ultraportables
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9010090100MacBook Air M3 13-inch and 15-inch review (2024): Excellent yet unsurprising
Apple's latest MacBook Air takes everything we loved about the M2 redesign -- a sleeker and lighter case -- and adds more power thanks to an M3 chip.
8410084100Surface Laptop Go 3 review: Microsoft’s basic PC grows up
The Surface Laptop Go 3 has evolved into a truly compelling compact mid-range laptop.
Dell's XPS 13 Plus is a beautiful ultraportable, but it has no headphone jack
The XPS 13 Plus is Dell's most polished ultraportable yet.
The Surface Laptop Studio transforms into an easel, because of course
The Surface Studio Laptop is Microsoft's next attempt at building a powerful notebook.
Surface Laptop 4 review (15-inch): A bigger, better ultraportable
The Surface Laptop 4 may look familiar, but it's a major upgrade over the last model.
Microsoft's Surface Laptop 4 features Intel and AMD CPUs
Almost a year and a half since launching the Surface Laptop 3, Microsoft is finally ready with a follow-up. The Surface Laptop 4 continues the line's tradition of being, well, kind of basic.
ASUS ZenBook Duo review (2021): A better dual-screen notebook for less
Read Engadget's review of the ASUS ZenBook Duo, which was named Best PC in the official Best of CES 2021 Awards.
Intel's 11th-gen H-series CPUs are made for ultraportable gaming laptops
Historically, Intel’s H-series laptop chips have been meant for beefy gaming and workhorse PCs. The first batch of chips we’re seeing are actually meant for ultraportable gaming laptops that dip below four pounds.
MacBook Pro M1 review (13-inch, 2020): Pro, but only to a point
The M1 MacBook Pro is fast and efficient, though its compatibility issues may turn off some professionals.
9410094100MacBook Air M1 review: Faster than most PCs, no fan required
The M1 also gives the MacBook Air something it’s never had before: decent gaming performance. The Intel partnership worked out well for Apple. Apple's new MacBook Air is stunningly fast. The M1-powered MacBook Air feels like an enormous leap forward for Apple in every way.
ASUS ZenBook Flip S review: An OLED beauty with a few flaws
The ZenBook Flip S is a solid premium ultraportable convertible from ASUS, thanks to Intel's 11th-gen CPU and Xe graphics.
How to buy a laptop for school
Here's a guide to find the perfect laptop for you based on your needs and budget.
Dell XPS 15 review (2020): The ideal 15-inch laptop for creatives
Dell's XPS 15 is the premium 15-inch notebook we've been waiting for. It's faster, has a bigger screen and finally has a refreshed design.
ASUS ZenBook Duo review: A dual-screen ultraportable with compromises
The ZenBook Duo is a solid attempt at delivering a dual-screen ultraportable. But ASUS had to make compromises to fit those screens.
HP Spectre x360 13-inch review: Stylish, powerful and flexible
HP has been treating its premium Spectre line like fine jewelry for several years now, with an emphasis on flashy designs and thinness. They've looked good, especially for HP laptops. But now with the latest Spectre x360 13-inch, the company finally has an ultraportable that would look right at home alongside gold and diamond wear at the mall. In a word, it's stunning -- HP finally modernized the x360 with vastly thinner screen bezels and a smaller footprint. It's a high point for the company, and together with Dell's XPS 13 2-in-1, the new x360 is a sign that PC-makers are truly beginning to perfect their convertibles. I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised about how much progress HP has made with the Spectre though. Last year's leather-bound Folio was also a major design triumph that truly stood apart from every other laptop on the market. The new Spectre x360 isn't a dramatic reinvention like the Folio, but it builds on everything HP has been doing with the convertible since 2015.
Engadget Podcast: The tech that made 2019
This week, Devindra and Cherlynn tackle the best and worst tech of 2019. Among the winners: Wireless earbuds and premium ultraportables. As for the losers well.... There's a lot to cover. If anything, it seems like this year is a stepping stone towards some real innovation in 2020. Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News! Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Play Music Links The best true wireless earbuds you can buy this holiday season Microsoft is right: Dual displays are a safer bet than folding screens The (Day)dream is over: Phone-based VR is well and truly dead Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien
Razer Blade Stealth 13 review (2019): A gamer’s dream, at a steep cost
Razer has finally done it: The new Blade Stealth 13 features a powerful gaming GPU in a three-pound ultraportable. Typically machines this small rely on integrated graphics or weaker NVIDIA chips like the MX 150. The new Blade Stealth is the first machine at this size that can be configured with NVIDIA's GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU, allowing it to play most modern games in 1080p. Normally, you'd have to live with a laptop closer to four pounds to get that graphics card. As you'd expect, though, that sort of power will cost you much more than a typical gaming PC. And while the GTX 1650 is faster than other ultraportables, it can't always reach a smooth 60 FPS frame rate. The Blade Stealth is clearly built for a specific type of gamer: one who wants a very light machine but still wants to play a quick match of Overwatch.
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 review: Better than the original
You could say we're big fans of Dell's latest XPS 13. It's been one of our favorite laptops since 2015, and we called the newest model the perfect ultraportable back in April. Well, Dell has already managed to one-up itself with a revamped 2-in-1 version of the XPS 13 that is thinner and can rotate into different orientations. Honestly, it even looks better. It's not only a great convertible laptop but also one of the best ultraportables you can buy today, so much so that it's strong competition even for the standard XPS 13.
Surface Laptop 3 hands-on: Bigger, yet more refined
While we loved the original Surface Laptop, last year's sequel wasn't a huge improvement design-wise. The Surface Laptop 3 is another story entirely: there's a larger 15-inch model with a custom AMD chip and Radeon Vega graphics. It may not have the 2-in-1 capabilities of the Surface Pro or Book, but the Surface Laptop 3 continues to be a unique and compelling option in the crowded world of ultraportables.
How to buy a laptop for school in 2019
If you're bound for college or high school, there's good news and bad news when it comes to choosing a laptop. On the plus side, there are more choices than ever, which means there's a good chance you can find a notebook that's perfect for you. The downside: With so many options, it's often hard to figure out what's actually worth buying. We've recommended some of our favorite laptops as part of our annual back-to-school guide, but here are some tips to keep in mind. First off, consider what your needs are: Your laptop is going to see you through every class report and Netflix binge for the next four years. Get a machine that can do both. For many students, a modern ultraportable will be enough. But if you want to game or edit media, you'll have to make sure you find something with a bit more power.
