Best
USB-C laptops
Windows Central
2022
Looking for a new laptop that has USB-C ports? Perhaps you need Thunderbolt support or maybe Thunderbolt isn’t a requirement for you, and you just want your laptop to support basic USB-C peripherals. Either way, we’ve rounded up what we think are the best USB-C laptops available to buy today. We’ve got everything from beautifully designed to those with all-out power, making each and every one of these among the best Windows laptop options available.
Stunningly small:
Dell XPS 13
Staff pick
Dell’s latest XPS 13 features Intel’s 11th Gen processors, along with two Thunderbolt 4-enabled USB-C ports for super-fast file transfer and power to external USB-C accessories such as eGPUs. This is a great convertible laptop designed for people who work on the go and need a touchscreen and excellent typing experience in a thin design.
Slim and modern:
Surface Laptop 4
Editor’s choice
The Surface Laptop 4 13.5 is a worthy follow-up to last year’s model. While there are no massive changes, the new Intel 11th Gen processor or AMD Ryzen 4000 Series chips, Instant-on, a faster solid-state drive (SSD), Type-C 3.1 port, and huge trackpad make it even better than ever. Battery life is great, and features like Wi-Fi 6 help add some future-proofing. Users can also save money and do a DIY upgrade of storage if they want.
All-round powerhouse:
Dell XPS 15
Featuring up to a 11th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, 64GB RAM, an RTX 3050 Ti graphics card, and a 4TB n.2 SSD, this laptop should be able to do everything you need it to. It also features three USB-C ports, two of which with Thunderbolt 4 for fast file transfer, power, and even external GPU support.
Unique design:
Surface Laptop Studio
The Surface Laptop Studio is Microsoft’s flagship laptop, featuring most of the bells and whistles you’d come to expect on a premium laptop. It rocks 11th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, up to 32GB RAM, 2TB of storage, and a beautiful, 120Hz 14.4-inch display. It has two USB ports, both of which are Thunderbolt 4 enabled for fast data transfer speeds and the ability to use external GPUs!
Sleek tablet:
Surface Pro 8
The Surface Pro 8 finally ships with an updated design, one more similar to that of the modern Surface Pro X! The new 11th Gen Intel processor and Iris Xe graphics bring some serious horsepower to one of the coolest 2-in-1s around. It has two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, which greatly expands its abilities, and can be had in either Wi-Fi-only or Wi-Fi+LTE configurations.
Sleek for gaming:
Razer Book
Featuring an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, up to 16GB RAM, a 13.4-inch Full HD or 4K touch-enabled display, and Intel Iris Xe Graphics, this laptop was designed by gamers but built for people who need to get work done too. It has two Thunderbolt 4-powered USB-C ports, two USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 ports, HDMI 2.0, and a microSD slot. Attach an external GPU, and you’ll be way on your way to a good gaming session.
Super thin:
Surface Pro X (13-inch)
The Surface Pro X is a redesign of the Pro form factor we know and love, featuring two USB-C ports and a new Microsoft SQ1 or SQ2 ARM processor on the inside. This is Microsoft’s first ARM Surface since the Surface 2 in 2013, and it has super-thin bezels around the display for a more modern look. It also features fast charging and up to 13 hours of battery life on a single charge.
Super lightweight:
LG gram
If lightweight is your thing, the 2.5-pound (1.15kg) LG gram is for you. It comes with an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, a 512GB SSD, 17-inch 2K touch display, and integrated graphics. It has one USB-C 3.1 port, which isn’t Thunderbolt 3-enabled, so you can’t use it for external graphics power, but it’s still great for fast file transfers.
Business in the front:
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
If you’re looking for something for the workplace, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is your best buy. Featuring two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, there’s a lot of room for all your USB-C accessories. It’s available with 11th Gen Intel processors, 14-inch 1080p or 4K display, up to 32GB RAM, and 1TB PCIe SSD storage.
If we’re making some suggestions
USB-C is a universal USB port that works with many different external peripherals ranging from USB drives, external GPUs, webcams, and much more. There are different kinds of USB-C, but they all use the same connector. Not all USB-C ports support external GPUs, for example, since that requires Thunderbolt 3 powered by four PCIe lanes, so make sure you pick correctly depending on what you need. If you absolutely need Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 ports, you’ll want to look at our list of the best Thunderbolt 4 laptops. If you want to take a gander at just overall great laptops, we have a list of the best Windows laptops too.
Whether you’re looking for a USB-C-enabled laptop that puts emphasis on design like the Surface Pro X, or something with all the power and all the ports, like the Dell XPS 13 or XPS 15, there’s something for everyone in the world of USB-C laptops.
I personally love the Surface Laptop 4 as it feels like the all-round best laptop you can get for great price. It’s super slim, with a USB-A and USB-C port for versatility and fast charging support so that you can stay topped up in a pinch. It also has a beautiful 13.5-inch or 15-inch display in the 3:2 aspect ratio.
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