The best 4K laptops for 2022
A 4K laptop was unheard just a few years ago. However, today’s leading producers include Dell, HP, and Lenovo, who provide a 4K display choice across their flagship products. However, these enhancements come at a significant price, so it’s crucial to know which laptops support 4K.
We compiled a list of our top selections to help you get the most value for your money. The Dell XPS 13 Plus is one of our favourite 4K laptops because it has stunning screens without compromising performance or battery life.
Dell XPS 13 Plus
Reasons to purchase this: The XPS 13 Plus is a wonderful laptop in every aspect and has a gorgeous 4K display.
It is not intended for gamers.
What we thought of the Dell XPS 13 Plus:
It should come as no surprise that the XPS 13 Plus, which leads our ranking of the best laptops, also takes the top spot on our list of the best 4K laptops. The most recent models of the XPS 13 go above and beyond what we’ve seen previously, adding a haptic touchpad, touch-sensitive function “buttons,” and a full-size keyboard that is edge-to-edge with little gap between keycaps. One of the top 13-inch laptops is the XPS 13 Plus.
The 3.5K OLED variant with an Intel Core i7-1280P CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a terabyte of PCIe NVMe SSD storage was the subject of our evaluation. However, a 4K+ IPS variant is also available, and in our opinion, it offers exceptional colours with excellent contrast, support for a broad range of hues, and higher colour accuracy than other laptops in this class. The 4K+ screen does put extra demands on the battery, which is the single qualification to all of this.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5
Reasons to purchase this: The X1 Extreme from ThinkPad is a fantastic business laptop that now has a beautiful 16:10 4K+ screen.
Who it’s for: Everyone who wants to make the most of their screen space for both work and leisure.
What we thought of the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5:
The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5 is what you need if fashion isn’t your top priority or you want 4K laptop power in a machine that doesn’t scream “look at me.” While the X1 Extreme preserves the stiffness and solid feel of its predecessors, the most recent models have lost weight and have a more streamlined shape and aesthetics than earlier ThinkPads.
A high-contrast 4K+ display with brilliant colours and exceptional brightness is contained within those thinner bezels. The UHD model’s standard specifications include a 256TB PCIe SSD, 8GB of RAM, and a 12th-gen, 14-core/20-thread Intel i7-12700H CPU. The GeForce RTX 3050 Ti is a powerful GPU as well, and it can be customised up to an RTX 3080 Ti, making it the perfect combination for more demanding video editing or competitive gaming.
Razer Blade 15 2021
Reasons to purchase this: The Blade is a fantastic gaming laptop, and 4K helps the graphics stand out.
It’s intended for gamers and anybody who like a more glitzy laptop.
What we thought of the Razer Blade 15 2021:
One of the greatest gaming laptops now available is the Razer Blade 15, which has long been one of our top picks for mobile gaming. You must increase your pricing to support 4K. A 15.6-inch 4K IPS display that is individually calibrated at the factory is supported by the most current Razer Blade 15. The display offers 100% DCI-P3 colour space coverage and realistic colour.
An Intel Core i9-12900H processor, an Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD all work together to drive the display. The most latest product from Razer, made with the newest components. The Razer Blade 15 4K model is fixed at 60Hz, making it less suitable for fast-paced or competitive games without an external gaming monitor. If refresh rate is crucial to you, there is also a QHD (2560 x 1440) display option.
Dell XPS 15 9520
Reasons to purchase this: It is the same as the XPS 13 Plus, just larger and with more space to appreciate that gorgeous 4K screen.
Who it’s for: Anyone who demands more from a laptop than a 13-inch model can provide.
What we thought of the Dell XPS 15:
The XPS 15 takes the top rank on our list of the best 15-inch laptops because it is bigger, more competent, but somewhat less portable than its smaller sister. One of our favourite configurations is the 4K model. The 1080p model is more affordable and has greater battery life, but the XPS 15 is one of the finest for 4K viewing. The laptop also adopts the 16:10 aspect ratio, which is taller and better for productivity.
Thanks to its potent Intel 12th generation H-series Core i7 and i9 CPUs, up to 64GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti graphics chip, the Dell XPS 15 performs well in terms of both entry-level gaming and the performance of creative applications. Simply said, this Dell XPS 15 model is one of our favourite 4K laptops since it is gorgeous to look at and operate.
Dell XPS 17
Reasons to purchase this: You need a large, gorgeous, and powerful laptop for everyday use.
Who it’s for: Home hobbyists and content makers who desire more power.
What we thought of the Dell XPS 17:
In 2022, a 17-inch laptop may seem absurd, but the Dell XPS 17 shows that big computers can still be useful and very important. In the previous several years, Dell has produced some amazing screens in its XPS line, and the XPS 17 is no exception. This is the ideal option for any professional video editor since it has such a big, colourful, and brilliant display, allowing you to fully use the 4K resolution, which is often squandered on smaller laptops.
Although it wasn’t really made with gaming in mind, the Nvidia RTX 3060 is a powerful enough GPU that you can easily do some gaming in your downtime and enjoy high frame rates in whatever you play. The keyboard on this laptop is also excellent, making it as good for responsive keyboard shortcuts as it is for prolonged typing sessions.
Questions and Answers
A 4K laptop: Is it worth it?
A 4K (3840 x 2160) monitor, which has four times as many pixels as a Full HD (1920 x 1080) panel, offers a far crisper picture. 4K is definitely something to think about if you’re purchasing a laptop with a 15.6-inch or bigger display. On bigger televisions, Full HD might seem a touch grainy, especially in the clarity of the typography. Everything will be clear thanks to a 4K resolution, with text that appears more like what you’d see on a printed page and photos that are more true to the source.
4K is less necessary if you’re considering laptops with 14-inch or smaller screens. There is a lower limit to what some people would notice, but the clearer the picture, the smaller the display. However, if you often deal with text or graphics, you may desire 4K on a display as tiny as 13.3 inches. No matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to make out individual pixels in the extraordinarily fine picture you get.
A 4K display is required if you wish to view a 4K video, such as one from Netflix or Amazon Prime. Again, you may not notice the difference on smaller TVs, but 4K is the only option if you want the highest quality.
But there are good reasons to stay away from 4K laptops. Ultra-high-resolution screens tend to be more costly, certain older programmes don’t show properly on them, and 4K displays use more battery life (more on that below).
What qualities should a 4K laptop have?
The same qualities you’d seek for in a laptop with a lesser resolution should apply to 4K laptops as well. Check reviews to be sure the display isn’t simply 4K but also offers strong contrast and a broad range of true colours. You’re more likely to discover a nice display on 4K laptops since manufacturers often employ superior panels in such models. And several of the most cutting-edge technologies of today, including OLED, are primarily used in 4K displays.
Are dedicated GPUs required for 4K laptops?
No, 4K laptops don’t need a separate graphics card. Operating systems, office software, and multimedia programmes may all be run very well with integrated graphics, such as Intel’s Iris Xe.
However, you’ll need dedicated graphics to improve speed if you’re going to be using creative software like Adobe’s suite or playing games. This is especially true when it comes to gaming; to run current games at 4K resolution, you’ll need a very powerful dedicated GPU.
Does having a 4K display reduce battery life?
A 4K display does reduce battery life, yes. In order to illuminate four times as many pixels as Full HD screens, the display needs more energy, and the graphics system has to work harder. Because the same number of pixels must be lighted, decreasing the on-screen resolution will also have no positive impact on battery life.
We’re not simply referring about a few minutes here. Instead, a 4K display may drastically shorten battery life compared to a Full HD display, which is one of the most crucial justifications for only purchasing a 4K laptop if you are certain you need the increased resolution it offers.
