Best Laptops For Streaming Videos

When you’re looking for a new laptop it can be really overwhelming as there are just so many options nowadays.

A good computer salesperson will always ask you what you think your main usage of the laptop will be, and if you already know the answer to that is streaming videos then you’re already one step ahead.

This article will act as your definitive guide to purchasing the best laptop for you, with our top picks included below. 

Now a common mistake people make when they’re looking for a streaming laptop is that they overlook the importance of the processor.

You won’t need a gaming or editing level processor but depending on your choice of streaming platform or browser, your computer could struggle to handle the load of high-resolution video.  

Sites like youtube use very heavy compression so that 4K resolution videos don’t need the bandwidth or computing power that a raw 4K video would. If you use a browser like Chrome for all of your streaming then your processor won’t be the problem, it’ll be the amount of ram you have.

RAM essentially dictates how many programs you can have open and then the speed of switching between those programs. Google’s Chrome browser is actually terribly optimized for ram and can eat through a normal amount of gigs with 3 or 4 tabs open. 

The screen you get with the laptop will make a huge difference to your streaming experience. There are a few things we’re looking for here but mainly the resolution and the panel type.

The resolution dictates the definition of the image (HD, QHD, or 4K UHD), and the panel type defines the color reproduction/accuracy so for watching shows, videos, and movies the better the color reproduction the better the viewing experience.

We could also look at the aspect ratio as some laptops come in odd form factors but with most videos and shows using a 16:9 aspect ratio, we’ll set this as our standard. 

We’ve also evaluated the audio options that come with each laptop, the likelihood is you’ll be using some type of headphone/earphone to listen to your shows but if you don’t then we’ll be looking out for you. 

The last feature we’ll be looking at is the battery life and charging capabilities. The worst thing is when you’re halfway through a movie and you get that pesky ‘Low battery, please charge’ warning.

You want to make sure that the laptop can get through those rainy day binge sessions. If the battery itself can’t stand up to the test then a good charging cable will have to do.

We’ll also include a summarised buyer’s guide if you want to make sure you’re getting the best device for your streaming needs.

In a rush?

Has the new season of your favorite show just dropped on Netflix and you can’t wait to get your bing on?

No problem we’ve got our top pick for you right here and just a few reasons why we love it:

Gigabyte AERO 15 OLED 

This laptop includes all of the major features needed for a good streaming laptop and caps them out at the best possible offering.

• Samsung OLED 4k 60Hz Screen.
• 94Wh Battery.
• RGB keyboard for easy typing in the dark.
• Windows Hello fingerprint scanner.
• 512GB SSD

Best Laptops For Streaming Videos – Reviews

1. Gigabyte AERO 15 OLED

This laptop’s the epitome of a streaming laptop, with the amazing Samsung OLED 4K screen and even enough computing power for you to run a couple of games if you want to. This laptop is the full package.

The OLED technology that comes included with this monitor is normally only found in high-end televisions.

It is a new panel type that changes each pixel to a separate LED light that can turn on and off when needed meaning this is the only screen type that you’ll be able to experience true blacks on.

A standard IPS or LCD screen will always have the backlight bleed through to pixels that are meant to be black so OLED removes that issue. 

On top of the best possible viewing experience Gigabyte has included Nahimic 3 Surround sound tech that was actually designed for gaming. If you wanted to use your Bluetooth headset this laptop comes equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 for the best audio response and low latency.

The AERO 15 also comes with a 9th generation intel i7 processor which basically means that it can deal with any video encoder or playback without any interruption to you. The laptop also comes with an Nvidia 1660ti video card which means your 4k video playback will never stutter.

Pair these with the 16GB of RAM you could have 20 different Youtube videos open in 20 separate tabs and the laptop wouldn’t break a sweat.

The Storage in the laptop is a 512GB SSD which means that your pc will load up within seconds, you won’t be waiting for programs like the Netflix app to open. 

With a Killer Wi-Fi 6 chip, this beast can stream up to 2.4Gbps. To put that into perspective that’s almost 100 4K videos playing simultaneously. You might want to get onto AT&T about upping your internet speeds.

The laptop has a built-in 94Wh Battery that Gigabyte claims can last up to 8.5 hours of constant usage so your binge sessions will not be interrupted.

You might be thinking that all of this tech crammed into a 15.6-inch laptop would make it bulky and cumbersome but Gigabyte has combated that issue with a compressed aluminum body.

This makes the laptop only 0.8 inches thick and 4.4lbs total. You will not be getting that uncomfortable dead leg feeling during the long watch sessions.    

Pros

• OLED Screen for best possible viewing.
• Nahimic Surround Sound tech for cinema-quality audio.
• Physical camera cover and Windows Hello fingerprint scanner for increased privacy.
• Video card and i7 processor provide enough power for heavy usage.
• 8.5 hour battery life is ideal for long viewing sessions.

Cons

•   Fans can get quite loud under heavy load.

Buy‌ ‌Here:‌ ‌‌Amazon‌ ‌

2. Lenovo Yoga C740-15.6″ FHD Touch

Our 2nd pick is a great option from Lenovo’s Yoga line, these laptops are great for video streaming for a few reasons but the USP of the Yoga is its keyboard’s ability to fold back behind the screen.

This gives you an uninterrupted view of the screen and removes the chance you’ll accidentally tap pause or esc during the climax of your favorite show.

You might be thinking ‘but how do I control the laptop with the keyboard and trackpad folded behind it?’ Lenovo thought about that and made the monitor a touchscreen. So you can skip the intro on Netflix as you would on your phone or tablet, just tap it.

The 15.6-inch laptop screen has an IPS panel to support its media viewing capabilities. IPS offers great viewing angles and decent color accuracy (not as good as OLED but still very good).

The screen is also FHD which means that even though you might not be able to view 4K or even 2K videos you’ll still get 1080p which the majority of content currently is.

The Yoga C740 is powered by a 10th generation i5 chip that can deal with most daily tasks and video streaming with no issues. It also has 12GB of RAM so you will be able to multitask without lag.

All of this is backed up by a 13.5-hour battery so you won’t have to worry about dimming your screen to get those extra 20 minutes of watch time.

Pros

• 15.6 inch 1080p folding touchscreen offers an unobstructed viewing experience.
• Quad-core Ultra-low-voltage i5 processor gives ample power for all streaming services.
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 5 support for a totally wireless experience.
• 13.5-hour battery for long watching sessions.
• 256GB for fast boot up times

Cons

• Quite heavy for a laptop without a video card and extra cooling (4.2lbs)

Buy‌ ‌Here:‌ ‌‌Amazon‌ ‌

3. New Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1 Chip

At Number 3 we’ve got an option for the Apple fans out there and the new MacBook Air with the M1 chip is a worthy entrant.

Apple’s macOS offers a smooth and professional-feeling experience for anyone trying to enjoy a couple of shows. The usability of Apple’s system is really demonstrated in the user experience.

This laptop has been designed with Apple TV in mind so you can guarantee a great viewing experience on it especially if you’re using Apple’s streaming service.

Apple has spared no expense with the monitor on this device. You get a familiar feeling retina display with P3 wide color gamut meaning the color representation is going to be amazing. All this is to enhance your experience while streaming.

The M1 MacBook Air comes with an Octa-core CPU meaning everything will be running smoothly and you will never experience frame drops in any of your watching.

Pros

• macOS for a smoother more familiar feeling user experience.
• Retina display with Apple’s true tone and a P3 wide color gamut.
• Wi-Fi 6 for up to 1.2Gbps streaming.
• Up to 18 hour battery life.

Cons

• If you aren’t used to using MacOS or OSx this laptop will feel foreign to you.

Buy‌ ‌Here:‌ ‌‌Amazon‌ ‌

4. XIDU 12.5″ Tour Pro Touchscreen Laptop

The Penultimate laptop on our list is from a relatively unknown brand XIDU. The laptop is not the most powerful nor the biggest but it is the king of portability. At 12.5 inches this is the smallest laptop on our list (0.8 inches smaller than the MacBook).

So for streaming videos, you would need to have the laptop a bit closer to you, but not too close because this mini hero packs a 2k (1440p or QHD) screen that sits between FHD and UHD.

The pixel density on the screen means you won’t be able to see the separate pixels unless your nose was touching the screen.

The screen is also a touchscreen which alongside its size puts the laptop somewhere between a tablet and pc.

With an Intel Celeron processor and 8GB of RAM, this laptop isn’t going to run any games or let you have too many programs opened at once but it’s more than adequate for streaming some Netflix or Prime Video.

Pros

• Compact size and 2.65lbs weight makes it perfect for carrying around in a backpack or large purse.
• 2k QHD IPS display makes this ideal for streaming videos.
• Backlit keyboard for typing in the dark.
• Fingerprint sensor increases privacy.
• The 8 hour battery offers enough power for a long watch session.

Cons

• The lack of a high powered processor limits this laptop to mainly streaming only.

Buy‌ ‌Here:‌ ‌‌Amazon‌ ‌

5. Acer Aspire 5 15.6″ FHD 1080P Laptop

Our final pick is the Aspire 5 from Acer. Acer has a great history of making reasonably priced reliable laptops and this one is no exception.

The Aspire 5 comes with a Ryzen 3 processor which alongside 12GB of RAM will tackle any of your streaming needs with little to no difficulty.

The Ryzen processor is AMD’s answer to the i3 processors from intel but this one in particular beats out the i5 in certain cases. 

The monitor on this laptop is an FHD IPS screen so you won’t have to worry about viewing angles and colors will really pop. Acer has also made this a 15.6 inch display which is ample for viewing in bed, on the couch, or even in a cafe.

The keyboard is also backlit for easy operation in low light conditions. 

Pros

• 15.6 inch FHD IPS screen offers great streaming visuals.
• Ryzen 3 and 12GB of RAM can power through most tasks.
• 7 hour battery is enough for Netflix to ask if you’re still watching.
• The backlit keyboard makes typing way easier in the dark.

Cons

• A single downward firing speaker means audio isn’t the best but Bluetooth and audio jack are included.

Buy‌ ‌Here:‌ ‌‌Amazon‌ ‌

Best Laptops For Streaming Videos Buyer’s Guide

We’ve mostly gone through what you need to know when looking for a streaming laptop but we’ve also added some minimum specs for you to see what you should be looking for at the very minimum. 

• At least 1080p Screen resolution.
• IPS or OLED Panel type.
• 8-16GB of RAM.
• SSD storage for quick boot ups.
• Minimum of 7 hour battery life.
• Bluetooth and 1/8th inch jack for audio.
• Intel i3 or Ryzen 3 Processor. 

As long as your new laptop meets these specifications as a bare minimum then you should have a great streaming experience.

You won’t experience stuttering, buffering, waiting to open browsers/apps or the dreaded loading icon (as long as your internet can keep up).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I not stream videos on a 720p monitor? 

Of course, you can, videos can be streamed on any screen all the way down to 144p, however, most videos are a minimum of 1080p (FHD).

So streaming that content on a lesser monitor means you’re willingly leaving out certain parts of your favorite show.

Imagine a sensor bar covering the middle of your screen, this is effectively the same but that censor bar is evenly distributed across the whole video.