Toshiba Satellite Click Mini review

There are only two choices of model, one in Pearl White and the other in Satin Gold (read Silver). There are no options to upgrade any of the components currently, what you see is what you get. It makes ordering incredibly simple, as there's no messing with alternative configurations and a fixed price point.

In laptop mode, the weight of the batteries doesn't go unnoticed. It clocks in at just over 2 pounds and is rear heavy. The Satellite won't tip over thanks to the second battery in the base, but it's heavier than it looks.

Specifications

Here is the Toshiba Satellite Click Mini spec sheet as provided to TechRadar:

• CPU: 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z3735F with Burst Technology 2.0

• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics

• RAM: 2GB DDR3 SDRAM 

• Screen: 8.9-inch, 1920 x 1200 IPS LCD, 16:10 aspect ratio, 10 points multi-touch screen

• Storage: 32GB eMMC Flash Memory

• Ports: Headphone/Mic combo socket, microHDMI-out, micro-USB 2.0, USB 2.0, SD card slot with UHS-I, microSD card slot with UHS-I

• Connectivity: Wireless LAN 802.11b/g/n (up to 150 Mbps) 

• Camera: 5 MP Full HD rear camera with auto focus (back) and 2 MP Full HD web camera (front)

• Weight: Tablet 1.04 pounds (472g); Tablet with keyboard 2.16 pounds (978g)

• Size: Tablet 9.25 x 0.385 x 6.34-inches (235 x 161 x 9.8mm) (W x D x H); Tablet with keyboard 9.25 x 6.72 x 0.78-inches (235 x 170.6 x 19.9mm)

• Special Features: 3D Acceleration sensor, Compass

Performance and features

For everyday tasks the machine is more than capable. Browsing the web and doing light photo editing is all possible, and it'll run Microsoft Office 365 with ease. Performance wise, the machine generally held up, though while watching YouTube videos with several tabs open, the sound would occasionally chug. There's a small form HDMI socket conveniently set in the tablet section which can be used to output to a projector to watch films or put on a presentation.

With Windows and the quad-core Intel Atom under the hood you can run older programs and less graphically demanding games with some ease. The bundled Toshiba Display Utility software shrinks the font and icons much more efficiently than anything built into Windows. It's great for making the screen appear larger because you're able to fit more things onto it – although at the highest level, it becomes difficult to decipher text. This mode is more suited to an external display or projector.

Benchmarks

Here's how the Toshiba Satellite Click Mini performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

• 3DMark: Cloud Gate: 1145; Sky Diver 452; Fire Strike: Crashed 

• Cinebench CPU: Will not run in 32-bit mode

• PCMark 8 Home Test: (in Conventional mode) 1004 points

• PCMark 8 Battery Life: (in Conventional mode with both batteries) 7 hours and 34 minutes


This isn't a gaming computer by any means, in fact Fire Strike in 3DMark crashed so there are no results from that test. Cinebench refused to run as the operating system is 32-bit, so there are only results from PCMark.

The battery bench came in at an impressive 7 hours and 34 minutes – Windows will use the base battery up first and then use power from the tablet battery afterwards to ensure maximum runtime in either mode. It doesn't clock in at the purported 12 hours, but it's certainly powerful and built to last long journeys. It's not got the longevity of an iPad Air as Windows drains more power when sleeping than iOS.

Cloud Gate got a quite low score of 1145, and this machine doesn't beat the Chi or even the similarly built Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2, but it's perfectly serviceable in everyday tasks. The lack of performance is reflected in the price.

Network issues

Occasionally the machine would drop off the network to a limited connection, meaning the internet wasn't working at all. This was most likely an issue with the Toshiba machine as this network has never had an issue before. Often the machine had to be disconnected and reconnected to the network. Not a major issue, but annoying when downloading or even just browsing the web. The problem died down a little after a particularly lengthy list of Windows updates.

Bundled software

There's a distinct lack of bloatware bundled on the machine, unlike Asus which throws everything onto a new hard disk. It could be because of the relatively limited capacity of the installed SSD (32GB), or maybe Toshiba has realised that a lot of people will uninstall the junk as soon as they get a new machine. Here is the software you'll get on board:

• Microsoft Office 365 Personal with a year's free subscription – worth $69.99 (or £59.99, AU$89.99)
• Toshiba Display Utility – This gives the illusion/feel of increased screen size by shrinking certain items on screen. Very handy
• Symbaloo – A cloud-based set of shortcuts