Computer Hardware

Why it is here

Notebookcheck’s 9 Mar 2026 lab (92% overall) ran the 18-core M5 Pro / 20-core GPU in High Power mode and measured Cinebench 2024 Multi 2347 / Single 201, Geekbench 6.7 Multi 28436 / Single 4295, 3DMark Steel Nomad 2323, and Blackmagic 5 GB SSD read/write ~12.8 GB/s on the 4 TB PCIe 5.0 drive. CPU holds 72 W peak then 62 W sustained with no throttling; surface temps stay ~40.6 °C top / 42.4 °C bottom; fans are inaudible in daily use and 51.7 dB(A) only in a synthetic stress test. Wi-Fi websurfing at 150 nits lasted 18 h 32 min from the 99.6 Wh pack (6 h 36 min at full Mini-LED brightness). PugetBench creator scores beat or matched an RTX 5090 ProArt P16 in Photoshop (15271) and Premiere, while remaining quieter. Macworld’s 16-inch M5 Max review (9 Mar 2026) independently confirms the same generation’s XDR panel (1000 nits SDR / 1600 nits HDR peak), Wi-Fi 7/Thunderbolt 5, and video-loop battery of 1475 minutes. The 14-inch M5 Max is deliberately not the pick: Notebookcheck found CB2024 Multi swinging 1400–2073 with immediate 75→52 W throttle.

Who it is for

Professionals who need a silent 16-inch workstation for code, 4K/8K edit, and local AI without a dGPU tax.

Key specs

soc

Apple M5 Pro 18-core CPU (6 super + 12 performance) / 20-core GPU

ramReviewed

64 GB LPDDR5x-9600 unified (base SKU is 24 GB / 1 TB)

display

16.2-inch Mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR, 3456×2234, 120 Hz, optional nano-texture

weight

2.12 kg (4.68 lb)

batteryWh

99.6

Sources

• Apple MacBook Pro 16 2026 Review — M5 Pro makes one of the best multimedia laptops even better Notebookcheck · lab-test · 9 March 2026CB2024 2347/201, GB6 28436/4295, Steel Nomad 2323, 18h32 Wi-Fi battery, 92% overall; no CPU throttling in 16-inch chassis.
• 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max) review: Ultra speed with shocking reads Macworld · review · 9 March 2026Same 2026 16-inch generation: 1000 nits SDR / 1600 nits HDR XDR, Blackmagic SSD leap, 1475-minute video-loop battery; M5 Max 16-inch is Apple’s fastest portable.
• Apple introduces MacBook Pro with all-new M5 Pro and M5 Max Apple · vendor-primary · 3 March 202616-inch M5 Pro starts $2699 with 1 TB; M5 Max 16-inch starts $3899.
• M5 Pro MacBook Pro review: Fast, familiar friend Six Colors · review · 1 March 2026, 00:00M5 CPU core ~15% faster than M4; 18-core M5 Pro review unit ~23% faster than a 14-core M4 Max in the reviewer’s daily machine.

Why it is here

PCMag Editors’ Choice (updated 2026-06-25) and Ars Technica (2025-03-11) independently lab-tested the M4 Max Studio. PCMag’s 16-core/40-GPU/128 GB unit scored 2,099 in Cinebench 2024 multi, led Photoshop, hit 81.7 fps in Total War: Warhammer III Ultra, 7,766 in PugetBench Premiere, and broke 10,000 in DaVinci Resolve; Ars confirmed desktop thermals slightly beat the 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro and that M4 Max often beats the mixed-gen M3 Ultra in single-core and gaming.

Who it is for

Video/photo/3D professionals, developers, and local-AI users who want Thunderbolt 5, up to 128 GB unified memory, and whisper-quiet operation in a 7.7-inch cube — and who can live without internal upgrades.

Key specs

soc

Apple M4 Max (reviewed: 16-core CPU / 40-core GPU / 16-core Neural Engine; base is 14-core CPU / 32-core GPU)

ram

Unified memory: 36 GB base; reviewed 128 GB; max 128 GB on M4 Max

storage

512 GB SSD base; reviewed 1 TB; up to 8 TB (proprietary module)

volume

≈3.6 L (7.7 × 7.7 × 3.7 in / 196 × 196 × 95 mm)

ports

4× Thunderbolt 5 rear, 2× USB-C 10 Gbps front, HDMI 2.1, 10 GbE, 2× USB-A, SDXC UHS-II, headphone; up to five displays; Wi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 5.3 (no Wi-Fi 7 on this gen)

Sources

• Apple Mac Studio (2025, M4 Max) Review PCMag · lab-test · 2025-03 (updated 2026-06-25)Editors’ Choice. Cinebench 2024 multi 2,099; Premiere PugetBench 7,766; DaVinci >10,000; Warhammer III Ultra 81.7 fps. Base price raised to $2,499 on 2026-06-25.
• M4 Max and M3 Ultra Mac Studio Review: A weird update, but it mostly works Ars Technica · review · 11 March 2025M4 Max Studio ≈ 16-inch MBP with same chip (tiny thermal edge). M3 Ultra wins heavily threaded CPU/GPU but loses single-core and some 1080p GPU tests. Handbrake load ~77 W on M3 Ultra vs 62 W M2 Ultra. Prefer Studio over $2k M4 Pro mini unless you need 64 GB cheaper.
• Apple Mac Studio (M4 Max, 2025) Review: Small but Mighty WIRED · review · 5 September 2026, 20:25Tested entry 14-core/32-GPU/36 GB/512 GB at then-$1,999. Confirms sealed design, lunchbox size, creator focus.
• Apple Mac Studio (Early 2025) Review: Renewed vigor with M4 Max and M3 Ultra Tom's Hardware · lab-test · 5 September 2026, 20:25Independent lab coverage of both M4 Max and M3 Ultra SKUs.

Why it is here

Notebookcheck (7 Mar 2026, 92% subnotebook) measured Cinebench 2024 Single 200 (tied with the cooled M5 Pro 14) and Multi 957 — only 18% behind the fan-cooled MacBook Pro 14 M5 after minutes of load, then 820 points at 9 W after a 30-minute CB24 loop. Geekbench 6.7: 4185 single / 17072 multi. Display: 546 nits center, 1437:1 contrast, factory ΔE 2.1 / 0.9 calibrated, 98.1% P3, no PWM. Wi-Fi test 16 h 11 min at 150 nits from 53.8 Wh; 6 h 39 min at max brightness. Completely silent. Tom’s Hardware (23 Mar 2026, Editors’ Choice) independently scored GB6 4168/17067 and 15 h 28 min mixed battery at 150 nits. PCMag (Editors’ Choice) and The Verge confirm the same chassis with doubled base SSD (512 GB), Wi-Fi 7, and ~2× storage throughput vs M4. June 2026 RAM/SSD price hike moved the US base from $1099 to $1299; that is the current street start, not a new generation.

Who it is for

Anyone who wants the best everyday laptop in a bag and does not need Windows or a 120 Hz/Mini-LED panel.

Key specs

soc

Apple M5 10-core CPU / 8-core GPU (10-core GPU is a $100 option)

ramReviewed

16 GB LPDDR5x-9600 unified (up to 32 GB)

display

13.6-inch IPS Liquid Retina, 2560×1664, 60 Hz, ~500–546 nits

weight

1.23 kg (2.71 lb)

batteryWh

53.8

Sources

• Insane performance and efficiency without fans — Apple MacBook Air 13 M5 Entry Review Notebookcheck · lab-test · 7 March 2026CB2024 957/200, GB6 17072/4185, 546 nits, ΔE 2.1, 16h11 Wi-Fi, 92% overall, fully silent.
• Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) review: Steady as it goes Tom's Hardware · lab-test · 23 March 2026Editors’ Choice. GB6 4168/17067; 15h28 mixed battery; still the best Mac for most people.
• I Tested Apple’s M5 MacBook Air—It’s Still the One Most Laptops Chase PCMag · lab-test · 1 March 2026, 00:00Repeat Editors’ Choice; June 25 2026 $200 price hike to $1299 base documented in-article.
• MacBook Air M5 review: a small update for the ‘just right’ Mac The Verge · review · 1 March 2026, 00:00M5 + Wi-Fi 7 + 512 GB base; ~2× SSD speeds vs M4; 15.3-inch sibling 66.5 Wh / 1.51 kg.

Why it is here

Formerly Project DIGITS (CES 2025), renamed DGX Spark at GTC March 2025, Founders Edition shipping since 2025-10-15. LMSYS measured Llama 3.1 8B FP8 at 7,991 tok/s prefill / 20.5 tok/s decode (batch 1) scaling to 368 tok/s aggregate at batch 32; Llama 3.1 70B FP8 at 803 tok/s prefill / 2.7 tok/s decode; gpt-oss-20b MXFP4 via Ollama at 2,053 / 49.7 tok/s. StorageReview vLLM: Llama 3.1 8B FP4 ~924 tok/s at concurrency 128; Qwen3 Coder 30B-A3B FP8 ~46.5 tok/s (c=1) to 482.6 tok/s (batch 64); gpt-oss-120b NVFP4 31.4 tok/s (c=1). llama.cpp maintainer benches: gpt-oss-120b MXFP4 ~58.7 tok/s generation / ~2,444 tok/s prefill. NVIDIA claims 1 PFLOP sparse FP4 and models up to 200B (405B on two clustered units). Memory is the product: 128 GB LPDDR5X at only 273 GB/s. Tom's Hardware: beats Ryzen AI Max+ 395 on prefill, long-context decode, Flux.2 Klein (Spark ~60 s vs Strix Halo ~4× slower), idle ~35 W (later firmware ~22–25 W headless), load ~160 W, 37.5 dBA, GPU ~82 °C. No MLPerf Client submission found.

Who it is for

CUDA developers, labs, and researchers who need to prototype/fine-tune 8B–70B and run MoE 120B locally with a path to DGX Cloud — not buyers chasing fastest single-stream dense-70B chat.

Key specs

acceleratorSoC

NVIDIA GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip (Blackwell GPU + 20-core Arm CPU: 10× Cortex-X925 + 10× Cortex-A725, NVLink-C2C)

memoryGB

128

memoryType

unified LPDDR5X, 256-bit, 273 GB/s coherent CPU+GPU

cpu

20-core Arm v9 (10P+10E), up to ~4.0 GHz

aiPeak

up to 1 PFLOP sparse FP4; LMSYS places AI compute roughly between RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti

tdpPower

240 W USB-C adapter; GB10 SoC budget ~140 W; measured ~35 W idle (22–25 W after CX-7 hot-plug firmware), ~160 W GPU-heavy wall, ~195 W peak reported

formFactor

150 × 150 × 50.5 mm, 1.13 L, 1.2 kg; 4 TB Gen5 2242 NVMe (FE); ConnectX-7 dual QSFP 200 GbE + 10 GbE + Wi-Fi 7; DGX OS (Ubuntu 24.04)

Sources

• DGX Spark review (Jan 2026) Tom's Hardware · lab-testindependent professional review; llama.cpp vs Strix Halo, thermals, power
• DGX Spark review (Oct 2025, updated 2026-08-16) StorageReview · lab-testindependent professional review; vLLM tok/s, MAMF, GDS
• DGX Spark in-depth review (2025-10-13) LMSYS · lab-testindependent lab SGLang/Ollama tok/s vs RTX 5090 / PRO 6000
• DGX Spark review ServeTheHome · lab-testindependent professional hands-on; clustering/networking
• DGX Spark NVIDIA Marketplace · vendor-primarycurrent US MSRP $4,699
• 2026-02-23 price change NVIDIA Developer Forums · vendor-primaryofficial $3,999 → $4,699

Why it is here

Notebookcheck (2025-01-14, 87% overall) tested a 12-core M4 Pro / 64 GB / 2 TB unit: Cinebench R23 multi 19,844 / single 2,254; CB2024 multi 1,455 / single 174; Geekbench 6.7 multi 20,617 / single 3,928; SSD write 6,713 MB/s; idle 2.5–2.8 W; load max 70 W; fan idle silent, 46.1 dB(A) max. Ars Technica (2024-11) called the M4/M4 Pro minis Apple’s best ever; Engadget’s 14-core/48 GB unit hit Geekbench 6 ST 3,943 / MT 22,850.

Who it is for

Developers, editors, and anyone who wants a silent always-on Mac the size of an Apple TV. Skip it if you need the Studio’s GPU/ports/thermal headroom or refuse macOS.

Key specs

soc

Apple M4 Pro (reviewed configs: 12-core CPU / 16-core GPU, or 14-core / 20-core GPU)

ram

24 GB unified base; up to 64 GB (soldered LPDDR5X-8533, 273 GB/s)

storage

512 GB SSD base; Notebookcheck unit 2 TB (Blackmagic ~5.4 GB/s read / 6.7 GB/s write); up to 8 TB

volume

≈0.81 L (127 × 127 × 50 mm), 729 g in NBC’s Pro unit

ports

Front 2× USB-C 10 Gbps; rear 3× Thunderbolt 5 (120 Gb/s), HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE optional), headphone; Wi-Fi 6E / BT 5.3; up to 3 displays

Sources

• Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro review: The compact and frugal desktop PC with top performance and expensive upgrades Notebookcheck · lab-test · 14 January 202587% overall. CB R23 19844/2254; GB6 20617/3928; 3DMark Steel Nomad Light 6624 (near RTX 4050 Laptop); idle ~2.6 W; load 70 W; 46.1 dB(A) max.
• Review: M4 and M4 Pro Mac minis are probably Apple’s best Mac minis ever Ars Technica · review · 1 November 2024, 00:00M4 Pro mini is a palm-sized workstation; 16 GB base on M4 makes $599 model finally competent; Pro is an Intel-iMac replacement.
• Apple Mac mini review (M4 Pro, 2024): Shockingly small, incredibly powerful Engadget · review · 1 November 2024, 00:0014-core M4 Pro / 48 GB: Geekbench 6 ST 3,943 / MT 22,850 — fastest CPU Engadget tested that year.
• M4 Pro Mac mini review: Remarkably small and incredibly powerful Macworld · review · 7 November 2024Praises shrink-ray design and M4 Pro speed; savages Apple RAM/SSD upgrade pricing. Review unit 14/20-core, 48 GB, 1 TB, 10 GbE = $2,299.

Why it is here

Notebookcheck (8 Feb 2026) tested the Core Ultra X7 358H + Arc B390 + 32 GB + 2.8K 120 Hz OLED unit (~$2200) and recorded Cinebench R23 18932/2086, Geekbench 6.7 17121/2927, PCMark 10 9880, 3DMark Fire Strike Graphics 17324 and Time Spy Graphics 7043 — roughly 2× last year’s Arc 140T and 25–40% above the 2024 XPS 14 RTX 4050 in 3DMark. Cyberpunk 2077 1080p Ultra 40.9 fps; Baldur’s Gate 3 Ultra 48.7 fps. OLED: 394 nits SDR lab (infinite contrast), factory ΔE 1.27 / 0.71 calibrated, 99.7% P3, 1.03 ms GtG. PCMag (24 Feb 2026, Editors’ Choice, 4.0) independently measured 21 h 02 min video battery and called Arc B390 faster than the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro in every 3DMark contest it ran. Chassis is recycled aluminum, 14.62 mm, 1.44 kg, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 70 Wh. Weaknesses named in both labs: no microSD, no camera shutter, Turbo Boost sustainability behind Asus ExpertBook Ultra, HDR peak well below Mini-LED Macs.

Who it is for

Windows users who want a 14-inch MacBook Pro rival with OLED, a 4K webcam, and all-day battery, and who can live without an SD slot.

Key specs

soc

Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (Panther Lake, 16c) + Intel Arc B390 (12 Xe3)

ramReviewed

32 GB LPDDR5x-9600 soldered

display

14-inch 2880×1800 OLED touch, 20–120 Hz VRR, ~394 nits SDR lab / 500 nits spec

weight

1.44 kg (3.18 lb)

batteryWh

70

Sources

• Dell XPS 14 2026 review: Fully reborn with Intel Panther Lake X7 Notebookcheck · lab-test · 8 February 2026X7 358H + Arc B390: R23 18932, GB6 17121/2927, PCMark 10 9880, Fire Strike 17324, OLED ΔE 1.27.
• Dell XPS 14 (2026) Review: A Hit Revival of a Legendary Luxury Laptop PCMag · lab-test · 24 February 2026Editors’ Choice. 21h02 battery; Arc B390 beat 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro in 3DMark; $2199.99 as tested.
• XPS 14-inch Premium Lightweight Laptop (2026) Dell · vendor-primary · 2 September 2026DA14260 current sale page; BYO from $2069.99.

Why it is here

PCMag 4.0 (2025-08-07, $2,605 as tested 128 GB/2 TB), The Verge, Tom's Hardware, and Phoronix independently tested it. PCMag: PCMark-class productivity near Mac Studio, 1080p Cyberpunk Ultra 85 fps / 1440p 52 fps, Llama-class local models with 96 GB GPU-addressable RAM. Verge: 4.5 L, mainboard+cooler+PSU from $1,099 (AI Max 385/32 GB) to $1,999 (395/128 GB) before storage/OS. Phoronix: first-class Fedora/Ubuntu/Arch support.

Who it is for

Linux/Windows power users, local-AI tinkerers, and SFF enthusiasts who want AMD’s 128 GB unified-memory APU without a Chinese whitebox warranty — and who accept soldered RAM/CPU.

Key specs

soc

AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 (8c, Radeon 8050S) or Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (16c/32t, Radeon 8060S 40 CU RDNA 3.5, XDNA 2 ~50 TOPS NPU)

ram

32 / 64 / 128 GB soldered LPDDR5x-8000 (~256 GB/s); up to 96 GB allocatable to GPU on 128 GB SKU

storage

2× M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0; DIY edition ships without SSD unless configured; PCMag unit 2 TB

volume

4.5 L (96.8 × 205.5 × 226.1 mm; PCMag 8.9 × 3.8 × 8.1 in), ~3.1 kg

ports

2× USB4, 2× USB-A, HDMI, 2× DisplayPort, 5 GbE, audio; 2× front Framework expansion-card bays; Wi-Fi 7; 400 W FlexATX PSU; optional PCIe 4.0 x4 (no x16 GPU)

Sources

• Framework Desktop Review: This Mighty Mini PC Has Modular Mojo, CPU Go-Go PCMag · lab-test · 7 August 20254.0 Excellent. Ryzen AI Max+ 395, 128 GB, 2 TB, Win11 Pro, $2,605 as tested. Cyberpunk Ultra 85/52 fps at 1080p/1440p; competitive with Mac Studio on Premiere; no dGPU slot.
• The Framework Desktop made me fall for small form factor PCs The Verge · review · 5 September 2026, 20:254.5 L Mini-ITX; 385/32 GB $1,099, 395/64 GB $1,599, 395/128 GB $1,999 for board+case+PSU. Runs Llama 3.3 70B on 128 GB. Soldered RAM/CPU; no x16 GPU.
• Framework Desktop review: AMD's Strix Halo in a petite, powerful, pricey PC Tom's Hardware · lab-test · 5 September 2026, 20:25Independent gaming/SFF lab review of Strix Halo in Framework chassis.
• Framework Desktop With AMD Ryzen AI Max Offers Excellent, Linux-Friendly Performance Phoronix · lab-test · 5 September 2026, 20:25Linux (Ubuntu 25.04 / Fedora 42 / Arch) first-class with kernel 6.1x + Mesa 25 for RDNA 3.5. RAM not replaceable.

Why it is here

PCMag Editors’ Choice for consumer AIOs (updated 2026-06-25) and WIRED 9/10 independently tested the M4 iMac. PCMag’s SpyderX labs called the 23.5-inch 4480×2520 panel a class-leading gamut/brightness jump vs Windows AIOs; WIRED called M4 CPU/iGPU scores the highest it had seen on any AIO, and the $200 nano-texture glass a must-have. Tom's Guide: best AIO, just better.

Who it is for

Home and studio users who want one beautiful, silent machine with keyboard/mouse/webcam/speakers included. Not for people who need a 27–32-inch panel, height-adjust stand, Windows, or internal upgrades.

Key specs

soc

Apple M4 — 8-core CPU/GPU base or 10-core CPU/GPU (reviewed)

ram

16 GB unified minimum (up to 24 GB on 8-core, 32 GB on 10-core), soldered, 120 GB/s

storage

256 GB SSD base; reviewed configs 512 GB–1 TB; up to 2 TB on 10-core

display

23.5-inch 4.5K (4480×2520) IPS Retina, ~500 nits, P3; optional nano-texture glass (+$200); no height adjust; optional VESA

volume

AIO: ~11.5 mm chin enclosure on aluminum stand

ports

Base: 2× Thunderbolt 4. 10-core: 4× Thunderbolt 4 + Gigabit Ethernet on PSU. Wi-Fi 6E / BT 5.3. 12 MP Center Stage webcam, six speakers, Magic Keyboard/Mouse.

Sources

• Apple iMac (2024, M4) Review PCMag · lab-test · 2024-11 (updated 2026-06-25)Editors’ Choice consumer AIO. M4 beats M3 and Windows AIOs in productivity; SpyderX: better DCI-P3 and brightness than Lenovo IdeaCentre 27. Base now $1,499.
• Apple iMac (M4, 2024) Review: Small but Worthwhile Upgrades WIRED · review · 7 November 20249/10. Highest AIO CPU benches WIRED had measured; 12 MP webcam; nano-texture ‘must-have’; no Thunderbolt 5; Magic Mouse still charges upside-down.
• Apple iMac M4 review: The best all-in-one just got better Tom's Guide · review · 7 November 2024Best AIO with more juice; M3 owners need not rush. Cons: no HDR, no touch, no height adjust.

Why it is here

Tom’s Guide (12 Apr 2026) tested the Core Ultra X7 358H / 32 GB / 1 TB / 16-inch 2.8K 120 Hz tandem OLED SKU ($2349) and measured Geekbench 6 2839/16927, Handbrake 4:32, Blackmagic 3570/4600 MB/s, and 13 h 08 min Wi-Fi at 150 nits — nearly 2× the outgoing Dell 16 Premium’s 7h14. Display lab: 355 nits SDR, ΔE 0.21, oversaturated 212% sRGB / 150% DCI-P3 (vivid OLED look). Weight 3.6 lb vs 4.6 lb last year. Engadget independently called the 2026 redesign ‘return of the king,’ citing the same physical F-keys, haptic pad, and Panther Lake efficiency, with a keyboard anti-ghosting bug on early units that Dell said was patched. Notebookcheck’s 20 Mar 2026 review of the cheap Ultra 5 325 FHD+ SKU is useful as a warning, not as the pick: that chip is only ~10% faster than Lunar Lake ULV and the Xe3 4 iGPU is far behind Arc B390. The X7 OLED config is the one that clears the world-elite bar. Trade-off vs MacBook Pro 16: no Mini-LED brightness (Tom’s 355 vs 558 nits SDR) and no dGPU.

Who it is for

Windows users who want a 16-inch MacBook Pro-class travel laptop and do not need CUDA or an SD slot.

Key specs

soc

Intel Core Ultra X7 358H + Intel Arc (integrated; no dGPU on any 2026 XPS 16)

ramReviewed

32 GB LPDDR5x (Tom's Guide unit)

display

16-inch 2880×1800 tandem OLED touch, 120 Hz (FHD+ 120 Hz IPS is the base panel)

weight

1.63 kg / 3.6 lb (OLED as tested); 1.74 kg / 3.84 lb NBC base IPS

batteryWh

70

Sources

• Dell XPS 16 (2026) review Tom's Guide · review · 12 April 2026‘The Windows laptop to beat.’ GB6 2839/16927, 13h08 battery, 355 nits SDR OLED, $2349 as tested.
• Dell XPS 16 (2026) review: Return of the king Engadget · review · 5 September 2026, 20:26Redesign restores physical keys and practical chassis; early keyboard ghosting bug; $2349 review unit, ~$1900 on promo.
• Dell XPS 16 review: Two steps forward, one step back Notebookcheck · lab-test · 20 March 2026Confirms 600 g weight cut and Panther Lake efficiency; Ultra 5 325 SKU is not the elite config (CB2024 Multi 629).

Why it is here

Notebookcheck (25 Jul 2026) ran the Core Ultra 5 325 IPS-touch 32 GB unit and measured almost 24 h Wi-Fi at 150 nits and 14 h at full brightness from 58 Wh — among the longest business-laptop runtimes they have published. Wi-Fi 7 hit 4.5/3.2 Gbps. IPS 524 nits, 1800:1, but factory ΔE 5.0 / greyscale 8.3 (calibrated 1.1, brightness drops ~100 nits). PCMag (Editors’ Choice, 4.5 stars) independently tested the Core Ultra 7 355 / 32 GB / 2.8K 120 Hz OLED SKU and recorded 25 h 08 min video battery, $2139 start / $2374 as tested. Thurrott’s full review calls the Space Frame (iFixit 9/10) the actual story: replaceable battery, keyboard, speakers, and I/O daughterboard without sacrificing a sub-1 kg OLED path (NBC: 1.14 kg IPS touch / 0.99 kg OLED). RAM remains soldered (32–64 GB). This is the elite business/travel laptop, not a creator GPU machine.

Who it is for

Frequent travelers and anyone who types for a living and wants a laptop they can still service in 2030.

Key specs

soc

Intel Core Ultra 5 325 to Ultra X7/X9 Panther Lake (reviewed: Ultra 5 325 NBC, Ultra 7 355 PCMag)

ramReviewed

32 GB LPDDR5x soldered (up to 64 GB on X-SKU)

display

14-inch 1920×1200 60 Hz low-power IPS (max battery) or 2880×1800 120 Hz OLED

weight

0.99 kg OLED / 1.14 kg IPS touch

batteryWh

58

Sources

• Flagship business laptop with almost 24 hours of battery life — ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Review Notebookcheck · lab-test · 25 July 2026Nearly 24 h Wi-Fi / 14 h max brightness from 58 Wh; 1.14 kg IPS; factory calibration poor.
• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition PCMag · lab-test · 5 September 2026, 20:26Editors’ Choice 4.5/5. Ultra 7 355 OLED; 25h08 battery; $2139/$2374; Space Frame repairability.
• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition Review: Panther Lake Perfection Thurrott · review · 5 September 2026, 20:26iFixit 9/10 Space Frame; sub-1 kg OLED path; soldered RAM the remaining caveat.

Why it is here

PCMag Editors’ Choice (2026-02-10, $3,039 as tested 128 GB dual-1 TB) plus Notebookcheck, Windows Central, and StorageReview. PCMag: Cinebench multi beat Mac mini M4 Pro; Radeon 8060S dominated 3DMark vs other minis. StorageReview: GPT-OSS 120B locally without a dGPU; B&H street ~$3,343 for 128 GB/2 TB vs $4,781 list. Notebookcheck: iGPU ≈ RTX 4070 Laptop; Quiet BIOS mode keeps noise usable.

Who it is for

CAD/3D, video, and local-LLM professionals who need Windows or Ubuntu, ISV certs, VESA/rack mounting, and a three-year on-site warranty in a sub-3-liter chassis. Not a silent living-room PC — fans get loud in Performance mode.

Key specs

soc

AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 (16c/32t Zen 5, up to 5.1 GHz, 120 W PL1 / 160 W PL2) + Radeon 8060S (40 CU); also 380/385 SKUs

ram

Up to 128 GB soldered LPDDR5x-8533 ECC; up to 96 GB to GPU; NBC unit 64 GB; PCMag/SR 128 GB

storage

2× M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0, RAID 0/1, up to 8 TB; PCMag dual 1 TB

volume

≈2.9 L (3.4 × 7.9 × 6.6 in / 87 × 200 × 168 mm), from 2.3 kg, internal 300 W PSU

ports

2× Thunderbolt 4, USB-A 20/10 Gbps, 2× mini DisplayPort 2.1, 2.5 GbE, optional flex I/O (10 GbE/serial/USB), Wi-Fi 7 / BT 5.4; four 4K displays; 3-year on-site

Sources

• HP Z2 Mini G1a Review: Ryzen AI Max+ Brings the Heat PCMag · lab-test · 10 February 2026Editors’ Choice mini workstation. 128 GB / dual 1 TB, $3,039 as tested. Beats M4 Pro mini in CB multi and HandBrake; 8060S dominates 3DMark vs NUC 15 Pro+ / Geekom A9 Max. Fans loud under load.
• HP Z2 Mini G1a with AMD Strix Halo review – Compact workstation with Ryzen AI Max+ and Radeon RX 8060S Notebookcheck · lab-test · 5 September 2026, 20:2516-core Max+ PRO 395, 64 GB LPDDR5X-8533 ECC. iGPU competes with RTX 4070 Laptop. Noise the main con; Quiet mode keeps most performance.
• HP Z2 Mini (G1a) review: Absurd performance in a tiny package Windows Central · review · 21 September 2025128 GB / 96 GB VRAM can run massive LLMs locally; claims capacity can beat an RTX 5090 for model size. 8060S ≈ laptop RTX 4070.
• HP Z2 Mini G1a Review: Running GPT-OSS 120B Without a Discrete GPU StorageReview · lab-test · 8 August 2025GPT-OSS 120B on iGPU via 96 GB VRAM. Street $3,343 vs $4,781 list.

Why it is here

Notebookcheck’s head-to-head tables inside the MacBook Pro 16 M5 Pro review (updated Mar 2026) put the ProArt P16 RTX 5090 at Steel Nomad 4959 (more than 2× the M5 Pro’s 2323), Cyberpunk 2077 1080p Ultra 112.3 fps, CB2024 Multi 1242, and Wi-Fi battery 8.4 h from 90 Wh — the expected dGPU trade. NBC series score 89.7%. Root-Nation’s H7606WX lab lists 16-inch 3840×2400 120 Hz Lumina Pro OLED, 1600 nits peak HDR, 100% DCI-P3, 64 GB LPDDR5X-7500, dual M.2, 90 Wh, ~1.98 kg, and ~10 h PCMark video at half brightness. Trusted Reviews (10 Aug 2026) named this exact 4K Lumina Pro OLED SKU its overall Best Laptop 2026. Creator caveat from NBC’s PugetBench update: M5 Pro/Max still beat or match the 5090 in Photoshop/Premiere/Resolve on Apple’s stack, so this is the CUDA/Blender/OptiX pick, not a universal creator king.

Who it is for

Windows creators who need CUDA, a calibrated 4K OLED, and an SD Express slot, and who will keep a charger nearby.

Key specs

soc

AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop 24 GB (≈120–150 W TGP depending on SKU)

ramReviewed

64 GB LPDDR5X-7500 soldered

display

16-inch 3840×2400 Lumina Pro tandem OLED, 120 Hz, 100% DCI-P3, 1600 nits HDR peak

weight

1.95–2.0 kg

batteryWh

90

Sources

• Asus ProArt P16 H7606WX series / competitor benches vs MacBook Pro 16 M5 Pro Notebookcheck · lab-test · 9 March 2026RTX 5090 P16: Steel Nomad 4959, Cyberpunk 112.3 fps, CB2024 Multi 1242, 8.4 h Wi-Fi, 89.7% series score.
• ASUS ProArt P16 H7606WX Review: Ultrabook with RTX 5090 and 24 GB of VRAM Root-Nation · review · 5 September 2026, 20:263840×2400 120 Hz OLED, 1600 nits HDR, 64 GB, 90 Wh, ~10 h PCMark video, 1.98 kg.
• Best Laptop 2026: Top picks, rated and ranked Trusted Reviews · review · 10 August 2026Named Asus ProArt P16 (4K Lumina Pro OLED) the overall best laptop of 2026.
• Asus ProArt P16 H7606WX product series Notebookcheck · lab-test · 5 September 2026, 20:26Aggregates professional reviews; RTX 5090 24 GB, 90 Wh, ~1.85–2 kg creator chassis.

Why it is here

PCMag 4.5 Editors’ Choice SFF gaming (2025-12-17, RTX 5070 Ti / Ultra 9 275HX, $2,799 as tested), Notebookcheck (RTX 5080 top SKU, $3,199 / ~€2,500, 2.5–3 L), and PCWorld. PCMag: beats desktop RTX 5060 Ti towers at 1080p/1440p; Core Ultra 9 275HX outran several desktop midrange CPUs in CB/Geekbench/HandBrake. Independent benches: CB R23 multi ~33,964–34,191; CB2024 multi ~1,897–1,930.

Who it is for

Gamers and creators who want 1440p (and compromised 4K with DLSS 4) without a tower, and who will buy the GPU they need up front (soldered mobile CPU/GPU; RAM/SSD upgradable to 96 GB / dual M.2).

Key specs

soc

Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (24c, up to 5.4 GHz, cTDP 45–75 W) or Ultra 7 255HX + Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 / 5070 / 5070 Ti (12 GB) / 5080 Laptop (16 GB GDDR7, up to ~140–175 W with Dynamic Boost)

ram

Up to 96 GB DDR5-5600/6400 SO-DIMM (2 slots); reviewed 32 GB

storage

2× M.2 2280 (one PCIe 5.0); reviewed 1–2 TB

volume

≈3 L upright (PCMag 11.2 × 7.4 × 2.2 in; alktech 282 × 188 × 57 mm); 330 W external PSU

ports

Thunderbolt 4, 2× HDMI 2.1, 2× DisplayPort 1.4a/2.1, 2.5 GbE, 4× USB-A rear + front USB-C/A, headset; Wi-Fi 7 / BT 5.4; five 4K displays claimed

Sources

• Asus ROG NUC (2025) Review: This Tiny Terror of a Gaming PC Is a Big Winner PCMag · lab-test · 17 December 20254.5 Editors’ Choice SFF gaming. Ultra 9 275HX + RTX 5070 Ti Laptop, 32 GB/2 TB, $2,799. Beats RTX 5060 Ti desktop towers at 1080p/1440p; CPU beats several midrange desktop chips. RAM/SSD upgradable, CPU/GPU not.
• Best Mini Gaming PC 2025: Asus ROG NUC 15 with GeForce RTX 5080 & Core Ultra 9 review Notebookcheck · lab-test · 5 September 2026, 20:252.5–3 L, Ultra 9 275HX + RTX 5080 Laptop 16 GB (115+25 W). Smooth 1080p and often QHD. $3,199 / ~€2,500. High idle/load power the main criticism.
• Asus ROG NUC 2025 review: Mini PC in size, massive in performance PCWorld · review · 1 August 2025, 00:00Ultra 9 275HX + RTX 5080, 32 GB, 2 TB. Noise 0–45 dBA, power 25–310 W. ~$3,600 street for that config. Strong 1440p, premium for the shrink.

Why it is here

Tom’s Guide’s full 2026 review (RTX 5080 / 64 GB / 240 Hz 2560×1600 OLED, $4799 as tested, $3699 start) measured 13 h 45 min web battery at 150 nits — 3× a Legion Pro 7i and an hour more than the 2026 Razer Blade 16. Ultrabook Review’s GU606AW lab lists Core Ultra 9 386H, RTX 5080 16 GB up to 160 W with Dynamic Boost, 64 GB LPDDR5-8533, 90 Wh, 1.85–1.95 kg, 14.9 mm, 500 nits SDR / 1100 nits HDR OLED, 100% DCI-P3, 240 Hz / 0.2 ms. NBC series aggregation 87.6–90.7% with display 96% / workmanship 97%. The catch, named by every source: 2026 RAM-crisis pricing ($4400–$4800 for 32–64 GB 5080 configs) and a GPU that cannot hold 175 W Legion TGP in this chassis. Still the world-class thin-gaming/creator hybrid; bulky 5090 desktop-replacements are a different product.

Who it is for

People who want 240 Hz OLED gaming and creator CUDA in a sub-2 kg 16-inch they will actually carry, and who can stomach 2026 laptop pricing.

Key specs

soc

Intel Core Ultra 9 386H (Panther Lake) + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop 16 GB (up to 160 W)

ramReviewed

64 GB LPDDR5-8533 soldered (32 GB also sold)

display

16-inch 2560×1600 OLED, 240 Hz VRR, 500 nits SDR / 1100 nits HDR, 100% DCI-P3

weight

1.85–1.95 kg

batteryWh

90

Sources

• Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) review: Improved (and much more expensive) Tom's Guide · review · 5 September 2026, 20:2613h45 Wi-Fi battery at 150 nits; $3699 start / $4799 RTX 5080 64 GB as tested; CPU multi improved vs 2025.
• Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 detailed review (2026 GU606 – Intel Panther Lake, RTX 5080) Ultrabook Review · lab-test · 5 September 2026, 20:26386H + RTX 5080 160 W, 64 GB, 90 Wh, 240 Hz 2560×1600 OLED 500/1100 nits, ~1.85 kg.
• ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 ASUS ROG · vendor-primary · 5 September 2026, 20:26Up to RTX 5090 in 14.9 mm / 1.85 kg chassis, 90 Wh, 240 Hz 1100-nit Nebula HDR.

Why it is here

Ars Technica (27 Jul 2026) measured just over 18 h in PCMark 10 Modern Office at 200 nits with the 74 Wh pack and Core Ultra X7 358H (30 W sustained Performance / 25 W Balanced). The same mainboard in a 61 Wh old-case still did ~15 h 45 min, proving most of the gain is Panther Lake + LPCAMM2, not just the bigger cell. Tom’s Hardware independently recorded 15 h 55 min on its mixed 150-nit test, beating other Windows ultraportables and trailing only a MacBook Pro (18h14). New bits: fully CNC aluminum, haptic trackpad, 13.5-inch 2880×1920 3:2 30–120 Hz 700-nit touch IPS, Ubuntu-certified. It is not silent-MacBook or XPS-thin, and Ars/Tom’s both flag heat plus $800 for 32 GB LPCAMM2 / ~$3000 as-tested. It is here as the only world-class repairable laptop, not as the fastest or prettiest.

Who it is for

Linux users and repair-first owners who will pay MacBook Pro money to keep upgrading the same chassis.

Key specs

soc

Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (Panther Lake) + Arc B390; AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 board also sold

ramReviewed

LPCAMM2 LPDDR5X, 32 GB class (up to 64 GB)

display

13.5-inch 2880×1920 3:2 LTPS touch, 30–120 Hz, 700 nits typical

weight

1.4 kg

batteryWh

74

Sources

• Framework Laptop 13 Pro review: Much better battery, much worse price Ars Technica · review · 27 July 2026PCMark 10 Modern Office ~18 h at 200 nits; 74 Wh; 30 W PL; LPCAMM2 32 GB $800.
• Framework Laptop 13 Pro review: It cleans up nice Tom's Hardware · lab-test · 5 September 2026, 20:2615h55 mixed battery at 150 nits; CNC aluminum + haptic pad; ~$3272 as tested.
• Framework Laptop 13 Pro Framework · vendor-primary · 5 September 2026, 20:26Vendor 20 h claim at 250 nits Netflix; Ubuntu Certified; LPCAMM2 up to 64 GB.