STACK #258 April 2026

In the market for a new laptop? We've got you covered. Check out these four great machines and find the laptop that's right for you! Words James O'Connor 4 top new laptops

TECH FEATURE

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Dell 15 DC15255 15.6" FHD 120Hz Laptop (Ryzen 5)[512GB] This Windows 11 laptop is an excellent mid range option for anyone looking for a versatile machine. The 15.6-inch screen is a full HD, 1920 x 1080 beauty, with a refresh rate of 120Hz. It's easy on the eyes over long sessions, with an anti-glare LED backlight display ensuring that it's always easily viewable, even out in the sun, and Dell's included ComfortView software reduces blue light emissions. It comes with an HDMI port so you can connect to a screen or monitor with ease, as well as a USB-A 2.0 port and two USB-A 3.2 ports. It even features an SD card reader, ideal for photographers. This is an excellent laptop for working on the go. The AMD Ryzen processors are designed with everyday computing tasks in mind, and they’ll keep your laptop running smoothly as you multitask. Meanwhile, the built-in HD webcam and mic will make you look and sound good during important meetings. This laptop adapts to your usage, adjusting its power output and thermals on the fly as needed, and with express charge it can get back up to 80% from zero within one hour. Dell makes your comfort and convenience a priority, with lifted hinges providing an ergonomically sensible typing angle, plus a roomy keypad so you're not stumbling over your words. This laptop is also built largely with post-consumer recycled plastic, and weighs in at under 2kg, so it's easy on the environment and on your arm muscles.

Asus VivoBook 15.6" Full HD Thin & Light Laptop (Intel Core 5)[1TB] Just how thin and light is the ASUS VivoBook? Very! It comes in at a depth of just 17.9mm, and weighs 1.7kg, taking up very little space while also offering some solid power and a beautiful display. This mid-range laptop carries an Intel Core 5 10 core processor and 16GB of RAM, as well as a large 1TB SSD for storage, making it a versatile machine that can handle a lot of different tasks. This Vivobook sports a gorgeous screen. The 15.6-inch IPS display offers a WUXGA 1920 x 1200 resolution, with Intel graphics that can handle some light gaming, video editing, and other tasks. It features a wealth of ports for a laptop of this size: there's HDMI, a USB-A 2.0, two USB-A 3.2 ports, and an additional USB-C 3.2 port, so you won't need to juggle what is and isn't plugged in at once. Expect a solid battery life of around four to seven hours with typical use, and it'll charge fast when plugged in, too. This is a Windows 11 laptop, and thanks to its silver finish it looks sleek and stylish. It's a great choice for study, word processing, or for watching Netflix in bed at the end of a hard day, and with Bluetooth v5.2 and a 3.5mm headphone

Lenovo Ideapad 5 14" WUXGA OLED 2-in-1 Laptop (Snapdragon X Plus)[1TB] The Lenovo Ideapad 5 features the awesome Snapdragon X Plus chipset, which means this is a machine that can handle some heavier tasks, including some gaming. This is an AI-enhanced chip that boosts efficiency and even improves battery life, and it features a powerful 8-core processor and 16GB of RAM along with a mighty 1TB of SSD storage. This makes it suitable for complex work, but without the bulk or low-battery life of a more powerful laptop. This ultra-light, 1.5kg laptop boasts a wonderful 14-inch OLED display. The 1920 x 1200 resolution, coupled with Lenovo's bespoke tech, means that this one is easy on the eyes over long sessions, whether you're studying, gaming, or using it throughout the workday. It carries low blue light certification and can display up to 400 nits of brightness. This Ideapad is durable too, so much so that it's MIL-STD 810H-certified - a military certification for devices that are built to withstand harsh environments and minor accidents. Despite this, it's an elegant and stylish device, with an ultra-thin bezel. This is a 2-in-1 laptop, meaning that it features a touch screen, so you can also use it as a tablet. This is particularly useful if you want to use it for art, for sketching quick notes, or for delivering presentations without needing to worry about a mouse. It's as versatile as it is powerful, and great for when you want to relax with an ebook or a movie, too.

ASUS Zenbook A14 14" OLED Laptop (Copilot+ PC) [512GB] The ASUS Zenbook A14 is an awesome Snapdragon X laptop, one that is ultra portable and powerful. This laptop, which sports a high-tech silver ceramic finish and is resistant to scratches and smudges, weighs in at just under 1kg. It's built from Ceraluminum, an incredibly strong, lightweight material, and features a cool, minimalist design aesthetic. For how light it is, this laptop is also seriously capable. It comes with a 512GB SSD, 16GB of RAM, and packs several ports: HDMI, USB-A 3.2, and two USB-C 4.0. As a Snapdragon, Copilot + PC, you can expect extremely long battery life: it can last all day unplugged in many circumstances, which is ideal for work and study on the go. There's a dedicated AI chip in this system, which not only helps it run more efficiently, but also lets you perform system searches easily. The full HD Lumina WUXGA display is exceptional, and the 14-inch, 60Hz screen is both easy on the eyes and vivid. This small, strong laptop also has some powerful connectivity features. It boasts Wi-Fi 6E for a particularly stable, strong connection, as well as Bluetooth 5.3. It also has enhanced security thanks to Copilot+, with facial recognition, Microsoft Pluton protection, and an adaptive screen lock. It all makes for a laptop that really feels like it can do anything – and go with you anywhere.

jack included, it's great if you need to space out and stare at a screen for a while.

68 APRIL 2026

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