Best Desktop Replacement Laptops in 2022 – [Vetted By Experts]

There has often been this confusion between power users – to go for the more convenient laptops, or to opt for heavy-duty desktop computers. This question often bothers a lot of people who need high-power devices. Thankfully, with time, laptops are getting increasingly powerful. While desktop computers make it easy for you to upgrade and to add more RAM, storage and change the processors, laptops too are slowly getting there – as more and more powerful devices keep coming out. In this article, we take a look at the best desktop replacement laptops that you can get in 2022.

It wasn’t too long ago that laptops were generally seen as low-power devices while desktop computers were seen as total beasts that would give you a major power boost. That line has been blurring rather rapidly. Today, you can get a laptop that can give you pretty much the same computational power as a regular desktop, along with better portability and mobility.

These days, laptop manufacturers actually take pride in calling their laptops performing at ‘Desktop Grade’ capabilities and laptops are no longer machines that are seen to be less powerful than a desktop PC.

For years, desktop computers have been the default preference for those users who need more ‘power’. This includes graphic designers, video editors, engineers, and architects who are creating 3D models, as well as coders who often need to compile large volumes of code.

Contents

Best Desktop Replacement Laptops in 2022

Now that we’ve provided you with a sufficient background about these desktop replacement laptops, it is time to proceed into the key section – a list of the best desktop replacement laptops of 2022. We have selected these laptops by carefully going through each of them.

The laptops on our list are not ranked in any specific order and we strongly recommend that you go through all of them in order to get a better idea about which laptop suits your individual needs the best. Do go through each of these reviews along with their pros and cons before you make your final selection.

1. 2019 Apple MacBook Pro – Runner’s Up Pick for Best Desktop Replacement Laptops

  • CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7
  • RAM: 16 GB RAM
  • Storage: 512 GB SSD
  • Display: 16.0 inches
  • GPU: AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 memory
  • Battery Life: Up to 11 hours

Let us begin with an Apple laptop because this is the closest you can actually get to getting a powerful desktop replacement in the truest of forms. This is the Apple MacBook Pro from 2019, one of the finest and the most powerful laptops out there. The MacBook makes use of Intel’s top-class i7 processor, clocked in at 2.6 GHz and with a turbo boost performance up to 4.5 GHz, giving you instant power. This is particularly well suited for someone who wants to edit and render videos – as the laptop gives you immense power in that sense.

Another thing that Apple promises you is this peace of mind about its display. While this is the 2019 MacBook, most non-Apple laptops that come out even in 2022 can’t compete with the screen Apple has used here. This is a 16-inch retina display, which is both bright as well as quite vivid, showing you all the colors in their true elegance.

Apple MacBook Pro

The MacBook also features 512 GB SSD storage space, giving you quicker and faster access to all your storage needs. Besides that, you also get a massive 16GB RAM, which will allow you to get multiple things done at the same time. The MacBook makes use of an AMD Radeon Pro 5300M GPU, which comes with dedicated 4GB GDDR6 memory of its own. When you compare the AMD Radeon Pro 5300M vs other contemporary graphic cards, you’ll notice that this generates the least heat among them. This laptop also comes out in an Intel Core i9 variant.

Apple’s products are top-level performers and this is truly a desktop replacement laptop, thanks particularly to the large 16-inch display, along with 11-hour battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro also features the unique touch bar, which is a part of Apple’s Pro series of MacBooks and doesn’t feature in the Air versions. This can further enhance your productivity and provide you with the extra edge that even desktop computers can’t provide.

Pros

  • Long-lasting battery life
  • The touch bar is a unique offering that improves productivity
  • The best display out there
  • Excellent graphics processor
  • Appeal of a ‘premium’ brand

Cons

  • Expensive

2. Alienware 17 R5 – The Perfect Choice

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  • CPU: 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 256 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD
  • Display: 17.3 inch
  • GPU: ‎NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
  • Battery Life: A little over 3.5 hours

Even in 2021, many people actually think that gaming is something that should only be done on desktop computers and that laptops can’t really provide the kind of gaming experience that their bulkier cousins can. Alienware has been a brand that has been proving all these people wrong for quite a while now. Alienware laptops offer true-blue desktop replacement and the Alienware 17 R5 is perhaps the best gaming laptop out there.

The Alienware 17 R5 comes out into the markets running on an 8th gen Intel core i7 processor, which is Intel’s top-of-the-line offering. The laptop features 8GB of RAM, which is upgradable. What is really impressive about this is that you get a LOT of storage space. This makes it an ideal gaming laptop because PC games do occupy a lot of space, usually running into hundreds of GBs. This laptop provides 256GB SSD storage along with 1TB HDD storage.

Alienware 17 R5

You get a large 17.3-inch LCD IPS display, which offers a resolution up to 1920 x 1080 pixels which is considered as 4K resolution. The laptop is also built to let everyone around you know that you are using a gaming machine. It’s got all the blue lights coming out of it on the shell, and a backlit keyboard and trackpad as well. In terms of laptop design, Alienware has been nailing the hammer on the head for years now, and this laptop is no exception.

Since we are talking of a gaming laptop, we also need to mention the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU. The laptop comes with this GPU pre-fitted, which allows you to play pretty much every PC game that you wish to without any glitches, lags or problems. This is an absolute beast and one of the most powerful GPUs out there. This also makes the Alienware 17 R5 a good video editing laptop.

To sum up, the Alienware 17 R5 can not only give a desktop computer a run for its money but can actually outperform it in terms of the gaming experience that it provides its users with. If you are seriously considering moving to a gaming laptop, this should totally be what you should opt for. However, you can also use it for a number of other purposes because of its high power performance and impressive specs.

Pros

  • Excellent design and good use of lighting
  • Very powerful GPU
  • Large display
  • Best suited for gaming purposes
  • Additional 1 TB HDD storage along with regular SDD storage

Cons

  • Low on RAM
  • Terrible battery life
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3. MSI GE75 Raider-287 – Replace Your Desktop Without Any Hassle

  • CPU: 9th Gen  Intel Core i7-9750h
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 512 GB SSD
  • Display: 17.3 inch
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
  • Battery Life: Between 3 to 4 hours

MSI is a laptop maker that is often underappreciated despite the amazing products that they have been coming out with over the years. This is a gaming laptop from MSI, which provides an excellent desktop replacement. The laptop comes out with a ninth-generation Intel Core i7, which packs in quite a punch when it comes to processor performance. The processor can help you perform some heavy-duty tasks with relative ease.

Talking of heavy-duty tasks, this is a gaming laptop and this processor is an ideal candidate for such a device. Besides that powerful CPU, a gaming laptop also requires a powerful GPU. Powered by the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060, you don’t have to worry about the graphics at all. There’s no game in 2022 that this graphics card won’t support. In fact, most games would work with lesser GPUs too. This is the absolute gold standard.

MSI GE75 Raider-287

The laptop features 16 GB of RAM, along with 512 GB of SSD storage. Having SSD storage has become essential for all laptops these days, desktop replacement or not. SSD storage not only helps you store and access files faster but also helps speed up the boot time. Gone are the days you’d have to wait for your OS to boot up. All of this happens in just a few seconds now.

The MSI FE75 Raider 287 carries a largescreen 17.3-inch display as well. This makes it useful for gamers, coders, and graphic and video editors alike. The display comes with ultra-thin bezels which gives you the maximum possible scree-space. The laptop is also built really well, and the backlit keyboard with colorful lights is a key attraction. Those who need more power can look up the other variants of this laptop, linked on the Amazon page. You can upgrade it up to 32GB of RAM, 1 TB SSD storage, and an NVidia GeForce RTX 2080 GPU if you need even more power.

Pros

  • Excellent design, backlit keyboard is really attractive
  • Powerful CPU+GPU combination
  • Large display with thin bezels
  • Great laptop for compiling code as well as gaming
  • Fast boot-up time

Cons

  • Battery performance is not adequate while gaming

4. 2020 ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 – Top Rated Pick

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  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 1 TB SSD
  • Display: 14 inches
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650graphics
  • Battery Life: Up to 11 hours

ASUS’s ROG series of laptops have always been some of the company’s top-of-the-line devices, and the Zephyrus G14 is no exception. This is their flagship gaming laptop, which offers you much more than just gaming. With a massive 1TB SSD + 16GB RAM combo, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 has got the right storage and memory needs for all your needs. There’s a lot of customization possible too – as you can get variants of 8GB and 12GB RAM as well.

Besides that, there’s always the option to upgrade your processor and your storage here, as and when the need arises. Talking of the processor, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 comes out into the markets with an AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS processor, which is an interesting choice for a gaming laptop as most other alternatives in the markets usually make use of an Intel processor. However, the Ryzen 7 4800HS is no lesser of an option and it provides users with an impressive performance. The key feature here is that this processor generates minimal heat – keeping your laptop cooler for longer.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14

While the choice of CPU is rather interesting and different from what we’ve seen from other laptops, the GPU has been chosen with more populist opinions in mind. Nothing offbeat here, the reliable Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 – which allows you to play all your favorite games as well as render all your favorite videos with ease. The laptop runs on the Windows 10 Operating System which comes pre-installed.

When looking for a quality desktop replacement laptop, you simply cannot ignore the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14! The laptop also gives you a long-lasting battery life of over 11 hours, which is very well suited for the needs of different kinds of users. However, if you use it for gaming purposes, expect it to last about 3 to 4 hours at best. While this isn’t a drawback, one thing that we wish the laptop could have improved was the screen size, which sits at just 14 inches. However, you can always plug it into a larger monitor if the need arises!

Pros

  • Large SSD storage space
  • AMD processor tends to heat up lesser than Intel processors
  • Powerful graphics card
  • Excellent battery life
  • A decent gaming machine

Cons

  • Smaller display compared to most other desktop replacement laptops
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5. Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop – People’s Choice

  • CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 512 GB SSD
  • Display: 15.6 inches
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
  • Battery Life: Up to 6 hours

Razer is a brand that has an international appeal for its gaming laptops. This is the Razer Blade 15 (Base) laptop, which provides you with everything that a gaming laptop should have, as well as offers good customizations too, making it a proper desktop replacement laptop. One of the first things that you notice is the 10th Gen Intel core i7 processor. While almost all laptops here use the i7 processor, the fact that this is the 10th gen Intel Core i7 makes it even more special and powerful compared to older generation processors.

Moreover, the processor is very powerful, the Razer Blade 15 also features 16 GB RAM, along with 512 GB SSD storage, which gives it a large memory as well as storage space, as well as faster bootup times.

Razer Blade 15 Base

Furthermore, the RAM and Storage combinations remain the same across all three variants of this laptop, it is actually the GPU that makes all the difference.

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card powers the visuals on this laptop. However, there are two other variants running on RTX 2070 Max-Q as well. One of the two uses the same 15.6-inch FHD 144 Hz display as we’ve seen here, but the other features a 4K OLED display that functions at 60 Hz. Also, cleaning this laptop’s screen is pretty easy task.

The Razer Blade 15 also allows you to control fan profiles and the keyboard backlight colors, giving you more control over the way your laptop looks and feels than any other device on this list. The precise glass touchpad that this laptop offers is also very smooth and accurate and adds to the overall appeal of the device. The battery life of this laptop lasts up to six hours, but don’t expect to get all of it while gaming.

Pros

  • Very well designed laptop
  • Powerful 10th gen Intel Core i7 processor
  • Multiple variants available
  • Powerful GPU, great for playing games
  • Good screen refresh rate

Cons

  • Heats up quite a bit

6. Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Laptop for Replacing A Desktop PC

  • CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 512GB SSD
  • Display: 15.6 inches
  • GPU: GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
  • Battery Life: Up to 6 hours

Acer is among the top brands in the world when it comes to affordable laptop tech. The company has been coming out with a number of offerings for different sorts of users, and their Predator series of laptops is meant for gamers. This is the Predator Helios 300, which offers you a powerful CPU + GPU combination, but is primarily known for the visual appeal that it provides. If you are a gamer looking for a desktop replacement laptop for gaming purposes, this should be one of your top preferences in 2022!

The Acer Helios 300 comes out into the markets with a 9th-generation Intel Core i7 processor. This makes it a fairly powerful processor which produces minimal heat even while running the most power-intensive of tasks such as running games or compiling code.

Aiding this processor in running all your programs is a powerful 16GB RAM. Furthermore, to fully drive home the point of this being a gaming laptop, it also comes with 512 GB of storage space, to ensure that you always have enough space to store your games.

Acer Predator Helios 300

The laptop also looks really good. First off, the edges are rather sharp, giving it a unique look. Then there’s the backlit keyboard, which grabs your attention the moment you look at it. Besides that, the laptop also takes care of all your cooling needs.

When you think of a desktop computer, it comes with a lot of fans – but also creates a lot of noise. The noise factor has been eliminated by this desktop replacement laptop from Acer, as it comes with the 4th generation of AeroBlade 3D fans, which keep the laptop silent as well as cool.

This laptop from Acer also supports the latest generation WiFi 6 standards of connectivity, to ensure that you get the fastest possible speeds and that there’s no lag while you play online games. You get a battery life ranging between 4 to 5 hours while gaming. However, if you’re using it for regular purposes, it might last you for longer.

Pros

  • A fan that keeps your laptop cool but does not generate too much noise
  • Excellent design – cut edges, backlit keyboard
  • Fast and stable connectivity with WiFi 6 standards
  • Decent laptop for editing videos as well as playing games
  • Boots up rather quickly

Cons

  • Battery life isn’t long-lasting

7. ASUS ZenBook Duo UX481 – Your StandAlone Companion

  • CPU: Intel Core i7-10510U
  • RAM: 16 GB RAM
  • Storage: 1 TB SSD
  • Display: 14 inches NanoEdge
  • GPU: GeForce MX250
  • Battery Life: Between 9.5 to 11.5 hours

The previous one on our list (ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14) was a product from ASUS’s ROG series. However, this is a very unique offering – perhaps the most unique laptop on our list (on the Windows Operating System) and one which can truly give the MacBook Pro’s touch bar a run for its money. Let us begin by addressing ASUS ZenBook Duo UX481’s most unique element – the dual display.

The laptop comes with what ASUS calls a ‘Screen Pad’, which is the extension of the display below the screen and above the keyboard. This is a 12.6 inched matte touchscreen panel, which allows you to drag and drop windows and apps onto it.

Well yeah, being one of the best touchscreen laptops out there, it gives you a major productivity boost as you can now work on the main display while observing two other apps at the same time on the Screen Pad. To accommodate the ScreenPad, the TouchPad has been moved towards the right, giving the laptop an even more unique look.

Powered by a 10th generation Intel Core i7-10510U processor, the processing power of this laptop cannot be questioned and one cannot call it just a ‘gimmick’ laptop being sold with an extra screen. Well, the clock speed of this processor is highly advised and recommended by many experts in the industry.

To further drive home the point that this laptop means serious business and can be totally considered as a desktop replacement laptop, it carries 16GB of RAM along with 1TB of SSD storage. Together, these account for some of the most powerful storage/memory specs on our entire list.

ASUS ZenBook Duo UX481

Also, we’d like to state that, it’s one of the most affordable laptops with SSD drive and that too with the highest storage capacity in the place.

While this isn’t a ‘gaming machine’, this laptop can be used to run some moderate-intensity games, as well as video editing software, and for compiling code as well, as it comes with a powerful GPU. The Graphics card used here is the Nvidia GeForce MX 250, which is a decent GPU in itself.

If you’re still not impressed, this laptop from ASUS also comes with a detachable palm rest as well as a stylus pen to improve your overall experience of using it. The battery life runs between 9 to 11 hours depending on how much you use the ScreenPad.

Moreover, If you want desktop-grade productivity with the added benefit of a laptop’s mobility, this is the best desktop replacement laptop for you.

Furthermore, it’s not just a desktop replacement laptop, in fact, it’s fully customizable and you can even upgrade this modular laptop to your preferred configurations if needed in the future.

Pros

  • ScreenPad provides additional space for you to monitor your apps
  • Very powerful CPU+GPU combination
  • Impressive 1TB SSD storage space
  • A very unique design
  • Multi-purpose laptop for editing, coding, and gaming

Cons

  • ScreenPad tends to drain battery life
  • Location of TrackPad a little awkward

8. Microsoft Surface Pro 6 – The Value For Money Pick

  • CPU: Intel Core i7
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 1 TB SSD
  • Display: 12.3 inches
  • GPU: ‎Intel UHD Graphics 620
  • Battery Life: 13.5 hours

Microsoft’s Surface Pro 6 is already a well-established name in the markets and among the best desktop replacement laptops out there. This two-in-one device can be used as a tablet as well as a laptop. While there have been two other Surface Pro variants that have since come out, the Surface Pro 6 offers you the right value for money combination as well as a really good configuration too.

With an Intel i7 processor at its core, the laptop also features 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage space, which is more than enough that you can expect from a device its size. This isn’t really a heavy-duty machine but you can actually term it as a desktop replacement laptop for users who need a very powerful device while being ‘on the go’. This is the power of a desktop computer packed into a tablet.

Microsoft Surface Pro 6

The Surface Pro 6 from Microsoft features an Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics card, which is the most basic offering from Intel that you get in the graphics department. However, this does the job as it allows you to render and edit videos, as well as watch all your favorite content. However, don’t expect this device to run the latest generation games, as it has not even been built for that.

Microsoft Surface Pro is the ultimate computing experience for a working professional. This is for someone who has to work round the clock, attend conferences and make video calls, as well as for those who need access to their files all the time but don’t really want to use a bulky desktop for that. With a battery life of almost 13.5 hours, the Surface Pro 6 has you covered nearly the entire day!

Pros

  • Very portable vs other desktop replacement laptops
  • Incredible 13.5-hour battery life
  • Great keyboard for typing
  • Lots of storage for a 2-in-1 device
  • Best suited for the professional who is always on-the-go, attending multiple meetings and events in a day

Cons

  • Not a device that you can use as a gaming laptop

9. Lenovo Legion Y540 – Best Budget Laptop For Desktop Replacement

  • CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 256 GB SSD
  • Display: 15.6 inches
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti 6GB GDDR6
  • Battery Life: Between 3 to 4 hours

Last but not least, the Lenovo Legion Y540 is among the most popular and best desktop replacement laptops out there, especially for gamers. This is Lenovo’s attempt at creating a gaming laptop and they’ve actually managed to do pretty well. Lenovo’s Legion Y540 comes out with high-power specs, a good display, a decent graphics card, and a powerful CPU.

Powered by a 9th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, this laptop features a high-tech processor that does not heat up even when multiple apps are running. Minimal cooling does the job even when you are playing high-intensity games. Since this is a gaming laptop, we must also talk about the GPU up-front. The Lenovo Legion Y540 comes with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660Ti GPU which has dedicated 6GB DDR6 RAM of its own.

Lenovo Legion Y540

The laptop features 16 GB RAM along with 256GB SSD storage and performs well on all the fronts you’d ideally expect it to. The Lenovo Legion Y540 features a 15.6-inch display, which offers a 144 Hz refresh rate, making it an ideal choice for gamers. The display and the graphic card together account for some really incredible visuals, which also makes it a good laptop for editing photos and videos.

One thing that we didn’t really find impressive about this laptop was the battery life, which was rather underwhelming at just between 3 to 4 hours. While we don’t expect much from a gaming laptop in terms of battery, this is a front that Lenovo could have improved upon.

Pros

  • Does not heat up too much
  • Bright and vivid display
  • A very durable laptop that can last for a really long time
  • Powerful graphics card
  • Good and quite bright display

Cons

  • Battery life could have been improved

10. LG Gram 16Z90P Laptop

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  • CPU: Intel Evo Intel Core i7 (11th Gen) 
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 256 GB SSD
  • Display: 16 inches
  • GPU: Intel Xe Graphics
  • Battery Life: 22 Hours

LG’s Gram series of laptops are some of the best products that the company has created. These are generally considered to be their flagship laptops and offer the user with some of the most power-packed features that you can find on a laptop. These are truly ‘desktop replacement’ devices because even a majority of desktops won’t offer you the kind of specifications and performance that LG Gram laptops would. With LG Gram series devices, you get a screen that is larger than a typical laptop, high-end specs, and one of the longest battery lives that you can find on a laptop. 

Let us venture straight into the specifications territory – the laptop runs on an Intel Evo 11th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, which is as good as it gets. You get the latest, most powerful Intel CPU, which also features Intel Xe Graphics, giving you a well-performing built-in GPU as well. Another really cool thing about this LG Gram 16 laptop is that it runs on Windows 11 – which is the latest version of Microsoft’s Windows OS out of the box. You get all the latest features and security updates here, which future-proofs you.

The presence of this CPU+GPU combination in itself gives users a unique advantage and makes this a desktop-replacement device. In addition to that, you also have a 16GB LPDDR4X RAM (4266mhz) which offers the highest level of performance when it comes to memory-intensive tasks. This makes it a great device for working on graphic-heavy or video editing tasks. You can also use this laptop to compile large volumes of code. There is a 256GB SSD storage present on the laptop, which provides fast and efficient storage. 

LG Gram 16Z90P

This laptop from LG comes with an impressive 16 inch display, which carries very narrow bezels, giving you a unique 16:10 viewing experience. The laptop offers you a 2560 x 1600 WQXGA resolution, and ensures a clear and vivid output. The colors are further enhanced thanks to the presence of DCI-P3 99% (Typ.) wide color gamut, which gives a very realistic output.

The power button on a laptop also comes with a built-in fingerprint scanner, which ensures additional safety and that only you can access your laptop. The keyboard comes with expanded keys and an enhanced stroke, which gives you a desktop-like typing experience. The touchpad on this laptop (much like the screen) comes in a 16:10 ratio, which gives you a wider area to work on. The laptop comes with Alexa integration built into it, meaning you can control most of it using just your voice!

Another aspect of desktop computers that a number of users tend to prefer is that they have a lot of connectivity options. The LG Gram 16Z90P also takes care of this connectivity front really well. You get 2 USB-C ports (with thunderbolt 4 support), along with 2 USB Type-A ports (USB 3.2), there’s also a full-size HDMI port, a MicroSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack that you can use to connect various devices.

Lastly, one more thing that impresses us about the LG Gram 16Z90P is the battery life. This, as we mentioned earlier in our review, is an absolute standout feature. You get 22 hours of battery life on a single charge! This is almost unparalleled in the laptop world today, as even Apple’s Macbook Pro claims a maximum of 21 hours of battery life. A complete charge on this laptop could allow you multiple days worth of work! This aspect in itself makes it one of the best desktop replacement laptops as you have a unique advantage over here of working for long hours without having to worry about running out of juice. 

Pros

  • Power-packed CPU, GPU and other specs 
  • Massive 22 hour battery life 
  • Lots of connectivity options including 2 USB Type-C ports 
  • Large display with unique 16:10 ratio
  • Comfortable keyboard and large touchpad 

Cons

  • A little on the expensive end
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11. HP Envy 17t Laptop – Latest Pick By Experts

  • CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7
  • RAM: 64 GB RAM
  • Storage: 2TB SSD
  • Display: 17.3 inches, touch screen
  • GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
  • Operating system: Windows 10 Home

If you are looking for the best laptop to replace your desktop, it is highly recommended you go for a high-end laptop in a price range above $1500. In this price range, though there are a lot of laptops from different brands, HP Envy 17t will come under special mention as it comes with brilliant features and reliable performance. It is rated as one of the best-performing laptops in 2021. Let us look at its features.

It is equipped with an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor to deliver high-speed performance with great reliability. The laptop features 64 GB RAM and 2 TB SSD storage space. With this amount of RAM, you can carry out any complex activities with ease. This includes basic activities, video editing, software designing, music production, gaming, etc. 2 TB SSD storage will let you store hundreds of films or videos and applications.

HP Envy 17t

With HP Envy 17t laptop, you will be bestowed with a super-wide display of 17.3-inches. The display supports Full HD, IPS technology and is a touch screen display. It is WLED-backlit, multi-touch-enabled, and supports 1920 x 1080 screen resolution. This will enable you to access it effortlessly with just a touch. The laptop uses Intel Iris Xe Graphics to produce quality visuals. For internet connectivity, the laptop comes with Intel Wi-Fi 6 and has Bluetooth 5 for data transfer.

In terms of port configuration, the laptop comes with 3 USB Type-A ports, an HDMI port, a Thunderbolt 4 port with USB Type-C, a headphone/microphone combo jack, and an SD Card Reader. Thunderbolt port is a great advantage for high-speed data transfer. There is no optical drive on this laptop. For audio, there are dual speakers equipped with HP Audio Boost if you want to hear the music loud in the open.

The laptop has a backlit keyboard to help you carry out your works without interruption during nights or in dim-lit environments. It is natural silver in color and not very light. It weighs 6.02 pounds and is quite bulky. Overall, this is one of the highly recommended high-end laptops in the market with powerful features.

Pros

  • Fast performance with i7 processor
  • Excellent amount of memory
  • Thunderbolt port
  • Dual speakers
  • Wide display with backlit keyboard

Cons

  • Quite expensive
  • No optical drive

12. Dell Ultra Performance Flagship 7000 Series Inspiron – The Modular Replacement Pick

  • CPU: Intel i7-8550U
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 512GB SSD + 2 TB HDD
  • Display: 17.3 inch
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce MX 150 graphics
  • Battery Life: Up to 6 hours

Here comes the big one! Dell’s ‘Ultra Performance’ 7000 series Inspiron laptop comes with an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor, along with a host of other features that would excite anyone looking for a desktop replacement laptop. This is a feature-rich laptop, which is a generalist and can be used for multiple purposes rather than being focused solely on gaming or editing or for any other single-purpose activity.

The first thing that we need to talk about is the dual-storage that you get here. First, there’s a large 512 GB SSD storage, which also helps boot up the laptop faster, then there’s also a 2TB HDD storage which gives you a large storage space to store all your files. With almost 2.5 TB of storage space inside your laptop, you’re never likely to run out of space.

This is also a great laptop for those looking for one with a good keyboard. People often prefer using a desktop because they can work and type on it for long hours while at the desk. However, this laptop comes with an excellent keyboard design. The keys are very well spaced, there’s enough space for you to rest your palms as well. The 17.3-inch touchscreen display of the laptop can be completely rotated around the hinge and you can hold it on your lap and use it as a tablet.

Dell Flagship 7000 Inspiron

The processor is an 8th generation Intel i7 – one of the best in the business and one that would help you get all your work done. The laptop also features a decent GPU – the NVidia GeForce MX150, which isn’t really considered the best in the business but is far better when you compare it with a regular ‘Integrated Graphics’ Graphics Card from Intel.

This also makes for a powerful office laptop – featuring 2 mics and a high-performing web camera. There’s a Type-C port, a USB 3.0 port, a slot for memory cards, an HDMI port, and a lot more! Yeah, now, connecting your laptop to TV is possible with HDMI port provided on this laptop.

Additionally, you get a reliable and efficient working CD-DVD drive on this laptop. Yeah, it works for both reading & writing on/from CDs and DVDs.

Moreover, The laptop runs on the Windows 10 Home Operating System and comes with six-hour battery life. This is an aspect in which Dell could perhaps have improved the performance of the laptop.

Pros

  • Can be used as a tablet as well as a laptop
  • HUGE storage capability
  • Good graphics card
  • Very well spaced and structured keyboard, great for typing and coding
  • Lots of connectivity options

Cons

  • Battery life could’ve been better

Can a Laptop Actually Replace a Desktop?

When it comes to desktop replacement, a lot of people ask this question – can a laptop ever truly replace a desktop? The answer to this question is actually quite simple. Yes, they can.

Over the past few years, a lot of these aforementioned types of users are shifting to laptops, as desktop computers are no longer their only option. Today’s laptops come with the same amount of power, do not get heated up as quickly, and provide you with better portability and mobility, which is an added advantage of using a laptop.

The thought that a laptop cannot replace a desktop is quite old-fashioned, and one which is often frowned upon in tech circles these days. Desktop replacement laptops are pretty common these days and our list is going to show you exactly what these laptops offer you.

What Should the Ideal Specs of a Desktop Replacement Laptop Be?

A desktop replacement laptop is essentially a very powerful device that allows you to perform at the highest levels. These laptops are very well-suited for those users who need high computational power. In our opinion, here are some ideal and recommended specs that a desktop replacement laptop needs to carry:

  • Intel i7 CPU (or comparable)
  • At least 8GB of RAM (16 GB is ideal)
  • A minimum of 256GB of SSD storage
  • A good cooling mechanism (preferably noise-free)
  • A powerful graphics processor with dedicated RAM

These are some things that a laptop that is meant to replace a desktop must carry. However, there’s one more special characteristic feature that needs to be talked about. One must make sure that a desktop-replacement laptop must also feature the ability to be easily upgraded.

This is because the biggest benefit that a desktop has over a laptop is that pretty much like a lego system, every component of a desktop can be replaced and upgraded. Once you have a desktop, you can use it for years by continuously replacing and upgrading its components, or by adding on more of them as time passes. Today, a lot of laptops also allow you to customize and upgrade your devices. Make sure this is something that is supported by the laptop of your choosing.

Frequently Asked Questions about Desktop Replacement Laptops

Here are the answers to some of the most common and frequently asked questions about these desktop replacement laptops. A lot of our readers have asked us this question in the comments and over email so we thought we’d best compile them here for easy accessibility. Going through these will help you understand the larger picture in a better context.

1. Can desktop computers actually be replaced by laptops?

Yes, desktop computers can be easily replaced by laptops – and that has already been going on for a while now. Powerful laptops, particularly gaming laptops are getting increasingly popular and gamers have been shifting from desktop computers to laptops rather rapidly. This is an idea whose time has finally arrived.

2. Can I edit videos on my desktop replacement laptops?

Yes, you can. Desktop replacement laptops are generally extremely high-power devices that carry the best possible configurations. These include a very good display, a powerful graphics card, and a larger RAM than your average everyday-laptops. Hence, editing videos can be quite easy on these laptops as they can easily handle software such as Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro if you are using a MacBook.

3. Do desktop replacement laptops heat up a lot?

Yes, desktop replacement laptops do tend to heat up quite a bit because they use high-power processors and perform tasks such as video editing and rendering, gaming, and compiling code which tend to require a lot of computational power. This is the reason why they heat up. Desktop computers generally carry larger and more fans that keep the CPU cool. However, of late processor tech has been improving rather significantly and processors today don’t heat up as much as they used to in the past. Nonetheless, this is one thing that you will need to keep in mind while buying a desktop-grade laptop.

4. What is the one main thing that you must ensure that your desktop replacement laptop offers?

When we talk about desktop replacement, we are essentially talking about a device that can be easily upgraded. This is the biggest advantage that desktops bring to the table. You don’t need to buy a new system every time you have to add more power – you can simply get that element upgraded. When it comes to looking for a good desktop replacement laptop, this upgradability is perhaps the most important thing that you are going to consider.

5. Can Gamers Shift to desktop replacement laptops instead of using desktops?

Yes, gamers are increasingly moving towards laptops from desktops. Gone are the days of desktop puritanism. While a large number of gamers are still gaming using desktop computers, a gaming laptop is most likely on their mind right now. Over the next five to ten years, there’s going to be an even bigger shift and very few gamers are likely to remain on desktop computers. Alienware, Razer, and ASUS are among some of the brands that have started making specialized gaming laptops, and more brands are expected to follow.

6. Where to buy the best desktop replacement laptop from?

You can walk into your nearest store and ask them to show you their most powerful set of laptops. You can specifically ask for some of the models that you’ve seen on our list too. However, instead of going to a store or a retail outlet, we’d suggest you look them up on Amazon, because of their easy returns, better discounts, and fast delivery. We have also linked all of our products directly to Amazon so that you can buy them with even greater convenience.

7. Can I use my desktop replacement laptops to watch movies/videos?

Yes, desktop replacement laptops can be easily used to watch movies/videos. In fact, one of the biggest reasons as to why people prefer buying these devices is that they are a complete entertainment solution and not only allow you to work better – but also allow you to entertain yourself better. Desktop replacement laptops generally tend to feature a larger display and power-packed speakers which give it an edge over regular laptops as ‘entertainment units’. These laptops are devices for both – work as well as play!

8. Can all laptops be considered desktop replacement devices?

No, all laptops cannot really be considered desktop replacements. This title generally goes to laptops that are really power-packed, come with large displays, and can be upgraded to match the needs of the user from time to time. Desktop replacement laptops replace actual desktops in terms of user experience. These are devices that are performance oriented and can carry out the most heavy-duty of tasks with ease – which other laptops generally can’t. 

9. Can smartphones be considered desktop replacement devices?

No, smartphones cannot be considered a desktop replacement device because they tend to offer far less power than a desktop. While there are variants of apps such as Photoshop and MS Word, etc. for smartphones, but all these apps function in very limited capacities as the processing power of a smartphone is far below the processing power of an average desktop computer. Hence, smartphones cannot be considered as desktop replacements. However, there are some laptops that do feature high power specs that can be used as desktop-replacement devices. 

10. With desktop replacement laptops getting popular, is the future of desktop computers bleak?

It is unlikely that desktop computers are going to face a significant hit from the rise of desktop replacement laptops. There will always be power-users who will want a power packed laptop, but the desktop in itself will always feature more power and the capacity for a more heavy-duty work as it draws power directly from the power source. It will be unwise to say that the rise of these laptops will make the future of desktop computers ‘bleak’ as there will always be a demand from some group of people – gamers, for instance, are unlikely to make a full-time shift to laptops anytime soon.

Conclusion

We hope that by this point in the article you are well aware of all the options that you have when buying a desktop replacement laptop. Desktop computers tend to be very powerful machines and there’s no doubt about this. However, over the years, laptop tech has improved to such a great extent that one doesn’t really need to carry all the bulk that a desktop computer carries. These laptops are high-power machines that work as absolute beasts. Some of them are regular laptops while others are gaming laptops.

All said and done, we have provided you with a detailed review of all of these laptops, as well as a quick buyer’s guide, and the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about desktop replacement laptops. Do let us know in the comments below if you bought any laptop from our list, or if you think there’s another device that deserves to be on our list, and we shall add it as soon as we can!

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