Top 5 Upcoming Laptops of 2021

The laptop market is a constantly advancing and changing consumer environment. This makes it hard for many consumers to keep up with the value of new features, specifications and operating systems. Conversely it also provides people looking for a top 2021 or outgoing 2020 model a lot of strong options from which to choose.

While all laptops have similar overall purposes and functions, some are built to handle some purposes with decided superiority over competing brands. It is easy to watch major brand names go toe-to-toe with each other pursuant to competitive product releases and system upgrades. What are the top upcoming laptops of 2021 and which one is right for you?

Making the Best Choices Between Top 2021 and 2020 Laptops

The various technical specifications and costs of the top upcoming laptops might bring a combination of excitement and sticker-shock to many households in 2021. The newest of laptop models are rarely sold at markedly lower introductory prices because the main manufacturers releasing them, Apple/Dell/Microsoft, simply do not operate their respective business models in such a fashion.

A few top outgoing 2020 laptops, however, are already seeing prices reduced, even if only slightly, to make way for new tech inventory and marketing campaigns. This provides consumers looking for the best new available laptops with a lot to consider. What are the top upcoming laptops of 2021? What 2020 laptop models are strong enough to still be considered as major market contenders in 2021? Read on for more about the top upcoming laptops of 2021 and how to make the best choice as an informed consumer.

Upcoming Operating Systems & Third-Party Program Compatibility

The most important things to research when considering spending top market prices on a brand new laptop are speed, power, storage, function and price. The type of operating system installed on the laptop is also a major factor when making purchase decisions. In fact, keeping up with changes and upgrades to operating systems might be the most challenging aspect of shopping for a top laptop overall.

Newer operating systems are partially implemented with the intention of improving bugs in previous OS versions. They are also implemented to improve functionality. Every time a new operating system hits the market, however, every active third-party software developer must check compatibility with its products. This is particularly challenging for creatives using music, video and graphic arts software when their creative program of choice works on a 2020 laptop but no longer will on an upcoming 2021 model. This challenge is capable of being mitigated with proper research, along with knowledge of what costs and additional specifications to expect in the top upcoming laptops.

What Costs & Specifications to Expect in the Top Upcoming Laptops

COVID-19 forced a lot of schools, businesses and homes to adjust to operating remotely in 2020. Expect advances in webcam and audio technology to arrive in 2021 because of this. Wi-Fi 6 is the most advanced version of  Wi-Fi available and delivers at a twenty-five percent faster raw speed than what has been standard in most homes. Wi-Fi 6 is also expected to become standard in late-2021 model laptops.

One of the most anticipated changes and upgrades to laptops in 2021 is Apple’s pre-announced move to abandon Intel processors and install proprietary Apple Silicon chips. AMD is also moving beyond its previous processor tech with AMD Ryzen 5 processors. The latter chips are expected to rival the power and speeds in previous laptops priced three times as high.

The Top 5 Expected Laptops for 2021

The features and specifications in some of the top 2020 laptops will remain close to the same in 2021 albeit with slight upgrades in various areas. Other companies such as Apple are making major changes to some of their traditional laptops lineup. Therefore, a combination of 2020 and 2021 laptops comprise the list of best options for the upcoming year. The top 5 expected laptops for 2021 are:

1. Apple MacBook Pro 2020 (graphic design).
2. Gigabyte Aorus 17X (gaming).
3. Acer Predator Helios 300 (video editing).
4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. (business).
5. Apple MacBook Pro 2021 (expected best overall).

1. Apple MacBook Pro 2020 (Best Graphic Design Laptop)

The 2020 Apple MacBook Pro 16” was the best graphic design laptop in 2020 and is expected to maintain its reign at the top well into 2021. The two starting MSRPs of $2,399 and $2,799 are separated by differences in processing/graphics power and SSD sizes, all of which have upgradeable configurations. Video simultaneously supports full native resolution on a built-in display, which includes millions of colors and a Thunderbolt 3 digital video output. Memory in both units starts at 16GB of 2666MHz DDR4 onboard memory, upgradeable all the way to 64GB. There are plenty more appealing features such as a battery with over eleven hours of charge. For full specifications and price points on the 2020 Apple MacBook Pro 16” visit Apple HERE.

2. Gigabyte Aorus 17X (Best for Gaming)

The Gigabyte Aorus 17X is designed to look, feel, perform and act like the top gaming laptop heading into 2021. The 17” 240Hz display and bold, sturdy feel make the Aorus 17X a superb pleasure for gaming. They also allow this unit to serve similarly to a desktop. The keyboard has a slight learning curve but is powerful and enjoyable to use once users are acclimated. Graphics, processers, SSD and RAM are all configurable although the laptop already comes with a 1TB SSD, 2TB HDD and SD card reader installed. The installed operating system is Microsoft Windows Pro (1909). Fully configured the Gigabyte Aorus 17X costs just under $3,900, making it a top 2021 gaming laptop for serious gamers looking for best possible entertainment experiences.

3. Acer Predator Helios 300  (Best Video Editing Laptop)

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is the anticipated best professional PC-based video editing laptop in 2021. Its IPS screen offers a 240Hz refresh rate with a 1,920/1,080 pixel resolution. The installed processor on the $1,199 base model is the 2.6-GHz Intel Core i7-10750H and RAM is expandable to 32GB. Storage speed reaches more than sixty frames per second and the laptop stays cool during long hours of editing and general use.

4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Best Laptop for Business)

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon was the best laptop for business in 2020. It is expected to remain as such in 2021 as well. This thin and lightweight machine includes a battery capable of lasting for just less than an impressive twenty hours. Lenovo offers discounts for purchases made by literal businesses, and the ThinkPad X1 Carbon has a build-your-own feature to hone in on the specifications really needed. Pre-configured prices range from $949 through $1,199, while the build-your-own versions jump to $1,331.40 after discounts are applied. Lenovo also offers affordable financing options on this best-for-business 2021 laptop.

5. Apple MacBook Pro 2021 (Expected Best Overall of 2021)

Apple is expected to convert its powerful 2020 MacBook Pro 16” laptop into the best laptop in 2021 overall. Apple is ditching the Intel processors it has used so committedly for its new Apple M1X chip, which is anticipated to have twelve cores. Those twelve cores are to be divided between eight performance and four high-efficiency cores, making this potentially one of the fastest machines on the consumer market. Pricing on the 16” model is expected to stay around $2,799 if only because Apple handled moving its Intel-based Air models to proprietary Silicon chips in the same way. Everything the 2020 MacBook Pro 16” could do is expected to only get faster, smoother and more efficient in the 2021 model.