Intel GEEKOM GeekBook X16 Pro 2.8 lbs Laptop, 16" 2.5K Review

The GEEKOM GeekBook X16 Pro is a weird one. It's got a huge 16-inch screen and 32GB of RAM stuffed into a surprisingly light body, but it's powered by a single-core Intel processor that feels like it's from a different decade. The one thing you need to know? This laptop is built for one very specific, non-demanding task and falls apart if you ask for anything else. It's a one-trick pony, and that trick is basic web browsing on a big, nice display.

The performance story is bizarre. That 32GB of RAM is in the 92nd percentile, which is fantastic, but it's paired with a single-core CPU that scores in the 61st percentile. It's like putting racing tires on a golf cart. The Intel Arc graphics are fine for video playback, but the 19/100 gaming score tells you everything. It'll handle your streaming just fine, but don't even think about launching a game.

At $1099, this is a tough sell. You're paying for a big screen and a ton of RAM, but the brain of the laptop is severely underpowered and the long-term reliability is a major question mark. For the same money, you can get a much more balanced and capable machine.

Forget comparing it to gaming beasts like the MSI Vector or Gigabyte AORUS. The real competition is the ASUS Zenbook Duo or a base model Apple MacBook Pro. The Zenbook Duo offers way more versatility and similar portability for creative tasks. A base MacBook Pro, while more expensive, delivers infinitely better performance, battery life, and build quality. Even a Lenovo Legion at a similar price would run circles around this for any real computing task, though it'd be heavier.

I can't recommend the GeekBook X16 Pro. The combination of a weak single-core CPU, terrible reliability scores, and poor port selection makes it a liability. The big screen and lightweight design are nice, but they're built on a foundation of sand. Unless your entire computing life is watching Netflix in bed and you absolutely need a 16-inch screen under 3 pounds, look elsewhere. There are too many better, more reliable options.