The best high-end laptops you can buy

By

The best high-end laptops you can buy

  • A great laptop is powerful, well-designed, and full of helpful features.
  • If you have the money to spend, there are some excellent high-end laptops out there.
  • The Dell XPS 13 is our top pick for the best high-end laptop, thanks to its portable design and top-tier specs. 

If you use your computer all the time, you need a laptop that’s powerful, sleek, efficient, and lightweight. There are plenty of ultra-high-end laptops out there, and they’re well worth considering if you have the cash to spend on the best new tech and you want a laptop that should last several years.  

There are a number of things worth considering if you’re in the market for a new laptop. For starters, you’ll want to think about whether you want a Windows laptop or one that runs Apple’s MacOS. MacOS is great for Apple users who want a laptop that will seamlessly integrate with other Apple products, while Windows is typically better for gamers. 

You’ll also want to think about internal components, like the processor, RAM, and storage. Last but not least, for many, the design of the laptop will be important — especially if you need a portable laptop that’s perhaps smaller and lighter in weight.

Because there are so many high-end laptops, it can be a bit hard to figure out which model is right for your needs. That, however, is why we’ve put together this guide to the best high-end laptops that are worth your money.

Here are the best high-end laptops you can buy:

The best high-end laptop overall

Dell

The Dell XPS 13 has long been one of our favorite laptops, and the 2019 model is even better than the previous ones, thanks to its improved design and excellent specs.

The Dell XPS 13 has long been considered one of the best laptops out there, and for good reason. The 2019 version of the laptop features an even better design and more powerful specs, making it our pick for the best high-end laptop.

The Dell XPS 13 has an absolutely beautiful design. It’s available in a few colors, including a sleek black and stunning silver, and it measures just 0.46-inches thick. Port-wise, you’ll get two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a USB-C port, a MicroSD card reader, and a headphone jack. 

One notable difference between the new model and the previous-generation Dell XPS 13 is the fact that the webcam is now located above the display. But never fear: There’s still the same sleek, almost edge-to-edge design.

The 13-inch screen can be either Full HD or 4K in resolution, depending on which configuration you buy. There is also the option to make it a touchscreen.

The base model of the laptop offers an 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, but it can be upgraded to an Intel Core i7. You’ll get up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of solid-state storage. Safe to say, while the storage and RAM aren’t the highest out there, the laptop should be more than powerful enough for the vast majority of people.

Perhaps one of the best things about this laptop is that while it’s a super high-end device, it’s not overly expensive. The base model starts at $879.99, and models range up from there. 

So what are the downsides of the laptop? Well, there aren’t many, but some note that the trackpad can be a little finicky. That, however, is a small price to pay for such a great laptop. It’s gotten excellent reviews too — Wired gave it an impressive 8/10, while Laptop Mag went a step further at 4.5 stars. 

Pros: Great design, excellent specs, compact, not overly expensive

Cons: Slightly buggy trackpad at times

The best high-end Apple laptop

Apple

The MacBook Pro is a classic laptop with its stunning unibody design and ultra-powerful specs.

If you’re an Apple user, then the MacBook Pro is really the best high-end, powerful laptop you can get. The MacBook Pro comes in two sizes: a 13-inch model and a 15-inch model. However, because the 15-inch model offers slightly better specs, that model is our top pick for the best high-end MacBook laptop.

The MacBook Pro is known for its awesome design, and recent models are no exception to that rule. The laptop has four Thunderbolt 3 ports, along with a beautiful 15-inch screen and a nice big touchpad that’s been hailed by many as being the best in the business.

The laptop is even more impressive under the hood. The base model comes with a 9th-gen Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You also get an AMD Radeon Pro 555X graphics card in this laptop. If you want an absolute powerhouse of a laptop, the 15-inch MacBook Pro can even be upgraded to a 9th-gen Intel Core i9 processor, 32GB of RAM, Radeon Pro Vega 20 graphics card, and a whopping 4TB of storage.

So what are the downsides to the MacBook Pro? Well, perhaps the biggest is that it’s a bit expensive, with the base model starting at $2,399. The keyboard can also be a bit tricky — some love it, while others don’t like it at all because it doesn’t have very much travel.

Some people have also had issues with keys ceasing to function, but Apple has a replacement program set up for people who run into issues with the keyboard. Plus, the new model may not have these issues in the first place.

Still, the laptop has gotten some great reviews — Laptop Mag and TechRadar both gave it 4/5 stars. 

Pros: Classic design, excellent specs, beautiful display

Cons: Expensive, keyboard is divisive

The best high-end gaming laptop

Alienware

The Alienware m17 R2 is one of the more powerful laptops in its price range, plus, it has a great design. 

If you’re looking for a great gaming laptop, then you need something with a ton of raw power — and in that case, the Alienware m17 R2 is a great choice. The laptop should be more than good enough for gamers who need something with a little extra oomph.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Alienware m17 R2 is its design. The laptop measures just 0.91 inches thick at its thickest and is built with a classy-looking white-and-orange-highlights color-scheme. It also has a big 17-inch Full HD screen with Tobii eye-tracking technology.

When it comes to ports, you’ll get three USB 3.1 ports, a Thunderbolt 3 port, HDMI and Mini-Display Port, and audio ports.

Under the hood, the Alienware m17 R2 is a beast. The base model comes with a 9th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card. It can, however, be upgraded to be even better with an Intel Core i7 chip, 16GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080. 

So what are the downsides of this laptop? Perhaps the biggest is that it’s pretty expensive, but that’s the price you pay for something so powerful. 

Pros: Great design, super powerful, relatively sleek

Cons: Expensive

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Christian de Looper)

MustHaves.LA a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.