Fewer and fewer laptops are upgradeable these days , with most featuring sealed chassis that ca n’t be cracked open by the end user . And even if you could open up the chassis without particular tools and cognition , you would n’t find anything to upgrade inside .
That ’s why those few laptops that can be upgraded support out , even if the most you’re able to do is upgrade RAM or storage ( or both ) . Fortunately , some are among thebest laptopsyou can grease one’s palms , make them superscript choices if you remember you might take to make change later . Most of the good upgradeable laptop computer are large , simply because it ’s rarified that 14 - in or smaller laptop computer have user - approachable parts inside .
Quick Overview
Why you should trust us
Our expert laptop computer reader havetested and reviewed more than 500 laptopsover the years , look for for the best of the best . We ’ve review every kind of laptop available , from traditional clamshell laptop to a miscellanea of 2 - in-1s to game laptops to strange and advanced machines . We ’ve applied a consistent and dependable recipe to each of our reviews , pulling from a monumental database of carrying into action examination to make it potential for you to compare laptop computer with confidence .
Key considerations when selecting the best upgradeable laptop
Manufacturers release hundreds of laptop every year , all with many different attribute that we wish and dislike .
Performance
Relatively few modern laptop wo n’t keep up with the typical drug user ’s needs , and so you should vex about performance primarily if you ’re spending under $ 500 or have specific performance requirements . If you ’re a gamer , for instance , you ’ll want a dissipated discrete GPU that can conserve high inning rate . If you ’re a Divine , you ’ll require both a fast CPU ( whether Intel , AMD , or Apple ) and a profligate GPU that let you churn through editing complex photos and telecasting . The Francis Scott Key is to debar buying either more or less power than you need .
Portability
Laptops come in all form and sizes , with some more portable than others . If you need a sight of power and screenland real demesne for video and exposure redaction , then a 15 - in or big makes sense . But if you ’re a road warrior with a productiveness workflow and ask to cart a laptop around with you , then a 14 - column inch or smaller ( and lighter ) laptop computer spend a penny sense . barrage life also matters a draw unless you ’re willing to conduct a battery charger around with you .
Build quality
Laptops are meant to be handle and carry around , often in less than idealistic environment . Build character is therefore an important characteristic , and not all laptops are built the same . you could get well - built laptop that can stand up to some vilification whether you spend $ 500 or $ 5,000 , and the converse is on-key as well . So , be careful in choosing a laptop to check that it fit your lifestyle .
Price
Some people are made of money , but most of us are n’t . Therefore , a laptop ’s toll usually needs to conform to into a budget . People who make a living with their laptops can open a big investment , while a college bookman might be living ramen noodle to ramen noodle and so has a lot less to pass . Be willing to compromise if your budget is limited .
And more
Those criteria are just the tip of the iceberg . thing like webcam resolution , exhibit engineering and timbre , connectivity , design , keyboard , touchpad , loudspeaker system and more are also important . But do n’t worry , we work firmly to take the shot out of such things when we ’re reviewing and compare laptop computer .
The ultimate upgradable laptop
Framework Laptop
When we ’re talking about upgradeable laptops , we usually mean RAM and computer storage . But with the Framework Laptop , that ’s only the beginning . This is a laptop computer built from the undercoat up to make nearly ever component accessible , replaceable , and upgradeable . That includes thing like the motherboard ( and CPU ! ) , battery , and even the ports . That ’s ripe , you could even swap out which ports your laptop has , which has to be this laptop ’s most unique feature . Being able to promote even the motherboard and processor means you’re able to continue to upgrade this machine through the Framework Store to your heart ’s depicted object for many years .
If you did n’t lie with upgradeability was the core idea behind this laptop computer , you in all likelihood would n’t be able-bodied to severalise . This is a premium laptop through and through – making you question why more caller do n’t approach upgradability in a similar way .
The best upgradeable 15-inch laptop
Dell XPS 15 9530
Dell ’s XPS 15 has been our picking for the best 15 - in laptop computer for several eld , thanks to a win combination of design , progress quality , and performance . It ’s not the fastest or lightest laptop computer you could purchase , but it negociate to offer a lot of tycoon in a relatively thin and light material body that looks great .
you’re able to equip it with Intel 45 - James Watt , thirteenth - gen CPUs and fast Nvidia GPUs , making it capable of handling demanding creative thinking work flow . It start at a reasonable $ 1,499 for a Core i7 - 13700H , 16 GB of RAM , a 512 GB SSD , Intel Arc A370 M graphic , and a 15.6 - in FHD+ IPS display . If you need something more powerful , then you could fit out it with a faster Core i9 - 13900H , up to 64 GB of RAM , up to an RTX 4070 , as much as 8 TB of fast SSD storehouse , and a 3.5 K OLED video display that ’s gorgeous to look at and color - exact . You ’ll spend more , though – up to $ 4,349 when fully configured .
The nifty thing , though , is that you’re able to remove the shape bottom and gain access to the wireless card , RAM , and SSD slot for quick and loose upgrades . Regarding the latter , yes , there are two SSD slots , and so you do n’t require to get rid of the original SSD to add more storage space . So , you could spend a little less now , with confidence that you ’ll be able to elevate later . That makes the XPS 15 a flexible 15 - inch workhorse .
The best upgradeable 17-inch laptop
Dell XPS 17 9730
If you need an even tumid show , then you ca n’t go incorrect with the Dell XPS 17 . It share a common design with the XPS 15 , include the same attractive aesthetic and solid build quality . And if offers even faster execution . While it ’s naturally a great and heavier laptop , it still manages to remain comparatively thin and abstemious .
It uses the same fast components as the XPS 15 , except for the GPU . Not only are the equivalent Nvidia GPUs give more power in the XPS 17 , but the big machine also tender the incredibly degenerate RTX 4080 . The combination of a Core i9 and the RTX 4080 make believe for a superfast platform for editing the most complex photo and 4 K video . The XPS 17 is a turn more expensive , take up at $ 2,199 for a Core i7 - 13700H , 16 GB of RAM , a 512 GB SSD , an RTX 4050 , and a 17 - column inch FHD+ IPS showing . you’re able to pass as much as $ 5,099 for a Core i9 - 13900H , 64 GB of RAM , 8 TB of storage , an RTX 4080 , and a 17 - inch 4K+ IPS panel with excellent colors .
And like the XPS 15 , you may kill off the bottom cover and profit access to the Wi - Fi card , tup , and SSD slot ( two of them , again ) . And the OLED display is a jaw - drop 4K+ , make for an unbelievable viewing experience . It ’s rare to find out a 17 - inch laptop that you may easy carry around with you , and the XPS 17 is one such car .
The most upgradeable business laptop
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme is the most hefty extremity of the companionship ’s X1 serial of business laptops , and it shares the iconic ThinkPad figure and branding . That means it sports a black - on - black aesthetic with several ruddy dialect , including the glowing " i " in the ThinkPad logo on the eyelid and the cerise TrackPoint nubbin in the heart of the keyboard . It ’s construct of a mix of aluminum and carbon fibre and is as well built as the rest of the laptops on this inclination .
For now , the laptop computer utilize last - gen Intel Core processor , but they ’re all 45 - W variation with excellent performance . you’re able to choose Intel ’s vPro variant that will punch into enterprise direction organization for enhanced manageability and protection . And while the Nvidia GeForce options are again last - gen , they ’re still tight enough . The ThinkPad is an expensive laptop , starting at $ 1,650 for a Core i7 - 12700H , 8 GB of RAM , a 256 GB SSD , an RTX 3050 Ti , and a 16 - inch FHD+ IPS display . At the high end , it ’s $ 4,612 for a Core i9 - 12900H , 64 GB of RAM , a 4 TB SSD , an RTX 3080 Ti , and a 16 - inch 4K+ IPS display .
As with the other large laptops on our listing , the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5 has an easy - open physical body exposing the Wi - Fi bill , RAM slots , and SSD expansion slot ( yes , once again , two of them ) . Lenovo make it particularly easy to upgrade the laptop yourself , and that ’s very attractive to the ThinkPad ’s butt group of clientele client .
A rare 2-in-1 laptop that’s upgradeable
Microsoft Surface Pro 9
The vast bulk of 2 - in-1 laptop , especially tablets , ca n’t be elevate . They lean to be smaller devices with sealed soma , and so you demand to be particularly careful when choosing your contour . The Surface Pro 9 is dissimilar .
To begin with , it ’s the best detachable tablet 2 - in-1 available today . It ’s improbably sparse and illumination and sports an excellent 13 - inch 2.8 K video display . It support the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard with excellent primal switches and a comfortable touchpad , along with the Surface Pen 2 that has tactual feedback for a more naturalistic drawing and handwriting experience . It apply down in the mouth - power Intel 12th - gen CPUs for good performance and battery life . It starts at $ 1,000 for a Core i5 - 1235U , 8 GB of RAM , and a 128 GB SSD , and ramp up to $ 2,600 for a Core i7 - 1255U , 32 GB of RAM , and a 1 TB SSD . There ’s also an weapon system edition for enhanced barrage life .
But this is about upgradeability , and while the Surface Pro 9 is n’t as amply upgradeable as the other laptops on this list , it does allow for the easy swapping out of the SSD for a large rendering . Just hit a modest cover on the back underneath the keyboard , remove the existing SSD , and pop in a new one . Nothing could be easier , making the Surface Pro 9 a great upgradeable tab .
