review laptop essay

Essay on Laptop

Students are often asked to write an essay on Laptop in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Laptop

Introduction to laptops.

Laptops are portable computers that we can carry anywhere. They are lightweight and compact, making them perfect for work, school, or travel.

Components of a Laptop

A laptop has many parts like a screen, keyboard, touchpad, speakers, and a battery. The battery lets us use the laptop even when there’s no power outlet.

Uses of Laptops

We use laptops for various activities like doing homework, playing games, watching movies, and browsing the internet. They also help us connect with friends and family through video calls.

Laptops are an essential tool in our daily life, offering convenience and flexibility. They help us learn, work, and stay connected.

250 Words Essay on Laptop

Introduction.

Laptops, portable personal computers, have revolutionized the way we work, learn, and communicate. They have become indispensable tools in our daily lives, offering us a perfect blend of power, flexibility, and mobility.

Evolution and Impact

The evolution of laptops from bulky, expensive machines to sleek, affordable devices has made them accessible to a broader audience. They have transformed various sectors, including education, business, and entertainment. In education, laptops facilitate online learning, research, and collaboration. In business, they enable remote working, data analysis, and digital marketing.

Technological Advancements

Technological advancements in laptops, such as increased processing power, larger memory, and improved battery life, have enhanced their functionality. Developments in AI and machine learning have led to the advent of smart laptops, capable of performing complex tasks with minimal human intervention.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite their advantages, laptops pose challenges like cybersecurity threats and e-waste. However, manufacturers are addressing these issues through improved security features and sustainable practices. The future of laptops looks promising, with innovations like foldable screens, AI integration, and quantum computing on the horizon.

In conclusion, laptops have significantly influenced our lives, reshaping the way we work, learn, and interact. Their evolution, driven by technological advancements, has made them more powerful and versatile. Despite the challenges, the future of laptops is bright, underpinned by continuous innovation and development.

500 Words Essay on Laptop

A laptop, also known as a notebook, is a portable personal computer integrated with a touchpad, keyboard, and a thin LCD or LED computer screen. Its compact nature allows for easy transportation, making it a crucial tool in the modern world. Laptops have revolutionized the way we work, learn, and entertain ourselves, providing a balance of power and portability that desktop computers cannot match.

Evolution of Laptops

The first portable computer was the Osborne 1, introduced in 1981. Weighing 24 pounds, it was a far cry from the sleek devices we are accustomed to today. Over time, laptops have evolved to become lighter, faster, and more powerful. The advent of microprocessors and lithium-ion batteries in the 1990s led to a significant reduction in size and weight. Today, laptops come in various shapes and sizes, from ultraportable notebooks to powerful gaming laptops.

Components and Functionality

A laptop’s primary components include the Central Processing Unit (CPU), Random Access Memory (RAM), and storage (hard disk or solid-state drive). These components work together to execute operations, run software applications, and store data. Laptops also include various input and output devices such as a keyboard, touchpad, webcam, speakers, and ports for external devices.

Applications of Laptops

Laptops serve a broad range of applications. In education, they facilitate online learning and research. In business, they enable employees to work remotely, increasing productivity and flexibility. For creatives, laptops with high-end specifications provide the necessary power for graphic design, video editing, and music production. In entertainment, laptops are used for gaming, streaming movies, and social networking.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Laptops provide numerous advantages. Their portability allows users to work or study from anywhere, promoting a flexible lifestyle. They also consume less power compared to desktop computers, making them more energy-efficient. However, laptops also have some disadvantages. They are more expensive than comparable desktops, have a shorter lifespan due to compact components, and are more susceptible to theft due to their portability.

Future of Laptops

The future of laptops is promising, with continuous advancements in technology. We can expect even lighter and more powerful devices with longer battery life. Developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning may lead to more intuitive and personalized user experiences. Furthermore, the integration of augmented and virtual reality technologies could revolutionize how we interact with our laptops.

In conclusion, laptops have become an integral part of our lives, serving various roles in education, business, creativity, and entertainment. Despite some disadvantages, their benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. As technology continues to evolve, we can look forward to even more innovative and powerful laptops in the future. They are not just tools but extensions of our productivity and creativity, shaping the way we live, work, and play.

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Buying a Laptop: Personal Experience

Although the modern computer hardware market provides a lot of options to choose from, buying a laptop is not an easy task. It is necessary to find such a model that would satisfy the technical requirements of a customer and be reasonably priced. The current paper describes the experience of purchasing a laptop and pays special attention to the behavior of a salesperson.

Coming to the electronics store, I had three primary requirements for a laptop: it should have a widescreen, a lightweight, and an affordable price. However, there were way too many laptops of various brands that satisfied the demands. Hence, I asked a salesperson to tell the weak and strong sides of each device. The shop assistant informed me of the charge duration, memory capacity, the volume level of music speakers, the quality of the integrated camera, and the brightness of the screen. Besides, he inquired for which purposes I need a laptop because one for study would not be suitable for gaming. Undoubtedly, communication with the salesmen was a decisive factor in buying the computer that I use now.

At the same time, it should be noticed that the salesmen, by all means, tried to increase sales and recommended me to buy a bag, a mouse, and install the software in the shop for extra payments. Even though I highly appreciate his assistance, the pressure to buy more goods was irritative because, from the very beginning, I denoted the maximum amount of money that could be spent.

To conclude, I am satisfied with the laptop since it works just as well as the salesmen promised. Talking about his attempt to sell more goods, he was performing the duties and could not be blamed for this. Still, salespeople should be more attentive to the words and behavior of the clients to avoid making suggestions that the latter would deny. Most importantly, the assistance of the seller enabled me to economize my time and make the best possible choice.

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• Electronics

The Best Laptops

By Kimber Streams and Dave Gershgorn

Smartphones and tablets may have taken over much of people’s screen time, but there’s still a need for a real computer sometimes—and for most people, that means a laptop. For school and office work and tasks like creating spreadsheets and editing video, there’s no good substitute for a decent keyboard and a big screen. But exactly which laptop you should get depends on how often you’ll use it, what you’ll use it for, and (of course) how much money you can afford to spend on it.

We regularly test the most promising laptops, from sleek ultrabooks to cheap Chromebooks to massive gaming laptops and beyond. Here are the best models you can buy in every category, along with advice on how to choose which type of laptop is right for you.

The research

Mac or windows (or something else), the best windows ultrabook, the best macbook, the most repairable laptop, the best chromebook, the best budget windows laptop, the best macbook for photo and video editing, the best windows laptop for photo and video editing, the best cheap gaming laptop, frequently asked questions.

If you’re already familiar with macOS or Windows, the easiest choice is to buy a computer that runs that operating system. Or if you already have an iPhone, a MacBook will let you send texts with iMessage, make FaceTime video calls, and access your iCloud photos. That said, macOS and Windows have never been more similar, and most popular apps work just as well on either platform (or at least have alternatives that work similarly). If you’re interested in switching, it isn’t as big a deal as it used to be.

If you’re not tied to a platform, the biggest factor is how easily you can get support. Do you have an Apple Store nearby? Do your most tech-savvy friends use Windows? Does your school or job provide tech support? If you’re not a self-sufficient techie and want the best service for your computer, buy a Mac, because you can take it to any Apple Store to get it fixed. No other computer maker provides that level of support. (If you’re self-sufficient, go with what you like.)

Alternatively, since more tasks can be accomplished in a browser, without your downloading and installing any apps, you might not even need a traditional operating system—a Chromebook may be all you need.

Asus Vivobook S 14 (Q423SA-U5512)

The best ultrabook.

The Vivobook S 14 has category-leading battery life, a vivid OLED display, and a fun customizable RGB keyboard, all in a thin-and-light body.

Buying Options

(16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD)

Recommended configuration

Who these are for: If you need a thin and light, super-portable Windows laptop with long battery life to get you through a full day of work or classes, choose a Windows ultrabook. They’re powerful enough to do everything most people need a computer for, and they have great keyboards, trackpads, and displays. You can expect to pay between $900 and $1,300 for a great Windows ultrabook that will last you at least four years, though excellent budget options are available for around $800.

Where they fall short: Ultrabooks tend to cost more than most people want to spend on a laptop, but they last years longer than cheap laptops under $500. They also lack the processing power to play high-end games or handle demanding tasks such as professional video editing or 3D modeling.

Why we like this one: The Asus Vivobook S 14 (Q423SA-U5512) is the best thin-and-light Windows laptop you can get without spending a lot more. It has the best combination of what makes an ultrabook great, offering fast performance, terrific battery life, and a spacious OLED screen. At 2.87 pounds, the Vivobook S is compact and light enough to take on a plane or to a coffee shop, and thanks to its excellent 18-hour battery life, it will last through a full day of work or classes—and then some. We also like that its RGB backlit keyboard can be customized to any color. But this model lacks a touchscreen and a fingerprint reader, and its speakers are mediocre.

Read more about the Asus Vivobook S 14 and other so-called AI PCs in our full guide to ultrabooks .

Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022, 13-inch)

A sleek design and a nice webcam.

The M2 MacBook Air has a bright screen, a good webcam, and a MagSafe port.

Who these are for: If you prefer macOS or need great tech support, a MacBook is a safe bet; this is an excellent laptop for writers, office workers, commuters, and college students. The 13-inch models offer the best combination of size, weight, and performance. Powered by Apple’s M-series processors, these laptops have exceptionally good battery life compared with similarly priced Windows laptops. We recommend the M2 MacBook Air. It isn’t the newest version, but it delivers performance that’s nearly as good as that of the M3 MacBook Air, plus almost all the features, for hundreds of dollars less.

Where they fall short : MacBooks are typically more expensive than Windows ultrabooks, especially if you want to upgrade the memory or storage—Apple’s SSD upgrade prices are so high that we usually recommend looking into cloud storage or an external SSD instead. Our recommended MacBook configuration lacks the processing power to play demanding games. If you need a cheaper laptop or a more powerful one, check out our other picks below.

Why we like this one: The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air delivers strong performance and fantastic battery life at a reasonable price. The base 16 GB of memory that’s offered is enough for basic web browsing and office tasks, as well as if you need to do some basic video or media editing. If you’re the kind of person who has a few dozen browser tabs open at a time, we recommend upgrading the RAM to 24 GB. Like Apple’s other laptops, the MacBook Air has only a few ports—in this case, two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, which may require you to use a hub or new cables . But the MacBook Air’s light weight, solid construction, and industry-leading support make it a great laptop, especially if you also own an iPhone or other Apple devices.

For more on the MacBook Air, take a look at our full guide to MacBook models .

Framework Laptop 13 (Intel Core Ultra Series 1)

Best laptop for repairability.

The Framework Laptop is the best—and so far only—option if you want a laptop that you can easily upgrade and repair. And it’s a great ultrabook, too.

Who these are for: Most modern laptops aren’t designed to be repaired or upgraded by just anyone with a screwdriver. Even if you do manage to get past the screws and the difficult-to-pry-open chassis, you might have access to the SSD, but the memory is likely to be soldered, and you certainly can’t upgrade the processor. When something breaks out of warranty, when the battery wears out, or when you’re ready to upgrade after five or six years, you have to recycle or dispose of the entire laptop—even if some of its parts are still perfectly good. If you want the ability to upgrade and repair your laptop yourself and make it last longer without replacing the whole thing—which theoretically can save you money and create less e-waste over the years—our repairable pick is for you.

Where they fall short: The availability of parts and upgrades for the Framework Laptop 13 is entirely dependent on the laptop’s manufacturer. If Framework goes under or it decides to stop designing and selling upgrades, this laptop will end up just like any other—when the computer breaks or outlives its usefulness, you’ll have to replace the whole thing. Other companies have attempted to make upgradable laptops in the past and have failed to follow through on the promise.

Why we like this one: Every part of the Framework Laptop 13 (Intel Core Ultra Series 1)  is super easy to repair and upgrade . Each part is helpfully labeled with handy QR codes that direct you to step-by-step replacement guides and links to the exact parts you’ll need. You can add more memory and storage , replace the battery , upgrade the mainboard with a new processor , and repair anything else if it breaks—the display, the fingerprint reader, the keyboard, the hinge, you name it.

The Framework Laptop 13 is an excellent computer, too. It’s sturdy and surprisingly thin and light for how modular its design is, and its battery will last a full workday. It also has a reliable keyboard and trackpad, plus a bright and spacious display. But the ability to upgrade and repair this laptop down the line depends on the company continuing to exist and to supply parts. So far the company is off to a great start: Every year since it launched in 2021 the company has introduced upgraded parts.

We recommend getting the 16 GB configuration or simply adding another 8 GB of memory to the base-model Framework Laptop. If you want the full experience of putting your laptop together , you can choose from a wider variety of parts by purchasing the DIY Edition instead.

Read more about our repairable pick in our guide to Windows ultrabooks .

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

Reliable performance, a spacious touch display, and long-enough battery life for a full workday make the Flex 5i the best Chromebook for the price. But it is a bit heavy.

You save $150 (30%)

Who these are for: Chromebooks are ideal for students and kids, but you should also consider one if you spend most of your computer time in a web browser, if you’re on a tight budget, or if you already have a decent desktop PC. A good Chromebook can do almost anything a regular laptop can do , including document work, video calls, and streaming video—as long as it’s possible in a web browser or in Android apps. And $500 Chromebooks tend to be faster, lighter, and sleeker than $500 Windows laptops. Plus, Chromebooks are secure and easy to maintain .

Where they fall short: Chromebooks can’t run Windows-specific games or particular programs you might be used to on your Mac or Windows computer. But if you use web-based email, if you can get by with Google’s office web apps or Office 365 and Android app alternatives, and if you stream your music and movies over the internet, a Chromebook should do just about everything you need it to.

Why we like this one: The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is an excellent laptop, with the best combination of features and price of all the Chromebooks we’ve tested. It has fast performance, a reliable keyboard and trackpad, a spacious touchscreen, surprisingly good speakers, and long-enough battery life to last a full day of work or classes. Even though we wish it were lighter—at 3.6 pounds, it’s heavy for a 14-inch laptop—it’s the best option for most people’s needs.

For more, read our full guide to Chromebooks .

Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 (A3SP14-31PT)

The best windows laptop under $500.

Unlike most cheap Windows laptops, the Aspire 3 Spin 14 is fast, compact, and light, and it has a decent 1080p touchscreen and good battery life.

Who these are for: If you need a Windows laptop for home, work, or school—and you can’t afford to spend a lot—you can find a decent one for less than $500. These computers are ideal for grade-school and middle-school students, people on a strict budget, and those who use their computers mostly at home in the evenings for doing schoolwork, browsing the web, managing a budget, or watching Netflix. Cheaper, lighter laptops tend to be too slow for everyday tasks, while faster, sleeker ones usually cost too much.

Where they fall short: To get a laptop that doesn’t feel slow for a decent price, you have to make a lot of compromises. Most budget laptops that are fast enough tend to be bulky, heavy, and saddled with short battery life. They also tend to have low-resolution, low-quality screens that are unpleasant to look at. You have to be especially vigilant when shopping for a laptop in this price range to avoid slow or old processors, insufficient memory, and sluggish storage.

Why we like this one: The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 (A3SP14-31PT) in any of our recommended configurations— 32M6 , 37NV , or 38YA —is fast enough to meet most people’s computing needs. Plus, it has a tall, 14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen and a 360-degree hinge, and its keyboard and trackpad are accurate and reliable. The Aspire 3 Spin 14 is also more compact and offers better battery life than most bulky Windows laptops in this price range.

The Aspire 3 Spin 14 ships with Windows 11 S mode, which allows only apps from the Microsoft Store and limits you to Microsoft Edge for web browsing. But you can switch it to Windows 11 Home for free to install any program you need. It also comes with a ton of bloatware; we recommend following these steps to get rid of it.

Choosing a budget laptop is tricky because you can find hundreds of variations. Their prices fluctuate constantly, too, and companies release and discontinue models with no warning. If our pick isn’t available, check our full guide to budget laptops for other options, as well as advice on how to shop for a budget laptop that doesn’t suck.

For additional details, read our full guide to budget laptops .

Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M4 Pro, 2024)

The fastest mac option.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is fast, has an incredibly accurate screen, and boasts impressive battery life to boot.

May be out of stock

Who these are for: Photo and video editors need an extremely color-accurate screen, the processing power to work with 4K footage or to batch-edit hundreds of photos, and a battery that will last through an entire day’s work. These professional-grade laptops are more costly than ultrabooks, ranging from $2,000 to $3,000, but they offer desktop performance away from the desk.

Where they fall short: Laptops with color-accurate screens and enough power for creative professionals are expensive, and even more so with add-ons like extra storage and memory. Editing laptops also tend to be larger and heavier than ultrabooks, with most weighing more than 4 pounds. The powerful processors in editing laptops generate lots of heat, as well, so some can get too hot to use comfortably on your lap, though our top pick stayed cool even under the heaviest workloads. In addition, the MacBook Pro is impossible to service on your own, but Apple provides excellent support.

Why we like this one: The Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M4 Pro, 2024) combines a sharp display that’s color-accurate out of the box with Apple’s powerful and power-efficient M4 Pro processor. We found the laptop quick and responsive even when we were working with large 4K files. The Asus ProArt is faster at exporting 4K video, but that’s just one part of the video-editing process, and the MacBook Pro was a bit snappier when bringing clips into the editing timeline.

In addition to the MacBook Pro’s performance, we were impressed with its 17.5-hour battery life. It has three USB-C ports that support Thunderbolt 5, as well as an HDMI port, an SD card reader, a headphone jack, and a MagSafe charging port. While the performance of the MacBook Pro is stellar, it’s nearly impossible to repair or upgrade on your own. If you’re willing to sacrifice some speed for a more repairable machine, check out our recommendation below for a Windows laptop.

Read more about the 16-inch MacBook Pro in our full guide to pro laptops .

Asus ProArt P16

The best windows laptop for editors.

The Asus ProArt P16 has a fast AMD processor, a bright OLED display, and an Nvidia RTX graphics card to rip through video edits.

Who these are for: If you’re a creative professional and you prefer Windows to macOS, don’t want a Mac, or are required to use Windows for compatibility reasons, this is your pick. In recent years, Windows ultrabooks have struggled to match the performance of the MacBook Pro models, though our new pick, the Asus ProArt 16, is one of the first Windows laptops to beat the MacBooks in our editing tests. Also, if you need a specific port or feature, you’re also more likely to find it on a Windows laptop than on a Mac, simply because the Windows world has more manufacturers and variety compared with Apple’s MacBooks.

Where they fall short: As a whole, Windows laptops didn’t perform as well in our tests as the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Typically, their screens were less accurate, they were a bit slower, and they got hotter underneath where the processor was located. Certain models, such as the Asus ProArt 16 we recommend, can still go toe-to-toe with the MacBook in terms of speed, but Apple computers typically have better displays, and the systems stay cooler with quieter fans.

Why we like this one:  The Asus ProArt P16  is the first Windows laptop to beat Apple machines’ performance when exporting large 4K videos, and it’s an all-around great laptop for media editing. It has an accurate 4K OLED display, a nice keyboard and speakers, and a control wheel on the trackpad that you can assign to scrub through your Premiere timeline or control specific sliders in other editing software. Its display also has a 120 Hz refresh rate, so motion will seem smoother, and it’s better for some gaming on the side, if that’s your bag. The P16 has more ports than the MacBook Pro as well, adding two extra USB-A ports. However, its battery life is significantly shorter than that of the MacBook Pro, by about seven hours.

Read more about this option in our full guide to pro laptops .

Asus TUF Gaming A14 (FA401UV-DB74)

The best gaming laptop under $1,500.

This laptop has the newest generation of hardware and performs better than some of the most expensive models we tested. It maintains great frame rates for smooth gameplay, and it stays quiet and cool to the touch.

Who these are for: If you want to play games but also need an affordable laptop for school or work—and your top priority isn’t playing the newest games at maxed-out graphics settings at QHD or 4K resolution—a cheap gaming laptop is for you. Nowadays, a gaming laptop that costs around $1,500 can play most new games on high settings or better at 1920×1080 resolution above 60 fps. Even cheaper models that cost around $800 are ideal for classic games and less-demanding modern titles, and they can play most new games on at least medium settings. You don’t need to spend $2,000 on a more powerful gaming laptop to get great performance.

Where they fall short: Every affordable gaming laptop we’ve tested has had at least one serious flaw. Some get way too hot, others have poor build quality, and some have dim screens with poor viewing angles. And compared with more portable options, such as ultrabooks, all gaming laptops are large, heavy, and saddled with short battery life.

Why we like this one: The Asus TUF Gaming A14 (FA401UV-DB74) provides great gaming performance for the price. It can play most of the newest titles at high and ultra settings, maintaining excellent frame rates while doing so. It also keeps its most-touched surfaces cool during long gaming sessions, and it comes with nice extras, such as a comfortable RGB keyboard and a screen with a high, 165 Hz refresh rate. It has decent battery life, and it’s similar in size and weight to a 14-inch MacBook Pro—so it’s more portable than most of the other gaming laptops we’ve tested.

You can read more about our pick in our full guide to cheap gaming laptops .

This article was edited by Signe Brewster and Arthur Gies.

Which laptops last the longest?

Depending on what you buy and how you use it, a good laptop that’s well cared for should last at least four years, ideally longer—but most modern laptops are not designed with repairability or upgradability in mind. A good ultrabook , a business laptop , or a MacBook will feel sturdier, last longer, and perform better than a cheap sub-$500 laptop with a mostly plastic frame and a basic processor. And a laptop that you primarily use around the house will last longer than one that you travel with frequently. Some business laptops and photo and video editing laptops allow you to upgrade their memory and storage to extend their useful life, and we have a repairable pick that’s specifically designed to make any part (not just the memory or storage) easy to upgrade and repair.

Should I buy a MacBook or a Windows laptop?

If you already use Macs or Windows computers and you like them, stick to the software you’re used to—don’t force an unfamiliar operating system on yourself unless you need to. Otherwise, if you have an iPhone or iPad that you like, a MacBook will work with the same Apple services, including iCloud Photos and iMessage. Windows laptops are better if you want something more affordable, if you want plenty of ports for connecting accessories, or if you want to play games. And if you want an even less-expensive laptop that's easier to use and harder to break, consider a Chromebook.

What is a good price for a laptop?

For general tasks—editing documents and spreadsheets, browsing the internet, doing homework, and communicating using apps such as Slack or Zoom—a cheap but usable laptop should cost between $400 and $600, a good laptop should be $700 or $800, and a great laptop typically costs at least $1,000. More powerful, specialized laptops, such as gaming notebooks or laptops for professional photo and video editing , start in the range of $1,000 to $1,500 and go up from there. If you have $500 or less to spend, Chromebooks tend to look, feel, and run better than equivalently priced Windows laptops. If you’re looking for a Mac, expect to pay at least $1,100 (or $1,000 with an educational discount) for our recommended MacBook Air configuration . Keep an eye on our Deals page if you’re able to wait for a better price on a specific laptop.

How much RAM do I need?

We recommend 16 GB of memory for most MacBooks and Windows laptops, since a great laptop should last at least five years, and you can’t add more memory to most laptops after you buy them. In a budget laptop or a Chromebook, 8 GB should be enough for light tasks such as web browsing, document and spreadsheet editing, and occasional basic photo editing. You should consider 32 GB if you regularly use high-end applications like Adobe Photoshop or Premiere, if you play visually demanding games, if you’re doing 3D drafting, or if you work in web and app development.

Meet your guides

Kimber Streams

I’ve been Wirecutter’s resident laptop expert for more than a decade. In that time, I’ve tested hundreds of laptops—including ultrabooks, gaming laptops, Chromebooks, and budget Windows laptops—as well as thousands of keyboards, mice, and other peripherals.

Dave Gershgorn

I am based in Seattle and responsible for Wirecutter’s computer monitor coverage, as well as all our guides to Apple laptops and desktops. I also review higher-powered laptops, such as business laptops and laptops for photo and video editing. Plus, I write our reviews for all-in-one computers, ergonomic keyboards, and home 3D printers. If it has a screen, sits on a desk, and isn’t a basic Windows ultrabook, I’m usually the person to try it out.

Further reading

The Best Things to Get for Your New Laptop

by Ivy Liscomb

From laptop bags to headphones to chargers to dongles galore, here are the essential accessories to help you use your new laptop.

Accessories for Your USB-C Laptop

We've tested the best cables, hubs, and dongles to help you connect your all your peripherals to your new laptop, even if it has only USB-C ports.

How to Clean a Laptop

by Thorin Klosowski

It’s easy to forget that your laptop needs to be cleaned. Thankfully, it’s not hard to clean out dust and stray crumbs.

The Best Laptop Under $500

by Kimber Streams

If you’re on a budget, these are the best cheap Windows laptops and Chromebooks we recommend after extensive research and hands-on testing.

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• Galaxy Book4 (2024)

Samsung Galaxy Book4 (2024) Laptop Review

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 (2024) is a 15.6-inch Windows ultraportable laptop. It's configurable with an Intel Core 5 120U or Core 7 150U CPU, paired with integrated graphics only or an NVIDIA GeForce MX570 Laptop GPU, up to 16GB of memory, and up to 1TB of storage. It has an FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display, a full-size keyboard with a numpad, Wi-Fi 6 wireless connectivity, a 720p webcam, and a fingerprint sensor built into the power button. Ports comprise two USB-As, two USB-Cs, an HDMI 1.4, an Ethernet, a MicroSD card reader, and a headphone jack.

See our unit's specifications and the available configuration options in the Differences Between Variants section.

Note: We've performed the productivity benchmarks, gaming benchmarks, thermals and noise, and performance over time tests using the High Performance mode instead of the default Balanced mode. This change makes the results more representative of the laptop's maximum potential and brings them closer to user expectations. However, this also means that the results are only comparable with reviews containing this disclaimer, as we previously tested laptops in their default mode, which usually throttles performance to prolong battery life.

Our Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 is good for school use. It's quite portable, thanks to its thin and lightweight design, and its battery lasts easily through a full school day. Its 15.6-inch display looks reasonably sharp, provides enough room for split-screen multitasking, and gets bright enough to combat glare in most indoor settings. The touchpad tracks well, but the keyboard feels mushy and might cause fatigue when typing for an extended period. Performance-wise, its Intel CPU can handle general productivity tasks like text processing, web browsing, and video playback. Students in more technical programs, like 3D graphics or engineering, will want to look elsewhere, though, as the CPU, integrated graphics, and the optional NVIDIA discrete GPU aren't powerful enough for such workloads.

Easy to carry around.

Battery lasts around 10 hours of light use.

Large screen for multitasking.

Responsive touchpad.

Wide port selection.

CPU and GPU can't handle demanding workloads.

Sub-par webcam.

Keyboard feels slightly tiring to type on for extended periods.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 isn't designed for gaming. It's only available with power-efficient Intel U-series processors paired with integrated graphics or an entry-level discrete GPU, which aren't powerful enough to handle demanding AAA titles. You can play some older or well-optimized games on models with the NVIDIA GeForce MX570, but you'll still have to play with low graphical settings to get playable frame rates. There's only a 60Hz display option; its response time is decent, but there's no VRR support to reduce screen tearing.

Minimal throttling under load.

User-replaceable storage.

60Hz display with no VRR support.

Can only get up to 16GB of soldered RAM.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 is okay for media consumption. Its FHD display looks reasonably sharp and gets bright enough to combat glare in most indoor environments; however, its narrow color gamut makes most content look washed out, and its low contrast makes blacks look gray in dim settings. As for the speakers, they sound clear and airy but very quiet with almost no bass whatsoever, so they're best suited for speech-heavy content. On the upside, the laptop is easy to carry around, thanks to its thin and lightweight design, and its battery lasts over seven hours of video playback, which is plenty of time to get through a couple of movies and TV show episodes.

Battery lasts over seven hours of video playback.

Speakers sound clear and airy.

Display looks washed out.

Display's low contrast makes blacks look gray in dim settings.

Quiet speakers with almost no bass.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 isn't designed for use as a workstation laptop. It isn't powerful enough to handle demanding tasks like 3D rendering or physics simulations, as it's only available with low-power Intel CPUs, an integrated or entry-level discrete GPU, and up to 16GB of soldered memory. Work involving color correction, like photo and video editing, is also a no-go because its FHD display doesn't even have full sRGB coverage. Its port selection is great, though there's no Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 support for fast file transfer.

No Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 support.

Display isn't suitable for color-critical work.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 is good for business use. It feels well-built, and its thin and lightweight design makes it easy to carry around for business trips. You likely won't need to bring a charger, as the battery lasts comfortably through a typical eight-hour workday. It has a 15.6-inch screen that gives you plenty of room for split-screen multitasking, a responsive touchpad, and a full-size keyboard with a numpad, which is great for those working with lots of numbers. The keyboard feels pretty mushy, though, so it might cause some fatigue when typing for an extended period. Performance isn't a problem; its Intel CPU can handle most productivity tasks like web browsing, text formatting, spreadsheets, and presentations. However, this laptop isn't suitable for photo or video editing, so small business owners needing to produce their own ads will have to look elsewhere. Unfortunately, the webcam is sub-par—the image looks soft, noisy, and underexposed.

• 6.6 Multimedia
• 7.9 Workstation
• 7.8 Business
• Updated Nov 28, 2024: Review published.
• Updated Nov 26, 2024: Early access published.
• Updated Nov 15, 2024: Our testers have started testing this product.
• Updated Nov 07, 2024: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
• Updated Nov 01, 2024: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the Samsung Galaxy Book4 (model NP750XGK-KG1CA) with an Intel Core 7 Processor 150U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. The CPU, memory, and storage are configurable; see the table below for all available options.

• 15.6" IPS 1920 x 1080 60Hz (matte)
• Intel Core 5 Processor 120U (10 cores/12 threads, up to 5GHz, 12MB cache)
• Intel Core 7 Processor 150U (10 cores/12 threads, up to 5.4GHz, 12MB cache)
• Intel Graphics (integrated)
• NVIDIA GeForce MX570 Laptop GPU 2GB GDDR6 (discrete)
• 8GB LP-DDR4x 4267MHz
• 16GB LP-DDR4x 4267MHz
• 256GB M.2 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD
• 512GB M.2 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD
• 1TB M.2 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD

See our unit's label .

Compared To Other Laptops

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 is a good budget laptop. It has enough processing power to handle most general productivity tasks, like web browsing, text processing, and media consumption. It also provides a decent user experience overall, sporting a sturdier build and brighter screen than most laptops in its class. Its keyboard and webcam are its main weaknesses; the former feels mushy and tiring to type on for extended periods, and the latter produces a soft, noisy, and underexposed image.

For more options, check out our recommendations for the best budget and cheap laptops , the best budget and cheap laptops for students , and the best 15-16 inch laptops .

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 (2024) is better than the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) for most uses. The Samsung provides a better user experience overall, as it has a sturdier build, a brighter display, a wider port selection, and a longer battery life. However, it isn't as good as the ASUS when it comes to the keyboard and webcam—the former feels mushy, and the latter produces a soft, noisy, and underexposed image. Performance-wise, the Samsung feels snappier in most general productivity tasks, though the ASUS will have a slight edge in multi-threaded workloads if you get a model with an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 (2024) is much better than the Acer Aspire 3 15 (2023) for most uses. The Samsung provides a superior user experience overall, and its Intel CPU can handle much heavier workloads. Display quality and battery life are the two main issues with the Acer. Its TN panel has a low contrast ratio, bad viewing angles, and terrible color accuracy. It's also very dim, so it's only suitable for dark to moderately lit rooms. The battery lasts only six to seven hours of light use, so you'll have to plug it in to get through a typical school or workday.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 (2024) is better than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 (2023) mainly because it has better CPU performance and a longer battery life. In terms of the user experience, they trade blows, so choosing the right laptop will depend on what you care about most. The Samsung has brighter display, so it's a better choice if you regularly work in brightly lit environments. Also, its touchpad is larger and more responsive, making it easier to use. On the other hand, the Lenovo has a more tactile keyboard—the Samsung's keyboard feels mushy, so it's hard to know when you've actuated a key.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 (2024) and the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2023) are both budget productivity laptops. The Samsung is better when it comes to the overall user experience; it has a brighter display with superior reflection handling, a larger and more responsive touchpad, a wider port selection, and a longer battery life. Performance will depend on the configuration—you can get more processing power out of the Acer if you go with one of the H-series CPUs, like the Core i7-13620H or the Core i9-13900H, which are high-performance CPUs typically found in gaming and workstation laptops. That said, you can only get the Acer with up to 16GB of soldered RAM, so if you have an extremely demanding workload, it's best to get a laptop with more memory configurations or one that has user-replaceable RAM.

Test Results

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 is available in a Silver or Gray colorway. See the bottom of the laptop .

The Samsung Galaxy Book4's build quality is great. Its full-aluminum chassis feels pretty sturdy, with no obvious gaps in the construction. There's only a small amount of flex on the lid, and while there's more on the keyboard deck, it isn't severe enough to be of concern. The only thing that's somewhat of an annoyance is that the laptop wakes from sleep just from moving it . Though fairly scratch-resistant, the finish picks up a fair amount of fingerprints and smudges—the Silver model is likely better in this regard. There are no complaints about the feet; they feel solid and firmly wedged in their sockets.

The hinge is excellent. It feels smooth when opening and closing the lid. It's also very stable, exhibiting almost no wobble when moving the laptop or typing heavily. You can open the laptop with one hand, but you need to go slowly; otherwise, the base will lift with the lid.

The Samsung Book4's serviceability is okay. Accessing the internals is straightforward; you only need to remove four Philips screws hidden beneath the feet and release the bottom panel's clips with a prying tool. The feet come off easily, as there's no use of adhesive. There are two storage slots; both support M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSDs.

Download the user manual from Samsung's support page .

• 45W USB-C power adapter and cord
• Documentation

Note: Models with an NVIDIA GeForce MX570 discrete GPU come with a 65W power adapter.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 is only available with a 1080p IPS display. An FHD resolution looks reasonably sharp on a 15.6-inch screen; you can see individual pixels up close, but this isn't an issue at typical viewing distances. The 16:9 aspect ratio is well suited for media consumption, as most videos are in that format; however, a taller 16:10 or even 3:2 aspect ratio would have been preferable for productivity, as the increased vertical space lets you see more information at once when reading a document.

You can only get the Samsung Galaxy Book4 with a 60Hz display. The response time is decent, resulting in only a small amount of ghosting behind fast-moving objects.

The display has a pretty good contrast ratio for an IPS panel. That said, it's still relatively low compared to other display technologies like VA and OLED. This contrast level makes blacks look gray in dim settings.

The Samsung Book4's display gets bright enough to combat glare in most indoor environments, but not outdoors in broad daylight. It gets very dim at the lowest brightness setting, which is great for dark room viewing, as it causes less eye strain.

The display's matte coating handles reflections well. For the most part, you'll only have trouble with reflections when viewing dark-color content. Intense light sources are barely visible when viewing light-color content with the screen at max brightness.

The display’s horizontal viewing angle is okay. The image dims and washes out fairly quickly when moving to the side, so you need to be close or directly in front of the screen to get perfect accuracy.

The vertical viewing angle is mediocre. Like the horizontal viewing angle, the image dims and washes out fairly quickly from above or below, limiting the angle at which you can set the screen.

The display accuracy is mediocre out of the box. The white balance is visibly off at higher brightness levels—there's too much blue, in part due to the overly cool color temperature. Color accuracy isn't bad, considering the panel's narrow color gamut. It's mainly the highly saturated tones that are inaccurate because the panel can't display them. The gamma doesn't follow the curve very well; most scenes look too bright, while dark scenes look too dark.

You can change the color profile in the Display Profile app. We've taken additional measurements in the Dynamic , Reading , and Photo Editing profiles. Here are the results:

• Avg. White Balance dE: 5.1724
• Avg. Gamma: 2.1818
• Avg. Color dE: 4.6382
• Avg. Color temperature: 8150.6K
• Avg. White Balance dE: 3.0294
• Avg. Gamma: 2.2322
• Avg. Color dE: 3.2315
• Avg. Color temperature: 6965.3K

Photo Editing

• Avg. White Balance dE: 3.0076
• Avg. Gamma: 2.1918
• Avg. Color dE: 3.2326
• Avg. Color temperature: 7146.7K

It's worth noting that even though there's a Photo Editing color profile, this display isn't suitable for photo editing (due to its narrow color gamut), at least not for color correction.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4's display has a poor color gamut. It doesn't even have full coverage of the commonly used sRGB color space, meaning most videos and web content will look washed out. This display isn't suitable for color-critical work like photo and video editing.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 has a decent keyboard. While its layout is fairly standard, it feels a tad cramped, which you might not like if you have medium or large hands. The keys are stable and don't require much force to actuate—the downside is that they have very little tactility, so it's sometimes hard to know whether you've actuated a key. The mushiness of the keys can also make you press harder, causing fatigue when typing for an extended period. Key travel is on the short side, which you may or may not like, so it's best to try it out first if you can. There are three backlight brightness levels; the light shines well through the legends but could be slightly brighter.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 has an excellent touchpad. Though it could be bigger, the touchpad is large enough to perform most actions and gestures. Its left, off-center position is typical for a laptop with a numpad; it just doesn't leave much room to rest the left hand when typing. It tracks all movements and gestures well, and there's no issue with palm rejection. This is a diving board touchpad, so you can only click in the bottom half, and unfortunately, the buttons feel mushy.

The speakers sound relatively natural, clear, and airy, but with almost no bass whatsoever. They're also very quiet; thankfully, there's very little compression or distortion at high volume levels.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4's webcam is sub-par. The image looks soft, noisy, and underexposed. Thankfully, the microphone is pretty good—voices sound loud and clear, with almost no background noise. There's no physical privacy cover, though you can disable the camera and microphone at the software level using the F10 shortcut.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 has a great port selection. Both USB-As support USB 3.2 Gen 1 data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps. The USB-Cs also support USB 3.2 Gen 1 data transfer speeds, as well as DisplayPort and charging.

Samsung advertises Wi-Fi 6E support; however, our unit has an Intel AX201 adapter, which only supports Wi-Fi 6.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 is available with the following CPUs:

Both are low-power CPUs designed for general productivity tasks like text processing, web browsing, spreadsheets, and media consumption. You can do slightly more demanding tasks like programming and such, but for highly intensive workloads like machine learning or simulations, it's best to get a more powerful content creation, gaming, or workstation laptop. Both CPUs have the same core count and composition, comprising two performance and eight efficiency cores. The Core 7 is faster than the Core 5, but the difference is relatively small and only noticeable when performing very demanding tasks.

See more information about these CPUs in Intel's product brief .

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 is available with the following GPUs:

All models have Intel Graphics since it's an integrated GPU that's on the same die as the CPU. This iGPU is a low-power graphics processor that can only handle general productivity tasks and some very light, puzzle-like games. The NVIDIA GeForce MX570 is an entry-level dedicated GPU (based on the Ampere architecture) with performance comparable to an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti (mobile) or RTX 2050 (mobile). It performs better than the Intel integrated graphics and will generally make the system feel faster, like when loading images and videos on websites, but it's nonetheless a low-power discrete GPU with only 2GB of VRAM. This means it can handle some light gaming (older and well-optimized titles), but don't expect to play AAA games with high settings. Also, remember that it'll consume more power, so the performance increase might not be worth the reduction in battery life.

You can get this laptop with 8GB or 16GB of RAM. The memory isn't user-replaceable.

You can get this laptop with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage. The storage is user-replaceable. There are two SSD slots; both support M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSDs.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4's Intel Core 7 150U scores well in the Geekbench 5 CPU benchmarks. Though not as fast as Intel's Meteor Lake and Lunar Lake CPUs, its performance level is more than adequate to handle everyday, general productivity tasks like web browsing, text processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. The integrated GPU performs poorly, though, so don't expect to do anything GPU-intensive. The NVIDIA GeForce MX570 performs slightly better, but again, remember that it's an entry-level GPU with only 2GB of VRAM. Its main purpose is to provide a smoother overall experience when performing lighter tasks, not to handle highly intensive workloads.

Note: We've performed all benchmarks using the High Performance instead of the default Balanced mode, as the latter typically throttles the performance to prolong battery life. This is more representative of the laptop's maximum potential (you can always turn it down if you prioritize battery life and/or lower fan noise and thermals), whereas the Balanced mode would only show the manufacturer's tuning of that mode.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 performs well in the Cinebench R23 benchmarks. Its Intel Core 7 150U's multi-thread performance is within the expected range for a low-power U-series CPU, suitable for some heavy multitasking and moderately intensive applications.

You can use the Samsung Galaxy Book4 for some light 3D rendering in Blender, but it's best to get a model with the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 Laptop GPU, which will render images much faster than the CPU and Intel's integrated graphics.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4's integrated GPU performs poorly in the Basemark GPU benchmark, as it's primarily designed for productivity. It can only handle simple, puzzle-like games, as well as older or extremely well-optimized titles; however, you'll have to play at a lower resolution or with low graphics settings to get playable frame rates. The NVIDIA GeForce MX570 can handle slightly more demanding games, but you'll still have to lower the graphical settings to achieve smooth gameplay.

Models with the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 discrete GPU will have a shorter battery life. It's worth noting that the included charger's 45W output (on models with integrated graphics only) is lower than the system's total power draw, so the battery will likely drain if you perform intensive tasks while plugged in.

To better simulate typical usage, we've conducted the web browsing and video playback tests using the Balanced mode and the gaming test using the High Performance mode.

Borderlands 3 isn't playable at 1080p on the Samsung Galaxy Book4 laptop. Its low-power CPU and integrated graphics can't handle this and other similarly demanding games, resulting in extremely choppy gameplay, even when using the lowest graphical settings. Models with an NVIDIA GeForce MX570 discrete GPU will perform better, but not enough to maintain smooth gameplay.

Civilization VI and other similar strategy games aren't overly taxing on the GPU, so they're playable if you lower a couple of graphical settings, even with this laptop's integrated graphics. Also, you don't really need high frame rates to play this type of games. The average turn time is decent and within the expected range for a low-power U-series CPU.

Counter-Strike 2 runs poorly on the Samsung Galaxy Book4 with integrated graphics. You can get over 60 fps with the lowest graphical settings, but the gameplay is still far too choppy to be playable, especially for a competitive FPS game. Models with an NVIDIA GeForce MX570 Laptop GPU will deliver a smoother experience, though you'll still have to lower many graphical settings to achieve it.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider runs poorly on the Samsung Galaxy Book4 with integrated graphics. You can get over 30 fps with the lowest graphical settings, but the gameplay is very choppy due to inconsistent frame rates. Models with an NVIDIA GeForce MX570 will deliver smoother gameplay, but only with relatively low graphical settings.

The keyboard gets pretty toasty under load and can cause some discomfort, as the hot spot is around the letter E, where most people rest their left hand. The bottom of the laptop doesn't get as hot, reaching 42.2 °C (107.96 °F) under load, but you might still want to be mindful if you place the laptop on your legs when wearing shorts. The fan noise is not too bad—it's audible but not overly distracting.

The posted results are measurements taken in the High Performance mode with the fan speed set to max. We've taken measurements using other profiles as well, including the Optimized , Quiet , and Silent profiles. Here are the results:

• Keyboard temperature: 43.9 °C (111.02 °F)
• Fan Noise: 44.5 dBA
• Keyboard temperature: 41.7 °C (107.06 °F)
• Fan Noise: 43.1 dBA
• Keyboard temperature: 43.6 °C (110.48 °F)
• Fan Noise: 41.9 dBA

We've conducted this test using the High Performance mode with the fan speed at max instead of the default Balanced mode we've used in previous laptop reviews.

The Samsung Book4 has many pre-installed applications, including:

• Bixby: Samsung’s digital assistant.
• ColorEngine: Photo editing app.
• Display Profile: Lets you change the display's color profile.
• Dolby Access: Adds Dolby Atmos support. Requires in-app purchase for headphone functionality.
• Galaxy Book Experience: Lets you quickly access all Samsung apps installed on the system.
• Galaxy Book Smart Switch: Lets you move data from your old computer to the Galaxy Book.
• Goodnotes for GalaxyBook: Note-taking app.
• Live Wallpaper: App that automatically changes your wallpaper image based on your interests.
• McAfee: Antivirus software. Requires subscription.
• Multi Control: Virtual KVM. Lets you use your mouse and keyboard to control other Galaxy devices.
• Online Support Service: Contains Samsung support contact information. You can also request a repair or check the status of a repair.
• Quick Search: Lets you quickly find files and text in saved documents.
• Quick Share: Lets you share images, videos, and files with your friends.
• Samsung Account: Lets you access your Samsung account, see all your Samsung devices and recent activities, and access device location function.
• Samsung Cloud Assistant: Lets you access Samsung's cloud services, like cloud storage, notes and settings synchronization across multiple devices, and headphone auto-switching.
• Samsung Continuity: Lets you control and share content across Samsung devices.
• Samsung Device Care: Lets you monitor the computer's health (malware detection, battery usage and health), check for software updates, optimize performance, and change battery settings.
• Samsung Flow: Lets you transition your activities across your Samsung devices.
• Samsung Gallery: Lets you see and edit photos taken with your smartphone or PC.
• Samsung Notes: Note-taking app.
• Samsung Pass: Lets you sign into various apps using your biometrics.
• Samsung Recovery: Lets you backup your data and restore your PC's drive in case of data loss.
• Samsung Settings: Lets you access network, power, display, audio, and keyboard backlighting settings.
• Samsung Studio: Video editing app.
• Samsung Update: Helps keep drivers, firmware, and BIOS up to date.
• SamsungPhone: Lets you receive and make calls, answer messages, and view alerts from your Samsung phone.
• Screen Recorder: Lets you record your screen.
• Second Screen: Lets you use your Samsung tablet as a second screen.
• SmartThings: Lets you control and manage other Samsung SmartThings-compatible devices from your computer.
• Studio Mode: App to improve your appearance on video calls. It also lets you apply effects and filters.

There's a fingerprint sensor built into the power button. You can use it to log into Windows, authorize purchases on the Windows Store, or auto-fill saved passwords on supported websites.

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel) review: A good laptop with one crucial flaw

This laptop excels in almost everything — except multitasking.

Laptop Mag Verdict

The Acer Swift 14 AI Intel is a decent productivity laptop with some highlight features, but not so good that you should add it to your cart immediately.

Long battery life

Smoother than expected gaming performance

Thin and lightweight

Great color accuracy and coverage

Cool thermals

Heavy multitasking is sluggish

Display could be a bit brighter

Why you can trust Laptop Mag Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

• Specs and benchmarks
• Price and configurations
• Battery life
• Keyboard and touchpad
• Performance and heat
• Gaming and graphics
• AI features
• Software and warranty

Bottom line

It’s speedy, its integrated graphics can handle games well, its battery life lasts nearly double the regular workday, and its display pops with color. It’s not the kind of productivity laptop that most people would return after using it for a week, and yet I was still disappointed. It won’t be popping up on our best laptops page.

Maybe I’ve reviewed too many laptops over the last six years, and I’m jaded. Or maybe I’m becoming more nostalgic as I get older. This laptop makes me long for those exciting Intel Inside commercials from the '90s and 2000s — because the Intel chip inside pulls this laptop down from where it should be.

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel): Specs and benchmarks

Click to view full benchmark test results

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel): Price and configurations

The Acer Swift 14 AI is available in several different configurations. The $1,299 Intel model I reviewed features a Core Ultra 7 258V processor, a 1TB SSD, and 32GB of shared RAM. (The laptop’s memory is integrated with the processor, not separately attached to the motherboard — so it can’t be increased before or after sale. Intel says it’s not going to make this controversial design again .) The 14-inch touchscreen display sports a native 1920 x 1200 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and an IPS panel.

Two other, near-identical Intel configurations cost $100 less ($1,199): both the 14-inch and 16-inch models offer a slightly slower Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor and 16GB of shared RAM. However, the one with the larger display has a higher 2880 x 1800 resolution and a faster 120Hz refresh rate.

For the same price, there’s also an AMD model with a Ryzen AI 9 365, which features 16GB of RAM (non-shared), a 1TB SSD, and the same touchscreen display.

But starting at $1,049, you can get the same Swift 14 AI with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (running Windows on ARM), a slightly larger 14.5-inch display, a 2560 x 1600 resolution, and a 120Hz refresh rate. For $50 more ($1,099), you can get it with a touchscreen.

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel): Design

This laptop’s lovely dark, metallic-like finish keeps it from looking bland. (Acer calls it Steam Blue, but it can look black or light gray, depending on the lighting.) The Acer logo etched into the lid’s top right corner is small and unobtrusive and becomes a prism, casting almost an entire rainbow of colors when it reflects light. I spent a few minutes tilting it back and forth, watching the colors glide across the logo, murmuring, “Oh, shiny!” to myself. (I’m easily entertained.)

All the vents are on the underside, which also helps this laptop look sleeker and leaves more than enough space for a good-sized keyboard and trackpad. The keyboard spans almost the entire laptop width, leaving a ¾-inch border on the left and right sides. There’s no numpad, a good thing since there’s not enough space for one unless the keys were tiny and squished.

The trackpad is nearly 5 inches long, starting from the left side of the spacebar and ending at the Copilot key. It’s 3 inches wide, with a half-inch gap separating the top from the keyboard and the bottom from the laptop’s edge. It’s not the largest trackpad Laptop Mag has ever tested, but it covers enough chassis.

The Swift’s dual-hinge design firmly holds the display, however it’s angled. The display’s half-inch bottom bezel makes the hinge style look more refined. The top bezel has a long notch across the middle, which makes space for the webcam and manual privacy shutter switch .

At 12.30 x 8.71 x 0.38 ~ 0.63 inches and weighing 2.95 pounds, it’s one of the lightest and thinnest devices Laptop Mag has reviewed.

I took it with me on a weekend vacation recently. There were several times throughout the three-hour drive to my destination when I had to take it off my lap to grab something from my bag near my feet or something from the backseat; I was able to pick it up with one hand and hold it in the air without while I did that without it straining my wrist. When I had it in my bag, slung over my shoulder, the added weight didn’t make it more difficult to pull my suitcase out of the trunk (and I tend to overpack!).

Here’s how it compares to some of the best 14-inch and touchscreen laptops :

• Apple MacBook Pro M4 : 12.3 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches, 3.4 lbs.
• Acer Swift 14 AI (Qualcomm) : 12.7 x 9.0 x 0.66 ~ 0.72 inches, 3.2 lbs.
• HP Spectre x360 14 (2024): 12.4 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches, 3.2 lbs.

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel): Ports

The Acer Swift 14 AI offers just the right number and type of essential ports.

• Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
• Two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports with pass-through charging and DisplayPort support.
• Headphone jack

I especially appreciate that this laptop supports both HDMI and DisplayPort; if I’m not working at home, I’m in a classroom, where I’m sometimes not sure what display connectivity will be available. It’s nice to be prepared for either!

If you need more ports, there are plenty of great USB-C hubs and laptop docking stations available.

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel): Battery life

At a commendable 15 hours and 53 minutes, the Swift AI 14 features one of the longest battery lives Laptop Mag tested in 2024, exceeding the average premium laptop by about 2 hours and 30 minutes (13:23) and the Asus Zenbook S14 by two hours (13:51). It’s not the longest-lasting laptop battery we’ve tested, either. The non-OLED Dell XPS 13 9350 (Intel Core Ultra 7 258V) lasted 18 hours and 34 minutes, and its Snapdragon X Elite counterpart made it to 19 hours and 1 minute.

Even still, I didn’t need to charge it when I was on vacation for two days, though I only used it for light productivity tasks like writing or grading my students’ work, and streaming videos on YouTube. It got me through the entire car ride there and back (a total of five hours), plus another two hours of on and off use to check tour times and local restaurant hours. The battery was just below 50% when I got back home.

Click to view chart data in table format

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel): Display

OLED technology tends to offer bolder colors and deeper blacks unlike IPS, but that didn’t stop the Acer Swift 14 AI’s 14-inch, 1920 x 1200, 60Hz touchscreen from killing it with a vibrant display. I was especially impressed with how well the display handled one scene in season one, episode two of Arcane , where the kids are underground playing arcade games.

Claggor, chillin’ off to the side, appeared appropriately pensive when he was lit with warm lighting. The shooting game exploded with bright neon colors, creating a dazzling rave every time Powder shot a ball directly through a target. The display’s contrast was pretty on-point here, too; neon colors looked best against total black, and while the Swift AI 14 can’t reach the same depth as OLED, it was sometimes hard for me to tell where the show’s letterboxing border started and ended.

Covering 84.3% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, this laptop’s display is seriously impressive, and right up there with the average premium laptop (84.7%). It covers more than its Snapdragon Swift AI 14 sibling (75.6%), the MacBook Air 13 M3 (77.5%), the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (69.1%) and is nearly the same as the Asus Zenbook S 14 (82%) and HP Spectre x360 (85.8%) With a Delta-E of 0.22, it has good color accuracy on-par with the Zenbook and Spectre, too.

The Swift AI 14’s average brightness clocked in at 380 nits. That’s below the premium laptop average of 450 nits, but it’s not so dim that everything on screen gets washed out when hit with harsh light. If I kept the display at max brightness, any glare that remained didn’t become a distraction.

The display is still brighter than some of its main competitors: the Zenbook S14 (342 nits), the Snapdragon Swift AI 14 (367 nits) and the HP Spectre (366 nits). The Inspiron 14 Plus (470 nits) literally outshines it, though.

Click to view chart data in table format.

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel): Keyboard and touchpad

I like the Swift AI 14’s keyboard and touchpad, but I don’t love them. Pressing the keys walks a fine line between springy and clicky, and soft and quiet. And while the size of the keys and their spacing are nearly the same as the other 14-inch notebooks, I’ve typed on much snappier keys. The Swift AI 14’s keyboard is like running through shallow mud: just enough to slow you down.

Using Monkeytype ’s typing test, I only reached 68 words per minute (WPM) with 85% accuracy. That’s below how fast I can type with the keyboard I use every day: 81 WPM with 90% accuracy.

The trackpad is much better. Not the smoothest I’ve ever used, but my fingers don’t skip over the surface or catch on it. It’s accurate and responsive too, never missing a tap or swipe, and pressing down on it registers a full, satisfying click. But driving to and back from my vacation, the trackpad sometimes did not understand what I was trying to do.

I had to place two fingers all the way on the left side if I wanted to scroll through a web page or document. When I placed the cursor in the middle of a sentence with a tap, it scrolled to the top or the end of the page instead.

I tried changing the sensitivity settings, but that didn’t help, so this might be a performance issue.

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel): Audio

The Acer Swift 14 AI’s speakers pumped out louder volume and a heavier bass than I was expecting. Rob Zombie’s “Dragula” is one of my go-to songs for laptop testing, mainly because of how hard the bassline kicks in at the start of the chorus. Most laptop speakers drain that part of all its aggressive fun, but this laptop’s bottom-firing speakers work to the song’s advantage so long as the laptop is placed on a flat surface. (Les Claypool’s bass came through clear in Primus’ “My Name is Mud,” too.)

But Rob Zombie’s vocals were quiet and tinny. He sounded far away, like listening to music coming out from another car when you’re stopped at a red light, as did most of the other songs on my playlist. In Bloodywood’s “Gaddaar,” Jayant Bhadula’s growls kept most of their intimidating depth, and the song had more life than the rest of the songs on my playlist.

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel): Performance and heat

The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V packed into the Acer Swift 14 AI is a conundrum — not just compared to competing AMD, Qualcomm, and Apple laptops, but especially compared to laptops with Intel’s last-gen Meteor Lake processors. Intel made some major architectural changes with its newest chip generation, and it seems like those changes resulted in disparate single-core and multicore benchmarks. (If you feel like getting weedsy, Tom’s Hardware has a wonderful breakdown .)

While combing through Laptop Mag’s past reviews, I noticed the Core Ultra 7 258V does feature better single-core performance compared to laptops with a last-gen Core Ultra 7 155H, but its multicore performance is closer to the Core Ultra 5 125H, the lower end of those two chips.

On the Geekbench 6 benchmark, the Swift 14 AI with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V scored 2,753 in single-core performance, making it about 12% faster than the Lenovo Slim 7i Gen 9 with a Core Ultra 7 155H (2,432) and 19% faster than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13 G4 with a Core Ultra 5 125H (2,253). It even outpaces the Asus Vivobook S15 with a Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 by 12% (2,432) and is near-equivalent to the Asus Zenbook S16 with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (2,765).

Now for the conundrum: the Swift 14 AI scored just 11,009 in multicore performance. That’s 10% slower than the Slim 7i Gen 9 (12,111), and nearly the same as the ThinkBook 13 G4 (11,058). Compared to the Acer Swift 14 AI with a Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100, it’s 25% slower (14,531), and it’s about 8% slower than the Asus Zenbook S16 (13,282). How about compared to the MacBook Air 13 M3? 9% slower (12,052).

This could explain why I experienced slower multitasking performance than I expected — especially when I had over a dozen tabs open in the Edge browser while running Spotify, Microsoft Word, Slack, and Discord at the same time. Switching from one app to another was sluggish at times (for a mid-tier processor in 2024), especially when I moved tabs between browser windows or arranged them into groups within the same window.

You might have guessed that since I used the Swift AI 14 for several hours on my lap in the car, then it must stay cool. If you did, you’re right. In Laptop Mag ’s testing, the hottest point on the laptop was above the F8 button on the keyboard — 81.5 degrees, which is well below our 95-degree comfort threshold.

The underside didn’t get hotter than 76 degrees, so I was able to place this laptop directly on my bare skin! The only heat I ever felt was a slightly warm tickle when the fans kicked on for a few seconds. The rest of the laptop stayed similarly cool, with the touchpad reaching a high of 71 and the G/H keys reaching 77 degrees.

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel): Gaming and graphics

While the Acer Swift 14 AI features integrated graphics, via the Intel Arc 140V (16GB) graphics chip, it performs surprisingly well while gaming.

On the 3DMark Fire Strike synthetic graphics test, the Swift AI 14 scored 8,856, 12% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V in the Zenbook S14 (7,806). It’s also 6% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 in the Zenbook S16 (7,468), and 22% higher than Intel’s last-gen Core Ultra in the HP Spectre x360 (6,986). It obliterates the Swift AI 14 with a Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 by 35% (5,754).

Set to 1080p and Medium visual settings, the Swift AI 14 averaged 61 frames per second (fps) on the Sid Mieier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark, double Laptop Mag’s minimum threshold of 30 fps. It bested the Asus Zenbook S14 (48 fps) and MacBook Air 13 M3 (51 fps). But compared to the HP Spectre x360 (36 fps) and the Snapdragon Swift AI 14 (21 fps), its leap in graphics performance is way more impressive!

The Swift AI 14 also beats some of its main competitors in games that push the graphics harder. It averaged 29 fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Ultra, 1080p), but you could probably get up to 60 fps when you turn down the graphics. Compared to the graphics power in the Zenbook S14, though, the Swift AI 14 has the better chip. The S14 averaged just 19 fps in the same game.

Playing games on the Swift AI 14 started as a great experience. In Palia (a game I am very much stuck on at the moment), the frame rate hovered near 60 fps and ran smooth overall when set to 1080p and Medium graphics. But after 15 to 20 minutes, the game lagged and stuttered, and the frame rate wildly fluctuated — even with VSync turned on, which is supposed to help prevent that.

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel): AI features

This laptop might not be a Copilot+ PC yet, but a free update with Microsoft’s AI programs (Windows Studio Effects, Live Captions, and the controversial Recall ) should be rolling out to all Intel Core Ultra 200V series laptops by the end of this year. The Intel AI Playground is available to download.

Real-world AI benchmarks are still tricky to implement (you can read all about how we test AI PCs here), so Laptop Mag focuses on running formalized synthetic benchmarks, like Geekbench ML.

In GeekBench’s ML 0.6 CPU test, the Swift AI 14 scored 3,441. The Snapdragon Swift scored 2,925, but it may not be optimized for Geekbench ML 0.6, since it doesn’t test the NPU, so its score may not accurately represent what it’s capable of.

I did try to make heads or tails of the Microsoft AI companion on the Swift AI 14, even though I’m generally skeptical (to put it mildly) of all this AI stuff. So, I asked the AI companion if Recall was available on the laptop, but it only understood what I was talking about when I typed my question into the chat. I also asked it to check my calendar and tell me if I had any meetings next week and just about died laughing when it responded, “I can’t check your calendar, but you can try giving it a look yourself.”

Wow, Microsoft AI companion. Wow.

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel): Webcam

Swift AI 14 has a darn-good, 1440p webcam. Whether under fluorescent light or natural light, I could see the distinct color patterns of my diplomas hanging on the wall in the background. Even on some of the dolls I keep on shelves above them. The blue-green portions of my hair looked vibrant, and I could make out a few flyaway strands that stuck out from the top of my scalp.

When my home office was lit with just my 27-inch desktop monitor and the Swift’s display, I was surprised at how accurately it still captured the red skeleton sitting in front of a vintage computer on my t-shirt, and even some of the dyed portions of my hair. My face was a little blurry, and there was a little bit of grain, but I didn’t look too underexposed.

The webcam does a better job at balancing cool lighting sources in a dim or dark environment than warm lighting sources, though. When I had my Ikea Tärnaby table lamp turned on at the same time as the laptop screen, the webcam overcompensated for the lamp’s warm lighting and cast a bluish tone over my face.

If you're still not sold on the built-in webcam being enough, check out our best webcams for the best possible image quality.

Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel): Software and warranty

Like most Acer laptops, the Swift AI 14 comes with a standard one-year warranty and the company’s own system information program, AcerSense. Here you can change the laptop’s power settings, basic display settings, check the system’s performance and battery health, and pin shortcuts to your most-used apps.

There are also a bunch of software and apps that you may or may not want: AppExplorer, Booking.com, a Dropbox promotion, an Xbox Game Pass promotion, Acer LiveArt, two separate DTS sound applications, Intel Unison (another take on Windows Phone Link), and ExpressVPN. There are even two games, Elvenar and Forge of Empires , pre-installed (which I’ve never played and don’t intend to).

Some apps, like Acer Assist, the company’s own AI chatbot that runs locally on the laptop, aren’t pre-installed on the laptop.

Anyone looking to upgrade from a laptop that’s three or more years old will get the most out of everything the Acer Swift 14 AI offers. From battery life to performance across productivity apps and even some gaming, it would be a massive upgrade for a reasonable starting price of $1,199. You probably won’t even notice the same sluggishness I did when I had a bunch of browser tabs and apps open at the same time.

But if heavy multitasking is your game, I still feel compelled to steer you away from this laptop simply because the Snapdragon Swift AI 14 is a much better laptop for that kind of use — and its battery lasts nearly two more hours on a full charge. More than that, though, the display offers a higher resolution and refresh rate. It’s a tad heavier and thicker, but barely. There’s less RAM, but it doesn’t affect that laptop’s overall performance. The display isn’t as color-accurate, but a laggy laptop is much more infuriating. You also get immediate access to Microsoft Copilot+ PC features — and that laptop is $100 less than the Intel version I reviewed here.

If that one still doesn’t look good to you, there’s always these best laptops .

Joanna Nelius is a contributing writer to Laptop Mag . She has reported on and reviewed laptops for The Verge , Gizmodo , PC Gamer , and USA Today .

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