Gateway 15.6-inch Ultra Slim Notebook review

A trustworthy notebook is more than just a tool; it’s an important friend in a world where portable technology is so important to our daily lives. The Gateway 15.6-inch Ultra Slim Notebook looks like it would be a great choice for tech-savvy shoppers who want the best of performance, style, and price.

Come with us as we break down every part of Gateway’s offering—carefully examining the specifications, testing small details of performance, and finally deciding if this notebook is a good competitor in the vast sea of portable computers.

PROS

• Cheap for a 15-inch full-Windows laptop
• Lightweight for its size
• Webcam has a privacy slider
• Surprisingly long battery life
• Solid performance, storage, and screen size for the price
• Easy access to internal memory, storage, and battery
• Fingerprint reader
• MicroSD slot for adding storage

CONS

• Flexy, flimsy body
• Dim, washed-out screen
• No USB-C ports
• Sluggish performance

GATEWAY 15.6-INCH ULTRA SLIM SPECS

 

The tech-savvy people at Acer have brought Gateway back to life, a word that is often associated with desktop computers. The return of Gateway under Acer’s control has caused a lot of excitement. Gateway is getting into the laptop market with the 15.6-inch Ultra Slim Notebook. This item shows that the brand cares about both retro appeal and current functionality.

With a very thin design and specs that seem to be above its weight, the Gateway 15.6-inch Ultra Slim Notebook is here to make sure its legacy goes on. But is this laptop good enough to become your main item?

Details and Feature List

• Display: 15.6-inch 1920×1080 IPS matte display
• CPU: Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor
• Memory: 8GB DDR4 RAM
• Storage: 256GB SSD (W800SH)
• Webcam: 720p
• Biometrics: Fingerprint scanner
• Left side: HDMI, USB-C, USB-A 3.0, barrel charger
• Right side: USB-A 3.0, headphone jack, MicroSD slot (up to 512 GB)
• Dimensions: 14.75 x 9.5 x 0.77 inches
• Weight: 4.2 pounds (4.7 with power adapter)

 

Processor

Under the hood, an AMD Ryzen 5 3450U Mobile Processor powers the device. This processor is often called the workhorse of mid-range laptops because it strikes a good mix between speed and power efficiency.

Memory and Space

The processor is paired with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which is more than enough to handle multiple tasks at once. When it comes to storage, a 256GB SSD gives you fast boot times and quick app launches, but some people might find it a bit small for big media libraries.

Design and display

This review unit has a nice ocean-blue finish that makes the Gateway 15.6-inch Ultra Slim Notebook stand out. Without it, it would look like any other cheap, all-plastic laptop. It has thick edges around the matte screen. The frame will crack and pop when you touch it for the first time.

When computers are cheap, the screen quality is often the first thing to go. It has a 15.6-inch screen that is big but a little dim. A strange blueish color comes from it as well, which is hard on the eyes. The IPS technology in the screen should let you see a steady image from a wide angle, but as you tilt it, you’ll see the screen get darker and brighter. One good thing about the matte screen is that it’s easy to read outside, even when it’s bright.

Keyboard and trackpad

The Gateway Ultra Slim laptop also skimps on the quality of its keyboard and trackpad in order to keep its price cheap. Even though the keys move pretty far, they feel soft and wiggley. It feels hollow under your fingers because of the plastic case. The trackpad is worse. The rough plastic surface makes your fingers stick and makes it hard to move the pointer in small areas. The build quality is also bad because when I pressed down hard on the mouse, I heard two clicks in a row. (Thank goodness, only the first one showed up as a real click.)

Webcam, audio, security

The webcam on the Gateway 15.6-inch Ultra Slim Notebook has the same 720p resolution as the webcams on most Windows computers, which still don’t care much about camera quality. For $399, we wouldn’t expect the camera to work with Windows Hello face recognition, and this one doesn’t. But it would have been nice to have a privacy cover or a kill switch for the camera.

Even though it’s in an odd place in the top right corner of the keyboard, the fingerprint reader is a nice security feature on a laptop that costs less than $500.

Make it

The Gateway 15.6-inch Ultra Slim Notebook impresses with its sleek all-metal chassis. Boasting a high screen-to-body ratio, the design is both modern and space-efficient.

Performance Assessment

How the Workhorse Works

It is believed that the AMD Ryzen 5 processor and the large amount of RAM will make everyday tasks easy. Our tests show that it does indeed work well for normal tasks like reading the web, doing office work, and even editing photos lightly. There are times when moving between multiple open apps is slow on the device, though, making multitasking a bit of a challenge.

The battery life isn’t great or bad. The 15.6-inch Ultra Slim Notebook can be used for about six hours on a single charge, but that might not be long enough to get through a workday without plugging it in.

Experience for Users

• Simple to Use

The Gateway laptop already has Windows 10 loaded, which is a well-known and easy-to-use operating system. Setting it up is easy, so users of all kinds can use it.

• Being portable

Because it is so thin, the device is very easy to carry around. It’s easy to put into a backpack or briefcase and doesn’t add much weight, so it’s a good journey companion.

• Devices for Input

The keyboard offers a pleasant typing experience with well-spaced keys, although the travel might feel shallow for some. A full-sized lighted keyboard is a nice touch that makes it easier to use in low-light situations. The touchscreen, on the other hand, isn’t as accurate as those on higher-end devices, and it can stop working sometimes.

• How to Connect

The notebook offers a respectable array of ports, with a USB Type-C, two USB 3.0, an HDMI, and an SD card reader. While this is adequate for most users, the absence of an Ethernet port might inconvenience those needing a wired connection.

Conclusion

With its retro looks and cutting-edge features, the Gateway 15.6-inch Ultra Slim Notebook makes a strong case for being considered. The way it works might not break any records, but it’s more than good enough for most people. Its battery life and storage space, on the other hand, might turn off power users or people who are always on the go. In the end, how happy you are with this notebook will depend on your wants and how you usually use it.

The Gateway laptop is a powerful computer that comes in a stylishly thin package. It’s great for casual users and professionals who work from home. It might not be the most powerful on the market, but the price and way it looks make it a good pick. For those who can get past its few flaws, the Gateway 15.6-inch Ultra Slim Notebook could become an important part of their digital life.

 

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