Kata X1 Review: An Affordable Stylish Laptop With Long Battery Life

Matthew Cuyugan
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INTRODUCTION:

Are you looking for an affordable laptop with long battery life and sophisticated design? Then, we suggest you consider this newest device from Kata Philippines - the Kata X1. It features some entry-level features in a laptop, including an Intel Atom CPU, 32GB of expandable storage, web camera and a large 8,000mAh battery for daily usage.

Kata X1 Review: An Affordable Stylish Laptop With Long Battery Life
Kata X1 Review: An Affordable Stylish Laptop With Long Battery Life

Find out whether the Kata X1 will give us a tangible impression in our full report.


PHYSICAL:

Kata X1 Physical Appearance
Physical Appearance

The retail unit of the device comes with a radiant box that contains the laptop itself, the 12V AC charger (you'll need an adapter here), the manual and some Styrofoam for protection.

The Kata X1 body is made completely out of plastic with metallic-looking finish. The stability is average, but the entire casing is quite vulnerable to bend. The overall design evidently follows the structure of Apple's MacBook Air. The device looks thin due to its slightly curved foundation. The narrow display bezel is striking as it becomes distinct in this price span. The webcam has been positioned above the screen.

It has a matte HD panel with a relatively narrow display bezel and a good brightness. It is also worth mentioning that we have not encountered backlight bleeding issue, at least for the few weeks we have used it. However, the screen has a poor viewing-angle.

As for the interfaces, the ports are just basic for an entry-level device. There are two USB 3.0 ports, one on the left, and one on the other side. On the left side also lies the charging indicator, charging port and the mini-HDMI port, while switching to the right, there's a 3.5mm audio jack and a micro-SD slot that supports up to 128GB.

Kata X1 Keyboard and Touchpad
Keyboard and Touchpad

The installed chiclet keyboard also looks like similar to that of the MacBook Air. It is not backlit but has a good combination of size, distance, and stroke.

Kata X1 Microphone and LED Indicators
Microphone and LED Indicators

Above the keyboard, we have the microphone that can be used for recording voice, and the three LED indicators: when the laptop is powered on, the caps lock is ON and the when the trackpad is locked.

The black touchpad found under the keyboard is very generous in terms of size and its plastic surface offers a smooth gliding experience. The integrated key has a good pressure point and can be used properly. Multi-touch scrolling works very well.


PERFORMANCE:

Kata X1 Specs
Kata X1 Specs

Kata furnishes the X1 with the Atom x5-Z8350 SoC by Intel. It is based on the Cherry Trail platform with 2GB RAM. It also has 32GB of on board storage, wherein 28.8GB is available to the user. However, we all know that it will not be enough to store apps and games. So, it is highly recommended to pop in a micro SD card, and set it as the default storage option.

Kata X1 Storage Info
Storage Info

The weak dual-core obviously limits the system performance. The CPU has been soaring to almost full capacity when surfing the net with multiple tabs opened. It slows the system perceptibly. In addition, Intel's integrated GPU is not powerful enough to handle high-quality games. From time to time, stutters are noticeable here. But then again, this is expected for a budget laptop like the X1 as it is not made for gaming or high demanding tasks.

On the positive side, watching movies, playing YouTube videos or performing office related documents are all OK. That said, it can serve its purpose well for students and light users.

See Also: Kata L1 Review; A Hit-or-Miss Smartphone


CAMERA:

Kata X1 Camera
Camera

A typical budget-friendly laptop like the Kata X1 has a mediocre VGA webcam that might capture an unclear or not-so-good video.

Kata X1 Camera Sample
Camera Sample

Surprisingly, the camera output turns out well for a VGA sensor, and very much usable whether you use it for stills or videos. Of course quality cannot be compared to other laptops with better camera modules.


CONNECTIVITY:

In terms of connectivity, the IEEE 802.11 b/g is responsible for the Wi-Fi communication and the Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless transferring of files. Sadly, there's no Ethernet port here, so we always rely on the Wi-Fi, but the reception is great at all times. Data transfer is also fast, thanks to the USB 3.0 interface, and it has two of them.


BATTERY:

Kata X1 Battery Stats
Battery Stats

The Kata X1's 8000mAh lithium-polymer battery that is located inside and not user-serviceable. It can reach almost 6 hours and 30 minutes of WiFi browsing in a straight use, at a brightness that is adequate for indoors and with the help of energy-efficient processor.

Regenerating the large battery in our review was a bit long. It took almost 3 hours and 15 minutes for it to refill to 100%.


CONCLUSION:

The Kata X1 is a budget-friendly and very-light laptop with an appealing design, decent screen, and better power consumption. It is highly recommended for students and light users alike, especially for those who wants bigger display and long battery life on the go.

As usual, some concessions have to be made in this price range. The mediocre build and material quality, the not-so-good viewing angles, and some lag in the performance are the snags that have to be taken.

Kata X1 is available in silver at any Kata store and third-party authorized stores at a price of Php9,999.

Kata X1 Specs:

  • 14-inch HD (1366x768) liquid-crystal display
  • Dimensions: 344mm x 220.5mm x 22.7mm
  • Weight:1.3 kilograms
  • Windows 10 Home Edition
  • 64-bit 1.44GHz quad-core CPU, Intel HD Graphics, Intel Atom x5-Z8350 chipset
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 32GB internal storage, expandable up to 128GB via micro SD card
  • 0.3MP front camera
  • Multimedia player
  • Mini HDMI
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • WiFi 802.11 b/g
  • USB 3.0 (2x)
  • Bluetooth v4.0
  • Battery: 8000mAh, non-removable
  • Price: Php9,999

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