Based on materials from techradar.com
Probably, it is worth immediately warning readers that the appearance of this material here is very conditional. Unless this 'Top 10' compilation includes a couple of Chromebooks that, like Android, are Google's brainchildren. However, it was impossible not to share the article, the relevance of which in the last days of August does not raise any questions.
The beginning of the school year is approaching, which means that for someone the question of buying a new laptop will certainly arise. A very worthy reason, and most importantly, inevitable – well, the opportunity to somehow make it easier for yourself to return to your usual routine, having pleased yourself with a new device.
Maybe you still can't part with your PC, or maybe your laptop is in a semi-swoon after trying to feed it a video tutorial in high definition – anyway, the need for an upgrade is ripe. Fortunately, you can find a laptop that looks good and fits the specs without going broke. True, the current situation has greatly eroded the concept of device availability. And yet … let's go.
1. Asus Zenbook UX305
Most Affordable, Superior Ultrabook
Specifications:
Processor: 800 MHz Intel Core M 5Y10 (dual cores, 4 MB cache, 2 GHz with Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Intel HD 5300 | RAM: 8GB DDR3 | Screen: 13.3 inches FHD 1920 x 1080 (matte) | Storage: 256GB SSD | Connections: 802.11n Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 1.2 MP HD | Weight: 1.18 kg | Dimensions: 325 x 226 x 12.7 mm
Pros:
- serious performance
- very thin and light
Minuses:
- video driver
- rattling speaker
You can, of course, scold him as a clone of the MacBook, but this is one of the best ultrabooks available on the market right now.
2. Acer Chromebook 15
Chrome OS comes to the big screens
Specifications:
Processor: 1.5 GHz Intel Celeron 3205U (two cores, 2 MB cache) | Graphics: Intel HD | RAM: 4GB DDR3 | Screen: 15.6 inches Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels | Memory: 32 GB SSD | Connections: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 720p HD | Weight: 2.2 kg | Dimensions: 383 x 245 x 24.1 mm
Pros:
- excellent display
- battery that will last for a day
Minuses:
- unexpected departures
- rattling (though still good) speakers
A device for those who need a large car and a Chrome browser. The Chromebook 15 is a device that expands 'habitat' Chrome OS, the first to get a 15.6-inch display and the latest Brodwell processor from Intel.
3. MacBook Pro 13.3-inch with Retina
Fastest small MacBook Pro
Specifications:
Processor: 2.7 GHz Dual Core Intel Core i5 with 3MB L3 Cache (Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz) | Graphics: Intel Iris Graphics 6100 | RAM: 8 GB | Screen: 13.3 inches IPS, 2560 x 1600 pixels | Storage: 128GB SSD | Connections: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: FaceTime HD | Weight: 1.58 kg | Dimensions: 313.7 x 219 x 18mm
Pros:
- Retina display
- fast processor
Minuses:
- unfinished Force Touch
- nothing has changed in design
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is a great solution for students who don't want the power of their Chromebooks and MacBook Airs, but don't want to sacrifice portability. It features a long battery life, relatively light weight, and a high-resolution display. Budget students will enjoy Pages, Numbers, and Keynote preinstalled for free, as well as iMovie, Photos, and GarageBands for their creativity.
4. Acer Chromebook 15 С910
Colossus of the world of Chromebooks
Specifications:
Processor: 2.2 GHz Intel Core i5-5200 dual-core | Graphics: Intel HD 5500 | RAM: 4GB DDR3L SDRAM | Screen: 15.6-inch Full HD 1920 x 1080 dots | Memory: 32 GB SSD | Connections: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 720p HD | Weight: 2.2 kg | Dimensions: 25.4 x 383.5 x 256.5 mm
Pros:
- high processing speed
- long-lived battery
Minuses:
- too heavy
- uncomfortable keyboard
Don't be fooled by the appearance of this fat man. It is a strong workhorse, and if you turn a blind eye to its weight and size, it will reward you with performance, long runtime, and stylish looks.
5. Apple 13-inch MacBook Air
Finally, battery life under control
Specifications:
Processor: Dual-core 1.3 GHz Intel Core i5 (2.6 GHz with Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5000 | RAM: 4 GB | Screen: 13.3-inch 1440 x 900 dots | Storage: 128GB SSD | Connections: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: FaceTime HD | Weight: 1.35 kg | Dimensions: 325 x 227 x 17.3 mm
Pros:
- fantastically long working time
- Haswell processor
Minuses:
- no Retina screen
- not upgradeable
Despite the sensational advantages of the Retina display, and without it there is something to strive for any ultrabook: amazing battery life and Wi-Fi standard 802.11ac
6. Asus ROG GL551
The best entry-level gaming PC on the market
Specifications:
Processor: 2.5 GHz Intel Core i7-4710HQ (four cores, 6 MB cache, up to 3.5 GHz Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M (2GB GDDR5) Intel HD Graphics 4600 | RAM: 16 GB DDR3L (2x 8 GB 1600 MHz) | Screen: 15.6 ″ FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels), matte | Memory: 1 TB 7200 rpm hard drive) | Connections: 802.11g Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 1.2 MP 720p | Weight: 2.72 kg | Dimensions: 381 x 254 x 33 mm
Pros:
- impressive performance
- well assembled
Minuses:
- not the best screen
- case thickness
The device has surprisingly impressive performance – nothing better than that. Is that the screen is more decent.
7. Acer Aspire V7
Excellent performance for a wide variety of tasks – ideal for study
Specifications:
Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5-4200U (dual cores, 3 MB cache, up to 2.60 GHz Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 750M (4GB DDR3) Intel HD Graphics 4400 | RAM: 8GB DDR3L | Screen: 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 pixels, glossy, IPS, touch | Memory: 500 GB (5400 rpm, built-in 16 GB SSD cache) | Connections: 802.11n Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 720p | Weight: 2 kg | Dimensions: 340 x 238.8 x 22.86 mm
Pros:
- one-piece appearance
- beautiful screen
Minuses:
- unresponsive trackpad
- short battery life
Short battery life and an unbearable amount of pre-installed junk – but otherwise, this is an excellent device that occupies a niche between ultrabooks and gaming laptops.
8. Microsoft Surface 3
Thinner, lighter, quieter, cheaper
Specifications:
Processor: Quad-core Intel Atom x7-78700 (2MB cache, 1.6GGHz up to 2.4GHz) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 4 GB | Screen: 10.8-inch ClearType Full HD Plus (1920 x 1200 dots) | Memory: 128 GB | Connections: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 3.5 MP front; 8.0 MP main with autofocus | Weight: 0.62 kg | Dimensions: 267.2 x 187 x 8.6 mm
Pros:
- display
- design
Minuses:
- keyboard
- memory size
If you want a cheap and ultraportable Surface tablet for undemanding tasks, this is a great choice, and for those who need more power, the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 from the lower segment can be purchased.
9. Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Specifications:
Processor: 1.9 GHz Intel Core i5-4300U (Dual Core, 3MB Cache, up to 2.9 GHz with Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400 | RAM: 8GB LPDDR3 | Screen: 12-inch, 2160 x 1440 pixels, multitouch (ClearType, aspect ratio 3: 2) | Memory: 256 GB | Connections: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: two 5 MP (video up to 1080p) | Weight: 0.8kg | Dimensions: 201.4 x 292 x 9.1 mm
Pros:
- clear display, clear design
- upgrade by Type Cover
Minuses:
- case heating
- Type Cover is still sold separately
Not without its drawbacks, it is nevertheless a great example of a vision of the future without desktops – not only in view Microsoft, but in general for the laptop / tablet hybrid segment.
10. Lenovo ThinkPad E555
ThinkPad but not the daunting price tag
Specifications:
Processor: AMD A8-7100 APU | Graphics: Radeon R5 | RAM: 4 GB DDR3L 1600 MHz (0.67 GB reserved for video memory) | Screen: 15.6-inch anti-glare, 1366 x 768 pixels | Memory: 500 GB (7200 rpm) | Connections: 802.11n Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: HD | Weight: 2.54 kg | Dimensions: 375 x 255 x 25 mm
Pros:
- great keyboard
- good performance
Minuses:
- unimportant working time
- heavy
Forget about the Lenovo Essentials line, Lenovo The ThinkPad E555 offers all (okay, almost all) the virtues of the legendary ThinkPad family, but doesn't faze the price.