These are the best Cheap Gaming Laptops you can buy right now in Summer 2021!

Finding the best cheap gaming laptop that fulfills all your needs without burning a hole in your pocket can prove to be a herculean task. With eCommerce portals filled to the brim with a multitude of SKUs from various manufacturers, you can easily spend hours on end looking for the best laptop that packs in the right hardware required for your favorite games. And the process doesn’t end there.

I, for one, make it a point to go through a couple of reviews for each shortlisted notebook before opening my wallet, which adds another few hours to the process. And for someone who isn’t keeping track of the latest developments in the gaming laptop space, those hours can quickly turn into days. If you don’t want to bother with any of this, then you’re in the right place. Here are our top picks for the best cheap gaming laptops (under $1,000) that you can buy right now!

Navigate this guide to the best cheap gaming laptops:

• Top pick: Lenovo Legion 5
• Most affordable: Acer Nitro 5
• Great display: ASUS ROG Strix G15
• RTX On: HP Victus 16
• AMD all the way: Dell G5
• Most portable: MSI GF63

Top Pick: Lenovo Legion 5

Powered by AMD’s Ryzen 5 4600H processor, the Lenovo Legion 5 is the most well-rounded affordable gaming laptop in the market right now. Priced slightly over $1,000, the laptop packs in Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD. The Lenovo Legion 5 features a 15.6-inch full HD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz high refresh rate display with minimal bezels on three sides.

includes a full-sized keyboard with RGB backlighting and a layout similar to current-gen Thinkpads for a great typing experience. And it has a large offset trackpad that supports Windows Precision drivers for accurate tracking and smooth multi-finger gestures. The Lenovo Legion 5 packs in a respectable 60Wh battery, a substantial array of I/O ports, a beefy cooling system, and a couple of useful software from Lenovo that will help you push the laptop to its limits while gaming.

Speaking of which, the laptop can comfortably run older AAA titles like GTA V and Witcher 3 at well over 60 FPS on average with all the graphics settings maxed out, while newer AAA titles like Metro Exodus and Borderlands 3 run at around 50 FPS on average at high graphics settings.

If your workload involves CPU-intensive tasks, you can also consider getting the Ryzen 7 4800H SKU of the Lenovo Legion 5. For just $100 extra, the higher-end variant will offer a significant performance boost compared to the model mentioned above, a better 144Hz panel, and an additional 1TB of storage.

Lenovo Legion 5

The Lenovo Legion 5 is our top pick as it offers the most well-rounded package. It features AMD's Rzen 5 4600H and an NVIDIA GeForce 1660 Ti at an affordable price.

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Most affordable: Acer Nitro 5

Priced under $800, the Acer Nitro 5 is one of the most affordable gaming laptops that you can get right now without making too many compromises on the performance front. It’s powered by Intel’s 11th-Gen Core i5-11400H processor, coupled with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB M.2 NVMe SSD. Unlike the Lenovo Legion 5, which has a subtle design, the Acer Nitro 5 goes for a stronger gamer aesthetic with angular edges and a loud red/black color scheme. However, Acer has toned down the design in the latest iteration compared to the previous models.

The laptop also includes a 15.6-inch full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display, but it’s capped at 60Hz. Given its price tag, Acer has made a couple of other compromises on the Nitro 5. Its build quality isn’t as premium as some of the other notebooks in this list, it only comes with 256GB of storage, and it has a smaller 57Wh battery. However, none of these things detract from the laptop’s gaming performance.

The Acer Nitro 5 is capable enough to play older AAA titles like Witcher 3 at an average 61 FPS on high settings, and newer titles like Far Cry New Dawn on high/medium settings at an average 50 FPS. When it comes to eSports titles like League of Legends and Rocket League, the laptop can easily push a consistent 60 FPS at high settings.

As with the Lenovo Legion 5, the Acer Nitro 5 also comes in a more powerful SKU that packs an 11th-Gen Intel Core i7-11800H processor, an NVIDIA RTX 3050Ti GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of solid-state storage. As you’d expect, the premium model offers significantly better performance than the one mentioned above. So, if you can stretch your budget to $1,100, it’s definitely the better option to go with. Get the Core i7-11800H model of the Acer Nitro 5 by following this link.

Acer Nitro 5

The Acer Nitro 5 is the most affordable laptop on this list. Despite its lower price tag, the laptop can easily push 60 frames in most modern AAA titles at media/high settings.

Buy from BestBuy

Great Display: ASUS ROG Strix G15

Although all the laptops on this list are more than sufficient for popular eSports titles like League of Legends, CS: GO, Apex Legends, etc., the ASUS ROG Strix G15 is the best pick for all you eSports gamers out there. That’s because the laptop packs a 144Hz high refresh rate display, which will definitely give you a slight edge while you’re clicking heads or when you’re in the middle of a massive mid-lane team fight.

Along with the high refresh rate display, the ROG Strix G16 packs Intel’s 10th Gen Core i7-10750H processor, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of solid-state storage. Though its hardware configuration isn’t as impressive as some of the other laptops mentioned here, it’s sufficient enough to push 144 frames in the games mentioned above and a consistent 60 frames in AAA titles at medium/high settings.

The only downside of getting the ROG Strix G15 over the other models in this list is that it offers only 8GB of RAM. But you can easily upgrade that after making the purchase. I would recommend taking that route instead of purchasing the 16GB RAM SKU, as you’ll have to pay close to a $200 premium just for an additional 8GB of RAM. In contrast, an 8GB stick of DDR4 memory will set you back around $50.

Other noteworthy features offered by the ROG Strix G15 include a TKL backlit keyboard with dedicated media controls, RGB all around, three USB 3.0 Type-A ports, one USB 3.0 Type-C port, an RJ45 Ethernet port, a headphone/microphone combo jack, and an HDMI port. The newer 16GB model linked above offers USB 3.2 ports instead of USB 3.0 and Wi-Fi 6 support.

ASUS ROG Strix G15

The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is the best budget laptop for all you eSports fans out there, as it packs an impressive 144Hz high refresh display that will greatly enhance your gaming experience.

Buy from BestBuy

RTX On: HP Victus 16

Do you want to experience the latest AAA games with ray tracing without breaking the bank? The new HP Victus 16 is the answer to your prayers. The laptop features NVIDIA’s new budget-friendly RTX 3050 GPU, which offers ray tracing and DLSS support well under $1,000.

The laptop is part of a new gaming laptop lineup from HP that offers gamers wider choice in the budget gaming laptop space. It packs Intel’s new 11th Gen Core i5-11400H processor, an RTX 3050 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The laptop features a 16.1-inch full HD display, Wi-Fi 6 support, three USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a USB 3.0 Type-C port, an RJ 45 Ethernet port, and an HDMI port. It even features a dual speaker setup tuned by B&O, which offers an immersive gaming experience.

Performance-wise, you can expect the HP Victus 16 to comfortably deliver 60 FPS in most modern AAA games and well over 60 FPS on eSports titles. Sadly, the laptop isn’t as feature-packed as some of the other models mentioned here and you’ll have to tone down your expectations if you want an NVIDIA RTX GPU in this price range. For instance, you won’t get per-key RGB with the Victus 16 and the laptop won’t feel as premium as an HP Omen notebook. But you’ll have to make these compromises if you want to experience ray tracing on an affordable gaming laptop.

HP Victus 16

Want to experience ray tracing and DLSS without breaking the bank? The HP Victus 16 with an NVIDIA RTX 3050 is the perfect fit for you.

Buy from BestBuy

AMD all the way: Dell G5

The Dell G5 features an AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor and a Radeon RX 5600M GPU, which makes it the best cheap gaming laptop for all you team red fans out there. Priced at around $900, the Dell G5 is one of the most affordable laptops on this list and it offers impressive performance, decent battery life, an understated design, and a great selection of ports.

The CPU and GPU on this particular variant of the Dell G5 are paired with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, a 15.6-inch full HD 144Hz display, and Wi-Fi 6 support. The laptop is backed by a 51Wh battery, which should easily last you 8 hours of nominal use on a single charge.

The all-AMD Dell G5 doesn’t disappoint in terms of performance, as it manages to run titles like Borderlands 3 and Metro Exodus on medium/high settings at a solid 70 FPS on average. Older AAA titles like Witcher 3 run at well above 90 FPS at medium/high settings, while eSports titles easily cross the 144 FPS mark to help you make the most out of the high refresh rate panel.

Dell G5

The Dell G5 is the perfect pick for all your AMD fans out there, as it's the only model on this list that features an AMD CPU and a Radeon GPU. Despite its affordable price tag, the laptop can easily power through most AAA games at medium/high settings.

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Most portable: MSI GF63

The MSI GF63 is the most compact and lightweight budget gaming laptop on this list, making it the perfect choice for those looking for a portable gaming laptop. Although it features a 15.6-inch FHD display like most of the other laptops on this list, it has a smaller form factor thanks to the slim bezels around the display.

Despite its smaller footprint, the laptop packs a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10200H processor, an NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. It has a fair selection of I/O ports, a decent 51Wh battery, and easily accessible RAM/storage slots for future upgrades.

On the performance front, the MSI GF63 isn’t a slouch either. While it may not offer the best performance out of the lot, it manages to puch an average of 60FPS on older AAA titles like Witcher 3 at medium/high settings. Newer titles like Far Cry New Dawn and Borderlands 3 run at around 50 FPS at medium/high settings.

MSI GF63

If you're on the lookout for a portable gaming laptop in the price range, the MSI GF63 is your best bet. It's thinner and lighter than most other laptops on this list, yet it still offers decent performance in older AAA and eSports titles.

Buy from BestBuy

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Although the Lenovo Legion 5 is our top pick due to its overall configuration, if I had to buy a gaming laptop right now, I would go with the HP Victus 16, solely because it’s the only one that packs an NVIDIA RTX GPU under the $1,000 price bracket. However, if I had a couple of hundred dollars extra, I would pick the higher-end Acer Nitro 5 SKU, as it packs both a better processor and an RTX 3050Ti GPU. It’s worth noting that several OEMs have announced new RTX 3050 and RTX 3050Ti-powered laptops recently, which are expected to hit the market later this year. So, if you’re not in a hurry, you might want to wait for the newer models with the RTX GPUs.

If gaming isn’t one of your top concerns, you should definitely check out our list of the best laptops you can buy in 2021. Or if you want to go with a Chromebook, check out our recommendations for the best Chromebooks you can buy in 2021.

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Samsung beats Google to the punch [again] to roll out June 2021 update

Samsung has done it again. Although Google hasn’t even released the security bulletin for June, the South Korean smartphone maker has already gotten a head start over rolling out the June 2021 security update. This isn’t the first time Samsung is first out of the gate with the latest security updates. Over the past several months, the South Korean giant has been consistently beating every OEM, including Google, to deliver monthly security patches to its flagship phones. Around the end of May, Samsung began rolling out June 2021 security update to the Galaxy S21 series in South Korea. Now, the company is extending the rollout to more markets.

Galaxy S21 series XDA Forums

A new software update with the firmware version G99xBXXU3AUE8 has started rolling out to the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra in the United Arab Emirates. Among other improvements, the update brings the June 2021 security patches. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip 5G is also receiving a similar update. A software update with the version number F707BXXS3DUE1 is currently rolling out to the Galaxy Z Flip 5G in multiple European markets.

Finally, Samsung has also begun rolling out the June 2021 patch to the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra. The update has so far gone live in several markets, including the UK and Luxemburg, and should be making its way to more markets in the coming days. Reddit user u/BredzPro received the new update on their Galaxy S20 in Germany. The 184MB update carries firmware version G98xxXXS8DUE4 / G985FXXS8DUE4 and includes the latest security patches for June 2021.

Galaxy S21 Ultra

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is made for power users, offering the best in class camera hardware, amazing design, a flagship chipset, and a breathtaking display.

View at Samsung.com

If you carry any of the above devices, keep an eye out for a new firmware update in the coming days. Since this will most likely be a phased rollout, it might take several days before the latest update makes its way to every unit in the Galaxy S21/S20 series. You can also head over to Settings > Software update to manually check for the update.

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Screenshot credit: u/BredzPro

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How to opt out of Google’s privacy sandbox (FLoC) in Chrome

Online advertising currently relies on third-party ‘cookies,’ which are small identifiers that follow you across different websites. Cookies allow companies to track your browsing activity and create an advertising profile, which is why many privacy-centric web browsers (like Firefox and Vivaldi) largely block them. Google Chrome still allows cookies to work with few restrictions, but now Google is working on a new technology to replace them: Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC).

However, the new technology still relies on (less accurate) behavior tracking, and some other browsers have already decided they won’t implement FLoC. It’s also possible to turn off FLoC in Chrome, where Google calls it Privacy Sandbox. So, what exactly is FloC, and how do you turn it off?

What is FLoC?

Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC) is a new feature being tested in Google Chrome, which allows targeted advertisements without the use of cross-site tracking cookies. FLoC looks at your browsing history and places you into an ad targeting group based on your behavior. The technology is intended to be more private than cross-site tracking cookies, because there are no longer individual profiles (only targeting groups), but it has still been criticized for being enabled by default and allowing other types of tracking.

Publishers and advertisers are hesitant to say goodbye to cross-site tracking cookies, and nearly every other web browser that was already blocking trackers is promising to disable FLoC. Vivaldi Browser wrote a blog post criticizing the functionality:

At Vivaldi, we stand up for the privacy rights of our users. We do not approve tracking and profiling, in any disguise. We certainly would not allow our products to build up local tracking profiles.

To us, the word “privacy” means actual privacy. We do not twist it into being the opposite. We do not even observe how you use our products. Our privacy policy is simple and clear; we do not want to track you.

Mozilla, the developers of Firefox, said in a statement that it has no plans to implement FLoC in the Firefox web browser right now:

We are currently evaluating many of the privacy preserving advertising proposals, including those put forward by Google, but have no current plans to implement any of them at this time. […] Advertising and privacy can co-exist. And the advertising industry can operate differently than it has in past years. We look forward to playing a role in finding solutions that build a better web.

Microsoft and Apple are still deciding if they will bring FLoC to their browsers in the future — it’s not available in Safari right now, and Microsoft has turned it off in Edge. Google itself hasn’t started testing FLoC in Europe, since it’s not clear yet if the technology complies with the European Union’s strong privacy laws.

How to opt-out of Privacy Sandbox

The best way to stay private on the web is to use a browser that isn’t owned by an advertising company, but if you have to stick with Chrome for one reason or another, Google does provide a setting to turn off FLoC in Chrome (at least for the moment). In Chrome on Android, open the main menu, then go to Settings > Privacy and security > Privacy Sandbox.

In the desktop Chrome browser, the setting can be found by pasting chrome://settings/privacySandbox into the address bar and pressing Enter. The setting should synchronize with your Google account, so if you turn it off on one device, FLoC will also be turned off on your other devices.

If you don’t see any setting at all, FLoC isn’t enabled in your browser or account yet, so you don’t have anything to worry about.

Google Chrome: Fast & Secure (Free, Google Play) →

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These are the Best Webcams for Mac: Logitech, Anker, Razer, and more!

Since the beginning of 2020, working from home has become the new norm. With this new norm has come the necessity of attending work meetings at home and to do so, you need a good webcam for your computer. While most laptops do come with in-built webcams, the quality is more often than not sub-par. It may get the job done occasionally, but it’s always advisable to have an external webcam for Mac or Windows for a more professional look. If you have a computer like the Mac Mini, or you’ve hooked up your MacBook Air/Pro with an external monitor, you’re likely on the lookout for webcams for Mac along with other accessories that work well and support Mac-based applications. Here’s a list of some of the best webcams for Mac that you can buy across various price points and use cases.

Logitech C270 HD 720p Webcam

Ideal for starters or beginners

This is one of the best webcams for Mac if it is going to be your first webcam. It can only output at 720p though which should be sufficient for the occasional video call with friends and family.

View at Amazon

IFROO 1080P Wide-Angle Webcam

Affordable 1080P Webcam

If you don't want to spend too much on a webcam for your Mac but still want decent video quality, this is the one to pick. It has a wide-angle lens and can even be used for recording and streaming.

View at Amazon

NexiGo Webcam with Ring Light

Ring light for better illumination

The ring light around the webcam with adjustable brightness helps improve video quality if the ambient lighting around you is insufficient. It also has a privacy cover, auto-focus, and dual microphones.

View at Amazon

Razer Kiyo Streaming Webcam

For all you streamers out there

If you are a streamer or are planning to stream on YouTube or Twitch, this is a great away to get started. It has a built-in ring light, advanced auto-focus, and supports 60fps at 720p or 30fps at 1080p.

View at Amazon

Anker PowerConf C300 Webcam

Smooth 60fps videos with HDR

The Anker C300 outputs videos at 1080p/60fps and is HDR certified as well. It even has low-light correction and adjustable FoV. Another good option for streaming with noise-cancelling using multiple mics.

View at Amazon

NexiGo 2K Webcam with 3X Zoom

2K Resolution for sharper quality

This webcam has the highest resolution among the ones mentioned in this list. There is a 4MP sensor and you can digitally zoom in up to 3X. It has a 95-degree FoV, dual mics, and a privacy shutter as well.

View at Amazon

Logitech C920x HD Pro Webcam

Ideal for professional calls and meetings

The Logitech C920x is one of the most popular webcams especially for office meetings. It has support for stereo audio which means everyone can hear you crystal clear. There's also support for HD light correction.

View at Amazon

Akyta Wide-Angle Webcam with Tripod

Ultra-wide 110-degree FoV

If you want to fit more people into the frame for a group video call, this is the webcam for you. It has a large 110-degree FoV and comes with a privacy cover and a tripod in case you don't want to mount it on your monitor.

View at Amazon

Logitech StreamCam

Easy streaming and connectivity

This is the only webcam that connects via USB-C for faster video transfer speeds making it ideal for streamers. It can output videos at 1080p/60fps. There is support for smart auto-focus and facial tracking as well.

View at Amazon

These are some of the best webcams for Mac that you can get to improve the quality of your video and audio during online classes or meetings. Do note that most webcams connect via a USB-A port which means you’ll need an additional dongle or a hub in order to connect them to your Mac. All of these webcams are compatible with popular video conferencing services and apps like Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc. You might encounter some freezing issues with these apps when using a new webcam for the first time. In case you encounter such issues, you can force quit the app or uninstall and reinstall it once again if the issue persists.

All the webcams included in this list will get the job done for numerous use cases. Look out for multiple microphones if you are going to do a lot of talking in the online meetings or classes that you attend like the Logitech C920X. If streaming is your priority, you might want to consider a webcam with a higher frame rate like the Logitech StreamCam or Razer Kiyo. If you don’t want applications and services to access your webcam when it’s not in use, make sure you get one with a privacy shutter for added peace of mind.

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AMD announces Radeon RX 6000M mobile graphics with RDNA 2 architecture

AMD has finally announced the arrival of its new graphics chips for laptops: the new Radeon 6000M series based on the RDNA 2 architecture. First teased at CES 2021, a total of three chips under the series have been announced at Computex 2021, including the Radeon RX 6800M, the RX 6700M, and the RX 6600M.

AMD says that these are the fastest graphics chipsets for laptops that they have ever made, with the 6800M capable of handling AAA titles comparable to NVIDIA’s RTX 3080 mobile. It comes with 40 compute units and ray accelerators, 12GB of GDDR6 RAM on a 192-bit interface, and a 96MB infinity cache. The Radeon RX 6700M will have 36 compute units and ray accelerators, 10GB of GDDR6, 160-bit bus, and 80MB cache. The Radeon RX 6600M has 28 compute units and ray accelerators, with 8GB of GDDR6, 128-bit bus, and 32MB cache. The RX 6800M can handle today’s popular gaming titles, including Battlefield V, F1 2020, Overwatch, and Apex Legends at 120fps, running at 1440p resolution at high settings. The RX 6700M, on the other hand, promises 100fps at 1440p, while the RX 6600M is capable of 100fps at 1080p resolution.

As mentioned, the new mobile GPUs are based on the RDNA 2 architecture that currently powers AMD’s desktop-class Radeon RX 6000 series and chipsets used on current-gen gaming consoles, the Xbox Series X|S and the Sony PS5. This essentially means that the new Radeon 6000M series supports DirectX ray tracing along with Smart Access Memory which is similar to resizable BAR.

AMD has also confirmed the TDP ratings for the three GPUs. The RX 6800M will have a TDP of 145W, while the RX 6700M and the RX 6600M will have 135W and 100W, respectively. These can differ depending on how the manufacturers tune the new mobile GPUs for their laptop designs. These new GPUs will also support AMD’s SmartShift power balancing when paired with a Ryzen mobile CPU.

Additionally, AMD also announced that it is planning to bring its FidelityFX Super Resolution upscaling framework later this year. Basically, it is based on a similar concept as NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Supersampling) technology, which uses deep learning AI to upscale lower-resolution images to a higher-resolution for display on higher-resolution monitors. AMD hasn’t shared any technical details but says that FidelityFX will be supported by a wide range of Radeon GPUs, Ryzen APUs, as well as Nvidia’s GeForce series. Further details, including a list of supported games, will be revealed on June 22.

Expect the new AMD mobile GPUs to be available from various OEMs, including ASUS, MSI, Lenovo, and HP, in the coming days. The first laptops featuring the new Radeon mobile GPUs paired with the Ryzen 9 5900HX CPUs include the ASUS ROG STRIX G15 and the HP Omen 16.

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Apple MacBook Pro 2021: 14-inch & 16-inch Mini LED displays, M1X chip, and everything else we expect

The Apple MacBook Pro is already a worthy contender in the list of the best laptops and it is about to get even better with the upcoming Apple Silicon upgrade. The anticipated 14-inch MacBook Pro has been in the news since last year and is finally expected to arrive later in 2021 alongside a new 16-inch model. The MacBook Pro 2021 is suggested to feature a new design and colors similar to the 21-inch iMac 2021, mini LED displays, a much more powerful ARM-based M1X chipset with up to 64GB of RAM, faster charging, and the return of an HDMI port, an SD card reader, and a MagSafe connector for the charger.

Apple is rumored to be launching the new MacBook Pro in 14-inch and 16-inch models later this year. In this article, we’ve listed everything we expect and know based on various rumors and reports about Apple’s upcoming laptops for pros.

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MacBook Pro 2021: Leaks and others expected changes

The Apple MacBook Pro 2021 is expected to be the first major facelift since the redesign in 2016. We’ve heard multiple rumors about the upcoming MacBook Pro models, expected to arrive as a 14-inch model  — instead of the prevailing 13-inch model — besides an updated 16-inch variant.

At the beginning of 2021, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo disclosed that Apple would launch the new MacBook Pro models later in 2021, marking key changes over the previous generations. The two new models are likely to come with altered designs, new color options, run on Apple’s custom ARM-based silicon instead of Apple CPUs, and be equipped with better connectivity options, including MagSafe, SD card reader, and more. Apple is also likely to remove the Touchbar and offer a standard set of function keys on the top row of the keyboard.

These are the key changes we expect in the purported MacBook Pro 2021:

New design with more I/O options

In April 2021, Apple announced the iMac in an entirely new attire. The new iMac powered by Apple’s M1 chip relinquishes the old serious office look — characterized by black and shades of gray — and dons a more friendly look with cheery colors. Apple also replaced the black bezels on the iMac with white ones to make their new all-in-one PC easy to blend in any room. Recent rumors suggest that the upcoming MacBook models are due for the same paint job.

MacBook concept renders in different iMac-like colors; Courtesy: Jon Prosser and Ian Zelbo

As per YouTuber Jon Prosser, the upcoming MacBook Air will be available in the same set of colors as the iMac 2021. Likewise, the future MacBook Air models are also expected to ditch black bezels and embrace white bezels, just like the 2006 polycarbonate MacBook. You should still get the option to buy a silver MacBook, but that will also come with white bezels now instead of black ones. Prosser (via 9to5Mac) claimed to have gotten access to renders of the upcoming MacBook Air but chose not to share the original images to conceal the identity of his source. Instead, he shared concept images based on those renders. Prosser had previously claimed (via 9to5Google) that Apple could also launch MacBooks in “colors for average consumers.”

While Prosser did not mention anything about the upcoming MacBook Pro models, it’s likely Apple robes them in the same consumer-friendly colors.

Other than the potential additions to the color options, the upcoming MacBook Pro is likely to feature various ports that were removed from the previous design. Apple completely overhauled the MacBook Pro in 2016, making it significantly thinner and more attractive to look at. To achieve these dimensions, Apple had to compromise the I/O and remove the USB Type-A, HDMI, Thunderbolt 2 ports, the SD card reader, and the MagSafe connector for the charger. In place of these, Apple included up to four USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support in the successive MacBook Pro models, forcing users to rely on external dongles to connect regular USB-A connectors or other peripherals.

For those who’ve been avoiding upgrading their old MacBook Pro due to this reason, Apple is bringing some of these ports back to the new MacBook Pro 2021 in the 14-inch and 16-inch models.

MacBook Pro 2021 concept by designer, Antonio De Rosa

In January 2021, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman had reported Apple is likely to return the MagSafe connector to the MacBook lineup. For those unfamiliar with MagSafe, it’s a physical interface that keeps the charger connected to the laptop using a magnetic pull instead of actually docking the charger into a port. Therefore, if you yank the charging cable accidentally, the magnetic connector gets disconnected but does not pull the laptop flying along with it. This type of charging solution was last seen on the older MacBook Air (2015 model, sold until 2018) and could now potentially return to the MacBook Pro models.

Gurman also said that the SD card reader would return to the MacBook Pro, and the same was corroborated (via MacRumors) by Ming-Chi Kuo. Meanwhile, the infamous Touch bar will be evicted (via 9to5Mac) and replaced with a typical row of function keys.

In addition, the upcoming MacBook Pro 2021 models are also expected to feature at least three USB-C ports with Thunderbolt support, instead of the current option between two Thunderbolt 3 ports on the existing MacBook Pro 13-inch with Apple’s M1 or Intel 8th-Gen Core i5’s chipset or four ports on the MacBook Pro 13-inch with 10th-Gen Intel Core i5 and the 16-inch MacBook Pro 2020. According to Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumors), the upcoming MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch models could also feature an HDMI port.

MacBook Pro 16-inch concept with MagSafe, HDMI, and SD Card reader; Courtesy of designer, Antonio De Rosa

The new MacBook Pro 2021 models will be thinner than the existing ones in terms of the actual design. This is primarily because Apple’s own ARM-based SoC saves space on the motherboard by integrating the CPU, GPU, and RAM into one tiny chip. Ming-Chi Kuo also projected (via 9to5Mac) that Apple will renounce the curved edges on the bottom panel, benefiting from the new chipset. The MacBook Pro 2021 is likely to feature a flat bottom panel with squared-off edges. This means a closed MacBook Pro could look like an iPad or the new M1 iMac from the side. Apple is also likely to remove the “MacBook Pro” logo from the display’s bottom bezel to make it thinner.

Mini LED displays proposed

The existing Retina displays on the MacBook Pro models are among the best-rated displays we can find on laptops. Apple uses LED-backlit IPS panels for the MacBook Pro, and these displays offer high color accuracy and contrast besides a claimed peak brightness of 500nits. Many sources unanimously suggest the smaller of the two MacBook 2021 models will now feature a 14-inch display instead of the previously standard 13-inch display. Meanwhile, Apple upgraded the 15-inch model, launching the bigger, 16-inch model only in November 2019. So there won’t be a larger model this time.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro has been expected for over a year. In March 2020, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicated (via 9to5Mac) that Apple could launch a 14-inch MacBook Pro instead of the 13-inch variant. The widespread COVID-19 pandemic largely razed those plans. In 2020, Apple released two sequential upgrades to the smaller MacBook Pro — the first one with Intel chips and Apple’s Magic Keyboard instead of the dreaded Butterfly keyboard, and the second with its custom ARM-based M1 chipsets. However, neither of the two models featured any major cosmetic changes except the upgraded keyboard.

Mini LEDs spread out on the iPad Pro’s XDR display

The 14-inch MacBook Pro is set to launch later in 2021 alongside the new 16-inch model. Besides increasing the size of the screen, Apple is expected to offer brighter displays. A couple of independent reports from Taiwanese industry-centric publications Digitimes (via MacRumors) and TrendForce indicate that Apple might opt for Mini LED displays on the MacBook Pro 2021. The same display technology was deployed on M1 iPad Pro launched by Apple in April 2021. As per Digitimes, Radiant Opto-Electronics is believed to be the exclusive supplier of the Mini LED panels for the MacBook Pro.

A Mini LED display uses miniature LEDs to backlight the LCD panel. The “XDR” display on the iPad Pro 2021 uses Mini LEDs that are 120x smaller than the LEDs typically used on LED-backlit LCDs. Because of their smaller size, a display can feature many times more Mini LEDs than regular LEDs. This allows for the display to be brighter, have richer contrast, and offer better local dimming. Apple claims the new Mini LED “XDR” display on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2021 (review) has a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, making this display technology the best intermediary option between LCDs and OLED panels.

So if Apple launches the MacBook Pro in 2021 with Mini LED panels, the displays will likely feature better brightness and contrast than the existing models. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman also contributed to this probability, suggesting the MacBook Pro models could come with “updated displays” but without sharing much insight. Meanwhile, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had previously mentioned (via 9to5Mac) Apple will use Mini LED displays on the 2022 MacBook Air without referring much to the MacBook Pro models.

However, it is also worth noting that Mini LED displays are still in their nascent stage, leading to a slower supply than expected. While Apple’s indulgence is expected to propel the utilization of the technology, the Cupertino giant is grappling with shortages itself. This has led to a delay in the availability of the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Should Apple choose to use Mini LED displays on the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, the same shortages are bound to restrict the production of these models, and that might even push the availability later into the year.

Apple’s M1X processor

In 2020, Apple made the long-awaited migration to its custom ARM-based eight-core M1 silicon. Unlike the x86-64 Intel chips used by Apple to power its laptops, the ARM-based silicon comes in a system-on-a-chip (SoC) format — just like on an iPhone or iPad.

Even though the MacBook Pro models launched in 2016 through 2020 have featured RAM and storage chips soldered onto the motherboard, the new SoC allows Apple to save much more space by integrating the CPU, GPU, NPU, and other components into a single chip. Further, the memory is also integrated on the same board as the SoC. Apple calls this a “Unified Memory Architecture” and it allows all components of the SoC to access RAM seamlessly.

Unified Memory Architecture on Apple’s M1 chip

Being based on ARM, the M1 chips can also run iOS apps natively and use an emulation environment called Rosetta 2 to run apps traditionally designed for x86-64 systems.

As for the performance of last year’s Apple M1 chip, it already waters down Intel’s most powerful chips. Not only does the M1 offer more performance for power but also generates much less heat, and that has allowed Apple to stick to a fan-less design for the 2020 MacBook Air. For the newer MacBook Pro models, however, Apple is preparing for a much more powerful chipset. Allegedly called “M1X,” the chipset will be an extension of the previous M1 chip. According to Bloomberg, the Apple M1X chip is expected to feature a 10-core CPU with two efficiency cores — for basic tasks such as web browsing at low battery consumption — and eight high-performance cores for more demanding tasks. This differs from the M1 chip that features four cores for power efficiency and four for high performance.

In addition to the 10-core CPU, the Apple M1X chip will offer the choice between GPUs with 16 and 32 cores. The chip is also slated to come with better neural processing capabilities and feature support for up to a whopping 64GB of RAM — and hopefully, that would be enough RAM for Chrome.

Faster charging

As we noted above, Apple is expected to return the MagSafe charging port on the MacBook Pro 2021 models. With this, the charging rate could also be increased further.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro ships with a fast-charging brick, rated at 96W, while the smaller, 13-inch model comes with a 61W charger and is also compatible with the faster charger. The MacBook Pro 2021 could come with support for even faster-charging speeds. The charger’s specifications haven’t been leaked or predicted until now, but we’ll update the article when we learn more.

Full HD Camera

Despite the advancements in hardware, MacBook Pro models have featured a 720p webcam with mediocre quality. As work from home becomes the way forward for many organizations across the globe, a good quality webcam becomes imperative. The new iMac 2021 features an upgraded Full HD camera with much better quality than the previous 720p one. We can expect the webcam on the MacBook Pro to also be upgraded to a similar quality.

Meanwhile, the iPad Pro uses a front-facing camera with an ultrawide field of view. This enables a feature called “Center Stage” which is used to pan the camera to keep the primary subject(s) in the center of the frame. While we don’t have high hopes about this feature being added to the MacBook Pro, it would be exciting for Apple to actually take the webcam more seriously.

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MacBook Pro 2021: Expected release date

The new MacBook Pro was earlier tipped to arrive in the second half of 2021. However, different sources seem to have different expectations regarding the release date of the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. Early on in 2021, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested the new models could arrive in the third quarter of 2021, whereas Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reported an earlier launch date around the middle of 2021.

Meanwhile, two other reports offer more contradicting information. YouTuber Jon Prosser recently suggested that Apple could announce the new MacBook Pro at the WWDC 2021 conference along with the M1X-powered Mac Mini. In contrast, Taiwanese news website Digitimes revealed (via Tom’s Guide) that the production of the upcoming MacBook Pro models may have been delayed until late 2021 or early 2022 due to the “sudden surge” of COVID-19 in Taiwan, besides the strapped supply of mini LED displays.

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We expect to hear more about the MacBook Pro 2021 in the coming days. This article is constantly updated with the most recent information, so come back to learn more about the MacBook Pro 2021.

What do you expect from the upcoming MacBook Pro models? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Apple MacBook Pro 2021: 14-inch & 16-inch Mini LED displays, M1X chip, and everything else we expect appeared first on xda-developers.

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Mi TV 4A 40 Horizon Edition is another bezel-less addition to Xiaomi’s popular TV lineup

Xiaomi India has just added a new model to its smart TV portfolio: the Mi TV 4A 40 Horizon Edition. The Mi TV 4A 40 slots below the Mi TV 4A 43-inch model that launched last year while retaining the under-the-hood hardware and the overall design language.

Mi TV 4A 40 Horizon Edition specifications:

Main Header 1	Mi TV 4A 40 Horizon
Display	43-inch FHD, 1920 x 1080p Vivid Color Engine 93.7% screen-to-body ratio 178-degree viewing angle
Processor	Amlogic Cortex-A53 quad-core processor Mali-450 GPU
RAM & Storage	1GB RAM 8GB flash storage
Sound	20W stereo speakers DTS-HD
Connectivity	3x HDMI 2x USB 1x Ethernet 1x S/PDIF 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
Software	Android 9 with Patchwall

The new Mi TV 4A 40 Horizon Edition sports a near bezel-less design with an impressive 93.7% screen-to-body ratio and 178-degree viewing angles. You get a 40-inch full HD display with a 1920 x 1080 screen resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and 9.5ms response time. The TV supports Xiaomi’s Vivid Picture Engine, which offers various software and hardware tweaks to deliver accurate color reproduction and deeper contrasts. For audio, the TV comes with two 10W speakers with DTS-HD surround sound.

The TV is powered by the Amlogic quad-core processor, coupled with 1GB RAM, 8GB eMMC storage, and Mali-450 GPU. In terms of connectivity, you get 2x USB 2.0 ports, 3x HDMI ports, 1 ethernet port, a 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth 4.2, and Wi-Fi.

On the software side, the Mi TV 4A 40 Horizon Edition runs Android 9 with Xiaomi’s PathWall OS on top. Besides more than 5,000 apps on Google Play Store, you also get Google Assitant and Chromecast support. PatchWall provides easy access to more than 25 streaming services, including Disney+ Hotstar, Sony LIV Prime Video, Netflix, Zee5, Hungama, and more. You can also control your various smart home products right from the TV using the Mi Home app.

Pricing & Availablity

The Mi TV 4A 40 Horizon Edition will go on sale from June 2 at a starting price of ₹23,999. It will be available from mi.com, Mi Home stores, Flipkart, Mi Studio, and select retail partner stores.

 

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