Skylake

Top Dog performance. We check out DogHouse Systems performance gaming notebook in the highly competitive 17-inch DTR space. This Clevo-based system brings everything we've come to expect from the barebones manufacturer.

Don't expect too much! Lenovo's Yoga 500 is another 2-in-1 convertible with a 14-inch screen on the market. It is supposed to continue the success of the Yoga series from last year. The Lenovo Yoga 500 is equipped with a Skylake Intel Core i5, and there are also configurations with a GeForce 920M GPU.

There is strength in tranquility. The Zenbook UX303 series has been available since 2014 and Asus now ships the devices with Skylake processors from Intel. Our review unit with an i7 CPU can score with quiet operation and low temperatures, but can the performance convince as well?

Solid office notebook. The F516 Flex from Schenker Technologies is a configurable office notebook. Besides a 15.6-inch IPS display, it uses desktop processors, which can be easily replaced if necessary.

Hot laptop. Gigabyte refreshes its thin 17.3-inch gaming notebook and equips it with a modern Skylake CPU. The cooling does, however, have problems with the fast components and the processor in particular warms up quite a bit.

Faster, higher, stronger? Lenovo's new ThinkPad T560 convinces with a wide viewing angle IPS display and promises more performance and longer battery runtimes thanks to the Skylake platform. However, the other changes of the 15-inch device are very subtle – is it still enough for the victory in its class?

Without competition. It is certainly powerful and does not make any compromises in terms of performance, and now even with a surprisingly good runtime of 10 hours. The Book easily beats the competition. But: Surface Pro 4 Core i7 and the i5 sibling are in the same ballpark – except for the runtime, which is a surprise.

4K UHD update. The recently released Spectre x360 15 is available in FHD and UHD display options. Are those smaller pixels really worth the extra cost? We compare the two models to see what drawbacks and benefits one may have over the other.

Long lasting. A Skylake processor implies higher performance in the Zenbook UX305 without negative impact on the battery runtimes. The fast SSD, Full HD display and good keyboard remain unchanged.

Extra sharp. Razer has honed its ultra-thin design philosophy even further to provide the sleekest 12.5-inch Ultrabook yet for just under $1000 USD. It's a genuinely compact notebook from a gaming-centric company that even non-gamers will want to consider purchasing.

Well-equipped. Toshiba’s multimedia all-rounder Satellite L50-C-275 is priced at just under 750 Euros (~$826). Considering its good features and properties (including a Full HD IPS display, a fast SSD, good battery runtimes and GeForce graphics), the price is fair.

Skylake upgrade. The Zenbook still manages decent battery runtimes even with Skylake innards. However, that involves making compromises compared with the Broadwell models. The poor screen will not win any awards.

Well-rounded. With the XMG A516, Schenker Technologies extends their gaming portfolio with a compact 15-inch notebook. The 2016 edition of the GeForce GTX 965M GPU promises enough performance for current titles at Full-HD resolution. Our review examines the other aspects of the new notebook as well.

Maxed out. Our latest XPS 13 is equipped to the brim with a 3200x1800 resolution touchscreen, Core i7-6560U CPU, Iris Graphics 540, and a 512 GB NVMe SSD. Is this higher cost SKU worth the extra horsepower?

Marathon runner. There are many powerful gaming notebooks, but only a few provide long battery runtimes. The third revision of the Alienware 17 turns out to be surprisingly enduring.

Enduring. There are no obvious performance gains in Gigabyte's gaming laptop when compared with the predecessor. However, the new Skylake processor leads to a considerably better battery life. Furthermore, a fast NVMe SSD is also on board.

All-rounder. Toshiba combines a Skylake processor with a GeForce GTX 950M graphics core and completes the bundle with a Full HD IPS display and the multimedia all-rounder for home use is ready. However, the computer has some weaknesses despite a price of just fewer than 1000 Euros (~$1113).

Gaming with Skylake. MSI has updated its GS60 by equipping it with a new Skylake processor. But this is not the only new feature of the new model. However, the drawbacks of the old model are still issues in the current gaming companion.

15-inch convertible done right. Smaller convertibles like the Yoga 900 tend to work very well due to the lighter and more portable form factor. Scaling up to a 15-inch screen size has proven difficult, but HP is the first to hit it out of the park.

Too thin? The mobile workstation WS60 from MSI offers very powerful components in a slim chassis, but the mobility suffers from poor battery runtimes. Are there more compromises you have to make for the compact design?

Little jack-of-all-trades. Toshiba's new Satellite Radius 12 can be used as both a tablet and a laptop. High-performance hardware meets high-quality casing materials, and a 4K screen rounds off the bundle. However, we would have expected more in some aspects in view of the high price.

The hunt continues. The Predator 17 is the second device from Acer's new gaming series. Despite the bulky chassis, the cooling solution cannot completely convince us.

Finally on its feet. After a series of software issues, we decided to check up once again on a different SKU of the XPS 15 to see if those problematic areas have been patched up. The results are outstanding.

Now with Thunderbolt 3. The Aspire R13's main distinguishing factor is the quad-hinge design, which allows for several different display positions and hence operating modes. Even sans those hinges, the Aspire would still appeal, as it does well in almost all categories. Along with an update to the Skylake-generation of processors, the new model now also contains a Thunderbolt 3 port.

Skylake all-rounder. The popular UX501 series gets Skylake, DDR4, USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 2.0, and a few other minor changes. Is this a vast improvement over last year's Haswell model?

Predetermined breaking point. Does the Yoga 260 follow in the footsteps of the ThinkPad X250? Is it the better ThinkPad subnotebook thanks to its various modes? Lenovo provides reasons for criticism. This is surprising and unexpected in view of the otherwise apparently 100% well-conceived ThinkPad.

Also a success with 15 inches? Following our review of the ThinkPad P70, we have a look at the smaller ThinkPad P50 from Lenovo. The two devices are very similar in many respects, but there are also important differences. Those include the display as well as the more complex maintenance, but also the longer battery runtimes. Our review unit also has a problem with the Turbo Boost most of the time.

All-in-one PC? We are not talking about a heavy laptop here, but rather an 850 gram (~1.9 lb) tablet that aims to emulate a full-sized PC with its fold-out stand and sleeve keyboard. Two Type C ports herald the start of the new generation of cabling. But just how can a flat-screen be connected?

Fifth time's the charm. The latest 14-inch refresh comes new with Skylake, DDR4, HDMI 2.0, USB Type-C, and a WQHD display option. Are these updates major enough to get users over the fence?

High performer. Dell has recently completely revised its big mobile 17-inch workstation, which brings many innovations in the new model year. Apart from a new chassis, especially new interfaces, processors, graphics chips, and displays offer a significantly added value. We have tested in detail how the Dell Precision 7710 actually performs.

The superior Surface Pro? With its IdeaPad Miix 700, Lenovo aims to win potential Surface Pro 4 buyers. A keyboard dock and ActivePen are included and do not have to be purchased separately. The other equipment is also appropriate: A bright, high-contrast screen and fast SSD are on board. The installed Core M processor ensures noiseless operation. The entire bundle is even cheaper than a comparable Surface Pro 4 package.

Vapor cooler. After recently checking out the "entry-level" configuration with the G752VT, it's now time to move up to the G752VY with Asus' vaunted vapor cooling solution. Is this really a revolution for notebooks or just another empty marketing term?

Performance boost. TThe GeForce GTX 965M, which thus far has rarely been the graphics processor of choice for laptop manufacturers, has received a new breath of life. Nvidia's update has significantly increased the GPU's maximum clock rate. But how significant is the difference in performance compared to the 2015 version? Our question exactly. We used the MIFcom EG7 to uncover the answer.

Behemoth for Professionals. MSI’s WT72 now sports updated hardware in the form of a Skylake Xeon processor and a more powerful Nvidia Quadro GPU. The other specs remain largely the same and the workstation thus remains a solid choice for CAD work and 3D modelling.

The return of the 17-inch workstation. Lenovo now offers a 17-inch workstation for the first time in almost five years. Contrary to the current trend, however, you do not just get a consumer device with professional components. Was it worth the wait?

Powerhouse. Schenker's mobile workstation models traditionally signify high performance for a fair price. In particular the big 17-inch W706 leaves little to be desired in terms of performance. We have extensively tested how the recently refreshed powerhouse performs in practice.

Small rocket. Serious gaming devices with a 14-inch screen are rare; the majority of gamers prefers a larger screen instead of a higher mobility. At least the compact dimensions do not prevent extreme performance, which is proven by Schenker's new device. Chassis and input devices are great. So the only thing we have to find out is whether the display, sound and emissions can meet the high expectations as well.

Hot performance dwarf. Skylake quad-core, GTX 970M and a decent 14-inch display: MSI’s device in the pretty narrow segment of ultra-mobile gaming notebooks can meet all the performance expectations. So much performance does, however, require some compromises in other areas.