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MSI's latest Prestige notebook is lightweight but powerful
MSI's laptops aren't just all play, no work. Though best known for its gaming laptops, MSI also revealed a more sedate, but still well-equipped model, the 14-inch Prestige PS42. It packs decent an Intel Core i7-8550U quad-core CPU, near bezel-less 1080p screen, a fingerprint reader, two fans and optional 25W MX150 discrete graphics. What's best, all of that is packed into a very decent-looking 15.9mm (0.6-inch) thick, 2.64-pound brushed aluminum housing.
ASUS’ new ZenBook S is thin, light and rugged
ASUS has announced the ZenBook S (UX391), a 13.3-inch ultraportable that is designed to be tougher than your average laptop. Built to military specifications, the company claims that the S has proved its mettle in a series of endurance tests in tough conditions. But, unlike most rugged devices, the ZenBook S is light and thin enough to make you think it's a delicate piece of gear.
Samsung Notebook 9 Pen review: Solid stylus, so many compromises
My backpack is a disaster. I've always been sort of a pack rat, and working at Engadget doesn't help. Every day I lug a laptop, a tablet, a few phones (for review purposes), an SLR, a huge power bank, chargers and cables for all of those things, and a book to the office. With MWC coming up, this seemed like a great time to reevaluate what I drag with me everywhere. And at the top of my list for reevaluation is my 15-inch MacBook Pro -- one of the heaviest things in my bag. Enter Samsung's (awkwardly named) Notebook 9 Pen. For $1,399 you get one of the lightest Windows 10 ultraportables out there, and as the name suggests, it's one of just a few Samsung laptops that use the company's famous S Pen. After a week of testing, it's clear that the Notebook 9 Pen has its uses, but most people won't miss out by skipping it.
Samsung's Notebook 9 Pen is a super-light Galaxy Note/laptop mashup
Samsung announced a handful of laptops before CES even started, but only one of the was really new: the Notebook 9 Pen. It isn't Samsung's first attempt at blending a laptop and a Galaxy Note, but after a little hands-on time, we can say it's shaping up to be one of the most polished.
Samsung gives the 13-inch Notebook 7 Spin a few modest updates
Well, Samsung seems hell-bent on revealing all its new laptops before CES even starts. First there was the trio of Notebook 9 models announced last month, and now the company is talking up a new version of its Notebook 7 Spin. For those not aware, the original 13.3-inch Spin debuted in 2016 as a relatively inexpensive laptop that turned into a slightly unwieldy tablet, and this refreshed version doesn't stray far from Samsung's original formula.
HP and ASUS unveil Snapdragon-powered laptops
Since teasing us with a preview of what Windows on Snapdragon will look like at Computex this year, Qualcomm and its partners are ready to reveal actual devices. Today, at Qualcomm's second annual tech summit, we saw the HP Envy x2 and the ASUS NovaGo -- two of the "Always Connected PCs" that Microsoft has talked about since last year. In fact, the ASUS is calling the NovaGo the first Gigabit LTE laptop, since it uses the Snapdragon chipset that enables those speeds.
Google patents a motorized Chromebook hinge that can open itself
If you've been struggling to open your own laptop each day, a new patent granted to Google for its Pixel line of notebook computers may be just what you need. Titled "Notebook Computer with Motorized Display Positioning," the patent shows a motorized hinge that will open the display with some sort of touch on the top of the portable computer. The patent also mentions sensors that can detect users from specific distances as well as detect your face so the display can adjust its angle automatically.
Moleskine's smart notebook will work with Microsoft Office
Microsoft has long sold its Surface devices on the idea that they can double as digital notebooks; laptops one minute, journals the next thanks to their detachable displays and styli. (Heck, the Surface Book has a "Clipboard" mode.) With today's Moleskine partnership, however, the company seems ready to admit that some people still prefer paper and pen. The pair have announced a Windows 10 app for Moleskine's 'Smart Writing System,' a quill (based on the Kickstarter-funded Neo smartpen) with a tiny camera that tracks your scribbles on specially marked paper. A digital version of the note is then transferred over Bluetooth for easy reference and sharing.
Xiaomi takes on the MacBook Pro by adding back some ports
It's been well over a year since Xiaomi released its first laptops (if you even remember at all), and for some reason, the smartphone maker has decided to make more. Following the Mi Notebook Air series, we now have the 15.6-inch Mi Notebook Pro clamshell which, as you can tell by the name, is geared towards performance users thanks to its 8th-gen Intel quad-core CPU, NVIDIA GeForce MX150 GPU (aka the mobile version of GT 1030) and SSD. While it's debatable as to how similar-looking the Mi Notebook Pro and the MacBook Pro are (naming convention aside), Xiaomi wasn't exactly helping by dedicating a keynote slide to mocking the lack of mainstream ports on Apple's machine.
HP's first Omen X gaming laptop is built for overclocking
With an over-the-top gaming desktop, you expect certain things: lots of overclocking potential, expansion, a mechanical keyboard... and, of course, windows and RGB lighting to show it off. Some laptops already include a few of those features, but all of them? That was rare... until now, at least. HP is unveiling its first laptop with Omen X branding (the appropriately-titled Omen X Laptop), and it's clear this is built for gamers who can't bear to part with what they're used to on desktops.
Samsung's Notebook 9 Pro harbors a stowaway S Pen
Whether it's your shirt pocket, the zippered compartment in your backpack or a pencil case, existing spots to stow your stylus just aren't as convenient as an on-device dock. And few laptops these days have built-in slots for a digital pen, which is why Samsung's latest convertible laptop is unique. The Notebook 9 Pro comes with a helpful S Pen that conveniently slides under the keyboard for storage. It will be available with either a 13.3- or 15-inch screen.
ASUS ZenBook Pro UX550 is a powerhouse with a 4K touchscreen
It's been over two years since ASUS announced its original ZenBook Pro, and while the machine received a spec bump late last year, it's about time for the company to revamp its premium desktop replacement line. Announced at the "Edge of Beyond" event ahead of Computex, the new ZenBook Pro UX550 once again dons a 15.6-inch 4K touchscreen behind the spin-metal lid, except this time it comes with Intel's top Kaby Lake option plus an NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti graphics chip (with 4GB of DDR5 VRAM). More notably, at 18.9mm thick and 1.8kg (3.97 pounds), the UX550 is one of the most portable laptops in its class, beating the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (25.44mm/2.62kg) and Acer Nitro 5 (26.75mm/2.7kg), which tout similar specs (except for their lack of 4K display option), while almost matching the smaller 14-inch Razer Blade (17.9mm/ 1.86kg).
ASUS ZenBook Flip S is the thinnest convertible yet
If you're shopping for a new laptop for the back-to-school season, get ready to be spoiled for choice. At its Computex keynote in Taiwan today, ASUS showed off a slew of new laptops and convertibles, leading with the ZenBook Flip S, which the company says is the "world's thinnest 2-in-1 convertible laptop." At 10.9mm thin and weighing 1.1kg, the 13-inch Flip S certainly has a smaller footprint than other similarly sized systems from Apple, HP, Acer and Lenovo. That thin profile, along with new minimal display bezels that ASUS is calling "NanoEdge," is the clear focus for the company's laptop refresh this year.
Huawei’s first laptop is a MacBook clone in looks alone
Hot on the heels of Microsoft announcing the Surface Laptop, Huawei is ready to unveil its first real Windows 10 notebook. It's called the MateBook X, and it might remind you of Apple's 12-inch MacBook. In fact, the resemblance is so striking that I could barely tell the two apart without glancing at their logos. Although it looks very similar to Apple's diminutive laptop, the MateBook actually has a few important (and useful) differences.
HP introduces new Pavilion laptops at... Coachella
HP has picked an unlikely event for the launch of its new Pavilion laptops: Coachella. As wacky as it sounds, the company actually has a somewhat logical reason for the choice. It's showing off the laptops' new stylus input support, and is betting that this feature will appeal to the (presumably) expressive, artsy folks at the music festival. And it's luring them in by setting up DIY bandana-designing stations at its air-conditioned spot in the festival's Colorado Desert venue.
Samsung ventures back into PC gaming with the Notebook Odyssey
Samsung makes perfectly nice PCs and all, but it's been years since we've seen it try to court the gamer market with a rig of its own. That changes today: The company revealed its new Notebook Odyssey, its first dedicated gaming laptop in a long time. Make that laptops, plural: There's a 15.6-inch model and a larger model with a 17.3-inch display.
HP's new laptops and all-in-one are slimmer than ever
Just as it did last year, HP is updating its convertible, all-in-one and thin-and-light laptop again. This time, the company is making sure its devices are (more than) slim enough for your bags and crowded desks. In addition to losing weight and girth, the Envy 13, the Spectre x360 13.3 and the 27-inch Envy All-In-One and display are all getting refreshed with the latest processors and improved battery lives (for the laptops). While neither the new Envy 13 nor the Spectre x360 convertible can steal the title of skinniest notebook from the Spectre laptop, they're still impressively svelte with profiles measuring just 14mm and 13.8mm respectively.
Alienware: VR rigs will become the new Wii thanks to laptops
Almost exactly seven years ago, Alienware joined the Tokyo Game Show for the first time to launch its redesigned machines since Dell's acquisition. This week, the American company is once again present there to launch the Alienware 17 and 15 laptops for Japan, with one of their main selling points being their VR capability, courtesy of NVIDIA GTX 10-Series graphics. While this won't change the fact that high-end VR rigs are still relatively expensive, global marketing director Joe Olmsted reckons the mobility aspect will be enough to turn VR into the new home party machine that can be shared between friends -- much like what he did with the Nintendo Wii back in the days.
Dell's updated XPS 13 includes a 'rose gold' model
When Intel formally launched its seventh-generation Core processors, you could practically hear the outcry for an updated Dell XPS 13 that uses them. It's a fan favorite among laptops, but a showcase for what Intel's technology can do for mobile performance and battery life. Well, you can relax. Dell is releasing an upgraded XPS 13 that not only touts the latest Intel tech, but also comes in an optional "rose gold" (aka light metallic pink). It's an acknowledgment that the XPS 13 and its near-borderless display have become design statements, and that many people would like color options beyond the usual shades of gray.
HP built a privacy screen into its EliteBook laptops
Now you can watch all the adult content you want on the go. HP has designed a new integrated privacy screen in partnership with 3M to combat what the company calls "visual hacking." In other words: creepers looking over your shoulder. The Sure View screen will be available on touchscreen versions of the company's Elitebook 840 and 1040 laptops in September, and on nontouch ones in October. I got an early look at the new panels, which were mostly useful and effective.
