AI PCs YOU CAN BUY RIGHT NOW

Apple MacBook Air From £999 from apple.com/uk

We review the updated M3 version of the MacBook Air this month ( see p54), but the M2-powered version for £999 uses the same 16-core Neural Engine as its more expensive siblings. It’s actually the 10-core GPU (rather than the standard 8-core) that could make the most notable difference in AI applications.

The Air series is only the cheapest MacBook, of course. At the other end of the extreme, you can buy an M3 Max-powered 14in MacBook Pro from £3,299, where you’ll benefit from the extra horsepower of a 14-core CPU and thunderous 30-core GPU.

Apple iMac From £1,399 from apple.com/uk

Apple recently updated its 24in iMac with M3 chips, so you will again benefit from its 16-core NPU alongside the latest Apple silicon. As with the MacBook Air, you can upgrade to a 10-core GPU rather than 8-core for a rather stiff £200, but this gives the benefit of two more USB ports, 1Gbit Ethernet and a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID.

As we mentioned in our review

( see issue 352, p52), the high price (especially once you start adding more storage and memory) count against this stylish all-in-one, but you can’t argue with its quality.

Asus Zenbook Duo UX8406 (2024) From £1,700 from currys.co.uk

Here’s something a little different: a two-screen laptop to rival the likes of HP’s Spectre Fold 17 ( see p52).

Except here you reap the benefit of a Core Ultra chip, either the Ultra 7 155H for £1,700 or the Ultra 9 185H for £2,000, and with it some considerable AI potential. Much more than the relatively slow 12th gen Core chips found inside foldable laptops.

As with the Spectre Fold, you can use the Duo in various modes, but it’s at its best when you need a main window and a supplementary one. Great for debugging AI programs, perhaps. But we also think it works well as a normal laptop, as the detachable keyboard sits snugly on the base. We reviewed it last month from p60. Our only note of caution is that stock remains thin on the ground.

PCSpecialist Fusion Elite P £649 from pcspecialist.co.uk/reviews

This is one of the most affordable ways to buy an AI PC today, being based on AMD’s Ryzen 8600G chip. It comes with respectable integrated graphics, and the latest Ryzen AI with the promise of 16 TOPS speeds, and unlike all the laptops on this page there’s room to grow. When budget allows, simply slip a graphics card into the waiting slot.

Surprisingly for the price, you get liquid cooling for the AMD processor, which not only helps maximise its performance but also keeps the noise volume down. So while this PC isn’t the height of luxury or expandability due to the budget microATX motherboard, it’s a cracking way to start an AI adventure. Read our full review in issue 355, p54.

Acer Swift Edge 16 £1,299 from currys.co.uk

This was the first laptop we reviewed with AMD’s Ryzen 7 7840U chip inside ( see issue 351, p42), and it remains something of a beauty. While the name leads on its slimness – a remarkable 13mm – what struck us most on use was its 1.2kg weight.

That came at the expense of battery life, with eight hours in our tests, but that compromise was inevitable. Other than this, compromise isn’t in the Edge 16’s vocabulary. From the 1440p webcam to the fit and finish, this is a top-quality laptop – and you simply can’t argue with that price.

Framework Laptop 16 From £1,699 (pre-built) from frame.work

Whether you want a laptop that will last for a decade or simply desire a number pad that can be fitted on both the right and the left, this modular laptop is like no other. We provided an in-depth review last month ( see issue 355, p68), where it earned a five-star review for its quality as well as its repairability.

What makes it an AI PC is AMD’s Ryzen 7840HS processor (you can choose a Ryzen 9 7940HS too), and with the option of adding an extra 6TB of storage via expansion cards it has the potential to handle even the most demanding of masters.

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 16in 512GB, £1,699 from samsung.com/uk

Intel’s Core Ultra range was only launched in December, but there’s no shortage of laptops powered by its chips. For example, this month we review the updated Dell XPS 14 ( see p48) and we can confidently predict that dozens of laptops we review this year will include various versions of the processor.

Samsung has also updated its Book range of laptops with Core Ultra CPUs, so if you see Book4 in the name you know it’s an AI PC. We reviewed the Book4 Pro 16in last month ( see issue 355, p64), and it’s one of the best: despite the 16in OLED panel, it’s a sleek 12.5mm thick and exudes industrial chic thanks to its all-metal shell.