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!
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 – 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! 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
- Touch screens
- 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!
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, some of these brands are not in the next list:
11 Best Laptops In Malaysia 2021
Best Lightweight Laptop Malaysia
1. Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
Want to experience the impressive performance of the new M1 chip for yourself? The chip is so energy-efficient that the design completely does without a fan!
Battery life is improved. (~30% longer)
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
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!
It’s a wonderfully sleek ultrabook. With a gorgeous 16:10 screen to match!
- 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
Cons:
- Expensive
- Lacks ports (i.e. no legacy ports)
- Not for avid gamers
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.
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!)!
Between the MacBook Air and this MacBook Pro, you’ll get greater performance and battery life from this one! Thanks its built-in fan and more advanced GPU!
- 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)
- 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)
4. Dell XPS 15 9500
You can replace your desktop with the fast-performing Dell XPS 15 9500! 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!
- 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
- Ample battery life
Cons:
- Included GPU (GTX 1650 Ti) is not ideal for the latest games
- Not as travel friendly
- Gets hot
- Keyboard is prone to scratches
5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 8
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 8 is a great laptop for work and travel! Without forsaking a sturdy keyboard.
Or skimping out on the display! Instead, it packs a vibrant 1080p display (or 4K depending on the model you choose)!
- 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
- No slot for SD or microSD cards
- Pricey
- Attracts fingerprints
- Unsuitable graphics card for gaming
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!
The performance is unbeatable. And so is the price!
- OS: Window 10 Home / Pro (64bit)
- Processor: 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-10750H (6-Core, 12MB Cache, up to 5.0GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
- Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GDDR6 / RTX 2070 8GB GDDR6 / RTX 2070 SUPER™ 8GB GDDR6 / RTX 2080 SUPER™ 8GB GDDR6 with Max-Q Design
- RAM: 16GB / 32GB
- Storage: 512GB / 1TB SSD
- Screen: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) 144Hz / 300Hz
- Battery Capacity: 6-Cell, 86WHr
- Dimensions: 17.9-20.5 x 360.3 x 276.2 mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 2.11 – 2.5 kg
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM8,999 – RM12,599
Pros:
- Solid and stylish build
- Uses some of the best components
- Numerous ports
Cons:
- Nvidia Max-Q GPU has its limitations
- 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
Go for the highest specs 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!
Plus, the laptop has a striking but elegant design!
- 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
Highly portable with lasting battery (~8 hours), the Acer Swift 3 delivers sufficient processing power for multitaskers!
If WiFi 6 ever comes around, 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
- 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)
- 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.
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!
- 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
- Fast charging (50% in ~30 minutes)
Cons:
- Not cheap
- Screen prone to glares
- Fans are loud
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 Aspire 5 Laptop will do the job for ~RM3,000!
