7 Best Laptops for Streaming Movies
- Oleksii Hryhorash
- Feb 28, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 28
Streaming movies is a great way to stay entertained while on the go. Whether you’re looking for the latest blockbuster or an indie classic, no one wants their laptop lagging or running out of power halfway through. That’s why finding the best laptop for streaming movies is important. This blog post will discuss features you should look for in a laptop to maximize your streaming experience. We will also review some of the top laptops for streaming movies, so you can make an informed decision when choosing the right one.
What is the best laptop for streaming movies?
When streaming movies, you want a laptop that can handle high-quality video without lag or buffering. You'll also want a large screen and good sound quality. Here are our picks for the best laptops for streaming movies:
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: PixelSense Flow 3:2
Screen size: 14.4 inches
Resolution: QHD (2400 x 1600)
Brightness: 505 nits
Storage: 256GB-2TB
CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core H
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti laptop GPU
RAM: 16-32GB
If you work hard on your laptop all day, there might be better ways to switch off than streaming movies on the same device. That's why some people prefer a more neutral screen like a tablet, which is easier to keep on a nightstand or side table and doesn't tempt you to minimise the movie window and start answering emails during the movie.
If this sounds like you, remember you don't need to buy a separate tablet. You can simply opt for a 2-in-1 laptop with a tablet and a detachable keyboard, giving you the best of both worlds. Our current favourite is the Surface Laptop Studio.
It features a 14.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen display with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and a QHD resolution of 200 x 1600. Our reviewers were particularly impressed with the included speakers (two small woofers and tweeters), which produce a rich and full sound. Its brightness reaches 505 nits, and the battery life is fantastic, offering 12 hours of viewing time on a single charge, even at the maximum refresh rate. However, movie files may have problems with the 3:2 aspect ratio, which is larger than the normal 16:9 aspect ratio, causing the widescreen movies to look more letterboxed than on standard screens.
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: IPS G-Sync panel
Screen size: 17.3 inches
Resolution: 4K
Brightness: 300 nits
Storage: Up to 1TB SSD
CPU: Up to Intel 11th-gen
Graphics: Up to Nvidia RTX 3080
RAM: Up to 32GB
If you want a gaming laptop and a great movie experience, the Razer Blade 17 is our top pick.
Whether playing a game or watching a movie, the large 17.3-inch touchscreen delivers great results. The 4K resolution means you get stunning image detail, and while the cutting-edge 240Hz refresh rate is aimed primarily at gamers, it also makes movies look great. Four tweeters and woofers produce excellent stereo sound and support THX surround sound.
On the other hand, this laptop is quite expensive, especially in its highest configuration. Plus, it's so powerful that battery life is pretty limited—our reviewer managed general web browsing for about 3 hours and 12 minutes. However, if you want top-notch games and high-quality movies, you may have a trade-off.
3. LG Gram
SPECIFICATION
Display: IPS HD Display
Screen size:17 Inches
Resolution:2560 x 1600 pixels
Storage:1TB SSD
CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
RAM:16GB
Watching movies on a laptop is always better with a bigger screen, but more often than not, you sacrifice versatility. However, this will not happen with the LG Gram.
This laptop is so well made that it's lighter than some 13-inch laptop models, but it still has a 17-inch widescreen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. That is not true for 4K, but a resolution between 2K and 4K.
You'll find a Full HD display on the latest LG Gram, which packs a 72Wh lithium battery that can last up to 17 hours on a single charge. It will give you a lot of movies to watch. When the battery runs out, it doesn't take long to charge it (about 2 hours), and you can use it another day.
SPECIFICATION
Display: IPS Full HD Display
Screen size:15.6 Inches
Resolution:1920 x 1080pixels
Storage:128GB SSD
CPU: AMD Ryzen 3-3200U
Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 3
RAM:4GB
With the Acer Aspire 5 Slim, you get an IPS display, which is a steal for the price. It is equipped with ComfyView technology to reduce glare and ensure hours of movie viewing without eyestrain.
The Acer Aspire 5 has very narrow bezels, so you'll get a fairly wide field of view, ideal for watching movies. It is equipped with AMD Ryzen 3 and an AMD graphics card.
Whether watching movies or working on the computer, you will not get stuck and will enjoy a smooth experience. It has a very good woofer, but not much, and when you crank the volume up, turning it down does the trick. Considering the laptop's specs as a whole, it's worth buying!
SPECIFICATION
Display: IPS display
Screen size: 16 Inches
Resolution: 2560 x 1600
Storage: 128GB SSD
CPU: Core i7
RAM: 32GB
The Predator Triton 500 is a great choice for work and play. According to our tester, the design "doesn't scream at gamers," which is good, especially if you're looking for a more mature aesthetic.
In terms of performance, it does a good job of "balancing productivity with gaming tasks." You can thank the Intel Core i7-11800H processor and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU (Max-Q and 6 GB GDDR6 VRAM) for that. Battery life is alright (8 hours and some variation) for a gaming laptop, though you'll probably still be using it on your desk since it weighs about 5 pounds.
6. Dell XPS 17
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare
Screen size: 17 inches
Resolution: Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) to UHD+ (3840 x 2400)
Brightness: 500 nits
Storage: Up to 4TB
CPU: Up to 11th Generation Intel Core i9-11980HK
Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6
RAM: Up to 64GB DDR4-3200MHz
The 16-inch will suit most people, but if you want something bigger, the 17-inch Dell XPS 17 is a great laptop for watching movies. Thanks to InfinityEdge touchscreen with HDR and Dolby Vision support and a 4K resolution of 3840 x 2400 at the highest setting, high image quality is achieved. 0.65% anti-reflective coating and 500 nits brightness help reduce glare in bright environments.
This screen offers excellent image quality with sharp details and vibrant colours. It also offers decent sound quality from its two 2.5W stereo speakers, which are loud enough for watching movies. On the other hand, battery life is decidedly average: our tester managed 5 hours and 45 minutes of mixed use on a single charge.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Screen size: 11 inches
Resolution: 2K (2160 x 1440)
Brightness: 400 nits
Storage: 128GB
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno 618 GPU
RAM: 8GB
You don't need Windows or macOS to watch movies or stream them on your laptop. So, if you want to save money, you're better off getting a Chromebook. The HP Chromebook x2 11 is our top recommendation if the idea appeals to you. It is a 2-in-1 device with an amazing IPS touchscreen display with a 2K (2160 x 1440) resolution. Surprisingly, it comes with Bang and Olufsen speakers for such an affordable device, although our reviewer thought the speakers lacked depth.
However, the battery life is solid: our reviewer watched Netflix for 11 hours and 10 minutes on a single charge. While 400 nits of brightness are the lowest in our category, it's alright. Overall, x2 11 offers a very solid movie experience. Note, however, that, like the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, the aspect ratio is 3:2, which could be better for watching movies on the big screen.
Conclusion
With so many laptops on the market, finding one that fits your streaming needs is challenging. However, with our list of the best laptops for streaming movies, we hope you’ve been able to narrow down your choices and choose the one that is perfect for you. Whether you’re looking for something lightweight and slim or powerful enough to stream 4K movies without lag time, plenty of options are available. So come check out our selection today and enjoy all the great movie streaming offers!
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