- Lightweight and thin body with a solid build quality
- Beautiful Full HD Display
- Backlit Keyboard
- Upgradable Storage and RAM
- Ample connectivity options
- Limited viewing Angles
- VGA webcam
When you’re looking for a good entry-level laptop, it can be hard to find one that doesn't make one-to-many compromises. You want something that will last and perform well. But the problem is, most of them are made with low-quality materials which result in an underpowered machine that would rather be used as a bookend than a computer!
These laptops are often cheap and flimsy pieces of machinery that just can't keep up with the demands put on them by their owners. They're either too slow or not able to handle more than basic tasks without overheating and shutting down.
However, there are some brands out there who have managed to make these machines perform well enough for everyday use - but they aren't easy to find among all the other options available on the market today.
This article will introduce you to one such option: The Asus L510MA-DB02 Laptop Computer! A revelation that has taken the market by storm thanks to its balanced specs and very tight price point. But, is it right for you? Let's dig in and find out!
Who's it for?
=> Students: This machine is ideal for students who need something that can handle basic everyday needs like email, web surfing, and word processing.
=> Office worker: If you're a moderate computer user who spends the majority of their time doing spreadsheets, sending emails, or updating documents then this laptop may be just what you're looking for.
=> Travelers: If you're a road warrior or often find yourself on the move then this laptop will suit your needs well. Its lightweight and slim design make it great for taking with you while staying relatively inexpensive to replace if anything happens during transit!
=> Writers/Bloggers: If you want an inexpensive writer's computer that you can take with you anywhere then this is the one for you. It has enough power to run professional writing software without any issues and will be able to handle basic day-to-day tasks easily.
=> Casual Users: This laptop is also a good option for those who want to be able to quickly access the internet and other documents without spending too much money.
Design
When it comes down to the design, Asus has kept the design consistent with all their other releases, and we are quite impressed by it. The laptop is extremely thin (0.72") at its thickest point, while weight-wise, it's 3.59 lbs which is very light considering that we're talking about a 15-inch notebook over here.
The quality build is quite impressive when we consider that this is an entry-level device, with a nice grip and a sturdy feel that's not all that common amongst its competitors. Sure, it might be a bit plain for some but then again you can always personalize it with some stickers if the minimalistic design isn't to your liking.
We also find it curious that this particular model allows for a 180-degree hinge, we're not quite sure what to do with that feature though undoubtedly some people will find it useful.
Display
While the display itself on the L510MA-DB02 reviewed today isn't all that great when it comes to viewing angles - as many customers have pointed out -, the resolution is pretty impressive for its segment (Full HD). In fact, just recently we talked about two very interesting prospects: the Lenovo Flex 3 (82HG0006US) or the HP 14-fq0090nr, both of which lack a Full HD resolution despite being more expensive computers than the L510MA.
Getting back to the viewing angles, they are obviously not the best if you compare them to say, an IPS panel but then again this screen does belong in its price segment.
It should also be pointed out that it features an anti-glare coating, which means that while viewing angles aren't the best and you'll notice some distortion in color reproduction when not staring straight at it, you can still use this laptop outdoors which is more than we can say for many of its competitors.
Viewing angles aside, the overall picture quality is good and while we wouldn't recommend it for photography professionals, most people will be pretty satisfied with the panel at hand.
Keyboard and Trackpad
Moving on with the review, the L510MA-DB02 features a backlit keyboard which is definitely not something you'd expect from an entry-level device. The keys themselves feature some pretty generous travel distance which makes for a comfortable typing experience overall.
The trackpad is a large one, measuring a substantial 6-inches to gesture at your heart's content. It also features palm-rejection technology which helps avoid those pesky accidental touches we tend to do when typing.
Performance
A solid design, decent display, and comfortable keyboard are all well and good but it's all rather pointless if the key specs aren't up to the challenge of making this more than a paperweight. Fortunately for us, the Asus L510MA-DB02 is far from a paperweight.
The Intel Celeron N4020 paired with 4GB DDR4 RAM and 64GB SSD storage makes for a pretty responsive machine overall which should be more than enough for light computing tasks like web browsing, image editing or even working on spreadsheets.
We should point out here that the SSD makes a substantial difference in performance. On this front, in the past, it was quite common for entry-level notebooks to pack either a mechanical hard drive or an eMMC flash storage unit.
These storage solutions have nothing to do with an SSD unit which essentially delivers up to 15 times faster response times on just about any task you do when compared to a hard drive.
Also, you can upgrade both the SSD unit and more importantly the RAM, something that's also almost unheard of amongst this category of devices. This means that heavy multitaskers need not fret when they see the 4 GB of RAM as they can easily upgrade to 8, 16, or even 32 GB worth of memory. Gamechanger.
Having said all of this, we do want to stress the fact that this is an entry-level notebook and will perform well on that level. That means it's a good solution for streaming videos, listening to music, chatting with friends, downloading files, browsing the web, and editing documents.
Battery Life & Fanless System
With all that power packed inside an ultra-slim chassis, it's only natural to assume battery life will be compromised. Well, fortunately for us this isn't the case as the Asus L510MA-DB02 features a rather decent battery that can offer roughly 6-7 hours of juice under real-life usage scenarios.
As for noise, the notebook at hand features a fanless solution so you won't be distracted by the fans running off at a moments notice - as we've noticed on other Asus notebooks -.
Connectivity options
Firstly, there's 1 USB 2.0 Type-A port and a 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port available on either side of the device. There is also an input for an HDMI 1.4 cable as well as a 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack for headphones or external speakers.
The Wi-Fi 5(802.11ac)+Bluetooth 4.1 option will allow you to connect wirelessly to your home network or any other wireless network around you.
We would've liked to see WiFi 6 connectivity here but honestly, we're extremely impressed with everything we've gotten thus far so we're not about to complain about something like the WiFi standard.
Oh yeah, and there's a webcam, quality is about what you'd expect on an entry-level laptop.
Bottom line: Is the Asus L510MA-DB02 worth it?
If you're looking for a good, solid laptop that won't break the bank and will be able to handle your basic computing needs - like web browsing, document editing or even working on spreadsheets - then look no further than the Asus L510MA-DB02.
It features excellent battery life (6-7 hours), a comfortable keyboard with generous travel distance, upgradable RAM and Storage, as well as a Full HD display to view everything in crisp detail - even if it doesn't have the best viewing angles -.
Ultimately, a good, reliable, and affordable laptop that's a great option if you're not looking for a powerhouse.