Notebookcheck Logo

Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10 Notebook Review

Old dog, new tricks. The latest Z30t from Toshiba is yet again nearly identical to its brethren from two years ago, though this time, it’s sporting a Broadwell chipset and a 1080p touchscreen with antiglare filter. Are these changes enough to keep pace with its fierce competition in the business space?

Toshiba’s Portege series is the ultraportable darling of its high-end offerings. Sporting lightweight (though mostly sturdy) metal casings, speedy components, and business sensibilities (such as the conspicuous VGA port which has occupied the device’s left side for what seems like an eternity), it’s intended to compete with the likes of the Lenovo ThinkPad, Dell Latitude, and HP EliteBook.

Much like those other competitors, it’s also quite given to conservative design principles and a general resistance to change. As such, for a couple years now, not much at all has changed with regard to the basic appearance and layout of the Z30t (and its close relatives). Although we will be taking these factors into account, we will thus be focusing primarily in this review on the internal components and performance of this model as it relates to the technical refresh. For much more detailed information on the casing and components, check out our recent review of the Z30.

The latest assortment of 13-inch Portege Z30 models pack Intel Broadwell processors ranging from the Core i3-5015U up to the i7-5600U paired with solid-state drives from 128 to 512 GB in capacity. Our Z30t is also, as denoted by the final character in its model number, a touchscreen—but those models are not available for purchase directly from Toshiba (only retailers). The particular configuration we’re reviewing includes a Core i7-5600U, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD, as well as a 1080p touchscreen. At an MSRP of $1,630, can it hold its own?

Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
Processor
Intel Core i7-5600U 2 x 2.6 - 3.2 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 5500, Core: 950 MHz, 10.18.15.4248
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR3-1600 MHz
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, 10-point multitouch, TOS508F, IPS, with anti-glare filter, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Wildcat Point-LP
Storage
Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU, 256 GB 
, 256 GB
Soundcard
Realtek ALC255 @ Intel Wildcat Point-LP
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo , Card Reader: SD, 1 Fingerprint Reader
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
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 23 x 316 x 228 ( = 0.91 x 12.44 x 8.98 in)
Battery
52 Wh, 3380 mAh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: Full HD (2.0 MP) with stereo mic
Primary Camera: 2 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: 2.0, down-firing, Keyboard: Chiclet, 36 Months Warranty
Weight
1.326 kg ( = 46.77 oz / 2.92 pounds), Power Supply: 232 g ( = 8.18 oz / 0.51 pounds)
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

331 mm / 13 inch 226 mm / 8.9 inch 34 mm / 1.339 inch 1.8 kg3.92 lbs337 mm / 13.3 inch 232 mm / 9.13 inch 20.4 mm / 0.803 inch 1.6 kg3.62 lbs316 mm / 12.4 inch 228 mm / 8.98 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 1.3 kg2.92 lbs306 mm / 12 inch 209 mm / 8.23 inch 20.3 mm / 0.799 inch 1.4 kg3.15 lbs285 mm / 11.2 inch 212 mm / 8.35 inch 22.2 mm / 0.874 inch 1.4 kg3.09 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Communication

The Portege Z30t leverages the ubiquitous Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 WLAN adapter, which is a 2x2 adapter featuring speeds up to 867 Mbps and Bluetooth 4.0. We did at one point experience problems with the network connectivity; however, a simple update to driver version 18.21.0.2 corrected the problem permanently.

To help qualify the Portege as a true business companion, there’s also a Gigabit Ethernet adapter on board, crammed tactfully into the right side of the Z30t, right where it’s always been.

Accessories

The Z30t ships with a small (232 g) AC adapter and a microfiber cleaning cloth to help keep the touchscreen fingerprints at bay.

Maintenance and Warranty

The included warranty is also closer to the offerings of competitors like Lenovo and Dell: 36 months (3 years). However, it does not include on-site service, and Toshiba is very explicit to disclaim any damage to the machine which might be inflicted upon it by troubled parts replacements or upgrades—something which is complicated by the unnecessarily obtuse design of the bottom panel (where three of the screws are located below the rubber feet).

Display

The screen surface could best be described as semi-matte.
The screen surface could best be described as semi-matte.

Our most recent review (which we’ve thus far been referencing) is of the Z30, which lacks a touchscreen and features a run-of-the-mill (and wholly disappointing) 768p display. However, the Z30t-B1320 we’re evaluating here is much closer in this regard to the Portege Z30t-A-10X from nearly a year and a half ago (both reportedly feature the same panel, which is a Toshiba TOS508F). This is a 13.3-inch 1920x1080 FHD IPS touchscreen with a glare-diffusion filter layer added to the surface. The result is a not-quite-anti-glare panel with all the responsiveness and versatility of a conventional touchscreen, but far fewer of the obstructive reflections which often accompany them. But it’s not all positive: this approach also results in a grainy, sparkly sort of film overtop the underlying screen imagery which reduces the overall appeal of the picture.

Still, subjectively, the panel appears to do a good job rendering colors. The 1080p resolution offers more than enough real estate at a 13.3-inch size, too (166 PPI) without all of the battery-sucking superfluity of 4K that we so often see these days.

283.2
cd/m²
282.4
cd/m²
289.6
cd/m²
291.3
cd/m²
296.1
cd/m²
267.1
cd/m²
293.5
cd/m²
284.8
cd/m²
268.4
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
TOS508F tested with X-Rite i1Basic Pro 2
Maximum: 296.1 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 284 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 296.1 cd/m²
Contrast: 961:1 (Black: 0.308 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 1.61 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
96.57% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62.37% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
68.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
96.8% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
67.1% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.18
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
13.30, 1920x1080
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
12.50, 1920x1080
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
14.00, 1920x1080
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
11.60, 1366x768
Dell Latitude E7450
14.00, 1920x1080
Display
-33%
-9%
-30%
-3%
Display P3 Coverage
67.1
44.14
-34%
64.8
-3%
46.85
-30%
66.6
-1%
sRGB Coverage
96.8
65.8
-32%
83.8
-13%
69.1
-29%
92.4
-5%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
68.9
45.71
-34%
61.2
-11%
48.42
-30%
67.7
-2%
Response Times
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
59.2 ?(24.4, 34.8)
Response Time Black / White *
50.4 ?(11.6, 38.8)
PWM Frequency
215.5
Screen
-22%
-20%
-32%
-18%
Brightness middle
296.1
397
34%
272
-8%
322
9%
280
-5%
Brightness
284
357
26%
268
-6%
312
10%
257
-10%
Brightness Distribution
90
81
-10%
91
1%
87
-3%
75
-17%
Black Level *
0.308
0.44
-43%
0.245
20%
0.32
-4%
0.3
3%
Contrast
961
902
-6%
1110
16%
1006
5%
933
-3%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3
4.2
-40%
4.35
-45%
5.19
-73%
3.45
-15%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.61
3.1
-93%
3.7
-130%
4.36
-171%
3.35
-108%
Gamma
2.18 101%
2.6 85%
2.68 82%
2.26 97%
2.37 93%
CCT
6716 97%
6246 104%
6076 107%
5985 109%
6940 94%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
62.37
42
-33%
54.7
-12%
44.3
-29%
60
-4%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
96.57
65.5
-32%
83.5
-14%
92
-5%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-28% / -25%
-15% / -17%
-31% / -31%
-11% / -14%

* ... smaller is better

We measured an overall average brightness of 284 cd/m², with a good brightness distribution of 90%. That’s comparable to most other competitors in this market segment, and it’s luminous enough for comfortable use in all but the brightest of environments (specifically, outdoors). Contrast is also very good at 961:1, thanks to a black value of 0.308 cd/m².

The panel manages to cover nearly all of the sRGB spectrum (97%) and 62% of AdobeRGB 1998. Only the most demanding users will require better performance than this; it’s enough to produce vivid, deep colors and an attractive picture.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. Portege Z30t-A-10X
vs. Portege Z30t-A-10X
vs. ThinkPad T450s
vs. ThinkPad T450s
vs. Latitude E7450
vs. Latitude E7450

Further measurements using an X-Rite spectrophotometer reveal superior calibration from the factory as compared to the aforementioned Z30t-A-10X, even in spite of the fact that both notebooks use the same panel. We recorded grayscale and ColorChecker DeltaE values of 1.61 and 3, respectively, as well as a near-perfect Total Gamma of 2.18. That’s in contrast to the Z30t-A-10X’s 7.79 (grayscale ΔE), 5.64 (ColorChecker ΔE), and 2.48 (Total Gamma), all of which are quite far off the mark.

Color analysis (pre-calibration)
Color analysis (pre-calibration)
Saturation sweeps (pre-calibration)
Saturation sweeps (pre-calibration)
Grayscale analysis (pre-calibration)
Grayscale analysis (pre-calibration)
Color analysis (post-calibration)
Color analysis (post-calibration)
Saturation sweeps (post-calibration)
Saturation sweeps (post-calibration)
Grayscale analysis (post-calibration)
Grayscale analysis (post-calibration)

PWM was detected at brightness levels of 2/10 and lower on our review notebook. Reference the graphs above for more information on the PWM flickering and refresh rates of the panel.

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
50.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 11.6 ms rise
↘ 38.8 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 99 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
59.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 24.4 ms rise
↘ 34.8 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 95 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 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 detected 215.5 Hz

The display backlight flickers at 215.5 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) .

The frequency of 215.5 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Outdoors, the panel proves challenging in all but heavily shaded environments, thanks in part to its decent (but not terrific) brightness, as well as its only partially-matte display finish. Viewing angles are also very good, as is expected for an IPS panel—though the anti-glare filter does diffuse the brightness to some extent when viewed from moderately off-axis.

In the sun
In the sun
In the shade
In the shade
Great IPS viewing angles
Great IPS viewing angles

Performance

The refreshed Toshiba Portege Z30 models all feature Intel Broadwell CPUs with TDP of 15 W. Preinstalled RAM configurations of both 4 GB and 8 GB are available (8 GB+ optionally dual-channel as well) and up to 16 GB maximum is configurable; all of these are DDR3L 1600 MHz. Toshiba states on its configuration pages that the memory “is not user upgradeable, factory installed only,” which probably references the self-imposed previously-mentioned maintenance impediments—since, as you can see in our photos, the memory was indeed upgradeable on our review unit (there was even an empty slot in waiting). Problematically, however, it does not appear that the Z30t can be customized at all; the only models available are the preconfigured ones such as the one we are currently evaluating.

Also do keep in mind that when customizing a unit, the default warranty period drops to 1 year from 3 years; this can be changed but the cost is significant ($129 currently).

A subsequent run of 3DMark 11 while operating on battery power revealed no significant change in overall performance (1196 versus our original score of 1220). LatencyMon, meanwhile, detected some possible issues handling real-time audio and other tasks; see our attached screenshot for more details.

CPU-Z CPU
CPU-Z CPU
CPU-Z Caches
CPU-Z Caches
CPU-Z Mainboard
CPU-Z Mainboard
CPU-Z Memory
CPU-Z Memory
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWiNFO
HWiNFO
ComputeMark
ComputeMark
LatencyMon
LatencyMon

Processor

Portege Z30 units can be equipped with CPUs ranging from the low-end Core i3-5015U all the way up to the Core i7-5600U (included in our test unit). All of these CPUs, as previously mentioned, are Broadwell chips, which means they’re manufactured using a 14 nm process and carry a TDP of 15 W. The biggest advantage here is power efficiency, though these CPUs have also shown a small yet significant performance premium over their Haswell predecessors. The i7-5600U in our review unit is a dual-core, ULV CPU clocked at 2.6 – 3.2 GHz (2 cores: 3.1 GHz). Check out our dedicated CPU page for much more information on this particular chip.

As for comparisons to other notebooks with the same CPU, the Portege holds its own quite well. In Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64-bit, its score of 296 points fares favorably against rivals such as the ThinkPad X250 (301), ThinkPad T450s (302), and Elitebook Revolve 810 G3 (289). Meanwhile, the Portege widens the gap with a respectable lead over the field in wPrime 1024m, where its score of 482 is much faster than the ThinkPad X250 and T450s (534 and 525)—but superPi 32M once again grounds expectations with a result of 636 seconds (versus 631 and 617 from the ThinkPads, respectively).

Boiling it all down, however, the bottom line is that the Portege is more than equipped to handle the rigors of everyday processing loads—even heavier ones—without buckling.

Cinebench R10 64-bit
Cinebench R10 64-bit
Cinebench R11.5 64-bit
Cinebench R11.5 64-bit
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
6543 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
6494 Points -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
6487 Points -1%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
5970 Points -9%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
13122 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
13673 Points +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
13756 Points +5%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
12043 Points -8%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
1.5 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
1.51 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
1.51 Points +1%
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
1.51 Points +1%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
1.35 Points -10%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
3.26 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
3.29 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
3.31 Points +2%
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
3.16 Points -3%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
3.07 Points -6%
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
131 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
130 Points -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
130 Points -1%
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
130 Points -1%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
117 Points -11%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
296 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
301 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
302 Points +2%
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
289 Points -2%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
280 Points -5%
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
7420 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
13122 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
6543 Points
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
7263
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
10271
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4940
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
22.51 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
3.26 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.5 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
98 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
25.81 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
296 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
131 Points
Help

System Performance

Of particular interest is the general system performance of business machines, as quick-draw office use of all varieties is arguably more important to the typical business user than is raw processing prowess. Here again, the Portege Z30t succeeds, with a very good score of 4330 points in PCMark 8 Work Accelerated v2 and 4966 in PCMark 7. The PCMark 8 result just barely trails the competition (as shown in our graphs below), whereas in PCMark 7 the Portege turns the tables and beats out most of the others by a 3 to 7 percent margin (the Elitebook Revolve, on the other hand, wins with a 7% lead and 5322 points). The Dell Latitude E7450 is the sole exception here, thanks to an artificially hampered write speed of the Samsung PM851 SSD which our review unit happened to include.

These are all great scores regardless. None of these machines will disappoint in everyday office tasks, no matter how demanding.

PCMark 7
PCMark 7
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
4966 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
4609 Points -7%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
4797 Points -3%
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
5322 Points +7%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
4650 Points -6%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
3062 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
3148 Points +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
3270 Points +7%
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
3358 Points +10%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
2932 Points -4%
Work Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
4330 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
4345 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
4394 Points +1%
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
4473 Points +3%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
4002 Points -8%
Creative Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
3716 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
3458 Points -7%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
3613 Points -3%
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
3876 Points +4%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
3459 Points -7%
PCMark 7 Score
4966 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3062 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
3716 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4330 points
Help

Storage Devices

Portege Z30 notebooks all feature solid-state storage, which we applaud. The capacities range from 128 GB to 512 GB preconfigured, though the prices for the higher capacities are rather inflated. Our unit includes a 256 GB Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU SSD, which offers very fast sequential read and write speeds of over 500 MB/s and 450 MB/s, respectively. For much more detail on our storage benchmarks, see the table below.

Like the RAM, the solid-state drive can be replaced aftermarket with a different model. However, again, disassembly is moderately challenging, with the silly placement of three of the screws beneath the rubber feet being the greatest obstruction.

The SSD in our test system
The SSD in our test system
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 8 Storage
AS SSD
AS SSD
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
Transfer Rate Minimum: 284 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 410.7 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 330.1 MB/s
Access Time: 0.1 ms
Burst Rate: 226.2 MB/s
CPU Usage: 2.7 %

GPU Performance

Much has been said of the Toshiba Z30t’s integrated Intel HD Graphics 5500 already; see our dedicated page for a slew of benchmarks specific to it.

As compared with other notebooks sporting the same CPU and GPU, results are mixed. The Portege fares well in 3DMark 11 (1220 points), but generally comes in around 10—20% lower versus the T450s and Elitebook Revolve 810 G3 in the 3DMark (2013 edition) tests. The full breakdown can be found below.

3DMark 11
3DMark 11
3DMark 06
3DMark 06
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark Cloud Gate
3DMark Cloud Gate
3DMark Fire Strike
3DMark Fire Strike
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme
3DMark 06 Standard Score
6548 points
3DMark 11 Performance
1220 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
45426 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
5008 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
644 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
291 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
1220 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
1079 Points -12%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
1251 Points +3%
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
1149 Points -6%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
1023 Points -16%
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Score (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
644 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
625 Points -3%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
753 Points +17%
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
712 Points +11%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
619 Points -4%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
5008 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
4801 Points -4%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
5782 Points +15%
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
5369 Points +7%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
4655 Points -7%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
45426 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
40296 Points -11%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
55793 Points +23%
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
53541 Points +18%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
43346 Points -5%
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 33.74 19.5 15.81 8.98

Emissions

System Noise

The Portege Z30t isn’t really a noisy machine, with average idle values of around 30.3 dB(A) and a load average of 35.6 dB(A). But it’s still a little louder than the competition, whose idle values hover closer to the 29.1 dB(A) mark instead. Results are more mixed under load, with the Latitude E7450 proving ever-so-slightly louder at 36.4 dB(A), but the rest of the competition either matching or beating the Portege by a couple of decibels. The fan is rather high-pitched and could irritate some more sensitive users with its characteristic whine at higher RPMs.

Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
Noise
6%
6%
4%
2%
Idle Minimum *
30.2
29
4%
29.1
4%
29.1
4%
29.1
4%
Idle Average *
30.3
29
4%
29.1
4%
29.1
4%
29.1
4%
Idle Maximum *
32.2
30.3
6%
29.1
10%
29.1
10%
30
7%
Load Average *
35.6
33.4
6%
34.3
4%
35.6
-0%
36.4
-2%
Load Maximum *
37.6
33.7
10%
34.8
7%
37.2
1%
37.8
-1%

* ... smaller is better

Noise Level

Idle
30.2 / 30.3 / 32.2 dB(A)
Load
35.6 / 37.6 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   BK Precision 732A (15 cm distance)

Temperature

Temperature is absolutely no problem however as a result. We measured average idle case temperatures of 22.4 °C and 23.4 °C on top and bottom, respectively, and load values of 27 °C and 26.1 °C. Even considering the room temperature of 19 °C, these are quite low. We never even witnessed a hot spot warmer than 34.4 °C on the entire machine (center top quadrant on the upper side)—and on the bottom, nothing climbed beyond 31.8 °C—impressive. Toshiba advertises the machine’s “highly efficient cooling technology,” and judging by our testing, that description seems absolutely warranted.

Infrared analysis of top of base unit
Infrared analysis of top of base unit
Infrared analysis of bottom
Infrared analysis of bottom
The cooling system is highly efficient
The cooling system is highly efficient
Max. Load
 29.4 °C
85 F
34.4 °C
94 F
30.2 °C
86 F
 
 26.6 °C
80 F
28.8 °C
84 F
25.6 °C
78 F
 
 22.6 °C
73 F
22.6 °C
73 F
22.6 °C
73 F
 
Maximum: 34.4 °C = 94 F
Average: 27 °C = 81 F
26.4 °C
80 F
31.8 °C
89 F
30.8 °C
87 F
24.6 °C
76 F
27.4 °C
81 F
24.2 °C
76 F
22.8 °C
73 F
23.2 °C
74 F
23.6 °C
74 F
Maximum: 31.8 °C = 89 F
Average: 26.1 °C = 79 F
Power Supply (max.)  40 °C = 104 F | Room Temperature 19 °C = 66 F | Raytek Raynger ST
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 27 °C / 81 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 34.4 °C / 94 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 31.8 °C / 89 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22.4 °C / 72 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 22.6 °C / 72.7 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (+5.7 °C / 10.2 F).

Stress Test

During our CPU stress test, the Portege Z30t generally maintains frequencies of 2.9 GHz (both cores), but does occasionally waver to 2.6 GHz on a single core (the other remaining at 2.9 GHz) in order to obey TDP constraints. These values are below the 3.1 GHz turbo max for the CPU, which the Z30t can’t achieve. It’s merely a matter of TDP; thermal issues are not a concern, with maximum temperatures reaching 75 °C and the case temperature never becoming uncomfortable.

During the GPU stress test, the integrated GPU pushes the CPU package power demands to nearly 20 W for a short introductory period (during which interval clock rates are 950 MHz) before eventually succumbing once again to TDP and dropping the GPU core clock permanently to 800 MHz. Once again, temperatures are not a factor as they only briefly touch the 72 °C mark.

Predictably, with both CPU and GPU stress imposed, the machine buckles immediately (once again, due to TDP), favoring the GPU with a core clock rate of around 750 MHz and CPU frequencies locked at 1.5 GHz (both cores). Temperatures never exceed 72 °C. These conditions are maintained even when running unplugged, so performance on battery power should not be a concern.

CPU stress
CPU stress
GPU stress
GPU stress
Combined stress
Combined stress

Speakers

One area in which the Portege merely survives is that of audio output. It’s passable for mainstream business use, but the drivers are tiny, and the shape of the sound is predictably thin and devoid of any bass whatsoever. DTS Studio Sound post-processing software does help somewhat, but regardless, when compared side-by-side with, say, a Dell Latitude E7450 (which has surprisingly good audio output despite the size of the speakers), it’s sorely lacking.

Battery Life

The Portege Z30t makes few strides in the area of battery life over its predecessors; fortunately, it was never bad to begin with. The Haswell-driven Z30t-A-10X (which featured the same screen) managed just under 20 hours while idle, whereas the Z30t-B1320 adds nearly another hour to make it 20 hours, 40 minutes. Load runtimes are shorter at 1:59, but the Z30t-A-10X also was given to heavy throttling, so that may be correlated.

Our Wi-Fi Surfing test has evolved to become more taxing since the 2014 model was reviewed. The Z30t-B1320 earns 7:46 in our new Wi-Fi Surfing v1.3 benchmark, which is very good. This can’t be directly compared with the results from the Z30t-A-10X due to the testing differences, but we can compare it to more recent models—and it fares incredibly well here, with only the HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3 and Dell XPS 13-9350 directly competing with very close results overall. One last item to note is that if screen quality truly is of little importance to the user, the Satellite Z30-B-100—which is nearly identical except for a slightly lower-powered i5 CPU and 768p screen—clocked over 12 hours in the same test—which is over four hours longer.

Classic Test
Classic Test
Readers Test
Readers Test
Wi-Fi Surfing v1.3
Wi-Fi Surfing v1.3
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Toshiba THNSNJ256GMCU
Lenovo ThinkPad X250-20CLS06D00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS03F00
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series SSDSC2BF360A5L
HP Elitebook Revolve 810 G3
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
Dell XPS 13-9350
HD Graphics 520, 6200U, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZ-VLV256D
Battery Runtime
-32%
-35%
-3%
-18%
-5%
Reader / Idle
1240
779
-37%
774
-38%
1103
-11%
714
-42%
782
-37%
WiFi v1.3
466
298
-36%
276
-41%
499
7%
422
-9%
451
-3%
Load
119
92
-23%
88
-26%
113
-5%
115
-3%
150
26%
H.264
342
322
428
452
WiFi
325
336
459
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
20h 40min
WiFi Websurfing
7h 46min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 59min

Pros

+ lightweight magnesium construction
+ sturdy base unit
+ superior thermal management
+ great overall system performance
+ long battery life
+ very good display panel (color, contrast)
+ good input devices

Cons

- grainy image quality introduced by touchscreen diffusion filter
- flimsy display lid
- silly maintenance design for a business PC
- subpar speakers
- expensive when compared to some close competitors

Verdict

The Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10
The Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10

Two years is an eternity in computing terms, and it’s been at least that long since we’ve seen any significant changes to the design of these high-end ultraportables from Toshiba. Nevertheless, in spite of the aging case, the Z30t-B1320 is portable enough at 1.33 kg (2.92 lbs.) to remain relevant—and thanks to the smart magnesium alloy construction and good port selection, all that’s left to address is the internal components.

Bolstered by the update to a Broadwell chipset, this is the best Z30 yet. It’s more than capable with great general performance scores, long runtimes, and cool case temperatures (with convenient vent placement and effective thermal design). The input devices remain fairly good as well, and the screen sports great color reproduction, adequate resolution, and good brightness/contrast values.

There are certainly some deficiencies. For starters, the touchscreen—for all its merits—is inhibited by an incredibly grainy image quality thanks to the glare diffusion filter layered atop it (which results in a semi-matte finish). The case—while mostly stable—does feature a decidedly flimsy display lid, which easily gives way to twisting. Maintenance is still laughably obtuse, with screws hidden beneath multiple rubber feet—incredibly taboo for a supposedly high-end business machine. Finally, the speakers are inferior to some competitors, with a tinny and bass-less output.

Moreover, the competition has only thickened around the Z30t. Dell’s Latitude 7000 series and the Lenovo ThinkPad machines still reign supreme in the realm of input devices, and the cases seem sturdier as well—not to mention they’re far easier to maintain. The HP EliteBooks are expensive, but well worth considering if you’re in the market. And some consumer-grade machines—in spite of their lack of Ethernet and docking station ports—have even made strides into the corporate world, such as the top-rated XPS 13.

The Portege Z30t is still a solid contender however, and one which deserves strong consideration in spite of its aging design.

Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10 - 01/11/2016 v4.1(old)
Steve Schardein

Chassis
88 /  98 → 90%
Keyboard
83%
Pointing Device
86%
Connectivity
69 / 80 → 86%
Weight
71 / 35-78 → 84%
Battery
89%
Display
87%
Games Performance
74 / 68 → 100%
Application Performance
84 / 87 → 97%
Temperature
96 / 91 → 100%
Noise
89%
Audio
50 / 91 → 55%
Camera
77 / 85 → 91%
Average
80%
86%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

Read all 1 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10 Notebook Review
Steve Schardein, 2016-01-14 (Update: 2016-01-14)