Best 4K Laptops: A 4K laptop was unheard of just a few years ago. However, prominent manufacturers including Dell, HP, and Lenovo now provide a 4K display option on their flagship machines. These advancements, however, come at a high cost, so knowing which are the best 4K laptops is essential.
We have compiled a list of our top selections to help you get the most bang for your buck. Our favorite 4K laptops, such as the Dell XPS 13, have stunning displays without losing battery life or performance.
Best 4K Laptops: Dell XPS 13
The XPS 13 is at the top of our list of the best laptops, so it’s no surprise that the 4K version is also at the top of our list of the best 4K laptops. The latest iterations go above and beyond anything we’ve seen before, relocating the webcam to the top, shrinking the bezels and chassis even further, and giving some of the greatest internal components available in a 13-inch size (although there are some other great 13-inch laptops worth considering).
We looked at the 4K UHD model with an Intel 11th-generation six-core Core i7-1185G7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a terabyte of PCIe NVMe SSD storage in our review. Regardless of which choice you choose, the 4K touchscreen appears great, especially in bright offices and outdoors, thanks to its 500 nits of brightness. It boasts excellent contrast, a large color gamut (though not as broad as some of the other laptops on our list), and greater color accuracy than most computers in its price range.
The only downside to all of this is that the 4K screen requires more power from the battery, so you will have to give up some of the XPS 13 (2021)’s lifespan to upgrade to 4K. Furthermore, while the integrated Iris Xe graphics are a significant improvement over prior generations and do support entry-level gaming, there is no substitute for a dedicated graphics chip.
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Best 17-inch 4K Laptop: Dell XPS 17
A 17-inch laptop may seem out of place in 2020, but the Dell XPS 17 demonstrates that large laptops can be both comfortable to use and extremely valuable to own. Dell’s XPS line has produced some amazing screens in recent years, and the XPS 17 is no exception. This is the ideal configuration for any professional film editor, with such a huge, vivid, and brilliant display. When you combine this with its outstanding performance, you have a gadget that easily outperforms its nearest opponent, the MacBook Pro 16, by leaps and bounds.
The battery life is a touch short, but that’s to be anticipated with such a massive display. Another fantastic feature of the XPS 17 is its unbelievably thin and light design. The tiny bezels allow Dell to pack more screen into less space, while the design language of the XPS 13 and 15 preceding it is carried through.
Best 15-inch 4K Laptop: Dell XPS 15
The XPS 15, which is larger and more competent than its smaller sister but slightly less portable, takes the top spot on our best 15-inch laptops list – and the 4K variant is one of our favorites. The 1080p model is less expensive and has a longer battery life, but if you want that 4K experience, the XPS 15 is one of the best. In addition, the laptop has a taller 16:10 aspect ratio, which is ideal for work.
The current version no longer has the issue of the webcam being placed at the bottom of the display bezels, which is a great change. It delivers strong performance thanks to powerful Intel 11th-generation H-series Core i7 and i9 CPUs, up to 32GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti graphics chip for decent entry-level gaming and strong creative application performance. Even though it isn’t technically 4K, the optional OLED 3.5K panel provides one of the greatest displays on the market in terms of inky-black contrast, wide and true colors, and tremendous brightness.
It is one of the best XPS laptop refreshes, and the Dell XPS 15 model is both beautiful and functional. Simply put, it’s one of our favorite 4K laptops.
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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4: Best 4K Laptops
If you don’t care about design and want 4K laptop power on a machine that doesn’t scream “look at me,” the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 is for you. It crams capable hardware inside a tough, solid shell that eschews modern design concepts in favor of practicality, and it comes with an excellent keyboard to boot. It has also been improved to a higher 16:10 display, which provides additional vertical space.
While the X1 Extreme retains the rigidity and sturdy feel of its predecessors, the latest version has slimmed down, with a sleeker body and lines than previous ThinkPads. Trimmer bezels aid in the containment of a high-contrast 4K+ panel with excellent colors and brightness. The UHD variant comes included with an 11th-generation, six-core Intel i7-11800H processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256TB PCIe SSD. The GeForce RTX 3050 Ti is also a powerful GPU, making it a perfect choice for more demanding video editing or competitive gaming, and it can be upgraded to an RTX 3080.
Previous generations of the ThinkPad X1 Extreme had significantly lower battery life, however, the Gen 4 has slightly increased battery life as well.
Best Dual-Screen 4K Laptop: Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo
The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo is an unapologetic gaming laptop. While machines like the Razer Blade 15 strive for a slim and light form factor, the Zephyrus Duo shouts “gamer.” The ROG ScreenPad Plus is a key part of that. It’s a second screen above the keyboard that can be used for anything from displaying information in a game to managing the color wheels in DaVinci Resolve. Because of this, the Zephyrus Duo is an excellent video editing laptop.
The Zephyrus Duo is powered by an Intel Core i9-10980HK processor, an RTX 2080 Super, 48GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage in RAID 0. The keyboard is as stunning, featuring RGB illumination on each key and 1.4mm of key travel. It’s flanked by an offset trackpad that also functions as a number pad with an overlay.
And then there’s the show. The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 4K variant covers 100% of the Adobe RGB spectrum and 137% of the sRGB spectrum, with a secondary display resolution of 3840 x 1100. Despite the fact that the 4K monitor supports G-Sync, it is limited to 60Hz. Asus also provides a Full HD display capable of running at a scorching 300Hz.
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Best Business 4K Laptop: HP Envy 15
The HP Envy 15 is an excellent choice for busy business people who prioritize portability with their products — if you want to get the most out of your visuals, the optional AMOLED display (up to 400 nits brightness) paired with 4K resolution is one of the best visual experiences for a 15-inch laptop and an ideal option for video editing and similar professional work. Business-grade HP features such as the fingerprint reader, the shutter-equipped webcam, and the mute-mic option are also welcome additions, and Wi-Fi 6 compatibility ensures that the laptop is ready for the latest wireless connections.
The Envy 15 is equipped with a six-core Intel Core i9-11900H CPU, the powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD. There are also two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports with SuperSpeed, DisplayPort 1.4, two USB-A with SuperSpeed, HDMI 2.0a, and a microSD card reader to help you manage your connections.
If you want a high-quality display on a well-equipped business laptop, the HP Envy 15 is one of the best options available without breaking the bank, and current technologies like Wi-Fi 6 ensure that it will be ready for years to come.
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Best Gaming 4K Laptop: Razer Blade 15
The Razer Blade 15 is one of the greatest gaming laptops on the market, and it has long been one of our top picks for mobile gaming. The Advanced Model is required for 4K. The latest Razer Blade Advanced Model features a 15.6-inch 4K touch OLED display. This provides greater contrast and HDR capabilities, as well as complete coverage of the DCI-P3 color palette and a 1ms reaction time. Razer calibrates each of these displays before shipping them.
An Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card, an Intel Core i9-11900H CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD power the display. This is Razer’s latest offering, made with the most modern components. You can save some money by going back to a last-gen model, such as an i7 processor or the RTX 2080 Super, both of which can support 4K gaming.
The Razer Blade 4K OLED variant is locked at 60Hz, making it unsuitable for high-speed or competitive games without an external gaming monitor, but there is also a QHD (2560 x 1440) display option with a 240HZ refresh rate if that is important to you. If you want a somewhat larger laptop, Razer has the Blade Pro with a 17-inch display but no 4K display option.
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