Laptop

Mixed feelings. Lenovo's newcomer wants to qualify for the multimedia division with its mid-range graphics card but blunders in terms of screen and sound. The keyboard might disappoint users who value good office qualities. However, most other traits, and primarily the performance, are very compelling.

Platform update. Slightly delayed, but they are here. As September draws to an end, the first notebooks based on Intel's Skylake architecture are arriving on the scene. Our first test device equipped with the new technology is the Schenker XMG U506, which has a bona fide desktop processor at its command. Is it time for the old CPUs to disappear?

Superfluous. Despite a frugal CPU, Lenovo's 15.6-inch notebook only manages poor battery runtimes. With a price tag of around 400 Euros (~ $446), it cannot really be called a bargain either.

No compromises. Desktop CPUs, G-Sync support, NVMe SSDs: Schenker's new 17-inch XMG U706 machine features almost everything that the heart of a gaming enthusiast desires. Will it be enough for our Top Ten Chart?

Unconvincing. Lenovo throws a new 15.6-inch office laptop on the market with its IdeaPad 305-15. The computer presents solid processing performance and is well-equipped. However, it has clear shortcomings in battery life and keyboard.

Hardly faster, but much more efficient. The wait is over: Intel's new Skylake architecture is finally available for notebooks and replaces the predecessors Haswell and Broadwell. We review the two quad-core models Core i7-6700HQ and i7-6820HK.

Advantage wanted. Toshiba launches a new office laptop powered by the latest AMD APU on the market. It presented an overall decent performance in the test. However, the question arises: Why should buyers not opt for an almost equally priced, stronger Intel alternative?

Crossover. Shortly after the release of the new Windows 10, Apple released new Boot Camp drivers for the latest operating system from Redmond. We tested it.

For playing games on the job. If you want a business notebook that's more about games than actual work, then look no further.

Speed up! USB 3.1 is waiting in the wings to succeed USB 3.0 as standard interface. New features, double the performance and relatively cheap hardware make migrating attractive. We checked what you should consider and who will benefit from migrating now.

Jack-of-all-trades? AR-coated, Full HD, powerful Intel SoC, and an AMD graphics. The mix that dreams are made of? However, we are disappointed - and you?

Braswell upgrade. Acer's 13.3-incher delivers long battery runtimes, a decent keyboard, and a matte display. It is priced at about 380 Euros (~$424). However, the computer also showed weaknesses.

Family duel. Alongside the GT, GS and GE series of gaming notebooks, MSI has also released their GP62 and GP72 entry-level models. We just reviewed the 15-inch version -- now we turn our attention to the 17-inch model. We have recorded our impressions here.

Problem child. The Envy 15 is wrapped in an elegant case and equipped with an up-to-date Nvidia GTX 950M. While the specs of the Envy 15 are impressive, throttling has been a prominent problem of our test model.

Average fare. No maintenance hatch, fixed battery, clattery keyboard, dark display, weak GPU - the Lenovo Z51 does not really provide rays of hope.

Brilliant. It has been four months since the Hollywood blockbuster was released and now its time for the video game. Unlike many other movie-to-game ports, Mad Max is impressive. Let us take a look at what it has to offer.

Shark attack. Eurocom's fourth generation Shark gets an updated chassis with GTX 960M graphics. Is this mainstream-level gaming notebook a better deal than more well-known competitors?

No more Aluminum! The predecessor had an aluminum lid, while the new Dell Inspiron 17-5758 is now mainly made of plastic. On the other hand, it features up-to-date Broadwell CPUs and a dedicated graphics card. Is this sufficient to make up for the poor connectivity?

Versatile and affordable… The Pavilion x2 10-n013dx is the latest in HP’s rather crowded convertible line, sporting a familiar detachable design and a power-sipping Intel chipset intended to handle the basics. But with its multimode design and reasonable components, it’s an enticing candidate for the price tag.