XMG Neo 16 Gaming Laptop Review Notes

Overview

• Best performing gaming laptop tested so far.
• Special feature: Easily attachable liquid cooler to boost performance and lower fan noise.
• Performs better than larger 18 inch models even without the liquid cooler.

Build Quality

• Significant improvement over last year's model.
• All-metal design (aluminum lid, interior, and bottom panel).
• Improved sturdiness: less flex in the lid and keyboard.
• Screen stability improved; lid can now open 180 degrees (up from 135 degrees).
• Fingerprint resistance: fingerprints visible but easy to clean.
• Weight: 5.6 lb (2.5 kg), increases to around 7.9 lb (3.6 kg) with charger.
• Thicker than many 16 inch models, but still fairly portable.
• GaN charger: smaller than previous models.

Configurations

• Maxed out configuration includes:
  • Intel Core i9-14900HX processor
  • Nvidia RTX 4090 mobile graphics
• Customizable options available through the ordering link.
• Produced by Uniwill (Tongfang) with different branding in various regions (e.g., Hydrox 16, Rift 16X).
• No mechanical keyboard option, but good typing experience with per-key RGB backlighting.

Ports and Connectivity

• Left side: USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, Type-C, 3.5mm audio jack.
• Right side: Full-size SD card reader, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports.
• Rear ports: Liquid cooler port, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, 2.5 gigabit ethernet, power input.
• Type-C port can charge the laptop with up to 100 watts and supports DisplayPort 1.4a.

Upgradeability

• Easy access with 10 Phillips head screws; battery, RAM, storage, and WiFi card are accessible.
• Excellent upgrade options for memory and storage.
• Speakers located underneath; decent but muffled sound quality.

Performance

• Battery: 99.8Wh, decent battery life (~5 hours in video playback).
• Cooling: two fans with shared heat pipes for CPU and GPU, liquid metal used in high-end models.
• Performance modes: balanced, enthusiast, overboost.
• Liquid cooler enhances performance significantly (CPU at 110 watts, GPU at 175 watts).
• Multicore performance: significantly better than previous model (34% improvement).

Thermal Performance

• Good thermal management with air and liquid cooling.
• Air cooling: CPU can reach thermal throttling limits.
• Liquid cooling shows substantial performance improvements, especially in CPU performance under load.

Screen Quality

• Brightness: advertised at 500 nits, with some units exceeding that.
• Color gamut adequate for gaming; not ideal for content creators.
• Response time slower than some competitors (no overdrive mode available).

Miscellaneous

• MUX switch available, requires reboot for mode changes.
• IR camera with privacy shutter.
• Linux compatibility tested successfully for basic functions.

Pricing

• Starting price: €1,748 for lowest spec version.
• Maxed out configuration: €3,570 (+€200 for liquid cooler).
• US pricing for similar maxed configuration: $3,200.
• Offers better performance-to-price ratio than competitors.

Final Thoughts

• Worth the investment for high performance and portability.
• Great improvements in design and functionality from previous models.
• Potential downsides: battery life, USB port speed, and lack of display overdrive mode.
• Consider desktop alternatives for extreme performance needs.