Powered by 11th-generation Intel Core i3, 15 or i7 processors with integrated Intel (UHD or Iris Xe) Graphics, the 13.4-inch XPS 13 is compact and lightweight, yet durable. Many devices could perform these duties, but the Dell XPS 13 currently leads the field, in our opinion. As well as a decent screen and keyboard, knowledge workers need solid all-round performance, a spare connection for an external monitor, if required, and a good webcam/mic/speaker combo for handling video calls (this will be particularly important if the user is also working remotely). Knowledge workers spend a lot of time staring at the screen and pounding the keyboard, mostly running a mix of productivity and collaboration apps. If you want to know about gaming laptops, we suggest you head over to our sister site, CNET. Our 11 laptop categories are: Knowledge workers Mobile professionals Power users and creators Workstation users Budget-limited users Field workers Early adopters Apple users Microsoft Surface users Chromebook users and Linux users. As always, though, individual requirements and preferences will vary, so when choosing a laptop check out other similar models, examine the specifications and price points, visit the manufacturers' online forums to see how customer relations are working out in practice, get hands-on, if you can, to get a feel for the ergonomics - and, of course, read the reviews. Then there are the platform enthusiasts who will only consider Windows, MacOS, Chrome OS, or Linux devices, for whatever reason, or determined early adopters who must have the latest and greatest mobile technology.Īs a result, this best laptop roundup covers different use cases and compute platforms to provide a mid-2021 overview of the cream of the laptop market.

This ebook, based on the latest ZDNet / TechRepublic special feature, helps small and medium-sized businesses build a technology stack that promotes innovation and enables growth.įaced with the question 'what's the best laptop for 2021?' (or any other year), the first sensible response is: 'What do you want to use it for?' That's because the best laptop for office - or home-based knowledge workers, for example, will be very different from the kind of device that's suitable for power users and creators, or for students and the otherwise cash-strapped, and so on. Special report: The new SMB stack (free PDF)

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