Although the smartphone has long dominated, the notebook has made a comeback in recent years. Stiftung Warentest has now tested 18 current models, for everyday use as well as for gamers.
Whether for private surfing, quickly reading work emails or chatting with friends in front of the television: the smartphone has long since developed into the main computer for most users. Nevertheless, the notebook has made a comeback in recent years. After all, you can work, surf or even gamble in a completely different way with a larger screen and a full keyboard. Anyone who has not yet been able to decide on a new device can now get decision-making assistance from Stiftung Warentest.
The testers brought 18 current notebooks into the laboratory, six of which are dedicated gaming machines. And: All devices in the current test with a 15.6-inch screen diagonal are more of a desktop replacement than a slim constant companion. Remarkable: Although the webcam is becoming more and more important in the age of video conferencing, none of the devices can completely convince with the webcam, the test winner in the gaming notebooks even dispensed with it entirely. Anyone who often telephones via video should therefore look for an alternative.
Normal notebooks: good and cheap
If you don’t want to gamble, you get a lot of notebook for your money with the models tested by goods test. This is the test winner . It convinces in terms of performance, with the exception of the rather weak webcam. However, it can particularly score with the display and battery. When it comes to the display, it is right at the forefront of classic notebooks, and only two can keep up with gaming devices. That’s strong. Only the battery power is even more convincing: it lasts 16:20 hours when watching videos, in two hours it is fully charged again. A great achievement. Despite the “good” (1.9) overall rating, the test winner remained affordable: The IdeaPad is available from 800 euros.
If that is too expensive, there are still much cheaper alternatives. The best device in the test in terms of the combination of camera and microphone, the is available from around 650 euros. It also scores well in all other sub-points. The overall rating is accordingly “good” (2.2).
It’s even cheaper . With a price starting at around 580 euros, it is the cheapest model with a still “good” (2.4) overall rating. This device is also largely convincing in everyday use. The only real compromise: As one of only two devices in the test, it does not have any of the modern USB-C ports on board. That should have been standard by now.
Gaming kostet
Even if smaller games naturally also run on the cheaper models: If you really want to gamble, you have to invest more money. The test winner among the gaming models, the , with a price starting at around 1600 euros, costs twice as much as the best everyday notebook – and doesn’t even have a webcam. But it can score with raw performance. Gaming performance is good, if not the best in the test. In return, it almost incidentally achieves the best performance in everyday tasks – despite the lack of a webcam. The battery performance is also excellent with 12:50 hours of video watching and a charging time of only 1:50 hours. And thus secures the overall grade “good” (2.0). The only weaknesses are the very high weight of 2340 grams and the fairly high operating volume when gaming.
The second-placed gaming expert, the ). It costs from 1350 euros, but is only slightly behind the test winner in the overall rating “good” (2.2). It offers even better gaming performance and a better display than the Asus model. On the other hand, the battery power is only half as long with just 6:30 hours of video – and that despite 50 minutes more charging time. With a weight of 2200 grams, it is also a similar bummer.
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