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I test Windows laptops for a living, and these are the 7 features I can't pass up
Winsage
August 29, 2026

I test Windows laptops for a living, and these are the 7 features I can’t pass up

The author has spent five years testing laptops and has identified seven essential features for selecting a Windows laptop based on their experience and travel needs: 1. An OLED display for better contrast and deeper blacks. 2. A 14-inch chassis that is lightweight, ideal for travel. 3. At least 512GB of storage to accommodate large files. 4. At least one USB-A port for compatibility with older hardware. 5. All-day battery life, enhanced by Intel's "Lunar Lake" processors. 6. A backlit keyboard for usability in low-light environments. 7. No proprietary chargers, favoring USB-C for flexibility and convenience. The author notes that while many brands offer these features, pricing has been affected by the ongoing memory crisis, pushing preferred models into a higher price range.
Everything you need to head back to school with a new Dell PC is here — fast Windows laptops with essential accessories on sale
Winsage
August 19, 2026

Everything you need to head back to school with a new Dell PC is here — fast Windows laptops with essential accessories on sale

Dell's official store is offering discounts on PCs, with back-to-school deals providing savings of up to 0. The new Dell XPS 13 laptop features a 13.4-inch 2.5K touchscreen display with a 120Hz refresh rate, weighs 2.2 lbs, and is powered by a standard 65W USB-C AC adapter. It includes a built-in webcam for Windows Hello face unlock and USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports. The student pricing for the XPS 13 is 9.99, while the standard price is ,199.99.
One of our favorite Snapdragon X Plus Surface Laptops just dropped 27% — finally making it affordable again
Winsage
August 14, 2026

One of our favorite Snapdragon X Plus Surface Laptops just dropped 27% — finally making it affordable again

In April, Microsoft increased the prices of its Surface laptops due to the RAM crisis, making them less accessible for consumers. However, discounts are available, such as a 27% reduction on the Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition) at Best Buy, bringing its price to ,099.99. The laptop features a Snapdragon X Plus CPU, a 13.8-inch 2K touchscreen display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It offers impressive battery life of 18-19 hours and includes a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI applications. The device is suitable for professional and academic tasks and is noted for its durability and portability.
Students finally have real Windows laptop options that don't break the $1,000 barrier — head back to school with the right PC
Winsage
August 12, 2026

Students finally have real Windows laptop options that don’t break the $1,000 barrier — head back to school with the right PC

Dell's XPS 13 is priced starting at 9 and features Intel's "Wildcat Lake" processors with 8GB of high-speed LPDDR5x RAM. It weighs 2.2 lbs, making it a lightweight option for students. Dell's 16-inch model is priced at ,199, offering 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, while the 15-inch model provides 1TB of SSD storage. Microsoft is optimizing Windows 11 for devices with 8GB of RAM. Dell is offering back-to-school deals on its laptops.
Windows license price hikes could make PC even more expensive: Report
Winsage
August 12, 2026

Windows license price hikes could make PC even more expensive: Report

Windows laptops are facing challenges due to a persistent memory chip shortage and significant increases in Windows 11 licensing fees announced by Microsoft. These fees are rising by 7% to 10% starting in July, with higher-end devices seeing larger increases. As a result, the prices of current PC models are expected to rise, affecting consumers who purchase laptops and desktops with pre-installed operating systems. Individual Windows 11 licenses remain unchanged for DIY users. The ongoing AI boom has intensified the shortage of essential components like RAM and SSD storage chips, leading companies such as Dell and Microsoft to raise laptop prices. Experts warn that the situation, referred to as "RAMageddon," may worsen as the year progresses.
How to remap the Windows 11 Copilot key and restore your missing Right Ctrl button
Winsage
July 30, 2026

How to remap the Windows 11 Copilot key and restore your missing Right Ctrl button

The Copilot key, introduced by Microsoft on Windows laptops over two years ago, is located to the right of the spacebar and provides access to Microsoft's Copilot AI. This key has been adopted by various manufacturers, including Lenovo, Dell, and HP, and is now found on many laptops even if they are not labeled as Copilot+ models. The key can replace the Right Ctrl key or the Context menu key, which may disrupt users' workflows. Microsoft plans to release an update for Windows 11 that will allow users to remap the Copilot key to function as the Right Ctrl key or the Context menu key. Two methods to remap the Copilot key include using Windows settings and Microsoft's PowerToys Keyboard Manager. Users can test the remapped functionality and revert changes if needed.
'The problem with Windows machines is that they have Windows on them': Microsoft clearly faces an uphill struggle as it defends Windows 11 laptops, firing shots at MacBook Neo
Winsage
July 2, 2026

‘The problem with Windows machines is that they have Windows on them’: Microsoft clearly faces an uphill struggle as it defends Windows 11 laptops, firing shots at MacBook Neo

A viral video on X showcased the MacBook Neo's superiority over a generic Windows laptop, specifically an HP Victus gaming model, which raised questions about the fairness of the comparison. Microsoft responded by highlighting the Dell XPS 13's features and competitive pricing, especially as Apple increased the MacBook Neo's price. However, Microsoft is facing challenges with its Surface lineup, including price hikes and rumors of discontinuing more affordable models like the Surface Go 4 and Surface Laptop Go 3. Reports indicate that these devices are becoming harder to find, and the Surface Laptop Go 3 has been replaced by a more expensive model. Additionally, public sentiment on platforms like Reddit reflects skepticism towards Windows laptops, with concerns about Windows updates and overall reliability persisting despite improvements in Windows 11.
3 Old Windows Laptops Still Worth Buying In 2026
Winsage
July 2, 2026

3 Old Windows Laptops Still Worth Buying In 2026

In 2026, the laptop purchasing landscape is affected by a price crisis due to AI data center demands, leading to higher costs for RAM, storage, and processors. Buyers are advised to consider laptops manufactured between 2019 and 2024 for compatibility with Windows 11, which requires a minimum of 4GB of RAM, with 8GB being the practical baseline and 16GB recommended for everyday tasks. 1. The Acer Swift X (2022) features an RTX 3050 Ti mobile chip, a Ryzen 5825U processor, and 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM, priced under ,000, and has a 4.4/5 rating on Amazon. 2. The Dell Latitude 7330 (2022) has a 1080p display, an Intel i5-1245U processor, and 16GB of RAM, available for around 0 from third-party sellers, and offers a convertible design. 3. The Acemagic LX15Pro is priced under 0, powered by a 5700U processor, has 16GB of RAM and a 512GB storage drive, and holds a 4.8/5 rating on Best Buy. The laptops were selected based on affordability, compatibility with Windows 11, and availability across multiple retailers.
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