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Prepare to spend close to RM4,000 or above, for the best laptop in Malaysia 2021! However, there are a couple of viable budget options in this list too!
If you do your research right, your new laptop will last many years before you need to upgrade again!
Don’t have a clue where to begin searching for the best laptop to buy in Malaysia? We have a guide (see below) that breaks down the most important aspects of a laptop too!
Laptop Brands In Malaysia
Which laptop brand is the best in Malaysia?
Here is a list of the top 10 laptop brands – we can’t tell you which laptop brand is better (i.e. ranking is not in any particular order).
But these are generally recognized as the best laptop brands for quality and performance!
- Apple
- Dell (and Alienware)
- HP
- Lenovo
- Asus
- Acer
- Razer
- Microsoft Surface
- LG
To keep things brief however, some of these brands are not in the next list:
11 Best Laptops In Malaysia 2021
Our recommendation list:
- Best Portable Business Laptop (iOS) – Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
- Best Portable Business Laptop (Windows) – Dell XPS 13 9310 Laptop
- Best Budget Laptop – Acer Swift 3
- Best Budget Gaming Laptop – Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
- Best Premium Gaming Laptop – Alienware M15 Gaming Laptop
- Best Laptop For Students – HP Envy 13
Best Lightweight Laptop Malaysia
1. Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
The new M1 chip is so energy-efficient, the design completely does without a fan!
Along with the M1 chip, the new MacBook Air’s (M1, 2020) sleek design and lightweight frame makes it an ideal laptop to carry around for work too.
It boasts features that include Touch ID fingerprint login, reasonably good speakers, Apple’s revised scissor-switch keyboard, and a massive trackpad.
But with just a ~RM300 difference in price between the Dell XPS 13 and M1:
Potential customers face a dilemma on which ultraportable laptop to get!
However, for its stellar battery life and speedy performance, we would recommend the Macbook Air M1 in a heartbeat for workaholics that are always on the go!
As users observe no drop in performance whilst running multiple windows and apps at the same time.
And the battery life of the Apple MacBook Air M1 has a solid 14-15 hour run-time when fully charged compared to the Dell XPS 13 which can only run 5-6 hours max.
However, with only 2 USB-C ports, the Apple MacBook Air (M1 2020) has limited exterior ports. In comparison to the Dell XPS 13, which has a microSD card slot.
And like other MacBook Airs in the past, bear in mind that you will not have as easy access to gaming platforms like Steam. As with a Windows operating PC (Like the Dell XPS 13).
Lastly, the Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is affordable for a MacBook too! And it comes in 3 finishes – gold, silver or space gray.
- OS: macOS Big Sur
- Processor: Apple M1 Chip 8-core CPU
- Graphics: Integrated 7-core GPU / 8-core GPU
- RAM: 8GB / 16GB
- Storage: 256GB / 512GB SSD (Up to 2TB)
- Screen: 13.3″ (2560 x 1600) LED-backlit 400 nits display with IPS technology
- Battery Capacity: 49.9WHr
- Dimensions: 4.1-16.1 x 304.1 x 212.4 mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 1.29 kg
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM4,399 – RM5,399
Pros:
- Fantastic battery life
- Lightweight and travel-friendly
- Excellent build quality
- Keyboard, touch pad and display are all great to use
- Next-gen USB-C for faster transfer speed
Cons:
- It only has 2 USB-C ports
- Not a touchscreen display
- Some software compatibility issues (still new)
- Limited game choices
- Design has not changed significantly
2. Dell XPS 13 9310 Laptop
Not an Apple fan? The next best thing is the Dell XPS 13 9310 Laptop!
With a starting price of ~RM5,400:
The Dell XPS 13 features the latest 11th Generation “Tiger Lake” CPU. Which make it fast and efficient! And also lends to its long battery life!
That, along with its portable design, ergonomic keyboard, and touchpad, makes the Dell XPS 13 9310 Laptop a solid choice for a work laptop!
The fact that it has a practically bezel-less (i.e. 4-sided InfinityEdge) display is a bonus!
And considering that the Dell XPS 13 is an ultrabook, the speakers are excellent! The webcam is less remarkable (720p). And not what you expect for such a pricey laptop!
Moreover, the slim frame of the laptop does sacrifice on port availability. With just a pair of ThunderBolt 4 ports, a 3.5mm headset jack and a micro SD card. Still more than the average ultrabook though!
While it has a relatively quiet and effective cooling system:
As a gaming laptop, we would not recommend the Dell XPS 13. The keyboard is too compact, and the combination of the Intel Iris Xe Graphics chip and i 7-1165G7 processor only allows you to play AAA games at low settings (e.g. frame rate).
- OS: Window 10 Home (64bit)
- Processor: 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-1185G7 / 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7
- Graphics: Intel® Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM: 8GB / 16GB
- Storage: 256GB / 1TB SSD
- Screen: 13.4″ FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit Display / 13.4″ UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit Display
- Battery Capacity: 4-Cell, 52 WHr
- Dimensions: 14.8 x 295.7 x 198.7 mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 1.2 – 1.7 kg
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM5,398.99 – RM6,998.99
Pros:
- Features the new Intel "Tiger Lake" CPU
- Extensive battery life
- Sturdy chassis
- Ergonomic keyboard
- Responsive trackpad
- Good audio quality
- Gorgeous 16:10 screen
Cons:
- Expensive
- Lacks ports (i.e. no legacy ports)
- Not for avid gamers
- Average battery life
- Low webcam resolution (720p) for the price point
Best Business Laptop Malaysia
3. Apple MacBook Pro (M1, 13″)
The chassis of the Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1) looks pretty much the same as predecessors. It’s available in either silver or space grey.
MacBook Pro also has the coveted TouchBar – a thin touchscreen positioned at the top of the Magic Keyboard. Which you can use for shortcuts like skipping music!
It too, showcases the new groundbreaking M1 chip! And the MacOS Big Sur update. Which makes it powerful enough for gaming (though we would still recommend a gaming laptop for serious gamers!)!
The MacBook Pro only has 2 ports of Thunderbolt 3:
Which is an inconvenience if you insist on connecting multiple (and older) devices to your laptop at once (e.g. external hard drive, external display, thumb drive).
But you can always consider buying a USB hub and a dongle to solve that issue!
Between the MacBook Air and this MacBook Pro, you’ll get greater performance and battery life from this one! Thanks to its built-in fan and more advanced GPU!
In fact, you can get 20 hours of video playback or 17 hours of internet surfing with its battery! According to Apple!
- OS: macOS Big Sur
- Processor: Apple M1 Chip 8-core CPU
- Graphics: Integrated 8-core GPU
- RAM: 8GB / 16GB
- Storage: 256GB / 512GB SSD (Up to 2TB)
- Screen: 13.3″ (2560 x 1600) LED-backlit 500 nits display with IPS technology
- Battery Capacity: 58.2WHr
- Dimensions: 15.6 x 304.1 x 212.4 mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 1.4 kg
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM5,599 – RM6,399
Pros:
- SSD drive (very fast)
- Faster and more efficient M1 chip
- Keyboard is nice to type on
- Stellar battery life
- Vivid display
- Handles both 4K- and 8K- videos
Cons:
- The touch bar is not that useful
- Webcam resolution limited to 720P
- Doesn’t have a dedicated GPU for games (Can’t play high-resolution games at the highest specs)
- Limited ports (only 2 Thunderbolt ports)
- Still expensive
4. Dell XPS 15 9500
Want a laptop that runs on Windows? And has an impressive display, excellent keyboard and trackpad? You can replace your desktop with the fast-performing Dell XPS 15 9500!
This laptop has Intel Core i7 -10875H which you can utilize to do 3D design and video editing. But more so for hobbyists, and not at a professional level!
The 4K 15.6″ UHD+ touch screen display has above-average color accuracy too. So it’s very suitable for doing some video work, graphic design, or professional photography.
It has its own trusty built-in speakers at either side of the keyboard too. The new speaker placement projects sound to the user! With no need to turn up the volume!
Security features of the Dell XPS 15 include face recognition or fingerprint scanning with Windows Hello!
At only 18mm thick and weighing 1.83-2.05 kg, it is still a fairly portable laptop. And very good looking with skinny bezels! You might have noticed that they removed the DELL logo from the screen too.
The Dell XPS 15 has a bigger trackpad, better speakers and overall performance over its predecessor, the Dell XPS 15 7590.
And though it is such a thin laptop, Dell still manages to pack a 86Whr battery in. Which means it can last for ~10 hours on a full charge. You can also charge it via USB-C (i.e. it supports USB-C charging).
But once you play/stream videos, you can only get around 6 hours’ of battery life. And it’s because of that 4K touch display. Which causes the battery to deplete fast!
So if the battery is your main concern, then you might want to save RM1,200 to get the FHD+ Non-Touch screen. Which means you can more battery life (~10 hours)!
Despite having a dedicated GPU (GTX 1650 Ti), gaming is restricted to medium settings (1080p) and only for quick sessions! As heat builds up fast in that slim chassis!
One other drawback is that it gets uncomfortably hot very fast when playing games or editing videos.
- OS: Window 10 Home (64bit)
- Processor: 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-10300H (8MB Cache, up to 4.5 GHz, 4 cores) / i7-10750H (12MB Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 6 cores) / i7-10875H (16MB Cache, up to 5.1 GHz, 8 cores)
- Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6
- RAM: 8GB / 16GB / 32GB
- Storage: 256GB / 1TB SSD
- Screen: 15.6″ FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit Display / 15.6″ UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit Display
- Battery Capacity: 6-Cell, 86WHr
- Dimensions: 18 x 344.72 x 230.14 mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 1.83 – 2.05 kg
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM7,999 – RM9,999
Pros:
- Looks and feels premium
- Flexible configurations
- Many ports (3 USB-C, 2 for Thunderbolt 3)
- Includes adaptors (1 for USB-A, 1 for HDMI)
- Spacious touchpad
- Tiny bezels
- Great speakers
- Ample battery life (for the FHD+ version)
- Supports USB-C charging
Cons:
- Not as travel friendly
- Gets hot fast when playing games
- Keyboard is prone to scratches
5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 8
If you have the budget to meet the starting price of ~RM8,200:
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 8 is a great laptop for work and travel! Not so much for gaming since there’s hardly any space for a GPU.
It has decent battery life for simple web browsing. And can last around 10 hours (for the FHD model)!
In spite of its sleek build, it does not skimp out on the display! Instead, it packs a vibrant 1080p anti-glare display (or 4K depending on the model you choose)! And the keyboard is sturdy and spill-resistant!
There’s also nothing lacking in the sound system! It is adequately loud and there is a clear distinction between midtones and frequencies at either end of the spectrum.
They are the same quad speakers from the last generation, with an improvement in bass and sound quality!
You will also find that this laptop has a generous selection of ports:
Including a couple of USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a pair of Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a headphone jack. Along with a connector for an Ethernet dongle, and an HDMI video output, and a headphone jack!
Alas, the webcam is again limited to 720p. But at least there is minimal digital noise. Although the focus is not very clear. There is a physical shutter that allows you to cover the webcam for more security and privacy.
The new FN row (F9 to F11) is also dedicated to video calling. Great for managing those Zoom calls!
As for gaming, we won’t recommend it for graphic demanding games – this laptop is too slim to fit a GPU and had to rely on integrated UHD graphics instead. And it has only one cooling fan!
Upgrading RAM (DD3 RAM to DDR4) is not possible for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 either. Because the RAM is soldered into the motherboard. However, the SSD is upgradable.
Unlike with the Dell XPS 15, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 8 is not filled with bloatware. The pre-installed Lenono Vantage is actually very useful (e.g. allowing you to access BIOS updates).
- OS: Window 10 Home / Pro (64bit)
- Processor: Intel Core i5-10210U Processor (1.60GHz 6MB) / i7-10510U (1.80GHz 8MB)
- Graphics: Integrated Graphics / Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM: 8GB / 16GB
- Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB SSD
- Screen: 14.0″ (2560 x 1440) IPS Anti-Glare 300nits / 14.0″ (1920 x 1080) IPS AntiGlare
- Battery Capacity: 4-Cell, 51WHr
- Dimensions: 14.9 x 323 x 218 mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 1.09 kg
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM6,186 – RM8,336.84
Pros:
- Has an inconspicuous fingerprint reader
- Versatile configuration
- Many useful ports
- Fabulously satisfying to type on this keyboard
- Very lightweight
- Stylish
- Acceptable battery life
Cons:
- Doesn’t use the new Intel's 11th Generation Tiger Lake processor
- Pricey
- Attracts fingerprints
- Unsuitable graphics card for gaming
- RAM cannot be upgraded (and is DDR3, not DDR4)
- It’s not a major upgrade from Gen 7
Best Budget Laptop Malaysia
6. Acer Aspire 5 Laptop
One of best budget laptops under RM3,000 in Malaysia:
Acer’s Aspire 5 Laptop is a very functional laptop for general use. If that’s not already obvious from the unremarkable design and ample ports!
You can always upgrade it too!
- OS: Window 10 Home / Pro (64bit)
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i3-1005G1 processor Dual-core 1.20 GHz / i3-1115G4 processor Dual-core 3 GHz / i5-1035G1 processor Quad-core 1 GHz / i5-1135G7 processor Quad-core 2.40 GHz / i7-1165G7 processor Quad-core 2.80 GHz /
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics / Intel® Iris Xe Graphics / NVIDIA® GeForce® MX350 GDDR5 2GB
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 256GB / 512GB SSD
- Screen: 14″ / 15.6″; HD (1366 x 768) / Full HD (1920 x 1080)
- Battery Capacity: 3-Cell, 48WHr
- Dimensions (15.6″): 17.90 x 363.4 x 238.5 mm (H x W x D)
- Dimensions (14″): 17.95 x 328 x 223 mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 1.9 kg (15.6″), 1.7 kg (14″)
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM1,899 – RM3,799
Pros:
- Keyboard has backlighting
- Fast processor (AMD Ryzen 7)
- Doesn’t get too hot
- Weighs just under 2kg
- Sounds is alright
Cons:
- Plastic-y build (keyboard feels a little soft too)
- Battery life is not impressive
Best Gaming Laptop Malaysia
7. Alienware M15 Gaming Laptop
A beast of a laptop, this 15-inch model is from Alienware, laptop brand in Malaysia well known for their gaming laptops!
Its performance is unbeatable (and so is the price). This laptop will play most games, and at high settings!
Furthermore, keen gamers will be delighted to know that there is excellent temperature control with this gaming laptop! You will find strips of honeycomb-shaped vents on the back, side, bottom, and even one above the keyboard.
This gaming laptop is surprisingly thin, and the LCD display is rounded by small bezels, adding to its aesthetic appearance!
By the way, that is a 1080p display at 165Hz for the entry model, while the high-end model runs on 360Hz.
Users are happy with the keyboard too. Keys are soft to the touch and don’t make a lot of noise! And when you type on this keyboard, it feels comfortable as the keys are not shallow.
There are plenty of ports available too. You get Alienware Graphics Amplifier ports, a Thunderbolt 3 port, HDMI, and Mini DisplayPort. All for the purpose of maximizing your gaming experience!
One disappointment with the Alienware M15 is the trackpad. You may as well forget that it exists as it’s uncomfortably narrow.
Other features that may deter buyers (aside from its price) are the downward-facing speakers and the pre-installed software that users will rarely find any use for.
- OS: Window 10 Home (64bit)
- Processor: 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 11800H (8-Core, up to 4.6GHz With Turbo Boost)
- Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060 6GB GDDR6 / 3070 / 3080
RAM: 16GB DDR4 - Storage: 512GB / 1TB SSD
- Screen: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) 165Hz / 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) 360Hz NVIDIA G-SYNC and Advanced Optimus
- Battery Capacity: 6-Cell, 86WHr
- Dimensions: 17.9-20.5 x 360.3 x 276.2 mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 2.42 – 2.69 kg
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM8,199 – RM10,699
Pros:
- Solid and stylish build
- Uses some of the best components
- Plenty of ventilation
- Amazing display (fast refresh rate)
- Powerful and can run demanding games
- Nice keyboard
- Numerous ports
Cons:
- Downward-facing speakers
- Profile is not as slim as competitors (e.g. Razer Blade 15)
8. Dell G5 15 5500 Gaming Laptop
Speedy enough for playing AAA games at HD resolution:
You can edit videos with the Dell G5 15 5500 Gaming Laptop as well! The exterior is nothing too fancy, so you can get away with using it as a work laptop too as it is not distracting)!
- OS: Window 10 Home (64bit)
- Processor: 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-10300H (8MB Cache, up to 4.5 GHz, 4 cores) / i7-10750H (12MB Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 6 cores)
- Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6 / NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GDDR6
- RAM: 8GB / 16GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Screen: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz 250 nits
- Battery Capacity: 3-Cell 51WHr
- Dimensions: 21.6-24.5 x 365.5 x 254 mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 2.34 kg
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM4,199 – RM5,099
Pros:
- Has a fingerprint sensor integrated with the power button
- Cool lighting and backlit keyboard
- Durable build (plastic chasis)
- Reasonable battery life (~6 hours)
- You have the option to fast charge or slow-charge
- Reasonable price for the specs
- Has an SD card reader
- Sufficient brightness (300 nits) for most lighting situations
- Quiet keyboard
Cons:
- Bezels are thick
- Not quite powerful enough for games that need 60fps (e.g. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare)
- Gets hot when playing games (better to get an external cooling pad)
- Heavy (and so is the charger)
- Display and battery could be better for the price
- Audible fan noise
9. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
For a smaller budget, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is an absolutely fantastic gaming laptop. Due to the AMD Ryzen CPU and the NVIDIA RTX GPU.
Go for the highest specs model and the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 will not disappoint! Whether you use it for gaming or work! The 1TB SSD lends to a snappy performance too!
As for ports, you will get plenty of them! A pair of USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a HDMI port, a pair of 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, and a 3.5mm headphone/mic jack.
Plus, the laptop has a striking but elegant design! And is portable. Just 17.78mm thick and weighing a mere 1.6kg!
Since the display is 14 inches, the 1080p and high refresh rate (120Hz) is more than enough for gaming! And the color range is wide. Superb even, for the price range!
The keyboard and touchpad are both excellent too.
Pair that with the ~5 hours’ worth of battery life when gaming (one of the best battery life duration you can achieve on a gaming laptop), and you will have no problem using this laptop away from the desk!
The cooling system consists of many vents and a strong fan. Which is loud, but does the job of controlling the temperature!
But if you happen to be a gamer and a student – and want to use this laptop for both gaming and online classes, you might want to reconsider your choice. Because this laptop has no webcam!
Note: An external webcam will sort that out.
- OS: Window 10 Home / Pro (64bit)
- Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 5 4600HS 3.0 GHz (8M Cache, up to 4.0 GHz) / AMD Ryzen™ 7 4800HS 2.9 GHz (8M Cache, up to 4.2 GHz) / AMD Ryzen™ 9 4900HS 3.0 GHz (8M Cache, up to 4.3 GHz)
- Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660Ti 6GB GDDR6 / NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2060 6GB GDDR6 / NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6
- RAM: 8GB / 16GB / 24GB
- Storage: 512GB / 1TB SSD
- Screen: 14“ FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 120Hz anti-glare IPS display / 14″ WQHD (2560 x 1440) 16:9 60Hz anti-glare IPS display
- Battery Capacity: 4-Cell, 76WHr
- Dimensions: 17.78 x 323.85 x 222 mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 1.6 kg
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~From RM4,699
Pros:
- Display is bright with anti-glare
- Good speakers
- Robust battery life (~11+ hours)
- Compact enough to travel with (14” display and under 2kg)
- Comfortable to type with
- Has a fingerprint scanner
- High refresh rate (120Hz) – important for image-heavy games
Cons:
- No built-in webcam or SD card reader
- Can’t rely on the backlit keyboard alone to play in the dark!
- Heats up
- Fans get loud (under load)
Best Laptop For Students Malaysia
10. Acer Swift 3
At first glance, you will shocked that the expensive-looking Acer Swift 3 only retails for around ~RM2,800!
Highly portable with lasting battery (~8 hours), the Acer Swift 3 delivers sufficient processing power for multitaskers!
It owes that to the 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1U processor with 8GB of RAM:
With this power under the hood, you can open more than 20 Google Chrome tabs without worrying about your system slowing down! Gaming is however, limited by the Intel UHD graphics.
The 1080p full HD display is not the best around, but still decent if you’re not expecting a great level of detail (or brightness).
It’s not stingy with ports (e.g. HDMI, USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A). The Type-C port does support Thunderbolt 3. And you can charge the laptop with the USB Type-C port besides the conventional DC power port.
The keyboard and trackpad are practical and suitable for work.
If there is one thing that this laptop outperforms others in, it will be for its webcam. For color accuracy, clarity, and adequate exposure.
And if WiFi 6 ever comes around to Malaysia, you’ll be ready too!
- OS: Window 10 Home (64bit)
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-1035G1 processor Quad-core 1 GHz / i5-1135G7 processor Quad-core 2.40 GHz / i7-1065G7 processor Quad-core 1.30 GHz / i7-1165G7 processor Quad-core 2.80 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor Hexa-core 2.30 GHz / AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor Octa-core 2 GHz
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics shared memory / Intel® Iris Xe Graphics / AMD Radeon™ shared memory / NVIDIA® GeForce® MX250 GDDR5 2GB
- RAM: 8GB / 16GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Screen: 14″ Full HD (1920 x 1080)
- Battery Capacity: 3-Cell, 48WHr
- Dimensions: 15.95 x 319.5 x 217 mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 1.19 kg
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM2,799 – RM4,299
Pros:
- Does not look cheap
- Reliable
- Very portable
- Affordable
- Many different types of ports (e.g. HDMI and Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- Stands out with its 3:2 aspect ratio
Cons:
- Not possible to upgrade the memory
- Dull display (not advisable for outdoor use or photo/ video editing)
- Not suitable for gaming
- Bloatware to uninstall (e.g. Spades, LinkedIn, Solitaire, and Norton Security)
- No SD or micro SD card reader
11. HP Envy 13
Only weighing in at 1.3kg, the HP Envy 13 is no doubt one of the best laptops for students in Malaysia. And with a crispy touchscreen 1080p display too! Albeit it can’t flip around like the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14!
Besides offering some slick privacy features (including a fingerprint scanner), and a more-than-ok performance:
The HP Envy 13 takes a cue from Asus with the lid tilting up the keyboard when the laptop is open. Increasing airflow and making typing easier on your wrists!
Typing is generally very satisfying on this laptop. And it the backlighting is a nice touch. In contrast, the plastic touchpad feels cheap and is not pleasant to use.
And while it has a good number and variety of ports, the design of USB Type-A ports is ingenious. In addition, there is a microSD card slot and a ThunderBolt 4 port for connecting external displays or transferring data.
The battery life on this laptop is more than decent (~11 hours for light use). Though we can’t say the same for the webcam!
If you frequently multi-task, the i5-1135G7 CPU and 16GB of RAM will suffice for opening multiple websites and running 1080p videos simultaneously.
- OS: Window 10 Home (64bit)
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 (up to 4.2 GHz, 8MB L3 cache, 4 cores) / Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 (up to 4.7 GHz, 12MB L3 cache, 4 cores)
- Graphics: Intel® Iris® Xᵉ Graphics / NVIDIA® GeForce® MX250 GDDR5 2GB
- RAM: 8GB / 16GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Screen: 13.3″, FHD (1920 x 1080), multitouch-enabled, IPS, 400 nits
- Battery Capacity: 4-cell, 51WHr
- Dimensions: 16.9 x 306.5 x 194.6 mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 1.3 kg
- Warranty: 2 years
- Price: ~RM4,899 – RM5,499
Pros:
- Port selection incorporates a microSD reader, USB C (Thunderbolt 3), 2 USB As, etc
- Light
- Battery lasts more than 8 hours (power saving mode)
- Adjustable keyboard backlight
- Long warranty
- Simple clean design (metal chassis, not plastic)
- Keyboard has a button to switch off the webcam
- Comfortable to type on
- Fast charging (50% in ~30 minutes)
Cons:
- Not cheap
- Screen prone to glares
- Fans are loud
Types Of Laptops
Not all laptops are notebooks. But all notebooks are laptops.
Sound confusing?
Then read on:
1. Notebook / Basic Laptop
Because notebooks are the most common type of laptop, it’s easy to confuse the terms.
So when someone hears the word laptop, they’re usually picturing this type of laptop in their head!
With the screen on one side of the fold, and the keyboard on the other. Also known as full-sized laptops.
2. Ultrabook
This term may depend on a brand’s own definition of an ultrabook. Based on how thin or how light it is. The battery and chipset may determine this too.
However, it was the Apple MacBook Air that originally set the standard for ultrabooks!
Ultrabooks tend to be more expensive than their heavier counterparts!
3. Convertible (2-In-1)
A hybrid between a laptop and a tablet. Where you can detach or fold over the touchscreen from the keyboard. So it essentially becomes a tablet!
They can range from 11 inches to 18 inches.
Which brings up the question:
What About A Tablet As A Laptop
You technically can with an external keyboard to make it a little less awkward to type with!
4. Business Laptop
Business laptops are a sub-category of notebooks. As you can guess, they’re made for work. Not much for personal use (i.e. gaming).
For these, long battery life, durability and portability are significant traits!
They can be economical if they are just meant for internet access. Unless you need one with a lot of memory space. Prices can go up from there!
Newer features include fingerprint scanners and security subscription services!
Oh, and they typically look very uninspiring and plain!
5. Gaming Laptop
Often bulky to fit a large battery, the CPU, a graphics card, and a cooling system:
Gaming laptops are not really made for frequent travelling!
However, they are a lot faster at processing any program (i.e. they have more memory). And not necessarily just for the latest (and even future) games!
The downside? Is the enormous price tags they come with! Not including the other gaming peripherals you might need!
Other laptop types and terms you might hear:
- Macbook – that’s what Apple calls their laptops
- Chromebook – Laptops running on ChromeOS
- Netbook – Very small cheap laptops; many tablets can outperform these!
How To Choose The Best Laptop For Your Needs
1. Types
As covered in the subtopic above.
2. Operation Systems / Platforms
Are you ready to learn how to use another operating system? Or would you prefer to stick to one you already know?
Therefore, this should be one of the first things you check when buying a laptop!
Some common operating systems:
3. Processor
As with the best Smartphones, everything you do with a laptop depends on the processor or CPU (aka the brain of any computer).
Intel is just into its 11th generation of processors. The fastest gaming processor to date is the Intel Core i9-10900K.
Processors by AMD are becoming more formidable too!
And recently, Apple now has its own processor, the highly promising M1 chip. Which makes its debut in Apple’s latest MacBooks (and Mac minis)!
4. Memory (RAM)
The more of this, the better the computer is at multi-tasking! If you’re simply going to use your laptop for web browsing or scrolling through social media, 8GB is more than enough!
For future-proofing purposes, try to get a laptop where you can upgrade/ expand the memory!
5. Screen Size
There are laptops with screens as big as 17 inches now!
While 13 to 15 inches is the standard.
And you have to look at resolution too! For a 14-inch screen, try to get a laptop with at least 1920 x 1080 (HD) resolution!
6. Storage And Type
This is no longer such a big issue with so many cloud services (e.g. Google Drive, One Drive, Dropbox, etc).
But if there’s a choice, SSD (Solid state drive) is preferable to HDD (Hard disk drive).
- SSD – more expensive but quieter and small
- HDD – conventional fixed drive in computers
7. Battery Life
While larger batteries can store more charge (i.e. longer battery life):
The way you use the laptop matters too!
Things that eat away at battery life fast:
- High screen brightness
- Hours of streaming
- Touchscreens
- Running intensive programs like Adobe Premiere Pro
8. Graphics
For high-performance gaming:
You will likely need to fork out extra to get a dedicated graphics card rather than depending fully on the laptop’s built-in GPU!
9. Price
Maybe you have to compromise somewhere else (like getting a budget smartphone) in order to pay for a premium laptop!
So try to think about which device you will use more. Is it the phone or the laptop?
If you need to run sophisticated programs like Photoshop or 3D design simulation software for your work:
It’s obvious where you should be putting your money!
Conclusion
Unless you are a fan of Apple, the best laptop in Malaysia 2021 is the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. It’s value-for-money, even if you’re not a gamer!
Otherwise, the Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1) is a brilliant choice for video editors, frequent travelers, and graphic designers!
For a cheap notebook in Malaysia (with no frills), the Acer Swift 3 Laptop will do the job for ~RM3,000!
