Notebookcheck's Top 10 Subnotebooks

Apple updates the MacBook Pro lineup. The design did not change, but the 13-inch laptop finally benefits from 8th generation Intel processors with four real processor cores. However, the CPU cannot utilize its full performance due to insufficient cooling, and the power adapter is also at its limit. It looks like the manufacturer just used the cooling solution of the previous Kaby Lake model, which has problems with the additional heat from a quad-core CPU.

The display on the other hand is excellent and once again features 2560 x 1600 pixels (Retina, 227 PPI). It now supports the TrueTone technology, which s already familiar from the iPhone or iPad, respectively. TrueTone automatically adjusts the color temperature based on the time or the ambient light, which results in a warmer or cooler image).

Apple once again uses very good speakers and you get 4x Thunderbolt 3 (full bandwidth). The battery runtime has been improved and we determine almost 10 hours in our Wi-Fi test.

Lenovo says goodbye to the X200-series and now offers the successor ThinkPad X390. The design of the X390 hardly differs from the previous model, but the case is a couple of millimeters longer as well as wider to accommodate the 13.3-inch FHD panel. However, the new ThinkPad X390 also weighs 200 grams more. 

Advantages of the Lenovo thinkPad X390 include the sturdy base unit and the excellent input devices we often praised in the past. Lenovo does not save any money in terms of business and security features, and the warranty package with a 3-year premium on-site service is generous. You can also easily replace the keyboard of the ThinkPad X390 if you prefer a different layout. This is usually much more complicated on other devices.

Lenovo now uses a much better display for the X390 compared to the X280. The matte screen prevents reflections and the panel is much brighter than before. The only problem with the screen are the long response times.

We did like the overall CPU performance, the low temperatures, and the quiet system noise.

We praised the device a lot, but there are also drawbacks that could have been made better. The microSD card reader is tricky to reach and we do not like the reduced CPU performance on battery power. We would have also liked to see some options for upgrades, especially in terms of RAM. The latter is unfortunately soldered onto the mainboard and cannot be expanded. Thunderbolt 3 is useful, but it is only connected via two PCIe lanes. The display selections is another issue, because 1080p is the highest resolution you can get.

The points of criticism cannot be ignored, but Lenovo still does more things right than wrong. However, the biggest competitor is also from Lenovo.

Lenovo offers the sixth generation of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (here in review). This time we reviewed the SKU with the matte WQHD screen. The 14-inch business laptop got an excellent rating (90%) and secures a top spot in this ranking.

We now had the chance to test all display options of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon: The default 1080p IPS screen with and without touch, the matte WQHD panel as well as the glossy WQHD HDR option, which is brighter than all the others. However, the high resolution requires more power, so the runtime suffers a bit. The default matte 1080p SKU is leading the mobility aspect. 

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is one of the best business laptops, and this does not change when you select the matte WQHD screen. The matte panels are better suited for work compared to the very glossy WQHD HDR screen. The matte WQHD panel from LG Philips is subjectively superior in terms of picture quality compared to the FHD panels, but the latter last a bit longer on battery.

Other than that, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is an excellent business laptop with a high-quality, slim and light chassis. The utilization of the quad-core processor is good and we like the modern port selection including regular USB Type-A ports.

As you expect from a ThinkPad, you get an excellent keyboard and the battery runtime of 9 hours is not bad, either. Drawbacks include the heavily limited maintenance, the missing Ethernet port (even though the corresponding adapter is provided), as well as the high-pitched fan noise, which is sometimes running without apparent reason.

The business alternative is offered by Fujitsu. The LifeBook U938 is almost 200 grams lighter and just slightly smaller with its 13.3-inch panel, but Fujitsu does not offer as many display options.

Lenovo's ThinkPad A285 (here in review) is the first Ryzen 5 Pro laptop in our Subnotebook Top 10 ranking. The high-quality and light chassis with the excellent ThinkPad input devices cannot quite keep up with the flagship X1 Carbon, but it is more affordable and offers other advantages: The maintenance is easy, the matte screen manages a luminance of more than 300 nits and the fan control is sophisticated. 

The Lenovo ThinkPad A285 is a good office device based on an AMD chip and is a more affordable alternative to the familiar X280. The CPU performance is a bit lower and the battery runtime shorter, but it is otherwise a good device.

The ThinkPad A285 does not compete with the X1 Carbon, but is a more affordable alternative to the ThinkPad X280. The A285 uses the same chassis with identical input devices, a fast SSD, and the good stability.

One issue is he battery runtime, which is okay at 7:50 hours, but the competition is better. The memory is also soldered, so you cannot upgrade it later. Thunderbolt 3 is also missing, which is featured on the X280.

Lenovo’s Yoga C940 (see review here) is the successor to the Yoga 930 and has not been updated on the outside. The high-quality case remains well built and is made mostly of aluminum. The decent sound system has also been left untouched. The FHD display panel, on the other hand, has been swapped for a much brighter one. 

The HP EliteBook x360 1030 G3 (see review here) received a very good score in our review, and therefore deserves its spot in our top 10 list. The compact convertible is powered by an Intel Core i7-8550U, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD.

HP’s EliteBook x360 1030 G3 is a decent convertible for everyday work. Its touchscreen is better than most reflective competitors.

It is not only suited for business users on the road but also home users looking for a powerful ultrabook. The system was not able to utilize the Core i7’s full turbo boost potential. If you are note dependent on the i7’s performance an i5 SKU may be better suited for your needs.

The EliteBook x360 1030 G3 surprised us with long battery life, and we liked its very bright touchscreen in particular. Unfortunately, it turned out to be much grainier than expected. A safety feature dubbed SureView can reduce viewing angles for more privacy, however activating this feature results in a significantly reduced image quality.

We also disliked its immensely complicated maintenance. RAM is soldered onto the motherboard and not upgradeable.

Dell offers the new 2019 XPS 13 9380. The cooling system with its dual fans ensures good performance utilization under sustained workloads, even though it is not always stable (Whiskey Lake quad-core). There is still an improvement over the 2018 model.

The 2019 XPS 13 only reduces its performance by 8% under sustained workloads, so it is faster than the Kaby Lake Refresh quad-core in the predecessor.

The case did not change; the XPS 13 still offers a nice design with slim bezels. A lot of display with a small footprint. The UHD screen, which is now provided by AUO (previously from Sharp) is bright, but the sRGB gamut is a bit lower.

The webcam is back at the top of the screen, but we cannot commend its quality.

The XPS 13 is a good option for all users looking for Thunderbolt and DisplayPort via USB Type-C and want a lot of performance in a small package. The battery runtime of 8 hours is nit bad, but not class-leading, either. The i5/1080p model from SKU managed almost 11 hours in the same test.

HP’s EliteBook x360 830 G6 scored very well in our review. Thanks to its Core i7-8565U and a massive 32 GB of RAM the convertible was immensely powerful, and a true workhorse. If, however, you require even more RAM it can be upgraded up to 64 GB. At 1 TB, its SSD was also more than amply dimensioned.

With its large 15.6-inch display Acer’s Swift 5 SF515 [see review here] is an extraordinary subnotebook. However, due to its low weight of just 999 g we have decided to categorize it as such nevertheless.

The ThinkBook 13s is a new laptop brand from Lenovo. This series fits perfectly into the category of subnotebooks, because all of our criteria are met. Contrary to the traditional black, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s uses a silver chassis.

The performance of the compact subnotebook is sufficient with the Intel Core i5-8265U. Our review unit is also equipped with 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB PCIe-SSD. You can upgrade the memory thanks to one empty slot.

The positive aspects include low case temperatures and very long battery runtimes. The display is also above average with almost 100% sRGB color gamut.

We have to criticize the short warranty period as well as the castrated USB-C port, which does not support power delivery. The bezels are pretty wide at the lower edge, which affects the design a bit. The business features are also limited, but the device is no ThinkPad after all.