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Laptop for personal and office use - No budget limitation

I have a suggestion which I personally own currently, but it doesn't have oled and numpad. But has extremely solid build and thunderbolt ports too.

HP Elitebook X360 G8. I bought it on the new year of 2023, i7 12 or 13th gen, 32gb ram and 512nvme .
Never lags, or slows, extremely solid, good backlit keyboard and good battery life.
It also is touchscreen, hence good for drawing if it interests you.

If you want something old school and want to save some money too without any compromise, get Thinkpad T series, they last forever and I used to have it before I upgraded and it also had numpad and trackpoint (very useful if you start using it.)

Please note that the HP laptop is good for those who use it on the go extremely often as it is very compact and light ( can carry it in women's purse)
Whereas ThinkPad requires a bag or sleeve and only very slightly heavy.


All the best.
 
Yeah, and another point.
These days, all-brand laptops are good, which is common, but I have never claimed a warranty on any laptop except once on my old ThinkPad back in 2021.
In less than six months of use, it stopped turning on, but even though I live in tier 3, their service was good. I applied for a warranty claim on the web, and on the second or third day, their technician came to my home and changed the motherboard as it was faulty, and my laptop was good again.
After which my dad used it for 2 years without any issues and upgraded.
People say lenovos are cheap, but I have not found them unreliable, I currently use an Ideapad (sub 40k) laptop bought in 2019, with just an SSD upgrade and hinge replacement, and still going strong.
 
Budget : I can do 1L or 2L or more , it's fine.

My requirements :

Processor : anything above i5 13th gen that i currently have. No battery saver BS, I don't care for that. H intel processors or better. I don't prefer AMD as I have never worked with it before and I don't have the time/patience to test them as my work is everyday.

My main usage will be excel/pdf/word/Chrome(huge usage here)/VirtualBox(huge usage here too), whatsapp/telegram/calender/streaming. I'll be handling a business with this laptop and no I can't go for desktop as I want portability here as I have to work from home too and offc.

Ram : Has to be 32gb or more. if it's soldered, I'm okayish with it but extra slot would be great. Ofc DDR5 +

SSD : only SSD, I don't want HDD, my laptop usage is less about storage but I don't want HDD at all, just dedicated SSD of 512 will do or more it's fine.

Numpad : Most important, I won't accept any laptop without numpad. Can't compromise here.

Fingerprint : I want face ID or fingerprint (preferably not on power button, I hate that. May be dedicated fingerprint underneath the keyboard on right side for easy access and if not fingerprint, I'll settle with face authentication but I want some authentication.

Screen : OLED has spoiled me and that's the only thing I like abt my current ASUS S5504. My earlier laptops I used to keep brightness 100% as I love bright screen but this OLED laptop asus 5504 really is so damn bright that I have to keep the brightness to 80% not more and I want 120hz screen and atleast 600nits. I just can't go back to 60hz. I can compromise on OLED but not on 120hz. Screensize has to be atleast 15.6". I can't go lower than that and I don't like 18" screen but 15.6" or 16" can do. Hopefully with more than 1080p. I currently have 2.2k display on my laptop and I'm comfortable with that. 4k might seem a stretch but if it's acc to my use case, I'll go for it.

Ports : Need atleast 2 USB A ports and usb c but 2 USB A are important as I have to connect headset/mouse adapter. I don't want to work with usb a to c converters, it will create a mess for me. Don't care for HDMI/MICROSD/ etc ports.

Body : Hopefully aluminum or better, can't go back to plastic.

OS : Windows. I don't mind mac but I just can't change my whole environment for work, but if someone rents me a latest mac for 3-4 days to test 😛 to see if I can work with it acc to my usage then I don't mind going for mac 16 m3 pro 32gb which costs 2.9L.

Gaming : Here's the important part, I DON'T CARE FOR GAMING. THERE WILL BE ZERO GAMING ON MY LAPTOP. I have PS5 for that. But I do work, VM, Streaming, and huge chrome usage so if what I use my laptop for, a dedicated graphics card can help, then I don't mind going for a laptop with dedicated GPU (for chrome/VM etc) but as I said I will never ever game on my laptop(I am fixed on this).

Battery : if the laptop can give good battery, then why not but I don't want any compromise in performance so if u suggest a laptop which fits my needs but I have to compromise on battery backup, I don't mind. My laptop is 99% of the times plugged in anyways. But hopefully the laptop will have atleast 1 hour of back up 🤣

Wifi/bluetooth should be latest (wifi 6+).

Keyboard : Numpad and backlit is mandatory. If the backlit is rgb, even better but I'm fine with white only too.

Brand : I don't care but honestly I had the worst experience with this asus laptop so I might be a bit biased for Asus but if what u suggest is asus, I might settle for it. Ugh ASUS.

AI : I don't care for it, hence new intel line ultra 5 7 9 etc seems useless to me.

Speakers : Very much preferably front or side facing speakers as down speakers are dogshit.

Fan/Heat vents : Need them side/front(upwards) or from the bottom screen hinge. Not bottom as 50% of the times I use my laptop from my bed.

Touch : I don't care for it but what u suggest only comes with touch it's fine but I prefer non touch if possible.

Security : I don't care for it, I'm a IT pro myself so I can handle everything manually.

I wish lenovo/dell could make a customized laptop for me personally. I don't mind paying extra for it ofc but I guess 2L/3L/4L is nothing for them just to build me a specific laptop acc to my needs.

I had a Lenovo laptop earlier and I used to love it but twas 7th gen i5 and I was earning quite less that time so kept it for 5 years. It was 15.6" IPS, with fingerprint at the best location (not power button, twas on right side underneath the keyboard and worked 100% of the times) had ssd, with 8gb ram and one extra slot in which i put 16gb so total 24gb ram.

Now I bought a new laptop of Asus OLED last year with 13th gen i5/16gb ram (Soldered with no extra slot) and fingerprint on power button. I HATE THIS LAPTOP, I JUST HATE IT TO THE CORE. I loved my Lenovo but Lenovo doesn't make laptops anymore which is for my use case so I feel I am damn stuck here. The biggest need I have currently is more ram as I use VM on my laptop and out of 16gb 50% is always used by win 11 and rest when VM (win10) starts, takes 4gb ram and my host laptop's ram usage hits the roof for 85%. So I def need a new laptop for my use. I use youtube too and my current one costed me 80k with i5 h series 13th gen and it fckn' stutters/lags on when i seek(forward) a video, can u imagine? ugh

I know I'm being too picky/choosy here but hey, I'm in my early 30's and I have a business to handle and I'm ready to pay for premium and I am set in my ways (like numpad requirement) so it is what it is.
ASUS Zenbook Duo OLED (2024), 14" (35.56cm) FHD OLED Touch Display, Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, Built-in AI, Dual Screen Laptop (32GB/1TB SSD/Intel Arc Graphics/Win11/Gray/1.65 Kg), UX8406MA-QL961WS https://amzn.in/d/ibsrHLp

How about this?
 
@Sobirvs I would like like to ask few questions out of curiosity:
• Thunderbolt ports not required?
• WFH with MNC or doing freelancing?
• Reason for hating Asus? Is it due to Post Sales Service?
• Reason for not liking fingerprint on power button?
• Reason for not buying during BBD?

Lastly, I don't feel, you will get all listed specifications in one device (brands always compromise atleast on few things), likewise, you also have to make some comprises, so better to decide what you can compromise and what's must.

P.S: I have nothing to suggest. 😐

> Thunderbolt : Never used it, my current usb c port is quite enough.
> WFH and outside aswell. Own gig.
> the current one I have really gave me such shit experience. It's abt the laptop not post sales service. Hence the hate.
> My current one is on the power button and my earlier old laptop had it underneath the keyboard bottom right enter button (not on the button but below it) and that was easier to reach and my current one works like 40% of the times (even though it is an expensive laptop compared to my old one) whr as my older one was cheap laptop but fingerprint worked like 99% of the times.
> Umm, I guess I got sick of my laptop as my VM usage has increased from last 5 days. I always had a prob with my laptop but now it is to the extreme.

won't get all the listed specs even when I am fine in my budget??
 
Budget : I can do 1L or 2L or more , it's fine.

My requirements :

Processor : anything above i5 13th gen that i currently have. No battery saver BS, I don't care for that. H intel processors or better. I don't prefer AMD as I have never worked with it before and I don't have the time/patience to test them as my work is everyday.

My main usage will be excel/pdf/word/Chrome(huge usage here)/VirtualBox(huge usage here too), whatsapp/telegram/calender/streaming. I'll be handling a business with this laptop and no I can't go for desktop as I want portability here as I have to work from home too and offc.

Ram : Has to be 32gb or more. if it's soldered, I'm okayish with it but extra slot would be great. Ofc DDR5 +

SSD : only SSD, I don't want HDD, my laptop usage is less about storage but I don't want HDD at all, just dedicated SSD of 512 will do or more it's fine.

Numpad : Most important, I won't accept any laptop without numpad. Can't compromise here.

Fingerprint : I want face ID or fingerprint (preferably not on power button, I hate that. May be dedicated fingerprint underneath the keyboard on right side for easy access and if not fingerprint, I'll settle with face authentication but I want some authentication.

Screen : OLED has spoiled me and that's the only thing I like abt my current ASUS S5504. My earlier laptops I used to keep brightness 100% as I love bright screen but this OLED laptop asus 5504 really is so damn bright that I have to keep the brightness to 80% not more and I want 120hz screen and atleast 600nits. I just can't go back to 60hz. I can compromise on OLED but not on 120hz. Screensize has to be atleast 15.6". I can't go lower than that and I don't like 18" screen but 15.6" or 16" can do. Hopefully with more than 1080p. I currently have 2.2k display on my laptop and I'm comfortable with that. 4k might seem a stretch but if it's acc to my use case, I'll go for it.

Ports : Need atleast 2 USB A ports and usb c but 2 USB A are important as I have to connect headset/mouse adapter. I don't want to work with usb a to c converters, it will create a mess for me. Don't care for HDMI/MICROSD/ etc ports.

Body : Hopefully aluminum or better, can't go back to plastic.

OS : Windows. I don't mind mac but I just can't change my whole environment for work, but if someone rents me a latest mac for 3-4 days to test 😛 to see if I can work with it acc to my usage then I don't mind going for mac 16 m3 pro 32gb which costs 2.9L.

Gaming : Here's the important part, I DON'T CARE FOR GAMING. THERE WILL BE ZERO GAMING ON MY LAPTOP. I have PS5 for that. But I do work, VM, Streaming, and huge chrome usage so if what I use my laptop for, a dedicated graphics card can help, then I don't mind going for a laptop with dedicated GPU (for chrome/VM etc) but as I said I will never ever game on my laptop(I am fixed on this).

Battery : if the laptop can give good battery, then why not but I don't want any compromise in performance so if u suggest a laptop which fits my needs but I have to compromise on battery backup, I don't mind. My laptop is 99% of the times plugged in anyways. But hopefully the laptop will have atleast 1 hour of back up 🤣

Wifi/bluetooth should be latest (wifi 6+).

Keyboard : Numpad and backlit is mandatory. If the backlit is rgb, even better but I'm fine with white only too.

Brand : I don't care but honestly I had the worst experience with this asus laptop so I might be a bit biased for Asus but if what u suggest is asus, I might settle for it. Ugh ASUS.

AI : I don't care for it, hence new intel line ultra 5 7 9 etc seems useless to me.

Speakers : Very much preferably front or side facing speakers as down speakers are dogshit.

Fan/Heat vents : Need them side/front(upwards) or from the bottom screen hinge. Not bottom as 50% of the times I use my laptop from my bed.

Touch : I don't care for it but what u suggest only comes with touch it's fine but I prefer non touch if possible.

Security : I don't care for it, I'm a IT pro myself so I can handle everything manually.

I wish lenovo/dell could make a customized laptop for me personally. I don't mind paying extra for it ofc but I guess 2L/3L/4L is nothing for them just to build me a specific laptop acc to my needs.

I had a Lenovo laptop earlier and I used to love it but twas 7th gen i5 and I was earning quite less that time so kept it for 5 years. It was 15.6" IPS, with fingerprint at the best location (not power button, twas on right side underneath the keyboard and worked 100% of the times) had ssd, with 8gb ram and one extra slot in which i put 16gb so total 24gb ram.

Now I bought a new laptop of Asus OLED last year with 13th gen i5/16gb ram (Soldered with no extra slot) and fingerprint on power button. I HATE THIS LAPTOP, I JUST HATE IT TO THE CORE. I loved my Lenovo but Lenovo doesn't make laptops anymore which is for my use case so I feel I am damn stuck here. The biggest need I have currently is more ram as I use VM on my laptop and out of 16gb 50% is always used by win 11 and rest when VM (win10) starts, takes 4gb ram and my host laptop's ram usage hits the roof for 85%. So I def need a new laptop for my use. I use youtube too and my current one costed me 80k with i5 h series 13th gen and it fckn' stutters/lags on when i seek(forward) a video, can u imagine? ugh

I know I'm being too picky/choosy here but hey, I'm in my early 30's and I have a business to handle and I'm ready to pay for premium and I am set in my ways (like numpad requirement) so it is what it is.
If budget is not an issue then go for MacBook....
 
Lenovo Thinkpad P series for work. If not available, get the Txx(xxx) [T14.or T480+] series and beyond for work.
I don't like any consumer laptops so no idea there since I use the T480 personally 10+ hours daily/365d. Framework 16 is a good bet from my side. Don't get Acer Aspire or HP elitebooks (Battery backup issues).
 
Budget : I can do 1L or 2L or more , it's fine.

My requirements :

Processor : anything above i5 13th gen that i currently have. No battery saver BS, I don't care for that. H intel processors or better. I don't prefer AMD as I have never worked with it before and I don't have the time/patience to test them as my work is everyday.

My main usage will be excel/pdf/word/Chrome(huge usage here)/VirtualBox(huge usage here too), whatsapp/telegram/calender/streaming. I'll be handling a business with this laptop and no I can't go for desktop as I want portability here as I have to work from home too and offc.

Ram : Has to be 32gb or more. if it's soldered, I'm okayish with it but extra slot would be great. Ofc DDR5 +

SSD : only SSD, I don't want HDD, my laptop usage is less about storage but I don't want HDD at all, just dedicated SSD of 512 will do or more it's fine.

Numpad : Most important, I won't accept any laptop without numpad. Can't compromise here.

Fingerprint : I want face ID or fingerprint (preferably not on power button, I hate that. May be dedicated fingerprint underneath the keyboard on right side for easy access and if not fingerprint, I'll settle with face authentication but I want some authentication.

Screen : OLED has spoiled me and that's the only thing I like abt my current ASUS S5504. My earlier laptops I used to keep brightness 100% as I love bright screen but this OLED laptop asus 5504 really is so damn bright that I have to keep the brightness to 80% not more and I want 120hz screen and atleast 600nits. I just can't go back to 60hz. I can compromise on OLED but not on 120hz. Screensize has to be atleast 15.6". I can't go lower than that and I don't like 18" screen but 15.6" or 16" can do. Hopefully with more than 1080p. I currently have 2.2k display on my laptop and I'm comfortable with that. 4k might seem a stretch but if it's acc to my use case, I'll go for it.

Ports : Need atleast 2 USB A ports and usb c but 2 USB A are important as I have to connect headset/mouse adapter. I don't want to work with usb a to c converters, it will create a mess for me. Don't care for HDMI/MICROSD/ etc ports.

Body : Hopefully aluminum or better, can't go back to plastic.

OS : Windows. I don't mind mac but I just can't change my whole environment for work, but if someone rents me a latest mac for 3-4 days to test 😛 to see if I can work with it acc to my usage then I don't mind going for mac 16 m3 pro 32gb which costs 2.9L.

Gaming : Here's the important part, I DON'T CARE FOR GAMING. THERE WILL BE ZERO GAMING ON MY LAPTOP. I have PS5 for that. But I do work, VM, Streaming, and huge chrome usage so if what I use my laptop for, a dedicated graphics card can help, then I don't mind going for a laptop with dedicated GPU (for chrome/VM etc) but as I said I will never ever game on my laptop(I am fixed on this).

Battery : if the laptop can give good battery, then why not but I don't want any compromise in performance so if u suggest a laptop which fits my needs but I have to compromise on battery backup, I don't mind. My laptop is 99% of the times plugged in anyways. But hopefully the laptop will have atleast 1 hour of back up 🤣

Wifi/bluetooth should be latest (wifi 6+).

Keyboard : Numpad and backlit is mandatory. If the backlit is rgb, even better but I'm fine with white only too.

Brand : I don't care but honestly I had the worst experience with this asus laptop so I might be a bit biased for Asus but if what u suggest is asus, I might settle for it. Ugh ASUS.

AI : I don't care for it, hence new intel line ultra 5 7 9 etc seems useless to me.

Speakers : Very much preferably front or side facing speakers as down speakers are dogshit.

Fan/Heat vents : Need them side/front(upwards) or from the bottom screen hinge. Not bottom as 50% of the times I use my laptop from my bed.

Touch : I don't care for it but what u suggest only comes with touch it's fine but I prefer non touch if possible.

Security : I don't care for it, I'm a IT pro myself so I can handle everything manually.

I wish lenovo/dell could make a customized laptop for me personally. I don't mind paying extra for it ofc but I guess 2L/3L/4L is nothing for them just to build me a specific laptop acc to my needs.

I had a Lenovo laptop earlier and I used to love it but twas 7th gen i5 and I was earning quite less that time so kept it for 5 years. It was 15.6" IPS, with fingerprint at the best location (not power button, twas on right side underneath the keyboard and worked 100% of the times) had ssd, with 8gb ram and one extra slot in which i put 16gb so total 24gb ram.

Now I bought a new laptop of Asus OLED last year with 13th gen i5/16gb ram (Soldered with no extra slot) and fingerprint on power button. I HATE THIS LAPTOP, I JUST HATE IT TO THE CORE. I loved my Lenovo but Lenovo doesn't make laptops anymore which is for my use case so I feel I am damn stuck here. The biggest need I have currently is more ram as I use VM on my laptop and out of 16gb 50% is always used by win 11 and rest when VM (win10) starts, takes 4gb ram and my host laptop's ram usage hits the roof for 85%. So I def need a new laptop for my use. I use youtube too and my current one costed me 80k with i5 h series 13th gen and it fckn' stutters/lags on when i seek(forward) a video, can u imagine? ugh

I know I'm being too picky/choosy here but hey, I'm in my early 30's and I have a business to handle and I'm ready to pay for premium and I am set in my ways (like numpad requirement) so it is what it is.
My past experience and Murphy's law are unanimous on -> Never use same device for work and personal entertainment.
If budget is not a constrain then opt for 2 devices(regardless of form factor). 🤷‍♂️
 
no numpad and more over can't change my environment overnight
okkk... so you want a windows lappy then you can go for
  • surface laptop
  • Samsung galaxy laptop range
  • asus vivobook (newly launched) with intel ultra processor and lunar lake architecture
  • Lenovo thinkbook 16 Gen 6 (I'll personally recommend it as it's budget friendly and customizable on website too)
 
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If budget is not an issue then go for MacBook....
The recommendations given here cost more than macbook already, plus I was looking to get macbook for myself too last year, but it still doesn't have much software support and will need to learn to use it and then teach to parents as well.

Software I am not referring to all or famous ones, but I telling you about my experience, i am pursuing CA and coaching companies don't support MAC os.
 
Lenovo Thinkpad P series for work. If not available, get the Txx(xxx) [T14.or T480+] series and beyond for work.
I don't like any consumer laptops so no idea there since I use the T480 personally 10+ hours daily/365d. Framework 16 is a good bet from my side. Don't get Acer Aspire or HP elitebooks (Battery backup issues).
Recommended already by many.
Not sure about aspire, but my elitebook doesn't have batter issues, I am getting a backup of 5-6hrs screen on with backlit and wifi on.
 
Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5 Intel Core Ultra 7 155H Built-in AI 16" (40.6cm) 2K OLED 400Nits 120Hz Laptop (16GB/1TB SSD/NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB/Win11/MSO 21/FHD+IR Camera/1Yr ADP Free/Grey/1.9Kg), 83D4002NIN

ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED (2024), Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Built-in AI, 16" 3.2K (40.64cm), 3200 x 2000 120Hz, (16GB/1TB SSD/Win 11/Intel Arc Graphics/MS Office 2021/Mist Blue/1.50Kg), S5606MA-MX751WS

This one seems to be perfect:
Acer Swift Go 16— Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 Processor, 3.2K OLED, thin-and-light body that’s great on the go!

RAM can be upgraded as per need.

Lenovo is good but upgradable ram ? + 400 nits is less no? I am currently with 600nits and I love it. Also what's with co-pilot ugly button? I don't care for AI but I guess with softwares we can map that button to normal right ctrl.

Asus 16gb ram seems soldered.

acer - 16" availability seems an issue.
 
I believe Lenovo does provide customisation option.. atleast it was possible 3 years back

They do but with so many limitations. Btw I saw one thinkpad where lenovo is giving huge customizatiion on ram (like 8gbx8gb or 16x16 or heck 16x16x16x16 = 96gb) is this even possible? I mean I have never seen a laptop with 4 ram slots, are they for real?
 
I have a suggestion which I personally own currently, but it doesn't have oled and numpad. But has extremely solid build and thunderbolt ports too.

HP Elitebook X360 G8. I bought it on the new year of 2023, i7 12 or 13th gen, 32gb ram and 512nvme .
Never lags, or slows, extremely solid, good backlit keyboard and good battery life.
It also is touchscreen, hence good for drawing if it interests you.

If you want something old school and want to save some money too without any compromise, get Thinkpad T series, they last forever and I used to have it before I upgraded and it also had numpad and trackpoint (very useful if you start using it.)

Please note that the HP laptop is good for those who use it on the go extremely often as it is very compact and light ( can carry it in women's purse)
Whereas ThinkPad requires a bag or sleeve and only very slightly heavy.


All the best.

My non negotiable includes screen of atleast 15.6" and elitebook doesn't have that. Don't care for trackpoint too as I use external mouse from many years. Yeah I am looking into thinkpad too. Thanks for suggestions mate.
 
Yeah, and another point.
These days, all-brand laptops are good, which is common, but I have never claimed a warranty on any laptop except once on my old ThinkPad back in 2021.
In less than six months of use, it stopped turning on, but even though I live in tier 3, their service was good. I applied for a warranty claim on the web, and on the second or third day, their technician came to my home and changed the motherboard as it was faulty, and my laptop was good again.
After which my dad used it for 2 years without any issues and upgraded.
People say lenovos are cheap, but I have not found them unreliable, I currently use an Ideapad (sub 40k) laptop bought in 2019, with just an SSD upgrade and hinge replacement, and still going strong.
yep, I have used lenovo ideapad's for 10-15 years and took service from them may be 6-7 times, their support is highly reliable. I never have experience with any other company and lenovo always have onsite support. Only one time their support gave me headache's is when I asked to replace my old laptop with a new one(lol) and old laptop was like 7-8 months old but it had a manufacturer defect which was across the line and lenovo accepted it after weeks of negotiations and they even discountinued that line. I think it was ideapad z570 or some other model, i am not remembering now but yea lenovo support is AMAZING.
 
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