OLED, short for “Organic Light Emitting Diode,” has taken center stage in the ever-evolving display technology as major manufacturers gravitate towards this trend. Instead of using backlight technology evident in LCDs, OLED displays feature individual pixels that create their own light. This results in spectacular images and perfect blacks that LCD displays cannot produce.
OLED displays are also brighter, more efficient, and offer better contrast than any other panel technology that exists. For a long time OLED technology has been limited to TVs and mobile devices. However, in 2016 we ushered in a new era where laptop manufacturers began showing interest in this technology. Today we have a host of high-end laptops that feature OLED displays. This is our list of the five best OLED laptops you’ll find on the market.
1. Lenovo Yoga C730
One of the few fully-functioning new OLED laptops revealed at CES 2019, the Lenovo Yoga C730 oozes next-generation quality. It packs a 15.6-inch 4K AMOLED display and is a laptop-tablet hybrid with full Windows Ink stylus support.
Other vital details include an 8th-Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and a speedy 512GB PCIe SSD. It has a sleek slim design at 17mm thick. It will also include a fingerprint scanner and facial recognition for easy unlocking and a USB-C port that will support Thunderbolt 3 and 40GB/s data speeds.
It’s quite possibly the most impressive OLED laptop we’ve seen yet. While it’s been confirmed for a European release in April 2019, there’s no news yet on when it’s coming to the US.
2. Alienware 13 R3
If you’re looking for a top-of-the-range gaming laptop with stunning visuals and powerful graphics, the Dell Alienware 13 R3 is your best bet. The Alienware 13 R3 is a no-joke laptop when it comes to gaming. It’s also the first gaming rig on the market to feature an OLED display.
With an OLED touch display (1440p), VR-ready graphics, and a portable 13.3-inch screen, the Alienware R3 hits almost every item on every gamer’s wish list. And it’s not just about the screen – the top-of-the-line models come equipped with NVIDIA GTX 10 series graphics cards. They also come with support for the company’s Graphic’s Amplifier – an external box that lets you connect desktop graphics cards.
The keyboard is fancy and lights up the touchpad for easy typing at night. The RAM and SSD are also easy to upgrade via the underside access panels. What’s more, consumers have reported that the Alienware 13 has incredibly loud speakers.
3. Samsung Galaxy Book 12
The Samsung Galaxy Book 12 is a detachable notebook that rocks a beautiful OLED display and a very comfortable keyboard. Its sleek design not only gives it a stylish look but also makes it extremely light and portable. It also comes with an S Pen stylus that provides a sharp and responsive writing experience. Note-takers will find this feature very useful.
The Galaxy Book 12 features a bright super AMOLED display (2,160 x 1,440) that supports vivid HDR content. If you can find High Dynamic Range (HDR) content, you’ll be blown away by the wide color gamut that this notebook can achieve.
As for the specs, the Galaxy Book 12 comes equipped with 4GB RAM, a 128GB SSD, and the 7th Gen Intel Core i5 processor. It also comes with two USB-C ports for connecting all your devices. On the downside, the Galaxy Book 12 is expensive and offers a mediocre battery life.
4. HP Spectre X360 OLED
The HP Spectre X360 is a hybrid laptop that comes with a stunning OLED display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. This ultra-slim convertible laptop can be used in many ways, thanks to its unique 360-degree hinge that flips to the perfect view. Flip it into a tent and get a perfect view for playing games. Fold it into a stand and watch movies in the most convenient way possible.
The OLED panel displays vivid colors perfect for watching movies and displaying visuals. Besides the display, the Spectre X360 comes equipped with some killer specs that make it a high-performance laptop. It sports a Core i7-6500U processor, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Also, it comes with a fully touchable screen and a long-lasting battery, enough to power you through the day on average use.
5. Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Yoga (2017)
An oldie by OLED laptop standards, the Lenovo 2nd-Gen Thinkpad X1 Yoga is still a superb mix of performance, utilities, and gorgeous visuals. This 2-in-1 laptop packs everything you’d want in a premium laptop and boasts of a very slim and stylish design. Advertised as the world’s only business laptop with an OLED display, the Thinkpad X1 features a rechargeable pen supported in all Office 2016 apps. This makes it a good fit for a business laptop.
For consumers who love a versatile laptop, the Yoga X1 is the way to go. This laptop features a jaw-dropping 14-inch QHD OLED display that makes it perfect for movies and gaming. Inside the hood the X1 Yoga houses a 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU with Intel HD graphics and 16GB of RAM. You can also get a Core i5 version that comes with 8GB of RAM.
With average use, the Thinkpad X1 Yoga can deliver up to fifteen hours of battery life. The other interesting thing about this laptop is the rapid-charging feature that allows fast charging, up to 80% in just one hour. On the flip side, the Thinkpad X1 Yoga comes with an eye-watering price tag. It’s dropped a bit in price over the years and now starts at around $1,400.
Wrapping Up
OLED displays have gained traction over the past few years, owing to their spectacular color production, deep inky blacks, and high contrast. However, unlike LCDs, OLED panels are tougher to manufacture, which partly explains why only a few players have embraced this technology fully. As a result, OLED laptops come with a high price tag, which is a major concern for many consumers.
What do you think the future holds for OLED laptops? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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