TechRadar Verdict
If it weren’t for the battery life, this machine would be highly recommended, as it ticks almost every other box for a portable system that can handle most tasks. The lack of storage access is annoying, but it’s not uncommon on tablet PCs.
Pros
- Powerful System
- Extremely portable
- Highly affordable
Cons
- Zero upgrades
- Limited battery life
- Limited availability
Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: 30-second review
The Alldocube IWork GT Ultra is a 2-in-1 Windows tablet designed to deliver a blend of portability, performance, and versatility for both professional and personal use. The device is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, which features a hybrid architecture with 4 performance cores, 8 efficient cores, and 2 low-power efficient cores, totalling 18 threads. This configuration ensures robust multitasking capabilities and efficient power consumption, making it suitable for demanding productivity tasks as well as everyday computing.
Equipped with 16GB of LPDDR5 memory and a useful 1TB PCIe SSD, this device provides ample storage and swift data access. The GPU in this CPU generation is the integrated Intel Arc Graphics, making it suitable for creative work, media consumption, and light gaming.
In terms of connectivity, the IWork GT Ultra is well-optioned with one USB 3.0 Type-A port, two USB 3.1 Type-C ports (supporting charging) and a 5-pin magnetic PogoPin keyboard interface. Wireless connectivity is provided by Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6, ensuring fast and reliable network access.
The device features a robust magnesium-aluminium alloy chassis, weighing only 850g and less than 1cm in thickness. This makes it highly portable without compromising on durability. The battery is rated at 42.72Wh, supporting Type-C PD100W fast charging for extended use on the go.
Additional features include dual digital microphones, dual speakers, front and rear 5MP cameras (the rear with autofocus), and essential sensors such as a gravity sensor and Hall effect sensor. The IWork GT Ultra ships with Windows 11 Home, though it could run Windows 11 Pro or Linux, easily.
While Alldocube isn’t a familiar brand, the hardware is professionally designed and assembled, and as this is a recent Intel platform, it should be fully compatible with Windows and its apps.
The only technical caveat to this machine, covered later in this review, is how long it lasts on battery, which is a little disappointing. That’s the one thing stopping the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra from being a top choice for best business laptops.
Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Price and availability
- How much does it cost? From £700, €800
- When is it out? Available now
- Where can you get it? Amazon in most European countries
At the time of review, this device is available from the official Alldocube website – clicking the ‘Buy’ button reveals links to various European Amazon sites, including Amazon.de.
It was observed that ordering from the German Amazon allowed for delivery to the UK, suggesting it is likely purchasable across Europe. The UK cost is £703.50, and the EU cost is €799.99.
While Alldocube maintains a store on US Amazon.com, this particular machine is not currently listed there. It is suspected that tariffs have impacted the potential pathway for this product to reach the USA.
Alldocube also has regional websites for China, Russia, and South Korea. It should be noted that Intel customers are not supposed to ship systems containing Intel processors to Russia at this time. Intel, along with AMD, has faced litigation in Texas for “wilful ignorance” that allegedly allowed US semiconductors into Russian and Iranian weapons.
For a machine with this specification, the price is extremely aggressive; a branded system with comparable capability would likely cost more than £1000.
- Value: 4/ 5
Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Specs
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 5 125H (Performance-cores: 4, Efficient-cores: 8, Low Power Efficient-cores: 2, Total Threads: 18, Base/Turbo Frequency: 1.2GHz/4.5GHz (Performance), 700MHz/3.6GHz (Efficient), 700MHz/2.5GHz (Low Power Efficient), Cache: 18MB Intel® Smart Cache, Lithography: Intel 4)
- Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics (Max Dynamic Frequency: 2.2GHz)
- Memory: 16GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Display: 13-inch IPS (Resolution: 2560×1600, Aspect Ratio: 16:10, Refresh Rate: 60Hz, Pixel Density: 232PPI, Contrast: Typ. 1100:1, Min. 900:1, Color Gamut: Typ. 70%, Min. 65%, Brightness: Typ. 500 cd/m², Min. 450 cd/m², Touch: 10-point incell full lamination, Stylus: Supports 4096-level USI pressure-sensitive pen)
- Camera: Front: 5MP, Rear: 5MP (autofocus)
- Audio: Dual Digital Microphones, Dual Speakers
- Wireless: Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4GHz+5GHz)
- Sensors: Gravity sensor, Hall effector
- Ports: 1 × USB 3.0 Type-A, 2 × USB 3.1 Type-C (full-function), Type-C PogoPin: 5-pin magnetic keyboard interface
- Battery: 11.67V/3660mAh (42.72Wh) smart battery, Type-C PD100W power adapter
- Body: Magnesium-aluminium alloy
- Dimensions: Height: 300.57mm, Width: 195.56mm, Thickness: 9.89mm
- Weight: 850g
Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Design
- Elegant engineering
- Noisey fan
- Zero upgrades
It is notable that when various pieces of classic Apple hardware were launched, fans of that brand declared that only that company could make and design that level of quality. However, Apple didn’t make those items, and the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra is a decent example of how Chinese factories can produce items just as well-crafted as anything with a fruit logo on it when the need arises.
While not quite the absolute best quality, the IWork GT Ultra is a beautifully engineered 2-in-1 system which can operate as a 13-inch tablet or with its flexible keyboard cover, a laptop.
The only caveat is that, like the original Microsoft Surface machines, the flexible keyboard makes it practically impossible to type with it balanced on one’s lap, irrespective of what marketing claims suggest.
This machine significantly resembles the Surface, except its capabilities are not oversold, and it’s significantly cheaper. For those interested in a comparable Surface, the Surface Pro 10 for Business does feature the series 2 Core Ultra processor and Thunderbolt ports, but the cost would be more than double that of the iWork GT Ultra, and that’s for a machine with only 256GB of storage.
One of the evident design considerations for Alldocube’s engineers was heat dissipation, as vents are present on the top and side of the tablet. The device does get warm in use and while charging. Under duress, the fan can also be on the noisy side.
The only edge without vents is the bottom, where the flexible keyboard attaches. Many 2-in-1 systems have keyboards that detach at the slightest encouragement, but this design, with two engaging lugs, stays put neatly.
The keyboard is USB, and the pogo pins along that interface connect it effectively when the two are brought together.
Connectivity on this tablet design is predictably limited, with only three USB ports and no HDMI out or LAN ports. Two of the ports are USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C, and the other USB-A port is Gen 1. While USB4 would have been a welcome addition, its exclusion is understandable given the price point.
With Gen 2 ports, LAN and HDMI out can be added, but it is important to note that one of these ports is required for charging.
A significant disappointment, which is not uncommon in tablet designs, is the lack of an obvious way to access the system’s internals, ruling out any memory or storage upgrades. It is suspected that the memory is soldered, but a removable panel to access the M.2 module would have been helpful. Therefore, the maximum memory this system will ever have is 16GB, and should the 1TB storage fail, the system becomes unusable unless one possesses advanced technical skills.
The maker of the SSD or its connection method cannot be directly confirmed, so attempting to open it to replace that module would be an act of desperation.
- Design: 4 / 5
Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Hardware
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
- Intel Arc Graphics
- 28 PCIe Lanes
This machine uses the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, from the first generation of Core Ultra models that were released in December 2023.
The thinking behind these chips was to make Intel a leader in power efficiency, while not focusing as much on raw performance. Intel succeeded in dramatically improving laptop battery life, but these chips were technically slower than the Intel 13th Gen silicon they replaced. Since then, these Meteor Lake designs have been superseded by the second generation, where Intel aimed to rebalance the performance and efficiency equation.
In the Core Ultra 5 125H design, there are only four performance cores, and only those cores support hyperthreading. The other Efficient-cores (8) and Low Power Efficient-cores (2) do not have hyperthreading, giving a total of 18 potential threads. Many demanding applications ignore the Efficient-cores, since getting threads to sync and not waiting for slower cores is inherently inefficient.
One positive aspect of this platform is its Arc Graphics, a reworking of the Xe architecture from its Iris Xe era. This implementation of Arc Graphics has seven Xe cores and can deliver 10 TOPS (int8) performance for AI processing. This is not significantly different from what the replacement Core Ultra 5 135H offers, as the Arc in that chip only adds an extra Xe core to make 8, and increases the execution units from 112 to 128, TMUs from 56 to 64, and ROPs from 24 to 32.
For typical office graphics requirements, the Arc Graphics in the Core Ultra 5 125H is more than adequate, unless dedicated CAD or AI model development is required.
The best aspect of the Core Ultra 5 125H is its 28 PCIe lanes, but unfortunately, in this system, many of those lanes go unused. All of the USB probably uses less than a couple of PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and the storage uses a maximum of four lanes. Even with WiFi and Bluetooth, probably twenty of these lanes never see any traffic.
This is why the Core Ultra 5 125H has been popular in Mini PC designs, since those can utilize the lanes for Thunderbolt and multiple storage devices, but here they’re largely superfluous.
Another strong aspect of this hardware is the display, which is not typically highlighted on a low-cost solution.
This 13-inch IPS panel has a natural resolution of 2560×1600 and a brightness of 500 cd/m², which is probably the highest resolution that is practically desirable in a screen of this size.
Its color accuracy is not exceptional, so it is not recommended for tasks requiring exacting color accuracy, but it is bright, and the 10-point touch sensor is configured for a 4096-level USI pressure-sensitive pen. A pen was not included in the review model, but some retailers include this item.
Overall, the specification of the IWork GT Ultra is better than the price might suggest, although some of the better aspects, like the PCIe lanes, are largely moot.
- Hardware: 4 / 5
Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Performance
It was difficult to find another laptop in available data that used a similar platform, so the Asus Expertbook, a machine that uses a more recent Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, was chosen as a comparison. However, the Asus hardware is significantly more expensive.
What’s interesting is that the Asus Expertbook was clearly calibrated for the best possible battery life, whereas the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra was oriented more to raw performance.
A significant change that Intel executed between the Core Ultra 5 125H and Intel Core Ultra 5 226V was that the latter chip has no hyperthreading at all, reducing the thread count to eight, four each from the performance and efficiency cores.
The end result is that the Core Ultra 5 226V performs well at single-thread operations and better in multithreading, but it doesn’t push its Arc Graphics GPU as hard.
But the parts of this data that tell the most revealing story are those to do with power consumption, and that’s not good news for the IWork GT Ultra. Admittedly, the iWork GT Ultra has less battery, just 42.72 Whr, but the running time of the Expertbook is almost three times as long, with only 50 Whr.
Therefore, if a charging point cannot be guaranteed during a working day, then the Expertbook is a much better proposition. The recharging of the Expertbook was also slower than it might have been, recovering just 24% of capacity in 30 minutes.
In short, the IWork GT Ultra is fine for the short sprint, but not ideal for the long haul.
- Performance: 4 / 5
Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Final verdict
If it weren’t for the lacklustre battery life, this system would be strongly recommended. The need to carry a power pack or the PSU alongside it undermines the ultra-lightweight profile of this machine.
That one rather critical point aside, this is an excellent piece of equipment if an Intel Series 1 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage work for specific user needs.
The inspiration for the IWork GT Ultra is obviously the Microsoft Surface, and it does a decent job of offering a workable solution for those who appreciate that concept.
It is hoped that Alldocube now makes an Intel Core Ultra Series 2 or modern AMD Ryzen version, and brings the power efficiency that is the Achilles heel of this device.
Should you buy a Alldocube IWork GT Ultra?
- Value: An affordable option for ultra portable (4 / 5)
- Design: No upgrades and limited ports, but a terrific display (4 / 5)
- Hardware: A Core Ultra Series 1 CPU and GPU with plenty of power (4 / 5)
- Performance: A decent processor and GPU, but battery life is limited (4 / 5)
- Overall: Not ideal for a working day on battery, but an affordable option (4 / 5)
Buy it if…
If a cheap 2-in-1 is needed: The true strengths of this design are its weight of only 800g and its reasonably powerful laptop capabilities. The downsides are the limited ports and battery life. With a limited budget, this could be made to work.
If operating on a tight budget: For the money, this is a decent laptop with some nice features and a good hardware platform, at a price that offers significant value.
Don’t buy it if…
If upgrades are desired: There are no possible upgrades here, at all. The machine’s specifications are fixed as it comes.
If extended battery life is a priority: The battery life of this machine is not good, primarily because it does not have a large battery, and the system is configured for performance.
