Tecno Megabook T1 Review: A Stunning Debut Laptop
© Ian Stokes Tecno Tecno Megabook T1 is launching in America and EuropeMost of our readers don't know Tecno, and that's enough. It's a mobile technology brand that does big business in Asia and Africa, but you won't see their products on store shelves in America and Europe. Tecno wants to change that, but breaks new ground with its first Tecno Megabook T1 laptop.
It's not every day you see a new player in the laptop game, so we decided to take a look at the Megabook T1 to see how it stacks up against the best student laptops .
Although not currently available in the US or European markets, Tecno plans to release the Megabook T1 at some point, and if their price is close to what is currently on sale in the Philippines (prices start at $550), then they should be high. to the winner.
Tecno Megabook T1 Review: Design and Features
- Slim and portable
- Aluminum body for extra stability
- Good choice of ports, unlike many ultrabooks
First impressions are great as the Tecno Megabook T1 looks stylish. It's thin and light, but feels like a premium device thanks to its all-aluminum body. Most laptops in this price range require a plastic case, so we'd like to see that.
The back of the laptop has a quirky scratched design and is emblazoned with the Megabook name. There are also other subtle signature touches, such as the Megabook lettering hidden in the fold. The packaging is also designed to match the look of premium devices that cost twice as much.
The test unit sent to us was painted space gray, which appears to be the only color option currently available. While other options are shown on the Techno website, we suspect that this initial release is limited to the default option.
Tecno is targeting the ultrabook market with the Megabook, a slim portable laptop measuring 14.1 x 9.3 x 0.58 inches (357 x 235 x 14.8 mm). It is also lightweight, weighing only 1.48 kg.
There's enough room for a 15.6-inch laptop, a trackpad for classroom use, and a full keyboard, including a side-mounted keyboard. The keys are comfortable to type on, with good travel times and satisfying feedback for a laptop of this size. The keyboard is backlit with different brightness levels and automatically detects and turns on the backlight for you when you're in a dark room.
Thin laptops and ultrabooks often sacrifice ports to keep weight down, so it's nice to have a decent amount of ports on the T1, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 2.1, HDMI, 2 x USB-C (among others) see. which acts as a charging port), an audio jack and an SD card reader.
It also has a 2-megapixel webcam mounted above the display with a sliding physical cover for privacy-conscious users. Video quality isn't impressive, but it's in line with what you usually see on laptops in this price range.
Tecno Megabook T1 Review: Specifications and Performance
- Ditch the 8GB and opt for the 12 or 16GB versions instead.
- There is no dedicated GPU, so uses the integrated Intel Xe Iris graphics.
- 512GB and 1TB SSD storage options
Intel i5 and i7 processor options are available for the Tecno Megabook T1, although only the i5 version is sold at the time of writing. We were sent one of the i7 models with an 11th generation Intel i7-1195G7 processor. Interestingly, Techno's website doesn't mention which i5 processor is used in the entry-level model, but we're pretty sure it's the 11th-gen model.
Without 12th generation Intel chips, you lose a bit more performance, but previous models are still good chipsets, especially for a budget laptop.
In addition to the Intel processor, the high-end Megabook T1 we tested was equipped with 16 GB of DDR4 RAM. The cheapest versions are available with 8 GB and 12 GB. 8GB has long been considered the minimum amount of RAM in a decent laptop, and we think you'll probably be better off with the 12GB option if you buy an i5 Megabook.
Because the Tecno Megabook T1 does not have a dedicated GPU, it uses the integrated Intel X Iris graphics that comes with the Intel processor. It's a decent solution that can handle some light games, but it's not a standalone gaming device, so don't expect the latest AAA games to run on ultra settings.
In Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (we tested it for our sister site Space.com). Everything went like a dream, and although it does not have high-end graphics, there are many wonderful micro-effects on the screen, and Tecno was able to continue.
In terms of storage, the i7 Megabook comes with a 1TB SSD, while cheaper models come with a 512GB SSD. It is enough to store files, games, photos and music. According to our colleagues at TechRadar, the SSD in question has a relatively slow Intel 670p write speed. However, this will not be a big problem for most users, especially since it is not the first and foremost slot, and this is where the speed of the pipe really matters.
Tecno Megabook T1 Review: Screen and Speakers
- 15.6" FHD screen
- Brightness 350 nits, good color
- The speakers are great, but you can disable them as shown below.
As for the display, the Tecno Megabook T1 has a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080p) display with an impressive 350 nits brightness level. Color accuracy and overall display quality are excellent. Disney+ (must watch with Mando S3) and YouTube - we watched a lot of videos and there is nothing to complain about.
The screen is supported by a powerful speaker located at the bottom of the laptop. These 2.5W stereo speakers have immersive DTS sound and are apparently powered by a "TECNO VOC sound effect", although there's not much information on what that means (something to do with using AI to deliver immersive sound). ).
We can say that the speakers offer very impressive performance. The sound quality is excellent and the volume is loud enough to be heard even in a noisy room - we had video while cooking in the kitchen and everything was clear.
The speakers on the bottom of the device can make the sound slightly muffled when you place it on your lap or on a blanket. So when you watch movies, it might be on a book or tablet. To make this bed lighter.
Tecno Megabook T1 in the test: battery life
- Up to 17.5 hours (12 hours with typical use)
- "Quick Charge" is a normal charge.
If you're looking for an all-day laptop, the Megabook is for you. On their website, Tecno claims 17.5 hours of battery life; It is enough to spend a full day and relax after work. In fact, it gets close to 11-12 hours of average use in moderate performance mode, which is still pretty impressive. We never drained the battery or came close to it during testing.
On paper, the Tecno Megabook T1 has a fast charging feature, so you can charge it up quickly when it's low. It comes with a 65W USB-C fast charger that looks more like a phone charger. It makes sense if techno is the legacy of smartphone manufacturing. In practice, load times aren't terrible, but we've definitely seen better. The HP Specter x360 16 goes from 0 to 50% in 30 minutes, while the Megabook, when we tested it, went from 5% to 40% in an hour.
Tecno Megabook T1 Review: Price
- Good value for money
- It's not yet available in the US or Europe, but you can probably expect to pay around $550.
The price of the Tecno Megabook T1 is a little strange as it is not sold anywhere in the US and Europe at the time of this writing. However, when it finally arrives, we expect it to cost around $550 for the entry-level i5 and around $800 for the i7 version we're testing.
It's a very reasonable price for what you get here: a lightweight ultrabook with excellent specifications, a stylish design and good build quality.
Should I buy Tecno Megabook T1?
In fact, you probably won't be able to buy the Tecno Megabook T1 just yet. Tecno is interested in this model in the US and European markets, but so far there are no signs of this. But if it does make it to our shores, we think the Megabook T1 has real potential.
It's well built, light and easy to use, with great features under the hood. The screen is solid, the speakers are great and the battery life is amazing. All of this adds up to a fantastic laptop that students can carry around campus all day. And with the low prices we're seeing elsewhere return to the US and Europe, it also offers exceptional value for money.
This means that we recommend the Tecno Megabook T1 as one of the best laptops for students . However, if you're looking for something more powerful, it might be better to check out our guides to the best laptops for photo editing and the best laptops for coding and programming .
Tecno Megabook T1 not for you?
If you're looking for a laptop that you can buy now without importing it, we have a few options to check out.
The MSI Prestige 14 EVO costs the same as the Megabook at $579 and offers similar specifications. The entry-level model has an i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD - a little more than the Megabook because of the smaller screen, but it has a new 12th Gen Intel processor, so we'd say it's ' a mistake
There are also i7 EVO models that compete with more expensive Megabook versions. MSI Prestige 14 EVO with 12th Gen i7 processor, 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD costs $879. It's a bit bigger than a big Megabook, but then again you get a new processor.
For the same price, you could look at the Acer Aspire Vero, which has similar specs to the Megabook - the i7 version is $749/£849 and the i5 model is $584/£649.
