Tecno MegaBook S1 review

Tecno MegaBook S1 : 30-second review

The sleek design of this laptop immediately catches the eye with its expansive 15.6" 3.2K resolution monitor, boasting a 120Hz refresh rate and a full 100% sRGB colour gamut.

The overall feel exudes quality, although the silver finish is high-grade plastic, not the metal found in more premium models. Nevertheless, the build quality feels far from cheap, save for the slightly loose left trackpad click, which slightly detracts from the overall solid construction.

For the on-the-go professional, the connectivity options are impressive. There is a range of USB Type-C ports, including one USB 4.0, along with a full-sized HDMI 2.0 port, a MicroSD card reader, and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. Ideal, then, if you've been on the hunt for the best business laptops with this sort of port selection. 

Our test model came with Windows 11 pre-installed, and the hardware specifications suggest this laptop will be serviceable for several years before an upgrade becomes necessary.

Internally, it houses a 12th generation Intel Core i7-1260P processor with 12 cores and 16 threads, peaking at 4.7GHz with Turbo Boost. The integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, with 96 compute units and a top frequency of 1400 MHz, utilizes 6.29 GB of device memory, facilitating smooth media playback and capable handling of graphically demanding tasks.

Weighing in at 1.35kg and measuring 243mm x 350mm x 13.5mm, the laptop's dimensions and weight make it an ideal solution for day-to-day tasks on the go. While it offers ample processing power for multimedia tasks and gaming, the system falls just short of running the best 3D modeling software or the best video editing software. While editing video was fine, we struggled to achieve seamless 4K video editing in applications like DaVinci Resolve. For all other intents and purposes, this laptop hits the mark as a potent solution.

Tecno MegaBook S1: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? Starting from $1599
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? You can get it directly from TECNO or other online resellers.

Currently, the Tecno MegaBook S1 with a 256GB SSD we're reviewing isn't broadly available. With the 512GB SSD model retailing at approximately $1599 and the 1TB version at $1699, we expect this variant to be priced around $1499.

• Value: 3.5 / 5

Tecno MegaBook S1: Specifications

Tecno MegaBook S1: Design

• Slimline
• Lightweight
• Slightly cheap feeling trackpad

On first looking at the Tecno MegaBook S1, you'll notice a resemblance in colour, design, and finish to any of the best MacBook Pro laptops. However, that similarity is brief; as unlike the MacBook Pro, this 15.6" laptop can be easily lifted with one hand.

The overall finish and feel of the laptop are excellent, due to the use of the high-grade magnesium alloy for the body. This body is slightly deceptive due to the weight and may initially give you the impression that it is plastic rather than metal. Despite this lightweight feel and the laptop's slim design, it does feel robust and well-constructed.

Ultimately, the slim profile and light build of the laptop highlight that the design has been tailored for portability, easily slipping into backpacks or other bags without adding too much bulk or weight. While the laptop is lightweight, it still packs some decent processing power with a 12th-generation Intel i7, 16GB of RAM, and an SSD (albeit only 256GB).

Opening the laptop reveals a large 15.6" 3.2K Super Vision Mega Screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, which is quite standard for this size of screen, and this offers an impressive 120Hz refresh rate. The display is bright at 450 nits, fully adjustable, with DC dimming, and built-in eye protection so that you don't strain your eyes after ours of work.

Connectivity can be a challenge with lightweight laptops, due to the size, and at 13.5mm thick, there's not a great deal of room on the outside for additional ports such as a full-sized Ethernet port. However, it compensates with a generous array of USB Type-C and A ports, a full-sized HDMI, and a MicroSD card slot, which should surfice for most people.

With a focus on business, the laptop is perfect for conference calls and presentations and is equipped with a 1080P FHD (2 MP) AI camera, a beauty AI algorithm, as well as all important privacy options. When it comes to audio, the sound is impressive, with a 6-speaker system, DTS X: Ultra, and Dual-Mics with AI ENC ensuring clear audio.

An nice addition that you don't often see of laptop of this type is the Biometrics: 2-in-1 fingerprint power button, which adds an extra layer of security over the standard passwords and is a feature that should be considered essential for laptops.

The battery life is also worth a note as it's estimated 10 hours for standard use, which is word processing and browsing the internet. If the battery does run flat while you're out working at the local cafe, then Tecno has included one of the latest ultra-fast 65W GaN Super Fast Chargers, which can fully recharge the 70Wh battery at 65W in just over an hour.

This laptop is designed as a general computer that will cater to a wide range of users when it comes to power and its functionality. It's not quite a high-end desktop replacement, but it's not too far off. Therefore, when put under load, such as editing 4K video, it can handle it as long as you're not pushing the edit with effects and complex grading.

As the laptop is slimline, the cooling is all important to maintain the speed and performance, and Tecno's Ice Storm Cooling system, with VC heat dissipation and a dual fan design, has been engineered to activate under load, preventing throttling with processor-intensive applications.

Overall, the specifications, build, and quality of this laptop do make it look like a great choice for a good all-rounder machine for office work. While it may take some getting used to the power in such a light package, its size and weight make it an excellent option for those needing a capable, lightweight laptop.

• Design: 4 / 5

Tecno MegaBook S1: Features

• Intel Core-i7
• Ice Storm Cooling

The Tecno MegaBook S1 features a magnesium alloy metal body, which helps to keep the weight at 1.35 kg down as well as adding the strength needed to ensure that  the inside hardware is protected within the ultraslim 13.5mm thickness. Tecno has also used a unique five-layer nanomaterial spraying process that provides a textured surface across the laptop, which gives a matte finish and is available in Galaxy Silver or Space Grey.

An interesting feature of the laptop design is the hinge mechanism that enables one-handed opening. Once opened, it reveals the impressive 15.6-inch display with 3.2K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, along with a 100% sRGB colour gamut, again highlighting that this is a laptop designed for general use rather than creative, where we would expect to see the DCI-P3 colour gamut. Additionally, the 16:10 widescreen aspect ratio and TÜV Eye Comfort Certification ensure that the screen will be comfortable to use for a full days work

Inside the laptop features a 12th generation Intel Core i7-1260P processor with 12 cores and 16 threads. The MEGABOOK S1 also features a Turbo Boost for enhanced performance, well-suited for more processor intensive applications. During high demand tasks such as rendering video, the Ice Storm Cooling system with its dual fans kicks in to keep things cool.

When it comes to our review sample, this includes 16GB LPDDR5 system memory and a 256GB SSD. However, options for a 512GB or 1TB high-capacity PCIe 4.0 SSD are also available.

As previously mentioned, the cooling for the slimline laptop is handled by the Ice Storm Cooling System. Incorporating a Super-Large VC and dual fans, Tecno claims a 60% increase in heat dissipation efficiency over standard systems. Alongside is a 70Wh battery and a 65W GaN super-fast charger.

For audio, the system uses TECNO's VOC Plus technology, which features a 6-speaker sound matrix and dual AI ENC microphones, which should result in decent sound quality for both playback and conference calls. The smart AI camera supports beautification, virtual backgrounds, and motion tracking, again reinforcing the fact that this laptop is designed as a good all-rounder and ideal for on-the-go office work.

The MEGABOOK S1 features plenty of connection options with a USB 4.0 port, a full-function Type-C port, HDMI 2.0, two USB 3.1 ports, a MicroSD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone socket, and Wi-Fi 6. Additionally, there's biometric security with a 2-in-1 fingerprint button integrated into the power switch, which is a nice touch, and the one hand flip up lid enables fast access when needed.

As is common with business focused machines Windows 11 is pre-installed, and the TECNO MEGABOOK S1 is up-to-date with the latest from Microsoft. 

• Features: 4 / 5

Tecno MegaBook S1: Performance

• Slow
• Poor NVMe score

The Tecno MegaBook S1 is aimed at anyone looking for a decent, slimline and lighweight laptop that packs a decent amount of power, making it ideal for office workers. Through our testing subjecting the machine to benchmarking software, various applications, and some gaming, reveals the capabilities of this slim, lightweight laptop.

The design, style, size, weight and price place it within the premium laptop bracket. Its lightweight build, paired with a large high-resolution monitor and excellent audio, makes it a versatile option for office work, entertainment, and some light gaming. But it also has enough power for creative pursuits if you've been looking for the best laptop for photo editing, best laptop for graphic design, or even the best video editing laptop at this price-point. 

The laptop impresses with its power and speed, and while it may not top the power specification charts, it handles tasks better than expected, thanks in part to the lightning-fast SSD. However, a capacity of more than 256GB would enhance performance further.

There are drawbacks, notably the fans, which become audibly intrusive under heavy processor loads. The trackpad's touch gestures and features are practical, yet the left and right clicks feel subpar—sticky and cheap, detracting from the otherwise premium feel.

Performance-wise, the laptop excels where it counts: editing high-resolution 45MP RAW images in Lightroom and Photoshop was seamless, as was standard 4K video editing in DaVinci Resolve. Editing RAW 4K video proved challenging, with the 256GB SSD capacity quickly becoming a constraint. Yet, for on-the-go video editing, this laptop, combined with a portable SSD connected to the USB 4.0 port, should suffice.

As a gaming laptop, it holds its own. While it can't replicate desktop-level smoothness, games like Red Dead Redemption 2 are playable at 1080p with minimal lag, providing a satisfying experience.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Tecno MegaBook S1: Verdict

When looking at high-end premium laptops, we typically anticipate some weight and bulk. However, the Tecno MegaBook S1 breaks the mould with its slimline and lightweight design, which can initially feel disconcerting. The magnesium alloy shell, for instance, might be mistaken for high-quality plastic mimicking metal, but it's genuinely metal, albeit surprisingly light. The trackpad further accentuates this perception, as it has a somewhat cheap-feeling click that lacks the precision and authority expected from a premium laptop.

Despite these factors, the laptop performs well in key areas. It excels outside the office and can handle many processor-intensive tasks—just be prepared for the noticeable fan noise. Another crucial point for creative professionals is the SSD size; opting for more than the base 256GB is advisable, as it's insufficient and can significantly limit your capabilities.

Overall, the Tecno MegaBook S1 offers solid performance, but certain build quality issues prevent it from being classified as a truly exceptional machine.

Should you buy a Tecno MegaBook S1?

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