Concluding comments
The 2020 laptop state of play.
While AMD’s propensity to add more cores to a processor to get more processing power isn’t always the best solution for gaming (which often can’t utilise multiple threads anyway) however, this approach seems to be working exceptionally well when it comes to the benefits a professional user might want.
The only unit we gave full marks to in this roundup was the Asus ROG Zephyrus and the main component in making it such a standout performer was the AMD processor it was running. The ROG Zephyrus G14 with a Ryzen 9 4900HS costs $2,799, but it performs as well as something running an Intel Core i9-10980HK, which we can’t really find in any configuration locally for under about $5K. This means it’s a pretty amazing bargain for those needing a proper workstation processor on the go.
In addition to this excellent price, the Ryzen 9 4900HS also offers some amazing efficiency, lasting for eight hours and 24 minutes in 1080p movie playback, which is more than double the lifespan of some of the more powerful units here. Then throw in an entry-level gaming GPU and a 1.6kg total weight and this device is a truly remarkable configuration from Asus, and we imagine it’ll sell pretty quickly (even though it doesn’t have a webcam).
Apple back on track
There were quite a few devices that came out ahead of the main pack, each of which had their own distinct qualities. For Apple the MacBook Pro 16 seems like a shift in design choices that returns to a focus on customer feedback. Whether it’s little things like fixing the butterfly keyboard reliability by returning to a Magic Keyboard style, or continuing to enhance the colour reproduction of its displays, the MacBook Pro 16 is a signal that Apple is still keen to be a leader in laptop design again. What mainly elevated it this time was price, which seems reasonable in the premium space, and battery life, which is generous considering how powerful this configuration is.
Asus engineering
Asus manages to get another mention for its ExpertBook, which is not the most powerful rig here by a long shot, but it’s a laptop that makes a lot of clever design decisions with the processor it got. Bolstering the battery on this lightweight laptop means it had to come up with a new kind of magnesium alloy in order to keep it at the desired weight, but it managed to stick the landing to make a uniquely powerful and long lasting clamshell for professionals that like to travel light.
Rising to the Surface
Then there’s Microsoft, which hasn’t changed much about the overall design of the range, but this consistency allows it to really focus on improving the balance of each device year on year. When you consider that this is the seventh iteration of the Surface Pro, it kind of makes sense that Microsoft is able to make tablets that are actually more powerful than many laptops, and from an engineering perspective that is an extraordinary achievement. There is a price premium for the tablets, but it’s very small these days, and if you want a tablet and a laptop then the Surface range is an awesome choice.
“The only unit we gave full marks to in this roundup was the Asus ROG Zephyrus and the main component in making it such a standout performer was the AMD processor it was running.”