Medion Akoya E15303 in the test: Aldi notebook with Windows 11

There are currently only a few well-equipped notebooks at reasonably tolerable prices. The Medion Akoya E15303 (MD 63885), which will be offered by Aldi from October 28, 2021, comes in handy. The price? Fair at first sight. But are the equipment and performance also correct? COMPUTER BILD had the Aldi notebook Medion Akoya E15303 in a practical test! The Medion Akoya E15303 shows websites, documents, photos and videos in Full HD with 1920×1080 pixels on the 15.6 inch display (almost 40 centimeters screen diagonal). Contrast and brightness can be set quite high if necessary, and the overall picture quality is decent. Shortcoming: The Medion’s display is very reflective. But this makes the reproduction look more brilliant than with matte displays. Also good: In contrast to smaller notebooks, the 15-inch format allows the installation of a keyboard with a separate number pad – ideal for users who have to fill tables with many columns of numbers using Excel. And the keyboard can be illuminated if desired so that characters and numbers can be easily recognized in dark rooms. In the test, texts could be typed comfortably with the keyboard; the keystroke is short, precise – but a bit soft. The large touchpad, which transferred inputs precisely and without delays, was also convincing. And what’s under the chic dress? No brand new hardware, but quite powerful!

• Processor: The heart of the Akoya E15303 is the Ryzen 7 4700U processor, which was introduced from AMDs in 2020 “Renoir “series comes from – Medion did not use a current” Cezanne “CPU (Ryzen 5000). It doesn’t matter, the 4700U is also a potent specimen that can distribute calculations to up to 8 cores with a maximum of 4.1 It is a pity: this CPU does not use hyperthreading technology, so the Windows 11 operating system can be fooled into having twice the number of cores – and tasks are even better distributed for a higher speed.
• Random access memory: The processor uses a generous 16 gigabyte RAM.
• Graphics chip: The Akoya E15303 does not have a separate graphics processor for calculating the image reproduction. This is done by the Vega 7 graphics chip housed in the CPU.
• SSD: Windows 11, programs and data are stored on a stick of chewing gum with a large M.2SSD with PCI Express 3.0 connection and effectively 932 gigabytes of memory.

Medion Akoya E15303 in the speed test

Also good: The Aldi notebook works mostly quietly in this practical test – its fan was only audible sporadically in very quiet surroundings. The Aldi notebook did not develop much heat either, it remained pleasantly cool.

Users have to get by with just a few connections with the Medion Akoya E15303: on the left it has the socket for the power supply, an HDMI connection for a separate monitor and a USB-C socket with Displayport technology, to which external SSDs and monitors can be plugged permit. There is also a memory card reader for microSD cards on the left. On the right there is a headset connection, a USB type A socket and a switch that can be used to deactivate the webcam at the top of the screen. Users can expand the 932 gigabyte SSD memory if necessary using a microSD card, external hard drive or external SSD. There is, however, another option: there is a small maintenance hatch on the underside. If you loosen the two screws and open the cover, you will find a slot for a second m.2 SSD behind it. 1 terabyte models are available from 80 euros.

Aldi estimates a moderate 799 euros for the Medion Akoya E15303, which will be available in all branches nationwide from October 28, 2021. In view of the given performance, this is a really good offer: The Aldi notebook worked quickly in the practical test, the image quality is decent, the equipment is complete with the exception of the few connections – and it already works with Windows 11. Similar equipped Windows 11 At the time of the test, the idealo price comparison listed notebooks only in homeopathic doses and none in the 800 euro price range. Including the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 15 in the configuration variant 82AC004XGE – cost point: 1,199 euros.