PC Specialist Defiance IV (w/ Core i7 & GTX 1070)

The 17.3in screen has a 1080p resolution, which is fine – although it hardly pushes the envelope,

Instead of adding extra pixels, the PC Specialist’s screen has an improved refresh rate. This panel runs at 120Hz, which is twice as quick as most laptops. That means the screen can keep up with games running at up to 120fps, which means smoother gameplay – ideal for esports in particular, where added speed can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

The screen uses TN technology, which means several pros and cons. They’re usually the best for gaming, because they have the best response times.

However, TN panels often suffer when it comes to colour accuracy and viewing angles. If response time is key, that’s less of an issue – but it’s not ideal if you’re after an all-round panel.

We had no issue with the screen’s response times or refresh rates, which is good for gaming, and the PC Specialist’s panel is certainly bright enough – its backlight level of 282cd/m² is ample enough for bright lights and even the outdoors.

The PC Specialist’s TN panel paired the good brightness level with a great black level of 0.2cd/m². That’s lower than most laptops, and it means that darker areas in games and movies will look truly inky. They combine for a contrast ratio of 1,410:1.

That’s also better than most gaming notebooks, and it helps create bright, light shades and subtle colour variations, with no banding or obvious gradients.

TN screens suffer when it comes to colours, though. Its average Delta E of 6.5 is poor, and its Gamma measurement of 3.47 is a long distance from the ideal result of 2.2. Both of those figures mean that colours won’t be entirely accurate, despite this panel’s 99% sRGB coverage ratio.

Games and movies will look fine, despite that, but this screen is certainly not suitable for colour-sensitive work. The screen’s viewing angles aren’t great, with clear distortion if you move your head to the side or on a vertical axis, and the screen lost a middling 11% of its backlight strength in the corners.

The PC Specialist’s screen doesn’t have the colour accuracy for work, but it’s got the colour coverage, contrast and response times to prove good for gaming – especially for esports.

The speakers are fine, with ample volume and a clear high-end and mid-range, but the bass is a little underwhelming. They’re good enough for gaming and movies, but not fantastic.

The keyboard is a conventional chiclet unit that offers solid quality. The base is sturdy, and the buttons move with a reasonable amount of travel and a consistent action – they never feel weak or hollow. They’re quiet, and the layout is good, with a number pad and a double-height return key.

That said, chiclet keyboards are better for typing and for casual gaming, and for high-end titles or esports we usually prefer a mechanical unit or a more traditional laptop keyboard.

The trackpad is solid, too. The surface is smooth and responsive, and the buttons are reliable and fast. They push down a little further than a proper gaming mouse, but they’re decent – only the twitchiest of gamers will want to defer to a USB rodent.

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