OLED, short for “Organic Light Emitting Diode,” has taken center stage in the ever-evolving display technology as major manufacturers gravitate towards this trend. Instead of using backlight technology evident in LCDs, OLED displays feature individual pixels that create their own light. This results in spectacular images and perfect blacks that LCD displays cannot produce.
OLED displays are also brighter, more efficient, and offer better contrast than any other panel technology that exists. For a long time OLED technology has been limited to TVs and mobile devices. However, in 2016, we ushered in a new era where laptop manufacturers began showing interest in this technology. Today we have a host of high-end laptops that feature OLED displays. This is our list of the five best OLED laptops you’ll find on the market today.
1. Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Yoga (2017)
The Lenovo 2nd-Gen Thinkpad X1 Yoga is a superb mix of performance, utilities, and gorgeous visuals. This 2-in-1 laptop packs everything you’d want in a premium laptop and boasts of a very slim and stylish design. Advertised as the world’s only business laptop with an OLED display, the Thinkpad X1 features a rechargeable pen supported in all Office 2016 apps. This makes it a good fit for a business laptop.
For consumers who love a versatile laptop, the Yoga X1 is the way to go. This laptop features a jaw-dropping 14-inch QHD OLED display that makes it perfect for movies and gaming. Inside the hood the X1 Yoga houses a 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU with Intel HD graphics and 16GB of RAM. You can also get a Core i5 version that comes with 8GB of RAM.
With average use, the Thinkpad X1 Yoga can deliver up to fifteen hours of battery life. The other interesting thing about this laptop is the rapid charging feature that allows fast charging, up to 80% in just one hour. On the flip side, the Thinkpad X1 Yoga comes at an eye-watering price tag. At a price of $2,100 for the top of the range models, the X1 Yoga is not for the average consumer.
2. Alienware 13 R3
If you’re looking for a top-of-the-range gaming laptop with stunning visuals and powerful graphics, the Dell Alienware 13 R3 is your best bet. The Alienware 13 R3 is a no-joke laptop when it comes to gaming. It’s also the first gaming rig on the market to feature an OLED display.
With an OLED touch display (1440p), VR-ready graphics, and a portable 13.3-inch screen, the Alienware R3 hits almost every item on every gamer’s wish list. And it’s not just about the screen – the top-of-the-line models come equipped with NVIDIA GTX 10 series graphics cards. They also come with support for the company’s Graphic’s Amplifier – an external box that lets you connect desktop graphics cards.
The keyboard is fancy and lights up the touchpad for easy typing at night. The RAM and SSD are also easy to upgrade via the underside access panels. What’s more, consumers have reported that the Alienware 13 has incredibly loud speakers. As for the price, the company offers four configs ranging from $999 to $2,049.
3. Samsung Galaxy Book 12
The Samsung Galaxy Book 12 is a detachable notebook that rocks with a beautiful OLED display and a very comfortable keyboard. Its sleek design not only gives it a stylish look but also makes it extremely light and portable. It also comes with an S Pen stylus that provides a sharp and responsive writing experience. Note-takers would find this feature very useful.
The Galaxy Book 12 features a bright super AMOLED display (2,160 x 1,440) that supports vivid HDR content. If you can find High Dynamic Range (HDR) content, you’ll be blown away by the wide color gamut that this notebook can achieve.
As for the specs, the Galaxy Book 12 comes equipped with 4GB RAM, a 128GB SSD, and the 7th Gen Intel Core i5 processor. It also comes with two USB-C ports for connecting all your devices. On the downside, the Galaxy Book 12 is expensive and offers a mediocre battery life.
4. HP Spectre X360 OLED
The HP Spectre X360 is a hybrid laptop that comes with a stunning OLED display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. This ultra-slim convertible laptop can be used in many ways, thanks to its unique 360-degree hinge that flips to the perfect view. Flip it into a tent and get a perfect view for playing games. Fold it into a stand and watch movies in the most convenient way possible.
The OLED panel displays vivid colors perfect for watching movies and displaying visuals. Besides the display, the Spectre X360 comes equipped with some killer specs that make it a high-performance laptop. It sports a Core i7-6500U processor, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Also, it comes with a fully touchable screen and a long-lasting battery, enough to power you through the day on average use.
5. Alienware 2018 13″ OLED
The Alienware 2018 13″ laptop is expected to hit the market anytime in the course of the year. Alienware says that this will be the world’s first VR capable 13-inch laptop and will be based on the new Core-H series CPU and GTX 10 series processors. No more information is available about this new generation of OLEDs, but we hope they will hit the market soon.
Wrapping Up
OLED displays have gained traction over the past few years owing to their spectacular color production, deep inky blacks, and high contrast. However, unlike LCDs, OLED panels are tougher to manufacture, which partly explains why only a few players have embraced this technology fully. As a result, OLED laptops come with a high price tag which is a major concern for many consumers.
What do you think the future holds for OLED laptops? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
