Top 5 Staff Picks Week 2: Laptops

The QHD screen is stunning and really showcases the graphics in all their glory. Plus, the SSD and generous RAM capacities mean I can run my games and graphics apps in Windows 11 without any storage or memory issues. Overall, the Defiant Laptop is the perfect gaming machine for me and great for work too.

Ben, Data Analyst

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15.6" i5 16GB 512GB GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Gaming Laptop

I'm really impressed with this laptop - has a sleek design and stands out from the rest, but mainly the specs are what impress me. It can handle multiple tasks at once with ease thanks to its Intel Core i5 processor and decent memory. The 15.6" 165 Hz display is vibrant, and perfect for high frame rate gaming in League of Legends! The RTX 3050 Ti benchmarks are perfect for the GTA V Online, Modern Warfare and LoL gaming I do at the weekends, and I have been really impressed with the performance (even when I am multi-tasking on TikTok, Discord or watching Netflix in the background on a second monitor!). The laptop's fast response time is perfect for my casual gaming or fast-paced action scenes.

The high contrast my Photoshop work is taken care of, and the OLED display is truly remarkable on large format images. The Ideapad Gaming 3 has actually exceeded my expectations and is definitely a laptop that I would recommend to others.

Jesper, Marketing

Acer Extensa 15 15.6" i5 8GB 512GB Intel Iris Xe Laptop

I really like the Acer Extensa 15 laptop, which I share with my partner for home office work and casual gaming on Stardew Valley. It's perfect for both work and home, and runs like a dream thanks to the Core i5 11th Gen Processor and ample 8GB RAM. The 15.6" FHD Display is amazing, whether I'm reviewing documents or watching videos. I have plenty of space for all my stuff, thanks to the 512GB SSD.

There are plenty of connectivity options like USB ports and fast Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), which makes staying connected super easy. I love the enterprise-level security feature that keeps my files and data safe, as I review sensitive documentation for work constantly. All in all, it's a great home office laptop that works perfectly for my needs.

Beckie, Marketing

Acer Nitro 5 15.6" Ryzen 7 16GB 1TB GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop

I bought this for myself as an upgrade from a Core i3 laptop - and when it comes to specification, this laptop is a beast. I use a few resource-hungry tools for work, and I'm a casual gamer who is (trying to be a) Twitch streamer, so I need all the power I can get in a mobile workstation. This thing delivers. With a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, gaming is smooth, and my streams are very reliable.

The 165Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time are impressive, and the dual-fan cooling keeps everything nice and chilly, even during long sessions. The Thunderbolt 4 and USB 3.2 ports mean external storage and peripherals connect without any issues. All in all, this laptop is a game-changer for anyone serious about gaming and streaming, but it also has the power to work hard on the creative side.

Hollie, Marketing

Geo GeoBook 110 11.6" Celeron 4GB 64GB Intel UHD 600 Laptop

As a parent, I recently purchased the GeoBook 110 for my 9-year-old daughter, and I couldn't be happier with my choice. It's perfect for her schoolwork, entertainment, and fairly demanding illustration applications. The 11.6-inch ultra-compact design makes it easy for her to carry around and work wherever she wants. The included 1-year subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal, which offers access to Office apps such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, is a great value-add, and hooks up to our Family account with Microsoft to keep her safe.

With 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in, she can stay connected without any issues, even when we travel. With 2 USB 3.0 ports and a Mini-HDMI port, she can easily connect to external displays and her favourite peripherals, as well as hooking up a Meta Quest 2. Overall, it's a reliable and practical choice for any student or casual computer user.

Mark, Content