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In the modern world, laptops play a vital role in our daily lives, as we spend a lot of time using them. These machines perform most of the work for professionals; however, you can still use them as a source of entertainment.
Watching movies is one of the first things we think of when discussing entertainment. This article will talk about the best laptops for watching movies. In addition to movies, there are various live streaming options available via Netflix or YouTube, including anime and TV shows on your laptop.
Today’s laptops use improved components, making them perfect for these purposes. In light of this, we have compiled a list of some of the best options available online.
So, let’s start.
Best Laptops for Watching Movies
1. Newest ASUS VivoBook Ultra Thin and Light
– the best laptop for watching movies
RAM: 8GB DDR4
Storage: 128GB Solid State Drive (SSD)
Display: 15.6 in Full HD LED touchscreen (1920 x 1080), 10-finger multi-touch support
The latest ASUS VivoBook 2021 model is one of the best laptops for watching movies under $1000. That’s because it is enriched with top-notch specifications for crisp audio and visual experience.
Specifically, this laptop bears a 15.6″ IPS LCD FHD (1920 x 1080) touchscreen that delivers clear and sharp visuals. Since the screen is LED-backlit, it ensures low energy consumption without compromising on video quality. Moreover, you won’t feel stressed out even while binge-watching your favorite movies or shows – thanks to the anti-glare screen.
Nonetheless, the display isn’t the only strength of this machine. It encloses an 8GB DDR4 SDRAM, Intel Core i3 dual-core processor, and Intel UHD Graphics to ensure a smooth streaming experience.
Besides videos, the laptop also delivers impressive audio quality. So, the combined audio and video experience suffice to rejuvenate your streaming and gaming activities.
Also, the manufacturer has strived to keep the machine as portable as possible. With a plastic body and ultra-thin design, the laptop weighs 3.7 pounds only. Hence, you can carry it along pretty much everywhere and enjoy watching movies, video-conferencing, or routine video calls with the best experience.
2. Apple MacBook Air
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB or 512GB SSD
Display: 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen display
Apple MacBooks aren’t only meant for business users. Rather the Cupertino giant aims at diversifying its MacBook use cases to satisfy its huge customer base. The Apple MacBook Air 2020 model is one such example that typically targets binge-watchers.
Powered by a stunning 13.3” Retina display, this laptop delivers smooth visuals with the best color quality and sharp texts and images.
At the same time, it ensures your eyes don’t wear out while watching movies. Thanks to the built-in True Tone technology that automatically adjusts the white intensity of the display by sensing the environment lighting and color temperature. That’s how you always get a natural viewing experience during video calls, watching movies or TV shows, or playing games.
To deliver this smooth user experience, the laptop encloses power-packed specifications. Specifically, it includes 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD that provides sufficient storage space without compromising on performance. Besides, the Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU jazzes up the device’s performance up to three times even during power-intensive activities.
So, whether it’s about watching movies, chatting with friends and family on video calls, or simply doing your routine chores, this laptop won’t disappoint you ever.
3. Dell XPS 17 9710
– best with 4K screen
RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
Display: 16:10 17.0 UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflecitve 500-Nit Display
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6
The Dell XPS 17 9710 is a treat for all those trusting visuals more than anything else.
This mighty machine features a 16:10 4-sided InfinityEdge display powered by Dolby Vision. Hence, it delivers stunning visuals of whatever appears on the screen. Be it the clarity of the texts or the vibrancy of colors, this 17.0″ UHD+ (3840 x 2400) screen can handle it all well.
Despite these advanced display features, you won’t feel overwhelmed. Thanks to the built-in Eyesafe technology to reduce the blue light that you can binge-watch your favorite movies or enjoy extended gaming sessions without stressing your eyes.
To ensure that your viewing experience remains lag-free, Dell has equipped this laptop with NVIDIA RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6 Graphics, 16GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM, 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H processor, and 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive.
These huge specifications sufficiently explain how this device can handle power-intensive activities besides streaming, such as long video calls or gaming.
In addition, this laptop has all the key specs that you would need, including dedicated ports for Thunderbolt 3, an SD card reader, and a headphone/microphone jack.
Certainly, all of this comes at a cost. So, you might have to spare a fortune to get your hands on this laptop. But once you get it, you’ll surely find it worth the money.
4. Acer Swift 3
– best budget laptop
RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X
Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
Display: 14 Full HD widescreen LED-backlit IPS 100% sRGB
Are you looking for a budget-friendly laptop to binge-watch your favorite Netflix series? Then look no further – the Acer Swift 3 is all you need.
The device comes with a 14-inch 16:9 full HD display that delivers an immersive experience. Powered by AMD Radeon Graphics, you can expect this laptop to deliver crisp videos whether you are on a video call, watching movies, or playing games.
Moreover, it is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5000 Series mobile processor and 8GB LPDDR4X onboard memory that keeps your device running smoothly during power-intensive tasks. Also, the 512GB NVMe SSD drive adds to the overall performance while providing you with sufficient storage too.
This laptop exhibits a sleek, catchy, and portable form factor, for which it ditches the optical drive. But given the support for external devices with USB Type-A, USB Type-C, and HDMI ports, this doesn’t seem an issue.
And if you’re concerned about portability, then this laptop meets your expectations with a huge battery that can last up to 12.5 hours. All you need is to give your laptop a full charge once, then keep working, video-conferencing, or watching movies without worrying about dying batteries.
Yet, if you can’t manage a full charge, no worries. The laptop can still accompany you for 4 hours even after a short 30-minute charge.
5. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
– best for watching movies and gaming
RAM: 8GB 3200 MHz DDR4
Storage: 256GB M.2 PCIe SSD
Display: 15.6 FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS
Storage: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
Lenovo is known for providing top-notch specifications on a budget. The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is just an example of it.
This wonderful device bears all the mighty features to manage intensive tasks like gaming and streaming. For instance, it has a 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display that delivers high-definition visuals regardless of the content displayed.
Moreover, it comes with 2W speakers with Nahimic Audio generating clear sounds. Thus, from gaming to watching TV shows or movies, this laptop serves you with an immersive feel.
And that’s not all. To ensure that the machine stays true to its promises, Lenovo has equipped this device with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, AMD Ryzen 5000 H-Series mobile processor, and 8GB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM. To further jazz up the overall performance without lags, it bears a 256GB M.2 PCIe SSD.
That means you neither have to worry about storage issues nor performance lags.
On top of everything, this laptop ensures that you don’t have to bear the burden of carrying a bulky machine for gaming or streaming on the go. This IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptop exhibits a modish design in a slim form factor and weighs only 4.96 lbs.
6. Lenovo Yoga 7i 15.6’’ 2-in-1
– best 2-in-1 laptop for watching movies
RAM: 8GB DDR4
Storage: 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Display: 15.6-inch FHD IPS Touchscreen Display(1920×1080), 360° flip-and-fold design
The Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1 7i laptop is just another power-packed device that you can get for under $1000. It typically aims at binge-watchers with precise visual requirements.
To deliver sharp video quality, the laptop bears a 15.6″ Full HD 10-point multitouch screen (1920 x 1080) display. Plus, the Intel Iris Xe Integrated Graphics add to the overall video quality, generating sharp, vibrant, and clear visuals.
Besides visuals, you’ll also enjoy an amazing audio experience using this laptop. Thanks to the built-in Dolby Atmos Speaker System empowering this machine that generates sharp sounds.
The makers have also considered device portability while designing this laptop to give you the liberty to enjoy your favorite media anywhere. Therefore, it encloses robust specifications, such as an 8GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB M.2 SSD for easy storage, and 11th Gen Intel Quad Core i5-1135G7 2.4GHz processor, within a sleek and thin form factor. The laptop merely weighs 4.18 lbs. ensuring it remains lightweight for you.
The biggest plus with this device is its 2-in-1 design. That is, its large 15.6-inch display supports touch input. Plus, its 360° flip-and-fold structure lets you transform this laptop into a tablet, a simple screen with a stand, or a viewing tent.
So, no need to worry about the placement of your laptop anymore. Whether you are watching your favorite movie, have planned a long-duration video conference with colleagues, or want a video chit-chat session with family/friends, you can comfortably reside anywhere and mold the device accordingly to stay relaxed.
7. Dell Inspiron 3510
RAM: 2TB HDD
Storage: 16GB DDR4
Display: 15.6-inch HD (1366 x 768) Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Non-touch
The latest Dell Inspiron 3510 2021 model seems generally impressive for regular activities. However, it boasts some much-needed specifications for quality visuals that make it one of the best laptops for watching movies.
Precisely, it features a 15.6-inch HD (1366 x 768) LED-backlit display powered by Intel UHD Graphics. Hence, it ensures producing sharp and well-defined images, vibrant colors, and clear texts. Plus, the built-in stereo speakers deliver sharp sounds which, when coupled with the crisp visuals, create an immersive experience.
So, whether you plan a long video-calling session or want to binge-watch your favorite Netflix series, this laptop can handle it all.
And don’t worry about any lags. Thanks to the embedded 16GB DDR4 SDRAM with Intel Celeron N4020 dual-core processor, this laptop can easily manage light to moderately intensive activities.
Moreover, the laptop also provides sufficient storage with its 2TB hard drive. Hence, you can easily download and save your favorite movies and other media on your device to watch them later.
In fact, you can even leverage this feature while traveling or camping too. That’s because this laptop exhibits a super-slim, portable design and weighs 3.91 lbs only.
8. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB SSD
Display: 12.3 Touch-Screen
Do you love watching your favorite movies? Need a quality laptop and a handy tablet at the same time to manage different tasks? Then the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is all you need.
This handy gadget is a masterpiece from the popular tech giant Microsoft. The device is a classy 2-in-1 laptop that can serve as a quality computer and a handy tablet alike.
Basically, it is a 12.3-inches touch screen device that you can quickly transform into a laptop by connecting a keyboard. The device also offers support for the Surface Pen to function as a drawing board for you.
Yet, these functionalities don’t make it a boring hi-tech gadget since it comes with a built-in stand. Thus, it can also serve as your personal screen to watch your favorite movies and TV shows.
Don’t worry about the picture quality as the device exhibits an HD screen powered by Intel HD Graphics 615. Likewise, to ensure seamless performance, Microsoft has enhanced this device by embedding the 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB DDR2 memory, and a 128GB SSD within.
Also, you don’t have to keep looking for charging ports when using Surface Pro 7 – thanks to its huge battery life of 10.5 hours. Thus, it is perfect for conducting long video conferencing sessions, family video calls, or watching movies.
Besides, this 2-in-1 laptop also bears dedicated USB-C and USB-A ports to connect other devices.
9. Newest HP 17
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 1 TB PCIe SSD
Display: 17.3 diagonal, HD+ (1600 x 900), anti-glare, 250 nits,
The latest HP 17 2021 model is an amazing offer for power users from HP. Users can get their hands on this feature-rich laptop without breaking the $1000 barrier.
To ensure it meets the browsing requirements for most users from different walks of life, HP has equipped this laptop with some robust specifications. Notably, it bears an 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor with Turbo Boost Technology, Intel Iris Xᵉ Graphics, and a 16GB DDR4 RAM that you can expand up to 32GB.
And that’s not all, the laptop also provides you with huge storage space with a 1TB SSD.
But the most interesting feature of this laptop is the huge 17.3-inch display that makes it perfect for binge-watchers. HP has specifically empowered this device for delivering great visuals by embedding an HD+ (1600 x 900) anti-glare display within. Hence, you can enjoy an immersive experience while watching your favorite movies, TV shows, or gaming.
The only downside with this laptop is its heavier form factor that weighs 5.70 lbs. But, given the huge specifications of this laptop and the terrific functionality, you won’t mind bearing with the weight.
10. Lenovo IdeaPad 5
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 15.6 LED-Backlit IPS Touch Screen FHD (1920 x 1080)
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is a power-packed laptop for all those looking for a robust workstation that can also replace their home theatre.
Wondering how that would be possible? Well, the top-notch specifications of this laptop show it all.
Basically, Lenovo has jazzed up this laptop with a substantial 12GB RAM that makes multitasking a piece of cake. Plus, the integrated 512GB SSD and Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor further contribute to delivering a seamless performance during power-intensive activities like streaming, video editing, or gaming.
Moreover, the Intel Iris Xe Graphics adds to the lag-free performance of this device while generating quality visuals. Whereas the built-in 2W speakers with Dolby Audio rejuvenate your hearing experience with the ultimate sound quality.
On top of that, the 15.6-inch IPS FHD (1920 x 1080) display provides you with the best videos regardless of what you do. The LED-backlit anti-glare screen also supports touch input, hence, serving you with a personalized and ergonomic experience.
But of course, touch support isn’t the only input mode with this mighty device. Rather it also exhibits a full-keyboard (with integrated numeric keypad), and a huge touchpad.
Interestingly, the device also bears a fingerprint reader, hence expanding the security and authentication options for you.
Best Laptops for Watching Movies Buying Guide
We have outlined some essential things to keep in mind when purchasing a laptop for watching movies or other entertainment.
Display Quality
Since we see the output of movies via the display, it is important to emphasize the display’s quality when watching movies. It is crucial to consider many factors when evaluating display quality, including viewing angle and resolution. We recommend that the display be at least Full HD and have decent viewing angles.
Moreover, people who spend extended periods in front of laptops should also pay attention to color calibration, as it will prevent eye strain. As for the display size, it depends on the user. The most common laptop sizes range from 11 inches to 17 inches. It’s up to you which size you prefer.
Audio
Unfortunately, even high-end laptops can have poor audio performance. Laptops are not significant in this department. Movie watchers typically complain that the sound during a movie is too low, especially when watching in a group. Distortion and lacking bass are also common complaints.
There are plenty of plug-in and Bluetooth speaker options available to you if you’re watching with friends or family. You can always put on your headphones when on your own.
Battery
You should also consider the laptop’s battery life before buying one to watch movies. The average film lasts between one and two hours, so your laptop should have plenty of battery life to last that long.
Most modern laptop models are lightweight and offer good battery life. You shouldn’t have any problems with battery life. In normal circumstances, a laptop should last between 4 and 5 hours.
Processor & GPU
All laptops run on a Control Processing Unit, also known as a CPU or processor. Therefore, the best processor is a necessity for optimal performance. While watching movies is not an intensive task for the CPU, a laptop must have a good processor to avoid lag.
A specific processor isn’t recommended for playing downloaded or streaming content. However, you should always select an Intel processor from the 10th generation or above.
Besides that, if you’re considering an AMD laptop, you’d be wise to look further than the 4000 series, even though the 5000 series is more prevalent these days. Further, another vital component to run a laptop is the Graphics Processing Unit, also called a Graphics Card.
Although there are various options, GPUs are dominant in more demanding applications. Fortunately, our case will work just fine with an integrated GPU. If you don’t have any other requirements, you do not need to concentrate on the GPU.
RAM & Storage
A RAM is a short-term memory that works with a processor to process data. As a result, we require a sufficient amount of RAM to function properly.
8GB RAM will suffice for most tasks like watching movies, but if you intend on using the laptop for at least two to three years, we recommend at least 16GB RAM. Besides, you can also store data permanently on the storage.
In my opinion, 256 GB of storage is enough for most users. However, some users want more storage to accommodate large files. Choose storage based on your needs, and ensure it is a faster SSD to avoid performance blockages.
How We Picked/Tested?
Our lab tests enable us to determine if a laptop is worth the money you are spending or not. The tests we run the range from benchmarks like 3DMark and Geekbench.
As part of this, a laptop is tested against a web browser at 150 nits of brightness until it runs out of batteries and uses a custom spreadsheet to measure its processing power. Other than this, we also run 4K videos to determine whether the laptop is suitable for watching movies or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have already explained a lot of choices to you in response to this question, so it’s not too challenging. Every option has its pros and cons.
Watching movies does not require you to think very much since you are not looking for anything ultra-advanced or costly. The only thing you need is a good laptop at a reasonable price so that you can enjoy watching.
Generally speaking, watching movies on a laptop won’t cause permanent damage to your eyes. The screen should be bright, and your chair should be close enough so that your eyes are not straining to focus. People who find it hard to see on a small screen may benefit from purchasing a laptop with a bigger screen.
MacBooks are always excellent at anything they do. Try using an Apple MacBook Pro to watch movies, the most powerful of all MacBooks.
Conclusion
You might already have made your mind up by the time you read this conclusion. Most laptops can handle casual tasks such as watching movies, even the cheaper ones.
Several factors influence our decision about which laptop to buy for watching movies, including the screen quality, battery life, processor speed, and so on.
We are aware that we do not need a laptop with high performance for just watching movies, but some people wish to have a device that serves various purposes. I appreciate you taking the time to read this. If I find another laptop with a reasonable price tag for watching movies, I will update the above list.