Best Laptops for 2011
18 Aug, 2011Here's a collection of the highest-rated laptops from CNET editors.
- Best 5 laptops
- Best thin and light laptops
- Best ultraportable laptops
- Best mainstream laptops
- Best budget laptops
The most common question we get around here is simple: "What laptop should I buy?" Being a generally difficult person by nature, I usually respond with my own series of questions: "What size screen do you want? How much do you want to spend?" and so on. But sometimes people just want a simple suggestion, based on what I actually like. So, here is a jargon-free list of the current crop of laptops that I'm digging, either because they give you good bang for your buck, they excel in their specific category, or because they just plain rock.
Apple MacBook Pro MC723LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop - OLD VERSIONIt's a hefty investment, but the combination of new high-end Intel processor options and AMD graphics makes the 15-inch MacBook Pro an all-around powerhouse, with the new Thunderbolt I/O port as an added bonus. Pros: Powerful updates to the CPU and GPU; excellent battery life; still the best touch pad and gesture controls of any laptop. Cons: Upgrades can get expensive; Thunderbolt is an unproven technology with as-yet no compatible products; still no dedicated HDMI, Blu-ray, or other wished-for options. List Price: Best Price: $1,718.20 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $280.80 (14%) Condition: New 37 Used, refurbished & new from $1,380.00 |
Apple MacBook Air MC966LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop - NEWEST VERSIONThe latest version of the 13-inch MacBook Air vastly outperforms its predecessor, and can finally be called suitable for mainstream use, instead of relegated as a niche product. Pros: The 13-inch MacBook Air has been updated with the latest Intel CPUs for better performance and battery life. Backlit keyboards make a welcome return. Cons: The 128GB SSD drive is a lot smaller than a standard hard drive. This also starts at $100 more than the 13-inch MacBook Pro. List Price: Best Price: $1,450.00 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $149.00 (9%) Condition: New 11 Refurbished, new & used from $1,445.00 |
Dell Alienware M11X - Core i5 8GB DDR3 5.1 SurroundDon't be fooled by its unchanged looks: the 2011 Alienware M11x makes big leaps forward in performance, graphics, and battery life, while keeping a reasonable price. Anyone looking for a portable gaming-ready laptop will have a hard time resisting the urge to pick one of these up. Pros: This year's version of the Alienware M11x has markedly improved graphics performance and battery life, and the laptop's solid build, USB 3.0 ports, and impressive 5.1 surround-sound Klipsch speakers are also pluses. Cons: The M11x still has a chunky chassis; also, the lack of an optical drive isn't a dealbreaker, but can be frustrating when installing games. Price: $1,250.00 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details Condition: New 10 Used & new from $819.99 |
Toshiba Portégé R835-P56x 13.3-Inch LED Laptop - Magnesium BlueWith three more hours of battery life over last year's model, Toshiba's new R800 series of Portege laptops are hard to beat, even in the highly competitive 13-inch laptop category. Pros: With a new Intel Core i5 CPU, sharp design, and nearly all-day battery life, the Toshiba Portege R835 is a smartly priced alternative to the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Cons: Intel's integrated graphics are better than they used to be, but still not gamer-friendly, and features such as Bluetooth and mobile broadband are missing from some configs. List Price: Best Price: $799.00 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $130.99 (14%) Condition: New 16 Used & new from $699.99 |
Samsung Series 9 NP900X3A-A03US 13.3-Inch Laptop - BlackThe $1,649 Samsung Series 9 NP900X3A certainly won't be for every wallet, but this light, well-featured, and striking 13-incher is the closest the Windows world will ever come to a MacBook Air. However, its higher-than-the-Air price will be hard to stomach. Pros: A thin, stylish design, long battery life, excellent screen, and a new second-generation Intel Core i5 CPU make the Samsung Series 9 NP900X3A one of the best ultrathin Windows laptops we've ever seen. Cons: The Series 9's way-too-high sticker price makes the MacBook Air look downright affordable by comparison; the flexy case design doesn't feel as good as the MacBook Air's, either. List Price: Best Price: $995.00 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $654.00 (40%) Condition: Used 6 Refurbished & used from $849.00 |
This oddly named category is reserved for 13-inch laptops, which are a perfect hybrid for globe-trotting business types (or campus-trotting students). Thin and light laptops hit the sweet spot of portability, performance, and features. Be prepared to pay a bit of a premium for performance, but if you ask us, 13 inches is the new mainstream.
Toshiba Portégé R835-P56x 13.3-Inch LED Laptop - Magnesium BlueWith three more hours of battery life over last year's model, Toshiba's new R800 series of Portege laptops are hard to beat, even in the highly competitive 13-inch laptop category. Pros: With a new Intel Core i5 CPU, sharp design, and nearly all-day battery life, the Toshiba Portege R835 is a smartly priced alternative to the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Cons: Intel's integrated graphics are better than they used to be, but still not gamer-friendly, and features such as Bluetooth and mobile broadband are missing from some configs. List Price: Best Price: $799.00 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $130.99 (14%) Condition: New 16 Used & new from $699.99 |
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop - OLD VERSIONThe second generation of Apple's MacBook Air fixes many of our issues with the ambitious original, adding more USB ports, an SD card slot, and a more powerful processor. Pros: Apple's MacBook Air is thin and powerful enough to use as a mainstream laptop. It has an excellent battery and includes an SD card slot. Cons: The Air has limited connections compared with other 13-inch laptops, and its keyboard isn't backlit. It's outclassed by the new MacBook Pro line. List Price: Best Price: $874.99 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $424.01 (33%) Condition: New 29 Used & new from $719.99 |
Samsung Series 9 NP900X3A-A03US 13.3-Inch Laptop - BlackThe $1,649 Samsung Series 9 NP900X3A certainly won't be for every wallet, but this light, well-featured, and striking 13-incher is the closest the Windows world will ever come to a MacBook Air. However, its higher-than-the-Air price will be hard to stomach. Pros: A thin, stylish design, long battery life, excellent screen, and a new second-generation Intel Core i5 CPU make the Samsung Series 9 NP900X3A one of the best ultrathin Windows laptops we've ever seen. Cons: The Series 9's way-too-high sticker price makes the MacBook Air look downright affordable by comparison; the flexy case design doesn't feel as good as the MacBook Air's, either. List Price: Best Price: $995.00 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $654.00 (40%) Condition: Used 6 Refurbished & used from $849.00 |
Thinkpad X22012.5" 320GB 4GThe Lenovo ThinkPad X220 packs in a new Intel Core i5 CPU and can run all day (depending on how you use it). With a 12.5-inch display, it's just a bit smaller than a 13-inch laptop, and it feels like an excellent compromise for frequent travelers. Pros: Classic ThinkPad design in a compact package, amazing battery life, and the latest Intel processors make the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 a standout travel laptop. Cons: The touch-pad-pointing-stick combo remains an awkward compromise, and as with most ThinkPads you're paying a hefty premium for the sturdy case and business-friendly software. Price: $1,414.80 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details Condition: New 2 Refurbished & new from $849.99 |
Edge E220S 12.5"Balancing between ultraportable and full-size laptop, the 12-inch ThinkPad Edge E220s offers an exceedingly compact computing experience matched by an upscale design, marred only by subpar battery life. Pros: The ThinkPad Edge E220s has an excellent balance of size and performance, with a great keyboard and touch pad and all the necessary ports in easy-access positions. Cons: Despite its low-voltage processor, the E220s has worse battery life than other ultraportables, such as the Samsung Series 9. Price: $1,086.75 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details Condition: New 2 Used & new from $799.00 |
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 - 129126U 13.3" LED Notebook - CoreThe Lenovo ThinkPad X1 is the thinnest ThinkPad ever made, and it's a slim, cleanly designed 13-incher worth a look for business travelers--but it's not as thin as a MacBook Air, and its battery life isn't as good, either. Pros: Thin and sturdy with a rock-solid feel and clean design, the ThinkPad X1 stands out from other ThinkPads. Its backlit keyboard, fast Core i5 CPU, fast-charging battery, and low-light Webcam are also pluses. Cons: The integrated battery doesn't last as long as we would expect, and the Gorilla Glass-covered screen produces a lot of glare. For a thin laptop, the X1 isn't as lightweight as it could be, thanks to its dense construction. List Price: Best Price: $1,159.60 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $379.60 (25%) Condition: New 39 New from $1,159.60 |
With the rise of low-cost Netbooks that run up to 11 and even 12 inches in screen size, the category known as "ultraportable" is largely defunct. With not a single high-end 12-inch laptop crossing our desk in months, it's clear that the days of $2,000 ultraportable systems are over. With that in mind, here are a couple of the last models to enter the race.
Dell Alienware M11X - Core i5 8GB DDR3 5.1 SurroundDon't be fooled by its unchanged looks: the 2011 Alienware M11x makes big leaps forward in performance, graphics, and battery life, while keeping a reasonable price. Anyone looking for a portable gaming-ready laptop will have a hard time resisting the urge to pick one of these up. Pros: This year's version of the Alienware M11x has markedly improved graphics performance and battery life, and the laptop's solid build, USB 3.0 ports, and impressive 5.1 surround-sound Klipsch speakers are also pluses. Cons: The M11x still has a chunky chassis; also, the lack of an optical drive isn't a dealbreaker, but can be frustrating when installing games. Price: $1,250.00 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details Condition: New 10 Used & new from $819.99 |
Apple MacBook Air MC968LL/A 11.6-Inch Laptop - NEWEST VERSIONThis year's 11-inch MacBook Air improves on last year's model in several significant ways and is by far the fastest ultraportable you're likely to find, though some users will consider the limited flash storage space to be a hindrance. Pros: The new 11-inch Apple MacBook Air is dramatically faster than last year's version, has a backlit keyboard, and comes with a high-speed Thunderbolt I/O port. Cons: The $999 entry-level Air still has the same limited fixed flash storage and RAM as last year's version, which most people will want to upgrade from--and there's still no SD card slot, Ethernet port, or 3G wireless option. List Price: Best Price: $899.95 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $99.05 (10%) Condition: New 31 Refurbished & used from $899.95 |
Edge E220S 12.5"Balancing between ultraportable and full-size laptop, the 12-inch ThinkPad Edge E220s offers an exceedingly compact computing experience matched by an upscale design, marred only by subpar battery life. Pros: The ThinkPad Edge E220s has an excellent balance of size and performance, with a great keyboard and touch pad and all the necessary ports in easy-access positions. Cons: Despite its low-voltage processor, the E220s has worse battery life than other ultraportables, such as the Samsung Series 9. Price: $1,086.75 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details Condition: New 2 Used & new from $799.00 |
HP Pavilion dm1-3210us 11.6-Inch Entertainment PC - BlackThe first laptop to offer AMD's power-efficient Fusion platform delivers on much of its promise, combining great battery life, decent performance, and basic graphics for less than $500. Pros: Nearly mainstream performance at premium Netbook prices; excellent battery life; capable graphics. Cons: Plastic look and feel; thick and chunky compared with some 11-inch laptops. List Price: Best Price: $436.44 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $43.55 (9%) Condition: New 8 Refurbished & new from $375.00 |
Thinkpad X22012.5" 320GB 4GThe Lenovo ThinkPad X220 packs in a new Intel Core i5 CPU and can run all day (depending on how you use it). With a 12.5-inch display, it's just a bit smaller than a 13-inch laptop, and it feels like an excellent compromise for frequent travelers. Pros: Classic ThinkPad design in a compact package, amazing battery life, and the latest Intel processors make the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 a standout travel laptop. Cons: The touch-pad-pointing-stick combo remains an awkward compromise, and as with most ThinkPads you're paying a hefty premium for the sturdy case and business-friendly software. Price: $1,414.80 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details Condition: New 2 Refurbished & new from $849.99 |
Mainstream used to mean the standard, 15.4-inch laptops everyone lugged around in backbreaking shoulder bags before ultraportable systems became popular. For general household computing, both 15- and 14-inch laptops will work fine, but we're seeing more people turning to 13-inch and smaller laptops for travel, and larger desktop replacements for home use.
Apple MacBook Pro MC723LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop - OLD VERSIONIt's a hefty investment, but the combination of new high-end Intel processor options and AMD graphics makes the 15-inch MacBook Pro an all-around powerhouse, with the new Thunderbolt I/O port as an added bonus. Pros: Powerful updates to the CPU and GPU; excellent battery life; still the best touch pad and gesture controls of any laptop. Cons: Upgrades can get expensive; Thunderbolt is an unproven technology with as-yet no compatible products; still no dedicated HDMI, Blu-ray, or other wished-for options. List Price: Best Price: $1,718.20 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $280.80 (14%) Condition: New 37 Used, refurbished & new from $1,380.00 |
Toshiba Portégé R835-P56x 13.3-Inch LED Laptop - Magnesium BlueWith three more hours of battery life over last year's model, Toshiba's new R800 series of Portege laptops are hard to beat, even in the highly competitive 13-inch laptop category. Pros: With a new Intel Core i5 CPU, sharp design, and nearly all-day battery life, the Toshiba Portege R835 is a smartly priced alternative to the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Cons: Intel's integrated graphics are better than they used to be, but still not gamer-friendly, and features such as Bluetooth and mobile broadband are missing from some configs. List Price: Best Price: $799.00 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $130.99 (14%) Condition: New 16 Used & new from $699.99 |
Dell XPS 15 L502X, 2nd Generation Intel Core i7-2630QM Processor.Equipped with second-gen Intel Core i-series CPUs and improved Nvidia graphics, the new Dell XPS 15 performs even better than its predecessor, although it's still just as bulky. Also, keep in mind that the XPS 15 ranges greatly in price, from $799 up to $1,500. Pros: Dell's new XPS 15 offers a high-resolution screen and excellent JBL speakers. Intel's new Core i-series CPUs and Nvidia graphics are standard, but there are also plenty of configuration options. Cons: The extremely bulky, uninspired design of the XPS 15 doesn't suit its price, and though the battery life is very good, it's not as great as Apple's MacBook Pro. Some configuration options feel like they should have been included for free. Currently unavailable |
Fortunately for price-conscious shoppers, it's possible to get a perfectly usable laptop for less than one might think. These budget choices run the gamut from sub-$400 Netbooks to more expensive systems that still represent an impressive value for their cost.
HP Pavilion dm1z 11.6" AMD Dual-Core FUSION Processor E-350+AMD RadeonThe first laptop to offer AMD's power-efficient Fusion platform delivers on much of its promise, combining great battery life, decent performance, and basic graphics for less than $500. Pros: Nearly mainstream performance at premium Netbook prices; excellent battery life; capable graphics. Cons: Plastic look and feel; thick and chunky compared with some 11-inch laptops. List Price: Best Price: $479.88 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $120.11 (20%) Condition: New 4 Used & new from $394.99 |
Dell Inspiron 15R i15RN5110-7223DBK 15.6-Inch Laptop - Diamond BlackDell's Inspiron 15R is an attractively priced budget consumer laptop with a welcome set of up-to-date features and design options, but beware of the cost of customizations. Pros: The 2011 Dell Inspiron 15R starts at just $499, and includes modern features such as second-gen Intel Core i-series processors, USB 3.0 ports, and an HD Webcam, along with optional swappable lids. Cons: The Inspiron 15R's bulky body is heavy, and its battery life is a big letdown. Adding optional extras makes it nearly as expensive as a laptop from Dell's premium XPS line. List Price: Best Price: $579.99 as of 2/22/2012 16:19 EST Details You Save: $20.00 (3%) Condition: New 10 Used, refurbished & new from $440.00 |