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The best new laptops to look forward to (April 2022)
Laptop launches are slowly returning to normal, but we still have plenty of virtual launches to salivate over. Virtual or not, the pandemic hasn’t slowed down new launches or exciting developments. There are plenty of powerful new machines hitting the market, and here are the best new laptops to look forward to.
Some of these machines are hot off the presses from CES 2022, so you may not be able to pick them up quite yet. Most of our picks are Windows machines, but we also have a Chromebook there. Ready to learn more?
The best new laptops
Editor’s note: We’ll be sure to add more new laptops to the list as they launch.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16
ASUS doesn’t shy away from a challenge and has always managed to wow us with its innovation in laptops. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is an extension of its popular Duo lineup, bringing the second screen to a gaming laptop. It has great options for the main 16-inch screen, with one being a new Dual-Spec panel that can do either 1080p 240Hz or 4K 120Hz on the same panel. The second display is a 14.1-inch ROG ScreenPad Plus, available in up to 3,840 x 1,100 resolution.
The hardware under the hood has been beefed up to pack in even more power. At the top end, you get an AMD Ryzen 9 6980HX CPU, paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU, configured at 150W. With the latest-gen hardware, you also get DDR5 RAM, with up to 64GB support at 4,700MHz. The Duo 16 is the most powerful Duo we have ever seen, and with ASUS promising game integrations, it may come to sit at the top of our gaming laptop recommendations soon.
Alienware X14
The Alienware X15 and X17 were the focus of Dell’s Alienware lineup last year, but this year it’s the smaller Alienware X14. It’s a brand new model in the company’s lineup, and it slotted squarely against the ROG Zephyrus G14 and Razer Blade 14. The 14-inch gaming laptop space is expanding quickly, and the X14 is a worthy addition.
See also: The best Alienware laptops you can buy
The Alienware X14 boasts the title of the thinnest 14-inch gaming laptop, and also comes with NVIDIA G-Sync and Advanced Optimus. It’s an Intel machine, so you get options between an Intel Core i7 12700H or 12900H CPU, and the GPU options go only up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060. You can get up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB PCIe SSD storage.
ASUS ROG Flow Z13
The second ASUS offering on our list for 2022 is gunning for a space that hasn’t existed before. The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is a Windows gaming tablet and is more or less the first proper offering in the space. It looks like a Surface tablet that can game and has the classic ROG aesthetic with a kickstand.
On the hardware side of things, you get a 13.4-inch 16:10 display. Options include a 1080p 120Hz panel or one running at 4K 60Hz. Running this machine is an Intel Core i9 12900H CPU at 45W, along with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti with a 40W TGP. You also get an eGPU port with support for an RTX 3080 mobile or AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT. A lot of power at this size and room for more.
Dell XPS 13 Plus
The Dell XPS 13 has been one of the best laptops ever since its introduction, but Dell is taking it up a notch with the Dell XPS 13 Plus. It’s a new model that takes inspiration from Gen Z. The big change here from the regular 13 is that Dell has gone the Apple way and replaced the function key row with a capacitive touch bar with haptic response. The keyboard is also rather clean-looking, going edge-to-edge.
See also: The best Dell laptops to buy
You still get solid specifications with up to a 12th-Gen Intel Core i7 12800P processor powering the machine. Graphics are handled by Intel’s Iris Xe, driving that gorgeous bezel-free display Dell dubs as InfinityEdge. You can get configurations with up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM. It’s a great extension to the XPS 13, although the touch bar may not be everybody’s cup of tea.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 3
Dual displays are becoming a theme on laptops rather quickly, and Lenovo isn’t planning on staying behind. The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 3 puts a screen at the side of the keyboard, making the Plus monicker worth the use. The primary display is a 17.3-inch 21:10 3K display, and the secondary display is an 8-inch panel akin to a small tablet placed next to the keyboard.
See also: The best Lenovo laptops to buy
Under the hood, you get up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, with up to 32GB memory and 2TB storage. The ThinkBook Plus maintains a relatively thin profile, but you get a solid range of connectivity options. There’s an HDMI port, USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, and even a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4. All in all, a great addition to the 17-inch laptop segment.
MSI Creator Z17
Last year, we had the MSI Creator Z16 on this list, and the refreshed MSI Creator Z17 rightfully takes its place in 2022. Another 17-inch laptop on this list, MSI has refreshed this laptop to bring it up to speed for this generation. MSI claims it’s the first 17-inch laptop to support pen input. It’s packing some solid creative chops, with a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution display running at 165Hz.
See also: The best MSI computers you can buy
You also get a 12th Gen Intel Core i9 or i7 CPU, and a choice of GPUs between the RTX 3070, 3070 Ti, 3080, or 3080 Ti, all configured with a 90W TGP. There’s room for up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and you also get two PCIe GEN4 slots for SSD storage. This is powered by a 90WHr battery and a 240W power adapter.
HP Elite Dragonfly G3
HP makes some really elegant machines, and the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 is a good example. It’s a follow-up to an already great machine and updates the tech to bring this laptop up to speed for 2022. It lives up to the Elite tag and carries the productivity workhorse caliber that we expect from HP’s Elite branding — brains and looks in one.
See also: The best cheap gaming laptops to buy
This time around, you’re getting up to a 12th Generation Intel Core CPU with Iris Xe graphics. There’s up to 32GB LPDDR5 RAM and up to 2TB PCIe SSD. The screen is a 13.5-inch 3:2 panel, with options between a Full HD+ screen at 400 nits brightness, one at 1,000 nits, and a 3K2K OLED panel at 400 nits. This is packed into a body that starts at 2.2lb, making it an ultraportable to consider.
ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5
The best Chromebook to look out for this year is another ASUS offering. The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 is a refresh to the model and brings a fresh look to the much-loved Chromebook. You get a 16-inch 16:10 display — making it the first 16-inch Chromebook. It comes in an understated but premium-looking Mineral Gray color in an aluminium-alloy chassis.
Under the hood is up to an Intel 12th Gen Core i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM. There are also two Thunderbolt USB-C ports, an HDMI port, and a microSD card slot. The chassis is also military-spec-rated, so you can expect it to be able to take a few bumps without a problem.