In a world where phones are a lot smarter, even doubling as everyday cameras for many of us and tablets becoming even more common, it is impressive to find that laptops are not only still very popular today, but have also evolved to meet the ever-growing hunger and demand by users.
No matter what your computing needs are; schoolwork like assignments or putting documents together, if it is editing photos, videos or creating animation or games, maybe you just need a laptop to help you keep in touch with family and friends and also effectively execute office work on the go, there is almost certainly a laptop out there that meets your needs.
In 2020 it has become really hard to buy a laptop that is not good or up to par. One downside of that however, is that it is now much harder to choose one as the options are almost too much.
Apart from the basics like being easy to carry from one place to another, an excellent battery life, a great keyboard, a great trackpad and a display that is not harsh to look at, there are a number of things to look out for.
Today mpesapay.com, will show the best laptops of 2020 so far. Please keep in mind that our list is in no particular order at all and is intended to help your narrow your options down to the very best.
With no further ado, let’s get down to it!
The Asus Rog Zephyrus G14
For its interestingly low price when compared to other laptops with similar specifications, the Asus Rog Zephyrus G14 is a surprisingly powerful laptop that can and should even be seen as a gaming laptop.
This laptop comes with an Nvidia RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU, AMD’s brand new Ryzen 9 4900HS, as well as a 120Hz display. Crazy right?
For perspective this means that the Asus Rog Zephyrus G14 can execute the the most graphic intense games at their highest settings with no lagging or issues.
In terms of weight, this laptop comes in at a surprisingly light weight of 1.5 kilograms. Its battery life sits at a very impressive nine (9) hours even with multitasking.
If the Asus Rog Zephyrus G14’s is not enough to convince you, it is also a fantastic laptop for every day computing as well as business tasks and has an exceptionally efficient and quiet touchpad and keyboard.
The only downside to this powerhouse, is that it does not have a webcam. If that is something you look at for and don’t want to purchase an external webcam, you might have to pass on this one.
The Asus Rog Zephyrus G14 retails for around $1,500 (162,150 Kenyan Shillings).
The Razer Blade Stealth 13 (2020)
This laptop comes with a 120Hz screen (described as the fastest 13.3-inch screen available in today’s market), a good webcam, decent speakers and enjoyable keyboard. Its 1.4 kilograms makes a really lightweight and portable laptop.
Battery life on the Razer Blade Stealth 13 (2020), is also quite impressive and can last almost for an entire day when executing tasks that are not so demanding.
If you are in the market for a 13-inch gaming laptop that is easy on the eyes and also gets the job done, you should check this out.
It currently retails for $1,800 (194,868 Kenyan Shillings).
The Dell XPS 13 (2020)
Dell’s XPS 13 (2020) comes with an almost bezel-free panel of 16:10, 10th Gen Intel processors which also come with really powerful integrated graphics and build that is quite sturdy.
This makes it a laptop that is very well balanced out and can do just about anything.
For a first-time observer its display will most probably be the first thing that hits you. And with its screen-to-body ratio of 95% and bottom bezel of only 4.6mm what is not to love. It also provides you with the option of configuring the display with either a 4K display or 1920 x 1200 pixels. If you are not really into animations, video and photo editing or other creative stuff, the lower resolution would be enough for you and guarantees a longer battery life and also more affordable costs. It provides very vivid colours and up to 500 nits of brightness which would still get the job done in extremely bright indoor locations as well as outdoors too.
The base level specifications for the XPS 13 (2020) are an 8GB RAM, a Core i5-1035G1, an SSD that is 256GB and a non-touch 1920 x 1200 display. If you will only be using the internet and other basic everyday functions, the base model is for you. If you will be doing any rendering or heavy gaming, you should definitely consider upgrading to a higher RAM and storage.
PS: There are whispers on the internet about a version that comes with a 4GB RAM and Core i3, but those specifications are outdated by today’s standards and will not serve you well. At all.
The XPS 13 (2020)’s Ice Lake processor comes with Intel’s brand-new Iris Plus integrated graphics which has an amazing performance. Especially considering that it is an integrated GPU. While you might still need to get an external graphics card for serious gaming, running games like Rocket League, and Overwatch should not come with any problems.
Weight wise, it comes in at 0.58 inches thick and 1.2 kilograms, making it rather portable.
When it comes to battery life the XPS 13 (2020) shows up with an impressive seven (7) hours of battery life. Its touchpad and keyboard are also among the best in the market.
If you are big on having a variety of ports on your laptop then the XPS 13 (2020) might not be for you. This is because it has a rather limited variety of ports with only a microSD slot, two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a headphone jack.
The second and last downside to the XPS 13 (2020), is its 720p webcam.
Its starting price is $1,159 (125,277 Kenyan Shillings).
The HP Spectre X360 13 (2019)
Released on the 30th of September 2020, the HP Spectre X360 13 (2019) is a high-end Windows powered laptop that is 2-in-1 and comes with the latest processors from Intel alongside a facial and fingerprint biometric authentication so users have two (2) log in options.
It has a very impressive touchscreen and comes with a lot more ports than any other 2-in-1 laptop in today’s market. It is lightweight, while still maintaining a very spacious trackpad and a full-size keyboard.
The trackpad drivers on the Spectre X360 13 (2019) have been updated by HP, and now utilize the latest model of Microsoft’s Precision set. The laptop’s trackpad is now improved especially with regards to multifinger gestures, palm rejection and scrolling.
The single downside to the HP Spectre X360 13 (2019), is its 16:9 display. This is because Microsoft and Dell computers, come with 3:2 or 16:10 screens. While an argument could be made saying taller aspect ratios are better, it should not be a deciding factor. Unless of course, you are particular about such things.
HP Elite Dragonfly (2020)
HP’s 2020 Elite Dragonfly is the first Dragonfly model that comes with the company’s very secure SureView Reflect technology. What this does is substantially tint your laptop’s screen in such a way that anyone trying to snoop, will not be able to see what you’re up to. Its screen also has very good viewing angles.
The HP Elite Dragonfly (2020) is the first laptop to come with its own built-in Tile Tracker ensuring that if a user loses their laptop, they can use the Tile smartphone application to trigger an alarm (if the laptop is within Bluetooth range). The user can also locate the laptop anywhere in the world via Tile’s crowd-finding network. If the laptop is switched off, Tile Tracker can still work for a limited time.
The battery comes in at a fantastic 11 hours and above, with a great keyboard.
Yes, the HP Elite Dragonfly (2020) is on the high side in terms of price, yes there are laptops in today’s market that suite business users just fine without tearing their pockets. However, if you are in the market for a professional business laptop with a great security, one that can be described as the best of the best for business needs and your budget is not on the economical side, then this is your best bet.
It retails at $2,885 (312,439 Kenyan Shillings).
MacBook Air (2020)
The MacBook Air (2020) comes with a sharp Retina display, 10th Generation Intel processors (slightly lower than those on the XPS 13 (2020)) and a brand-new scissor-switch keyboard.
While a base model with Core i3, 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM specifications, you should go for the higher version which comes with a Core i5 processor.
The MacBook Air (2020)’s keyboard does not have a Touch Bar, but ships with a Touch ID fingerprint scanner for authentication during payments as well as easier logins.
If you will be executing high performance tasks on the laptop especially for extended periods of time, the MacBook Air (2020) might struggle.
When it comes to Battery life, it provides around five (5) hours with the laptop’s display brightness at the fullest.
With all the above, Apple’s MacBook Air (2020) might just be what you need. Plus, if you are someone who prefers to remain in Apple’s world, this is for you.
The MacBook Air (2020) goes for $999 (107,982 Kenyan Shillings) directly from Apple.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
If you are big on having as many ports as possible, you should know that the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 only has a USB-C port, a USB-A port and does not support Thunderbolt 3.
It has an excellent performance for daily tasks, including certain graphic intensive tasks and sports a fantastic touchpad, great keyboard and only weighs 1.3 kilograms.
Although it’s not a really budget friendly, it is a really great 13.5-inch laptop that will meet your computing needs.
The retail price for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is $1,000 (108,400 Kenyan Shillings).
The MacBook Pro 16 (2019)
Dubbed as the best laptop by Apple that caters to power users, the MacBook Pro 16 (2019) definitely had to be in our list of best Laptops in 2020 so far. What Apple essentially did was, pay attention to the complaints of past and present users and significantly improve its MacBook Pro range.
It has a fantastic keyboard with keys that are very well-spaced and quiet. Although the typing experience does not stand out yet, it is way better than what was attainable in previous models of MacBook Pro.
For audiophiles, the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) is said to have the best sound that you can find on any laptop in today’s market. It comes with three (3) speakers on each side, as well as two (2) woofers giving it a very balanced audio output with great separation stereo wise, and a very audible bass.
Again, if you are a power user, photo or video editor, music producer, you should consider getting this machine.
The MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)’s retail price starts at $2,099 (227,000 Kenyan Shillings).
The MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
The MacBook Pro 13 (2020) comes in two models or variants. The first one comes packed with two (2) Thunderbolt 3 processors and 8th Generation Intel processors. The second and more expensive variant, has 10th Gen processors and four (4) Thunderbolt 3 ports, alongside a 16GB and a 512GB SSD. Keeping in mind that the more expensive variant has a much better performance, you might consider getting that instead.
The MacBook Pro 13 (2020), has really amazing speakers, a very dependable keyboard and a display that gets the job done.
If you are an everyday user looking for an Apple laptop with more impressive specifications than the MacBook Air (2020) but less expensive when compared to the MacBook Pro 16 (2019), this is for You.
It currently retails at $1,800 (194,940 Kenyan Shillings).
The Dell XPS 17
If you are looking for a 17-inch laptop that means business. One that has a ginormous screen and an abundance of power, this might be The One. The Dell XPS 17 has a 17-inch display that is 3840 x 2400, and lets its users work on multiple apps and tabs with ease. Its display is impressive, especially outdoors.
The Dell XPS 17 comes with H-series Intel processors and RTX GPUs. Its battery can also last up to an entire work day.
Retail price for the Dell XPS 17, is $2,940 (318,255 Kenyan Shillings). Steep? Maybe. Totally worth it? Yes!
The HP Envy X360 (2020)
Described by more than a few as the best midrange laptop, the HP Envy X360 (2020) is one of the best if not the best laptop options retailing at less than $1,000 (108,130 Kenyan Shillings).
What makes this laptop great besides its great performance, convertible design and quite strong build, is that it shares a lot of excellent features from HP’s 2019 Spectre X360 flagship.
The HP Envy X360 (2020) has a touchscreen that supports HP’s MPP2.0 pen and frankly looks fantastic, an impressive 88% screen to body ratio that results in a nearly bezel-free display, and the added benefit of hot keys on the laptop’s keyboard, that are quite convenient. These hot keys also feature a button that allows users to instantly switch of their webcams and microphones.
HP’S Envy X360 (2020) also comes with AMD’s powerful Ryzen 4000 series.
As mentioned earlier, it retails for less than $1000. Specifically, $830 (89,800 Kenyan Shillings).
Dell G5 15 SE (2020)
For laptop enthusiasts the first thing you’d notice, is the Dell G5 15 SE (2020)’s impressive array of ports. Especially for a gaming laptop in its price point. It has an audio jack port, an ethernet port, a Mini DisplayPort, a USB-C with DisplayPort, an SD card reader, HDMi 2.0, USB 3.2 Gen 1 and two (2) USB 2.0 Type-A.
It comes in a 144Hz FreeSync screen variant and a 60Hz panel variant. The Dell G5 15 SE (2020) also has AMD’s SmartShift feature alongside its Radeon RX 5600M GPU.
If you are not really a gamer the Dell G5 15 SE (2020) is still a really good laptop to have. For graphic designers and individuals whose work are graphics centered, it does a really good job of rendering as well and has a very well-balanced performance overall.
Its retail price is $941 (102,005 Kenyan Shillings).
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet’s strong point is that it has been made in such a way that perfectly suits mobility, as it ships with a kickstand and a detachable keyboard which does not have a lot of space between keys. If that is something you are particular about when typing, then it might be a bother.
It comes with a great battery life of over 11 hours and weighs 0.9 kilograms. While its MediaTek processor is not really intended to execute demanding tasks, it works amazingly well simple tasks like Netflix, light photo editing too. Its mics and stereo speakers are on the top edge, with the bottom lined with copper pogo pins to help the user connect to the keyboard.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet, also comes with a tablet mode for Chrome OS that effectively executes a Google Android style gesture navigation system in a Chrome layout completely optimized to the tablet mode. It does not have a headphone jack, neither does it have a microSD slot.
If you are looking for second laptop that is portable, and for mainly browsing the internet and maybe light gaming, or maybe you have a child and you are looking for a laptop for them, this is The One.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet currently retails at $300 (32,485 Kenyan Shillings).
Gigabyte Aero 15
GIGABYTE Technology is a manufacturer of computer hardware products based in Taiwan. Established in 1986, the company is best known for its motherboards which it supplies to various customers including Alienware.
The Gigabyte Aero 15 comes with a 15.6-inch bright OLED screen, Nvidia state of the art GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q GPU, an eight core i7-10875H processor and a fantastic assortment of ports including an SD-card Slot.
If you are into creative work and need a laptop with high end specifications and a high resolution, then you should definitely consider the Gigabyte Aero 15.
It retails at $2,700 (292,410 Kenyan Shillings).
The Dell XPS 15 (2020)
This comes in two models or variants. The Core i5 processor, 1920 x 1200 variant, and the eight core Core i7 processor, 3840 x 2400 touchscreen display and Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti dedicated graphics variant. If you do a lot of video editing, game rendering or intense gaming, you should go for the latter.
The laptop, also has a really appealing look to it.
The only con with this laptop is its battery life which is not as impressive as other laptops in this list. Especially the i7 variant.
The Dell XPS 15 (2020) has a starting retail price of $1,175 (127,288 Kenyan Shillings).
And that is all for Mpesa Pay’s Best Laptops In 2020 so far! And in no particular order.
Feel free to comment with any laptops you think we left out, or should have included.
Are there any other topics, news or categories that you would like us to write on? Feel free to reach out to Mpesa Pay in the comment section.
