8 Best Laptops with Trackpoint

This post includes affiliate links, for which we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you should you make a purchase using our links. As an Amazon Associate, we can earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.

It goes by many names. Almost every major laptop brand has tried its hand at launching its laptop with this feature. However, IBM is rightfully given credit for inventing this novel feature.

Yes, that odd-looking button-like thing that finds itself in the middle of laptop keyboards. In 1992, IBM was the first to introduce the world to TrackPoint.

It was only later that other manufacturers started introducing TrackPoints on their laptops. Many tried but failed to generate the market. IBM continued. To this day, Lenovo laptops feature the TrackPoint under the ThinkPad brand, acquired from IBM.

Today, TrackPoint provides users with an alternative to the touchpad. In 1992, it had to compete with a trackball and the emerging touchpad technology, as the solution for pointing devices.

There was scientific research backing its introduction. The research found that most people needed about one second to move from their keyboard to a mouse. Hence, when TrackPoint was introduced, it became a hit. The fan following continues even today.

Yes, it has some advantages over the touchpad. For instance, users do not have to take their hands off the keyboard to control the pointer. The TrackPoint works like a tiny joystick. All the user has to do is apply a little pressure in the direction they want the point to move.

Laptops that feature the TrackPoint are hard to find. The ThinkPad series from Lenovo still features the TrackPoint. However, this article will compare brands that offer this feature. We will then review the laptops in greater detail. Finally, we will discuss the factors you must keep in mind while buying these laptops.

Comparison of the Best Laptop with TrackPoint

Image	Product	Details	Check Price
	Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 9th Gen	Screen: 14” FHD+ (1920X1200) IPS 400nits Ports: Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2, HDMI, and 3.5mm jack Processor: Intel Core i7-1165G7 GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620 RAM: 16GB DDR4 Storage: 512GB SSD Weight: 1.13 Kgs / 2.49 lbs Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.1	Check on Amazon
No products found.	Toshiba Dynabook Tecra A50-J	Screen: 15.6” HD Ports: USB-C, USB 3.2, HDMI, DVD-RW, VGA, MicroSD, RJ-45, and 3.5mm Processor: Intel Core i7 vPro (Quad-Core) GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics RAM: 32GB DDR4 Storage: 1TB SSD Weight: 2.19 Kgs / 4.85 lbs Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.0	Check on Amazon
	HP EliteBook 850 G8	Screen: 15.6” FHD IPS 400nits Ports: Thunderbolt 4, USB, HDMI, and 3.5mm Processor: Intel Core i5 vPro GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics RAM: 16GB DDR4 Storage: 256GB SSD Weight: 1.77 Kgs / 3.91 lbs Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.0	Check on Amazon
	Dynabook Portege X40-J1437	Screen: 14” FHD Ports: Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2, HDMI, MicroSD, and 3.5mm Processor: Intel Core i7 GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics RAM: 16GB DDR4 Storage: 512GB SSD Weight: 1.40 Kgs / 3.09 lbs Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.2	Check on Dynabook
No products found.	Dell Latitude 5400	Screen: 14” FHD 220nits Ports: Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, HDMI, RJ-45, and 3.5mm Processor: Intel Core i7 vPro (Quad-Core) GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620 RAM: 32GB DDR4 Storage: 512GB SSD Weight: 1.48 Kgs / 3.26 lbs Wireless: Wi-Fi 5 + Bluetooth 4.2	Check on Amazon
	Asus ExpertBook P2 P2451	Screen: 14” FHD IPS 300nits Ports: USB-C, USB 3.2, USB 2.0 HDMI, VGA, RJ-45, microSD and 3.5mm Processor: Intel Core i7 vPro GPU: NVIDIA GeForce MX110 RAM: up to 32GB DDR4 Storage: up to 1TB SSD Weight: 1.50 Kgs / 3.31 lbs Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.2	Check on Asus
	Lenovo ThinkPad T490	Screen: 14” FHD IPS 250nits Ports: Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, HDMI, MicroSD, RJ-45, and 3.5mm Processor: Intel Core i5 Quad-Core GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620 RAM: 16GB DDR4 Storage: 512GB SSD Weight: 1.54 Kgs / 3.41 lbs Wireless: Wi-Fi 5 + Bluetooth 5.0	Check on Amazon
	ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook	Screen: 13.3” FHD IPS 300nits Ports: USB-C, USB-3.2, HDMI, microSD, and 3.5mm Processor: AMD Athlon Gold 3150 (Dual-Core) GPU: Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics RAM: up to 16GB DDR4 Storage: up to 256GB SSD Weight: 1.50 Kgs / 3.30 lbs Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.0	Check on Amazon

Best Laptops with TrackPoint – Our Pick

1. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon – Best Ultrabook

Like the T490, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a classic. It has a considerable fan base which even Lenovo cannot ignore. Back in 2014, Lenovo made a change by integrating the left and right-click buttons into the touchpad. The fan base rallied, and Lenovo had to revert to the original design.

The X1 Carbon is an Ultrabook and weighs a mere 2.49lbs. This is the featherweight category for ThinkPad laptops. In addition to being super light, it is super thin too. At 14.9mm in height, it provides an ergonomic work design and can fit in your bag easily.

The X1 offers the Intel Core i7-1165G7 (up to 4.70GHz, 4 Core/8 Threads, and 12MB cache). With the 9^th Gen X1, you now get up to 32GB DDR4 RAM. For storage, you get a decent 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2. This has become the undeclared system configuration for almost all business laptops.

The X1 is reasonably generous with the expansion ports it offers. You now get two Thunderbolt 4, two USB 3.2, HDMI, and 3.5mm audio ports. Unlike the T490, you do not get a microSD card reader or a sim card slot. However, the added number of USB ports more than makes up for this.

The X1 used the 802.11ax standard to give you Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. However, it does away with the Gigabit Ethernet port. This was also necessary to maintain its thin design.

The design of the laptop is the familiar black clamshell design. The body is made of carbon fiber material, thereby justifying its name. This is done to keep the weight to a minimum while maintaining a strong body for the laptop.

Key Features

• 14” FullHD+ (1920X1200) IPS 400nits screen
• Intel Core i7 – up to 4.70GHz
• Ultrabook

2. Toshiba Dynabook Tecra A50-J – Home Use

This Tecra A50 is an upgraded version of its older self. Meaning, Toshiba probably had unsold inventory and decided to enhance the offering by providing better specifications on an older chassis. Hence, Dynabook has to try harder than others to attract attention.

The Tecra A50 comes with the Intel Core i7 – 1165G7 (up to 4.70GHz, 4 Core 8 Thread, and 12MB L3 Cache). This is paired with a 32GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage. All excellent specifications to ensure you get a high-performance laptop experience. Thus, making it ideal for business use.

The long list of expansion ports also does not disappoint. For instance, you get one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. Since the laptop is an upgrade from an older version, you still get a DVD-R drive. Besides this, you also get an SD card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack.

You can also connect an external display with great ease, thanks to the provision of an HDMI and a VGA port. The VGA port comes exceptionally handy as many conference rooms still use older projectors that do not support HDMI.

Additionally, the Tecra A50 comes with both Wi-Fi 6 and an RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet port. This will ensure you stay connected at high speeds and maintain a high productivity level.

Finally, because the laptop is an upgrade, you will have to deal with a couple of limitations. For instance, you do not get a FullHD screen. Instead, you get a 15.6” HD screen with 1366X768 resolution. Also, the laptop becomes heavy due to the high-performance specification being retrofitted. It weighs 4.5lbs, which is easily the highest among similar laptops on this list.

Key Features

• Intel Core i7 – 1165G7 processor
• 32GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB SSD
• HDMI and VGA port

3. HP EliteBook 850 G8 – Most Versatile

The HP EliteBook 850 G8 family offers you a host of configurations. Thus making it the most versatile laptop series that also offers a TrackPoint feature.

You get to scale up or scale down the configurations to suit your needs. The user can configure everything from RAM, processor, storage to screen sizes.

For instance, you can choose between an Intel i5 or i7 processor with and without the Intel vPro technology. Next, this particular model comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM that you can scale up to 64GB. Finally, the 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD can also be scaled up to 2TB.

This EliteBook model offers you a 15” FullHD IPS screen that gives you 400nits. Along with the Bang and Olufsen speakers, this makes for a pretty decent audio-video device.

To make it a comprehensive computing device, the EliteBook 850 G8 comes with an Intel i5-1145G7 processor with Intel vPro. Thus, making it ideal even for business users. The laptop is lightweight and offers close to 12 hours of battery life, even with peak CPU usage. Hence, making it ideal for business users on the go.

Additionally, you get a full-size keyboard along with a number pad. This always comes in handy when you need to crunch numbers at work. The EliteBook offers you a glass touchpad and a TrackPoint for pointing devices.

The EliteBook is versatile even when it comes to the ports it offers. You get two Thunderbolt 4, Two USB 3.0 Type-A, one HDMI 2.0, one sim-card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Hence, you will not have any difficulty hooking up your peripheral devices.

Finally, the body is encased in aluminum. Hence, this keeps the weight down. Further, it makes sure you get a sturdy device that is not susceptible to damage very easily. Hp makes sure of this by putting the device through a series of tests. These are comprehensive tests that include everything from drop tests to extreme variations in temperatures.

Key Features

• 15” FullHD IPS screen 400nits
• Intel i5 (Quad-core) with vPro
• 16GB DDR4 with 256GB SSD

4. Dynabook Portege X40-J1437 – Best Overall

If you are looking for a laptop that gives you excellent processing power, the X40 is for you. It couples this great flexibility and top-notch internet connectivity.

The X40 comes with an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor. This is paired with a fairly adequate 16GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM module. You get a generous 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD for storage. Together, all of these specifications are more than adequate to cater to home and business use.

The screen of the laptop measures 14” and comes with 1920X1080 FullHD. Dynabook remains silent on crucial parameters like the contrast and brightness levels of the screen.

You can attach all the peripherals you like with its generous provision of ports. The list includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. These support USB sleep and charge, DisplayPort, and PD charging.

Additionally, you also get an HDMI port and a microSD card slot. The X40 also supports Dolby Atmos with Stereo speakers and also comes with a 3.5mm dual microphone and headphone jack.

Unfortunately, the Dynabook X40 misses a trick. It does not offer an RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet port, which most business users may have found useful. Nonetheless, the X40 is an outstanding laptop and caters to a vast audience with what it has to offer.

Finally, the laptop makes sure you stay connected to high-speed internet using the Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 card. Most importantly, it offers you an “AccuPoint II Pointing Device,” which is Dynabook’s name for TrackPoint.

Key Features

• Intel Core i7-1165G7
• 16 GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
• 14” FullHD Screen

5. Dell Latitude 5400 – Best Laptop for Linux

The Dell Latitude 5400 differentiates itself from the field by offering a host of choices. The foremost is the choice of the operating system. While most laptops of only Windows 10, the Latitude allows you to choose between Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux.

The Latitude 5400 comes with the Intel Core i7 vPro 4-core processor. Along with this, you get a very generous 32GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM. Further, for the storage, you can choose to start from a 512GB SATA SSD and scale up to 1TB PCIe NVMe. Additionally, you also have to option of a 1TB Hybrid.

All of these are great options that focus on keeping you productive at work. Additionally, the ports that the Latitude 5400 offers also exude the same. The list includes one Thunderbolt 3 port, three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, HDMI, RJ-45, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Along with this, you also get an SD card reader, a SIM slot, and an optional Contacted SmartCard reader.

The 14” FullHD Anti-Glare offers 220nits. The screen makes use of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer LCD back. Dell claims to use post-industrial carbon fiber along with 16.96% of post-industrial recycled materials in their Latitude 5000 series laptops. They claim this prevents over 2 million pounds of carbon fiber waste from being condemned to landfills.

Coming back to the business user, the laptop weighs 3.26lbs and measure only 19.6mm in thickness. Hence, carrying it around is easy and ideal for the business professional on the move.

Finally, the Latitude 5400 offers high-density batteries with ExpressCharge. These allow you to charge your laptop battery up to 80% in one hour.

Key Feature

• 14” FullHD screen with 220nits
• Intel Core i7 vPro (Quad-Core)
• 32GB DDR4 RAM and up to 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD

6. Asus ExpertBook P2 P2451 – Best Tech Support

The Asus P2 is compliant with the US MIL-STD 810G standards. One may think that this is just a fancy name for a bunch of quality-related tests. However, consider this. The laptop endures 18 shock tests, vibration tests, high & low temperature, and a couple of altitude tests. All this is done to ensure that your laptop does not fail you even in the most hostile environments.

Even if it does, Asus does not leave you stranded. They offer 24hrs tech support to advise you on hardware and software-related issues. If all else fails, they offer to pick up the laptop, repair it and bring it back to you.

The laptop comes with a 14” FullHD IPS standard screen that offers you 300nits. The thin bezel ensures that Asus can accommodate a 14” screen on a 13” chassis. Further, it plays an essential role in giving you a 76% screen-to-body ratio. However, the screen is unimpressive with poor viewing angles. You have to sit straight in front of the screen to get the best image quality.

The Asus P2 comes with the Intel Core i7 vPro processor (up to 4.9GHz, 4 Cores, and 8 MB Cache). You also get up to 32GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 storage. Further, you get the option to scale up the storage to a Hybrid (2TB HDD and 1TB SSD).

There are plenty of ports on offer as well. For instance, the P2 comes with USB-C Gen 1/2, which offers both power delivery and display. Additionally, you also get two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A and one USB 2.0 Type-A port. The laptop connects to additional peripherals using HDMI or VGA ports for video and the 3.5mm jack for audio.

With the P2, you stay connected to high-speed internet because it offers Wi-Fi 6 and an RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet port.

Finally, Asus also gives you their “SensePoint” pointing nub, which sits in the center of their backlit keyboard.

Key Features

• 14” FullHD IPS screen with 300nits
• Intel Core i7 vPro processor
• Wi-Fi 6

7. Lenovo ThinkPad T490 – Best Business Laptop

The ThinkPad T490 is a classic in the ThinkPad series. Aimed at business professionals, the T490 offers the right balance of features to cater to the needs of most professionals.

The laptop offers you a 14” FullHD Anti-Glare IPS display with 250nits. The IPS screen makes sure that you get a good viewing angle with great ease.

The laptop comes with the 8^th generation Intel Core i5-8265U processor (with up to 3.90GHz, 4-Cores, 6MB cache). This is paired with 16GB DDR4 RAM (8GB Onboard + 8GB DIMM). Also, you get a 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD for storage. These configurations are ideal for running any business application without a problem.

For your need to expand your computing environment, the T490 has you covered with the number of ports it offers. You get one Thunderbolt 3, one USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Additionally, you also get a microSD card slot and a sim card slot.

The T490 also ensures you stay connected using high-speed internet. This is done via its Gigabit Ethernet port and 802.11ac card, offering you Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0.

Typically, the ThinkPad series does not offer a spectacular laptop design, and the T490 is no exception to the rule. Therefore, you get the standard black boxy design that has been around since the ThinkPad’s debut. However, you cannot help but feel a sense of familiarity when you open the lid and see the red TrackPoint.

Key Features

• 14” FullHD IPS Anti-Glare 250nits
• Intel Core i5 (Quad-Core) – up to 3.90GHz
• 16GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD

8. ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook – Best Chromebook

A Chromebook with a TrackPoint is challenging to find. Hence, we have done the work for you and come up with an absolute winner. The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook is the answer. Apart from being a Chromebook, you can even use a tablet thanks to its 2-in-1 form factor.

The C13 comes with the AMD Athlon Gold 3150C (up to 3.30GHz processor, 2 Core 4 Thread, and 4 MB Cache). Of course, you can choose to upgrade this up to an AMD Ryzen 7. Further, the C13 also comes with up to 16GB DDR4 RAM and up to 256GB SSD or 64GB eMMC.

The 13.3” FullHD IPS screen is a touchscreen and offers 300nits and a 72% color gamut. You can easily fold it back 360-degrees and use the device as a tablet. For this, you get a stylus that comes included and is stowed away on the front panel of the Chromebook.

This Chromebook also offers a long list of ports should you feel the need for it. You get two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C that support DisplayPort v1.4. Additionally, you also get two USB Gen 1 Type-A, one HDMI port, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio port.

Finally, the chassis makes use of aluminum; this helps to restrict the weight of the Chromebook to 3.40lbs. Therefore, you will not have a problem carrying the device around.

Key Features

• AMD Athlon Gold 3150C Processor
• 2-in-1 design to use a tablet
• 13.3” FullHD Touchscreen

Best Laptop with TrackPoint – Our Buying Guide

Essentially a TrackPoint is a pointing device. Almost all laptops give you a touchpad for this purpose. Between the two, the touchpad is undoubtedly the most popular option for pointing devices. Therefore, there are fewer options to choose from if you are looking for a laptop that features TrackPoint. However, the limited option does not translate to an easier decision.

Hence, we highlight what factors one must consider while deciding which laptop to buy.

Purpose of use

You need to decide whether you intend to use the laptop for home or work. Most of these laptops offer a similar set of specifications. However, minor variations make a difference in the application of the laptop.

For instance, the Tecra A50 offers excellent specifications, but it is a heavy device. Hence, it would be ideal to use it at home. Whereas the Asus P2 is suitable for people who are constantly on the go.

Operating System

Most of these laptops come with the operating system pre-installed.

If you are looking for a Linux-based device, the Dell Latitude 5400 makes perfect sense. The ThinkPad C13 is an excellent option if you want a Chromebook.

Specifications

The specification is a vital element that one must consider while buying a laptop. Therefore, it is advisable to measure exactly what you need and then match it with what the device offers. Most laptop manufacturers allow you to expand the RAM and storage to suit your needs. However, there are very few that allow you to choose the processor.

Therefore, HP EliteBook 850 stands out. It offers you the choice of Intel i5 or i7 processors. Thus, making it the most versatile laptop that features a TrackPoint.

Weight

The weight of the laptop is an essential consideration. Laptops are made to be mobile. Therefore you do not want to end up buying one that weighs you down.

Hence, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a good option and is widely regarded as the lightest laptop in the world.

Ports

Ports allow you the freedom to expand your computing capabilities. Hence, you must settle for a laptop that offers you the right mix.

Therefore, the ThinkPad T490 is an excellent selection. It offers you Thunderbolt 3 and an RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet port, a rare combination to find.

Screen

Whether for home use or work, a laptop must have a good screen that makes images look good. Apart from the size of the screen, you must keep a few more parameters in mind.

Mainly, whether the screen is a Full HD, the viewing angle of the screen, and the brightness level it offers. For this, we recommend the laptops from HP and Asus.

Price

Laptops that feature the pointing nubs like the TrackPoint generally do not offer too much price variance primarily because such devices target business users. Thus, making such laptops quite similar to each other in terms of what they offer. As a result, the difference ranges between 10% to 15% of the cost of the laptop.

The exception is the Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook. This device offers limited specifications compared to the other laptops on the list. Consequently, it is considerably cheaper than the alternatives.

Dimensions

The dimensions of a laptop directly govern the ease with which the user can carry it around. Obviously, the bulkier a device is, the more inconvenience one would have to face.

Hence, the Asus P2 is a great option. The laptop is compact, but it is also built to withstand improper handling up to a great degree.

Best Laptop with TrackPoint – Frequently Asked Questions

What is TrackPoint?

TrackPoint is essentially a pointing device technology developed first by IBM in the early 1990s. It has the same primary function as a mouse or a touchpad.

How is TrackPoint different from AccuPoint or SensePoint?

TrackPoint is a brand name given by IBM to its pointing stick/nub. Since IBM was the pioneer in this technology, they named it TrackPoint, and the name became synonymous with the technology.

Similar to what happened with Xerox machines. Xerox was a brand that made a photocopier. Other manufacturers made similar machines. Since Xerox was the most popular (and most prominent at the time), it became synonymous with photocopiers. To this day, many people around the world refer to photocopy machines as Xerox machines.

AccuPoint and SensePoint are brand names given to this technology by Toshiba/Dynabook and Asus, respectively.

Which is better, TrackPoint or Touchpads?

There is no straight answer to this.

Touchpads are certainly the most widely accepted technology as far as pointing devices for laptops go. However, TrackPoint has a considerable fan base.

Laptop manufacturers Lenovo tried to phase out the feature in 2014. They tried launching a new series of ThinkPad laptops without TrackPoint. However, they had to abandon the idea after TrackPoint fans made their displeasure felt.