3 Most Exciting Laptop Innovations of 2023
LAPTOP INNOVATION – Here are three innovative laptops that stand out, diverging significantly from the conventional ones commonly found in the market.
Laptops faced significant challenges in 2023, experiencing a notable drop in sales for the first time in years. The overall atmosphere in the laptop industry seemed to lack the usual momentum.
The three laptops highlighted below illustrate the bold directions manufacturers are taking, with my top pick pushing boundaries to an extreme level. Although these may not be the absolute top laptops of 2023 that everyone must rush to purchase, they do showcase remarkable innovation in both engineering and design.
Winner: Lenovo Yoga Book 9i
Lenovo revived the dual-screen laptop concept with the Yoga Book 9i after Microsoft’s Surface Neo project was canceled. The device, recognized for its innovation, features various laptop modes and a foldable “origami stand” that allows simultaneous use of both screens in different configurations. Despite not excelling in performance or battery life, the Yoga Book 9i maintains competence without sacrificing its unique design. Surprisingly, the device is reasonably priced at $2,000 for a configuration with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, providing genuine innovation without an excessively high cost.
Runner-up: HP Spectre Foldable PC
HP has joined the foldable laptop trend, albeit belatedly compared to competitors like Lenovo and Asus. While the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold and the Asus Zenbook Fold 17 have already seen advancements in their designs, the HP Spectre Foldable PC stands out by reducing its thickness to 0.33 inches. This enhancement enhances its usability and portability, a crucial factor for the convenience of such devices. Additionally, the Spectre introduces a unique mode that allows the detachable keyboard to attach to the device’s bottom in laptop mode, expanding its versatility in novel ways.
However, the major drawback is its exorbitant price of $5,000, making it challenging to recommend despite its innovative features. This pricing contrasts with the more reasonable cost of innovative devices like the Yoga Book 9i, demonstrating that innovation doesn’t always have to come with a steep price tag.
Honorable mention: HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook
The HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook boldly claims the title of the best Chromebook ever crafted. It introduces several high-end features previously unseen in the realm of Chromebooks, such as an 8-megapixel webcam, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, a 14-inch 2,560 x 1,600 screen, a haptic feedback trackpad, and even an RGB-backlit keyboard. This device represents a comprehensive package, showcasing HP’s confidence in the Chrome OS platform. Furthermore, its specifications, including a Core i5-1235U, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, may sound typical for a Windows laptop, but within Chromebooks, it epitomizes premium quality.
While these innovations may not be groundbreaking in the broader tech landscape, they signify a substantial leap forward in terms of Chrome OS advancements, marking the most significant progress in many years.
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