I used the COBY NBPC2368 laptop as a temporary substitute for my work laptop, and it proved to be suitable for basic tasks such as responding to emails, browsing the web, consuming media, and even watching Netflix while working.
However, I wonder if it is just a basic work laptop or if it can handle more. Find out in this review.
Table of Contents
Design and Construction
The design of this laptop is quite neutral; nothing about it is particularly special or striking. The designers chose a conservative approach, prioritizing functionality over aesthetics. One aspect that surprised me was the laptop’s sturdy build. There is little to no keyboard flex, and the chassis, including the screen, feels robust. This laptop is sure to withstand the beatings of everyday use due to its excellent build quality.
In terms of weight, it is neither too light nor too heavy, striking a balance between an ultra-light laptop and a gaming laptop, weighing exactly 1.7 kg. Overall, this laptop can be compared to Lenovo’s ThinkPads.
One nifty feature that is not common on other laptops is that it can lie flat at a 180-degree angle. I don’t know where to use this feature, but I think it is important to mention it.
Display and Multimedia
When you open the laptop, you are greeted by a 14-inch, 60Hz Full HD display with an anti-glare coating to minimize reflections, making it more usable in bright environments. However, it’s worth noting that the screen lacks brightness; while I don’t have the exact nits measurement for the maximum brightness, you might find it challenging to use in well-lit settings. The laptop boasts a resolution of 1920 x 1080 with a 16:9 aspect ratio, but I wish it had a 16:10 aspect ratio for better productivity.
The speakers are positioned above the keyboard and provide adequate sound for casual media consumption. However, in my opinion, the audio quality is below average; it lacks loudness, depth, and separation. Additionally, the laptop is equipped with a 2-megapixel webcam, complete with an anti-privacy physical switch.
Overall, the display and media consumption experience of this laptop are average. However, considering its price point and intended use, it is acceptable.
Performance
The COBY NBPC2368 is powered by an AMD Ryzen™ 5 5625U processor, featuring 6 cores and 12 threads, which allows it to handle multitasking and everyday applications efficiently. With a base clock speed of 2.3GHz and a turbo speed of up to 4.3GHz, this laptop performs well for tasks such as document editing, media consumption, and web browsing.
It comes equipped with 8GB of DDR4 RAM, clocked at 3200MHz, providing smooth performance for general use. However, heavy multitaskers might find this amount of RAM somewhat limiting. The laptop includes a 512GB NVMe M.2 SSD, offering ample storage space and fast loading times.
Additionally, the device features AMD Radeon™ Graphics, which can handle light gaming and basic graphic tasks, although it is not designed for high-end gaming or video editing.
In summary, the performance of this laptop is sufficient for the intended use cases. Here are the result of our benchmark tests:
Benchmark Scores:
PCMARK10: 5208
3DMARK
Night Raid: 9894
Fire Strike Score: 2148
GEEKBENCH
Single-core: 1794
Multi-Core: 5330
Vulkan: 10738
OpenCL: 11649
BLENDER BENCHMARK
Benchmark Score: 83.83
Scene 1: JunkShop
Render time: 44.708
Scene 2: Monster
Render Time: 32.2592
Scene 3: 33.6739
Battery
The COBY NBPC2368 is equipped with a 3-cell 41Wh Li-Polymer battery, which promises about 5 hours of usage. However, I typically experience around 4 hours, which falls short of the promised battery life. This duration can vary depending on how you use the laptop. While 4 hours may be sufficient for short work or entertainment sessions, you may need to recharge during a full day of use, especially if you’re multitasking or watching videos.
It’s important to keep the charger available for extended use. Unfortunately, the laptop does not support Type-C charging; it can only be charged through the DCIN port. Therefore, always remember to bring the charger that comes in the box.
I/O and Connectivity
The NBPC2368 offers a strong selection of ports to satisfy most connectivity needs, including:
– 1 x USB 2.0
– 2 x USB 3.0 Gen 1
– 1 x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1
– 1 x HDMI 2.0
– 1 x microSD card slot
– 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack
The inclusion of a USB Type-C port is a great feature, enabling faster data transfers and added versatility. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) for quicker and more reliable wireless connections, in addition to Bluetooth® 5.2 for easily pairing wireless accessories like headphones and speakers.
In today’s market, where many laptops have fewer ports, the COBY NBPC2368 effectively serves its purpose by being functional. It eliminates the need for an extra dongle when taking your laptop outside. However, if I were to nitpick, I would mention that the ports are somewhat close together. When using larger HDMI or USB cables, they can almost block nearby ports.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The keyboard is surprisingly impressive, offering excellent tactile feedback that makes typing enjoyable. It is responsive and provides satisfactory feedback, while the backlight is sufficient for use in dark environments. However, the trackpad requires significant improvement, which is a common issue with other Windows laptops in this price range.
As a MacBook user, I find the trackpad to be small, and its responsiveness is only average. During my testing of this laptop, I found myself using the mouse more frequently than I expected.
Conclusion
The COBY NBPC2368 delivers solid performance, ample ports, and a user-friendly design at an affordable price. Equipped with a Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, this laptop meets the requirements of most casual users, students, and professionals who need an efficient device for everyday tasks.
Although its battery life and memory capacity may not satisfy power users, the NBPC2368 offers a well-rounded experience for those seeking a reliable laptop for both work and leisure.
