Intel Evo is the chipmaker’s specification forthin-and-light laptopsthat meet a guarantee of great mobile performance.
Intel unveiled Project Athenaat CES in early 2019but while Athena isn’t a consumer brand, Intel Evo is. It’s very much like what Intel did withUltrabooksaround a decade ago to revolutionise the thin and light PC laptop market in the wake of the launch ofApple’s MacBook Airin 2008.
What is Intel Evo and Project Athena?
Intel Evo is a brand you’ll see on ultraportable laptops that guarantees a certain level of performance.
Project Athena was, essentially, the codename for this programme, but Intel says that Intel Evo laptops are “co-engineered and verified through Intel’s Project Athena innovation program”. In other words, it’s the process laptops go through to get the Intel Evo branding.
And what is that process? It’s basically a set of standards that Intel wants for laptops. Intel said its engineers work with companies likeHP,Dell, and many more to create laptops that meet its standards. It’ll even test them before they can become certified.
Intel’s former Ultrabook brand was always about go-anywhere devices that had top-notch Wi-Fi connectivity in days when Wi-Fi was a bit more of an inconsistent experience - the best part of a decade ago.
Nowadays though, it’s more about “do anything” as well as “go anywhere” - you really can have one laptop to rule them all.
What are the criteria for Intel Evo certification?
Intel Evo certified laptops have to meet a range of specifications based on design, battery life and hardware. There are six categories:
Each of the categories includes various different specs or basic feature requirements to ensure a high-quality end-user experience. This results in real-world quality, like long and reliable battery life. But much more than that as well, each Evo branded laptop has to meet these specifications to have the branding, so the end-user can buy with confidence. These include:
All of this adds up to the requirements for a laptop that should not only sufficiently meet your day-to-day needs but also ensure a pleasant user-experience that won’t leave you wanting.
So you can purchase an Evo laptop safe in the knowledge that you won’t have regrets.
Intel believes its criteria will actually satisfy modern users' needs, and it’s going to verify manufacturers don’t cheat them.
Is there an Intel Evo logo?
Yes, there is - you may see it at the top of this article. Originally Intel told us there was no Project Athena brand or logo, but there is a ‘visual identifier’. Yes, that really is what they said.
Which manufacturers make Intel Evo laptops?
Many high-end laptops are Intel Evo-certified including laptops fromAcer,Dell,HP, andLenovo.Google,Microsoft,Asus,Samsung, andXiaomi. Indeed over 100 models are now available from 150 partners.
