Back-to-school portable computers
Lenovo ThinkPad 13
Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 The good: The thin-and-light ThinkPad offers a lot for a little, including a great keyboard, a matte 1080p screen, a useful assortment of ports, a fair number of upgrade options and lightweight but rugged design.
The bad: The touch-pad can be a little jumpy and the trackpoint can be hard to find without looking. The keyboard isn’t backlit.
The cost: $710 The bottom line: A travel-friendly, tough business laptop, the ThinkPad delivers essentials for work or school.
Samsung Galaxy TabPro S
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5 The good: Samsung wisely includes a keyboard cover in the box. Battery life is excellent, and the display is better than the screens in much more expensive systems.
The bad: The single configuration is stuck with a sluggish Core M processor, and the keyboard cover allows only two screen angles, neither of which may be right for you. The cost: $700 to $748
The bottom line: Samsung builds a lot of value into the TabPro S, including a keyboard cover and advanced display in a very slim Windows tablet.
HP Spectre
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5 The good: The Spectre is remarkably thin while still managing to fit in Core i5 and Core i7 processors. The keyboard is excellent for such a slim body, and the bold design stands out in a sea of thin ultra-portables.
The bad: The lack of a touch-screen is a big omission for a premium laptop, and the limited ports may force you to carry extra dongles and accessories. The cost: $1,170 to $1,381
The bottom line: If you can work with USB-C ports and a nontouch display, the Spectre offers a great design and excellent performance in the world’s thinnest full-power laptop body, so you won’t get weighed down on the way to class. It also has one of the best ultrathin-laptop keyboards.
Apple MacBook
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5 The good: The 12-inch MacBook gets a decent boost to performance and battery life, while keeping the same slim, light premium body. The high-resolution display and responsive trackpad remain the gold standard. Color options add a fun bit of personalization.
The bad: The single USB-C port will continue to be an inconvenience for many. The keyboard isn’t ideal for longform typing. Other super-slim laptops fit in more-powerful processors. The cost: $1,225 to $1,299
The bottom line: We’re seeing this amazingly slim 12-inch laptop more and more frequently on college campuses. The recent second-generation upgrade adds both power and battery life, and the higher-resolution screen looks amazing.