I need help to choose a laptop with high portability and low emissions

Laptops Suggest a Laptop
1

I am a game developer; I need a PC that I can code on. My games are indie and modest, so I don’t need something super beefy (though the beefier the better!).

What matters even more is low heat. I can’t stand heat coming from my keyboard or on my legs (I sometimes code on my actual lap). Fan noise is very bothersome to me too, and cuts in my productivity like a splinter.

I move around a lot with my laptop, so battery life matters to me.

So, these are the most important aspects for me, in that order:

  1. Low heat
  2. Low fan noise
  3. Good battery life

Also, mandatory: must be able to run Linux. I got a Macbook air, and a Macbook pro, and while the machinery is pretty extraordinary, I am unable to get used to MacOS. I ended up reselling those machines. I want something that has the attributes of Mac, but will run Linux (And Asahi is still troublesome as a daily driver).

Apart for those 4 imperatives, well, I want the most powerful laptop that it is possible to get, while keeping the imperatives in mind.

I’ve rounded up a few laptops and put them in a matrix in this document.

The top 5 laptops that come up with my very own homecooked and weird rating system are:

  • Zenbook S14
  • ProArt P16
  • Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 13
  • Vivobook S14
  • Legion 5i

I’m open to more suggestions though, comments, etc.

Note: my matrix does list a Macbook Pro, but that’s just to have an anchor point; I do not actually consider a Mac.

Thanks in advance for any thought or help you can afford!

2

From all the models you mentioned, the pro art p16 meets your criteria, I would recommend that one for your use case.

3

A new model just came out, I’ll suggest waiting for the review on the channel to see how it performs

4

Ah that’s interesting, I’ll wait indeed, it does seem like the most interesting laptop of the bunch.

5

ProArt P16 for sure out fo that list imo. AMD CPU tends to be more efficient in that kind of laptop

6

Thanks! Do you guys plan to review the new version sometime in a near future? No pressure, just because I’d be eager to watch. I do think your channel is very good.

7

Zenbook’s are warm to touch if used much.

ProArt P16 is a good choice. But if pushed a lot, fan becomes quite noticible.

ThinkPad X1 carbon is also a good choice, you get the best keyboard in the market, typing would feel great, it’s built like a tank, and it’s a buisness laptop so fan noise will not be a issue. Although I do not know if the thinkpads have the rtx gpu in your region or not. So check this.

Vivobook not recommended.

Legion 5i is a powerful machine (compatible to the M4 pro/max). But failes in the battery life requirement, if you are okay with 5-8 hours battery life in normal use them you can get it.

Realistically speaking, choose between the ThinkPad X1, or the ProArt. I prefer the ProArt because it’s the most powerful from the bunch.