Overall score includes:

Design and use (35%) includes status lights/indicators, connections, laptop design, general use as a laptop, overall style and mobility as well as evaluating its security, manual and recovery options (if provided). For hybrids we also test laptop-to-tablet conversion and general use as a tablet. We also assess the audio quality of the speaker.

Performance (25%) is assessed using 3 benchmark software tools to evaluate the laptop’s performance during a range of tasks as well as its storage capabilities.

Battery life (20%) looks at the battery consumption for both heavy and light usage. Heavy usage is defined as playing an HD-quality video on loop, with power management features set for maximum performance, screen brightness at 100% and connected to a network with WiFi. Light usage is daily tasks, such as browsing the internet and checking email.

Display (20%) includes colour accuracy, brightness, depth and contrast, vertical and horizontal angle of view and glare and surface reflections.