Laptop technology is advancing at an astounding rate, so it is no surprise that 2020 has brought a great selection of laptops. Specs and performance have improved while size and weight have, in many cases, been reduced. To help you make a purchase decision, here is an overview of the best laptops of the year.
MacBook Pro 16-inch
Best for: Multimedia creation
Starting price: $2399 USD
Weight: 3.4 lbs
Dimensions: 14.09 x 9.68 x 0.64 inches
The sleek aluminum body of MacBook Pro 16-inch houses a powerful i7 or i9 processor, depending on configuration. You can choose from an AMD 5300M (4GB) or 5500M (4 and 8 GB) to power the graphics. The slim bezels, trademark immersive screen and the new and improved magic keyboard makes the new MacBook Pro a favorite among professionals and Apple fans alike.
Pros:
- Three different CPU options
- Uncompromising hardware and software quality
- New magic keyboard improves typing
- Lightweight and portable
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heats up quickly
Dell XPS 15 (2020)
Best for: Balanced performance
Average starting price: $1799 USD
Weight: 4.5 lbs
Dimensions: 57 x 9.06 x 0.71 inches
The XPS 15 is Dell’s updated and well-balanced flagship laptop that features a brilliant 4k display, GTX 1650Ti in the graphics department, and powerful processor to handle heavy loads. Combined with a battery life of close to 8.5 hours, you can expect the XPS 15 to meet all the requirements of a high-spec laptop.
Pros:
- Well-balanced specs
- Reasonable price
- Thin bezels and beautiful display
- Powerful CPU
Cons:
- Somewhat lacking in GPU performance
- Thermal load creates loud fan noise
Alienware Area-51M R2
Best for: Gaming and performance-demanding work
Average starting price: $2299 USD
Weight: 10.4 lbs
Dimensions: 15.85 x 12.56 x 1.7 inches
Sometimes you want max specs for unlimited power, which is what the Alienware Area-51M R2 offers. The laptop is powered by a 10th generation overclocked desktop processor and has the latest line of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card installed. Its 17.3-inch 4k display and up to 64 GB of memory make it a powerful tool to perform any demanding task.
Pros:
- Top performance benchmarks
- Latest Nvidia graphics card
- 4k screen has 120 Hz refresh rate
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy
Microsoft Surface Book 2
Best for: Workload and using as tablet
Average starting price: $1849 USD
Weight: 4.2 lbs
Dimensions: 13.5 x 9.87 x 0.9 inches
When it comes to hybrid laptops, the Microsoft Surface Book 2 is a great choice. It comes with a stunning 4k display and packs both processing and graphics power. The screen can be detached for use as a tablet, which has resulted in a very efficient thermal exhaust system with the processor venting heat form the screen and graphics card cooling from the keyboard base.
Pros:
- Strong graphics card
- Long battery life
- Touchscreen is highly responsive
Cons:
- Max 16GB RAM
- Gfx performance throttled by drivers
- No Thunderbolt
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 7th Gen
Best for: Working on the go
Average starting price: $850 USD
Weight: 2.4 lbs
Dimensions: 12.71 x 8.54 x 0.59 inches
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 7th Gen. is arguably the most portable business-style laptop. What it lacks in graphics is well compensated for with other features. It has a 14-inch UHD display, a compact design, comfortable keyboard, and plenty of RAM to make short work of demanding processes.
Pros:
- Smooth typing experience
- Impressive speakers
Cons:
- RAM cannot be upgraded as it is soldered
- No discrete graphics
- High brightness drains battery
Selecting a Laptop
Making your final decision about which laptop to purchase depends on a variety of factors including the main purpose for the device, portability, and required specs. One of the easiest ways to check whether a laptop’s reputation holds up is to check its customer reviews. The users are honest regarding their feedback since they have nothing to gain from hiding the information. Selecting from a predefined, concise list with a clear, objective-oriented approach can significantly streamline the entire process of purchasing a new laptop.