The 2520M paired with 4GB of RAM fared well in our Windows applications benchmarks scoring 60 overall which is fast for an ultraportable laptop.Įven though its applications performance is commendably fast, the underside of the R830 didn't become uncomfortably warm during use. Toshiba has chosen a standard voltage 2.5GHz Core i5 2520M processor instead of a low-voltage variant which would have been even more power thrifty but at the expense of processing power. We suspect this lengthy battery life is, at least in part, due to the R830's new more power-efficient Intel Sandy Bridge processor. Thankfully the R830 doesn't disappoint its battery lasted just under nine hours in our light usage web browsing test which is one of the longest scores we've seen and is more than long enough to last a transatlantic flight. While the lid flexes under pressure more than we'd like, the base feels very sturdy and robust.Ī lightweight and sturdy laptop is of little use if the battery life is too short for extended periods of use away from a power socket. The black metallic lid and wrist rest look classy. This low weight makes it easy to carry around all day, but it still feels well-made. The R830 weighs just under 1.49kg which is all the more remarkable since it has a built-in DVD writer, which isn't always a given on especially light ultra-portable laptops. Its battery lasted just under nine hours in our light usage web browsing test which is one of the longest scores we've seen. Although the R830 looks physically indistinguishable from previous Portg Rx30 models, it's actually a noticeable improvement in a couple of crucial areas. The Portg R830 is the latest ultra-portable laptop from Toshiba.

Toshiba r830 core i7