Top Laptop Brands and Series in 2021 – Apple, Acer, Asus, HP and more

There are many laptop brands across the world, but only few of them are popular worldwide and have most of the market share.

Only six of these brands hold over 80% of the worldwide laptop and notebook market.
These are Hewlett-Packard or HP, Lenovo, Dell, Apple, Acer, and Asus.

HP and Lenovo are the most popular laptop brands right now. Each one has a market share hovering at 25%.

Around half of all laptops sold in the last three years and through the first half of 2020 are of these two brands.

If you are planning to buy a new laptop and want to do some indepth research then its a good idea to first get to know what brands and product series are available.

Although all brands are making laptops and notebooks, they are not similar. They differ vastly in the hardware specifications, design ergonomics and even the software eco-system they are part of.

The top brands include:

1. Apple
2. Acer
3. Asus
4. Dell
5. HP
6. Lenovo
7. MSI
8. Razer

Here is a comprehensive guide about the top laptop brands and their bestselling series.

1. Apple (Apple Inc.)

Apple laptops, known as MacBooks, are considered among the best for mobile or portable computing. The brand is known for its proprietary hardware and software, the compatibility of which assures a superior performance to users. The laptop market share of Apple is around six percent right now.

Apple Laptop Series

Cupertino based Apple has two types of laptops: MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. The former is the traditional series. The latter is a more reasonably priced and lighter variant. Apple offers the same reliable support, whether customer service or technical assistance, for both the series.

1.1 MacBook Pro Series | For Office/Home Use

There are two available models of MacBook Pro, 13” and 16”, starting from $1,299. Both models offer users the ability to choose a specific configuration. The specs are capped at 10th Gen 4-Core Intel processor, 4.5GHz Turbo Boost, 8TB SSD storage, and 32GB memory.

The latest MacBook Pros have Touch Bar, Touch ID, and Magic Keyboard, along with the distinctly familiar Retina display and True Tone technology.

2. Acer (Acer Inc.)

Acer is the sixth-largest laptop brand in the world right now. Its market share is around five percent. The Taiwan-based hardware and electronics corporation makes five distinct types of laptops: classic, convertible, ultra-thin, gaming, and Chromebook.

Acer Laptop Series

The noteworthy series of Acer laptops are Chromebook, Aspire, Nitro, Predator, Spin, and Swift. Acer currently has twelve Chromebooks, eleven gaming laptops, seven ultra-thin laptops, four classic laptops, and three convertibles.

A vast majority of these laptops, cutting across series and models, have backlit keypads. Acer uses Intel processors in all but three models, which are powered by AMD. Users can choose among Intel Core i5 or i7, Celeron, and AMD Ryzen. All Acer laptops run on GeForce GTX or RTX graphics.

2.1 Aspire Series | For Home/Office Use

Aspire series has a few reliable laptops with prices starting from $599.99. The more powerful laptop in this series is Aspire 7, priced at $1,499. Aspire 5 is a 14” model. Other models are 15.6”. All have FHD screens and 512GB SSD.

2.2 Nitro and Predator Series | For Gaming

Acer has two series of gaming laptops: Nitro and Predator. Nitro 5 and Nitro 7 models are priced from $999.99. Predator Helios is priced from $1,499.99. The price of Predator Triton starts from $1,599.99. Most Predator models have 1TB SSD. Both Nitro and Predator gaming laptops are powerful and efficient.

2.3 Chromebook Series | For Basic Computing

Acer has the distinction of making the world’s thinnest laptop, which is Swift 3. The brand also has several sleek convertibles, despite some having considerably large screens. Chromebooks of Acer are bestsellers, priced as low as $219.99.

Most Chromebooks run on Intel Celeron. Only two come with Intel Core i5 and i7 processors respectively. The most state-of-the-art Chromebook from Acer is Spin 713, presently priced at $999.99. The 13.5” model has 16GB DDR4 SDRAM and 128GB SSD.

3. ASUS (AsusTek Computer Inc.)

Taiwan-based Asus is an original equipment manufacturer. It is currently the sixth-largest personal computer vendor in the world, as per unit sales. It is one of the top five laptop brands at the moment. Asus laptops are powerful, their designs are innovative, and the specs are state-of-the-art.

Their inventory is significantly diverse. Asus makes entry-level clamshell laptops, business laptops, gaming laptops, and hybrids. Asus has more than one bestselling series. The most popular ones are ZenBook, VivoBook, ROG, TUF, and Chromebook.

Asus Laptop Series

The latest lineup of the Asus laptop series includes ZenBook, VivoBook, StudioBook, ChromeBook, ExpertBook, ROG, TUF, and Q. The brand caters to every segment, from under 10” to over 17”. Many models in their gaming series are VR ready, or compatible with virtual reality.

A few models are featuring Pentium & Celeron, AMD, and previous-generation Intel processors. But, the latest releases are powered by Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Core i9 processors, including their 10th generation variants. Asus laptops use GeForce, Radeon, or Quadro, graphics processors.

The least hard disk size is 750GB. The latest models have 1TB or more. Most models have pre-installed Windows 10, either Home or Pro.

3.1 ZenBook Series | For Office/Home Use

This series includes ZenBook, ZenBook Classic, ZenBook Pro, and ZenBook S. The four editions have thirty-five models. These models range from 11” up to 16”.

ZenBooks have either Radeon Vega 8 Graphics or GeForce RTX 2060. Some of the older models run on Intel Previous Gen and AMD processors. The most advanced ZenBooks run on 10th Gen Intel Core i5, i7, or i9.

3.2 VivoBook Series | For Professionals

This series includes VivoBook, VivoBook S, and VivoBook Classic. Thirty-nine models are ranging from 11” up to 16” with Radeon Vega 3/8 Graphics, GeForce GTX 1050, or Quadro RTX 5000.

The latest processors available in VivoBooks are 10th Gen Intel Core i3, i5, or i7. The models feature either FHD (Full High Definition) or UHD (Ultra High Definition), aka 4K.

3.3 ROG and TUF Series | For Gaming

Asus has two dedicated gaming series: ROG (including G, GL, and GX) and TUF. The smallest of these laptops are at 14”. A few models are larger than 17”. There are ten different GPUs to choose from.

Users can opt for a processor of their choice, from 3rd Gen Intel Core i7 to 10th Gen Intel Core i9. There are thirteen processors in the offing among the twenty-five gaming series laptops of Asus, some of which are VR ready.

The most expensive Asus laptops are the gaming series. Popular ROG models are selling for around $5,000.

4. Dell (Dell Technologies Inc.)

Dell is currently the third-largest laptop brand in the world. It is known for innovative specs and durable laptops. The brand makes traditional laptops, premium laptops for businesses, and more basic models for students.

Dell also makes gaming laptops, convertibles, and 2-in-1s now. It has carved out a niche for itself with its Alienware gaming laptops.

Dell Laptop Series

The notable series of Dell laptops are Inspiron, Vostro, XPS, Latitude, Alienware, and G. A majority of Dell laptops, more than fifty models, have 15” screens. There are over two dozen 17” models, almost a dozen 14” variants, and more than fifteen 14” laptops.

Users can choose among Intel Celeron, AMD, and Intel Pentium processors in the entry-level laptops. The more recent models are powered by Intel Core i3, i5, i7, and i9, of different generations. Dell also uses AMD Ryzen 3, 5, and 7 processors in several series.

Most models have SSD or solid-state drive and a non-touchscreen. Around thirty models have touchscreen displays. Users can also choose among HD, FHD, and 4K. Most Dell laptops have Windows 10.

4.1 Inspiron Series| For Office/Home Use

This series is for personal use. Starting at $450, Inspiron laptops are sleek; some are convertibles, and there are interesting color options to choose from. Inspiron has several subcategories, such as 3000, 5000, 7000, and 2-in-1.

4.2 Vostro Series | For Office Use

This series is for professional use aimed at individuals and small to medium enterprises. Like Inspiron, Vostro also has its own 3000 and 5000 subcategories. Vostro models are either 14” or 15”, powered by a 10th Gen Intel Core processor, and every variant has a dedicated numeric keypad.

4.3 XPS Series | For Professionals

This is a premium series for heavy computing. XPS laptops have machined aluminum chassis, anodized scratch-resistant surfaces and edges, black carbon fiber insert, and Corning Gorilla Glass display. XPS models support 4K UHD resolution.

The new XPS 13 is priced at $999.99, while the earlier version starts at $799.99. XPS 13 has a 2-in-1 variant starting at $1,099.99. XPS 15 and 17 are larger models, implying the screen size, priced at $1,149.99 and $1,349.99 respectively.

4.4 Alienware and G Series | For Gaming

These two are for gaming. G series laptops start at $719.99. Alienware models start at $1,479.99. G and Alienware laptops feature 10th Gen Intel Core i7 and i9 processors respectively with up to 4TB storage, GeForce, or Radeon graphics, and some models have eye-tracking technology.

5. HP (Hewlett-Packard)

Palo Alto-based HP is one of the largest brands of laptops, and personal computers, among other hardware & accessories. HP makes traditional laptops, convertibles, gaming series, notebooks, detachable 2-in-1 models, and state of the art workstations.

HP laptops can be categorized as personal, business, premium computing, and gaming. HP has almost two hundred models straddling its ten series, covering all price brackets and probable combination of features & specifications.

HP Laptop Series

The most popular series of HP laptops are Essential, Pavilion, and ZBook. HP has high-end series such as Spectre and Omen, in addition to ZBook. Other laptop series from HP are ProBook, EliteBook, Envy, Elite, and Chromebook.

HP offers Intel Core i9, i7, i5, i3, Xeon 2, and Celeron processors. Among AMD processors, users can choose between A4 and Ryzen. The smallest HP laptop is 13.3”, and the largest is 22”. Most models range from 14” to 15.6”.

1TB has become the standard hard disk capacity for HP. Some models have more than 1TB storage. HP Chromebooks feature a Chrome OS. Other models have Windows 10 Pro or Home. Some models have DOS.

Users can also choose models based on the preferred graphics processor. Options include Intel UHD and Iris, GeForce, Quadro, and Radeon.

5.1 EliteBook Series| For Professionals

This series has eighteen models, many of which are currently not available. HP Elite Dragonfly is a bestselling model in this series, with prices starting from $1,400. HP Elite Dragonfly has a metal chassis, advanced security features, and an extensive worldwide warranty.

Elite and EliteBook laptops are powered by 8th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processors. All models come preloaded with Windows 10 Pro. Most of the models have FHD screens, and a few come with HP Active Pen.

5.2 Spectre Series | For Office Use

This is a high-end series of HP laptops, primarily for gaming. Spectre laptops feature a 4K AMOLED screen and a more powerful battery compared to other models. The bestselling Spectre model is x360. Prices of Spectre laptops start at $1,200.

5.3 Envy Series | For Office Use

Envy laptops have an aluminum chassis. All models feature 10th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7, onboard Intel graphics, and a dedicated GPU, FHD screens, and Windows 10 Home. Prices of Envy series laptops of HP start at $999. The current best-selling variant is HP Envy 13.

5.4 Pavilion Series | For Office/Home Use

This series was introduced for extensive personal use or business computing. Now, HP has a few Pavilion laptops for gaming as well. There are convertibles too. HP Pavilions are priced from $700. The top model currently is X360.

5.5 Essential Series | For Basic Computing

This is an entry-level series, but not as basic as Chromebooks. HP Essential laptops are affordable, starting from $450. The latest models have FHD screens. Best selling Essential models are Notebook 17z and 1053MP. HP Chromebooks are priced as low as $270.

6. Lenovo (Lenovo Group Limited)

Lenovo is currently the largest laptop brand in the world on the basis of units sold, having surpassed HP last year. Lenovo makes clamshell laptops, convertibles, gaming models, and for personal or business use.

ThinkPad, one of the best-known brands of business laptops, which was earlier owned by IBM, is now owned by Lenovo. Based in Beijing, Lenovo has several bestselling series of laptops, including ThinkPad, IdeaPad, Legion, and ThinkBook.

Lenovo Laptop Series

Lenovo is known for sturdy laptops at comparatively reasonable prices. In addition to the high-end laptops for extensive computing, the company has light and thin models in the Yoga and Flex series.

The brand has a reliable support system, both online and offline. Beyond ThinkPad, ThinkBook, Yoga, Legion, and IdeaPad, Lenovo has several other series, such as N, 500e, 300e, 100e, 11e, and Chromebooks.

6.1 ThinkPad Series| For Office Use

This series has several subcategories aimed at different types of usage. ThinkPad Edge is meant for general personal use, as well as for business. It is among the more affordable models in the series with prices starting from $600.

There are several variants of Edge. The noteworthy ones are E490, E495, and E14. ThinkPad X is a lighter and slimmer model. The variants of X, such as Extreme, X1 Carbon Gen 7, and X390, have powerful batteries and are effortlessly portable. Prices of ThinkPad X start from $1,200.

ThinkPad T is a premium series with high processing power, long battery life, and thunderbolt ports. The models in this lineup, such as T490 and T495, have support for USB Type-C. Prices start at $1,200. ThinkPad Yoga is a 2-in-1 laptop series, starting from $400. Users can choose between AMD and Intel Core processors in the ThinkPad range.

6.2 ThinkBook Series| For Home/Office Use

This series starts at $500. The popular models, such as ThinkBook 13 and 15, have FHD screens, Dolby support, and Windows 10 Pro. The variants with a preloaded operating system, fingerprint scanner, and high-end processors, such as the ThinkBook Plus, cost over $1,000.

6.3 IdeaPad Series| For Students/Home Use

This is a budget series from Lenovo. Aesthetically pleasing and capable of sufficient performance, IdeaPad laptops are usually priced at less than $1,000. IdeaPad L is priced from $800.

IdeaPad C is priced as low as $600. IdeaPad D is a convertible, priced at only $300. The ultra-slim IdeaPad S starts at $300. Other popular models in the IdeaPad series are 500, 300, and Flex.

Most of these variants have AMD or Intel Celeron processors. The more expensive variants have Intel Core i3, i5, or i7.

7. MSI (Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.)

MSI is a Taiwanese company, known mostly for its gaming laptops. The brand also makes workstation laptops for professionals, business laptops, and a series for content creators.

MSI Laptop Series

MSI laptops come in three sizes: 14", 15.6”, and 17.3”. Some 15.6” and 17.3” models have 4K displays. The brand uses the latest Intel 11th Gen processors in a few series. Other processors include Intel 10th and 9th Gens, and AMD Ryzen. All models run on GeForce, Radeon, Quadro, or Intel graphics.

The noteworthy MSI laptop series are Summit, Prestige, Modern, WT, WS, WF, WE, WP, Vortex, and the gaming models: Alpha, Bravo, Titan, Stealth, Raider, Leopard, and Thin. MSI laptops are known for their distinct design, reliable efficiency, and gaming experience.

7.1 Summit, Prestige, and Modern Series | For Home/Office Use

These are productivity laptops. All three series feature Intel 10th Gen or 11th Gen Core processors. Some of the models have 4K displays. One of the bestselling models, Prestige 15, is priced at $1,399. It is an ultrathin and light laptop for personal and business use.

7.2 Workstation and Creator Series | For Professionals

Both Workstation and Creator series have only 15.6” and 17.3” models. These models are configured for design and manufacturing, media and entertainment professionals, virtual reality, and other heavy duty computing.

7.3 Stealth, Titan, and Leopard Series | For Gaming

MSI has several series of gaming laptops. Stealth is a slim model with six-core processor and thunderbolt port, priced from $1,575. Titan is a more powerful gaming laptop, priced from $3,078. Leopard is a moderately priced advanced gaming laptop, starting from $1,599. MSI has a budget gaming laptop, GV62, priced at $800.

8. Razer (Razer Inc.)

Razer is an American-Singaporean company, mostly known for its gaming laptops. The consumer electronics company designs and manufactures other types of computer hardware and accessories as well. Founded in 1998, Razer Inc. is one of the youngest brands in the sector.

Razer Laptop Series

Razer makes the world’s smallest 15.6” gaming laptop, Blade 15. The company has two distinct series of laptops, for gaming and professional use. The productivity series is called Razer Book. The gaming series is Blade. Razer has a limited inventory of powerful laptops compared to other brands of consumer electronics.

8.1 Book Series | For Home/Office Use

Razer does not have a basic laptop per se. Razer Book is aimed at professionals, but it can be used for personal or home computing. The latest Razer Book 13 features a 13.4” bezel display with Gorilla Glass 6, instant wake and resume functions, swift recharge, and battery life spanning up to fourteen hours. Prices start from $1,509.

8.2 Blade Series | For Gaming

Blade series is actually a 2-in-1 category of laptops, meant for both gaming and productivity. Razer classifies most models in this series as gaming ultrabooks. Razer Blade 15 comes with up to 8-core processors and GeForce graphics.

Other noteworthy models in the gaming-productivity series are Blade 15 Studio Edition, Blade Pro 17, and Blade Stealth 13. Prices start from $1,229. Some of the earlier models, or those with previous-gen processors, are priced under $1,100.

Conclusion

Various laptop brands focus on specific user needs. Apple macbooks get you the best user experience in terms of hardware and software.

MSI and Razer laptops are more geared towards high end gamers and workstation users.

HP, Dell and Lenovo are ideal for office and home users who are doing office work on their laptop.

Acer and ASUS laptops are well suited for both low level gamers and students who want the best features in a budget laptop.

If you have any questions or feedback let us know in the comments below.