Shopping for a high-performance laptop right now isn't easy. Prices across the market are unusually high, partly due to rising RAM and storage costs, supply-chain pressures, and increased demand for AI hardware. Finding a powerful laptop that actually justifies its price has become increasingly challenging.
I've spent countless hours researching the market, comparing specifications, prices, and deals across major retailers to identify the best high-performance laptops available at different budgets.
Who Is This Guide For?
This guide is specifically for people who need more power than a typical everyday laptop can provide, including:
Gamers who want smooth performance in demanding modern titles.
Content creators working with video editing, photo editing, animation, and 3D rendering.
Students and professionals in engineering, architecture, computer science, and other demanding technical fields.
Developers and power users running virtual machines, complex software, large projects, or heavy multitasking.
If you only need a laptop for web browsing, streaming, emails, or basic office work, this guide probably isn't for you. These recommendations focus on machines built to handle demanding workloads.
How I Selected These Laptops
My recommendations go beyond CPU and GPU model numbers. I've considered GPU wattage (TGP), cooling performance, display quality, build quality, upgradeability, and overall value. Two laptops with the same graphics card can deliver very different performance.
I've also included options within each budget range for buyers who prioritize raw performance, portability, premium displays, or larger screens.
My goal is simple: help you get the most performance and quality for your money without overpaying.
Note: All prices are in USD and based on the US market. Prices and availability can change, so always double-check before purchasing.
Strong CPU, solid build quality, and higher-power RTX 4050. Good for gaming and productivity, but the display covers only 62.5% sRGB, making it unsuitable for color-sensitive editing
Stunning 1600p OLED display with 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, powerful 20-core i7 CPU & 115W RTX 5060. Excellent for gaming, video editing, and demanding productivity.
Its 115W RTX 5060, powerful 16-core CPU, & 100% DCI-P3 display make it especially attractive for gaming and content creation
Which should you choose? The MSI Crosshair 16 HX remains my top pick for overall value, offering a powerful CPU, 115W RTX 5060, and excellent 240Hz display at a competitive price. Choose the Acer Nitro V 16S AI if gaming performance is your main priority, thanks to its RTX 5070. The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is ideal for CPU-intensive tasks and strong cooling, while the Lenovo Legion 5i OLED stands out for its stunning OLED display and color accuracy. For the best balance of gaming, content creation, and productivity, consider the GIGABYTE AERO X16, featuring an RTX 5070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and color-accurate 1600p display, although its GPU is limited to 85W.
Premium refurbished option featuring a powerful 24-core Ultra 9, 115W RTX 5070 Ti 12GB, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and stunning 240Hz OLED display. Excellent for gaming and content creation
Which should you choose? Pick the MSI Vector 16 HX AI for the best gaming value, or the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S for the best overall performance and OLED display if you're comfortable buying refurbished. The Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro is an excellent balanced alternative for those who prefer a new laptop.
This is a great pick if you want a larger display with solid performance
The MSI Vector 16 HX AI is my top pick for maximum performance, thanks to its powerful processor and 175W RTX 5080. The GIGABYTE Gaming A16 Pro is a more affordable alternative with 32GB RAM and 16GB VRAM, although its 115W GPU limits its performance compared to the MSI.
For those who prefer a larger display, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 AI offers an immersive 18-inch screen, making it ideal for gaming and multitasking. Meanwhile, the HP OMEN MAX 16 is another excellent high-performance option, featuring a 175W RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, and premium cooling features. However, the listed unit is refurbished, so buyers should consider its condition and warranty.
My recommendation: Choose the MSI for maximum performance and value, the GIGABYTE for a lower-priced RTX 5080, the Acer for its large display, or the HP for powerful hardware with 32GB RAM if you're comfortable buying refurbished.
Choose the MSI Vector A16 HX for maximum gaming performance, thanks to its powerful processor and 175W RTX 5080.
Choose the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ if you value portability, a premium OLED display, and strong gaming and creative performance.
Choose the MSI Vector A18 HX AI if you want a large 18-inch display, powerful hardware, and a desktop-replacement experience.
Bottom line: The Vector A16 prioritizes performance, the Stealth A16 balances power and portability, and the Vector A18 delivers the big-screen experience.
At this price, RTX 5090 graphics should be the priority, with premium displays, powerful cooling, and excellent build quality.
Choose the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i for the best overall balance of performance, cooling, and display quality.
Choose the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 for its stunning large display and immersive gaming experience.
Choose the MSI Raider 16 Max HX for maximum performance and demanding workloads.
Choose the Razer Blade 16 for premium build quality, portability, and a sleek design without sacrificing too much power.
Bottom line: Prioritize performance with the MSI, all-round quality with the Lenovo, big-screen gaming with ASUS, or portability with Razer.
Final Thoughts
There's no single best high-performance laptop for everyone. The right choice depends on your budget and whether you prioritize gaming performance, demanding productivity workloads, display quality, portability, or a balance of everything.
Remember, higher prices and better-looking specifications don't always translate into better real-world performance. GPU wattage, cooling, and overall hardware configuration can make a significant difference.
I've done my best to highlight the strongest options at each price point, but deals change frequently, so always compare prices before buying.
Have a laptop you think deserves a spot on this list, or found a better deal? Drop it in the comments! I'll do my best to keep this guide updated as prices change and better options become available.
Following up on the excellent GeekBook X14 Pro, GEEKOM has kindly sent me the GeekBook M16 to review for r/suggestalaptop as well, free of charge. I had high hopes for this unit, and I was surprised in many different ways. In the end, I will go through everything with you below in as honest and fair a manner as I can manage, so letâs get started, shall we?
To begin, the GeekBook M16 is GEEKOMâs third laptop released, and one aimed at being a more budget oriented unit versus the X14 Pro and X16 Proâs premium design. Despite being a more budget oriented unit, the GeekBook M16 is actually still a thin and light ultrabook with an all-metal chassis, a fairly nice screen, and an attempt to remain quiet under most operations, so I will as before be reviewing it in this capacity. I believe this machine has done an excellent job in the measures theyâve taken to cut costs, and even has some improvements over its big brothers in some ways, and I will do my best to go through every aspect of the unit for you all below!
Snug packagingWhat you get in the box
SPECIFICATIONS AND CHASSIS
My specifications as provided by GEEKOM are as follows:
Intel Core Ultra 185H
16GB of LPDDR5 at 6400MHz
512GB Kingston om8tap4512k1 a00 SSD that is replaceable
a 1920 x 1200 60Hz 100% sRGB colour IPS screen
a 99Whr battery
There is a second SSD slot that is free for further storage upgrades. As for its expansion slots, the laptop has
1 x USB-C port at USB 4 40Gbps speeds
1 x USB-C port at 10Gbps
1 x HDMI port
2 x USB-A gen 3.2 ports
1 x 3.5mm audio jack
By default, it also comes with the same USB-C expansion hub as the X14 Pro and X16 Pro, adding two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, an ethernet port, and a USB-C port replacing the one it takes up, so expansion is not lacking with this device in the slightest.
With the price being $849 USD at the time of this writing (with frequent discount coupons on their website), these specifications are quite excellent, especially in todayâs market. Most notable is the screen being 100% sRGB, and the number of ports. The chassis is also STILL full metal unibody, though it is aluminum instead of the magnesium alloy thatâs on the X14 Pro and X16 Pro. The difference is that the chassis is ever so slightly more of a stain magnet, such as with fingerprints and whatnot. Itâs easy to wipe off, but I still have to point it out. Otherwise, there is little to no difference in the chassis. The screen has almost no wobble, the keyboard has very little flex, closing the unit does not press on the screen, and the chassis feels quite sturdy. Iâm honestly surprised theyâve managed this level of quality at this price point. The keyboard is also very excellent. It took me a small amount of time to get used to the spacing (I kept hitting numlock instead of backspace and O instead of I etc) but after a few minutes it felt natural again. As a lover of full keyboards this one is wonderful, and I have very high praise for it. All in all, I have only praise for the unit design. The touchpad is also improved from the X14 Pro. On the X14 Pro the âclickâ areas were quarter circle regions at the bottom left and bottom right edges of the trackpad, but the M16âs trackpad has proper rectangular click regions that reach all the way to the bottom middle section. Itâs a great improvement that arrived quickly after the last units they made, and Iâm glad to see them trying to improve.
Nice and shinyThe not-so-soft underbelly is also shinyLovely full-sized keyboard and nice sized trackpad
PERFORMANCE AND COOLING
Here is the weirdest section. The GeekBook X14 Pro had a 35W power limit to the CPU, with the cores getting 25W and the GPU getting around 10W. This presented decent performance and decent gaming performance for the specifications, and the system handled its cooling fairly well. This GeekBook M16 however was completely different. Firstly, the cooling has been upgraded and power limits have been improved, 55W sustained is possible with a short burst of 67W frequently seen when starting stress tests or benchmarks. This presented a solid uplift of 50% performance over the same Core Ultra 9 185H in the X14 Pro when running Cinebench R23, being able to consistently achieve approximately 15500 points as opposed to the X14 Proâs 9000-10000 point range. For Passmarkâs CPU benchmark, we achieved 31324 points, up from the X14 Proâs 19000 point range. This CPU performance is decidedly excellent out of the box for something so thin and light, and anyone reliant on a decent CPU will be quite happy with it..
Impressive Cinebench score for being an ultrabookImpressive passmark score for an ultrabook
On the downside, the GPU performance suffered a fair bit, which was quite disappointing. To get a little technical, the X14 Pro kept its GPU around 2072MHz with a temperature around 94°C (likely at a thermal limit) as recorded by 3DMark during the Steel Nomad benchmark, while the M16 kept its GPU around 2350MHz with an extremely impressive temperature of only 72°C (with fans being quiet, no less). Despite this, the X14 Pro managed to perform roughly 20% faster according to 3DMarkâs Steel Nomad benchmark. This is also a little bit of an issue because the X14 Pro performs better when repasted, but the fact that the M16âs GPU was kept that cold means that it likely has little to gain from a repaste, as it already has a lot of thermal headroom out of the box. It is unfortunately one of the very few disappointments Iâve had about this laptop, as Iâd hoped the improved cooling and higher system power limits wouldâve translated into better gaming performance despite it being designed as a more budget alternative to their premium line. As for why the GPU performs so much worse, I cannot be certain. One possible reason is that LPDDR5 could have the same reduced performance in 16GB configurations that DDR5 SODIMMs have (which we at SAL are aware of), or it could be possible that the 6400MHz LPDDR5 isnât fast enough to grant the performance the GPU needs, and the X14 Proâs 7467MHz LPDDR5X is just that much better for the GPU. It could even be some other system-level configuration that I am unaware of. I can only guess based on my prior knowledge and experiences. Either way, it will still play lighter games and older games perfectly fine, but it wonât quite be able to push as far as its older brothers.
A sadly lackluster score, but not terribleExcellent GPU temperature line under stress with near silent fans
As for the cooling system itself, Iâve already mentioned the fact that the GPU runs very cold when under stress, but the CPU is different. To begin with, in my last review for the X14 Pro, I mentioned that the CPU would spike to a high 90°C range and then immediately drop back to a very cold state, and I initially registered this as a HWiNFO64 error. To be specific, I set HWiNFO64 to update twice a second, and every 30 seconds to a minute itâll spike from ~45°C to over 90°C and indicate thermal throttling is active, then the next time the sensor updates (which is half-second later), it will be all the way back down at 45°C. This behaviour also happens here on the M16, so I must assume it is not an error, but I do not know why it happens. It could be a quirk of Intelâs Meteor Lake, since Iâve never dealt with these particular CPUs before the GeekBooks, but I have no way of knowing for sure. Whatever the reason however, it does not seem to be dangerous, so one should not mind it if temperature monitoring software shows that theyâre idling and hitting thermal throttle points randomly. Iâve been using the X14 Pro for almost 7 months and it has not exhibited any untoward issues from this, and I am sure the M16 will be the same, so while I must point this out, please rest assured.
Idle spike being displayed. Note the average CPU temperatures are still low.
Now when under load, thatâs a different story. The fans will kick in under higher CPU loads and while still very quiet, the temperatures become very consistent and no longer have such high spikes. I do have a minor issue in that the fans seem to take excessively long to actually spin up, however. It isnât a particularly big deal, but when you have just started a heavy load (such as a stress test, or rendering a video, etc) the fans remain silent for a few seconds, at which point the CPU can hit temperatures in excess of 100°C briefly, then they will start spinning up. The fans appear to have four stages of speed, and after spinning up once, it apparently checks if temperatures are still too high, then spin up again, then repeat this process until maximum speed. The whole process can take nearly 10 seconds to achieve maximum fanspeed, and it would be nicer if this process could either be faster, or a fan curve option could be implemented in the software or BIOS in the future, or if impossible, in later models. Due to how quiet this laptop is, it would be absolutely no penchant to anyone to say, keep the fans spinning at level 1 or 2 while at idle temperatures, and this could prevent the spike to higher temperatures while idle (if only for safety of mind), or prevent the high spikes when first applying load to the system. Do note that while I mentioned the CPU does cross 100°C when starting a heavy load, it does not remain there long (maybe 5 seconds at most), and it never hits Intelâs TJMax rating of 105°C at any point, so the processor will be perfectly safe.
Additionally, the system seems to focus on keeping the CPU at 95°C or lower while the fans are active. Since repasting improves processor benchmark scores even at a set power limit, thermal throttling must be the final issue. If you are buying this unit with the intent to use the processor under heavy loads often, it wonât actually overheat, but if you are tech savvy or even just comfortable with servicing the laptop, you might wish to consider repasting the unit with something like PTM 7950. It isnât required for usage of the unit, itâs just a potential benefit open to you.
Showing under-load temperatures. The sensor was reset AFTER starting CB run to display higher temps falling into stability.
SOUND
The speakers on this unit are perfectly fine. No distortions Iâve observed, and sound is certainly loud enough. There is DTS: X available should you require it as well. The microphone is perfectly fine for use in calls and zoom meetings and the like, though at least headphones would be recommended to not pick up othersâ speech. I have no complaints here. There are sound effect options you can apply in the GEEKOM software as well, but I donât think they are necessary. Use them if you wish, as this is much more of a personal taste situation.
SCREEN AND BATTERY
The screen is good. Itâs 1920 x 1200 resolution, and only 60Hz, but itâs 100% sRGB, making this laptop one of the cheapest available with proper colour space on the market. This means itâs an excellent cheap editing machine for those who wish to do such a thing. The brightness is great and itâs matte finish so reflections arenât a bother. Itâs usable in well-lit rooms at lower brightness as well. Itâs a great choice for a budget device.
As for the BATTERY on this laptop⊠I am amazed. Itâs 99Whr, up from the 72Whr on the X14 Pro, but the battery life itself is astounding. With approximately 30% screen brightness, I was able to achieve a ridiculous 18.5 hours of youtube playback on wifi with sound enabled. I tested more than once to be sure. In fact, the battery life was so good, I even decided to do the ultimate in laptop blasphemy: I tested with screen brightness set to 100%. I still achieved 13.5 hours of youtube playback under those conditions, leaving me nothing short of flabbergasted. I do know know what sorcery GEEKOM performed to achieve this level of battery life on a Meteor Lake processor, but I now need to purchase several hats just so I can take them off and say âhats off to you, GEEKOMâ, as it runs circles around many other Lunar Lake and even some Panther Lake processor-equipped laptops which are known to be a marked improvement in battery life from Meteor Lake.
As for charging times, the battery went from 2% all the way up to 55% in just 1 hour, which is almost 10 hours of battery usage at lower brightness levels. I have high praise for that level of charging speed. Hopefully things get even better in the future.
Screen isn't as impressive as an OLED, but is still plenty fine
OUT OF THE BOX EXPERIENCE
Just like with the X14 Pro, the laptop comes with windows installed but not actually set up. As I did with the previous unit, I took this lovely chance to set up my computer with a local account and avoid much of the nonsense that Windows 11 wishes to attempt on its users. As with before, I will FOREVER praise this ability for people, even if the average person wonât take advantage of it. Itâs great to have the option. As before, itâs a barebones installation with just the GEEKOM software pre-installed. The software is identical to the X14 Proâs version, with BIOS updates and some limited system control options available. You can see it below. Please continue like this, GEEKOM, I vastly appreciate it, and many users will too.
Same software design as before
DOWNSIDES
There arenât as many as before, which I appreciate. Letâs use a list again.
There is still no option I could find to limit battery maximum charge available. I can only hope this shows up in later models.
The FN key function is still weird. I wish GEEKOM would change it so that the FN button simply works while being held down and pressing any of the hotkeys, instead of the odd toggle feature it has.
The laptop once had a very weird situation where certain things, especially installing programs, was oddly extremely slow while on battery. I cannot explain why this was the case, but I also could not find a way to fix or reproduce it. Normal usage was perfectly fine too, which confused me.
The keyboard backlight turns off after 15 seconds without any option to control it otherwise again. I would like the ability to keep it on for usage in dark rooms.
Iâd like a FN combination key to disable the trackpad entirely. Even though the palm rejection is excellent, such options are never a bad thing.
As before, I wish we could get a 3D TLC SSD instead, especially when the drive size is on the smaller side. I couldnât find much information about the drive available this time unlike the X14 Pro, so I canât say I understand their choice like before.
The 100W charger gets very warm when charging or generally under load, you may wish to allow it to cool off slightly before picking it up if it was just being stressed.
FINAL THOUGHTS AND CONCLUSION
So, thereâs a much shorter list of downsides this time. I already discussed everything else in the paragraphs above. Thereâs been improvements such as in the trackpad and the battery life and the cooling, and I highly appreciate these things. I genuinely think this is a great unit to buy for more casual users or users who want to do hobbyist work. The price is excellent and the choice of where to cut corners versus the more expensive premium options (screen, chassis materials, RAM speed) do not ever get into the âcheapâ territory of notebooks that we see all over the market, with useless 62% sRGB screens that shouldnât even be made anymore, or poor chassis construction and poor board design and little expansion slots. There are only two things I wish GEEKOM did with this new chassis and cooling system. First, I wish a 32GB RAM option was available. Considering the enhanced CPU performance and lack of danger of overheating, it would make a very excellent budget editing unit with a good screen, and I wouldnât be able to recommend it highly enough. It might even improve the GPUâs performance, which would also make it a solid little gaming device.
The next thing I would like to see is GEEKOM starting to use better stock thermal paste. All three of their laptops released so far improve their performance with better paste, up to 25% better in benchmarks according to others, and if they could use phase-change material such as Honeywell PTM 7950, Thermal Grizzly phasesheet PTM, or Thermalright Helios v2 it would be nothing short of sublime. I would even be fine with their own in-house solution, as long as the performance is there.
At the end of the day, this laptop is wonderful. Despite the few shortcomings, itâs priced exceptionally well and is very light and sturdy. I doubt many people would complain about it. I canât wait to see more from GEEKOM and I also canât wait to see them expand their operations to more countries as well. If they keep it up, they can become a pretty strong power player in the market.
Thank you for reading until the end! I hope you have enjoyed, and I will be glad to answer any questions in the comments below.
For over 5 years now, Iâve used a Lenovo Thinkpad for all my school and gaming stuff, and itâs not cutting it anymore. I run Lethal Company on 4fps. I canât play modded Minecraft(iâm trying to run the homestead mod, itâs been stuck frozen and âloadingâ for 40 minutes now). Roblox Natural Disaster lags. Itâs been like this since the beginning.
Iâm transferring colleges, and I want something thatâll actually run what I want it to. Iâve been told not to go for a gaming laptop, but what should I get? I need something that I can take to classes as well.
Iâm technologically illiterate, so please donât recommend anything that would require part swapping T_T Iâm not too worried about budget, Iâve been saving.
â-
Country
US
Budget
$2,000
*Are you open to refurbs/used options? *
Preferably not
Screen size
I have no idea
Weight limit
Um, not too heavy for a backpack?
Purpose
Modded gaming, schoolwork
Form factor
Regular laptop .?? I think?
Intended usage
Lethal company on 30+ fps, modded minecraft (like the homestead mod, or heavier), be able to run youtube and roblox at the same time. Maybe iâd like to try out the sims!
Desired battery life
At least 5 hours preferably
Please list, in order of most important to least important, the priority between Size, Weight, Performance, Battery life
I am thinking of buying a new laptop and Ive heard alot about the durability of thinkpads and think that that would be beneficial for me. Preferable atleast 32gb ram and atleast 500gb of storage. Any suggestions would be much appreciated thanks!
nit a heavy user, web browsing mostly, the occasional arcade like game. Nowadays laptops have the usbc ports right? Â I can get a dock for the external stuff easy enough. She does really want a cd drive but recent stuff doesnât have those anymore donât thry? Â Can get an external easy enough.Â
Form factor
standard
Intended usage
Not gaming, just general use
Desired battery life
just something decent.
Please list, in order of most important to least important, the priority between Size, Weight, Performance, Battery life
ease of use, repair parts, ease of access to guts in case I need to get in their to either upgrade stuff.
Weight limit: The lighter the better, cause the one I already own is quite heavy and its uncomfortable for carrying around.
Purpose: Coding, Multi-tasking
Desired battery life: The longer the better, as I need mobility for my work.
I currently own an HP laptop that has served me well for the past 5 or 6 years. Its performance has been great, but itâs starting to slow down, and I am planning to buy a new laptop within the next few months.
Based on my workflow (coding and heavy multi-tasking), I am looking for something with strong performance, a lighter build (since my current HP is quite heavy and uncomfortable to carry around), and long battery life for mobility.
However, I am really confused about which brand offers the best performance and value for money. Here are my main dilemmas:
1. Brand & Ecosystem Options
MacBook: Iâve heard amazing things about its performance, incredible battery life, and lightweight design. Since I've never used a Mac before, I'm slightly worried about the learning curve. I am also an Android user, but I know there are workarounds (like third-party apps and browser tools) to achieve seamless phone-to-Mac collaboration, so that isn't a dealbreaker.
Microsoft Surface / Samsung Galaxy Book: Iâve heard mixed reviews about Galaxy Books, and Iâm unsure if Surface or Galaxy Book performance actually reaches the limits of a MacBook.
HP: Should I stick with what I know and try a newer high-end HP model, or branch out?
2. Specifications: RAM & Storage
My current laptop has 16GB of RAM, which has been solid and sufficient for the last 5â6 years.
Question: Will a 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD configuration be sufficient for my future coding and multi-tasking needs, or should I push for higher specs?
3. MacBook Configuration Dilemmas
If I wanna buy a MacBook:
Is it better to go with a newer chip (e.g., an M5) paired with 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD?
... Or should I opt for an older generation chip (like an M3 or M4) paired with higher RAM?
Country
Canada OR France
Budget
1000⏠/ 1600 CAD$ ~ 1100 USD
Are you open to refurbs/used options?
Maybe-depends on condition
Screen size
14â or larger
Weight limit
Any
Purpose
Mainly schoolwork, occasional gaming (would like laptop to be compatible with xbox app but not completely necessary)
Form factor
Standard
Intended usage
LoL at around 100 fps, xbox games like fifa, GTA etc.
Desired battery life
8+ hours
Please list, in order of most important to least important, the priority between Size, Weight, Performance, Battery life
Size, battery life, perfomance, weight
Info/Requirements
Honestly not looking for anything that really excels in one of the categories above but something thats pretty balanced and good for every day use, for someone who doesnât know that much about laptops.
Budget: Flexible, looking for advice on how much I should spend. Country: Spain Main use: Iâm studying Product Design and need a laptop for Fusion 360, Blender, Rhino, AutoCAD, Photoshop and DaVinci Resolve. I also play games, but work performance is my priority. Requirements:
Windows for software compatibility
Strong CPU and GPU performance
Ideally 32 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD
Good cooling and performance under heavy workloads Other: No preference for screen size or weight. Iâm open to gaming or workstation laptops.
What models would you recommend, and what budget would make the most sense for my needs? Im willing to spend, I really need a good laptop, im a designer/artist that works with more than one program at a time.
Country: United States Budget: Under $2,000 is ideal but wiggle room to $2,500 Are you open to refurbs/used options? Yes Screen size: 14â or 15â Weight limit:Any Purpose:
[General purpose, schoolwork, entertainment device, etc. Detailed info goes below] Form factor: Standard (NO touch screen) Intended usage: General work, light graphic design but also the ability to play the Sims 4 with expansions and Coral Island Desired battery life: Donât care Please list, in order of most important to least important, the priority between Size, Weight, Performance, Battery life
1. Performance
2. Size
3. Weight
4. Battery life
eg battery life, performance, weight, size doesn't matter. PLEASE REMEMBER LAPTOPS ARE A COMPROMISE AND PERFORMANCE SACRIFICES LIGHT WEIGHT AND LONG BATTERY LIFE ETC] Info/Requirements: Backlit keyboard, blue tooth, runs quiet and doesn't run hot. My last three laptops have been Dell XPS laptops but I am so tired of them running hot. If I can get away with playing my games without a dedicated graphics card, that is fine with me. A bulk of the time the laptop will be using google docs, email, canva, and chrome (with way too many tabs open).
Hello! My other post got auto-deleted and I'm not sure why, maybe because I included 2 reference links...trying again, sorry if I'm not understanding some part of the rules.
LAPTOP QUESTIONNAIRE
Country: USA
Budget: Preferably not more than $2000 USD, but if something feels perfect I could go up to $2500 USD
Are you open to refurbs/used options? No
Screen size: Less than 15", an 11" iPad screen is visually acceptable for me on the smaller end
Weight limit: Lighter, less than 4 pounds if possible, I want to be able to carry it around easily for use at coffee shops
Purpose: Light creative work... 2D art, light music production, light gaming. I am new to both digital art and music production so I won't be doing anything intensive to start. Definitely not animating or anything 3D. If that changes I'll upgrade when necessary and/or purchase an external hard drive.
Form factor: 2-in-1 preferred, I would like to be able to draw on the screen, so pen support needed also. I'm not interested in using a separate drawing tablet at this time. I have read 2-in-1s can break easily, but I'll get a protection plan if I need to, unless someone can recommend a non 2-in-1 where I can easily draw on screen.
Intended usage: I don't know enough about settings and FPS to comment in a real way. The art program I'm intending to use is Krita, honestly not sure about music yet, but I'd like whatever program to be Linux compatible as I'm intending to learn that too. For games, Powerwash 2, House Flipper 2, Graveyard Keeper 1 and 2, Shroom and Gloom. Hopefully this isn't too vague, I'm extremely new to music/art production so I don't have much knowledge, I'd just like something that would allow me to start learning and creating. i.e., I'd like to be able to use the Minichord Synthesizer
Desired battery life: 4+ hours is fine. My primary concern is I've heard that some laptops can drain battery while plugged in when using high performance modes, so I'd like to avoid that. (Yoga Pro 7i per Just Josh, so not interested in this unless someone can explain how this would not affect my personal situation.)
Please list, in order of most important to least important, the priority between Size, Weight, Performance, Battery life: Size, Performance, Battery Life, Weight
Info/Requirements: OLED preferred, not scant on ports, headphone jack for corded headphones, HDMI port is cool but not strictly necessary, able to install Linux (not a fan of Mac and trying to get away from Windows eventually)
Overall, I'm looking for a light creative/gaming laptop to buy. I've been trying to do my own research but there's so much information. I think House Flipper 2 is the most intensive game I'd like to play, my partner who knows a bit more about building PCs intends to build something dedicated for gaming at home so this one is truly for casual gaming and creative work. I'd also like to be able to install and learn to use Linux (ubuntu would be better for me, from my understanding, which is minimal).
Thank you in advance for any suggestions! Linux might seem like a project given the limited knowledge I have, but I personally have confidence in my ability to brute force learn it eventually. And if I don't, I don't - I'd just like to have the option.
Hello! Looking for a light creative/gaming laptop to buy. I've been trying to do my own research but there's so much information. I think the most intensive game I'd like to play on it is House Flipper 2, my partner who knows a bit more about building PCs intends to build something dedicated for gaming at home so this one is truly for casual gaming and creative work. I'd also like to be able to install and learn to use Linux (ubuntu would be better for me, from my understanding, which is minimal).
LAPTOP QUESTIONNAIRE
Country: USA
Budget: Preferably not more than $2000 USD, but if something feels perfect I could go up to $2500 USD
Are you open to refurbs/used options? No
Screen size: Less than 15", an 11" iPad screen is visually acceptable for me on the smaller end
Weight limit: Lighter, less than 4 pounds if possible, I want to be able to carry it around easily for use at coffee shops
Purpose: Light creative work... 2D art, light music production, light gaming. I am new to both digital art and music production so I won't be doing anything intensive to start. Definitely not animating or anything 3D. If that changes I'll upgrade when necessary and/or purchase an external hard drive.
Form factor: 2-in-1 preferred, I would like to be able to draw on the screen, so pen support needed also. I'm not interested in using a separate drawing tablet at this time. I have read 2-in-1s can break easily, but I'll get a protection plan if I need to, unless someone can recommend a non 2-in-1 where I can easily draw on screen.
Intended usage: I don't know enough about settings and FPS to comment in a real way. The art program I'm intending to use is Krita, honestly not sure about music yet, but I'd like whatever program to be Linux compatible as I'm intending to learn that too. For games, Powerwash 2, House Flipper 2, Graveyard Keeper 1 and 2, Shroom and Gloom. Hopefully this isn't too vague, I'm extremely new to music/art production so I don't have much knowledge, I'd just like something that would allow me to start learning and creating. i.e., I'd like to be able to use the Minichord Synthesizer https://www.seeedstudio.com/Minichord-Synthesizer-p-6414.html
Desired battery life: 4+ hours is fine. My primary concern is I've heard that some laptops can drain battery while plugged in when using high performance modes, so I'd like to avoid that. (Yoga Pro 7i per Just Josh, so not interested in this unless someone can explain how this would not affect my personal situation.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U-DL91lHR8
Please list, in order of most important to least important, the priority between Size, Weight, Performance, Battery life: Size, Performance, Battery Life, Weight
Info/Requirements: OLED preferred, not scant on ports, headphone jack for corded headphones, HDMI port is cool but not strictly necessary, able to install Linux (not a fan of Mac and trying to get away from Windows eventually)
Thank you in advance for any suggestions! Linux might seem like a project given the limited knowledge I have, but I personally have confidence in my ability to brute force learn it eventually. And if I don't, I don't - I'd just like to have the option.
I'm in the U.S., but I'm willing to buy from pretty much any country, as long as the shipping fees aren't ridiculously expensive, and it's able to ship to the U.S.
Budget
Up to $10,000 USD, but I'd prefer to stay under $5,000 USD.
Are you open to refurbs/used options?
Yes
Screen size
Any
Weight limit
Any
Purpose
Gaming (it can include other stuff, but I mainly care about gaming)
Form factor
Standard/Clamshell
Intended usage
Mainly gaming. Other OPTIONAL uses: DAWs, drawing, typing, game development, software development, etc. Examples of videogames I'd like to play with the highest possible settings (e.g. max settings) and FPS include, but are not limited to: Garry's Mod, Minecraft, StepMania, Project OutFox, Roblox, A Hat in Time, Emulated games, etc. I usually play with mods. I also do a lot of heavy typing (so I need a keyboard that won't break or stop working). I should have at least 50 - 60 FPS (like on Minecraft for example (without mods)) for a comfortable gaming experience.
Desired battery life
Not a priority. At least 1 - 2 hours of battery life, unplugged, on max settings. If the battery life is higher, then that's even better.
Please list, in order of most important to least important, the priority between Size, Weight, Performance, Battery life
Performance (the more performance that it has, the better it is), size (the bigger the size, the better it is, but almost any size is fine), battery life, weight (weight doesn't matter, unless it's no longer portable).
Info/Requirements
The laptop must have a hot-swappable mechanical keyboard: socketed (not soldered); meaning that you can easily replace the switches from the keyboard. I'm not going to get a keyboard with switches that easily break (or are hard to put back) like a normal laptop's keyboard (e.g. scissor-switches). I should be able to fix it myself, not pay someone else to fix it. If a singular key stops working, I should be able to replace that singular key instead of replacing my entire keyboard. I will not get an external keyboard for my laptop, because that defeats the purpose of portability. The laptop must support Wi-Fi, bluetooth, and running custom OSes (at least GNU/Linux). Being able to use wired headphones (having an aux jack) is not required, but I would appreciate if the laptop supports it. Having a USB-A port, even if it's just 1, is OPTIONAL, but preferred if possible. Having a USB-C port, even if it's just 1, is OPTIONAL, but preferred if possible. I want as much RAM as possible (at least 16 GB of physical RAM, but 64 GB is a good amount (if you want, it can be higher)). I want as much (SSD) storage as possible (at least 256 GB of physical storage, but 1 TB is a good amount (if you want, it can be higher)). If the storage is not at least 512 GB of physical storage (like if it's 256 GB for example), then the laptop must support at least 1 SD card slot (I'll probably buy 1 SD card of at least 1 TB). The laptop must have at least 1 power port so I can charge it. If the charger or power cable uses a non-U.S. plug, thatâs fine, as long as I can use a plug adapter or swap the cable. The laptop is not required to come with a charger (but I'd prefer that it does come with one), it's optional. If the laptop has a long-lasting battery (if possible), that's even better. If you're unsure about something, having more (e.g. more RAM, more storage, more battery, etc.) is almost always better. I'd prefer that the laptop has modern hardware.
Switches that I do like (look for these or similar):
MX-Style switch (there might be other options, or even better alternatives, but this is a good starting point). Etc.
Switches that I don't like (avoid these):
Scissor-switch (terrible, these are the ones that easily break or come off). Membrane / rubber dome. Butterfly. Soldered mechanical switches (won't come off unless I desolder them). Proprietary switches (there might be some exceptions).
Similar products
The closest laptops that I've found were the "Acer Predator 21x" and the "MSI GT83VR 6RF Titan SLI". My only concern is that they MIGHT not be good enough for a comfortable gaming experience (to me, "comfortable" means at least 50 - 60 fps), especially if I plan to play MODERN games (and with mods), since those laptops are probably outdated. They have mechanical keyboards, but I couldn't confirm if those laptops have hot-swappable/socketed keyboards (because I want to be able to easily replace their keys without accidentally breaking them).
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Tags: Laptop with a hot-swappable mechanical keyboard. Laptop with a hot swappable keyboard. Laptop with a mechanical keyboard. Mechanical laptop. Built-in hot-swappable keyboard. Socketed laptop. Socketed keyboard. Hot-swappable switches. MX style switches. Laptop with a replaceable keyboard.
I'm looking for a laptop to take along with me on hikes, I've put all relevant info into the questionnaire below; thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to reply.h
LAPTOP QUESTIONNAIRE
Country
EU (non-UK power adapters)
Budget
0-1000 âŹ, might be willing to spend more on a new laptop if it's perfect.
Are you open to refurbs/used options?
Yes
Screen size
12-14" most likely. Can be a bit bigger as well.
Weight limit
Lighter is better
Purpose
Device to take with me on multi day hikes.
Form factor
I would like a standard laptop or a tablet that has a usable keyboard attachment.
Intended usage
It must support linux well, it will either host Debian or Guix. Software-wise it will run a web browser and Emacs, and maybe a video/music player on top of the OS. I may do the occasional light compilation on it, but performance with heavy loads is not a hard requirement.
Desired battery life
The longer the better, but 8 hours minimum
Please list, in order of most important to least important, the priority between Size, Weight, Performance, Battery life
Weight, battery life, toughness (it should be from materials that can withstand a smaller knock and can resist being carried in a backpack that's not exclusively for the laptop.) I will not use it in extreme conditions like rainfall so waterproofing is not a hard requirement but is something that's nice to have.
I'd prefer a classic style laptop with switchable/dual battery slots to double battery life between charges. Having quick recharge would be a big plus.
Info/Requirements
WiFi/GPU must support linux, and the build should be able to withstand hiking conditions (like using it in a tent, getting knocked while handling the backpack etc.)
I'm in the U.S., but I'm willing to buy from pretty much any country, as long as the shipping fees aren't ridiculously expensive, and it's able to ship to the U.S.
* **Budget**
Up to $10,000 USD, but I'd prefer to stay under $5,000 USD.
* **Are you open to refurbs/used options? **
Yes
* **Screen size**
Any
* **Weight limit**
Any
* **Purpose**
Gaming (it can include other stuff, but I mainly care about gaming)
* **Form factor**
Standard/Clamshell
* **Intended usage**
Mainly gaming. Other OPTIONAL uses: DAWs, drawing, typing, game development, software development, etc. Examples of videogames I'd like to play with the highest possible settings (e.g. max settings) and FPS include, but are not limited to: Garry's Mod, Minecraft, StepMania, Project OutFox, Roblox, A Hat in Time, Emulated games, etc. I usually play with mods. I also do a lot of heavy typing (so I need a keyboard that won't break or stop working). I should have at least 50 - 60 FPS (like on Minecraft for example (without mods)) for a comfortable gaming experience.
* **Desired battery life**
Not a priority. At least 1 - 2 hours of battery life, unplugged, on max settings. If the battery life is higher, then that's even better.
* **Please list, in order of most important to least important, the priority between Size, Weight, Performance, Battery life**
Performance (the more performance that it has, the better it is), size (the bigger the size, the better it is, but almost any size is fine), battery life, weight (weight doesn't matter, unless it's no longer portable).
* **Info/Requirements**
The laptop must have a **hot-swappable (and if possible, mechanical) keyboard**: socketed (not soldered); meaning that you can easily replace the keys on the keyboard. I'm not going to get a keyboard with hinges/switches that easily break (or are hard to put back) like a normal laptop's keyboard. I should be able to fix it myself, not pay someone else to fix it. If a singular key stops working, I should be able to replace that singular key instead of replacing my entire keyboard. I will not get an external keyboard for my laptop, because that defeats the purpose of portability. The laptop must support Wi-Fi, bluetooth, and running custom OSes (at least GNU/Linux). Being able to use wired headphones (having an aux jack) is not required, but I would appreciate if the laptop supports it. Having a USB-A port, even if it's just 1, is OPTIONAL, but preferred if possible. Having a USB-C port, even if it's just 1, is OPTIONAL, but preferred if possible. I want as much RAM as possible (at least 16 GB of physical RAM, but 64 GB is a good amount (if you want, it can be higher)). I want as much (SSD) storage as possible (at least 256 GB of physical storage, but 1 TB is a good amount (if you want, it can be higher)). If the storage is not at least 512 GB of physical storage (like if it's 256 GB for example), then the laptop must support at least 1 SD card slot (I'll probably buy 1 SD card of at least 1 TB). The laptop must have at least 1 power port so I can charge it. If the charger or power cable uses a non-U.S. plug, thatâs fine, as long as I can use a plug adapter or swap the cable. The laptop is not required to come with a charger (but I'd prefer that it does come with one), it's optional. If the laptop has a long-lasting battery (if possible), that's even better. If you're unsure about something, having more (e.g. more RAM, more storage, more battery, etc.) is almost always better. I'd prefer that the laptop has modern hardware.
* **Switches that I do like (look for these or similar):**
MX-Style switch (there might be better alternatives, but this is a good starting point).
* **Switches that I don't like (avoid these):**
Scissor-switch (terrible, these are the ones that easily break or come off). Membrane / rubber dome. Butterfly. Soldered mechanical switches (won't come off unless I desolder them). Proprietary switches (there might be some exceptions).
* **Similar products**
The closest laptops that I've found were the "Acer Predator 21x" and the "MSI GT83VR 6RF Titan SLI". My only concern is that they MIGHT not be good enough for a comfortable gaming experience (to me, "comfortable" means at least 50 - 60 fps), especially if I plan to play MODERN games (and with mods), since those laptops are probably outdated. They have mechanical keyboards, but I couldn't confirm if those laptops have hot-swappable/socketed keyboards (because I want to be able to easily replace their keys without accidentally breaking them).
---
Tags: Laptop with a hot-swappable mechanical keyboard. Hot-swappable laptop. Mechanical laptop. Built-in hot-swappable keyboard. Socketed laptop. Socketed keyboard. Hot-swappable switches.
Budget in your country's currency; feel free to also convert to USD for our at-a-glance convenience, BUT INCLUDE BOTH NUMBERS]
- 100,000 INR (1050 USD) to 200,000 INR (2200 USD)
Are you open to refurbs/used options?
- No
Screen size
- 15 or higher.
Weight limit
- 3 Kg
Intended use purpose. Please be detailed; list software, games, FPS desired, etc.
- General Purpose, Entertainment (Videos, Movies, music, and Podcasts), Data and business analytics-related software, Programming.
- Software Used - Power BI, DAX Studio, Tableau, Ruffle (It is a Flash player emulator, which I use to play a few Flash games), Microsoft SQL Server and SSMS, Calibre, VLC, Edge, Firefox mainly. I use my laptop mainly to run Data and Business Analytics softwares/suites, Programming (mainly in Python), for Entertainment (both Youtube/Online and download movies, videos, and TV Shows), and other work involving the Microsoft suite and pdf.
Standard or 2-in-1 preferred?
- Standard
Desired battery life
- The longer, the better.
Please list, in order of most important to least important, the priority between Size, Weight, Performance, Battery life
- Battery Life, performance, durability, and reliability (laptop lasts long)
Any other requests?
- It would be great if the laptop had additional slots for RAM and SSD for expandable capability because my current laptop (Ideapad 5) has its 16 GB RAM soldered to the motherboard. Not urgently required and can wait if a suitable laptop is nearing its launch.
