There aren't many laptop makers that can be called "indie" operations, and many of them will be localized rebranding operations of offshore clean-skinned laptop makers like Clevo. So what Venom computers do, which is to say, build laptops from scratch to compete with global giants like Apple or Microsoft, is pretty unique. (*14*)
Building a laptop is not an easy task, it requires a deep understanding of current PC components and a large budget and allocation of funds to get started, but no matter how difficult it is for small businesses to enter this market. , consumers are primarily interested in getting the best product for their money. (*14*)
Venom BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom price and availability
TECHNICAL SHEET(*14*)
Here is the Venom BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom configuration submitted to TechRadar for review:
Processor: 7 GHz Intel Core i1165-7G2,8 (4 cores, 8 threads, up to 4,7 GHz Turbo)
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: 16GB
Screen: 14-inch 1080p IPS
Storage: 2 x 512GB Samsung PCIe SSD
Ports: 1 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, 2 x USB 3.2 (Type-A), 1 x HDMI, DC-in, Audio combo jack
Connectivity Intel Dual Band Wi-Fi 6 AX201, Bluetooth 5.2
Camera: webcam
Weight: 2,2 pounds (1 kg)
Size: 12,63 x 8,58 x 0,63 inches (321 x 218 x 16 mm; W x D x H)(*14*)
Starting at $1,199 (£899, AU$1,999) for an 5th-gen Intel i11, 8GB of RAM, and a 250GB SSD configuration, the 14 BlackBook Zero 2022 Phantom has, at least, a Reasonable price... especially if you're an existing customer with an old Venom BlackBook that you can trade in for a €400 (AU$500) credit. (*14*)
This entry-level unit is still a long way from the value offered by the Apple MacBook Air's more powerful $999 (£999, AU$1,499) starting configuration, but given that no other Windows-based system came close to rivaling the M1 Air 2020, that's not exactly a Venom review. (*14*)
The BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom is available in multiple configurations, so you can upgrade to an 7th Gen i11 processor, double your RAM allocation to 16GB, and upgrade to a 1TB SSD for €1699. AU€1249). If you have a unique need, you can increase the SSD or RAM allocations further, but for most, a 2699TB SSD will be more than enough for a work laptop. (*1*)
This is a reasonable RRP for an i7 with 16GB of RAM, roughly equivalent to the cost of a 4-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 13,5 when you factor in the larger SSD, but there are a few caveats worth noting. (*14*)
One is that devices like Dell's virtually identical late-13 XPS 2020 had been available for over a year before the BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom launched and there are some decent discounts on those devices now that Intel's 12 mobile processors. th generation are just around the corner. . . (*14*)
The other difference is that almost all of the competition has a slightly higher resolution and more color-accurate screen, making the BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom a hard sell for anyone intending to use their laptop for work. creative visual work. (*14*)
(*14*)(Image credit: Future)
Integrated
The BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom might turn the tide by not attacking creative professionals, but it has a clear and no-nonsense design ethos. The spec sheet suggests it weighs up to 1,4kg, but the BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom we tested actually weighed just over 1kg. That means it's still up there with the best light business Ultrabooks we've tested, but it doesn't lead the way. (*14*)
Other standout features include dual power supplies so you can leave one plugged in behind your desk at home or in the office and leave the other in a travel bag or briefcase for quicker outings. Then, for anyone who needs to reboot from time to time, the device comes with a handy USB recovery drive that makes rebooting a whole lot easier. (*14*)
From there, the spec sheet starts to look a bit more predictable with a very ordinary 14-inch FullHD IPS display with an sRGB color gamut. 16:9 is still a very common form factor across all sizes, but Apple, Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo, and MSI have switched to 4:3, 3:2, or 16:10 aspect ratios at least on their devices. smaller form factor. (*14*)
This is because 16:9 is a cinematic aspect ratio, and while it works for multimedia playback, your average web page or document is A4 in size and takes up about three-quarters the width of a screen like the BlackBook Zero. 14 Phantom. . While not a deal breaker, today's best laptops turn that awkward width into vertical space that lets you see more of the web page or document you're working on. (*14*)
The BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom sometimes offers a bit more SSD storage than other similar drives, which makes it a point of difference if you particularly like storage, but you'll still have to pay for it. The device we tested came with two PCIe Gen 4 SSDs that could read and write at 3500MB on the primary drive and up to 6900/5000MB/s on the second SSD based on internal testing. It's as fast as individual drives make it to 2021 laptops and you don't see many secondary PCIe SSDs in ultraportable laptops, so it's a valid point of difference for anyone who needs to store and move large files on a regular basis. (*14*)
The keyboard and trackpad were quite nice this time around, shedding some of the idiosyncratic design decisions of the last iteration. Both were comfortable for long sessions and offered everything you'd need for a work device. Although the BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom doesn't offer a fingerprint sensor, it does come with Windows Hello facial recognition, but we think some business customers will be disappointed. (*14*)
Interface options were extensive compared to current USB-C alternatives, including an HDMI port, a microSD card reader, and a few USB Type-A ports, as well as more common USB-C and 3,5mm audio ports. While the HDMI port isn't as essential as it was a few years ago, it's still a good safety net for connecting to almost any display and getting plug and play compatibility. (*14*)
The active cooling system is quiet even at full throttle, and heat radiating through the magnesium alloy chassis is confined to the space above the keyboard, away from the palms of your hands.(*14*)
(*14*)(Image credit: Future)
Performance
References(*14*)
Here's how the Venom BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom fared in our benchmark test suite:
3DMark: Time Spy: 1439
Cinebench R23 Multicore: 4081 points
GeekBench 5: 1549 (single core); 4817 (multicore)
PCMark 10 (overall): 5063 points
PCMark 10 battery life: 12 hours and 6 minutes
Battery life (Techradar film test): 14 hours and 29 minutes
Sid Meier's: Civilization VI (1080p, bajo): 22 fps(*14*)
It's been about 5 years since we last reviewed the Venom BlackBook Zero 14, so the device we tested was 4x faster than the previous model. The BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom we were sent to test performed around 5% of our recorded average on various general work tasks for similar devices with Intel i7-1165G7 processors. (*14*)
It also showed a performance increase of up to 12% in the Venom Calibrated Performance power mode. However, it underperformed in a number of GPU-specific benchmarks, lagging 9-25% behind what we typically expect from an Intel Iris Xe GPU, even in performance mode. (*14*)
While GPU performance was disappointing, the BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom's battery life is truly excellent. In general work benchmarks, the 14-inch Ultrabook gets an average of 12 hours and 36 minutes, while movie playback was around 14,5 hours. The only PC we've seen survive is the LG Gram 17. While it's still a long way from Apple's MacBook Air M1, it's one of the best Windows-based Ultrabooks for battery life.(*14*)
(*14*)(Image credit: Future)
Verdict
If you have no use for photo or video editing and just want a lightweight, practical and durable work PC, then the Venom BlackBook Zero 14 is a solid choice. It will have to take a hit in screen resolution compared to other devices on the market and the model we tested showed performance issues on particular tasks. It's also too late to launch an 11th Gen Intel laptop, so you may be able to find a better value by buying Ultrabooks on sale. (*14*)
That said, if you know you'll probably want another Venom laptop in a few years, the $400 (AU$500) discount is a decent perk that makes the BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom reasonably cheap.(*14*)