11 Best Windows Hello Laptops to Buy
Keep your data private & benefit from Windows Hello security feature
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Key notes
- Windows Hello is a security feature available to Windows 10 and Windows 11 users that requires facial and/or fingerprint recognition to sign in.
- It is very beneficial if you want to keep your data private and also a good alternative to taking time to think up and save highly secure passwords.
- This feature does however require specific hardware attributes that may not be present in all laptops.
- Find below the best laptops that support Windows Hello and come with an overall great set of specs.
Microsoft debuted a new facial recognition and fingerprint reading feature on Windows 10. The feature allows amazing new applications, the most notable of which is the ability to sign in to your Windows PC by just allowing the Windows Hello feature to scan your face, iris, or read your fingerprint.
As a result of the new feature, users can now log into their PCs without the need to type in any password. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized people logging into your computer systems.
Windows Hello also enables you to lock your PC remotely using companion devices like tablets and smartphones. You can also use Windows Hello to sign into mobile devices, online accounts, and services, as well as apps.
According to Microsoft, the new Windows Hello feature has enabled enterprise-level security on personal computers. But because the new Windows Hello feature requires certain hardware features, like a biometrically enabled, deep sensing camera and fingerprint readers, not all PCs can harness the power and features availed by this feature. Today we review the few that do.
What are the best Windows Hello laptops to buy?
HP Spectre x360 15 – Powerful engine
This is a pretty-looking convertible PC that has very few flaws. It is a great business PC for the money and represents the brave new ethos HP has followed with their PCs over the last few years. The design of its PCs and desktops had started to tire and the brand had become somewhat predictable. A 360-degree hinge means the PC can be positioned according to whatever suits your mood that day, in a typical hybrid PC style.
The HP Spectre x360 isn’t cheap in both looks and price. If buying from the HP site, the laptop can be configured with up to 12GB of RAM and 1TB PCIe SSD. The display is a touch-sensitive 15.6-inch with a 3,840×2,160 resolution, while the processor is the highly capable Intel Core i7-7500U. With USB-A 3.1, and an SD card slot, the storage can be expanded further.
The large high-definition display, powerful engine, as well as many multimedia features, including Windows Hello, can’t be too kind to the battery. But, with up to 10 hrs of video streaming use, the battery is remarkably powerful. The keyboard, on the other hand, has fantastic travel and the touchpad is highly responsive.
Dell XPS 15 High-Performance Laptop – Super-fast processor
Dell PCs are noted for their dependable performance specs. While this PC may not have the brute gaming power of some of the Windows PCs on this list, it still packs quite a punch and manages to meet the needs of a sizable market. Being a Dell laptop, you will expect this to be a good business PC, and it is.
To go with the Windows Hello feature that business users are sure to find useful is a 15-inch display, a slim, eye-catching design, a super-fast Core i7-7700HQ processor, lots of expandable storage, as well as a 720p HD widescreen webcam. The keyboard is spacious and comfortable with great key travel.
Alienware 15 R4 – Toned-down lighting
Like the Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro reviewed above, this is a gaming PC that seemed as if designed not entirely for the narrower gaming market, but for the larger PC market. Its sleek design spots the mandatory dash of color you get with gaming notebooks, yet has enough sophistication for the business user looking for raw processing power.
The Alienware 15 R4 is the latest in a line of gaming PCs noted for their power and sheer good looks. But with the toned-down lighting and smaller display, the designers intentionally steered the PC towards a more rounded design.
Under the hood, there is a 10th generation Intel processor aided by Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 that you can upgrade to 32GB, and a 512 GB sized hard drive. The Windows Hello feature is paired with the Tobii EyeX Lite eye-tracking software for a not entirely hands-free but truly immersive computing experience.
Microsoft Surface Pro – Beautiful design
Not quite a laptop and more a tablet, although Microsoft calls it ‘the ultimate laptop’, the Microsoft Surface Pro is a 2-in-1 device that can switch modes between typing and drawing and, if you like, between work and play.
Besides Windows Hello, the Microsoft Surface Pro packs in some very impressive features including a powerful Intel Core i5 processor (a 7th generation processor is available on the hybrid version), 8G of memory, 256G hard drive, and a vibrant 12.3” PixelSense™ touchscreen display.
The Microsoft Surface Pro can switch from laptop mode by engaging the built-in kickstand and snapping on the new Surface Pro Signature Type Cover keyboard, which you have to buy separately.
By lowering the kickstand and removing the keyboard you will switch the Surface Pro to studio mode where you can use the new Surface Pen to draw or write with your free hand. You can completely close in the kickstand to convert the Surface Pro into a standalone Intel tablet.
Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro – Professional-looking
Although a gaming laptop, the Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro still looks professional enough to still take to the office. The designers ditched the standard dragon-themed design with lots of brightly colored flashing lights that you get with gaming PCs. But they still retained a gamer-friendly powerful engine that’s as good as it gets.
Not sure what is more impressive, the fact it looks nothing like a gaming laptop when it clearly has the engine for it. Or that it has all the office tools you wouldn’t normally care for in a gaming PC. The Windows Hello support certainly marries well with the Tobii eye-tracking IR camera embedded in the notebook. Added to that are a solid aluminum chassis, USB 3.0 ports as well as Ethernet and headphone jacks, a responsive 4.1 x 3.0 trackpad, and numerous other cool features.
Although Windows Hello does not always recognize your face, one thing I like about it is its interactive nature. The software will give you tips on how to adjust your head so it can read your facial features more accurately. After factoring in the Acer Aspire V17 Nitro PC’s 17-inch high-resolution display, what you get is a truly immersive multimedia experience.
Lenovo Yoga 720 (15″) 2-in-1 Laptop – Impressive display
If Lenovo is to jump on any new technology on any of its laptops you would expect it to be on its Yoga line of convertible PCs, which has long emphasized versatility and cutting-edge design. The Yoga PCs are hybrids with screens that can be flipped into four different configurations.
The Yoga 720 15 has a 15-inch IPS touchscreen with an impressive resolution of 3,840×2,160 pixels. Remarkably, the PC almost has no bezel and the screen seems to stretch right to the edge and flash with the laptop lid.
Besides the Windows Hello facial recognition functionality, the screen also supports Lenovo’s Active Pen which allows for writing and drawing on the screen. All these ultra-modern design smarts will seem like a wasted effort on a slow processor. For that, Lenovo powered the PC with a Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card to really bring out all the good you can get from such an impressive display.
Samsung Notebook 9 15 – Slim and lightweight
Slim, lightweight, and powerful is a notebook attribute that hasn’t always been achievable or at least one that PC makers have bothered too much about. But, with the market increasingly shifting towards hybrid, super-fast convertible machines, we have seen more and more PC makers gravitating towards lighter machines with, powerful processors, immersive displays, and wider input options.
The Samsung Notebook 9 is a fine PC with its discrete graphics, Windows Precision touchpad, spill-resistant backlit keyboard, and an excellent battery that you can charge really fast through the USB-C port. Other notable specs include a Core i7 Intel processor, 256GB SSD, and a 2GB Nvidia GeForce 940MX graphics processor.
Although it does not have a touchscreen display, added to its Windows Hello support is a fingerprint reader and other utility features that make this one of the most capable performance PCs on the market.
Lenovo ThinkPad E15 – Great portable option
Lenovo Think Pad E15 is a powerful business laptop with an Intel i5-10210U processor and 16GB RAM.
This laptop is a great portable option because it has a long average battery life of up to 11 hours and is fairly lightweight. The case is solid with a modern-looking, minimalistic design.
It is a 15.6 inches laptop with an anti-glare screen that has the capacity to show 1080p Full HD graphics.
Think Pad E15 is suitable for demanding tasks as it is equipped with 16GB DDR4 RAM memory and 1TB SSD that ensure fast response rates and smooth multitasking.
In terms of graphics, it has an Intel UHD Graphics processor which is powerful and ensures quality performance. While it is not the optimal choice when it comes to gaming, it still provides quality performance for video editing, media streaming, and business-related activities.
Lenovo Think Pad E 15 offers good performance at a very good price. It is sold with the Windows Business OS and is well-optimized for Windows Hello.
HP Envy 15t Touch RealSense – All-metal encasement
The HP Envy series isn’t as upmarket as it used to be or not nearly as premium as the iconic brand’s Spectre line. But for the lackluster display, in the all-metal encasement, Intel Core i7-6500U engine, 8GB of memory, and sleek design you have a workhorse PC that’s not a bad option if you are spoiling for a way to throw some cash around.
The laptop’s round hinge that props the keyboard up as you open the laptop is a nice touch. It will elevate the keyboard by a few degrees, which is convenient if you are typing on a flat surface. The build quality is robust. And with the Windows Hello support making up for the somewhat disappointing display, this would be a good choice for a business PC.
Huawei MateBook X Pro – 10-point touchscreen display
Another great laptop that works with Windows Hello is Huawei MateBook X Pro. This model comes with a tiny bezel and a 91% screen-to-body ratio. The device has a 13.9-inch, 3K LTPS, 260 PPI, and 3000×2000 resolution display.
Speaking of display specs, the display supports a 100% sRGB color gamut, 450 nits brightness, and 1500:1 contrast ratio. It’s worth mentioning that this device has a 10-point Corning Gorilla touchscreen display. The device has an Intel Core i7 CPU and GeForce MX150 GPU with 2GB GDDR5 memory.
As for memory, the device has 16GB LPDDR3 2133MHz RAM, and 512GB SSD. As for ports, the device has a 3.5mm audio jack, a single USB-C port for data transfer and charging, Thunderbolt 3 port for data transfer and charging, as well as a single USB-A port.
Huawei MateBook X Pro has a 57.4 Wh battery that can last up to 12 hours, which should be enough for most of your needs. It’s worth mentioning that this laptop has a hidden webcam that pops up only when you need it, so you won’t have to worry about your privacy.
Overall, Huawei MateBook X Pro offers great design and performance, and if you’re looking for a laptop that will work with Windows Hello, this might be the perfect model for you.
Overview:
- 9-inch, 3K LTPS, 10-point touchscreen display
- 91% screen-to-body ratio
- Core i7 CPU
- GeForce MX150 GPU with 2GB GDDR5
- 16GB LPDDR3 2133MHz RAM
- 512GB SSD
- Audio jack, USB-C port, Thunderbolt 3 port, and USB-A port
Asus ROG G771JM 17.3″ – Beastly appearance
When you look at it from a gaming perspective, the Windows Hello feature isn’t a terribly bad one to have on a PC. But, as a gaming PC and especially considering its hefty price tag, this Asus ROG G771JM perhaps won’t give you enough bang for your buck.
It is an early entry to the 4,000-resolution display gaming PC space, which also explains why the screen isn’t touch-ready. But given the hulking 17.5-inch, beastly appearance, and various gaming shortcuts and features, this is a decent enough gaming PC. And with the Intel Core i7, 4th generation 940MX processor, the PC packs as much power as other gaming PCs in this class
The list of PCs that support Windows Hello is, admittedly, longer than this. And even those we have not reviewed here are all great PCs. If anything, the list is set to grow even longer as PC manufacturers look to improve the experience users have with their machines.
This specific deal is part of our bigger selection of the best laptop deals you can find. You might also want to check out our dedicated Black Friday hub for tech deals.
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