Rumored cheaper MacBook Air allegedly delayed to second half of 2018

There’s been more chatter on the laptop grapevine regarding the rumored incoming budget MacBook Air, which apparently now won’t arrive in the next couple of months, as previous speculation has indicated, but will be delayed until the second half of this year.

From the off, we should say that you might want to keep your salt shaker handy, as this news comes from DigiTimes, which isn't always the most reliable outlet.

And furthermore, bear in mind this is a rumor about a rumor, as the original speculation about a new 13-inch MacBook Air with a ‘lower price tag’ came last month from Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at KGI Securities (who has, coincidentally, just left KGI).

Kuo believed this cheaper MacBook Air could turn up in the second quarter of this year – i.e. before the end of June – but according to DigiTimes’ sources in the manufacturing supply chain, mass production of the new model won't begin until the second half of 2018.

Supply shortage

As for what’s causing the delay, apparently it's simply a shortage of key components such as processors that's holding things up.

DigiTimes further reckons the budget model will still come with a Retina screen – a beefy upgrade for the display – and that the price is likely to be dropped by $100 or even $200 compared to the current cheapest MacBook Air; that base model is priced at $999, or £949 / AU$1,499, and there would presumably be a similar price drop in the UK and Australia.

That's if this rumored MacBook ever emerges, although the growing speculation surrounding it does suggest the plans for the product are real enough.

It’ll certainly be nice to have a cheaper MacBook Air option on the table, as there was two years ago when Apple sold an 11-inch spin on the laptop which could be had for a relatively wallet-friendly £749.

• There are multiple MacBooks on our best laptops list

Via Apple Insider

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The best laptop for music production and DJs

If you're a DJ, or you're looking for the best laptop for music production, then you've come to the right place, as we've gathered together the top laptops for making music on.

For the best laptop for music production, you're looking for a machine that has plenty of processing power and RAM to handle multiple music tracks. A large (and fast) hard drive or SSD (solid state drive) is also essential, as you're going to be working with large file sizes. Excellent speakers, or at least connectivity to external speakers, is also important.

If you're a DJ and are looking for the best laptop for your needs, then you're going to need something that is reliable and robust, so it can withstand knocks and bumps as you travel from gig to gig. As you're going to be doing a lot of travelling, a laptop that is thin and light is also preferable. The best laptop for DJs will also have a large hard drive or SSD to store all of your track on. There's loads of choice out there, and while Apple products are the main choice for music makers, there's a lot of excellent Windows laptops available for DJs and music production as well.

To make your choice easy, our price comparison tools will show you where you can buy each one for the absolute cheapest price, so you won't have to trawl through the web comparing prices. If you want to see a more comprehensive list of prices and retailers, simply click the 'view all prices' link on each widget!

The best laptops for music production and DJs:

The new Apple Macbook is the slimmest, slickest and best-looking Macbook Apple has ever built and it's one of the most popular and best-selling laptops on the planet. This, along with the excellent music production software available for Macs, means it's the best laptop for DJs and Music production. It's a super slim and light Macbook that you can take anywhere without even noticing the weight, and gives you the same slick OS X performance.

Read the full review: Apple Macbook

If you're after the latest and greatest laptop from Apple, welcome to the 13-inch Macbook Pro with touchbar. It's 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. The Macbook Pro also offers more power than the Macbook, which means if you're a music producer, this is the best laptop for you, as it can handle complex arrangements with multiple audio tracks with ease. There's cheaper alternatives on this best laptop for DJs and music production list, but if speed and quality are the most important considerations, then this is the laptop for you.

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

The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is 2017's best laptop for you if you're looking for the perfect cross between a nimble Windows tablet and a fully functional laptop. The base version of the Surface Pro 4 is just a tablet - you get the main unit itself with kickstand but if you want the Surface Pen or the fantastic Type Cover keyboard you'll need to pay extra for a bundle or buy it separately. Again, this is a great laptop for writers who can use a stylus to jot down their notes to later turn into editable text. As the Surface Pro 4 is a tablet 2-in-1 that runs the full version of Windows 10, it means it is an extremely portable device that can run any music mixing and editing programs that are available for Windows.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 4
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017 

For a few years in a row now, the Dell XPS 13 has been one of the best laptops you can buy, and the 2018 iteration keeps this tradition going. For aspiring music producers, the XPS’ move to an 8th-generation Intel Kaby Lake R CPU should be appealing, as it will trim down the time it takes to process tracks, allowing you to minimize downtime. Unfortunately you won’t be able to find a 1TB storage drive anymore, but when you get a laptop as fast as this – and looks good to boot – it’s a worthy tradeoff.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 (2018)

If you're after a cheap laptop for writing that offers something a bit special, look no further than the Lenovo Yoga Book 2017. As with all Yoga devices, the screen folds flat so you can use it either as a tablet or a laptop. To add more versatility, Lenovo has now added the option to buy it with either Windows 10 or Android 6.0 onboard - which one you choose will depend how you're more likely to use the device. The screen on this thing defies the cheap asking price and the keyboard and capacitive touch-keyboard are both fantastic too. While this is a bit under-powered for music production, if you're a DJ looking for the best portable laptop for playing and mixing your music, this is an excellent choice.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga Book
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017

The Macbook Air is in an interesting spot. While it's still one of the most popular and well-known notebooks around, the iPad Pro and 12-inch MacBook have stolen much of its thunder. That is, unless you need the legacy USB 3, Thunderbolt 2 and SDXC card connectivity. Even without a Retina display or Force Touch trackpad, the 13-inch MacBook Air is a very capable machine, even if the 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage leave a lot to be desired. Plus it still has the beloved MagSafe 2 charger onboard as well as an impeccable battery life. So, if you don't mind having a slightly older machine, the Macbook Air is an excellent - and now more affordable - choice for DJs and music production.

Read the full review: 13-inch MacBook Air (2015)

If you're looking for a larger and more powerful laptop for running music production software on, then the Dell XPS 15 could be for you. Packing the same InfinityEdge technology as the smaller XPS 13, the screen extends right to the edge of the machine which means it's as small as it's possible to make a 15-inch laptop in 2017. It's quite pricey though, depending on which version you get. The very top end version has a 4K color-accurate display, which can give you an excellent overview of all the tracks you're working on.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 15

• Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptop 2017

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The best laptops for mining 2018: top notebooks for mining cryptocurrencies

Who says you need a big mining PC to successfully mine for cryptocurrencies? Our list of the best mining laptops of 2018 gathers the top portable notebooks that can be used for mining.

If you’re considering buying a laptop for mining, you should think about a few details. First of which, you need to look into which cryptocurrency you’d like to mine, as certain ones will be easier to mine on mobile hardware than others.

You should also think about grabbing a laptop with a long warranty, as the best laptops for mining will be put through much more stress than your everyday laptop.

The best laptops for mining will come strapped with powerful CPUs and graphics cards, as these are the two components that make the biggest difference when you’re mining for cryptocurrency.

But why even use a laptop for mining? Well, you’ll find that the best laptops for mining will offer a much more compact and portable mining experience that won’t take up too much space in your home, and is easily taken wherever you go. Read on to see our picks of the best mining laptops you can buy in 2018.

• Understanding Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies
• Bitcoin explained: what is Bitcoin?
• How to buy Bitcoins in 2018
• Bitcoin vs distributed ledger vs Ethereum vs blockchain
• The best Bitcoin exchanges 2018

The best mining laptops 2018

Gaming laptops are a great choice for mining laptops, as they usually come with graphics cards that can help mine. This makes the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming laptop a great option for a mining laptop. It offers absolutely fantastic value for money, especially compared to other gaming laptops. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics chip is a good performer when it comes to mining, and it's backed up ably thanks to the Core i5 CPU. Battery life on this laptop is also superb.

Read the full review: Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming

At long last, Razer has introduced a true desktop replacement that won’t weigh you down. Measuring in at only 0.88 inches thick with the option between a 17-inch 1080p display running at 120Hz or a G-Sync-laden 4K touchscreen, the Razer Blade Pro also introduces the company’s ultra-low-profile mechanical switches to a notebook for the first time ever. For a mining laptop, this is an excellent choice, as it offers you a choice of powerful graphics cards, combined with a great processor and plenty of RAM.

Read the full review: Razer Blade Pro

Dell's brilliant XPS 15 is a dab hand at mining thanks to its discrete graphics card, and its stylish, slim line, design means it can be easily carried around with you if you want to do some mining while on the move. It's also an absolutely brilliant laptop in its own right, and Dell's build quality and after sales support makes it a mining laptop you can rely on. 

Read the full review: Dell XPS 15

If you want to save some money to help increase your mining profits, then the HP Pavilion 15 is a great shout, as it offers decent amounts of power, and a dedicated graphics card, while keeping the price to a relatively sensible level. Don't expect to mine a fortune with this, but the low cost means you have less of an initial outlay to make back.

Read our hands-on review: HP Pavilion 15

Featuring Nvidia’s Max-Q technology, the Asus Zephyrus GX501 combines the heralded thinness of an Ultrabook with the performance that can produce some excellent results when mining. It's powerful, thin and virtually silent if noise is a cause for distraction in your everyday routine. It's expensive, but this could be ja wise investment for a canny miner.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501

If you're really serious about getting the best mining laptop, then the Gigabyte Aorus X9 is definitely worth considering - though expect to pay a huge amount for it. However, it could be a great investment, as it comes with two GTX 1070 cards, which are the best mining GPUs in the world at the moment, and are therefore very hard to track down, and are obscenely expensive. Having multiple GPUs will improve your mining hash rates and could prove to be a wise financial move in the long run.

 Read our review: Gigabyte Aorus X9

• Here's our full pick of the best mining GPUs

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The best rugged laptops of 2018: we test drop-proof laptops for working outside

Looking for a laptop that will handle whatever life throws at you? Well, you’ve come to the right place, as we’ve listed the best rugged laptops you can buy in 2018. We’ve not only ranked the best rugged laptops that can handle drops, knocks and extreme temperatures, but we’ve also included our exclusive price comparison tool that will ensure that you get the very best deals on these robust computers.

The best rugged laptop will have a solidly-built body that can withstand drops, or even pressure being placed upon it - such as if something heavy falls on top of it. It should also ideally have some protection against liquids, dust and high and low temperatures.

While rugged built quality is important, the actual laptop features should not be forgotten, so we're also looking for the best rugged laptops that feature powerful components as well.

So, if you work on a busy work site, or often use your laptop while travelling, then buying the best rugged laptop for your needs is essential, so read on to find our top picks for 2018.

• Check out our overall list of the best laptop 2018

The Dell Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme is easily the best rugged laptop you can buy today, and while it’s been around for a while now, this is still a fantastically designed rugged laptop that meets military standard (MIL-STD) requirements. It has a rigid magnesium alloy build, shock-absorbent case, is IP65 certified against dust, sand and water, and can even withstand extreme temperatures. It also has some pretty beefy internals as well, and like other Dell laptops, you’ll be able to customise the Dell Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme so that it runs on the best components for your needs. If the Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme is a bit overboard for your needs, you may find the next laptop on our list more to your liking.

Dell is another big name laptop maker that also does some excellent rugged laptops. The Dell Latitude 14 Rugged is a fantastic machine that combines a tough outer shell with some very decent specifications, included a fast Intel Core i5 processor and a dedicated AMD Radeon graphics card. The screen looks great and it comes with a matte finish, which makes it comfortable to use outdoors - which is probably where you will be mostly using the Dell Latitude 14 Rugged. It's the less...well, 'extreme'... version of the Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme which sits at the top of our list of the best rugged laptops.

Panasonic Toughbook CF-33 is a very unique device, as it is a 2-in-1 laptop, which can have its keyboard removed to become a rugged tablet. This gives it a flexibility that many of the other devices on this best rugged laptops list miss out on. If you need something to easily carry while you do stock takes and jot down notes, then the Panasonic Toughbook CF-33's tablet mode works brilliantly. Then, if you need to write documents, turning it back into a laptop allows you to comfortably type away. You do pay a price premium for this, and at  $3,649 (about £2,800, AU$4,900) starting cost , it is one of the most expensive devices on our list. At the moment it is only out in the US, but hopefully we'll see worldwide availability soon.

At first glance you'd think that the HP ProBook x360 11 G1 EE Notebook PC is just an ordinary laptop, rather than a rugged one. However, it actually falls somewhere between the two. While it isn't designed for big drops and dangerous environments, it is built to withstand more knocks, drops and spillages than normal laptops. This is thanks to an industrial rubberised body, spill resistant keyboard and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 screen. While it may not be as robust as other rugged laptops, it is easily portable, and the screen can be flipped to turn it into tablet mode.

The Lenovo ThinkPad 11e, like the  HP ProBook x360 11 G1 EE, is more of a standard laptop with rugged elements to it. However, Lenovo has put a lot of thought into the construction of this machine, so it includes reinforced corners and ports, and can withstand drops of up to 90cm. It has also passed military specifications that ensures that this is a laptop that can withstand a lot of punishment, including high pressure, vibrations, high and low temperatures and a lot more. It's also modestly priced, while still offering plenty of power for day-to-day tasks. 

• Don't need a rugged laptop? Check out our list of the best business laptops

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The best mobile workstations 2018: the most powerful laptops for businesses

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

The MSI WT72 6QK 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.

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The best laptop for writers: the 10 best laptops for authors and journalists

If you're a writer, or you're in a job where writing is a big part of your day-to-day life, and are looking for the best laptop to suit your needs, then you've come to the right place.

We've gathered together the very best laptops for writers, taking into consideration the specific needs that writers and journalists need when looking for a laptop. That includes a comfortable keyboard that can be used for hours on end, a clear, easy to read, screen, long battery life and a slim and compact design that allows you to take your laptop with you where ever you go.

Because you'll be mainly using your laptop for word processing and research, it means you don't need the most cutting edge components. This can help keep the price of your laptop down. Also, even if you're not a full time writer, author or journalist, it doesn't means you're not writing a lot for your job. Emails, reports and presentations all require a laptop that is comfortable to write on.

What's more, our funky price comparison tools will show you where you can buy each one for the absolute cheapest price, so you won't have to trawl through the web comparing prices. If you want to see a more comprehensive list of prices and retailers, simply click the 'view all prices' link on each widget!

The best laptops for writers:

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. While a discrete graphics card may be a bit overkill for writers, it means you've got a fast performing machine that can also handle the odd game when you need a break.

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. Shame that it doesn't do DisplayPort, so no 4K output.

If you're looking for a sleek machine that's powerful and easy to carry around, then you'll love the Asus Zenbook UX310UA. As an 'ultrabook', this is a device that combines style with top-of-the-range components. For writers looking for a laptop, this means you get a brilliantly-performing machine that you won't need to upgrade for years, and thanks to its slim design it's easy to take with you if you do a lot of writing while travelling. The keyboard is a decent size which makes writing on it a pleasure.  Like most laptops of this kind, it comes in various specifications so the cheaper versions have Intel Core i3 CPUs and full HD screens while the most expensive options come with a super high res display and Intel Core i5. Whichever one you go for, though, you're getting a fantastic laptop. 

Read the full review: Asus Zenbook UX310UA

A Chromebook doesn't run Windows, Android or Apple's Mac OS. 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, and if you're buying a laptop to use primarily for writing, it's a great choice, as Google Docs can be used as a word processor, and you of course also have the Chrome browser for research. 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. 

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

If you're after a cheap laptop for writing that offers something a bit special, look no further than the Lenovo Yoga Book 2017. As with all Yoga devices, the screen folds flat so you can use it either as a tablet or a laptop. To add more versatility, Lenovo has now added the option to buy it with either Windows 10 or Android 6.0 onboard - which one you choose will depend how you're more likely to use the device. The screen on this thing defies the cheap asking price and the keyboard and capacitive touch-keyboard are both fantastic too. The built-in Wacom digitizer stylus allows you to hand-write notes on the touchscreen, and then save them to the web - or convert it into text - which makes it the perfect device for quickly writing down notes when inspiration strikes.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga Book
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017

The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is 2017's best laptop for you if you're looking for the perfect cross between a nimble Windows tablet and a fully functional laptop. The base version of the Surface Pro 4 is just a tablet - you get the main unit itself with kickstand but if you want the Surface Pen or the fantastic Type Cover keyboard you'll need to pay extra for a bundle or buy it separately. Again, this is a great laptop for writers who can use a stylus to jot down their notes to later turn into editable text. If you are buying the Surface Pro 4 as a device to use as a writer, then we strongly recommend buying the Type Cover keyboard, which adds a comfortable to use keyboard that also doubles as a protective cover for the screen.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 4
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017 

The 255 G5 is HP's entry-level business laptop and is a solid candidate should you be looking for a straightforward, reliable, workhorse at a bargain price. It's a great laptop for writers, as it has solid (if unspectacular) specifications, while keeping the price at a reasonable level. If you want a similar 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.

If you're after the latest and greatest laptop from Apple, welcome to the 13-inch Macbook Pro with touchbar. It's 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. This makes it an excellent laptop for writers, and if you love Apple's way of doing things, then you'll love the Macbook Pro with touchbar. The reason why it isn't higher in our list of best laptops for writers is the price: this is an incredibly expensive laptop, and if you're just using it for writing, then there are plenty of much cheaper alternatives. However, if you're an Apple fan that wants a machine for performing more complex tasks, as well as writing, then there really is no other choice.

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

If you want the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 but you want to spend a lot less, the Acer Switch 3 2017 is definitely the your best option. It's designed around essentially the same concept as the Surface Pro and it's a less capable thanks to slightly lower power innards, but for most tasks, especially writing, it's a brilliant little machine. What's more, to add further value this 2-in-1 laptop/tablet comes with the keyboard upgrade which means no little extras to pay for. As usual it comes in several different versions, with USB Type-C, 8GB RAM, an IPS display and Intel Core i3 7100U CPU coming with the more expensive option.

Read the full review: Acer Switch 3
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017 

The Acer Chromebook R11 is probably the best cheap laptop around at the moment, and it's a great laptop for wirters. Like the Acer Chromebook Flip higher up this page, this laptop runs Chrome OS so does away with all the overheads that Windows brings. Consequently it's able to run nice and fast on less powerful components, which means a very cheap price! Its touchscreen is decent, though it's only HD, and it will flip to become a tablet too. What's more, it'll run practically all day thanks to its excellent battery life. So if you're looking for a capable but very cheap laptop that you can whip out and begin writing on, then this one is your best bet.

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook R11
See more like this: The best Chromebooks 2017 

If you’re looking for a laptop that you can fold up and play with when you’re done writing for the day, look no further than the HP Spectre X360. Not only is this one of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy today, but thanks to the keyboard’s stiff force curve, you’ll find typing is a breeze for any touch-typist. And, thanks to its long battery life, you’ll be able to write all day on this comfortable keyboard without having to worry about scrambling for your charger.

Read the full review: HP Spectre X360 

• Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptop 2017

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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

Sure, it’s a Chromebook, and while that may put some people off, the Google Pixelbook is powerful (and beautiful) enough to hang with the Surfaces and MacBooks of the world. Now, while ChromeOS is admittedly not as good a place to program as Windows or macOS, the Pixelbook’s support of Android makes it a must-own laptop for any Android developer. The fact that this laptop succeeds the now discontinued Google Chromebook Pixel, which was designed by and for Google’s own developers, should give it some street cred in the eyes of coders.

Read the full review: Google Pixelbook 

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.

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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