How to choose your laptop? Screen, chassis, battery life, etc.
Update — Several new laptops have been added to our portfolio: Huawei Matebook X, Lenovo Yoga 9i and Slim 9i, Asus Zenbook S and Flip S, Asus Zenbook 14 ultralight, Asus Zenbook Pro 15, Acer Triton 300, Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo, HP Omen 15, Lenovo IdeaPad Duet (Chromebook), new Lenovo Legion (5, 5i and 7i), Microsoft Surface Go 2 and Surface Book 3.
The laptop is not dead! Tablets have not managed to make laptops obsolete; quite the opposite. Laptops have diversified: they have become hybrids, touch-enabled with removable or reversible screens. On the other hand, with the arrival of ultraportables, gaming PCs, or other Chromebooks, it can sometimes be difficult to make your choice.
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To make things easier for you, we decided to evaluate the ranges currently offered by manufacturers and compare the best laptop models.
How we evaluated
We compiled all the tests and comparisons conducted by us or by other specialized sites and determined the common characteristics of each configuration in the range: type and quality of the chassis, specific equipment, components, weight, etc. The synthesis of this data allowed us to assign a score to each configuration in the range. If this score is greater than or equal to 7/10, we chose a configuration that seems well balanced and offers good value for money.
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Classic laptop or hybrid?
A new development in recent years: the hybrid PC. It is divided into two categories and affects all ranges. Touchscreen in all cases, it can either offer a detachable display or have a hinge capable of rotating 360° and thus transform into a tablet. Good solutions for those looking for both devices in one. If you are not interested in using the tablet, avoid hybrid models that, at the same cost, will have a less powerful configuration.
Windows 10S, ChromeOS or Windows 10 Home?
Contrary to what you might think, not all PCs necessarily run Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro (For Apple machines, the question doesn’t even arise!).
In fact, it is important to know that machines sold for less than 400 or 450 euros mainly run on Windows 10S or ChromeOS. These two operating systems do not offer as much freedom as Windows 10 Home when it comes to installing applications. They force the user to visit their app store (Google Play Store for ChromeOS or Microsoft Store for Windows 10S) and choose from a… more or less limited catalog!
For example, under Windows 10S, it is not possible to install (for free) the graphic editing application GIMP from the publisher’s website. You must go through the Microsoft Store, where the application is paid…
On the other hand, to browse the web, you must also use the Microsoft Edge browser as Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome cannot be installed!
What screen size?
Netbooks have had their time, so we are done with 7-inch laptops. The majority of sales are still for 14 and 15.6 inches, which is a comfortable but not too large diagonal.
If the laptop is often moved, a 13.3 inch or even 11.6 inch model should be preferred. Smaller, they are also lighter.
On the other hand, if the desired laptop is intended to replace a desktop PC, a large model can be considered. We turn to a 17.3 inch model.
What resolution?
Resolution is a second point to consider. Entry-level models are most often equipped with screens of 1366 x 768 pixels. We are already in high definition (HD), but not Full HD. The latter has 1920 x 1080 pixels. It offers greater ease of use, allowing you to display more items on a desktop, for example, but also to enjoy movies, series, and video games of the best quality.
Last level: Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels). Fashionable on TVs, it is still reserved for high-end PCs and is of little interest to ordinary mortals, given the small diagonal of the screens. Some machines — most often for gamers — use an LCD screen with QHD (Quad HD) resolution between Full HD and 4K (2560 x 1440 pixels).
Frame: plastic or aluminum?
If this is a key goal for you, know that manufacturers are trying to make an effort on the appearance of their entry-level machines. Now, we find PCs under 400€ that look more and more like ultraportables, except they do not share the same configurations and only offer a plastic case. Aluminum, on the other hand, appears in the mid-range and is widely used in the high-end.
Power or battery life?
The laptop market has changed little in this regard. A machine for video games, for example, still offers less battery life than a professional ultraportable. The problem is the peak power structured around a high-performance processor and a dedicated graphics card, both of which are power-hungry.
On the other hand, an ultraportable is more measured, but if it can last more than 10 hours on a power outlet, it will not be able to run certain video games or be used for advanced photo/video editing.
Acer
Acer offers laptops that are extremely pleasant and sometimes difficult to find. Here is a short guide that will help you understand what the different ranges of the manufacturer correspond to and quickly know if a configuration, depending on your interests and budget, suits you.We will look at the different ranges, from the less sophisticated models to the most efficient models.
Please note that Acer does not offer refurbished deals in its online store. However, the manufacturer regularly offers cashback deals, which can turn an interesting machine into a real bargain.
Acer Chromebook — Range rating: 8/10
Our choice: Acer CB715-1WT-30WV >
- Average prices observed: from 250 to 550€ (Chromebook), from 350 to 700€ (Chromebook Spin)
- Screen size: 13.3 inches, 14 inches, and 15.6 inches
- Resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 2256 x 1504 pixels
- Weight: from 1.1 to 1.8 kg
€549 at Boulanger
These machines run on Chrome OS and are intended for people who only use applications running the Google browser and applications accessible via the Play Store. It is therefore not possible to install an application designed for Windows, such as sophisticated games.
The latest models are the Chromebook Spin (available in 11.6, 13.5, and 15.6 inches), which feature a touchscreen that can rotate 360 degrees, allowing the machine to be used as a tablet.
While Acer’s “basic” Chromebooks include low performance (and thus low power consumption to provide maximum battery life), such as Celeron or Pentium, some Spin models are significantly better equipped (Intel Core processor).
Good performance and long battery life
These machines, offered at low prices, perform quite well when it comes to office tasks. Only the screen quality generally disappoints a bit.
In addition, their battery life can reach 9 hours or more, which is very satisfactory. The Chromebook Spin 11 also showed a slight weakness in battery life: 8 hours and 41 minutes “only.” A test of the Chromebook 514 (14-inch touchscreen) also showed excellent battery life (over 10 hours) and good display quality.
Finally, the Chromebook 715 also stands out for its high battery life and good performance.
Acer Aspire — Range rating: 7/10
Our choice: Acer Aspire A315-56-56QM >
- Average prices observed: Between 250 and 330€ (Aspire 1). Between 350 and 1100€ (Aspire 3). Between 550 and 1000€ (Aspire 5). Between 1100 and 1300 (Aspire 7)
673.99€ at Rue du Commerce
Acer’s Aspire laptops are versatile machines that can meet all office and multimedia needs, from the most basic to the most demanding (gaming, for example) with the Aspire 7.
Acer Aspire 1
Thus, the Aspire 1 are entry-level configurations with fairly limited equipment (Intel Celeron, 4 GB of memory, 32 or 64 GB of storage, 11.6 or 14 inches HD 1366 x 768 pixels, or Full HD) and a price reduced to the maximum.
As shown by the test of the Acer Aspire 1 that we conducted, the equipment of this laptop is proportional to its low price! However, when it comes to performing very simple daily tasks (browsing websites, emails, social networks, or audio and video streaming sites), its components are sufficient, if one can tolerate sometimes slightly long response times (a few seconds). On the other hand, its HD screen offers limited reading comfort.
Acer Aspire 3
The Aspire 3 offers slightly more powerful configurations, mainly with a 15.6-inch or 17.3-inch screen (Full HD only on the most expensive models) with processors ranging from Intel Celeron to Intel Core i3/i5/i7 or AMD A4/A5/A9/Ryzen 3. Their storage system can have an SSD.
Acer Aspire 5
For the Aspire 5, we continue to evolve, with machines of 15.6 or 17.3 inches, almost all Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), Intel Core i3 or i5 processors, 4 to 8 GB of memory, and a hard drive and/or SSD. Their graphics chip remains basic (Intel HD 620 or even GeForce MX130/MX150/MX250).
Tests of the Aspire 5 (mid-range model for office work) highlight a pleasant keyboard, a quality display, and powerful components, such as the SSD that complements the hard drive and its GeForce MX150 graphics chip.
The negatives are related to the poor quality of the webcam and speakers, which is not catastrophic.
Acer Aspire 7
Finally, the Aspire 7 are powerful multimedia machines, which operate somewhat on the beds of Acer Nitro laptops, as they are equipped with a Full HD screen of 15.6 or 17.3 inches, powered by a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650Ti graphics chip. Their keyboard is backlit. Some configurations are equipped with a 6-core Intel Core i7 processor (model i7-9750h).
Acer Swift — Range rating: 7/10
Our choice: Acer Swift SF314-57-74J9 >
- Average prices observed: from 400 to 500€ (Swift 1), from 500 to 850€ (Swift 3), from 1000 to 1350€ (Swift 5), from 800 to 1500€ (Swift 7)
- Weight: from 1.0 to 1.5 kg
- Note: they include a fingerprint reader and a backlit keyboard.
849,00€ at Boulanger
Acer’s Swift laptops are ultrabooks (compact and very lightweight machines). They are available in 4 models:
Acer
The Swift 1 is aimed at small budgets and offers a 14-inch (Full HD) screen, an entry-level processor (Pentium or Celeron), and fairly limited storage capacity (eMMC 64, 128, or 256 GB). Their weight is 1.3 Kg. They allow you to perform basic daily tasks (web, mail, social networks, photo or video playback, audio streaming, etc.), Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 S.
Acer
The Swift 3s are equipped with a 13.5-inch or 14-inch screen, and are barely heavier than the Swift 1 as they weigh only 1.5 kg (1.2 kg for the 13.5-inch models). However, they have significantly better equipment, with an Intel processor (Core i3/i5/i7) or AMD (Ryzen 3 or 5). On the other hand, they are equipped with a more efficient SSD storage system.
Acer
The equipment of the Swift 5 is very similar to that of the Swift 3 (14-inch screen), with the same internal components, but with reduced weight (only 1 Kg). Battery life is now 13 hours.
In a recent test, the Swift 5 was highly appreciated for its great battery life, display quality, and compact format.
Acer
Finally, the Swift 7 is the star of the range, weighing 1.2 kg and less than 1 cm thick, despite using a 14-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen covered with a scratch-resistant glass panel. The mid-range and high-end components ensure good performance. The Swift 7 SF714-52T weighs 890 grams and measures only 31.7 x 19.9 x 0.99 cm. Its screen has significantly reduced bezels.
Our test highlights the amazing thinness of the machine, the high quality of its screen (bright and colorful as you wish), and its great battery life (9 h 04 min). The laptop also has two USB Type-C ports. Only the Intel Core i7-Y processor is slower than the “classic” Core i7.
The Swift 7 SF715-52T Acer Swift 7: Ultra-mobility
Acer Spin — Range rating: 7/10
Our choice: Acer Spin 5 SP513-54N-75Z7 >
- Average prices observed: from 350 to 500€ (Spin 1), from 500 to 800€ (Spin 3), from 1100 to 1300€ (Spin 5), from 1000 to 1200€ (Spin 7)
- Screen size: 11.6 inches, 13.5 inches, 14 inches
- Note: the touchscreen can rotate 360 degrees so it can be used as a tablet.
1399€ at Boulanger
Spin laptops have a touchscreen that can rotate 360 degrees in common. They are available in 4 models. However, in practice, only Spin 1 and Spin 5 are currently found in online stores…
Acer Spin 1
The Spin 1 features an 11.6-inch IPS screen that supports HD or Full HD resolution, as well as a low-speed processor (Pentium or Celeron). It is supposed to offer long battery life (up to 12 hours) and offers a very compact format (1.4 cm thick at 1.2 kg).
Tests have proven conclusive, especially regarding the screen which delivers good results. Only the battery life of the Spin 1 is slightly lower than that of the competition.
Acer Spin 3
The Spin 3 features a larger (14-inch) Full HD screen. It performs better as it includes an Intel Core processor and an SSD. However, this version proved to be a bit disappointing during tests. However, battery life was measured at 9:12 minutes, which is much higher than what its competitors offer.
Acer Spin 5
With the Spin 5, we move to a 13.5-inch diagonal screen. Its Full HD IPS LCD screen displays accurate images only in Full HD, thanks to a resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels. By the way, the screen performed very well during tests. For the rest, the Spin 5 shows average test results.
Acer Spin 7
Finally, the Spin 7 operates with a 14-inch diagonal screen. However, this machine has a small size (1.2 kg and 1.1 cm thick). Its components are powerful, just like its Core i7 processor. This is complemented by two USB 3.1 Type-C ports.
. Acer Aspire Nitro — Range rating: 7/10
Our choice: Acer 5 AN515-55-50BL >
- Average prices observed: from 700 to 1600€
- Screen size: 15.6 inches, 17.3 inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Weight: 2.3 to 2.7 kg
- GPU: GeForce GTX 1650/1650Ti/1660 Ti/RTX 2060
1049€ at Amazon
The Nitro range includes configurations for gamers who do not want (or cannot) invest in a very expensive laptop. The Nitro 5 features a Full HD screen with the latest generation Intel Core i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen 5/7 processor with or without SSD (in addition to a traditional 1TB hard drive) and an entry-level graphics chip (up to GeForce RTX 2060).
The latest models, known as Nitro 5 and Nitro 7, introduce a slightly revised design, a new 17.3-inch format, and a 15.6-inch screen that can operate at 144 Hz on some models (with significantly reduced bezels).
As an entry-level machine requires, the internal components of the Acer Nitro provide good performance while the external elements (keyboard, screen, webcam) are simply satisfactory.
In practice, a version of the Nitro 5, equipped with a GeForce GTX 1650 graphics chip and an Intel Core i5-9300H processor, was tested and provided complete satisfaction (except for the speakers), offering excellent value for money.
Nitro 5 Spin: powerful and autonomous
The Nitro 5 Spin can be used as a tablet thanks to its 360-degree rotating touchscreen.
The Spin model is more powerful when it comes to screen performance. Even its battery life is better than that of the “normal” Nitro (a little over 7 hours compared to about 4 hours and 45 minutes).
While it does not show exceptional performance for a gaming machine, it has the advantage of being versatile and capable of switching from a laptop to a tablet.
Acer Predator — Range rating: 9/10
Our choice: Triton 500 PT515-52-75XW >
- Average prices observed: between 1500 and 3000€
- Screen size: 15.6 inches, 17.3 inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels, 3840 x 2160 pixels
- Weight: 2.4 to 2.9 kg (Helios), 2.1 kg (Triton 500)
€2,399.99 at Materiel.net
For hardcore gamers, Predator laptops feature a futuristic and eye-catching design. Their equipment is uncompromising, such as their 16 GB of memory and a storage subsystem consisting of a hard drive paired with an SSD. Of course, to play, they have a high-end graphics chip and a Full HD or 4K screen.
The latest configurations include the latest Nvidia chips (RTX 2060, 2070 Super, and 2080 Super). Often massive and heavy, these laptops are equipped with a matte IPS panel (anti-glare) and a backlit keyboard. The problem is that their price is in line with their equipment…
The Predator range includes machines brandedHelios and Triton.
Acer Predator Helios
The Helios 300 models occupy the entry-level niche, particularly with a red backlit keyboard and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660Ti to RTX 2070 Super graphics chips. The Helios 300 also includes two SSD slots (configurable in Raid 0), in addition to the hard drive, an RGB keyboard (in four zones), and a screen that operates at 144 Hz or even 240 Hz for the latest models.
Tests of the Helios 300 are generally very positive, given the price content of the machines, except for a low-brightness screen. Performance is there, as is — and this is quite surprising — battery life, which reaches almost 7 hours! In addition, adding memory or replacing the hard drive is very simple to do.
The Helios 500 is even more powerful, with a 17.3-inch 144Hz screen, an RGB keyboard, and high-end Nvidia graphics chips.
It has managed to convince during tests, thanks to its high performance and excellent screen quality.
As for the Helios 700, it is the flagship of this family of machines. In addition to its high-end components (Intel Core i9, 17.3-inch G-sync 144Hz screen, Thunderbolt 3, etc.), it stands out mainly for its keyboard (called HyperDriftAcer Predator Helios 700) that can slide down to increase the efficiency of the cooling system, allowing the machine to be pushed to its limits. The latter also has RGB backlighting button by button.
Acer Predator
The Predator Triton family includes machines that are more easily portable, with a smaller size and weight. To limit heat production, their Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super or 2080 Super chips are of the Max-Q type.
The Triton 500 mainly stands out for its Full HD 15.6-inch G-Sync compatible screen and can operate at a maximum refresh rate of 300 Hz to ensure smooth animations. All in a chassis weighing only 2.1 kg.
The Triton 700 were launched and their equipment is now somewhat outdated (7th generation Intel processor, GTX Nvidia chip, etc.).
Finally, the Triton 900The Predator Triton 900 is a kind of UFO in the gaming world, as its 17.3-inch 4K screen is a touchscreen and can rotate 360 degrees, allowing the machine to be used in tablet mode. The Acer Triton 900 is offered at a price of 3999€ at Darty.
To complete the Triton range, Acer has just announced the update of its Triton 300, which should be available at the beginning of 2020. One of its strengths will be its thinness (less than 2 cm thick) and lightness (2.1 kg).
Acer Predator Triton 300 The Triton 300 is equipped with the latest components, with a 10th generation Intel Core H processor, Wi-Fi 6, a Full HD 15.6-inch screen operating at 240 Hz, and an Nvidia graphics chip (GeForce GTX 1650Ti to RTX 2070 Super Max-Q). Finally, it can integrate up to three SSDs (or two SSDs and a hard drive).
Test Acer Predator Helios 300: a laptop with a GTX 1660 Ti to play at 144 Hz?
Acer Concept
The ConceptD laptops are true workstations designed primarily for creators who need high computing power. They are available on Acer’s website and meet the specifications set by Nvidia as part of RTX Studio.
The range consists of four machines called ConceptD 3, ConceptD 5, ConceptD 7, and ConceptD 9. They stand out mainly for using a high-performance 4K screen (except for ConceptD 3) and components capable of meeting the most demanding tasks, such as 3D creation. For example, there is a 9th generation Intel processor (6 cores) and Nvidia GeForce RTX/Quatro RTX graphics chips.
Acer ConceptD 9 The 4K display of these configurations has to be Pantone certified, covering the entire Adobe RGB color space and offering a Delta E of less than 2 (or less than 1 for ConceptD 9).
Acer ConceptD 7 Test: a stylish and powerful laptop for graphic designers
The ConceptD 9 is the most original laptop in the range. Indeed, it features a 17.3-inch touchscreen mounted on a hinge that allows it to rotate 360 degrees to use the machine in tablet mode.
Acer ConceptD 7 Apple
The offer of laptops from Apple is quite simple, at least in theory. In fact, it consists of three ranges of machines: MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air. The concern is that Apple evolves the configurations of these machines year after year while maintaining a minimalist reference. As a result, we sometimes see Apple machines pass on merchant sites, with the indication “2015 model.” A thorough study of the offer is recommended. Fortunately, Apple had the good idea to create a webpage to help you find it, based on the model number (if indicated by the seller!).
Let us remind those who may not know Apple that these machines do not run on Windows, but on Mac OS 10 (“Catalina” for the latest version).
With their sleek design and good performance, Apple laptops are not cheap. And despite this, there are few promotional offers. However, you can turn to Apple’s refurbished hardware offers.
Apple MacBook Air — Range rating: 8/10
Our choice: MacBook Air >
- Average prices observed: From 1199 to 2579€
- Screen size: 13.3 inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1600 pixels
- Weight: 1.29 kg
€1199.99 at Boulanger
The MacBook Air is an ultra-portable computer, which could be considered a competitor to the MacBook (with a slightly larger screen), until it was removed from Apple’s catalog. As such, it is ultra-thin (1.61 cm thick), ultra-light, and ultra-autonomous, with — as always with Apple — a very clean aluminum chassis.
The Macbook Air is equipped with two Thunderbolt/USB C ports and a headphone jack. The latest models (2020) also feature a 10th generation Intel processor (Core i3 at 1.1/3.2 GHz, Core i5 at 1.1/3.5 GHz, or Core i7 at 1.2/3.8 GHz).
Superb Retina display
Tests of the MacBook Air 2020 show that the ultrabook is convincing, particularly thanks to its very precise and bright screen that offers excellent colorimetry (over 100% of the sRGB range), especially when Apple’s True Tone technology is activated. The configuration also stands out for its powerful speakers, providing strong and well-loaded bass sound.
Excellent battery life
Like its predecessors, the MacBook Air 2020 keeps its promise of battery life, as the configuration can run for about ten hours. As a result, the machine is one of the best ultra-portables. Moreover, the temperature rise of the components remains very limited.
Apple MacBook Pro Range Rating: 9/10
Our choice: Apple Macbook Pro 13 Touch Bar >
- Average prices observed: from 1500 to 2600€ (13.3 inches). 2700 to 4400€ (16 inches)
- Screen size: 13.3 inches, 16 inches
- Resolution: 3072 x 1920 pixels, 2560 x 1600 pixels
- Weight: starting from 1.4/2 kg
1798€ at Boulanger
At the end of 2017, Apple released the MacBook Pro, some of which had a mini LCD touchscreen, placed above the keyboard, taking the form of a long narrow horizontal strip. Called Touch Bar, it displays virtual keys, which replace traditional function keys (audio volume, screen brightness, etc.) and provide a new way to use certain functions in applications. For example, by sliding your finger over this LCD bar, you can scroll through photos or display the effects of different graphic filters.
Models with the Touch Bar also include a fingerprint reader (called Touch ID), which is always handy for easy access to your machine and your data. These Macbook Pros also have four Thunderbolt 3/USB C connectors (compared to only two for the 13.3-inch version without Touch Bar).
At the end of 2019, Apple launched a new MacBook Pro, equipped with a 16-inch screen (with a resolution of 3,072 x 1,920 pixels) and a new even more efficient keyboard. The overall performance of the machine remains very high.
Excellent overall performance
The Macbook Pro, with its 15.4-inch screen and Intel Core i9 processor version, offers astonishing performance, which is not surprising. Its display guarantees excellent display quality and its keyboard is still very satisfying. Even the machine’s speakers provide powerful and precise sound. Only its AMD Radeon Pro 560X graphics chip is somewhat limited compared to Nvidia solutions.
Great battery life
Finally, the battery life of the configuration is over 10 hours, which is a very good result. The 13.3-inch model is slightly less exciting, due to a more limited battery life (just under 9 hours).
Asus
The manufacturer Asus markets a large number of laptops. Quite well segmented, its offer is rich and complete, ranging from very small netbooks (EeeBook) to huge gaming configurations, to convertible and 2-in-1 configurations, very fashionable in recent years. The machines are therefore sharpened with references that are not identifiable by an average buyer, somewhat like Acer (is it a Taiwanese feature?).To help you navigate, we will review the different ranges, from the less sophisticated models to the most powerful models.
Note that Asus offers refurbished machines in its online store, on which a discount of -13% to -30% is applied. These configurations are delivered free of charge and come with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty, including pickup and return on site.
Asus Eeebook — Range rating: 8/10
Our choice: Asus E410MA-EK991TS >
- Average prices observed: from 300 to 400€
- Screen size: 11.6 inches, 14 inches
- Resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels, 1920 x 1080 pixels
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How to choose a laptop?