Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Toshiba's Radius 12 is a lithe beauty on the outside, it's a beast when it comes to performance. The machine's Intel Core i7 processor had more than enough power to drive the 4K screen without the slightest hints of slowing down, even when using multiple applications, including editing photos in Lightroom.
Furthermore, our benchmark testing revealed the Toshiba 2-in-1 to be a touch faster than the Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo Yoga 900, despite both machines having to power a lower-res screen.
Benchmarks
Here's how the Toshiba Satellite Radius 12 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
- 3DMark: Cloud Gate: 5,707; Sky Diver: 3,484; Fire Strike: 797
- Cinebench CPU: 317 points; Graphics: 37 fps
- GeekBench: 3,191 (single-core); 6,797 (multi-core)
- PCMark 8 (Home Test): 2,340 points
- PCMark 8 Battery Life: 3 hours and 42 minutes
Although all three of these laptops come with nearly identical hardware inside, the Radius 12 leads the benchmark race in processing power. The 12-inch convertible churned out a PCMark 8 score of 2,340 points, just a little ahead of the Dell XPS 13's 2,276-point score, while the Lenovo Yoga 900 trails behind with 2,261 points.
On the graphics end, the Radius 12 is also in the lead, as it achieved a Sky Diver score of 3,494 points. By comparison, the Dell Ultrabook turned in a 3,462 point performance, while the Lenovo hybrid came dead last, with a score of 3,342.
Overall, this is a tight race and there aren't too many outstanding discrepancies in performance to make a significant difference. Each machine is just as quick as the other at everything from loading web pages to rendering movies.
That said, the Radius 12's most glaring deficiency is battery life. The 12-inch convertible only lasted for 3 hours and 42 minutes on our PCMark 8 battery test, meanwhile the XPS 13 kept chugging along for 4 hours and 39 minutes. The Lenovo Yoga 900 outlasted both, finally clocking out after 5 hours and 6 minutes.
Just 4 hours and 22 minutes was the longest runtime I was able to squeeze out of the Radius 12 during our own battery rundown test via local video loop. If you're looking for a longer lasting machine, you're better off with the Lenovo Yoga 900, which ran for an impressive 7 hours in the same test. The Dell XPS 13 can also get you through a long flight, with 5 hours and 51 minutes of local video playback.
Photography-grade screen
Though the Radius 12 has some impermissible flaws between its odd keyboard and short battery life, almost all could be forgiven with its excellent display. The 4K screen on this hybrid is one of the most colorful displays I've ever seen, resolving so many more distinct shades of color while offering excellent contrast to boot.
It's been a dream to work with an almost 100% color accurate screen for the last few weeks while editing photos in Lightroom. Beyond media production, the screen is simply amazing for watching movies at a much higher level of sharpness and color depth.
And to top off the picture quality, the Harman Kardon speakers conduct a rich audio experience filled with plenty of bass, if you're a fan of explosions and hot beats.
