Mac or Windows?
What if you could have both?
With a Hackintosh – You can use a standard laptop (pc) which can be reconfigured to run the Macintosh Operating system (MAC OS). So you can have the security of running a Mac, but the Hackintosh configuration offers you some of the customization benefits of it were a Windows based system/hardware configuration.
And the best thing about them?
The best Hackintosh laptops can cost less than their Mac hardware based counterparts. So, while you’d be getting all the features which a Mac user has to pay a King’s ransom for, you’d still be paying less.
Enough with the dull-looking machines….. let’s find something that is going to stick out and show everyone you mean business. If you share this sentiment with us, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar II will not disappoint.
Why Buy This Hackintosh Laptop?
- 144Hz display panel
- 8thGen Coffee Lake Intel Core processor
- 16GB RAM
- Mesmerizing design
Features:
What are the three things every Hackintosh laptop needs to have? First, plenty of speed. Second, considerable storage capacity. And finally, a high-end processor. Luckily, with its 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD and 8th Gen Coffee Lake Intel Core processor, the Scar II ticks all three boxes with ease.
As for its design, opening the lid of this laptop would flood you with a rainbow of colors. That’s due to the LED indicators which emanate from the cutout near the hinge and the sharp copper color which comes out from the back vent grilles. Oh, and its keyboard has a backlit too.
You can’t help but gawk in awe once you see the vivid display of this model. Boasting a refresh rate of 144HZ, the 15.6’’ FHD IPS panel is anti-glare and reproduces colors accurately. The bezels on the three sides are extremely narrow so you won’t see them interfering with the display.
It includes a Hypercool Pro Thermal system which heat sink and anti-dust technology keeps the internal temperatures down. And if any heat still dares to build up inside, the triple radiators and dual 12V fans will make short work of it.
Pros:
- Incredible looks
- Display has a 144Hz refresh rate
- Solid performance and graphics
- Awe-inspiring design
Cons:
- The positioning of the webcam
Final Verdict:
With its gorgeous 144Hz panel, mesmerizing design and solid all-around performance – not to mention the array of colors which emanate from its body – the ROG Strix Scar II is simply one of the best looking Hackintosh laptops of 2019.
Whether you’re looking for a Hackintosh laptop or a lightweight consumer 2-in-1, you’ll find the HP Spectre x360 hard to ignore. The latest version of this sleek HP laptop features solid performance and mouthwatering battery life.
Why Buy This Hackintosh Laptop?
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Intel Core i7-8565U (quad-core, 4MB cache)
- 2-in-1 compatibility
- 1,920 x 1,080p FHD display
Features:
Speaking of its design, the fact that it’s top right and left corners are diagonal lends this model an interesting look. Besides the keyboard on the right-hand side is a fingerprint scanner which allows easy logging into the system, and the touchpad recognizes multi-touch gestures.
Also, since this is a 2-in-1 model, people will rightly ask questions about the quality of the hinge. You have no need to worry though, as the x360 comes with a sturdy hinge which lets you angle the screen into multiple positions without damaging itself.
One area where HP has improved on this model is its screen, as the new 1,920 x 1,080 FHD display appears more vibrant than its predecessor. The entire display has Corning Gorilla Glass NBT coating, so you won’t have to worry about scratches while carrying it around in tablet mode.
Also, while this model’s 2-in-1 functionality ensures wide viewing angles, its built-in HP Sure View technology lets you limit the same, which is a handy feature if you’re using it in public places. All you have to do to activate this feature by pressing F1.
Apart from its 16GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB hard drive, the x360 boasts a massive battery life of more than 12 ½ hours while watching movies at 50% brightness.
Pros:
-
- Long battery life
- Eye-catching design
- Three display choices
- Fingerprint sensor
Cons:
- Brightness of display
Final Verdict:
With its stunning battery life, a gem-cut design and loads of useful features, HP’s x360 is one of the best ultra-portable 2-1 laptops on the market.
Affordability isn’t typically the first thing that comes to mind when researching gaming laptops but the Acer Predator 17 bucks that trend and not at the cost of compromising it’s features.
Why Buy This Hackintosh Laptop?
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070
- 1TB hard disk
Features:
Littered with colored fan vents and red flourishes, the 17.3’’ machine is as ostentatious as one can get. As expected, so much emphasis on style and design, has come at the cost of extra weight.
Luckily, Acer has made full use of the Predator’s roomy chassis. Around the model’s sides, you get an SD card reader, DisplayPort and HDMI outputs, USB 3.1 Type-C connector and USB 3.0 ports. Turn it around, and you’ll find an M.2 form factor SSD and two memory sockets.
As if its design wasn’t enough to raise eyebrows, Acer went one step ahead: naming the 4.2 speaker system ‘SoundPound’. A combination of four speakers and two subwoofers, the audio churned out by the system is loud enough to overpower a person with light music preferences.
Lastly, as far as its performance is concerned, the fact that the Predator has an integrated 8th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor with 16GB RAM and 6GB VRAM should settle all your nerves. Add to the equation its 15.6’’ FHD display with 144Hz refresh rate, and one might think that this model could do nothing wrong.
Pros:
- Impressive battery life
- Bold and beautiful
- Loud, built-in speaker system
- Incredibly powerful
Cons:
- Heavy
Final Verdict:
Powerful, popular and affordable. Not often do you hear these three words in the review of a gaming laptop? Acer’s Predator 17 has managed to achieve this feat, with the results making it ready to turn it into a Hackintosh.
An absolute beast of a laptop with features that are incredibly future-proof, the Dell XPS 15 touchscreen should be the first name on your list while shopping for a Hackintosh.
Why Buy This Hackintosh Laptop?
- 16GB of DDR4 RAM
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 960m graphics card
- 512GB Samsung NVME SSD
- Core i7 CPU
Features:
Measuring 17mm at its thickest point and boasting an aluminum and carbon fiber construction, the XPS5 is a durable and lightweight option for its class. Its hinge, which goes all the way back to 135*, won’t give or wobble when you touch the screen, a hallmark of laptops which are built to last.
Given the compact chassis of this model, it wasn’t surprising for us to note that its keyboard lacks a number pad. Though it lacks nothing once you move to its performance side, which is the reason why we’re recommending it as a Hackintosh laptop.
For instance, apart from its mammoth 16GB of DDR4 RAM, the XPS15 has a quad-core i7 CPU, a 512GB NVME SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 960m graphics card. All these features combine to make this machine an absolute powerhouse, even for the most data-extensive tasks.
Perhaps the biggest reason why some people switch to the XPS15 is the laptop’s 15.6-inch UHD (4k) IGZO panel. With its “Infinity Display” bezels, you get colors which are lifelike and incredibly vibrant, with no noticeable backlight bleeding as well.
Pros:
- Incredibly vibrant screen
- Powerful hardware
- Thunderbolt 3 port makes it future proof
Cons:
- Battery life could have been better
Final Verdict:
The XPS15 9550 comes with a lifelike display, has fast hardware and design that will certainly raise eyebrows. So it has everything which you might look for in a Hackintosh laptop.
The Lenovo Z50-70 might have been in the market for quite some time but the fact that it is a powerful machine which runs Mac OS High Sierra effortlessly and has upgradable form factors allows it to rival several new laptops with ease.
Why Buy This Hackintosh Laptop?
- 8GB of DDR4 RAM
- AMD Quad-Core Radeon R7
- 1TB storage
Features:
First things first, the Z50-70 gives futuristic looks with its angular design and a brushed metal finish. You don’t need to apply too much force to open its hinge whereas its bottom contains a knobbed pattern which helps in getting a better grip.
In terms of connectivity, one thing which we liked about the Z50-70 is the placement of its ports. To make sure that you can access them with ease without having to reach the back side of the laptop, all of them are located close to the front.
Additionally, you get a 15.6-inch HD LED Display with Radeon R7 Graphics. In plain English, that means that while you won’t get the same brightness as some FHD models provide, the picture won’t disappoint you either, unless you’re a hardcore tech enthusiast.
Performance-wise, you couldn’t find anything wrong with the stated 5-6 hours of battery timing – which is average for models in this price range. Nothing is average about its 8GB RAM and quad-core 2.10 processor, though, with the latter giving you the option to take it up to 3.3GHz in Turbo mode.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Considerable battery timing
- Lots of connectivity options
Cons:
- Won’t support the latest (802.11ac) Wi-Fi standard
Final Verdict:
Though not as powerful as the Dell XPS15, the Lenovo Z50-70 packs a solid punch at the price in which it is available.
Offering a decent mixture of considerable battery life, quiet operation and decent input devices – as well as the 15.6’’FHD screen – the HP ProBook 450 G3 is a great option for a Hackintosh project.
Why Buy This Hackintosh Laptop?
- Nine-different ports
- 8GB RAM
- 50 GHz -3.10GHz processor
Features:
Though it would be you who’d decide whether it is a good or bad thing, the design of the HP G3 fails to raise eyebrows. With a silver bottom and a black (not matte) coating on its back, this model is anything but awe-inducing.
Fortunately, the design of the G3 is the only thing that lacks any kick. Take the example of a keyboard, for instance. Containing slightly concave keys and a full number pad, the keyboard’s configuration results in crisper keystrokes, which is never a bad thing.
Moving on, this laptop contains a matte, 15.6’’ screen with a generous horizontal angle, which means that several users can enjoy the display simultaneously. Also, if you aren’t satisfied with its native resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, you can get an optional version with an HD (1366×768 pixels) screen.
Performance-wise, you’d find its Intel i5 6200U processor and 8GB RAM enough for professional usage. 4M cache memory also comes integrated into the model whereas the 1TB SATA storage increases its power even further.
Add to this the 9 – yes, NINE – different ports which this model has, and you’d have little if any reason to complain about it.
Pros:
- Well-designed processor
- Supports the latest Wi-Fi standards
- Has multiple ports
- Upgradable RAM
Cons:
- Lackluster design
Final Verdict:
All being told, this laptop offers enough features in its arsenal to at least make you think about having the HP ProBook 450 G3 for your next Hackintosh project.
Compare the recent installment of Dell’s G-series models, and you cannot help but notice that they are slimmer and boast a more aggressive design than their predecessors. The best part about them is that they have got features which were previously restricted to the uber-expensive Alienware series’ laptops.
With this in mind, let’s check out whether the G7 is worthy of a good reputation.
Why Buy This Hackintosh Laptop?
- 16GB DDR4
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 GPU
- 8th Gen Intel Hexa-Core i7-8750H processor
Features:
Especially for a gaming laptop, the new Dell G7 is quite slim, as it measures only 20mm at its thickest point. Throw into the mix the slim bezels around its display, and the whole unit becomes fairly compact, hence making it easier for you to slide the laptop in and out your backpack.
With a mouth-watering 144Hz refresh rate, the 15.6’’ (1920×1080) IPS panel provides good color reproduction and viewing angles. Brightness is also above-par, so you would find the 20-30$ brightness level adequate in an average office environment.
Additionally, this machine features an 8th generation Intel-Core i7 processor with a base speed of 2.2GHz. One of the two RAM slots contains a 16GB DDR4 RAM stick and you also get a 256GB NVMe SSD. In simple English, that means that the DellG7 is a multi-tasker.
All told, the star feature of the G7 is undoubtedly its Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 GPU with 6GB of GDDR5 RAM, as it allows you to do extensive gaming without worrying about lagging. Its battery power is underwhelming, though, as one expects it do better than provide a runtime of 5 ½ hours on a full charge.
Lastly, compare it with your regular PC – though the G7 isn’t average by any stretch of the imagination – and you’ll note that it boots very quickly. The reason for this snappiness is the SSD which allows you to start working within a minute.
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight
- 144Hz display refresh rate
- Powerful and speedy
Cons:
- Underwhelming battery life
Final Verdict:
One of the first laptops which come with a built-in GeForce RTX GPU, the Dell G7 might lack on the battery life count but more than makes up for it with its good overall performance.
There was a time not that long ago when Huawei wasn’t known for making laptops. Fortunately for Hackintosh enthusiasts, the arrival of MateBook X Pro changed all that. With its speedy performance, high-res display and a battery which won’t go to sleep even when you’d, this laptop justifies its otherwise astronomical price tag with aplomb.
Why Buy This Hackintosh Laptop?
- 3000 x 2000-pixel display
- 16GB RAM
- 3k touchscreen
- 8th Gen i7-8550U
Features:
In addition to its name, another feature of the MateBook which might remind you of Apple’s MacBook is this laptop’s design. Apart from its slim, Space Gray wedge (also made in silver), you can open its lid with a single hand, a feature which is a hallmark of Apple’s notebooks.
Though the similarities stop right there. Whereas its keyboard’s deck is has a beveled edge to it, that of the MacBooks do not. Also, unlike the tapered curves which you see in MacBook Air, the MateBook X Pro’s edges and lid are flatter.
Given the fact that it has a 3000 x 2000-pixel display, the colors produced are gorgeous, vibrant and rich. Its 3:2 aspect ratio makes this model a boon for digital professionals and a massive 91% screen-to-body ratio is also above-average for the price.
Thanks to Huawei’s decision to load this laptop’s keyboard deck with top-firing speakers, the sound quality and is brilliant for a laptop of this size. Granted, the sound produced tends to be thin on the whole, and we could say with certainty that the audio quality of this model rivals that of MacBook Pro.
Finally, its Intel Core i7-8550U CPU and 16GB of RAM enable the MateBook X Pro to provide loads of speed for effortless, lag-free multitasking. Some users have gone so far as to claim that even when they opened a 1080p YouTube video and 10+ Chrome tabs, there still wasn’t any stutter or pause.
Pros:
- Exquisite display
- Fast performance
- Incredible battery life
- No stuttering or lagging
Cons:
- Pricey
Final Verdict:
If you came here looking for a speedy, long-lasting notebook – and have the budget to pay for it – the Huawei MateBook X Pro is what you need.
Who wouldn’t want a Hackintosh that’s light enough to carry out while being fast enough to handle everyday tasks with ease? Though the likes of MacBook Air and Dell XPS13 make this sales pitch, the ASUS ZenBook 3 meets this criterion as well.
Why Buy This Hackintosh Laptop?
- Core i7-7500U
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB PCIe SSD
- 11ac; Dual-Band (2 x 2) Wi-Fi
Features:
At 11.17mm thin and with a weight of just over 2lbs, the ZenBook 3 is deceptively light. Asus also provided this model with a gold-tinted keyboard backlighting and gold highlights around the edges. Both these features don’t look ostentatious but stylish, which is never a bad thing.
It also has a fingerprint sensor – which is located on the top-right corner – and using which you can log into the Ultrabook via Windows Hello. While its placement is odd, the functionality is anything but. Surrounding the screen is a thin bezel which keeps your focus on the screen.
Proving your worst fears true, the light weight of this model has come at a cost: it only has a single USB-c port. That means that if you want to sync and charge your device at the same time, you need to buy a dongle if you live in the UK (US models come with a dongle).
As for its screen, you get a 12.5-inch FHD screen which makes full use of its FHD panel. Its speakers, meanwhile, provide some depth and serve the dialogue well. It also gives you the option to artificially enhance the bass via the accompanying software.
Pros:
- Incredibly lightweight
- Excellent design
- Has a fingerprint sensor
Cons:
- Not enough ports
Final Verdict:
Though it wasn’t able to set the world alight with its performance, the ASUS ZenBook3 has managed to hold its own.
As far as its E series is concerned, Acer insists that it comes from its “better everyday computing” line, with the E5 being a standout laptop. At the price at which it is currently available, this model provides features with few others can compete.
Why Buy This Hackintosh Laptop?
- 8GB DDR4 RAM
- 6″ Full HD Display
- Up to 12-hours battery life
- NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
Features:
Compare this laptop with any other in the price range, and one thing which can’t escape your attention is that it is fairly large. Apart from the metallic textile pattern on the lid and chrome-colored accent on the touchpad, it has a fairly simple design with few if any bells and whistles.
In case you ask yourself why this model is so bulky – it weighs north of 5lbs – the main reason has to do with its upgradability. Pop open its bottom cover, and it has enough space to add a 16GB RAM plus 2.5-inch drive alongside the already-installed M.2 format SATA SSD.
A large bevy of options is on offer when it comes to connectivity options. Apart from the average full-size HDMI port and VGA port, you get USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 Port, a USB-A 2.0 port and two USB-A 3.0 ports. Also present are Bluetooth radios and 2×2 MU-MIMO W-Fi, so you won’t have to shop for dongles.
Check out other notebooks which come in a budget, and not many will match the E15’s 1,366 x 768 resolution display. That results in pleasant Netflix viewing even though the brightness could have been a bit better. Still, in this price range, we aren’t complaining about its display.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly option
- Comfortable touchpad and keyboard
- Expandable RAM
- Solid battery life
Cons:
- Thick and heavy
Final Verdict:
It might not cost as much as some other laptops in this review, but the Aspire E15 is nonetheless robust and has enough power to be your next Hackintosh.