Last December, we reviewed the elite X3 of HP company, one 5.96-inch Windows 10 mobile phablet, which functions as an independent smart phone and can connect to the external display or laptop terminal through Windows’s continuous desktop experience. The Hewlett-Packard Co has now finally sent a docking dock sample so that we can see how to combine in practice.
HP calls the Elite x3 “one device that’s every device”, although this only plays out if the Elite x3 is used in combination with the Lap Dock or the Desk Dock charge/connector stand, which links the phablet to an external monitor. Either way, the idea is that the Elite x3 does all the heavy lifting, and can link to various external displays.
This modular approach means organisations can be flexible about what they buy, but none of the hardware elements is inexpensive. As I write the Lap Dock is available for £516.67 (ex. VAT, or £620 inc. VAT), while HP’s current price for the Elite x3/Desk Dock combo is £631 (ex. VAT, £757.20 inc. VAT).
Then there’s HP Workspace, which allows IT managers to virtualise Windows applications (32-bit or 64-bit), giving employees access to a curated catalogue via the x3’s Start screen and delivering a full desktop experience when the phablet is connected to a Lap Dock or an external monitor. Workspace comes in Essential and Premium variants, and is sold on a per-user basis, with VPN as an add-on. Essential customers can select up to ten Windows apps, while Premium users can deploy as many as they want.
The 12.5-inch Lap Dock is sturdy and well made, measuring 289mm wide by 201mm deep by 13.8mm thick and weighing 1Kg. Ports and connectors are ranged around the left and right edges, and there’s a pair of B&O speakers on the underside. The left side has a Micro-HDMI port, a USB-C Elite x3/Desk Dock connector, a power button and a 3.5mm headset jack. The right side has a pair of USB-C ports which can be used to connect devices and charge the Lap Dock. HP provides a USB 3.0 converter and a cable for connecting the Lap Dock to the Elite x3 phablet.
There’s a battery life indicator on the right edge, with four white LEDs to give indicte the power remaining when an adjacent button is pressed. The Lap Dock connects to the Elite x3 in either wired or wireless modes, and HP says the 4-cell, 46.5Wh Hp elitebook 8530w laptop battery is good for up to six hours for a wireless connection and seven hours for wired. When the Elite x3 is attached it charges from the Lap Dock to the point where the Lap Dock has 30 minutes’ charge remaining. My anecdotal experience suggests that battery life with a wired Elite x3 connection might be closer to 4.5 hours than seven.
The backlit keyboard is springy and well made, while the matte 12.5-inch display 1,920-by-1,080 resolution and sits in a near-borderless bezel.
The Lap Dock has no hard drive, processor, storage, RAM or webcam. It takes input only from the Elite x3. Without the phablet attached, it’s just functionless doorstop, with a battery.
I didn’t have access to HP Workspace, so had to be content with using Windows Continuum. Working with a wired connection to the Elite x3 was a little laggy, but wireless (via Miracast over 802.11ac wi-fi) was even more so. I stuck with the wired option.
It’s useful to have a larger screen for tasks like document production, and the responsive keyboard is a pleasure to work with. Keyboard shortcuts for volume control and media playback and the ability to switch between running apps are all useful. The Lap Dock’s 12.5-inch screen, noise-cancelling microphones and B&O speakers also enhance video conferencing, although you’ll have to use the Elite x3’s camera as there’s no webcam on the Lap Dock itself.
But in the end, working like this is only as good as Windows 10 Mobile currently allows it to be. There’s no side-by-side app use, no desktop Windows apps, and no access to local document storage unless you specifically attach it, for example via an external hard drive or USB stick (and you can only access this if the Elite x3 is wired to the Lap Dock, not when wirelessly attached).
Without an HP Workspace subscription, the Lap Dock is simply a dumb screen-extending device for the Elite x3 — albeit a well-built one that offers a 1,920-by-1,080 viewing area. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s nowhere near as functional as a laptop for the same price would be.
HP deserves credit for pushing the idea of a Windows 10 Mobile handset as the only computing device you need. But without corporate buy-in to HP Workspace, the Windows Continuum experience probably won’t deliver everything a mobile professional needs.
DELL‘s XPS series laptop offers the industry’s leading lightweight, gorgeous screen, powerful battery life and a lot of performance combinations. At present, the three major models of the company are XPS laptop XPS 13, XPS 15 and XPS 13. If you like the design language of DELL and really want to live, you can be one with XPS 13, which is beautiful but provides less than performance and durability. But unless you’re already dead on a laptop as a tablet, you have to choose between DELL XPS 13 and XPS 15.
The differences between the XPS 13 and 15 go far beyond their screen and body sizes. To help you decide, we’ve compared the two laptops, based on seven different criteria.
Design
Sporting a silver or gold lid and a soft-touch, carbon fiber body, both laptops have the same exact design language. Owing to its smaller, 13.3-inch screen, the XPS 13 is significantly lighter, tipping the scales at 2.8 pounds.
By comparison, the XPS 15 weighs a full 4.6 pounds, which is pretty light for a 15-inch laptop, but not exactly ultraportable. Both laptops are about the same thickness, with the XPS 13 measuring 0.6 inches at its thickest point while the XPS 15 is just 0.66 inches thick.
Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS 15
Weight
2.8 pounds
4.6 pounds
Size
11.98 x 7.88 x 0.6 inches
14.06 x 9.27 x 0.66-inches
Winner: Tie. The XPS 13 is lighter, but if you want the larger screen, you have to accept a heavier laptop.
Display
Both laptops are available with several different display options. The base model XPS 13 has a 1080p, non-touch screen, but more expensive configs come with either a 1080p touchscreen or a 3200 x 1800 touchscreen. The XPS 15 also comes standard with both 1080p non-touch screen and a full 4K (3840 x 2160) touch display. We haven’t tested the 1080p touch panel on the XPS 13 or the 1080p non-touch panel on the XPS 15, but we have tried the other options.
In our tests, the XPS 15 with 4K display was amazingly colorful, reproducing an impressive 188 percent of the sRGB color gamut. The Dell XPS 13’s 3200 x 1800 display, which we tested on a 7th-Gen Core model, managed 105.7 percent of the gamut while the 1080p screen, which we tried on an 8th-Gen Core config, got a strong 112 percent.
When it comes to brightness, the XPS 13’s 1080p screen rules the roost, hitting 368 nits of brightness while the 3200 x 1800 panel clocked in at 305 nits. The XPS 15’s 4K screen scored a much lower, 282 nits, but that’s still more than enough luminosity for strong viewing angles and a great experience overall.
Dell XPS 13 (1080p, non-touch)
Dell XPS 13 (3200 x 1800)
Dell XPS 15 (4K)
sRGB Color Gamut
112
105.7
188
Brightness
368
305
282
Winner: The XPS 15’s 4K screen is much more colorful and sharper than either of its little brother’s panel options. Video editors will appreciate being able to work on 4K videos in their native resolution.
Performance
The XPS 13 is available with an Intel 8th-Gen Core i7-8550U processor that has four cores and uses up to 15 watts of power. Its larger sibling uses up to an Intel Core i7-7700HQ, which uses 45 watts. The XPS 15 is also available with an optional Nvidia GTX 1050 GPU while the XPS 13 only comes with integrated Intel graphics.
Despite having a CPU that uses a third of the power, the XPS 13 came out ever-so-slightly ahead on some performance tests. On Geekbench 4, a synthetic test that measures overall performance, the XPS 13 with Core i7-8550U scored 14,158 versus 13,911 on the XPS 15 with Core i7-7700HQ CPU scored 13,911. The XPS 13 took just 3 minutes and 9 seconds to match 20,000 names with their addresses in OpenOffice Calc while its sibling was a little slower, completing the same task in 3 minutes and 23 seconds.
However, when it comes to graphics-intensive workloads, the XPS 15 and its GTX 1050 carddominate. The XPS 15 scored a really strong 134,459 on 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited, a synthetic graphics test while the XPS 13 managed only 81,837. The XPS 15 played Rise of the Tomb Raider, a fairly demanding game, at a smooth 41 fps while we wouldn’t even attempt it on the XPS 13. Creative professionals will be able to use the XPS 15’s graphics might for better video editing, 3D design and animation.
Dell XPS 13 (Core i7-8550U)
Dell XPS 15 (Core i7-7700HQ, Nvidia GTX 1050)
Geekbench 4
14,158
13,911
Spreadsheet Macro Test
3:09
3:23
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited
81,837
134,459
Winner: Dell XPS 15’s strong graphics performance puts it over the top.
Battery Life
The XPS 13 is one of the longest-lasting laptops on the market while the XPS 15 offers good, but not great endurance for its size. The non-touch Dell XPS 13 with 8th Gen Core i7-8550U CPU lasted a full 16 hours and 5 minutes on the Laptop Battery Test, which involves continuous surfing over Wi-Fi while a model with a 7th-Gen Core i7-7500U CPU and a 3200 x 1800 screen conked out after 9 hours and 11 minutes. The XPS 15 with 4K display and Core i7-7700HQ CPU endured for 8 hours and 23 minutes, which is still an hour and a half longer than the typical 15-inch laptop.
The XPS 13 is unquestionably less expensive than its 15-inch sibling. The base model costs $799, but it has a low-end, Core i3 processor and just 4GB of RAM, specs that belong in a sub-$500 laptop. To get the XPS 13 with good specs — a Core i7-8550U CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD — costs $1,199, though that configuration has occasionally been on sale for under $1,000. To get the XPS 13 with its 3200 x 1800 touch screen, the Core i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM, you’ll pay a hefty $1,549.
The base model XPS 15 costs $949, but as with the low-end XPS 13, this is a Core i3-powered model that no one should buy. You can step up to a Core i5-7300HQ CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and the important GTX 1050 graphics card for $1,199. You can step up to the 4K display for an extra $400 ($1,599) or spend $1,899 to get a model that’s decked out with a Core i7-7700HQ CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.
Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS 15
Base Price
$799
$949
Mid-Tier
$1,199
$1,199
High-End
$1,549
$1,899
Winner: Dell XPS 13 is a little cheaper at each configuration, but the XPS 15 offers higher-end specs.
Bottom Line
With each laptop winning two rounds and tying in another, there’s no clear winner. Which Dell XPS you buy should really depend on your needs. General consumers and productivity workers should get the XPS 13, because of its lighter weight, longer battery life and lower price. Anyone who needs to do professional graphics work should look no further than the XPS 15, because of its superior screen and discrete graphics card.
So you’re using your laptop, and suddenly, it’s dead. From Windows there is no battery warning, in fact, you have recently checked and Windows said you have 30% battery power to leave. What’s going on?
Even if you treat your laptop’s battery properly, its capacity will decrease over time. Its built-in power meter estimates how much juice available and how much time on battery you have left—but it can sometimes give you incorrect estimates.
This basic technique will work in Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista. Really, it will work for any device with a Apple a1322 laptop battery, including older MacBooks. It may not be necessary on some newer devices, however.
Why Calibrating the Battery Is Necessary
If you’re taking proper care of your laptop’s battery, you should be allowing it to discharge somewhat before plugging it back in and topping it off. You shouldn’t be allowing your laptop’s battery to die completely each time you use it, or even get extremely low. Performing regular top-ups will extend your battery’s life.
However, this sort of behavior can confuse the laptop’s battery meter. No matter how well you take care of the battery, its capacity will still decrease as a result of unavoidable factors like typical usage, age, and heat. If the battery isn’t allowed to run from 100% down to 0% occasionally, the battery’s power meter won’t know how much juice is actually in the battery. That means your laptop may think it’s at 30% capacity when it’s really at 1%—and then it shuts down unexpectedly.
Calibrating the battery won’t give you longer battery life, but it will give you more accurate estimates of how much battery power your device has left.
How Often Should You Calibrate the Battery?
Manufacturers that do recommend calibration often calibrating the battery every two to three months. This helps keep your battery readings accurate.
In reality, you likely don’t have to do this that often if you’re not too worried about your laptop’s battery readings being completely precise. However, if you don’t calibrate your battery regularly, you may eventually find your laptop suddenly dying on you when you’re using it—without any prior warnings. When this happens, it’s definitely time to calibrate the battery.
Some modern devices may not require battery calibration at all. For example, Apple recommends battery calibration for older Macs with user-replaceable batteries, but says it’s not required for modern portable Macs with built-in batteries. Check your device manufacturer’s documentation to learn whether battery calibration is necessary on your device or not.
Basic Calibration Instructions
Recalibrating yourApple a1175 notebook battery is simple: just let the battery run from 100% capacity straight down to almost dead, and then charging it back to full. The battery’s power meter will see how long the battery actually lasts and get a much more accurate idea of how much capacity the battery has left.
Some laptop manufacturers include utilities that will calibrate the battery for you. These tools will usually just make sure your laptop has a full battery, disable power management settings, and allow the battery to run to empty so the battery’s internal circuitry can get an idea of how long the battery lasts. Check your laptop manufacturer’s website for information on using any utilities they provide.
You should also look at your laptop’s manual or help files. Each manufacturer may recommend a slightly different calibration procedure or tool to ensure your laptop’s battery is properly calibrated. Some manufacturers may even say this isn’t necessary on their hardware (like Apple). However, there’s no harm to performing a calibration, even if the manufacturer says it isn’t necessary. It just takes some of your time. The calibration process essentially runs the battery through a full discharge and recharge cycle.
How to Manually Calibrate a Battery
While it’s a good idea to use any included utilities or just follow instructions specific to your laptop, you can also perform battery calibration without any specialized tools. The basic process is simple:
Charge your laptop’s battery to full—that’s 100%.
Let the battery rest for at least two hours, leaving the computer plugged in. This will ensure that the battery is cool and not still hot from the charging process. You’re free to use your computer normally while it’s plugged in, but be sure it doesn’t get too hot. You want it to cool down.
Go into your computer’s power management settings and set it to automatically hibernate at 5% battery. To find these options, head to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings. Look under the “Battery” category for the “Critical battery action” and “Critical battery level” options. (If you can’t set it to 5%, just set it as low as you can—for example, on one of our PCs, we couldn’t set these options below 7% battery.)
Pull the power plug and leave your laptop running and discharging until it automatically hibernates. You can keep using your computer normally while this happens.
NOTE: If you want to calibrate the battery while you aren’t using the computer, be sure your computer isn’t set to automatically sleep, hibernate, or turn its display off while idle. If your computer automatically enters power-saving mode while you’re away, it will save power and won’t discharge properly. To find these options, head to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Change plan settings.
Allow your computer to sit for five hours or so after it automatically hibernates or shuts down.
Plug your computer back into the outlet and charge it all the way back up to 100%. You can keep using your computer normally while it charges.
Ensure any power management settings are set to their normal values. For example, you probably want your computer to automatically power off the display and then go to sleep when you’re not using it to save battery power. You can change these settings while the computer charges.
Your laptop should now be reporting a more accurate amount of battery life, sparing you any surprise shutdowns and giving you a better idea of how much battery power you have at any given time.
The key to calibration is allowing the battery to run from 100% to almost empty, then charging it all the way up to 100% again, which may not happen in normal use. Once you’ve gone through this full charge cycle, the battery will know how much juice it has and report more accurate readings.
Gaming laptops can be seriously affected by your wallet, and some fan models cost more than 3000 dollars. But who says the right drill will cost your arms, legs and your eldest son’s soul? The financial awareness of the game player fortunately, there are some sub – $1000 laptop computer can run graphics game like the fate of 2 German tax II: in the solid frame rate of the new colossus.
And thanks to Nvidia’s 1050 Ti GPUs, you can hook up an Oculus Rift and jump into the virtual realm. However, some companies like Dell and Gigabyte are outfitting their rigs with Nvidia GTX 1060 Max-Q GPUs so fans of the HTC Vive can also get in on the fun. Or if you’re not ready to make such a big financial or space commitment, you can hook up one of Microsoft’s new MR headsets like the Acer Windows Mixed Reality AH101 headset, which has the added bonus of working with either discrete or integrated graphics. Whatever system you choose, you can start busting baddies in the virtual world. Best of all, you can use all that money you just saved to splurge on a top-notching gaming keyboardormouse.
If you’re curious how these laptops rank by brand, check out our Best and Worst Gaming Laptop Brands to see how notebook manufacturer handles gaming systems.
So without further adieu here are the best gaming laptops under $1,000.
The HP Omen 15 has been redesigned with an eye-catching chassis; a clicky, responsive keyboard; and an easy-to-remove panel to upgrade the hard-disk drive, solid-state drive and RAM. Add in a bright, vibrant display and some nice, loud speakers, and you have a gaming notebook that will enthrall you.
Key Specs: CPU: 2.8-GHz Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU * GPU: AMD Radeon RX 550 GPU with 2GB of VRAM * RAM/Storage: 8GB/1TB 7,200-rpm HDD * Display Size/Resolution: 15.6/1920 x 1080
Best Productvity: Origin Eon15-S
This 15-inch gaming laptop is fairly portable at 5.2 pounds and packs good overall performance, thanks to its Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics. You also get decent battery life and an understated design that stays cool while fragging. It’s a great choice for gamers on a tight budget who don’t want to make too many compromises.
Key Specs: CPU: 2.5-GHz Intel Core i5-7300 HQ * GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB of VRAM * RAM/Storage: 8GB/256GB M.2 PCIe SSS with a1TB 7,200-rpm hard drive * Display Size/Resolution: 15.6-inch/1920 x 1080
Best Graphics Performance: Lenovo Legion Y520
For an entry-level laptop, the Legion Y520 and its Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti GPU can kick some butt. During our testing, the laptop delivered surprisingly high frame rates and was one of the few budget systems able to run the Metro: Last Light benchmark. In addition, it’s got a sleek, tapered look and the strong performance of its Intel Core i7 CPU.
The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming laptop is known for its impressive Dell inspiron 1545 laptop battery life. This iteration lasted over 7 hours on our battery test. Thanks to its7th-generation Intel Core i5processor the Inspiron 15 7000 can multitask with the best of them. But the notebook’s best feature is its Nvidia GTX 1060 (Max-Q) GPU, it’s one of the first sub-$1000 gaming laptops that’s truly VR-Ready. If you’re looking for a gaming laptop that can deliver solid framerates without blasting a hole in your wallet, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming laptop should at or near the top of your list.
Key Specs: CPU: 2.5-GHz Intel Core i5-7300HQ CPU * GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (Max-Q) 6GB of VRAM* RAM/Storage: 8GB/256GB SSD * Display Size/Resolution: 15.6-inch/1920 x 1080
Clad in black, red and silver, the Aspire VX offers a sturdy grip and a somewhat-premium look. In terms of gaming, the system’s Core i5 CPU and Nvidia GTX 1050 GPU should provide solid performance on both fronts — provided you don’t try to use it with overly taxing games or work. But where the VX 15 really shines is its audio thanks to its speakers that are well-balanced and surprisingly powerful.
Key Specs: CPU: 2.5-GHz Intel Core i5-7300HQ CPU * GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 with 4GB of VRAM * RAM/Storage: 8GB/256GB M.2 SATA SSD * Display Size/Resolution: 15.6/1920 x 1080
Best Design: Alienware 13
What’s imposing and badass on a 17- or 18-inch laptop is downright adorable on a 13-inch rig. The $999 configuration of the Alienware 13 keeps the trademark customizable lighting of its big brothers, including the gorgeous backlit keyboard. But this laptop is more than a pretty piece of tech, packing a 7th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and an Nvidia GeForce 1050 GPU, which should deliver good frame rates on its admittedly low-res 1366 x 768 display.
Key Specs: CPU: 2.5-GHz Intel Core i5-7300HQ CPU * GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 with 2GB of VRAM * RAM/Storage: 8GB/180GB M.2 SATA SSD * Display Size/Resolution: 13-inch/1366 x 768
New and Notable: Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming Laptop (Late 2017)
Yes, we know the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming laptop was updated a few months ago. But hear us out: an even newer update is all for the better. The latest version of the notebook is leaner and more powerful than its predecessors and starts at a reasonable $999. Even better, Dell has improved the display giving consumers a choice between a 1920 x 1080 non-touch anti-glare display, a 1920 x 1080 touchscreen or a 3840 x 2160 anti-glare screen. No word on battery life just yet, but this notebook has a great tracklife when it comes to endurance so we’re optimistically hopeful for now.
Key Specs: CPU: 2.8-GHz Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU * GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti with 4GB of VRAM * RAM/Storage: 8GB/1TB 5,400-rpm hard drive * Display Size/Resolution: 13-inch/1366 x 768
The laptop is largely considered to be the hub of our digital lives,. Although many people think that smart phone is changing this fact, in fact, it is much easier to do on laptop than anything else. This is especially true if you get a laptop computer at work or school, especially in the coming new school year.
While you may see headlines about devices like the latest MacBook Pro, it turns out you don’t need to spend thousands to get a decent computer — especially if you’re using it for things like word processing, web browsing, and emailing.
Of course, there are quite a few things to consider in purchasing a new laptop. After all, they’re pretty complex machines. Here’s a quick rundown of the features to look for when you make your choice.
Operating System: There are a few major computer operating systems out there. You’re probably most familiar with Windows, as its by far the most popular operating system, but there’s also Apple’s macOS, which is also very capable. Finally, there’s Google’s Chrome OS, which is a little more targeted to those with basic computer needs who like the idea of being able to use some Android apps on their computer and are plugged into Google’s ecosystem and web apps. We’re not including any computers with macOS on this list because there aren’t any that would fall under the “budget laptop” distinction of costing $500 or less.
Specs: Some computers are more powerful than others. Things like the processor and amount of RAM will dictate how quickly your computer runs, while the amount of storage indicates how many files you can keep on your computer at once.
Size: Laptops come in a range of different sizes, however, the smaller ones generally sit in the 10- to 11-inch range, while the larger ones can get as big as 17-inches. That’s handy for watching movies, but it comes at the cost of portability.
Then, of course, there’s cost. For this guide, we consider a “budget” laptop to be a laptop that costs about $600 or less. However, if you can afford to spend more than that, you will be able to get something more powerful and arguably better than the computers on this list.
You can check out our guide to the best laptops overall or our guide to the best Chromebooks on Insider Picks.
Although the HP Pavilion x360 is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Asus Chrome Flip, the Dell Inspiron 15 5000, the Microsoft Surface 3, the Lenovo 110-15IBR, and the Samsung Chromebook Pro.
The best budget laptop overall
Why you’ll love it: The HP Pavilion x360 is versatile thanks to its ability to work in tablet mode, and it offers above-par performance for the price and plenty of ports.
If you’re looking for the best laptop you can possibly get in your ~$500 budget, then the HP Pavilion x360 is for you, specifically the 13-inch variant with the touchscreen.
As you might assume, the x360 is actually more of a two-in-one than a straight up laptop, so you can actually flip the screen all the way around to use the device as a tablet if you so choose. But the tablet/laptop combo isn’t the only great thing about this computer. It also boasts an Intel Core i3-6100U, which is coupled with 6GB of RAM. The result? A very capable computer that should be powerful enough for any businessperson, student, or just the average Joe who wants a web-browsing and emailing machine.
You’ll also get a 500GB hard drive, which is a disk drive. That’s an important aspect to consider here. The drive is not a solid-state-drive, so you’ll need to be careful when moving it while it’s on.
When it comes to input and outputs, this computer will give you two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, one headphone jack, and a HDMI port, so you’ll have plenty of room for your peripherals.
This Windows 10 computer didn’t just catch our attention. Laptop Mag gave it 4/5 stars, and it’s sitting with an average of 4.1/5 stars on Amazon. The downsides? The display on the computer isn’t all that great, and the aforementioned disk drive isn’t as nice as a solid disk drive, but it is pretty common for computers in this price range.
Pros: Excellent performance for the price, plenty of ports, Windows 10
Cons: Disk drive, slightly under-par display
The best budget laptop that’s a Chromebook
Why you’ll love it: The Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA is sleek and stylish, it runs Android apps, has a touchscreen, and tops the charts as the best Chromebook you can buy.
Asus has long offered a number of great laptops at a reasonable price, and it was pretty quick to jump onto the Chromebook train when Google launched Chrome OS. In particular, the Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA-DHM4 is an excellent computer, offering great value for money. We named it the best Chromebook in our buying guide.
For starters, the raw specs are really quite good. The laptop has an Intel Core m3-6Y30 processor, coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of flash storage. Now, that might not sound like much compared to other computers on this list, but Chromebooks are a little different. For example, they largely use web-based apps rather than local apps, meaning a lot of storage isn’t all that necessary, and the computer doesn’t really need to process intensive apps.
On top of that, the Asus a32-f80 laptop battery life on this device is good, too. You’ll get more than 10 hours of use from the computer, which is more than many other computers on the market. It even boasts a backlit keyboard coupled with a touch-sensitive display, so you can use it like a tablet if you so choose. It also runs Android apps, so it can double as a tablet.
So what’s the downside? Well, the laptop is a little more expensive than other Chromebooks, and while we like the fact that it has two USB-C ports, it does mean that you might need to use some adapters until all your peripherals make use of the new connectivity options.
Pros: Light, usable as a tablet, powerful for a Chromebook
Cons: Pricey, may require adapters
The best 15-inch budget laptop
Why you’ll love it: The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 has a giant 15-inch screen and decent specs for less than $500.
Looking for something with a slightly larger display than what your average sub-$500 laptop might offer? The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 has excellent specs under the hood, plus it boasts a large, 15-inch display, so you’ll have plenty of screen for those in-bed movie nights.
The laptop boasts an Intel Core i5 dual-core processor, which is coupled with a hefty 8GB of RAM, and that’s more than enough power for most use-cases. On top of that, you’ll get a 1TB hard drive, so you’ll have plenty of room to store all your media and files.
Unlike plenty of other computers on the market these days, the Dell Inspiron 15 5000 does indeed come with a disc drive, so you’ll still be able to watch your DVDs and listen to your CDs if you so choose. It can be a helpful addition. The laptop also offers a USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet port, HDMI, and a headphone jack.
So what are the downsides to this machine? Well, for starters the screen isn’t the best on the market, and a review from PCWorld noted that the trackpad could have been more accurate. However, the site did give it some praise and a respectable 3.5 rating. Laptop Mag gave it a decent review for a budget laptop.
Pros: Powerful, lots of storage, disc drive for DVDs and CDs
Cons: Mediocre display, somewhat expensive, trackpad isn’t overly accurate
The best portable budget laptop
Why you’ll love it: The Microsoft Surface 3 offers Microsoft’s great hardware look, along with a sleek profile and enough ports and storage to get you through most things.
Microsoft has come out with a number of great computers over the past few years, and the Microsoft Surface 3 has been hailed for its top-quality performance and its slim and portable design. While the Surface Pro lineup is perhaps the most notable, the company also has a few lower-cost devices, like the Microsoft Surface 3.
The Microsoft Surface 3 is perhaps more of a tablet than a laptop, but it boasts a desktop-class operating system in Windows 10 and is compatible with Microsoft’s self-built keyboard that you can use to type up your emails, papers, and Facebook posts.
The computer also has a number of ports built right into it, including a USB 3.0 port, a micro USB charging port, a microSD card slot, and even a Mini DisplayPort. It also boasts a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you’ll be able to listen to your music while you work. You’ll also get a 128GB flash drive, so you should have plenty of room to store your files.
Of course, there are a few downsides to consider. This laptop doesn’t necessarily have a desktop-class processor, so it might not work as well for those looking for a high-performance machine. Regardless, it has strong reviews from CNET, Engadget, and PC World.
Pros: Sleek, very thin, low-cost, portable
Cons: Not very powerful
The best budget laptop for $300
Why you’ll love it: The Lenovo 110-15IBR offers enough ports for most, a large display, and 500GB of storage – but the best thing about it is that it costs less than $250.
While $500 is a pretty reasonable budget for a new computer, sometimes it’s hard to reach even that. Luckily, there are still some great options in the sub-$250 range. Sure, you may not get the most powerful computer on the market, but you should get one that’s good enough for basic tasks. Case in point: the Lenovo 110-15IBR.
This laptop boasts a somewhat large 15.6-inch display, along with an Intel Celeron N3060 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a hefty 500GB of storage, which is plenty for almost all uses.
When it comes to ports, you’ll get a USB 3.0 port, USB 2.0 port, HDMI port, and a headphone/microphone combo port. The computer also offers Microsoft’s latest and greatest operating system, Windows 10, which is largely considered the best Windows operating system ever.
There are a few trade-offs at this price. For example, you won’t be able to do too many processor-hungry tasks, and the computer may not last as long as some of the others on this list. The 5.5-hour battery life could also be a little better than it is, and the graphics won’t impress much. Still, for this price, it’s a bargain.
Pros: Ultra-affordable, large display, plenty of storage
Cons: Low performer, lackluster graphics, short battery life
The best budget laptop that’s a Chromebook with a stylus
Why you’ll love it: The Samsung Chromebook Pro is sleek and stylish, runs some Android apps, has a beautiful display, and comes with a stylus.
Samsung was one of the first companies to adopt the Chromebook, and since then, it has been launching Chromebooks on a yearly basis. One of the best Chromebooks of the year is the new Samsung Chromebook Pro.
There are a few things that make this a great laptop. The raw specs are pretty good, and it has an Intel Core m3-6Y30 processor, coupled with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of flash storage.
Now, that might not sound like much storage compared to other computers on this list, but Chromebooks are a little different. They largely use web-based apps rather than local apps, meaning a lot of storage isn’t necessary, and the computer doesn’t really need to process intensive apps.
Perhaps the best thing about the Chromebook Pro is its display, which is part of the reason why this device beat out the likes of the Asus Chromebook Flip. The display comes in at 2,400 x 1,600 pixels, which equates to a fairly dense 235 pixels-per-inch. Last but not least is the fact that this computer comes with a stylus, which is more than most other laptops in this price range can boast.
So what are the downsides? Well, while Chromebooks are better about using web apps and such, 32GB still isn’t all that much and some may want to get a little more storage. On top of that, it’s definitely pricier than other Chromebooks – though there are advantages to paying that extra cash.
Pros: Relatively powerful, nice display, usable as a tablet
Cons: More expensive than other Chromebooks, only 32GB of storage
Battery-life is one of the most challenging challenges for laptop users. Let alone those who saw our iPhone drop from 20% to 1% in 5 minutes. Qualcomm and Microsoft have announced a new computer design, running Windows 10 and Qualcomm’s 835 mobile processor. They claim that this will provide users with 20 hours of battery life average. In standby mode, the battery can last for a week before charging.
The news came at the Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit in Maui, where Qualcomm, Microsoft, and major hardware partners such as Asus, HP, Lenovo, Xaomi, and Sprint shared their vision for what is dubbed the “Always Connected PC”.
This refers to a new kind of PC that can run all day (with the improved battery life) and stay constantly connected to the internet with the Qualcomm LTE modem inside, no matter where the user may roam.
This new ultrathin laptop is based on the ARM processor architecture and runs Windows 10 in emulation mode. The Qualcomm 835 SnapDragon processor used in these laptops is fast enough to run Windows 10s or 10 Pro with very little latency.
Microsoft worked hard to deliver a full version of its OS that works well with Qualcomm’s 835 Snapdragon processor. The last time it tried this with Windows RT, it failed to make its operating system run well on the ARM processor used in hardware. Consequently, the Windows PCs never got any serious attention in the marketplace.
What I find most interesting in the announcement is that the “always connected” quality is similar to what we have with smartphones today. The only difference is in the size and shape of the device. Microsoft and Qualcomm, along with their partners, believe that these new Always Connected PCs will usher in a new era of portable computing where battery life is a second thought and always being connected is the norm.
As a power user and avid mobile computer fan, I very much like the idea of having an ultrathin laptop with all-day Hp pavilion dv4 laptop battery life. I’d love to leave home in the morning without even having to think about carrying a power cord with me.
Since the arrival of the first laptops in the late 1980s, consumers have been calling for thinner, lighter, powerful laptops that also have long battery life. PC makers have responded with a host of laptop designs over the years, including “Netbooks,” and, more recently, 2-in-1’s in which the keyboard is detachable and the screen can double as a tablet. But the big problem with any of the current laptops is that at best, they can give users only up to 12-15 hours of battery life. And if you’re into streaming movies and playing games, battery life on even the newest laptops is pared down to not much more than seven to eight hours at best.
Qualcomm and Microsoft believe they’ve finally addressed the battery problem in a meaningful way.
And knowing my laptop would always be connected no matter where I am could change the way I use the device. The PC also supports Wi-Fi, but Wi-Fi is not always available where LTE is available almost everywhere in the US and most of the world.
Qualcomm and Microsoft and their PC-maker partners, as well as the wireless carriers that provide the LTE, will have to work hard to get consumers to buy into their vision. They’ll have to make us believe that the Always Connected PC is a new form of personal computing.
One possible deal breaker is the question of whether or not the new machines will run all the apps that consumers are accustomed to. Microsoft execs told me the Always Connected PCs can be upgraded from Windows 10S to Windows 10 Pro for free, so that they can run all Microsoft apps.
Another key question is how much the carriers will charge for the LTE data connection, when data usage is expected to be much higher than on a smartphone. The cost and hassle factor of buying a new service plan could turn some consumers away. The carriers are still working out the cost issue, and we won’t see the numbers and terms until the first machines ship next year.
Cristiano Amon, executive vice president of Qualcomm Technologies and president of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, says the PC makers will sell the Always Connected PCs through traditional retail stores, online, and in wireless carrier stores.
The carriers tried this once before with Netbooks. They were arguably too early with the idea, and it flopped. But carriers have become good at selling smartphones with data plans, so this time might be different. Qualcomm and Microsoft officials believe that with proper training the carriers will become an important channel for always on Always Connected PCs.
Microsoft and Qualcomm did extensive research before they launched the Always Connected PC program, and say that they found high demand for it in the market. They and their partners plan to spend significant money promoting it in the new year.
THE FIRST “ALWAYS ON” PCS
The first “Windows on Qualcomm” PCs will hit the market sometime in Q1 or Q2 of 2018.
At the event in Maui, Asus introduced its Nova GO, with 64 gig SSD and 4 Gig for RAM for $499.
HP unveiled its Envy X2 but did not share how it would be priced.
Lenovo is expected to debut its Always On PC at CES in early January.
Qualcomm and Microsoft executives assured me that many PC makers, carriers, and software developers that will back the new laptop program in the new year. Qualcomm execs even hinted that we could also see Always Connected PCs from smartphone makers in the near future.
WHY NOW?
Why are Qualcomm and Microsoft introducing a new type of mobile PC and a new carrier strategy now? Three reasons:
The first is that both companies have watched with great interest how people have become dependent on their smartphones. They’ve also seen that many users want to have a device with a bigger screen and a keyboard to do more than you can on a smartphone.
For Microsoft, these new Always Connected PCs could become their “Chromebook” killer, so to speak, as it runs all Windows apps and is priced similarly to Chromebooks.
The second reason is that Qualcomm’s 835 Snapdragon mobile processor has as much power as some of the CPUs that are in mainstream laptops today. That really enticed Microsoft to spend the last two years with Qualcomm to optimize Windows to work within the ARM architecture. Together they have created a viable portable PC design and platform with the kind ofHp 593554-001 notebook battery life and instant on capabilities you get with smartphones.
The third reason is that carriers see this as a new way to expand their overall businesses. While demand for smartphones is still strong, the market for them is becoming increasingly saturated and carriers will need new ways to sustain growth. The Always Connected PC might be an especially promising new market as Gigabit LTE, and eventually 5G, roll out and bring far faster data speeds.
I’ve covered the PC industry for 35 years and have seen many inflection points that either helped grow the industry, or changed its direction. My early take is that the Always Connected PC has legs, and could even help revive a PC industry that’s been shrinking over the last 10 years. Microsoft and Qualcomm will have to keep pushing the concept, and keep hardware partners and carriers all pulling in the same direction. We should know sometime next year if it’s looking like consumers are coming along for the ride.
Today’s engineers and architects are not just drawing buildings on paper, like Brady’s father. Buying a laptop and running 3D program in 2017 of construction projects may be an expensive proposition, depending on the application you run and how well you want them to perform.
Forum user SentinelFPS is looking for a competent laptop for their father, who is a “construction foreman and soon to be coordinator.” The preferred requirements for this machine include a 15-inch screen, black or silver colorway, and the ability to use powerful graphics apps such as Auto CAD and Sketch up. SentinelFPS would also prefer a 2-in-1 to a traditional clamshell.
Unfortunately, SentinelFPS’s stated budget is just $1,000, which limits the choices, unless they’re willing to kick in some more money. Fortunately, there are also affordable options that come close to meeting these requirements.
If the budget is the most important part of your needs, then consider the Acer Aspire E 15, a 15-inch notebook with a speedy 8th Gen Core i7 CPU, an Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics card, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. This machine supports AutoCAD 2018’s basic system requirements (4GB of memory, 4GB of storage and a 1GHz CPU), but since there’s a huge difference between opening an application and running it smoothly, we’re guessing you might need more.
So, for example, if you believe you need an Nvidia Quadro GPU, and not a GeForce card, as the former is targeted at workstations and the latter is meant for gaming, look for an extra $334. The $1,334 ThinkPad P40 Yoga mobile workstation gives you an Nvidia Quadro M500M GPU with 2GB of memory, a roomy 512GB SSD, 8GB of memory and the 2-in-1 design you asked about. The only issues, though, are its 14.1-inch screen, which is smaller than you’d like, and its Core i7-6500U CPU is a couple generations old.
If you can find an extra $770, though, you’ve got a great option in the 15.6-inch Dell Precision 5520. For $1,770, you can get a configuration of the Dell Precision 5520 with a Nvidia Quadro M1200 GPU with 4GB of memory,an good long life Dell precision m20 laptop battery,an Intel Core i7-7700HQ and an extremely spacious 2TB hard drive.
Another reason why you’ll want to spend a little more money is to get a machine that will have a better chance of surviving the dangers of a construction site. Both the ThinkPad P40 Yoga and the Dell Precision 5520 feature designs built for durability, as they each passed MIL-SPEC testing. Those are the same rigors (including drops) that equipment purchased for the U.S. military must pass.
So, while we know you wanted to give your dad a laptop that was accurate to the blueprint of your request, no laptop like it exists. Instead, we recommend each of these, as they’re some of your best options.
Have laptop woes and need advice? To get answers fast, head straight to the Laptop Tech Support Forum for the latest tips from our resident experts and fellow members.
For some small business owners, long battery life is one of the most important functions of a laptop. If you are a lot of people working for a long time, often away from the power source, and want to have a laptop with the same working hours as you do, this list is for you.
Longest Lasting Business Laptops
Lenovo ThinkPad T470
The Lenovo ThinkPad T470 is a sturdy, powerful work laptop with a superb battery life of more than 17 hours. This laptop was built for business in every way possible, from the comfortable keyboard and sensitive trackpad (and signature bright red TrackPoint pointing stick) to the variety of ports and zippy seventh-generation Core i5 CPU. If you want a classic business workstation that can go the distance, you‘ll like the ThinkPad T470. The only downside to this work–marathon machine is its weight; at 3.49 pounds, it may be a bit too heavy for frequent travelers.
Mac lovers who need extended Apple a1322 laptop battery life should check out the MacBook Air 13-inch. While we don‘t typically recommend older laptop models (this MacBook debuted in 2015),the MacBook Air 13-inch is still on the market and fully supported. It offers real value for money, relative to other Mac laptops, and of course, it loves the MacOS.The battery lasts up to 14 hours on a charge. It sports a solid Intel Core i5 processor, and the luxe look and feel you expect in a Mac.
Lenovo ThinkPad X270
With a full-sized keyboard and that classic Lenovo business look, the ThinkPad X270 is a more portable and lighter (2.98 pounds) alternative to the ThinkPad T470 (3.49 pounds). Despite its lighter weight and more compact size, the ThinkPad X270 has enough power for serious business users,plus an impressive 13.5-hour battery life. The entry–level model is surprisingly affordable at just $881.10, but like all Lenovo machines, it can be decked out and upgraded as much as you like. If you need a little more power or RAM, you can customize that into your machine (for a price).
The Dell Latitude 7280 is a bit more expensive than the Lenovo machines on this list, but it also sports a slightly more modern design and a lighter chassis (2.61 pounds). The entry–level machine comes with a little less under the hood in terms of processing power (an Intel Core i3 instead of the Lenovo‘s Intel Core i5), but you can easily upgrade the CPU to something with more horsepower. We measured a battery life of almost 12.5hours with these specs, so if you‘re in the market for a long-lasting Dell, you should consider this model.
Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS 13 is a popular business laptop with lots of configuration options that offers excellent Dell xps m1530 notebook battery life of 13 hours and 49 minutes. While the base-level laptop has a somewhat unimpressive Core i3 processor, for just $100 more you can upgrade to a Core i5 processor, which is suitable for most business users’ needs. The spacious keyboard is comfortable, even for long typing sessions, and the relatively lightweight design makes this laptop a great fit for on-the-go business travelers.
Whether you write a term paper, teach a lesson, organize a research project or surf the Internet, you need the right laptop to meet your needs and budgets. At first glance, the laptop shopping process seems to be a bit of a mess. There are hundreds of different models, with at least three different operating systems, ranging from $150 to $5000.
Fortunately, finding the right notebook is a lot easier and less expensive than detecting the Higgs boson particle. Here are six tips to help you choose the laptop that fits your needs and budget.
1. A smaller screen means better portability. Most laptops come in screen sizes that range from 11 to 17 inches. The entire system is sized to fit the display. That means smaller notebooks are lighter and more compact, and larger ones are bulkier.
If you don’t move the laptop much, a 15-inch model is fine. But if you plan to use the laptop on your lap or carry it around, a model with a 13- or 14-inch screen, like the Dell XPS 13, may provide the best balance between screen space and portability. Children under 12 will find it easier to handle a model with an 11.6- or 12.5-inch display. Get a 17-inch laptop only if it’s going to stay on your desk.
2. Get a resolution of at least 1080p. If you can afford one (and they are available even for under $400), get a laptop with at least a 1920 x 1080 screen resolution, which is sometimes referred to as 1080 or “full HD” resolution. That number of pixels makes it easier to read web pages without scrolling and to stack two windows side by side for multitasking.
3. Choose a laptop with at least 8 hours of battery life. If you plan to spend any time away from an outlet — even if that time is spent sitting on a bed or couch at home — look for a laptop that offers more than 8 hours of Asus a32-f3 laptop battery life. A great example of a long-lasting laptop at a reasonable price is the Asus ZenBook UX330UA, which lasts for 9 hours on a charge. Because they require so much power, gaming laptops are an exception to this rule.
4. Chromebooks are good for kids, but Windows or macOS is better for everyone else. Laptops that run Google’s Chrome OS are popular with schools because they are easy for children to use and hard for them to infect with malware. The best Chromebook for the money right now is the Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA. However, for most people, either a Windows 10 laptop or a MacBook will provide more functionality.
If you’re trying to decide between Windows and macOS, note that Windows gives you a lot more affordable options, including laptops with touch screens, while MacBooks tend to offer stronger security and better included software for editing photos and videos.
5. Get a 2-in-1 only if you need a touch screen. Many laptops today are 2-in-1s, which can switch between clamshell and tablet modes. These systems, like the Lenovo Yoga 920, are great if you really plan to use a touch screen, but you can usually get a better laptop for the money if you go with a traditional clamshell-style laptop. Clamshells with touch screens usually cost more and have less battery life than configurations with nontouch displays.
6. Key specs: Core i5, 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD. If you’re spending over $600 on a laptop, the minimum specs you should get include an Intel Core i5 processor (Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen Mobile are also good), 8GB of RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD) and a 1080p screen. It’s particularly important to get an SSD rather than a hard drive, because a solid-state drive makes all of your programs load faster.
If you have a laptop running on the 6th,7th, or 8th generation of Intel core processor, you have upgraded to Windows 10. The autumn creators update, your system will automatically start to take advantage of the new power throttle function. This will enable you to get about 10% of the life span of your laptop battery.
Microsoft has said it plans to expand support to other processors in the future. But for now, let’s take a look at how the Power Throttling feature works.
How does it work?
Prior to the Power Throttling feature, the CPU was always running all apps at full capacity all the time, regardless of whether they were in the foreground or background. Windows reduced power to all apps only after periods of inactivity, i.e., when the laptop was idle. Thus the power savings was either all or nothing.
With the Power Throttling feature, when an application is relegated to the background, Windows will put any CPU resources dedicated to that application into a low power state. The app is still running, but only using the most energy efficient operating mode of the CPU. In this way, the app can operate, but with minimal drain on the battery.
Windows 10’s Power Throttling feature also incorporates a sophisticated detection system that can differentiate between those apps running in the background that are important to you and those that aren’t. To do so, Windows 10 monitors app usage and bases its decisions on the demands of running apps and the apps you regularly interact with even though they’re in the background. It will then make sure that apps that are important get the power they need, while apps that aren’t don’t.
For example, if you are listening to music and relegate your music app to the background, Windows will determine that even though that app is in the background, it is still performing a task that is important to you and will make sure that app receives the power that it needs to perform its task. On the other hand, a word processing app that is relegated to the background isn’t doing any real work, so power to that app will be throttled back. Even so, a power throttled app will still be able to perform necessary tasks such as an automatic save operation for a word processing app.
Taskbar Notification Area
If your laptop meets the requirements and you are running on Dell latitude d620 laptop battery power, you’ll find that you can adjust the overall level of Power Throttling that Windows 10 will employ system wide from the Taskbar Notification Area via the Power icon. Just click the Power icon and you’ll see the power mode slider, which has four positions, as shown in Figure A.
Figure A
The power mode slider allows you to determine how aggressively you want to apply the Power Throttling feature.
This slider lets you determine how aggressively you want to apply the Power Throttling feature. The four positions range from Battery Saver, which provides the maximum power throttling, to Best Performance, which disables Power Throttling. In between, you’ll find the Better Battery and Better Performance positions.
When you plug in your laptop, you’ll see that the power mode slider shows (plugged in) and automatically jumps to Best Performance, which again disables Power Throttling. You can see this state in Figure B.
Figure B
When your laptop is plugged in, Windows 10 disables the Power Throttling feature.
Viewing Power Throttling
Of course, if your laptop is using the Power Throttling feature, you’ll want to see it in action. You can do so in Task Manager after you add the Power Throttling column. To begin, right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager. When the window appears, select the Details tab, right-click on the Name column header, and choose Select Columns. Then, select the Power Throttling check box, as shown in Figure C, and click OK.
Figure C
Select the Power Throttling check box.
Once you do so, the Power Throttling column will appear in the Details tab’s display. As you can see in Figure D, I moved Power Throttling to the left and positioned it next to the Name column. I also moved the Status column down. I then sorted the display by the Power Throttling column.
Figure D
You can see Power Throttling in action by enabling the column in Task Manager.
If you look at the Windows Store app process (WinStore.App.exe), you can see that Power Throttling is enabled for the app and its Status is listed as Suspended. This status indicates that the Windows Store app is minimized in the background and is drawing minimal battery power. Looking at the File Explorer process (explorer.exe), you can see that even though Power Throttling is enabled for it, File Explorer’s Status is Running because it is still in the foreground and I was just using it.
Disabling the Power Throttling feature
By default, Windows 10 will enable the Power Throttling feature for every app it can. However, you may find that certain apps don’t work well with the Power Throttling feature. If so, you can disable the Power Throttling feature for that app.
Of course, you can disable the Power Throttling feature system wide using the power mode slider. But to disable the feature for a single app, access Settings and select System | Battery. Then, select Battery Usage By App. When you see the screen shown in Figure E, locate and select the app to expand the Dell r795x notebook battery Usage panel. Then, clear the Let Windows Decide check box.
Figure E
You can disable the Power Throttling feature for a single app.
