Intel Celeron N2805
Intel Celeron N2805: Minimalism for Basic Tasks. An In-Depth Review of the Budget Processor for 2025
Analysis of capabilities, usage scenarios, and recommendations for device selection.
Architecture and Process Technology: The Legacy of Bay Trail-M
The Intel Celeron N2805 processor, released in 2013, still appears in ultra-budget laptops in 2025 due to its energy efficiency. Its Bay Trail-M architecture is built on a 22nm process technology and belongs to the Intel Atom line, originally designed for tablets and netbooks.
- Cores and Threads: 2 cores, 2 threads. The absence of Hyper-Threading limits multitasking.
- Clock Speeds: Base frequency — 1.46 GHz, maximum in turbo mode — 1.73 GHz. Even for 2025, these are extremely low figures.
- Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) with a base clock of 313 MHz and a peak of 792 MHz. Supports resolutions up to 1920x1080, but struggles with modern APIs (DirectX 12, Vulkan).
Architecture Features:
- Simplified command pipeline to reduce power consumption.
- Lack of support for AVX instructions — this limits performance with modern photo/video processing applications.
Power Consumption and TDP: 4 W as a Key Advantage
The Celeron N2805 is designed for devices where battery life is more important than performance. Its TDP of 4 W enables:
- Passive cooling (no fans), making laptops silent.
- Ultra-slim chassis designs (thickness from 10 mm).
However, the low TDP is achieved at the cost of severely limited performance. For instance, under load, the processor cannot sustain turbo speeds for long due to inadequate thermal dissipation.
Performance: What Can It Actually Handle?
Geekbench 6:
- Single-Core: 113 points — 5 times weaker than the budget Intel Celeron N5100 (2021).
- Multi-Core: 180 points — comparable to the performance of a smartphone from 2018.
Real-World Scenarios:
- Office Work: Google Docs, Excel with spreadsheets up to 1,000 rows, PDF viewing. Opening 5+ tabs in Chrome will cause noticeable lag.
- Multimedia: Playback of 1080p video via VLC or YouTube (with hardware acceleration). 4K or streaming Twitch — not supported.
- Gaming: Only browser games (e.g., Townscaper) or classic titles from the 2000s (Half-Life 2 on minimum settings).
Turbo Boost Mode: The boost to 1.73 GHz provides only a 10-15% speed increase, but even this "lags" due to thermal limitations.
Usage Scenarios: Who Is the N2805 For?
This processor is suitable for those who:
1. Seek the cheapest laptop (price: $150–$250).
2. Need a device for basic tasks: reading email, online banking, browsing social media feeds.
3. Value battery life: 8–12 hours of operation on battery (with a capacity of 40–50 Wh).
User Examples:
- Students for taking lecture notes.
- Seniors for communication via messengers.
- As a second laptop for travel.
Not suitable for:
- Graphics work (Photoshop, Figma).
- Online conferences with the camera on (due to weak CPU and lack of AI accelerators).
Battery Life: How Does the Processor Save Charge?
- Power-saving Modes: Intel SpeedStep reduces frequency in idle to 500 MHz.
- Load Optimization: The integrated controller distributes tasks among the cores, avoiding peak loads.
- Battery Effect: In a laptop with a 45 Wh battery (e.g., Digma Eve 14), operating time reaches up to 10 hours at 50% screen brightness.
Tip: Disable background applications and use lightweight operating systems (Windows 11 SE, Linux Mint) to extend battery life.
Comparison with Competitors: Who Offers Alternatives?
1. AMD A4-9120e (2 cores, TDP 6 W):
- Better graphics (Radeon R3), but higher price ($200–$300).
- Geekbench 6 Multi-Core: ~220 points.
2. Intel Pentium Silver N5030 (4 cores, TDP 6 W):
- 40% faster in multi-threaded tasks.
- Laptops with it start at $300.
3. Apple M1 (in basic iPad):
- Comparisons are not meaningful — even a 5-year-old M1 is 10 times more powerful, but devices based on it are pricier ($500+).
Conclusion: The N2805 is the cheapest but also the weakest option in the lineup.
Pros and Cons: Is It Worth Buying?
Strengths:
- Record low price.
- Passive cooling (no noise).
- Compact devices (weight from 1 kg).
Weaknesses:
- Does not support modern standards like Wi-Fi 6 or Bluetooth 5.2.
- Maximum of 8 GB RAM (often only 4 GB).
- No slots for NVMe SSDs — only eMMC or SATA.
Recommendations for Selecting a Laptop
If you decided to purchase a device with the N2805, pay attention to:
1. Type of Storage: Choose models with SSD (even 128 GB), not eMMC. This will speed up OS loading.
2. RAM: At least 4 GB, but better 8 GB for Windows 11.
3. Screen: IPS matrix with a brightness of 250 nits — protects your eyes during long work sessions.
4. Ports: USB-C with charging support is useful for versatility.
Example Models for 2025:
- Prestigio SmartBook 133S ($169): 14" HD, 4 GB, 64 GB eMMC.
- HP Stream 11 ($199): 11.6" HD, 8 GB, 128 GB SSD.
Final Verdict: Justified Savings or Outdated Solution?
The Intel Celeron N2805 is a processor for a very limited range of tasks. It’s suitable if:
- Your budget is strictly limited to $150–$200.
- You need a “digital notepad” for text and internet use.
- Weight and battery life are important.
Key benefits: price, battery life, and silence. But remember: even basic Chromebooks with ARM processors (e.g., MediaTek Kompanio 500) will offer smoother performance for the same $200. Buy the N2805 only if there are really no alternatives.