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Schenker XMG Apex 15 (Clevo NH57AF1) Laptop Review: Extremely fast, extremely loud

Performance at all costs.

The XMG Apex 15 from Schenker Technologies is a very unusual high-end notebook. How often do you find AMD processors connected via a socket in laptops, after all? Find out which strengths and weaknesses this exotic device has in store in our review.
Schenker XMG Apex 15

Schenker's own online shop bestware.com offers numerous configuration options for the Apex 15. While the screen remains an IPS panel with 144 Hz (no G-Sync), buyers can choose between a GeForce RTX 2060 and a GeForce RTX 2070. 

The core element of the Apex 15 - the processor - can also be chosen according to your wants and needs. The basic offer includes a Ryzen 5 3600 (6 cores). More money will get you a Ryzen 7 3700X (8 cores), a Ryzen 9 3900 (12 cores) or a Ryzen 9 3950X (16 cores). The surcharge is minimal for all upgrades save the last. The device can be equipped with up to 64 GB of DDR4 RAM and up to three storage devices (2x M.2, 1x 2.5-inch). Buyers can also have a say on the network module, the keyboard, the heat-conducting paste and the operating system.

The price of the Apex 15 starts at around 1300 Euros (~$1400). Our test configuration, equipped with a Ryzen 9 3900, a GeForce RTX 2070, 2x 8 GB of RAM and a 1-TB SSD, is currently available for around 2000 Euros (~$2160).

SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1 (XMG Apex Series)
Processor
AMD Ryzen 9 3900 12 x 3.1 - 4.3 GHz, Matisse (Zen 2)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 1260 MHz, RAM: 1375 MHz, GDDR6, ForceWare 445.87
Memory
16 GB 
, 2x 8 GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200, Dual Channel, all slots occupied, max. 64 GB
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, AU Optronics B156HAN (AUO80ED), IPS, Full-HD, glossy: no, 144 Hz
Mainboard
AMD B450
Storage
Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB, 1024 GB 
, NVMe. Slots: 2x M.2 Type 2280 & 1x 2.5 inch
Soundcard
Realtek ALC293 @ AMD K17.7 - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: 1x headphone jack, 1x audio jack, Card Reader: microSD, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 32.5 x 361 x 258 ( = 1.28 x 14.21 x 10.16 in)
Battery
62 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
Speakers: 2.0, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 230-Watt power supply, mouse pad, DVD with drivers, heat-conducting paste, USB stick with software, Quick Start Guide, Control Center, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.668 kg ( = 94.11 oz / 5.88 pounds), Power Supply: 698 g ( = 24.62 oz / 1.54 pounds)
Price
2024 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

The competitors of the Apex 15 include other 15-inch laptops with a GeForce RTX 2070 and strong CPUs such as the Schenker XMG Ultra 15, the Eurocom Nightsky RX15, the MSI GE65 Raider 9SF and the Asus Strix G531GW. These laptops are cited as competitors in our comparison tables.  

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Price
81.2 %
v7 (old)
05 / 2020
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
R9 3900, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
2.7 kg32.5 mm15.60"1920x1080
87 %
v6 (old)
03 / 2019
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
i7-9700K, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
3.5 kg38 mm15.60"1920x1080
85.9 %
v6 (old)
08 / 2019
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
2.5 kg29.9 mm15.60"3840x2160
84.7 %
v7 (old)
12 / 2019
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
2.3 kg26.9 mm15.60"1920x1080
86 %
v6 (old)
06 / 2019
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
2.3 kg25 mm15.60"1920x1080

Case

Unlike the XMG Ultra 15, which is rather large and heavy due to its height of 3.8 cm and a weight of 3.5 kg, the Apex 15 - which, by the way, features a slim bezel design - is fairly compact. It has a height of 3.25 cm and weighs 2.7 kg. Its dimensions are similar to those of the Eurocom Nightsky RX15, which also has a similar exterior in general. This is no surprise since both cases come from the barebone expert Clevo. The Apex 15 is based on the case NH57AF1. 

Schenker XMG Apex 15
Schenker XMG Apex 15
Schenker XMG Apex 15
Schenker XMG Apex 15
Schenker XMG Apex 15
Schenker XMG Apex 15
Schenker XMG Apex 15
Schenker XMG Apex 15

The 15-inch notebook gives a fairly good impression in terms of quality. While the lid is made of metal, the base unit consists of plastic. The workmanship is satisfactory and all elements come together nicely apart from one or two small details. The hinges are unobtrusive as well and the maximum opening angle of around 130° is typical for a standard notebook.

The Apex 15, like most Clevo barebones, does not try to make a bold design statement but has a rather subtle appearance. Only the line design of the lid might give away who this device is designed for. We only found one weak point in terms of stability: the lid. Like with many gaming laptops, the display can be warped quite strongly. The base unit on the other hand hardly gives way under strong pressure.

Size Comparison

386 mm / 15.2 in 262 mm / 10.3 in 38 mm / 1.496 in 3.5 kg7.76 lbs361 mm / 14.2 in 258 mm / 10.2 in 32.5 mm / 1.28 in 2.7 kg5.88 lbs359 mm / 14.1 in 258 mm / 10.2 in 29.9 mm / 1.177 in 2.5 kg5.49 lbs360 mm / 14.2 in 275 mm / 10.8 in 25 mm / 0.984 in 2.3 kg5.12 lbs357.7 mm / 14.1 in 248 mm / 9.76 in 26.9 mm / 1.059 in 2.3 kg5 lbs297 mm / 11.7 in 210 mm / 8.27 in 1 mm / 0.03937 in 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Ports

Apart from the missing Thunderbolt 3 port, which really is a must-have in this price range, the port selection is very satisfactory. There's a Kensington lock and an RJ45 port, one USB 2.0 and three USB 3.1 gen 2 ports, one of which is Type-C and supports DisplayPort.

Talking of image output: External monitors can also be connected via the HDMI 2.0 port or the dedicated Mini-DisplayPort. If you include the integrated display, you could theoretically have a quad-screen setup. The multimedia offering is completed by two audio jacks (one for headphones, one for a microphone) and an SD card reader, which was kept in the small micro format despite having ample space available. 

As some of the ports are positioned along the back of the notebook and there are only a few connectors in the front half, users will have sufficient space for using an external mouse comfortably.

Left: Kensington lock, RJ45-LAN, 2x USB-A 3.1 Gen2, microSD
Left: Kensington lock, RJ45-LAN, 2x USB-A 3.1 Gen2, microSD
Right: headphones, microphone, USB-A 2.0
Right: headphones, microphone, USB-A 2.0
Back: USB-C 3.1 Gen2 incl. DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0, Mini-DisplayPort 1.4, power supply
Back: USB-C 3.1 Gen2 incl. DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0, Mini-DisplayPort 1.4, power supply

Communication

We would recommend upgrading the network module during configuration in order to receive maximum Wi-Fi range and speed. The Wi-Fi module in our test unit is the Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200. It is not a lot more expensive and covers all modern features such as 802.11ax and Bluetooth 5.0. Please note: The results of the Wi-Fi test displayed below cannot be compared to those of the competition due to the recently updated router (Netgear Nighthawk AX12 instead of Linksys EA8500). The Apex 15 reaches more than 1300 Mb/s, which is a very good result.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
1400 MBit/s
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x Wireless Network Adapter (200NGW)
720 MBit/s -49%
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
675 MBit/s -52%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
654 MBit/s -53%
iperf3 receive AX12
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
1330 MBit/s
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
693 MBit/s -48%
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x Wireless Network Adapter (200NGW)
688 MBit/s -48%
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
680 MBit/s -49%

Webcam

ColorChecker
29.7 ∆E
30.5 ∆E
38.3 ∆E
34.1 ∆E
37.4 ∆E
20.2 ∆E
39.2 ∆E
43.6 ∆E
26.5 ∆E
20.1 ∆E
18.2 ∆E
26.3 ∆E
24.2 ∆E
29.4 ∆E
19.8 ∆E
13.9 ∆E
23.6 ∆E
33.6 ∆E
2.3 ∆E
11.8 ∆E
22.6 ∆E
31.9 ∆E
23 ∆E
10.6 ∆E
ColorChecker SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1: 25.46 ∆E min: 2.33 - max: 43.55 ∆E

Accessories

Schenker has equipped the notebook with a fair amount of accessories. Apart from a quick-start guide, a DVD with drivers on it, a USB stick with software and a tube of heat-conducting paste, we also found an enormous mouse pad. The device also comes with a 230-W power supply that weighs around 700 g and is 15 x 7 x 3 cm large. 

Maintenance

"Finally a notebook with good maintenance options" - that was the thought that went through our head after a look at the bottom of the laptop. Instead of having to remove the entire bottom cover with numerous screws and clips, the barebone manufacturer chose to include a large maintenance hatch that easily slides open after removing seven Phillips screws. The battery is directly accessible from the outside, which has also become a rare sight nowadays.

Buyers will continue to be pleased with maintenance options once they're inside the case. Thanks to its origins as a desktop chip, the processor can be exchanged if necessary (the GPU, however, is soldered on). The strong cooling system consists of several metal surfaces and two fans with three heat pipes leading away from each. Users can easily exchange the RAM modules and storage devices.

Schenker XMG Apex 15
Schenker XMG Apex 15
Schenker XMG Apex 15
Schenker XMG Apex 15
Schenker XMG Apex 15
Schenker XMG Apex 15

Warranty

The basic warranty covers 24 months (6 months fast repair). If you want to be on the safe side, you can extend the warranty to 36 months of fast repair.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Clevo has again chosen its standard chiclet keyboard, which we find has a good layout. Apart from the narrow number block and row of F keys, all keys, including arrow keys, are decently sized.

Typing is very comfortable on this device and the keys are the right balance between soft and hard. However, we would like to mention that there is significant keyboard clatter. Night owls will be pleased by the keyboard backlighting, which offers several colors and levels of brightness. The maximum brightness could be a bit more intense, however. 

Chiclet keyboard...
Chiclet keyboard...
...with backlighting
...with backlighting

Touchpad

The device features a classic touchpad with dedicated mouse keys (which feel rather cheap and loud when clicked). The touchpad itself is around 11 x 6.2 cm large and has a smooth finish. Nonetheless, gliding isn't ideal, particularly when your fingers are wet or oily. Apart from that we were quite happy with the touchpad and its precision and gesture support (zooming, scrolling) worked well.  

Display

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Apex 15 is equipped with a matte Full-HD IPS display. Thanks to its 144 Hz, even normal Windows applications feel a lot smoother (cursor movements!). The 15-inch display is just as fast while gaming and has a response time of 11.2 ms (black-to-white) and 17.6 ms (gray-to-gray). This means that even fast games will be displayed smoothly for the most part. Most buyers should be satisfied with this display.

314
cd/m²
311
cd/m²
290
cd/m²
299
cd/m²
317
cd/m²
315
cd/m²
314
cd/m²
346
cd/m²
335
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics B156HAN (AUO80ED) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 346 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 315.7 cd/m² Minimum: 41 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 317 cd/m²
Contrast: 1132:1 (Black: 0.28 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.52 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.91, calibrated: 2.49
ΔE Greyscale 2.81 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
91% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
67% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
66.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
91.3% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
67.3% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.54
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
AU Optronics B156HAN (AUO80ED), IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6"
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
AU Optronics B156HAN07.0 (AUO70ED), IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6"
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
Samsung SDCA029, OLED, 3840x2160, 15.6"
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
Sharp LQ156M1JW03, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6"
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
Sharp LQ156M1JW09 (SHP14D3), IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6"
Display
-0%
35%
6%
2%
Display P3 Coverage
67.3
66.1
-2%
99.9
48%
69.3
3%
66.2
-2%
sRGB Coverage
91.3
92.6
1%
100
10%
98.9
8%
96.5
6%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
66.8
67.1
0%
99.1
48%
70.7
6%
67.5
1%
Response Times
-7%
82%
13%
1%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
17.6 ?(9.2, 8.4)
17.6 ?(9.2, 8.4)
-0%
2.4 ?(1.2, 1.2)
86%
13.2 ?(7.2, 6)
25%
17.2 ?(9.2, 8)
2%
Response Time Black / White *
11.2 ?(6, 5.2)
12.8 ?(7.6, 5.2)
-14%
2.6 ?(1.3, 1.3)
77%
11.2 ?(6, 5.2)
-0%
11.2 ?(6.8, 4.4)
-0%
PWM Frequency
59.5 ?(100)
23150 ?(19)
24040 ?(29)
Screen
-5%
-16%
8%
12%
Brightness middle
317
263
-17%
414.9
31%
277.4
-12%
266
-16%
Brightness
316
264
-16%
404
28%
264
-16%
252
-20%
Brightness Distribution
84
89
6%
88
5%
90
7%
88
5%
Black Level *
0.28
0.17
39%
0.24
14%
0.27
4%
Contrast
1132
1547
37%
1156
2%
985
-13%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.52
4.45
-26%
7.58
-115%
1.51
57%
1.81
49%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
6.93
8.33
-20%
14.85
-114%
4.93
29%
3.23
53%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
2.49
1.93
22%
1.77
29%
1.03
59%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.81
4.77
-70%
2.9
-3%
3.7
-32%
2.44
13%
Gamma
2.54 87%
2.52 87%
2.05 107%
2.23 99%
2.42 91%
CCT
6877 95%
7767 84%
6538 99%
7061 92%
7005 93%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
67
60
-10%
88.2
32%
65.1
-3%
62
-7%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
91
93
2%
100
10%
99.1
9%
97
7%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-4% / -4%
34% / 11%
9% / 8%
5% / 9%

* ... smaller is better

The panel was manufactured by AU Optronics (B156HAN) and offers not only short response times but also a good contrast ratio of 1130:1. The black value is good as well at 0.28 cd/m². We measured an average brightness of 316 cd/m², which is suitable for a high-end notebook, albeit not phenomenal. (Using devices outdoors only really becomes comfortable from around 400 cd/m².)

CalMAN: grayscales
CalMAN: grayscales
CalMAN: color saturation
CalMAN: color saturation
CalMAN: colors
CalMAN: colors
CalMAN: grayscales (after calibration)
CalMAN: grayscales (after calibration)
CalMAN: color saturation (after calibration)
CalMAN: color saturation (after calibration)
CalMAN: colors (after calibration)
CalMAN: colors (after calibration)

Unfortunately, our test unit did have fairly strong backlight bleeding along the edges. This is a common problem with Clevo barebones and most of the competition is also affected by this issue.

XMG Apex 15 vs sRGB (91%)
XMG Apex 15 vs sRGB (91%)
XMG Apex 15 vs AdobeRGB (67%)
XMG Apex 15 vs AdobeRGB (67%)

The color display is more satisfactory. On the one hand, the Apex 15 covers a decent color space (91% sRGB) and on the other hand the image looks very natural and accurate (see CalMAN screenshots).

Subpixel
Subpixel
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

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
11.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6 ms rise
↘ 5.2 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 27 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
17.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 9.2 ms rise
↘ 8.4 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 28 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.8 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 not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured.

Testing Conditions

Clevo's so-called Control Center is the central controlling software in this device. It has a very clean design and offers various tuning options. There are two menus for the keyboard (backlighting, macros, etc.) as well as a menu for power profiles and one for fan behavior. As the cooling system was rather disappointing in this device (more on that later), we decided not to stick to the same mode for all our tests, but rather to switch between quiet (idle) and performance (load) mode depending on the scenario. 

Control Center
Control Center
Control Center
Control Center

Performance

With its CPU socket, the Apex 15 definitely belongs in the category of desktop replacements. The ample number of cores combined with a high-end GPU, a PCIe SSD and at least 16 GB of RAM mean this device should be future-proof for quite some time.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWiNFO
AS SSD Benchmark
CrystalDiskMark
 

Processor

While the Intel processors used in notebooks usually max out at 8 cores, the AMD CPUs in the Apex 15 offer 6 to 16 cores. The Ryzen 9 3900 in our test unit is a 12-core model that can work up to 24 threads simultaneously via SMT and has a TDP of 65 W - that's quite low for a desktop processor. The clock rates according to AMD are between 3.1 and 4.3 GHz.

Single-core rendering
Single-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
GPU load
GPU load

We tried to find out how the turbo fares with the help of our Cinebench loop (see graph). The fact that the clock rate dropped slightly after the initial round is quite normal. During Cinebench R15, the Ryzen 9 3900 clocked at 3.4-4.2 GHz under single-core load and at an average of 3.6 GHz when all cores were under load. That's a decent result. (The clock rate dropped to 2.8 GHz with the Control Center set to entertainment mode.)

01452904355807258701015116013051450159517401885203021752320246526102755Tooltip
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1: Ø2685 (2664.54-2804.07)

The potential of this device becomes even more apparent during the remaining obstacle course of benchmarks. The multi-core Cinebench R15 places the Ryzen 9 3900 at around 50% above the Core i9-9980HK (Eurocom Nightsky RX15) and 90% above the Core i7-9700K (Schenker XMG Ultra 15). The advantage compared to the i9-9880H is 75% (MSI GE65 Raider 9SF) and 100% (Asus Strix G531GW). If you require a lot of processing power, you're in the right place. 

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (191.9 - 318, n=191, last 2 years)
277 Points +41%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
Intel Core i7-9700K
203 Points +3%
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
Intel Core i9-9980HK
202 Points +3%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
Intel Core i9-9880H
198 Points +1%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
AMD Ryzen 9 3900
197 Points
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
Intel Core i9-9880H
183 Points -7%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (905 - 5663, n=194, last 2 years)
3416 Points +22%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
AMD Ryzen 9 3900
2804 (2664.54min - 2804.07max) Points
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
Intel Core i9-9980HK
1821 Points -35%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
Intel Core i9-9880H
1623 Points -42%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
Intel Core i7-9700K
1465 Points -48%
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
Intel Core i9-9880H
1401 Points -50%
Blender - v2.79 BMW27 CPU
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
Intel Core i9-9980HK
527 Seconds * -194%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
AMD Ryzen 9 3900
179 Seconds *
Average of class Gaming
  (87 - 555, n=182, last 2 years)
171 Seconds * +4%
7-Zip 18.03
7z b 4 -mmt1
Average of class Gaming
  (4199 - 7581, n=186, last 2 years)
6300 MIPS +23%
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
Intel Core i9-9980HK
5367 MIPS +5%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
AMD Ryzen 9 3900
5134 MIPS
7z b 4
Average of class Gaming
  (23795 - 140932, n=186, last 2 years)
85163 MIPS +13%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
AMD Ryzen 9 3900
75612 MIPS
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
Intel Core i9-9980HK
43805 MIPS -42%
Cinebench R20
CPU (Single Core)
Average of class Gaming
  (439 - 856, n=187, last 2 years)
725 Points +48%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
AMD Ryzen 9 3900
490 Points
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
Intel Core i9-9980HK
479 Points -2%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
Intel Core i9-9880H
474 Points -3%
CPU (Multi Core)
Average of class Gaming
  (2179 - 13832, n=187, last 2 years)
8294 Points +31%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
AMD Ryzen 9 3900
6321 Points
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
Intel Core i9-9980HK
3795 Points -40%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
Intel Core i9-9880H
3505 Points -45%
Geekbench 5.5
Single-Core
Average of class Gaming
  (986 - 2210, n=187, last 2 years)
1890 Points +52%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
AMD Ryzen 9 3900
1246 Points
Multi-Core
Average of class Gaming
  (4557 - 23194, n=187, last 2 years)
14985 Points +47%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
AMD Ryzen 9 3900
10190 Points
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - 4k Preset
Average of class Gaming
  (6.72 - 38.9, n=186, last 2 years)
23.4 fps +24%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
AMD Ryzen 9 3900
18.9 fps
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
Intel Core i9-9980HK
12.35 fps -35%
LibreOffice - 20 Documents To PDF
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
AMD Ryzen 9 3900
59.4 s *
Average of class Gaming
  (31.4 - 96.6, n=183, last 2 years)
47.3 s * +20%
R Benchmark 2.5 - Overall mean
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
AMD Ryzen 9 3900
0.546 sec *
Average of class Gaming
  (0.3609 - 0.759, n=187, last 2 years)
0.4383 sec * +20%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
44191
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5700
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
2.22 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
30.96 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
197 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
186 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
2804 Points
Cinebench R20 CPU (Single Core)
490 Points
Cinebench R20 CPU (Multi Core)
6321 Points
Help

System Performance

As expected, the Apex 15 is number one in our list of comparison devices when it comes to system performance. It reached 6883 points in our PCMark benchmark, which is 18% more than its competitors. However, Schenker and Clevo could further improve the boot process as it's a little slow for a laptop equipped with an SSD.

PCMark 10 - Score
Average of class Gaming
  (5776 - 9852, n=165, last 2 years)
7788 Points +13%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, R9 3900, Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB
6883 Points
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-9700K, Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB
6868 Points 0%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i9-9880H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
6452 Points -6%
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i9-9980HK, Samsung SSD 970 Pro 512GB
6283 Points -9%
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i9-9880H, Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
5826 Points -15%

DPC Latencies

The DPC latencies are subpar as well. According to the tool LatencyMon, users might experience short dropouts during certain applications.

Update: With the new BIOS the latencies are in the green area. We exchanged the value.

Latencies
Latencies
Latencies
Latenzen
DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, R9 3900, Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB
914 μs *

* ... smaller is better

Storage Devices

Our test unit has been equipped with a 1000-GB Samsung SSD 970 Evo Plus. The M.2 drive does a good job both when reading and writing and can eclipse several 1-TB competitors - at least on paper (e.g. the Intel SSD 660p).

SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
Samsung SSD 970 Pro 512GB
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-26%
-14%
-21%
-28%
Write 4K
208.4
129.9
-38%
153
-27%
125.7
-40%
135
-35%
Read 4K
52.5
47.15
-10%
60.5
15%
45.04
-14%
54.9
5%
Write Seq
3241
1840
-43%
1938
-40%
2361
-27%
1649
-49%
Read Seq
3037
1775
-42%
1932
-36%
1987
-35%
1449
-52%
Write 4K Q32T1
497.1
294.5
-41%
482.5
-3%
407.1
-18%
508
2%
Read 4K Q32T1
530
373.6
-30%
594
12%
537
1%
559
5%
Write Seq Q32T1
3318
3295
-1%
2324
-30%
2398
-28%
1759
-47%
Read Seq Q32T1
3567
3535
-1%
3539
-1%
3309
-7%
1826
-49%
Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3567 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 3318 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 530 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 497.1 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 3037 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 3241 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 52.5 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 208.4 MB/s

Graphics

In line with our high-end CPU, this device also features a high-end GPU. The surcharge for switching from an RTX 2060 to an RTX 2070 is definitely worth the extra money. While the former is primarily made for Full-HD displays, the latter is often powerful enough for QHD and 4K displays. It also has 2304 shader units rather than the 1920 found on the RTX 2060 and 8 GB rather than 6 GB of GDDR6 VRAM (storage interface: 256 vs. 192-bit).

3DMark 06 Standard Score
41167 points
3DMark 11 Performance
23447 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
50713 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
18460 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
8253 points
Help

The base clock rate of the Turing chip is 1260 MHz. However, thanks to the automatic GPU boost, the chip reaches considerably higher clock rates in practice. The chip in our test unit settled down at around 1680 MHz during the Unigine Heaven benchmark and also offered a similar result during our benchmark with The Witcher 3, which we run at maximum details for around 60 minutes. The relatively constant frame rates in the lower graph show that the GPU performance remains the same over long periods of load.

05101520253035404550556065707580Tooltip
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1 GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, R9 3900, Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB: Ø75.4 (71-81)

We did not notice any anomalies during our benchmark check. The 3DMark 11 and the current 3DMark tests place the Apex 15 at the top of the comparison field in most scenarios. It's a shame that Schenker hasn't (yet) included the faster Super version of the RTX 2070 as an option. 

3DMark
2560x1440 Port Royal Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (371 - 14592, n=113, last 2 years)
8704 Points +88%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
4627 Points
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
4346 Points -6%
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
4265 Points -8%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
4155 Points -10%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (224 - 22717, n=188, last 2 years)
13136 Points +66%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
8028 Points +1%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
7931 Points
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
7815 Points -1%
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
7754 Points -2%
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
7006 Points -12%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (781 - 53059, n=193, last 2 years)
31462 Points +54%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
20997 Points +3%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
20759 Points +1%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
20466 Points
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
20434 Points 0%
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
18169 Points -11%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Gaming
  (1029 - 72178, n=182, last 2 years)
43904 Points +61%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
27265 Points
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
26975 Points -1%
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
26582 Points -3%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
25845 Points -5%
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
23335 Points -14%

Gaming Performance

The RTX 2070 can display every game smoothly at maximum settings in native resolution. Even demanding games such as Borderlands 3 are a piece of cake for this chip and frame rates reach over 60 FPS on average. Games that are less demanding or more optimized, such as Doom Eternal, can really make the most of the 144-Hz screen. 

The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Average of class Gaming
  (18.4 - 216, n=164, last 2 years)
128.3 fps +72%
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i9-9980HK
80.6 fps +8%
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i9-9880H
78.4 fps +5%
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, R9 3900
74.5 (62min) fps
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i7-9700K
73 (60min) fps -2%
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, i9-9880H
67 (55min) fps -10%
lowmed.highultra
GTA V (2015) 179 172 160 87
The Witcher 3 (2015) 142 74.5
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 152 136 131 124
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) 112 102 82.9
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) 107 97
Battlefield V (2018) 136 124
Borderlands 3 (2019) 81.4 63.3
Escape from Tarkov (2020) 120 104
Hunt Showdown (2020) 101
Doom Eternal (2020) 161 157
Gears Tactics (2020) 119 85.8

Emissions

System Noise

The Apex 15 has set a new negative record in terms of system noise. We measured 62 dB(A) during The Witcher 3, which is the highest value we have ever measured in this scenario. The noise level is very loud, even when using a headset - buyers will have to have strong nerves. While the device is quieter in entertainment mode, we personally still find it too loud (around 50 dB(A) after the BIOS-update)

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2036.332.535.833.634.82537.335.342.142.841.73131.332.232.133.936.74033.93533.733.134.95032.833.53029.443.16335.238.429.627.2408045.934.228.926.23210043.347.32723.933.712538.441.626.123.834.41603840.327.726.929.920039.842.226.521.528.22504241.926.921.827.731542.344.329.220.727.340044.347.526.619.927.450047.550.126.918.529.163046.950.426.51829.780045.548.826.517.728.7100046.949.92617.429125047.550.625.818.328.5160049.552.826.318.129.8200049.953.425.517.528.9250049.65322.617.928.4315048.251.820.917.722.8400046.950.61917.720.3500046.950.118.417.719.663004448.418.117.619.1800039.545.518.117.518.2100003944.418.517.618.41250036.742.91817.517.81600031.938.91817.617.8SPL59.362.736.130.238.9N13.716.92.41.43.1median 44.3median 48.4median 26median 17.9median 28.2Delta4.13.63.91.44.8hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseSCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1

We would highly recommend using the quiet mode when working in idle. Otherwise, users will be confronted not only with a loud basic noise level but will also have to deal with occasional exaggerated rpm increases that cause higher noise levels than many gaming notebooks produce under maximum load. The quiet mode makes the Apex 15 more or less bearable while idling (35 to 39 dB(A)). 

Clevo really should take another close look at power management and cooling fan behavior. The way it is now, the Apex 15 feels like a device in the alpha or beta stage of development - not like a finished product (upon inquiry, Schenker promised improvements).

Noise Level

Idle
35 / 36 / 39 dB(A)
Load
59 / 63 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 dB(A)
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
R9 3900, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
i7-9700K, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
Average of class Gaming
 
Noise
7%
15%
13%
7%
23%
off / environment *
30
30
-0%
28.2
6%
28.8
4%
29
3%
Idle Minimum *
35
32
9%
28.2
19%
33
6%
30
14%
Idle Average *
36
33
8%
28.2
22%
33
8%
37
-3%
Idle Maximum *
39
36
8%
31.7
19%
33.1
15%
39
-0%
Load Average *
59
55
7%
53.7
9%
38
36%
54
8%
Witcher 3 ultra *
62
57
8%
53.7
13%
52.9
15%
54
13%
Load Maximum *
63
59
6%
53.7
15%
57.8
8%
54
14%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

The advantage of the high fan rpm is that the temperatures remain moderate - at least on the outside of the device. We measured a maximum of 44 °C (top) and 48 °C (bottom) during our stress test using the tools FurMark and Prime95. This is fine considering the performance this device can offer, particularly because the wrist rest remains significantly cooler (below 35 °C).

The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3
Stress test
Stress test
Full load top
Full load top
Full load bottom
Full load bottom

Looking at the components, it's the CPU in particular that really works up a sweat. While the GeForce RTX 2070 reaches no more than 77 °C under maximum load, the Ryzen 9 3900 gravitates towards 90 °C despite throttling to around 2.2 GHz. These results lead us to conclude that the Ryzen 9 3900 is too strong for this notebook and cooling system. It is the sole component responsible for the bad results in terms of emissions (we can't even imagine what these might look like with the Ryzen 9 3950X). We would therefore recommend buyers to stop at the octa-core Ryzen 7 2700X. The 12 and 16-core models are more suited for the case of the XMG Ultra 15.

Max. Load
 40 °C
104 F
43 °C
109 F
44 °C
111 F
 
 37 °C
99 F
41 °C
106 F
38 °C
100 F
 
 33 °C
91 F
34 °C
93 F
26 °C
79 F
 
Maximum: 44 °C = 111 F
Average: 37.3 °C = 99 F
46 °C
115 F
48 °C
118 F
47 °C
117 F
44 °C
111 F
45 °C
113 F
40 °C
104 F
28 °C
82 F
28 °C
82 F
29 °C
84 F
Maximum: 48 °C = 118 F
Average: 39.4 °C = 103 F
Room Temperature 21 °C = 70 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated), Voltcraft IR-900
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 37.3 °C / 99 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F for the devices in the class Gaming.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 44 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 40.5 °C / 105 F, ranging from 21.2 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 48 °C / 118 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.6 °C / 87 F, compared to the device average of 33.9 °C / 93 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 37.6 °C / 100 F, compared to the device average of 33.9 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (34 °C / 93.2 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-5.1 °C / -9.2 F).
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
R9 3900, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
i7-9700K, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
Average of class Gaming
 
Heat
9%
-1%
-1%
2%
5%
Maximum Upper Side *
44
45
-2%
40.2
9%
45
-2%
51
-16%
Maximum Bottom *
48
48
-0%
53
-10%
53
-10%
49
-2%
Idle Upper Side *
33
30
9%
34.2
-4%
31.2
5%
30
9%
Idle Bottom *
41
30
27%
39.6
3%
39
5%
35
15%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

Don't have too many expectations for the sound system, either. Compared to the XMG Ultra 15, which offers fairly good audio for a notebook, the Apex 15 lacks bass and also mids and highs (linearity etc.).

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2033.636.12542.838.83133.933.24033.136.55029.433.36327.230.38026.230.710023.928.212523.83116026.939.220021.541.925021.850.331520.759.840019.965.850018.565.26301867.580017.777.5100017.475.8125018.369.9160018.169.5200017.567.7250017.963.6315017.762.5400017.765.3500017.766630017.657.2800017.557.11000017.652.41250017.551.91600017.657.7SPL30.281.4N1.446.4median 17.9median 62.5Delta1.48.543.544.238.639.731.232.235.237.428.428.826.329.125.830.326.736.524.237.422.750.525.658.326.361.721.763.72061.518.859.91858.918.261.817.96419.164.718.162.917.265.517.767.417.767.617.565.517.76517.665.817.563.817.56117.35817.349.330.576.81.440.8median 18median 61.81.54.7hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseSCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 20.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (23.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 83% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 12% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 67% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 26% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (77 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 26% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 68% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 16% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 80% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Whether you put the blame on Clevo or AMD - the power-saving mechanisms of the Ryzen 9 3900 are modest to say the least. This becomes particularly apparent when looking at consumption while idling (total system). 60 W is a lot even for a gaming notebook with a desktop CPU. Intel devices usually consume a lot less. The XMG Ultra 15, for example, consumes a meager 40 W (Core i7-9700K). At least the consumption levels are fairly normal under load. 141-259 W is not that different to the XMG Ultra 15, which loses out due to its number of CPU cores.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.7 / 1.3 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 55 / 59 / 63 Watt
Load midlight 141 / 259 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
R9 3900, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
i7-9700K, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile
Average of class Gaming
 
Power Consumption
19%
37%
42%
28%
46%
Idle Minimum *
55
35
36%
12.6
77%
15
73%
29
47%
Idle Average *
59
39
34%
21.4
64%
18.5
69%
32
46%
Idle Maximum *
63
47
25%
34.4
45%
20.2
68%
37
41%
Load Average *
141
117
17%
123.2
13%
110.9
21%
157
-11%
Witcher 3 ultra *
238
196
18%
192.4
19%
187.3
21%
173
27%
Load Maximum *
259
299
-15%
246.6
5%
260
-0%
217
16%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Let's not talk about the battery life. Even under perfect conditions (no load, minimum luminosity) the 62-Wh battery hardly lasts an hour. A larger battery would only make a small difference due to the high idle consumption.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
1h 13min
WiFi Websurfing
1h 02min
Load (maximum brightness)
0h 30min
SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1
R9 3900, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, 62 Wh
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 Turing
i7-9700K, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, 82 Wh
Eurocom Nightsky RX15
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, 62 Wh
MSI GE65 Raider 9SF-049US
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, 51 Wh
Asus Strix Scar III G531GW
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2070 Mobile, 66 Wh
Average of class Gaming
 
Battery Runtime
165%
232%
224%
235%
455%
Reader / Idle
73
194
166%
371
408%
328
349%
WiFi v1.3
62
157
153%
206
232%
216
248%
177
185%
Load
30
83
177%
35
17%
81
170%
H.264
154

Pros

+ excellent system performance
+ individual configuration
+ up to three storage devices
+ processor can be exchanged
+ comfortable maintenance
+ no bloatware
+ 144-Hz panel

Cons

- very loud in 3D operation
- bad fan control
- sound could be better
- CPU becomes quite hot
- high power consumption
- meager battery life
- no Thunderbolt 3
- screen bleeding

Verdict

In review: Schenker XMG Apex 15. Test unit provided by bestware.com
In review: Schenker XMG Apex 15. Test unit provided by bestware.com

12 cores and 24 threads in a notebook: What sounds marvelous has some pitfalls in everyday use.

The meager energy-saving mechanisms of the AMD CPU mean that the Ryzen 9 3900 is very loud (3000 - 4000 rpm) and warm (60 - 70 °C) while idling and performing simple tasks such as watching videos or browsing the web. Fortunately, you can switch to quiet mode.

This is why we can hardly recommend the Apex 15 - although Schenker is planning a BIOS update. Better energy management and cooling fan control (entertainment and performance mode) would make this high-end newbie an interesting device for AMD fans. We know of no 15-inch notebook that offers as much CPU power as this one does. Most Intel models are a lot slower. 

SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 NH57AF1 - 05/06/2020 v7 (old)
Florian Glaser

Chassis
75 / 98 → 77%
Keyboard
83%
Pointing Device
78%
Connectivity
67 / 80 → 84%
Weight
59 / 10-66 → 87%
Battery
19 / 95 → 20%
Display
85%
Games Performance
94%
Application Performance
95%
Temperature
85 / 95 → 89%
Noise
40 / 90 → 45%
Audio
70%
Camera
44 / 85 → 52%
Average
69%
81%
Gaming - Weighted Average

Price comparison

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Schenker XMG Apex 15 (Clevo NH57AF1) Laptop Review: Extremely fast, extremely loud
Florian Glaser, 2020-05- 7 (Update: 2024-11- 4)