Toshiba Portege X30 review
The Toshiba Toshiba Portege X30 ranks as the #672 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 67. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #651-ranked features among 776 laptops. Consider the Samsung Galaxy Book or Samsung Galaxy Book Ion, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Toshiba Portege X30 is a lightweight laptop that weighs just over 1kg, making it perfect for students or professionals who need to stay mobile. The high-quality screen is color-accurate and non-glare, while the sound quality is surprisingly good. With a price tag of £155, this laptop offers excellent value for money. However, the battery life may be a concern, lasting around 3-4 hours with 50% capacity remaining. Additionally, the SATA III SSD drive may not meet the expectations of some users who prefer NVMe drives. Overall, the Portege X30 is worth considering, especially for those on a tight budget or seeking an eco-friendly option.
Build
The Portege X30 boasts a sleek and lightweight design, weighing just 1.05 kg. The 13.3-inch display is housed in a sturdy chassis with a solid build quality. The laptop features two USBC ports, an HDMI port, and a Micro SD card slot on the side. The front is clean, while the rear has a headphone jack, USB-A port, and Kensington lock. While the weight of the power supply (1 kg) may seem counterintuitive with this lightweight laptop, it's convenient for charging on-the-go with a mobile phone charger or airport plug. You may find Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus a better fit, thanks to its superior build.
Display
The display on the Toshiba Portege X30 is a highlight of this laptop. The 13.3-inch screen provides vivid colors and minimal glare, making it perfect for working or browsing. The touchscreen functionality adds an extra layer of convenience, allowing users to interact with content in various ways. In terms of brightness, the screen remains clear even in well-lit environments. The panel's non-glare coating also helps reduce reflections, ensuring a smooth viewing experience. Overall, the display is a notable feature that justifies the laptop's purchase, especially considering its affordable price point. If you’re after a better display, Samsung Galaxy Book Flex could be the ideal option.
Performance
The Toshiba Portege X30 delivers decent performance for its age. The Intel Core i5-7th generation processor handles basic tasks with ease, but struggles with more demanding applications. Geekbench 6 scores show a single-core score of 1240 and a multicore score of 2559, which is respectable considering the laptop's price point. However, it lags behind newer laptops with Intel Core i3-11th generation CPUs, achieving only 1342 in single-core and 2666 in multicore scores. The GPU performance is also average, with an OpenCL score of 4460, placing it behind laptops with Iris Graphics and Ryzen CPUs. Overall, the Portege X30's performance is adequate for basic use cases, but falls short in more demanding scenarios. Razer Book 13 might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded performance.
Battery and Charging
The Toshiba Portege X30's battery life is decent but may vary. With around 50% capacity, the battery lasts for 3-4 hours, which is sufficient for casual use. However, it's essential to note that batteries are consumable and will degrade over time. The laptop supports fast charging via its two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt functionality, allowing users to quickly top up their device on-the-go.
Connectivity
The Toshiba Portege X30 boasts impressive connectivity features. With two USBC ports, one can charge the laptop via either socket, extending battery life or fully charging with a mobile phone charger. The Thunderbolt functionality also enables seamless docking to a big screen, keyboard, and webcam setup, transforming it into a desktop computer experience. You might want to check out Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360, featuring an upgraded connectivity for a superior experience.
Features
The Toshiba Portege X30 is a lightweight laptop with a 13.3" display, weighing around 1 kg. It features two USBC ports with Thunderbolt functionality, making it easy to connect to external devices and use as a desktop computer. The touchscreen display has minimal glare and the speakers produce clear sound at moderate volumes. Take a look at Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra - its improved features sets a new standard.
Support and Maintenance
The Toshiba Portege X30's support and maintenance is somewhat limited. As the laptop uses a 7th generation Core i5 CPU, it's not compatible with Windows 11, requiring manual installation for security updates. The SATA III SSD drive also feels underpowered for a business-class laptop.
Pros
1. The weight is a very light weight just above 1 kilogram, making it easy to carry around.
2. The high quality screen is color accurate and non-reflective, with touch screen functionality.
3. The sound quality is surprisingly good for such a lightweight laptop, beating some newer laptops in 2024.
4. Buying a used device like this Toshiba Portege X30 is environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Cons
1. The battery life may not be sufficient for everyone, lasting around 3-4 hours with 50% capacity left.
2. The SSD drive has SATA III specifications, which may be outdated for a high-end business laptop like this one.
3. The CPU inside the laptop (7th generation Core i5) is not compatible with Windows 11, requiring manual installation and no feature updates.
4. The price of around £155 when purchased in 2022 may seem low considering the device's specifications.
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