When it comes to purchasing a new gaming laptop, especially if this is your first time investing in one, it might be difficult to know where to begin. Particular specifications like the display, internal hardware, battery life, and other components that power it all are all things to think about. Sure, certain gaming laptops allow for upgrades and swapping out parts but it’s not always possible. With that said, it’s much better to get the things you want upfront and plan ahead on how you can make sure that they will last you for the years to come. A good initial step is to prioritize the features that are most important to you. If you don’t know where to start, our buyer’s guide on how to buy laptops for gaming in 2021 is here to help you out.
Before we start talking about the specs of a gaming laptop, it’s important to set a budget for how much money you’re willing to invest in your first gaming rig. To do that, you have to keep in mind two things: design and performance. Figuring out these two things will help you significantly in narrowing down your choices when it comes to deciding on a laptop that will give you the best gaming experience possible.
If you’ll be playing games that are not too demanding with their graphics or you don’t mind lowering the resolution settings of your games, an entry-level model or a modest mid-range gaming laptop might be a good option for you. These models will be considerably cheaper and won’t put a hole through your wallet.
Not to mention, most entry-level models these days are also packed with a lot of modern features that are sure to give you a solid gaming experience. For under a thousand bucks, you can easily get a decent gaming machine that should be able to play most mainstream games or AAA titles today.
However, if you’re planning to play games that would require a higher graphics card or you simply just want to play your games in the highest settings, then you might have to shell out more money on a high-end laptop if you want the full experience of these types of games.
Quick Tip
If you’re on a budget but would like to upgrade your gaming rig in the future, you can opt to get a laptop that will let you replace some of its parts like its graphics card for a more powerful one. This way, you won’t have to completely throw out your old notebook and just save up on replacements for upgrades instead.
Whether you’re playing the most demanding AAA games or keeping up with the current trends in games like Fortnite or PUBG, I’m confident you’ll want to play them at the highest frame rate your gaming laptop’s panel permits. This is something that a dedicated graphics chip can help with.
The graphics hardware in a gaming laptop is the most important feature because it dictates which games can be played and at what settings. In most cases, you won’t be able to upgrade your laptop’s graphics processor. So it’s best to get the best GPU your money can afford. Unless you don’t mind playing games on the lowest settings possible all of the time, the graphics card of your chosen laptop is something you shouldn’t skimp on.
However, buying a laptop with the most advanced graphics card isn’t necessary too. You can easily buy a gaming rig with a decent graphics card for under $1000 that will provide you with fantastic gaming experiences if you are willing to compromise a little.
As a recommendation, a laptop equipped with GTX 1660 Ti or even a GTX 1650 should suffice for today’s AAA game titles without costing you a lot. But if you have no problem with spending a bit more, then we suggest opting for a laptop that has the latest RTX 30 series for the ultimate gaming sessions.
3. Processors
The processor in your gaming laptop, like the GPU, isn’t something to overlook as well. Especially since many games, especially those in the MMORPG and RTS (real-time strategy) genres, are CPU intensive. Due to many AAA titles requiring quad-core CPUs at a minimum, dual-core processors are something you should avoid when shopping for a gaming rig.
At the same time, a Core i7 or Core i9 CPU is more crucial for processor-intensive tasks such as video or photo editing and media production work than for gaming. As a result, looking for these kinds of CPUs isn’t required. With the 10th Generation Intel CPUs that are widely available in inexpensive gaming laptops these days, a Core i5 CPU is more than plenty and will provide enough power.
4. RAM
When it comes to RAM, a gaming laptop with 8GB of RAM is what we would suggest for a smooth experience both for gaming and normal day-to-day tasks on your computer. Most gaming laptops have 8GB as the standard anyway so finding one won’t be too much of a chore. If you can afford it, I highly suggest going for 16GB of RAM instead.
Every now and then, though, you might see budget-friendly gaming laptops that do offer 16GB of RAM. But these are still pretty rare so it’s best not to get your hopes up. Keep in mind, a lot of gaming laptops have replaceable RAMs too so it’s totally okay if you can’t get a 16GB right away. You can just consider this as an upgrade in the future.
Is it better to have a hard disk or an SSD? Why not combine the two? Some low-cost gaming laptops just include a hard disk. However, the majority of gaming laptops additionally have a tiny SSD that serves as a boot drive. It’s not unusual to see a 128GB SSD and a 1TB HDD coexisting in the same system.
You may observe faster loading speeds if you upgrade to a larger SSD, but this will cost you a lot more money. Storage, like RAM and GPUs, is frequently upgradeable in gaming laptops as well. If you require more storage, you can add a 2TB or larger hard drive.
With that being said, for the best gaming performance, I recommend going with a dual-drive system. The operating system and a handful of your most-played games should go on the smaller SSD, while the remainder of your games and other programs that don’t require quick loading times should go on the larger, more cost-effective hard drive.
6. Display
Most gaming laptops offer display sizes from 15 inches to 17 inches. However, there are also other factors that come into play when it comes to choosing the right display on a gaming rig apart from the size of the screen. I’ve listed some of them below.
Resolution. More pixels shown on the screen means a higher resolution, which can result in a crisper image. High-end gaming laptops may offer 1440p or 4K screens instead of the typical 1080p, but the technology required to run games at these resolutions will almost certainly increase the price.
Refresh rate. When it comes to this feature, the higher the better. The action on-screen can appear smoother and simpler to follow with a higher refresh rate display. It accomplishes this by redrawing the image at a faster rate. This technology is used in many gaming laptop displays, with some boasting refresh rates of 120Hz or 144Hz. If you like to play FPS games, you’ll benefit a lot on a screen with a higher refresh rate.
7. Battery Life
It’s not unusual for gaming laptops to only have 5-7 hours of battery life before you have to reach out for the charger when you’re playing, given that games take a toll on your laptop’s overall power. But if you’re someone who spends their time out and about throughout the day with your laptop, consider looking for models that offer 8-10 hours of battery life so you won’t have to worry about your laptop dying while there is no power outlet nearby.
8. Design
While gaming laptops tend to have the usual chunky, black design with colorfully lit RGB keyboards, some gamers prefer a more subtle aesthetic and one that’s not so in-your-face. Especially when you’re planning to bring it to work or use the laptop in a professional environment.
So whether you’re a student or an employee working in a corporate setting, the size, shape, and color of the gaming laptop you’ll be purchasing are important factors to consider. Luckily for you, many brands have recently jumped on the trend of releasing thinner and sleeker yet powerful gaming laptops so that you wouldn’t worry about the portability and overall look of your laptops anymore.
In addition, some manufacturers have also released gaming laptops with a variety of colors to choose from if you’re wanting to stray from the standard black rig. Whatever aesthetic you’re going for, there is surely a laptop for you.
Whether you’re a casual gamer or a serious one, buying a gaming laptop can be an overwhelming experience. This is especially so if this is your first time. Along with the amount of information you need to take in, the market is also constantly releasing new gaming machines which makes it tough for gamers to settle for one specific model.
So with that being said, it’s very important to keep in mind the things you want to prioritize over certain aspects of the device. If you want the best of the best, you’re going to have to spend a lot of money in order to get that. But if you don’t mind sacrificing some of the specs to save money, then there are a ton of great options for you to choose from as well.
Whichever you choose, I hope our guide on how to buy laptops for gaming in 2021 has helped you out in making a well-informed decision.
Have you already bought your own gaming laptop? Was our guide helpful? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any suggestions, insights, or questions to ask. I would love to hear all your thoughts!
The HP Pavilion gaming laptop is an entry-level model that features a solid Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce GPU, as well as a speedy SSD and long battery life. At the same time, it’s housed in a fairly stylish and lightweight chassis. While the display quality could be better, this gaming rig’s excellent mix of hardware, power, and endurance made it one of the best entry-level gaming laptops under $1000 on the market. If you want to learn more, check out our entire review below.
If you’ve been on the hunt for an entry-level gaming laptop, the HP Pavilion is an excellent choice that will certainly not disappoint. As previously stated, this model features a powerful and fast Intel Core i7 processor, as well as an Nvidia GeForce GPU, responsive SSD, and long battery life, all packaged in a very beautiful green and black chassis.
The design is something to be appreciated too. It’s not too gaudy or screams “look at me, I’m a gaming laptop!”. It’s sleek enough to be used in a more professional setting while still maintaining a unique look that doesn’t look tacky.
Despite its low price, the Pavilion isn’t something you should underestimate. This gaming machine comes with some impressive specs, allowing it to run games at high frame rates with ease. It also boasts plenty of endurance, with a battery life of around 6 hours, which should be more than adequate if you’re more into casual gaming.
Apart from gaming, this compact computer also works pretty well with both school and office activities as well as day-to-day tasks.
If thermal throttling is what you’re concerned about, the Pavilion manages to sustain a comfortable temperature when gaming. Overall, the HP Pavilion is a strong contender for one of our list’s best budget gaming laptops. So, if you’re looking for a strong entry-level gaming laptop, this one comes at a great price point and has a stylish design.
Features & Specifications
Dimensions: 10.08 x 14.17 x 0.92 inches
Product Weight: 4.92 pounds
Brand: HP
CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-9750H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q
RAM: 16GB DDR3 SDRAM 2,666MHz
Storage: 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD + 1TB 7,200-rpm HDD
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Display Size: 15.6 inches
Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 IPS display
Ports: 1 SuperSpeed USB Type-C (DisplayPort), 2 SuperSpeed USB Type-A, 1 DisplayPort, 1 HDMI 2.0, 1 RJ-45, 1 headphone/microphone combo jack
Battery: 52.5Whr 3-cell lithium-ion
Camera: HP True Vision 720p HD camera
Keyboard: Backlit keyboard
Check Out HP’s Preview Of The Pavilion Gaming Laptop Below.
Without a doubt, one of my favorite things about the HP Pavilion is its design. I truly appreciate that this doesn’t have a bold aesthetic that will catch a lot of unwanted attention. Instead, it’s just edgy enough to provide a good balance between professional and gaming. Not to mention, I find this more lightweight compared to other gaming laptops at the same price point.
Additionally, design-wise, the Pavilion also isn’t your typical gaming laptop. The chassis is black with lovely emerald accents, rather than the usual black-and-red theme you must already be tired of seeing everywhere. If green’s not your color, HP also offers a variant with purple accents as well. Personally, I highly prefer the latter but that’s just my taste.
Upon opening the laptop, you’ll notice an illuminated keyboard and a set of uniquely-shaped speakers. The screen size is the usual 15.6 inches with slim bezels around it. Though I feel like the bezels could be trimmed a bit more, but it’s no deal-breaker.
You’ll also find a generous amount of ports with the HP Pavilion. A USB 3.1 Type-A port, a USB 3.1 Type-C port, an HDMI port, an Ethernet RJ-45 port, and an SD media card reader are located on the laptop’s left side. On the right side, there are two more USB 3.1 Type-A connections as well as connectors for headphones and power.
Gaming Performance
The Pavilion 15 comes with a 4GB VRAM Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU. You should be able to play mainstream games like Far Cry 5 without a hitch at the laptop’s highest graphics settings (1080p with Ultra settings). With games like Cyberpunk 2077, though, you may want to adjust your resolutions and expectations a bit. But, for a laptop at this price, this is to be expected, and it’s still quite impressive in my opinion.
In lower fidelity titles, the Ryzen 5 5600H processor helps push better frame rates in my opinion. It’s not the most powerful of AMD‘s new 5000 series mobile CPUs, but with six cores, 12 threads, and a boost frequency of up to 4.2GHz, it’s more than capable of performing a wide range of tasks outside of gaming.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the HP Pavilion gaming laptop excels so well at multiple tasks. It readily performs activities like transcoding 4K films and other media production tasks without a fuss, keeping many tabs open in Google Chrome doesn’t interrupt its smoothness. This laptop boasts excellent hardware that’s ideal for non-gaming tasks, thanks to its 16GB of RAM.
A refresh rate higher than 60Hz is practically required if you’re into esports or just a competitive gamer in general. Many higher-end gaming laptops in the market come with a 144Hz refresh rate, but obtaining the same rate on an entry-level model under a thousand bucks is even more difficult. This is where the HP Pavilion shines as it offers a 144Hz refresh rate for a fairly budget-friendly price.
Though, keep in mind that the base model is capped at 60Hz. So if you’re willing to shell out an extra hundred dollars, you can easily get the 144Hz variant. Given that this Pavilion can play first-person shooters and MOBAs where fine graphics aren’t a priority at speeds above 100 frames per second, 144Hz is a must-have. So I have to commend HP for adding it to one of their entry-level models.
Cooling Performance
One of the great things worth noting with the HP Pavilion is that it doesn’t overheat or get so hot to the point you need to constantly sit right next to your AC system. Overall, It’s safe to use the Pavilion on your lap for regular tasks. Casually browsing the internet shouldn’t pose a problem with heating and the laptop and keyboard will still be quite comfortable to use.
When gaming, you can expect it to get a bit warm but not hot enough to make you want to run your hands under cold water. Internally, the components, particularly the processor, are kept at a safe temperature for the most part. As a rule of thumb, the lower the average temperature, the longer the CPU will last and you will be able to use the laptop for the years to come.
Our Least Favorite Things
Display
Don’t get me wrong, the display on the HP Pavilion isn’t terrible. It definitely can do some good with a bit of improvement but it’s not that bad. The display could be brighter and for games that are really heavy on the graphics department, you might want to keep your expectations low on this one.
But at the same time, it’s quite understandable for a gaming laptop at this price point to not have the best display in the market. Manufacturers usually cut the costs on display quality as this is one of the most expensive aspects of creating a gaming laptop.
In A Nutshell
Now that we have finished discussing the things we liked and disliked about the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop, here’s our narrowed-down list of the good and the bad with this particular gaming rig. The 15.6-inch, 1080p screen on the HP Pavilion isn’t the brightest or most colorful, but it still manages to give acceptable visual quality.
You won’t have any trouble seeing minute details when watching movies or playing video games. They’re pretty sharp, crisp, and the color accuracy isn’t bad either. However, when compared to other budget gaming laptops, the Pavilion falls short in terms of brightness. To be more specific, it only averaged 241.2 nits.
But don’t let this set you back. For affordable gaming laptops, the display quality is usually the main feature manufacturers skimp on to keep it low-cost since this is one of the most expensive components when creating a gaming laptop.
Pros
Lightweight compared to other gaming laptops within this price range.
Solid battery life for casual gaming.
Gaming performance is quite excellent.
Sleek design.
Cons
Picture quality could be brighter.
Our Final Verdict
Despite being an entry-level model, the HP Pavilion gaming laptop delivers excellent 1080p gaming performance for a wide range of games. You may need to keep the graphics settings on medium or low for certain games, but for the price, you won’t be disappointed. This will surely be enough to satisfy a lot of casual gamers.
Have you already bought the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop? Or are you still contemplating it? Was our review helpful in your purchasing decision? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any suggestions, insights, or questions to ask. I would love to hear all your thoughts!
Without a question, the Dell G5 15 SE is one of the best gaming laptops you can buy for the money. It isn’t the most lightweight or most powerful gaming laptop on the market, but with a price tag of just under $1,000, an AMD Ryzen processor, and an RX 5600M graphics chip, you’ve got yourself a solid gaming rig. This particular Dell gaming laptop is also miles ahead of its competition within the same price category thanks to other fast components like fast RAM, an NVMe SSD, and a 144Hz refresh rate display. If you’d like to know more about this impressive device, just keep scrolling to read our full review of the Dell G5 15 SE Gaming Laptop.
Affordable gaming laptops are so in demand these days. Especially with the pandemic still ongoing, people are reaching out to play their favorite games as a way to cope with the numerous lockdowns we have faced. Along with the rise of demand for games, so does the demand for PC parts and gaming laptops and consoles.
Not to mention, gone are the days when you had to spend $2000 just so you can game on the go. This is where the Dell G5 15 SE comes in.
This gaming rig is a crowd favorite among gamers and an overall outstanding gaming laptop thanks to its strong CPU, long battery life, and bright 15.6-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate. Additionally, due to its AMD Ryzen 5000 H-series processor, this gaming system routinely outperforms its competition without a fuss.
The battery life of this gaming laptop was also excellent, lasting well over 7 hours. With that and an AMD graphics card capable of handling today’s most demanding AAA games, you’ve got yourself a capable gaming rig that won’t break the bank. Furthermore, this gaming laptop includes a display screen that is sharp and colorful enough for the price, as well as a very ergonomic keyboard to operate.
In terms of design, I personally like it. It’s not the sleekest looking laptop out there (nor the most lightweight, either) but I appreciate how the chassis is painted in gleaming silver. It’s a welcome change from the traditional red and black colors associated with gaming laptops.
On top of all that, the Dell G5 15 SE offers a large number of ports, allowing you to connect all of your important devices. Overall, it’s no surprise that this gaming laptop ranked first on our list of the best affordable gaming laptops in 2021.
Features & Specifications
Dimensions: 14.4 x 10 x 0.85 inches
Product Weight: 5.51 pounds
Brand: Dell
CPU: 1.6GHz AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
GPU: 6128GB AMD Radeon RX 5600M
RAM/Storage: 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,200MHz / 512TB SSD
Display Size: 15.6 Inches
Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080, 144Hz
Operating System: Windows 10 Home (1909)
Networking: Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.1, Ethernet
Ports: 1 x USB-C, 3 x USB-A, 1 x mini DisplayPort, 1 x combo audio
Keyboard: Backlit Keyboard
Touchscreen: No
Color: Supernova Silver Cover
Check Out Dell’s Product Preview Of The G5 15 Below.
Honestly, there’s nothing particularly outstanding with the Dell G5 15 SE’s design. It’s quite straightforward, simple, and can easily blend into a professional setting. I do appreciate that it doesn’t sport the in-your-face gaming aesthetic a lot of gaming manufacturers tend to strive for with their products. This one’s more subtle and the silver chassis is definitely enough to make it stand out from the usual dark colors.
To put it simply, the G5 15 SE is a rather plain-looking laptop with a few design embellishments that don’t scream “look at me, I’m a gamer.” It’s no head-turner and the lid has the most of these flourishes. It’s silver with a metallic gleam, carved with two vertical lines, and topped with a gleaming Dell logo.
The overall design is otherwise fairly modest, with gray plastic on the bottom panel and a plain black keyboard deck that does have RGB illuminations you can tinker around with. Personally, I don’t mind if a gaming laptop has bold, eye-catching colors or numerous RGB lights, as long as it’s not overdone or tacky. But the subtlety in the G5 15 SE is something else.
Whether that’s a good or bad thing is completely up to you. If you prefer gaudy, gaming colors, then this kind of style the G5 15 SE sports might not be for you. But if you want a gaming laptop that you can also use for work or in public without catching too much attention, then this is a nice balance.
Size
In terms of size, the G5 15 SE doesn’t stand out much as well. Weighing at 5.51 lbs, it isn’t particularly bulky, but it’s definitely not small or light either. Most gaming laptops I’ve seen at this price point also share the same weight and size, more or less. It’ll take a bit more effort in carrying this around with you but it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Also, I noticed that with more affordable gaming laptops, the size of the model is one of the few things you’ll most likely have to compromise on. Packing such powerful hardware in a thin and light chassis is usually more commonly seen in premium and high-end gaming laptops. So if you’re on a budget, it’s much better to focus on the gaming performance of these laptops rather than the size.
Performance
When it comes to gaming performance, the Dell G5 15 SE certainly didn’t disappoint. The fundamental components of the Dell Gaming G5 15 SE are well-matched and even graphics-heavy games run pretty smoothly on this gaming rig.
The Intel six-core CPU, Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics, and 1080p LCD display work together to produce flawless frame rates in the latest games at high settings that’s sure to satisfy a lot of casual gamers. We’re not talking about the absolute pinnacle of a buttery-smooth gaming performance but this is definitely a solid experience either way.
If you’re looking for something more, you’ll need a more powerful GPU and a monitor that refreshes at 120Hz or higher. Not to mention, a bigger budget too. In any case, frame rates in the 60 to 70 fps range when set to ultra detail are highly enjoyable. However, they also show that using a high refresh panel with this setup is practically pointless.
With that said, the Dell G5 15 SE is a pretty solid contender among entry-level gaming laptops. It’s competent and capable enough to make sure that you get a nice gaming experience out of this rig for the years to come.
Display
The display on the Dell G5 15 SE is about what you’d expect from an entry-level gaming laptop. But with a few quirks. Its 1080p Full HD resolution is an excellent match for the modern components inside its chassis. However, the highlight of the display is the 144Hz refresh rate which allows you to have smoother-looking gameplays. Though the base model of this laptop comes with just a 60Hz refresh rate.
Keep in mind, reaching 144fps will be pretty near impossible with the latest AAA titles but this shouldn’t be a problem if you’re more of a casual gamer. The overall visual quality is likewise rather high, and the screen does get quite bright when set to its maximum brightness.
Battery Life
Gaming laptops don’t always have the best battery lives, which is understandable since playing games tend to drain batteries faster than your normal day-to-day tasks. The Dell G5 15 SE, on the other hand, provides some of the best battery life I’ve seen in a gaming laptop. This model easily lasted 7 hours, though this can vary depending on how frequently you use it.
Under heavy load, most gaming systems fall short of the 4-hour mark, but the G5 15 SE performed admirably. Especially if you think about how affordable this laptop is.
Our Least Favorite Things
Thermal Throttling
No product will ever be completely perfect and the Dell G5 15 SE is no exception to that. One major concern that you might want to keep in mind with this particular gaming laptop is that thermal throttling is a bit of an issue here.
Under stress, the laptop becomes noticeably heated, both on the underside and in hot patches surrounding the keyboard. So this is something to keep in mind in case heating is an issue with you. However, this isn’t a problem exclusive to this model. Most affordable and low-cost gaming laptops seem to encounter this problem as well. I guess a better cooling system is a luxury and a privilege?
In A Nutshell
Now that we have discussed the things we liked and disliked about the Dell G5 15 SE gaming laptop in this review, here’s a narrowed-down list of the good and the bad with this particular gaming rig.
Pros
Amazing CPU & GPU performance.
Solid battery life.
Terrific RAM & storage.
Cons
Expect some bloatware.
Not the most lightweight design.
Our Final Verdict
Overall, the Dell G5 15 SE exceeds expectations for an entry-level gaming laptop. It sports a subtle design that doesn’t look tacky, provides a terrific gaming performance thanks to its AMD chip, has plenty of ports, and pretty decent battery life. This computer is also not limited to gaming. You can easily use this for your professional work or everyday tasks as well. Although a few compromises were made to keep this gaming rig affordable, it still provides outstanding value for the money.
Have you already bought the Dell G5 15 SE? Or are you still contemplating it? Was our review helpful? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any suggestions, insights, or questions to ask. I would love to hear all your thoughts!
Find the best laptop to run your small business in can be often tricky. There are so numerous factors to consider that some might find it overwhelming. However, with the help of this laptop buyer’s guide this 2021, you won’t have to worry if you don’t have much technical knowledge or experience with these compact computers. Once you understand the basics of what makes a decent laptop, the shopping process will be less stressful and a lot easier for you.
So if you’re a small business owner looking for some help in buying your next laptop, just scroll down to read more about our essential tips and everything you need to consider!
Since the dawn of technology, there has been a long-standing dispute about which device is better: a laptop or a desktop?
Truthfully, there are no right or wrong answers here. Both gadgets have their benefits and drawbacks, and neither is superior to the other. It all boils down to your personal preference and requirements to keep your small business running.
However, because of how quickly technology evolves and advances, people are finding it increasingly difficult to choose between the two. Laptops are now being designed to manage more power by including advanced internal components, effectively closing the performance gap between them and your standard desktop computer. This is one good reason why you should opt for a laptop, but what else is there?
Benefits Of Purchasing A Laptop
If you like portable gadgets because you like to move around or are constantly on the go, a laptop is the best solution for you. So, no matter where you go, you can always bring your laptop with you and never be without it.
Tech enthusiasts and casual consumers used to argue that laptops lacked power, but that is no longer the case. Laptops nowadays come with some of the most powerful internal components, including CPUs and graphics cards, that can easily compete with some of the best desktop PCs on the market.
Keep in mind, however, that not all laptops are the same, and that it is still dependent on the type of laptop you choose at the end of the day. Laptops are suitable for lighter jobs like word processing, streaming, social media management, and working with excel sheets, among others.
However, there are laptops now on the market that can easily handle high workloads and run demanding apps in a breeze. Though this comes at a higher cost naturally. There are also laptops that can be connected to an external graphics card or GPU to give it an extra boost of power.
One major drawback, however, is that while many laptops today offer more capability, they can also be quite expensive. Budget-friendly options may be lackluster in terms of performance, although this isn’t always the case. If you’re on a tight budget, you’ll certainly have to expect sacrificing advanced or modern features and specifications in a laptop that you’ll find in more high-end models.
When shopping for a laptop, one of the most crucial considerations to make is the system’s inbuilt CPU or GPU.
The CPU, or central processing unit, is primarily responsible for executing instructions and allowing your computer to interact with all of the apps and programs that it has loaded.
Meanwhile, its counterpart, the GPU, or graphics processing unit, is a specialized processor originally designed to accelerate graphics rendering. GPUs can process many pieces of data simultaneously, making them useful for machine learning, video editing, and gaming applications. You can also find out more about CPUs and GPUs here.
Laptop processors with four or more cores are already commonplace and accessible in modern laptops today. Allowing them to perform both basic email checking and the more demanding business programs and applications you need for work.
Our Recommended Processors
Intel’s latest 11th Generation “Tiger Lake” CPUs are found in many top-of-the-line business laptops. Older 10th Generation “Ice Lake” and “Comet Lake” CPUs, on the other hand, are still easily accessible and capable of handling most jobs. For particularly demanding applications, Hexa-core processors, such as the latest top-end Core i7 and Core i9 CPUs, will be required.
Apart from that, due to the advent of Tiger Lake processors, laptops with older generation processors may also see a price drop, which is good news if you’re on a limited budget.
Eight-core Core i9 CPUs, which were previously only available and shown on desktops, is now available in some bigger workstation-grade laptops for designers, engineers, and professional data crunchers. AMD-based laptops that employ the Ryzen Pro are still pretty much rare, though they’re starting to show up in established business laptop manufacturers like Lenovo’s ThinkPad series.
If you’re planning to use your laptop mostly for work to operate your small business, go for laptops with 8 GB or 16 GB of RAM as much as possible. You may believe that 4 GB of RAM is sufficient, but it’s best to future-proof your next laptop purchase so that you won’t need to upgrade it for at least the next handful of years.
If you do a lot of graphics design, video editing, or other heavier tasks on a daily basis, 16 GB of RAM is the minimum spec you need to aim for. With that much RAM, you can easily run many programs, windows, and browser tabs at once, as well as do multimedia tasks like photo editing and video processing considerably more quickly.
Storage
A laptop’s hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD) can have a few different effects on its performance. While SSD is widely favored and chosen by the majority since it runs software much faster, a handful of you may still choose HDD because it is less expensive. Let me explain the difference between the two if you’re still undecided.
An HDD is a data storage device for your laptop made up of a metal disk with a magnetic coating. A read/write head on an arm reads the data as the platters are rotating.
On the other hand, data on SSDs is stored on interconnected flash memory chips that, like a hard drive, maintain the data even when the power is turned off. These flash chips are not the same as those used in USB thumb drives, and they are typically faster and more reliable.
Personally, I prefer laptops with SSDs, but if your budget doesn’t allow for it, HDDs aren’t too bad either.
Battery life
For some business owners, battery life is not a big deal. While for others, it can be a make-or-break decision. To know which one are you, just simply consider and observe how frequently you’ll be using your laptop without access to power.
In any event, checking the battery life of every machine you buy is a good idea. Keep in mind that different measures are used by different laptop manufacturers to measure battery life, thus each one’s given statistic should be treated as an estimate rather than an absolute reality.
Some laptop manufacturers charge extra for add-on batteries. While these batteries can significantly prolong the energy life of a work laptop, they also add a significant amount of weight to the machine, so consider the total weight before purchasing an additional battery pack.
Choosing between Windows, Apple’s macOS, and Google’s Chrome OS is not an easy decision to make. Especially if you’re not that familiar with these operating systems. So to help you out, I’ve written an explanation for each OS below.
macOS
Apple’s OS X laptops are pretty expensive. But many die-hard Apple fans are willing to pay more for a premium machine with a well-designed interface. Apple laptops have long been prized by creative workers for their high-resolution screens, function keys, and ability to run high-powered apps like Avid, Maya, and Dreamweaver.
Many creative professionals still buy Apple computers, but it’s no longer the go-to brand, especially since recent MacBook Pros have less RAM than prior models and appear to be more focused on general appeal than niche appeal.
Unless your small business strictly uses a software program that can only function on Mac, the decision to buy a system running Apple OS X comes down to personal preference and how much money you’re willing to spend.
Windows
For most laptops in the market, Windows is the standard operating system. If you choose Windows OS over Chrome OS or Apple OS X, you’ll have a larger selection of laptops to choose from. Windows machines are readily available in every configuration and price range imaginable, so you have a lot of options as you might imagine.
Windows 10, the most recent version of the operating system, includes a number of new features that might help you work more efficiently. Microsoft’s virtual assistant, Cortana, can help you with everything from arranging appointments to checking the weather. Then there’s Task View, which allows you to create multiple virtual desktops for multitasking convenience.
Chrome OS
Google’s Chrome OS is fairly new in the market when it comes to operating systems. So you’re not alone in not knowing what to expect when you decide to buy a Chromebook. Because of their inexpensive price, Chromebooks were primarily designed with students in mind when they first entered the market. Not to mention, they had a lot of limitations too.
However, Chromebooks are now available in a wider range of configurations, including business-oriented laptops that run Chrome OS. Chrome is a wonderful alternative for an entrepreneur who prefers to work in the cloud (Chromebooks don’t allow you to download programs) and doesn’t want to bother about upgrades.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve reached the end of this article, I hope you’re feeling more confident in what you’re looking for in your next laptop purchase. Have fun shopping!
Have you already purchased a work laptop? How was the experience for you? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any insights or suggestions to share or questions to ask! I would love to hear all your thoughts about it!
The latest 13-inch MacBook Pro from Apple has just received its biggest refresh up to date. With the introduction of the now legendary M1 chipset, it’s now the most powerful laptop from Apple’s lineup of computers as of writing. The M1 chipset boasts a significant boost in performance as well as in its battery life. So just how powerful exactly is this laptop? Let’s find out in our review below.
Apple’s newest iteration of their 13-inch MacBook Pro makes up for its lack of a redesign by providing a significant performance bump in its hardware. The smallest MacBook Pro in the lineup was able to retain all of the features we loved from its predecessors but made even better. It is now more powerful and lasts longer than before.
This is all thanks to Apple’s M1 chip. This particular processor greatly increases the power and efficiency of the Macbook Pro dramatically. I dare even say that this can easily substitute your standard desktop PC. This is undoubtedly a beast of a laptop that will satisfy even the most power-hungry tech fans.
What Makes The M1 Chip So Good?
The introduction of the M1 chip into Apple’s lineup of computers and tablets has definitely moved them into a new era as well as putting themselves at the forefront of the market and competition.
For plenty of years now, Apple has always relied on using Intel CPUs to power all their computers. Apple’s M1 chip is the first step in the company’s deliberate decoupling from Intel. The 16 billion transistors in the ARM-based 5-nanometer chip are the most the company has ever packed into a single chip.
With that being said, the M1 chip is a huge upgrade to their computer lineup and one of the biggest leaps we’ve seen so far for Apple’s products. With the M1 chipset powering up the Macbook Pro, we’re talking about having video editing capabilities in 4K and even up to 8K!
To put it simply, that means it can tackle pretty much any task (whether it be professional or recreational) you throw at it while still maintaining a sophisticated and stylish look with Apple’s signature sleek design.
The System on Chip (SoC) also has an eight-core processor, integrated graphics, a unified memory architecture, Apple’s Neural Engine, an enhanced image signal processor, and Apple’s Secure Enclave, in addition to all those transistors. The result? You get a beast of a machine that’s faster and has more power packed into a slim and sleek laptop that you can take with you anywhere.
And in case the 13-inch isn’t enough for you, you can also opt for the 16-inch version of this laptop.
Features & Specifications
Dimensions: 13.41 x 11.97 x 0.61 inches
Item Weight: 3 pounds
Brand: Apple
CPU: System on Chip (SoC) Apple M1 chip; 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores; 16-core Neural Engine
Graphics: Integrated 8-core GPU
Operating System: MacOS
Screen Size: 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology
Resolution: 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors, 16:10 aspect ratio
RAM: 8GB – 16GB unified memory
Storage: 256GB or 512GB SSD
Ports: Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports with support for: Charging, DisplayPort Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40 Gbps), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps)
Battery Life: Up to 17 hours wireless web browsing, may differ depending on usage.
Extra Special Features: LED-backlit Retina display, True Tone technology, P3 wide color, FaceTime HD Camera, Three-mic array, Touchbar, Touch ID, and Magic Keyboard.
See The Preview & Highlights For The 13-Inch MacBook Pro With The M1 Chip Below.
According to Apple’s claims, the 8-core CPU found in the M1 chip is the highest-performing CPU they have ever built, by far. It combines four performance cores and four efficiency cores to tackle demanding multithreaded activities while at the same time, giving in a massive performance improvement while only using a fraction of its power as well as a huge boost in its overall battery life.
To add to that, Apple also boasted that the M1 chip’s CPU is also outrageously fast and powerful that it can complex workflows and heavy workloads, with up to 2.8x faster-processing performance than the previous generation.
Specifically, the latest MacBook Pro is supposedly 5.9 times faster in the 3D title render speeds in Final Cut Pro, 2.8 times faster at constructing Xcode projects, 2.9 times the performance in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and twice as fast vector performance in Affinity Photo, all thanks to its GPU. With that in mind, we have been impressed by this particular MacBook Pro’s performance so far.
When it came to video editing, the MacBook Pro didn’t disappoint either. Final Cut Pro, which is Apple’s video editing software has been updated to run on the M1 chip. Safe to say that while editing an 8K video, the MacBook Pro held up commendably and was truly remarkable.
The MacBook Pro still has fans built into its system, and they do come on after a time when you’re performing more intensive work on it. Keep in mind that the rear of the laptop can also get quite warm at times. The fans, on the other hand, are never overly obtrusive, and you’ll never hear them during everyday use.
Longer Battery Life
Just like with the M1 chip, Apple also made huge claims about this MacBook Pro’s battery life. According to Apple, the 13-inch MacBook Pro has the highest battery life ever found in a Mac computer. It is supposed to last up to 17 hours of wireless web browsing and routine email checking while video playback will last you for up to 20 hours. Compared to its predecessor, this is 10 hours more of battery life.
Again, these are large claims from Apple, and you’ll probably use the MacBook Pro 13-inch for a lot of heavier work than that, but so far Apple’s battery claims to be relatively accurate in the past and until now. Just keep in mind that more intensive tasks will naturally drain your MacBook Pro’s battery life at a faster rate.
Our Least Favorite Thing
Same Old Design
Don’t get me wrong, the Apple MacBook Pro doesn’t ugly by any means. But seeing the same design on the MacBook Pro over and over can somewhat feel boring after a certain amount of time. So a redesign or a change would have been greatly welcomed.
Take the iMac for example. Apple was able to give it a nice update by providing you with more fun color options to choose from. Even the MacBook Air gives you more colors to suit every taste. So why not the same treatment for their MacBook Pro lineup?
In A Nutshell
Pros
Huge performance boost due to the M1 chipset.
Beefy and longer-lasting battery life.
Can also run iOS applications.
The best webcam in a laptop.
Fast SSD.
Cons
Ridiculously expensive.
No other significant upgrades aside from the M1 chip.
Same old design.
Our Final Verdict
All in all, the latest generation of the 13-inch MacBook Pro is very impressive thanks to the M1 chipset. It’s an excellent laptop with a significant performance boost and a longer-lasting battery life that paints a very bright future for Apple and will truly make you excited and look forward to what else they have in store for us.
However, as great as the M1 chip is, it is really the only significant upgrade the Pro 13-inch receives and that’s about it. In case you have a 2019 or early 2020 model of the MacBook Pro, I highly recommend definitely waiting for a few generations before you upgrade to a new MacBook Pro with the M1 processor.
But if you have the money to spare and you’re that desperate for power, then, by all means, go ahead and get your hands on this powerful device. The M1 chip is without a doubt a huge and significant upgrade. This new model is 2.8 times faster than the previous generation, and it also has longer battery life. Not to mention, it’s also three times faster than Windows laptops within the same range of performance.
Do you already own the latest generation of the 13-inch MacBook Pro from Apple? Or are you still on the fence about purchasing it? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any insights or questions to share with us. We’d love to hear all your thoughts about this product!
The XPS series from Dell has always been a personal favorite of mine. In fact, the laptop I use for my day-to-day activities and tasks is the old Dell XPS 13 from 2019. And up until now, it’s still working really smoothly and does the job for me without a fuss. But for today, let’s take an in-depth look at our full Dell XPS 15 (2020) review and see if this laptop is as amazing as its predecessors.
One of the latest generations from Dell’s XPS line, the XPS 15, features a much slimmer frame and a little more screen-pixel real estate thanks to the even thinner bezels, which I find crazy because the bezels from their older models were almost non-existent. Apart from that, the new XPS 15 also boasts having the newest Intel and Nvidia components as well as a touchscreen 4k display.
To find out more, just keep scrolling to read our review below!
The Dell XPS 15 packs a lot of tremendous power and punch for a laptop that’s built in a chassis this thin and lightweight. At the same time, this brand new design didn’t let Dell sacrifice or compromise its internal components or features that are sure to enhance your overall experience with this particular device.
The 10th Gen Intel Core processors integrated into the XPS 15’s system deliver desktop-caliber creativity to your laptop, which is typically only available or seen on your standard desktop computers. Just from this specific feature alone, this puts the Dell XPS 15 right in front of the competition.
When you take a closer look, you’ll notice a gorgeous brilliant display with 500 nits of brightness and a spectacular 4k resolution with touchscreen capabilities, a really comfortable keyboard, outstanding speakers for your music listening pleasure, as well as a fantastic and satisfying touchpad. These are only a few of its many impressive features and there’s more to this laptop than meets the eye.
That being said, you can also choose between a few XPS 15 variants. Whether you want the Intel Core i5 10th Gen or the Intel Core i7 10th Gen, 16 GB of RAM, 32 GB of RAM, and up to 64 GB of RAM, and if you want the graphics card with NVIDIA GTX 1650Ti or the regular Intel UHD Graphics. It is up to you to decide based on your preferences and requirements for a laptop.
This laptop isn’t perfect, but it’s the one that comes closest to being so. So, if you have a few thousand dollars to spend on a laptop, regardless if it’s for personal use, work, or school, you really can’t go wrong with choosing the Dell XPS 15 (2020).
Features & Specifications
Dimensions: 13.57 x 9.06 x 0.71 inches
Item Weight: 6.00 lbs
Brand: Dell
CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7 – i9
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti
Operating System: Windows 10
Screen Size: 15.6″ FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit or 15.6″ UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit Display.
Resolution: 3840×2400 pixels
RAM: 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB of RAM
Storage: 256GB – 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe
Battery Life: 8 hours depending on usage.
Ports: 2x USB-C 3.1 with Thunderbolt 3, 1 x USB-C 3.1, 1 x SD card reader, combi audio jack
Extra Special Features: Corning Gorilla Glass 6, 3D surround sound experience, 62% larger touchpad, 5% larger screen, and 5.6% smaller footprint, Integrated Eyesafe display technology, and equipped with 100% Adobe RGB, 94% DCI-P3 color gamut, VESA certified DisplayHDR 400, and Dolby Vision, this display delivers more than 16 million ultra-vivid colors that are 40 times brighter than ever before.
Check Out Dell’s Preview Of Their Latest XPS 15 Laptop Below.
The new design the XPS 15 is now sporting is one of the things that make me excited over it, especially after several years of seeing the same boring, bulky chassis it used to have. Upon closer look, the changes are somewhat similar to those Dell made to their XPS 13 earlier this year too.
For some, these changes made to its overall appearance may seem insignificant or small but they truly add up a lot of improvement and enough upgrades that make this device look really sleek and even stylish.
The most noticeable change is its more slimmed-down bezels as the latest XPS 15 now has the new four-sided Infinity Edge display from Dell, giving you a larger display and more screen real estate as it foregoes the chunky bezel at the bottom of the screen found in previous models.
The 2020 XPS 15 is also housed in a more compact frame than previous models, especially in terms of width. This new model is smaller than the previous XPS 15 too, measuring only 0.71 x 13.6 x 9.1 inches (height, width, length) compared to the latter that was 0.66 x 14.1 x 9.3 inches.
As for its weight, the XPS 15 weighs about 4.5 lbs. It’s not the most lightweight laptop out there but with how powerful the hardware this laptop has in its system, we’re not really complaining about the few extra pounds it has.
When it comes to the latest XPS 15’s build quality, the materials used to make the laptop are the same as before. The lid and chassis are still composed of aluminum, with a soft-touch carbon fiber keyboard deck that feels comfortable to rest your wrists on compared to a cold metal surface most laptops have.
All in all, the XPS 15 has a really classy and premium feel to it that will really appeal to a wide range of people.
Performance
With an Intel Core i7-10875H processor and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card, the Dell XPS 15 is clearly aimed at the “professional” market, though I can imagine students will also appreciate this type of hardware.
However, the XPS 15 is not strong enough for the tasks professional video editors or 3D artists do, but it’s certainly powerful enough for someone who does that stuff as a hobby or simply wants an all-around laptop without facing any kind of issues with every computer activity they do.
To sum it up, the Dell XPS 15 delivers professional-level performance in a compact and light chassis that won’t slow you down as you work through your daily tasks. Sure, the GPU choice could have been more powerful, but that would certainly require Dell to build a more robust (and heavy) cooling system which will add up to the unit’s overall weight.
Display
The incredibly thin bezels the XPS 15 has is one of the main reasons this is such a popular product for a wide range of consumers. Whether you’re a creative professional who needs a bright, color-accurate display for work or simply enjoy watching high-definition shows and movies in your spare time, you will surely appreciate the superb screen the XPS 15 has.
Not to mention, you have a few options on which display quality you want to get from the XPS 15. You can either get the optional 4K-resolution (3,840 by 2,400-pixel) touch panel, which is wonderfully sharp and colorful. The screen is HDR 400 certified, has a maximum brightness of 500 nits, and covers 100% of the Adobe RGB spectrum and 94% of DCI-P3.
On the other hand, there is also a full HD (1,920 by 1,200 pixel) non-touchscreen display as an alternative to those who aren’t really aiming for 4K screens and want to cut down on costs.
Our Least Favorite Thing
Battery Life
Don’t get me wrong, the XPS 15’s battery life isn’t bad at all. It’s actually pretty decent but it could definitely be improved as I have seen other laptops perform longer than this one. For casual tasks like routine email checking and browsing, you can easily get up to 10 hours on this unit. However, with streaming high-resolution content, the battery drains a lot faster, giving you around 6 hours of usage at most.
Not Suitable For Hardcore Gaming
Personally, this isn’t a huge con as I don’t really like to rely on laptops when gaming but I figured this is something to keep in mind in case some of you are gamers and are eyeing this laptop for your gaming needs. While the Dell XPS 15 (2020) can perform smoothly in almost every task you throw at it, its gaming capabilities are severely lacking especially if you’re planning to play demanding AAA titles.
While the GTX 1650 Ti is technically a gaming GPU, the Dell XPS 15 is nowhere near a gaming laptop. The thin and light chassis design isn’t really compatible and doesn’t lend itself to long gaming sessions where heat could create performance issues or concerns. At most, this laptop’s gaming capabilities will be limited to you playing games at 1080p on medium settings.
Though I reckon games that don’t rely too much on heavy graphics might work for you. But if you’re looking for a laptop for hardcore gaming, it’s best to look for another model or perhaps think about building your own PC.
In A Nutshell
After giving you a breakdown of what we liked and disliked about the Dell XPS 15, here is a narrowed-down list of the good and the bad with this near-perfect laptop.
Pros
Stunning, bright display.
Excellent speakers.
Keyboard is comfortable to use.
Sleek and stylish design with impressive build quality.
Overall powerful performance.
Cons
Battery life could be better.
Not the best option for gaming.
Our Final Verdict
Now that we have reached the conclusion of our Dell XPS 15 (2020) review, I must say that this is certainly the closest any manufacturer in the market can get to a perfect laptop as of writing. It’s definitely one of the best laptops you can get your hands on right now and you’ll be hardpressed to find real faults on this model.
Do you already own the Dell XPS 15 (2020)? Or are you still on the fence about purchasing it? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any insights or questions to share with us. We’d love to hear all your thoughts about this product!
