Haier Y16: Exceeding Expectations with a High-Value Large-Screen Laptop

Currently, there are many laptops on the market priced below $450PHP 26,408INR 38,137EUR 429CNY 3,275. However, a simple summary reveals that these products often share common characteristics: they either use entry-level processors like the Intel N100, suitable only for light office work, or they have 15.6-inch 1080P low-resolution screens, which do not offer a particularly impressive visual experience.

Haier’s recently released Y16 might be one of the best options in the sub-$450 price range. This laptop is equipped with a 12th generation Intel Core i5 standard pressure processor and a high-resolution 16:10 aspect ratio screen.

Unboxing Inspection

The Haier Y16 comes in a dual-layer packaging design. The outer box is a natural wood color, while the inner box is a white glossy package. Inside, you will find the Y16 laptop, a two-piece power adapter, a user manual, and a quick start guide.

The power adapter has a 90W output, and the total weight, including the power cord, is 390.5g, which is not heavy.

As the name suggests, the Haier Y16 is a 16-inch laptop with a thickness of less than 20mm and a weight of approximately 1.85kg, making it comparable to other laptops in its size category.

The Y16 features a Crooked Ridge Gray color scheme. The A-side is made of metal with a sandblasted finish, giving it a premium metallic feel. It is smooth to the touch and does not easily show fingerprints or smudges, unlike darker colors.

The C-side is made of composite material but has a similar color and texture to the A-side.

Thanks to its relatively spacious chassis, the Haier Y16 retains a numeric keypad design. The main keys have large keycaps and offer a decent typing experience. However, the up and down arrow keys are half-height, and due to the product’s positioning, there is no backlight function. The power button is located on the upper right corner. A small indicator light on the left side of the keyboard illuminates when the caps lock is activated, which can help prevent errors when entering passwords.

The touchpad on the Haier Y16 is also fairly large and has a satisfactory feel. On the left palm rest, there are labels for the Intel Core i5 processor and the genuine Windows operating system, giving the C-side a minimalist design.

On the left side, you will find the power jack, a USB-C port, an HDMI port, a USB-A port, and an audio jack, in that order.

On the right side, there is a MicroSD card reader, two USB-A ports, and an RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port.

Through testing, it was confirmed that all three USB-A ports on Haier Y16 support the 5Gbps standard, which is USB 3.0 or USB 3.2 Gen1. The USB-C port is a full-featured one, supporting PD charging, and can be paired with a gallium nitride charger for convenience while traveling.

This port can also connect to a portable display, handling both signal transmission and power supply. The tested speed is 10Gbps, which corresponds to the USB 3.2 Gen2 standard.

The Haier Y16 features a large 16-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, offering a resolution of 1920×1200 pixels and 100% sRGB color gamut. Compared to the traditional 16:9 aspect ratio, the 16:10 format allows for more vertical content, making it ideal for productivity tasks such as office work and creative projects. Additionally, this aspect ratio enables a significantly slimmer bottom bezel, resulting in a higher screen-to-body ratio.

The laptop features a physical switch on the surface of the camera at the top of the screen, allowing you to manually close and cover the camera when not in use, providing maximum privacy protection.

To sum up, The Haier Y16, though positioned as a budget-friendly large-screen laptop, does not compromise on its core configurations and functions. It is equipped with the 12th generation Intel Core i5-12450H, offering robust performance. The 16-inch high-resolution screen delivers excellent display quality. Additional features include an anti-snoop camera, full-featured USB-C ports, an RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port, dual memory slots, and dual M.2 SSD slots. With a price tag of under $450PHP 26,408INR 38,137EUR 429CNY 3,275, the Haier Y16 offers outstanding value for money, making it a worthy consideration for users.