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Fujitsu Lifebook T938 (i5-8250U, UHD620) Laptop Review

Head-turner. A convertible, where the keyboard is not what you hold in your hand after folding it back, perfectly describes the Fujitsu Lifebook T938. In this review, we analyze the Intel eighth-generation Core i business tablet's performance.

In the business sector, Fujitsu notebooks offer a good, balanced port selection and a lot of security features. This concept also applies to their convertibles, which are regularly updated in accordance with the latest technological advancements. With the Lifebook T938, Fujitsu delivers a 13.3-inch convertible that inherits all of its predecessors' good attributes and comes with the modern Intel Core i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 8 GB RAM and a 256 GB SSD.

Fujitsu does not need to shy away from a comparison with its competition, at least on paper, which is why we compare the 1600 Euros (~$1883) convertible to similarly expensive devices. Those include the Dell Latitude 7285Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018, the HP Spectre x360 13 and Acer's Spin 5 SP515-51GN, among others.

Fujitsu Lifebook T938 (Lifebook T Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 4 x 1.6 - 3.4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4, single-channel
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 166 PPI, capacitive, native pen support, Sharp SHP141B, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U + iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN, 256 GB 
, 180 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: combined audio jack, Card Reader: SD, 1 SmartCard, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Gyroscope, compass
Networking
Intel Ethernet Connection I219-LM (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel 8265 Tri-Band WiFi (Oak Peak) Network Adapter (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2, LTE Sierra Wireless EM7455 (Cat. 6, LTE-A: B1-B5, B7, B8, B12, B13, B20, B25, B26, B29, B30, B41), LTE
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 20 x 318 x 224 ( = 0.79 x 12.52 x 8.82 in)
Battery
50 Wh Lithium-Polymer, removeable, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 11 h
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 0.9 MP, 16:9 (1280x720)
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Stylus with replacement tips, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.3 kg ( = 45.86 oz / 2.87 pounds), Power Supply: 365 g ( = 12.88 oz / 0.8 pounds)
Price
1600 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case & Features - Lifebook T938 with weakish Wi-Fi

The top of the base unit is made of metal, whereas the rest of the case is made of robust black plastic. The battery on the bottom can be removed without tools and two maintenance hatches allow for access of the SSD and RAM. There is only one slot for the latter, meaning RAM can only be replaced, and it runs in single-channel mode.

The rotating joint keeps the display in its position firmly, at least as long as it is just opened or closed. The construction seems somewhat fragile when rotating the display vertically in order to switch into tablet mode. Nothing rattles or wiggles during this however, which is why we would call the mechanism robust. Coming in at 1.3 kg, the 13.3-inch convertible is light enough for mobile use. The depth of two centimeters does not have to be viewed as a disadvantage, particularly in tablet mode, since it causes the device to lie in the hand very comfortably.

The Lifebook T938's SD card reader completely swallows SD cards and reaches very good read speeds of 155 MB/s. Although this is not a peak value, it sets the Fujitsu convertible apart from its competition by a significant margin. Our test device also appears to achieve very good Wi-Fi data rates due to the fast ac standard when using the 5 GHz band. Ultimately, the maximum speeds for sending/receiving data were 534/663 Mb/s, respectively. This result puts the T938 in the upper ranks of our comparison.

Size Comparison

381.5 mm / 15 inch 258.1 mm / 10.2 inch 17.9 mm / 0.705 inch 2.3 kg4.97 lbs333 mm / 13.1 inch 229 mm / 9.02 inch 17.05 mm / 0.671 inch 1.4 kg3.14 lbs318 mm / 12.5 inch 224 mm / 8.82 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 1.3 kg2.87 lbs306 mm / 12 inch 218 mm / 8.58 inch 13.6 mm / 0.535 inch 1.3 kg2.78 lbs273.2 mm / 10.8 inch 208.5 mm / 8.21 inch 19 mm / 0.748 inch 1.4 kg3 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Front: No ports
Front: No ports
Back: No ports
Back: No ports
Right: stylus, lanyard eyelet, SD card reader, 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.1 Type-C, HDMI, pull-out Gigabit-LAN, VGA
Right: stylus, lanyard eyelet, SD card reader, 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.1 Type-C, HDMI, pull-out Gigabit-LAN, VGA
Left: power supply, Kensington lock, 1x USB 3.0, combined audio jack, SmartCard reader
Left: power supply, Kensington lock, 1x USB 3.0, combined audio jack, SmartCard reader
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
 
196.5 MB/s +58%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
157.2 MB/s +26%
Fujitsu Lifebook T938
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
124.4 MB/s
Average of class Convertible
  (17.7 - 177.7, n=36, last 2 years)
73.8 MB/s -41%
Dell Latitude 7285
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
29.7 MB/s -76%
Acer Spin 5 SP515-51GN-80A3
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
22.5 MB/s -82%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
 
220.8 MB/s +42%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
206.9 MB/s +33%
Fujitsu Lifebook T938
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
155.2 MB/s
Average of class Convertible
  (22.6 - 263, n=34, last 2 years)
95.1 MB/s -39%
Dell Latitude 7285
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
30.5 (29.7min) MB/s -80%
Acer Spin 5 SP515-51GN-80A3
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
24 MB/s -85%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Fujitsu Lifebook T938
Intel 8265 Tri-Band WiFi (Oak Peak) Network Adapter
663 MBit/s
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
655 MBit/s -1%
Acer Spin 5 SP515-51GN-80A3
Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4
604 MBit/s -9%
Dell Latitude 7285
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
515 MBit/s -22%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
492 MBit/s -26%
iperf3 receive AX12
Dell Latitude 7285
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
611 MBit/s +14%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
594 MBit/s +11%
Fujitsu Lifebook T938
Intel 8265 Tri-Band WiFi (Oak Peak) Network Adapter
534 MBit/s
Acer Spin 5 SP515-51GN-80A3
Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4
489 MBit/s -8%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
484 MBit/s -9%

Input Devices - Fujitsu convertible with mediocre touchpad and soft keyboard

The keyboard of the Lifebook T938 has a good key size and is suitable even for longer writing tasks. Only the special keys turned out to be fairly small; however, they are far enough apart to not be pressed erroneously. The pressure point is soft and the keys are very quiet.

The touchpad is definitely usable for moving the cursor, but it reacts poorly to tapping. Thus mouse clicks become very inconsistent, with double clicks being almost impossible. However, the dedicated recessed mouse buttons perform this task excellently. Their pressure point is comfortable and a distinctly audible click confirms every input.

The touchscreen can be used directly with your fingers or with the included stylus. Movements are registered slightly before the tip of the pen touches the display. Navigating the menus, creating handwritten text and drawing sketches feel very natural. Additionally, Fujitsu includes three replacement tips for the stylus in the package.

Display - Fujitsu T938 with strong color accuracy

Subpixel array
Subpixel array

Fujitsu equips the Lifebook T938 with a 13.3-inch IPS panel. The display has a competitive resolution of 1920x1080 and average brightness of 255 cd/m². The only display choice for prospective buyers to make is the decision between a glossy or matte display.

While Fujitsu uses pulse width modulation to regulate brightness, it only comes into effect at below 20% brightness. Thus, even sensitive eyes should not experience any issues due to a flickering display.

248
cd/m²
262
cd/m²
262
cd/m²
245
cd/m²
274
cd/m²
254
cd/m²
244
cd/m²
240
cd/m²
266
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Sharp SHP141B tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 274 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 255 cd/m² Minimum: 6.8 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 274 cd/m²
Contrast: 1054:1 (Black: 0.26 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.93 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 7.63 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
100% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
63% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
72.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
92.2% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
69.3% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.23
Fujitsu Lifebook T938
Sharp SHP141B, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell Latitude 7285
SHP1482 (LQ123Z1), , 2880x1920, 12.30
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Lenovo LEN40A9, , 1920x1080, 14.00
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Chi Mei (CMN1376), , 1920x1080, 13.30
Acer Spin 5 SP515-51GN-80A3
AUO, B156HAN06.1, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Display
5%
-11%
1%
-42%
Display P3 Coverage
69.3
73.3
6%
60.9
-12%
68.1
-2%
38.73
-44%
sRGB Coverage
92.2
99.8
8%
86.4
-6%
99.5
8%
58.3
-37%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
72.9
74.1
2%
61.9
-15%
70.2
-4%
40.02
-45%
Response Times
107%
-4%
3977%
-6%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
39 ?(19, 20)
44 ?(19.6, 24.4)
-13%
40.4 ?(22.4, 18)
-4%
36 ?(18, 18)
8%
42 ?(22, 20)
-8%
Response Time Black / White *
28 ?(15, 13)
30.4 ?(15.6, 14.8)
-9%
28.8 ?(17.2, 11.6)
-3%
27 ?(13, 14)
4%
29 ?(15, 13)
-4%
PWM Frequency
208 ?(20)
922 ?(20)
343%
25000 ?(40)
11919%
Screen
30%
10%
17%
14%
Brightness middle
274
531
94%
267.2
-2%
311
14%
221
-19%
Brightness
255
490
92%
239
-6%
278
9%
224
-12%
Brightness Distribution
88
86
-2%
75
-15%
82
-7%
89
1%
Black Level *
0.26
0.37
-42%
0.27
-4%
0.2
23%
0.12
54%
Contrast
1054
1435
36%
990
-6%
1555
48%
1842
75%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.93
3.5
41%
3.5
41%
3.98
33%
4.12
31%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
10.38
6.2
40%
6.4
38%
8.48
18%
6.41
38%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
7.63
4.7
38%
1.3
83%
5.57
27%
3.4
55%
Gamma
2.23 99%
2.04 108%
2.146 103%
2.51 88%
2.54 87%
CCT
6801 96%
6581 99%
6523 100%
7810 83%
6893 94%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
63
67.6
7%
56
-11%
64
2%
37
-41%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
100
99.8
0%
86
-14%
99
-1%
58
-42%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
3.81
Total Average (Program / Settings)
47% / 40%
-2% / 4%
1332% / 756%
-11% / 0%

* ... smaller is better

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
28 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15 ms rise
↘ 13 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 67 % 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
39 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 19 ms rise
↘ 20 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. » 53 % 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 208 Hz ≤ 20 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 208 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 20 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 208 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.

Color-space coverage sRGB - 100%
Color-space coverage sRGB - 100%
Color-space coverage AdobeRGB - 63%
Color-space coverage AdobeRGB - 63%

The IPS panel of the Fujitsu T938 represents colors of the sRGB color space with an accuracy of 100% and thereby goes head to head with our other devices in the comparison. It also manages to reach a very good 63% AdobeRGB color-space coverage. In conjunction with an acceptable contrast ratio of 1.054:1 and a comparatively low black value of 0.26, colors on the display appear authentic and distinct from one another.

The low brightness of the Fujitsu convertible is noticeable outdoors. Even on cloudy days, screen content is difficult to make out and reflections exacerbate the view despite the anti-glare display.

CalMAN - color accuracy
CalMAN - color accuracy
CalMAN - saturation
CalMAN - saturation
CalMAN - grayscales
CalMAN - grayscales
Viewing angles
Viewing angles
Backlight bleed
Backlight bleed
Outdoor use
Outdoor use

Performance - T938 falls short of expectations

Our test device is equipped with Intel's Core i5-8250U and an integrated UHD Graphics 620. In conjunction with 8 GB RAM and a 256 GB SSD, there is enough performance to ensure problem-free office use. The Intel Core i5-8350U and i7-8650U processors are also available, in case you need more performance. Additionally, the T938 supports up to 16 GB of RAM, whereas there is only one DDR4 slot available, hence the RAM can only operate in single-channel mode. Replacing the RAM and SSD can be performed through the respective maintenance hatch on the bottom of the device.

Processor

Intel's Core i5-8250U CPU has a core clock of up to 3.4 GHz and uses four cores for computing. It is also significantly more energy-efficient than processors of the previous Intel Core generation thanks to the 14 nm manufacturing process. The long-term performance of the CPU heavily depends on how well the system is being cooled.

Our CinebenchR15 endurance test shows very unbalanced results. The values fluctuate widely from one cycle to the next. The performance plummets again and again until the system ramps it up once more. The Lifebook T938 does not manage to distribute its load evenly.

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

While our test system keeps reaching its maximum theoretical performance at least momentarily, comparable convertibles, while being able to reach a better result, also tend to experience a rapid decline in performance and settle at a lower level in the long run. All in all, Fujitsu still does not exhaust the capabilities of the Core i5-8250U with the Lifebook T938.

The results of other CPUs in comparison to Intel's Core i5-8250U can be viewed on our CPU benchmark page.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (68.6 - 287, n=64, last 2 years)
229 Points +179%
Acer Spin 5 SP515-51GN-80A3
Intel Core i7-8550U
170 Points +107%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel Core i7-8550U
144 Points +76%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (81 - 147, n=97)
141.1 Points +72%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel Core i5-8250U
141 Points +72%
Dell Latitude 7285
Intel Core i5-7Y57
133 Points +62%
Fujitsu Lifebook T938
Intel Core i5-8250U
82 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (110.1 - 2889, n=66, last 2 years)
1554 Points +386%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel Core i5-8250U
682 Points +113%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (320 - 730, n=101)
570 Points +78%
Acer Spin 5 SP515-51GN-80A3
Intel Core i7-8550U
558 Points +74%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel Core i7-8550U
501 Points +57%
Fujitsu Lifebook T938
Intel Core i5-8250U
320 Points
Dell Latitude 7285
Intel Core i5-7Y57
273 Points -15%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
82 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
320 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
30.56 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Help

System Performance

The Fujitsu convertible falls short of its potential in the PCMark8 benchmark as well. The benchmark results are far below the average scores of comparable devices with an Intel Core i5-8250U. This barely has any impact on day-to-day use. Our subjective impression is positive and the system performed smoothly throughout the entire duration of our tests.

PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Convertible
  (4404 - 5830, n=3, last 2 years)
4890 Points +57%
Acer Spin 5 SP515-51GN-80A3
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
4100 Points +31%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3946 Points +26%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN51T02DUK
3605 Points +16%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2986 - 4458, n=69)
3584 Points +15%
Fujitsu Lifebook T938
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3121 Points
Dell Latitude 7285
HD Graphics 615, i5-7Y57, Toshiba KBG20ZMS256G
3073 Points -2%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3121 points
PCMark 10 Score
2841 points
Help

Storage Devices

The inbuilt mass storage of the Lifebook T938 is slow considering it is an SSD. Compared to the competing devices in our review, the Fujitsu convertible has to be content with last place in our comparison list. Of course, the installed Micron 1100 is far quicker than regular HDDs, and it expresses itself through folders opening more quickly and very short loading times when starting programs.

The performance of other mass storage solutions in comparison with the Micron 1100 can be explored on our HDD-/SSD-Benchmark page.

Fujitsu Lifebook T938
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Dell Latitude 7285
Toshiba KBG20ZMS256G
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Toshiba NVMe THNSN51T02DUK
Acer Spin 5 SP515-51GN-80A3
Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
Average Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
 
Average of class Convertible
 
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
86%
121%
107%
13%
518%
Read Seq
412.8
1017
146%
919
123%
1187
188%
465 ?(413 - 490, n=22)
13%
2596 ?(last 2 years)
529%
Write Seq
332.4
587
77%
776
133%
599
80%
379 ?(164.5 - 471, n=22)
14%
1614 ?(last 2 years)
386%
Read 512
312
756
142%
620
99%
935
200%
315 ?(249 - 360, n=22)
1%
2154 ?(last 2 years)
590%
Write 512
283.4
487.9
72%
575
103%
609
115%
315 ?(157 - 447, n=22)
11%
1660 ?(last 2 years)
486%
Read 4k
25
45.26
81%
45.99
84%
35.61
42%
24.6 ?(14 - 29, n=22)
-2%
436 ?(last 2 years)
1644%
Write 4k
69.1
99.1
43%
138.1
100%
134.4
95%
80.8 ?(62.4 - 101.9, n=22)
17%
495 ?(last 2 years)
616%
Read 4k QD32
178.7
357.7
100%
542
203%
289.3
62%
227 ?(148.7 - 248, n=22)
27%
59.5 ?(last 2 years)
-67%
Write 4k QD32
194
253
30%
437.3
125%
331.1
71%
233 ?(123 - 300, n=22)
20%
122.4 ?(last 2 years)
-37%
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Sequential Read: 412.8 MB/s
Sequential Write: 332.4 MB/s
512K Read: 312 MB/s
512K Write: 283.4 MB/s
4K Read: 25 MB/s
4K Write: 69.1 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 178.7 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 194 MB/s

Graphics Card

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 inside Fujitsu's Lifebook T938 is responsible for displaying screen content. The GPU has a core clock of up to 1150 MHz (boost) and seizes some of the available RAM. The UHD Graphics 620 profits heavily from dual-channel mode RAM; however, this is something users of the T938 have to pass on.

Of all the devices with this graphics card that we tested, our test device scores the exact average result. Briefly looking at the score of the ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018 shows that an approximate 10 % of additional performance can be expected when using dual-channel RAM.

The performance of Intel's UHD Graphics 620 relative to other graphics card can be viewed on our GPU benchmark page.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Convertible
  (471 - 40768, n=64, last 2 years)
7541 Points +348%
Acer Spin 5 SP515-51GN-80A3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-8550U
7043 Points +318%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1814 Points +8%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points +4%
Fujitsu Lifebook T938
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1683 Points
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1497 Points -11%
Dell Latitude 7285
Intel HD Graphics 615, Intel Core i5-7Y57
1327 Points -21%
3DMark 11 Performance
1746 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The Lifebook T938 is not a gaming device, which is also reflected in the benchmark results. Games from five years ago such as BioShock Infinite can only be displayed smoothly at very low graphics settings on the Fujitsu convertible. However, a lot of casual games that run smoothly on the Lifebook can be found in the Windows Store.

Games that run smoothly with Intel's UHD Graphics 620 can be viewed in our GPU games list.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 32.6 19.8 16.22 6.2

Emissions & Power - Quiet fan inside the Fujitsu Lifebook

Noise emissions

Noise characteristics
Noise characteristics

The Fujitsu Lifebook T938 is very quiet during simple office use and barely stands out from environmental sounds at all. Under load, the fan of the convertible ramps up with a whirring sound; however, it is neither disturbing nor unpleasant. While some other convertibles are quieter, our test device is far from noisy.

Noise Level

Idle
30.4 / 30.4 / 30.4 dB(A)
Load
31 / 36.9 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: 30.4 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2033.235.23333.733.2253931.533.334.1393139.537.934.535.739.54038.732.632.130.538.75032.830.933.337.632.86331.128.92928.731.18028.428.228.426.228.410026.927.326.22626.912527.925.826.426.727.916024.424.724.224.824.420023.623.722.923.623.625022.623.922.323.222.631522.122.721.322.622.140021.722.92222.721.750019.72120.22019.763019.520.919.419.319.580019.625.319.318.719.6100018.927.318.418.118.912501827.218.1181816001827.717.617.918200018.126.317.91818.1250018.126.31817.918.1315018.125.318.318.218.1400018.32418.418.518.3500018.622.218.618.618.6630018.820.518.918.718.8800018.919.61918.918.91000019.119.519.51919.11250019.219.319.319.119.21600019.419.619.819.419.4SPL3136.9313131N1.42.31.41.41.4median 19.2median 23.9median 19.3median 19median 19.2Delta1.92.81.721.9hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseFujitsu Lifebook T938

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

The Lifebook T938 stays cool while running and only heats up to a maximum of 40 °C under load. The warmest spot we measured was to the left at the back of the Fujitsu convertible, directly above the fan exhaust.

In our stress test, we use the system to fully examine whether our test device is able to maintain its clock speed even under extreme conditions. During this, core temperatures reach a maximum of 80 °C and the clock speed drops to 400 MHz. The system does not manage to normalize the frequency within one hour of testing. Since this extreme scenario is almost impossible in practice, however, there should be no limitations due to excessively high core temperatures in day-to-day operation.

Max. Load
 39.2 °C
103 F
39.5 °C
103 F
25.9 °C
79 F
 
 30.7 °C
87 F
30.1 °C
86 F
24.5 °C
76 F
 
 25.3 °C
78 F
24.7 °C
76 F
24 °C
75 F
 
Maximum: 39.5 °C = 103 F
Average: 29.3 °C = 85 F
25 °C
77 F
32.2 °C
90 F
40.1 °C
104 F
23.6 °C
74 F
32.6 °C
91 F
30 °C
86 F
23.7 °C
75 F
24.1 °C
75 F
25 °C
77 F
Maximum: 40.1 °C = 104 F
Average: 28.5 °C = 83 F
Power Supply (max.)  35.7 °C = 96 F | Room Temperature 22.5 °C = 73 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 29.3 °C / 85 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 39.5 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 55.7 °C for the class Convertible.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 40.1 °C / 104 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.3 °C / 76 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 25.3 °C / 77.5 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (+2.8 °C / 5.1 F).
Thermal imaging during idle - top
Thermal imaging during idle - top
Thermal imaging during idle - bottom
Thermal imaging during idle - bottom
Thermal imaging under load - top
Thermal imaging under load - top
Thermal imaging under load - bottom
Thermal imaging under load - bottom

Speakers

Pink noise
Pink noise

The speakers of the Fujitsu T938 are not very loud. The sound also becomes scratchy with increasing volume. Highs and mids are played in a still barely acceptable quality. However, the speakers are still suited for occasional playback of audio content, as long as the environment is not too noisy.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2032.433.732.42534.734.134.73139.835.739.84036.630.536.65033.437.633.46331.828.731.8802926.22910026.52626.512525.726.725.716024.624.824.620029.123.629.125040.723.240.731546.722.646.740041.922.741.950045.42045.463053.419.353.480059.318.759.3100067.218.167.2125066.31866.3160065.417.965.4200067.81867.8250068.117.968.1315067.418.267.4400067.218.567.2500066.318.666.3630071.818.771.8800067.618.967.61000066.61966.61250063.119.163.11600051.919.451.9SPL78.93178.9N38.41.438.4median 63.1median 19median 63.1Delta12.4212.435.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseFujitsu Lifebook T938Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Fujitsu Lifebook T938 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (71.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 30.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 8.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (9.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (30.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 87% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 10% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 87% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 10% 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%

Energy consumption

The Lifebook T938 is very economical. We measured a maximum consumption of 8 watts during idle. This value climbs to up to 34 watts under load, whereas the included 65 watts power supply is able to serve as a sufficiently sized energy supply at any time.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.15 / 0.76 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.2 / 7 / 8 Watt
Load midlight 21.6 / 34 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.

Battery Life

The Fujitsu T938 reaches a runtime of almost 8 hours in our real-world oriented Wi-Fi test. This is sufficient for an entire workday and forgetting the power supply in the office from time to time is not going to be a problem. While more expensive convertibles last a little bit longer still, the runtime of our test device is appropriate for its price class.

Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LD0015US
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 54 Wh
651 min +36%
Average of class Convertible
  (329 - 876, n=63, last 2 years)
557 min +17%
HP Spectre x360 13-ae048ng
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
527 min +10%
Fujitsu Lifebook T938
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 50 Wh
477 min
Dell Latitude 7285
i5-7Y57, HD Graphics 615, 54 Wh
391 min -18%
Acer Spin 5 SP515-51GN-80A3
i5-8550U, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 48 Wh
373 min -22%
Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
7h 57min

Pros

+ many ports
+ good workmanship
+ robust case
+ stylus included

Cons

- sluggish touchpad
- unstable performance under prolonged load
- only one RAM slot

Verdict - Business convertible with solid performance

Test device supplied by Fujitsu Germany
Test device supplied by Fujitsu Germany

Buyers of the Fujitsu Lifebook T938 will receive a business convertible for day-to-day use that shines with many ports and numerous security features. Additionally, it is easy to perform maintenance on the device and components such as the SSD and RAM can be replaced easily. The installed hardware does not reach its true potential, which becomes particularly apparent in benchmarks.

With the Lifebook T938, Fujitsu offers a convertible that stands out from its competition due to its particular folding mechanism. The performance falls behind the capabilities of the hardware, but the T938 is a suitable business device regardless.

In comparison with other high-priced devices, the Lifebook T938 stands out from its competition mainly due to its display mechanism. Rotating and folding the lid prevents users from permanently feeling the keyboard on the back with their hands. Combined with the included stylus, the T938, while not very handy, becomes a highly robust tablet.

Fujitsu Lifebook T938 - 06/05/2018 v6(old)
Mike Wobker

Chassis
84 / 98 → 86%
Keyboard
83%
Pointing Device
71%
Connectivity
60 / 80 → 75%
Weight
71 / 35-78 → 85%
Battery
90%
Display
82%
Games Performance
53 / 68 → 79%
Application Performance
76 / 87 → 88%
Temperature
94%
Noise
93%
Audio
55 / 91 → 60%
Camera
41 / 85 → 49%
Average
73%
82%
Convertible - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Fujitsu Lifebook T938 (i5-8250U, UHD620) Laptop Review
Mike Wobker, 2018-06- 6 (Update: 2020-05-19)