The gaming industry has grown significantly over the past few decades. Since the first video game was created in the 1950s, gaming has revolutionised the world, transcending from a hobby to an official e-sport. Gamers worldwide stay tuned for the latest updates about the newest video games; because of them, the business is a booming market, generating nearly $190 billion in 2024. Since it is a growing industry, everything related to it—from game creation and coding to all the hardware related to it is part of the rising fortune. Most gamers look for high-quality devices to enjoy gaming, and the Clevo NH70 is one of them, a highly customizable and well-performing laptop.
- What is it?
Clevo NH70 is a gaming laptop that is manufactured by a Taiwanese company called Clevo, which specialises in Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) in laptop production. The company was originally called Nan Tan Computer (NTC) in 1983; the same year, it concentrated on independent laptop design and manufacturing. And since 1990, it has been known for producing various design alterations of the device. The company also focuses on manufacturing units for other companies, like XMG, Eurocom, and Sager, who rebrand the various components Clevo produces under their name. The Clevo NH70 was released in 2017.
2. Key features:
- Barebone design:
Clevo NH70 is known for its ‘barebone’ structure, where the company sends out units without units like RAM, storage, or even an operating system (OS). This is to increase customizability by other resellers like Eluktronics, who can rebrand it under their name. It can also be customised by the consumer, who can choose the components they want to create an ideal gaming laptop.
- Customization:
As mentioned above, the laptop is designed to be personalised. It has a RAM size of 64 GB, has Solid-State Drive (SSD) and Hard Disk Drive HDD combinations, and RGB colour options that can be moulded into a perfect laptop.
- Cooling fans:
The necessity of cooling fans is high, especially for long-term gaming. Clevo NH70 has dual cooling fans to eliminate heat from the device to prevent damage to the device. It also sounds like a small engine while playing, making it a likable factor about the laptop.
- Big screen:
The frame for the screen is a whopping 17.5-inch full HD display (44.45 cm), which is optimal for gaming and gives room for stunning visuals and graphics that make video games more entertaining. It makes it more of a desktop than a portable laptop, and being approximately 2.5 kg, it earns the title ‘Desktop in disguise’.
- Rebranding:
Clevo laptops are being rebranded on a global scale by companies, and some of those examples are: Sager NP8171 (USA), XMG Core 17 (Germany), and Metabox Alpha Series (Australia); all altered versions of the NH70 exoskeleton.
3. Sales:
It is worth mentioning that Clevo NH70 is not a finished product targeted for consumers, but an intermediary good that is sent to manufacturers who can customise it according to their style and preference. Hence, NH70 exists as a base for other gaming laptops like Sager, XMG, and others. Clevo makes the half-finished products, which are bought by large manufacturers and sold through various companies like XOTIC PC (Under Sager, USA).
4. Advantages:
- Good hardware at a reasonable price:
Usually, objects with perfect specifications result in high prices and are unlikely for many to buy the commodities. But the Clevo NH70 has solid, functional hardware for its price tag. It consists of an Intel Core i7 (9750H) and a NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU, which is wonderful for running games like Fortnite, GTA V, and PUBG.
- Large screen:
The 17.5-inch screen makes it suitable for not only streaming games but also work-related tasks, creative works, and other fields of productivity.
- Customizable:
As mentioned above in the features, this laptop enables manufacturers and users to customise the device according to their tastes and preferences.
- Inbuilt RGB in Keyboard:
The keyboard has RGBS that can add a personal touch to the device, and it is also suitable for gaming in low lighting.
- Easy to Upgrade:
Along with customisation, the keyboard is also easy to upgrade if any component is underperforming.
5. Disadvantages:
- Poor battery life:
The laptop lasts for only 3-4 hours, which can water down the gaming experience. And it’s also known as a desktop replacement, which cannot be unplugged and used anywhere, and needs a dedicated space and outlet to charge.
- Weight:
Since the laptop is about 2-3 kgs, it cannot be assessed as portable. Also, its thick chassis and large screen can make it quite hard to take it around.
- Noisy cooling system:
The fans, an initial perk, have a downside of being too noisy and disruptive to gaming and other activities.
- Build:
Most of the units are made of plastic, which needs to be upgraded if one wants a metal-lid variation. Plastic can not only lead to damage if overused, but it can also decrease the hopes for a premium device.
- Average display:
Clevo NH70 has an average display of 60Hz, if not upgraded. Hence, the colours and refresh rates are not that impressive, which makes it unsuitable for many games (that require a high refresh rate) or activities like creative works.
- Limited warranty:
Most of the resellers of this product only offer a one-year warranty (a metric that varies for different companies)
6. Competition:
With the pros and cons stated, Clevo NH70 faces tough competition from other brands like:
- ASUS TUF Gaming A17:
ASUS produces one of the most popular gaming laptops, and this model consists of the specs AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, RTX 4050/4060, 17.3”, and a 144Hz screen. It has a better display than the Clevo NH70, with a higher refresh rate and a sturdy build. The only problem is with its higher price and low customisation possibilities.
- Acer Nitro 5 (17.3″):
This device constitutes the specs: Intel i5/i7 12th or 13th gen, and RTX 3050/3060. Though it is a budget-friendly option, it has a low-quality build that can ruin the experience.
- HP Victus 16/17:
Another company known for producing good gaming laptops, the specs of its product are: Intel or AMD + RTX 3050–4070 options. It also has an appreciable design and ergonomics, and good thermal systems. But the display is average, and the cooling fans can get noisy.
- Eluktronics RP-17 or MECH-17:
Known for its similar systems to Clevo, this product enables customisation and has an RGB mode for its keyboard, along with a faster refresh rate.
- MSI Katana GF76:
It is another Taiwanese company that has a good reputation in this industry. The specs of the mentioned product are Intel i7 12th Gen, RTX 3060. It is known for having a high refresh rate, a slim body, and good performance, but all of this is encased in a plasticky build.
- Lenovo Legion 5 / 5i (17″):
The specs of this device are AMD Ryzen 7 or Intel i7, RTX 3050–3070, with splendid keyboard functions and appreciable design. The only downsides are that it is quite heavy to carry around and is unavailable in a few regions.
- Prospects:
The expectations for Clevo NH70 are moulded according to its present performance and aspects, which are:
- Ageing Hardware:
The models that Clevo ships mostly have the specs, Intel 9th Gen CPUs (i7-9750H) and GTX 1650 GPUs, which are now 2–3 generations old and behind the evolving industry. They are decent and not that bad, but gaming laptops should adapt to the latest changes and demands.
- Upgrade perspective:
Though the Clevo NH70 is popular for its customizability for RAM, storage, and other aspects, one cannot upgrade the CPU or GPU, as they are tightly fixed into the unit.
- Declining support:
Clevo’s other models are more in demand than the NH70, and currently, only a few deal with this model. And as a consequence of not being able to adapt to the latest changes, people and manufacturers are decreasing their demand for the product. Basic Input/ Output System (BIOS) support is also said to slow down or stop entirely in the next two years.
- Battery limitations:
The NH70 model has poor battery performance, which will become a big drawback compared to the competition.
- Gaming continuity:
The device can stream games like Indie games, esports titles like CS2, Valorant, Fortnite, and AAA games that came between 2015 to 2020. But it cannot support games that came out in recent years, like Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Starfield, or games that have heavy content creation or AI usage.
- Resale value:
As the latest models provide more options and impressive functions at better prices, the resale value of the NH70 is decreasing by the passing day.
To conclude, Clevo NH70 is a well-reputed exoskeleton that is transformed under various brands. Newer models from not only the competition but from Clevo itself continue to overtake it. But as of 2025, it remains a popular choice for gamers and other users who desire customisation. It is still recognised as a challenging entry in the laptop market, and though it belongs to the mid-range section, it is appreciated by many for the qualities it has.
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