Laptop

Workhorse. Lenovo updated its devices with the latest hardware but did not change the concept of the cheap Edge series. The company offers many different models and our review will reveal whether the surcharge for the top model is justified.

Old chassis, new technologies. Buyers looking for a speedy gaming laptop that does not excessively burden their wallet might find something at Schenker Technologies. The base configuration of the XMG A504 with a GeForce GTX 860M "only" costs 949 Euros (~$1305). We sent a somewhat lusher version through our benchmark tests to answer pressing performance questions.

Minimal. With the HP 255, HP focuses on private and professional users looking for the cheapest possible work tool. A price of significantly below 400 Euros (~$549) is definitely "cheap." Our review reveals whether the notebook is also convincing.

Slim, fast, perfect? HP slimmed down its 14-inch mobile workstation this year and focused on frugal components. We tested if the device can meet the high performance requirements of the customers.

Improved. Lenovo redesigns its entry-level ThinkPad and equips the business notebook with a new case as well as a processor from Intel's current Haswell generation. Despite the price well below 1,000 Euros (~$1383), the device is supposed to keep up the ThinkPad impression and also meet the related requirements. Our review shows if it was a success.

Small and powerful. Small and/or thin gaming notebooks have become increasingly popular amongst notebook users. Besides the Alienware 14, Razer Blade 14, MSI GE40 and Gigabyte P34G, the Schenker XMG P304 targets the same customers. A strong argument for the 13-inch device is Nvidia's brand-new GeForce GTX 860M.

Repeater. With the Radeon R9 M290X, AMD competes with old technology. Learn in our review whether the deluxe model can keep up with high-end products from Nvidia. Is AMD still competitive or have they already been pushed aside?

Stagnation. While Nvidia at least manages a small performance leap with its GeForce GTX 880M, AMD is going around in circles with its Radeon R9 M290X. However, this does not stop many laptop companies from selling the "new" GPU. The Guru Earth V sports two AMD chips that operate in Crossfire mode. Is the existence of this GPU array justified?

Small laptop big in business. The HP EliteBook 820 G1 wants to reel in well-heeled business customers with high portability and business qualities. A Core i7 processor, SSD and mobile wireless modem drive up the price of the 12-inch laptop to far beyond 1500 Euros (~$2090) - too steep or is what it has to offer appropriate? Test Update: 07/2014: Optional HD IPS screen and Intel i7 4510U CPU.

For grandpa. Not interested in Windows? Chrome OS is the alternative offered on this laptop. No complicated hardware settings; just open it up and start surfing. Does Toshiba do a good job with this non-Windows concept?

No news. The ThinkPad Edge E545 wants to be a device for private and business use. Apart from a big storage capacity, the notebook features a matte display, an AMD quad-core processor, and a good keyboard. These are all signs of an attractive device for work. Our review will reveal whether the device really is a well-made notebook.

Inexpensive all-around laptop. With the Pavilion 15-n213eg, HP offers a gaming capable 15.6-inch notebook. The buyer will not only get powerful hardware, but also a big storage capacity and 8 GB of RAM for 600 Euros (~$832). Our review will reveal whether the notebook can deliver in practice what it promises in theory.

Courage to change. The bulky EliteBooks from the past are gone – HP's business-series now primarily uses thin cases and efficient ULV hardware. We review the entry-level configuration of the new EliteBook 850 G1 for around 1,000 Euros (~$1387).

Black, silent laptop. Another new office notebook in the hotly contested price segment around 400 Euros (~$555). Did HP manage to break the monotony and give its entry-level model a special touch or did we have to deal with the usual standard fare?

Transformation. Lenovo completely redesigns its mobile workstations from the ThinkPad W-series and introduces some fundamental changes in this category. Does the device really meet the high expectations of the loyal customers?

All-round laptop. The Pavilion wants to be a gaming capable all-round notebook for the small budget. The 17.3-incher with Core i5 processor and Radeon GPU costs about 650 Euros (~$892). Our review reveals whether you will get a decent device for this price.

Grab bag. A thin 17-inch chassis with a dual GPU solution: This is how the Taiwanese manufacturer imagines the perfect gaming notebook. We have a closer look at the exciting concept. Does the unusual hardware combination reveal any drawbacks?

Chrome is in. Despite its limited scope and continuing overlap with tablets and smartphones, the Chromebook is looking to stay and stand its ground. We take a closer look at the 11.6-inch Samsung Series 3 Chromebook equipped with the same processor as the Nexus 10. Can you go wrong with a $250 laptop?

Typewriter with hardware weakness. The Acer TravelMate P255-M improves upon its predecessor TravelMate P253-M in several areas. A comfortable keyboard, a ULV Core i5 CPU, and an appealing design raise the expectations. In what key areas the P255-M is a solid notebook and where it loses some ground is the subject of our review.

Color master. The HP ZBook 15 mobile workstation is available in a variety of configurations. The first version we reviewed already proved itself in our battery of tests. Now we turn our sights to a configuration with a high-intensity DreamColor display and a speedy Nvidia Quadro K2100M graphics card. What can you expect from this combination? Read our update to find out.

Quiet and frugal. HP only charges around 260 Euros (~$358) for the Compaq 15-h024sg. For this price you get a simple 15.6-inch notebook with a frugal AMD APU and a 500 GB hard drive. The Windows operating system is not provided. Our review shows if the notebook can still convince us despite the low price.

Flexible. Lenovo tries to make using a touchscreen easier for the users of the IdeaPad Flex 15D with an opening angle of up to 300 degrees. We indeed liked this solution. Our test uncovers whether the device is also convincing beyond this feature.

Ultimate rush. Which tech specs does the technically savvy user find most compelling? A beefy CPU, lightning-fast SSD, and a potent graphics card propel an Ultrabook to the top of the "must-have" list. Does the Zenbook UX302 score a "Very Good" this time around?

More business. Solid office companions are very popular, despite the tablet and ultrabook boom. Can the ProBook 640 continue the tradition of sturdy and efficient business devices?

Haswell update. The combination of a high-performance Core i7 quad-core processor, matte screen, and Windows 7/8 Professional already indicates that the ProBook 450 G1 wants to be a work machine. HP aims at both professional and private users at the same time. However, the company demands just under 800 Euros (~$1099) for the laptop. Our test report reveals whether the device is worth the money.

Understatement with security. Reliability and security are probably the two most important things for business users. This should also apply for their notebooks, and Dell's Latitude series earned a good reputation. The Dell Latitude E6440 wants to continue this tradition – our review shows the strengths and weaknesses of the new model.

Now featuring Haswell. HP's ProBook 470 is an office laptop for both the private and professional field. Its price range of approx. 700 Euros (~$959) and the installed hardware also make the device interesting for users who want to replace their desktop PC at home with a 17.3-inch laptop. Our test report reveals whether the laptop is convincing.

Good, but overpriced. The Travelmate P455-M is aimed at business professionals and as such equipped with TPM, a fingerprint scanner, and security software. A ULV Core i5 processor powers the notebook. How does the system, which sells for a fairly steep 840 Euro (~$1150), handle the daily workload?

Improved by Haswell. A notebook that you carry around all the time should be as light as possible, but also sturdy and enduring at the same time. Lenovo tries to meet these requirements with the ultrabooks of the ThinkPad S-series. We review the ThinkPad S540, the current 15.6-inch model from the series. The biggest improvement: The S540 models are equipped with Haswell processors.

Superb display. Acer's Aspire E1-772G is an inexpensive 17.3-inch multi-purpose notebook which ships without a Windows OS and sells for just under 600 Euros (~$800). It comes with a matte Full HD display, a Haswell Core i5 processor, plenty of storage, and is suitable for gaming as well. At least on paper, the notebook looks like a compelling package. How the E1-772G fares during everyday operation is the subject of our review.

Enduring and quiet. The Satellite C50-A-1JU is a basic office laptop based on a Bay Trail Pentium. The laptop for around 400 Euros (~$545) promises long battery runtimes, and good emission rates owing to the energy-efficient quad-core processor. Our test report reveals whether this is achieved in practical use.

Brilliant white. Toshiba clads the Satellite C75-A-13A in innocent white. Technically, it does not at all look bad with a Haswell Core i5, 8 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB hard drive. The laptop is available for approximately 700 Euros (~$951). Our test report shows whether it is worth its price.

Newcomer. Toshiba gets into the market of mobile workstations and offers a very well-equipped device with the Tecra W50-A-104. Does the well-known competition need to be afraid? We will find out in our review.

Quad-core couch potato. There are plenty of touch notebooks but cheap models available for less than 450 Euros (~$612) and in a flat, 14-inch format are quite rare. Lenovo launches its new S415 touch notebook and the question on our mind is: Is it more powerful and mobile than the slow S405?

A must-have. The T440s is currently one of the most sought-after products on the mobile business market. But with so many versions available, it is not exactly easy for a buyer to figure out which model is best suited to his or her individual needs. To follow-up on our review of the basic version, here we have written an update reviewing the top model, equipped with an Intel i7 CPU, FHD IPS display and a fat 9-cell battery.