Tim Danton posted: " Despite the Omicron variant, the world's largest consumer electronics show is pressing ahead. Over the next two days, hundreds of new laptops are being announced, but which is the best laptop of CES 2022? To help you decide, here is my pick of the lap"
Despite the Omicron variant, the world's largest consumer electronics show is pressing ahead. Over the next two days, hundreds of new laptops are being announced, but which is the best laptop of CES 2022?
To help you decide, here is my pick of the laptops that have been announced so far. I'll add more as and when they're released.
Dell XPS 13 Plus
Price & availability: spring 2022, no prices yet
I've been waiting for Dell to significantly update its XPS 13 range for years, but it has been reluctant to disturb a winning formula: 2022's standard Dell XPS 13 (identified by the model number 9320) again features modest design updates.
So, in lieu of a complete refresh, I'm pleased to see Dell introduce the Dell XPS 13 Plus, complete with a 12th generation Intel Core processor designed to run at its maximum of 28W - a big jump from the 15W of previous generation Dell XPS 13 laptops.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is also available in silver-white. Note the row of capacitive buttons at the top and the seamless touchpad.
The other big change is a row of capacitive touch buttons above a keyboard that uses every millimetre of space; Dell's homage to Apple's Touch Bar? More curiously, and questionably, it's also hidden the touchpad into the area under the keys. This may be a stroke of minimalist genius or a huge mistake. I look forward to giving the XPS 13 Plus a proper test as soon as it's released.
Acer Swift X (Intel)
Price & availability: Feb/March 2022 from £999 for 14in, from £1,099 for 16in
Think of the Swift X range as the posh brother to Acer's more basic Swift family. At CES 2022, Acer announced two new models: the 14in SFX14-51G and 16in SFX16-52G.
The world has seen 14in Swift X laptops before, but only with AMD inside; this range will include Intel's 12th generation Core processors along with Nvidia's ever-impressive GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics. All stuffed in a 17mm-thin aluminium chassis that weighs 1.4kg.
Curiously, the 16in model relies on Intel's discrete Arc graphics, the first time we've seen this chip. Both will include an IPS panel, with the promise of 100% coverage of the sRGB gamut - so not as vibrant as OLED-toting rivals but still, I'm confident, a pleasure to use.
HP Elite Dragonfly G3
Price & availability: March 2022, no prices yet
I've been a fan of the gorgeously slim and light Elite Dragonfly from its first flight in late 2019, and this third generation looks even more compelling.
That's mainly due to the 12th generation Intel silicon inside, but HP also promises that it's perfectly tuned to the world's work-from-anywhere needs: an upgraded webcam, AI to boost voice clarity (even when wearing a mask) and four amps to make the sound from the speakers super-clear.
With a sub-1kg weight and 3:2 aspect ratio 13.5in screen, this looks like a mobile worker's dream machine. But if we know anything from previous Dragonfly laptops, it won't come cheap: the most basic G2 model costs over £2,300 from Insight UK.
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