The Origin EON 16SL, a 16-inch gaming laptop, seamlessly marries a sleek, lightweight design with a stunning 240Hz refresh rate display. It delivers exceptional performance across demanding titles and boasts remarkable customization options.
Pros:
- Impressively slim and lightweight
- Affordably priced
- Exceptional performance
- Astounding high-refresh-rate display
- Solid selection of ports
- Outstanding customization features
Cons:
- Webcam quality falls short
- Ventilation could be improved
ORIGIN EON 16SL: A BRIEF REVIEW
In the ongoing gaming laptop competition, where bulkiness prevails, the Origin EON 16SL stands out by striking a harmonious balance between gaming prowess and a slim profile, rivaling top thin-and-light gaming laptops. Adding to its appeal, the laptop offers extensive customization options, addressing the aesthetic concerns commonly associated with gaming rigs.
The chassis is not just lightweight but also surprisingly robust, giving you confidence in its durability. However, the 16-inch display, although stunning, presents a challenge when fitting into bags due to its size and decent weight.
The display itself is a remarkable QHD+ IPS screen with a blazingly fast 240Hz refresh rate, ensuring a lag-free and stutter-free gaming experience.
As for connectivity, the laptop boasts an impressive array of ports, including USB Type-A and Type-C ports, HDMI 2.1, audio jacks, an SD card reader, and a Kensington lock. It’s regrettable that there’s no Ethernet port, but the laptop compensates with modern Wi-Fi capabilities. The ample USB slots are a welcome feature, addressing a common scarcity issue in modern laptops.
The webcam delivers standard 1080p quality, suitable for well-lit conference calls but with a slight image fuzziness. Sound quality is decent, though the bottom placement of the speakers affects volume.
Remarkably, the laptop’s thin and lightweight design doesn’t compromise its performance. The RTX 4070 GPU delivers benchmark scores that position it between the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i and the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16, making it capable of handling demanding PC games at high settings.
Despite a minor anomaly in benchmark scores, the laptop excels in real-world gaming, tackling even the most demanding AAA titles with grace. Spider-Man’s web-swinging is a lag-free delight, courtesy of the exceptional refresh rate. Ventilation is generally effective, though it can get hot during extended gaming sessions. In conclusion, this is one of the best laptops I’ve reviewed in a while.
ORIGIN EON 16SL REVIEW: PRICE & AVAILABILITY
- Cost: Starting at $1,949 / £1,763.64 (approximately AU$3,050).
- Availability: Currently in stock.
- Where to Buy: Offered in the US, UK, and Australia.
A standout feature of the Origin EON 16SL is its attractive base price of $1,949 / £1,763.64 / AU$3,050, significantly undercutting most current gaming laptops. For the model under review, the price stands at $2,154 / £1,949.15 (around AU$3,370), with a current discount of slightly over $100 at the time of writing. Opting for 6GB RAM, 8TB storage, and Windows 11 Pro will set you back $3,093 / £2,799.04 (roughly AU$4,837).
These price points pertain to the default black chassis. Should you wish to personalize your laptop with Origin’s preset designs, that will add an extra $39.99. Moreover, for custom designs, an additional $100 accompanies the first laptop, and each subsequent one costs $39.99.
While the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i offers a more budget-friendly option, its specs lag behind. Conversely, laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) command significantly higher prices, despite similar specifications (except for GPU and RAM). As a bonus, Origin includes a free T-shirt and mousepad with your laptop purchase, a thoughtful touch.
The EON 16SL is presently available for delivery in the US, UK, Australia, and numerous other regions. However, the Origin store does not perform direct USD to AUD conversions, necessitating manual conversion either through your seller or post-purchase. We’ve provided a rough estimate for your convenience.
Price Rating: 5 / 5
SPECIFICATIONS
The Origin EON 16SL review unit I received boasts:
- A 16-inch 240Hz QHD+ IPS (2560 x 1600) display
- Intel Core i9-13900H CPU
- Nvidia GeForce 4070 Laptop GPU
- 32GB RAM
- 2TB of storage
The base model includes 32GB RAM and 2TB storage, while the top-tier model features 64GB RAM and 8TB storage, maintaining other specs.
Here’s a breakdown of the Origin EON 16SL specifications:
| Component | Base model | Review unit | Top configuration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,949 / £1,763.64 (around AU$3,050) | $2,154 / £1,949.15 (around AU$3,370) | $3,093 / £2799.04 (around AU$4,837) |
| CPU | Intel Core i9-13900H | Intel Core i9-13900H | Intel Core i9-13900H |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 | 32GB DDR5 | 64GB 4800MHz DDR5 |
| Storage | 1TB SSD | 2TB SSD | 8TB SSD |
| Ports | 2x USB Type-A, 2x USB Type-C (one Thunderbolt 4), HDMI 2.1, 2-in-1 audio jack, SD Card Reader, Kensington Lock | Same as base model | Same as base model |
| Screen | 16-inch 240Hz QHD+ IPS (2560 x 1600) | Same as base model | Same as base model |
| Wireless | Intel Dual Band Wireless-Wi-Fi 6 AX211 + BT M.2 | Same as base model | Same as base model |
| Camera | Front FHD IR Camera | Same as base model | Same as base model |
| Weight | 4.18lbs | 4.18lbs | 4.18lbs |
| Dimensions | 14.07 x 9.68 x .7 inches (WxDxH) | Same as base model | Same as base model |
With the exception of RAM, storage, and the Windows 11 edition, CPU, GPU, and display remain fixed. Customizable designs are available for any configuration.
Specifications Rating: 4.5 / 5
ORIGIN EON 16SL: DESIGN
- Impressive display and refresh rate
- Customization options that stand out
- Sleek, lightweight 16-inch gaming laptop
One glance at the Origin EON 16SL and you’ll be struck by its slim and elegant profile, a rarity for a high-powered gaming laptop with a 16-inch screen. Surprisingly, it slips into medium-sized bags effortlessly, defying expectations for a laptop of this caliber.
While it arrives in basic black, you have the delightful option to personalize the top plate. Origin offers an array of stylish preset designs at a wallet-friendly $40 or, if you’re feeling creative, you can submit your own unique design for $100. It’s a win-win, granting your laptop a distinctive appearance without requiring Origin to mass-produce various colors.
The keyboard boasts well-sized, responsive keys, and the touchpad offers smooth operation. Customization extends to the touchpad, allowing you to designate halves as left and right mouse buttons or use it conventionally.
Port selection is commendable, with two USB Type-A and two USB Type-C ports (including Thunderbolt 4), HDMI 2.1, a 2-in-1 audio jack, SD Card Reader, and a Kensington Lock. Unfortunately, like many gaming laptops, an Ethernet port is conspicuously absent, leaving wired connectivity enthusiasts without an option.
The webcam falls within the standard laptop camera category, requiring excellent lighting for decent image quality. While serviceable for work or casual use, streamers should invest in a high-quality 1080p webcam.
Surprisingly, sound quality is exceptional, despite the speakers’ bottom placement. Whether you’re immersing yourself in classical music, a soulful voice, or the audio from AAA games, the output remains clear and unclouded even at higher volumes.
Design Rating: 5 / 5
ORIGIN EON 16SL Review: PERFORMANCE
- Impressive all-around performance
- Handles maxed-out AAA titles well
- Decent ventilation for a thin and light laptop
BENCHMARKS
Here’s how the Origin EON 16SL fared in our benchmark tests:
| Benchmark | Results |
|---|---|
| 3DMark | Night Raid: 46,881; Fire Strike: 24,288; Time Spy: 11,067; Port Royal: 6,524 |
| GeekBench 5 | 2,015 (single-core); 11,818 (multi-core) |
| Cinebench | 13,717 (multi-core) |
| Total War: Warhammer III | (1080p, Ultra): 88 fps; (1080p, Low): 215 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | (1080p, Ultra): 90 fps; (1080p, Low): 110 fps |
| Dirt 5 | (1080p, Ultra): 45 fps; (1080p, Low): 187 fps |
| 25GB File Copy | 14.2 |
| Handbrake 1.6 | 5:47 |
| CrossMark | Overall: 1,874; Productivity: 1,788; Creativity: 2,089; Responsiveness: 1,554 |
| Web Surfing (Battery Informant) | 5:47:17 |
| PCMark 10 Home test | 8,259 |
| Movie Battery test | 6 hours and 27 minutes |
The Origin EON 16SL, despite its slim and light build, delivers outstanding performance. It competes favorably with gaming laptops equipped with RTX 4060 and RTX 4090 GPUs in benchmark scores. Across various tests like 3DMark, PCMark10, Cinebench, Geekbench, and more, it matches or outperforms laptops costing significantly more.
Furthermore, it excels in editing benchmarks such as the 25GB File Copy, Handbrake, and CrossMark, making it a great choice for creative and video editing tasks.
Beyond benchmarks, it shines in real-world gaming, even at maximum settings with ray tracing. For example, in Cyberpunk 2077’s demanding ‘Ray Tracing Overdrive’ mode, it maintains an impressive 67fps average, a feat considering the game’s high demands. Similarly, in Dirt 5 with ray tracing enabled, it maintains a respectable average of 39fps. Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered consistently achieves over 100fps at the highest settings, including ray tracing.
The laptop offers reliable ventilation for a thin and light gaming machine, typically maintaining temperatures between warm and very warm during gaming. However, during extended and intense gaming sessions, the underside can heat up to higher levels.
Performance Rating: 5 / 5
ORIGIN EON 16SL: BATTERY
- Impressive battery life for a gaming laptop
- Swift charging times
In the realm of gaming laptops, the Origin EON 16SL boasts a commendable battery life, averaging around six hours. This duration surpasses many competitors, including higher-priced options like the Razer Blade 14 (2023). Both the movie battery test and Web Surfing battery informant test yielded impressive results, exceeding six hours.
In practical use, I also found it consistently delivering around six hours of battery life. Additionally, it boasts rapid charging, taking approximately an hour to replenish.
Battery Rating: 4.5 / 5
SHOULD YOU BUY THE ORIGIN EON 16SL?
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Reasonable pricing, given the robust specs and performance. | 5 / 5 |
| Design | Sleek, slim build with remarkable customization options. | 5 / 5 |
| Specs | Offers a variety of RAM and storage options; CPU and GPU are fixed. | 4.5 / 5 |
| Performance | Exceptional performance across the board, excelling in benchmarks and real-world gaming. | 5 / 5 |
| Battery | Impressive battery life for a gaming laptop, around six hours. | 4.5 / 5 |
| Average Total | An all-around excellent gaming laptop with outstanding performance, display, specs, and customization. | 5 / 5 |
Buy it if:
- You desire a lightweight gaming laptop: Remarkably portable for its specs, fits in most bags.
- You seek top-notch performance: Excellent benchmark scores and solid frame rates at maximum settings.
- You want customization: Offers exceptional chassis customization options, including submitting your design.
Don’t buy it if:
- You require a superior webcam: The built-in webcam is average, not ideal for livestreaming.
- You demand enhanced ventilation: While generally moderate, prolonged intensive gaming may lead to elevated temperatures.
ALSO CONSIDER
| Laptop | Price | CPU | GPU | RAM | Display | Storage | Ports | Wireless | Camera | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin EON 16SL | $2,154 / £1,949.15 (around AU$3,370) | Intel Core i9-13900H | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | 32GB DDR5 | 16-inch 240Hz QHD+ IPS (2560 x 1600) | 2TB SSD | A variety of ports | Intel Dual Band Wireless-Wi-Fi 6 AX211 + BT M.2 | Front FHD IR Camera | 4.18lbs | 14.07 x 9.68 x .7 inches (WxDxH) |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5i | $1,449.99 / £1,840 / AU$3,599 | Intel Core i7-13700HX | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6 | 16GB DDR5 | 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600), IPS, Anti-Glare, Non-Touch, 165Hz | 512GB SSD | Various ports | Wi-Fi 6E 2×2 AX, Bluetooth 5.1 or above | FHD 1080p with E-shutter | 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) | 14.31 x 10.25 x 0.88-1.05 inches (363.4 x 260.35 x 22.45-26.75mm) |
| Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) | $3,499.99 / £3,299.99 / around AU$5,218 | Intel Core i9-13900H | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 | 32GB DDR5 | 16-inch QHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) Mini-LED, 1,100 nits brightness | 2TB SSD | Various ports | Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Triple band) 2 x 2 + Bluetooth 5.2 | 1080p FHD IR | 5.07 pounds (2.30kg) | 13.98 x 9.69 x 0.83 ~ 0.90 inches / 35.5 x 24.6 x 2.11 ~ 2.29 cm (W x H x D) |
