Geekom GeekBook M16 review: A battery life champion with a few weak spots

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Over the years, Geekom has made a name for itself with its compact mini PCs. With the GeekBook M16, the manufacturer is dipping its toe (again) into the laptop space, positioning itself just below the X-series. While we were impressed with the battery life and the aluminum chassis, it’s definitely got some weak spots we had to come to terms with.

Geekom GeekBook M16: Design and build quality

Right from the moment you unbox it, the GeekBook M16 makes a high-quality impression. Geekom has opted for an aluminum unibody chassis in the Iceberg Silver colorway.

Christoph Hoffmann

The build quality is neat, the gaps are uniform, and even when applying firm pressure to the palm rest or keyboard, the chassis shows hardly any flex.

Christoph Hoffmann

The display is held in place by two firm hinges, which prevent any annoying wobble of the 16-inch panel when subjected to vibrations. The resistance is so well balanced that the notebook can be opened easily with one hand without the base lifting off the table. The maximum opening angle is also a full 180 degrees, which is a nice touch for presentations or flexible use on your lap.

Christoph Hoffmann

Measuring 355 × 250 × 16.8 millimeters (W × D × H) and weighing around 1.7 kilograms (3.75 pounds), this 16-inch model isn’t the lightest. Its in-house sibling, the GeekBook X16 Pro, weighs just 1.3 kilograms (2.86 pounds) despite having a similar CPU configuration.

The reason lies in the battery. Geekom has fitted the M16 with more capacity, and this added value comes at the cost of weight. But for a laptop that ends up in a bag every day, it’s pretty easy to handle.

The keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience thanks to a well-defined key travel of 1.4 millimeters, and the keystrokes are crisp and quiet at the same time. For working in darker environments, a white LED backlight can be switched on. It has two brightness levels.

Frequent typists will need to get used to a few layout details. To accommodate the numeric keypad on the chassis, Geekom has opted for a compact, three-column design. As a result, the keys on the numeric keypad are narrower than those on the main keyboard. The positioning of some special characters also takes a bit of getting used to at first.

Christoph Hoffmann

The touchpad, which is pleasantly large, responds precisely to gestures. The fingerprint sensor is integrated into the power button and allows the user to log in via Windows Hello.

Christoph Hoffmann

A physical webcam cover conceals the camera when needed, providing an extra level of privacy that is by no means a standard feature on every laptop in this price range.

Christoph Hoffmann

Geekom GeekBook M16: Hardware

Powering the system is an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, which combines six performance cores with Hyper-Threading, eight efficiency cores, and two energy-efficient low-power cores. That’s a total of 16 cores and 22 threads. The base clock speed is 3.1 gigahertz, rising to 5.1 gigahertz in Turbo mode. An integrated NPU takes the strain off the CPU and GPU when performing AI tasks such as background blurring in video calls or local image editing.

In terms of RAM, the 16 GB configuration is more limited than on the X16 Pro. According to HWiNFO, the soldered-on LPDDR5 memory operates at an actual clock speed of 3,200 MHz, which corresponds to an effective data rate of 6,400 MT/s. This means Geekom falls short of the maximum of 7,467 MT/s supported by the Core Ultra 9 185H. This conservative clock speed likely saves power during battery operation, but comes at the cost of slightly reduced performance during memory-intensive tasks.

Christoph Hoffmann

According to CrystalDiskInfo, the system drive is a Kingston OM8TAP4512K1-A00 with 512 gigabytes, connected via PCIe 4.0 with four lanes. Geekom does not currently offer a larger storage option, which is understandable given the current situation with memory chips, but is nevertheless limited for a Core Ultra 9 notebook.

Christoph Hoffmann

Fortunately, anyone needing more storage space can take matters into their own hands. Geekom has equipped the M16 with no fewer than two full-size M.2 interfaces. The primary slot houses the factory-fitted SSD in the standard M.2 2280 format. Right next to it is a second, free M.2 2280 slot, which is also connected via fast PCIe 4.0 x4. This allows the storage to be expanded without having to replace the system drive. This is great for device longevity.

The GeekBook connects wirelessly via a MediaTek MT7922 with Wi-Fi 6E and a 160 MHz channel bandwidth. On our network, it achieved a connection speed of 2,402 Mbit/s. The theoretical maximum is 2,999 Mbit/s. This is more than sufficient for video calls, cloud backups, and large downloads.

When it comes to ports, Geekom stays true to its style: USB4 at 40 Gbit/s, an additional USB-C port, two USB-A sockets, and HDMI allow for up to three external monitors without the need for dongles.

The Geekom USB-C hub included in the package adds Gigabit LAN, HDMI, two USB 3.0 ports, and a USB-C port with Power Delivery to the laptop.

Christoph Hoffmann

Windows 11 Pro is pre-installed. The test unit ran Build 26200.8457 with BIOS version 1.15.

Christoph Hoffmann

The included Geekom PC Manager software bundles power profiles, driver management, autostart optimization, and a device-switching wizard into a tidy interface, making maintenance easy even for beginners.

Geekom GeekBook M16: Display

In our test, the GeekBook M16’s display revealed what is arguably the manufacturer’s most obvious cost-cutting compromise. A positive highlight is the modern 16:10 aspect ratio. This aspect ratio offers noticeably more vertical workspace than the classic 16:9 format, which provides real convenience, especially when working with documents, spreadsheets, or source code on a day-to-day basis.

However, anyone expecting the crisp sharpness of the brand’s own sister model will be disappointed. Geekom has fitted the M16 with nothing more than an IPS panel with a standard FHD resolution of 1920×1200 pixels. While this is sufficient for text and Office applications, the difference compared with higher-resolution screens is noticeable when dealing with fine graphics, small fonts, and icons.

The refresh rate also remains at the standard 60 Hz. The M16 lacks the smoother feel when scrolling or during fast window animations that modern 120 Hz displays provide.

Cost-cutting is also evident with brightness and color reproduction. With a measured brightness of around 300 nits, the panel is average at best. This is compounded by the reflective surface. Bright light sources and windows are clearly visible on the display and can sometimes outshine the on-screen content. Readability is more limited in brightly lit offices or outdoors.

Christoph Hoffmann

The color reproduction appears slightly cool straight out of the box, and color gamut coverage is somewhat limited. While this is sufficient for office tasks, the display is only suitable for basic image editing.

By 2026, this choice of panel will be the laptop’s key weakness. Many competitors already offer higher-resolution OLED or IPS displays with 120 Hz refresh rates and better brightness, making the GeekBook M16’s reflective 60 Hz FHD panel feel outdated.

Geekom GeekBook M16: Speakers

The GeekBook M16 features two stereo speakers with DTS:X Ultra support. The maximum volume is sufficient for films, video conferences, and music in smaller rooms. Voices are also reproduced clearly, and the sound is well-balanced. But, as with most laptops in this class, the audio lacks powerful bass and depth.

Geekom GeekBook M16: Performance

The Core Ultra 9 185H from the first Core Ultra generation, known internally as Meteor Lake, made its debut back in late 2023 and has since been superseded by the new Panther Lake series, which is used in laptops such as the MSI Prestige Flip 14 AI.

Compared to current AMD chips such as the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 or Intel’s own Arrow Lake models, the architecture no longer feels cutting-edge. But as our benchmarks show, the processing power is more than sufficient for office work, video calls, and multitasking.

In PCMark 10, the GeekBook M16 scores 6,678 points, broken down into 10,031 points for Essentials, 8,496 points for Productivity, and 9,483 points for Digital Content Creation. The overall score is, by design, lower than the individual results due to the internal weighting of test categories. This is a solid, but not outstanding result. Its in-house counterpart, the GeekBook X16 Pro, scores 8,256 points despite having an identical CPU. Even the Lenovo Yoga 9i, which boasts a more energy-efficient Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, manages 7,719 points.

Christoph Hoffmann

However, the reason for this measurable performance shortfall lies only partly with the RAM. A closer look at the system settings reveals that Geekom keeps the M16 on a very tight leash when it comes to power consumption during everyday use. While the system does briefly ramp up during short bursts of load, the CPU is throttled early during typical productivity tasks to maximize battery life and keep temperatures low within the slim chassis. The GeekBook therefore deliberately sacrifices computing power in the name of efficiency and quiet operation. As a result, the Core Ultra 9 performs closer to a throttled Core Ultra 7.

In the 3DMark CPU profile, the M16 achieves 7,071 points at maximum thread utilization, putting it ahead of the X16 Pro, which scored 6,741 points. Scores across the different thread levels – ranging from 937 points with a single core up to the aforementioned maximum – demonstrate the hybrid architecture’s smooth scaling between performance and efficiency cores.

Christoph Hoffmann

When it comes to graphics, the downside of the Meteor Lake platform becomes apparent. Time Spy awards the integrated Arc graphics 3,935 total points, of which 3,545 are for pure graphics performance. That’s almost identical to the X16 Pro’s 4,073 points. The Yoga 9i, with its newer Lunar Lake GPU, outperforms it with 4,716 points, despite having half the number of CPU cores.

The generational leap is even more pronounced with the MSI Prestige Flip 14 AI. Its Panther Lake chip, with twelve Xe3 cores, scores 6,704 points–almost double that of the GeekBook. In Steel Nomad, the M16, with 667 points and 6.67 frames per second, barely scrapes the bottom of the scale, while Solar Bay Extreme achieves 1,213 points at 8.49 frames per second.

Those in need of substantial graphics power are more likely to find it in the Asus ProArt P16 with a dedicated RTX 4070 or the gaming-oriented Alienware 16X Aurora, which achieves 13,342 points thanks to its RTX 5070. However, both devices cost significantly more and are aimed at different target groups.

For local AI tasks, Geekbench AI delivers a score of 6,217 points, along with 3,229 points in single precision and 1,334 points in half precision. These figures are virtually on a par with the X16 Pro and confirm that the NPU operates identically in both models.

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The built-in SSD impresses in the CrystalDiskMark test with 5,955 MB/s for sequential reads and 3,682 MB/s for writes. For random access with queuing, it achieves 606 and 438 MB/s, respectively. The larger storage drive in the X16 Pro pulls well ahead with over 7,000 MB/s for reading and more than 6,100 MB/s for writing, which is typical for models with greater storage capacity and, consequently, more NAND channels. In everyday use, the GeekBook’s loading times remain pleasantly short.

Christoph Hoffmann

Geekom GeekBook M16: Noise levels, power consumption, and temperatures

The IceBlade 3.0 cooling system needs to demonstrate how effectively it cools the Core Ultra 9 under load. To this end, we measure noise levels, power consumption, and temperatures at idle, during everyday use, and under full load.

Under normal office conditions, the cooling system performs excellently with its two fans. When writing documents, browsing the web, or while idle, the fans usually switch off completely, meaning the laptop operates in complete silence. Only during brief spikes in load, such as an app update running in the background, do the fans briefly whir at a barely perceptible 26 to 28 dB(A).

When more demanding tasks such as video conferencing or high-resolution YouTube streaming are launched, the background noise settles at a very quiet 32 dB(A). That’s practically inaudible in a normal office environment. Under sustained full load during the stress test, the cooling system really has to prove its worth.

With a peak reading of 45.1 dB(A), the GeekBook M16 becomes clearly audible. Thanks to a pleasantly low-frequency response, however, the noise remains free of annoying high-frequency whistling.

The built-in hardware is well-optimized in terms of power consumption. In closed standby mode, an extremely economical 0.4 watts flows through the meter. When the device is switched on, the M16 consumes between 5.5 and 8.7 watts when idle, depending on the selected display brightness.

When plugged in, we measured an average of 12.2 watts during our office workload. In the separate battery test, conducted at 150 nits with an adjusted power profile, the calculated average power consumption was around 7.7 watts.

Things get interesting under full load, though. At the start of our stress test, the system fully utilizes the CPU’s short-term PL2 limit (Short Term Power Limit), causing the meter to briefly spike to a peak of 93.1 watts. After 30 seconds, the firmware throttles the system down to the thermally stable sustained limit (PL1) of 55 watts. The total power consumption at the mains socket then stabilizes at a constant 69 watts. The included 100-watt GaN power supply never runs at its limit, even under maximum system load, and has sufficient reserves to charge the laptop quickly at the same time.

Despite its compact height of just under 17 millimeters, the GeekBook also maintains thermal control. After half an hour of intensive stress testing, the palm rest remains cool 28.4 degrees Celsius (83.1 Fahrenheit). The hotspot on the keyboard is in the upper-middle area near the function keys, reaching a maximum of 41.2 degrees Celsius (106.2 Fahrenheit).

The situation is slightly different on the underside of the device. Directly above the heat pipes at the rear, we measured a peak temperature of 44.6 degrees Celsius (112.3 Fahrenheit) under full load. That’s why we wouldn’t recommend putting this laptop on your lap for intensive rendering work. But when used on a desk, the M16 performs exceptionally well in terms of thermal management.

Geekom GeekBook M16: Battery life

Yes, the battery is the absolute highlight of the test unit. According to HWiNFO, the chassis houses a lithium-ion cell with a rated capacity of 99.9 Wh – that’s the maximum allowed in hand luggage on flights.

To put the marketing claim of up to 24 hours battery life to the test, we subjected the laptop to standardized measurements.

When it comes to charging times, the combination of a large battery and a fast power adaptor really shines. The included 100-watt GaN power adaptor quickly recharges the massive battery thanks to PD fast-charging technology. A quick 10-minute stop at an outlet provides enough power for just under two hours of office work. It takes just under 30 minutes to charge an empty battery to 50 percent. After a total of around 90 minutes, the GeekBook is fully operational again.

Christoph Hoffmann

The video endurance test reveals the full potential of the large battery. While continuously playing a local Full HD video (H.264 loop, display brightness set to a practical 150 nits, Wi-Fi disabled, power-saving profile active), the GeekBook M16 achieved a spectacular runtime of 24 hours and eight minutes, impressively underpinning Geekom’s endurance claim under ideal conditions.

Our structured everyday office test, involving continuous web browsing via Wi-Fi, regular document editing and short video calls at 150 nits brightness in Balanced mode, provides a more realistic picture. Here, the 16-inch model lasted a solid 12 hours and 58 minutes before it needed plugging in with five percent battery remaining.

However, these excellent figures need to be put into context. The impressive battery life is less the result of groundbreaking efficiency from the Meteor Lake platform and more of a consequence of its large battery capacity.

Geekom is going all out with sheer capacity here. Modern ARM competitors (such as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite) or Intel’s newer Lunar Lake generation (Core Ultra Series 2) achieve similarly long running times with significantly smaller (lighter) batteries. The M16 pays for its independence from the mains primarily with a weight of 1.7 kilograms (3.75 pounds).

Geekom GeekBook M16: Conclusion

The GeekBook M16 isn’t a classic all-rounder, but a highly specialized workhorse with a very clear trade-off. CPU cores and maximum battery capacity in exchange for display quality and system speed. Anyone looking for a robust office companion for endless days at a desk away from an outlet will find this laptop to be reliable and well-built.

However, anyone looking for a modern multimedia laptop with a high refresh-rate display will be disappointed by the 60 Hz panel and throttling power limits. In that case, it would be wiser to choose similarly priced devices with a more balanced Core Ultra 7 or AMD Ryzen processor, paired with a significantly better display.

Geekom GeekBook M16: Specifications

• Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (16 cores / 22 threads, up to 5.1 GHz)
• Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)
• RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5 in quad-channel mode, soldered in
• Storage: 512 GB NVMe SSD, PCIe 4.0 x4 (Kingston OM8TAP4512K1-A00)
• Display: 16-inch IPS, 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, 16:10, 60 Hz
• Battery: 99.9 Wh, 100-watt GaN fast charger
• Ports: 1x USB4 (40 Gbit/s), 1x USB-C, 2x USB-A, 1x HDMI, 3.5 mm jack
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E (MediaTek MT7922), Bluetooth 5.4
• Camera: Full HD webcam with physical privacy shutter
• Security: Fingerprint sensor in the power button, Windows Hello
• Operating system: Windows 11 Pro
• Cooling: IceBlade 3.0 (dual-fan)
• Dimensions: 355 × 250 × 16.8 mm (W × D × H)
• Weight: approx. 1.7 kg