Best laptops to get on 2021!
Updated: Jan 23, 2021
Be it budget laptops, productivity laptops or gaming laptops, it is always not about peeking on the spec sheets and deciding. Picking the right one isn't always easy but once you have bought one that could be a new doorway of uncovering your talents. Well, that's what happened for LTTG.
Before buying a laptop, you must have a handsome apprehension related to the laptop’s hardware and software specifications. This allows you know what laptop suits your usage and preference. You don't need an expensive laptop to perform adequately for your usage, the midrange ones can do a great job if you are proactive enough to go through the details . To make your way easy, LTTG has picked up the best laptops available in 2021 and detailed them to find your perfect match, Let’s dive deep into the laptops.
Best Laptops in 2021
Midrange
Huawei MateBook D14/D15 (2021)
Huawei is releasing the latest line up of its MateBook D14/D15. The previous versions made a huge buzz for a midrange price that had some notable extra features. The Windows 10 Home Matebook comes with Intel's 11th generation processors, and are the successors of Huawei MateBook D15 and MateBook D14 2020 Edition, which had AMD Ryzen 4000 or Intel 10th generation Core processors under the hood. Both the new laptops come equipped with a dedicated graphics with the Nvidia MX450 graphics.
Huawei MateBook D15 2021
Huawei MateBook D 15 2021 is in three variants.
Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor / 512GB SSD / 16GB of RAM / integrated Iris Xe graphics, priced at CNY 4,999 (roughly $765).
Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor / 512GB SSD / 16GB of RAM / dedicated Nvidia GeForce MX450 graphics, priced at CNY 5,499 (roughly $925).
Intel i7-1165G7 processor / 512GB SSD / 16GB of RAM / dedicated Nvidia GeForce MX450 graphics, priced at CNY 6,399 (roughly $980).
Huawei MateBook D14 2021
Huawei MateBook D14 2021 is in two variants.
Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor / 512GB SSD / 16GB of RAM / integrated Iris Xe graphics, priced at CNY 4,999 (roughly $765).
Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor / 512GB SSD / 16GB of RAM / dedicated Nvidia GeForce MX450 graphics, priced at CNY 6,399 (roughly $980).
The MateBook D14 2021 as well as MateBook D15 2021 laptops are up for pre-orders and sales will begin from January 1, 2021.
PROS CONS
Improved CPU & GPU Still 720p webcam
Long Battery life RAM can't upgrade
Two Options of CPU & GPU
SRGB added
Wifi 6
Multi Screen support
2. Huawei MateBook 14
The HUAWEI MateBook 14 2020 is powered by an AMD Ryzen™ 5 4600H processor, AMD Radeon™ Graphics, 16 GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM and a 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD. It also has a 14 inches 2160 x 1440, 185 PPI display and weighs 1.49 kg. There is a good selection of ports, especially given the laptop’s thin frame (15.9mm when closed). On the left side there is a USB-C port that supports 65W charging, a 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo jack and an HDMI port. On the right there are two full-sized USB-A ports with support for USB 3.2.
The hinge is sturdy and stiff, which is handy when you start tapping on the display with your fingers. The grille spans the entire length of the laptop and sits above the dual cooling fans, which direct hot air from the CPU and GPU and out through the rear of the laptop and away from the keyboard and touchpad. You can configure the Huawei MateBook 14 2020 AMD with either a 6-core 12-thread AMD Ryzen 5 4600H or an 8-core 16-thread Ryzen 7 4800H, both built around AMD’s excellent 7nm Renoir (Zen 2) architecture and both having full-fat 45W TDP. The unit we have here is the Ryzen 7 4800H, which has a 12MB Cache and a base frequency of 2.9GHz with a boost of up to 4.2GHz.
There’s no discrete GPU option, but there is a built-in Vega GPU with 7 compute cores with a 1600MHz max clock on the Ryzen 7 4800H and 6 compute cores with a 1500MHz max clock on the Ryzen 5 4600H. You can get the MateBook 14 2020 AMD with either 8GB or 16GB of DDR4 2666MHz RAM and a 256GB or 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD.
PROS CONS
Good CPU & GPU Still 720p webcam
Long Battery life RAM can't upgrade
Good Performance
Good screen
High end Laptops
3. Dell XPS 13 9300
Dell XPS 13 with 10th generation Intel processors and bezel-free 16:10 panel is LTTG top pick for 2021. It’s a reasonably priced compact size laptop that performs most of the tasks flawlessly.
It features a 13.4 inches full HD display, with 91.5% screen to body ratio and 4k resolution, which gives an immersive viewing experience for performing non-creative tasks. This model’s brightness is 150 nits, which means anyone can use this laptop in a fully lit room or anywhere outdoors. This model comes with 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and a Core i5 processor. These features suggest that this laptop is excellent for everyday browsing work and performing low demanding tasks like watching videos and Microsoft office work. If you want to perform challenging tasks like video editing or gaming, you should consider a laptop with more RAM and storage.
The best part of this laptop is its integrated GPU. The intel iris plus graphics deliver an exceptional performance, which is excellent for such moderately priced laptops. Although integrated GPU gives better performance for light gaming, you still need a discrete one for GPU intensive games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Crysis3. With a thickness of 0.58 inches, it features a slim and generous design. Moreover, it weighs only 2.8 pounds, which is incredibly portable and you can easily carry this laptop anywhere with you.
In addition to portability, the laptop’s design and hardware are incredible. The keyboard with a deep key-travel is a wide and extended edge to edge without wasting too much space. The touchpad is also extremely wide and smooth, which ensures accurate tracking and easy navigation.
In terms of ports and connectivity, these laptops disappoint Dell users. It comes with only two Thunderbolt 3 ports, one micro SD port, and a headphone jack, a limited port selection. Moreover, the 720p webcam is also pretty annoying considering its price and other premium features. The speakers are also on the bottom, which means you can’t expect impressive audio quality unless you use a pair of excellent headphones.
The battery life is impressive, and it lasted for more than 9 hours in battery test, but under extensive usage tests like video playing and 150 nits brightness, it came down to only 6 hours. Not only the hardware, Dell XPS 13 boasts a set of useful software, making it the best laptop in 2021. The power manager boosts up the battery and optimizes the performance, while Digital Delivery keeps a record of your software downloads and restores them when needed. Moreover, the customer Connect helps you connect to Dell technician for assistance, and Dell Mobile connect helps you swipe documents and images between your smartphone and PC.
PROS CONS
Slim design Limited Ports
Portable Bottom fired speakers
Impressive Performance
Integrated Graphics
Bezel free design
Get the Dell XPS 13 here.
3. Dell Inspiron 15 (5502)
The Dell Inspiron 15 5502 is a new 15-inch silver Ultrabook that runs on a Tiger Lake Intel processor with an Iris Xe graphics solution, an NVIDIA graphics card, SSD storage or even Wi-Fi ax connectivity. The Dell Inspiron 15 5502 is a new Ultrabook weighs 1,714 Kg and measures 356.10 x 234.50 x 14-15-17.9 mm. It runs under Windows 10 (Pro) with a Li-Ion battery, either 3 cells 40Whr, or 4 cells 53Whr.
This laptop is based on a Tiger Lake low-power processor either Intel Dual Core i3-1115G4 (3.0 GHz) with Intel UHD graphics but also Quad Core i5-1135G7 (2.4 GHz) or Quad Core i7-1165G7 (1.2 GHz) with Iris Xe graphic part tested by us. All of them adopt a TDP of 15W . As an option, 2 NVIDIA Pascal graphics cards can be installed : GeForce MX330 and GeForce MX350 , 2 GB GDDR5 dedicated.
On the storage side, 2 DDR4 3200MHz slots are available for a maximum of 32 GB while in terms of storage, M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD options are provided: up to 512 GB in 2230 or Intel Optane H10 format , and up to 2 TB in 2280 format.
Equipped with a backlit chiclet keyboard with numeric keypad, the Dell Inspiron 15 5502 also benefits from an integrated biometric reader at the power button level to authenticate by fingerprint recognition via Windows Hello technology. Also included are 2 Waves MaxxAudio Pro speakers (2 x 2W), a 720p HD webcam with microphone and a microSD card reader.
The connectivity of this Ultrabook includes Wi-Fi ax (2×2, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201) or Wi-Fi ac (1×1, Intel Wi-Fi 5 9462) or Wi-Fi ac (2×2, Qualcomm QCA 61x4A) and Bluetooth 5.0 or 5.1, an HDMI 1.4 video output, a Headphone / Micro combo audio port, 2 USB 3.0 but also 1 USB 3.2 Type-C (Gen2). Too bad, however, that Dell does not leverage native Tiger Lake support for Thunderbolt 4.
In terms of display, 3 15.6 inch IPS Full HD (1920×1080) screen options are planned: 220cd / m² 45% NTSC 400: 1, 220cd / m² 45% NTSC 400: 1 touch or 300cd / m² 72% NTSC 600 : 1. Equipped with a silver aluminum frame that raises it slightly forward when opened, the Dell Inspiron 15 5502 is announced at around $725 for an edition with Core i5, 8 GB DDR4 and 256 GB SSD.
PROS CONS
Dedicated GPU Bad battery life
Smart exterior design Mediocre keyboard
Decent build quality
Two SSD slots
Get the Dell Inspiron 15 here.
4. Acer Swift 5
Acer Swift 5 is the lightest laptop one could get. At just 1.05KG, it is one of the lightest 14-inch notebooks ever made. It's even lighter than most of 13-inch laptops on the market. The size doesn't deteriorate the battery performance of the Swift 5, as it delivers long battery life to go along with a vivid 1080p display. And at $999 for a model with a Core i7 CPU and 512GB of RAM, this remarkably lightweight machine is priced to sell.
There are some caveats for the keyboard, while comfortable, it has a frustrating layout for anyone who uses the "delete" key. Also, Acer sells the Swift 5 with only 8GB of RAM right now and its Core i7 CPU isn't the fastest, so power users might want to look elsewhere. Still, the Swift 5 is a fantastic laptop if portability is a priority. The port selection on the Swift 5 is decent. On the left side is a Thunderbolt 3 port, USB 3.1 Type-A input and an HDMI connection. On the right side of the laptop is a second USB 3.1 port, a headphone/mic jack and a Kensington lock. The 14-inch 1080p display on the Swift 5 is colorful and relatively bright. The panel on the Swift 5 strikes a nice balance between the two.
Armed with an Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU and 8GB of RAM, the Swift 5 delivered enough power. The laptop lasted for 9 hours and 7 minutes while web surfing with the screen set to 150 nits.
PROS CONS
GeForce MX350 No SD Card reader
Thin design Lackluster speakers
Great battery life Screen lid
Dual heat pipe Weak Audio Jack
Get the Acer Swift 5 here.
5. Acer Aspire 5
The two laptops come equipped with the latest 11th Gen Intel Core (Tiger Lake) processors along with the chipmaker’s latest Iris Xe Max graphics. The Acer Aspire 5 will be available in 14″ and 15.6″ display options. All variants come with 4GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB SSD as standard. Here is the official pricing for each variant:
14″ FHD IPS display
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Max graphics – $1299
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Nvidia MX350 graphics – $1099
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Max graphics – $899
15.6″ FHD IPS display
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Nvidia MX350 graphics – $1499
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Max graphics – $1299
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Max graphics – $1099
The Acer Aspire 5 is a top end laptop that comes in two screen sizes: either a 14″ or 15.6″ FHD IPS display with a slim bezel design. Both laptops boast a 17.95mm profile, the 14″ model weighs just 1.45kg while the slightly larger 15.6″ model weighs 1.65kg. The Aspire 5 can be configured up to an Intel Core i7-1165G7, it has 4GB of DDR4 RAM (that can be expanded to 20GB) and 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD. For graphics,there's an Nvidia MX350 graphics or Intel Iris Xe Max graphics variant.
The Aspire 5 has full array of ports including an HDMI 2.0 port, two USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one USB Type C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an Ethernet port, and Thunderbolt 4. Apart from that you also get WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
For the battery life, Acer claims the 14 inch model can last up to 10 hours while the 15.6″ model is said to last up to 8.5 hours. The Aspire 5 14 inch variant comes in five colours: Safari Gold, Pure Silver, Charcoal Black, Sakura Pink or Glacier Blue while the 15.6 inch only comes in either Charcoal Black or Pure Silver. The Aspire 5 comes pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 and it will run on Windows 10 Home.
PROS CONS
Good Display No Caps lock indicator
Good for productivity works Require color reproduction
Good CPU & GPU
RAM Upgradable
Good Battery life
Get the Acer Aspire 5 here.
Premium Laptop
6. Apple MacBook Pro 13 with M1 Processor
The 13-inch MacBook Pro ($1299 base model), is one of three devices with the new processor (the other two are the new MacBook Air and Mac Mini). Apple’s new silicon is based on the 5-nanometer technology and has 16 billion transistors inside. While all that will read like Greek to an average reader, she just needs to know that this is most probably the most powerful processor with integrated graphics that has gone into a laptop ever. Apple’s new chip design means it is faster in processing machine learning and has a lower thermal footprint and hence offers double the battery life of an average laptop.
With its dimensions of 0.61 x 11.97 x 8.36 inches (1.56 x 30.41 x 21.24cm) and a weight of 3.0 pounds (1.4kg) it's pretty much the same as the previous model. It certainly looks and feels identical to previous MacBook Pro 13-inch models. When it comes to ports, the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) sticks with just the two Thunderbolt 3 ports (both on the left-hand side), and an audio jack on the right.
Apple talked a big game about the M1 chip, and claims that its CPU is 2.8 times faster at building Xcode projects, and delivers twice as fast vector performance in Affinity Photo, plus 5.9 times the 3D title render speeds in Final Cut Pro and 2.9 times the performance in Shadow of the Tomb Raider thanks to its GPU. Apple claims that the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) has the "longest battery life ever in a Mac", promising a huge 17 hours of wireless web browsing, and up to 20 hours of video playback – a whopping 10 hours more than the previous model.
Buy it if you have the budget, if you want a powerful and small MacBook, if you want excellent battery life, if you want to edit ultra-high definition videos.
PROS CONS
Efficient M1 chip Still 720p webcam
Long battery life RAM can't upgrade
Secure lock Expensive
Great speaker and display
Touch bar and Touch ID
Magic Keyboard
Get the Apple MacBook Pro M1 here.
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