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While Windows 11 provides a good enough out of the box experience—atrocious new taskbar aside—it handles so much better after tweaking just a handful of settings to make it feel more like the Windows of yesteryear. Get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro No, I’m not talking about making Windows 11 look like Windows 10 through an extensive overhaul (though if you’re a Windows veteran that’s worth doing). I’m talking about fast, easy changes that improve the feel of the operating system, turn off annoying ads, reduce the data you send to Microsoft, and more. Better yet, you can do them all in under five minutes—something I did mere weeks ago when I needed to pick up a Windows 11 laptop for some travel. Here are five Windows 11 settings worth changing immediately, with an added bonus at the end. 1. Move the Start button to the left corner What can I say, I’m a traditionalist. I understand Microsoft’s desire to revamp Windows 10’s interface to more closely mirror the style of Macs and Chromebooks—legions of kids get schooled on those, after all—but Windows 11’s shifting taskbar icons drive me batty. (They do help out a lot on ultrawide monitors, though.) I want mousing over to the Start menu to be muscle memory in a set location, not yet another task I have to look at and mentally process. Brad Chacos/IDG Fortunately, Microsoft makes it easy to move the Start menu back to the left-hand corner. Simply open the Start menu and head to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors. You’ll see a field labeled Taskbar alignment with a drop-down menu. Change the drop-dox menu from Center to Left. Boom! Onto the next. 2. Turn off annoying notifications Next, it’s time to turn off those annoying pop-up notifications. Windows 11 itself spawns some, but the worst offenders are third-party apps, especially if your laptop or desktop came preloaded with bloatware. Making the distractions stop is simple. Brad Chacos/IDG Head to Start > System > Notifications. You can turn notifications off universally if you desire. I prefer to work through the list manually, leaving notifications on for critical tools like Slack, Discord, and my antivirus software. (If my AV scanner wants to shout about something, I want to hear it!) Either way, this menu cures many headaches. 3. Turn off Microsoft ads That segues neatly into the next tip. Keep scrolling down beyond the bottom of the list of apps that can send you notifications. There, you’ll see a couple of additional boxes that relate to Windows 11 itself providing “tips and suggestions” on how to use your PC. If you know your way around well enough, deselect the Offer suggestions on how I can set up my device and Get tips and suggestions when I use Windows boxes. I personally prefer to leave the Show me the Windows welcome experience… option checked so I’m notified of new features when a big update drops. Brad Chacos/IDG We’re not done yet, though. If you don’t like seeing Microsoft promotions (like Office and Xbox ads) pop up in your Settings app, head to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > General. Disabling “Show me suggested content in the Settings app” does the trick, though you may want to turn off all these options. Brad Chacos/IDG Finally, head to Settings > Personalization > Device Usage. The options here tell Microsoft how you use your computer so Windows 11 can provide tailored recommendations for apps, websites, Office 365 trials, and more. Turn them all off if you’re not interested in your $100+ copy of Windows 11 upselling you on more Microsoft services. There are other places Microsoft promotions lurk such as the beautiful “Windows Spotlight” lock screens provided by Bing Images, but tweaking this handful of settings eradicates the most irritating ones. If you want to go even deeper, check out 9 tweaks that turn off your Windows PC’s most annoying ads. 4. Change your default browser Microsoft Edge is pretty darned good, actually, but if you’re a diehard Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or Brave user, switching your default browser is easy. Brad Chacos/IDG After downloading and installing the browser of your choice, it should ask if you want to make it the default. Do so, duh. But if you missed your chance during setup, navigate to Settings > Apps > Default apps, find the name of your browser in the list, and click on it. A “Make your default browser” banner with a Set default button at the top of the page does the trick. 5. Declutter the taskbar Sure, Windows 11’s nerfed taskbar is getting better over time, but it still sucks and Microsoft stuffs it to the brim with icons and features you probably have no interest in. Make it easier on the eyes and reclaim some space by heading to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and deselecting any of the taskbar items you’ll never use. Adios, Widgets, Copilot, and the Microsoft Store. Brad Chacos/IDG While we’re on the topic, spending $5 on Stardock’s Start11 or StartIsBack is well worth it. The programs offer granular options that expand the look and functionality of the taskbar and Start menu alike, making it a lot easier to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10. They’re beyond the scope of this article but deserve a shout-out. Bonus: Dark mode, baby! Finally, an optional personal preference. Some folks like staring at black text on white screens all day. Others, like me, prefer not to sear their retinas. So, the very first thing I always do with a new Windows install is activate dark mode, a preference that carries over into several apps once you’ve set it. Brad Chacos/IDG Simply head to Settings > Personalization > Colors and look for a field called Choose your mode. Change the drop-down menu from Light to Dark. Your eyes will thank you — and so will your laptop battery, if you’re using an OLED display. That’s about it for this rundown of quick Windows 11 settings to change immediately. This rabbit hole goes as deep as you want it, though. Check out our guides to 5 helpful tips and tricks that make Windows easier to use, 10 obscure Windows features that will blow your mind, and 7 frustrating Windows 11 annoyances (and how to fix them) to make your PC your own! Get windows 11 pro for dirt cheap Windows 11 Pro Read...

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Finding the right laptop for your lifestyle means cutting through a lot of noise. Whether you’re looking for a high-performance gaming laptop a lightweight Chromebook for daily browsing, or a reliable Windows laptop for school, this guide is here to help. We’ve tested top models across all categories–from budget-friendly options to premium picks–to match performance and value with real-world use cases. We’re here to provide straightforward advice to help you choose the the best laptop for you. Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (2024) – Best laptop overall Pros Strong performance Exceptional battery life Wonderful typing experience Cons CPU throttles under heavy loads No user upgrades Who should buy the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus? If you want a laptop that truly does it all and does it well, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is the one to beat. This laptop nails the essentials with style, speed, and stamina. It’s a top pick for anyone who needs dependable performance without being tethered to an outlet all day. The 14-inch form factor also hits the sweet spot between portability and screen face, making it perfect for either work or play. One of the biggest selling points is the seriously impressive 17-hour battery life. Whether it’s a long study session or a long workday, this laptop will power along with you. And with a price tag around $1,000, it delivers incredible value for the performance you’re getting. Beyond the long battery life, the 14-inch 2560×1600 display comes with an anti-glare coating and a peak brightness of 418 nits, making it comfortable to use in different lighting environments. Dell Inspiron 14 Plus: Further considerations The conservative design might not appeal to users looking for more pizzazz. While integrated graphics are fine for daily use, power users may want to look elsewhere for a laptop can handle heavier workloads. For most users though, this laptop ticks nearly every box. Read our full Dell Inspiron 14 Plus review Asus Zenbook 14 OLED – Best OLED laptop Pros Attractive OLED touchscreen Good CPU and integrated GPU performance Outstanding battery life Cons Blah design Keyboard isn’t memorable Mediocre connectivity options Who should buy the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED? Anyone would be happy with the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED–it nails the vital aspects, especially in the display and battery departments. The 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED panel is deliciously vivid, delivering rich colors and deep contrast, which is great for creators and editors. It’s also fast (thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor) and lightweight (2.82 pounds), and the 75 watt-hour battery churned out 17 hours of charge. That’s not bad for the $850 price tag. It’s a fantastic notebook that would work great for anyone, especially if you want vivid visuals from an OLED panel. Asus Zenbook 14 OLED: Further considerations The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED would have been our top pick, but it fell short in a few areas. For instance, the port selection is more limited–no Ethernet and fewer USB-A’s. The reflective display also makes it harder to use outdoors or in bright rooms. Finally, the Dell Inspiron Plus 14 (our current top pick) has slightly better battery life and performance. Read our full Asus Zenbook 14 OLED review Acer Aspire Go 15 – Best budget laptop Pros Affordable Decent battery life Good display visibility Cons Big and bulky Cheap build Limited performance Who should buy the Acer Aspire Go 15? The Acer Aspire Go 15 is the must-have laptop for budget-conscious buyers that just need the basics. The Intel Core i3-N305 processor handles everyday tasks like browsing and word processing with ease. Battery life is also close to 12 hours on a single charge. The appeal mostly lies in its value, though. While more expensive laptops nail the polish and the speed, the budget variety is strictly about what’s functional and that’s exactly what you’re getting here. It’s a good option for students or anyone seeking a reliable, no frills machine under $500. You’ll also find a surprisingly generous port selection on the Acer Aspire Go 15–USB-A on both sides, a USB-C, an HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington lock. That’s more than what some laptops get twice the price. Acer Aspire Go 15: Further considerations Like many budget-friendly laptops, the Aspire Go 15 comes with a few trade-offs. The plastic chassis helps keep the cost down, and while it weighs a bit over four pounds, it’s still manageable for day-to-day portability. The 1920×1080 display is also pretty dim (250 nits), so it’s better suited for indoor use due to its 250 nit brightness, but it still delivers sharp visuals for everyday tasks. That said, if you’re looking to get solid utility at a great price, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is the total package. Read our full Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) review Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 – Best battery life Pros Remarkable battery life Sturdy, lightweight design High-visibility display Cons Variable performance trails competitors A bit pricier than the competition Who should buy the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6? The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is a great option for anyone who needs a reliable, long-lasting laptop. Weighing just 2.66 pounds and offering an incredible battery life of nearly 24 hours, it’s ideal for people who are always on the move. Plus, with a Snapdragon X Elite processor running the show, it offers the perfect blend of portability, endurance, and capable everyday performance. The build quality is also standout, with the chassis being notably sturdy, and the keyboard offers a delightfully tactile typing experience ThinkPads are known for. Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Further considerations The one area where this laptop falls a bit short is the display. While the 1920×1200 IPS screen is perfectly usable for productivity, it lacks the richness and contrast of an OLED panel. So if you’re doing color-sensitive creative work, you may want to look elsewhere. But if long battery life and portability matter more to you, then the ThinkPad T14s is the way to go. Read our full Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 review Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus – Best Chromebook Pros Snappy day-to-day performance Versatile 2-in-1 design Good typing experience Cons Stylus not included Heavier than expected Who should buy the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus? The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is an awesome pick for users who want the flexibility of a 2-in-1 without sacrificing performance. From the responsive 1080p touchscreen to the smooth convertible 360 hinge, it’s great for students or creatives that like switching between laptop and tablet mode. Boot times are lightning fast and ChromeOS runs smoothly thanks to the Intel Core i3-1315U processor and the keyboard provides a surprisingly comfortable typing experience. If your workload is compatible with Google’s web-based operations, then the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus would make an excellent daily driver for work or browsing. Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus: Further considerations There’s plenty to love about the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus. While the 1920×1080 IPS touchscreen display supports stylus input, the laptop doesn’t ship with a stylus, making it an additional cost if you like to sketch or take notes. It’s also a bit heavier than other Chromebooks, at 3.52 pounds, which might be a problem if you plan on carrying it around all day. Nitpicks aside, it’s still a fast and well-rounded Chromebook. Read our full Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review MacBook Air (M3) – Best MacBook Pros Excellent battery life 256GB SSD is now two NAND chips, maintaining performance Cons Expensive memory upgrades Dual external display support requires closed lid Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1,249 View Deal $1399 View Deal $1499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the MacBook Air (M3)? The MacBook Air (M3) is a stellar option for anyone who wants a premium macOS experience without paying MacBook Pro prices. Starting at $1,299, it delivers fast performance for everyday tasks, light creative work, and multitasking–all in a fanless design that runs silent even under load. The Apple M3 chip brings performance on par with the base MacBook Pro (M3) model and, in testing, the battery lasted up to 19 hours on a single charge. If you’re looking for a powerful yet quiet macOS laptop with plenty of endurance to spare, this one hits the sweet spot. The 15-inch Liquid Retina (2880×1864 resolution) display doesn’t quite match the brightness or contrast of the mini-LED panel found in the MacBook Pro, but it’s still sharp and vibrant. The Air is also impressively thin and lightweight (3.3 pounds!), so it’s pretty darn portable. MacBook Air (M3): Further considerations If you’re after high-end performance for professional level workloads like 3D rendering or heavy video editing, a MacBook Pro with active cooling might be a better fit. However, for most users, the MacBook Air (M3) delivers good performance, long battery life, and an elegant design. Read our full MacBook Air (M3) review Lenovo Legion 5i – Best gaming laptop Pros Great GeForce RTX 4060 performance Solid build quality Nice cooling and vent positioning Cons Display is a little dim Who should buy the Lenovo Legion 5i? The Lenovo Legion 5i is a solid mid-range pick for gamers who want strong gaming performance and a fast display. With an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU under the hood, it delivers the power needed for smooth gameplay as well as lightning-fast load times. The spacious 16-inch (2560×1600 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate) is another highlight. It offers crisp visuals and fluid motion, which is perfect for immersive single-player games and competitive gaming. In addition to it being a fast display, it also produces vibrant colors. For the price ($1,399 as tested), it offers an impressive balance of performance and value. Lenovo Legion 5i: Further considerations The Lenovo Legion 5i doesn’t just bring blazing-fast performance to the table, it also includes thoughtful features like a 1080p webcam with an electronic shutter switch and a full-size keyboard with a number pad and four zones of LED lighting. The webcam is perfect for streaming and the number pad allows for quick access to numeric inputs. While this laptop hits the mark for most gamers, for those that want more graphics firepower and higher frame rates, we’d recommend springing for a laptop with RTX 4070 graphics or higher. Read our full Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 review Acer Nitro V 16 – Best budget gaming laptop Pros Solid performance Fast 165Hz display with good colors Cons Fully plastic build Mushy keyboard Who should buy the Acer Nitro V 16? The Acer Nitro V 16 is a fantastic pick for gamers who want good performance and a fast display without breaking the bank. With an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU, and a 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS display running at 165Hz, it can comfortably handle most modern games on High settings. Acer Nitro V 16: Further considerations The Nitro V 16 really embraces the gaming aesthetic, with its angular lines and backlit keyboard that glows like embers in a fireplace. If you’re into that bold style, you’ll love it, but if you prefer a more understated design, it might not be for you. Battery life is also limited to about four hours, which is typical for a laptop in this category, but it’s something to keep in mind. Bottom line? If your priority is strong gaming performance at an affordable price, the Nitro V 16 offers a lot of bang for your buck. Read our full Acer Nitro V 16 review Asus ProArt P16 – Best content creation laptop Pros Big touchpad with virtual scroll wheel Gorgeous 4K OLED display More connectivity than the competition Good battery life Cons Chassis is light, but doesn’t look remarkable CPU performance falls behind the best Can get hot under load Who should buy the Asus ProArt P16? The Asus ProArt P16 is a top-tier choice for creative professionals and prosumers who prioritize display quality, connectivity, and performance. With its stunning 16-inch (3840×2400 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio), it’s definitely well suited to photo editing tasks and video production. It also boasts an Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, a powerhouse combination that delivers desktop-class performance. Battery life is another strong point, with the ProArt P16 lasting over nine hours on a single charge. It also includes USB 4.0 support via one of its USB-C ports, which enables speeds up to 40Gbps, making high-speed transfer possible. Asus ProArt P16: Further considerations Performance and display quality are the standout features, but there’s something compelling about the understated design. Some may find the all-black chassis too plain while others find it elegant. Under more demanding workloads, the chassis can also run a bit warm. Still, the ProArt P16 is an excellent fit for anyone that needs a serious workhorse. Read our full Asus ProArt P16 review Asus Zenbook S 14 – Best ultraportable Pros Transcendent battery life Large OLED screen Great audio Cons Keyboard needs more key travel Performance needs improvement Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Asus $1499.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Asus Zenbook S 14? The Asus Zenbook S 14 is a standout ultraportable for those who want a lightweight design, all-day battery life, and premium display quality. Weighing just 2.65 pounds–lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air–it’s a great pick for regular travelers and commuters. Despite its slim build, this laptop delivers surprising endurance. Its 73 watt-hour battery lasted an impressive 21 hours in testing and it comes paired with a vibrant 14-inch (2880×1800 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate) OLED display. Asus Zenbook S 14: Further considerations The Asus Zenbook S 14 offers more than just its slender build and extended battery life. The built-in audio is a pleasant surprise, as it delivers rich, clear sound, making it a solid option for media consumption. While it’s not exactly a powerhouse for resource intensive creative work, the Zenbook S 14 really excels in portability and endurance. Read our full Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406SA) review HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 – Best 2-in-1 laptop Pros OLED touchscreen looks great Nice solid build Long battery life Cons Few ports in odd spots Expensive  Who should buy the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14? If you’re in the market for a premium 2-in-1, the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is one of the best options available today. It’s perfect for anyone who wants the flexibility of a convertible form factor and the reliability of a long-lasting machine. The 360-degree hinge feels both sturdy and smooth, and the 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED touchscreen is vibrant and bright enough (500 nits!) for indoor use. The battery life is exceptional as well–lasting up to 17.5 hours on a single charge. Typing on the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is a real pleasure thanks to its responsive keyboard and clearly labeled keys. Not only do they have satisfying travel, but the bold letting improves visibility. These minute details really enhance day-to-day usability. HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14: Further considerations If you’re looking for a full-metal unibody design, this laptop will fall short in that area, as it’s made entirely of plastic. The port placement is bit unconventional, too. Both USB-C ports are located on the back corners of the machine, which may not suit every setup. Read our full HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review Framework Laptop 13 – Best laptop for upgrading Pros Customizable, repairable, and upgradeable Detailed repair documentation Cons On the expensive side for the specs Not the best battery life Who should buy the Framework Laptop 13? The Framework Laptop 13 is an awesome choice for tech-savvy users who value reparability and long-term sustainability. If you want a laptop you can upgrade over time rather than replace, this is one of the most compelling options you can find right now. Nearly every component of the Framework Laptop 143 is modular and user-replaceable. Each part is labeled with a QR code linking directly to guides and replacement listings on Framework’s website. You can even configure the port layout using swappable Expansion Cards, which are small rectangular modules that slide into the chassis like Lego pieces, allowing you to mix USB-C, HDMI, and so on. The Framework Laptop 13 is also surprisingly lightweight (2.87 pounds) for a laptop with this level of flexibility. It also handles general productivity tasks with ease thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor. Framework Laptop 13: Further considerations Performance is more mid-range than high-end and the pricing can feel steep when compared to traditional laptops with similar specs. The value here lies in its longevity–you’re buying a laptop that can evolve and change over time rather than a device with a set expiration date. Read our full Framework Laptop 13 review Other products tested While these laptops didn’t make PCWorld’s top picks list, they’re still noteworthy options that may appeal to certain folks. The Asus Zenbook A14 impressed us with its vibrant OLED touchscreen, robust build quality, and amazing battery life. For environmentally conscious buyers, the Acer Aspire Vero 16 stands out with a chassis made from PCR and other bio-based materials. Finally, if you’re someone that’s always on the go, the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro offers a 16-inch 2880×1800 AMOLED 120Hz touchscreen and an impressive 23 hours of battery life. How we test laptops The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests. For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops. Why you should trust PCWorld for laptop reviews and buying advice It’s in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget. Who curated this article? This article was curated by Ashley Biancuzzo, who oversees all of PCWorld’s laptop and Chromebook review coverage. Ashley has been immersed in the ever-changing world of consumer technology and brings a keen editorial eye to every review. She specializes in evaluating laptops across a wide range of categories–from budget-friendly models to high-end powerhouses. How to choose the best laptop What form factor is best for a laptop? Traditional clamshells are great for general use while 2-in-1 convertibles offer flexible designs with displays that rotate 360 degrees. Chromebooks, on the other hand, are a budget-friendly option that are best for everyday web-based tasks. How much processing power do you need? It depends on your workload. For everyday use, an Intel i5 (11th gen or later) or AMD Ryzen 5 (4000 series or later) is solid. If you’re into creative tasks like video editing, go for an Intel i7/i9 or Ryzen 7/9. For 4K video editing or heavy multitasking, a Ryzen 9 is ideal. Discrete graphics vs. integrated graphics? If you’re into gaming or video editing, you’ll want discrete graphics (like Nvidia or AMD cards) for better performance. For basic tasks like browsing or streaming, integrated graphics will do just fine. How much RAM? 8GB of RAM is zippy enough for general use. If you’ve got a gaming laptop, 16GB of RAM is the way to go, with 32GB being a future-proof configuration. Content creators will want as much as possible. What’s the right display size? If you’re a video editor or someone who does a lot of multimedia work, you’ll want a display that’s anywhere from 15- to 17-inches. The sweet spot is anywhere from 13- to 14-inches, though. The bigger the display, the heavier your laptop is going to be. A 13- or 14-inch display is the best in terms of portability and value. Battery-life expectations If you plan on taking your laptop anywhere with you, aim for something that can last 10 to 12 hours on a single charge. That’s more than a full workday, so it should theoretically get you through long flights or a day of classes. That said, many of the newest Snapdragon-powered Windows laptop are pushing well past that number, with one of them offering up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge–this is due to the chip’s ultra-efficient Arm-based architecture. Just know that the bigger the battery, the heavier the laptop. Read our roundup of the best laptop chargers. Laptop pricing guide Many good laptops cost around $500 to $750, but the price really depends on your budget. If you’re strapped for cash (been there, trust me), go for a Chromebook or an entry-level business laptop. You can find solid options for under $500. Spending $750 to $1,000 can get you better displays, additional performance, more storage, and nicer designs. If you splurge for a laptop that costs over $1,000, you’re usually paying up for premium build quality, great extras, and top-shelf performance. Gaming laptops are different. You can sometimes find gaming laptops with entry-level discrete graphics on sale for around $850, but you’ll usually need to spend at least $1,000 for a system with decent 1080p gaming chops. You can pay more — often much more — for better graphics firepower and nicer displays, but the costs can rise rapidly depending on your hardware of choice. Some fully loaded gaming laptops can go for multiple thousands of dollars but you’re getting the equivalent of a desktop replacement in return. Spending $1,200 to $2,000 usually gets you a very good gaming laptop. Don’t forget the ports A wide array of ports is always a plus in my book, as it eliminates the need for an adapter. I’d recommend a laptop that has both USB-C and USB-A. An HDMI port is good, too. This is especially useful when you want to hook up to an external monitor. FAQ 1. What is the best laptop? The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (2024) stands out as the best overall choice for most people. Priced at around $1,000, it delivers reliable performance, exceptional battery life (17 hours on a single charge!), and a vibrant 14-inch 1400p display. 2. What is the best cheap laptop? The Acer Aspire Go 15 is PCWorld’s top budget pick because of its reliable performance and low price point. It features an Intel Core i3-N305 processor, a sharp 1080p display, and surprisingly good battery life. 3. What is the best gaming laptop? The Lenovo Legion 5i exhibits a fantastic balance of performance and value. Powered by an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, it delivers top-tier gaming performance, easily crushing demanding titles like Metro Exodus with an average of 41 frames-per-second. The 16-inch IPS display boasts a 2560×1600 resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate, meaning you can expect smooth gameplay. While the display isn’t as vibrant as an OLED panel, it still offers a great picture at a competitive price. 4. When is the best time to buy a laptop?  The best time to buy a laptop usually falls during major sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Back-to-school season (late summer to early fall) is also a great time to buy a laptop, as many retailers target students. 5. What is a 2-in-1 laptop? A 2-in-1 laptop (also known as a convertible) is a device that combines the functionality of a traditional laptop (also known as a clamshell laptop) with the versatility of a tablet. These laptops feature a touchscreen display that can fold back, rotate, or detach. It’s ideal for those who need a full keyboard for productivity and a tablet for browsing the web or doodling. They’re pretty popular among students and creatives who want the best of both worlds. 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It’s easy to spend a lot of money on a laptop, but you don’t have to. In fact, most people don’t need to spend much at all. Whether you’re on a budget or you’re buying for a student or child, sometimes the best laptop is the one that’s most affordable. But just because you’re spending less doesn’t mean you should settle for less. To make sure your laptop won’t leave you frustrated and pulling your hair out, there are a few key specs that you shouldn’t compromise on—or else you’ll probably regret your purchase. What counts as a budget laptop? In this case, we’re aiming for a price around $500 and we’re using PCWorld’s best budget laptop picks to get a sense of what’s possible, what’s reasonable, and what’s non-negotiable. Just be aware that you’ll give up some luxuries (like a dedicated graphics card) at this price point, but you’ll end up with a great daily driver laptop for work, school, and everyday activities. That said, let’s dive into the most important specs for a budget laptop and the absolute minimum acceptable for each one. Further reading: Buying a laptop before China tariffs kick in? Don’t fall for these tricks Operating system Asus, Samsung, Lenovo The very first choice you must make is the operating system. And if you’re on a budget, you really only have two options: Windows or ChromeOS. (You could also run Linux if you’re tech-savvy enough, but if you know enough to run Linux, you likely don’t need this article.) Windows is the de facto choice because it’s used everywhere, everyone is familiar with it, and most apps “just work” on Windows computers. But it has a lot of system overhead so it doesn’t run as well on low-end hardware and you might experience subpar performance. ChromeOS, which is the operating system for Chromebooks, is far more restricted in what apps it can run. If it isn’t available in the Chrome Web Store, you’re pretty much out of luck. (Sure, you can use workarounds like remote desktop-ing into a separate Windows machine, but that kind of defeats the point of buying a budget laptop!) That said, there are plenty of good reasons to buy a Chromebook over a laptop, like the bang-for-your-buck on performance and price, so don’t be turned off. Chromebooks are quite good these days. Note: If you’re buying a laptop for a student, you should definitely check with their school first because some schools have mandatory OS requirements. Even if they don’t, they might have specific software needs—and if that software isn’t available on ChromeOS, you’ll have to go with Windows. What about MacBooks? While it’s possible to buy a MacBook on a budget, you’ll have to give up a lot in the process—or stretch your definition of “budget.” Even the cheapest MacBooks far exceed $500, and they tend to be older discounted models. Generally speaking, Macs aren’t great for getting the best specs for your money. RAM Framework You can think of RAM like the amount of workspace you have on your desk: more RAM means more space to concurrently run apps and keep numerous files open, allowing you to jump between and multitask without having to close and re-open stuff all the time. That’s why RAM is key to laptop performance, and it’s important to get a laptop that has enough RAM to run smoothly. I recommend a minimum 8GB of RAM, but bump it up to 16GB if you want to “future proof” against growing needs in the future. The good news is, finding solid laptops with at least 8GB of RAM isn’t difficult—but if your budget is limited to around $300, you’re likely to be stuck with 4GB options at best. If you can afford it, it’s definitely worth the extra cash to hit 8GB, even on Chromebooks. Otherwise, you’ll find that your laptop’s sluggishness will affect your enjoyment of it. CPU BLKstudio / Shutterstock.com When it comes to CPUs on budget laptops, you have to temper your expectations. You won’t be able to get anything truly powerful, but you will be able to find something that suits your needs and gets you through non-intensive tasks like office work, studying, and watching videos. Among the more affordable Windows laptops, Intel i3 and i5 processors are the most common options. Ideally you should opt for the i5, but you can settle for an i3 if you’re on a tight budget; it should keep up with regular tasks as long as you pair it with at least 8GB of RAM. AMD Ryzen 3 and Ryzen 5 processors are also frequently seen in budget-tier laptops, and they can save you a little more money than their Intel alternatives. In Chromebooks, you’ll mostly find Intel i3 and i5 processors along with MediaTek options. MediaTek processors are typically found in budget phones because they have better battery life, but they have the disadvantage of being less powerful. Either way, opt for Intel or AMD if you care about performance. Just don’t expect any high-end gaming! You’d need a dedicated GPU for that, and that’s not happening in a budget laptop. Battery life Panos Sakalakis / Unsplash You have lots of options when it comes to battery life, even in the affordable laptop territory. Not only do weaker processors give you longer staying power, but larger batteries can help too—if you’re willing to sacrifice weight and portability. And here, too, is an area where your choice of OS matters. Generally speaking, Chromebooks usually last longer on a single charge than an equivalent Windows laptop. If you travel frequently or simply prefer to use your laptop unplugged, then aim for one that promises 10 to 12 hours of battery life. Most manufacturers overpromise and under deliver, so it’s quite possible you’ll only get around 8 hours despite their claims. Still, 8 hours of battery life on a laptop should be enough to last a workday or a school day, all while letting you live comfortably untethered. If in doubt about a particular laptop, check if PCWorld has reviewed it—we run battery tests to confirm if laptops live up to their promises. Storage capacity Jon L. Jacobi Sticking to a budget means cutting some corners, and storage space is usually among the first areas hit by compromise. That can be a problem if you aren’t careful, though. For the best laptop experience, you’ll want ample storage and you’ll want it to be fast. A slow hard drive with inadequate capacity will leave you micromanaging your files and apps as well as waiting inordinately long for files and apps to load. Among good budget options, you’ll find storage options ranging from 64GB to 256GB. Obviously, more is better, but if you’re on Windows, you shouldn’t dip below 128GB at the very least. (The operating system alone will take up around 30GB, and modern apps are space hogs on top.) Anything less than 128GB and you’ll find yourself running out of space so often that you’ll be tearing out your hair. Chromebooks, on the other hand, can survive pretty well on 64GB of storage for several reasons: the OS doesn’t take up as much space, Chromebook apps are typically smaller, and ChromeOS relies more on cloud storage than local storage. The downside is that you basically need 24/7 internet access for day-to-day use. Note: If you have to settle for a laptop with inadequate storage space, you can always add an external drive to expand capacity. Just make sure the laptop you get has enough ports for it (addressed later in this article), and stick to our picks for best external drives. Storage types Maxx-Studio / Shutterstock.com Modern Windows laptops come with two primary options: SSD or eMMC. Don’t settle for anything less than an SSD. Some cheaper laptops may offer eMMC drives, but eMMC drives run very slow and fill up faster due to their smaller capacities. You’ll be frustrated, trust me. Chromebooks, however, tend to come with three options: SSD, eMMC, and UFS. Again, I don’t recommend eMMC drives for the same reasons, but UFS is worth considering. Universal Flash Storage is “newer” and more typically found on mobile devices, but since ChromeOS is a mobile-like operating system, it’s well-suited to run on UFS. In general, UFS is faster than eMMC but slower than an SSD. If you want the best speeds, an SSD is still the best (but most expensive) option. If your goal is to save money, you’ll do fine with a UFS drive. Display resolution guteksk7 / Shutterstock.com At cheaper tiers, laptops mainly come with 720p or 1080p resolutions. I only saw one laptop featuring a higher resolution, but that came at the expense of cutting other corners. So, when buying a budget laptop, you’ll want to stick to 1080p unless you’re particularly strapped for cash. Going with 720p can save money, but the experience is subpar: text is harder to read, video content suffers, and you have less screen real estate for apps and files. Stepping up to 1080p solves all of that, and you’ll appreciate the improved resolution if you end up using your laptop to watch Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, etc. Laptop size Thiago Trevisan / IDG The ideal laptop size really depends on your needs. On the larger end, you have 15-inch and 17-inch laptops that provide bigger screens and wider keyboards, but laptops at this size tend to be heavy and detract from portability. And be aware that larger laptop screens may sometimes have lower resolutions, which can affect crispness of image and the actual amount of usable screen real estate. On the flip side, you have smaller 13-inch laptops that are lighter and more portable but generally more cramped with tighter keyboards. I find that the sweet spot for portable productivity is with a 13-inch laptop that has a 1080p resolution. You get ample screen real estate and crisp images, a lightweight body that doesn’t take up much space in a bag, and the price is usually quite affordable. Ports and connectivity Immo Wegmann / Unsplash Ports are important on budget laptops, especially if you’re sacrificing storage space and screen size. With the right ports, you have the flexibility to connect external drives and external monitors. Thankfully, unless you go very low on price, you have good options. If possible, aim for at least one USB-C port and one USB-A port. USB-C has taken over as the dominant connector, but plenty of storage devices and other accessories still rely on USB-A. If you can find a budget laptop with an HDMI port as well, you should consider it because it’ll make it easy to connect an external monitor. USB-C can theoretically handle monitors as well, but not every USB-C port is built the same and capable of supporting the same devices. Note: If you have to settle for a laptop with inadequate ports, you can always add extra ports separately with a USB-C hub or docking station. See our picks for best USB-C hubs and best Thunderbolt docks. Min specs for budget laptops in a nutshell Phew, that’s a lot to digest, so here’s a quick summary of my recommended minimum specs for budget laptops without all the contextual explanations and rationale: RAM: 8GB minimum, 16GB if you can afford it. CPU: Intel i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 minimum, Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 if you can afford it. Battery life: At least 10 to 12 hours of claimed battery life (which is likely closer to 8 hours in real-world usage). Storage capacity: 128GB minimum for Windows, 64GB minimum for Chromebooks. If you need more space, you can always expand with an external storage drive. Storage types: SSD is what you want. For Chromebooks, you can get away with UFS. Avoid eMMC at all cost. Display resolution: 1080p minimum. Laptop size: 13-inch for portability, 15-inch for screen space (as long as you don’t sacrifice resolution to get there). Ports: At least one USB-C and one USB-A port, plus an HDMI port if you plan to use an external monitor. Alternatively, buy a separate USB-C hub or docking station to expand connectivity. All of this can be had for under $500 if you shop around, especially if you can be patient and wait for deals. I’ve seen laptops—both conventional and 2-in-1 laptops—that meet all these minimum specs, so you definitely don’t have to spend a lot for a decent laptop. As long as you aren’t expecting a powerhouse gaming machine that can rip videos in no time flat, you’ll be fine. For more tips, check out our guide to buying a budget laptop without getting screwed, or head over to our guide on the best laptops under $500 if you want explicit recommendations. Read...

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At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Pixel-packed 18-inch 4K Mini-LED display Two Thunderbolt 5 ports Top-tier multi-threaded CPU performance Excellent GPU performance PCIe 5 solid state drives Cons Heavy and thick Mediocre keyboard, touchpad Very loud under load at high performance profiles Our Verdict The MSI Raider 18 HX AI isn’t a looker, but it packs incredible CPU and GPU performance. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today The MSI Raider 18 HX AI is the very model of a “desktop replacement” laptop. It’s big, it’s not much to look at, and it has a mediocre touchpad that implies users are really expected to connect a mouse. That might leave some shoppers asking, “What’s the point?” That question is answered once the laptop is tossed into a demanding game or application. It might be thick, but the MSI Raider 18 HX delivers top-tier CPU and GPU performance. It even has gobs of RAM and a PCIe 5.0 solid state drive. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Specs and features The highlight of the MSI Raider 18 HX AI’s spec sheet is undoubtedly the Nvidia RTX 5080. This new mobile GPU is destined to become the new go-to choice for gamers on the go, and here it has access to an impressive 175 watts of graphics power. But the story doesn’t end there. The Raider 18 also has Intel’s new Core Ultra 9 285HX, which packs 24 CPU cores, and the model I reviewed had 64GB of RAM alongside a 4TB PCIe 5.0 solid state drive. It has a Mini-LED display, too. Model number: A2XWIG-418US CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX Memory: 64GB DDR5-6400 RAM Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 5080 16GB NPU: Intel AI Boost up to 13 TOPS (Int8) Display: 18-inch 3,840 x 2,400 120Hz IPS Mini-LED Storage: 4TB M.2 PCIe 5.0 SSD Webcam: 1080p 30fps camera with physical privacy shutter, dual array microphone Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 5, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm combo jack, SD card reader Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: Fingerprint reader, Facial Recognition Battery capacity: 99 watt-hours Dimensions: 15.91 x 12.09 x 1.26 inches Weight: 7.94 pounds Operating System: Windows 11 Pro Price: $4,499 MSRP Cutting-edge hardware doesn’t come cheap, and the Raider 18 I tested rings up at an intimidating $4,499. That’s a lot, but if you glanced at the spec sheet and thought, “Eh, could be better,” MSI also offers a more extravagant configuration with Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics at $4,899. The MSI Raider 18 HX AI is a hardware showcase. It has an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX that sets new records in several benchmarks, and an Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU with performance close to RTX 4090, and a pair of PCIe 5.0 solid state drives that hit blistering read speeds of just over 13,000 MB/s. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Design and build quality IDG / Matthew Smith The MSI Raider 18 HX AI isn’t the company’s largest and most powerful laptop—that’s the MSI Titan—but it’s still a beefy boy. We’re talking nearly 8 pounds of heft and a profile that’s about 1.25 inches thick. That’s not unusual for a big, high-performance gaming laptop like the Raider 18, but it’s important to note. You’re going to notice when this laptop is in your bag, and it won’t even fit in many mid-sized backpacks. Size aside, the Raider 18’s design is cohesive but not remarkable. It’s clad in black plastics with red accents, and while the materials look fine, they’re certainly not as luxurious as laptops that aim for a more professional look, such as Razer’s Blade 18. It’s also noticeably less extravagant than MSI’s Titan, which is more of a showpiece. While it doesn’t make a strong first impression, the Raider 18’s build quality is solid. The plastics don’t provide the sense of solidity aluminum would offer, but the chassis is rigid when the laptop is handled, and the display doesn’t significantly warp as it’s opened and closed. Pressing hard on the keyboard reveals some flex, but that’s common for laptops of this size, and it didn’t stand out in normal use. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Keyboard, trackpad IDG / Matthew Smith A spacious keyboard with a numpad stretches across the MSI Raider 18 HX AI’s interior. While a few keys, like Caps Lock, are still ever-so-slightly smaller than typical, most keys are large. This includes the numpad keys, which, unlike so many laptops’ keyboards, are the same size as the primary alphanumeric keys. So, while the Raider 18 is targeted at gamers, it might also appeal to accountants (that’s a joke). Key feel, however, is a miss. Although it has a SteelSeries-branded keyboard, the typing experience doesn’t feel much different than with any number of competitive gaming keyboards. That’s not to say it’s bad. A large laptop like the Raider 18 has enough space to provide good key travel. However, it’s not remarkable. I’ve used far less expensive gaming laptops with keyboards at least as good (Lenovo’s Legion 5 line comes to mind). The keyboard does offer RGB-LED backlighting, however, which can be customized per-key. This is where the SteelSeries branding is most relevant, as RGB-LED customization is handled through the SteelSeries GG app. I like it. The app looks nice, is easy to use, and provides the ability to save both RGB-LED customization profiles and macro key configurations. These features aren’t unique, but some competitors (like Gigabyte and Acer) are a bit behind the curve when it comes to the software used to control these features. The touchpad has its ups and downs. It’s reasonably large at about 5 inches wide and 3 inches deep, but that’s only about as large as the touchpad on a typical 14-inch consumer laptop. The touchpad didn’t feel especially responsive, and the physical button action struck me as springy yet hollow. It works, but the laptop is best used with a mouse. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Display, audio IDG / Matthew Smith The MSI Raider 18 HX AI has a rare 18-inch Mini-LED display. This type of display combines an IPS-LCD panel with an array of LEDs that can change brightness independently. That allows the display to achieve an effectively infinite contrast ratio like OLED competitors. It’s not quite as good as OLED, as Mini-LED can suffer “blooming,” an issue that can cause a halo effect around small, bright objects on dark scenes. Still, it’s almost as good. Contrast aside, the Raider 18 looks great in games and day-to-day productivity apps. Sharpness is a perk, as the display’s 3,840 x 2,400 resolution works out to about 252 pixels per inch (ppi). That’s extremely high (for comparison, a 27-inch 4K monitor typically has 163 ppi). The display also has a wide color gamut and can become extremely bright, which makes the Raider 18 a decent choice for HDR. Note, however, that HDR is not supported when the laptop is on battery power. Listening to music on the Raider 18 isn’t as pleasant as watching movies, though it’s still decent. The built-in speakers are upwards-firing and deliver good volume, while a pair of 2-watt woofers offer some low-end oomph. I found the treble rather grating, however, and the sound is muddy with the volume cranked all the way up. Still, it’s good for laptop audio. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Webcam, microphone, biometrics MSI ships the Raider 18 with a 1080p webcam. It provides good video quality in a well-lit to moderately lit room. Viewing the webcam’s output on the Raider 18 itself sells it short, as 1080p is so far below the display’s 3,840 x 2,400 resolution. On Zoom calls, however, the webcam looks good. As a bonus, the webcam provides a physical privacy shutter. Microphone quality is respectable, as well, with good voice pick-up and decent noise cancellation from the dual microphone array. The Raider 18 also supports Windows’ AI-driven Studio Effects, so it’s easy to blur your background. Biometric login is supported through Windows Hello. Both facial recognition and fingerprint recognition are available and work well.  MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Connectivity Connectivity is among the MSI Raider 18 HX AI’s strengths. It has two Thunderbolt 5 ports, each supporting USB-C, DisplayPort, and Power Delivery. Their high data bandwidth (80 Gbps bi-directional) and versatile feature set make them ideal for connecting to a Thunderbolt dock or Thunderbolt-compatible monitor. From there, these ports can handle multiple downstream peripherals or displays. The laptop also has three USB-A ports, all supporting USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds (10 Gbps). In addition to the Thunderbolt 5 ports, the Raider 18 also has an HDMI 2.1 port. It’s rated for 8K output up to 60Hz and 4K output up to 120Hz. A 3.5mm combo audio jack and 2.5G Ethernet port round out the options. I do have a nitpick. While the dual Thunderbolt 5 ports are excellent to see, they’re both on the same side of the laptop (the right flank). I’d prefer to see one of the ports on the rear, as it would help minimize cable clutter when connecting the laptop to a dock. Wireless connectivity is strong, too. The laptop supports Wi-Fi 7E and Bluetooth 5.4, which are the latest versions of each standard. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: CPU Performance While the Raider 18 HX AI offers many notable features, including a Mini-LED display and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, performance is the reason to buy the laptop. It has an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor with a total of 24 CPU cores (8 performance and 16 efficient cores) with a maximum turbo clock of 5.5GHz. That’s paired with Nvidia’s new RTX 5080, which has a total of 7,680 shader cores, 240 tensor units, and 16GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit memory bus. That’s not all. The Raider 18 HX AI supports gobs of RAM; the model I tested had 64GB of DDR5-6400 memory. It also shipped with a 4TB PCIe Gen 5 solid state drive. Unless otherwise noted, the results shown below represent the Extreme Performance and Discrete Graphics mode, which were the default when the laptop arrived. So, how does it perform? IDG / Matthew Smith PCMark 10 puts the Raider 18 off to a modest start with an incredible yet slightly underwhelming score of 8,538. This is an extremely high result that’s about 1,000 points higher than similar high-end laptops sold last year. However, several older laptops, like the Lenovo Legion 9i, achieved a higher score. IDG / Matthew Smith The MSI Raider 18 HX AI absolutely buzzsaws through our Handbrake, a long-duration test that transcodes a feature-length movie. Well, it’s usually a long duration. The Raider 18 destroyed the test in just over six minutes, a truly incredible result. Intel Core i9-14900HX systems, the quickest we’d tested up until this point, required more than 8 minutes to complete the same task. IDG / Matthew Smith Cinebench R24, a heavily multi-threaded benchmark, proved that Handbrake wasn’t just a fluke. The Raider 18 achieved a score of 2,195, which is several hundred points better than Intel Core i9-14900HX laptops. As the graph shows, the Raider 18 is roughly twice as fast as laptops like the Asus ProArt P16 and MSI Stealth 16 AI, neither of which I’d call slow. In summary, the Raider 18’s general performance is excellent and led by an incredibly quick CPU. The laptop will crank through multi-threaded, CPU-heavy tasks with ease. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: GPU performance Clearly, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX is a bit of a monster. It slams through multi-core benchmarks to deliver record-setting results. Despite that, it arguably plays second fiddle to the real star of the show: Nvidia’s new RTX 5080 mobile, which, in this laptop, can tap into a maximum of 175 watts of graphics power.  IDG / Matthew Smith The RTX 5080 gets the Raider 18 off to a great start with a 3DMark Time Spy score of 21,152. That squeezes by older RTX 4090 laptops, like the Lenovo Legion 9i, to set a record among laptops we’ve tested. 3DMark Port Royal, a ray-traced benchmark, is nearly as favorable to the Raider 18. Here the laptop scored 14,044. While that’s slightly behind the Lenovo Legion 9i, which scored 14,485, it’s an improvement over laptops with Nvidia RTX 4080 mobile, which typically scored 11,000 to 12,000 in this benchmark. IDG / Matthew Smith Moving on to real games, I fired up Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Though an older title, it’s representative of the best of the PS4/Xbox One console generation and still looks excellent on modern hardware. Unsurprisingly, the RTX 5080 can really crank through this title even without DLSS enabled. It achieved 194 frames per second at 1080p and Highest detail with ray tracing turned off. That’s not quite as good as an RTX 4090, but it’s a bit of an upgrade over the RTX 4080 (how much so depends on the wattage of the GPU). The RTX 5080’s performance gives the MSI Raider 18 AI a lot of headroom for improved settings (for example, playing at 4K and Highest detail resulted in an average of 100 FPS). IDG / Matthew Smith Next up is Metro Exodus which, though also getting on in years, is notoriously difficult to run at its higher detail settings. As the graph shows, however, the Raider 18 with RTX 5080 provides a top-flight result, averaging 94 FPS at 1080p and Extreme detail. That basically ties the Lenovo Legion 9i with RTX 4090, and it’s a great result. Let’s wrap up with a more modern graphical showcase: Cyberpunk 2077. Though it’s now several years old, CD Projekt Red has released numerous updates that embrace the latest graphics features from AMD and Nvidia, and it remains a tough game to handle at 4K resolution with ray tracing turned on. I began by testing Cyberpunk 2077 with DLSS turned off at 1080p resolution. The Raider 18 spat out an average of 149 frames per second (FPS) at the Ultra preset (without ray tracing). That was drastically slashed to a lower, but still playable, 42 FPS in the Overdrive ray-traced preset. While 42 might seem low, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio with RTX 4080 only hit 32 FPS at the same settings. With that out of the way, I changed the resolution to 4K (3,840 x 2,160) and tried the benchmarks with DLSS 3 (including 3x frame generation and the new DLSS Transformer Model) turned on. In this situation, Cyberpunk 2077 averaged 172 FPS with the Ultra preset and 129 FPS with the Overdrive ray-traced preset. Overall, the RTX 5080 mobile looks strong, though exactly how strong depends on your perspective on DLSS and expectations for gen-on-gen performance gains. Without DLSS, the RTX 5080 in the MSI Raider 18 is about 10 to 20 percent quicker than similar RTX 4080 laptops. With it, the RTX 5080 can boost performance significantly. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: AI performance I loaded LM Studio to give some common AI large language models a spin. Here, you face two possibilities. The large amount of system memory (64GB) means you can load rather large models, like Google’s Gemma 3 27B or even Llama 3 70B, though this requires that they run on the CPU. This will give you access to some capable models, but the per-token performance won’t be great. Gemma-3-27B averaged 6.29 tokens per second. Alternatively, you can load models on the RTX 5080. This route will provide much faster responses, but it’s only possible to load smaller models since the RTX 5080 only has 16GB of memory. Deepseek-R1-Distill-Qwen-7B blazed away at a remarkable 100.21 tokens per second and had a time to first token of .22 seconds, which is a very smooth experience. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: PCIe 5.0 solid state drive performance The MSI Raider 18 is among the first laptops to provide a PCIe 5.0 solid state drive. In fact, the Raider 18 I tested had a pair of 2TB PCIe 5.0 SSDs in a RAID 0 configuration. And wow, it’s fast. CrystalDiskMark’s SEQ1M QT1 test reported read speeds of 13,031 MB/s and write speeds of 9,140 MB/s. For reference, most laptops with a PCIe Gen 4 drive will achieve about 4,000 to 7,000 MB/s, depending on the drive used. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: It’s loud and hot Clearly, the MSI Raider 18 HX AI is a performer. It absolutely demolished CPU benchmarks and scored well in GPU benchmarks. However, this also results in a lot of fan noise and hot surface temperatures. If you plan to play demanding games, like Cyberpunk 2077, you’re going to want noise-canceling headphones. This isn’t MSI’s fault. Modern hardware is more power-hungry than it once was, so increased fan noise and hotter surface temps are inevitable. And, to MSI’s credit, I think the cooling system in the Raider 18 has an inoffensive acoustic profile. It’s not grating or high-pitched—but it’s certainly loud. Choosing a less aggressive performance profile, like Balanced, will reduce fan noise a bit, but it’s still noisy when the CPU and GPU are getting hammered. Shoppers who plan to fully use the Raider 18’s impressive performance should invest in noise-canceling headphones. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Battery life The MSI Raider 18 HX AI tries to offer passable battery life with a huge 99 watt-hour battery, the largest capacity available in modern laptops (due to FAA restrictions on battery size for carry-on items). However, the laptop ships with a 400-watt power adapter, and MSI says it can utilize a total power of 260 watts. It won’t use that much power when on battery, but still, you can begin to see the problem. 260 watts is a lot more than 99. IDG / Matthew Smith And, well, the results are obvious. I measured a bit less than four hours of battery life in our standard battery test, which loops a 4K file of the short film Tears of Steel. I tested the laptop in the Hybrid Graphics mode. This is not a demanding test, but it still put the Raider 18’s battery life well into the single digits and behind most similar laptops. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Conclusion The MSI Raider 18 HX AI is a hardware showcase. It has an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX that sets new records in several benchmarks, and an Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU with performance close to RTX 4090, and a pair of PCIe 5.0 solid state drives that hit blistering read speeds of just over 13,000 MB/s. It also has a bright Mini-LED display. These advantages come alongside practical downsides. The Raider 18 is heavy, and the battery doesn’t last long. I wasn’t a fan of the keyboard or touchpad, either. The MSI Raider 18 HX is a decent value. That might be hard to believe given the laptop’s nearly $4,500 MSRP, but if you take a tour through Newegg or Best Buy product listings, you’ll find most comparable 18-inch systems with RTX 50-series graphics have less RAM, smaller solid state drives, and often a less capable version of the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor. The Raider 18 HX feels built to provide top-tier performance across as many tasks as possible, while its competitors (such as the Gigabyte Aorus Master 18 and Asus ROG Strix 18) are more focused on gaming performance. Of course, not everyone needs top-tier CPU performance, 64GB of RAM, or 4TB of PCIe 5 storage. But if you want a laptop that pushes the limits of performance across CPU, GPU, and storage, the Raider 18 HX is a great choice. Read...