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Review Nexoc B401 Ultra (Clevo W840SU-T) Notebook

Ultra recommendable? Now that more and more laptops feature touchscreens, Nexoc does not want to fall behind and sends a slim ultrabook based on a Haswell ULV CPU with a touch-sensitive screen dubbed B401 Ultra into the race. Read in the following test report whether the touchscreen-laptop convinced us.

For the original German review, see here.

Smartphones, tablets, and now laptops. All these devices revolve around finger usage. At least, according to manufacturers who produce laptops with a touch-sensitive screen. Nexoc, a supplier from Dachau, now also wants to win over "touch-hungry" customers with the B401 Ultra. The B401 is based on the W840SU-T from the Taiwanese company Clevo which is known for its freely configurable laptops. Consequently, the Nexoc B401 is also available in many different configurations that can be customized on Nexoc's site.

Intel's Core i7-4500U ultra-low voltage processor alongside an integrated Intel HD Graphics 4400 is installed in our review sample. A generous 16 GB of DDR3 RAM supports the CPU. Data storage is managed by a 120 GB mSATA SSD from Mushkin as well as a 500 GB HGST HDD. The slim, 2.3 cm device faces business contenders in the form of Fujitsu's Lifebook E743 and, as a prime reference, Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch Ultrabook in our tests.

Case

At first glance, the Nexoc B401 Ultra's appearance is slightly conservative and restrained due to its middle-gray plastic casing in brushed aluminum looks. However, the Clevo W840SU-T barebone is beyond reproach in terms of build quality. The base unit makes a very good and rigid impression; the chassis does not yield significantly anywhere even under selective pressure. The display lid's stiffness is also compelling. Even gaps and both the solid and cool feel contribute to the high-quality impression. The relatively thick 14-inch touchscreen is kept in place by two tightly pulled hinges. Although that prevents opening the lid with one hand, it is an advantage on shaky surfaces, and particularly when using the touchscreen.

Connectivity

The manufacturer Clevo does not give its W840SU-T an abundant supply of ports. We only find two USB 3.0 ports on the B401 Ultra, which are directly beside each other. Somewhat bigger USB plugs (e.g. UMTS sticks) will cover the neighboring port and consequently prevent simultaneous use. We also missed the omitted VGA port that is still frequently needed for older monitors, and in particular projectors. However, this "drawback" can be easily remedied with an adapter. Most ports are located on the front right side, which will not be ideal for right-handed mouse users. However, left-handed users will not be very happy about the fan that blows waste heat out of the casing's left.

Front: No interfaces
Front: No interfaces
Left: Kensington lock, microphone, headphone jack
Left: Kensington lock, microphone, headphone jack
Right: Multi-card reader, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet port, power socket
Right: Multi-card reader, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet port, power socket
Rear: No interfaces
Rear: No interfaces

Communication

The B401 Ultra sports an Intel Wireless-N 7260 module for wireless network connections besides a foldout Ethernet port (Realtek PCIe GBE Family). The Wi-Fi module presented a surprisingly poor performance in the author's individual test scenario using a D-Link DIR-600. The signal strength dropped to 1-2 bars and the connection was even interrupted occasionally at a distance of 8 meters and through one wall. The data transfer rate of 300 kbit/s can also only be called absolutely insufficient. Since the Wireless-N 7260 is not known for such problems, we presume that the error source is likely to be the antenna.

Accessories

The manufacturer is restrained with included accessories. Besides the 65 watt power supply, Clevo only adds a thin user's manual, warranty leaflet and one driver CD for its W840SU-T.

Maintenance

Maintenance has always been one of the biggest assets and plus points of the barebone laptops. The Clevo W840SU-T is no exception. Two maintenance covers enable accessing the laptop's innards quickly and easily and allow upgrading the RAM and hard drive or SSD, as well as cleaning the cooling system. Note: We could not take pictures without risking damage due to a jammed maintenance cover in our review sample.

Warranty

Nexoc includes a standard manufacturer 24 month warranty with bring-in service on the B401. An optional warranty upgrade to 36 months (plus 65.45 Euros, ~$88) or a 24 month pick-up service (plus 24.87 Euros, ~$33) can also be added to the order.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Nexoc installs a conventional black chiclet-style keyboard in its B401 (stand-alone keys). The typing feel can be called allover pleasant, although the soft, slightly spongy stroke lacks a bit of feedback. However, the input device reaps in plus points for its quiet typing noise. A minor drawback: The B401 does not feature a keyboard backlight.

Touchpad

The generously sized touchpad blends into the looks of the surrounding plastic wrist rest. This has been solved pleasingly for the eye. The input device's quite rough surface needs a bit of familiarization and is not ideal for gliding. However, the responsiveness is very high and quite accurate. Also good: The dedicated mouse buttons that enable accurate use without looking.

Touchscreen

Nexoc installs a touch-sensitive screen in the B401 as a third input option. Technically, the screen makes a good impression owing to short response times and an accurate detection of the different multi-touch gestures using up to ten fingers. It is ultimately up to the buyer just how much sense this additional input option makes. In our opinion, the highly reflective screen cancels out the touchscreen's only marginal added value. An optional, matte screen would have been a welcome alternative.

Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad
Touchpad

Display

Clevo uses a multi-touchscreen with either 1366x768 or 1920x1080 pixels in its W840SU-T. Unfortunately, Nexoc obviously only offers the first alternative, which is also found in our review sample. It renders a somewhat grainy picture in a still sufficient resolution on the 14-inch screen. As usual for touchscreens, the TN screen model AUO 243C has a reflective surface (glossy). 

A look at the technical specs and rates do not cause exultation. Quite the opposite is true: A maximum brightness of just 146 cd/m² is far below average. The black value of 0.64 cd/m² and contrast of 205:1 are also on the same low level and cannot render a vivid picture even subjectively. Black looks like dark-gray. The illumination of 78% is still acceptable.

132
cd/m²
145
cd/m²
146
cd/m²
130
cd/m²
131
cd/m²
133
cd/m²
115
cd/m²
114
cd/m²
114
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO 243C tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 146 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 128.9 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 78 %
Center on Battery: 61 cd/m²
Contrast: 205:1 (Black: 0.64 cd/m²)37.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
41.11% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
59.5% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
39.88% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Nexoc B401 Ultra vs. AdobeRGB
Nexoc B401 Ultra vs. AdobeRGB
Nexoc B401 Ultra vs. sRGB
Nexoc B401 Ultra vs. sRGB

The multi-touchscreen in Nexoc's B401 Ultra is in no way recommendable for photo editors. A color space coverage of 37.6% (AdobeRGB) and 54.9% (sRGB) is fully insufficient for reproducing true colors and is located in the below average field. Fujitsu's Lifebook E743 does not sport a touchscreen, but scores with its more outdoor-suitable, matte surface.

The good, though not outstanding TN touchscreen in Lenovo's Carbon Touch proves that this can be done better. However, it is also in a completely different price range.

Nexoc B401 Ultra outdoors
Nexoc B401 Ultra outdoors

Primarily, two things are important for good outdoor suitability. First, a high brightness and second, a matte surface. Regrettably, the multi-touchscreen cannot score in either category. With only 61 cd/m² in battery mode alongside the highly reflective screen, the display only remains legible to an extent outdoors, even in very cloudy conditions (see screenshot). The touchscreen in the B401 is absolutely unsuitable for outdoor use in brighter surroundings, not to mention in sunlight.

Viewing angles: Nexoc B401 Ultra
Viewing angles: Nexoc B401 Ultra

It looks pretty much the same with the viewing angles of the AUO 243C TN screen. They are poor as is known from this quality class. Obvious color deviations occur when just looking at the screen from a slightly slanted position. Additionally, the massive brightness loss both horizontally and vertically worsens the image and makes it virtually impossible to use the screen from these viewing angles.

Performance

Nexoc equips its slim touchscreen-laptop with the latest Haswell ULV processor generation from Intel. In addition to the Intel Core i7-4500U installed in our review sample, the i5-4200U is also available. The CPU features the integrated Intel HD Graphics 4400 graphics unit. A generous 16 GB of DDR3 working memory from Kingston supports the system. It works in dual-channel mode with 2 x 8 GB. An HDD from HGST with a capacity of 500 GB and the mSATA SSD dubbed Mushkin Atlas 120 GB store data.

System information: Nexoc B401 Ultra (W840SU-T)

Processor

The ultra-low voltage (ULV) processor Intel Core i7-4500U takes care of central processing assignments. With a TDP of 15 watts, the dual-core CPU produces considerably less waste heat than its standard voltage counterparts and spares the 44.6 Wh battery with its low energy-hunger.

The i7-4500U has a clock rate of 1.8 GHz that can be increased up to 3.0 GHz (single-thread) via Intel's Turbo Boost. In our Cinebench Render benchmarks the CPU achieved clock rates ranging from 2.4 to 2.7 GHz (multi-thread) and 2.6 to 2.8 GHz, with only short peaks to 3.0 GHz in single thread. The CPU disabled the Turbo in battery mode and clocked with 1.8 GHz. An evident performance difference of 60 to 75% is seen when compared with similarly equipped devices from the multimedia category, such as the low-priced Medion The Touch 300 (Akoya S6212T) featuring an i3-4010U. An identical i7-4500U in Acer's Aspire V7-582PG is on the same level with minor fluctuations.

Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4407
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
9095
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
7339
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
5813 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
11592 Points
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
7388 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
21.83 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
2.96 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.31 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
63.3 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
274 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
118 Points
Help

System Performance

We used PCMark Vantage, PCMark 7 and the new PCMark 8 to assess the system's performance. According to the recorded results, the Nexoc B401 Ultra is on the expected good level. Particularly the swift SSD alongside the generous 16 GB of working memory (1600 MHz DDR3; dual-channel) contribute to the good system performance.

PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value)
Nexoc B401 Ultra (W840SU-T)
4853 Points
Acer Aspire V7-582PG-74508G52tkk
4255 Points -12%
Medion Akoya S6212T
3213 Points -34%
PCMark Vantage - 1024x768 Result (sort by value)
Nexoc B401 Ultra (W840SU-T)
15128 Points
Acer Aspire V7-582PG-74508G52tkk
9326 Points -38%
Medion Akoya S6212T
5564 Points -63%

Legend

 
Nexoc B401 Ultra (W840SU-T) Intel Core i7-4500U, Intel HD Graphics 4400, Mushkin Atlas 120 GB mSATA
 
Acer Aspire V7-582PG-74508G52tkk Intel Core i7-4500U, NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M, Toshiba MQ01ABF050
 
Medion Akoya S6212T Intel Core i3-4010U, Intel HD Graphics 4400, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
PCMark Vantage Result
15128 points
PCMark 7 Score
4853 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated
3346 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated
2950 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated
5029 points
Help

Storage Devices

Data is stored on an array of a conventional HDD and an SSD drive. The hard drive from HGST spins with 7200 rpm and has a storage capacity of 500 GB for pictures, videos or games. The 120 GB Mushkin Atlas SSD is connected via the mSATA slot and has room for a few other programs besides Windows 8 64-bit.

Mushkin Atlas 120 GB mSATA
Sequential Read: 428.3 MB/s
Sequential Write: 138.1 MB/s
512K Read: 370.9 MB/s
512K Write: 142.3 MB/s
4K Read: 23.23 MB/s
4K Write: 89.9 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 187.4 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 137.1 MB/s

Graphics Card

The processor-integrated Intel HD Graphics 4400 iGPU calculates graphics. The Haswell successor of last year's Intel's HD Graphics 4000 clocks within a range of 200 MHz (idle) to 1100 MHz and now has 20 Execution Units (HD 4000: 16). The HD Graphics 4400 uses up to 1.7 GB from the 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM as graphics memory.

The latest CPU generation has particularly improved in terms of graphics performance. The HD 4400 demonstrates this considering the results we ascertained from a comparable Ivy Bridge model (i7-3517U). The Haswell unit achieves an advantage of 37% in 3DMark06, and the increased graphics performance is even a whole 67% higher in the less processor-heavy 3DMark 11. The i7 also surpasses its i3-4010U sister model in The Touch 300 (Akoya S6212T) multimedia laptop by 20 to 30%. A big performance difference becomes evident when compared with a dedicated GPU, such as Nvidia's GeForce GT 750M in the Aspire V7 (see chart).

3DMark 06 Standard Score
5801 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
4820 points
3DMark 11 Performance
1021 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
44150 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
4989 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
688 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Our gaming benchmarks confirm the synthetic graphics assessments and make clear: Nexoc's B401U is not a gaming laptop. Although the HD 4400's speed has increased compared with its Ivy Bridge precursor, the ULV iGPU is still too weak to render up-to-date PC games in appealing looks. Users who are satisfied with less graphical beauty can nevertheless enjoy smooth frame rates in some titles using low details and resolutions. The 14-inch laptop wins the comparison with Medion's Akoya S6212T (i3-4010U), even if only marginally. Acer's Aspire V7-582PG with a GT 750M might be a powerful, but also slightly more expensive, alternative for users who want to play a bit more intensely on their touchscreen-laptop.

Tomb Raider
1024x768 Low Preset (sort by value)
Nexoc B401 Ultra (W840SU-T)
45.3 fps
Medion Akoya S6212T
38.8 fps -14%
Acer Aspire V7-582PG-74508G52tkk
114 fps +152%
1366x768 Normal Preset AA:FX AF:4x (sort by value)
Nexoc B401 Ultra (W840SU-T)
21.5 fps
Medion Akoya S6212T
19.3 fps -10%
Acer Aspire V7-582PG-74508G52tkk
61.6 fps +187%
1366x768 High Preset AA:FX AF:8x (sort by value)
Nexoc B401 Ultra (W840SU-T)
12.9 fps
Medion Akoya S6212T
11.2 fps -13%
Acer Aspire V7-582PG-74508G52tkk
36.6 fps +184%
BioShock Infinite
1280x720 Very Low Preset (sort by value)
Nexoc B401 Ultra (W840SU-T)
27.8 fps
Acer Aspire V7-582PG-74508G52tkk
79.8 fps +187%
1366x768 Medium Preset (sort by value)
Nexoc B401 Ultra (W840SU-T)
16.3 fps
Acer Aspire V7-582PG-74508G52tkk
49.1 fps +201%
1366x768 High Preset (sort by value)
Nexoc B401 Ultra (W840SU-T)
12.1 fps
Acer Aspire V7-582PG-74508G52tkk
37.8 fps +212%

Legend

 
Nexoc B401 Ultra (W840SU-T) Intel Core i7-4500U, Intel HD Graphics 4400, Mushkin Atlas 120 GB mSATA
 
Medion Akoya S6212T Intel Core i3-4010U, Intel HD Graphics 4400, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
 
Acer Aspire V7-582PG-74508G52tkk Intel Core i7-4500U, NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M, Toshiba MQ01ABF050
low med. high ultra
Tomb Raider (2013) 45.3 21.5 12.9
BioShock Infinite (2013) 27.8 16.3 12.1
GRID 2 (2013) 54.3 29 24.2

Emissions

System Noise

The noise emissions leave us with mixed feelings. The Nexoc B401 runs mostly quietly and with a barely audible 30 dB in low load. A small drawback is that the fan occasionally speeds up only to drop to its lowest level again. This changes during load and the 14-inch touchscreen-laptop gets relatively loud with up to 43 dB (stress test). Fujitsu's E743 is on a par in idle but scores with a somewhat lower noise level during load. Lenovo's X1 Carbon Touch is the least noisy in load.

Noise Level

Idle
29.6 / 29.6 / 30.9 dB(A)
HDD
32.8 dB(A)
Load
39.7 / 43.3 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Voltcraft sl-320 (15 cm distance)

Temperature

Stress test (Furmark + Prime95)
Stress test (Furmark + Prime95)

When idling, the temperatures of the Nexoc B401's casing are absolutely within an acceptable range, and on the same level as Lenovo's laptop but slightly below that of the E743. The temperatures increase up to 53 °C in load, which largely correspond with the X1 Carbon Touch. The E743 remains a bit cooler here. The hardware temperatures are on an absolutely uncritical level with up to 78 °C, although these temperatures are achieved by throttling the clock rate to 1.8 GHz in the stress test.

Max. Load
 36.3 °C
97 F
45.2 °C
113 F
50.4 °C
123 F
 
 39.7 °C
103 F
41.4 °C
107 F
44 °C
111 F
 
 30.3 °C
87 F
38 °C
100 F
30.5 °C
87 F
 
Maximum: 50.4 °C = 123 F
Average: 39.5 °C = 103 F
48.2 °C
119 F
53.1 °C
128 F
49.9 °C
122 F
42.6 °C
109 F
48.3 °C
119 F
48 °C
118 F
31.5 °C
89 F
30.6 °C
87 F
32.3 °C
90 F
Maximum: 53.1 °C = 128 F
Average: 42.7 °C = 109 F
Power Supply (max.)  45.4 °C = 114 F | Room Temperature 23 °C = 73 F | Voltcraft IR-360
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 39.5 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 50.4 °C / 123 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 53.1 °C / 128 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.7 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 38 °C / 100.4 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-9.7 °C / -17.5 F).

Speakers

The B401 Ultra's stereo speakers are located above the keyboard underneath a sound bar. They produce an acceptable sound that is quite sufficient for video calls and a bit of music. The fairly thin sound with barely any low ranges, muddy mids, and unbalanced trebles will not fulfill any higher requirements. Headphones or external speakers are recommended for this purpose.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Our review sample's power consumption is, as expected, low. 4.7 to 9.2 watts in idle mode are within the category comparison, and are due to the 15 W ULV processor among other things. The load power consumption increases to a maximum of 35.1 watts. The E743 consumes considerably more with up to 45.9 watts due to its standard voltage i5-3230M, while Lenovo's X1 only requires marginally more power in both idle and load.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.7 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.7 / 8.4 / 9.2 Watt
Load midlight 29 / 35.1 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
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 Runtime

The energy-efficient ULV processor and the relatively low consumption rates indicate a decent to good battery runtime. The B401 Ultra has a removable 4-cell, lithium-polymer battery with 44.6 Wh for use on the go.

Battery Eater recorded a maximum idle runtime of approximately 7 hours. Lenovo's Carbon Touch surpasses this with almost 9 hours. The tide turns in load operation and the B401 gives up after 2:24 hours, which is a bit longer than its premium contender (1:55 h), while the E743 lasts for just as long (2:25 h). In the Wi-Fi test Lenovo's device again takes the lead, lasting 6:54 hours, knocking both the Nexoc (5:23 h) and the Fujitsu (4:28 h) down a peg.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
7h 16min
WiFi Surfing
5h 23min
DVD
4h 14min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 24min

Verdict

Nexoc B401 Ultra
Nexoc B401 Ultra

The Nexoc B401 primarily convinced with the rigid casing's good build and swift system performance owing to the generous 16 GB of RAM and fast mSATA SSD in our test course. The exemplary, comfortable configuration and maintenance options also let the Clevo barebone stand out from "off the rack" devices.

However, one crucial element cannot be configured in the B401: The far below average brightness of the low-contrast multi-touchscreen. The B401 Ultra loses many points here, and unfortunately prevents us from giving it a clear purchase recommendation. We can only hope that Nexoc will add the Full HD multi-touchscreen that Clevo offers to its assortment, and that it will be more convincing with better image properties. We have to criticize Clevo's imperfect fan management as another minus point, which is almost tradition. The non-proportionate, high maximum noise even surpasses identically equipped devices with a ULV CPU and dedicated graphics card. Talking about dedicated GPUs, users who want to play on their touchscreen-laptop should look closer at a device featuring such a graphics solution, e.g. Acer's Aspire V7-582PG.

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In Review: Nexoc B401 Ultra, review sample courtesy of: Nexoc Mobile Systems
In Review: Nexoc B401 Ultra, review sample courtesy of: Nexoc Mobile Systems

Specifications

Nexoc B401 Ultra (W840SU-T)
Processor
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 4400 - Shared MB VRAM, Core: 1100 MHz, DirectX 11
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR3 1600 MHz (dual-channel), 2 of 2 banks filled
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel, yes, AUO 243C , TN LED, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Lynx Point-LP
Storage
Mushkin Atlas 120 GB mSATA, 120 GB 
, 500 GB HGST HTE725050A7E630
Soundcard
Realtek ALC282 @ Intel Lynx Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 2 (3.5 mm microphone and headphone jack), Card Reader: 6-in-1 (MMC, RSMMC, SDmini-SD/SDHC/SDXC)
Networking
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Wireless-N 7260 (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 22.8 x 340 x 240 ( = 0.9 x 13.39 x 9.45 in)
Battery
45 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 4 cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 1MP HD Webcam
Additional features
Speakers: 2 stereo speakers, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, power supply: 65 watts, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.15 kg ( = 75.84 oz / 4.74 pounds), Power Supply: 180 g ( = 6.35 oz / 0.4 pounds)
Price
799 Euro

 

In review: The Nexoc B401 Ultra
In review: The Nexoc B401 Ultra
A handy 14-inch device featuring a touchscreen and Haswell ULV CPU.
A handy 14-inch device featuring a touchscreen and Haswell ULV CPU.
The gray casing conveys a slightly conservative, yet appealing impression.
The gray casing conveys a slightly conservative, yet appealing impression.
A feature of the compact 14-incher: A multi-touch-sensitive screen...
A feature of the compact 14-incher: A multi-touch-sensitive screen...
...that is, however, highly reflective.
...that is, however, highly reflective.
The low-brightness, glare-type screen is only outdoor-suitable to an extent.
The low-brightness, glare-type screen is only outdoor-suitable to an extent.
As to connectivity, the touchscreen-laptop sports HDMI,...
As to connectivity, the touchscreen-laptop sports HDMI,...
...a Kensington lock, audio jacks,...
...a Kensington lock, audio jacks,...
...USB 3.0, and an Ethernet port.
...USB 3.0, and an Ethernet port.
The vent on the casing's left is not ideal for left-handed users.
The vent on the casing's left is not ideal for left-handed users.
The chiclet keyboard makes a decent, though slightly spongy impression.
The chiclet keyboard makes a decent, though slightly spongy impression.
The large keys enable good and quiet typing.
The large keys enable good and quiet typing.
The touchpad with dedicated buttons does an immaculate job.
The touchpad with dedicated buttons does an immaculate job.
The 65 watt power supply is very handy and small...
The 65 watt power supply is very handy and small...
...but also quite thick.
...but also quite thick.

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Links

Compare Prices

Pros

+Solid and high-quality build
+Good battery runtimes
+Exemplary maintenance options
+Decent system performance due to a 16 GB RAM and swift SSD
 

Cons

-Very low-contrast and dark glare-type screen
-Sporadic fan behavior and high noise in load
-Middling speaker quality

Shortcut

What we like

The solid and good build and the exemplary maintenance options.

What we'd like to see

A brighter, contrast-richer and higher resolution screen.

What surprises us

The high temperatures and loud noise in load.

The competition

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch

Fujitsu Lifebook E743-0M55A1DE

Dell Latitude E7240

Samsung Series 5 530U4E

Asus VivoBook S300CA

Sony Vaio SV-E14A3M2ES

Asus B43E

Rating

Nexoc B401 Ultra (W840SU-T) - 11/07/2013 v3(old)
Stephan Schünke

Chassis
85%
Keyboard
82%
Pointing Device
83%
Connectivity
58%
Weight
86%
Battery
90%
Display
55%
Games Performance
76%
Application Performance
96%
Temperature
72%
Noise
84%
Add Points
70%
Average
78%
79%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average
Stephan Schünke, 2013-11-11 (Update: 2018-05-15)