One of the most frequent questions I get asked is "what laptop should I get to watch movies ?". While I'm always happy to answer the question, I figured it'd just be faster if I listed out some of the very best laptops for watching movies out in one article, and just sending everyone a link.
At this point, most of what we do online (when you're not working at least, hopefully) is probably finding something to watch. Now that video streaming platforms like Netflix has become the norm, you see more and more people adapting to the times, even my grandma knows how to browse a streaming catalogue by now.
That being said, we're going to be listing out some of the best laptops for watching movies to get you properly equipped with a dependable, mobile theater. Wait wait wait, by now I'm sure you're thinking "I've already got a laptop, and I can watch movies on that already". And while you're right, there are certain features that can greatly enhance your viewing and audio experience. That's what we're going to try and focus on some features that you may not notice and skip all together.
Before that though, let's go over the minimum and recommended system specs to get a better idea of what to look for out of the best laptop for watching movies.
Minimum System Specs
The best laptop for watching movies is definitely going to cover these base specs, and more likely than not, overpower them fairly easily. These aren't all the specs you're going to want to find, but it's the most prominent specs to look for when you're on the search for any laptop really.
Display
The most influential part of any movie watching experience is going to be the display you're watching it on. There's a reason people are still watching movies in movie theaters and spend tons of money creating their own home studio. As such, the base display resolution to look for on the best laptop for watching Blu-Ray movies is going to be a Full HD resolution at 1920 x 1080. A Full HD resolution display is par the course for most laptops on the market these days and is a fairly easy spec to match up to. Most content you'll find available online with match up well to the relatively high 1080p resolution be it either streaming movies and TV.
A 1920 x 1080 display panel are also pretty cost effective, making it an accessible, vibrant viewing experience. You could opt for a pricier, heavy hitting 4K display to get the very best experience while you watch your favorite movies, but considering the price tag for the upgrade as well as the availability of content in 4K when you stream movies, it might not be a great choice for everyone. Either way, the best laptop for streaming and watching a movie will have at least a 1920 x 1080 display resolution. Any less and you may just be missing out on something integral to the overall movies or TV binging experience.
Processor
Now considering you have access to a wide catalogue of HD movies and TV series at the touch of your fingertips thanks to streaming platforms, the processor isn't going to be playing too much of a role here. But as a laptop, the processor is still a very influential part of the whole. As such, you're probably going to want to invest in a somewhat competent processor to help on your other laptop tasks like browsing the internet, working on documents, presentations, Zoom calls, etc. We're going to be recommending you find a best laptop for watching movies with at least an Intel Core i3 or better.
This amounts to plentiful of processors available to choose from such as the 8th Generation Intel Core i3-8130U, Intel Core i5-8250U, etc. But do keep in mind that a processor like the Intel Core i3-8130U is perfectly capable of handling normal, everyday tasks, you probably won't get as much performance and longevity as you would with processors from a recently released generation like the 10th/11th Generation of Intel Core processors. For those looking for something just to stream movies with, you could opt for something like the Intel Celeron, AMD Athlon series processors. The Intel Celeron is fairly weak to competing processors, but should get the job done.
For those looking for the best both worlds though, you can't go wrong with a recently released Intel Core i5 processor.
RAM/Storage
The RAM and storage your laptop comes with is another important spec to look for when it comes to laptops. Considering your usage patterns when looking for a laptop for watching movies, you're not gonna need too much out of the laptop's spec sheet. As such, similar to the processor, we're going to be recommending some bare minimum specs for an all-round laptop. You should aim to find at least 4GB RAM capacity and at least 128GB SSD storage option for your dedicated laptop for watching movies.
The great thing about these specs is that while not overly expensive or powerful, they're going to not only provide a great setup for watching movies, but also for other tasks such as listening to music, working, watching YouTube, or streaming movies.
These two features shouldn't have too much of an effect when you're watching HD movies, but it's good to understand and get a laptop that'll give you better value in the long run.
Graphics Card
The last 'normal' spec you're going to have to be wary of is going to be the graphics card your laptop is equipped with. Now considering you're looking to find a companion for watching movies, the graphics card is going to be of lesser concern for you. Unless you were looking to do some gaming or using graphically intense software like PhotoShop or InDesign on the laptop.
With that in mind, for users looking for a laptop for watching movies, we're going to recommend not caring too much about this spec to save yourself some cash in the GPU department. Most users will more than likely be capable of handling day-to-day tasks like listening to music and sorting through emails with a Integrated GPU. There are a wide variety of Integrated GPUs available like the Intel HD graphics or AMD Ryzen series that suits the task well.
While something like an AMD Ryzen would be sufficient for normal, everyday use, if you even have the slightest chance of gaming on the laptop, consider a dedicated or better overall laptop spec sheet.
Recommended System Specs
Now that we've gone through the minimum spec sheet, let's take a look at what we recommend for a laptop for watching movies. While some of these specs aren't going to be directly affecting your experience while watching movies, they're still very important for the laptop market and your overall experience.
Display
The first spec we're going to go over is the display because, well, it's the piece of hardware you'll be interacting with the most while you're watching a movie. Therefore, we're going to be recommending you find a laptop with at least a Full HD screen resolution similar to our base spec. This is because for the most part, you're going to come across laptops with this exact screen resolution. A Full HD 1920 x 1080 display is pretty much the norm at this point and does what it does, very well. But if you were more keen on finding better than a Full HD display, your best bet is going to be a 4K display resolution.
With a 4K resolution, you're going to be experiencing some of the sharpest visuals, clarity, and vibrancy on a laptop display you've ever seen. There's a lot to love about the resolution and it will undoubtedly be the best you can get right now. The caveat here though is these laptops will cost you much, much more than a Full HD display. If you were comfortable with this though, I'd highly recommend finding a laptop with the high-end display resolution.
Processor
Next up, we're going to be talking about the processor your laptop for watching movies comes with. Pretty similar to what we mentioned before, for the best, you're going to want to find a laptop with an Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 processor. In all honesty, something like a 10th Generation Intel Core i5 is more than plenty for most users. But if you wanted the best, it's going to be an Intel Core i7 or better.
The processor won't have too much impact on your movie streaming experience but it will come in handy for your day-to-day performance as well as in high-intensive programs like editing software, gaming, graphic design, etc. Theoretically, a better CPU and GPU will have an effect on streaming, but considering modern processors and laptops, this isn't that big of an issue as it was 5-10 years ago. Rest assured, the laptops we'll be featuring will be more than capable of handling all your movie needs.
RAM/Storage
Two more specs that will definitely have an impact on your laptop's performance is going to be the RAM and storage capabilities. We're recommending users find a laptop with at least 4-8GB of RAM and a slight upgrade to a 256GB SSD storage capacity. Firstly, the RAM your laptop comes with is a very important spec which determines how smooth your overall multi-tasking and loading experience is. Therefore, we've made it slightly adjustable to your preferences with either a 4-8GB RAM capacity. You won't be needing much more than this if all you're using it for is to watch movies, so keep that in mind.
The storage on the other hand is, to me, a much more important spec when talking about movies. Your storage capacity will directly impact how much you can store on the laptop's built-in HDD or SSD. As such, if you're going to be downloading higher-quality movies and TV shows, you're going to need some extra space to keep it all. Even if you weren't the type to download movies, I'd still recommend a 256GB SSD for your normal everyday use as it's the right balance of price, storage capacity, and speed.
Graphics Card
The last spec to be wary of is going to be the graphics card. Again, for those of you who really have no interest in gaming or using highly-intensive graphical software, you're better off with an integrated GPU. But I figured I should mention that if you wanted a laptop not only for watching movies, but to play video games, then you should look at the graphics card spec a little more in detail. If this is the case, you should definitely be on the look for a laptop with a dedicated graphics card like an NVIDIA GeForce GTX or NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU.
Those are pretty much all the specs you're going to need to check out when buying a laptop for watching movies. But that's not all the features though, so let's take a minute to check out some important extras to further enhance your mobile streaming capabilities.
Other Features To Look For
Bumping Sound System
One of the most integral parts of any good movie-going experience has to be the audio capabilities that goes along with the stunning visuals. Some movies do a better job at immersing you with quality sound mastering, but to help immerse yourself a little further is by getting a laptop with a capable audio setup.
This could mean any number of things, but some audio capabilities to look for include dual/quad-core speaker setups, bass boost tech, Dolby Atmos support, audio-tuned speakers by reputable companies like Beats, Harman/Kardon, JBL, etc.
Having a great audio setup will not only make watching movies more immersive, but you'll also have better sound quality when listening to music, watching YouTube videos, and basically anything utilizing the laptop's speakers.
Portability: Theater In A Bag
Another great feature that I think most users would appreciate is having a laptop that's actually easy to carry around. Trust me, once you use a laptop that doesn't give you a backache at the end of the day, you're never going back.
Having a portable laptop would mainly mean it has to come with a slim design, lightweight, and can last a couple of hours on a single charge. This will be a very helpful feature when you're bringing your laptop around and catching a movie or two on-the-go, or even when you're moving around at home.
Battery Power
The last feature we'd recommend you find for the best laptop for watching movies is going to be the laptop's battery capability. Not all laptop batteries are created equally, and as such, we're going to recommend you find a laptop with at least 7 hours of battery life on a single charge.
It shouldn't be too hard to find, but having a long battery life will be helpful for your overall experience, and making sure your battery doesn't die out during crucial movie scenes. Sounds pretty important to me, at least.
Best Laptop For Watching Movies
1. Acer Aspire 5
The first laptop we'll be featuring in our search is going to be a dependable mid-range laptop, the Acer Aspire 5. This laptop doesn't do anything too special, but it makes up for it by giving you a great value-for-money proposition with a solid spec sheet and overall package. The Acer Aspire 5 features a 15.6-inches Full HD IPS display with an 82.58% screen-to-body ratio.
On the internals, the Acer Aspire 5 truly shines with an impressive array of specs including a 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with quad-cores and up to 4.20GHz Max frequency. This is supported by 8GB of RAM, and a modest 256GB SSD storage capacity. You'll also find an Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics card for some light gaming and design work.
Last but not least, the laptop features a few more extras including a backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, Wi-Fi 6 support, Acer TrueHarmony audio, and up to 8.5 hours of battery life.
Next up, we've got another fantastic value-champ coming into the ring, the Dell Inspiron 15. This laptop comes with a sleek, minimalistic aesthetic which shows on the stunning display. With the Dell Inspiron 15, you'll get a 15.6-inches FHD display and a very generous screen-to-body ratio. Another great feature for movie-buffs is going to be the inclusion CinemaColor, where you can edit the color on the display to your choosing, with better vibrancy and sharpness.
On the internal specs, the Dell Inspiron still has plenty to offer with the latest Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor. The laptop comes with 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD to support everything you need to do on the laptop. For the graphics, you can expect an integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics GPU. Considering the price, the spec sheet holds up well against other laptops in the price category.
There are a few more great extras on the laptop such as an SD card reader, backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, WavesMaxx Audio Pro for listening to music and movies, ports including USB Type-C, USB 3.1 Type A, HDMI port, and up to 7 hours of battery life.
Of course, what would a list of the 'best laptops' for watching movies be without one of Apple's own making an appearance in the list. This time, we're featuring the moderately priced Apple MacBook Air which has plenty to offer Apple fans and new comers alike. Starting things off, the Apple MacBook Air comes with a 13.3-inch Retina display with some great on-board screen tech including True Tone technology and a P3 wide color gamut.
For its performance, the Apple MacBook Air comes with Apple's latest attempt at a processor, the Apple M1 Chip. The laptop also features 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD to support the processor which isn't too bad for the price. Keep in mind that you may find better value with some other laptops on the list, and look into this one if you really wanted an Apple laptop or are already part of Apple's extensive ecosystem.
There are a few more features that'll excite consumers including a backlit Magic keyboard, Touch ID, HD FaceTime webcam, Wi-Fi 6 support and up to a staggering 18 hours of battery life one a single charge. There isn't any dedicated audio tech that's been highlighted, but you can expect quality sound since it is Apple after all.
The next laptop on our search for the best movie watching companions is going to be a powerhouse gaming laptop, the Acer Predator Helios 300. This isn't the usual genre of laptop you'd expect, but there's nothing stopping you from streaming a movie on this so why not right? The Acer Predator Helios 300 features a whopping 17.3-inches FHD display with a speedy 144Hz refresh rate.
Under the hood, as expected of a gaming laptop we're met with a formidable lineup of specs. Starting things off is a capable Intel Core i7 processor from the 9th Generation Intel lineup. You also get a whopping 16GB of RAM capacity and a sizable 512GB SSD storage capacity. For your graphical performance, you're met with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti.
The show's not done just yet folks as the Acer Predator Helios 300 has some solid extras including a 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard, WavesMaxx Audio for listening to music, on-board cooling tech, ports including a HDMI port, USB 3.1 Type-A and Type-C, and up to 6 hours of battery life.
For those of you looking for a truly budget laptop, boy, have I got the one for you right here. Not only is this the most affordable laptop on the list, it also manages to do so without sacrificing much in terms of value and features. This laptop is none other than the Lenovo Flex 5 , a value champ in the 2-in-1 laptop category. The Lenovo Flex 5 features a 14-inch FHD touch screen which you can use as a tablet thanks to the 360º hinge.
For its performance, the Lenovo Flex 5 isn't lacking at all with a reliable AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor at the helm. The processor is supported by a generous 16GB RAM capacity and a 256GB SSD which should be more than capable for everyday use.
There are a few more standout features to be excited about including a digital pen included in the package, quick charge, SD card reader, physical webcam privacy shutter, Dolby Audio speakers, and up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge.
Last, but certainly not least, we've got an impressive laptop which has everything you could ask for at a very reasonable price point. The HP Pavilion 15 is built to impress on both the design front and its performance. The first feature you'll notice about the HP Pavilion 15 is going to be the 15.6-inches FHD Micr0-edge display with almost non-existent bezels on all four corners.
For its performance, the HP Pavilion 15 comes with a powerhouse 11th Generation Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a sizable 512GB SSD. Based on the spec sheet so far, this is going to be one of the most impressively specced laptops on the list compared to how much you have to pay for it. A great bargain for those looking for one of the better performers on the list.
The last few features the laptop has to show include B&O tuned speakers, backlit keyboard, Windows 10 Pro, Wi-Fi 6 support, fingerprint reader, and up to 8 hours of battery power.
Conclusion
And that's all folks! Those are some of the best laptops for watching movies around and for good reason. Now it's up to you and what you're looking for to find your perfect content consumption partner.
But, we're going to need to pick just one as the absolute best of the best, and this time it's going to be the HP Pavilion 15!
This laptop has everything going for it and positions itself as a fantastic productivity and entertainment machine for a great price. It's got everything you'd need from dependable performance, a stunningly beautiful design aesthetic, and a reasonable price tag. All that plus the on-board features? It's a steal when you think about it.
