If you’re looking to invest in a laptop for the new year, there’s no better time to do it than now. The holiday season means there are sales everywhere, and if you’ve got a full-time job, you might also have an additional budget thanks to your 13th-month pay or yearly bonus.
If you’ve been researching the ideal laptop with your PLDT Home Fiber Plus plan but still can’t decide which brand or model to buy, here are some top-rated options for every kind of user and budget.
For those on a budget: Huawei Matebook D15 2022
₱38,999
From Huawei Official Website
For a laptop that sells for under ₱40,000, the latest Matebook D15 sure is impressive. The lightweight machine already comes with an 11th gen Intel Core CPU with a large screen display that is great for daily office work. It can breeze through basic office applications, light photo and video editing, and digital content creation. The only downside is the oddly-placed webcam in the center of the top-row keyboard, but it’s a small price to pay for this affordable machine. Buy it here.
For most users who prefer Windows: Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i
₱49,995
From Lenovo Yoga Official Store
As expected from a multimedia laptop, this one is thin but still packs quite the punch, making it a solid choice for work. An all-metal chassis gives it a premium look and feel. Still, what’s under the hood makes it great — the Yoga Slim 7i can handle demanding tasks, has outstanding battery life, and has great speakers, perfect for winding down to watch your favorite K-Drama on Viu Premium with PLDT Home. Buy it here.
For the work-from-home employee (and most users): Apple Macbook Air (M1, 2020)
₱57,990
From Apple Official Website
The best thing about Macbooks is that you don’t always need to buy the latest model. The New York Times’ Wirecutter says this is the best Macbook in the market for casual users right now, both in terms of money and performance. It’s light, and portable, with a comfortable keyboard and reasonable storage. It can handle light to intense workloads and light photo and video editing — great news if your work is on the creative side. Buy it here.
For the college student: Asus ZenBook 14 OLED
₱59,995
From ASUS Official Store
Both Wirecutter and The Verge included Asus’ OLED series in their best laptop lists, with the former saying it’s the best choice for college students. It’s portable enough for your daily classes and with just the right power to help you complete your coursework and last you ‘til graduation. Plus, the vibrant screen is a nice reward for studying hard — enjoy your favorite shows in high-def when you need to take a break! Buy it here.
For those looking for a tablet/laptop hybrid: Microsoft Surface Pro 9
Starts at ₱109,999
From Microsoft Official Website
The latest iteration of Microsoft's Surface lineup will catch your attention if you're always on the go. It's a tablet with laptop-like specs that can handle most of your productivity tasks, including light photo editing and video conference calls, thanks to the 12th gen Intel processors. It's also an excellent choice for illustrators — the Microsoft Slim Pen 2 mimics the feeling of drawing with an actual pen or pencil on paper but on an ultra-smooth screen. Buy it here.
For the serious gamer: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15
₱143,995
From ASUS Republic of Gamers Official Website
Don’t let the price tag surprise you — it’s just what you would expect from The Verge’s best gaming laptop of 2022. You’ll need impressive specs to run the most graphic-heavy games as smoothly as butter, and the Zephyrus delivers. It’s powered by the “top mobile chips AMD and NVIDIA have to offer,” with a fast and responsive 165Hz QHD display. It’s a fantastic high-powered gaming machine that can also double as your daily driver, so keep this model in mind if you have the money to splurge. Buy it here.