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The best new laptops and Chromebooks from CES 2022
We made the difficult decision not to attend CES in person this year, but as they say, the show must go on. Go on it has, with plenty of new launches across the board. In fact, CES 2022 packed more laptop and Chromebook launches than we’ve seen in quite a while. It’s not easy to narrow down the top picks, but here are the best new laptops and Chromebooks from CES 2022.
We’ve chosen our favorite launches across a few of the most popular categories, including business, 2-in-1s, and more. This year brought a hefty slate of gaming options too, so we’ve included more than one pick in case you need even more to look forward to.
Ready to see what we liked at CES 2022? Let’s get to it.
Dell XPS 13 Plus
The Dell XPS 13 has enjoyed years of sustained success among the best laptops you can buy, and it looks even better following CES 2022. Dell drew its latest design inspiration from Gen Z — users who know who they are and where they want to go. However, the Dell XPS 13 Plus secures its place among the best new laptops at CES 2022 for the changes under the hood.
Dell managed to keep the classic feather-light and slim design, but the XPS 13 Plus packs the latest 12th-Gen Intel processing power. You can choose up to a Core i7-12800P processor with a whopping 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM. The powerful machine tops out at 2TB of PCIe 4 SSD storage with Wi-Fi 6E to keep you connected.
Of course, the change you’ll immediately notice is that the keyboard stretches from edge to edge. It offers larger keys, and the traditional touchpad is gone with the wind. In its place lies a seamless glass pad that delivers haptic responses to your taps and swipes. The function keys are gone too in favor of a capacitive touch experience somewhat akin to Apple’s TouchBar.
Look for the XPS 13 to launch in Spring 2022 from $1,199.99.
Lenovo Yoga 9i
Lenovo’s Yoga line is synonymous with flexibility, yet it continues to find new ways to bend. The Yoga 9i is one of the most impressive 2-in-1 hybrid new laptops we saw at CES 2022, and it offers all of the bells and whistles you can ask for. If you’re after a more sustainable model, you can also check out the Yoga 6, which incorporates recycled material throughout.
The Yoga 9i, however, offers a 14-inch display and a keyboard with five unique function keys. One allows you to boost your performance mode, while another prioritizes battery life. Other buttons swap between light and dark mode in Windows 11 and toggle your background blur for video calls. One of the extra buttons also contains the Yoga 9i’s fingerprint sensor.
As for hardware, you can choose up to a 12th-Gen Intel Core i7 processor with up to 16GB of RAM. The Yoga 9i offers 1TB of storage and boasts 20 hours of battery life.
It will go on sale in the second quarter of 2022, starting at $1,399.99.
Alienware X14
If there’s one thing we saw more than anything else at CES 2022, it has to be gaming laptops. The industry giants brought their best, including ASUS, Razer, Acer, and more. However, the Alienware X14 grabbed our attention for its size and speed.
The X14 isn’t the largest gaming laptop to launch this year, but that’s what makes it great. Alienware boasts that the X14 is the thinnest 14-inch gaming laptop at just 0.57-inches thick. It’s also the first to support NVIDIA’s G-Sync and Advanced Optimus technologies. Like all Alienware models, the X14 sports Element 31 cooling with a Gallium-Silicone matrix and a vapor chamber.
Check out: The best Alienware laptops
It tops out with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU and Intel’s Core i9-12900H processor. You can opt for up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of blistering PCIe SSD storage.
The Alienware X14 goes on sale this winter for $1,799.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo
Another impressive gaming launch at CES 2022 is the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo. The Alienware X14 adopted a more traditional design, but the Zephyrus Duo packs a secondary display between the keyboard and main display. The ScreenPad Plus employs a sliding hinge to lift at a 13-degree angle when you open the lid. This also allows extra air to flow through the fans and cool the machine.
ASUS packed its gaming flagship with an AMD Ryzen 9 6980HX processor and the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU. It’s the first ROG model to offer the new Nebula HDR panel with 512 Mini-LED dimming zones and 1,100 nits of peak brightness. You’ll find a 165Hz refresh rate and a 16:10 aspect ratio — a new standard on all ASUS laptops.
Our buying guide: The best ASUS laptops
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo will launch in the first half of 2022, though we don’t have pricing information yet.
ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5
Chromebooks didn’t enjoy as much time in the sun at CES 2022, though there were still a few impressive launches. The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 was one such launch, and it brings Windows laptop specs to the Chrome OS landscape. You’ll find up to an Intel 12th-Gen Core i7 processor on board as well as up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
The Flip CX5 also offers Wi-Fi 6E so that you can stay connected at top speeds. ASUS emphasized durability this year, and its latest Chromebook comes with a durable MIL-STD 810H certification. Like its gaming brethren, the Flip CX5 sports a 16:10 display with an impressive 87% screen-to-body ratio thanks to the ErgoLift hinge.
Related: The best Chromebooks you can buy
You should have no shortage of ports either, with two Thunderbold options, a USB-A 3.2 port, a microSD card reader, and an HDMI 2.0 for good measure.
We do not have launch information for the Chromebook Flip CX5 at this time.
MSI Creator Z17
CES 2022 also offered solid content creation laptops, including the MSI Creator Z17. Its claim to fame is that it’s the first 17-inch laptop with pen touch support. MSI designed its latest Creator series with the motto “Tech meets Aesthetic,” hoping to marry impressive power with top-notch style. The Z17 comes with a Lunar Gray chassis that MSI says will change like the phases of the moon.
While we can’t confirm that fact, we do appreciate the onboard Intel Core i9 processor and the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs. They come ready to run the new NVIDIA Studio creation platform on the crisp 16:10 display.
The MSI Pen launched alongside the Summit series last year as a convenient way to embrace the touchscreen, and now it supports the Creator Z17. You can sketch and take notes as you would with a traditional pen and recharge via USB-C.
The Creator Z17 relies on MSI’s Cooler Boost technology to keep your creative pursuits afloat. It carries a trio of fans with five heat pipes and fan blades as thin as 0.2mm.
MSI’s Creator Z17 is set to launch for $3,249.
ASUS Zenbook Fold 17
The last entry on our list of the best new laptops from CES 2022 might also be the most unique launch we saw. ASUS not only hit us with plenty of gaming options, but it also announced the Zenbook Fold 17 — a 17.3-inch folding display that serves as a laptop or a tablet. The Zenbook Fold 17 is a rare option in that it sports a 4:3 panel instead of a 16:10 option, and it packs Dolby Atmos and Vision support.
ASUS added a 5MP webcam with AdaptiveLock, which automatically wakes or locks as you approach the laptop. You can use the ErgoSense keyboard separately or place it on the folded display for a more traditional laptop experience. As for power, this unique foldable option comes with up to an Intel Core i7-1250U processor onboard.
The ASUS Zenbook Fold 17 is not due to launch until the third quarter of 2022, with pricing information to follow.
That’s it for the best new laptops from CES 2022. Want to learn more about our favorites from the trade show? Check them out below.