The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

Dynabook satellite pro C40-H-103 laptop review: A budget model that excels in performance and battery life

With a crisp screen display and comfortable keyboard, this is a machine that means business

Rachael Penn
Wednesday 22 September 2021 12:55 BST
At this price you couldn’t ask for a better battery life – expect to get in a full day of work on just one charge
At this price you couldn’t ask for a better battery life – expect to get in a full day of work on just one charge (iStock/The Independent )

The satellite series of laptops is back with a new pro range that promises better quality, performance and style wrapped up in one affordable package.

The Japanese tech giant Toshiba first launched the satellite line back in the Nineties. But in 2016, Toshiba decided to exit the laptop market by selling over 80 per cent of its computer business to the Sharp Corporation.

Toshiba was the first company to release a laptop PC back in 1985. Despite maintaining its spot on the list of top PC manufacturers throughout the years, the growth of other brands such as HP, Dell, and Lenovo made it difficult for the company to retain its lion share of the market, hence the decision to sell up.

In 2019 the Sharp Corporation bought the remaining 19.1 per cent share from Toshiba’s computer business, which was globally known as “Dynabook”. In 2020, the brand relaunched the once world-famous satellite pro range under the Dynabook branding. Now, it’s revealed its first foray back into the laptop market since 2016, the satelite pro C40-H-103.

The brand knows its market when it comes to this laptop. Damian Jaume, president of Dynabook Europe GmbH, said: “We know that IT budgets are limited, especially with the current crisis unfolding, but the pressure’s still on for workers and students to stay productive. That’s exactly why we’ve launched the satellite pro C40-H to ensure that everyone can get access to the technology they need to get their work done, at an affordable price point.”

With such big claims, we were keen to see whether Dynabook has continued Toshiba’s legacy for producing reliable and durable laptops. The new machine has an updated core processor, better RAM and a faster, more reliable solid-state drive to meet the needs of a more modern and remote workforce. But how did it perform? Read on to find out.

How we tested 

We tested the Dynabook satellite pro C40-H-103 by using it for a range of work and leisure activities. We looked at how well the battery performed when doing basic work tasks such as word processing right through to watching a couple of hours YouTube. We also opened multiple applications and web browser tabs, flicking between them to test how well it performed when multitasking. We checked out its portability claims too, and how easy it was to see the screen in different settings.

Find the best broadband deals for your brand new Dynabook laptop

Read more:

Dynabook satellite pro C40-H-103

Dynabook satellite pro C40-H-103 indybest.jpeg
Back to top

Voucher codes

For the latest discounts on laptops and other tech offers, try the links below:

Still unsure? Check out our review of the best laptops for 2021 for more top-rated tech

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in