“The Gateway PC brand and its renowned cow-spotted boxes have been well-loved in the United States since 1985. Acer is thrilled that Walmart is becoming the exclusive provider of Gateway-branded notebooks and tablets. We are pleased that customers in the United States and Puerto Rico will have the opportunity to enjoy the beloved Gateway brand again through one of the world’s top retailers.”

Gateway has released 11 new devices in all. The six Ultra Slim laptops consist of one 11.6-inch device that’ll set you back $200, four 14.1-inch PCs with prices ranging from $240 to $600 and one 15.6—inch option that costs $650. Meanwhile, the brand’s 2-in-1 hybrid is priced at $300 and comes with a one year subscription of Microsoft 365 Personal.

Gateway has also launched two new laptops designed for gaming and creative projects under the Creators series. As you’d expect, both 15.6—inch Creators laptops are a bit pricier than the Ultra Slims, with the AMD-powered variant priced at $900 and the Intel variant priced at $1,200. Finally, the Acer-owned brand has also released an 8-inch ($70) and a 10-inch ($80) low-cost Android 10 tablet. Gateway plans to launch even more laptops this fall and to expand its offerings with additional products in the coming months.

After a busy week of news, Acer isn’t quite done. The company has announced its Spin 7 convertible laptop, which is one of the first to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2. It supports both types of 5G, mmWave and sub-6, though it’s not the first notebook to do so.

On top of that, the Spin 7 has a 360-degree hinge, so you can use it in tablet mode if you prefer. Its touchscreen has a layer of Gorilla Glass for protection, and Acer claims the battery can run for up to 24 hours on a single charge. Acer hasn’t revealed pricing or availability just yet, but if you’re looking for a convertible laptop that can harness 5G, this could be just the ticket.

Acer

A pair of new Swift 3 laptops should hit the market at around the same time. They’ll both support WiFi 6 and have Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, along with a backlit keyboard, SSD storage and support for up to 16GB of LPDDR4X memory.

The SF313-53 has a 13.5-inch display that boasts 2K resolution, a 3:2 ratio and a 400-nit brightness rating. It’s designed for portability as well — it’s just 0.63 inches thick and weighs 2.62 lbs. That model has a battery life of up to 18 hours and it starts at $800.

The SF314-59 is the same thickness and weighs just slightly more at 2.65 lbs. It has a 14-inch Full HD, 16:9 display, and the base model $700. Both laptops should be available in November.

At CES 2020, NVIDIA showed off the “world’s fastest” esports display, the ASUS ROG Swift 360, a monitor with a 360HZ refresh rate. That display should go on sale this September, and NVIDIA is already announcing another super-fast gaming monitor. Acer’s upcoming Predator X25 will boast the same NVIDIA-powered 360Hz refresh rate.

Like the Swift 360, the Predator X25 is designed for professional gaming and training. It will give players ultra-low latency and smooth animation. With a 360Hz refresh rate, game frames are displayed every 2.8 milliseconds. For comparison, predecessors to the Swift 360 and Predator X25 tend to cap out between 120Hz and 240Hz.

What kind of screen do you want?

Screen size is a good place to start when judging gaming notebooks. In general, 15-inch laptops will be the best balance of immersion and portability, while larger 17-inch models are heftier, but naturally give you more screen real estate. And sure, there are some 13-inch gaming notebooks, like the Razer Blade Stealth, but paradoxically you’ll often end up paying more for those than slightly larger 15-inch options.

But these days, there are plenty more features to consider than screen size alone. Consider refresh rates: Most monitors refresh their screens vertically 60 times per second, or 60Hz. That’s a standard in use since black and white NTSC TVs. But over the past few years, displays have evolved considerably. Now, 120Hz 1080p screens are the bare minimum you’d want in any gaming notebook — and there are faster 144Hz, 240Hz and even 300Hz screens. All of those ever-increasing numbers are in the service of one thing: making everything on your screen look as smooth as possible.

For games, higher refresh rates also help eliminate screen tearing and other artifacts that could get in the way of your frag fest. And for everything else, it just leads to a better viewing experience. Even scrolling a web page on a 120Hz or faster monitor is a stark difference from a 60Hz screen. Instead of seeing a jittery wall of text and pictures, everything moves seamlessly together, as if you’re unwinding a glossy paper magazine. Going beyond 120Hz makes gameplay look even more responsive, which to some players gives them a slight advantage.

Steve Dent/Engadget

Not to make things more complicated, but you should also keep an eye out for NVIDIA’s G-SYNC and AMD’s FreeSync. They’re both adaptive sync technologies that can match your screen’s refresh rate with the framerate of your game. That also helps to reduce screen tearing and make gameplay smoother. Consider them nice bonuses on top of a high refresh rate monitor — they’re not necessary, but they can still offer a slight visual improvement.

One more thing: Most of these suggestions are related to LCD screens, not OLEDs. While OLED makes a phenomenal choice for TVs, it’s a bit more complicated when it comes to gaming laptops. They’re limited to 60Hz, so you won’t get the smoother performance you’d find on a high refresh rate screen. And they’re typically 4K panels; you’ll need a ton of GPU power to run games natively at that resolution. OLED laptops still look incredible, with the best black levels and contrast on the market, but we think most shoppers would be better off with an LCD gaming laptop.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

A few other takeaways:

• Get at least 16GB of RAM. And if you’re planning to do a ton of multitasking while streaming, 32GB is worth considering.

• Storage is still a huge concern. These days, I’d recommend aiming for a 512GB M.2 SSD, which should be enough space to juggle a few large titles like Destiny 2. Some laptops also have room for standard SATA drives, which are far cheaper than M.2’s and can hold more data.

• Normally we’d recommend getting your hands on a system before you buy, but that’s tough as we’re in the midst of a pandemic. I’d recommend snagging your preferred system from a retailer with a simple return policy, like Amazon or Best Buy. If you don’t like it, you can always ship it back easily.

• Don’t forget about accessories! You’ll need a good mouse, keyboard and headphones, for sure.

Engadget picks

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

The best gaming laptop for most people: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14

Starting price: $1,050

Recommended spec price (Ryzen 9, RTX 2060): $1,450

If you can’t tell by now, we really like the Zephyrus G14. It’s compact, at just 3.5 pounds, and features AMD’s fast new Ryzen 4000-series chips paired together with NVIDIA’s graphics. It’s a shockingly compact machine, and while its 14-inch screen is a bit smaller than our other recommendations, it looks great and features a fast 120Hz refresh rate. We also like its retro-future design (some configurations have tiny LEDs on its rear panel for extra flair). The G14 also starts relatively cheap, at around $1,050, but we’d recommend the specced-up Ryzen 9/RTX 2060 model for $1,450. The only downside: It doesn’t have a webcam, which can be inconvenient in the era of never-ending Zoom calls. Still, it’s not that tough to attach an external camera. 

Buy ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 at Best Buy – $1,450

Will Lipman/Engadget

The best budget option: Dell G5 15

Starting price: $824

We’ve been fans of Dell’s G5 line ever since it first appeared a few years ago. Starting at just $824, it features all of the latest hardware, like Intel’s 10th-generation CPUs and NVIDIA’s GTX and RTX cards. (You can also find AMD’s Ryzen 7 and Radeon RX 5600M graphics in the special edition model whenever that’s back in stock.) It’s a bit heavy, weighing over five pounds, but it’s a solid notebook otherwise. And you can even bring it into mid-range gaming territory if you spec up to the RTX 2070.

Buy G5 15 at Dell – $824

Devindra hardawar/Engadget

The best premium gaming laptop: Razer Blade 15

Starting at $1,600

Recommended model (RTX 2070 on sale): $1,900

Razer continues to do a stellar job of delivering the latest hardware in a sleek package that would make Mac users jealous. The Blade 15 has just about everything you’d want, including NVIDIA’s fastest mobile GPU, the RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, as well as Intel’s 10th-gen octa-core CPUs and a 300Hz 1080p screen. You can easily save some cash by going for a mid-range option like the ASUS G14, but those won’t feel nearly as polished as the Blade.

Buy Blade 15 at Razer – $1,900

Acer

A solid all-around option: Acer Predator Triton 500

Starting price: $1,700

While we’ve seen some wilder concepts from Acer, like its 360-degree hinge-equipped Triton 900, the is a more affordable bread and butter option that doesn’t break the bank. It’s relatively thin, weighs under five pounds, and it can be equipped with Intel’s latest 10th-gen CPU and NVIDIA’s RTX 2080 Super Max-Q. Acer’s build quality is as sturdy as ever, and it has most of the standard features you’d need in a gaming notebook.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

The most configurable gaming notebook: Alienware Area 51m r2

Starting price: $2,300

We were excited about the Area 51m when Alienware first introduced it last year. Mostly, because Alienware was positioning it as a gaming notebook that would be as configurable as a desktop. You could upgrade its CPU, graphics and other components down the line. While we had our issues with the first generation model, the second-gen R2 has the advantage of coming with even faster hardware, as well as the option of moving between AMD and NVIDIA GPUs. While there are limits to how much you can upgrade the Area 51m, it’s still a great option if you want a machine that’s also easily repairable. 

Buy Alienware Area 51m at Dell – $2,300

It’s no secret that laptops have been hot commodities for students during the pandemic, but that might just lead to a crisis as school resumes. Axios has found evidence of acute laptop shortages going into the back-to-school season, particularly for Chromebooks. Acer America president Gregg Prendergast warned that his company was “not even close” to supply enough of the Chrome OS laptops to support virtual classrooms. It wasn’t likely to taper off, either, as Acer just received government requests for “hundreds of thousands” of devices in California and Nevada.

NPD Group analyst Stephen Baker also warned that laptop sales have been 20 to 40 percent higher “every single week,” while a cursory check of Best Buy’s site showed that 24 out of 28 low-cost (under $400) Chromebooks were sold out.

The Chromebook question

Now, you may be inclined to recommend a Chromebook or a tablet to all of the people listed above. Those instincts aren’t wrong, but Chromebooks and tablets aren’t for everyone. Tablets will only work for the most mobile-competent users like kids who have been grabbing smartphones out of their parents’ hands since they’ve been dexterous enough to do so. Tablets can also be just as expensive as some of the cheapest Windows laptops, and that’s without any accompanying accessories like keyboards and mice.

Chromebooks are a good alternative for those that basically live in a browser. However, there are some who just don’t want to give up the “traditional desktop.” And Chrome OS is more limited than Windows when it comes to the programs you can install and run.

What Windows laptops do well

So what can you realistically accomplish on a cheap Windows laptop? Quite a bit, especially if you’re doing one thing (or a limited number of things) at a time. They’re great for web browsing, checking email, video streaming and more — but, yes, all of those things can be done on Chromebooks as well. Windows laptops have a big advantage, though, in Microsoft Office. While yes, there is a browser based version, the native, desktop apps are considered a must have for many and will run smoothly on even the most bare-bones laptops. The only caveat is that you may run into some slowdown on low-powered devices if you’re working with large data sets in Excel or large photos and graphics in Powerpoint.

When it comes to specs, a bright spot for Windows laptops is storage. Even the most affordable devices tend to have 128GB SSDs, and some combine those SSDs with larger HDDs for even more space. In contrast, Chromebooks have very little storage because they rely on the assumption that you’ll save all of your documents in the cloud. Not only is that less convenient when you need to work offline, but it also limits the size of programs and files that you can download. So, not great for hoarding Netflix shows before a long trip.

Windows also has thousands of apps that you can download from its dedicated app store. Chromebooks have some Chrome apps, numerous browser extensions and the ability to download Android apps, but quality control is… inconsistent. Android apps, in particular, often haven’t been optimized for Chrome OS, which makes for a wonky user experience on laptops. Windows may not have as many apps as Android, but at least the experience is fairly standard across the board.

Windows also gives you the ability to download and use programs from other sources, like direct from the developer. You can run things like Adobe Creative Suite, certain VPNs and programs like GIMP, Audacity and ClipMate on a Windows device, which just isn’t possible on Chrome OS. Chromebooks limit you to the apps and programs in The Play Store and the Chrome Extensions store, reducing any others to unusable, space-sucking icons in your Downloads folder.

What to look for in a cheap Windows laptop

While you can do a lot even when spending little on a Windows laptop, you must set your expectations accordingly. The biggest downside when purchasing a budget laptop (of any kind, really) is limited power. Most Windows laptops under $500 run on Intel Celeron or Pentium processors, with a few Core i3/i5 and AMD Ryzen 3/5 options thrown in at the higher end of the price spectrum.

We recommend getting the most powerful CPU you can afford because it will dictate how fast the computer will feel overall. RAM is also important because, the more RAM you have, the easier it will be for the laptop to manage things like a dozen browser tabs while you edit a Microsoft Word document and stream music in the background. However, with sub-$500 laptops, you’re better off getting the best CPU you can afford rather than a laptop with a ton of RAM because the CPU will have enough power to handle most tasks that cheap laptops are designed for (If you’re editing RAW images or 4K video, you’ll want to invest in more RAM… and a laptop well above $500).

When it comes to storage, try to get a machine with an SSD instead of an HDD — SSDs are more expensive but also faster and more efficient than HDDs. The only time to settle for an HDD-only laptop is if you need the most storage possible at the cheapest price.

You also don’t have to settle for an entirely plastic notebook either. There are options in the sub-$500 price range that are made, at least in part, with metals like aluminum — those will not only be more attractive but also more durable. As for screens, there’s a healthy mix of HD and FHD options in this price range and we recommend springing for a notebook with a 1080p display if you can. Touchscreens aren’t common in the under-$500 space, and you’ll only really miss one if you get a 2-in-1 laptop.

Engadget picks

Keeping that advice in mind, we tested out a bunch of sub-$500 Windows laptops that we thought would fit the bill for most people. Two of them stood out: the Acer Aspire 5 and the Lenovo IdeaPad S340. The TL;DR version is that the IdeaPad S340 performed a bit better than the Aspire 5, but Acer’s machine gives you better hardware for your money.

Editor’s note: Just before publishing this article, the Lenovo IdeaPad S340 went up in price to $599. Although it doesn’t fall under our $500 threshold, we still think it’s a solid affordable Windows laptop option.

Valentina Palladino / Engadget

The Aspire 5 runs on a Ryzen 3 3200U processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, and it has a 15.6-inch 1080p display. That’s already really compelling, but Acer added more into the mix. Its aluminum top cover and silver chassis feel substantial without being too heavy (both the Aspire 5 and the IdeaPad S340 weigh roughly four pounds) and its backlit keyboard with number pad is comfortable to type on.

I also appreciate the ports on this machine: three USB-A ports, an HDMI port, a headphone jack, a power jack and — the kicker — a (drop-jaw) Ethernet port. I wish the Aspire 5 had a USB-C port like the IdeaPad S340, but most people will get immediate use out of an Ethernet port because it ensures that you can connect to the Internet even if your WiFi network is acting up.

Another key advantage of the Aspire 5 is its 1080p display. It provides a much better video experience than the IdeaPad S340’s 15.6-inch 768p screen. Your eyes are probably used to FHD quality at this point since it’s basically the base level on most laptops, not to mention TVs and phones. If video streaming is one of the primary things you’ll do, the Aspire 5 is the one to get out of these two.

It also provides a similar experience to the IdeaPad S340 when it comes to performance. It scored slightly lower on our benchmark tests, but it handled most of the work I threw at it including streaming content via Prime Video and working with at least 10 browser tabs open. So while the Aspire 5 demands a few sacrifices, it’s well worth its $350-$400 price tag.

Buy Acer Aspire 5 at Amazon – $350

Buy Lenovo IdeaPad S340 at Walmart – $599

Valentina Palladino / Engadget

Lenovo’s IdeaPad S340 is a good alternative if you want an Intel processor, a USB-C port and a superb typing experience. This notebook runs on an 8th-gen Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, and it’s accompanied by a 15-inch 768p non-touch display and an array of ports that includes one USB-C port.

If you care about future-proofing, that USB-C port will be critical. You may not have a lot of USB-C accessories right now, but you’ll at least be able to use the IdeaPad S340 more easily when that time comes. This machine’s 8GB of RAM is also preferred because it helps make multitasking smoother. It’s also a big reason the IdeaPad S340 produced slightly higher scores than the Aspire 5 on our benchmark tests. 

The typing experience is also top-notch: it has a full-sized keyboard with a number pad and the keys have that rounded-bottom shape that’s similar to keys on Lenovo’s ThinkPad machines. They make a satisfying clicking sound while you’re typing, but they’re not loud enough to bother those around you.

This almost makes up for the fact that the IdeaPad S340 is an all-plastic machine. But thankfully (and somewhat surprisingly) it doesn’t feel flimsy: the palm rests don’t flex much and I could pick up the chassis with one hand while the laptop was open and tote the notebook from room to room without it feeling too wobbly. I also appreciate that, like many other Lenovo laptops, this one has a physical shutter that you can slide closed to cover the webcam.

The IdeaPad S340 also has the upper-hand over the Aspire 5 when it comes to battery life: the former lasted about 8.5 hours in our testing while the latter lasted just under six hours. Neither of those are exciting numbers, but most affordable laptops are not going to get the 12+ hours of battery life that flagship machines do. However, the Aspire 5 is on the low side, so you’ll probably need to bring its power cable with you whenever you leave the house.

Valentina Palladino / Engadget

One more laptop that’s worth mentioning is the HP Pavilion 11 x360, and that’s mostly for its size, design and battery life. Its specs aren’t anything to write home about — it runs on an Intel Pentium Silver processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, so already you know it won’t be as much of a workhorse as Lenovo or Acer’s machines (it was noticeably slower to load programs and download files than the other two laptops). Those specs are in line with many Chromebooks at similar prices, though.

In testing the $400 Pavilion 11, what stuck out to me immediately was its design. HP has been trickling down design elements from its high-end Spectre series to more affordable lineups, and the Pavilion 11 benefits from that. It feels much more luxurious than a $400 device has any right to. It has a mostly metal construction with a slate-black keyboard area and shiny hinges that allow the screen to flip back 360 degrees. Its 768p touchscreen may not be as high-res as we’d like, but it makes for a great convertible experience — especially on a laptop as compact as the Pavilion 11. It also blew the Lenovo and Acer laptops out of the water with its over 12-hour battery life. That combined with its compact design make it a great budget-friendly choice if you’re constantly on-the-go.

Buy HP Pavilion 11 x360 at Best Buy – $400

Acer says that the Helios 700 will be better at dissipating heat thanks to its new thermal solution, PowerGem, which it first announced last September. It’s a pad that sits on the chip, pushing heat away 3.83 times more efficiently than existing solutions. That’s been paired with three copper heat pipes, a vapor chamber and a pair of custom AeroBlade fans, 

Other changes include the addition of a second Thunderbolt 3 port and the ability to order up to 64GB of 2933 RAM. One thing that you’ll be familiar with is the 17.3-inch HD IPS display, running at 144Hz with NVIDIA G-Sync — it’s the same as on the existing model. Same goes for the connectivity options, which include a Killer DoubleShot Pro WiFi 6 AX1650i card and Ethernet options.

You can still adjust the actuation point on the keyboard’s WASD keys, but Acer has changed the way you do it. Last year’s model used a linear switch (branded as MagForce) but the company says that it’s now using something it’s calling MagTek. Swap out the regular keys and, much like Steelseries’ Apex Pro, you’ll be able to adjust the actuation point on those keys depending on how you play. 

Acer’s Predator Helios 700 will cost $2,400 when it arrives in October, although European buyers will be able to pick it up a month earlier for €2,700. 

Stepping down a level, the Helios 300 is Acer’s Max-Q model, with the option of RTX 2070 graphics, 10th-generation H-Series Intel processors and a 240Hz 15.6-inch display. This more affordable gaming laptop will let you order up to 32GB 2933MHz RAM and has space for a pair of SSDs and a 2TB HDD. If you want one of them on your desk, then you’ll need to hand over $1,200 or €1,300 when it arrives in the US and Europe this July.

Many suspected PC shipments would take a hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, but now it’s clearer as to what the damage was. Canalys estimates that computer shipments fell a steep 8 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2020 as Chinese factories stayed shut for a while after the Lunar New Year. Intel chip shortages from a rough transition to 10-nanometer manufacturing didn’t help, either. The decline was the steepest since the start of 2016, when Canalys recorded a 12 percent plunge.

Apple was the hardest hit among the top five, with shipments tumbling 21 percent compared to the start of 2019. However, everyone but Dell (which saw a 1.1 percent growth) was suffering, with HP and Acer seeing drop over 10 percent. Even frontrunner Lenovo saw shipments drop 4.4 percent.

There are no major changes from the existing models beyond the processor, although the Swift 3 is coming to market earlier than expected. To refresh your memory, the Swift 3 weighs in at a light 2.6 lbs with a fast-charging battery Acer says will run for 11.5 hours on a full charge.

The Aspire 5, meanwhile, gets the 6-core AMD Ryzen 5 4500U mobile processor with Radeon graphics for faster app-loading and smoother multitasking — useful for the model’s massive storage capabilities of up to 2TB HDD. The Swift 3 will be available in April starting at $630, while you’ll have to wait until June for the slightly more affordable Aspire 5, which will start at $520.