Will the new Snapdragon X Elite processors put new Windows 11 laptops at the forefront of mainstream AI experiences?
The new Omnibook series marks the beginning of AI-powered computers for both the industry and HP. The first of the two – the Omnibook X – is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite.
This marks the PC industries second big push to ARM-powered computers, one that has already become a standard with the M3 chips in Apple’s computing devices. ARM chips bring improved battery life, thermal management and integrated graphics without compromising processing power that comes with X86/64 architecture. Only this generation of ARM devices comes with AI powered smarts.
The Omnibook X is also a CoPilot+ PC which is Microsoft’s latest version of Windows 11 laptops powered by on device AI.
So, does the Omnibook X deliver? You’ll have to wait until our extensive review goes live, but our early indications show that there are practical improvements across the board. Even if the AI in Windows 11 is a bit underwhelming at the moment.
You can get the HP Omnibook X with a starting price of $1,149.99 at HP or catch it on sale for a limited time at Best Buy for $899.00
The AMD Powered, Ultra portable laptop is internally upgradable and more than powerful for anything from everyday to extensive tasks.
System76, a tech company known for offering easy to use, open-source technologies to the masses has sent us the Pangolin (2023 model) for review.
This Ryzen 7 powered laptop has a generous amount of ports, a 16″ matte screen with anti-glare, and even a kill switch for the webcam to secure yourself from snooping hackers.
While you can get the Pangolin directly from the System76′ website, we’ve taken the Pangolin (2023 model) through its paces. Keep reading to see our conclusions of this highly capable laptop below.
Design: Big Screen and Ports Galore
The Pangolin has a 16-inch anti-reflective matte screen, with a generous port selection including a barrel AC/DC power port – although the Pangolin can be charged through USB-C. There’s an HDMI port for external monitors, although the USB-C port is Thunderbolt 4 enabled. For those wanting analog audio, a 3.5mm headphone jack exists.
On the left side of the laptop is a full-size SD card reader, a Lexington lock slot, and a 3rd USB-A 3.0 port. Check out the full spec sheet below:
Full Specs
Specs
System76 Pangolin
OS
Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 7840U
CPU
8 Cores – 16 threads 3.3up to 5.10 Ghz
GPU
AMD Radeon 780M
RAM
32 GB LPDDR5 @ 6400 Mhz
Display
16″ 1920×1080 FHD, Matte Finish,60 Hz
Storage
2 x M.2 SSD (PCIe NVMe) Up to 16TB Total
Expansion
3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, SD Card Reader
Running a customized distro of Linux named Pop_OS!, (made in-house by System76) it has one of the most commercially assessable operating systems that’s not Windows or MacOS.
From a design standpoint, Pop_OS! has a similar feel to MacOS with its Unix-like interface. For those familiar with Linux – it’s interface derives from the GNOME flavor of Ubuntu Linux, but you can easily install different distro shells (UIs) on top of the Pop_OS! Linux Kernel.
The Pop_OS! App Drawer
We’re reserving our final take of Pop_OS! In a separate review article, but I will state here that Pop_OS! Is probably the most user friendly version of Linux that ships from a manufacturer out the box. System76 also promises lifetime support for your OS when you purchase one of their devices.
The Pop_OS! settings menu, About Device tab
It may take some re-adjusting and you may have to find open-source alternatives to proprietary software packages you need to use; But if you’ve ever used Linux before, you’d be surprised at how far it has come along in 2024.
Conclusion
The 2023 model of the Pangolin has some significant improvements over the 2022 model, mostly in the upgraded CPU and GPU, .Those looking for more dedicated graphics might want to look at the Oryx Pro; or the Darter Pro if you want a even lighter, Intel-powered laptop in the System76 lineup.
When the Dragonfly Pro first arrived, I was excited for the prospect of Cloud Gaming on Chromebooks. And between the Play Store and Linux, there should be a ton of options for content creation, document editing and such. Little did I know that Google was still offering underbaked software that was still playing catch up to the premium hardware shopping with ChromeOS on the market today. But that’s such case with the HP Dragonfly Pro.
Don’t get me wrong, ChromeOS is ready for 85% use case scenarios that people use computers today. But for those people who may want access to the latest Video editing, music production and programming tools, it’s not quite there yet. There are apps that are available that can get you started, but it’s still feels a bit held back by the fact that it’s a Chromebook.
HP has basically used the same chassis in this Chromebook as the one that comes with Windows 11, which makes it one of the best laptop designs available.
You can enable Linux in the system settings, which opens up alot more functionality that the Android and Web Apps in ChromeOS doesn’t fulfill if you need it. One thing that I found disappointing is their is limited root access to Linux containers, even through terminal for installing depositories necessary for certain programs to run.
The HP Dragonfly Pro is one of the best Chromebooks on the market, and it’s price matches it’s stature.The crisp touchscreen display is sharp but reflective. The specs are respectable, but there are only two thunderbolt 4 enabled USB-C ports, so keep a hub or dongle nearby..
Dell (27% global market) has been one of the world’s top OEM brands for the past few decades, exchanging the #1 spot with HP (25% market share) and Lenovo (25.5%) . They have a model for everyone, the Inspirion series has everyday users covered – while Latitude to Precision model targets students to businesses, the more LED-centric G-series and Alienware sub-brand has the gamers on lock. But we’re here to showcase Dell’s most premium model line-up that offers the best tech available – the XPS Series.
Dell reserves the most stylish designs and innovations for the XPS line up, bringing together cutting-edge engineering and features to the iconic series that stands toe to toe and even exceeds what the competition has to offer. With three form factors that cover every tier of user, the XPS Plus, XPS 2-in-1, and XPS 13 – Dell has something for every type of power user.
XPS Plus 13
The Dell XPS Plus is the top end XPS of 2022/23, offering cutting-edge technologies, exceptional build quality, unique materials and a powerful feature set that’s sure to set trends for years to come.
XPS Plus in Platinum and Graphite
From the InfinityEdge display, capacitive touch function row, seamless glass trackpad, to the improved thermals with up to 55% more airflow, the XPS Plus is a definite contender for Ultrabook of the year.
The XPS 2-in-1 (left) and the XPS Plus (right) round out Dell’s premium XPS series
Dell XPS 13
The XPS 13 is the latest version of Dell’s top-selling, high end Ultrabook. It’s been critically acclaimed as the best Windows laptop money can buy for years by the biggest media publications. The 2022 model stands toe to toe with the best Apple, HP, Microsoft and Lenovo hardware in the market, and it’s the laptop that keeps Dell’s name amongst the tech industries best OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).
The XPS 13
It’s sleek design, comfortable ergonomics, and uncompromising power make it a pioneer in the Ultrabook category of laptops, and cements Dell’s demand amongst executives and creative professionals.
XPS 2-in-1
The Dell 2-in-1 is a tablet with a complete ecosystem of accessories that immediately makes it a serious contender for the iPad/Surface Pro Killer title.
With an attractive all-metal and glass design, a full-sized stylus that magnetically attaches to the tablet, full-on detachable keyboard and trackpad folio case, and full on Windows 11 with Dell’s suite of custom apps – the XPS 2-in-1 is an attractive package for visual artists and writers.
We’ll be reviewing the trio of XPS devices over the next few weeks, so be on the lookout for our official reviews of the XPS Plus, XPS 2-in-1, and the XPS 13 right here on LBFQ.
The Pangolin is the latest AMD powered laptop to be released by Open-Source-centric OEM System76, and we have our in-depth review ready for the masses.
The Pangolin isn’t much different from the Lemur Pro in terms of reliability and quality – but mobility and internals is where it differs.
Where the Lemur was Intel powered, the Pangolin has the Ryzen 7 Pro and up to 32GB of RAM.
Inboxing
System76 has one of the most unique, quirky, fun unboxing experiences you’ll ever have with any consumer laptop on the market – especially if you’re a developer or programmer.
Build Quality and Specs
Specs
System76 Pangolin
OS
Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
CPU
8 Cores – 16 threads 2.7 up to 4.7 Ghz
GPU
AMD Radeon 680M
RAM
32 GB LPDDR5 @ 6400 Mhz
Display
15.6″ 1920×1080 FHD, Matte Finish,144 Hz
Front Camera
16 Megapixels (f/2.5 Aperture, 1/3.06″ sensor
Storage
2 x M.2 SSD (PCIe NVMe) Up to 16TB Total
Expansion
3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, SD Card Reader
System76 laptops ship with either Ubuntu, or their own in-house Linux distro known as Pop_OS! which is my favorite computing environment outside of the music studio.
With a bit of tinkering, most popular productivity software made for Windows runs on Pop_OS!, using Wine or GameOnLinux, you can have the best of both worlds (although results will vary).
Using System76’s flavor of Linux, you pretty have access to any type of software you could ever need through the Pop Store, although it will take some time sifting through the large open-source library of unknown apps.
Pop_OS! Pop StoreThe Pop Store is well organized, containing every type of app you could ever need.
Conclusion
The Pangolin is a worthy choice for any consumer who is looking for an upgradable, Open-Source laptop running Linux. Programmers, Data Analysts, Institutions and companies would be right at home, but this the type of home computer that could easily last 10 years without being left behind by the advancements in tech. Anyone looking for a new, trouble-free way of computing should take a serious look at the Pangolin laptop by System76.
Lo and behold, when one of the worlds biggest computer manufacturers decides to co-sign a scrappy but formidable newcomer by releasing a laptop with their Linux Distro pre-installed – people like me tend to sit up and take notice. And that’s exactly what we have here with the HP Dev One, a laptop running Pop!_OS by System76.
What is Pop!_OS ?
Pop!_OS Cosmic
Pop!_OS, is a Linux distro by OEM System76. System76 is the company that develops and maintains Pop!_OS and they also manufacturer their own laptops, desktops and servers.
Pop_OS! Desktop
Design and Build Quality
The design is up to par with many Ultrabooks that have a metal build, holding its own against Apple, Dell, and even HP’s premium offering.
Display
14″ diagonal FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, anti-reflective, anti-smudge, touchscreen, 1000 its
Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 5850U 8-core, 16-threads 1.9Ghz Base Clock 4.4Ghz Max Boost Clock Total L3 Cache 16MB
2 x Superspeed USB 4.0 Type-C 10Gbps signaling rate (USB Typ / Thunderbolt™ 4 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (one always on) 1x HDMI 2.0 1x Headphone / mic combo
ThinkPad, ThinkBook, IdeaPad… Lenovo has a product naming pattern going on here if you’ve noticed. Today we’re looking at a first here at Labfreq – the Slim 7 Carbon – our IdeaPad debut.
Specs
The Slim 7 Carbon is a 14-inch laptop rocking the signature, sleek “IdeaPad” design language with aspirations for ThinkPad X1 Carbon-level durability. Upon opening the lid of the device, the vibrant display with punchy hues and deep blacks immediately stood out from the usual cooler matte look/feel seen on most laptops. It helped that it’s Touchscreen, the glossy screen giving the colors an almost polished feel.
Specs
IdeaPad Slim 7 Carbon 14
Processor
AMD Ryzen™ 7 5800U Processor (1.90 GHz, up to 4.40 GHz Max Boost, 8 Cores, 16 Threads, 16 MB Cache
4 x speakers with Dolby Atmos® Speaker System Smart amp Digital signal processing (DSP)
Camera
IR + time of flight (TOF) camera
Connectivity
802.11AX (2 x 2) Bluetooth® 5.1
Ports
USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort™ 1.4 + PD 3.0) Headphone / mic combo
Special Features
One of the more unique additions is the Lenovo AI Chip, making features like Smart Rapid Start for fast, hands-free login, Smart Adaptive Sensors for automatic display tuning, and Smart Presence Detection that automatically wakes up or locks the PC possible.
The 14-inch, QHD+ OLED display with 90Hz refresh rate has a 16:10 aspect ratio, offering more screen space for productivity boosts. It also features Dolby Vision™ HDR, color accuracy with 100% DCI-P3, and deep blacks from VESA®DisplayHDR 500 True Black (whew!)
There’s also Dolby Audio, which adds the ability to listen to and create Spatial Audio experiences. Preloaded software was minimal, with Alexa, Dolby Vision, Lenovo Vantage, McAfee, and Office 365 pre installed.
Conclusion
The IdeaPad Slim 7 Carbon is a very capable ultrabook, packing an AMD Ryzen 6000 SoC, with a Nvidia graphics card – AAA gaming is possible with this laptop. The 16:10 display ratio leaves headroom for fitting more info on the screen. For anyone looking for an AMD-powered laptop with decent gaming specs, the Slim 7 Carbon just might me the perfect fit.
IdeaPad Duet 5i arrives to challenge the Surface and iPad head-on
Expanding on the success and popularity of their Duet line of tablets for ChromeOS, Lenovo is expanding the design to the IdeaPad series to create a classy and stylish Windows 11 tablet.
The IdeaPad 5i speaks the same design ethos as the Chromebook Duet, which we reviewed last year.
IdeaPad Duet 5i comes equipped with a 12-inch, 2.5K IPS touchscreen display in taller 16:10 format, bundled with a Bluetooth keyboard, optional Active Pen 3, with up to 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processors. Check out Lenovo to learn more.
“360 degrees of thin and stylish 2-in-1 creativity”
Hot On the heels of the release of their Galaxy S22 smartphone line-up, Samsung announced the laptop counterpart at this year’s Mobile World Congress.
The Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 is the MacBook Pro contender of 2022, being configurable with up to 16GB RAM + 1TB SSD, a Intel® Core™ i7-1160G7 Processor, and S Pen, with up to a 15.6 Super AMOLED touchscreen Display.
It also has tons of software features, like “Galaxy Continuity” and blockchain-powered Private Share. You can even pre-order to receive $50 Samsung Credit, if you do so before it’s March 18th release date. Check out Samsung for more details.
Lenovo is a regarded as a highly innovative brand who’s products have received high ratings in our product review database. Keeping their upcoming products on our radar, we’ve compiled all the info of interest to our readers on their upcoming ThinkPad lineup: the ThinkPad T Series, ThinkPad P Series, and the 1st Gen ThinkPad x13s.
ThinkPad x13s
ThinkPad X13s is the world’s first laptop powered by the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 compute platform, 5G, and 28 hours of battery life.
ThinkPad X1 Xtreme
ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5, powered by up to the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i9 H-Series processors and available with the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX Laptop GPUs, up to 64GB DDR5 memory, and optional dual Solid-State Drives (SSD) supporting up to a massive 8TB.
ThinkPad T Series (T14,T14s,T16)
ThinkPad T14
ThinkPad T series updated with 16:10 aspect ratio displays with low blue light technology with FHD camera options Available with either the latest 12th Gen Intel Core or the latest AMD Ryzen PRO 6000 Series processors.
