The best cheap tablets and deals 2018: the top budget options

You don't have to pay hundreds of pounds for a tablet these days, and there are a number of top cheap tablets available.

[Update: A new year, and perhaps a new dawn for cheap tablets? 2018 will likely bring us an updated fleet of Amazon's low-cost slates, alongside a handful of budget Android tablets from some of the main players. Anyone hoping for a low-cost iPad, well you'll need to keep your fingers crossed Apple launches a new iPad Mini and as a result slashes the price of the iPad Mini 4 (currently £419).]

It's a strange time for cheap tablets, and even tablets in general. Exciting releases are few and far between these days, and the most fascinating tech is restricted to the top end of the market. 

The best tablet in the world is the new iPad Pro, and that will set you back an awful lot of cash. Best budget tablet it is not. 

In fact, none of Apple's current fleet of slates manage to break the £250, but if it's iPads you desire you'll want to check out our best iPad roundup.

All hope is not lost though, and we've got the list of the best cheap tablets you can buy right now below - but let's make one thing clear. There aren't many to choose from.

It's slim pickings for anyone looking to pick up a cheap tablet these days as the market for low-cost slates has somewhat fallen away, but the ones below offer excellent value for money.

• Best tablet 2018 | Best iPad | Best Android tablets | Best cheap tablet deals

The Huawei MediaPad M3 8.0 is the best cheap tablet right now, combining an excellent screen, a whole heap of power and slick Android interface in a slate that offers great value for money.

One of the best things about the MediaPad M3 is its slim, light aluminium frame that looks and feels good while being seriously practical.

The screen is sharp, and has colour modes that provide both more natural and saturated tones, while the speakers are another high point, delivering impressive volume for a tablet this slim.

Read the full review: Huawei MediaPad M3 8.0

In a sea of slates and smartphones, crafting a device that has enough personality to stand out and enough quality to be worth caring about is a difficult proposition.

With the Tab 4 8 Plus, Lenovo has succeeded in producing something with a flavor of its own, and something that makes the mid-range Android tablet market worth attention once again.

If you already have an Android device, commute regularly and want something a little nicer than an Amazon tablet, this is the obvious next step.

Read the full review: Lenovo Tab 4 8 Plus

When the Galaxy Tab S2 launched, it was Samsung's thinnest and lightest tablet. While that's no longer the case, it remains a highly portable option in its 8-inch form factor.

There is a larger (and more expensive) 9.7-inch option, but the only really difference is screen and battery size - the 8-inch version still boasts top notch power and a high definition display. 

The metal frame adds a premium touch, there's a comfortable, soft touch plastic back and a microSD slot to expand on the internal storage.

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

If you have an Amazon Prime membership and you want a big screen tablet for watching movies and TV, reading, and a spot of gaming, the Fire HD 10 is a great option. If you also have a limited budget, then it’s your best option.

It's a great value package for a 10-inch screen tablet. It does have obvious weaknesses, like the plastic design and useless cameras, but they’re understandable in a tablet at this price.

Read the full review: Amazon Fire HD 10 (2017)

The Amazon HD 6 may be showing its age, but it's still a top-notch tablet for the money, which is why it features so highly in our best budget tablet list. 

It's no tablet king, but it does what it sets out to well. Its crazy low price tag means it's perfect to hand off to the kids without the fear that they're wielding an expensive bit of kit around.

It may be too small for some, and the cameras aren't up to much, but the Fire HD 6 gives you the core tablet experience for not very much outlay, making it a budget tablet worth buying.

Read the full review: Amazon Fire HD 8

If you're in the market for a low cost tablet with up to date specs then the new Amazon Fire HD 8 and HD 10 deliver.

They won't bless you with a stunning display, sultry design or slick performance - but they will give you enough grunt under the hood to play even the most demanding of games.

The heavily modified Android interface (known as Fire OS) may not be to everyone's liking, but for less tech savvy users it's arguably less cluttered and easier to use.

Read the full review: Amazon Fire 7 (2017)

• Got a bit extra to spend? Here are the best tablets in the world right now

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The best Samsung Galaxy Tab A deals in the January sales 2018

Prices for the Samsung Galaxy Tab A deals tend to drop nicely around this time of year. So if you're looking for the best place to buy one, we've rounded up a collection of prices from multiple retailers to make shopping around super simple for one of the most reasonably priced Android tablets on the market.

Unlike many other cheap tablets that flood search engines at this time of year, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A range is one we can fully recommend as one of the finest budget tablets around as the performance and quality puts similar tablets to shame. Many other big name manufactures have seemingly abandoned tablets nowadays thanks to smartphones muscling in on their territory so it's great to see Samsung still proudly flying the Android tablet flag.

Tablets may not be as popular as they once were, but we still enjoy the larger screens for casual web browsing, gaming or catching up on a bit of Netflix. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A tablets sit nicely in the middle between the much more expensive iPad 'deals', or the cheap Amazon Fire tablet deals, with the latter not supporting apps from the Google Play Store. So let us show you the best prices for both the 7-inch and 10.1-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab A deals.

Seven inch tablets are the ideal size for most people, offering a screen bigger than smartphones (although some are getting close to this size now!) but still being comfortable to hold in one hand while reading or watching video. The nonslip backing ensures it won't be sliding out of your hand either.

The Galaxy Tab A is also a great size tablet to take with you out of the house on your commute or on your hols. And with a battery that lasts up to 11 hours between charges, you'll be doing just that as much as you want and be able to leave the charger at home if you're only out for a day or two.

If you fancy a larger version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A, check out the latest prices for the 10.1-inch version below. If you're planning on watching more video content, then this could be the one for you as the bigger screen is great for films and TV shows.

It's not just a bigger tablet though, the screen resolution is improved over the smaller version and you're getting 2GB of RAM instead of 1.5GB which should make multi-tasking and overall performance a bit smoother for the more demanding apps and games out there.

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The best Samsung Galaxy Tab deals in the January sales 2018

Welcome to the net's collection of all the best Samsung Galaxy Tab deals! On this page you'll find the best deals currently available for all models of Samsung Galaxy Tab, whether it's the latest and greatest Galaxy Tab Pro, the Tab S line, all the way up to the older Galaxy Tab 3.

If you're after the super new Galaxy Tab S3, you're in luck, as we've added the latest deals. We'll walk you through various older models too so you can work out which one is best for you and then we'll help you find the best deal. 

There's no better time to be shopping for a tablet either, as discount season is in full swing and we'll be keeping this page updated with all the best Samsung Galaxy Tab deals as the sale period progresses.

If you're looking for a wider variety of manufacturers, make sure you check out our cheap tablets page.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 deals

Samsung's newest tablet has the likes of the iPad Pro and Surface Pro in its sites and could be a contender, especially if you're a fan of the Android ecosystem. With a new glass back, it's clearly been taking style tips from the gorgeous Galaxy S7 lineup and the new Super AMOLED screen supports HDR - a tablet first.

Read our full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7-inch deals

Samsung's latest flagship Android tablet is a real stunner

With a stunning AMOLED screen to match any of Samsung's latest smartphones, this 9.7-inch Android tablet is one of the absolute best out there. It's the thinnest tablet in the world - thinner even than the iPad Air 2 - and is also super lightweight but very powerful.

Read our full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

Seven inch tablets are the ideal size for most people, offering a screen bigger than smartphones (although some are getting close to this size now!) but still being comfortable to hold in one hand while reading or watching video. The nonslip backing ensures it won't be sliding out of your hand either.

The Galaxy Tab A is also a great size tablet to take with you out of the house on your commute or on your hols. And with a battery that lasts up to 11 hours between charges, you'll be doing just that as much as you want and be able to leave the charger at home if you're only out for a day or two.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1-inch deals

The best value large Galaxy Tab screen

If you're looking for one of the larger Samsung Galaxy Tab screens, but don't want to spend too much money, the Galaxy Tab A 10.1 strikes a fine balance of size, performance and cost.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8-inch deals

The 8-inch and possibly more sensible version of Samsung's best tablet

With the same specs as the 9.7-inch model above, the Tab S2 8-inch is smaller, cheaper and probably the better option. Android works a lot better on this size screen and the low price of this model makes it a really great buy.

Read our full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 deals

The 8.4-inch version of Samsung's best Galaxy Tab

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S is a year older than the S2 and also comes in two sizes - 8.4-inch and then the slightly bigger and more expensive 10.5-inch. If you want one of the best Android tablet on the market, one of these two devices will do you proud because it's not a lot slower than the latest model but does have much better battery life. Whether it be the stunningly good screen or the powerful internals, this is an amazing tablet. Here are the best Galaxy Tab S 8.4 deals currently available...

Read our full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 deals

The 10.5-inch version of Samsung's most highly specc'd Android tablet

There's a lot to be said for the 8.4-inch version above - it could well be the absolutely perfect size for a touchscreen tablet. But if you want something a little bigger, the Tab S 10.5 is simply superb. It's got all the same features as the tablet above but features a bigger screen. If you want an iPad-beating tablet running Android, this is the one. Here are the best Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 deals...

Read our full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 deals

This incredibly big tablet is also incredibly good

If you're looking for a super-sized tablet your options are fairly limited, yet Samsung offers up two with the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 being joined by the incredibly similar Note Pro 12.2. The battery life on the Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 is rather impressive. With light to medium use you should be able to get two days usage from one charge, which is a massive plus for those on the move who do not necessarily have access to a power point throughout their working day.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 deals

It's a few years old now but good at the right price

If you want a budget tablet you could do worse than the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3. It's by no means the most feature packed Galaxy Tab around, and even when it was new it wasn't the best, but prices make everything relative and this is a very cheap option!

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Samsung's next 2-in-1 Chromebook is tipped to have a stylus

Word on the Samsung street is that the manufacturer is readying a 2-in-1 Chromebook with a detachable screen, as a follow-up to the Chromebook Pro and Chromebook Plus laptops that the company released this year – and now we've got another piece of the puzzle in terms of what to expect.

As Chrome Unboxed notes, recent changes in a section of the Chrome OS code dedicated to a mystery device (known by the codename of Nautilus) refer to storing and ejecting a stylus. Chances are, Nautilus is Samsung's upcoming Chromebook.

That means you'll be able to doodle on the touchscreen screen and give your fingers a rest, as on the Samsung Chromebook Pro, which also came with a stylus. The new model will up the ante by making the screen detachable, so you can turn it into a fully fledged Chrome OS tablet if you're so inclined.

Stop taking the tablets

Don't forget that most Chromebooks can now run Android apps too, making a stylus even more useful for tapping around the likes of Netflix and Facebook. Whatever the new Samsung Chromebook ends up being called, it'll almost certainly be able to run a selection of Android apps.

All of this means Android tablets aren't really needed any more – as Google itself has acknowledged by finally pulling the Pixel C tablet from its online store after two years. Touchscreen Chromebooks can now act as perfectly decent tablets, running both Android apps and a proper web browser too.

We wouldn't expect the stylus on Nautilus to be anywhere near the sophistication of the Pen that comes with the Google Pixelbook, but it should do a job for sketching and writing. As for when we'll see it officially unveiled, keep your eyes on news coming out of the CES show at the start of January.

• Buying a Chromebook? These are our favorite models of the year

Via Phandroid

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The best Ultrabooks of 2017: top thin and light laptops reviewed

Although they were originally conceived to compete with the likes of Apple’s MacBook Air, Ultrabooks now stand on their own as unique, Intel-based laptops that are thin and light and feature long-lasting battery life that puts the Windows laptops of yesteryear to shame. A lot of Ultrabooks not only measure in at under an inch thick, but they’re also capable of carrying out tasks rather swiftly, thanks to their routine inclusion of Core “i” processors.

There’s a ton of variety, too, when it comes to the best Ultrabooks. The wide range of ports and configurations offered by the Dell XPS 13 are rivaled by the aesthetically pleasing and business-focused Asus AsusPro B9440UA. Likewise, there are 2-in-1 laptops that double as Ultrabooks, such as the HP Spectre x360 and Microsoft’s own Surface Book. Whatever your needs may be, you can be certain that one of the below top Ultrabooks will meet them.

However, with all the options that you’re faced with, it can be a tough call determining the Ultrabook that will get you through your daily undertakings. Whether you demand an Ultrabook that’s powerful and resilient or simply one that lasts all day, we’ve gathered the best Ultrabooks for every situation. Each one has undergone thorough testing as part of our review procedures, allowing for the most informed recommendations we can give.

• Dell XPS 13
• HP Spectre x360
• Asus ZenBook UX310
• Asus ZenBook 3
• Acer Aspire S 13
• Acer Swift 7
• Lenovo Yoga 910
• HP Spectre

The new, 7th-generation Intel Core i-powered Dell XPS 13 is nothing short of a miracle, in terms of both design and pricing. Once again, Dell has done the universe a favor by squeezing a 13.3-inch display into a measly 11-inch figure, and weighing in at only 2.9 pounds (1.29kg), the XPS 13 is blessed with extravagance. 

The Dell XPS 13 not only bears a lengthy battery life exceeding 7 hours in accordance with our in-house movie test, but it does so with a virtually bezel-less InfinityEdge display. What’s more, not only is the starting cost of the laptop relatively low, but the Dell XPS 13 is sold in a variety of different flavors, all the way up to an i7-7700U model. And to top it all off? It comes in Rose Gold.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13

Among the first to sport 7th-generation Kaby Lake processors, the HP Spectre x360 is more than a CPU upgrade. Sure, the 2-in-1 zips by faster than it did last year, but it’s also thinner and lighter than it was before – not to mention more stylish. From the revamped HP logo on the outer shell to the higher quality keyboard, the Spectre x360 is a force to be reckoned with.

With the better battery life and improved performance, of course, some unwanted change for some. Two USB Type-C ports are present while only one traditional, USB Type-A port is onboard. Sure, this equates to better transfer rates, but it also necessitates the need for an onslaught of new cables and peripherals. 

The Spectre x360 is a thrifty little Ultrabook no matter what your use case, made even better by the recent addition of a 4K display option paired with an optional 1TB of SSD storage.

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 

It’s no secret that Apple has all but neglected the MacBook Air recently, but in some cases a Windows ultrabook can be just as good. Take the Asus ZenBook UX310, for example, the long awaited follow-up to the ZenBook UX305.

Sporting a 7th-generation Intel Kaby Lake processor (with some configurations comparable to the top-notch Dell XPS 13) and an all-aluminum shell, this truly a candidate for the MacBook Air’s throne. That’s thanks in no small part to the Asus ZenBook UX310 housing all the latest ports, including USB Type-C, and the option of a gorgeous QHD+ (3,200 x 1,800) display, complete with 178 degrees of rotation and a serious case of the anti-glare.

 Read the full review: Asus ZenBook UX310

Anyone familiar with Apple’s thinnest and lightest laptop would be wise to compare the Asus ZenBook 3 to the 12-inch MacBook. The similarities are obvious, but one look at the specs and the differences stand out too. Adorned with the choice of a U-series Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, the ZenBook 3 is awfully powerful considering it’s less than half an inch thick and weighs two pounds. The port selection is sparse, but ultimately it’s well worth the sacrifice.

Read the full review: Asus ZenBook 3

The Acer Aspire S 13 may not win prizes for being the thinnest nor the  lightest Ultrabook around, nor does it offer more than 10 hours of battery life. But it's an impressive machine none the less with speedy and reliable performance. It's nearly as affordable as the Asus ZenBook UX305 and the touchscreen comes standard, something you won't find on most budget Ultrabooks.

Read the full review: Acer Aspire S 13

It’s no surprise that the world’s thinnest laptop doesn’t come without its own share of port shortages; however, it’s also unfair to judge the Acer Swift 7 by its pair of USB-C twins alone. Sporting an Core i5 processor from Intel’s 7th-gen Y-series lineup (previously Core M), the Swift 7 is by no means a powerhouse, but it doesn’t need to be, really.

The Acer Swift 7 is a testament to just how luxurious a laptop can look and feel without facilitating a lofty price tag. It also serves as a reminder that everything looks better in gold. Though admittedly short on battery life, clocking in at only 5 hours and 41 minutes in our in-house movie test, the Acer Swift 7 soars areas such as portability and style.

Read the full review: Acer Swift 7

The Lenovo Yoga 910 is a fine example of a laptop that takes two steps forward and one step back. It may be heavier and colder to the touch than the Yoga 900, no thanks to its aluminum finish, but it’s also substantially more stylish. Not only that, but Lenovo even managed to keep the same frame size and fit a larger, 14-inch screen inside it. 

As a result, it’s still not perfect, but the Yoga 910 is – rest assured – a clear upgrade over its predecessor. Because it’s wholly adorned with sharp angles galore, the Yoga 910 is a feat in fashion. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that it’s outfitted with a 7th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and the option of a 4K screen. Unfortunately, even though the battery is larger, these changes leave longevity underwhelming.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 910

One glance at the HP Spectre, and you'd think it belongs in a mansion. As if looks weren't enough, this gilded machine is actually more powerful than the latest MacBook and for a lower price at that.

You won't find laptops thinner than this and with an optional Intel Core i7 configuration to the trio of USB-C ports, it's supremely capable and not to mention future-proof. Even when it only boasts a 1080p screen, it renders deeper blacks and brighter colors than most.

If there were ever a such thing as a MacBook killer, it would be called the HP Spectre – front and center, folks.

Read the full review: HP Spectre

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Best laptops for video editing in 2018

If you're looking for the best laptop for video editing, then finding the right machine can be tricky. After all, video editing is one of the most taxing tasks you can perform on any computer, let alone a laptop.

That's where our list of the best laptops for video editing in 2018 comes in, as our expert advice means you can shop in confidence. 

We also have a price comparison tool that will make sure you are getting the best deals for the best laptops for video editing.

So, read on to find out what we think are the best laptops for video editing in 2018...

• Check out our list of best video editing software

Once you go Apple, you are pretty much locked down when it comes to your hardware options. Fortunately, the newest MacBook Pro is hands-down the best Mac laptop ever designed for video editors.  The innovative Touch Bar makes it easier for videographers to intuitively access commands, while the Retina display on the 15-inch model offers more than enough pixels should you want to edit at native resolution in Full HD on the move.

We'd advise that you opt for a quad-core model rather than a dual-core one and choose as big a hard disk drive as your budget will allow. The laptop's video subsystem is powerful enough to drive up to four 4K monitors if needs be, and with a 76Whr battery, it has enough oomph to last longer than most rivals. 

The cheapest model starts from £1,899 ($1,499) without the Touch Bar, but with two Thunderbolt 2 ports and Iris Pro graphics. A fully kitted model with 2TB SSD, a 2.9GHz Intel Core i7 CPU and an AMD Radeon Pro 460 GPU with 4GB memory will cost more than £4,000 (around $4,870).

Dell's XPS 15 was one of the true highlights in the 15-inch laptop space in 2016. It features the company's space-saving InfinityEdge tech, which slims down the chassis size by shrinking the display's bezels to mere millimetres.

It looks great and is practical to boot, allowing the machine to be slipped into a bag for easy transportation, so it was only a matter of time before Dell launched a version that's geared towards businesses.

Step up the Precision 5510, which puts the 'work' into workstation. Essentially an XPS 15 that's had a workstation-style makeover, it swaps Windows 10 Pro for the more business-friendly Windows 7 Pro – Free DOS and Ubuntu Linux 14.04 are also available as options.

And when it comes to specs, Dell has stripped away unnecessary features from the XPS 15 to bring the cost down: you won't find gaming-grade graphics for example. Still, the basic system comes with a quad-core Intel Core i5 CPU, 16GB of RAM and an Nvidia Quadro M1000M GPU.

A tip: swap Windows 7 (the default OS) for Windows 10, choose Dell’s own Wi-Fi solution and remove the OS recovery DVD to save some money.

The HP ZBook Studio G3 laptop was announced back in November 2015 and competes with Dell's Precision 15 5000 and Lenovo's ThinkPad P50 series in terms of performance, features and also mobility.

The Studio G3 easily fits in the Ultrabook category with a weight of a tad under 2kg and a thickness of only 18mm, slightly heavier and a smidge thicker than the Precision 15 5000 but more portable and svelte than Lenovo's laptop.

Where HP manages to score highly is when it comes to sheer value for money. The ZBook Studio G3 has a three-year warranty and the model we chose (T7W05ET) comes with an Intel Xeon E3 CPU with a massive 512GB SSD, a 4GB Nvidia Quadro M1000M GPU and a 4K display. 

Remember that unlike most of the laptops here, this one is designed to pass MIL-STD 810G testing. We just wished it had a bigger battery and more online configuration options like the rest of the competition. This is a fantastic piece of engineering, though, and one of the finest workstations on the market. 

Apple demonstrated that a laptop can be both powerful and elegant with its MacBook Pro, and also that a notebook doesn't have to be a block of soulless anthracite plastic.

Lenovo’s ThinkPad P70 was one of the first notebooks featuring Intel's Skylake processor, which should give it a boost in performance compared to Broadwell or Haswell chips. 

Equipped with ample storage and plenty of RAM, an excellent keyboard and a wide selection of ports for connectivity, Lenovo is positioning the ThinkPad P70 as the ultimate workstation that you can take on the go without missing your desktop.

As expected, it's a superbly designed piece of engineering, having inherited the legendary ThinkPad keyboard with the equally iconic red pointing stick, the TrackPoint.

Like the ZBook Studio G3, it is designed to pass MIL-STD 810G testing and comes with a three-year onsite warranty, but it does have a much bigger 17-inch screen.

It is one of the more upgradable models here with four memory modules free plus the ability to have up to four storage drives. It is also the only laptop in this list to come with an LTE modem option, and has the largest battery at 96Whr.

Also worth mentioning is the X-Rite Pantone calibration tool, available as an option, which is great to keep your screen accurate for production work, as well as the Quadro GPU that comes with all the P70 SKUs. 

A tip: Shop around, popular online retailers like Ebuyer sell the P70 for far less than Lenovo does directly.

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Top 10 best mobile workstations of 2018

If you're looking to buy the best mobile workstation for your needs - both in the office and on the road - then you'll want to make sure you pick the right one before spending a sometimes considerable amount of money on a mobile workstation.

This is where our best mobile workstation list comes in, as our experts have ranks the ultimate mobile workstations, explaining the pros and cons of each entry so you can buy in confidence.

Thanks to our price comparison tool, we can help take the sting out of the price tag by helping you find the very best prices for these excellent mobile workstations. 

Buying the best workstation for your business isn't just about plonking down cash for the most powerful laptop money can buy. Instead, you'll be looking for a versatile device that provides the same level of power you'd expect to find in a desktop PC, but within the mobile laptop form factor that allows you to work on it when out of the office.

However, you will need to pay a bit more for the best mobile workstation, as the parts they use, build quality and the level of after-sales services mean that these are an investment that can be expensive, but choosing the right one means you'll have a solid and dependable performer that will help you with your work for years to come.

• For a more WASD-centric alternative, here is the best gaming laptop

If you'd prefer a Best Desktop Workstation roundup or, if you're interested in a business laptop that isn't necessarily a workstation, we've got you covered.

Because mobile workstations are so specialist - and come with such a high price tag - finding one that suits your business needs is important, and we're here to help with this list of the best mobile workstations in 2018.

Very few laptops on the market can compete with this model. Dell's Inspiron range is aimed at business and consumers with a definite nudge towards the former. Dare we say, the 7000 series is one that will please almost everyone, including gamers. For the price, you get a laptop with an aluminium chassis and a long list of impressive features. As this is not your typical workstation, the laptop comes with Windows 10 Home but can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro for £99.99.

Read the full review: Dell Inspiron 15 7000

Not only is the Razer Blade one of the best gaming laptops money can buy, it is also an excellent desktop replacement and mobile workstation for non-gamers, thanks to its excellent array of features and powerful components. It’s thin, powerful and includes some of the latest hardware money can buy.

Read the full review: Razer Blade review

HP's mobile workstation Ultrabook has already reached its third generation but the last one is still very much a best-in-class especially when it comes to sheer value for money. It is one of the cheapest workstations on the market to offer a professional dedicated graphics card, and the most affordable business laptop to come with a whopping half-decade warranty. HP opted for a 14-inch diagonal which may well hit a sweet spot for some.

Read the full review: HP ZBook 14 G2

HP calls it the perfect combination of brains and beauty and it is kind of hard to disagree. The G3 is essentially a mobile workstation that has been squeezed in an Ultrabook form factor. A 4K monitor adorns it and there's plenty of oomph under the hood. It is actually the only device known to us that comes with a Xeon CPU. Add in extensive ISV certification, a super-long warranty and MLD-STD 810G certification and you have a very attractive candidate.

Read the full review: HP ZBook Studio G3

The more upmarket version of the Inspiron 15 7000 above is the Precision 15 7000, an outrageously fast machine with an equally outrageous price tag. As expected you get cutting edge components and the type of flexibility in the customisation process that sorely lacks with the SOHO-oriented Inspiron range. This is Dell's direct, built-to-order model at its best: From the latest Intel quad-core CPU to a plethora of other high end parts, this is as good as it gets.

Lenovo hails this model as the world's first multi-mode workstation, one that manages to combine power and creativity thanks to a 360-degree hinge that has, to some extent, set the standard when it comes to convertible or 2-in-1 designs. What's more, it is one of the very rare laptops to come with built-in Wacom Active ES pen technology, capable of delivering 2048 levels of pen pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition.

MSI is not a brand that we usually associate with workstations but the Taiwanese company, unlike its staunchest competitors, Gigabyte and Asus, has made some remarkable inroads in this lucrative niche market. The WS60 is essentially a more expensive version of its gaming laptop with a certified professional GPU. It's worth noting that this laptop is one of the slimmest and lightest of the workstations in this list.

Read the full review: MSI WS60

This is the top-of-the-range workstation at Lenovo, the apex predator, the one to beat. Targeting designers, engineers and professionals in the oil and gas industry, it is one of the only two models to feature an Intel Xeon processor. There's also a built-in colour calibrator as well as a steep price tag for the top-end model to highlight its premium nature. It is a shame though that it doesn't offer any RAID option at this price and tops out at 512GB storage.

Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad P70

Toshiba’s excellent range of Tecra business laptops has produced this brilliant mobile workstation, which packs a heck of a lot of power into an easily portable body. As well as offering plenty of power and mobility, there’s also plenty of connectivity options which makes this an excellent laptop for business use.

The MSI WS60 6QH 088UK is an excellent mobile workstation, and with MSI being known for producing powerful gaming laptops, it’s no surprise that the company has also created this powerful workstation that excels in CAD and graphics applications. This laptop has been updated to provide some of the latest components to ensure a top notch experience.

In the world of workstations lies an even smaller niche. One for vendors that build to order using parts from the likes of Foxconn. The Octane III is one of them, allowing the user to choose exactly what parts they want to power their workstations and more. Sure, you don't get the sort of support you'd expect from the likes of Lenovo, Dell or HP, but for many, the pros of using a vendor like PC Specialist will outweigh the cons.

The model we configured came with the best consumer grade laptop CPU on the market, 64GB of RAM and two 500GB SSDs in RAID-0 mode. Of course, you’re free to specify the machine as you wish – but there are plenty of options when it comes to powerful components, that’s for sure.

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Best laptop for programming 2018

Are you an IT professional that's looking for the best laptop for programming and coding on? If so, then you've come to the right place, as we've listed the very best laptops for programming on. If you're after a laptop for programming on in 2018, let us take you through the very best choices with this in-depth list.

When looking for the best laptop for programming, you'll have a certain set of criteria that the device will need to meet, as well as features it will need to have. For example, you're going to need plenty of processing power in a laptop for programming, so that it can compile and run your code as fast as possible. Thankfully, modern laptop processors come with plenty of cores and high clock speeds, which certainly makes looking for the best laptop for programming easier.

You'll also want plenty of RAM. We'd recommend at least 8GB - if you're running complex code, and you'll need a large hard drive. If a laptop also comes with a solid state drive (SSD), that's even better, as it will help with the overall speed of your programming and coding - especially if you regularly rebuild the code you write with minor changes.

Having a dedicated graphics card isn't essential for a laptop for programming, unless you are coding graphically-intensive games that you then want to test out. Modern Intel processors come with integrated graphics capabilities that are powerful enough for pretty much all programming tasks.

So, without further ado, here's our list of the best laptops for programming in 2018.

In our view, the Toshiba Portege Z30-C-138 is the best laptop for programming, as it features a fast processor, a large SSD and hefty 16GB of RAM. Best of all, it also manages 11 hours of battery life, which is ideal if you're looking for a laptop for programming and coding on the go. Toshiba has also managed to squeeze an extraordinary amount of components in this device including a VGA port, a fingerprint reader and even a 4G/LTE modem and A-GPS!

Lenovo took an existing form factor and refined it to deliver the new 2016-2017 ThinkPad E470. Powered by the 7th generation Intel Core processors, this particular SKU has a 14-inch FHD anti-glare display, powered by a discrete Nvidia Geforce 940MX 2GB GPU. 

Equipped with a spill resistant keyboard, a TrackPoint and a 3+2 buttons click pad, the E470 has more than enough ports and expansion capabilities to keep the average user happy. 

The 255 G5 is HP's entry-level business laptop and is a solid candidate should you be looking for a straightforward, reliable, laptop for programming at a bargain price.  The RAM is a little on the low side, but that can be upgraded later on, and there's no denying that this is an excellent laptop for coding on. If you want a similar programming laptop with an Intel processor, rather than AMD, then the HP 250 G5 is worth looking into. There are various configurations of both the HP 255 G5 and the HP 250 G5, so it's worth shopping around and finding one with the right components for your needs.

Apple's range of MacBooks are excellent laptops for programming on, thanks to excellent build quality, fast components, great battery life and powerful software. The 13-inch Macbook Pro with touchbar is the best laptop Apple has ever made, and builds new features into the classic design. Of course the headline feature is the touchbar - it's a thin OLED display at the top of the keyboard which can be used for any number of things, whether that be auto-suggesting words as you type or offering Touch ID so you can log in with just your fingerprint. It's 13-inch screen keeps the laptop thin and light enough to carry around with you if you travel a lot.

Read the full review: Apple Macbook with touchbar (2017)
See more like this: The best Macs and Macbooks 2017

Despite the subdued naming convention, this is actually the fifth iteration of the Surface Pro. As a follow-up to the winning Surface Pro 4, it would have been every bit deserving of a number attached to it, too. That’s because the latest Surface Pro sees not only the battery life improve by as much as 32%, but, of course, the processor has been updated to Kaby Lake as well. Plus, although it’s now sold separately, the Surface Pen has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. It can switch between tablet and laptop modes, which makes it easy to carry around with you, and it runs Windows 10, so you can access your favourite apps.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro

A Chromebook doesn't run Windows, Android or Apple's macOS. Instead it's powered by Google's Chrome OS - a super lightweight operating system based on the Chrome web browser. It's a great way to save money on a laptop (no Windows license to pay for and no need for top-end Intel chips etc) while still retaining all of the productivity options you'd get on a full-blown windows or Mac OS laptop. The Chromebook Flip is the best Chromebook out there at the moment, offering truly premium build quality, a fabulous touchscreen and keyboard and excellent performance. All while offering great value for money too. While Chrome OS doesn't have the range of programming tools available for Windows and macOS, it has a growing library, and Chromebooks such as the Asus Chromebook Flip are excellent for building websites on. 

Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip C302
See more like this: The best Chromebooks 2017

The Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch) is a great new addition to our best laptops for programmers list, as Microsoft has crafted one of the most powerful 2-in-1 laptops in the world. The Surface Book 2 has some powerful enough components to handle most day-to-day tasks, and even some light gaming and video editing if you go for a model with a dedicated graphics card. If you want a bigger screen, the there is also a 15-inch version of the Surface Book 2, which comes with more powerful components, but that's currently only on sale in the US. It should reach other territories next year.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch)

If you like the sound of an Apple MacBook as a laptop for programming, then you can save a bit of money by getting a slightly older model. The MacBook Pro from 2016 doesn't come with cutting-edge features such as the touchbar or USB-C ports, but it is still a fantastic laptop that offers plenty of power for all your programming needs. Plus, Apple's top of the range models are certainly not overly expensive compared to their Windows-based counterparts, especially if you buy them from trusted third-party websites.

If you are willing to sacrifice portability for sheer power, then this laptop is worth considering. Oddly enough, although it is part of Lenovo's B-series (essentially aiming for the SMB market), it comes with Windows Home rather than Professional. Other than this, the B51 is a very decent all-rounder that hits almost all the right notes: from the powerful CPU to the full HD display and the discrete GPU. It's a great choice if you're looking for an easily-portable laptop for programming and coding on.

Dell managed to deliver a magnificent piece of kit which it says is the most secure, most reliable and most manageable business-class laptop. That Latitude 5480 does come at a hefty price though and compared to the competition, this notebook may feel underwhelming. However, Dell's forte lies in its services and aftersales. That particular model comes with a 7th generation Intel CPU, one that is an actual four-core CPU. While it has a far higher TDP than most of its peers (45W vs 15W), it is likely to be more powerful than even a top of the range Core i7-7600U.

• Here's our list of the best laptop 2017: Our pick of the 15 best laptops you can buy this year

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