Whether you are in the market for a new laptop, or you just want to check out the latest models, you’ll be glad to know that there are many consumer reports on laptops to help you find the best value. These reports will highlight the best brands for your budget and include reviews and specs on the latest models of MacBook Air, HP Pavilion 15, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, and Dell XPS 13. And these articles will also give you a look at the biggest trends in laptops in the next few years.
MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
Apple’s new MacBook Air is the company’s latest laptop. It is the most portable of the line, and features a slim design. You’ll find it in a variety of colors, including Midnight dark blue and Starlight light gold. A notch on the front of the display reveals an improved 1080p FaceTime HD camera.
The best features of the new Air are the M2 chip, which offers faster multi-core performance. Also, the updated battery lasts a lot longer than the previous model. In fact, the battery can last up to 13 hours on a single charge.
The M2 chip offers a 35 percent increase in graphics speed, according to one benchmark. Meanwhile, the improved M1 Pro chip was able to deliver better results than an Intel processor in a recent test.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
If you want a premium laptop for your business, you should consider the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. It is built with world-class engineering and modern tweaks.
Weighing less than three pounds and featuring a 4K UHD+/WQUXGA LCD, a solid full-high definition webcam, and a great keyboard, the Lenovo X1 Carbon makes multitasking a joy. The small fingerprint sensor sits just to the right of the trackpad and is compatible with Windows Hello.
Those looking for more options can consider the Lenovo X1 Carbon G9, which features a quad-core Intel Tiger Lake processor and 32GB of RAM. This is the first ThinkPad to offer NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD, as well as a dedicated graphics card.
While the Lenovo X1 Carbon is not the cheapest option out there, it is one of the best value products available. You can get one in traditional ThinkPad black or in dark silver.
Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS 13 is a popular and versatile Ultrabook. It is lightweight, durable, and has a long battery life. While it has some flaws, it is still a good choice for daily tasks.
The XPS 13 Plus is a more powerful machine. While it does not last as long as the regular XPS 13, it has more robust Intel Core P hardware. In addition, it has a more advanced cooling system. That means it can run at higher temperatures, which should boost performance.
As with most Ultrabooks, the XPS 13 Plus offers several different screen options. It can come with either a Full HD+ IPS panel, or a 3.5K OLED display. Aside from the difference in resolution, both screens offer 100% DCI-P3 color coverage.
HP Pavilion 15
If you are looking for a laptop that is not only powerful, but also reasonably priced, consider the HP Pavilion 15. This device is designed for everyday use and offers a nice variety of features.
It is not the best-performing notebook in this category, but its performance is still decent enough for basic photo editing and video editing. You will probably be better off with a laptop with a discrete graphics solution.
The HP Pavilion 15 has an integrated processor and graphics. This makes it an excellent choice for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on a dedicated graphics solution. However, the integrated graphics aren’t particularly good for heavy visual work, like graphically-demanding games.
Sony Vaio P Series
Sony Vaio P Series laptops are an awkward prospect, but a good value. It’s true that the VAIO P is expensive, but you get a solid design with a nice keyboard. Plus, the Vaio P offers a screen that is a lot better than many netbooks and full-sized notebooks.
The screen of the Sony VAIO P is very sharp. But it can dim dramatically at viewing angles above 45 degrees. You can tweak the battery’s performance to make it last longer. Also, the screen has an optical touchpad on the right side of the screen.
There are two USB 2 ports. One is on the front lip, and the other is on the back. You also get an SD card reader. And there’s even a 3.5mm headphone jack.