Micro Center's Summer Laptop Buying Guide

MicroCenterOfficial · June 2023

Choosing a laptop can be a daunting task. With a wide range of manufacturers and an even wider range of models, finding the perfect laptop for your exact needs might seem impossible. Thankfully, Micro Center and our Champions are here to help with a few spectacular recommendations. And, if you’re still not sure, our In-Store associates are happy to help you find your dream machine.

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 -in-1 Laptop Computer - Black by @ronwoodson

In today's fast-paced world, it's crucial to have tech that adapts to you, not the other way around. Enter the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 Laptop. Loved for its versatility, this little powerhouse quickly shifts from laptop to tablet and back again in the blink of an eye, making it the perfect companion for those who are always on the go. Students, professionals, and streaming enthusiasts alike applaud its blend of performance, speed, and abundant storage. Its portability and durability ensure that it can stand up to the challenges of your daily life.

The ThinkPad is more than just a device; it's a game-changer. It boasts a unique 2-in-1 design that lets you shift seamlessly between four distinct modes: Laptop, Stand, Tent, and Tablet. Need to type up a report or email? Laptop mode has got you covered. Want to stream your favorite shows or browse the web? Switch to Stand or Tent mode for a hands-free experience. In the mood for some digital artistry? Turn to Tablet mode and let the ThinkPad Pen Pro unleash your creativity.

What truly sets the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 apart is its impressive feature list. It showcases a 13.3-inch Full HD IPS Anti-Reflection Anti-Smudge Touchscreen Display that ensures your visuals are always sharp and vibrant. The backlit keyboard allows for a comfortable typing experience even in low-light conditions. A secure, one-touch fingerprint reader ensures quick access so you can dive into your tasks without a moment's delay. And the hardware specifications? They're nothing short of stellar.

Powering this workhorse is an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 1145G7 Processor with a base speed of 2.6GHz, perfectly paired with 16GB DDR4-3200 Onboard RAM. This makes the laptop robust enough to handle multiple tasks simultaneously without breaking a sweat. The Intel Iris Xe Integrated Graphics provide crisp, clear visuals, and with a 512GB SSD, you have ample space to store all your important files and favorite media.

Life is too short for slow charging and dead batteries. That's why the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 is armed with Rapid Charge technology. Even on the busiest of days, you can power up to 80% in just an hour. It's the perfect solution for those last-minute top-ups before you dash out the door. All these features wrapped up in a stylish package, it's clear why users love and recommend the Lenovo ThinkPad. Experience the power of flexibility for yourself today with the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen Laptop. This isn't just a device; it's your life, optimized.

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 FA507XU-MS94 15.6" Laptop Computer Platinum Collection - Gray by @phil_lost_zephyr_

The ASUS TUF A15 showcases a ton of power in a sub-five-pound laptop, an impressive feat for gaming laptops. Jam packed with tech, the A15 offers a 15.6-inch 1920x1080 resolution display with a high refresh rate of 144Hz. This laptop also carries with it the new AMD Ryzen 9 7940H as well as an (also new) NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card. To top it off, ASUS gave this laptop 16GB of DDR5 RAM as well as a whole 1TB for storage, making sure you are ready for any type of gaming.

The end result is a laptop that is ready for just about anything you can throw at it and will look great doing it. A 144Hz refresh rate keeps your games looking fluid and smooth and gives you a distinct advantage over those with lower refresh rates. And when your gaming is backed by the incredible Ryzen 9 7940H and RTX 4050, you’re set to dominate whether you’re jumping into esports titles or just cleaning the streets of Night City in Cyberpunk 2077.

While the ASUS TUF A15 is great for gaming, it can also be used for light 3D work for modeling and just for regular school/work. This laptop carries so much and gives the user a variety of choices on how to use this thing to its full potential, all without breaking the bank. The A15 is a great intro gaming laptop, and it price absolutely reflects that!

HP ProBook 450 G9 15.6" Laptop Computer - Silver by @lizzs

The HP ProBook 450 G9 15.6" Laptop is a great option for small business owners who are looking for a powerful and reliable laptop at a reasonable price. The ProBook 450 G9 is powered by an Intel Core i5 1235U processor, which provides plenty of power for everyday tasks like word processing, spreadsheets, and web browsing. It also has 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, which ensures that your laptop will be able to handle multiple programs at once and boot up quickly. Its Full HD Anti-Glare WLED display reduces eye strain during extended use and ensures vibrant, detailed images on its 15.6" screen.

This ProBook has a number of features that are designed to make it easy to use for your everyday business worker. It has a long battery life, so you can work all day without having to worry about running out of power. It’s also full of security features, such as a fingerprint reader and a TPM chip, which can help to protect your data from unauthorized access. And if you need to connect keyboards, mice, or external storage drives, the ProBook has three USB 3.2, a USB-C port, HDMI and an RJ-45 jack, all built into its IO panels, making this laptop easy to plug into for a desktop experience.

Housed in a sleek, silver body and weighing only 3 pounds, the ProBook is easily compact and portable, making it a great option for those who are looking for a powerful, reliable, and durable laptop at a reasonable price.

ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 15 G533QS-DS94 15.6" Gaming Laptop Computer - Black by @ricardo_ortega

The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15.6 laptop gives you the specs and performance needed to play just about any game at high/ultra settings. This laptop comes with an 8-core Ryzen 9 5900HX processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and 1TB NVMe SSD storage. The display is Full HD with an insane 300Hz refresh rate (with just a 3ms response time!) and a 100% sRGB color space. And, last but not least, an NVIDIA RTX 3080 8GB GPU to provide some of the best gaming experiences around.

Almost every component is adjustable or upgradable as well. Need more power? Boost the CPU to 4.6GHz. Want more RAM? The Scar supports up to 64GB. More storage space? There’s an extra slot just waiting for a second SSD.

On a personal note, I love the build quality and smooth texture on the chassis. The keyboard deck is translucent with stunning RGB lights around the laptop and has optical machinal keyboard switches, which is one of my favorite key types in a laptop. The trackpad can be used as an alternative touch sense numpad as well!

While this is a beefy laptop for gaming, this laptop has more potential to do productivity related work, like Adobe Photoshop or Premiere for content creation or professional work. We can’t forget that it’s also great for AutoCAD on the go. Whether you’re looking to game or knock out some projects, the Strix Scar is ready when you are!