CES is definitely the laptop show. In previous years, we had full swaths Gaming laptop Or laptop manufacturers who took risks with design. In it CES 2024Many of our favorite laptops have been redesigned, either by tweaking the formula slightly or taking a radical new direction.
So, ignore all the hype about AI and take a look at these beautiful and innovative laptops, the best that CES 2024 has to offer.
HP Specter x360 14
The Specter x360 has been one of our favorite laptops for a while. It’s the premium 2-in-1 convertible on offer, and this year’s refinements go a long way. There are new 14- and 16-inch models this year, but we got our first look at the Specter x360 14, which is stunning. Nothing revolutionary here, just small tweaks to modernize the design and make it stand out, like softer edges, slightly larger keys and a haptic feedback trackpad.
More than that, the 120Hz OLED display is great, the speakers are much improved, and the battery life is solid. Unfortunately, there is no discrete GPU option like other 14-inch laptops like the Dell XPS 14. Still, it’s a very impressive launch for a laptop design that’s still going strong.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid
It wouldn’t be CES without something a little more experimental in the mix. The ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid takes the concept of the 2-in-1 and takes it to the next level by offering two separate computers in one device: one running Android and one running Windows. Sure, on the surface it looks like any other 14-inch Windows laptop, but rip off the screen and you have a full-fledged Android tablet, complete with its own memory, storage, battery and camera. Despite being 14 inches, the tablet felt light enough to hold with one hand and use comfortably.
You can also use Hybrid Drive to access photos taken on the tablet, switch to Android while in laptop mode, run the entire Android system in a single window, or connect part of the laptop to an external monitor while using the tablet separately. Of course, the reason there is such a thing is that Windows 11 still doesn’t take tablets seriously and using them with just touch is a pain. ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid is an attractive solution for this.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
This isn’t a list of gaming laptops, but I can’t help but mention them ROG Zephyrus G14 redesigned. The silver color is subtle enough to make this a stunning crossover device, not unlike the Razer Blade 14. There’s no denying the improvements this year make one of our favorite laptops even better. The chassis has been slimmed down and modernized, the display has become an OLED panel, and the touchpad has been enlarged to fit the full height of the palm rest.
In a year where the Razer Blade 14 didn’t receive many updates, the Zephyrus G14 is looking more and more like a genuine contender, balancing performance and portability in a way we haven’t seen before.
Dell XPS 14
Many people are not happy with the refurbished Dell XPS laptops. Controversial changes from the previous XPS 13 Plus have been implemented across the line, including a seamless haptic touchpad and touch buttons on the lid that replace the row of function keys. People are also unhappy with the removal of the full-size SD card slot.
On the XPS 16, I think all those complaints are a bit more understandable, especially the port issue. But on the smaller model, the XPS 14, I don’t think those design choices are as abrasive. I love the look of this laptop, and the ability to configure it with discrete RTX graphics can make this a pretty powerful laptop, and even a competitor. 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Asus Zenbook Duo
He Zenbook Duo It’s not the first dual-screen laptop, but the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is. However, the Zenbook Duo has some advantages over that device. Instead of using a separate “origami” stand, a built-in kickstand can be used to rest both displays on top of each other. The kickstand can also support two screens side-by-side.
Another big change is that the Zenbook Duo has a physical touchpad in addition to the keyboard. That makes the Zenbook Duo a bit more useful as a laptop, allowing you to completely cover the bottom screen in clamshell mode, or even use the keyboard and trackpad wirelessly, separate from the device. It’s cool, yes, but it’s also a more practical evolution of these types of devices, even if it still looks like a forward-thinking experiment.
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