Want a laptop as good as a Macbook? Check these out!

Apple’s MacBook has set some definitions in the world of laptops. Nevertheless, major tech giants around the world have risen to the challenge and have produced some of the best laptops in the market. If you are looking for a quality laptop but don’t want to opt for a MacBook, check out these alternatives:

1. Dell XPS 13

Dell wanted to create a laptop that will not only match the MacBook’s aesthetics, but pose a serious competition with its performance. Enter the XPS 13. It is based on tenth-gen Core i5 and i7 processors, unlike the MacBook Pro. It also gets a lighter screen than the MacBook, with the same 13.3-inch resolution. Hardware includes 16GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage. It also gets features that MacBook misses on, such as two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a microSD card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack. However, it carries a suitable price tag of Rs 1 lakh+, while offering a weight of 1.2 kg.

2. ThinkPad X1 Carbon

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon offers more than the MacBook Pro as it comes with a larger screen than the current 13.3-inch MacBook Pro and is available in seven set configurations. Buyers can choose from eighth and tenth generation Intel CPUs combined with IPS screens with Full HD, QHD or UHD resolutions. Compared to that, the MacBook Pro offers a maximum resolution of 2880×1800 pixels. Its price depends on the model selected also falls in the Rs 1 lakh+ range.

3. Asus VivoBook 14

Asus has created one of the most affordable alternatives to the MacBook, with the VivoBook 14. It is priced under Rs 50,000 and offers an ultra-thin 14-inch display. It is powered by an 8th gen Intel Core i5 procesor and gets 8GB of ram and 512GB Solid State Drive (SSD). It also gets a microSD card reader, a USB Type C connector, two full-size USB ports, and one HDMI.

4. HP Envy 13

The HP Envy 13 has a 1.5cm thickness and a weight of just 1.2 kg, making it a considerable alternative to the sleek MacBook. The Envy 13 gets Intel’s 8th gen Core i5 processor, along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. It is also equipped with three full-size USB connectors, one USB Type C connector, a microSD card slot, and a micro SD card reader. HP has priced the Envy 13 at a reasonable Rs 70,000 price range.

5. Surface Laptop 2

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 2 is probably the most potent competitor to the Apple MacBook. It is exquisitely designed with unique colours and gets a premium Alcantara textile finish around the keyboard and trackpad. It gets a 13.5-inch display that has a resolution of 2256×1504. The display also has a 10-point multi-touch input options, giving it a significant upper hand over the MacBook. The laptop runs on an Intel 8th gen Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage and is priced around Rs 75,000.

The Laptop Of The Future Or The Future Of Laptops?

Laptops are one of the most used personal devices after smartphones obviously. The main factor for choosing laptops is the form factor and portability. Laptops are getting even smaller than they were before. They are slimmer, have less weight and also have a host of hardware such as high-quality screens which makes these small computers really powerful for all your day to day work.

But does the laptop still has to be this big in the days where physical hardware is slowly starting to lose its meaning? Most smartphone makers have found innovative ways to increase the screen real estate on the front and have been eliminating (read concealing) their physical hardware like front cameras and sensors inside the phone itself. You can see how the latest smartphones like the OnePlus 7 Pro, Oppo Reno and the Asus 6Z which have mechanisms built-in to pop and retract the camera module.

Now it’s about time that manufacturers start making smaller, more portable and powerful laptops with innovative designs. Not only this, the trial and error of making the devices smaller are giving birth to even more possibilities. Not too long ago, Asus added a small screen in place of the trackpad of the laptop which also works as a secondary screen. Following up on this development, Asus has recently unveiled a powerful laptop with dual screens. Yes, two screens on a laptop. An OLED screen as the primary one and secondary screen where you would expect the physical keyboard to be. The physical keyboard has been moved ahead and the trackpad has been moved to the right of the keypad. This gives the laptop a unique design and perspective for use, especially when multi-tasking. We expect this laptop from Asus to be commercially launched soon as it is a very innovative way of making a laptop different.

Now in an interesting attempt, electronics giant Lenovo has come up with something very unique. Something which might have been tried by many, but was perfected by none. Lenovo has created a folding screen which loses out on the physical keyboard but gets an OLED 13-inch OLED 2K screen which folds in half to make the form factor not more than a small hardbound book. The fordable PC is being called by the name of Lenovo ThinkPad X1, which is expected to join the list of Lenovo devices as early as 2020. The device is still in its early stages of development. However, Lenovo was smart enough to rope in a few tech experts and sent the device for an opinion.

The device in question if a fully folding OLED display. An OLED display is something even high-end laptops miss on. However, manufacturers are now trying to incorporate better screens on laptops which would definitely enhance the overall viewing experience. The ThinkPad X1 is something which has been imagined to be in a laptop territory without being too big or have any issues of portability. This device can be folded in half and can be used with a separate keyboard or simply used with the on-screen keyboard. However, some people would still miss a physical keyboard as mentioned by many tech experts who have had a hands-on with Lenovo’s latest innovation.

The idea and attempt to create something like this is commendable. But, there are a few questions that arise with the device. Is the folding display really a good idea? Will it have a life long enough to go through the daily grind of power-hungry multimedia users, how long will be the battery life on a portable device of this size and how will the company create the similar typing experience on the device which physical keyboard users are looking for. Unless this technology becomes mainstream, it is really difficult to have an opinion about it or even to speculate anything. Going to work with a book-sized device which fulfils every bit of requirement of a laptop, a fully-fledged one would simply be an amazing experience.

With such small and space-saving devices, computing is about to take a very interesting turn. Physical hardware is slowly disappearing and screens are replacing major hardware and experiences. This surely is going towards a very interesting direction where smaller devices will be more powerful and have equal or more features, and the day doesn’t seem too distant either.

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