Consumer Reports – December 2018

Ratings Laptop Lowdown Continued

HOW WE TEST: Portability is
based on battery life, size, and
weight, including the keyboard
dock for detachable laptops. For
Performance we evaluate how
well the model operates while
running apps and 3 D games, and
browsing the web. Versatility

assesses technical support, warranty

provisions, and useful hardware

features such as memory card slots

and audio/video connections. The

Display score looks at size, color,

brightness, and glare. Overall

Score combines test results with

survey data for predicted reliability

and owner satisfaction. Predicted

reliability estimates the likelihood

that newly purchased models from

a given brand will break within the

first three years. Owner satisfaction

reflects the proportion of CR

members who are extremely likely to

recommend the laptop they bought.

In cases where we have insufficient

survey data to provide a brand-level

rating, indicated by a gray dash (−),

we assume the model has average

reliability and satisfaction.

10 20 30 04 05

POOR EXCELLENT

0!

RECOMMENDED

Brand & Model OveScorrall e Price ResSurvey ults Te st Results Fea& Sturpecses

RecommendedRank Predicted reliabilityOwner satisfactionPortabilityPerformanceVersatilityDisplay Battery life (hr.)Weight (lb.)To u c h s c re e n2-in-1*

15- TO 16-INCH LAPTOPS

! 0 1

Apple MacBook Pro 15-Inch

with Touch Bar MPTU2LL/A^84 $2,295^500550500350 14.5^4

! 0 2

Apple MacBook Pro 15-Inch

(2018, MR9 3 2LL/A)^84 $2,400^500550500350 13.5^4

! 0 3 Apple MacBook Pro 15-Inch MJLQ2LL/A^80 $1,700 50 50 40 50 03 50 12.5 4.4

! 0 4 Apple MacBook Pro 15-Inch MLH^3 2LL/A^80 $2,120 50 50 50 40 03 50 13.25^4

! 0 5 Samsung Notebook 9 Pro (2018)^79 $1,350 40 30 40 50 04 40 11.5 3.8^0 C

! 0 6 LG Gram 15Z980^79 $1,695 −− 50 40 05 40 13.5 2.4^0

! 0 7 Samsung Notebook 9^76 $1,100 40 03 50 50 03 40 12.5 2.6

! 0 8 HP Spectre 15-BL112DX x^36076 $1,600 30 30 40 50 04 50 11.75 4.5^0 C

! 0 9 Lenovo 720S-15IKB^75 $1,420 30 03 50 50 04 40 13.25 4.1

! 0 10 Lenovo Yoga 720 -15IKB^73 $950 30 03 50 50 04 40 12.75 4.4^0 C

! 0 11 Dell XPS 15 8th gen^72 $2,000 30 30 40 50 04 50 9.25 4.4^0 C

! 0 12 Asus Q5^3 5UD-BI7T11^72 $1,400 30 03 30 50 05 40 6.75 4.6^0 C

! 0 13 Lenovo Yoga 7^3 0-1^3 IKB^70 $980 30 03 40 50 04 40 9.75 4.2^0 C

! 0 14 HP Pavilion Gaming 15-CX0058WM^70 $830 30 03 30 50 05 40 8.25 5.2

! 0 15 Asus VivoBook Pro N580VD-DB74T^69 $1,200 30 03 30 50 05 40 6.5 5.1^0

! 0 16 Asus Q525UA-BI7T9^69 $1,400 30 03 30 40 04 40 8.25 4.1^0 C

! 0 17 Asus Q505UA-BI5T7^68 $830 30 03 40 40 04 40 9.25 4.2^0 C

! 0 18 Lenovo Flex 5 1570^68 $865 30 30 40 40 04 40 11.25 4.6^0 C

! 0 19 Acer Spin 5 SP515-51N-544J^68 $700 30 02 40 40 04 40 9.25 4.5^0 C

! 0 20 Asus VivoBook S510UA-DB^7167 $800 30 30 30 40 04 40 7.5 3.5

! 0 21 Samsung Notebook 7 Spin 15^67 $1,000 40 03 30 30 05 40 750 C

! 0 22 Razer Blade 15^67 $2,200 −− 30 50 04 50 7 4.5

All-Access or Digital members can find the latest ratings at CR.org/laptops1218.

*C=convertible. D=detachable.

48 CR.ORG DECEMBER 2018