Laptops

YouTube’s ETA Prime found that a strip of copper, some Noctua thermal paste, and an Arctic Thermal Pad do a surprisingly effective job at dissipating heat from the Neo’s CPU and reducing thermal throttling, as spotted by Tom’s Hardware. The liquid-cooler they add is even more effective, but feels like overkill for most Neo users.

There are new laptops across HP’s EliteBook, ProBook, and ZBook lines in varying sizes and chip configurations. Some highlights include the EliteBook 6 G2q (the lone Snapdragon X2 model of the bunch) and the EliteBook 8 Flip G2i 2-in-1 , which has a garage for an optional stylus.

I said PC makers are ill-prepared to compete with the MacBook Neo, and I’m putting it to the test. I’ve started calling in $600-700ish Windows laptops from Lenovo, Asus, Acer and more to pit against the Neo.

The Asus ROG Strix G16 and G18 are getting a chip bump to the new Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus. Both also have upgraded displays, with the G16 reaching 300Hz and the 240Hz G18 now using Mini LED. Pricing and availability are TBD.

Now that Dell has brought back XPS, it’s Precision’s turn. Dell is announcing new Pro Precision 5 and Pro Precision 7 laptops to replace the iPhone-sounding Dell Pro Max. They’ll come in 14- and 16-inch sizes with Intel Panther Lake CPUs and optional Nvidia Pro Blackwell GPUs. Most models are expected in May, though pricing is TBD.

IDC, Omdia, and Gartner agree: the PC market will shrink because of RAMaggedon. Respectively, they’re forecasting 11 percent, 12 percent, and 10 percent declines in 2026, far bigger than previously predicted.

If you needed another reason to consider Apple’s new entry-level laptop, YouTube’s Tech Re-Nu shared a teardown of the MacBook Neo. Inside they found most components secured with just screws, including modular USB-C ports that are easy to replace. The only part that uses glue is the cable connecting the trackpad to the mainboard.

I tested the new MacBook Neo non-stop for our big review and also did a subscriber AMA on it. (Thanks again for all the great questions!) The Neo is the new easy answer for most basic users wanting an affordable laptop.

One of Lenovo’s MWC 2026 concepts is the Yoga Book Pro 3D, a chonky dual-screen laptop with glasses-free 3D. You can see models in 3D, control them via hand tracking, and drop custom tools on the lower screen with specialized cutouts.

Lenovo’s 15-inch Legion 7A is its first with an AMD Strix Halo APU. The 7A will charge via 180W USB-C and be configurable with a gaming-focused Ryzen AI Max Plus 392.

Asus didn’t price any laptops it announced at CES, but prices are slowly tricking in. The ProArt PX13 GoPro Edition costs $2,999.99 in the US, while the standard model using a similar AMD Strix Halo processor with less RAM (64GB instead of 128GB) costs slightly less at $2,799.99. Both are available today.

CEO Bruce Broussard said during its Q1 2026 earnings call that RAM now makes up 35 percent of its cost of materials. That’s up from 15-18 percent just three months earlier. It’s not announcing price hikes yet, but we’d be surprised if they weren’t coming. RAMageddon is nigh.