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What is a 5G laptop, what are the advantages, and which should you buy?

With more workers preferring to stay remote, the best 5G laptops ensure you remain connected to fast speeds when you don't have access to Wi-Fi.
Written by Sean Portnoy, Contributor and  Sean Jackson, Contributor
Reviewed by Allison Murray

Why you can trust ZDNET

ZDNET's reviewers spend weeks to months testing each laptop on this list, using it for both everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and gaming, to more performance-intensive work like photo and video editing. We aim to give you a view into how each laptop could actually fit into your life and workflow, and the pros and cons of their various features like performance, display, and battery life.

What to Consider

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Design

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Performance

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Storage and RAM

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Purpose

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Value

Samsung Galaxy Book Go 5G | Best 5G laptop overall
samsung-galaxy-book-go-5g
Samsung Galaxy Book Go 5G
Best 5G laptop overall
View now View at Samsung
Acer Spin 7 | Best 2-in-1 5G laptop
acer-spin-7
Acer Spin 7
Best 2-in-1 5G laptop
View now View at Walmart
Dell Latitude 9420 2-in-1 | Best powerful 5G laptop
dell-latitude-9420-2-in-1
Dell Latitude 9420 2-in-1
Best powerful 5G laptop
View now View at Amazon
HP Elite Dragonfly Max | Best splurge 5G laptop
hp-elite-dragonfly-max
HP Elite Dragonfly Max
Best splurge 5G laptop
View now View at Office Depot
Lenovo Flex 5G | Best original 5G laptop
lenovo-flex-5g
Lenovo Flex 5G
Best original 5G laptop
View now View at Verizon

You only need to watch a couple of mobile carrier commercials to know that 5G is the biggest thing in wireless connectivity, offering speeds that rival broadband in places where Wi-Fi often can't reach. It's compatible with existing 4G LTE networks, and despite its increased speeds, 5G can theoretically consume less power and resources than previous wireless networks. 

Learn more: What is 5G? Your guide to the current generation of wireless communications

As we explain in our list of top 4G laptops, there aren't a ton of options for laptops that include cellular modems, as the vast majority of portables rely on Wi-Fi networks to connect you to the internet. Given its newness in the market, that's especially true when it comes to 5G. 

Also: Best cheap 5G phones

However, there's definitely a market for 5G laptops today, as more employers and schools support remote environments. Ranging in price from $500 to over $2,500, these 5G laptops should keep you connected at the highest speeds, even when you're not plugged in. 

If you're looking to explore further options, check out our page that covers other high performance laptops

Samsung Galaxy Book Go 5G

Best 5G laptop overall

Tech specs: Display: 14 inches (1920 x 1080 pixel resolution) | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 128GB | Weight: 3lbs | Battery Life: 18 hours

The Galaxy Book Go is your cheapest option for a 5G-equipped Windows laptop, running less than $600 in AT&T or Verizon compatible versions. It keeps its price down by using Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 chip, which compensates for basic performance with a 5G modem and excellent battery life (18 hours, according to Samsung). 

Other specs on this machine are minimal (4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage), but the 14-inch display offers full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. It's also highly portable at just 3 pounds, and its shockproof chassis should provide extra durability.

samsung-galaxy-book-go-5g
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Acer Spin 7

Best 2-in-1 5G laptop

Tech specs: Display: 14-inch touchscreen (1920 x 1080 pixel resolution)  | CPU:  Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB | Weight: 3.1lbs | Battery Life: 29 hours

The Acer Spin 7 is a more advanced version of the Galaxy Book Go concept -- at roughly three times the price. It also relies on the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G Compute Platform for processing and 5G connectivity, but it offers a lot more for its $1,600 price tag.        

For starters, the Spin 7 is a 2-in-1 rather than a traditional clamshell laptop, which means its full HD 14-inch display has touchscreen functionality with the included digital stylus. It also comes with double the RAM of the Galaxy Book Go and a lot more storage (512GB). A bigger built-in battery boosts the claimed battery life to an astounding 29 hours between charge sessions while only adding a little bit more weight and thickness to the Spin 7 chassis compared to the Galaxy Book Go.   

Also: Best 2-in-1 laptop

acer-spin-7
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Dell Latitude 9420 2-in-1

Best powerful 5G laptop

Tech specs: Display: 14-inch touchscreen (2560 x 1600 pixel resolution) | CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Weight: 2.8lbs | Battery Life: Not listed

Unlike the Acer Spin 7, the Latitude 9420 2-in-1 uses a more familiar and powerful Intel Core i5 processor for business users that need convenient performance. As a result, the 5G modem is a pricey add-on, requiring an update to touchscreen LCD in addition to a Qualcomm 5G modem.

Check out: Dell Latitude 9420 review

That puts you over $2,500 for a laptop that still only comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. On the plus side, you get a featherweight aluminum system with a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, QHD+ resolution (2560 x 1600) and 16:10 aspect ratio on screen. You also get peace of mind, knowing you've purchased from Dell's well-respected Latitude lineup.    

dell-latitude-9420-2-in-1
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HP Elite Dragonfly Max

Best splurge 5G laptop

Tech specs: Display: 13.3-inch touchscreen (1920 x 1080 pixel resolution) | CPU: Intel Core i7-1185G7 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Weight: 2.5bs | Battery Life: 11+ hours

The Elite Dragonfly Max is a rival to the Latitude 9420 as a 5G-equipped business 2-in-1 laptop. It's even pricier than the Dell, though you definitely receive your money's worth for that additional $100. The HP has a more powerful Core i7 chip. Plus, it offers twice the RAM and a 512GB drive compared to the Latitude's more meager specs.

Like the ThinkPad X13 5G, the Dragonfly Max features a 13.3-inch full HD display compared to the 14-inch Latitude screen with higher resolution. However, it counters that with a blinding 1,000 nits of brightness. For the price, HP could probably throw in its digital stylus to use with the touchscreen. Otherwise, the Elite Dragonfly Max packs everything else you need.

hp-elite-dragonfly-max
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Lenovo Flex 5G

Best original 5G laptop

Tech specs: Display: 14 inches (1920 x 1080 pixel resolution) | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx  | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Weight: 2.9lbs | Battery Life: 25 hours

While AT&T had to wait to get its ThinkPad X13 5G, Verizon got first dibs with Lenovo's Flex 5G, the debut laptop with 5G connectivity. It offers the Flex 5G for a price similar to AT&T's ThinkPad, but you get a system that's a year older.

Instead of a new 11th-generation Intel Core processor, the Flex 5G is built around the original Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx processor, which is a generation older than the chip used in the Galaxy Book Go and the Spin 7. You can expect stellar battery life, but performance may seem a bit lackluster, especially for a $1,400 notebook. 

lenovo-flex-5g
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What is the best 5G laptop?

The best 5G laptop is the Samsung Galaxy Book Go due to its battery life, display, and competitive price.

5G laptop

Price

CPU

Storage

Samsung Galaxy Book Go

$610

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2

128GB

Acer Spin 7

$700

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2

512GB

Dell Latitude 9420 2-in-1

$2,060

Intel Core  i5-1135G7

128GB

HP Elite Dragonfly Max

$2,581

Intel Core i7-1185G7

512GB

Lenovo Flex 5G

$1,400

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx 

256GB 

Which 5G laptop is right for you?

You basically have two options if you want a 5G laptop: the Qualcomm Snapdragon or the Intel processor. Snapdragon-powered systems offer you better battery life for a lower price. However, they don't perform as well as laptops running with an Intel Core CPU. 

If you travel often and only need 5G to perform basic computing tasks and web surfing, then Snapdragon-based laptops may work well for you. But road warriors who heavily rely on productivity software will be better off with business-friendly Intel-based 5G laptops.

Choose this 5G laptop...

If you want...

Samsung Galaxy Book Go

The best overall option

Acer Spin 7

A 2-in-1 5G laptop with great features

Dell Latitude 9420 2-in-1

A power-driven 5G laptop

HP Elite Dragonfly Max

A 5G laptop that's worth the splurge

Lenovo Flex 5G

The first 5G laptop ever made

How did we choose these 5G laptops?

As with our 4G laptops list, 5G-capable models are limited, making it relatively simple to analyze the best options on the market. While there are a few Chromebooks and Microsoft Surface devices with 4G connectivity, the same can't be said about 5G today. A couple of notebooks on the 4G list -- notably the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 -- offer configurations with 5G cellular modems, too.

As a still-emergent technology, 5G in laptops may not be optimized yet. But you can expect more systems -- including those with more mainstream price tags -- to offer 5G support over the next couple of years as carriers continue to roll out the technology.

What are the advantages of using 5G laptops?

5G laptops can provide quicker speeds and lower latency, resulting in faster transmission rates. Moreover, they're more future proof, as manufacturers create devices for the 5G networks. 

However, coverage areas for 5G vary. Your cellular provider can tell you if you're in a 5G zone. 

Which other 5G laptops are also worth considering?

We chose a range of laptops with 5G capability based on price and functionality. If these don't meet your needs, here are other choices to consider: 

Editorial standards