LaptopMedia’s recap – Most interesting laptops of 2021

2020 and 2021 have been a rollercoaster so far, but while everything has been closed down and we have been living quite interesting lives that we will for sure remember for a long time, one thing hasn’t stopped and is still going.

The laptop industry is about to become larger than ever, with many people working from home, the world is in dire need of mobile devices. Today we want to take the time and talk about the laptops that piqued our interest and for sure will become best sellers in 2022, if they aren’t already.

Today we are giving you LaptopMedia’s most interesting laptops or devices of 2021.

Contents

Acer Swift 3X (SF314-51)

The first laptop to ever come out with Intel’s discrete Iris Xe Max graphics came out. Ever since Radeon’s main guy Raja Koduri left the company in 2017, for Intel of all companies, he has been silently working in the shadows, and his work finally hit the market and while the integrated graphics family that comes in the Tiger Lake CPUs is powerful, the Iris Xe Max is even better. This makes the laptop a very desired one for Intel fanboys as well as the general audience. Other than the graphics, the laptop has a display with 98% sRGB coverage and a Tiger Lake Core i7 processor, which has plenty of performance.

All Acer Swift 3X (SF314-51) configurations:

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2021)

The long-rumored 14-inch MacBook Pro is finally here, and it seems to take the world by storm. Like the MacBook Pro 13 and MacBook Air that was released last year, this device comes with an M1 chip. However, the in-house Apple silicon is now offered in three more iterations – M1 Pro (8 cores), M1 Pro (10 cores), and M1 Max, which also features 10 processing cores. In addition to that, there are a ton of integrated graphics models. Undoubtedly this is big news, but what is more important for Apple users is that they are treated to a 3024×1964 120Hz Liquid Retina panel with a Mini LED backlight that combines the best of the IPS and OLED worlds. And although it has a bizarre notch in the top middle part of the screen, we feel that the device will be one of the top performers in sales.

All Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2021) configurations:

Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2021)

The MacBook Pro 16 launched alongside the 14-inch model, and it comes with pretty much the same specs in terms of SoC. Of course, it has a higher resolution (3456×2234) to account for the larger screen size. And Apple expects huge improvements over the last 16-inch model, that combined Intel CPUs with AMD graphics. What is even better is that the low wattage of the M1 chips will allow for both better comfort, and for uncompromised work on battery power. As with the 14-inch notebook, the 16-inch MacBook Pro now features an HDMI connector, and an SD card reader alongside the three Thunderbolt 4 ports. Also, for better or for worse, Apple has resurrected the MagSafe charging plug.

All Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2021) configurations:

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold

What you get with the ThinkPad X1 Fold is double the screen real estate, a keyboard attachment, and a Stylus Pen. Now, the laptop can generate a digital keyboard, but to be fair, you should just use the provided one, since it offers better ergonomics. The laptop can also be folded to lay flat, which basically looks like a large tablet. The display has great brightness uniformity and 100% sRGB coverage.

All Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold configurations:

ASUS ROG Flow X13 (GV301)

ASUS completely reinvented the gaming laptop with their ROG Flow X13, a device that weighs only 1.30 kg but manages to pack up to an RTX 3050 Ti and a Ryzen 9 5980HS, which has 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of nearly 5.00GHz. Now, the RTX 3050 Ti is a good GPU, but nowhere on the level that a Ryzen 9 requires. This is where the ROG XG Mobile comes in. It is an external graphics card, which has a 150W RTX 3080. So, you can bring a portable laptop that has decent performance everywhere with you and transform it into a full-fledged gaming station once you come home and plug in the external GPU.

All ASUS ROG Flow X13 (GV301) configurations:

ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE (GX551)

ASUS seems to be on a roll, as its next device is just as innovative. The Zephyrus Duo 15 SE, brings a secondary display, while also improving a key characteristic of gaming laptops. When you open the laptop the secondary display pops up at an angle, which opens a significant gap below it. It is this gap that allows the cooling to be supplied with plenty of air, thus bringing down the temperatures significantly. So much so, that it is the best performing laptop with a Ryzen 7 5800H. The ScreenPad offers a lot, being able to be seamlessly integrated into the workflow of the main panel. You can transfer menus and panels from one screen to the other, which can be crucial when you’re video editing, drawing, or designing something in Photoshop or AutoCAD.

All ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE (GX551) configurations:

Acer Swift X (SFX14-41G)

This notebook is like a more affordable version of the ROG Flow X13. It is still pretty portable, coming in at a weight of 1.39 kg, while offering decently powerful internals, such as the Ryzen 5 5600U and the Ryzen 7 5800U. In terms of graphics, you get the RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti, along with a great display that covers 97% of the sRGB gamut and shows fantastic color accuracy with our Design and Gaming profile. Obviously, the performance won’t be on the level of the ROG Flow, especially if you consider the added benefits of the external GPU, but for the price that the Swift X asks, you can’t ask for more.

All Acer Swift X (SFX14-41G) configurations:

MSI Creator Z16 (A11Ux)

The long-awaited successor to the quite popular MSI Creator 15 –  the Creator Z16. The laptop brings the same level of performance, featuring Tiger Lake H45 and RTX Ampere, along with the new trend of a QHD+ 16:10 display with 100% DCI-P3 and 92% AdobeRGB coverage. The panel also shows professional-level color accuracy both with and without our Design and Gaming profile. Overall, we would call it a refinement of the Creator 15, which took an already great notebook and brought it to 2021 standards.

All MSI Creator Z16 (A11Ux) configurations:

ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED UX582

The ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED takes the same approach to a dual-screen notebook as the Zephyrus Duo 15 SE. While the Zephyrus is aiming more towards gamers, the ZenBook is gunning for a top spot in the creator market, using a more elegant design, along with a secondary display. Here, the main panel is OLED, giving you more vibrant colors, at the expense of slightly less accurate colors. Despite that, the main panel, which has a 4K resolution, covers 100% of the sRGB gamut. One area where the laptop performs exceptionally well is cooling. The laptop keeps both its CPU and GPU cool, while also delivering decent clock speeds. Its outside temperature maxes out at only 37.8°C, so your hands won’t get sweaty and uncomfortable.

All ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED UX582 configurations: