Medion Akoya E13204 in the test: 349 euros expensive Aldi notebook

Customers are spared the embarrassment of a cheap dealer, customers do not feel the low sales price at first touch. The Medion is not an eye-catcher, it is rather simple, the workmanship is decent. Good: The Akoya is really light at 1.3 kilograms, the power adapter increases the overall weight by a moderate 380 grams. However, the keyboard lacks a decent stroke, and the pleasantly large touchpad doesn’t allow mouse clicks in places.

Users view content on a display that shows websites, photos and films on a screen diagonal of almost 34 centimeters (13.3 inches) in Full HD with 1920×1080 pixels. This is not a matter of course these days, especially with cheap notebooks – electronic components such as displays are still scarce. The color fidelity (92.9 percent), like the maximum brightness (209 candelas per square meter), could be better. In return, the display offers a decent contrast (2049:1). On top of that, it almost completely displays the sRGB color space, which is important for image processing (98.1 percent). This is unusual for a cheap notebook.

So Medion has planted a reasonable display in the E13204, but had to make savings in other areas:

• Processor: The heart of the Akoya is the somewhat older CPU Intel Pentium N5030 (introduction: 2019) – an entry-level processor with only two cores and the tired UHD 605 graphics chip.
• Random access memory: The main memory is tight at 4 gigabytes – especially for the Windows 11 operating system used (S mode preinstalled, can be switched to “Home”). upgrade? Impossible! The working memory is firmly soldered.
• SSD: Users store Windows 11, programs and data on an SSD with only 119 gigabytes of memory and SATA instead of fast PCI Express connection. At least: thanks to the easily accessible maintenance flap, a second SSD with more memory can be easily retrofitted – 1 terabyte models are available for 85 euros.
  

  

  But there are two other alternatives: Users can also expand the memory with a microSD (1 terabyte from 130 euros) via a card slot, and external SSDs (1 terabyte from 90 euros) and external hard drives (1 terabyte from 40 euros) can also be found via a USB socket. at the Aldi notebook connection.

The first inventory doesn’t give reason to expect a high-flyer either – but customers in this price range shouldn’t expect that. Everything goes a lot slower with the Medion: It starts with the start of Windows 11 and even hits simple tasks like opening a website. Users must therefore not become hectic, they simply have to get used to the slow pace of work. All in all, the given performance is completely sufficient for simple internet and office tasks. For what goes beyond that, however, users need nerves of steel – including somewhat more complex editing of vacation photos or video clips.

Good: Despite lengthy processes, the battery only runs out of air after more than eight hours – a very good value. Less nice: The Medion then has to be plugged in for more than three hours to fully charge the battery – many other notebooks easily manage this in less than two hours. On the other hand, they work much louder than the Medion, especially under full load, because the Akoya E13204 doesn’t make a peep at all. The secret: The weak processor doesn’t break a sweat even with performance-hungry tasks – it simply can’t run any faster. The result: it doesn’t need a rotating fan that blows the generated heat out of the case in an unmistakable manner. That’s why the Medion works completely silently – ideal for the open-plan office or when working in the train compartment.

Customers shouldn’t expect miracles from a notebook that costs only 349 euros – not even from the Aldi notebook: the equipment is poor and the speed is modest. The performance is sufficient for internet and office, for everything else a lot of patience is required. After all, it is well made, pleasantly light, offers a comparatively decent display, a really good battery life and it works silently. Comparable alternatives? Didn’t exist in this price range at the time of testing.