I splurged on my newest laptop and I’m so glad I did
Quick links
-
You get a much nicer screen
It’s no surprise that flagship laptops can be quite expensive when you step up in specs. But is all the splurge really worth it?
I spent a fortune on my latest laptop and as much as it hurt my wallet, I’m really glad I did.
1 You get a much nicer screen
One of the most obvious upgrades you get on an expensive laptop is the screen. More often than not, most flagship or expensive laptops come with a 2.8k or higher display with much better color accuracy than what you get from mid-range laptops.
These screens are also brighter, support technologies like HDR and Dolby Vision, and can have a different aspect ratio, such as 16:10, instead of the traditional 16:9 screens that most laptops come with. However, the aspect ratio of the screen depends a lot on the form factor of the laptop, so be careful about that.
As you’d expect, a better display makes a huge difference on a laptop. Your games, movies, shows and general web browsing or even your OS feels great. The text is readable and the content really comes to life. It’s one of the best upgrades you can make on your computer.
2 Better performance
Of course, a higher price tag on your laptop will also get you better specs that lead to performance. Plus, since expensive laptops generally have better, higher-resolution screens, they also need the extra power to make sure you’re getting the most out of your hardware.
What exact specs you get depends a lot on what laptop you buy. For example, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 will have very different specs to a gaming laptop like the Asus Zephyrus G14, even though both are the same design.
Just because you buy an expensive laptop doesn’t mean it will do everything. They often come with specifications that make them good at specific functions. A $1,500 gaming laptop will have drastically different specs than a $1,500 business laptop – both will work well for what they’re designed to do.
3 USB-C PD and Thunderbolt
Another rather popular feature of expensive laptops is the fact that they have USB-C ports capable of charging your laptop via USB-C PD (Power Delivery) and Thunderbolt 4. These ports allow you to charge your laptop via USB-C, giving you access to hundreds of chargers third-party chargers that are easy to carry while ensuring you don’t have to carry multiple chargers for different devices.
Thunderbolt adds this capability by allowing you to connect USB-C hubs and/or docks to your laptop. This means you can connect peripherals, additional monitors, speakers and Ethernet connections, plus add any ports you might be missing on your laptop, all while charging your devices via a single USB-C connection.
Shopping for USB-C docks can be a bit of a hassle, so you’ll need to do your research to find the perfect one for you. This means that once you have the right dock, sitting and working at your desk will be a whole new experience.
4 Better build quality
environment with an old laptop with a broken screen next to a modern laptop.” src=”https://static1.makeuseofimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/futuristic-environment-with-an-old-laptop-with-a-broken-screen-next-to-a-modern-laptop.jpg” style=”display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;”/>
This goes without saying, and it applies to almost anything you can buy – the higher the price, the better the build quality. Expensive laptops often have a metal chassis, which gives them excellent rigidity and feels rather premium in the hand. The hinges are also solid on most if not all devices, so you don’t have to worry about the screen hinges failing or the laptop chassis flexing too much.
That doesn’t mean you can bang your laptop into every door frame you pass. You will still have to worry about it, probably more than expected. But with the proper care, fit and finish of more expensive laptops, and as a result, laptops last much longer than mid-range or budget laptops with plastic chassis, lower hinges or any other cost-cutting measure. the manufacturer may have taken
5 Quality of life features
Last but not least, the more expensive laptop also comes with several quality of life features that make life easier. Features like Windows Hello for biometric login, better keyboards and speakers, and sometimes touch support are often seen on expensive laptops.
Depending on the laptop you’re buying, you can even get specialized hardware features like the control knob on the Asus ProArt StudioBook 16 and Vivobook Pro, or the built-in Stream Deck controls on the Corsair Voyager a1600. There are plenty of different laptops on the market that offer specialized hardware, albeit at an outrageous price.
You can also get a healthy mix of software tools with your new expensive laptop. The most common are MS Office packages, but you can also expect antivirus licenses, Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions or even several months of Xbox Game Pass, which for me is a permanent subscription.
Overall, an expensive laptop may seem like a burden on your wallet, but you get really good hardware, display, build quality and software for the money. You don’t have to spend a lot to get a laptop that gets the job done, but expensive laptops often justify their price.