Category: Laptop / PC

Which is the best mini laptop of 2018?

The experts have spoken and have enlisted the best mini laptop and netbook of the year 2017 all of which are cheap and reliable.

Let true laptop experts find the best mini laptop of 2018 for you. Mini Laptops also knows as Netbooks were supposed to be dead in 2010 but they are still going strong thanks to their cheap price tags and portability factor. Back then Asus was the most dedicated netbook manufacture and that fact holds true even now as they were ones behind this year’s hotseller, the Asus T102 which is shown below. Any way here is the list of best mini laptop netbook of 2018. Mini laptops are popular for their all day battery life, compact size and light weight chassis. These devices can be put into small briefcase bags or even carried by hand. That is why even our team prefer using the best netbook instead of a beefy laptop.

When looking for best mini laptop of 2017, there are several things to keep in mind to ensure you don’t have to suffer buyer’s remorse later. The first and foremost thing is screen size and resolution. A best mini laptop should have full HD resolution. Full HD mini laptops can be a little expensive so if you are budget, you will normally find most mini laptops with HD resolution which is either 1366×768 or 1280×800. This is fine for doing casual web surfing. But a full HD ultrabook laptop really helps in making you work with more data at a time. Also, the images and text look much more crisp.

Next thing to look for is storage. If you are in market for a cheap and fast mini laptop, then you should go for these new eMMC powered mini laptops. This new storage standard is like a cheaper version of SSD that stores data in flash. This allows manufactures to make thin, light mini laptops that are super easy to carry around. Storage is expendable via memory slots. But if you want a lot of storage out of box, then getting mini laptop with hard disk is a better idea. This is slower but gets you a lot of storage to play with.

Lenovo Yoga 710

The compact, powerful Lenovo Yoga 710 puts everything you need right in your hands—at work, at home, virtually anywhere. This HP notebook is the perfect size to take on the go packing touchscreen with full HD resolution allowing you see more and work with more content at a time. It is incredibly powerful packing ultra-low voltage Intel i5 processor with whopping 4MB cache for smooth multi tasking experience. Storage comes in form of 128GB SSD that is backed by 8GB RAM to for excellent end-user experience. This is the most powerful and best mini laptop of 2018.

* 11.6″ Full HD multitouch 1920 x 1080 screen with IPS technology, 360° flip-and-fold design
* Intel 7th generation Core i5-7Y54 with 4M Cache, goes up to 3.20 GHz
* 8GB DDR3, 128GB solid state drive (SSD), Intel HD Graphics 615
* Weighs 2.29 lbs. and measures 0.6″ thin

• More information + reviews at Amazon

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11E

Thinkpad laptops have legendary reputation in terms of build quality and reliable performance. This Lenovo laptop computer is a great value in mobile computing. Its bright, 11.6-inch HD resolution screen showcases movies and games in brilliant color. Its fast 128GB SSD is paired to a 4GB RAM that keeps it running smooth at all times. The storage is flash type so applications and system software loads near instantly.  The screen packs touchscreen letting you interact with your fingers directly. Easily the best mini laptop of 2018. If you’re looking to use a laptop for many years to come, there is nothing more reliable in the market other than the Thinkpad.

# 11.6″ 2-in-1 Convertible HD Touchscreen Premium Laptop, best in class build quality
# Intel Core M-5Y10C Dual-Core Processor
# 128GB SSD, 4GB DDR3 Memory

• More information + reviews at Amazon

Lenovo Ideapad 110S

The 11.6-inch Lenovo 110S fits the bill if you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop that can easily handle a range of everyday computing tasks. This Lenovo laptop is also preloaded with Microsoft Office 2016 to make it easy for you to get things done according to your schedule. Tweaked and made especially for windows 10, the Lenovo Ideapad 110S is has dual core Intel Celeron CPU onboard for brisk performance and all day battery life. It is thin, attractive and easy to carry around anywhere you go.

# 11.6 Inch Energy Efficient LED Backlight HD Display
# Intel Celeron dual-core N3060 processor
# 2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC Flash Storage, expandable via micro SD card slot

• More information + reviews at Amazon

Lenovo N22

The compact 11.6″ HD display makes enjoying entertainment easy when traveling, and with full-size keyboard and superb connectivity you can stay productive wherever you are. Enjoy more and work harder anywhere you go thanks to the lightweight design and powerful performance of the stylish Lenovo N22. The keyboard is water-resistant so no need to worry if you accidently spill some water on it. It won’t short circuit the laptop.

# 11.6-inch High Performance Laptop, TrueLife 1366 x 768 HD LED-backlit Anti-Glare Display
# Intel Celeron N3050 1.6GHz processor with dual cores
# 4GB DDR3 RAM, 32GB Flash eMMC Storage, Rotatable Webcam, Water-Resistant Keyboard, Windows 10 Pro, 0.88″ Thin, 2.8lbs Weight

• More information + reviews at Amazon

Asus T102HA

This netbook features a eye-catching and useful detachable keyboard. The keyboard while small is easy to type on thanks to finger-friendly chiclet layout. Moreover, the screen packs touch panel and a quad core processor that promises incredible 11 hour battery life.

# 2 in 1 Touchscreen Laptop
# Intel Atom Quad Core x5-Z8350 Processor
# 128GB Solid State storage, pen and keyboard included, 4GB RAM for fast and efficient performance

• More information + reviews at Amazon

Dell i3162-0000BLU

Built with everyday use in mind, it’s perfect for both work and play. You get the performance of the Intel Celeron processor, and it’s full of features such as a large clickable touchpad, HD web camera, and the built-in ports and connectivity you need. It looks very attractive in person and is well-designed too.

# 11.6-inch 1366×768 pixel display
# Intel Celeron N3050 processor
# 2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC flash storage, expandable memory card slot, Windows 10

• More information + reviews at Amazon

HP Pavilion x2

Ultra-portable and incredibly affordable, the HP Pavilion x2 transforms from a tablet to a notebook in a snap. With the power of Windows 10 you need for work, and the tablet you want to stay entertained, it goes with you everywhere at a price that’s just right.

# 10.1″ diagonal WXGA IPS screen with 1280×800 resolution
# Intel Atom X5-Z8350 quad core CPU
# 2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC

• More information + reviews at Amazon

Dell i3168-0027RED

The Dell Inspiron i3168 is a compact, travel-friendly touchscreen mini laptop designed for those who are always on the go. While it packs the power, fast storage and battery life of a much larger machine, this highly portable laptop is ready to move.

# 11.6″ HD 2-In-1 Laptop+Tablet, 1366×768 pixels, touchscreen display
# Intel Celeron N3060
# 2GB RAM, 32GB SSD

• More information + reviews at Amazon

ASUS E200HA

Everyday computing has never looked better than the Asus X205TA. Combining ultra-portability with a unique design, the 11.6” display is held within a thin and lightweight body that is also the home to a well designing, near-full size keyboard. It’s light enough to pick up while on the run, and powerful enough to last all day so you can finish your daily tasks.

# 1.6-inch HD LED Backlight Display
# Intel Atom Z8350 1.44GHz Processor, quad cores
# 2GB DDR3 Memory, 32GB Hard Drive, Wifi, Bluetooth, and Windows 10 Pre-installed and 1 year Office 365

• More information + reviews at Amazon

Dell Inspiron 11.6

The 11.6” Dell Inspiron touchscreen mini laptop features a capacitive 10-point touchscreen in a sleek, stylish design with a metallic exterior finish. Backed by a powerful Intel processor, long battery life and a very comfortable keyboard, it delivers the smart performance of a laptop, while also providing the touch conveniences of best tablet. It’s the best mini laptop of 2018 with convertible design.

Intel Pentium N3710 1.6 GHz Processor (2 MB Cache)
4 GB DDR3 RAM, 500 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive
11.6-Inch Convertible touchscreen laptop, 8 hours of battery life, Windows 10 Home 64-bit

• More information + reviews at Amazon

HP Stream 11-y010nr

Whether you’re playing catch-up at work or just enjoying a casual afternoon at the local coffee shop, the HP Stream 11-y010nr is made to enhance your everyday computing experience. Its 11.6” screen has been given anti glare coating to let you work in all sorts of environments – bright or dim. Its Celeron processor is great for doing office tasks, some light photoshop and more. Battery life is more 7-8 hours on single charge. Top mini laptop of 2018.

Intel Celeron N3050 processor, integrated graphics
4 GB RAM, 32GB eMMC storage, microSD card slot
11.6-Inch Screen, 1366×768 pixels, Free Office 365 Personal for one year

• More information + reviews at Amazon

Z390 Express Socket LGA1151 manufactured by SuperMicro has been spotted on SiSoft Sandra benchmark. It is surprising to find indications of this chipset since its launch is scheduled for the second half of 2018, which indicates that Intel may be trying to accelerate its launch. According to the manufacturer’s official launch schedule, the Z390 Express chipset should be launched in the second half of next year, and would come after the H370 Express, B360 Express and H310 Express chipset that will arrive in the first half of 2018. This is the reason why it is strange to see already signs that there are already motherboards with the Z390 chipset, and not only because it seems too early because we should have seen something from the others before, since they will be launched to the market beforehand. 

The Intel Z390 Express chipset adds some improvements to the existing platform (Z370) but nothing particularly substantial. Things like a programmable quad-core DSP audio processor or the SoundWire audio interface are fine, but they can not be considered important. There are other things that do have something more important, such as the integrated USB 3.1 controller, the WLAN controller 802.11ac integrated – yes, with an external PHY, SDIO controller for card readers also integrated, or compatibility with the new controller Thunderbolt 3.0 “Titan Ridge”. They are improvements to the platform that have more or less weight, but as we said nothing that has a real weight on the platform.

We’ll see anyway what happens in the end. Since the manufacturer of the plate is SuperMicro, a manufacturer that usually focuses on OEM and industrial systems rather than the general public, it is quite possible that it was simply an oversight by an Intel engineer who was doing the first tests and forgot to uncheck the option to upload the benchmark result directly to the database after the test.

First HP laptop with Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and windows 10 has been spotted on popular benchmark website, geekbench that has given us some information on its specifications. Scheduled to be launched at the end of 2017, this HP 12 inch laptop is a convertible laptop with touchscreen display that can be used as slate tablet by folding the screen. Specifications include Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and it runs Windows 10S / Windows 10 32 bit OS. Processor’s clock speed is said to be between 1.9-2.2GHz backed by 4GB / 8GB RAM so the performance is not going to win any awards.

However, the price is going to be much cheaper than its Intel counterparts. Plus, the battery life is going to be much more than any other Intel processor. We are not saying there are no Intel-powered laptops with long battery life but they are no way as efficient as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835.

That being said, if you are planning to use your laptop for heavy duty tasks like Auto CAD or Solidworks or gaming, do not even think of buying a laptop with ARM processor like Qualcomm because they simple do not have enough power to run 3D modeling applications smoothly.

If you own a Asus FX553 VD or VE and find the laptop running incredibly hot, we have a solution for your problem. But first we need to understand why the Asus FX553 runs so hot. The main reason is the fact it comes with a standard voltage processor which has a tendency to run so hot. However, there is a limit to everything and if the temperature crosses a limit, the laptop will turn itself off.

Many users of Asus FX553 laptop say that the processor reaches as high as 88 degrees Celsius and GPU reaching as high as 80 degrees. Excessive heat is not good for either graphics card or the processor and can significantly reduce the lifespan of your Asus FX553 laptop.

Even if you take your Asus FX553 to service center, they would not do anything other than applying some simple thermal paste here and there.

There is a solution to overheating problem though – by buying the IC Diamond thermal paste, the laptop’s temperature will go down considerably. This means you will have open the laptop to get access to the motherboard where you will find both the processor and graphics card. Applying some IC Diamond solves this problem.

Best photoshop laptop under 500 dollars 2017

Photoshop or graphic designing need a laptop with good configuration to handle heavy graphics

So you are into graphic design and use Photoshop on a regular basis. However right now you do not have a laptop to handle the heavy processing and you are tired of seeing the progress bar taking forever to apply a particular effect in Photoshop. In other words you need a photoshop laptop that does an exceptional job and at the same time is not too heavy on your wallet.

So you are into graphic design and use Photoshop on a regular basis. However right now you do not have a laptop to handle the heavy processing and you are tired of seeing the progress bar taking forever to apply a particular effect in Photoshop. In other words you need a photoshop laptop that does an exceptional job and at the same time is not too heavy on your wallet.

Normally well-equipped laptops do not come cheap but we have done a lot of research online to find best photoshop laptop under $500 that is able to handle effect you can through at it. Based on our research, you should get a at least Core i3 processor with minimum of 4GB RAM, preferably backed by cache memory to speed up processing.

What to look for when choosing the best laptop for Photoshop under 500 dollars in 2017

Display size – Get a laptop with big display, consider 15” and 17” laptops as you want a decent screen space to work with when editing images in photoshop. If you get bag a laptop or ultrabook with full HD resolution, then it is even better. High resolution screens pack more pixels and show more detail at a time.

Processor – A powerful CPU is very important as photoshop is quite CPU intensive. All the crunching of images is done by processor. Having something like i5 or AMD A8 or higher is must have when choosing a laptop for photoshop under 500 dollars.

RAM – This is the second most important thing to look for choosing a laptop for photoshop under 500. For best experience, get one with 8GB RAM. We have even found one with 16GB RAM.

Large storage – Photoshop’s PSD files can get pretty big. That is why it is important for your laptop to have big hard disk. Consider having one with 500GB or 1000GB hard disk for best user experience.

HP Probook

The HP Probook is the most well configured laptop for photoshop under 500 dollars. Powered by top of the line AMD quad core processor, you get discrete graphics on it that is utilized by photohop while rendering images. For storage, there is 1000GB hard disk. RAM is 16GB which is class leading and really helps in giving the best photoshop experience under 500 dollars.

# AMD A10-8700 quad core processor, AMD Radeon R6 Graphics clocked at 1.8 GHz
# 16GB RAM, 1000GB HDD, Super multi DVD drive
# 15.6-inch anti glare HD screen

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HP 15-ay196nr

HP 15 features premium built and finish and features the latest 7th generation i7 processor for smooth, seamless multitasking experince while using photoshop or any CPU/GPU intensive application. The screen is outfitted with touchpanel and it feels like a huge tablet. Windows 10 feels so much better with touchscreen. Battery life around 6-8 hours while doing daily tasks.

* 15.6″ HD touchscreen SVA BrightView display with a WLED backlight lets you view Web pages, games and more in crisp detail. 1366 x 768 resolution provides crystal-clear images
* Powered by a 7th Gen Intel Core i7 processor for smooth, seamless multitasking. Powerful performance with 2.7GHz speed
* 8GB of memory ,1TB hard drive, SuperMulti DVD burner ,HP TrueVision HD webcam
* Wireless (802.11b/g/n) connectivity ,10/100 Ethernet ,1 x USB 3.1 Port, 2 x USB 2.0 Ports , Bluetooth , HDMI Port ,10/100 Ethernet
* Up to 9 hours on a single battery charge

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ASUS X555DA-AS11

The Asus X555DA packs a full HD screen which when coupled with quad core AMD processor and Radeon R6 GPU gives you stellar performance. You get 8GB RAM which is ideal for working with large images in photoshop and 256GB SSD keeps the system fast and swift at all times. The keyboard is full size and you won’t feel jaded even after typing long documents on it. Top class laptop for photoshop under 500.

# 15.6 in Full HD (1920 x 1080) LED-Backlit Display, Built-in VGA Webcam, HDMI, VGA, SD media reader
# AMD A10-8700P processor, quad cores (4MB Cache, 2.4GHz up to 3.0 GHz), Radeon R6 Graphics, HDMI, VGA
# 8GB DDR3L 1600MHz SDRAM, 256GB SSD Drive, DVDRW/CD-RW drive, 2 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0

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HP Pavilion 15

The HP Pavilion 15 is sleeker than most of the laptops in this list and looks much more professional too. It has fast Intel Core i5 processor and touchscreen display so you can interact with the screen using fingers. The processor is from the latest 7th generation family so battery life and performance, both are better than previous generation. There is 1000GB hard disk storage and 8GB RAM to ensure jitter-free user experience.

# 15.6″ TouchScreen HD (1366 x 768) display
# Intel Core i5-7200u processor, 7th generation with 3MB smart cache
# 8GB of memory, 1000GB HDD, DVD drive, full size keyboard with numeric keypad

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HP 15

If you need a 17.3 inch laptop then the HP 15 is an excellent choice. With it you will have enough area to work with graphics. This is a nice cheap desktop replacement laptop that doubles as an excellent laptop for photoshop as well. It is great for those who spend a lot of time looking at the screens.

# 17.3″ diagonal HD+ SVA BrightView WLED-backlit (1600 x 900) Display, Intel HD Graphics 620, DVD/CD burner
# 7th Gen Intel Core i5-7200U Processor, Intel HD Graphics 520
# 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD
# Windows 10 Home 64 Bit, 3-cell 31 WHr Li-ion Battery, Color: Black

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Dell Inspiron i5555

This laptop is just 1 inch thick and comes with 8 gigabytes of RAM. It has 1000GB hard disk drive that should be enough to store your multimedia files. And it comes with solid build quality that works like a charm with the windows 10 operating system. Easily the best laptop for photoshop under 500, especially for those on tight budget.

AMD A8-7410 quad core Processor
8 GB DDR3, 1000 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive
15.6-Inch Screen 1366 x 768, HD resolution, Windows 10

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Lenovo ideapad 310

For many of us, 15” display is the most ideal display for doing graphic work. HP is a very reputed company and their Business 15 laptop has all the ingredients for an ideal laptop for photoshop under 500 dollars. It has super fast SSD that loads even big images instantly. Everything loads without making you wait for long. The build quality is second-to-none. The keyboard is full size plus packs a dedicated numpad as well.

* 15.6″ display with 1366 x 768 high-definition resolution, 12GB RAM, 1TB hard disk
* DVD+RW / 30 WHr Battery

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Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Series

The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 is a quad core laptop with supreme AMD A10 processor and whopping 12GB RAM for smooth photoshop experience. The quad core processor is backed by Radeon R6 dedicated graphics card which ensures there are no slowdowns whatsoever. An excellent laptop with touchscrene display and even backlit keyboard.

# Powerful AMD Quad-core A10 processor. The quad-core AMD A10-8700P delivers excellent speed for multitasking, as well as increased power efficiency and smooth video playback.
# 15.6 Inch HD LED Backlight Touchscreen Display, 10-finger multi-touch support
# 12GB DDR3L 1600 MHz memory ,1TB HDD, AMD Radeon R6 with shared graphics memory, Backlit Keyboard, DVD +/- RW, SD card reader, Waves MaxxAudio Pro

• Order Now at Amazon

Asus Transformer Book T102HA

Its cherry trail processor is said to be very fast and it has full support for hardware acceleration too. It is not as fast as Core i7 but in running graphic intensive applications, you would not feel a difference thanks to the speedy SSD and fast CPU processing. Also you can use it as tablet to show off your creations to your clients. Connect the tablet to the keyboard dock and you have a powerful mini laptop that runs photoshop flawlessly.

# 10.1 inch multi-touch display
# Intel Atom X5-Z8350 quad core processor
# 4GB of memory, 128GB of flash storage, expandable through micro SD memory card slot, 0.6-inch thin and only 1.7lbsweight

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Lenovo Premium

If you are looking for a super cheap laptop that delivers satisfactory experience in photoshop, get this Lenovo laptop. It has quad core AMD processor, 8GB RAM and Radeon R7 graphics that makes the system run silky smooth. It has ample storage, RAM for optimum user experience.

* 15.6″ LED HD (1366 x 768) Display, AMD Radeon R7 with shared graphics memory
* AMD FX-7500 Quad-Core processor, 2.10 GHz with Turbo up to 3.30 GHz, 8GB DDR3L 1600 MHz, 1TB 5400 RPM HDD
* 1 x HDMI, 1 x VGA, LAN (10/100/1000), 1 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x Headphone output/Microphone input combo
* Bluetooth 4.0, DVD RW, 2-in-1 card reader (SD/MMC), 802.11b/g/n, Webcam, Dolby, Lock slot
* Windows 10 Home, Color: Black, 0.98″ Thin, 5.15lbs Weight

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Dell Inspiron 15

This is an extremely feature-rich laptop for photoshop under 500 dollars. You get latest i5 processor, whopping 8GB memory, 1-terabyte (1000GB) HDD and a full HD touchscreen display. You even get backlit keyboard to let you type in dark easily.

# 6th-generation Intel Core i5-6200U；2.3 GHz with turbo boost up to 2.8 GHz
# 8 GB DDR3L SDRAM; 1600 MHz; 1TB Serial ATA hard drive, 5400rpm
# 15.6″ diagonal 1920 x 1080 Full HD LED Touchscreen Display, 10-finger multi-touch support; Intel HD Graphics 520 with shared graphics memory
# DVD+/-RW; SD Card Reader; Intel RealSense 3D Camera; 10/100 Ethernet LAN; 802.11 ac /a/b/g/n (Miracast enabled)
# Backlit keyboard; Touchpad; Bluetooth 4.0; 1 X USB 3.0; 2 X USB 2.0; 1 X HDMI; 1 X Headphone output/Microphone input combo; 4-cell Lithium-ion battery; Windows 10 home; Silver

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Acer Revo Cube RN76 is the latest mini PC to hit the market. This is the third generation of Acer Revo mini PCs which is doing quite well in US and other markets. At first glance, the Acer Revo Cube looks remarkably similar to the Intel NUC mini PC which is not a bad thing at all.

Acer Revo Cube RN76 specifications include Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 (Kaby Lake) processor, Intel HD Graphics 510 or 520 graphics depending on the chip, up to 32GB of DDR4-2133 RAM and up to 256GB SSD M.2 storage and with up to 2TB hard drive (or SSD. Also onboard is a WiFi 802.11ac radio, three USB 3.0 ports, one USB Type-C, a RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI and typical audio jacks. Tis mini PC runs on Windows 10 operating system.

This Acer Revo Cube was released at a global conference in New York. It is also said to have some form of Qi wireless charging so there is battery inside and it can operate for sometime without AC power. It would also be able to power your smartphone and other devices since it boats power USB ports.

We love everything about it. It is quite similar to the Acer Aspire GX-281 but lacks a dedicated graphics card. This would made it ideal for basic gaming and CAD related tasks. That being said, Acer Revo Cube is good enough for your daily computing tasks and drive a mini projector or desktop monitor with ease, which is done by, like 95 percent of the users.

Acer Revo Cube (RN76) will be available on the market in August at a starting price of $ 599 and we will have more information on this model later this month during Computex 2017.