[ This review is an official contribution from our official partner www.ixbt.com. All copyrights are fully recognized. Any reproduction or use, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without prior written authorization from the author ].
Is the Ninkear S13 a tablet or a laptop? Let's find out together, because it's a truly interesting device, complete with an active stylus. That means it's also a Windows graphics tablet. So, we have a unique device that can handle a variety of scenarios. We'll try to apply them to our own. This 2-in-1 tablet/laptop is positioned as a direct competitor to the Microsoft Surface Pro 10 and has been selling well on Amazon in Europe for several months now. And now it's also available in the CIS.
- Form factor: 2-in-1 (laptop + tablet)
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 5 115U
- Graphics: Intel Graphics (up to 1.8 GHz)
- AI Support: Intel AI Boost
- Operating system: Windows 11
- Screen: 13″, IPS
- Resolution: 2560 x 1600
- Brightness: 300 nits
- Display technology: InCell
- Memory: 16GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD
Sound and cameras:
- Speakers: 2 x 4Ω 2W
- Microphones: 2 (with AI noise reduction)
- Front camera: 5 MP (FF)
- Main camera: 5 MP (AF)
Input and accessories:
- Magnetic keyboard
- Stylus support (4096 pressure levels)
Ports and connections:
- 1 x USB 3.0 Type-A
- 2 x USB 3.1 Type-C (full function: charging, DP, OTG, data, audio)
- HUB support (USB, RJ45, etc.)
- Wi-Fi 6
- Bluetooth 5.2
Cooling and power supply:
- Cooling system: dual fan + heat pipes
- Fast charging: PD 65W
- Battery life: up to 7 hours
Additionally:
- Sensors: gravity sensor, Hall sensor
- Case material: magnesium alloy
- Dimensions: 300 x 195 x 10 mm
Ninkear S13 Package Contents and Design
The tablet comes with a case, charger, cable, and stylus. For me, it's more of a tablet than a laptop, so we'll refer to it as such throughout the review.
Below we will show the complete set in more detail.
The power supply, also known as the charger, is a single unit with a detachable cord.
The power supply outputs up to 65W (20V, 3.25A) and has a Type-C port and a European plug. The Type-C cable itself is made of braided PVC and is white. The quality is decent.
The tablet also comes with a stylus. It supports up to 4096 pressure levels and easily transforms the tablet into a graphics tablet with the right software.
The stylus is active, has a Type-C port for charging, and two buttons that can be assigned custom actions. You can also leave it as is, by default, in Windows.
Overall, using the stylus has proven to be very convenient. However, we have some questions about how to store it. It uses a special rubber loop on the keyboard for storage and transport. While this is generally quite reliable (as demonstrated by three weeks of use and daily use with the tablet in the laptop), it does feel a bit odd.
Now that we've started talking about the keyboard, let's take a closer look. It's especially worth considering because it doubles as a case.
To use the keyboard, it has fairly strong magnets and a spring-loaded connector. The mating connector is located on the edge of the tablet.
The keyboard itself is a compact version of those same keyboards. There's no numpad. Below it is a touchpad, which is generally decent, if a bit on the small side.
The letters on the keys themselves are silkscreened, including Cyrillic. There's also a keyboard backlight, which can be quite useful at times.
The keyboard also has a small rubber band that can be used to store the stylus. It's a reliable solution, even if it looks a little odd.
Now let's take a look at the appearance of the Ninkear S13 tablet
The case here is made of magnesium alloy. On the front is a large, vibrant IPS display with fairly comfortable bezels (no joke) and a video conferencing camera at the top, above the screen.
At the bottom, as shown earlier, there are magnets and contacts for connecting the keyboard.
On the left side there are two USB Type-C ports, which are used for connecting any peripherals and for charging.
Any of the ports can be used to connect a charger. They can also be used to transmit video to an external monitor or docking station. Below the ports is a speaker (the same one on the right, but stereo). Just above the ports is a microphone, a volume button, and air intake vents for the cooling system.
On the right side there is a full-fledged USB A 3.2 port (this is really convenient). Below it is another speaker, and above it is an air intake grill.
At the top end there are air outlet grilles from the cooling system and a power button.
As you can see, the cooling is active. This is understandable, as the Intel Ultra 5 is hardly a "cool" processor. However, the presence of active cooling is unquestionable, and most importantly, it's practically inaudible.
Now let's look at the back. The tablet has an additional camera on the back, even with autofocus. And a clever folding stand.
This stand, by the way, is also made of metal and is used to place the tablet on a table. Or on your lap. Basically, anywhere, with or without a keyboard.
By the way, under the foot is the device's serial number and the "Intel Inside" sticker. Just kidding. Intel Cre Ultra 5.
And by the way, the stand is really comfortable, we tested it. You can work with it on your lap, it stands securely on a desk even without a keyboard, and you can put it anywhere. And when you're in drawing mode, it's sometimes more comfortable to rest the tablet on the desk, propped up by this stand. It's a matter of personal preference, though; everyone has their own.
Tablet mode and drawing with the Ninkear S13 stylus
We sure there will be reviews coming out soon, where most people will start trying to run games on this tablet. Or all sorts of AI. Incidentally, in my case, this tablet turned out to be very useful precisely because of the stylus and the ability to draw. Well, not in my case, but in kids's case. They love to draw and is good at it. We even asked many kids to pose for the camera for a bit and sketch something on the tablet in regular Paint. Below is the result.
In fact, the Ninkear S13 tablet can truly replace a graphics tablet, while still being a single device. In theory, this means you can quickly sketch anywhere, jot down plans in Notion with various screenshots, or simply take notes and sketches. This will be convenient for many, as it's already familiar, for example, when working with an iPad and stylus. Or, as in my personal case, ISome of users we met use the stylus in the Samsung Galaxy S24U and the tablet and stylus combo in the XPPen Magic Note Pad. This setup suits them quite well, as they work a lot with various media, planning, and so on. However, we still need to find convenient software for Windows that's comparable to what we use on Android. But we think it's only a matter of time.
Benchmarks and tests
Now let's take a look at the device's internals. First, let's launch CPU-Z and check.
The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U was unveiled on December 14, 2023, and is a mobile processor for laptops. It is based on the Meteor Lake architecture and is primarily aimed at office and everyday computing. The processor features 8 cores and 10 threads, is manufactured using a 7 nm process, and operates at a frequency of up to 4.2 GHz. Its multiplier is locked. Its base TDP is 15 W, which qualifies it for energy-efficient solutions. However, it can also reach up to 57 W. In terms of platform, this chip is designed for the Intel BGA 2049 socket and supports DDR5 memory (depending on the specific motherboard). It is developed and manufactured by Intel, and the Meteor Lake architecture itself belongs to the 2023 generation.
We also run Performancetest and see that the PassMark rating for the system performance test scores a pretty good 3776.9 points.
A detailed examination of each test reveals that the system's main weak point is 3D graphics. This is generally understandable, given that we're using integrated graphics, which clearly still can't compete with full-fledged graphics cards.
Next, we run the built-in benchmarks in OCCT, which show the overall assessment and capabilities of the system.
We also ran a stability test to check. The results really surprised me. The Notebook showed that it can operate quite efficiently even under heavy load. The TDP in Power mode showed it running at approximately 16W, with a short-term temperature spike to 91°C (205°F), but the system stabilized at around 50-60°C (122-140°F). And yes, this Intel Ultra 5 115U isn't exactly a stone cold.
As usual, We use HWiNFO to monitor my metrics, which is much more visual than AIDA's integrated graphics. Here, you can already see that the processor managed to briefly spike its TDP to almost 37W at peak, but overall performance remains at 15W. Temperatures are also noticeably stable, which is important for a compact tablet. And since we're already in AIDA, we can run the remaining benchmarks.
And while we're at it, let's take a look at the insides. Since the tablet isn't easy to disassemble, there won't be a section on the insides.
Here are some important and interesting details. First, it has LPDDR5 memory, most likely two 8GB chips (but that's not certain). It also has a 1TB NVMe drive with the corresponding PCIe 3.0 x4 speeds. A BOE LTM0001 monitor handles the display. The network interface is provided by a Realtek RTL8852BE adapter (with Wi-Fi 6 support), and the ports are USB 3.2. Overall, this looks adequate and good. So, next, we check the integrated SSD and its speeds using CrystalDiskMark.
As we can see, it offers up to 3500 MB/s read and up to 2400 MB/s write speeds. These are decent speeds, not exactly record-breaking, but they're more than enough for everyday use. Higher speeds will be important for gaming systems and graphics workstations. This is a very versatile drive that aims to fit a range of scenarios.
Next are the standard tests in 3DMark
Here you can see that the computer is far from a gaming one. But no one claims that. Below is the PCMark 10 office performance score, which is a very respectable 5046 points.
Overall, it's clear that this is a decent laptop-tablet that handles everyday tasks and offers a few other unique scenarios. So, it's time to move on to the conclusions.
Conclusion
After using it for several weeks, we've come to the following conclusions. Firstly, the computer is truly compact and lightweight, and doesn't take up much space in a backpack. As a sort of "slut," it works perfectly. And battery life is also excellent. I've had it comfortably through the entire workday, with occasional use for tasks outside the office and at home. Like editing some documents, checking the internet, and watching a little YouTube.
The second scenario, as was already clear from the text, is, of course, a graphics tablet. My daughter appreciated the stylus and the ability to draw with it fully. Incidentally, this niche isn't really well-developed in Windows tablets. And there's no competition, nor choice.
The third scenario is for students. We think this tablet/laptop would be really useful for students. It could also easily function as a main unit, say, for a home workstation. We'd buy a docking station, connect a monitor, mouse, and keyboard. While at home, we'd use the tablet as a system unit, connecting it to the workstation via a single cable. Then, we'd just as easily unplug it, throw it in our backpack, and go about our business.
In short, there are many scenarios here. All that's left is to try them out and see which one suits you. And yes, Windows tablets are still a rare beast. But the more miniaturization in electronics advances, the more interesting devices we get. And the Ninkear S13 is a truly interesting, and in some ways, unique, device.