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Toshiba Portege Z20t-B Convertible Review

Expensive runtime wonder. Toshiba charges a steep price of 2000 Euros (~$2138) for the top configuration of its latest business convertible – in return the user gets a business device with comprehensive features and enormous battery runtimes. Thanks to the anti-reflective touchscreen, the Portege Z20t can also be used outdoors.

For the original German review, see here.

Why choose between a notebook and a tablet if you can have both? The flexibility of a convertible or a 2-in-1 notebook is not appreciated only by university students – the very versatile devices are becoming more popular in companies as well.

Just like other manufacturers, Toshiba offers several business convertibles. Portege Z20t is the latest addition to the product portfolio and competes with the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2Microsoft Surface Pro 3 as well as Dell Venue 11 Pro. However, the Portege has a 12.5-inch display and is therefore slightly larger than the above-mentioned competitors.

A passively cooled Intel Core M-5Y71 with 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD provide sufficient  performance for the 2000 Euros (~$2138) test model. The review configuration is also equipped with a UMTS/LTE module, a keyboard dock with an integrated secondary battery as well as two digitizers. However, despite the comprehensive list of features the Z20t is not really a bargain. 

PT15BE-00E00FGR (Portege Z20 Series)
Processor
Intel Core M-5Y71 2 x 1.2 - 2.9 GHz, Broadwell
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 5300, Core: 900 MHz, Memory: 800 MHz, Dual-Channel Memory, 10.18.10.3977
Memory
8 GB 
, Dual-Channel LPDDR3-1600, onboard, not expandable
Display
12.50 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, capacitive (10 fingers) + digitizer, native pen support, Toshiba TOS508F, IPS-Panel, LED-Backlight, glossy: no, detachable screen
Mainboard
Intel Broadwell-Y PCH-LP (Premium)
Storage
Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GVNU, 256 GB 
, 198 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Broadwell PCH-LP - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: Headset port (3.5 mm stereo jack), Card Reader: MicroSD, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: 3D Acceleration Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, Gyroscope, VGA, RJ45 Ethernet
Networking
Intel I218-LM Gigabit (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0, Sierra Wireless EM7305 Mobile Broadband 3G/LTE (4G), LTE
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 21 x 309 x 215 ( = 0.83 x 12.17 x 8.46 in)
Battery
72 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 36 Wh (tablet) + 36 Wh (dock)
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 2.0 MP (front) + 5.0 MP (rear)
Primary Camera: 5 MPix
Secondary Camera: 2 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 2x Digitizer + 3 spare tips, 45-watt power adaptor, brochures, Toshiba System Settings, Toshiba Tempro, Eco Utility, 12 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
1.493 kg ( = 52.66 oz / 3.29 pounds), Power Supply: 150 g ( = 5.29 oz / 0.33 pounds)
Price
2000 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Because of the concept itself, we cannot find any of the components in the base unit of the Portege, but directly behind the display. A small lever releases the connection between the dock (763 grams; ~1.7 lb) and the tablet (730 grams; ~1.6 lb, 8.8 millimeters; ~0.35 inches high); the device automatically snaps in when you attach the tablet. Even though the construction appears to be very sturdy and solid, the display still wobbles around a bit – we can measure a movement of around 1.5 centimeters (~0.6 in) at the top of the screen. This is an annoying but not uncommon problem for convertibles, although it does undermine the work of the conveniently precise hinges.

The tablet itself is partially made of a magnesium alloy and is supposed to withstand drops from a height of up to 76 centimeters (~2.5 ft). Although we did not test this claim, we can confirm a decent stability of the chassis, but the torsion resistance of the Z20t cannot quite keep up with the Surface Pro 3. The screen is protected by tempered IOX-glass and has an anti-reflective as well as an anti-fingerprint coating.

The keyboard dock does not have to hide, either, and is actually slightly sturdier than the display unit. We could not find build quality issues with either component: Small gaps and careful transitions suggest a good quality control that you should expect in this price range.

Connectivity

TToshiba has integrated a micro-USB 2.0 as well as a micro-HDMI port directly in the tablet, so devices like a projector or other peripherals can also be used without the dock. Furthermore, you can use a MicroSD card reader as well as the mandatory headset port. We would have liked to see a full-size USB port as well as a (Mini) DisplayPort to avoid the use of annoying adaptors in some situations.

You can use more ports when you attach the keyboard dock, including 2x USB 3.0, Gigabit -LAN, HDMI and an analog VGA output. All the ports are in the rear area of the two sides, where attached cables and USB devices would not get in the way of the user.

Top: No ports
Top: No ports
Left: Kensington Lock, VGA, HDMI
Left: Kensington Lock, VGA, HDMI
Right: SIM slot, On/Off, volume rocker, micro-USB 2.0, micro-HDMI, microSD, headset port (top); 2x USB 3.0, Gbit-LAN, AC power (bottom)
Right: SIM slot, On/Off, volume rocker, micro-USB 2.0, micro-HDMI, microSD, headset port (top); 2x USB 3.0, Gbit-LAN, AC power (bottom)
Bottom: Stylus, docking port, AC power
Bottom: Stylus, docking port, AC power

Communication

WLAN performance (802.11ac)
WLAN performance (802.11ac)

The adaptors for Gigabit-Ethernet (I218-LM) and WLAN (Wireless-AC 7265) supplied by Intel are high-end network components. Besides Bluetooth 4.0, the Wireless-AC 7265 also supports all current WLAN standards in 2.4 as well as 5 GHz networks (802.11a/b/g/n/ac). Thanks to the 2x2 dual-stream technology, the adaptor can reach theoretical transfer rates of up to 866 Mbps; we managed almost 300 Mbps in a perfect environment with the TP-Link Archer C7 router. Both the range as well as the signal quality also left a good impression in our review.

The Portege is equipped with a WWAN module with 3G and 4G support (Sierra Wireless EM7305) to enable fast Internet connections on the road. After the integration of a corresponding SIM card you can use up- and download speeds of up to 50/100 Mbps in LTE networks.

Even though the 2.0 MP Webcam on the front has a slightly higher resolution compared to many rivals, the picture quality is very disappointing: Blurred colors, strong picture noise and mediocre details mean that the camera should only be used for apps like Skype. The 5.0 MP camera with autofocus on the back is slightly better, but it cannot compete with even an inexpensive smartphone. While you could ignore this – after all, a business tablet is not designed to take holiday pictures– the voice recordings of the corresponding microphone are annoying; you should avoid web conferences without a headset.

2.0 MP webcam
2.0 MP webcam
5.0 MP main camera
5.0 MP main camera

Security 

With several security and management features like Kensington Lock, TPM as well as Intel vPro and AMT support, the Z20t has the most important features for company use. However, it is unfortunate that we do not get a fingerprint reader – Lenovo has located it at the back of the Helix 2 tablet.

More information about security solutions are available in our FAQ article.

Accessories

The box of the test device includes some brochures, a compact 45-watt power adaptor, a digitizer that is integrated into the tablet as well as a much larger Wacom digitizer. We will have a closer look at both input pens later on.

The preloaded software package is not limited to some useful system tools and applications like Evernote, but it also includes some advertisement links/apps on the Desktop. They can be removed with a few clicks, but they are still annoying on a professional device. The anti-virus scanner is a 30-day trial of McAfee LiveSafe.

Maintenance

There are no visible screws on the device, so it is not easy to access the components. There is hardly any reason to do that anyway – since there are no expansion slots or fans that could be cleaned . 

Warranty

Despite the high base price, the manufacturer offers only a 12-month warranty after the purchase (Reliability Guarantee) – if you want longer coverage, you will have to get one of the optional service packs. An upgrade to a 3-year On-Site service starts at around 100 Euros (~$107).

Input Devices

Keyboard

Fortunately, Toshiba has equipped the Z20t with a full-size keyboard with spill-water protection and background illumination. The layout and key size (15 x 15 millimeters; ~0.6 x 0.6 in) are similar to other normal Subnotebooks . However, several function keys are slightly too small, even though this is not a big issue during typing.

The overall impression of the keyboard is good, although the stroke clearly differs from a ThinkPad Helix 2, for example. While the pressure point of the Lenovo feels mechanically solid with a very long travel, the typing experience on the Portege is significantly smoother and quieter with a shorter travel. Which  solution is preferred, is a matter of taste – both can achieve speed typing.

Touchpad &TrackPoint

With dimensions of approximately  10 x 5.2 centimeters (~4 x ~2 in), the touchpad from Alps is adequately sized for navigation on the screen. The smooth but still conveniently grippy surface structure provides a detailed feedback and enables a fast and precise cursor control. Handy: A double-tap in the upper right corner switches into the energy-saving mode, a double-click at the upper left activates or deactivates the touchpad. Speaking of touchpads: The input device is actually a ClickPad because the firm mouse buttons are directly integrated into the touch-sensitive surface. If you prefer to use the perfectly working TrackPoint, you will be happy with the two dedicated buttons.

Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad and TrackPoint
Touchpad and TrackPoint

Digitizer & Touchscreen

As with any other tablet, it is easy to operate with the fingers, but the input method is only recommended for web browsing or the touch-optimized Metro UI of Windows 8.1. Small symbols and the control elements in Windows desktop applications are trickier to hit, and handwritten inputs are not that easy.

The solution for this problem is the input pen, and Toshiba actually includes two digitizers. Inside the tablet is a small and pressure-sensitive digitizer that works with an accuracy of 1-2 millimeters up into the peripheral areas. The Z20t is also shipped with a second and much larger input pen from Wacom, which is slightly more precise. Both digitizers glide smoothly above the anti-reflective screen surface, but you can hear some noises.

Digitizer
Digitizer

Display

The display resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and the screen size of 12.5 inches results in a pixel density of 176 ppi, which is slightly lower compared to the Surface Pro 3 (2160x1440 pixels @ 12-inch, 216 ppi) or the ThinkPad Helix 2 (1920x1080 pixels @ 11.6-inch, 190 ppi). However, this is not a disadvantage for the Portege – the picture looks very sharp, and even higher resolutions will often result in scaling issues with older software and consume more power.

The Z20t is just beaten by the rivals in terms of the brightness. We can measure an average luminance of 301 cd/m² with a deactivated light sensor, but unfortunately, the brightness distribution is not very even. The bottom of the panel can be up to 80 cd/m² darker compared to the center, but this is only noticeable with large colored areas. We can notice some flickering in PWM mode with a reduced brightness setting; but as with the improvable brightness distribution, only a few users will notice it in practice.

310
cd/m²
331
cd/m²
301
cd/m²
314
cd/m²
342
cd/m²
292
cd/m²
282
cd/m²
279
cd/m²
260
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Toshiba TOS508F tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 342 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 301.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 76 %
Center on Battery: 341 cd/m²
Contrast: 870:1 (Black: 0.393 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 9.69 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 9.27 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
40.4% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
44.1% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
63.6% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
42.63% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.95
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
1.920 x 1.080; IPS-Panel
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
1.920 x 1.080; IPS-Panel
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
2.160 x 1.440; IPS-Panel
Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140
1.920 x 1.080; IPS-Panel
Display
46%
Display P3 Coverage
42.63
63.6
49%
sRGB Coverage
63.6
88.8
40%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
44.1
65.6
49%
Screen
29%
26%
22%
Brightness middle
342
365
7%
355.3
4%
386
13%
Brightness
301
342
14%
338
12%
357
19%
Brightness Distribution
76
86
13%
91
20%
84
11%
Black Level *
0.393
0.329
16%
0.33
16%
0.4
-2%
Contrast
870
1109
27%
1077
24%
965
11%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
9.69
4.37
55%
4.72
51%
3.71
62%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
9.27
2.8
70%
6.53
30%
5.4
42%
Gamma
2.95 75%
2.3 96%
2.17 101%
2.33 94%
CCT
6010 108%
6595 99%
6707 97%
6666 98%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
40.4
59.37
47%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
29% / 29%
36% / 31%
22% / 22%

* ... smaller is better

AdobeRGB coverage (40.4%)
AdobeRGB coverage (40.4%)
sRGB coverage (55.6%)
sRGB coverage (55.6%)

The display is based on the higher-quality IPS panel, which has a rich black value (0.39 cd/m²) and therefore a correspondingly high contrast ratio (870:1). That the picture is not quite as brilliant as the Surface Pro 3, for example, is due to the matte screen surface, which however, has other advantages–more on that later.

A look at the colors and the grayscale performance shows that the factory settings for the panel of the Portege are not good. DeltaE 2000 deviations of between 9 and 10 are quite disappointing for a professional device, so we recommend calibration. The grayscale in particular is almost perfect after that, only some blue colors still miss the reference values. Probably, the very limited color space prevents even better results.

Grayscale (pre calibration)
Grayscale (pre calibration)
ColorChecker (pre calibration)
ColorChecker (pre calibration)
Saturation Sweeps (pre calibration)
Saturation Sweeps (pre calibration)
Grayscale (calibrated)
Grayscale (calibrated)
ColorChecker (calibrated)
ColorChecker (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)

We have already mentioned that Toshiba uses a matte panel for the Portege, while all the rivals have glossy screens that are common for tablets. The glued anti-reflective layer works really well outdoors and can prevent almost all annoying reflections. The display content is easily visible even on sunny days – currently no other device in this class and in this price range manages this.

Outdoor use (sunshine)

Apart from a slightly reduced contrast from extreme angles, the viewing angle stability of the IPS display in our test model is very good. However, technically inferior TN panels, that suffer from color deviations with vertical movements in particular, are not common for tablets anyway and can only be found in low-cost models.

Viewing angles Toshiba Portege Z20t
Viewing angles Toshiba Portege Z20t

Performance

Maximum Turbo clock of 2.9 GHz
Maximum Turbo clock of 2.9 GHz

The Intel Core M-5Y71 is currently the top version of the very frugal Core-M family. With its TDP of just 4.5 watts, the dual-core chip is much more frugal than common ULV CPUs that are usually specified with a TDP of 15 watts. The processor still manages a respectable 1.2 to 2.9 GHz (Turbo Boost) and supports Hyperthreading, so you can execute up to four threads simultaneously. The SoC includes an HD Graphics 5300 graphics card  as well as a dual-channel memory controller – in this case equipped with an 8 GB LPDDR3-1600 memory.

If you can live with 4 GB of RAM and the slightly slower Core M-5Y51 (1.1 to 2.6 GHz), then you can save around 200 Euros (~$213) with the otherwise identical sibling Portege Z20t-B-103.

System information Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C

Processor

2.6 GHz and exceeded TDP at the start of the benchmark...
2.6 GHz and exceeded TDP at the start of the benchmark...
...followed by a limit at 6 Watts, clock reduction to 1.8 GHz
...followed by a limit at 6 Watts, clock reduction to 1.8 GHz

A power consumption of just 4.5 watts with a (Turbo) clock of almost 3 GHz – how can that work? The simple answer: It does not. The Core M-5Y71 actually reaches the advertised maximum frequency, but only for very limited periods of load peaks and it exceeds the TDP limitation. The processor starts with the full 2.9 GHz (8.3 watts) in the Single-Thread test of Cinebench R15, but drops to 2.3 GHz (6 watts) after a few seconds. We can see a similar behavior in the Multithread scenario, where the clock starts at 2.6 GHz (12.5 watts) and drops to 1.8 GHz (6 watts). These results suggest that Toshiba has raised the TDP from 4.5 to 6 watts – a simple, but effective method to increase the performance that is also used by other manufacturers.

At least temporarily very high clocks ensure a very fast response and good results in short benchmarks. However, the difference compared to "normal" 15-watt models get bigger the longer the load period lasts. Another problem is that the Portege gets so warm after around 10 minutes of maximum load that the power consumption has to be reduced down to 5 watts (in steps).

Generally, the consumption is throttled to 4.5 watts on battery power and this value is not exceeded even for short periods. The result is a reduced clock of 2.0 GHz (Single-Thread) and 1.5 GHz (Multithread), respectively, which obviously affects the performance.

Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
Intel Core M-5Y71
1.15 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
Intel Core M-5Y71
1.13 Points -2%
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Intel Core i5-4300U
1.12 Points -3%
Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140
Intel Core M-5Y10a
0.94 Points -18%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
Intel Core i7-4610Y
1.24 Points +8%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
Intel Core M-5Y71
2.14 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
Intel Core M-5Y71
2.04 Points -5%
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Intel Core i5-4300U
2.77 Points +29%
Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140
Intel Core M-5Y10a
2.01 Points -6%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
Intel Core i7-4610Y
2.15 Points 0%
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
Intel Core M-5Y71
97 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
Intel Core M-5Y71
95 Points -2%
Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140
Intel Core M-5Y10a
83 Points -14%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
Intel Core i7-4610Y
107 Points +10%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
Intel Core M-5Y71
190 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
Intel Core M-5Y71
184 Points -3%
Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140
Intel Core M-5Y10a
190 Points 0%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
Intel Core i7-4610Y
192 Points +1%
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0
Pass 1 (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
Intel Core M-5Y71
85.1 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
Intel Core M-5Y71
91.2 fps +7%
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Intel Core i5-4300U
75.5 fps -11%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
Intel Core i7-4610Y
72.5 fps -15%
Pass 2 (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
Intel Core M-5Y71
11.47 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
Intel Core M-5Y71
11.13 fps -3%
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Intel Core i5-4300U
13.47 fps +17%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
Intel Core i7-4610Y
12.38 fps +8%
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
4680
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
6606
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
3810
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
3681 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
8486 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
5068 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.15 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
17.84 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
2.14 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
98 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
20.74 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
190 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
97 Points
Help

Storage Devices

AS SSD benchmark
AS SSD benchmark

The storage solution is a 256 GB M.2 SSD from Toshiba (HG6), which is based on Toshiba's own controller as well as 19 nm MLC-NAND. Our benchmarks with AS SSD and CrystalDiskMark determine an excellent performance for the drive, both with sequential as well as 4K transfers – significantly better results are currently managed by only a few (and still very rare) PCIe-SSDs. However, the performance differences between modern SSDs are hardly noticeable in practice anyway, so a business device is more focused on the consumption (0.065 to 2.5 watts) and the reliability (MTTF: 1,500,00 hours).

Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GVNU
Transfer Rate Minimum: 253.3 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 413.9 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 334.2 MB/s
Access Time: 0.1 ms
Burst Rate: 200.4 MB/s
CPU Usage: 2.5 %

System Performance

Clock and temperature development in PCMark
Clock and temperature development in PCMark

Although the maximum Turbo Boost cannot be maintained, it can catch load peaks surprisingly well. The TDP or temperature limit, respectively, is hardly a problem with everyday tasks like the loading of a website, application launches or installations that usually only stress the processor for a few seconds; even short idle periods are sufficient to fully utilize the Turbo again. In combination with the responsive SSD you get a very powerful working device – at least if you do not plan to use complex rendering or simulation software. In that case, you would be better off with a 15-watt CPU like in the Surface Pro 3.

PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
HD Graphics 5300, 5Y71, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GVNU
4421 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
HD Graphics 5300, 5Y71, Toshiba THNSFJ256GDNU 256 GB
4602 Points +4%
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
HD Graphics 4400, 4300U, Hynix HFS128G3MNM
5066 Points +15%
Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140
HD Graphics 5300, 5Y10a, Sandisk X110 M.2 SD6SP1M-128G
4135 Points -6%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
HD Graphics 4200, 4610Y, Samsung PM851 Series MZMTE256HMHP
4973 Points +12%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
HD Graphics 5300, 5Y71, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GVNU
2816 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
HD Graphics 5300, 5Y71, Toshiba THNSFJ256GDNU 256 GB
2690 Points -4%
Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140
HD Graphics 5300, 5Y10a, Sandisk X110 M.2 SD6SP1M-128G
2480 Points -12%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
HD Graphics 4200, 4610Y, Samsung PM851 Series MZMTE256HMHP
2282 Points -19%
Work Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
HD Graphics 5300, 5Y71, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GVNU
3936 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
HD Graphics 5300, 5Y71, Toshiba THNSFJ256GDNU 256 GB
3806 Points -3%
Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140
HD Graphics 5300, 5Y10a, Sandisk X110 M.2 SD6SP1M-128G
3291 Points -16%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
HD Graphics 4200, 4610Y, Samsung PM851 Series MZMTE256HMHP
3441 Points -13%
Creative Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
HD Graphics 5300, 5Y71, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GVNU
3263 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
HD Graphics 5300, 5Y71, Toshiba THNSFJ256GDNU 256 GB
3090 Points -5%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
HD Graphics 4200, 4610Y, Samsung PM851 Series MZMTE256HMHP
2400 Points -26%
PCMark 7 Score
4421 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
2816 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
3263 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
3936 points
Help

Graphics

4K H.265: Smooth playback in MPC-HC
4K H.265: Smooth playback in MPC-HC

The graphics core of the HD Graphics 5300 is basically identical to the HD Graphics 5500, which can be found in several ULV models. Both chips represent the medium evolution of the Broadwell GPU, "GT2", with 24 Execution Units (EUs) each. With 300 to 900 MHz, the clocks of the HD 5300 are just slightly lower than most HD 5500 chips on paper, but the real difference is much bigger because of the different TDPs.

The result is that the HD 5300 is not only beaten by the HD 5500 (represented by the ThinkPad T450s), but also the older HD 4400. Complex 3D applications will not run very well on the Portege, but the GPU is more than sufficient for multimedia purposes, including the playback of 4K H.265 videos.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
Intel Core M-5Y71, Intel HD Graphics 5300
775 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
Intel Core M-5Y71, Intel HD Graphics 5300
753 Points -3%
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Intel Core i5-4300U, Intel HD Graphics 4400
877 Points +13%
Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140
Intel Core M-5Y10a, Intel HD Graphics 5300
883 Points +14%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
Intel Core i7-4610Y, Intel HD Graphics 4200
784 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
Intel Core i7-5600U, Intel HD Graphics 5500
1251 Points +61%
3DMark
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
Intel Core M-5Y71, Intel HD Graphics 5300
35835 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
Intel Core M-5Y71, Intel HD Graphics 5300
35119 Points -2%
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Intel Core i5-4300U, Intel HD Graphics 4400
29229 Points -18%
Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140
Intel Core M-5Y10a, Intel HD Graphics 5300
38912 Points +9%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
Intel Core i7-4610Y, Intel HD Graphics 4200
32971 Points -8%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
Intel Core i7-5600U, Intel HD Graphics 5500
55793 Points +56%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
Intel Core M-5Y71, Intel HD Graphics 5300
3585 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
Intel Core M-5Y71, Intel HD Graphics 5300
3522 Points -2%
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Intel Core i5-4300U, Intel HD Graphics 4400
4146 Points +16%
Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140
Intel Core M-5Y10a, Intel HD Graphics 5300
3484 Points -3%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
Intel Core i7-4610Y, Intel HD Graphics 4200
3754 Points +5%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
Intel Core i7-5600U, Intel HD Graphics 5500
5782 Points +61%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Score (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
Intel Core M-5Y71, Intel HD Graphics 5300
453 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
Intel Core M-5Y71, Intel HD Graphics 5300
450 Points -1%
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Intel Core i5-4300U, Intel HD Graphics 4400
483 Points +7%
Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140
Intel Core M-5Y10a, Intel HD Graphics 5300
466 Points +3%
Toshiba Portege Z10t-A2111
Intel Core i7-4610Y, Intel HD Graphics 4200
495 Points +9%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
Intel Core i7-5600U, Intel HD Graphics 5500
753 Points +66%
3DMark 06 Standard Score
5273 points
3DMark 11 Performance
775 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
35835 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
3585 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
453 points
Help

Gaming Performance

You can actually play some games with a Core-M system, regardless of the limited performance reserves. At least if you are satisfied with older games and lower graphics settings. It should be noted that typical benchmarks only run for a few minutes; but as we have mentioned before, the device gets very warm after prolonged load periods so that CPU and GPU are further throttled. While the Portege still manages 40.3 fps (1024x768, minimum details) in the first run of the “Tomb Raider” benchmark, the results drop to 37.3 fps in the next run. The frame rate finally leveled off at a steady 33 fps after the tenth run – a performance decrease of almost 20%.

low med. high ultra
Tomb Raider (2013) 40.3 20.5 13.5
Alien: Isolation (2014) 23.9 15.9 8.5
F1 2014 (2014) 39 25 14

Emissions

System Noise

Because there are no fan, mechanical hard drive or other annoying noises, the Z20t is always completely silent.

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test
Prime95
Prime95

The drawbacks of the passive cooling solution are apparent when you look at the temperature development. The back of the device gets noticeably warm with everyday tasks and we can measure more than 40 °C (~104 °F) in some spots under load. Unfortunately, the ultimate hotspot is where the user holds the device with the right hand – although the processor runs with a slightly lower clock on battery power (and therefore limits the heat development), it would have been better if Toshiba located the Broadwell chip in the center of the chassis.

The integrated sensors of the Core M-5Y71 determine around 85 °C (~185 °F) at the end of our one-hour stress test, which is also the reason for the lower TDP of just 5 watts. We remember: The CPU can actually consume up to 6 watts, but the temperatures will limit the performance after a while.

 23.3 °C
74 F
25.7 °C
78 F
27.4 °C
81 F
 
 23.9 °C
75 F
26.2 °C
79 F
28.8 °C
84 F
 
 26 °C
79 F
28.9 °C
84 F
28 °C
82 F
 
Maximum: 28.9 °C = 84 F
Average: 26.5 °C = 80 F
26.9 °C
80 F
25.7 °C
78 F
23.9 °C
75 F
27.7 °C
82 F
25.9 °C
79 F
24.2 °C
76 F
26.9 °C
80 F
26 °C
79 F
25.3 °C
78 F
Maximum: 27.7 °C = 82 F
Average: 25.8 °C = 78 F
Power Supply (max.)  31.3 °C = 88 F | Room Temperature 20.1 °C = 68 F | Fluke 62 Max
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35.2 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 48.3 °C / 119 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 55.7 °C for the class Convertible.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 43.2 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.5 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(-) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 43 °C / 109.4 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (-14.9 °C / -26.8 F).

Speakers

Considering the mediocre standard of other tablets, we really like the front-facing stereo speakers of the Portege with their clear sound and the decent maximum volume. As expected, the bass is completely lacking – movies or music are much more enjoyable with external speakers or headsets.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Our review unit consumes between 2.4 and 5.6 watts while idling, which is on par with the ThinkPad Helix 2 (2.0 to 6.6 watts) or the Venue 11 Pro (2.0 to 6.2 watts). However, this is not surprising, since all three devices use the same Core-M platform and have similarly sized and bright displays.

The simultaneous launch of Prime95 and FurMark results in a system consumption of more than 30 watts for a few seconds. The long-term value levels off at a significantly lower 15 watts to prevent high temperatures. The supplied 45-watt power adaptor is therefore powerful enough, but a higher maximum output would be nice to reduce the charging time when you use the convertible at the same time.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.4 / 4.6 / 5.6 Watt
Load midlight 15.6 / 30.7 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Extech Power Analyzer 380803
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

As well as a 36 Wh battery in the tablet, Toshiba includes a second battery inside the keyboard dock, which also has a capacity of 36 Wh. This means the 12-inch device can use a total battery capacity of 72 Wh, which results in excellent runtimes between almost 6 hours (maximum load, maximum brightness) and 27 hours (idle, minimum brightness). Users can expect around 12 to 13 hours of web browsing or video playback with an average display brightness (150 cd/m²). The runtimes are roughly 50% shorter when you use the device without the dock.

Reader's Test
Reader's Test
WLAN Test
WLAN Test
H.264 Test
H.264 Test
Classic Test
Classic Test
Charging
Charging
Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C
72 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2
35 Wh
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
42 Wh
Dell Venue 11 Pro 7140
38 Wh
Battery Runtime
-46%
-48%
-41%
Reader / Idle
1616
964
-40%
1096
-32%
777
-52%
H.264
787
360
-54%
WiFi v1.3
760
Load
348
197
-43%
124
-64%
244
-30%
WiFi
396
504
562
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
26h 56min
WiFi Websurfing
12h 40min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
13h 07min
Load (maximum brightness)
5h 48min

Pros

+ Careful build quality
+ High-quality input devices
+ Digitizer support
+ Anti-reflective IPS panel with flawless picture quality
+ Very good everyday performance
+ Passive cooling
+ Impressive battery runtimes

Cons

- Only 12 months warranty
- No upgradeability
- No fingerprint reader
- Extremely high price

Verdict

Toshiba Portege Z20t
Toshiba Portege Z20t

It is always surprising how mobile and powerful modern convertibles have become now – a passively cooled Core-M device is hardly slower than a real desktop PC in many daily situations: But: Besides Toshiba, rivals like Lenovo or Dell manage this as well and use the same hardware platform for their devices.

So why should you pay almost 2000 Euros (~$2138) for the Portege Z20t, if you can get a ThinkPad Helix 2 or Venue 11 Pro for a much lower price? We have to be fair and emphasize that the Toshiba comes with many accessories, which have to be purchased separately in the case of the rivals. As well as the two digitizers and the integrated LTE module, we are talking about the keyboard dock with the secondary battery, which enables extremely long battery runtimes. The matte touchscreen of the Portege is another unique characteristic and is extremely helpful outdoors. The quality of the 2-in-1 notebook does not reveal any issues: The build quality is very good and the input devices are suitable for prolific writers.

Overall, the Portege Z20t is an interesting device for wealthy business customers that are looking for a versatile working device with an extremely good mobility. Private users that can dispense with certain features and security solutions will find rivals for a lower price.

Toshiba Portege Z20t-B-10C - 04/18/2016 v5.1(old)
Till Schönborn

Chassis
82 / 98 → 83%
Keyboard
84%
Pointing Device
93 / 35-78 → 100%
Connectivity
69%
Weight
69%
Battery
95 / 87 → 100%
Display
84%
Games Performance
53%
Application Performance
73 / 91 → 80%
Temperature
88%
Noise
100%
Audio
44%
Camera
61%
Average
76%
85%
Convertible - Weighted Average

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Till Schönborn, 2015-04-23 (Update: 2018-05-15)