There have been some great new technology releases in 2021, particularly when it comes to the world of laptops. Big news from LG about the release of its first official gaming laptop is a great way to close out the year but, moving forward, what should you be looking for in a new machine that will power you through the rest of the decade?
Sure, smartphones are starting to take over our day-to-day entertainment and basic connectivity tasks, but whether you’re after a budget computer, a productivity workhorse or a gaming powerhouse, laptops remain unmatched in the world of portable devices.
Here’s our guide to the laptops for work and play that you should be investing in for 2022 and beyond.
Acer Swift 3 – The Best Budget Option
You can rely on Acer to produce a machine that does the simple things exceedingly well at an affordable price point, and the Acer Swift 3 is the best example of this. Coming in at less than £700/$700 and crammed with AMD Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors, this budget laptop is a dream for essential work tasks like word processing, web surfing, email and much, much more. With a backlit keyboard, snappy fingerprint reader and all the ports you could need for connecting your various devices, the Swift 3 is an absolute steal.
Dell XPS 13 – The Best Pocket Rocket
As perennial favourites, Dell laptops always rank highly in best-of lists and the XPS 13 is no exception. Functional, super-stylish and coming in at just over 13 inches (13.3 to be precise), the Dell XPS 13 has built on the groundwork laid by previous models in the range and made some significant improvements for ongoing performance. Although the laptop itself is now smaller, it features a larger screen and boosts 11th-gen Core processors, which provide superb performance across the CPU and GPU.
Dell G15 – The Best for Entry-Level Gamers
Now for the first of two gaming laptops for 2022. Selecting our best bet for budget gamers was a bit like Sophie’s Choice, but in the end, we’ve settled on the Dell G15. The G-series of gaming laptops used to include three different models with each new release, but the G15 has streamlined that down to just one. With a choice between an AMD Ryzen 5000 H-Series processor or an 11th-gen Intel processor, the G15 has all the power you need to enjoy immersive digital variants of classic casino table games as well as more rigorous gaming experiences like Far Cry 5.
Alienware m17 R4 – The Best for Pro Gamers
And it’s another Dell machine that takes the spot for being the best pro gaming laptop for 2022. This 17-inch beast follows the blueprint we expect from Dell’s premium gaming line and adds intriguing new features, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series GPU and an optional mechanical keyboard. Taking gaming performance to brand new levels, the m17 R4 is the only option that meets the demands of professional gaming and eSports.
LG Gram 17 – The Best Powerhouse
When it comes to replacing a PC with a more portable machine, don’t settle for anything less than a 17-inch laptop. If you’re in the market for a new powerhouse for 2022 and beyond, the LG Gram 17 will be right up your street. Despite its mammoth size, the Gram 17 is remarkably lightweight and features a substantial battery life. One of LG’s staple lines, the 17 edition of the Gram model has improved processor performance in the form of a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 Processor. Add to that the Intel Iris Plus GPU and you have a superb all-rounder with the speeds you need for seamless gaming, pinpoint video and photo editing, and productivity tasks.
Razer Blade 14 – The Best MacBook Pro Alternative
Apple has had the monopoly on premium laptops with its MacBook Pro line for some time, but not everyone has the budget to invest in a brand new one. This is where suitable alternatives come in that offer the high-quality experience you associate with Apple, only at a much more cost-effective price. Designed to be a gaming laptop, Razer’s Blade 14 nevertheless is a great all-rounder with top-end graphics thanks to its GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card. This is one model that can go toe-to-toe with MacBooks in terms of visuals and display.