Best Laptops Intel Iris XE Graphics

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The new laptops with Intel Iris XE and XE MAX GPUs have started shipping to consumers. We researched the very best, and here are the top recommendations that you can buy right now.

Intel has been off the pace in the GPU sector for a while, but it looks like they are ready to enter the market dominated mainly by AMD and NVIDIA with its new XE graphics.

If you’re looking for a great excellent everyday laptop that you can also play games on it or do some editing, these laptops with integrated Intel XE Graphics make the cut. And with the latest 11th gen processors, you get even faster and more intelligent performance.

So, are the new laptops with Iris XE Graphics any good at gaming? Let’s find out.

Intel Iris XE GPU Benchmarks: Best for 1080p Gaming?

According to notebookcheck, the performance of the integrated Intel Iris XE graphics should be the same as a dedicated GeForce MX350. However, you will see a significant performance uplift when moving from the last-gen Iris Plus graphics.

The Intel Iris Xe Graphics destroyed Intel Iris Plus Graphics in 3DMark benchmarks and gaming. On low settings at 1080p in CS:GO, Intel Iris Xe Graphics recorded 168fps compared to 107fps in Iris Plus Graphics. It was the same trend in medium settings, recording 120fps to 44fps.

In DOTA 2 at 1080, Intel Iris Xe Graphics recorded 123fps on low settings compared to 107 fps on the Iris Plus. You also get twice the performance in medium to high settings, making the Intel Iris Xe Graphics the best 1080p integrated gaming GPU. These new laptops with Intel Iris XE graphics offer excellent 1080p gaming performance on AAA games on low to medium settings.

The performance of the Intel Iris Xe Graphics depends on a few factors such as TDP setting, cooling, and the processor. You can configure the Iris XE GPU at 12 and 28 Watt TDP default. We recommend 28W for the best performance. The performance will also improve as you upgrade from the Core i5 CPU to the Core i7-1165G7, and even better on the powerful Core i7-1185G7.

For content creators, we recommend the dedicated Intel Iris XE Max graphics to take advantage of the dedicated memory. The dedicated GPU is great for creative pros and professionals who demand more graphical power for photo and video editing. It is also a great dedicated GPU for AAA gaming if you want higher refresh rates at medium to higher settings. This roundup includes laptops with Intel Iris XE and XE MAX GPUs that are available for shipping, so you can start ordering right away.

Best Laptops with Intel Iris XE and XE MAX GPUs Available Now

Image	Product	Details	Check Price
	Dell XPS 13 (11th Gen)	Processor: 11th-Gen Intel Core i5-i7 Screen: 13.4 inches; FHD+ (1920 x 1200) or UHD+ (3840 x 2400) Aspect Ratio: 16:10 RAM: 8GB-32GB Storage: 256GB-2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD Thunderbolt 4 Ports: 2 Weight: 2.64 pounds	Check on Amazon
	Dell Inspiron 15 5000	Processor: 11th-Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Screen: 15.6 inches; FHD (1920 x 1080) Aspect Ratio: 16:9 RAM: 8GB Storage: 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD Thunderbolt 4 Ports: No Weight: 3.78 pounds	Check on Amazon
	Acer Swift 3	Processor: 11th-Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 Screen: 13.5 inches; FHD+ (2256 x 1504) Aspect Ratio: 3:2 RAM: 8GB Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD Thunderbolt 4 Ports: 1 Weight: 2.65 pounds	Check on Amazon
	ASUS ZenBook Flip S	Processor: 11th-Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 Screen: 13.3 inches 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) OLED Aspect Ratio: 16:9 RAM: 16GB Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD Thunderbolt 4 Ports: 2 Weight: 2.9 pounds	Check on Amazon
	Razer Book 3	Processor: 11th-Gen Intel Core i5-i7 Screen: 13.4 inches; FHD+ (1920 x 1200) or UHD+ (3840 x 2400) Aspect Ratio: 16:10 RAM: 8GB-16GB Storage: 256GB-512GB Thunderbolt 4 Ports: 2 Weight: 2.9 pounds	Check on Amazon
	Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1	Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 Screen: 15.6 inches; 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) Aspect Ratio: 16:9 RAM: 16GB Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD + 32GB Optane Thunderbolt 4 Ports: 1 Weight: 4.20 pounds	Check on Amazon

1. Dell XPS 13 9310 – Best Intel Iris XE Laptop Overall

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If you want the perfect laptop that ticks all the boxes for office, studying, and everyday computing, the new Dell XPS 13 should be top of your list. Dell XPS has been the best laptop for the last few years, and the latest model shows we’re going to see more of it next year.

The new Dell XPS 13 9310 comes with the latest 11th gen Intel processors up to Core i7-1185G7 and integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics. The integrated GPU is excellent for casual and light gaming, but we recommend a Thunderbolt 3 eGPU if you’re a serious gamer. The laptop is based on the intel EVO Platform, so you get unrivaled power and responsiveness with longer battery life. Depending on the display, you can get anywhere from 8 hours to 14 hours of battery life.

The design remains unchanged. It’s the same thin and light XPS look with carbon fiber or white woven glass fiber palm rest. Onboard you get incredibly thin all-around bezels with a built-in webcam and a taller 16:10 screen. The weight starts at 2.64 pounds, making it an excellent pick for portability. Elsewhere, you get a backlit keyboard, a larger trackpad, and a fingerprint reader for quick login.

With a 16:10 aspect ratio, the XPS offers more vertical screen space than standard 16:9 screens. You can see more rows when working with spreadsheets and IDEs or display more timelines on your video editing app. The display itself is 13.4-inch, FHD+ (1920 x 1200) with impressive 500 nits. The base model is great for most users, but there is a UHD+ (3840 x 2400) alternative if you need a sharper picture quality.

Connectivity

• 2 x Thunderbolt 4 (DP, Charging)
• 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo
• 1 x MicroSD Card Reader

2. Dell Inspiron 15 5000 – Cheapest Laptop with Intel Iris XE Graphics

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When you buy a cheap laptop, one of the things you give up is performance. However, the Dell Inspiron 15 5000 with Core i5-1135G7 processor and Intel Iris Xe Graphics is a different story. It’s powerful enough for everyday computing, gaming, and even professional editing. Dell equipped the Inspiron 15 5000 with 8GB (single stick) of memory and 256GB M.2 NVMe storage.

Of course, you can upgrade the hardware, but that will attract some extra costs. While this laptop comes with Tiger Lake CPU, it only has USB-C connectivity, no Thunderbolt 4.

The laptop features a simple design with a silver finish and a lift hinge that raises the keyboard for a comfortable typing experience. There is also an innovative lid sensor that automatically powers on the laptop when you open the lid. While the Inspiron 15 5000 is not the lightest at 3.78 lbs, it features handy features that you’ll rarely find in budget laptops.

Elsewhere, you get a full layout backlit keyboard with a number pad. The trackpad isn’t as large as the XPS, but it should be great for most users. With a built-in fingerprint reader and Amazon Alexa, you get more bang for your buck.

The display is a 15.6-inch Full HD with an anti-glare coating to reduce reflections in bright environments. It’s a sharp and colorful display great for everyday productivity, school, and entertainment, but we wouldn’t recommend it for professional editing work.

Connectivity

• 1 x USB-C (DP, Charging)
• 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1
• 1 x HDMI 1.4
• 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo
• 1 x MicroSD Card Reader

3. Acer Swift 3 – Best Portable Intel Iris XE Laptop

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The Acer Swift 3 is another laptop updated with Intel Xe Graphics in 2020. It’s the best portable pick in our roundup, weighing 2.65 pounds and 0.63-inches thin. The LG Gram comes close in terms of portability, but LG is yet to update it with Intel Iris XE. If you want the best portable laptop with better graphics for gaming and content creation, the Acer Swift 3 is an excellent pick. It is affordable too.

The Swift 3 is based on the EVO Platform, so you get fast and intelligent performance, stunning visuals, longer battery life with quick charging, and premium built-in features such as Wi-Fi 6. This model rocks a quad-core Core i7-1165G7 processor with integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 8GB memory, and 512GB NVMe storage. That’s a lot of power in a thin and light form factor.

Acer went for a taller 3:2 aspect ratio screen again to provide more vertical screen space, great for work and multitasking. If you’re working with long documents, browsing, editing, or coding, you’ll appreciate the extra space that lets you view a few more lines and timelines without much scrolling.

The display is 13.5-inch with 2256 x 1504 resolution and an IPS panel. It has more pixels than standard 1080p displays resulting in sharper picture quality and crisper text. With the IPS panel, you get wide viewing angles and accurate colors perfect for photo and video editing.

Other great features of the Swift 3 is the amazing 14 hours battery life that can last the entire workday, Thunderbolt 4 connection that supports dual 4k external displays and charging, and integrated fingerprint reader.

Connectivity

• 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (DP, Charging)
• 1 x HDMI 2.0
• 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1
• 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo

4. ASUS ZenBook Flip S – Best 2-in-1 Laptop with Intel Iris XE Graphics

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ASUS ZenBook Flip S is the best 2-in-1 laptop with Intel Iris XE graphics. It comes with a powerful Core i7-1165G7 tiger lake processor with an outstanding 4k OLED display that delivers lifelike images and highlights. A stylus pen is included if you want to get creative with drawing, sketching, or getting that genuine pen-on-paper experience.

The HP Sceptre 2-in-1 is an excellent alternative with Intel Iris XE graphics and OLED display, but the same configuration costs way more than the ZenBook Flip S. If you want the best bang for your buck, the Flip S is the best 2-in-1 to buy.

The ZenBook Flip S is another portable king measuring 2.87lbs light and 0.55 inches thin. It has great aesthetics with black and red copper accents; you won’t shy away from showing it to your friends. Onboard you get a 360° hinge that allows you to flip the laptop into a full tablet mode, tent, or stand for the best experience. Like most 2-in-1 laptops, there is a stylus pen included.

At 13.3 inches, the 4k display results in higher pixel density producing detailed images and crisper text. The OLED display is great for work and entertainment. You get true blacks and stunning colors and highlights for a lifelike viewing experience. With the integrated Iris XE graphics, you get sorted for all editing and gaming needs while ensuring the best picture quality you can get.

The ZenBook Flip S also carries the EVO Platform brand, bringing remarkable battery life up to 15 hours and advanced features such as immersive visuals and Wi-Fi 6. The laptop also supports dual 4k external displays and charging through the two Thunderbolt 4 ports. Other features include the backlit keyboard with an integrated number pad on the trackpad and Windows Hello.

Connectivity

• 2 x Thunderbolt 4 (DP, Charging)
• 1 x micro HDMI
• 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1

5. Razer Book 3 – Best Intel Iris XE Laptop for Business

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The all-new Razer Book 3 laptop goes up against the ThinkPads for the best business laptop of 2021. Razer’s first productivity laptop brings power and stunning visuals with the EVO Platform. It features excellent features such as a 16:10 aspect ratio screen, longer battery life, and reliable build quality with great thermals. It has every feature you need from a productivity and business standpoint.

The design is excellent. You get the outstanding build quality and aesthetics of Razer’s gaming laptops. The anodized aluminum unibody gives the laptop robust strength while keeping the weight to an impressively 2.9 pounds. It’s a perfect business laptop for portability, and thanks to Wi-Fi 6, you get the best speeds in crowded areas like hotels and airport waiting rooms.

The Razer Book 3 is available in FHD+ and UHD+ touchscreen displays, with a cheaper non-touch FHD+ alternative. Both models have a 13.4-inch screen and a 16:10 aspect ratio screen, designed to maximize productivity. You get decent pixel density even on the FHD variant, ideal for text and line-based work like coding.

For the hardware, choose between a cheaper Core i5-1135G7 or the powerful Core i7-1165G7, with up to 16GB RAM and 512GB NVMe storage.

We recommend pairing the Book with the Razer Core X if you want more graphical power for AAA gaming or professional editing and modeling work. The Book 3 has dual x4 PCIe lanes Thunderbolt 4 ports; you can squeeze every juice from your eGPU.

Connectivity

• 2 x Thunderbolt 4 (DP, Charging)
• 1 x USB-C
• 1 x HDMI 2.0
• 1 x MicroSD Card Slot
• 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo

6. Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1 – Best Laptop with Intel XE MAX Graphics

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Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1 is the first laptop to feature Intel’s dedicated Iris Xe MAX graphics. It’s a powerful laptop dedicated to content creators and users who demand more graphics power for intensive tasks such as AAA gaming. With 100% sRGB coverage, you get vivid and vibrant colors great for photos and image editing.

The design is excellent for graphics designers who want to get creative just about anywhere. It’s not the lightest at 4.20 lbs, but you can still carry it around without hurting your back. The laptop folds into a tent, stand, or tablet mode for a better experience when taking notes, sketching, drawing, or presenting.

Dell ships the laptop with a rechargeable active pen that magnetically attaches onto the hinge for storage and charging. Get that pure pen-on-paper experience with the updated active pen that features advanced features, including tilt detection, 4096 pressure levels, and an erasure button.

The Inspiron 15 7000 comes with a sharp and crisper 15.6-inch display that provides a lot of screen space for all your editing work. With 4k resolution and the dedicated Iris Xe MAX graphics, you get stunning visuals with vibrant colors and exceptional details that allow you to express exactly what you have in mind.

This model is powered by a Core i7 processor with 16GB of memory and 1TB NVMe storage. It’s a powerful quad-core processor that provides blazing performance ideal for productivity work and gaming. The 11th gen processor brings advanced integrated features such as Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6. Other features include Windows Hello support via the built-in webcam and fingerprint reader.

Connectivity

• 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (DP, Charging)
• 1 x HDMI 2.0
• 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1
• 1 x Micro SD Card
• 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo

Choosing the Best Laptop with Intel Iris XE and XE MAX GPUs

Just like choosing any other device, the cost and specific needs come into play, but there are a few factors that will help you find the best Intel Iris XE laptop.

Intel Iris XE or XE MAX Graphics

For the latest Tiger Lake laptops, you can choose one with integrated or dedicated Iris XE Graphics. The integrated Iris XE GPU is excellent for everyday computing, work, and studying. You can also play most games at lower to medium settings and get higher refresh rates for immersive gaming.

The dedicated Intel Iris MAX GPU is excellent if you need more graphical power for high-end editing or gaming. If you’re a professional content creator, this is the kind of laptop you need.

EVO Platform

Most of the new laptops with 11th gen processors are based on Intel’s EVO Platform. EVO Platform pushes OEMs to design fast and intelligent laptops that are highly responsive and feature stunning displays and better power efficiency.

Unlike other laptops that may take forever to wake from sleep, EVO laptops take less than 1 second to resume power, allowing you to resume work instantly. Also, these laptops offer longer battery life with fast charging. A few minutes charge can give you more hours of use, great if you’re late for work or your business trip. Wi-Fi 6 is another excellent feature that comes integrated with all EVO platform laptops.

If you want the best performance from the latest Tiger Lake laptops, choose one that’s EVO certified. That doesn’t mean the other laptops with 11th gen processors but not based on the EVO Platform aren’t any good. With EVO laptops, you’re guaranteed faster performance, stunning visuals, responsiveness, and longer battery life.

Thunderbolt 4 Ports

Thunderbolt 4 is now available in laptops and a few accessories, including Thunderbolt 4 docking stations. The only difference compared to Thunderbolt 3 is reliability. All Thunderbolt 4 laptops must support charging on at least one Tb4 port, support dual 4k external displays or a single 8k display, and support 40Gbps transfer speeds.

There is no more buying a Thunderbolt laptop that only supports data and does not support Power Delivery or external displays. Thunderbolt 4 now delivers the ultimate one-cable solution.