Intel Celeron N4500
Intel Celeron N4500: A Budget Processor for Basic Tasks. A Comprehensive Review
Introduction
By 2025, budget laptops remain in demand among students, office workers, and users who need simple devices for everyday tasks. The Intel Celeron N4500, released in 2021, can still be found in new ultra-budget models. Let's explore who this processor is suitable for, how it handles modern tasks, and what compromises one might need to make.
1. Architecture and Manufacturing Process: What’s Inside?
Jasper Lake on 10 nm
The Celeron N4500 is based on the Tremont microarchitecture (the generation before Gracemont) and is manufactured using a 10-nm process. It’s a dual-core processor with two threads (without Hyper-Threading), which in 2025 appears modest even for basic tasks. The base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with the capability to briefly boost up to 2.8 GHz in turbo mode. The L3 cache is 4 MB, which is sufficient for simple applications.
Integrated Graphics
The processor is equipped with Intel UHD Graphics (Jasper Lake, 16 EU) with a base frequency of 350 MHz and a maximum frequency of 850 MHz. The graphics support 4K@60 Hz via HDMI 2.0b, but this is insufficient for gaming or video editing. By 2025, even browser games like Roblox or Among Us will only run at low settings.
Architecture Features
- Support for DDR4/LPDDR4x RAM (up to 16 GB, 2933 MHz).
- 8 PCIe 3.0 lanes — enough for SSDs and peripherals.
- Hardware video decoding: H.265, VP9, but no AV1 (relevant for streaming in 2025).
2. Power Consumption and TDP: How Does It Work?
TDP 6W: Cool and Quiet
With a thermal design power (TDP) of 6W, the processor doesn't require active cooling — most laptops featuring it are equipped with passive heatsinks. This reduces noise and weight of the device. However, due to the low TDP, the turbo mode operates for a brief period (10-15 seconds) before the frequency drops back to the base level.
Energy Efficiency in Practice
The Celeron N4500 is optimized to work with Windows 11 SE and Chrome OS. Energy-saving technologies include:
- Intel Speed Shift — quick switching between P-states.
- C6/C8 States — deep sleep for cores at idle.
- Dynamic Tuning — adaptation to real-time load.
3. Performance: What Can You Do?
Geekbench 6: 515 (Single-Core), 882 (Multi-Core)
For comparison:
- Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 (in Chromebook) — ~550/1200.
- Apple M1 (2019) — ~2300/7500.
- AMD Athlon Silver 7120U (2023) — ~700/1400.
Real-World Tasks
- Office Work: Google Docs, Microsoft 365, Zoom with camera on — there may be occasional lags when working with 5+ tabs open in the browser.
- Multimedia: Watching YouTube 1080p — no problems. 4K — possible stutters without AV1 hardware decoding.
- Gaming: Only 2D games (Stardew Valley, Terraria) or cloud gaming (GeForce NOW).
Turbo Mode: A Brief Boost
When launching an application, the processor ramps up to 2.8 GHz, but within 10-15 seconds it returns to 1.1 GHz. This helps quickly open a browser or document, but isn't suitable for prolonged tasks.
4. Use Cases: Who Is It Suitable For?
- Students: For lectures on Zoom, working with texts and spreadsheets.
- Seniors: Simple internet surfing, video calls.
- Backup Laptops: For travel or work in cafes.
Who It’s Not Suitable For:
- Gamers — even Minecraft on medium settings will lag.
- Designers/Editors — lacks support for heavy editing software.
- Multitasking Users — 2 cores won’t handle parallel tasks well.
5. Battery Life: How Long Does the Laptop Last?
With a battery capacity of 40-45 Wh (typical for budget models), battery life reaches 8-10 hours under:
- Screen brightness of 150 nits.
- Browsing (3-5 tabs).
- Wi-Fi/Bluetooth turned off in reading mode.
For comparison: laptops with the Apple M1 (2020) last 14-16 hours under similar conditions but cost 3-4 times more.
6. Competitors: What to Choose Instead of Celeron N4500?
- AMD Athlon Silver 7120U (2 cores/2 threads, 15W TDP, Zen 2): Better for multi-threading but requires active cooling.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 3 (ARM, 8 cores): Optimized for Windows on ARM, battery life up to 12 hours.
- Intel Processor N100 (Alder Lake-N, 2023): 4 cores/4 threads, 6W TDP — a more modern alternative.
Prices (April 2025):
- Laptops with Celeron N4500: $250-$350 (Acer Aspire 1, Lenovo IdeaPad 1).
- With Snapdragon 7c Gen 3: $400-$500.
- With Intel N100: $300-$400.
7. Pros and Cons of Celeron N4500
Strengths:
- Low device prices.
- Passive cooling (no noise).
- Sufficient for basic tasks in 2025.
Weaknesses:
- Weak multitasking capability.
- No support for AV1 and Wi-Fi 6E.
- Outdated architecture.
8. How to Choose a Laptop with This Processor?
- Device Type: Ultrabook with a diagonal of 11-14", weight up to 1.3 kg.
- Mandatory Features:
- SSD 128-256 GB (not HDD!).
- 8 GB RAM (4 GB will be too little even for Chrome).
- Screen with IPS panel and brightness starting from 250 nits.
- Avoid:
- Laptops without USB-C.
- Models with resolutions higher than 1080p — the processor won’t handle it.
Example Models for 2025:
- Acer Aspire 1 A115-32: 14" FHD, 8 GB + 256 GB, $279.
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i: 15.6" HD, 4 GB + 128 GB, $249 (requires RAM upgrade).
9. Final Verdict: Is It Worth Buying?
The Intel Celeron N4500 is a choice for those who:
- Are looking for the cheapest laptop for text and internet work.
- Value quietness and battery life.
- Are willing to cope with slow performance in multitasking mode.
Key Benefits:
- Price below $300.
- Ability to work all day without recharging.
- Compatibility with modern operating systems (Windows 11, Linux).
If your budget allows spending $100-150 more, consider laptops with the Intel N100 or AMD Athlon Silver — they will offer performance headroom for the future. But for simple tasks, the Celeron N4500 remains a workhorse for 2025.