Laptops: Dynamic mechanics

Competition for the humble laptop comes in many forms – smartphones, “phablets” (phone-tablet hybrids), tablets and even smartwatches. But manufacturers continue to up their game. The most interesting laptop trend for 2016 is mechanical – some boast a 360-degree hinge so that the screen can be completely folded back on itself. This lets you prop the device up for presentations and movies but, more impressively, allows it to become a tablet. When buying, whatever your size preference, look for a screen with as many pixels as possible – some have 4K ultra high-definition displays or better. Apple’s Macbook Pro now has 5K (five million pixels) for razor-sharp images. This doesn’t just mean pristine movie performance, but pin-sharp text. Apple is also leading the way with its use of IPS LCD technology for brighter colours. As always, consider battery life. How long are you on the road for and will you have access to power? Eight hours of longevity is now pretty common, but one laptop featured here (from Dell) offers up to 17 hours.   Acer Aspire R11 From US$349; acer.com A good price for a capable Windows 8.1 laptop. The Aspire R11 is a great option for taking on the road because its clever 360-degree hinge allows you to use it in a variety of positions – as a regular laptop, folded back on itself for use as a tablet, or folded back at an angle for watching movies or giving presentations. The 11.6-inch display has a damage-resistant coating as well as touchscreen capabilities so you can use it just like any Windows tablet. Battery life is a respectable eight hours. The unit weighs 1.6kg and storage is 500GB-1TB. Pros Converts to a tablet, good value ConsScreen resolution could be higher   HP EliteBook Folio From US$999; hp.com The thinnest (1.2cm), lightest (under 1kg) notebook HP has ever created. Running Windows 10, it has a sleek aluminium body and an unusual 180-degree “piano hinge” so that it can be opened flat for collaborative working using the 12.5-inch display. A 4K touchscreen doesn’t come as standard but is available as an upgrade. As with Asus’s Zenbook (see next page), it also has ten hours of battery life alongside its noiseless, fan-free solid state drive. But its collaborations give it an edge – it’s certified by Skype for Business (optional extra) and the sound system is by Bang & Olufsen. Pros Svelte, innovative design Cons No 4K screen as standard   Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 260 From US$824; lenovo.com This robust business laptop has a 12.5-inch touchscreen display and is designed to withstand the knocks and bumps of airport security. Its 360-degree hinge lets you use it in four positions, including tablet mode. It features a pleasant keyboard with separate “chiclet” keys that stand proud of the case when in use, but cleverly retract into their frame when converted, reducing accidental keystrokes. Battery life is up to ten hours, and there’s a fingerprint reader for added security. The Thinkpad runs Windows 10, weighs 1.3kg and, customised, can store up to 512GB. Pros Convertible, retractable keyboard ConsNot cheap   Toshiba Satellite Radius 12 US$841 (from amazon.com); toshiba.co.uk The world’s first 12.5-inch ultra-HD 4K convertible-hybrid, the Satellite Radius 12 is available with a full- or ultra-HD 4K touchscreen. The latter offers four times the clarity of most laptops for a crystal-clear picture, and sound is handled capably by built-in Harman Kardon speakers with DTS Studio Sound. Storage in its solid state drive isn’t huge (256GB) but is fast. It has Windows Hello for biometric login authentication, including face detection using the built-in HD webcam. Battery life is six to eight hours. It runs Windows 10 and weighs 1.3kg. Pros Very high-resolution screen Cons Battery life isn’t great   Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch From US$1,999; apple.com The latest 15.4-inch Macbook Pro model looks the business, thanks to Apple’s legendary “Retina” IPS display, which reduces glare but retains excellent colour quality. This one has 5K resolution, meaning images are crisp, made up of more than five million pixels. It’s pricey but powerful and good for creative work. Despite its slim aluminium body, the battery life is a respectable nine hours and its 256GB-512GB solid state storage is quick and quiet. Measuring 1.8cm x 35.9cm x 24.7cm, it weighs a little over 2kg. A 13.3-inch version starts at US$1,299. Pros5K display Cons Expensive, no touchscreen   Asus ZenBook UX305CA From US$649; asus.com The Zenbook has a svelte, 1.2cm aluminium body but packs a punch, thanks to its 3K, 13.3-inch touchscreen display and Intel’s sixth-generation Core M processor, which promises faster performance but reduced power consumption. It has 128GB-512GB of solid state storage so is completely silent. Battery life is up to ten hours, even with wifi connected, and “Ice Cool” technology keeps the palm rest cool. This Windows 10 machine weighs 1.2kg and is available in a white, metallic or “classic obsidian” finish. ProsSilent, slim Cons No 360-degree hinge   Dell XPS 15 From US$999; dell.com The XPS 15 claims to be the highest-resolution 15.6-inch laptop on the market, with even more pixels than Apple’s Macbook Pro. It features a virtually borderless ultra-HD “Infinity Edge” touchscreen that offers five times the resolution of a standard HD display. Storage options range from a 512GB solid state drive right up to 1TB standard hard drive, but all models contain the latest generation processor. Most importantly for travellers, battery life is an unbeatable 17 hours. It ships with Windows 10 and weighs 2kg. Pros 17-hour battery life Cons Not for the budget-conscious   Alienware 15 From US$1,199; alienware.com This Windows 10 device packs all the power of a serious gaming PC into a 15.6-inch laptop, with up to 1TB of storage. It’s not especially slim or light, but it’s tiny when you consider the processing power, graphics and sound chips. It also features “dynamic overclocking” to squeeze more out of the processor when it’s most needed. You can choose between a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel display, or upgrade to ultra-HD 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels), but neither is touchscreen. Battery life is just over seven hours and it’s a hefty 3.2kg. Pros Very powerful Cons Heavy, no touchscreen   Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon From US$951; lenovo.com A tough, lightweight carbon-fibre case helps to make this the lightest, toughest 14-inch ultrabook available at 1.3kg. Impressive when you consider its 11-hour battery life. There are several display options, but top of the range is a 14-inch multi-touchscreen for better than full-HD (2,560 x 1,440 pixel) resolution. A 128GB-256GB solid state drive comes as standard, but this can be upgraded to 512GB. It’s slim (at 1.8cm), Intel-powered and, with Windows 10, is a solid choice for working on the move – a powerful rival to the Dell XPS 15 and Macbook Pro. Pros Slim, light, good battery life ConsLess storage than the Dell