IFA 2022 – Thomson goes upmarket with its Evo, an Intel Evo-certified ultrabook

After invading the entry-level laptop PC segment (less than €400), Thomson is now attacking the heart of the market with a 15.6-inch laptop PC benefiting from Intel Evo certification, hence its name: Thomson Evolution. There is however a small trick on the part of Thomson: being equipped with an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, it is therefore the first version of Intel’s Evo certification.

The Thomson Evo boasts features that are up to date and without excess. Thus, the 15.6-inch screen is equipped with an IPS touch panel displaying 1920 x 1080 pixels, while the processor is a Core i5-1135G7 (4C / 8T) which has lost its appeal since the release of the new generation, and in particular its successor, the Core i5-1240P (12C/16T). However, it is still supported by 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD in order to enjoy Windows 11 smoothly.

The connection is also in keeping with two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB 3.2 ports (10 Gb / s) distributed on each side of the keyboard. An HDMI port and headphone jack complete the package. Wireless connectivity is provided by the Intel AX201 chip offering wifi 6 at 2400 Mb/s and Bluetooth 5.2. Finally, on the webcam side, we will be satisfied with a 720p sensor.

The design of the Thomson Evo is very sober with an aluminum finish and a backlit keyboard. The silhouette is slender to say the least for this screen size, with 35 x 23 cm, less than 1.5 cm thick and 1.65 kg on the scale.

We were able to handle the Thomson Evo and were amazed by the difference in quality between previous Thomson productions and this model, which is, to say the least, homogeneous and of good quality. Talking to the brand, we learned that Thomson had developed it in partnership with Intel; and for good reason, we realized that the Thomson Evo was a rebadged version of the NUC M15 Evo, a reference laptop PC sold by Intel. However, this does not detract from the aforementioned qualities and defects of the laptop.

Already available at 799 € from some retailers, the Thomson Evo will have a hard time dealing with the behemoths of the market which offer equivalent configurations at sometimes more attractive prices. We should be able to offer you a full test of this model in the coming weeks.