Walmart's $250 laptop is AWESOME!
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Get a 15-day free trial for unlimited backup at backblaze.com Get an unrestricted 30-day free trial of FreshBooks at freshbooks.com Walmart made a Ryzen laptop and … it's actually not terrible? For $250 how much can you expect to get? Well, more than you would expect, actually - This baby's pretty well equipped for the bargain price! Buy MOTILE 14" Performance Laptop at Walmart: geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Our Affiliates, Referral Programs, and Sponsors: lmg.gg Get Private Internet Access VPN at lmg.gg Get a Displate Metal Print at lmg.gg Get a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime at lmg.gg Get a 15-day free trial for Backblaze at backblaze.com Linus Tech Tips merchandise at lttstore.com Our Test Benches on Amazon: amazon.com Our production gear: geni.us Come see us at LTX 2020: ltxexpo.com Twitter - twitter.com Facebook - @LinusTech Instagram - @linustech Twitch - twitch.tv Intro Screen Music Credit: Title: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com
The video opens with the host expressing skepticism about Walmart’s previous forays into high powered hardware, specifically a prior line of gaming desktops, and then pivots to a surprisingly optimistic take on a Walmart branded Motile 14" laptop priced at 250 dollars. The host highlights a metal like chassis, Ryzen 3200U inside, Windows Hello, and a slim aluminum aesthetic that belies the bargain price. He tests the dated but capable hardware in real world use, noting the 45.6 watt hour battery and energy efficiency of the Ryzen APUs which help it run reasonably long unplugged. He also explores the array of ports on both sides, praising the inclusion of a full size HDMI, USB-C, USB-A, ethernet, and a micro SD reader which makes the laptop feel more complete than typical budget offerings. The overall impression is that this device is not a throwaway, but a genuinely usable Windows machine that could handle light productivity, media, and some casual gaming. The upshot is that for 250 dollars, the laptop delivers a level of value that challenges common budget expectations and could be compelling for students or budget constrained buyers. As the video delves deeper, the host disassembles and inspects the internals, highlighting the single RAM slot but noting the potential for easy upgrades to RAM and storage. He points out user upgradeability as a major strength, with an accessible 4 GB module currently installed and an empty slot ready for an additional 8 or 16 GB RAM upgrade, plus an NVMe-ready M.2 slot for fast storage. The cooling solution is described, including a single heat pipe and a modest heatsink, yet the unit maintains reasonable temperatures under load while still remaining quiet enough for its class. The reviewer also comments on the presence of an Intel wireless card, a sign that Walmart didn’t skimp on essential connectivity. He emphasizes that the combination of a metal chassis, upgradeability, and a provision for extra storage is precisely what makes this price point unusually attractive. When it comes to performance, the laptop handles light gaming and everyday tasks with surprising capability. The host uses Rocket League at high quality settings and reports around 40 frames per second, with a reasonable path to 60 fps under some quality compromises, illustrating the limits of the Ryzen 3200U in a modern thin and light chassis. He stresses realistic expectations: this is not a gaming powerhouse, but it supports casual gaming and basic creative work, which is impressive for a sub-$300 Windows laptop. The verdict is that the Muscled Walmart model represents exceptional value in its segment, offering a metal build, Windows Hello, upgrade paths, and usable everyday performance that many purchasers would expect to find only in higher priced machines. He concludes that for buyers on a tight budget, this is a standout option, while suggesting viewers consider higher-end options if more horsepower is desired, and teases future videos about upgrading an older laptop for media center use.
Topics · technology · consumer electronics · reviews · gaming
Questions answered
- What makes Walmart's Motile 14" laptop notable at a $250 price point?
- It combines a metal chassis, Ryzen 3200U, Windows Hello, full Windows 10 experience, upgradeable RAM and storage, and a surprisingly complete port selection for a sub-$300 laptop.
- Can the RAM and storage be upgraded easily in this model?
- Yes, it has a single RAM slot currently populated with 4 GB, with an upgrade path to 8 or 16 GB, and an NVMe ready slot to add faster storage.
- What are the main limitations of this laptop according to the review?
- The display brightness is not ideal for outdoor use, keyboard lighting shows some bleed, and the overall performance is limited to light gaming and basic productivity due to the Ryzen 3200U.