Fujitsu claims 634-gram 14-inch Core i7 laptop is world's lightest
- Reference: 1729845126
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/10/25/fujitsu_fmv_zero_634g_laptop/
- Source link:
Manufacturers' attempts to make lightweight laptops have often resulted in compromised bills of materials. Not so with the FMV Zero, which boasts a 14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) LCD.
Under the hood you'll find a Core Ultra 5 125U or Core Ultra 7 155U processor, depending on your whims. Both are Meteor Lake parts built on the Intel 4 process and launched in Q4 of 2023. Memory options range from 8GB to 64GB, and solid state disks can be had in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB. Sadly, Fujitsu's [1]product page and build-to-order facility doesn't update the machine's weight as you change components.
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The one item Fujitsu has skimped on is the battery, which stores just 31Wh – meaning the machine is rated for six hours of unplugged operations. A weightier model that tips the scales at a back-breaking 888 grams has a 64Wh powerpack. Both models measure 308.8 × 209 × 15.8～17.3mm, with the thickness figures reflecting the tapered shape typical of most laptops.
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Physical connectivity comes courtesy from an RJ45 socket, a pair of USB-A ports, a sole USB-C connector, a microSD slot, and an HDMI connection. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 handle wireless comms.
The base configuration costs ¥197,000 ($1,300), but maxing out processor, memory, and storage specs more than doubles the price.
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Fujitsu's FMV Zero, claimed to be the world's lightest laptops - Click to enlarge
[6]Fujitsu teams up with Supermicro on Arm-based server CPU
[7]Elon Musk's X mashed by Australian court for evading child protection reporting
[8]Missing Fujitsu PCs? It's back with a fresh lineup of 16 models
[9]Oracle scores big win with Fujitsu Japan for its Alloy partner cloud
If you're keen to buy it, the machine is only sold at WebMart – Fujitsu Japan's online store.
Those of you imagining you might be able to scoop one on a trip to Japan will need to plan carefully. Fujitsu's site advises a month-long delay before delivering, and hardware options add further waits of two or more weeks. The Register waded through the purchase process – but stopped when registration was required, so can't say if Fujitsu will deliver to a hotel.
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And given the brand has [11]quit Europe's PC market, the chance of these featherweights reaching a wider set of Reg readers appears slim – although the machines' use of a keyboard that doesn't offer Japanese kana notation means one less thing for English speakers to worry about.
Fujitsu is not alone in making sub-1kg laptops, but dipping beneath 650 grams does appear to be a realm only the Japanese giant has entered. ®
Get our [12]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.fmv.com/store/pc/custom/3273.html
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZxtsSP9jyF4FcyWCI7W9MQAAAEA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZxtsSP9jyF4FcyWCI7W9MQAAAEA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZxtsSP9jyF4FcyWCI7W9MQAAAEA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://regmedia.co.uk/2024/10/25/supplied_fujistu_fmv_zero.jpg
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/03/fujitsu_arm_supermicro1/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/04/x_loses_australian_child_safety_case/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/28/fujitsu_announces_16_pcs/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/19/oracle_fujitsu_japan_cloud/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZxtsSP9jyF4FcyWCI7W9MQAAAEA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2023/08/07/fujitsu_eu_pc_sales/
[12] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Kana
"the machines' use of a keyboard that doesn't offer Japanese kana notation"
Odd that kana aren't printed on the keycaps, but everyone I know uses input converters and the two keys either side of the space bar to toggle that on and off are present.
If a westerner did get hold of one they will have a merry time leanring the location of the punctuation keys on a JIS keyboard...
以上です
Lenovo please take heed
I would be a very happy camper if Lenovo could now do the same thing..
I am one of the unfortunate that has to carry a laptop around everyday and am always happy to reduce a couple of 100 grams here and there. They also need to ensure that the charging brick is not compensating for the weight loss.
I don't want it light. I want it a) not to break, b) not be expensive, c) be powerful, d) have good battery life, e) have a screen I can see and f) actually be available.
We've dropped past the point where we're trying to lug around unreasonably heavy equipment. We passed it 20 years ago.
I want a laptop that I can put in a laptop rucksack and carry it around without dying, and which actually is robust enough to survive a few years of active use being moved around.
Let's stop this ridiculous "put things on the head of a pin" shrinkage and make the thing that's a decent, reasonable size, without undue weight, and which does FAR MORE.
Currently my only personal PC is a 17" (all I could get, I wanted 19") gaming laptop. It's portable. It can run off battery (for hours if I'm only doing casual stuff). It has a ridiculous GPU in it (which helps with the power usage!). It does EVERYTHING I throw at it - video processing, VR, mass compilations, etc. It is small enough to carry around in a backpack, strong enough to survive (metal casing) but big enough to see the damn screen and watch movies on it by preference (I have a projector, but often just the laptop next to the sofa and lying down next to it is more than enough to get the full movie experience in terms of "how much of my vision is taken up by the movie"). It has a full keyboard. It has lots of ports. It has PLENTY of oomph. And there's no real compromise there at all.
Can we stop making things smaller and lighter and start making things actually just do more without having to work out how to fit a battery in the tiniest/lightest/thinnest cases imaginable which will break far more easily?
My next laptop would be a Framework most likely. But they need a 17" or bigger screen option and a choice of GPUs.
Looks nice, bring it out elsewhere
Japan always has the best laptops, and they don't forget to add ports!!
Light laptops
I understand the appeal of light laptops, I'm typing this on a Dell XPS 13 after all, but don't overlook the downsides.
I've got a 52Wh battery, but after 3 years of heavy use it only had about 32Wh left according to HWMonitor, so about the same as this laptop.
I only got about 1.5 hours of usage out of it, with all power modes set to eco and power saving. That's borderline unusable, especially if you're on the road a lot (which light laptops are meant for imo).
Not to mention the CPU being bottlenecked big time by power and thermal restrictions.
I replaced it recently, luckily the XPS is pretty easy to take apart, not a given with these tiny laptops either (looking at you, MS Surface...).
I'm still reasonably happy with this laptop, as i generally move between places where i can charge it or use it with a USB-C dock, but my next laptop won't be a thin & light anymore.
LG Gram
LG made in 2019 a sub-1kg 17" laptop. 14" screens have an area that is 68% of 17" screens, so the weight of the two seems more or less proportional to screen area.