College studies have changed a lot since I was there, but in some ways, it’s remained the same. Because sure, there are now local AI tools to help with your studies. However, whether it was in the early 2010s for me or 2026 for you: RAM is always the key bottleneck.

And that’s been put to the test in the current pricing crisis we find ourselves in, which gave birth to the MacBook Neo, and subsequently all the budget Windows laptop competitors. Out of all of them that’s launched, the £799 Asus Zenbook 14 is one I’m particularly excited about throwing in my rucksack!

That’s because this is a fantastic frame — definitely feels cheaper than its more expensive brother the Zenbook A14, but quite the looker and solid ergonomics. Plus the OLED screen is a real difference maker from the competition, and that Snapdragon X chip ensures zippy single-core speeds for opening apps fast.

However, it’s worth noting that the model I was given comes packed with 16GB RAM (priced at £1,199 at the time of writing). For running Windows 11 and your broader study load — a bunch of Chrome tabs, a Spotify playlist and AnythingLLM, this is enough. However, I wanted to go deeper, so I went into the bios and restricted RAM usage of Windows to 8GB.

Put simply, it’s ok-ish, but clearly only for the basics at this level. Windows 11 eats memory in a different way to macOS, and you can really feel it in some sluggish app opens and especially when you’re trying to do the classic 20+ Chrome tab study session, or the time taken to get a response from a local chatbot about your ingested coursework.

None of this is to say this is a bad laptop. Asus has taken one of my favorite Zenbooks and made it cheap — this is a great system with solid entry-level performance that outstrips the Neo, and good battery life to boot. But there’s definitely a mistaken identity in what it is and who it’s for.

That £799 model is strong for a very specific kind of studier: the ones who are focused solely on essay writing with a little bit of web research.

Until Microsoft starts optimizing memory usage (which is coming), it’s going to be tricky. No, I’d point you more towards that 16GB option as the sound investment here for not just your studies but your extracurriculars too like creating projects on CapCut or some super casual gaming on the side.

Oh and P.S. This will be launching in the U.S. We just don't know when and for how much!

Asus Zenbook 14: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? This is a budget Windows laptop — made to compete with the MacBook Neo.
• Who is it for? This is an entry-level system for the kinds of students with casual workloads.
• What does it cost? Pricing starts at £799, but the option I snagged is £1,199. No pricing has been announced for U.S., but expect it to be similar (starting from $799).
• What do we like? I’m a big fan of the design — looks premium and feels durable with solid ergonomics. And with enough memory, Snapdragon X is a good performer that slow-sips battery life.
• What don’t we like? Windows 11 is a RAM hog, which makes an 8GB capacity tricky to recommend to students.

Asus Zenbook 14: Specs

Asus Zenbook 14: The ups

So I spoke to a few students at my local university, to figure out (and replicate a various course load demands). In case you’re curious, these were history, science and media studies. The Zenbook A14 kept up with a lot more of it than I expected.

More premium than the price

For all the beef I had with the Zenbook A14 and A16 earlier this year, one thing I loved about them is the lightweight, durable design and great-feeling ergonomics. And while this Zenbook 14 doesn’t quite have that same premium-feeling ceraluminum surface, it takes enough of the A-series’ essence to be a well-built system.

It’s lightweight, feels durable enough to stash in a backpack, and comes with a nice-feeling keyboard for rapid note taking or essay writing, alongside a sizable touchpad with good click ability. Oh, and shout-out to the color finishes — I love this blue option.

Ports-wise, you’ve got everything you’d need for your standard array of accessories, and while the screen side of the clamshell can flex a bit (like the A-series laptops), the keyboard deck has very minimal flex when pushing down on it. All-in-all, this felt like a system that could keep up with the demands of college.

Good for the eyes and ears

I’ve tested a fair few of these MacBook Neo alternatives, and one place they all fall down is that college dorm job of being the central focal point of both working by day and chilling out by night. That means a good screen and speakers are a must — something that’s nice on the eyes and can fill a room with sound.

The speakers on the Zenbook 14 are surprisingly loud with zero noticeable distortion (thanks to Snapdragon Sound), which meant I could keep a room of my friends entertained with my Spotify playlist (which descended quickly into finding Vine compilations to reminisce about being young).

And let’s not forget about that 1080p OLED, which has a decent level of sharpness, a good level of brightness and mightily impressive color reproduction. Great for your work, and great for binge watching by night.

Decent performance and strong battery life

All this talk of Intel Wildcat Lake has almost made people forget about Snapdragon X — a stellar budget-end chipset that is quite the formidable foe to the A18 Pro in the Neo with better multicore processing to crunch tasks and zippy speeds across media encoding and app opens.

What this means in practice is fast program opens, decently quick hot-swapping between different apps and browser tabs, and even a little bit of light photo editing in Photoshop or CapCut edits.

It’s also strong in AI processing too when you go for the 16GB model. There’s a lot of tools out there for keeping on top of your study materials in a convenient way that enhances your learning, and with the headroom of RAM, these run zippy enough.

Finally, the battery life demands of being on campus means you can spend a lot of time away from any outlets. All-day usage is necessary, and in my battery life testing, it’s clear this will keep up with your demands.

Asus Zenbook 14: The downs

But as I got into the more intensive coursework demos here with that reduced memory profile to the 8GB baseline, I realized that the macOS and the MacBook Neo has a serious leg-up on the competition. And there’s one reason why.

Windows 11 is the problem

Yes, I said it. Microsoft is improving Windows 11 over time, but the key thing of memory utilization is still an issue that can cripple performance of that Snapdragon X chip when you try to do too much.

On 8GB, for example, I found myself being able to play a Spotify playlist, have a Google Docs tab for an essay and a few other tabs with research notes. The moment I hit the seventh tab, I started to feel a little stuttering. And then the moment I opened up AnythingLLM, it all froze up working through the tasks one by one.

It’s a sticky situation, which makes the 16GB the only real option if you’re wanting to stretch your legs a little more than the bare essentials.

Pricing can get out of hand fast

And if you do, things can spiral fast pricing-wise because of the memory crisis going on right now. That jump to 16GB with additional SSD storage is a £400 uplift, and going further causes more problems.

This is entering M5 MacBook Air territory, which becomes an issue. When you go up against the ultrabook king, you best not miss, and those pros from before come with some flaws that prove fatal.

For example, the MacBook Air (and Neo for that matter) are aluminum builds, whereas the Zenbook feels a little cheaper in the hand. The MacBook Air benefits from seriously fast Apple Silicon, but Snapdragon X can’t keep up.

The math stops mathing at a particular point.

Asus Zenbook 14: Verdict

So I find the Zenbook 14 is ideal for a very particular kind of student in very particular courses.

If you’re working in essay-centric/coursework-heavy fields with some light local AI use like transcribing lectures and processing notes, you’ll find enough here for what you need to do.

But if you’re a serious studier with multiple tabs and various apps, this is going to be an issue. I can’t deny this is a great laptop for most learners and beyond, and a breath of value fresh air (provided you only need the baseline model).

And if you fit in that category, this is a seriously good looker and good worker that comes in gorgeous color finishes.

macOS Tahoe was one of the worst updates I’ve used in years. Not since Windows Vista have I seen so many design and usability mistakes—unusual for Apple, of all companies. Long known for its reputation in design and thinking about the user first, 2025’s Tahoe update for the best Macs felt like a huge misstep. But macOS Golden Gate feels like a redemption for Tahoe’s mistakes.

I’ve owned a Mac since 2005, when the computers transitioned from PowerPC processors to Intel processors. For several years, I’ve owned an M1 Pro MacBook Pro, and it’s one of the best laptops I’ve ever owned. From its keyboard to the display, everything felt like a home run after years of strange hardware design choices, like the butterfly keyboard.

But as we get close to the iPhone 18 Pro and the rumored iPhone Ultra/Duo foldable, I’m also looking forward to finally updating my Mac to macOS Golden Gate, the newest update that fixes almost all of Tahoe’s mistakes. However, its other design changes have me wondering what comes next for the Mac. So, with rumors of a touchscreen Mac allegedly called the MacBook Ultra, here’s why I’m very tempted to upgrade when Golden Gate officially launches.

Golden Gate redeems macOS

After trying the macOS Golden Gate public beta over the summer, I was struck by how good Liquid Glass finally looks on my Mac. Tahoe showcased the new design in all the wrong ways—from bizarre layers that separated columns within windows to mismatched window sizes. In Golden Gate, that’s nonexistent, with everything looking sharp and far easier on the eye when you’re working with multiple apps on one screen.

It’s restored my faith that Apple has clearly realized what a mistake Tahoe was in its design, and whilst I’ll be upgrading my current MacBook Pro to Golden Gate once it’s out, it also feels like it’s laying the foundation for the MacBook Ultra.

For anyone unaware, this rumored Mac seems to be the opposite of the MacBook Neo. Instead of being an entry point, the MacBook Ultra seems aimed at those who want the ultimate portable Mac at a high price. Alleged features include an OLED touchscreen, a first for the Mac to accept touch input, as well as coming with M6 Pro or Ultra chips that give even better performance and battery life.

Apple silicon has been a huge leap for the Mac. It’s hard to think back to a time when an Intel MacBook Pro could barely manage 4 hours under heavy load, or struggle with games like BioShock Infinite that were then 3 years old since their PC release. Now, even in 2026, my M1 Pro MacBook Pro can still play games like Resident Evil 4 Remake and others with ease, and I rarely hear the fan whirl. So thinking about what a 5-year leap could do for my Mac gaming, alongside everything else, has me excited.

These rumored features, combined with macOS Golden Gate, make me consider the Ultra as my next Mac, since it replaces two devices in one go.

The Ultra could also be an iPad replacement

I’ve been a fan of the iPad since its 2010 debut, and whilst recent software updates, especially iPadOS 26, have made Apple’s tablet far more productive, its locked ecosystem has always made me go back to the Mac.

But there are moments when a touch-screen can work well, such as editing videos for TikTok via LumaFusion, or reading comics from my childhood. It’s why I can see these two examples, and many others, working well on a touchscreen Mac, without macOS leaving the mouse behind.

Golden Gate clearly hints towards a touchscreen Mac—from being able to slide down to refresh in Safari and Mail, to every button designed as if they’re meant to be touched by a finger. Even Siri AI lets users send an email, record a voice note, take a selfie, and more with their voice or via the Siri app. The newest macOS update looks set to be ready for the MacBook Ultra.

Outlook

When an ultra-high-end Mac seems like it will improve on what my M1 MacBook Pro offers, while replacing the use cases I’ve had for my iPad Pro for several years, it feels like the natural next step for me and how I work. Even for Mac gaming, with ways to play Windows games via Crossover or decompilations like Donkey Kong 64 or GoldenEye, the extra power thanks to the M6 architecture will be a huge step up from what I’ve been using since 2021.

So while many will be excited to own an iPhone Ultra or an iPhone 18 Pro model, I’m more excited to use the MacBook Ultra. From the much-improved macOS Golden Gate update to the OLED touchscreen, it feels like the MacBook Ultra could be one of the best Macs to use for at least another five years. If that happens, then I'll have to say goodbye to my M1 MacBook Pro.

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For eight grueling months leading up to the end of last year, engineers from Microsoft and Nvidia worked side by side from the silicon bootstrap level upward. And the goal? Making Windows 11 play nice with an unprecedented architectural shift: an Arm-based CPU sharing massive unified memory with a desktop-class Nvidia RTX GPU.

And then, the first RTX Spark machine finally booted. The red LED lit up, and as Microsoft's Principal Product Manager, Peter Dawoud, recalls it: “half of Santa Clara was jumping.” This was a huge undertaking, but now the real work begins: fine-tuning everything.

RTX Spark isn’t just another laptop sticker; it pushed Microsoft to fundamentally overhaul five foundational subsystems inside Windows 11 to bridge the gap between low-power Arm efficiency, top-tier AAA gaming, and local agentic AI.

I spoke to Dawoud about the software underpinning Team Green’s hardware because, as he said, “Windows kind of had to get all these subsystems right all at the same time, so that you can enjoy an RTX Spark device and take the most advantage out of it.”

A Prism Emulator overhaul

Take it from someone who has watched the many attempts to run Windows on ARM chips (and covered the Snapdragon X Elite launch): emulation has always had an Achilles’ heel when it comes to gaming: micro-stuttering and frame pacing.

“When you're playing video games, it's not just about your average FPS. 1% lows, stuttering is really critical, and your CPU actually plays a very big role in stuttering control,” Dawoud explained.

While average frame rates look acceptable, CPU timing can get erratic when you try to emulate a game and play it at the same time, which can make fast-paced gaming feel jerky. When somebody buys an Nvidia laptop in October, the chances are likely that they will want to play games on it — it’s an RTX GPU after all.

So work needed to be done, and Microsoft has overhauled the Prism emulation layer for RTX Spark’s pipelines. By shoring up how tasks are assigned to each of the CPU’s threads, frame rates are much more stable in my testing, and the improvement over past versions is night and day.

UI polish & the agentic future

If you’re going to make what I believe could be a MacBook Pro killer, you need to make sure the UI is ready for power users as well as casual users. And the mission in Dawoud’s mind to do this is clear: “make the OS kind of get out of the way, for you to do the work that you want to do.”

Microsoft is cleaning up Windows 11 for this kind of user: native taskbar customization, customizable notifications, killing unwanted widgets, and remembering displays you connect to—to preserve specific screen layout settings.

Then we turn our attention to the “reinvent the PC” part of the RTX Spark, which comes down to local agentic AI. I saw a demo of Hermes Agent connected to a user’s Google account that acted like his personal chief of staff: setting an agenda for the day, drafting email responses in Gmail, and updating a project tracker in Google Docs. And it all happened on-device without a single bit of cloud AI.

But without guardrails, this could get scary. “Having an agent that you can't control is probably the thing you don't want,” he stated. So the answer is Microsoft Extension Containers (MXC) — isolated sandboxes for your local models to act across your desktop securely without sensitive system control leaking.

Killing OEM bloatware

It’s always been a dream of mine to have a laptop that doesn’t come packed with OEM-specific power management software or an antivirus scanner. While this may not fix the latter, it goes a long way toward killing the need for the former.

Dawoud emphasized the need to eliminate the clunky tug-of-war between Windows and external software. Currently, there are several ways to tweak power management across different apps, but RTX Spark uses the open-source Modern Power and Thermal Framework—letting Windows natively control all thermal and power tuning.

“Users, when they want to set the best performance, they can do it in Windows, and they'll know that the OEM's tuning for best performance has now been set,” he said. “They don't need to go to another app and be like, 'Okay, is that app saying good performance and Windows is saying good performance at the same time?'”

This also helps these laptops maintain the same performance on and off the charger.

The UMA secret

On paper, a Unified Memory Architecture (UMA) sounds great — a big pool for both the CPU and monstrous GPU to dip into at leisure, and take however much (or little) they need. But in reality, CPUs and GPUs digest memory completely differently.

CPUs crave small memory chunks (4-kilobyte pages) to distribute tasks across their many cores. They take a pizza, pull all the ingredients off of it, and share them around. GPUs, however, take that entire pizza, fold it in half, and eat it taco-style. They need massive blocks (up to 2-megabyte pages) to plow through parallel 3D rendering or AI tasks.

“RTX Spark has a very powerful GPU, so making sure that we give it as much memory as possible when it needs it, but also give it the right page sizes, is really critical,” Dawoud commented.

So Microsoft's fix is to add variable page sizing directly to the memory manager. This is a bit complex, but it means Windows can dynamically read the pages of data flowing through and send them to the right places—the 2MB to the GPU and 4KB to the CPU simultaneously.

“Optimizing that is the way you can weaponize the entire stack to get the most performance out of it,” He emphasized.

Taming Nvidia’s custom CPU cores

Unlike Qualcomm’s standardized Snapdragon X chips, Nvidia’s 18- and 20-core Grace CPUs use a proprietary cluster arrangement of performance and efficiency cores to maximize speed while delivering all-day battery life.

Dawoud explained that Nvidia's core configuration is entirely unique, and “previous Arm cores that have run on Windows are not like that.”

Now, historically, supporting an exotic CPU layout required rewriting the entire kernel underpinning Windows — a risky move for sure. But Windows 11 has a new profiling stack that can tune itself dynamically on the fly, meaning the scheduler that throws tasks everywhere can adapt to Nvidia’s unique chip here without breaking legacy compatibility.

The PC has finally grown up

The 14-year partnership between Microsoft and Nvidia finally feels like it is paying off. Dawoud pointed out that this wasn't a sudden alliance — the journey started over a decade ago with the Tegra-powered Surface RT.

But this specific launch represents a fundamental shift in how the two giants collaborate. By letting Microsoft engineers rebuild the OS from the silicon bootstrap level upward, RTX Spark gave Windows the foundation it needed to finally make Arm-based PC gaming a reality.

Microsoft and Nvidia haven’t just bolted a GPU onto an Arm processor; they’ve rewritten the rulebook beneath the surface. This is a huge moment for both companies, and if Windows on Arm succeeds where previous attempts faltered, it will all be traced back to that one moment Microsoft spent eight agonizing months building the foundation to make it feel effortless.

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So while NBA 2K27 is officially the first game to launch with Nvidia’s newly launched DLSS 5, you’ve probably already seen it pop up in hundreds of more games than that. And I’ll say it again just like I said it before — in photorealistic games, it’s fantastic. But If you venture out of that into anything more stylized, it’s going to look weird.

That’s why it makes the world of sense in 2K27, but during my hands-on testing with my Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (armed with an RTX 5070 Ti), I noticed something bizarre. The moment I entered a menu or triggered a replay, it suddenly felt like it was trudging through molasses.

I dug into the raw telemetry data to figure out what was going on, and what I found completely changed my understanding of Nvidia’s “3D-guided neural rendering.” That intensive new graphics pipeline of DLSS 5 may indeed be a graphical revolution — but on my humble laptop (and lower end desktops), I get the sense Frame Generation is a requirement to make it playable.

The laptop I’m playing on

I’m seeing a lot of people test it on massive desktop rigs. I’ll of course get round to doing this when I’m not on my honeymoon (my wife will kill me if I started benchmarking DLSS 5 in Cancun), but first I wanted to show you some numbers on something that isn’t really being covered here — my Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop.

Nvidia’s been talking about how the model running this mode of neural rendering has been made super efficient over the past few months. In fact, when it first debuted, it ran on a separate RTX 5090 desktop GPU; whereas now, it’s able to run on a single card with the game.

So let’s give it a go in a notebook with a lower power level running through those graphics.

By the numbers

To figure out why the game was suddenly stuttering, I ran the telemetry on three different game states with DLSS 5 turned on and off. And as you can see, while the gameplay numbers are very close matching, elsewhere, the difference is pretty significant.

In fact, this kind of lines up with PC Gamer’s report of a 50-60% drop in performance. So what’s going on here? Let’s talk about it.

The heavy cost of the transformer

So why does turning off the new tech triple frame rate in menus and replays? Because DLSS 5 is not just an upscale filter. It is a highly complex transformer model that interacts with the on-screen geometry and injects neural rendering.

Speaking to Nvidia, it’s clear that this AI pipeline is a heavy one, and the answer to why you don’t see that same impact in gameplay is a simple one: Frame Generation.

During live gameplay, I engaged the 6x Frame Generation multiplier to take that slower neurally rendered base and fill the gaps. However, developers typically disable frame gen during static menus, UI-heavy pause screens or camera-cut replays.

You can see how much this first iteration of DLSS 5 is sweating the system by looking at a couple of factors in the gameplay. Yes, the framerate is barely touched, but the 1% Lows takes a dip and the latency is upped quite drastically, as well as the GPU utilization spiking.

In a controller-centric game like NBA 2K27, that’s not necessarily a noticeable hit, but I can imagine that when this in its current form is moved to games that require faster inputs with a keyboard and mouse, it could become more apparent.

Take away the prop of frame generation in menus, and you see the DLSS 5 penalty more realistically on an RTX 5070 Ti laptop GPU.

But it looks incredible

Like I said in my first impressions, when faced with photorealistic graphics, DLSS 5 is undeniably impressive. There is one very specific takeaway when I looked at these “before and after” pairs of screen captures: the core game look is preserved impressively.

DLSS 5 does a flawless job of preserving the game’s visual integrity. The shots of Jalen Brunson and Victor Wembanyama show off the micro-details on the skin and the way the sweat catches the harsh stadium lighting. The upscaler isn’t adding any aggressive smoothing or plastic-looking artifacts — it’s remarkably lifelike.

Then there’s the fabric and material textures. Brunson’s Knicks jersey and the fabric of the couch in the cutscene get an upgrade to show off the stitching more with high-resolution clarity, and without any noticeable AI-induced blurring.

The lighting reacts to on-screen characters more realistically, there isn’t any noticeable AI “fizzing” or ghosting around finer textures like hair — something upscalers have had problems with in the past.

Is this a frame-generated future?

DLSS 5 integration proved to me that the uncanny valley is dead, but it also proves that native frame rates are on their way out with it.

Nvidia themselves keep saying that Moore’s law is dead, and getting crafty with AI is what will bridge that generational gap. That threshold has been crossed — photorealism is getting too heavy for high-end silicon to render natively.

And DLSS 5 proves that future of photorealism isn’t just about rendering better pixels; it’s about accepting that a good chunk of the frames you see on your screen aren’t technically going to be “real” at all.

We’ve been coming to this moment in the PC gaming space for a while now, and it’s also happening on consoles too.

And personally, I have no problem with it if it looks this good — provided it’s used the right way (such as in photorealistic games).

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Despite how hard I try, I always end up bringing too many gadgets when I travel. With a transforming device like Lenovo’s new Project Swan, though, those days may be done for good.

Alongside one of the best laptops, I often pack a portable monitor for those times when I need extra screen real estate. This setup has served me well in the past, but between chargers, power banks, and cables, my tech bag gets unwieldy fast. In fact, on my last trip to Taiwan for Computex, my carry-on ended up weighing more than my checked bag.

At IFA 2026, Lenovo unveiled two new concept laptops. While Project AeroBlade was remarkably thin and light, Project Swan transforms from a compact 14-inch laptop into a 17-inch workstation with the push of a button. We saw a similar horizontal expansion mechanic with the company’s Legion Pro Rollable concept back at CES, but that machine was built strictly for gaming.

Now, Lenovo is taking that same core idea — using a streamlined motor array — and tailoring it to a business laptop. Here is everything you need to know about Project Swan, and why it could mark the end of portable monitors (if you’re willing to pay up, of course).

Wider but not unwieldy

With its screen retracted, Project Swan looks like a standard, highly portable 14-inch notebook weighing about 3.5 pounds. While that’s slightly on the heavy side for a 14-inch laptop, keep in mind that this is a concept — and having it in your bag means leaving a secondary display at home.

The idea is to give mobile power users a workspace that expands only when required. You can comfortably use the 14-inch screen on a cramped airplane tray table, then expand the display once you get to your hotel desk or a coffee shop.

While full internal specs haven't been released yet, the physical layout includes two side-mounted USB-C ports and a headphone jack. A rear USB-C port handles charging, flanked by a tiny LED status indicator. Despite housing a rolling screen assembly, the chassis stays surprisingly trim at 17.9mm (0.7 inches).

As with the AeroBlade concept, you get Lenovo’s signature keyboard with generous key travel, paired with a spacious trackpad. Toggling between retracted and expanded modes is effortless: just tap the Insert key, and the laptop’s motors handle the rest.

Fully extended, the display rolls out into a wider 16:9 layout. That extra horizontal space is built for running two full apps side-by-side. As someone who writes with dual windows open, even on a 16-inch MacBook Pro, that added horizontal space would make an immediate difference.

The second screen's swan song?

I still catch myself wishing Project Swan rolled out even further. As someone who uses an ultrawide monitor at home, stretching out to a full 21:9 aspect ratio to fit two uncompressed, full-sized browser windows side-by-side would be the dream.

Even as a 16:9 expansion, having a single laptop that stretches on demand feels like the ideal solution for business travelers who hate setting up an external monitor. I’ve tried solving this issue with display glasses connected to a mini PC, but even a pair of the best smart glasses can lead to eye fatigue over a long workday.

Although Project Swan is technically a concept right now, I wouldn't be surprised to see a retail version hit the market relatively soon. Unlike companies that showcase flashy concepts never meant for production, Lenovo actually ships them. Case in point: their vertical rollable concept at CES eventually made its way to store shelves as the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable.

If Project Swan makes the jump to a retail product, it will undoubtedly carry a steep price tag. But for business travelers who want maximum screen real estate without pulling extra gear out of their bag at airport security, it might be worth every penny.

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There's been a sudden surge of AI agents that can help you perform tasks on your PC, even while you're away. You've probably heard about tools like OpenClaw, which can run autonomously on your behalf. But one of the problems with running these kinds of agents locally is that they often require plenty of hardware resources to function properly.

I'm not someone who changes laptops every year. I still use a MacBook Air M3 from 2023, and I'll probably continue using it until it gives up on me, which hopefully won't be for another five to seven years. But that also means my laptop isn't necessarily built for running powerful local AI agents, and upgrading my entire computer just for that doesn't make much sense.

Well, for people like me, Violoop might have an interesting solution. The company has just showcased its new hardware AI agent at IFA 2026, and unlike software agents that run directly on your laptop, use its resources, and potentially drain more battery, Violoop is a separate device that connects to your computer and handles much of the AI processing itself.

Similar to software-based agents, Violoop is screen-aware. It can understand what's happening on your display and help perform tasks based on that context. For example, if someone asks you to send them an address, Violoop can pull up the relevant information and fill it in for you. If you're looking at a long PDF that you don't have time to read, you can ask it to summarize the document instead.

The idea is that the device gradually understands you better the more you use it. Violoop builds what the company calls a continuous memory graph, which learns about your workflows, preferences, and patterns over time so the agent has more context when you're asking it to do something.

Of course, having an AI constantly looking at what's on your screen and building a memory around what you do immediately raises some privacy questions. Violoop says it has taken a local-first approach here. Screen data is processed directly on the device and, according to the company, is never transmitted to the cloud.

Inside, there's an 8-billion-parameter local AI model with 26 TOPS of on-device AI performance handling these tasks. When Violoop does need to use the cloud, the company says it sends "only the information necessary" to complete the task, while your screen itself is never streamed.

There's also a dedicated STM32H563 security processor for handling approvals around sensitive tasks. The company says you'll be able to connect your preferred AI services, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and others.

The hardware itself is also pretty interesting. There's a small display on the front showing things like the time and what the AI agent is currently doing. The whole thing almost looks like a tiny old-school computer monitor sitting next to your laptop, which I actually quite like.

One thing worth noting is that Violoop isn't powered directly through your laptop's USB-C port. It requires its own external power source. Around the back, you'll find three connections: USB-C, HDMI, and a dedicated power input.

There's also a physical button on top that acts as a hardware-level approval key. When the agent wants to perform a sensitive action or something that involves multiple steps, you can physically press the button to approve it rather than letting the AI simply go ahead on its own.

Perhaps the most interesting part for me is that Violoop isn't tied to one operating system. The company says it works with both Windows and macOS, and setup is supposed to be largely plug-and-play. At least, that's what Violoop tells me.

Violoop is launching on Kickstarter on September 15, 2026, with an introductory price of $399. The company expects to begin shipping in mid-October, after which the device is expected to be more widely available for $799.

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• I used Dell's latest MacBook Neo rival — and I'm not complaining about having another one

The new Alienware 16 Area-51 gaming laptop is largely a refresh of last year’s model, but it includes the one feature I wanted: a glare-free OLED panel. Toss in the latest Intel and Nvidia components, along with the otherworldly design, and you have one of the best gaming laptops on the market.

As with 2025’s Alienware 16 Area-51, this gaming laptop has serious flair, thanks to the Liquid Teal finish on the anodized aluminum chassis, which gives it a dark, iridescent sheen that shifts colors under different lighting conditions. The Gorilla Glass window on the bottom lets you see the internal components, while the RGB lighting enhances the laptop’s otherworldly appearance.

You can configure the Alienware 16 Area-51 (from $2,529, $3829 as tested) with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Arrow Lake Refresh CPU, an Nvidia RTX 5090 GPU, 64GB of RAM, and 12TB of SSD storage. My review unit, with its RTX 5080, Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, and 32GB of RAM, had no issue handling even the most demanding PC games.

The star of the show is the new OLED panel, which provides rich contrast between dark and light elements. The anti-glare does rob the display of some of its luster, but the bright HDR and vibrant colors make up for that. You won’t complain much given how beautiful games look on this 16-inch 240Hz display.

While this laptop is still too bulky for my liking and has worse battery life than the previous model, this is undeniably a powerful gaming laptop with a fetching design like no other. If you have the cash for this beast, you won’t be disappointed. Find out more in my full review of the Alienware 16 Area-51 (2026).

Alienware 16 Area-51 (2026) review: Cheat sheet

• What was it? The Alienware 16 Area-51 is a high-end gaming laptop.
• Who is it for? The Alienware 16 Area-51 is for hardcore gamers who want a machine that can easily play graphically demanding modern games and look good doing it.
• What does it cost? The Alienware 16 Area-51 starts at $2,529 on Dell’s website at the time of writing. This configuration has an Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus CPU, an Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage.
• What do we like? We like the futuristic design, killer performance, and stunning OLED panel.
• What don’t we like? We don’t like the laptop’s bulkiness and poor(er) battery life.

Alienware 16 Area-51 (2026) review: Specs

Alienware 16 Area-51 (2026) review: The ups

The Alienware 16 Area-51 finally features an OLED panel while retaining the best aspects of its predecessor, including the eye-catching design, monstrous performance, and mesmerizing RGB lighting.

Futuristic design

Alienware didn’t change the design here, which is good, since this is still one of the most distinctive gaming laptops on the market. The rounded corners, Liquid Teal finish and RGB lighting on the keyboard deck make you feel like you’re using a laptop from the future. The smooth, sturdy aluminum chassis also feels good to touch and hold.

The model I reviewed came with a Cherry MX ultra-low-profile mechanical keyboard. Thanks to that, I had a great experience typing, as the keys are clicky and have a short travel distance. The touchpad is still relatively small, but it didn’t ruin my flow. I also like that the spacious keyboard deck gave my hands plenty of room to move.

You’ll find the lion’s share of the laptop’s ports on the back, with the 3.5mm headphone jack and an SD card slot located on the left-hand side. There’s a good selection of ports, including three USB-A, two USB-C, and an HDMI port. It’s not always easy to connect and reconnect peripherals when the laptop’s lid is open, but if you always keep everything connected, then it shouldn’t be an issue.

Powerful gaming performance

The Alienware 16 Area-51 I reviewed is purpose-built for high-end gaming performance, thanks to powerful components such as its Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 laptop GPU, and 32GB of RAM. If you want to play games at native resolution with high graphics settings, you won’t be disappointed.

At native resolution and default graphics settings, with frame generation disabled and the laptop’s performance mode enabled, I got Cyberpunk 2077 to generally run at around 110 frames per second. This includes both walking and driving. Frame rates dipped into the low 90s in some of the denser downtown areas, but it’s hard to complain about a game running at 90 fps.

Using a game’s built-in benchmarking tool, we saw impressive results when we tested the laptop in our lab. At native resolution and maximum graphical settings, with the laptop’s performance mode disabled, Cyberpunk 2077 ran at 38 fps—certainly lower than when I ran it with performance mode on and at default graphics settings. Other titles, such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Doom: The Dark Ages, ran much better under these same conditions.

The Alienware 16 Area-51 also fared well against competing laptops with better specs. This includes the Razer Blade 16, which has a more powerful RTX 5090 GPU, and the Asus Zephyrus G16, which has the same CPU and GPU but double the RAM.

Even with frame-boosting DLSS disabled, you can still enjoy extremely high frame rates with performance mode enabled and medium-to-high graphics settings. You’ll get fantastic performance out of the box thanks to the Alienware 16’s powerful components.

Vivid OLED display

This is the big update for the Alienware 16 Area-51, and it’s a welcome one, as the lack of an OLED panel on last year’s model was one of its few setbacks. Now, games look as glorious as they perform, making the overall experience even better.

A game like Cyberpunk 2077 literally shines on this 16-inch OLED panel. The contrast between dark and light elements helps the colorful neon signs and holograms really pop out during the in-game night cycle. The scorching sun during the day is also impressive, with dark shadows contrasting nicely against the daylight.

The model I reviewed has an anti-glare screen that effectively reduces glare from light sources. While that’s a plus, it can also make the overall image look less vibrant than on a glossy screen. This is a minor setback, and one I can overlook since I’d rather have an anti-glare screen than not.

How did the Alienware 16’s display perform in our lab tests? As you can see above, it has strong color reproduction (sRGB and DCI-P3) and solid color accuracy (Delta-E). Hues are somewhat oversaturated, which benefits games like Cyberpunk 2077. SDR and HDR brightness are also good for an OLED panel.

Games run buttery smooth thanks to the fast 240Hz refresh rate. I didn’t encounter any stuttering or flickering during testing. The response time is now 0.2ms, which is much lower than last year’s model’s 3ms. Granted, you likely won’t notice a major difference unless you’re a competitive gamer, but the lower response time will benefit you regardless.

Fun RGB lighting

Like last year’s model, this Alienware 16 laptop has some seriously impressive RGB lighting. And I don’t say that lightly since I’m not typically an RGB fan. But the way it’s implemented here complements this laptop’s unique design.

The Gorilla Glass bottom allows the RGB lighting to cast an underglow. And this same lighting also spills out through the top of the keyboard deck. As before, I haven’t seen other gaming laptops match this effect.

Naturally, you can customize the lighting effects however you prefer via the Alienware Commander Center app. The app is easy to use if you just want to use presets, but it’s also very granular for more in-depth fine-tuning.

Alienware 16 Area-51 (2026) review: The downs

Though the Alienware 16 Area-51 has a lot going for it, it has some noticeable drawbacks.

Poor battery life

I never expect gaming laptops to have stellar battery life, as they’re usually lacking in that area. The Alienware 16 Area-51 is no different, except that it actually runs out of juice faster than last year’s model.

In our testing, Alienware’s gaming laptop lasted an hour and two minutes on the PCMark 10 gaming benchmark and three and a half hours while surfing the internet. That’s about an hour less on both tests than before, which is a bummer.

You’re likely going to keep the laptop plugged in for better performance, so battery life won’t be an issue in that instance. However, if you plan to use this laptop on the go, don’t expect it to last as long as you’d need it to.

Cumbersome to carry

There’s no denying that the Alienware 16 Area-51 is an attractive laptop thanks to its unique design. Unfortunately, the main downside is that at 14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 inches and 7.92 pounds, it’s not exactly portable. Yes, you can take it with you, and it will fit in a standard backpack, but you’ll feel it.

I typically take the laptops I’m reviewing home, but because of this notebook’s weight, I kept it at the office throughout the entire testing process. I also kept it in one of our lab rooms because even carrying it around the office isn’t pleasant.

Granted, the laptop’s weight won’t be an issue if you’re not going to travel with it and mainly plan to have it as your primary at-home computer. But if you want to take it on the road, then I suggest you build some muscle first.

Alienware 16 Area-51 (2026) review: Verdict

While the Alienware 16 Area-51 is mostly a refresh of the previous model, the inclusion of an OLED panel is a significant addition that makes an already fantastic gaming laptop even better. Thanks to that, it’s hard not to recommend this laptop to anyone willing to spend top dollar for a high-end gaming experience.

Alternatives like the Razer Blade 16 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 are solid choices if the Alienware’s design is too outlandish, though you’ll still pay a similar price for both. So given that, why not go for a gaming laptop with a truly unique design?

As with its predecessor, the Alienware 16 Area-51 comes with my highest recommendation. Forgive the cliché, but it truly is out of this world.

Alongside massive TVs, home robots, and all sorts of futuristic tech, PC makers came out in a big way for IFA 2026 — and for good reason. With Nvidia’s new RTX Spark chips on the horizon and local AI ramping up fast, we saw tons of fresh silicon and hardware in Berlin this year.

What we didn’t expect was for them to be so colorful, thin, and experimental. From budget-friendly laptops in every shade imaginable to designs so impossibly slim they’d make Steve Jobs jealous, and even the return of the netbook in a totally new form factor, this year’s show was an absolute blast for computing.

Here are our 7 favorite laptops from IFA 2026, including models landing before the holidays and wild concepts that show us where PCs are heading next.

Best laptops of IFA 2026: The ones you can buy soon

Lenovo Yoga Flip 9n 2-in-1

If you’re an artist who needs a powerful machine to work on, the Lenovo Yoga Flip 9n 2-in-1 is the convertible laptop to watch. Packing an Nvidia RTX Spark chip for handling AI workloads on-device, and the ability to draw on its OLED screen or haptic touchpad, this is one seriously versatile notebook for busy doodlers on the go. And for work, it even packs a full keyboard and plenty of ports.

We don’t yet have a price or release date, but the Yoga Flip 9n 2-in-1 could be the perfect fit for creatives.

Tony Polanco

Dell 14S

Dell’s adding another MacBook Neo competitor to its lineage after the stellar XPS 13, and this one's aimed more at the college student/those just entering the world of work. The Dell 14S has gone through a huge upgrade since the last time I heard that name last year!

Instead of a cheap plastic build, we’re now to an all-aluminum build in a selection of fresh colors. The keyboard feels great on it, you’ve got display options starting from a 2K resolution all the way to 2.8K OLED, and the pricing will be “complementary” to the XPS 13 — Dell’s words not mine.

Take from that what you will…but also…$699 is my prediction.

Jason England

Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe

The Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe aims to be the next MacBook Neo killer, and it certainly has a decent shot at dethroning Apple’s affordable laptop. Lenovo’s machine features a sturdy metal chassis available in seven unique colors to match your personality. It also packs a wide range of ports — more than the MacBook Neo and Dell XPS 13 — and even swappable keycaps.

Configurable with AMD, Snapdragon, and eventually Intel CPUs, the IdeaPad Vibe, with its expected $699 asking price, is hard to ignore.

Tony Polanco

Acer Swift Blade 14

Yes, I know there’s the Acer Vero 16, and it’s modularity/repairability chops. All great and nice. But I’m here for the laptops that blew my tiny mind, and the 799g Swift Blade did indeed blow my mind, because it’s insanely lightweight.

You get a full-blown OLED display, decent build quality Intel Core Series 3 chipsets and the RAM and storage you need in something that’s lighter than two cans of soup. It’s really quite the shocking piece of kit to hold in your hands.

Jason England

Best laptops of IFA 2026: The prototypes

Lenovo Project Aeroblade

Lenovo’s Project AeroBlade gives off serious MacBook Air vibes thanks to its ultraportable design. At under 10mm thick and just 1.83 pounds, it feels like a screen with a keyboard attached. It achieves this with a fanless design. Instead, four tiny Frore AirJet modules use silent ultrasonic vibrations to cool an Intel Lunar Lake chip without sacrificing sustained performance. You still get OLED, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 7, and Lenovo’s excellent keyboard in a magnesium-aluminum shell.

It’s only a concept for now, but if this ships, it could be a game-changer for thin-and-light laptops.

Tony Polanco

Lenovo Project Swan

Lenovo didn’t want its Legion Pro Rollable gaming laptop to have all the fun when it comes to horizontally expanding screens, so this year at IFA, it unveiled a more business-friendly solution using upgraded tech.

Project Swan starts out as a small and compact 14-inch productivity laptop but with the push of a button, its screen extends out on either side to become a 17-inch display. That way, instead of bringing a portable monitor with you on your next business trip, you can just pack one device.

Just like Lenovo’s incredibly light laptop, Project Swan is only a concept for now but as we saw a few years ago with the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, this design could find its way into a product you can actually buy sooner than you’d think.

Anthony Spadafora

Acer Project DualPlay Mini

Now I know the initial thoughts here. “This is a gaming handheld, wtf are you thinking!?” Well, actually, this is a netbook…you can’t see it yet but when you open the handheld like a clamshell and flip the display, you’ve got that QWERTY keyboard inside.

As someone who has missed using something like my Asus Eee PC in the mid 2000s, this was a serious trip back in time to a better time. And when you think about the versatility of it, not only does this mean “work by day, play by night,” but it also means wider gameplay accessibility. Have you ever played an RTS with a controller? …that’s what I thought!

Jason England

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John Ternus has finally taken over as CEO of Apple, and his term could kickstart a wave of new and redefined Apple devices. It all starts next week with the "Surprise and Shine" iPhone event.

However, that's just the beginning, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman just released a massive report that highlights 41 devices that could be released in the next three years and beyond.

That includes new devices like the foldable iPhone Ultra and Apple's first foray into smart glasses.

Later 2026 and Early 2027

Most every device meant to launch in the next six months should arrive during one of two events: the September 9 iPhone soiree and an announcement in October or early November.

Mostly, the difference here is that new MacBooks are usually announced in mid-fall, usually with a new chipset.

The key devices to be aware of in the next few months include Apple's first foldable iPhone Ultra and the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models, all of which are expected to launch next week. There's also the first iPad mini with an OLED screen and the rumored HomePad with a screen, which should be Apple's next steps into smart home devices.

There's also the rumored MacBook Ultra, a high-end version of Apple's Pro laptop with a touch display and OLED panel. Personally, I'm interested in the refreshed Apple TV 4K with a faster chip and more Siri features. Though that has been rumored for years now and has yet to actually be released.

• iPhone Ultra
• iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
• Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4
• AirPods 5
• Apple TV 4K set-top box
• HomePod mini
• HomePad
• iPad mini with OLED screen
• M6 iMac refresh
• M6 14-inch MacBook Pro refresh
• MacBook Ultra

In development for 2027

Next year is when we could start seeing some truly updated designs for Apple's products from the all-glass iPhone 20 to redesigned Apple Watches and even more smart home products.

Some devices will be a simple chip refresh, like the M6 MacBook Air or the A19 Pro MacBook Neo, which proved so popular the first go-round that Apple couldn't keep it in stock.

A slew of iPads, from a refreshed iPad 12 to an iPad Air OLED are also expected next year.

iPhones will get weird next year starting in the spring where Apple splits the launch of the iPhone 18 series. We should see the vanilla iPhone 18, alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2.

In the back half of the year, the 20th anniversary iPhone could feature one of the largest design changes in years. The biggest is a curvy all-glass wraparound design that seamlessly covers the entire phone. An analyst claimed this design was canceled in August, but Mark Gurman pushed back, saying that it's still on track. There are more potential changes, but the glass look will be immediately noticeable.

We were expecting to see camera-laden AirPods this year after leaked code and videos appeared, but Gurman claims these have been delayed until 2027. The cameras would enable Siri AI to "see" the world around you and respond to queries. People are voicing privacy concerns already, but presumably the cameras would not record photos or video.

Finally, Tim Cook was allegedly obsessed with Apple Glasses, but it's not clear if Ternus shares that same excitement. Apple's take on the form should arrive next year and be similar to the Meta Ray-Ban allowing you to take calls, pictures and videos but lacking a display. Rumors had slated the glasses for 2028 but a summer report claimed Apple was rethinking its roadmap after Vision head Paul Meade left for OpenAI.

• M6 MacBook Air
• A19 Pro MacBook Neo
• Entry-level iPad refresh
• iPad Air OLED
• iPad Pro
• New Apple Pencils.
• iPhone 18 and 18e
• iPhone Air 2
• M7 14-inch MacBook Pro
• AirPods with cameras
• In-home security sensor and system.
• Apple Glasses
• iPhone 20 (XX)
• iPhone Ultra 2
• Redesigned Apple Watches
• M7 Pro and M7 Max MacBooks

2028, 2029 and beyond

The next batch of potential Apple devices could be released any time between 2028 and 2030. Some are chip and OLED updates, but a couple are new devices that we haven't seen from Apple before.

The HomePod on a robot arm was rumored two years ago and apparently will actually debut in the next couple of years. Per Gurman, this version will have a 9-inch display and advanced AI features.

Before the rumor mill settled on the foldable iPhone, Apple's first foldable device was actually supposed to be a giant foldable 18-inch iPad or MacBook. Apparently, this is still in the works and could launch in 2028. Gurman claims manufacturing issues pushed a potential launch back.

Apple allegedly wants to release its own AR glasses à la the Meta Ray-Ban Display. The glasses would superimpose data on your real-world view. There's no specific release year for these, but they could arrive before 2030.

Apple is apparently working on an AI pendant as well. The Apple version would work with your iPhone and use AI and the camera for tasks.

• HomePad with a robot arm
• M7 Max and M7 Ultra Mac Studio
• Apple Vision Pro revamp
• AI Pendant
• Larger foldable iPhone
• Foldable iPad
• MacBook Air OLED
• Higher-end iMac OLED
• Augmented reality glasses

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• iPhone Ultra price rumors — here's how much you can expect to pay for Apple’s first foldable
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As I keep saying, there’s a big two-device compromise problem. I love my 14-inch MacBook Pro for its rigidity, battery life, silent thermals, great ergonomics, and raw performance for my prosumer workload. But macOS locks me out of native PC gaming (mostly), so I need another machine to do that.

So when Nvidia’s RTX Spark was announced, I saw the possibility of a future daily driver pull into view — the everything machine I’d always wanted. And then when I held the Asus ProArt P14 in my right hand and the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro in my left, it became clear I’d found my top pick of Team Green’s roster.

That’s because Asus didn’t just build a competitor; they pretty obviously reverse-engineered the MacBook Pro’s footprint and low-profile industrial aesthetic. It was going to take a lot to get me to switch from my Apple lifestyle, but coming as close to the Apple feel as possible is a helpful start, to say the least!

So for the first time, a Windows machine has the silicon architecture to challenge Apple Silicon, and Asus is packing it into a machine that rolls tanks onto the MacBook Pro’s turf.

Design and build: spotting the physical differences

Stacking them directly, you can see how much Asus took inspiration from Apple, as the ProArt P14 matches the MacBook Pro 14 almost millimeter for millimeter. But there are subtle differences.

First is the finish. Apple’s anodized aluminum has a smoother, more metallic texture, whereas Asus’ stealthy matte charcoal coating has a much more interesting texture under your fingers.

And second is the weight balance. Holding them both one-handed, the Pro definitely feels denser, but the distribution feels better balanced. Whereas in the ProArt P14, it’s lighter but more heavily weighted toward thermal management at the back of the system (more on that later).

Ports-wise, both are effectively set up for creators with full-size HDMI, high-speed USB-C, a headphone jack, and a full-size SD card slot. But the ProArt flex here comes with the legacy USB-A port on the right flank — a minor detail that saves you from carrying dongles.

Screen showdown: 2.8K OLED vs Liquid Retina XDR

So when it comes to picking between these screens, I know the default is to say “OLED is better,” but there are levels to this.

Because yes, the infinite contrast, instant pixel response times for gaming, zero blooming, and no camera notch give the ProArt P14 an advantage. It’s a gorgeous display — this is Asus’ bread and butter after all, as colors melt off the screen.

But the MacBook Pro (I’m assuming, as we won’t know until full testing — this is just based on what’s always happened before) will likely have a higher sustained peak brightness for outdoor work.

Really, it comes down to what you’re going to do with it. For gaming and color-accurate video grading in indoor/studio settings, the OLED wins on pure punch. However, for working out and about in bright coffee shops, Apple’s Mini-LED will probably retain the top spot.

The tactile friction point: Key feel and trackpad

The MacBook Pro has always been one of my favorites ergonomically speaking —packing shallow but snappy scissor keyboard switches set in a well. It feels familiar, reliable, and fatigue-free, but it does lack the travel for deep gaming presses.

Meanwhile, the ProArt P14’s keys have a deeper dish, a little more key travel, and a softer landing underneath. The added depth creates a more satisfying impact, and the WASD stability for gaming feels a little better. But the slight added mushiness may come back to haunt me if I type all day.

Then there’s the trackpads. Now don’t get me wrong, the ProArt’s physical trackpad is massive and smooth, with a nice tactility to the physical click. But Apple’s Force Touch haptics are basically witchcraft, with an identical click anywhere on the glass and zero chance of any mechanical dead zones.

Under the hood

Currently, I’m on an M5 MacBook Pro, but you can spec it up to M5 Pro or M5 Max with unified memory shared between CPU and GPU cores. The end result is lightning-fast performance across all your tasks that has always been one step ahead of the competition from Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD.

And now, the ProArt P14 is taking on Apple with the RTX Spark N1X platform — marrying an Arm-based Nvidia Grace CPU with a dedicated Blackwell RTX GPU, backed up by up to 128GB of unified memory.

In terms of how much you can spec it, ProArt P14 configurations start from that baseline N1X with fewer cores and 24GB of memory, so the versatility of configs means you can run the full gamut against the MacBook Pro.

Apple’s machine falls down in modern AAA PC gaming backlogs — some of it works through Metal compatibility, but most will be left to crippling emulation or cloud streaming.

But with N1X’s CUDA cores, the ProArt P14 can run 1440p games at 100 FPS, complete with DLSS support and anti-cheat compatibility. Beyond that, I expect they’ll be pretty evenly matched in creator performance and AI. Differences there will come down to the software optimization for the silicon.

The potential dealbreakers

I’m just going to summarize some quick things that may become the thorn in the ProArt P14’s side once we get one in the labs to fully test.

• The fan noise: When I tested the ProArt P14 for gaming, it was the loudest RTX Spark laptop in the room. The MacBook Pro stays near-silent during everyday tasks, and hopefully the P14 is the same — but it’s clear that an insane amount of Nvidia silicon requires aggressive airflow.
• Battery endurance: Nvidia is claiming “all-day” battery life and the same performance both on and off the charger. During my testing, I can confirm the latter, but we don’t know about the former yet! If it can achieve that 12-14+ hours of mixed real-world productivity, Apple loses its biggest single advantage.
• The price: The MacBook Pro starts at $1,999. To get the equivalent amount of memory (24GB), that price goes up to $2,199. This is the big question mark for N1X laptops, and hopefully they’ll be competitive on cost.

Early verdict

This is a way-too-early verdict, as I’m piecing together the few times I’ve had to test the ProArt P14 and its potential against months of MacBook Pro use. But I’ll give it a stab.

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Laptops are in a pretty unique place in 2026. On one end, we have companies pushing performance to the absolute maximum, with new flagship laptops soon to be powered by chips like Nvidia's RTX Spark. On the other hand, we have brands going directly after Apple's MacBook Neo, pushing prices lower while still trying to deliver as much value as possible.

Dell is jumping on the latter bandwagon at IFA 2026 with its new Dell 14S. The company already has the XPS 13, which sits as its more premium MacBook Neo competitor, but the Dell 14S is targeting a slightly different buyer.

Dell tells me this laptop will sit one tier below the XPS 13, aimed primarily at pre-college and high school students who want something sturdy and capable without spending too much money.

On first inspection, the Dell 14S feels extremely similar to the more expensive XPS 13 in the hand. You get an all-aluminum build that feels premium, and unlike some other thin-and-light laptops I've tried here at IFA, there isn't much flex in the keyboard deck when you press down hard. The display lid doesn't feel flimsy either.

It's certainly not the lightest laptop I've used at IFA this year, but I'll happily take some extra weight when the trade-off is a machine that feels this solid.

I also really like what Dell is doing with the colors. Similar to Apple with the MacBook Neo, Dell isn't sticking with the usual dark finishes. The 14S comes in four much more playful colors: Linen (beige-silver), Dusty Rose (pink), Washed Denim (light blue), and Velvet Green.

Washed Denim (the one on the top in the image below) is easily my favorite of the bunch, although all four look much better in person than their names might suggest.

And despite being positioned below the XPS 13, Dell isn't cutting too much when it comes to performance either. The Dell 14S will be available with Intel's Core Series 3 "Wildcat Lake" processors, with options including Core 5 and Core 7 chips.

Other internal hardware includes up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. Those aren't exactly flagship specifications, but they're pretty much what you'd expect given the price range Dell is targeting and with the ongoing RAMageddon. The port selection is also surprisingly good. You get two USB-C ports, but Dell has also included a full-sized HDMI port, something you don't even get on the more expensive XPS 13.

In terms of display options, you're getting two options. The higher-end model comes with a 2.8K panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the other configuration drops down to a 2K display running at 60Hz.

The biggest question right now is the price. Dell hasn't announced U.S. pricing yet, but the company tells me the 14S will sit below the XPS 13 in its lineup. Considering the XPS 13 starts at around $699, I wouldn't be surprised if the Dell 14S lands somewhere around the $599 to $649 mark.

And if Dell can actually hit that price, I think the 14S could be a very interesting MacBook Neo competitor. There's no exact launch date for now, but Dell tells me that the 14S will launch in the U.S. sometime this fall, with pricing to be announced closer to availability.

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The Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1 wants to be the ultimate convertible laptop for creative work. Announced during IFA 2026, Lenovo’s upcoming 2-in-1 packs an Nvidia RTX Spark chip for demanding workflows and features dual-surface pen input for increased flexibility. The OLED display and ability to handle AI work on-device are other highlights.

I got to see the Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1 at a Lenovo IFA event and left with a strong first impression. Though I wasn’t able to get a taste of what RTX Spark is capable of, I was impressed by the slender 2-in-1 design and the ability to write or sketch directly on the touchpad. If you’re an artist, this seems like a great machine to bring your creations to life.

We don't yet have pricing for it, but the Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1 seems like a convertible to watch out for. Here's why you should keep it on your radar.

Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1 hands-on: Specs

Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1 hands-on: Design and display

As its name suggests, the Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1 is a convertible laptop with a 360-degree hinge that lets you switch between Laptop, Tablet, Tent, Stand, and Canvas modes.

The last mode is particularly interesting because it’s slightly angled rather than completely flat, making writing and drawing easier. Basically, the Yoga 9n can transform to suit your needs.

Measuring 14.17 × 9.57 × 0.69 inches and weighing 4.28 pounds, the Yoga 9n 2-in-1 is relatively large and bulky, which can make using it as a tablet cumbersome.

However, if you set it on a table or your lap, its weight shouldn’t be an issue. In my experience, the aluminum frame feels sturdy, and the 360 hinge makes it easy to open the laptop to your preferred mode.

There are a decent number of ports here to support your peripherals. This includes an HDMI port, two USB-A ports, a pair of USB4/USB-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a single SD card slot. I especially appreciate the inclusion of USB-A ports for legacy devices.

Since this is a 16-inch laptop, it has a spacious keyboard deck—one that even includes a full number pad. The membrane keys have a nice bounce and a short travel distance. The touchpad, or the Force Pad as Lenovo calls it, is not only large but also supports drawing with the Yoga Pen Gen 2. I wrote and doodled on it and found it smooth and responsive.

I didn’t get to test the speakers, but the six-speaker Dolby Atmos audio system has two tweeters built into the rotating soundbar, keeping them front-firing in every mode. There’s also a pair of woofers to round out the audio. Lenovo says that intelligent noise suppression and spatial audio will support meetings, livestreams, presentations, and more.

The 16-inch PureSight Pro OLED display (as Lenovo calls it) promises “creator-grade color accuracy,” according to the company. To my eyes, the 2.8K resolution panel looked sharp and vivid. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures that everything from pen input and animation previews to gaming and more moves smoothly.

Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1 hands-on: Performance

I won’t be able to discuss the Yoga 9n 2-in-1’s performance until we’ve run it through our lab tests. Given how Lenovo is positioning this as a creator-focused machine and its use of Nvidia’s promising RTX Spark chip, I expect excellent overall performance.

The RTX Spark features a custom CPU, a Blackwell GPU, and unified RAM all on one chip. This allows the entire processor to share information faster than with separate, dedicated components.

Thanks to this efficiency, there’s also the promise of all-day battery life. The RTX Spark chip on the Yoga 9n will have up to 64GB of unified memory.

With the RTX Spark platform, Nvidia is working with Microsoft to shift personal computing on Windows from a passive tool to something proactive.

To that end, Nvidia’s chip can accelerate creative and AI tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro and local models like FLUX. Your mileage may vary depending on how much you rely on AI for work, but if you need to run it locally, you have that option.

Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1 hands-on: Outlook

The Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1 promises to be a versatile convertible for creatives and a powerful OLED laptop for those of us who aren’t artistically inclined.

I’ll need more time with it before rendering judgment, but based on what I saw, this is a notebook worth keeping an eye on. Hopefully, the Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1 won’t cost too much when it eventually launches.

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The MacBook Neo had better watch out, because the Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe is coming. Starting at $699, this laptop comes in multiple colors and is designed for folks who want a reliable everyday notebook at a reasonable price. Lenovo also says the Vibe won’t skimp on performance or battery life.

I briefly went hands-on with the IdeaPad Vibe at a Lenovo IFA event and was impressed by what I saw. Not only is it colorful, but it also feels good to hold thanks to its sturdy yet lightweight design. It’s the kind of laptop I’d like to take on the road since it has such a thin and light profile. The promise of configurations with AMD, Snapdragon X, and eventually Intel CPUs is also exciting.

Here’s what I think of the Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe.

Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe: Specs

Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe: Price and availability

You won’t have to wait long for the Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe to arrive.

14- and 15-inch models with AMD start shipping in October with an expected starting price of $699. Models with Qualcomm Snapdragon X begin shipping in November with the same expected $699 starting price. Models with Intel chips will be available at a later date.

Given IdeaPad Vibe’s expected $699 price and holiday launch window, it’s clear Lenovo is positioning its laptop as a MacBook Neo and Dell XPS 13 competitor.

Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe: Design & display

If you want a colorful laptop, the IdeaPad Vibe has you covered. Lenovo partnered with the Pantone Institute to create a range of color options for its affordable laptop.

The available colors include Dreamy Violet, Spicy Gold, Zen Green, Chill Blue, Radiant Coral, Moody Blue, and Lowkey Green. These naturalistic colors won’t seem out of place wherever you’re using the Vibe.

The IdeaPad Vibe’s metal chassis complements the colors well and gives it a premium feel. As with the new Dell XPS 13, it’s nice to see budget-friendly Windows laptops that aren’t made of cheap plastic. The 14-inch model measures 12.35 × 87.59 × 0.59 inches and weighs 2.87 pounds, making it extremely portable and unobtrusive.

Unlike many thin and light laptops, the IdeaPad Vibe has a wide array of ports. On the right side, you’ll find a pair of USB-A ports, while on the left, there’s an HDMI port, two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and a MicroSD card reader. Port-wise, Lenovo’s laptop beats the XPS 13 and MacBook Neo.

The 14-inch model will have up to a 1920 x 1200-pixel OLED panel, while the 15-inch variant will sport up to a 2.1K OLED panel, with the latter offering a touch option. We’ll need to get the laptop into our testing lab to see what its display can do, but Lenovo says it’s rated for 100% DCI-P3 coverage. To my eyes, the display appeared sufficiently bright and colorful.

Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe: Performance & battery life

Based on its components, the IdeaPad Vibe should be sufficiently powerful for everyday work. And since this is a Copilot+ PC, expect it to handle some on-device AI workloads as well.

Configurations with AMD Ryzen AI will launch first, followed by Snapdragon X models in November and Intel variants at a later date. You’ll be able to configure the laptop with up to 32GB of RAM for AMD models and up to 24GB for Snapdragon X. Both can be configured with up to 1TB of storage. Interestingly enough, both RAM and SSD are upgradeable.

All machines in the Idea line will include Lenovo Qira, the company’s personal AI experience that provides contextual assistance across supported PCs, mobile devices, tablets, and even wearables. This feature wasn’t available for testing during my briefing, so I’m curious to see whether it provides useful assistance or becomes another feature you forget exists.

Lenovo says the IdeaPad Vibe has “all-day” battery life. Given that laptops we’ve tested with Snapdragon X and AMD Ryzen AI can last anywhere from 10 to 20 hours, I’m eager to see how long these laptops will last in real-world use.

Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe: Outlook

The Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe seems like a serious MacBook Neo rival, thanks to its array of colors, budget-friendly starting price, and the promise of all-day battery life and solid everyday performance. And if Lenovo Qira delivers helpful on-device AI, this could make the Vibe even more appealing.

The MacBook Neo was a warning shot, and it's good to see companies like Lenovo respond with their own affordable laptop that promises a similarly premium design, vivid display, and strong performance. We'll have to wait and see, but right now, I'm pretty excited about the IdeaPad Vibe.

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I still remember watching Steve Jobs pull the first-ever MacBook Air out of a manila envelope like it was yesterday. In the years since, the best laptops have gotten even thinner and lighter. But when I first held Lenovo’s new Project AeroBlade concept laptop at IFA 2026, I felt just like I imagined Jobs did with the original MacBook Air.

At just under 830 grams (1.83 pounds), this is a seriously light 14-inch laptop. What’s more, it’s also incredibly thin at just under 10mm thick to boot. The most surprising thing, though, is the new, completely fanless cooling solution Lenovo implemented under the hood, with help from Frore Systems.

Now keep in mind, this is just a concept device that isn’t being mass-produced yet. However, if Lenovo’s past concepts that turned into real products are any indication, we could soon see a wave of incredibly thin and light ThinkBooks and even ThinkPads that can finally rival Apple’s MacBook Air.

Here’s everything you need to know about Lenovo’s Project AeroBlade and why I could easily see it being my go-to laptop for both work and travel.

From ThinkBook to ThinBook

With Project AeroBlade closed, it’s clear we’re dealing with something completely different than your standard ThinkBook. In fact, while the front edge tapers down to being almost pencil-thin, you can see that Lenovo had to make the back of the device larger just to house its ports. Speaking of which, there are two USB-C ports on the back left.

To get Project AeroBlade this thin, Lenovo had to completely redesign its cooling. Instead of traditional fan-based cooling, the device uses a solid-state active cooling architecture developed by Frore Systems called AirJet, which uses ultrasonic vibrations to dissipate heat.

What makes this new cooling solution stand out is that, with it under the hood, Lenovo didn’t have to sacrifice sustained performance to make this laptop extremely thin. Other benefits include reduced noise, dust intake, and mechanical complexity. The last of which is one reason I think we might see Project AeroBlade’s tech find its way into a laptop you can actually buy sooner than you would with other concepts.

On the right side, you get another USB-C port, plus a power button that looks like it has an integrated fingerprint sensor and a toggle switch. At first, I couldn’t figure out what that toggle was for, but after Lenovo’s IFA 2026 keynote, I went hands-on with Project AeroBlade a second time.

Lenovo often includes privacy shutters on its webcams and for good reason. However, this concept device is too thin for one, so instead of putting it next to the webcam, it’s on the side. Given how easy it is to smudge your laptop’s screen or push it back when toggling the privacy filter on or off, I actually prefer having it on the side.

Despite its incredibly thin design, you get the same sturdy keyboard with excellent travel that Lenovo’s known for, along with a large trackpad. Surprisingly, the ThinkBook logo is stamped on the bottom right corner of Project AeroBlade.

While Lenovo’s ThinkPads — like the X1 Carbon — are known for being very thin and light, its ThinkBooks are more affordable and practical workhorses. This could signal a brand new direction for the line, or we could see Project AeroBlade’s tech make its way into a ThinkPad first; only time will tell.

Finally, the bottom of the device has no exhaust vents because it’s completely fanless. Based on the AirJet system and motherboard I saw next to the laptop, it looks like any heat is dissipated out of the back of the device.

Phone, wallet, keys… AeroBlade

Let’s face it, there are times when you just don’t want to bring your laptop with you to avoid adding extra weight and bulk to your backpack. With Project AeroBlade, though, I don’t think I’d ever leave my laptop at home.

While it’s technically heavier than one of the best tablets, it felt a lot lighter in hand, especially with the screen open. I know there are times I’d bring a tablet instead of a laptop, but here, that little bit of extra weight would absolutely be worth it to have a keyboard and a full computer on my person at all times.

We’ll see if and when Project AeroBlade becomes an actual laptop you can buy, but given Lenovo’s quick turnaround with its concept devices, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being one of the highlights of CES 2027, complete with a price tag and a launch date.

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For years, creatives and gamers have had to deal with the two-device compromise: you buy an M-series MacBook Pro for the seamless productivity and all-day battery life, and keep the power-hungry Windows gaming rig at home.

I’ve tested RTX Spark a few times now, and I believe it’s the end of that compromise. And at IFA 2026, Team Green has confirmed that the RTX Spark N1X is coming this October.

Nvidia is aggressively targeting Apple’s throat. By shifting to the Arm-based Grace CPU paired with Blackwell graphics, as you’d see in its RTX 50-series GPUs, and massive pools of memory, Nvidia is finally bringing the Apple Silicon paradigm to Windows — without sacrificing PC gaming.

Impressive power in a 14mm chassis

This isn’t the first foray with Windows on Arm that we’ve seen. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite continues to deliver strong performance and power efficiency. But RTX Spark goes at things a different way by chucking a massive GPU at the silicon.

In my time testing, that leads to super-powered prosumer productivity performance (especially with the software integrations across Blender and Adobe’s creative suite), stellar gaming performance and enough fuel for Nvidia’s mission to “reinvent the PC” with local agentic AI. And for that power efficiency side of things, it manages to keep the same performance both on and off the charger!

Up until this point, we’d only known about the top-of-the-line N1X chip. Now we know about the baseline option (also called N1X…this could get a little confusing).

Obviously it’s worth noting that with the lower power consumption of a laptop, even though it does have a massive amount of cores, you won’t get the same level of performance as a desktop-class GPU. Just fun for comparison's sake, you know?

The form factors

We already know about eight laptops launching with RTX Spark N1X. You can see where I rank them all in a tiered list I did a couple of months ago. Basically, to match the premium specs of that chip, you’re getting premium shells that tick all the boxes needed to take on a MacBook Pro — metallic bodies, gorgeous displays (OLED or mini LED), solid ergonomics and plenty of I/O.

There are also a couple of mini PCs from Asus and MSI launching with the chip inside, and here at IFA, we’re getting word on two new systems coming to the party in October too:

• Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1: Another convertible RTX Spark system has arrived to take on MSI’s Prestige Flip N16. The chassis is just 14mm thin.
• Acer SFF RTX Spark: A small form factor desktop that would look pretty perfect under my living room TV as well as my desk.

So that’s the next advantage over the MacBook — variety of designs.

The friction point: Predicting the price

While Nvidia was eager to show off the specs, it was noticeably silent on the price. Well, I’m gonna do some bac-of-the-napkin math here to fill this gap and make a prediction. Based on components and the direct competition with Apple, it’s obvious that these machines are going to carry a heavy premium.

• The baseline prediction: The lower-tier configuration (18-core CPU, 5,120 CUDA cores, 24GB RAM) will likely start around the $1,999 to $2,499 range — pricing it directly against the base MacBook Pro models.
• The agentic premium: If you want that maxed out configuration with 128GB of unified memory to run massive local AI models, expect a jaw-dropping price tag. Given that a maxed-out MacBook Pro easily pushes past the $4,500 mark, an equivalent N1X will likely land in the $4,000 to $5,000+ range.

Bookmark this and remind me in the comments if I get this wrong!

The early verdict

Way back at Computex 2026, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang made it clear that he wants to reinvent the PC with RTX Spark. This is all fair and good, but I believe the real showcase of N1X here is not the local AI computation. That part is impressive, but it’s still up for debate on whether people will actually use their computers in this way.

The real game-changer here (to me at least) is the fundamental architectural shift that bridges the gap between serious productivity and high-end gaming — complete with all-day battery life (providing it does match up to Nvidia’s claims of course).

It’s the MacBook Pro that actually has games to play on, and if everything plays out the way I’m anticipating (and there’s no nasty surprises on the performance front), then Apple is finally going to have genuine, uncompromised competition.

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I've always been a fan of tech that manages to blend slimness and a lightweight design into a form factor that's still equally useful (partly why I daily drive an iPhone Air). And Acer's new Swift Blade 14 at IFA 2026 takes that idea almost to the extreme.

The Swift Blade 14 isn't just another MacBook Neo competitor or one of the new Nvidia RTX Spark-powered laptops we've seen here in Berlin. The whole point of this laptop is much simpler: Acer has managed to make a proper 14-inch laptop that weighs just under 800 grams (1.7lbs).

The Swift Blade 14 looks like pretty much any other thin-and-light laptop at first. It has a slim profile and a catchy design, available in two great-looking colors, namely Marshmallow White and Marshmallow Blue. But then you actually pick it up, and that's when the laptop catches you by surprise. At just 799 grams, it feels almost weightless in the hand.

For reference, that's less than the combined weight of a 13-inch iPad Pro with Apple's Magic Keyboard attached, which really puts into perspective just how light this thing is.

Of course, getting the weight this low means Acer has had to make some compromises. The chassis initially feels almost plastic-like in the hand, although Acer is actually using a combination of ultra-light carbon fiber and magnesium-aluminum alloy to keep the weight down.

The keyboard and trackpad are where I noticed the compromises more. The trackpad itself is plenty large, but neither it nor the keyboard has the tactile feel you'd expect from a more premium laptop.

The keyboard deck also flexes noticeably if you press down on it harder than usual. Thankfully, the display lid itself doesn't feel particularly flimsy, which surprised me considering just how little the entire machine weighs.

Acer hasn't completely sacrificed the specs to achieve that weight either. The Swift Blade 14 is powered by Intel's Core Series 3 processors, with configurations going up to the Core 7 350. You also get a gorgeous 14-inch 3K OLED display with great color reproduction and what appeared to be an anti-reflective coating on top.

Acer tells me there will also be an IPS LCD variant with a 60Hz refresh rate, which will presumably sit at the lower end of the pricing spectrum. Other internals include 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. There's also a 50Wh battery underneath, which isn't massive by any means, but should be enough for regular day-to-day use on the go.

The port selection isn't bad for something this thin either. There are USB-C ports on both sides, including two on the left, while the right side also houses a 3.5mm headphone jack. One little addition I particularly like is the physical camera switch on the side, letting you completely disable the webcam with just a flip.

Acer hasn't announced U.S. pricing or availability for the Swift Blade 14 just yet. The company says the laptop will be available in Europe toward the end of this year, but there's currently no word on whether it'll eventually make its way to the U.S.

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Acer Vero laptops used to mean chunky textured PCR plastic laptops that wore their recycled pedigree like an itchy hemp sweater.

Now, the new Vero 16 flips the script: it’s a sleek, powder-coated, low-carbon aluminum chassis housing a 16-inch 3K OLED display and the beefy Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chipset — albeit with a steep £1,599 starting price (U.S. pricing not confirmed yet).

But here’s the killer app. Acer isn’t just offering user-replaceable SSDs and batteries. They’ve gone all out with a tool-free bottom latch, detachable external hinges, removable I/O ports and a commitment to support two generations of Intel processor upgrades.

Acer basically took Framework’s modular repairability crusade and baked it into a mainstream 3.4-pound (1.56kg) chassis. So I had to try it myself — is it a justified DIY dream machine, or is it an overpriced “green tax” that regular buyers will ignore in favor of traditional ultrabooks?

Look mom, no tools (mostly)

So let’s jump straight to the main selling point here. These are just pre-production models, and it took me a second to figure out the latch, as well as the correct way to pull off the back. But once I got it, it’s a total cinch.

Everything is laid out in a way that’s easy to understand, with a battery connector that’s easy to get to, and the M.2 SSD slot being super simple to access. The latch and back feel strong too!

The I/O can be taken off with two screws (complete with the modular daughterboards too) so ports can be switched. Acer doesn't have plans to offer different port configurations (point to Framework on that one), but with an SD card slot, Thunderbolt 4, USB-A and HDMI 2.1 already there, you’ve already got the essentials that can be swiftly repaired.

Then there’s the two-generation processor upgrade. This is a swappable CPU on the motherboard (like Framework), so big win for reducing waste! This and the I/O are things that Acer told me would be done by them, but with right to repair becoming a thing, I really wouldn’t be surprised if the company started to offer the parts and the guides to do so in the future.

Not forgetting the ‘nice laptop’ part of the puzzle

It took Framework a few tries to get its modularity dream packed into something sleek and well-built. Acer’s managed to just about nail it on the first try.

The solvent-free powder-coated finish feels great to the touch, while that aluminum/PCR blend with military-tested durability has a nice rigidity to it…mostly. There is a bit of keyboard deck flex when you push down, but nothing terrifying to write home about.

Then there’s that display. Eco-laptops often ship with dim, low-refresh 60Hz panels to save battery. The Vero 16 stuffs a 2800 x 1800 pixel 120Hz OLED with HDR, and it’s a real sight to behold in person with a flash flood of color.

Then let’s not forget about the internals, which you can spec up to the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and 32GB of RAM. This will absolutely sing in prosumer and gaming performance.

The verdict: Is repairability worth this much?

This is the biggest question here. At £1,599 (launching in Q1 2027), the Vero 16 will be going head-to-head with the MacBook Airs and Dell XPSes of the world.

There are some things that Framework does better, such as being able to switch out more of the internal components and give you more things to repair yourself. But when it comes to mainstream laptop makers, modularity and upgradeability like this is quite the breakthrough.

Because yes, you’re paying an upfront premium, but if the CPU upgrade support and tool-free repairability prevent you from buying a new laptop in three years, it might be the smartest laptop investment you can make.

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For years, my ultimate computing friction point has been the two-device compromise: I buy a thin and light MacBook for productivity, and keep a massive gaming rig at home for play. But after going hands-on with six Nvidia RTX Spark laptops launching later this year, I can confidently say that era is over.

Put simply, this is shaping up to be a game-changer. Packing 6,144 CUDA cores into thin and light notebooks like these, it’s bridging the gap between serious productivity and high-end gaming. And crucially, game developers are already jumping on board to support it — ensuring vital anti-cheat software compatibility is ready to go.

But packing a powerful GPU into a sleek chassis doesn’t automatically make it a great gaming machine. Other factors are just as vital like how the keyboard feels, how loud the fans are and display quality.

I spent extensive time playing on six different models, and here’s my definitive RTX Spark gaming tier list, ranked from worst to best.

A dream for gamers

Before I get there, though, this isn’t my first rodeo with Spark. I did get to try the chip out at Computex this year (on my Birthday of all days). And since that was a much earlier version of what I saw here at Gamescom, here are some general updates:

• More laptops, more fun: At Computex, only the Surface Laptop Ultra was turned on and usable. However, this time around they were all active and usable.
• Backing up their claims: Nvidia is touting 1440p gaming at over 100 FPS. Of course, with no visible FPS counter, I can’t confirm that specifically, but to the eye, all the games were running significantly over 60 FPS — settings at a range of medium to high (depending on the title) and DLSS turned on.
• So many developers on board: Turns out if you’re Nvidia, you have a fair bit of influence to get publishers on board. Windows on Arm is getting a shot in the arm thanks to anti-cheat support and a massive number of studios jumping on board to work on Arm-native versions of their games.
• Emulation looks much better: The fact Pragmata was even running through the Windows Prism emulation layer to make it play nice on an Arm chip was quite the achievement at Computex. But there definitely was a little bit of fuzziness to the gameplay looking back. Now, with four games including 007 First Light all emulated, they’re all crystal clear and playing great with no discernible latency.

Put simply, things have definitely moved on since June, and anything with that RTX Spark sticker on the body is going to be a mighty tasty machine to get, come this fall. That being said, I’m here to talk about how some of these specific laptops fare for gaming on a build level — not a chip level.

RTX Spark laptop (for gaming) tier list: Specs

C-tier: A laptop wearing a suit

Now don’t get me wrong, the Dell XPS 16 is an undeniably good-looking laptop that will easily elicit an “oh that’s a cool thing” reaction when you pull it out in a meeting. The utilitarian body is sleek and that Tandem OLED display is super vivid.

But is this a safe space? Because that keyboard is problematic for gaming to put it mildly. It’s a flat chiclet board with zero gaps between the keys. Doom: The Dark Ages exposed the gaming flaws of a keyboard like this, as the lack of key definition had me panickedly looking down mid-battle to ensure I was on the WASD.

Like I said earlier this year, with a little time you can get used to this for productivity. But for gaming, it's not quite there.

B-Tier: Productivity first, gaming second

These two are quite a bit better for gaming on an ergonomic level, but aren’t all the way there compared to some superior tactility further up this list.

First up is the Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra: packing a delicious 15-inch mini-LED PixelSense Ultra touchscreen display with 3:2 aspect ratio. That taller screen may be more productivity-focused, but it’s gonna be great for RTS games too.

But again, the keyboard falters here slightly. Not that it’s bad, it’s a great-feeling tactile set of keys for productivity for sure. But for gaming, the dish of each key is far too subtle and the sharpness of those edges do cut into your wrists. So it firmly sits in the “it’s okay” category for gameplay.

Slightly better for play is my original personal favorite from Computex — the Asus ProArt P14. Basically, Asus understood the assignment and gave me a Windows equivalent of a MacBook Pro in its design and ergonomics. The keyboard’s better here for demanding gameplay too, and that 3K OLED display is mesmerizing.

But what do you get when you cram this much power into a small body? Loud fans to get all the heat out. To my ears at least, this was the loudest laptop in the testing room. It’s a great hybrid machine, but make sure you get a good gaming headset to drown out that fan noise.

A-Tier: Great all-rounders

Now we’re moving closer to the elite if gaming is a priority for your RTX Spark machine. The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9n boasts a great premium design with another vivid OLED display.

For gameplay, there are very few genuine downsides here — capped off by Lenovo’s trademark excellent keyboard ergonomics. The only reason it’s here in the A-tier is because one company has pulled a blinder with its board (more on that in a moment).

Then there’s the MSI Prestige N16 Flip AI+. Yes, the keyboard is a little too heavy on the RGB lighting for my personal taste, but it feels good to tap away on, the OLED screen is a lovely flash flood of color, and it’s a 2-in-1 form factor that allows for tent mode gaming with a controller. That’s something none of these other options can do.

S-Tier: The unexpected champion

Which leaves one: the HP OmniBook Ultra 16. When I first saw this laptop at Computex, it looked like a decidedly “just fine” device. I expected it to just be another laptop more suited to work over play. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

There’s of course a crispy and gorgeous OLED panel here that moves fluidly, but that’s not the real champion feature here. That belongs to the keyboard, which elevated this machine to the top of the list. It’s a chiclet board, but the well defined keys and travel make it feel almost mechanical-like. It feels fantastic during gameplay, and with slick stylings to the chassis, it’s the ultimate stealth gaming laptop.

Plenty to look forward to

The RTX Spark lineup proves that the days of compromising between a sleek daily driver and a capable gaming machine are finally coming to a close. These six distinct options will hit the market soon, and while I can scrutinize them from a gaming perspective, they’re meant for so much more.

As CEO Jensen Huang said himself when I got the chance to talk to him: “we’re focused on reinventing the PC.” There’s going to be something for everyone in this range. So I have to ask — if you’ve got the budget for one of these notebooks, which one would you spend your money on?

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Let’s be honest: between soaring memory prices and the endless barrage of tech buzzwords, building the ultimate setup in 2026 hasn't been easy. But amidst the chaos, hardware makers gave us some of the most genuinely exciting, boundary-pushing gear we’ve seen in a decade.

This year, "compromise" became a dirty word. Laptops gained dual OLED screens without losing all-day battery life, budget peripherals delivered soundscapes usually reserved for four-figure studio setups, and on-device processing finally evolved from a gimmick into everyday horsepower.

We sifted through the noise, ran hundreds of lab benchmarks, and tested dozens of contenders to death. Here are the 22 standout winners that earned a permanent place on our desks for the 2026 Tom’s Guide Computing Awards.

Laptops

Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS 13 is a true MacBook Neo rival and easily the best budget laptop you can buy right now. Despite its low $699 starting price, it doesn’t skimp on luxury features you’d find on more expensive laptops, giving you quality with few compromises.

The thin, light aluminum chassis not only looks great, but it also makes the XPS 13 ideal for travel. The sharp 13.4-inch 2K touch display is bright and colorful, while the Intel Wildcat Lake chip inside gives you plenty of performance for everyday work. And if that wasn’t enough, it has more than enough battery life to last you for a full workday. — Tony Polanco, Senior Writer

Asus Zenbook Duo (2026)

Dual-screen laptops have always been a bit gimmicky to me, but this year’s Asus Zenbook Duo proved me dead wrong with its potent combination of two mesmerizing 14-inch OLED panels and the raw performance of Intel’s breakthrough Core Ultra X9 388H chipset.

It all starts with a ground-up ceraluminum redesign for the double display system that feels premium to the touch and sturdier against the elements. Throw in a CPU that has the power of a supercar paired with the efficiency of a Toyota Prius (you can actually game on this thing, and it has a 14-hour battery life), and it’s easily one of my favorite laptops of the year. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI

But what about in the gaming laptop space? There’s been a whole lot of monsters born this year, and Acer’s Predator Helios 18 AI definitely sits in that portable desktop replacement camp with what’s lying under the hood (up to an RTX 5090) and the massive wattage being pumped through to the chip.

Combine that with a gorgeously massive and buttery-smooth mini-LED panel, up to 192GB of RAM (in this economy!?) and a strong keyboard typing experience with plenty of ports, and you’ve got quite a winning formula. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

Razer Blade 16 (2026)

The Razer Blade 16 (2026) is an ultraportable gaming laptop that makes no compromises. Thanks to its powerful components, it can run even the most demanding PC games at buttery-smooth frame rates. The vivid 16-inch OLED panel ensures all those games are a sight to behold.

The sleek design, with its sturdy, CNC-milled, all-black aluminum chassis, means this laptop will look just as great in the office as it is in your gaming den. Of course, RGB lighting on the keyboard deck shows the Blade 16 knows how to have fun. Though certainly pricey at $3,599 (to start), this is one of the finest gaming laptops I’ve reviewed and is worth your hard-earned cash. — Tony Polanco, Senior Writer

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514

When MediaTek jumped into the Chromebook pool with its Kompanio Ultra ARM silicon, it was like Google’s laptops got a shot in the…well, arm. And of all the options released, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 stands out as one of the most impressive.

Because it’s not just about the performance and power efficiency (almost 15 hours of battery life on one charge) or AI-infused simplicity of a Gemini-boosted Chrome OS. It’s about the experience you build around them, and this OLED 2-in-1 is one of the nicest-feeling Chromebooks I’ve touched. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

Tablets

Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2

The Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 is an entertainment-focused Android tablet that has the largest speaker I’ve ever seen. The JBL speaker is so large, you could even say it’s a speaker with a tablet attached, rather than the other way around. And it’s not for show either, as it delivers punchy, bassy sound you can feel in your chest. You can even use it as a Bluetooth speaker, which adds versatility.

The 12.1-inch IPS display is bright and colorful, making whatever you’re watching look its best. The 16:9 aspect ratio is great for videos, and it also works well for comic books and websites in vertical mode. There’s also a handy built-in kickstand when you want to sit back and relax at your desk. Though its performance isn’t the best for getting work done and it's too heavy to hold for long periods, the incredible sound and overall ease of use make this $399 tablet an easy recommendation. — Tony Polanco, Senior Writer

Desktops

Alienware Area-51 Desktop

The Alienware Area-51 is for hardcore users willing to pay top dollar for premium gaming performance. Aside from AMD Ryzen X3D processor options, this is effectively the same PC I reviewed last year. That’s not a bad thing, as this is still a phenomenal PC.

You can configure this beast with up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, 4TB of storage, and 64GB of RAM. You can also kit it out with an Intel Core Ultra 200S chip if you’re Team Blue. All of it is housed in an otherworldly design that keeps the PC running cool and quiet. If you have the space for it in your office or gaming den, this is the ultimate gaming PC. — Tony Polanco, Senior Writer

Lenovo Yoga Mini

The Lenovo Yoga Mini breaks free from the rectangular design of other mini PCs, adding cool extras like RGB underglow and touch controls. This circular mini PC is meant to sit front and center on your desk, and it looks absolutely stunning.

Despite its smaller size and unique shape, the Yoga Mini is equipped with Intel’s latest Ultra X5 and X7 chips to handle whatever you throw at it. Lenovo didn’t skimp on ports either, and you also get an integrated fingerprint scanner in the power button for secure and seamless logins. If you’re after a small yet unique mini PC that stands out from the crowd, this is one of the most impressive machines and designs I’ve seen yet. — Anthony Spadafora, Managing Editor

Asus ROG G1000

So I’ll just say it upfront — Asus has created a monster that’s not just designed to be played, but to be seen as well. This is a monolithic pre-built tower that packs a whole bunch of flash courtesy of that holographic fan giving it a real stage presence atop your desk.

This is what happens when a company throws out the game plan and decides to do something a bit bonkers. Under the hood, you can spec it up to an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, an RTX 5090, a whopping 128GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 4TB SSD — complete with a 1,000-watt power supply keeping it all going. Top it off with some real cooling innovation with that Tri-zone airflow design, and this beast won’t break a sweat. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

Khadas Mind Pro

Khadas continues to build on its modular mini PC ecosystem with its new Mind Pro. Although this portable mini PC packs in more power than ever before, it’s not that much larger than the original Mind or the Mind 2S. Likewise, thanks to Khadas’ proprietary Mind Connector on the bottom, it’s still compatible with the company’s existing docks, which instantly transform its mini PCs into a gaming rig or even a laptop.

The Mind Pro may be small, but like its predecessors, it still comes packed with full-sized ports, including dual Thunderbolt 4 ports. There’s also a 7.98Wh battery inside that lets this more powerful mini PC sleep for over 48 hours, so you can bring it from one workstation or location to another. The Mind Pro’s extra thickness over the Mind is certainly worth it if you want even more power in a similar form factor with a growing ecosystem of game-changing accessories. — Anthony Spadafora, Managing Editor

Monitors

MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36

MSI knows how to make a great gaming monitor, and the MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 is one of its best so far — and certainly the best this year. A blistering 360Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time deliver buttery-smooth gameplay.

The monitor also boasts phenomenal color coverage and accuracy, making it ideal not just for gaming, but for professional color grading and editing too. The X36 also features an AI Care Sensor that automatically alters the monitor’s display settings by detecting a human in front of it — yes, AI isn’t just a gimmick on the X36. — Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer

Alienware 27 240Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW2726DM)

The Alienware AW2726DM is a premium gaming monitor that costs less than you’d expect. For $349, you get a gorgeous 27-inch 1440p OLED panel that makes everything look its best, a blazing-fast 240Hz refresh rate, and a low 0.03ms response time that can keep up with even the fastest-paced games.

The biggest compliment I can give the AW2726DM is that it has become my main monitor at work, proving that it’s not just good for gaming, as text on websites and documents appears nice and crisp. While HDR brightness could be brighter, and the design is very basic, lacking embellishments like RGB, this is a wonderful gaming monitor that won’t kill your bank account. — Tony Polanco, Senior Writer

Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G8 G80HS

The Samsung Odyssey 32-inch G8 G80HS is a marvel to behold thanks to its super-sharp 6K resolution, which is a first for gaming monitors, according to Samsung. It offers the most detailed picture quality I’ve ever seen. Trust me when I say that your eyes won’t be disappointed.

In addition to 6K at 165Hz, you can also switch to 3K mode at 330Hz for fast-paced competitive games. If you have a powerful PC that can play games at frame rates high enough to match that refresh rate, you’re in for a silky smooth and fast experience. While certainly pricey at its usual $1,599 asking price, you’re getting your money’s worth for visual fidelity and performance. — Tony Polanco, Senior Writer

Audio

Edifier HECATE G2000 Pro

Excellent sound quality? On a sub-$200 budget? The Edifier G2000 Pro desktop speakers look straight out of a sci-fi movie, and they’ve got otherworldly sound quality to boot. The reactive RGB lighting dances to in-game sounds and the beat of drums when listening to music.

The G2000 Pro packs plenty of oomph, delivering deep, meaty bass that makes you feel immersed in RPGs, horror, and racing titles. The treble is bright and crisp, so you can hear the clashing of swords in excruciating detail — and it never becomes fatiguing. In-game dialogue is loud and clear, too, making the G2000 Pro one of the best computer speakers out there. — Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer

Edifier HECATE G5 Max

The Edifier G5 Max makes you feel like the main character without breaking the bank. Equipped with a 53mm dynamic driver, 7.1.4 Spatial Audio co-developed by Hecate and THX, and an extremely comfortable design, the G5 Max also supports Hi-Res Audio streaming.

Chock-full of features usually reserved for premium prices, the G5 Max goes the extra mile by offering dual apps for customization. It is, by far, the best gaming headset for those on a budget. — Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer

Sony Inzone H6 Air

The Sony Inzone H6 Air proves that gaming headsets can be just as good for listening to music. Equipped with 40mm studio-grade drivers found in Sony’s monitoring headphones, the H6 Air is the ideal headset for audiophiles and gamers who want an immersive experience.

Whether you’re taking in the sights and sounds in open-world RPGs or infiltrating enemy bases in FPS titles, the H6 Air ensures you hear every soft footstep and loud explosion. Its open-back design offers superior comfort for all-day wear, and it comes with a detachable boom mic that makes you sound loud and clear. The H6 Air is the one headset to rule them all. — Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer

Components

Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus

Intel’s been on a bit of a comeback tour this year, and the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a highlight of its return to form. By focusing on the fundamentals and righting the wrongs of its previous “Arrow Lake” generation, Intel’s created something special (and well-priced) for your machine.

The productivity chops are still here — staying miles ahead of AMD in terms of getting stuff done. But with critical improvements to its gaming performance by speeding up the travel time for data inside the chip and offering performance packages, these vastly cheaper chips get uncomfortably close in potential to Team Red’s pricey X3D CPUs. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE

GPU pricing has become a bit of a running joke in 2026, but amid huge price increases, AMD has managed to hold down the fort, with the nicely powerful Radeon RX 9070 GRE staying (or even below) its MSRP.

Built atop AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture to support all that FSR Redstone goodness, this is a fantastic 1440p GPU that offers decent ray tracing performance, strong frame rates, and real value for money. It may not be the best for productivity, but if you want bang for your buck in gaming, this is solid. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

Intel Arc G3 Extreme

It’s a double win for Intel in the components category, as the Arc G3 Extreme in the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ delivers the next-generation breakthrough for gaming handhelds we’ve been waiting for.

Taking that monster integrated GPU from the Panther Lake laptop chips and stuffing it into a handheld (XeSS 3 multi-frame generation and all) has led to a giant leap not just in frames per second, but in power efficiency too. With just over four hours of battery life on one charge in our gaming testing, and the ability to play games on a 4K screen with ease, this is a phenomenal chip. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

Accessories and peripherals

Tessan Voyager 205

One thing that’s become an increasingly difficult task on my travels is keeping everything powered. The USB-C port demands can create a Frankenstein combination of travel adaptors all over my hotel room, but the Tessan Voyager 205 has the international compatibility and raw wattage to charge every single thing in my arsenal.

With three USB-C ports at 45W, three USB-C ports at 160W, USB-A, and a plug adaptor to plug something else in to make the most of that 205W output, this is a compact beast of a charger that keeps everything topped up with ease. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

Satechi Mac Mini M4 Stand & Hub with SSD Enclosure

Satechi has long made some of the best Apple accessories, and its Mac Mini M4 Stand & Hub is the first accessory I’d pick up for Cupertino’s latest mini PC. Thanks to its anodized aluminum finish and dimensions, it complements the Mac mini M4 perfectly while giving you easy access to the device’s power button with a handy cutout on the back.

With Satechi’s Mac Mini M4 Stand & Hub, you can instantly add three USB-A ports and an SD card reader to your Mac, but that’s not all it can do. There’s also a free M.2 slot on the underside which lets you expand your Mac mini’s storage by up to 4TB. Whether you want to beat the Apple Tax on storage or add extra ports to your Mac mini M4, this accessory is easy to recommend. — Anthony Spadafora, Managing Editor

Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro

Few keyboards are “designed for audiophiles,” but the Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro is, and it’s the best-sounding mechanical keyboard I’ve ever tested. Its Kailh Cocoa switches, five layers of sound-dampening foam, and double-shot PBT keycaps come together to create a raindrop-like sound profile that’s gobsmackingly fantastic.

Plus, the Rainy 75 Pro is an absolute beast for productivity, thanks to its ultra-responsive switches and up to 900 hours of battery life. Its full CNC-machined aluminum construction also means the keyboard can stand the test of time. There really is no better deck for hardcore typists (and fans of a thocky sound). — Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer

Whether you’re leaving for the first time or heading back to college, packing tech for your dorm room is just as important as the essentials. With space at a premium, it makes sense to get devices that can do double duty. So, if you’re thinking about picking up a TV, I strongly recommend getting a monitor with USB-C connectivity and power delivery instead.

At home or in a shared apartment, one of the best TVs absolutely makes sense. But when you’re sharing a cramped dorm room with another person, you don’t have that luxury. While you could squeeze in a smaller 42-inch TV, you won’t have any desk space left for your books, laptop, and everything else.

You also won’t be able to wall mount a TV in a dorm, but a monitor gives you far more flexibility. Although you could use the included stand and let it sit on your desk, you can also pick up one of the best monitor arms. With a monitor arm, you free up valuable desk real estate and can easily reposition your display — angling it toward your bed for late-night streaming or toward your chair for studying.

These days, there are plenty of great budget monitors out there. Alternatively, you could pick up one of the best monitors with all the extra features — and if you choose wisely, it could easily last until you graduate. Either way, there’s one specific feature I always look for whenever I shop for a new monitor: USB-C connectivity.

Do it all with a single cable

The first and most important investment to make for your college career is one of the best laptops for students. While budget-friendly, many offer the same core features you’ll find on a far more expensive machine. Just make sure the laptop you pick up features a USB-C port that supports both DisplayPort Alt Mode (video output) and USB Power Delivery (charging). With that kind of laptop in hand, you can move on to choosing the right display.

The beauty of a USB-C monitor is that a single cable turns your laptop into a full desktop workstation. However, not every monitor with USB-C is built the same. Cheaper options often limit their ports to 15 watts of power, which is barely enough to trickle-charge a smartphone — let alone power a laptop while you're working.

That’s why you should look for a monitor that offers at least 65W of Power Delivery. That provides plenty of juice for 13- and 14-inch laptops like a MacBook Neo or Dell XPS 13, keeping your battery topped off so you can unplug and head straight to class. If you use a larger, power-hungry machine — like a 16-inch MacBook Pro — you’ll want to target a monitor with 90W to 100W PD. That ensures your laptop won't slowly drain its battery during heavy editing or gaming sessions while plugged into the display.

Laptops aren't the only devices that can benefit from a monitor with USB-C, either. Modern iPads, Android tablets, and flagship smartphones can also output video over USB-C straight to your display. But if you want to switch between multiple devices on one desk without constantly swapping cables, there’s another essential feature to look for.

Different devices, same peripherals

If you're just swapping between two laptops, you don't have much to worry about — you can always rely on their built-in keyboards and trackpads. But if you want to connect a phone, a tablet, a dedicated gaming rig, or even one of the best mini PCs, those built-in controls aren't an option.

That’s where a monitor with a built-in KVM switch comes in. KVM stands for "keyboard, video, and mouse," and it’s a hardware feature that lets you control multiple devices using a single one, in this case your monitor. If you’re writing an essay on your laptop and suddenly want to review photos from your phone or jump into a PC game on the big screen, a KVM switch lets you use the exact same keyboard and mouse across every device without missing a beat.

When shopping for a display with KVM functionality, look for a rear panel that includes a USB-C port, a USB-B port, and a few USB-A downstream ports. You plug your desktop peripherals — like a keyboard, mouse, or even a webcam — directly into the monitor's USB-A slots. When your laptop is connected via USB-C, the monitor automatically routes those peripherals to your laptop.

To connect a second device like a desktop or mini PC, you simply run an HDMI or DisplayPort cable for video, plus a USB-B-to-USB-A cable for data back to the monitor. Once plugged in, the display handles all the signal routing behind the scenes. You don't have to unplug a single wire; your peripherals seamlessly switch over to whatever device is actively displayed on screen. Sure, you could buy multi-device Bluetooth gear to switch between screens, but re-pairing connections manually gets tedious fast.

Higher watts and better cables

Now, I’d never recommend that you pick up the first monitor you find, even if it meets your current criteria. Since this is a display for college, you’ll likely use it for several years. That’s why it’s always a good idea to futureproof a few key features if you have the budget for it.

While you might start off your college career with a 13-inch MacBook Air or a Dell XPS 13, your workload could easily change by junior year to the point where you need a 16-inch MacBook Pro or a heavy-duty workstation. In that case, a display with lower Power Delivery output won't cut it anymore. If your budget allows, look for a monitor with 90W of Power Delivery or higher so you're covered no matter what laptop you upgrade to down the line.

Another easy trap to fall into is using the wrong cable to connect your laptop to your new monitor. If your display comes with a full-featured USB-C cable in the box, great. If it doesn't — or if you need a replacement — you need to specifically look for a cable rated for high-wattage charging that explicitly supports video pass-through out of the box. Most students won't need expensive Thunderbolt 5 cables, but since this single cord is carrying both high-resolution video and continuous power to your main machine, it pays to invest in a quality option.

A big TV might make your dorm room the hangout spot on your floor, but a reliable USB-C monitor with Power Delivery will keep your devices charged, streamline your desk setup, and give you maximum screen real estate without sacrificing a single inch of actual space.

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Googlebooks will have a major unveiling on September 15, and Tom’s Guide has been invited. I'll be there to check out the company's new laptop line, which will run on Android and be manufactured by Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Details are scarce at the moment, but as a laptop reviewer, I find this exciting.

The email I received says those in attendance will be among “the first to see and experience the Googlebook.” This is an all-new category of laptops that combine the “best of ChromeOS and Android.” There will be a keynote presentation from Google’s leadership, along with demo stations to test out the new laptops and features.

What to expect

I first reported on Googlebooks back in May, when Google announced the laptop line during the Android Show. We were told that these laptops are built with Gemini Intelligence at their core and designed to work within the Android and Google ecosystem. Though not directly called that, you can consider these “AI PCs.”

Googlebooks are optimized for the Android ecosystem. You can use apps from your phone directly on the laptop. Google says you won’t have to download anything or use emulated touchscreen controls, as you would with iPhone mirroring on a MacBook. You’ll also be able to view, search, or insert your phone’s files on your laptop using a feature called Quick Access.

At the show, I’ll finally see what the first Googlebooks will look like, as the original announcement only gave us slight hints of what to expect. Google says these laptops will be “built with premium craftsmanship and materials, coming in a variety of shapes and sizes.” We do know that Googlebooks will have a unique glow bar to set them apart from competitors.

Outlook

September 15 will be here soon, so it won’t be long until we see what Googlebooks are all about. The main thing on my mind is price, which has been a challenging thing for manufacturers and customers thanks to RAMageddon.

I don’t expect Googlebooks to be as affordable as the $699 MacBook Neo, but if Google can keep the price at around $1,000, these laptops could be legitimate competitors to the MacBook Air. Stay tuned for more!

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If you’ve been browsing back-to-school sales this month, you have undoubtedly seen the MacBook Neo front and center. Apple’s newest laptop is sitting on shelves with a strong starting price of $699 — dropping to $599 if you qualify for an education discount.

For parents accustomed to spending well over $1,000 for a Mac, this looks like the ultimate cheat code. You get that premium aluminum Apple design, that macOS ecosystem, and the brand name your teenager is begging for, all for the price of a mid-range Windows machine.

But before you click “add to cart” and send your incoming college freshman off to the dorms, you need to read the fine print.

The MacBook Neo is Apple’s most affordable laptop ever, but to hit that aggressive price tag, they had to make some compromises. Compromises that some of your future nobel laureates will be able to workaround and others will not. Depending on what grade or subject your student is entering, the Neo is either the best budget laptop of the year — or a guaranteed academic bottleneck.

Here is everything a parent needs to know about the MacBook Neo.

The engine: it’s an iPhone in a laptop body

The biggest difference between the MacBook Neo and the rest of Apple’s lineup is the processor.

Every other modern MacBook uses the powerhouse M-series chips, but the Neo does something a little different. Instead, it’s powered by the A18 Pro — the exact same chip found inside the iPhone 16 Pro. In our testing, this delivers decently strong performance in some key areas.

These numbers tell a story. Because it uses a super efficient mobile processor, the Neo can confidently boast an all-day battery life to survive a whole day of classes — operating silently without a cooling fan. That single-core speed shows that for basic web browsing and typing essays, this will feel nicely snappy.

However, this chip is not designed to sustain heavy, multi-layered computing workloads the way a true laptop processor can.

The trap specs: what did Apple cut?

To bring that price down (and then back up slightly because of the RAM price crisis we’re all living through right now), Apple took a scalpel to several quality-of-life features that older students rely on. If your student is in high school or college, these three cuts could be major red flags:

• The 8GB RAM ceiling: The MacBook Neo comes with 8GB of unified memory, and you cannot pay to upgrade it. While unified memory is capable of some great things in my own testing, 8GB is barely going to scrape by. If your college student tries to run 30 Chrome tabs, Spotify and a heavy PowerPoint presentation all at once, they will hit a memory wall and the laptop will begin to stutter.
• No backlit keyboard: This is a brutal omission for students. The keyboard is not illuminated, meaning late-night typing sessions in a dark dorm room or dimly lit lecture hall can get incredibly frustrating. I’ve felt this in my own time testing the Neo.
• Crippled USB ports: The Neo only has two USB-C ports. One is a fast 10Gbps socket, but the other is capped at ancient USB 2.0 speeds. If massive projects need to be transferred or backed up, they are going to be forced to juggle dongles on that single fast port.

Who should actually buy the MacBook Neo?

Like I said, these could be major red flags. For some, this configuration will be more than enough, but others will suffer. So let me bring some clarity here.

✅ Buy it for: Middle schoolers & early high schoolers

Is your student entering 6th through 9th grade? For these, the MacBook Neo is an absolute home run. At this age, 95% of their coursework lives in web browsers and portals like Google Classroom.

They don’t need heavy multitasking power, they just need a reliable machine that won’t die during the school day. The Neo’s aluminum chassis is durable enough to survive a backpack, the A18 Pro is snappy and efficient for all of their demands, and the $599 education price blows similarly priced Chromebooks and Windows laptops out of the water.

❌ Skip it for: College students, STEM majors & tab hoarders

Do not buy this laptop for a university student. The lack of a backlit keyboard will make late-night studying miserable, and that hard 8GB RAM limit will struggle to run heavier multitasking workloads.

Furthermore, if they are majoring in engineering, computer science or design, that A18 Pro chip cannot handle the complex rendering software or heavy code compiling without slowing to a crawl or stopping completely.

The parent’s verdict

So I hope this was helpful for the parents busily researching away! The MacBook Neo is a fantastic entry-level device, but the reality check is that it is not a “lite” version of a MacBook Air — it is an entirely different class of machine.

If you are outfitting a high school junior, senior or an incoming college freshman, do not fall for the $599 price tag. Instead, do your student a favor and spend the extra money on something with more horsepower like a MacBook Air (M3 upwards).

For the extra cash, they will get a true laptop-grade processor, a backlit keyboard, faster ports and a machine that is capable of surviving four years of university workloads. To help, I’ve listed a few options below.

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Lenovo’s Legion laptops traditionally sit comfortably in the chunky, high-performance desktop replacement zone. They’re thick, with heavy power supplies, and abysmal battery life. However, this year’s Legion 5i changes that formula.

The Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 11 offers a more streamlined chassis and better battery life compared to previous models, but still offers the same robust gaming performance, a crisp OLED display, along with Lenovo’s industry-leading keyboard for an all-around powerhouse of a laptop. If not for a sub-par onboard audio experience and expensive upgrades, it would be perfect.

The real question is: are those downsides enough to keep the Legion 5i Gen 11 from becoming one of our best gaming laptops?

Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 11: Cheat sheet

• What is it?: The Legion 5i Gen 11 is a more toned-down version of Lenovo’s Legion Pro, offering a fantastic balance between powerful gaming performance and crisp visuals with more affordable pricing compared to the Pro model.
• Who is it for?: Gamers and STEM students who want a powerful RTX 50-series laptop with Lenovo’s sturdy build quality, while sticking to a more affordable price tag.
• What does it cost?: The starting price for the Legion 5i Gen 11 is $1,899 while our review spec costs a bit more, running the tab up to $2,825. However, Lenovo is running a special on an RTX 5060 configuration that brings the price down to just $1,899.
• What do we like?: The new, sleeker chassis makes the Legion 5i a bit more portable, and the improved battery life is fantastic for students or working professionals. The Legion 5i also sports one of Lenovo’s fantastic keyboards, a crisp OLED display, and a powerful Nvidia RTX 50-series GPU.
• What don’t we like?: Upgrading your RAM and storage, or switching to the RTX 5070 model come at steep premiums which make the affordable Legion 5i Gen 11 a much less attractive bargain.

Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 11: Specs

Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 11: The ups

The Legion 5i is Lenovo’s mid-tier gaming laptop, and it’s got plenty to recommend it as your next gaming laptop. Between the new sleek chassis, crisp OLED display, fantastic keyboard, useful battery life, and powerful NVIDIA RTX 50-series graphics the Legion 5i has some serious selling points.

Sleek redesign

Lenovo has been thinning out the Legion lineup a bit over the years, and the 11th Gen Legion ditches the clunky hub on the back for a more beveled edge across the entire laptop. While it doesn’t shave a ton off the Z-height of the laptop, the loss of the hub and the bevelling make the Legion 5i feel much slimmer despite being nearly equal in thickness.

The design overhaul also makes the Legion 5i a bit easier to carry, even with a slightly heavier weight than the 10th Gen Legion 5i which was 0.8 inches thick and weighed 4.1 pounds. The 11th Gen is 0.79 inches thick and weighs 4.25 pounds.

Overall, the new design still keeps some recognizable Legion touches from the smudge-magnet Eclipse Black colorway to the Legion logo on the top cover panel, and Lenovo’s camera and microphone hub at the top edge.

While this doesn’t drastically change the dimensions of the Legion, it does make it feel more like a modern gaming laptop than previous iterations (particularly the 9th Gen and earlier) which were starting to feel dated.

Industry-leading keyboard

Lenovo makes good keyboards. That’s just kind of a universal fact at this point. And the Legion 5i Gen 11 is no exception to that rule.

The typing experience is the perfect combination of crisp with deep keytravel to avoid bottoming out your fingers while frantically typing instructions to your party in the in-game text window. It’s both satisfying and comfortable, which is a hard sweet-spot to hit for a laptop keyboard.

The off-set arrow keys also make navigating games a little easier and the included num-pad is great for binding macros and additional skills for input heavy RPGs and MMOs.

The Legion’s keyboard features 1.6mm key travel with a 0.3mm dish on each key, with swappable keycaps and Lenovo’s Spectrum RGB software for controlling the 1-zone or 24-zone RGB depending on your keyboard upgrades.

And even with just 1-zone RGB, you still get the same 1.6mm key travel and 0.3mm dish, which means if you don’t go for the 24-zone RGB upgrade, you still get the same great typing experience.

Crisp display

OLED displays offer some serious gaming benefits, and they’re even better when you’re using your gaming laptop to binge a TV series over a weekend. Getting an OLED display on a mid-range gaming laptop isn’t always a guarantee, so it's incredible to see that as a standard panel option on the Legion 5i.

From crisper blacks and more vibrant colors, the Legion 5i’s display looks absolutely stunning when watching nature documentaries like The Loneliest Whale or when playing visually intense games like Avowed. Toggle on HDR, and you’ve got a gaming laptop that can actually display the final season of Game of Thrones.

While my eyes absolutely enjoyed my time with the Legion 5i, that experience is also backed up by our lab testing. The Legion 5i Gen 11 covered 137.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut with an average brightness of 490 nits and a peak HDR brightness of 1,049 nits.

This is pretty great for an OLED, and absolutely fantastic when compared to other mid-range gaming laptops like the MSI Stealth 16 AI+ or HyperX Omen 16 Valorant Edition which both lack HDR support and manage just 85% and 81% coverage of the DCI-P3 spectrum respectively.

Solid RTX 5070 gaming chops

While the Legion 5i isn’t Lenovo’s flagship gaming laptop, it should still have solid gaming performance. Particularly our review model which features the powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 251HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 combination.

My current go-to games aren’t exactly strong benchmarks so I expected the Legion 5i to have no problems whatsoever running Baldur’s Gate III and Final Fantasy XIV on high graphics presets at the Legion’s max 1600p resolution. In Baldur’s Gate III, I had the Legion running on High graphics presets at 1600p and was easily getting over 90fps.

In Final Fantasy XIV, I had the Legion running High (Laptop) graphics presets at 1600p and could get frame-rate peaks of over 100fps though the game tended to settle around 90fps in most zones. Any frame drops I noticed were more due to pop-in rate and high player traffic than anything hardware wise with the Legion.

To make the Legion 5i work a bit harder, I also booted up Avowed which has a tendency to run at low frame-rates because of its intense graphics and poor optimization. The Legion did stumble here a bit, but then I’ve also seen RTX 5090 laptops struggle with Avowed.

However, while keeping my resolution set to 1600p (because Avowed sometimes gets awkward on lower resolutions) , opting for Medium graphics settings got me a perfectly playable game which held at about 59 to 61 FPS, and I didn’t lose too much graphic detail either.

In our lab tests, the Legion also performed well. Our review unit for the Legion 5i Gen 11 features the upgraded Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 (12GB) model, which outperformed the HyperX Omen 16 Valorant Edition which featured the 8GB version of the RTX 5070. The Legion also held the lead over the MSI Stealth 16 AI+ which featured the RTX 5060.

This meant the Legion 5i averaged 9 fps more than the HyperX and 21 FPS more than the Stealth on Black Myth Wukong at 1080p on Medium settings. The Legion’s lead died down a bit on Cinematic settings and 1600p resolution. The Legion also held a 9 FPS lead on the HyperX on Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p and a 6 FPS lead at 1600p. The Stealth lagged behind the Legion by 12 FPS at 1080p and 8 FPS at 1600p on Cyberpunk.

While the Legion can still struggle to surpass 60fps on intense titles at max resolution, it can easily clear the 60 FPS mark on High or Ultra settings at 1080p. Which is pretty impressive for an RTX 5070 laptop. It does help that Lenovo opted for the 12GB VRAM model which gives the Legion’s RTX 5070 just enough extra horsepower to clear the competition.

Respectable battery life

Legion laptops rarely win awards for having long battery life, and usually that’s expected. Legion laptops tend to sit in the desktop replacement sector, where you don’t really expect much in terms of unplugged performance for laptops that feature power-hungry CPUs and GPUs.

However, the Legion 5i Gen 11 does pack a pretty respectable punch when it comes to web surfing and gaming battery life. The Legion 5i lasted 7 hours and 3 minutes on our web surfing battery test and it survived an impressive 1 hour 27 minutes on the PCMark 10 Gaming battery life benchmark.

For context, the HyperX Omen 16 lasted just 2:41 on our web surfing battery test, while the MSI Stealth was one of our longer-lasting gaming laptops with a web surfing battery life of 10:49. For a Legion laptop to get over 7 hours of web surfing battery life? That’s a pretty damn impressive turnaround. The Legion 5i Gen 9 barely made it three and a half hours.

As for the PCMark 10 Gaming battery benchmark, the HyperX Omen 16 lasted 1:30 and the Stealth lasted 1:55. It’s pretty rare to see a gaming laptop hit 2 hours on the PCMark 10 test since any discrete GPU is going to put a major drain on the laptop’s internal battery. However, getting 1:27 is pretty solid. It’s not a great amount of game-time but it is enough that you don’t need to immediately worry if your cat unplugs your laptop mid-raid.

Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 11: The downs

The Legion’s downsides aren’t particularly plentiful, and there are ways to avoid these pitfalls. You can avoid the pricey upgrades by sticking with the pre-configured $1,899 model and you can use a quality headset or set of speakers to get better audio, they are problematic enough to be considered downsides.

RAMaggeddon Strikes Again

Gaming hardware has always been expensive, but budget gaming hardware is now almost non-existent.

Lenovo is currently offering a pre-configured version of the Legion 5i Gen 11 at $1,899. That model features the same Intel Core Ultra 7 251HX CPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and 15-inch OLED display as our review configuration. However, it has the Nvidia RTX 5060 onboard instead. This is actually cheaper than the $2,355 starting configuration with just 512GB of SSD storage.

And really, that $1,899 price tag wouldn’t be considered budget just a year ago, but the RAM shortage has made any gaming laptop under $2,000 feel like a steal.

Unfortunately, the base configuration is more expensive, so if Lenovo ever stops running that sale, the Legion 5i goes from somewhat affordable to expensive. Especially if you need to upgrade the RAM, SSD storage, CPU, or GPU as those will come at steep premiums.

Upgrading to the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX processor costs an additional $110 while upgrading to the Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics card adds $300 to the total price. Upgrading your storage to 1TB will set you back $190, upgrading to 2TB will set you back an additional $430 on top of that, while increasing your memory from 16GB to 32GB will come with a $370 price-tag.

Which is how you get our RTX 5070 configuration at $2,825. And that’s the kind of prices we saw on RTX 5090 laptops just a year ago. So if you want the Legion 5i Gen 11, you better grab the pre-configured model while Lenovo still has that special running. Because otherwise its hard to justify the price.

Don’t rely on the built-in audio

Considering the Legion 5i’s status as Lenovo’s mid-range Intel gaming laptop, a certain level of quality is expected on all fronts. And audio is no exception.

While laptop audio setups often have to make sacrifices due to the form factor, some laptops offer more robust built-in sound systems than others. And while the Legion 5i’s audio is perfectly usable, it’s hardly enjoyable.

Lenovo packed a quad (2x2W) Harman speaker system with Nahimic Audio drivers into the Legion 5i chassis. Unfortunately, those speakers are bottom-firing which leads to some issues based on your gaming surface.

Downward-facing laptop speakers rely on audio engineering to bounce the audio to the user, so they can be less consistent in audio quality than top or side-firing audio systems.

While the Legion 5i’s speakers are perfectly fine at lower volume levels (40% and below), the bottom-firing speakers get muddied, and everything sounds overly-sharp with no bass when played at higher volumes.

So it’s not exactly ideal for a movie or TV show binge. And while you might be able to play a casual game with the Legion’s speaker system, I would opt for a quality studio headset for anything more intense than Runescape.

Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 11: Verdict

Traditionally, a Lenovo Legion laptop is a chunky, high-performance desktop replacement laptop that you’d rarely dream of carrying to school or to work.

Between the previous generation and this current gen, that’s starting to change. The Legion 5i offers a sleeker, more modern chassis that’s much easier to carry, and it’s got battery life that’s actually useful for getting some work done.

Combined with one of Lenovo’s industry leading keyboards, a crisp OLED display, and the same robust gaming performance you’d expect from a Legion laptop and the Legion 5i is a potent powerhouse.

It could be the perfect laptop, if only its onboard audio system was a bit more robust and its base price and upgrades weren’t so expensive.

If you are going to nab the Legion 5i Gen 11, I would absolutely recommend sticking with the discounted $1,899 preconfigured model as it's actually affordable and comes with nearly all the same features as our review model.

The gaming performance will be a bit weaker, but it’s not worth the nearly $1,000 increase in price just to upgrade to the RTX 5070 model.

There was a time not too long ago when a 32GB smartphone felt perfectly workable — potentially even spacious. Fast forward to today and apps have gotten bigger, cameras have become larger, and routine software updates now eat entire gigabytes on their own.

32GB has gone from seeming totally normal (even luxurious) to looking absurdly stingy. I think 256GB laptops are heading in the same direction.

In 2026, plenty of otherwise excellent laptops start with 256GB of storage, despite many of the best smartphones offering the same amount. At first, 256GB might be enough, but after months or years of apps, photos, downloads, and updates, that breathing room is just... gone.

And when it does go, Windows 11 and macOS have a very convenient answer waiting in the wings: move more of your stuff into the cloud — and, sooner or later, start paying for it.

256GB isn’t tiny — and that’s exactly the problem

The funny part, if we can call it that, is that 256GB can feel perfectly comfortable for those who live inside a browser. But there's a difference between having enough storage and having enough room to grow.

We’ve previously said that 256GB is the bare minimum you should look for in a general-purpose laptop, and that increasingly feels spot on in 2026.

It’s definitely enough to get by, but it doesn’t leave you with a huge amount of headroom for the future. In a world where a single Spotify playlist with 1,000 songs can take up nearly 10GB of space, bigger is better.

You can actually see the shift happening elsewhere in the market: Apple’s latest MacBook Air now starts with 512GB, an upgrade we welcomed, while many budget laptops continue to stick with 256GB to keep their prices down.

There is, of course, some nuance to this picture. A cheap Chromebook or secondary laptop definitely doesn’t need a huge SSD, and with memory prices soaring, buying decisions are becoming harder than ever.

But for a laptop you expect to use as your main computer for the next five-plus years, 256GB looks less like a specification and more like a compromise.

Your laptop can last years, but its storage can’t grow with it

At a basic level, storage is one of the few parts of a laptop that can become more restrictive simply through normal use.

Photos, downloads, apps, offline media, assorted files, and everything else you acquire from day to day gradually pile up, while the SSD you bought on day one stays the same size. This situation is less of a problem if you can simply replace the SSD later.

Some Windows laptops, like the excellent Framework models, still make that relatively straightforward, but plenty of thin-and-light notebooks — including MacBooks — effectively lock you into whatever capacity you choose at checkout.

Conveniently, there’s a subscription for that

Running low on storage is less painful than it used to be, mainly because Windows and macOS are extremely good at pushing files to the cloud.

OneDrive’s Files On-Demand feature, for example, lets files remain visible in File Explorer without actually taking up space, while macOS can automatically move less frequently used files into iCloud when space starts running low.

There's no denying that these are genuinely useful features that save people a lot of hassle; having to actively choose what to delete is tough, and decision paralysis is real.

The problem comes when cloud storage starts compensating for your laptop's limited built-in storage.

Both OSes make that transition remarkably easy: You fill the SSD, move more into the cloud, and eventually find yourself paying for extra capacity. Almost without noticing, an understandable hardware compromise becomes yet another subscription.

Cloud storage also isn’t a like-for-like replacement for local storage. Apps, games, caches, and plenty of other files still need SSD space, while online-only files naturally depend on an internet connection.

AI is making the obvious solution harder

The obvious answer would be for 512GB to become the new baseline. Unfortunately, 2026 is turning out to be a pretty terrible year for that transition.

As you might have read, the RAMageddon is also putting pressure on the storage inside our laptops, as well as consoles, tablets, smartphones, and, well, pretty much every consumer device.

Data centres need vast amounts of memory and storage to keep AI services running, and that extra demand is making the components used in consumer SSDs more expensive too.

We’ve already seen how the wider memory crunch is affecting the laptop market, with manufacturers facing higher component costs and difficult decisions over where to make compromises. Even usually unflappable giants like Apple are raising prices across the board.

All of this makes sticking with 256GB easier to understand, even if it doesn’t make it any more appealing. The 256GB laptop isn’t obsolete yet. But, like the 32GB phone before it, its days as an acceptable default should be numbered.

More from Tom's Guide

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• I tested the HyperX Omen 15, and it almost made me forget my PS5
• I checked out the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL — here’s the one I recommend

There’s no shortage of the best gaming laptops out there, but you might have noticed a change in HP’s lineup. Newer gaming rigs carrying Omen branding now fall under the HyperX branding. One such machine is HP’s HyperX Omen 15 that I recently tested.

That might sound like a tongue-twister, but branding aside, this is one of HP’s flagship gaming laptops, and it’s a very good one. Though the RTX 5070 with 8GB VRAM might seem limiting, you get solid gaming performance if you aren’t looking for serious frame rates. This laptop also looks sleek, even if it’s not as flashy as some other options, and it packs a gorgeous OLED display.

I’m mainly a console gamer, but after a week of testing the HyperX Omen 15, I spent less time on my PS5 and more with this laptop. However, it has the usual gaming laptop tropes. It runs hot and loud, and it doesn't last too long on battery. That said, it's still one of the best gaming laptops for what it offers. Find out why in my full review.

HyperX Omen 15 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A mid-range 15-inch gaming laptop
• Who is it for? Anyone looking for their first gaming laptop or seeking an upgrade.
• What does it cost? The HP HyperX Omen 15 starts at $1,499 on HP’s website. Right now, it's on sale for $1,099. As configured, our review unit is valued at $2,800, but is currently discounted to $2,099.
• What do we like? The gorgeous OLED screen, performance, and design.
• What don’t we like? The fan noise, battery life, and bloatware.

HyperX Omen 15 review: Specs

HyperX Omen 15 review: The ups

The HyperX Omen 15 gets three huge things right. It has a glorious OLED display, an appealing design, and smooth 1080p performance.

Vibrant OLED screen

The standout feature of the HyperX Omen 15 is its 2880x1800 OLED display. Not all configurations of the laptop come with this screen, but our higher-end review unit did. The screen delivers super vibrant visuals, both for office work and for gaming.

I have a Samsung S85F OLED TV at home, and movies like Spider-Man: Far From Home and games like Forza Horizon 6 looked incredible on the HyperX Omen 15’s panel. I spent more time watching videos on this laptop than I did watching my actual TV. It’s refreshing to have a really good OLED display in portable form.

When replaying one of my favorite classics, Grand Theft Auto 4, I noticed how much livelier Liberty City looked on this laptop’s OLED display. This game is famous for its dark and shaded environments, and the HyperX Omen 15 makes them all look spectacular.

When flying a helicopter high over Liberty City, every little detail dazzled me — from the lights shimmering in Star Junction to river water rippling beneath my helicopter's propellers. If this laptop could make a 17-year-old game look good, it should make the PC titles you play look even better than you imagine.

As our lab results show, this is a super-bright and vivid OLED panel. It hits 460.2 nits of brightness, which, compared to some of the other OLED gaming laptops we tested this year, is the second-brightest.

Meanwhile, its 1022-nit HDR brightness makes it the third-brightest laptop in our comparison group. The color accuracy is also top-notch, hitting 186.8% of the sRGB gamut and 132.2% of the DCI-P3 gamut, beating out all the other comparative gaming or productivity laptops with OLED panels.

Great gaming performance for most titles

The HyperX Omen 15 I reviewed packs an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H CPU, an Nvidia RTX 5070, and 32GB of dedicated RAM. You might be concerned about the 8GB of VRAM on that RTX 5070, but don’t let that fool you. This is an excellent upper-midrange gaming laptop.

I love racing games, and my go-to game on my PlayStation 5 is Forza Horizon 5. The latest entry in this series isn’t on PlayStation yet, so the HyperX Omen 15 was the go-to way to experience Forza Horizon 6. After five hours of racing on the Omen 15X, I never felt the laptop’s GPU was holding me back. It became hard to go back to my PS5 and Forza Horizon 5.

On the “Extreme” preset at full 2880x1800 resolution, I was getting a smooth 49 fps, and at 1080p, nearly double that, around 79 fps. Turning on DLSS and switching to the slightly more demanding “High with Ray Tracing” preset yielded better visuals and decent performance, with 39 fps at full resolution and 69 fps at 1080p. Combined with the laptop’s 120Hz display, I experienced no lag and had a pleasurable, winning experience in almost all my race entries.

Those results are indeed low, so it won’t really compete with RTX 5080-powered laptops, but it delivers enough performance for most modern games at 1080p with ray tracing enabled. You'll still need DLSS or lower settings to take full advantage of the laptop’s native 2880×1800 resolution.

The closest laptop to the HyperX Omen 15 is the Galaxy Book 6 Ultra, which has the same display resolution, RTX 5070, and 32GB of RAM. That means this system won’t seem as powerful as some other 16-inch gaming laptops we’re comparing it to — like a higher-end Alienware 16 Area-51. While the numbers trail RTX 5080-powered competitors, real-world gaming will be a great experience once you dial back a few settings.

Our lab maxes out game settings, including ray tracing, when benchmarking, and I found games like Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Assassin's Creed Shadows were playable, hovering just over 30 fps at 1080p. At this laptop’s full resolution, games hovered near 20 fps and were slightly laggy, but still playable. Again, if you lower your graphics settings to medium or rely on upscaling, you should not have issues enjoying gaming on the HyperX Omen 15.

Of note. The laptop has an Omen AI feature in HP’s Omen Gaming Hub. This can provide frame optimization with a one-click solution for each game. It’s a nifty feature if you’re not super technical like me. It can adjust operating system settings, hardware settings, and game settings on the fly.

When you’re not gaming, the HyperX Omen 15 is a solid productivity or video-editing laptop. Its Geekbench scores are strong, placing it third in our lab’s tests against competitors. For video editing and encoding, HandBrake encoding time lags a bit, but in this test, anything within the 3-minute range is pretty good for its class.

I put the HyperX Omen 15 through the paces of my workflow, and it handled a mix of 20+ Chrome tabs with ease, alongside Slack and YouTube music videos in Microsoft Edge running in the background.

Solid design

The HyperX Omen 15 is made of plastic, but it is done in a way that makes it appealing. The shadow black plastic finish is reminiscent of the color you see on Lenovo’s ThinkPads, making it blend right in with my office space. The laptop’s display also sits a few centimeters forward from the rear, making it seem like it is coming off a solid slab of plastic. Many of Lenovo’s gaming laptops have had this look recently, and it is a good one.

Ports and connectivity are great, too. There are two USB-A ports — one on each side, along with a USB-C port and an HDMI port on the rear. Other ports include an Ethernet jack and a headphone jack.

The laptop uses a 200W proprietary barrelled USB-C charger, but, interestingly enough, I found that a 65W USB-C charger can juice up the laptop just fine for basic productivity needs. I appreciated that when I didn’t want to take the heavy charger to work with me.

Two other great elements of the design are the RGB lighting effects and the keyboard. HP didn’t go over the top with the RGB. The laptop has a 4-Zone RGB keyboard, and you can customize each zone with its own lighting effect. Light Studio through Omen Gaming Hub makes this possible, but I found the default rainbow effect just fine.

The keyboard is a pleasure to use. While it does not use Cherry switches like Alienware’s flagship laptops do, the square keycaps still have a satisfying click into the chassis when typing. As a lab tester, I also appreciate the number pad on the side, as some gaming laptops ditch this for a centered keyboard.

HyperX Omen 15 review: The downs

No laptop is perfect, and the HyperX Omen 15 underperforms in several ways. Some of these might be deal-breakers if you’re hoping to buy this laptop.

Loud fans

One of the biggest issues I had with the HyperX Omen 15 is how loud it can get. During standard use, it is whisper-silent, but as soon as I start gaming, it sounds like a mini vacuum cleaner. I understand that gaming laptops need to pump up the fans to stay cool, but this HyperX Omen 15 is especially loud.

In fact, it got so loud that I preferred to wear headphones while gaming. I used a decibel meter to measure fan noise, and it hit as high as 74 decibels mid-race in Forza Horizon 6. For reference, that is as loud as a running vacuum cleaner or a noisy restaurant. My measurements came from the laptop being in the default “Performance” mode in the Omen gaming app and with my meter at the rear of the laptop.

Switching to “Balanced” in the app slightly reduced the fan noise to as low as 65 decibels, which is more equivalent to a normal office environment. This will come at a performance cost, though, as it impacts the Windows Power mode.

Part of my experience comes down to how HP is optimizing for gaming performance. This laptop features Omen Tempest Cooling. That means it has dual side fans with fewer rear ports, enlarged vents, and additional bottom vents to maximize airflow and heat dissipation. It works, too. Our lab measured a temperature of 89 degrees at the laptop’s hottest point. 15-inch gaming laptops might typically hit closer to 100 degrees in our Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition heat test, where we loop the benchmark 6 times and measure temperatures at 4 different points on the laptop.

Poor battery life

Gaming laptops aren’t known for their amazing battery life, and the HyperX Omen 15 is no different. In our Tom’s Guide laptop battery test, it lasted 8 hours and 30 minutes for web browsing and a short 1 hour and 13 minutes for gaming.

While both of our lab’s results are considered bad for the HyperX, it does tug ahead of the more powerful Alienware laptop in our comparisons. We've also seen other gaming laptops, like the Zephyrus G16, and a productivity laptop with an RTX 5070, like the Galaxy Book 6, go well beyond the numbers the HyperX put up in our battery test.

In my time with the laptop for work, it only lasted from 9 AM to 3:30 before Windows gave the low battery warnings at 10% with the screen around 32% brightness. For gaming, the laptop died after 45 minutes. OLED screens are power-hungry, and the 120Hz refresh rate with the beastly Nvidia GPU only makes things worse. It’s a trade-off you will have to live with if you choose an OLED gaming laptop like this one.

Too much bloat

This laptop, as we reviewed it, can cost well over $2,000, so it is very upsetting to see all the pre-installed bloatware on it. Right out of the box, the Start Menu was littered with pre-pinned shortcuts to various services like HP TV+, Booking.com, and a Dropbox Promotion. HP also throws in McAfee antivirus software with the laptop, which our lab always removes for our battery test.

That is in addition to seven HP apps: HP, HP Documentation, HP PC Diagnostics, HP Privacy Settings, HP Smart, Support Assist, Event Utility, and TV+. Otter.ai also makes it to the list. All of this can be easily uninstalled, but that takes extra work, and nobody should have to deal with this.

HyperX Omen 15 review: Verdict

The HyperX Omen 15 wins for its OLED display and RTX 5070 performance that handles most modern games well at 1080p. Its low-key design and comfortable keyboard also make it feel less like a gaming rig and more like an everyday laptop you'd be happy to take out in public and carry anywhere.

The trade-offs are a little painful, though: loud fans during gaming, weak battery life, and a Start Menu full of bloatware. But if a gorgeous OLED screen is high on your list and you're buying your first gaming laptop or upgrading an old one, the HyperX Omen 15 is worth the investment.