VAIO has unveiled a new version of its SX12 laptop that is powered by Intel’s Comet Lake processor, offering SKUs with up to six CPU cores. The miniature notebook weighs less than a kilogram and should not only offer decent performance, but also has a vast set of connectors as well as an optional 4G/LTE modem.

To minimize its weight and dimensions, the VAIO SX12 comes in an enclosure that is made of carbon fiber and plastic. As a result, the machine weighs just 906 grams and is 15.7 mm ~ 18 mm thick. The notebook features a Full-HD display with very thin bezels that allowed VAIO to install a 12.5-inch screen into an 11-inch-class chassis. Furthermore, the company has managed to equip its SX12 with a keyboard featuring a 19-mm pitch.

The 2020 VAIO SX12 is based on Intel’s 10th Generation Core i5-10210U and Core i7-10710U processors, which offer four or six CPU cores as well as built-in UHD Graphics. The CPU is paired with 8 GB of LPDDR3 memory as well as a 256 GB SSD with a PCIe or SATA interface. Like other PCs from VAIO, the new SX12 fully supports the company’s TruePerformance technology that combines an advanced cooling system as well as increased CPU power limits in order to enable the CPU to work at higher clocks for a longer time.

Like previous-generation VAIO SX12, the new notebook has a set of connectors typically not found on 12-inch class machines. In particular, the laptop has GbE, a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C (can be used for data, display, and charging) port, one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A connector, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, an SD card reader, two display outputs (HDMI, D-Sub), a 3.5-mm audio jack, and a proprietary power port. As for wireless technologies, the notebook is equipped with a Wi-Fi 5 + Bluetooth 4.1 controller as well as an optional 4G/LTE modem. In addition, it has a webcam with IR sensors for face recognition, a fingerprint reader, stereo speakers, and a microphone.

VAIO says that the SX12 can work for 13.2 – 13.5 hours on one charge, but does not disclose exact capacity of the battery. Meanwhile, the system can be charged using a proprietary power brick, or a standard USB-C charger.

VAIO SX12 (VJS1211) General Specifications
  VJS12290111B
Black
VJS12290211B
Black
VJS12290311B
VJS12290411T
Brown
Display 12.5" anti-glare panel with 1920×1080 resolution
SoC Core i7-10710U
(6C/12T, 1.1 ~ 4.7 GHz)
Core i5-10210U (4C/8T, 1.6 ~ 4.2 GHz)
RAM 8 GB LPDDR3
Storage 256 GB NVMe 256 GB SATA
Wireless  802.11ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 4.1
Optional 4G/LTE modem
 802.11ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 4.1
I/O ports GbE
1 × USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C
1 × USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A
2 × USB 3.0 Type-A
HDMI
D-Sub
SD Card reader (UHS-I)
Camera 720p webcam
Audio Integrated speakers
1 × TRRS 3.5-mm jack for headset
Dimensions 287.8 × 203.3 × 15.7 ~ 18 mm
Weight 887 ~ 906 grams
Battery 13.2 ~ 13.5 Hours
OS Windows 10
Fingerprint Yes
Availability January 2019

The new VAIO SX12 laptops will be available in five colors, including black, silver, brown, pink, and red for a custom special edition model. In Japan, the new PCs will cost ¥197,800 - ¥242,800 depending on configuration. Unfortunately, it is unclear when the new SX12 is set to become available in the US, if at all.

Related Reading:

Sources: VAIO, PC Watch

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  • fackamato - Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - link

    I'd like to see the benchmarks comparing the 4 and 6 core versions in this package, that would be interesting.
  • yeeeeman - Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - link

    Given the fact that the typical user for this product will not render videos on it, it will be just fine. There is enough thermal headroom for short bursts, so it will feel fast.
  • TheinsanegamerN - Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - link

    And you can just pull these facts from your arse? Some of us would like to see benchmarks indicating this package can keep burst rates over time, rather then just for 5 minutes. It is very possible for a thermal package to suck so bad that small bursts are impossible once the machine heats up.
  • shabby - Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - link

    Any of these comet lake cpus dip into triple digit base clocks?
  • yeeeeman - Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - link

    Probably, if you start doing video editing on it. For the target users on the other hand, these will do just fine with bursts over 3Ghz...
  • shabby - Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - link

    That's not what i was talking aboot.
  • nerd1 - Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - link

    This laptop has measly 35Wh battery. Japanese batty rating (and their car mileage rating) is totally ridiculous - I remember they measure how long the laptop at lowest brightness doing nothing or so..

    https://uidesign.gbtcdn.com/GB/image/com/20190726_...
  • PVG - Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - link

    Available January 2020? ;)

    Won't they go over 8GB of RAM?
  • milkywayer - Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - link

    Sadly it seems these shitty laptop makers are still stuck in 2005. Even Dells new xps 13 starts at 4gb and that's a f****ing 1000$ laptop.

    I was considering one but realized the new xps 13 with 16gb ram costs $2000 after taxes. Eff that BS. They won't see my money with this kind of dropping feature set. Intentionally gimping their skus to leach out another $500 for $10 worth of extra ram.
  • flyingpants265 - Wednesday, January 29, 2020 - link

    Not sure what's going on with consumer electronics lately..

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