Looking for the Best Laptop for Streaming movies, then you came in the right place. A laptop is not just a work machine, but full packs of entertainment. Back when laptops launched, they had a heavy design, bulky weight and low performance, but things changed rapidly.
Brands started recognizing that users require more and more lightweight design and astonishing performance. Users pick a laptop that is a potent combination of work and entertainment. Many brands quickly understand this concept, and some still stick with the old design.
So, while you are searching for the best laptop, you need to understand that not all machines come with full integration of specs, some lack more and others lack tiny features. As the rise of streaming service, users prefer to stream movies online without storing it on the devices.
So, you don’t need a laptop with a gigantic space or data storing capacity. A laptop pack with decent storage is fairly enough for you. Furthermore, it’s crucial to see whether the laptop OS supports streaming apps or not; there are some cases where the laptop doesn’t meet streaming specs requirements.
Most of the windows and Mac supports all streaming platforms apps; however, Chromebooks lacks some features in this. While several laptops claim to be best for multi-purpose, not all of them are ideal for streaming movies.
As you know, people prefer devices from a smartphone to a high-end tablet to a mid-range laptop for streaming movies, but not all of them give an enjoyable experience. Surely, some are best, but it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.
So, what are you going to do? Don’t worry; we got you covered. We have listed the best Laptop for Streaming movies 2020 that packs with full specs and powerful performance along with the great display size.
Before we jump to the list, let’s look at some specs which need to be considered while picking a laptop.
Best Laptop For Streaming Movies 2021 – Buying Guide
1) Display
A display size allows you to stream movies with clarity and vivid colour. Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ give various video quality depending on the user’s comfort. A great display needs to support 1080P video quality; otherwise, the movie experience will be dull and lacks some amazing visuals. Apart from a full HD display, 4K and UHD screen will give a satisfying streaming movies experience, albeit if you have splurge to spend.
2) Graphics/GPU
Do you like movies about dragons and dungeons, then you need high-end graphics. When you stream fantasy or animated movies, you need great visuals and accurate, Vivid colours. Nowadays, most laptops sport an i3 processor and smoothly stream movies. But for stunning movies streaming and experience, you’ll need graphics that build with high quality and run smoothly. My personal choice for graphics is NVIDIA graphics that packs with high-end performance and marvellous visuals.
3) RAM
Most of the streaming services allow streaming videos in two ways, either from the website or apps. When you stream movies some heavy graphics give loads to the laptop, so you need great RAM which can deliver high-end performance throughout streaming. A laptop with 4 GB of RAM can give enough data to the laptop so that you can experience hassle-free streaming. However, streaming the films at glory; you need at least 8 GB of RAM. The more, the merrier.
4) Lightweight
When you have a habit of streaming movies on the laptop, the small screen will be no fun for you. You tempted to take a laptop everywhere you go and even while travelling. A heavy laptop is hard on your shoulders and gives pains, albeit, lightweight design is extremely portable and easily packs on your bag. So stick with a lightweight laptop.
5) Battery
If you’re a big fan of TV series or long hours movies like Lord of the rings, a laptop with long battery life is the right choice for you. In addition to this, a long battery life laptop can be the best travel partner for you. In my experience, a laptop with 5 hours of battery life is the right choice for streaming movies.
6) Storage
Streaming movies don’t require big storage at all, but when you prefer to download movies from the website, it certainly requires decent space on the laptop. We don’t recommend going for 500 GB storage, though, 128 GB SSD will be more than enough for storing movies collection.
7) Processor
How your laptops perform during multitasking solely depends on the processor, surely, upgrading RAM can give seamless multitasking, but for a short period. For a long time, you need a supercharged processor that inherits with at least 5th generation. You can go even further if it requires.
Best Laptop For Streaming Movies 2021
We do lots of research and test several laptops to catalogue the list for Best Laptop for streaming movies check it out.
1) Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Gaming Laptop
2) Dell Inspiron 15
3) ASUS Vivobook S15
4) Acer Aspire 5
5) Huawei MateBook X Pro
6) Lenovo Flex 14 – Best 2 in 1 laptop for watching movies
7) Lenovo Legion Y540 – Best Laptop for Movie streaming
8) Asus Vivobook S15
9) Acer Chromebook 14 – Best Cheap Laptop for streaming movies
10) Dell XPS 15
1) Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Gaming Laptop
- Display – 15.6 Inch
- Processor – Intel i7 Processor
- Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
- RAM – 16 GB
- Storage – 256 GB
- Battery Life – 7 Hours
Acer Predator Helios 300 packs a powerful Intel i7 processor and tends to deliver extreme performance. As far as graphics concerns, it surpasses competitors by providing new and improved NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics. The graphics are reliable and make it easier to stream HD movies with tiny details.
It has a spacious 15.6 inches Full HD display and resolution of 1920 X 1080 pixels that make performance live up to the hype. A knock against the display is that it has a jagged edge which seems uncomfortable while putting on the lap.
The inclusion of multiple connectivity options makes its top pick for not just streaming movies but listening to music and gaming as well. For connectivity, it has two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, 2 USB 3 ports, one type C 3.2 port and one type-A 3.2 port. It offers Dolby audio experience and delivers crisp and clear sound while listening to music, streaming movies or gaming.
Spruced up with 16 GB of RAM and configured upto 32 GB, Acer has done anything you throw at it. When it comes to storage, the predator does offer some ample space by providing 256 GB of HDD and can go further up to 1 TB.
Predator gives great battery juice by providing 7 hours of the long run with a single charge. The design of the laptop is lightweight and portable, so you can easily backpack anytime, anywhere.
In my experience, Acer Predator Helios 300 is overkill for streaming movies, but its top-notch choice for gaming.
2) Dell Inspiron 15
- Display – 15.6 Inch
- Processor – Intel Core i5 10210U
- Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce MX 250
- RAM – 8 GB
- Storage – 512 GB
- Battery Life – 12 Hours
Dell Inspiron 15 is a full pack of specs and performance. It armed with 10th generation Intel Core i5 10210U processor and has turbo speed of up to 4.2 GHz and 6 MB of cache.
It operates with the Windows 10 system and supports all the streaming apps. While many devices lack in graphics, Dell equipped Inspiron 15 with NVIDIA Geforce MX 250 that has 2 GB GDDR5 Graphics memory and renders all graphics conveniently.
Most importantly, it comes with 8 GB of RAM and allows configuration up to 16 GB. Further, the storage is quite impressive and features 512 GB of SSD so that users can store movies and essential data.
In terms of storage, it has one 2.0 USB port, 2 USB 3.0 ports, HDMI port and ethernet port as well. The speakers are stunning and deliver crystal clear audio while streaming movies.
Moreover, it offers a fingerprint scanner to enhance your laptop security level. With the 15.6 inches full HD display, you’ll also get benefits of 12 hours of extended battery juice.
3) ASUS Vivobook S15
- Display – 15.6 Inch
- Processor – Intel i7 8550U
- Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce MX150
- RAM – 8 GB
- Storage – 116 GB
- Battery Life – 12 hours
Asus Vivobook S15 is a full integration of specs and performance which every movie lover requires. The display has an adapted screen size of 15.6 FHD and features NanoEdge that makes movies streaming elegant.
Equipped with supercharging NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics cards, it brings a new level of streaming movies. Speaking about memory, it comes with 8 GB of DDR4 RAM that can expand up to 16 GB; however, it features just 116 of HDD that is not sufficient for collecting movies and storing important data.
It is powered by Intel Core i7 8550U processor that is more than enough for stream movies smoothly. The battery gives 12 hours of juice and stays with you for a full day.
To sum up, Asus Vivobook S15 is a great option as far as storage not concerned.
4) Acer Aspire 5
- Display – 15.6 Inch
- Processor – Intel Core i5 Quad-Core
- Graphics – Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM – 8 GB
- Storage – 256 GB
- Battery Life – 9 Hours
Acer Aspire 5 is a mid-range laptop that ticks pretty much all the boxes you’d want for a day to day activities. It comes with a powerful Intel Core i5 quad-core processor that has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and 6 MB of RAM.
The display features a 15.6-inch FHD screen along with a resolution of 1920 X 1080 pixels. As far as graphics are concerned, it has Intel UHD graphics 620 which is pretty decent for a laptop at this segment.
Further, Acer provides 8 GB of DDR4 RAM and 256 of SSD to make sure that movies stream quickly without any interruption.
It offers multiple connectivity options by providing 2 USB 2.0 port, 1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 3.1 type C, HDMI, SD card reader, 3.5 MM audio jack and ethernet.
The design is built with premium materials and is heavy. When it comes to battery life, it lasts for up to 9 hours and can go even further in beam brightness.
5) Huawei MateBook X Pro
- Display – 13.9 Inch
- Processor – Intel i5 Processor
- Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce MX250
- RAM – 8 GB
- Storage – 256 GB
- Battery Life – 12 Hours
Huawei Matebook X Pro comes with Intel i5 processor and can deliver extreme performance at tense situations. The display is quite impressive and features a resolution of a 3K touchscreen. Moreover, it features a 91% screen to body ratio along with the 13.9 inches Full HD display.
Huawei has equipped it with Dolby Atmos sound and brings immense audio experience at home. Personally, I recommend this laptop for one more cool feature, the pop-up camera in the keyboard, albeit it does look a bit odd.
For ports, it features one USB C 3.0 and USB C 3.1 along with HDMI port and of course, headphone jack. Despite being a rare brand in laptop worlds, it does offer an impressive 8 GB of RAM and 256 of SSD out of the box.
The battery can last for up to 12 hours and allows you to stream movies smoothly. The touchscreen is fast and quick and takes less than a second to respond. It packs with NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphics which is ideal for animated and fantasy movies.
When it comes to performance, it handles day to day tasks well without any heat or load.
6) Lenovo Flex 14 – Best 2 in 1 laptop for watching movies
Lenovo Flex 14 is an example of how far the best laptops have come in a few short years. It packs with 15.6-inch display and resolution of 1920 X 1080 pixels. On the inside, it’s powered by an Intel Core i7 processor which makes your workflow easy.
When it comes to storage, it has 16 GB of RAM that can be configured up to 32 GB and also sports a sweet 256 GB SSD to store your essential data.
The graphics are armed with an AMD Radeon R7 M460 that retains colourful images and highly accurate pixels. The graphics are high end and easily handle heavy graphics or games.
Lenovo Flex 14 is a thin and robust product at an acceptable price range. It works with the Windows 10 operating system so that you can enjoy the installation of your favorite streaming services app.
The battery life is quite impressive and lasted for 7 hours in our review time. However, it can increase, if you lower brightness. The keyboard is also up to the mark and gives immense typing experience without sound.
7) Lenovo Legion Y540 – Best Laptop for Movie streaming
Lenovo Legion Y540 comes with mid-range performance along with a vivid display and great audio but didn’t expect long battery life.
It packs with a fantastic back aluminium chassis that proves that you don’t need a lot of flashing lights to make a beautiful laptop. The display makes sure that viewers see images with reliable colour reproduction and accuracy.
The display has an acceptable 15.6 -inch size and the resolution of 1920 X 1080 pixels. While choosing graphics, Lenovo offers two configuration options, including NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M and Intel HD Graphics 4600.
Both graphics are great for Full HD streaming, but if you want a theatre like an experience and stream 4K movies or Ultra HD movies, then we recommend picking NVIDIA GeForce graphics. They can handle heavy games and 4K movies with ease.
The laptop powered by Intel Core i7 4710 HQ processor, which is enough for streaming HD movies and multitasking. Along with the laptop, you’ll get benefits of 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of Hard drive.
One downside of the laptop is that it only offers 3 USB ports for connectivity; in our experience, it’s not sufficient for streaming movies on multiple displays at the same time.
The Wifi features Intel Dual Band Wireless AC 3610 which takes your streaming to the next level. Wrapping up, Lenovo Legion Y540 is a powerful and portable laptop that does lack some essential specs.
8) Asus Vivobook S15
Earlier when Asus launched its Vivobook series, laptops gave a subpar performance. But, things have changed, and the Asus Vivobook series is integrated with some of the best specs under the hood.
Packs with new and improved Intel Core i7 processor and armed with powerful NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphics Asus Vivobook S15 seems like a catch.
The display has acquired a stunning 15.60-inch size along with the resolution of 1920 X 1080 pixels that gives vivid colour and accurate performance while streaming movies. Speaking about storage, it has 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of SSD that is sufficient for storing and collecting your favourite movies.
For Connectivity, Asus does offer some great options by featuring 2 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.1 and 1 USB 3.1 Type C. Furthermore, it also provides 1 HDMI port and 1 Micro SD Card Reader for convenient connectivity and data transfer.
The battery gives 10 hours of battery juice. It works with the Windows 10 operating system and allows you to install various apps at once.
9) Acer Chromebook 14 – Best Cheap Laptop for streaming movies
Acer Chromebook 14 proves that you don’t need to spend a hefty of money on a laptop to experience powerful performance. A laptop inherited with basic specs can be a top-notch choice without a problem.
Equipped with an Intel Celeron N3160 quad-core processor Acer Chromebook 14 works with Chrome OS. It has a 14 inch full HD comfy view widescreen IPS LED-backlit and a resolution of 1920 X 1080 pixels.
Acer gives 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage out of the box. In terms of graphics, It has Intel HD graphics, which offers immense movie streaming.
Whether it’s Netflix or Amazon Prime, every type of streaming supports Chrome OS and gives outstanding performance without freezing the laptop. The battery life is also good and lasts for up to 12 hours.
One of the core benefits of Chromebook is that it is very portable and allows you to carry it anywhere easily. Acer has equipped it with two stunning speakers that give crisp and clear sound while watching movies or YouTube.
The keys are very much accurate and make less or none noise at all. To sum up, Acer Chromebook 14 is the top choice for you if you don’t have a hefty amount of money to spend and require a powerful machine.
10) Dell XPS 15
Dell XPS series has gained immense popularity in a short time by offering powerful performance and stunning design. Featuring a 15.6-inch display and resolution of 1920 X 1200 pixels, Dell XPS 15 manages to bring a new level of streaming movies experience at home.
It comes with an Intel Core i5 processor out of the box and brings techie heaven for users. Further, it pairs with either Intel UHD graphics or NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti graphics and takes your eyes on the journey of colors.
This baby gives 8 GB of RAM and can upgrade up to 64 GB along with 256 GB of SSD that can configure up to 2 TB. For internet connectivity,it has WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Ethernet port. Moreover, it has 1 USB port, 2 Thunderbolt 3, multi-card slot, lock slot, and headphone and mic combo jack ports.
When it comes to battery life, Dell provides 8 hours of continuous movie experience and can even go further while less bright. One downside of the laptop is that it’s overkill for streaming movies, albeit if you want it for multipurpose and daily uses, then Dell XPS 15 is the king of the hill.
Final verdict
Narrowing down our list for the best laptop for streaming movies takes a bit of work, but we carefully pick a laptop that best suits on you need.