The Best Multimedia Notebooks
Month after month Notebookcheck gets to review a huge variety of notebooks of all categories, some of which can be categorized under the all-encompassing multimedia umbrella. In order to be considered a multimedia laptop, the devices has to feature a 14-inch display, needs to be designed as an all-rounder by its manufacturer, and has to feature a dedicated GPU. Multimedia laptops are the best choice for all creative and demanding users that need to inspect and edit photos and videos. They are, however, also very well suited for occasional gaming and unsurprisingly less demanding tasks such as writing emails or word processing.
Powerful notebooks that are very well suited for enjoying current PC games can also be found on the following lists:
- The Best Budget Multimedia Notebooks (affordable all-round notebooks)
- The Best Gaming Notebooks (particularly powerful gaming laptops)
- The Best Budget Gaming Notebooks (affordable gaming laptops)
The Best Multimedia Laptops
Position | Total Rating | Date | Image | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Screen |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 93.2 % | 11/2023 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max Apple M3 Max 16-Core Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU 128 GB Memory, 8192 GB SSD | 2.1 kg | 16.9 mm | 16.00" | 3456x2234 | glossy | |
2 | 92.8 % | 11/2023 | Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3 Max Apple M3 Max 16-Core Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU 64 GB Memory, 2048 GB SSD | 1.6 kg | 15.5 mm | 14.20" | 3024x1964 | glossy | |
3 | 90.4 % | 03/2024 | Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra Intel Core Ultra 7 155H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.8 kg | 17 mm | 16.00" | 2880x1800 | glossy | |
4 | 90.2 % | 05/2023 | Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 14IRH G8 Intel Core i7-13700H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU 16 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 1.5 kg | 15.6 mm | 14.50" | 3072x1920 | matte | |
5 | 89.7 % | 04/2024 New! | Xiaomi RedmiBook Pro 16 2024 Intel Core Ultra 7 155H Intel Arc 8-Cores iGPU 32 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 1.9 kg | 15.9 mm | 16.00" | 3072x1920 | matte | |
6 | 89.6 % | 01/2024 | Framework Laptop 16 AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS AMD Radeon RX 7700S 32 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 2.4 kg | 20.95 mm | 16.00" | 2560x1600 | matte | |
7 | 88.7 % | 04/2024 New! | Lenovo Yoga Pro 9 16IMH9 Intel Core Ultra 9 185H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU 32 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 2.1 kg | 18.3 mm | 16.00" | 3200x2000 | matte | |
8 | 88.6 % | 04/2024 New! | Dell XPS 16 9640 Intel Core Ultra 7 155H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU 32 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 2.3 kg | 18.7 mm | 16.30" | 3840x2400 | glossy | |
9 | 88.6 % | 07/2023 | SCHENKER VISION 16 Pro (M23) Intel Core i7-13700H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU 32 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 1.6 kg | 17.1 mm | 16.00" | 2560x1600 | matte | |
10 | 87 % | 04/2024 New! | LG Gram 17 17Z90S-G.AA79G Intel Core Ultra 7 155H Intel Arc 8-Cores iGPU 16 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 1.3 kg | 18.1 mm | 17.00" | 2560x1600 | matte |
The table above contains an overview over the best multimedia notebooks reviewed by Notebookcheck over the course of the past 12 months as well as still relevant and available older products. In cases of identical score the more recent device is listed first. All prices in above table and price comparisons are updated daily and can thus differ.
Link: all devices in this class reviewed
1st – Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max
After the MacBook Pro 16 with the M2 Max processor has already made it into the top 10, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the new M3 Max processor now follows. In our test device, the processor is supported by the Apple M3 Pro 18-core GPU, a powerful yet very economical graphics card. Apple has also installed a great display with accurate color reproduction and extreme brightness for HDR content. The M3 Pro SoC is particularly efficient, resulting in very long battery life. The MacBook Pro 16 can also be used at full power on battery power. A disadvantage is the extremely compact design, which offers almost no maintenance options. In addition, Apple typically only offers a one-year warranty.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 is even more powerful and can score with a significantly increased single-core performance.
The device can be purchased either directly from Apple or through authorized resellers such as Amazon.
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2nd – Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3 Max
Apple is now giving the new Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 the Apple M3 Max processor with 16 cores. There is also a very fast graphics card with the Apple M3 Max 40-core GPU. Nevertheless, it is not enough to oust the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 with the M2 Pro and 12 cores from first place in our top 10 list. Nevertheless, Apple has managed to create the fastest 14-inch notebook to date with its overall performance. However, at over 5,000 euros, the manufacturer is also paying handsomely. The well-known advantages such as an excellent casing and a great display are a given. However, the high system performance is only available in mains operation. Typical for Apple is the extremely compact design without any maintenance options and the one-year warranty.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is currently the fastest 14-inch device on the market. Even Intel's Core i9 models can easily be beaten in multi-core tests.
The MacBook Pro 14 2023 is customizable on Apple's website. Alternatively, users can order a base model via Amazon, which costs around US$ 2,950.
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3rd – Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra
As a competitor to Apple's MacBook Pro 16, Samsung is sending the Galaxy Book4 Ultra into the race to shine as a multimedia notebook. The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is powered by Intel's latest processors from the Meteor Lake series. In the test, we were able to take a close look at the high-quality Samsung notebook with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H. The manufacturer also installs an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 laptop GPU, which is capable of running many games smoothly. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra impresses with a great OLED display, good system performance and long battery life. The vapor-chamber cooling was also impressive and cools the device reliably throughout and the connectivity is very modern with Thunderbolt 4 & HDMI 2.1.
The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is an all-round successful multimedia laptop. Unfortunately, Samsung skimps a little on storage.
At the time of writing, the GalaxyBook4 Ultra is listed on Samsung's webstore, prices starting at $2,399.
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4th – Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 14IRH G8
With the Lenovo Yoga 7 14 G8, the manufacturer offers a perfectly equipped notebook for many different purposes. The Intel Core i7-13700H offers 14 cores and 20 threads. The Lenovo Yoga 7 14 offers excellent performance and great features as a multimedia device. These include Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6E and a comfortable keyboard, which also accommodates frequent typists. There is also an excellent 3K display with high color fidelity and high system performance paired with impeccable gaming performance.
The Lenovo Yoga 7 14 is a successful 14-inch multimedia notebook with a very high system performance and is definitely also suitable for gaming.
Currently, interested users can purchase the Yoga 7 14IRH G8 via Amazon for around $860.
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5th – Xiaomi RedmiBook Pro 16 2024
The Xiaomi RedmiBook Pro 16 is a great and affordable multimedia notebook based on Intel's Meteor Lake-H processors. We tested the stylish device with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor. It also comes with 32 GB DDR5 RAM and a 1 TB SSD as well as modern connectivity, including Thunderbolt 4. The manufacturer packs the hardware into a simple, yet sturdy metal casing. Xiaomi offers all of this for less than 1,000 euros, which even puts the RedmiBook Pro 16 at the top of our top 10 list.
The Xiaomi RedmiBook Pro 16 2024 offers plenty of performance, a high-quality casing and future-proof connectivity. In relation to the purchase price, the Xiaomi RedmiBook Pro 16 is one of the best multimedia laptops.
The RedmiBook Pro 16 can be ordered from TradingShenzen for 957 euros (around $1,030) including the Windows 11 Pro.
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6th – Framework Laptop 16
With the Framework Laptop 16, the manufacturer is pursuing a very special approach, as this is a modular notebook. The device can be configured as desired on the website and we took a closer look at the 16-inch model with AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS and an AMD Radeon RX 7700S in the test. The test device also offered 32 GB DDR5 RAM and was equipped with a 1 TB SSD. The Framework Laptop 16 is priced in the high-end range.
The Framework Laptop 16 is heavier than comparable devices, which is due to its modularity. This makes the device very easy to upgrade.
The Laptop 16 is currently available from Framework directly with prices starting at $1,400.
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7th – Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i
The Yoga Pro 9i is Lenovo's best multimedia device and comes with a very high-resolution mini LED panel. The manufacturer also installs Intel's latest Meteor Lake processors and a dedicated graphics card, which means that even modern games are no problem for the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9. Specifically, an Intel Core Ultra 7 185H is used together with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 laptop. There is also 32 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD. The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i was able to score points in our test with a consistently high system performance, although the mini LED panel is the real highlight of the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i.
The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i is an excellent multimedia notebook with an extremely bright mini LED display.
At the time of writing, the Yoga Pro 9 16 G9 can be directly ordered via Lenovo's webstore with prices starting at $1,482.
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8th - Dell XPS 16 9640
The Dell XPS 16 9640 was able to secure a place in our top 10 ranking with an excellent score. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 laptop GPU result in a flawless overall result. The successful and very high-quality OLED panel impressed us in the test with its high color fidelity, although the brightness could have been a little better. However, the 16:10 format is a positive feature that will please many users. If you also want to use the device for gaming, you should know that the response times of the built-in OLED panel are significantly slower than those of IPS panels. The 90 Hz refresh rate is a positive feature.
The Dell XPS 16 9640 is a stylish multimedia notebook with a high CPU performance. The ergonomics and GPU performance do not match the extremely high purchase price.
In the US, some variants of Dell XPS 16 9640 are currently available on Amazon. Otherwise, users can order directly the device via Dell's online store.
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9th – Schenker Vision 16 Pro
With the Vision 16 Pro, Schenker has a solid and powerful multimedia notebook in its portfolio. The device is powered by an Intel Core i7-13700H and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 laptop GPU, which means that the device can also be used as a gaming laptop. The device itself has a very high-quality finish and also relies on a very light yet very stable material thanks to magnesium. The great WQHD panel with 240 Hz & without PWM, which is also installed in a 16:10 format, deserves a positive mention. Overall, the Schenker Vision 16 Pro delivers outstanding system performance and is future-proof thanks to its modern interfaces.
The Schenker Vision 16 Pro is very light and still offers remarkable performance. The only drawback is the limited maintenance options.
Schenker's devices are not yet officially available in North America.
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10th – LG Gram 17
The LG Gram 17 is equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and thus offers a good basis for mastering everyday life. Due to the extremely compact design, the SoC cannot deliver optimum performance. However, the LG Gram 17 can even be operated silently if desired, as the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H delivers high performance despite its low TDP. The main advantage of the LG Gram is its low weight of just over 1.3 kg, even though the device has a 17-inch display.
The LG Gram 17 is a high-quality notebook with a very low weight. In terms of price, however, you have to dig deep into your pocket for the LG Gram 17.
Interested users can order the LG Gram 17 via the manufacturer's webstore for around $1,600.
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Recent Multimedia Awards
Comparison Best Multimedia Laptops
Test Results
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M2 Max | Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3 Max | Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra | Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 14IRH G8 | Xiaomi RedmiBook Pro 16 2024 | Framework Laptop 16 | Lenovo Yoga Pro 9 16IMH9 | Dell XPS 16 9640 | SCHENKER VISION 16 Pro (M23) | LG Gram 17 17Z90S-G.AA79G | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Display | ||||||||||
Display P3 Coverage | 99 | 99.2 | 98.6 | 98.7 | 98.8 | 97.7 | 97 | 98.3 | 68.8 | 96.3 |
sRGB Coverage | 100 | 99.9 | 100 | 100 | 99.7 | 99.9 | 100 | 98.8 | 99.7 | |
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 88.5 | 88.5 | 87.6 | 89.9 | 87 | 86.6 | 87.8 | 70 | 85.1 | |
Response Times | ||||||||||
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 80.5 ? | 80.8 ? | 0.54 ? | 31.5 ? | 39.2 ? | 14.6 ? | 22.2 ? | 0.82 ? | 13.7 ? | 25 ? |
Response Time Black / White * | 47.2 ? | 78.8 ? | 0.69 ? | 15.8 ? | 14.6 ? | 11.3 ? | 17 ? | 0.85 ? | 8.1 ? | 25 ? |
PWM Frequency | 14880 ? | 14878 ? | 240 ? | 4840 ? | 360 ? | |||||
Screen | ||||||||||
Brightness middle | 504 | 610 | 390 | 441 | 520 | 504.8 | 651 | 366 | 384 | 420 |
Brightness | 487 | 600 | 393 | 453 | 510 | 490 | 673 | 367 | 371 | 387 |
Brightness Distribution | 94 | 96 | 98 | 92 | 93 | 84 | 93 | 96 | 88 | 88 |
Black Level * | 0.001 | 0.34 | 0.35 | 0.41 | 0.22 | 0.3 | 0.34 | |||
Contrast | 504000 | 1297 | 1486 | 1231 | 2959 | 1280 | 1235 | |||
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 1.23 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 4.32 |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 3.3 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 6.2 | 3.74 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 9.2 | 8.55 |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 2 | 3 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 8.04 |
Gamma | 2.25 98% | 2.22 99% | 2.27 97% | 2.2 100% | 2.19 100% | 2.22 99% | 2.18 101% | 2.14 103% | 2.16 102% | 2.224 99% |
CCT | 6882 94% | 6874 95% | 6431 101% | 6597 99% | 7422 88% | 6670 97% | 6738 96% | 6680 97% | 7462 87% | 8114 80% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1 | 1.3 | 1.27 | |||
Noise | ||||||||||
off / environment * | 23.9 | 24.8 | 24.2 | 22.9 | 24.4 | 23.8 | 24.3 | 24.5 | 25.9 | 24.95 |
Idle Minimum * | 23.9 | 24.8 | 24.2 | 22.9 | 24.4 | 23.9 | 24.3 | 24.5 | 25.9 | 24.95 |
Idle Average * | 23.9 | 24.8 | 24.2 | 22.9 | 24.4 | 23.9 | 24.3 | 24.5 | 25.9 | 24.95 |
Idle Maximum * | 23.9 | 24.8 | 24.2 | 36.8 | 24.4 | 23.9 | 25.8 | 27.5 | 32 | 25.3 |
Load Average * | 36.6 | 25.8 | 37.9 | 43.7 | 32 | 28.5 | 48.1 | 39.6 | 47.2 | 38.54 |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 35.1 | 43.4 | 41.7 | 46.2 | 30.6 | 51.9 | 49.7 | 49.7 | 53.1 | |
Load Maximum * | 43.2 | 43.4 | 41.7 | 46.2 | 39.7 | 53.7 | 53.9 | 49.7 | 53.1 | 32 |
Heat | ||||||||||
Maximum Upper Side * | 44.2 | 45.9 | 38.5 | 41.6 | 40.3 | 42.4 | 41.7 | 39.4 | 46.7 | 40.1 |
Maximum Bottom * | 42.9 | 42.1 | 41.2 | 55.7 | 45.9 | 40.8 | 46.3 | 36.9 | 54.1 | 42.9 |
Idle Upper Side * | 22.4 | 23.4 | 23.5 | 25.9 | 26.3 | 31.4 | 26.2 | 28.2 | 26.5 | 26.8 |
Idle Bottom * | 22.3 | 23.8 | 24.1 | 28 | 27.9 | 27.8 | 27.2 | 27.4 | 26.8 | 31.1 |
Battery Runtime | ||||||||||
WiFi v1.3 | 887 | 911 | 656 | 595 | 983 | 548 | 526 | 629 | 467 | 918 |
Load | 66 | 73 | 78 | 49 | 124 | 92 | 73 | 87 | 77 | 140 |
Reader / Idle | 890 | |||||||||
Power Consumption | ||||||||||
Idle Minimum * | 5.2 | 2.6 | 4.8 | 7.6 | 4.2 | 9.5 | 10.3 | 7.7 | 8.6 | 3.4 |
Idle Average * | 16.5 | 11.8 | 7.5 | 13.3 | 11.6 | 17 | 21.9 | 10.3 | 12 | 6.1 |
Idle Maximum * | 16.8 | 12.2 | 7.9 | 13.7 | 12.3 | 17.2 | 22.4 | 10.6 | 12.4 | 9.9 |
Load Average * | 113 | 99.9 | 79.3 | 88.2 | 61.9 | 96.2 | 96.9 | 76.5 | 80 | 31.29 |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 92 | 92.5 | 79.2 | 94.2 | 57 | 171.9 | 159.6 | 126.4 | 147.7 | 40.9 |
Load Maximum * | 145 | 101.7 | 125 | 143 | 140.6 | 175.7 | 173.8 | 138.5 | 173.1 | 60 |
* ... smaller is better