XPG Xenia 15 KC Review: A powerful gaming laptop that’s actually quiet

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We’ve lengthy questioned if it was merely unimaginable to have a skinny Intel-based gaming laptop computer that didn’t howl like a banshee or if nobody was bothering to even strive. That all adjustments with XPG’s Xenia 15 KC, which is actually the thinnest, lightest and extra importantly—the quietest—gaming laptop computer that we’ve touched.

The Xenia 15 KC will look acquainted to many as it’s largely constructed on the identical chassis as its predecessor, which we reviewed previously The key adjustments embody a extra highly effective CPU and GPU, a extra helpful display for work, and spectacular acoustic attributes.

And we’re not simply not throwing out the phrase spectacular both—more often than not the Xenia 15 KC is lifeless silent the place different laptops can be screaming. There’s a price to the quietness, however not as a lot as you would possibly count on. First, we’ll stroll you thru what’s contained in the Xenia 15 KC.

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XPG Xenia 15 KC Specs

• CPU: Intel 8-core 11th gen Core i7-11800H
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080@125TGP with 20 watt Dynamic Boost 2.0
• RAM: 32GB DDR4/3200 in dual-channel mode
• SSD: XPG 1TB Gammix S70 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD1
• Battery: 94 Watt hour battery
• Display: 15.6-inch 2560 x 1440@165Hz IPS
• Weight and dimension: 9.2 x 14 x 0.8 inches. 4.2 kilos for laptop computer, with 1.3 kilos for 230 watt charger

Ports: Like the earlier design, the Xenia 15 KC incorporates a wholesome quantity of ports with a lock port, USB-A 10Gbps, and headset jack on the left facet. The proper facet options an extra two USB-A 10Gbps ports and an SD card reader. The SD Card reader is on USB 3.0 and provides the identical meh to OK efficiency because the earlier laptop computer with learn speeds within the 90MBps vary. We do admire that the XPG has positioned much more ports on the rear of the laptop computer together with a Thunderbolt 4, full-size HDMI 2.0, Gigabit ethernet port, and DC-in port for the charger.

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Keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard can be unchanged from the earlier iteration. The mechanical keys use optical switches and provide a beneficiant 2mm of journey. As the laptop computer physique is magnesium, which helps decrease the general weight, the price is a single window for the keyboard opening fairly than individually lower holes for every key. This means the keys are positioned somewhat nearer collectively than what you would possibly discover in different designs. Some could really feel the keys are too shut collectively—regardless of their beneficiant key cap dimension—however our fats fingers had no points with it.

Each key’s lit with RGB lighting however it’s not very brilliant. If you’re into the acquainted rainbow wave impact—the Xenia 15 KC’s colours circulation about as easily as jagged pixels in a 1980s console sport. That mentioned, XPG officers declare the up to date software program smooths out the impact. The trackpad is okay as properly, however our mannequin had a slight rattle to it, which we’ve seen from many alternative distributors event. It’s seemingly the tolerance of our unit was not a whole lineup drawback.

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Webcam and audio system

The webcam is a Windows Hello-compliant biometric digicam, which we admire as its usually a characteristic missed in gaming laptops. It is, nevertheless, nonetheless simply 720p. That means you gained’t be getting excellent image high quality on Zoom calls. However, regardless of the lackluster webcam, the audio is far improved from the Xenia’s earlier iteration.

The unique Xenia 15 sounded skinny and was ok for an e mail alert chime, however not a lot else. The Xenia 15 KC has somewhat extra presence however continues to be simply barely enough, particularly when in comparison with laptop computer distributors that put a lot speaker in them, they nearly rattle when cranked up. More audio system additionally means extra weight and an even bigger physique, although—however for somebody on the lookout for the bass—preserve wanting.

It’s actually, actually quiet

There are two cool options of the Xenia 15 KC that you ought to be conscious of. The first one is its weight. Coming in at 4.2 kilos on our scale, it’s considerably lighter than different laptops with related specs. Comparable laptops normally weigh about 4.5 kilos or extra. The different compelling characteristic is simply how quiet the laptop computer is.

We’ve lengthy gotten used to gaming laptops that sound like jets taxiing for take off. The Xenia 15 KC, nevertheless, hardly ever makes noise below regular use. Some of that’s tied to the laptop computer’s simply accessible efficiency mode button, which toggles between the next modes in real-time: battery saver, balanced, and efficiency. Switch it to efficiency and the laptop computer would possibly see an 8dB improve in quantity. On default, although, it’s in balanced mode. It additionally prompts its passive cooling mode, which suggests the followers or fan barely spins up.

How quiet is it? Really quiet. In truth, right here’s a comparability of how loud the earlier Xenia 15 would get operating 3DMark Time Spy versus the present Xenia 15 KC doing the identical graphically intense benchmark run. For each 3 decibels, the sound power primarily doubles. That means older ninth and 10th gen laptops in a similar-size physique would all begin to scream far sooner and much louder.

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The Xenia 15 KC handles CPU-only duties like a champ, as you may see within the Cinebench R20 chart beneath. The blue line represents the Xenia 15 KC, which by no means spikes above 30dBA—the 2 peaks early on are from a automotive taking place the road exterior the house the place the take a look at befell. It’s primarily lifeless silent more often than not with just one fan spinning as much as 1,300 RPM. One key distinction within the new model is the usage of a liquid metallic compound over much less environment friendly thermal paste. Liquid metallic isn’t the reply to all the things, although. We’ve seen many liquid-metal laptops previously that sound like Huey helicopters, so that is seemingly resulting from tuning and design greater than something.

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If you’re questioning why the blue line for the Xenia 15 KC’s Core i7-11800H is a lot shorter than the orange line for the older Core i7-9750H—it’s as a result of the Core i7-11800H has 8-cores versus the 6-cores of the older Core i7-9750H in addition to being primarily based on the newer and far sooner 11th gen Tiger Lake H CPU. The Tiger Lake H model merely finishes the identical all core activity that a lot sooner. Yes, it’s sooner whereas additionally being quieter too.

Since there’s no such factor as a free lunch, there’s a efficiency price for operating the Xenia 15 KC in its default Balanced Mode. We observed that going from Performance Mode to Balanced Mode prices you about 19 p.c in efficiency. We additionally examined the laptop computer in Performance Mode and Benchmark Mode, which suggests 100 p.c followers.

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To get a greater concept of how the Xenia runs lighter duties like shopping the net or utilizing Adobe Photoshop, we ran the Cinebench R15 benchmark, which makes use of a single CPU thread or core. The brief reply is few can inform the distinction between any of those laptops whereas doing the boring work. Even although the older Core i7-9750H appears meh, most individuals gained’t be capable to inform the distinction between them.

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Cinebench R15 is a 3D modelling benchmark that runs pretty shortly. Modern laptop computer efficiency is commonly constrained by warmth, so longer operating duties assist shed extra mild on its precise efficiency. For this, we use Handbrake to transform a 1080p video file utilizing the Android Tablet preset. In Performance Mode, the Xenia 15 KC finishes the duty in about 17 p.c much less time versus the a lot quieter Balanced Mode setting. Since our all-core encode takes greater than 25 minutes to run—we see the efficiency between the 8-core Core i7-11800H shut up slightly below 8 p.c with the 6-core Core i7-9750H when set to Balanced Mode. In Performance Mode, although, the newer Xenia 15 KC nonetheless trounces the older Xenia 15 and is barely sooner than the Dell XPS 17 9710 with the identical CPU.

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The Xenia 15 KC’s GPU is rated at 125 watt TGP however, with its Dynamic Boost 2.0, it’s able to hitting 145 watts below some hundreds. Using 3DMark Time Spy, which is usually a GPU benchmark, the Xenia suits in with different 3070 laptops. In Benchmark Mode with the followers operating 100 p.c, we see a major efficiency bump that places it within the neighborhood of some RTX 3080 laptops. Strangely, we’re not seeing a lot of a distinction between Performance Mode and Balanced Mode.

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Rise of the Tomb Raider is a 6-year-old sport and never precisely very strenuous for these laptops. The Xenia 15 KC does fairly properly in all modes, actually solely shedding to an Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 with an 11th-gen Core i9 and GeForce RTX 3080.

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Our subsequent sport is Metro Exodus, which is much harsher than the older Rise of the Tomb Raider. Even although we don’t change the video games’ use of DirectX Raytracing, you may see it shatter any beliefs {that a} larger TGP RTX 3080 doesn’t pull its weight. Overall, we’d say the Xenia 15 KC does fairly properly, particularly when you think about its svelte construct and weight in comparison with the opposite gaming laptops right here.

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Battery life in a laptop computer this mild is essential, as you’ll seemingly wish to take it with you. During the battery take a look at, we activated the Xenia 15 KC’s balanced mode utilizing our normal 4K video native file in airplane mode and the brightness within the 250 to 260 nit vary. With greater than 8 hours of video playback time, the Xenia 15 KC is simply eclipsed by the Dell XPS 17 9710—however we’d say each are fairly spectacular. Several of the laptops right here characteristic compromised battery capability for laptops with this a lot {hardware} inside, so it’s no shock they’re in need of the Xenia 15 KC by a number of hours.

We have been stunned by the place the XPS 17 and the Xenia 15 KC got here in as a result of they’ve larger decision panels, which have a tendency to make use of extra energy. The Xenia 15 KC’s 2560 x 1440 decision is nearly twice the pixel density because the older Xenia, for instance. The Dell XPS 17 is much more spectacular as a result of it incorporates a a lot bigger 17-inch display with a 4K UHD+ decision panel. In the tip, due to the battery capability and the Xenia 15 KC’s optimization choices, you may truly apply it to the street.

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We’ll shut out with extra testing on simply how heat the Xenia 15 KC will get when its operating in its default steadiness mode which activates a passive cooling mode. That mainly means the laptop computer will generally flip off all the followers or solely run a single fan at 1,300 RPM. That’s quiet sufficient the place you may’t hear that fan except you place your head to the keyboard. As you may think about, meaning the laptop computer additionally will get fairly heat.

To learn how sizzling it will get, we connected 4 temperature sensors to the laptop computer and recorded its temperature whereas operating 3DMark’s Time Spy stress take a look at. The take a look at loops Time Spy 20 occasions, which may final 10 minutes. It additionally measures for stability and can flag you if body charges range by greater than 3 p.c from run to run. The WASD keys and the palm relaxation have been 82 levels or much less with the underside of the laptop computer getting the most well liked.

We did hit a number of snags whereas temperature testing. The followers would lower in velocity and by no means spin up once more, which precipitated the laptop computer to succeed in close to harmful ranges of 144 levels close to the bezel and on its underside. XPG officers mentioned this might probably be a driver situation, which can have been launched from Windows Update. The producer beneficial we reset the laptop computer after which attempt to replicate the issue. After resetting the laptop computer to its manufacturing facility settings, we have been unable to breed the problem once more even after putting in the drivers and updates from Windows Update.

The essential take away is that regardless of the Xenia 15 KC being extraordinarily quiet below common use, the temperatures are nonetheless fairly cheap.

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Conclusion

There’s plenty of like in regards to the Xenia 15 KC, however it’s not good. The design is somewhat generic on the lookout for us and doesn’t stand out just like the MSI GS66 Stealth, Acer Predator Helios 300, or Alienware X15. All three of these laptops are heavier, although–with a few of them significantly heavier at 5 kilos. The essential differentiator is simply how quiet the Xenia 15 KC runs. As we mentioned, we’re simply so used to the followers spinning up on a skinny gaming laptop computer so simply, that we legitimately questioned if one thing was incorrect with this laptop computer. We’ve simply by no means seen such a skinny, highly effective laptop computer this skinny run so quiet. Hopefully that’s one thing different distributors replicate as an alternative of chasing the longest bar on a benchmark chart. If you desire a quiet, light-weight gaming laptop computer, the Xenia 15 KC is tough to beat.

Gordon Mah Ung