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While budget-conscious gadget users looking for smartphones and tablets these days have their pick of devices that promise both affordability and a strong performance, it is still challenging to locate entry-level laptops that can do the same; older learners and young professionals do not have very many options that cost under ₹20,000.Enter the Primebook 2 Neo, which aims to address this gap in the market with its lineup of basic, cost-friendly laptops. For close to a month, we tried out the Primebook 2 Neo that is priced at ₹15,999. Here is what we discovered.
The Primebook 2 Neo weighs just under 1 kilogram
| Photo Credit:
Sahana Venugopal
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At a Glance
The Primebook 2 Neo is a light, compact beginner’s laptop that is suited to everyday tasks such as research, typing, watching videos, online shopping, using AI chatbots, and supporting one’s education
Though affordable, the laptop often lags and is better suited to students than professionals
Technical SpecificationsDimensions: 990 grams Processor: MediaTek Helio G99 (MT8781) Display: 11.6-inch HD IPS Battery: 4000mAh x 2 OS: PrimeOS 3.0 [Android 15-based] Storage: 6GB RAM, 128GB Ports: USB-Type A (2), 3.5mm Audio Port, SD Card Slot, Type-C Charging Port, Full Function Type-C AI: Inbuilt features, powered by Google Gemini
A MacBook Air (above) and the Primebook 2 Neo (below) pictured together for scale
| Photo Credit:
Sahana Venugopal
In the BoxWe received the Primebook 2 Neo laptop, documentation for the device, and a USB-C charger with an adapter.Design The Primebook 2 Neo is a laptop you will want to pick up as soon as you unbox it, thanks to its slim, lightweight (and, dare we say, cute) form factor. The silver clamshell laptop is perfect for users to slip into a backpack or a handbag before hopping on a bike or boarding a bus. You can comfortably hold the device in one hand while working with the other. Though it comes with a run-of-the-mill design and metallic logo, the Primebook 2 Neo is fairly sturdy and allows you to grip it comfortably. There is some noise when opening or adjusting the angle of the laptop screen.Inside, you have an 11.6-inch HD IPS (LCD) display. Chunky, light grey bezels give the laptop a vintage look, which does impact the user’s immersion. Black could have been a better option here.
The keys are large, rough in texture, and provide some clicky travel when typing. There is not much space between the keys, and the smaller size of the device means a constrained typing experience when compared to your standard laptop.
The Primebook 2 Neo is a slim and compact laptop that will suit travellers and commuters
| Photo Credit:
Sahana Venugopal
One major design flaw in the Primebook 2 Neo is that the speakers are located underneath the device, so say goodbye to clean audio when working with the laptop on your lap or a bed. On the software side, many of the Primebook 2 Neo’s OS controls feel like those on an Android phone, which will make the transition easier for new tech users who are more accustomed to their phone settings. However, this can make web-based navigation or activities like watching YouTube videos on the web feel unwieldy and poorly formatted.VisualsThe Primebook 2 Neo’s display is satisfactory when considering the device’s price segment. Thanks to the high brightness, it does an especially good job of making even dimly lit videos ‘pop,’ so to speak. The screen struggles to handle low-resolution media without distortions, but its clarity is excellent when you are watching higher quality video content. Colours are well rendered and the blacks are not noticeably muddied. There is an accessible night mode button that makes the screen colours warmer to prevent eyestrain after sundown. While we wouldn’t suggest gaming or making precise media edits with the device, the provided display is more than adequate for young users, students, or those who want to stream content.
However, professionals may want a bigger, more advanced screen and a more intuitive trackpad if they are planning to make precise edits to multimedia content or play their favourite games.
The PrimeBook 2 Neo comes with Google Gemini built in, making it a good starter AI laptop for younger users
| Photo Credit:
Sahana Venugopal
AudioThis is the Achilles Heel of the Primebook 2 Neo. As mentioned earlier, the laptop speakers are placed on the bottom of the device, so your sound quality suffers as soon as you place the laptop down on quite literally any surface. The only way to save the audio is by holding up the laptop when listening to something, or by using earphones/external speakers.Apart from this, the laptop speakers also struggle to mix the audio well when the volume is at its peak. Though the maximum volume is more than sufficient for playing content, sounds soon become grating and distorted at this level.
Overall, the Primebook 2 Neo’s audio was a major letdown for us when considering its form factor; there was also no support for Dolby Atmos.
PerformanceThe Primebook 2 Neo runs on the MediaTek Helio G99 processor. The laptop came in useful when tackling daily tasks such as answering emails, carrying out research, casually scrolling through social media, shopping online, interacting with AI chatbots, and watching videos on a casual basis. The laptop did not overheat but its lower panel quickly becomes warm after watching just a few videos. It is uncomfortable but not painful to work with the device on your lap after it heats up.
We found the Primebook 2 Neo’s trackpad frustrating to use, as it is not responsive enough to navigate smoothly between multiple tabs and apps. A lot of pressure is required to ‘click’ the trackpad, so tapping will likely be your default selection mode, and you may have to tap 2-3 times to get a response. Clicking errors and mistaken selections were also common.
Furthermore, clicking over text automatically opens up a menu that only allows you to select or read aloud content, and it takes a hard left click to get rid of this feature. Additionally, selecting/highlighting/moving large sections of text was a difficult process that led to multiple mistakes. In other words, those trying to move around images in a text document are setting themselves up for a slow and thankless challenge.
Close-up on the ports of the Primebook 2 Neo
| Photo Credit:
Sahana Venugopal
What’s more, a user survey from the Primebook company also pops up to nag you every time you power on the computer.
Google’s Gemini is built into the Primebook 2 Neo, so you have a handy AI assistant at the ready whenever you need it. This feature was useful for us when browsing the internet, doing research, or trying to translate foreign language content.
While there are inbuilt laptop features that support playing video games, we would not recommend using the laptop for this purpose since it tends to lag.
A handy app store allows you to download other applications and programmes of your choice to personalise the system as you see fit.
CameraThe Primebook 2 Neo comes with a 1080p camera that will suffice for video conferences and calls. The picture quality is rather grainy and you will need to sit in a very well-illuminated space to ensure that your caller can see you clearly. Those planning to use the laptop for routine work conferences should not have an issue with the provided set-up, but professionals who largely rely on video communication to stay in touch with business contacts can look for a laptop that delivers better image and audio quality.
Close-up on the ports of the Primebook 2 Neo
| Photo Credit:
Sahana Venugopal
BatteryWe were very happy with the battery of the Primebook 2 Neo. The device’s battery life was satisfactory, as we were able to get 6-8 hours of use out of it when largely watching videos and doing research across multiple tabs. This makes the device a good fit for those who use it during classes or conferences, as they can freely work without the looming worry of having to charge their device multiple times a day.
The laptop took a little over two hours to charge from 0% to 100%.
VerdictPriced at ₹15,999, the Primebook 2 Neo looks attractive on paper: a compact, budget-friendly laptop that caters to young students and early professionals in India while also supporting a range of media features. In reality, the device needs to be far more seamless and responsive in order to properly serve the requirements of older students and professionals, many of whom already own faster and far better calibrated smartphones. The laptop’s battery life is good and the visuals are satisfactory, but the audio is a serious miss.As it stands, the Primebook 2 Neo would suit users such as young school students whose caretakers want them to treat the computer as a learning tool rather than a shiny entertainment hub. However, older students, early professionals, amateur gamers, hobbyist media editors, and movie lovers can instead look out for more powerful devices with technical specifications that they will not outgrow too soon.
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