -6%
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002
3163 Points -11%
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
Intel Core i5-5200U, 2200 MHz, Kingston RBU-SC150S37256GD
3090 Points -13%
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
AMD Pro A8-8600B, 1600 MHz, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
2634 Points -26%
Work Score Accelerated v2
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
Intel Core i7-7500U, 2700 MHz, SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002
4725 Points 0%
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U, 2500 MHz, Samsung MZ7TN512HDHP-00000
4713 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS
4650 Points -1%
Dell Latitude 15-3570
Intel Core i5-6200U, 2300 MHz, Samsung CM871 MZNLF128HCHP
4477 Points -5%
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
Intel Core i5-5200U, 2200 MHz, Kingston RBU-SC150S37256GD
3979 Points -16%
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
AMD Pro A8-8600B, 1600 MHz, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
3577 Points -24%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U, 2500 MHz, Samsung MZ7TN512HDHP-00000
4375 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS
4049 Points -7%
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
AMD Pro A8-8600B, 1600 MHz, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
2607 Points -40%
PCMark 7
Score
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U, 2500 MHz, Samsung MZ7TN512HDHP-00000
5115 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS
5102 Points 0%
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
Intel Core i5-5200U, 2200 MHz, Kingston RBU-SC150S37256GD
4293 Points -16%
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
AMD Pro A8-8600B, 1600 MHz, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
1888 Points -63%
Productivity
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel Core i5-7200U, 2500 MHz, Samsung MZ7TN512HDHP-00000
4359 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Intel Core i7-6500U, 2500 MHz, Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS
4032 Points -8%
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
Intel Core i5-5200U, 2200 MHz, Kingston RBU-SC150S37256GD
3618 Points -17%
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
AMD Pro A8-8600B, 1600 MHz, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
1151 Points -74%
PCMark Vantage Result
15019 points
PCMark 7 Score
5115 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3556 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4375 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4713 points
Help

Storage Device

The 2.5-inch SSD (512 GB)
The 2.5-inch SSD (512 GB)
The SSD can be switched out quickly.
The SSD can be switched out quickly.

The storage drive is a 512 GB SSD from Samsung. This 2.5-inch SSD is connected via SATA speeds.

Testing the performance with AS SSD, we are measuring sequential read speeds of 511 MB/s and sequential write speeds of a respectable 484 MB/s. The 4K read and write speeds are also good. 

In our comparison chart the striking performance difference to a conventional hard disk that is in the HP ProBook 655 G2, can be clearly seen.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CrystalDiskMark
CrystalDiskMark
CrystalDiskInfo
CrystalDiskInfo
ATTO
ATTO
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Samsung MZ7TN512HDHP-00000
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
Dell Latitude 15-3570
Samsung CM871 MZNLF128HCHP
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
Samsung CM871 MZ7LF192HCGS
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
Kingston RBU-SC150S37256GD
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-91%
-57%
-53%
-20%
Read Seq
504
122.1
-76%
453.2
-10%
462
-8%
507
1%
Write Seq
503
110.7
-78%
137.7
-73%
174.5
-65%
337.5
-33%
Read 512
393.6
33.53
-91%
308.5
-22%
306.8
-22%
325
-17%
Write 512
413.6
51.3
-88%
134.1
-68%
168.6
-59%
346.8
-16%
Read 4k
36.98
0.357
-99%
19.06
-48%
16.14
-56%
29.37
-21%
Write 4k
92.1
0.641
-99%
21.31
-77%
36.24
-61%
93.9
2%
Read 4k QD32
277.6
0.778
-100%
93.5
-66%
95.7
-66%
103.8
-63%
Write 4k QD32
250.6
0.672
-100%
23.3
-91%
36.23
-86%
217.7
-13%
Samsung MZ7TN512HDHP-00000
Sequential Read: 504 MB/s
Sequential Write: 503 MB/s
512K Read: 393.6 MB/s
512K Write: 413.6 MB/s
4K Read: 36.98 MB/s
4K Write: 92.1 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 277.6 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 250.6 MB/s

Graphics Card

The 3D acceleration is taken over by Intel HD Graphics 620, which, however, has no chance against the competitors with a dedicated graphics card. With a second RAM module performance could be improved slightly. Yet, the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 still would not be able to hold its ground against the Lenovo ThinkPad E560 and the HP ProBook 450 G4.

3DMark Ice Storm
3DMark Ice Storm
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark Cloud Gate
3DMark Cloud Gate
3DMark Sky Diver
3DMark Sky Diver
3DMark Fire Strike
3DMark Fire Strike
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra
3DMark Time Spy
3DMark Time Spy
3DMark 11
3DMark 11
3DMark Vantage
3DMark Vantage
3DMark 06
3DMark 06
3DMark 05
3DMark 05
3DMark 03
3DMark 03
 
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
AMD Radeon R7 M370, Intel Core i7-6500U
10288 Points +49%
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
NVIDIA GeForce 930MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
9122 Points +32%
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
6907 Points
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
Intel HD Graphics 5500, Intel Core i5-5200U
6590 Points -5%
Dell Latitude 15-3570
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i5-6200U
5909 Points -14%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
AMD Radeon R7 M370, Intel Core i7-6500U
1760 Points +120%
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
NVIDIA GeForce 930MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
1637 Points +104%
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
801 Points
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
AMD Radeon R7 M370, Intel Core i7-6500U
2522 Points +76%
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
NVIDIA GeForce 930MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
2092 Points +46%
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1433 Points
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
AMD Radeon R6 (Carrizo), AMD Pro A8-8600B
1349 Points -6%
Dell Latitude 15-3570
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i5-6200U
1273 Points -11%
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
Intel HD Graphics 5500, Intel Core i5-5200U
1147 Points -20%
3DMark 03 Standard
17137 points
3DMark 05 Standard
12775 points
3DMark 06 Standard Score
7998 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
5274 points
3DMark 11 Performance
1553 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
50970 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
5690 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
750 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
337 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
340 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The gaming performance also shows that this is more an office machine, because the performance of the Intel HD Graphics 620 integrated graphics is only good enough to fluidly play old titles (such as “BioShock”) using the lowest settings.

Further benchmarks and information about the HD Graphics 620 are available in our tech section.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 43.2 25.2 20.3 6.3
Battlefield 4 (2013) 33.4 26.2 17.5 6.2
The Witcher 3 (2015) 12.8 10.1 4.8
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 15.4 9.5 5.8

Emissions

System Noise

The noise pollution of the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 running in idle remains comfortably low at 30.3 dB(A), since without load our test system often works silently. However, under load the small fan clearly attracts the attention with a maximum of 39 dB(A), so that our test sample here is the loudest compared to the others in our test. But we did not hear any electronic noises such as humming or high pitched sounds in the Fujitsu LifeBook A557.

A small fan provides sufficient cooling.
A small fan provides sufficient cooling.
Volume characteristics
Volume characteristics

Noise Level

Idle
30.3 / 30.3 / 32.3 dB(A)
HDD
31.3 dB(A)
DVD
54.9 / dB(A)
Load
38.5 / 39.7 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: 30.3 dB(A)
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
i7-7500U, GeForce 930MX
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
Pro A8-8600B, Radeon R6 (Carrizo)
Dell Latitude 15-3570
6200U, HD Graphics 520
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
6500U, Radeon R7 M370
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
5200U, HD Graphics 5500
Noise
-4%
3%
4%
8%
1%
off / environment *
30.3
31.6
-4%
31.5
-4%
31
-2%
Idle Minimum *
30.3
32.6
-8%
31.6
-4%
31
-2%
29.2
4%
31.8
-5%
Idle Average *
30.3
32.6
-8%
31.6
-4%
31
-2%
29.2
4%
31.8
-5%
Idle Maximum *
32.3
33
-2%
31.6
2%
31
4%
29.2
10%
31.8
2%
Load Average *
38.5
38.9
-1%
33.5
13%
34.2
11%
33.6
13%
35
9%
Load Maximum *
39.7
38.9
2%
33.5
16%
34.3
14%
35.5
11%
37.6
5%

* ... smaller is better

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.931.730.335.231.92537.234.230.738.437.2313636.736.138.5364027.729.929.132.127.75029.629.127.629.329.66327.828.327.926.627.88026.525.625.125.726.510026.425.324.426.426.412524.425.324.526.124.416023.323.823.123.723.320023.823.422.322.723.825023.422.621.821.623.431523.522.620.720.823.540024.122.420.52024.150023.221.919.319.423.263023.621.918.718.823.680025.322.61818.325.3100027.224.41817.627.2125027.524.317.717.827.5160027.423.517.517.527.4200028.224.417.517.528.225002521.217.817.425315023.219.918.117.823.2400021.619.518.117.921.650002018.918.118.120630019.418.518.318.319.4800019.318.418.418.419.31000018.518.318.618.418.51250018.318.318.418.318.31600018.318.318.818.318.3SPL36.833.930.430.436.8N2.521.41.42.5median 23.5median 22.4median 18.4median 18.3median 23.5Delta32.51.31.23hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseFujitsu Lifebook A557

Temperature

3DMark 11 after stress test
3DMark 11 after stress test

The manufacturer has a good handle on the cooling of the Fujitsu LifeBook A557. Even under load the casing warms only minimally, and we are measuring 35.3 °C (~95 °F) at its warmest spot on the bottom near the fan vents. Our test sample shows by far the lowest casing temperature in our test field. 

The individual components inside also  remain comparatively cool. After more than an hour of constant load with the Prime95 tool the processor warmed to a maximum of 66 °C (~150 °F) and so clearly remained below the thermal throttling limit of 100 °C (212 °F). We also put at least an hour of load on the Intel HD Graphics 620 using the FurMark program. Here too, we measure comparatively low temperatures at a maximum of 57 °C (~135 °F). The clock speed of the Intel HD Graphics 620 remained a constant 1000 MHz. With both Prime95 and FurMark running in parallel, the CPU and GPU have to share the 15-watt GDP, which results in the processor warming up to a maximum of only 57 °C (~135 °F) after an hour. The Intel HD Graphics 620 became only 2 °C (59 °C, 138 F) warmer.

Overall, the manufacturer has developed a very good cooling concept, which is able to efficiently cool the components even under constant load.

Stress test: Prime95 only
Stress test: Prime95 only
Stress test: FurMark only
Stress test: FurMark only
Stress test: FurMark + Prime95
Stress test: FurMark + Prime95
Idle, top
Idle, top
Idle, bottom
Idle, bottom
Load, top
Load, top
Load, bottom
Load, bottom
Max. Load
 31.5 °C
89 F
24.3 °C
76 F
23 °C
73 F
 
 33.3 °C
92 F
30 °C
86 F
23.3 °C
74 F
 
 25.9 °C
79 F
29 °C
84 F
24.1 °C
75 F
 
Maximum: 33.3 °C = 92 F
Average: 27.2 °C = 81 F
22.2 °C
72 F
22.5 °C
73 F
35.3 °C
96 F
22.7 °C
73 F
24.3 °C
76 F
30 °C
86 F
23.2 °C
74 F
22.9 °C
73 F
25.7 °C
78 F
Maximum: 35.3 °C = 96 F
Average: 25.4 °C = 78 F
Power Supply (max.)  38.2 °C = 101 F | Room Temperature 20.2 °C = 68 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 27.2 °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 33.3 °C / 92 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 35.3 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.1 °C / 75 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 29 °C / 84.2 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 (-1.3 °C / -2.3 F).
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
i7-7500U, GeForce 930MX
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
Pro A8-8600B, Radeon R6 (Carrizo)
Dell Latitude 15-3570
6200U, HD Graphics 520
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
6500U, Radeon R7 M370
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
5200U, HD Graphics 5500
Heat
-19%
-17%
-21%
-13%
-8%
Maximum Upper Side *
33.3
44.3
-33%
35.8
-8%
36.1
-8%
45
-35%
34.3
-3%
Maximum Bottom *
35.3
46.3
-31%
37.6
-7%
47
-33%
39.8
-13%
42.1
-19%
Idle Upper Side *
27
27.8
-3%
33.4
-24%
31.7
-17%
26.1
3%
26.7
1%
Idle Bottom *
26
27.7
-7%
33.2
-28%
32.9
-27%
27.7
-7%
29.2
-12%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

The speakers are positioned above the keyboard.
The speakers are positioned above the keyboard.

The integrated speakers are situated above the keyboard. The sound exits towards the screen, so that it reflects the sound towards the user. The quality of the two speakers reflects the costs of the system. The small speakers continue to lack fullness in the middle and low range. However, the integrated solution is sufficient for the office environment. External speakers can be connected via the 3.5 mm jack. 

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2032.635.232.62530.838.430.83136.538.536.54030.532.130.5503029.3306327.726.627.78027.225.727.210026.126.426.11252526.12516023.923.723.920024.322.724.325025.621.625.631533.620.833.640046.42046.450046.519.446.563050.318.850.380054.118.354.1100060.317.660.3125067.717.867.7160062.617.562.6200059.817.559.8250062.917.462.9315057.617.857.640005517.955500055.318.155.3630053.318.353.3800052.218.452.21000058.718.458.71250056.918.356.91600050.318.350.3SPL72.330.472.3N25.61.425.6median 53.3median 18.3median 53.3Delta11.81.211.835.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseFujitsu Lifebook A557Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Fujitsu Lifebook A557 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (67 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.8% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.8% higher than median
(-) | mids are not linear (15% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.5% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (33.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 95% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 3% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 91% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 8% 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 (You can select or deselect the check boxes on top!)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The power consumption of the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 really surprised us. While idling, our test system was content with a paltry 2.9 to 6.9 watts. Even under load we are measuring a relatively low maximum usage with 31.8 watts. A look at the comparison charts shows that our test system here is the most efficient. The Acer TravelMate P257 is narrowly beaten and is almost on par with the Fujitsu LifeBook A557. With 65 watts the power supply is sufficiently sized. 

The supplied power supply provides a maximum of 65 watts.
The supplied power supply ...
The supplied power supply provides a maximum of 65 watts.
... provides a maximum of 65 watts.
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.15 / 0.4 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.9 / 6.4 / 6.9 Watt
Load midlight 31.8 / 29 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.
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
i7-7500U, GeForce 930MX
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
Pro A8-8600B, Radeon R6 (Carrizo)
Dell Latitude 15-3570
6200U, HD Graphics 520
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
6500U, Radeon R7 M370
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
5200U, HD Graphics 5500
Power Consumption
-34%
-29%
-14%
-53%
-1%
Idle Minimum *
2.9
3.8
-31%
5.8
-100%
4.9
-69%
4.2
-45%
3.2
-10%
Idle Average *
6.4
6.6
-3%
7.5
-17%
7.2
-13%
7.5
-17%
5.5
14%
Idle Maximum *
6.9
11.3
-64%
8.6
-25%
7.5
-9%
8.2
-19%
6.4
7%
Load Average *
31.8
38
-19%
31
3%
25.4
20%
49.6
-56%
31.8
-0%
Load Maximum *
29
45
-55%
30.5
-5%
28
3%
65.8
-127%
33
-14%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

TThe low power consumption also has a positive effect on the battery life. The 49 Wh battery can be removed and is not integrated as in the newer models. Without load a full battery lasts for 16:32 hours. Under load the Fujitsu LifeBook A557 still lasts for almost two hours on the battery. In our WLAN test that definitely has a more practical relevance; our test system shows a decent result with 8:45 hours. In direct comparison, our Fujitsu LifeBook A557 must admit defeat against the Dell Latitude 15-3570. However, with a 65 Wh battery, the Dell Latitude 15-3570 possesses the battery with the largest capacity.

Maximum battery life
Maximum battery life
Minimum battery life
Minimum battery life
WLAN battery life
WLAN battery life
H.264 battery life
H.264 battery life
Charging time
Charging time
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
16h 32min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 38.14393.0.0)
8h 45min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
7h 36min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 55min
Fujitsu Lifebook A557
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 49 Wh
HP ProBook 450 G4 Y8B60EA
i7-7500U, GeForce 930MX, 45 Wh
HP ProBook 655 G2 T9X09ET
Pro A8-8600B, Radeon R6 (Carrizo), 48 Wh
Dell Latitude 15-3570
6200U, HD Graphics 520, 65 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad E560-20EWS00000
6500U, Radeon R7 M370, 48 Wh
Acer TravelMate P257-M-56AX
5200U, HD Graphics 5500, 37 Wh
Battery Runtime
-7%
-58%
14%
-16%
-32%
Reader / Idle
992
746
-25%
1024
3%
884
-11%
703
-29%
H.264
456
413
-9%
WiFi v1.3
525
513
-2%
220
-58%
542
3%
342
-35%
321
-39%
Load
115
123
7%
157
37%
104
-10%
83
-28%

Verdict

Pros

+ attractive price
+ functional design
+ high system performance
+ SSD with 512 GB
+ fast SD-card reader
+ good input devices
+ display looks good from all angles
+ low power consumption
+ good battery life
+ easy maintenance
+ very good thermal characteristics

Cons

- low color space coverage
- clearly visible screen bleeding
- connectivity positions not well-thought-out
- no USB Type-C
- keyboard not backlit
- clearly audible under load
- few security features
In review: Fujitsu LifeBook A557. Test model provided by Fujitsu Germany
In review: Fujitsu LifeBook A557. Test model provided by Fujitsu Germany

With the LifeBook A557 Fujitsu has a very attractive system for the small pocket on the market. The 15.6-inch notebook convinces mainly with a solid system performance, which underpins its deployment as an office system. By now the Intel Core i5-7200U has become a common processor that is quite capable to take on also more complex tasks. With 8 GB of RAM, our system is well equipped. If that is not enough, it can be expanded without difficulties, since the maintenance possibilities are exemplary in the Fujitsu LifeBook A557. The 512 GB SSD offers a lot of storage and contributes a relevant share to the smooth running system.

The Fujitsu LifeBook A557 offers a decent performance for small purses. Those who do not place too much importance on the design will be happy with the Fujitsu LifeBook A557.

We cannot find much fault in the Fujitsu LifeBook A557. Visually, our test system is rather unspectacular, and in the future the manufacturer could improve on the noise pollution. We also would have wished for an optional backlit keyboard. But with a price tag of 649 Euros (~$682) we should expect the odd compromise. Furthermore, the display offers only a limited color space coverage, although its viewing angles are convincing. The Fujitsu LifeBook A557 also left a positive impression with its low power consumption that in turn assures a long battery life.

Fujitsu Lifebook A557 - 03/29/2017 v6(old)
Sebastian Bade

Chassis
76 / 98 → 78%
Keyboard
84%
Pointing Device
83%
Connectivity
51 / 80 → 63%
Weight
61 / 20-67 → 88%
Battery
90%
Display
86%
Games Performance
55 / 68 → 80%
Application Performance
86 / 92 → 94%
Temperature
95%
Noise
90%
Audio
56%
Camera
53 / 85 → 62%
Average
74%
84%
Office - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Fujitsu LifeBook A557 (Core i5, Full-HD) Laptop Review
Sebastian Bade, 2017-03-31 (Update: 2020-05-19)