13 Cool Laptops Unveiled At CES 2017

Laptop Innovation

While not the center of attention at the next-big-thing-obsessed CES, laptops with intriguing new features were on display at the show nonetheless.

CES 2017 saw debuts of major laptops from vendors including Lenovo, Dell, Samsung and HP. The laptops displayed new visions for productivity and gaming, as well as cool features such as wireless charging and Android app support.

We were on hand in Las Vegas to check out the new models, and in the following slides we've got a glimpse at 13 of the new laptops that debuted at CES 2017.

Dell Alienware 13

Dell is calling the updated Alienware 13 "the world's first 13.3-inch VR notebook," with the sort of performance demanded by virtual-reality users in a compact-size notebook. That comes in the form of seventh-gen Intel Core H-class processors (quad-core), proprietary dynamic overclocking technology, and 16GB or 32GB of RAM. And for graphics, the notebook features options for the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 or GeForce GTX 1060, while the display comes with HD, FHD or QHD (with touch) configurations.

The updated Dell Alienware 13 is available for a starting price of $999.

Dell Alienware 15

Dell says the new Alienware 15 introduces premium metal materials for its body while still slimming down the notebook from previous generations. For processing power, the notebook uses seventh-gen Intel Core i7 K-series processors (which are quad-core and support dynamic overclocking) and, for graphics, the notebook introduces the new Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti chip. The Alienware 15 also offers up to 32 GB of RAM and its 15.6-inch display comes in FHD or UHD options.

The updated Alienware 15 is available for a starting price of $1,199.

Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming

Aimed at gaming enthusiasts, Dell says the Inspiron 15 Gaming is the most powerful Inspiron model yet with quad-core, seventh-gen Intel H-class processors. The notebook also features Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 and 1050 Ti graphics and up to 32 GB of RAM. For all of that power, the Inspiron 15 Gaming manages to measure less than 1 inch thick. For the display, the options are for FHD or 4K UHD, while an on-board subwoofer promises a premium audio experience, Dell says.

The Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming notebook is available for a starting price of $799.

Dell Latitude 7285 2-in-1

Dell unveiled a new concept for its Latitude laptop line at CES 2017 – wireless charging. Using magnetic resonance technology from WiTricity, the Latitude 7285 2-in-1 can charge up without the use of a power cord, in tandem with a charging mat and WiGig wireless dock. Because WiTricity's technology enables electricity to be transmitted even without direct contact with a charging mat, users will be able to charge the laptop just by setting it on their desk and situating the charging mat underneath the desk (as long as the desk isn't metal).

Dell says the Latitude 7285 2-in-1 is expected to be available in mid-2017. Pricing has not been disclosed.

Dell XPS 13 2-in-1

After recently updating the popular XPS 13 laptop with new processors and longer battery life, Dell launched the first 2-in-1 model of the XPS 13 at CES 2017. Along with sporting a 360-hinge for folding the display back, the laptop offers differences including a body that is 10 percent thinner and one-fourth of a pound lighter than the standard XPS 13. The 2-in-1 version also opts for lower-power processors -- the seventh-gen Y-series Intel Core processors (formerly known as Core M). That helps enable up to 15 hours of battery life on the convertible. The XPS 13 2-in-1 also features a 13-inch QHD+ touch-screen display that has practically no bezel on the top and sides.

The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is available for a starting price of $999.99.

HP EliteBook x360

One of the most popular lines in business laptops – HP's EliteBook – got a major new addition during CES 2017. HP's new EliteBook x360 has a display that can fold all the way back, and HP is touting it as the world's thinnest business convertible, at 0.58 of an inch thick.

It promises a strong battery life (pegged at up to 16.5 hours), and the metal unibody notebook includes the high level of durability typical of the EliteBook line, even though it weighs only 2.84 pounds.

The 13.3-inch touch-screen display comes with options for FHD or UHD, and the notebook supports up to two external 4K displays. In terms of other specs, the EliteBook x360 has seventh-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, and it comes with plenty of ports, including two USB-A, one USB-C, HDMI, a micro-SD card reader and a smart card reader. Security features include the Sure View integrated PC privacy screen. The notebook also has the HP Premium Collaboration Keyboard (with keys for launching calls and video chats) that's found in the EliteBook Folio.

The HP EliteBook x360 will be available in late January. Pricing hasn't been disclosed.

HP Spectre x360 15

A year after introducing the Spectre x360 15, HP's 2017 update for the laptop includes a tiny bezel on the left and right sides of the 15.6-inch display, which shrinks down the footprint of the machine. The UHD touch-screen display folds all the way back, and the new Spectre x360 15 features a full-aluminum chassis and a full-size keyboard. The new version also promises up to 12.75 hours of battery life and includes seventh-generation Intel Core processors. To make room for dedicated graphics -- Nvidia GeForce 940MX -- the new Spectre x360 15 is slightly thicker than the original version (0.7 of an inch thick versus 0.62 of inch originally) and weighs 4.4 pounds (versus 4.02 pounds in the original).

The new HP Spectre x360 15 will be available Feb. 26 with a starting price of $1,279.

Lenovo Legion Y720

Lenovo launched a new sub-brand of its PCs focused on gaming at CES 2017 -- dubbed Legion -- and the Legion Y720 is the high-end version at launch. The company says the laptop excels at audio as it is the "world's first Dolby Atmos PC" -- with a 3-watt subwoofer from Dolby Atmos along with 2-watt JBL speakers. Among the other key features are that Legion Y720 is VR-ready -- certified to work with Oculus -- and includes up to seventh-gen Intel Core i7 processors and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics. The laptop features a 15.6-inch IPS display with an option for QHD (3,840 x 2,160 resolution) IPS anti-glare.

The Lenovo Legion Y720 will be available in April with a starting price of $1,399.99.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Lenovo's popular business notebook, the X1 Carbon, is entering its fifth generation with a new refresh for 2017, which debuted at CES. The X1 Carbon is now smaller in overall size (with its 14-inch display fit into a 13-inch form factor) and lighter (at 2.5 pounds, 6 percent below the current X1 Carbon). Lenovo has boosted the laptop's battery life to 15.5 hours from 11 hours previously, and the X1 Carbon will include seventh-generation Intel Core processors (Kaby Lake). The new version will also include two Thunderbolt 3 ports, alongside two USB-A ports and HDMI. And for security, the X1 Carbon adds an IR camera with facial recognition to support Windows Hello log-in. Lastly, along with the classic black color, Lenovo is adding a new silver option for the X1 Carbon with this latest release.

The new Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon will be available in February with a starting price of $1,349.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga

Lenovo is retaining the OLED display option for the new edition of the ThinkPad X1 Yoga, making it still the only 14-inch OLED notebook currently available. The new X1 Yoga adds seventh-generation Intel Core processors and offers battery life of 10.5 hours for the OLED model, or 16 hours for the non-OLED version. And like the X1 Carbon, the new X1 Yoga features two Thunderbolt 3 ports. The touch-screen laptop can also be used with the re-designed ThinkPad Pen Pro and is being offered in the new silver color as well as black. And of course, the new X1 Yoga sports the signature 360-degree hinge for folding the display part or all of the way back.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga will be available in February with a starting price of $1,499.

Samsung Chromebook Plus/Pro

At CES 2017, Samsung debuted its next-generation Chromebooks – the Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro. The new Chromebook models are novel because they were designed, in partnership with Google, to work with Android apps from the Google Play store, in addition to supporting web browsing. Both have a 12.3-inch touch-screen LED display (QHD, 2,400 x 1,600 resolution), which can fold back 360 degrees, and the laptops come with a built-in digital pen.

The difference with the Samsung Chromebook Pro over the Chromebook Plus is processing power: the Chromebook Pro features a more powerful processor, the Intel Core m3, while the Chromebook Plus is powered by an ARM processor, the OP1, which Samsung says was designed for use in Chromebooks.

The Samsung Chromebook Plus will be available in February for a starting price of $449. Samsung says its Chromebook Pro would be available "later in the spring," and pricing hasn't been disclosed.

Samsung Notebook 9 15-Inch EXT

After recently refreshing the business-friendly Notebook 9, Samsung is now putting out the Notebook 9 15-Inch EXT edition, which features boosts to graphics (Nvidia 940MX), battery life (up to 15 hours) and RAM (up to 16 GB) compared with the standard version. The laptop includes a seventh-gen Intel Core i7 processor and an FHD display, though it's a bit heavier (2.73 pounds versus 2.17 pounds) and thicker (0.61 of an inch versus 0.58 of an inch) than the recently refreshed version of the 15-inch Notebook 9.

Pricing and availability were not disclosed for the Samsung Notebook 9 15-inch EXT.

Samsung Notebook Odyssey

The company's first gaming notebook, the Notebook Odyssey, comes in two sizes, 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch, with an FHD wide-angle display and backlighting up to 300 nits. For processing, the Odyssey includes a quad-core seventh-gen Intel i7, Nvidia GTX 1050 graphics and up to 64 GB of RAM for the 17.3-inch version (or up to 32 GB for the smaller version). The notebook also includes features such as an advanced cooling and ventilation system, called the HexaFlow Vent, and ergonomically curved keys on the keyboard.

Pricing and availability were not disclosed for the Samsung Notebook Odyssey.