At CES 2018, the company Lenovo presented a device of a new type Miix 630. The new ARM platform based on Snapdragon 835 and a full-fledged one Windows 10. It's time to take a closer look at him.
Content
- Introduction
- Specifications
- Design, dimensions, controls
- Display
- operating system
- Performance
- Battery
- Communication capabilities
- Memory
- Conclusion
Introduction
Throughout the past year, information about upcoming laptops with a full-fledged Windows 10 on board and Snapdragon chipsets as an iron component has surfaced from time to time. There were a variety of rumors and speculations, there was very little information. The only thing that was known for certain from the joint statements Microsoft and Qualcomm is that the new devices can work for several days on one full battery charge and will be equipped with communication modules like a modern smartphone. This is not only about Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but also about full-fledged gigabit LTE. These statements are quite reliable, since it is easy to imagine a battery with a larger capacity in a laptop case than in a smartphone. And there is no need to worry about free space for placing a good LTE module antenna in the laptop case.
Specifications
- Operating system: Windows 10 S
- Networks: LTE
- Screen: IPS LCD, 12.3 ″ diagonal, resolution 1200 × 1920 pixels (WUXGA +), touchscreen.
- Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
- Graphics: Adreno 540
- RAM: 4 GB
- Memory: 128 GB, UFS
- Ports: USB-C, 3.5mm mini Jack, MicroSD
- Battery: 48 Wh
- Front camera with face recognition
- Thickness: 293х210х15.6 mm (with attached keyboard)
- Weight: 1.33kg
More detailed specifications will become known by the beginning of official sales.
Design, dimensions, controls
Lenovo Miix 630 has two parts. The first is the tablet itself, the second is a cover combined with a keyboard (short version without a digital block) and a full-fledged touchpad.
The cover acts as a stand. To the right of the keyboard is provided an 'eyelet' for fixing and storing the electronic pen, which is included in the pre-order kit. The tablet connects to the case using the contacts located at the bottom.
This method of connection can be found even among inexpensive Windows tablets, since it has proven itself well. Externally, the Miix 630 is no different from a typical tablet with a smart case included.
Display
Compared to tablets with Android OS (with a similar price), the Miix 630 display does not seem to be the height of perfection. With a diagonal of 12.3 ″ and a resolution of 1200×1920 pixels, fonts will appear slightly blurry, and grain will become noticeable when the eyes are very close to the screen. The choice of such a matrix seems strange, especially considering the manufacturer's suggestion to draw on the screen with an electronic pen. However, as practice shows, a person quickly gets used to everything.
operating system
Initially, the laptop comes preinstalled with Windows 10 S, but the customer will have the opportunity to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for free within a few months after purchase. It is not known how this will be implemented technically, but it can be assumed that a serial number from the older version Windows will be included with the laptop.
The letter 'S', which stands for the edition installed in the laptop Windows 10, has nothing to do with the word 'Start'. This system differs from 'normal' in the ability to run applications only from the official store Windows, which almost completely eliminates the possibility of virus infection. The user himself has the right to decide what functionality his Miix 630 will have, and it impresses.
Performance
It just so happened that this is a topic that manufacturers of devices on Snapdragon 835 and Windows 10 try to avoid. In all press releases and presentations one can find the expression 'everyday productivity' or even more cryptic 'sufficient for typical tasks'. The network also lacks any information, a solid demonstration of launches Microsoft Office, and nothing more. But the performance can be judged by the benchmark database, from where we managed to fetch a screenshot that belongs to 'Lenovo CB-01 ___' (this is the codename for Miix 630):
As you can tell from these screenshots, the performance of the Snapdragon 835 in Windows 10 is on par with Intel the entry-level Celeron N3450. It's a pity, but the device, apparently, cannot do anything except launching office programs and processing multimedia. But behind the relative weakness lies one fat plus – the Miix 630 is absolutely silent during operation due to the absence of an active cooling system as such. And one more interesting point, the performance of ARM chips when running x86 applications largely depends on software optimization. In the early stages, before optimization, one of the competitors showed even more depressing results, which means that there is still hope for improvement.
Battery
The battery capacity is 48 Wh, which is about 12,000 mAh if it were a smartphone battery with an operating voltage of 3.7 V (standard). The official specs include 20 hours of movie watching, assuming video is used as Full HD, screen brightness is 150 nits and sound is set to 17% of maximum. This is respectable, because the main consumer of electricity is the backlight of the screen, which is not at all small here. It is worth adding that last summer, workers Microsoft cited testers' complaints about a 'faulty charge indicator', which constantly showed 100%, as an anecdote. Complaints appeared as a result of a misunderstanding of the situation, because any classic Windows – laptop charge melts very quickly, literally before our eyes. Long battery life is truly a strong point of the Miix 630 (and the platform in general) that potential buyers can count on.
Communication capabilities
All network capabilities of Snapdragon 835 will be available to the user. No information could be found about voice calls, I hope that by the time the laptop goes on sale, the company Lenovo will provide information.
Of particular interest is the subscriber authentication method, which was implemented in Lenovo. Miix 630 is not equipped with a SIM card tray, it is already integrated into the motherboard as a separate secure microcircuit. This new technology is called eSIM and, in fact, is an untethered SIM card. And this can become the pitfall that will break the ship of hope of the Russian user. Let's face it, eSIM technology is absolutely unprofitable for operators, because it unties the subscriber from their services in any weather and time of day at the request of this very subscriber. This can cause tremors and panic in tall control rooms. The success of such laptops in Russia directly depends on the reaction of MegaFon, Beeline and Russian Tele2; without their support, the Russian user will have to be content with the services of foreign companies.
Хочется посоветовать нашим операторам взять пример со своих заграничных коллег, ведь о своей полной поддержке уже заявили China Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, BT/EE, DTAG/T Mobile, Vodafone, Orange, Tele2, Swisscom, 3, KDDI, Gemalto, Oberthur, Gigsky, Transatel and others.
Memory
The only information on this matter exists only in the company's blog Lenovo. And there is a bunch of 4 GB RAM + 128 GB ROM UFS. Although there were earlier rumors about a possible fragmentation of characteristics in order to please different wallets, we will accept this configuration as the only reliable one. 4 GB of RAM (non-expandable) automatically leads us to use the 32-bit version Windows 10. This is quite enough for the stable operation of all office and media programs. This also applies to the internal storage with a capacity of 128 GB, and the letters UFS mean a quick start of the operating system and almost instant copying of materials to the internal storage.
Conclusion
The advantages of the Miix 630 include the promised ability to constantly stay in touch (even in sleep mode Windows), receive mail and messenger messages on time, and an amazing battery life. Previously, this was not the case in laptops, because all external and built-in 3 / 4G modems (and often internal webcams, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and card readers) were connected to the laptop motherboard via a USB interface , and deeper integration would require a complete redesign of the CPU. Intel and AMD didn't go for it. In Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 all the necessary connection interfaces are already in the chipset, the manufacturer only needs to 'attach' wires, camera modules, a memory card tray and connect external antennas. This is the main reason for such devices to enter the market.
It is not yet known about the company's plans Lenovo to enter the Russian market with the Miix 630, but it will appear on the US market at the end of the second quarter of 2018 at a price of $ 799.99. The Miix 630 has only two direct competitors – the HP Envy X2 and ASUS NovaGo, which are fundamentally no different.
The new laptops have only one drawback – this is performance, which is only slightly ahead of analogues on Intel Atom and is inferior to Intel Celeron.
In conclusion, I propose to share my thoughts on the device. Is it necessary or not? Would you prefer a cheaper bundle of a regular Windows – netbook, LTE modem and extra battery or an all-in-one device, even if it costs three times as much? Or are there other alternatives?
The material used photos of the portal Windows Central.com.