The Pursuit of a Suitable Laptop

For a considerable time, I sought the ideal portable laptop. My requirements included a device suitable for writing, casual gaming, and light design work, all while maintaining a decent battery life. I wanted the flexibility to use it in various locations without being tethered to a charger for extended periods. Thus, my wishlist grew extensive:

• High-resolution display. I wanted something beyond 1080p. I understand higher resolutions can drain the battery faster, but the visual quality is worth it.
• Accurate color reproduction. While I didn’t need full P3 coverage, at least 100% sRGB would have been preferable. Inaccurate colors are intolerable, especially during graphic design or video editing.
• Overall screen quality. This entails color consistency, absence of backlight bleed, and minimal IPS glow. Any defects in the screen can be deal-breakers for me.
• Long-lasting battery. My Dell XPS performs well, yet its battery life barely exceeds a couple of hours, which is inadequate. I sought at least six hours without needing to recharge.
• Usable on a lap or in bed. Working from home frequently, I prefer not to use a cooling pad for comfort when on the couch or in bed. My Dell XPS overheats if not placed on a flat surface.
• Satisfactory performance. I didn’t require a powerhouse; I just needed something capable of running my preferred applications.

However, I soon realized I was quite selective. Every laptop I purchased fell short in one or more of these areas, leading to a series of disappointments.

A String of Disappointments

As my search continued, I would identify laptops that seemed promising, only to discover flaws upon purchasing them, resulting in returns.

Am I too discerning? Is it unreasonable to expect a well-performing machine that justifies its price?

Numerous devices exhibited severe backlight bleed. One had a misaligned screen, while another had dead pixels. My last Windows laptop, which I returned, failed to turn on reliably.

Yes, a laptop needs to turn on—a basic expectation! After leaving it connected to power for an hour, it required disconnecting the charger and holding the power button for it to respond. This sounded like either a motherboard or BIOS issue.

Regardless, I wasn’t willing to engage with that problem. Back it went.

“Do All Laptops Just Suck Right Now?”

Frustrated with my laptop hunt, I considered waiting a year to try again. Surely not all laptops are subpar, right?

Am I the issue? Am I overly critical? I doubt it. Perhaps others are just more accepting of flaws in their expensive laptops. Is it just bad luck? I remain uncertain. What I do know is that no brand or model felt like a solid investment.

But surely, there must be decent options, right?

I Didn’t Intend to Buy a Mac

Years ago, I was a devoted Mac user. Windows laptops were often disappointing, making Macs the go-to choice if you could afford one. However, my 2008 MacBook Pro ultimately failed me due to a GPU issue. I transitioned back to Windows and didn’t look back for years, especially as I built my IT career.

Windows was my familiar territory for over a decade.

Yet, after numerous failures with PC laptops, I decided to give a Mac another shot, despite reservations about Apple’s soldered RAM and storage—features I wish they would reconsider.

So, I ventured to Best Buy to purchase a 14-inch MacBook Pro. Yes, the same person who authored this had taken the plunge into Mac ownership again.

Wow. That Screen.

The screen quality is one of the first aspects I assess in any laptop. I am extremely discerning regarding screen performance. Issues like backlight bleed, dead pixels, and color inaccuracies are significant deal-breakers for me. While I’ve learned to tolerate some backlight bleed on my Dell XPS, it’s not ideal.

But when I powered on the MacBook Pro for the first time, I was struck by the complete absence of backlight bleed.

No… backlight… bleed?

The 14-inch MacBook Pro features a Mini-LED display, which operates differently than most laptop screens. Instead of a backlight that allows light to seep from the edges, it utilizes an array of tiny LEDs that illuminate only necessary areas.

This technology yields deeper blacks and superior uniformity.

Consider this comparison between the MacBook Pro (left) and my Dell XPS 17 (right):

Both screens were set to maximum brightness with the same black image displayed. The MacBook’s keyboard backlight was on for visibility, although otherwise, it would have gone unnoticed. Impressive.

In contrast, the Dell XPS exhibited noticeable IPS glow and significant backlight bleed, particularly in the lower left and upper corners. Regrettably, this is considered "excellent" for many IPS displays, which are common in Windows laptops.

From another angle, the Dell’s IPS glow becomes even more apparent. (The camera exaggerates it, but it illustrates the difference well.)

The Mac's Display Quality Should Be the Standard

And here lies the root of my frustration: How can Apple achieve this level of quality while most Windows laptops, even those priced in the thousands, fail to deliver? Why are they still relying on problematic technology?

I understand that most users aren’t professional graphic designers and may not prioritize display accuracy as I do.

However, why do so many PC manufacturers believe it's acceptable to offer laptops costing thousands with screens prone to backlight bleed and IPS glow? Why are low-resolution, subpar displays still prevalent in the Windows market?

It’s absurd.

Even the Most Affordable Mac Features an Impressive Screen

My Dell XPS has a decent screen for a Windows device. While it’s not flawless, as highlighted in the previous images, it does exhibit some backlight bleed and typical IPS glow—characteristics inherent to the technology.

However, I invested a considerable amount in this laptop, expecting a high-resolution display and good color accuracy. This model covers 100% of sRGB, 100% of Adobe RGB, and nearly 99% of DCI-P3. It wasn’t inexpensive.

The entry-level M1 MacBook Air, costing about a third of my Dell, features a 2560 by 1600 display capable of reaching 400 nits brightness and supporting the wide color (P3) gamut. Again, it’s priced at only a third of what I paid for my Dell.

The M2 MacBook Air improves upon this with additional pixels and higher brightness at up to 500 nits.

Starting at $999 and $1199, these models are significantly less than my Dell. You can easily find Windows laptops priced higher that offer inferior screens compared to these affordable Macs.

Why? I genuinely want to know.

Dell? Lenovo? HP? Are you taking notes? Why do Apple's most economical laptops have displays that should be embarrassing for the screens on many of your mid-range and premium options?

I expect a basic $500 Windows laptop to have a subpar screen; that’s understandable. But I’m discussing devices within the same price range. Can anyone point me to a $1000 or even a $1200 Windows laptop that achieves at least 99% of the DCI-P3 gamut and exceeds 1080p resolution? I would love to hear about it.

If such a laptop exists, I’d wager it’s an exception. I’ve searched extensively.

Will Display Quality Ever Improve for PC Laptops?

Some manufacturers are starting to recognize the need for better displays, now offering OLED options in select models. While OLEDs can produce stunning images with deep blacks and excellent contrast, they aren’t without issues—burn-in being a significant concern.

A few have introduced Mini-LED models, the same technology utilized in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. I’m eager to see more Windows laptops adopting Mini-LED displays.

However, I believe this transition is progressing too slowly. Many brands seem content to sell high-priced devices with displays that should be of higher quality.

While we can’t predict future offerings in six months, a year, or even five years, I firmly believe we should demand—through our purchasing decisions—that PC manufacturers take display quality seriously and cease offering us inferior screens with resolutions of 1366 by 768 or 1920 by 1080. We shouldn't have to spend over $1000, or often even more, to obtain screens suitable for professional use. Not when Apple, historically not known for affordability, provides far superior displays for less.

If Apple can equip its budget-friendly laptops with better-than-1080p screens that support the P3 color gamut, there’s simply no justification for Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, Asus, and others to continue selling subpar displays on machines that cost as much or more.

Just Another Rant?

Perhaps you’re reading this thinking, “Just another rant. Who cares?” But I hope my intentions are clear. I’m not an Apple enthusiast; I appreciate both macOS and Windows devices. I value many aspects of my Dell XPS (though its battery life is not one of them).

Ultimately, my goal is to see the best quality available across a broad range of devices. The laptop that fits my needs might not align with yours. Perhaps you prioritize portability over screen resolution and color accuracy. Or you might need a desktop replacement with a large screen, prioritizing pixels over battery life.

Regardless of your requirements, I hope that the standard for future PC laptops will be displays that do not disappoint. I aspire to see more manufacturers embrace Mini-LED technology, allowing a wider audience to enjoy systems without backlight bleed or burn-in. Apple has already set this benchmark, and while I may disagree with many of its practices, this is one area where I wish the industry would follow suit.

Will that day arrive? Who knows? But I can dream.