Primebook 2 Neo: I used this below Rs 20,000 laptop in office for a week and here is what happened

What gadget can you realistically get under Rs 20,000 in 2025? Smartphones, sure. Tablets, absolutely. But a proper laptop? That still feels like a rare find. If you haven’t heard of Primebook yet, you’re in for something interesting. This is India’s very own Android laptop brand, which made its first big splash back in 2023 with the Primebook 4G. That device even got featured on Shark Tank India, where it immediately caught people’s attention. Earlier this year, the company followed up with the Primebook 2 Neo, again targeting students and learners who want a laptop without burning a hole in their pockets. And more recently, the brand has launched the Primebook 2 Pro and Primebook 2 Max laptops. 

I spent the last week using the Primebook 2 Neo as my daily driver at work, carrying it with me everywhere. And I was pleasantly surprised at how well it handled everyday tasks. Let’s talk about how it fared in real life.

Also read: Primebook 2 Pro and Primebook 2 Max available in India, price starts from Rs 17,990

Compact, lightweight and easy to carry

The first thing you’ll notice is the size. With its 11.6-inch display, the Primebook 2 Neo is extremely compact, and I could carry it in one hand without effort. It’s the kind of laptop that slips easily into any backpack (even a medium sized handbag) and doesn’t weigh you down while commuting.

But this portability does seem to come at the cost of sturdiness. The build quality feels a little delicate. There’s noticeable flex when you press on the lid, and the hinge isn’t as strong as I’d like. If I flipped it open too quickly, the whole screen shook slightly. This isn’t a rugged device, so you need to treat it with care.

Design-wise, it’s neat and minimal with the Primebook logo on the lid. The silver finish looks clean, though nothing out of the ordinary. The keyboard was actually one of the nicer surprises – tactile, evenly spaced, and full of shortcut keys I ended up using a lot. Dedicated keys for screenshots, clipboard, volume, do not disturb, and even button mapping were really useful and a thoughtful addition on the brand’s part. I found myself hitting the screenshot and clipboard keys more often than I expected. The only thing missing here is a backlight, but at this price point, that’s forgivable.

The trackpad is smooth enough, though clicking sometimes needs a firmer press. Honestly, I would recommend pairing the laptop with a mouse for a better experience.

Port selection is decent: you get two USB-A ports, a USB-C for charging, another USB-C, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack. What’s missing though are HDMI and Ethernet ports. For someone not willing to spend extra money on a connector, this could be a bit of an issue.

General performance and experience

The Primebook 2 Neo is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 processor and has 6 GB RAM. It is decent in terms of performance when you talk about a laptop under Rs 20,000. Apps load quickly, Chrome can handle multiple tabs without slowing down, and switching between apps is smooth. This is enough for a laptop that costs less than many smartphones out there. 

For work tasks like writing, research, and running Canva for quick design edits, it did the job with no major hiccups. Watching YouTube videos was a pleasant experience too. The display is bright enough for office use, and colours are decent. Even though there are thick bezels on all sides, it doesn’t matter much when you are using the laptop for work-related tasks primarily. During the Geekbench CPU benchmark test, the laptop scored 684 points for Single-core and 1542 points in Multicore test. In the Geekbench GPU test, the laptop scored 1327 points. 

But let’s be clear: this is not your binge-watching device. The lack of HDR and a vivid display mean shows and movies don’t look their best. If you’re into long streaming sessions, stick to your TV. 

When I played an Elden Ring tutorial video at full volume in the office, I actually caught a few colleagues turning their heads – proof that the speakers are loud enough to fill a room. That said, the quality does dip at higher volumes. They’re perfectly fine for dialogue and casual viewing, but not something you can rely on for music or long binge-watching sessions.

The laptop also comes with a 2 MP web camera which is adequate for attending work calls and online classes. There is some noise that was visible when I turned on the camera app, but that is not a huge concern. In short, the camera does its job. 

AI assistant that really connects with you

One of the most interesting features is the built-in Gemini AI assistant. It can be launched instantly with a single button, and it honestly made my life easier. Since Primebook runs on a custom Android-based OS, I wasn’t too familiar with the interface at first. Gemini guided me through app downloads and settings without me needing to explain much.

The “Live Mode” is especially cool. I shared my screen with the AI, and it walked me step by step through the process – kind of like having my own mini JARVIS. There was a slight delay at times, but nothing that broke the flow.

There’s also a Cloud PC feature where you can stream Windows or Linux desktops. It’s a neat idea, though performance depends heavily on your internet, and I did notice some latency. It feels like a feature that will improve with updates.

A laptop that keeps cool, lasts long

One of the primary concerns of many Android tablets and phones out there in the under Rs 20,000 category is thermals. The devices at times run too hot which make it difficult to operate. The Primebook 2 Neo, however, remains relatively cooler.

I ran the 3D Mark stress test on the device and noticed its thermals ranging from 26 degrees in the trackpad and 26 degrees in the WASD zone. This means that the laptop can manage to handle heat well. It does get slightly warm, but that’s acceptable. However, this was in an office environment which had AC on.

Battery life is decent but not exceptional. On a typical workday, using Chrome, Canva, and YouTube, the laptop lasted around four hours. This is at maximum screen brightness. If you take the brightness down a notch or two and turn the battery saver mode on, you might get an additional hour or two. That’s enough to get through half a day at the office, but you’ll definitely need to carry the charger. On the plus side, it charges fully in about two hours, which is handy.

Value for money device for students

At the end of my week with the Primebook 2 Neo, one thing is clear: this laptop makes sense for students and first-time buyers who need something affordable, portable, and reliable for basic tasks.  It is not perfect in all areas, but for under Rs 20,000, you’re getting a machine that runs smoothly, helps you stay productive, and even throws in an AI assistant for good measure.

If Primebook’s goal is to make tech more accessible, the 2 Neo is definitely a step in the right direction. It’s a value-for-money laptop that does what it promises without overcomplicating things. And for users who are familiar with Android interface, it is like homecoming! 

Also read: Windows 10 support ending soon: How to upgrade to Windows 11 for free