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日本Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) review – good budget device with fast AMD CPU options
We have another Travelmate P2 device for testing and this is the Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41). This one looks almost identical to the Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP215-53 / TPM215-53G) but today’s device has a 14″ display and a powerful AMD CPU and iGPU under the hood.
As a 14-incher, this machine is fairly compact which can be probably appreciated by people who are on the go often. So, we have a smaller notebook that will not cost you a fortune to buy it. The right word here is balance – the laptop isn’t a looker and it doesn’t offer crazy modern specs but it has a decent amount of features that can attract future buyers.
The Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) can be configured with some AMD Zen 2 and Zen 3 CPU which means you can rely on powerful and efficient processors and some of the iGPUs are really capable like the AMD Radeon RX Vega 6 (R4000/5000, 15W) or AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W). That’s right, there are no 35/45W CPU powerhouses for configuring, this is a small 14-incher and processors like the Ryzen 7 5800H are a no-go here.
On the other hand, we can spot some decent extras like a hardware camera shutter, backlit keyboard, optional fingerprint reader, NFC (optional as well), Wifi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C port, Ethernet port, and wow – a VGA port. Well, if you have a fairly old monitor or TV you can connect it to this laptop – why not? Specs-wise, the Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) looks like a good machine that comes with an IPS display the package isn’t too costly and it can be bought with powerful and efficient hardware at the same time. Let’s see if that is true.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/bg/series/acer-travelmate-p2-tmp214-41/
Contents
Specs Sheet
Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) - Specs
- HDD/SSD
- up to 512GB SSD
- M.2 Slot
- 1x 2280 M.2 NVMe See photo
- RAM
- up to 16GB
- OS
- Windows 10 Pro
- Battery
- 48Wh, 4-cell, 54.6Wh, 4-cell
- Body material
- Plastic / Polycarbonate
- Dimensions
- 327.66 x 236.22 x 19.81 mm (12.90" x 9.30" x 0.78")
- Weight
- 1.60 kg (3.5 lbs)
- Ports and connectivity
- 3x USB Type-A
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
- 1x USB Type-C
- 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), Power Delivery (PD), DisplayPort
- Card reader
- SD
- Ethernet LAN
- 10, 100, 1000 Mbit/s
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11ax
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- Audio jack
- 3.5mm Combo Jack
- Features
- Web camera
- HD
- Backlit keyboard
- Microphone
- 2x Microphones
- Speakers
- 2x Stereo Speakers
- Optical drive
- Security Lock slot
- Kensington Lock
All Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) configurations
What’s in the box?
No much to say regarding the package – inside of the box you’ll find a laptop, a 45W power adapter, and manuals.
Design and construction
This is an inexpensive laptop and its plastic build feels normal given the price tag of this particular machine. However, the bezels around the display are thin (okay, the chin is a little bit of a porker), the profile is 19.81mm while the laptop scales at 1.6 kilos.
Тhe small lid cannot be opened with a single hand, it’s a bit flexible, and we even spot some color shifting when we twisted slightly the panel on purpose. The camera has an orthodox position and it comes with a hardware camera shutter which adds more privacy when the device is connected to the Internet.
The keyboard feels like (almost) a copy-paste version of the one that you can find in the 15-inch Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP215-53) but this one right here lacks a NumberPad. Well, this keyboard isn’t great – the travel is too short and the feedback is numb. At least there is a backlight, but the “Up” and “Down” Arrow keys are half-sized. We spot some slight bends here and there during typing. The speakers are positioned in the upper part of the base just beneath the lid.
Actually, the touchpad is decent – gliding feels good while the overall accuracy isn’t at the top level but for a budget device it’s fine.
The bottom plate has a big ventilation grill and the hot air is pushed from the back of the device.
Ports
The left side of the laptop houses most of the ports – we are starting with an RJ-45 connector, followed by a VGA port (are you surprised?), an HDMI connector, two USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) ports (the first one has charging capabilities), a USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 2) with Power Delivery and DisplayPort capabilities, an SD card reader, and an audio jack. The right side has one USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port and a Kensington Lock Slot.
Disassembly, upgrade options and maintenance
Removing the bottom panel is easy. You have to remove 12 Phillips-head screws and then you can use a plastic pry tool to pop the bottom plate.
The simple cooling solution comprises a single fan, one heat pipe, and a small heat sink.
At the same time, the upgradability options are just okay for this kind of budget device – the laptop has two RAM SODIMM slots, an M.2 slot for fast NVMe drives, and a SATA slot for regular SSDs or HDDs.
The battery is a 54.6Wh unit – this seems like e regular capacity for a non-expensive 14-inch laptop.
Display quality
The Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) we’re testing has a Full HD display, model number AUO B140HAN04.0 (AUO403D). Its diagonal is 14″ (35.56 cm), and the resolution – 1920 х 1080. Additionally, the screen ratio is 16:9, the pixel density – 157 ppi, their pitch – 0.161 x 0.161 mm. The screen can be considered Retina when viewed from at least 56 cm (from this distance, the average human eye can’t see the individual pixels).
Its viewing angles are comfortable. We have provided images at 45 degrees to evaluate quality.
The maximum measured brightness is 266 nits (cd/m2) in the middle of the screen and 250 nits (cd/m2) average across the surface with a maximum deviation of 8%. The Correlated Color Temperature on a white screen and at maximum brightness is 6680K (average) – slightly colder than the 6500K optimum for sRGB.
In the illustration below you can see how the display performs from a uniformity perspective.
Values of dE2000 over 4.0 should not occur, and this parameter is one of the first you should check if you intend to use the laptop for color-sensitive work (a maximum tolerance of 2.0 ). The contrast ratio is great – 1470:1.
To make sure we are on the same page, we would like to give you a little introduction to the sRGB color gamut and the Adobe RGB. To start, there’s the CIE 1976 Uniform Chromaticity Diagram that represents the visible specter of colors by the human eye, giving you a better perception of the color gamut coverage and the color accuracy.
Inside the black triangle, you will see the standard color gamut (sRGB) that is being used by millions of people on HDTV and on the web. As for the Adobe RGB, this is used in professional cameras, monitors, etc for printing. Colors inside the black triangle are used by everyone and this is an essential part of the color quality and color accuracy of a mainstream notebook.
Still, we’ve included other color spaces like the famous DCI-P3 standard used by movie studios, as well as the digital UHD Rec.2020 standard. Rec.2020, however, is still a thing of the future and it’s difficult for today’s displays to cover that well. We’ve also included the so-called Michael Pointer gamut, or Pointer’s gamut, which represents the colors that naturally occur around us every day.
The yellow dotted line shows Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41)’s color gamut coverage.
Its display covers 52% of the sRGB/ITU-R BT.709 (web/HDTV standard) in CIE1976.
Our “Design and Gaming” profile delivers optimal color temperature (6500K) at 140 cd/m2 luminance and sRGB gamma mode.
We tested the accuracy of the display with 24 commonly used colors like light and dark human skin, blue sky, green grass, orange, etc. You can check out the results at factory condition and also, with the “Design and Gaming” profile.
Below you can compare the scores of Acer Aspire 3 (A314-22) with the default settings (left), and with the “Gaming and Web design” profile (right).
The next figure shows how well the display can reproduce dark parts of an image, which is essential when watching movies or playing games in low ambient light.
The left side of the image represents the display with stock settings, while the right one is with the “Gaming and Web Design” profile activated. On the horizontal axis, you will find the grayscale, and on the vertical axis – the luminance of the display. On the two graphs below you can easily check for yourself how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display, the calibration, the viewing angle, and the surrounding light conditions.
Response time (Gaming capabilities)
We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” methods from 10% to 90% and vice versa.
We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 31 ms
Health impact – PWM / Blue Light
PWM (Screen flickering)
Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is an easy way to control monitor brightness. When you lower the brightness, the light intensity of the backlight is not lowered, but instead turned off and on by the electronics with a frequency indistinguishable to the human eye. In these light impulses, the light/no-light time ratio varies, while brightness remains unchanged, which is harmful to your eyes. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM.
Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41)’s display is PWM-free. If you’re going to use it for long hours of work, the PWM-free panel is a welcomed extra.
Blue light emissions
Installing our Health-Guard profile not only eliminates PWM but also reduces the harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate. If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light.
Buy our profiles
Since our profiles are tailored for each display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) configurations with 14.0″ AUO B140HAN04.0 (AUO403D) (FHD, 1920 × 1080) IPS panel.
*Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at [email protected].
Read more about the profiles HERE.
In addition to receiving efficient and health-friendly profiles, by buying LaptopMedia's products you also support the development of our labs, where we test devices in order to produce the most objective reviews possible.
Office Work
Office Work should be used mostly by users who spend most of the time looking at pieces of text, tables or just surfing. This profile aims to deliver better distinctness and clarity by keeping a flat gamma curve (2.20), native color temperature and perceptually accurate colors.
Design and Gaming
This profile is aimed at designers who work with colors professionally, and for games and movies as well. Design and Gaming takes display panels to their limits, making them as accurate as possible in the sRGB IEC61966-2-1 standard for Web and HDTV, at white point D65.
Health-Guard
Health-Guard eliminates the harmful Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) and reduces the negative Blue Light which affects our eyes and body. Since it’s custom tailored for every panel, it manages to keep the colors perceptually accurate. Health-Guard simulates paper so the pressure on the eyes is greatly reduced.
Get all 3 profiles with 33% discount
Sound
Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41)’s speakers can offer a sound with decent quality. Its low, mid, and high tones are clear of deviations.
Drivers
All of the drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/support-product/8881?b=1
Battery
Now, we conduct the battery tests with Windows Better performance setting turned on, screen brightness adjusted to 120 nits and all other programs turned off except for the one we are testing the notebook with. The battery life of this budget laptop is outstanding – we got 11 hours and 7 minutes of Web browsing and 10 hours of video playback.
In order to simulate real-life conditions, we used our own script for automatic web browsing through over 70 websites.
For every test like this, we use the same video in HD.
CPU options
Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) can be picked with some fast AMD Zen 2 and Zen 3 CPUs like the AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650U and Ryzen 7 Pro 5850U.
Results are from the Cinebench R23 CPU test (the higher the score, the better)
Results are from our Photoshop benchmark test (the lower the score, the better)
Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) CPU variants
Here you can see an approximate comparison between the CPUs that can be found in the Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) models on the market. This way you can decide for yourself which Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) model is the best bang for your buck.
Note: The chart shows the cheapest different CPU configurations so you should check what the other specifications of these laptops are by clicking on the laptop’s name / CPU.
Results are from the Cinebench R23 CPU test (the higher the score, the better)
Results are from our Photoshop benchmark test (the lower the score, the better)
GPU options
The iGPU options are some of the most powerful that can be found on the market – the AMD Radeon RX Vega 6 (R4000/5000, 15W) or AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W)
Results are from the 3DMark: Time Spy (Graphics) benchmark (higher the score, the better)
Results are from the 3DMark: Fire Strike (Graphics) benchmark (higher the score, the better)
Results are from the Unigine Superposition benchmark (higher the score, the better)
Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) GPU variants
Here you can see an approximate comparison between the GPUs that can be found in the Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) models on the market. This way you can decide for yourself which Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) model is the best bang for your buck.
Note: The chart shows the cheapest different GPU configurations so you should check what the other specifications of these laptops are by clicking on the laptop’s name / GPU.
Results are from the 3DMark: Time Spy (Graphics) benchmark (higher the score, the better)
Results are from the 3DMark: Fire Strike (Graphics) benchmark (higher the score, the better)
Results are from the 3DMark: Wild Life (Graphics) benchmark (higher the score, the better)
Results are from the Unigine Superposition benchmark (higher the score, the better)
Gaming tests
| CS:GO | HD 1080p, Low (Check settings) | HD 1080p, Medium (Check settings) | HD 1080p, MAX (Check settings) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average FPS | 131 fps | 38 fps | 66 fps |
| DOTA 2 | HD 1080p, Low (Check settings) | HD 1080p, Normal (Check settings) | HD 1080p, High (Check settings) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average FPS | 138 fps | 85 fps | 50 fps |
Gaming tests (external monitor)
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
MIN |
MED |
MAX |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W) | 52 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 38 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 26 FPS PLAY VIDEO |
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
NORMAL |
HIGH |
VERY HIGH |
MAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W) | 72 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 27 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 15 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 8 FPS PLAY VIDEO |
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
MIN |
MAX |
|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W) | 403 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 61 FPS PLAY VIDEO |
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
LOW |
MED |
HIGH |
EPIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W) | 30 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 15 FPS PLAY VIDEO | - PLAY VIDEO | - PLAY VIDEO |
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
VERY LOW |
MED |
MAX |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W) | 368 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 303 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 244 FPS PLAY VIDEO |
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
LOW |
NORMAL |
HIGH |
MAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W) | 140 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 85 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 50 FPS PLAY VIDEO | - PLAY VIDEO |
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
MIN |
MED |
ULTRA |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W) | 377 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 55 FPS PLAY VIDEO | - PLAY VIDEO |
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
LOW |
MED |
MAX |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W) | 137 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 93 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 67 FPS PLAY VIDEO |
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
VERY LOW |
MED |
HIGH |
ULTRA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W) | 52 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 33 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 28 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 21 FPS PLAY VIDEO |
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
MED |
HIGH |
VERY HIGH |
ULTRA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W) | 96 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 67 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 67 FPS PLAY VIDEO | 66 FPS PLAY VIDEO |
Temperatures and comfort
Max CPU load
In this test we use 100% on the CPU cores, monitoring their frequencies and chip temperature. The first column shows a computer’s reaction to a short load (2-10 seconds), the second column simulates a serious task (between 15 and 30 seconds), and the third column is a good indicator of how good the laptop is for long loads such as video rendering.
Average core frequency (base frequency + X); CPU temp.
| AMD Ryzen 7 5850U (15W TDP) | 0:02 – 0:10 sec | 0:15 – 0:30 sec | 10:00 – 15:00 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) | 3.02 GHz (B+60%) @ 73°C @ 40W | 2.91 GHz (B+53%) @ 90°C @ 37W | 2.34 GHz (B+23%) @ 77°C @ 22W |
| HP ProBook 635 Aero G8 | 2.68 GHz (B+41%) @ 79°C | 2.47 GHz (B+30%) @ 88°C | 2.49 GHz (B+31%) @ 97°C |
Luckily, in terms of thermals, this laptop is showing some promising results despite its rather base-looking cooling. In short loads, the CPU is reaching 3.02 GHz which is way higher than the base clock and in medium-long loads, the CPU clock is 2.91 GHz but this time the processor chip is hotter – 90°C. The laptop surprises us in a good way with its long load result – first of all, the temperatures are in check (77°C), and the processor boosts around 2.34 GHz which is definitely higher compared to the 1.90 GHz base clock of the Ryzen 7 Pro 5850U. The modest cooling solution isn’t bad at all.
Gaming comfort
Luckily enough, this laptop isn’t loud at all, and yes, it has just one cooling fan. Even when we start Prime95, the cooling fan didn’t produce a high-pitched noise – sure, the fan is audible but not by much, and we can almost call it quiet. The shell temperatures are in check too – the left side of the keyboard and the palm rest area are moderately warm during load and it’ll not ruin your typing, working, or even gaming experience.
Verdict
We are pleasantly surprised by the overall performance of the Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41). This affordable 14-inch machine has a lot to offer for its modest price tag. The build quality is the usual business for this class – it’s an all-plastic build, the lid can’t be opened with a single hand and you can spot some bends while typing harshly. However, the bezels around the panel are thin enough and the laptop looks up to date. The hardware camera shutter is a nice extra.
The display (AUO B140HAN04.0 (AUO403D)) is a decent 14″ 1080p IPS panel. It has comfortable viewing angles, great contrast ratio, and the main advantage is the lack of PWM for brightness adjustment – no matter for what you’re planning to use the device, this will not negatively impact your health and eyesight during prolonged periods of usage. The main con of this display is the narrow color coverage.
Performance-wise, the AMD Zen 2 and Zen 3 CPU variants can offer a lot of bang for the buck. The machine that we have bought is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 5850U and because of this fast and efficient processor, the notebook is snappy no matter the load – Web browsing, 4K videos, even casual gaming. By the way, compared to some low-end dGPUs, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W) can give them a run for their money. A lot of games can be played (at least) on Low and Medium settings thanks to the fast iGPU. Just remember – a memory in dual-channel mode boosts significantly the overall CPU and iGPU performances so pick your configuration carefully – 2x8GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM is a good investment that and a device like this is much more future-proof.
Upgradability-wise, the Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP214-41) offers two SODIMMs, one M.2 port, and one SATA port – we can’t moan for more given the price of the notebook. So, no soldered memory, you can use a fast NVMe drive for programs, Windows installation, games, etc, and you can put a big HDD for backup or whatever you like – nice.
The cooling solution is the real hero in this review – at first glance, the cooling looked like it’ll not do the job properly but we were wrong. Maybe because of the efficient 7nm CPU, this cooling is just enough even for the Ryzen 7 Pro 5850U – during heavy stress, the CPU clock is higher than the official base frequency and the temperature is 77°C which is just fine. When it comes to comfort, the laptop isn’t loud at all, it provides a comfortable experience no matter the load and the shell temperature is in check. The left side of the keyboard as well as the palm rest area are worm but not too much.
Unfortunately, we can’t say a lot of good things regarding the keyboard. It has a backlight, but it lacks a NumberPad, the key-travel is too short and the feedback isn’t good enough for typing. Moreover, the “Up” and “Down” Arrow keys are half-sized. On the other hand, the trackpad isn’t bad at all – it offers decent gliding and its accuracy is just moderate. Last but not least, the I/O brings a good amount of ports to the table and superb battery life.
The Acer TravelMate P2 (TMP215-53) is a decent non-expensive laptop that doesn’t have a lot of downsides. It’s compact, light, the IPS panel has good viewing angles and it is PWM-free, and the overall performance is above average. It is hard to moan for more in this price category.
Pros
- Decent upgradability – two SODIMMs, M.2, and SATA ports
- Keyboard has a backlight
- Good viewing angles and good contrast ratio (AUO B140HAN04.0 (AUO403D))
- PWM-free dispaly (AUO B140HAN04.0 (AUO403D))
- Optional fingerprint reader and NFC
- Decent I/O port selection and USB Type-C port with DisplayPort and Power Delivery capabilities
- Fast and efficient AMD CPU options
- You can have it with one of the most powerful iGPU variants on the market in 2021
- Decent cooling solution and comfort during load
- Battery life is great
Cons
- Covers only 52% of sRGB
- The keyboard has a short travel and mushy feedback
- Plastic build
- Some bends around the keyboard during typing
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/bg/series/acer-travelmate-p2-tmp214-41/
