'A Turtle in a shiny plastic shell': Bizarre $270 Amazon laptop pairs 16GB of RAM with a tech Stone Age CPU so slow your smartphone's probably faster

Date:
Thu, 21 May 2026 13:16:26 +0000

Description:
Desperate times call for desperate measures, but buying an obsolete, unsupported laptop for the upcoming school year is a step too far.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter With back-to-school season approaching, parents may be hunting for budget-friendly laptop deals - but if you stumble across this Amazon listing from "Naiklulu," cross it off your
list immediately.

While its $270 price tag (after a $50 coupon), 16GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD
look like a steal, the device is the ultimate tech trap (or as Gemini described it, a "Turtle in a shiny plastic shell"). The Naiklulu laptop runs on an Intel Core M3-6Y30 CPU , a dual-core processor launched way back in 2015. In 2026, this chip is ancient - it will actively struggle with basic modern web browsing and multitasking. The Ultimate Dealbreaker: This CPU does not officially support Windows 11. Because Microsoft officially ended Windows 10 support last year (2025), running this machine means you are entirely cut off from critical security updates right out of the box. From there, it all goes downhill: Terrible Battery Life: It pairs a tiny 38.5WHr battery with a massive 15.6-inch display. Expect to live plugged into a wall. Outdated Architecture: The RAM is slow, power-hungry DDR3, and the storage is a sluggish SATA SSD. Zero Future-Proofing: No USB Type-C, no Wi-Fi 6, and absolutely zero gaming capability due to the prehistoric Intel HD 515 integrated graphics. The $270 alternative you should buy instead Save 72% ($680) HP Laptop 17z-cp300.: was $950 now $270 at HP US While it "only" has 8GB of RAM, that is its only compromise. HPs standard MSRP is $949.99, but using the checkout code PCGLOWUP25 drops the price to just $269.99 a staggering 72% savings. View Deal Swipe to scroll horizontally Side-by-Side: How They Stack Up

Feature

Naiklulu

HP 17z-cp300

Price

$270.00

$269.99 (with code)

CPU

Intel Core M3-6Y30 (2015)

AMD Ryzen 5 7430U (~10x faster)

OS Support

Unsupported (Security Risk)

Fully Windows 11 Compatible

Storage

256GB SATA SSD (Slow)

256GB PCIe NVMe SSD (Fast)

Screen Size

15.6-inch

17.3-inch (Massive canvas) The HP's Ryzen 5 processor is roughly eight times faster than the Core M3, and its Radeon graphics completely outclass the Naiklulu's ancient Intel HD 515. The screen resolution on the HP is a bit lower, but the massive 17-inch display, modern architecture, and guaranteed Windows 11 security updates make it an absolute no-brainer.

Add in a bigger battery, faster Wi-Fi and HP tried-and-tested support network and you have a much, much better alternative. Do yourself a favour and get
the 17z-cp300 if you are looking for a cheap laptop. Shop all laptops at Amazon Browse all laptops at BestBuy



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/a-turtle-in-a-shiny-plastic-shell-bizarre-usd270 -amazon-laptop-pairs-16gb-of-ram-with-a-tech-stone-age-cpu-so-slow-your-smartp hones-probably-faster


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