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As technology improves, 2024 brings a new and ever-changing lineup of laptops that set the bar higher in performance, design, and functionality. Let's look at the top 5 laptops of 2024, highlighting their standout features and what makes them the best choices in the market this year.
ASUS Vivobook S 15: First Copilot+ PC
- Snapdragon X Elite X1E 78 100 Processor
- Refresh rate: 3K 120Hz OLED display
- 70 watt-hours battery
- Price: $1299 16GB / 1TB version until 18th of June
ASUS has just announced its first Copilot+ PC laptop, the Vivobook S 15, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X-series processors. You can choose between a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite or a 10-core Snapdragon X Plus processor, with the Plus being the base version. This model comes with a 15.6-inch Lumina OLED screen with 2.8K resolution (2880 x 1620 pixels) and 120 Hz refresh rate. The panel also supports HDR with a peak brightness of 600 nits covering the full DCI-P3 color gamut calibrated by the factory.
With a 1080p camera in the front bezel, the Vivobook S 15 supports up to 32GB of onboard memory and 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage. Connectivity options include two USB-A ports, two USB 4.0 Type-C ports, HDMI 2.1, an audio/mic combo jack, a microSD card reader, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4.
We recommend this laptop to digital artists, graphic designers, and visual creatives, the Vivobook series offers a budget-friendly alternative to the ProArt series, with most models utilizing integrated graphics, though some Vivobook Pros feature standalone GPUs.
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus: Best runner-up
- Intel Core 7 Ultra 155H processor
- 90Hz refresh rate
- 64 watt-hours battery
- Price: $899
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus comes with an Intel Core 7 Ultra 155H processor and features a unique 2240×1400 resolution on its solid 14-inch display, which also offers 418 nits of peak brightness and an effective anti-glare coating, providing visibility even in challenging outdoor lighting conditions. The screen also boasts an impressive 100% coverage of the sRGB color space.
While the laptop's basic 1080p webcam could offer better image quality, it still captures voice well in environments with background noise, although it does not support facial recognition. One of the standout features of this laptop is its 64 Wh battery, providing decent battery life. In terms of connectivity, the laptop includes a 3.5mm headset jack, a microSD card reader, a 5Gbps USB-A port on one side, and the other side, another 5Gbps USB-A port, a Thunderbolt 4 port, a DC charging port, and a full-size HDMI port.
Although the Inspiron 14 Plus may not look as sleek as some of the others here, it offers solid specifications for performance, battery life, and display quality. It performs well in everyday tasks and is available at an affordable price, making it a great value option.
MacBook Air 13: Best MacBook for the price
- Apple M3 chip 8-core
- 60Hz refresh rate
- 52 watt-hours battery
- Price: $999 (M3 chip)
Equipped with Apple's M3 chip, the MacBook Air 13 excels in both daily tasks and more intensive workflows, such as video editing. It comes in two models: a base version with an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, and a more powerful version with an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU. The 13-inch laptop features a 13.6-inch, 2560 x 1664 60Hz display, notable for its brightness. With a peak brightness of 476 nits, it covers over 77% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and over 109% of the sRGB space.
The sound system includes four speakers, and it has a 1080p webcam. A standout feature of this laptop is its fanless design, ensuring silent operation. It features 16GB of unified RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. Maintaining its classic, portable design, this laptop is easy to carry anywhere, though it lacks an extensive range of connectivity ports. It includes a MagSafe 3 charging port and two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 Type-C ports, with a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the right side.
For those looking to invest in an affordable Mac laptop, the MacBook Air 13 with the M3 chip is a highly recommended choice. It offers excellent performance without the hefty price tag of the Pro line, making it a great investment (though, now that the M4 chip is out, the choice becomes that little bit more complex as it's sure to be added to the range soon).
HP Victus 16: Best for budget gamers
- Intel Core i7-13700H processor
- 144Hz refresh rate
- 83 watt-hours battery
- Price: £1449
The HP Victus 16 is a solid gaming laptop that delivers some impressive performance for its price point. No RGB lighting, the keyboard features simple white LEDs, giving the laptop a more business-like appearance. Powered by an Intel Core i7-13700H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, the Victus 16 handles games well, though it doesn't reach the high-end performance of more expensive gaming laptops. It also includes 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, providing decent multitasking capabilities and storage space.
The laptop features a 16.1-inch 1080p display with a brightness of 300 nits, an anti-reflective coating, and a 144Hz refresh rate. It covers 75% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 106% of sRGB, which is quite good for the price. The front-facing 1080p webcam, though more akin to 720p quality, gets the job done. For connectivity, the Victus 16 offers multiple USB ports, an HDMI port, and an Ethernet port.
Overall, the HP Victus 16 is a great affordable gaming laptop for those who don't prioritize flashy RGB lights. Check out the ergonomics and features in the video below.
LG gram Pro 16: Serious portable laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 5 or Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor
- Refresh rate: 120Hz (OLED) or 144Hz (LCD) non-touch screen
- 90 watt-hours battery
- Price $1799
The LG gram Pro 16 is one of the lightest laptops on the market, weighing 3.04 pounds (1.39kg), with impressive specifications. You can choose between two powerful CPU options: the Intel Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 7, paired with either Intel Arc integrated graphics or an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 discrete GPU. With memory capacity reaching up to 32GB and storage up to 1TB, this laptop offers space for your needs. Display options include a 144Hz QHD+ IPS panel or a 120Hz 2.8k OLED panel, both with full DCI-P3 coverage and LG's Variable Refresh Rate technology to optimize battery usage.
Featuring Wi-Fi 6E and a 1080p webcam, the laptop provides secure access through its facial recognition IR camera. The 77Wh battery ensures long-lasting power throughout your day. While being one of the thinnest laptops on the market, the LG gram Pro 16 does sacrifice some I/O ports. It includes two USB-A ports, two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The LG gram Pro 16 is an excellent choice for those who prioritize portability and performance. Whether you need it for professional work or casual use, its powerful internals, high-quality display options, and long battery life make it a top recommendation. If you value a lightweight design combined with robust features, the LG gram Pro 16 is worth checking.
Tags: Technology
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