Product Listing

Dreamcore's Dreambook Touch 15 review: Superbly bang for the buck

By Aaron Yip - 11 Nov 2021
Launch SRP: S$1950

Introduction

An all-rounder 15-inch workhorse

If you think the 15-inch Dreambook Touch 15 from Dreamcore looks familiar, I don’t blame you. You see, it’s based on the Intel NUC M15 Laptop Kit aka a “whitebook” – a pre-built notebook that end-users like you and I can’t buy outright. Instead, it’s offered to Intel’s boutique notebook partners and channel customers for them to re-brand, customise it, and then resell. Exactly what Dreamcore has done with their Dreambook Touch 15 notebook here. Chances are, you'll also find a similar, lookalike, notebook from other local and regional brands.

Nevertheless, let's take a closer look at Dreamcore's first-ever notebook offering with the Dreambook Touch 15 hoping to satisfy the average productivity and content creator with a blend of features and specs without breaking the bank.

  Dreamcore Dreambook Touch 15
  Dreamcore Dreambook Touch 15
Launch SRP
  • From S$1950
Processor and Chipset
  • Intel Core i7-1165G7
Operating System
  • Windows 10 Home
System Memory
  • 16GB 4,266MHz memory
Video & Display
  • 15.6-inch Full-HD IPS, touchscreen
  • Intel Iris Xe (integrated graphics)
Storage
  • 500GB Samsung 980 M.2 SSD
Connectivity
  • Intel AX201
  • Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax/ac/b/g/n/a support)
  • Bluetooth 5.2
Audio
  • Stereo speaker system
  • 4x Mic array with noise cancellation
I/O Ports
  • 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4
  • 2 x USB-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps)
  • 1 x HDMI 2.0b
  • 1 x 3.5mm audio jack
  • 1 x Kensington lock
Miscellaneous
  • 720p Webcam with Windows Hello IR facial recognition and presence detection
Battery Type
  • 73Wh lithium-ion battery
  • 65W Type-C power adapter
Dimensions
  • 355 x 230 x 14.9mm
Weight
  • 1.68kg

Intel on the outside

Our Touch 15 review unit came in a grey coloured unibody aluminium construction that gives it a premium look and touch – Dreamcore has also made a midnight black option available if you prefer a darker tone. The notebook measures 14.9mm in thickness, weighs a stout 1.65kg, and is pretty well-built overall. For a 15-inch notebook, these are respectable figures. Despite it being based on a reference design from Intel, and won’t look as unique as selections from established brands like ASUS, Lenovo or Dell, I do quite like the simplicity of it all.

For connectivity, there are Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports as well as regular USB-A ones on both sides of the notebook. The good news here is that you can also charge the device on either side, unlike some other notebooks. There’s also an HDMI 2.0 out but unfortunately, no SD card reader.

For the display, Dreamcore has gone for a 16:9 touchscreen with an IPS panel in 1080p resolution. Personally, I would have preferred a 16:10 panel as it has more screen estate for work productivity, which is what the Dreambook Touch 15 is pandering to. According to the specifications sheet, it’s also rated with a max brightness of 450 nits, 1500:1 contrast ratio and 100% sRGB colour gamut. What I can tell you is that the screen is bright, displays vivid colours and sharp images even with the 1080p resolution. It’s actually one of the best I’ve seen from a notebook of this ilk.

The Dreambook Touch 15’s keyboard is reminiscent of the old, pre-2016 MacBook Pros. The keys come in a standard layout that is well spaced out and of a good size. Key travel is decent, but the general feeling of the keys is mostly positive. The notebook also sits at an angle by a couple of degrees (thanks to the taller rubber feet near the screen hinges), creating a little tilt that makes it a bit more ergonomic to type on - and for better airflow. The touchpad, on the other hand, is no slouch. Its 12 x 6.5cm glass surface is spacious enough and allows for great gliding capabilities. It also meets the Microsoft Precision standard and allows four-finger gestures, so multi-touch gestures like pinch to zoom and multi-finger swipes for switching desktops are supported as well.

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8.5
  • Design 8
  • Features 8
  • Performance 9
  • Value 9.5
The Good
Excellent price-performance ratio
Great battery life
Solid build
Clean design
The Bad
Does not come in smaller options
Memory is not upgradable
No unique selling point - based on a reference design, after all.
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