Fujitsu LifeBook E736 review

Spec sheet

Here is the configuration of the Fujitsu LifeBook E736 provided to techradar pro for review:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-6600U processor (4MB cache, 2.6GHz base frequency, maximum turbo frequency of 3.4GHz)
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 530 (300MHz base frequency, 1.05GHz maximum frequency)
• RAM: 32GB DDR4-2133 (maximum the laptop can accommodate)
• Screen: 13.3-inch full HD IGZO display
• Storage: 256GB OPAL FDE SATA 3 SSD with full disk encryption
• Ports: 2 x audio ports (mic/headphones), 2 x digital microphones, 3 x USB 3.0 ports, VGA port, full-size DisplayPort, Ethernet port, Docking connector for Port Replicator, Smartcard slot, SD card slot, SIM card slot (for models with 3G/4G)
• Connectivity: 4G/LTE modem, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
• Security: Fingerprint sensor, TPM 2.0 module, Kensington Lock support
• Weight: 1.6kg (3.5 lbs)
• Size: 321 x 228 x 20mm

You also get a Port Replicator and two batteries totalling 100Whr (9.3Ah on 12 cells). As you might have guessed, this model with all the bells and whistles certainly doesn't come cheap, costing no less than £2,017 plus VAT (around $2,920, or AU$3,960).

Opt for a slight CPU downgrade (i7-6500U), forego the extra battery, 24GB of memory and the port replicator, but double your SSD size and you can slash the price by more than half to £919.87 plus VAT (around $1,330, or AU$1,800) at the BT Shop.

How does that compare to the competition? Well, all major laptop vendors have laptops with sub-15.6-inch displays on offer but only Lenovo gives the option to configure them online. On paper, the Lenovo ThinkPad T460p outperforms the E736 in terms of raw power and sheer value for money.

It has a proper quad-core CPU (an Intel i7-6700HQ), a display with a much higher resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels), a dedicated graphics card (Nvidia GeForce 940MX) with 2GB of RAM and a better default warranty (three-year onsite).

Adding a secondary battery and an Ultra Dock docking station, pushes the price to £1461.83 plus VAT (around $2,110, or AU$2,870), making the E736 around 40% more expensive on paper, at suggested retail price.

Alternatively, niche player PC Specialist will sell you a laptop similar to the Lenovo one (32GB, quad-core Core i7, 250GB SSD) without the credentials, the qHD display, the security features, the docking station, the extra battery or the warranty (but with a far more capable Nvidia GeForce 950M) for £867 plus VAT (around $1,250, or AU$1,700).

The E736 comes with two-year collect and return (5x9 service) by default, which can be upgraded to three-year onsite for £39 plus VAT (five-year costs £87 plus VAT) while three-year NBD onsite 5x9 service can be had for £57 plus VAT.

The display has a full HD resolution with a 1000:1 contrast ratio as well as a 330 cd/m2 brightness (both specifications provided by the vendor). As expected it is matte and is only readable in sunlight at full brightness. It does the job but colours didn't strike us as being overtly vibrant or oversaturated.

Performance

The amount of raw firepower packed in the E736 is impressive and it doesn't come as a surprise that this laptop can deliver the sort of performance that would befit a full-tower workstation only a decade ago.

Not once did we encounter any sort of stuttering, as you would expect from such a beast. The fan did kick in a few times but not to any worrying extent. Fujitsu allows you to disable it completely via the BIOS (accessible via F2) but we'd suggest keeping things as such otherwise the CPU will be throttled (i.e. the CPU speed will drop in such a way as to prevent too much heat from being generated).

Benchmarks

The LifeBook E736 performed admirably in our suite of benchmarks.

• 3DMark: Skydiver: 3,979 points; Fire Strike: 956 points; Cloud Gate: 5,883 points; Ice Storm: 57,959 points; Ice Storm Extreme: 42,279 points
• PCMark 8 Home: 2,931 points
• PCMark 8 Creative: 2,810 points
• PCMark 8 Work: 3,247 points
• CineBench: OpenGL: 45.46 fps; CPU: 341 points
• GeekBench: Single-core: 3,710; Multi-core: 7,503

Battery life is exceptional as expected. It managed to last twelve hours, yes twelve long hours, playing an MKV file with sound and brightness set at 50%.