A 4K laptop was unheard of just a few years ago. Yet, today’s leading producers include Dell, HP, and Lenovo, who provide a 4K display choice across their flagship products. Knowing the finest 4K laptops is crucial because these upgrades come at a significant cost, and we’re here to assist.
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What are the best 4K laptops?
The Dell XPS 15 would be the top-tier 4K laptop available today. You won’t have to make the one tradeoff that you generally would on most 4K laptops because it not only has the brightest 4K screen available, but it also has an amazing battery life. Also, the XPS 15 now has an OLED display for the first time, which is a significant advancement. But, the system also includes a Core i9 processor that can be overclocked, and it connects with a discrete Nvidia GTX 1650 GPU to create a stunning beast. This laptop is ideal for you if you want to start doing some mild to moderately taxing gaming or video editing.
Yet, the Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR is the greatest 4K gaming laptop you can have if you’re a serious gamer. The 17.3-inch, 4K HDR display, the comfortable keyboard, the long-lasting battery, and the powerful overall performance are all included, and they’re all housed in a stylish design. Even while it’s not as good as its rivals, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q GPU will nonetheless provide you great frame rates in your preferred games.
The MSI WS65 9TM, the finest 4K workstation currently on the market, is what you should get if you require a computer for professional creative tasks like 3D modeling and editing 4K footage. With a superslim, robust chassis, the WS65 houses a powerful 9th-Gen Core i7 CPU and Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 Max-Q GPU. Finish it off with a long-lasting battery and a stunning 15.6-inch 4K display.
Dell XPS 13 Plus
Why you should buy this:
The XPS 13 Plus is a wonderful laptop in every aspect and has a gorgeous 4K display.
Who’s it for:
except for players.
What we thought of the Dell XPS 13 Plus:
It should come as no surprise that the XPS 13 Plus, which leads our ranking of the best laptops, also takes the top spot on our list of the best 4K laptops. The most recent models of the XPS 13 go above and beyond what we’ve seen previously, adding a haptic touchpad, touch-sensitive function “buttons,” and a full-size keyboard that is edge-to-edge with little gap between keycaps. One of the top 13-inch laptops is the XPS 13 Plus.
The 3.5K OLED variant with an Intel Core i7-1280P CPU, 16GB of Memory, and a terabyte of PCIe NVMe SSD storage was the subject of our evaluation. But, a 4K+ IPS variant is also available, and in our opinion, it offers exceptional colors with excellent contrast, support for a broad range of hues, and higher color accuracy than other laptops in this class. The 4K+ screen does put extra demands on the battery, which is the single qualification to all of this.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5
Why you should buy this:
The X1 Extreme from ThinkPad is a fantastic business laptop that now has a beautiful 16:10 4K+ screen.
Who’s it for:
everyone who wants to make the most of their screen space for both work and enjoyment.
What we thought of the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5:
The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5 is what you need if fashion isn’t your top priority or you want 4K laptop power in a machine that doesn’t scream “look at me.” While the X1 Extreme preserves the stiffness and solid feel of its predecessors, the most recent models have lost weight and have a more streamlined shape and aesthetics than earlier ThinkPads.
A high-contrast 4K+ display with brilliant colors and exceptional brightness is contained within those thinner bezels. The UHD model’s standard specifications include a 256TB PCIe SSD, 8GB of RAM, and a 12th-gen, 14-core/20-thread Intel i7-12700H CPU. The GeForce RTX 3050 Ti is a powerful GPU as well, and it can be customized up to an RTX 3080 Ti, making it the ideal combination for more demanding video editing or competitive gaming.
Razer Blade 15 2021
Why you should buy this:
The Blade is a fantastic gaming laptop, and 4K helps the graphics stand out.
Who’s it for:
gamers and others who like a glitzier laptop.
What we thought of the Razer Blade 15 2021:
One of the greatest gaming laptops now available is the Razer Blade 15, which has long been one of our top picks for mobile gaming. You must increase your pricing to support 4K. A 15.6-inch 4K IPS display that is individually calibrated at the factory is supported by the most recent Razer Blade 15. The display offers 100% DCI-P3 color space coverage and realistic color.
An Intel Core i9-12900H processor, an Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, 32GB of Memory, and a 1TB SSD all work together to drive the display. The latest product from Razer is made with the newest components. The Razer Blade 15 4K model is fixed at 60Hz, making it less suitable for fast-paced or competitive games without an external gaming monitor. If the refresh rate is crucial to you, there is also a QHD (2560 x 1440) display option.
Dell XPS 15 9520
Why you should buy this:
It is the same as the XPS 13 Plus, just bigger and with more space to appreciate that gorgeous 4K screen.
Who’s it for:
Anybody who needs something bigger than a 13-inch laptop can have it.
What we thought of the Dell XPS 15:
The XPS 15 takes the top rank on our list of the best 15-inch laptops because it is bigger and more competent, but slightly less portable than its smaller sister. One of our favorite configurations is the 4K model. The 1080p model is more affordable and has greater battery life, but the XPS 15 is one of the finest for 4K viewing. The laptop also adopts the 16:10 aspect ratio, which is taller and better for productivity.
With to its potent Intel 12th generation H-series Core i7 and i9 Processors, up to 64GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti graphics chip, the Dell XPS 15 performs admirably in terms of both entry-level gaming and the performance of creative applications. Simply said, this Dell XPS 15 model is one of our favorite 4K laptops since it is gorgeous to look at and operate.
Dell XPS 17
Why you should buy this:
You require a sizable, gorgeous, and potent laptop for daily use.
Who’s it for:
Those who seek more power at home include content producers and hobbyists.
What we thought of the Dell XPS 17:
In 2022, a 17-inch laptop might seem absurd, but the Dell XPS 17 shows that big computers can still be useful and extremely important. In the previous several years, Dell has produced some amazing screens in its XPS line, and the XPS 17 is no exception. This is the ideal option for any professional video editor since it has such a big, colorful, and brilliant display, allowing you to fully utilize the 4K resolution, which is often squandered on smaller laptops.
Although it wasn’t made with gaming in mind, the Nvidia RTX 3060 is a powerful enough GPU that you can easily do some gaming in your downtime and enjoy high frame rates in whatever you play. The keyboard on this laptop is also excellent, making it as good for responsive keyboard shortcuts as it is for prolonged typing sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 4K laptop worth it?
A 4K (3840 x 2160) monitor, which has four times as many pixels as a Full HD (1920 x 1080) panel, offers a far crisper image. 4K is something to think about if you’re buying a laptop with a 15.6-inch or bigger display. On bigger televisions, Full HD might appear a touch grainy, especially in the clarity of the typography. Everything will be clear thanks to a 4K resolution, with text that appears more like what you’d see on a printed page and photos that are more true to the source.
4K is less necessary if you’re considering laptops with 14-inch or smaller displays. There is a lower limit to what some people would notice, but the clearer the image, the smaller the display. Nevertheless, if you frequently deal with text or graphics, you might desire 4K on a display as tiny as 13.3 inches. No matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to make out individual pixels in the extraordinarily fine image you receive.
A 4K display is required if you wish to watch a 4K video, such as one from Netflix or Amazon Prime. Again, you might not notice the difference on smaller TVs, but 4K is the only option if you want the highest quality.
Yet there are good reasons to stay away from 4K laptops. Ultra-high-resolution screens tend to be more expensive, some older programs don’t display properly on them, and 4K displays use more battery life (more on that below).
What should you look for in a 4K laptop?
The same qualities you’d seek in a laptop with a lesser resolution should apply to 4K laptops as well. Check reviews to be sure the display isn’t simply 4K but also offers strong contrast and a broad range of true colors. You’re more likely to discover a nice display on 4K laptops since manufacturers often employ superior panels in such models. Yet several of the most cutting-edge technologies of today, including OLED, are primarily utilized in 4K displays.
Does a 4K display make battery life worse?
A 4K display does reduce battery life, yes. To illuminate four times as many pixels as Full HD screens, the display needs more energy, and the graphics system has to work harder. Because the same number of pixels must be lit, decreasing the on-screen resolution will also have no positive impact on battery life.
We’re not simply referring to a few minutes here. However, a 4K display can drastically shorten battery life compared to a Full HD display, which is one of the more crucial justifications for only purchasing a 4K laptop if you are certain you need the increased resolution it offers.