Latest Best Laptops for 3DS Max in 2025

In this guide, we walk you through the best laptops for running 3ds Max smoothly, so you can focus on your craft, not your hardware limitations. Your laptop needs to handle modeling, texturing, animation, and rendering without stalling mid-project.

We’ve created this guide for architects, animators, game developers, visual effects artists, product designers, and students who rely on 3ds Max for their daily workflows. If you’re balancing between detailed viewport modeling, complex rigging, and high-quality render outputs, this guide will help you choose a laptop that stays reliable under pressure.

3ds Max is demanding. The modeling interface might feel responsive on most machines, but the real strain kicks in when you start layering in heavy geometry, lighting simulations, high-res textures, particle effects, and physics. And once you hit “render,” if your hardware isn’t ready, you’re staring at a slow crawl of progress bars or risk crashing your scene altogether.

You’re facing some serious technical challenges. Viewport performance depends on GPU acceleration, especially when working with dense meshes or shaded views. At the same time, rendering performance still leans heavily on CPU strength, unless you’re offloading to GPU engines like Arnold GPU or V-Ray GPU. And don’t forget RAM. Your system needs enough memory to handle everything loaded into the scene, from materials to plug-in tools. Lastly, since you might be working across multiple locations — studios, offices, or project sites — mobility and thermal reliability become non-negotiable.

To help you identify laptops that are truly capable of running 3ds Max and its plugins like Arnold, V-Ray, Forest Pack, Phoenix, and more in real production settings, here’s what we prioritize when choosing the best laptops for 3ds Max:

CPU Power — High Core Counts and Fast Clocks: Modeling and animation tasks benefit from high single-core speed, while rendering (especially with Arnold) demands multiple cores. You need at least an Intel Core i7 H-series or AMD Ryzen 7 7000-series, though we recommend Intel Core i9 or Ryzen 9 CPUs for faster rendering and complex simulations.

GPU Acceleration — Real-Time Viewport and GPU Rendering: 3ds Max’s viewport leverages GPU power through Nitrous and DirectX 11. A dedicated NVIDIA RTX 3060 or higher ensures smooth shading, real-time transformations, and support for GPU-accelerated render engines. For users relying on GPU rendering with Arnold, V-Ray GPU, or Redshift, RTX 3070, 3080, or 40-series GPUs significantly reduce render times and viewport lag.

RAM and Scene Responsiveness: Working with high-polygon models, particle systems, or character rigs demands memory headroom. You should have at least 32GB of DDR4 or DDR5 RAM. For larger studios or advanced FX workflows, 64GB is strongly recommended.

Storage — Speed and Capacity Matter: A 1TB NVMe SSD is the baseline. Fast read/write speeds reduce load times and allow you to scrub through massive cached files and simulation data without delay. Having room to install software like Autodesk’s Creative Suite, render libraries, texture packs, and plugins is crucial for streamlined workflow.

Display — Visual Precision for Design and Detail: Your work requires pixel-perfect control, especially in modeling, UV unwrapping, and lighting work. A 15- or 17-inch IPS display with QHD (2560×1440) or 4K resolution, plus 100% sRGB or AdobeRGB color accuracy, makes a world of difference. OLED panels offer stunning contrast, especially in lighting-intensive projects.

Cooling and Sustained Performance: High-load tasks like rendering or baking simulations heat up internal components quickly. Look for laptops with advanced thermal solutions, including multiple fans, vapor chambers, or dynamic cooling profiles. You want sustained performance, not brief bursts followed by throttling.

Build and Mobility: Your workflow might take you from your desk to client meetings to on-site presentations. That means your laptop should be portable yet robust, ideally under 6 pounds (2.7 kg) with a metal or reinforced chassis. Battery life isn’t a priority here — performance is — but efficient power use and a fast charger will serve you well on the move.

We’ve selected laptops that meet and surpass 3ds Max’s recommended requirements — built to perform under real-world, production-level strain. You’ll find options for different user needs: students seeking flexibility, freelancers on a budget, and studios needing high-performance mobile workstations. Every recommendation is tied to how it affects your actual experience — from timeline scrubbing to render times to memory overhead in multi-pass workflows.

You can also have a look at the best laptops for Blender in addition to the best laptop for SketchUp.

Best Laptops for 3DS Max (2025);

acer Nitro 17 Gaming Laptop AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS Octa-Core CPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
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CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS Octa-Core
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
Display Size	17.3"
Display Resolution	QHD 165Hz IPS Display
RAM	16GB
Storage Space	1TB Gen 4 SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	hdmi, usb, Ethernet, Audio
Dimensions (L x W x H)	15.76 x 1.1 x 11.55 inches
Weight	6.61 lbs
Advantages	Performance
Disadvantages	Weight

Acer Predator Helios 16 Gaming Laptop 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700HX NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
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CPU	13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700HX
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
Display Size	16"
Display Resolution	2560 x 1600 165Hz G-SYNC Display
RAM	16GB DDR5
Storage Space	1TB Gen 4 SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	USB, Audio, Ethernet, HDMI 2.1
Dimensions (L x W x H)	14.15 x 0.98 x 10.88 inches
Weight	5.73 lbs
Advantages	Display Quality, Performance
Disadvantages	RAM

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 (2022) Gaming Laptop, 15.6” 240Hz IPS QHD Display, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, Intel Core i9 12900H, 32GB DDR5, 1TB SSD
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CPU	12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H Processor - 24M Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 14 cores (6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 16GB GDDR6
Display Size	15.6”
Display Resolution	Quad HD (2560 x 1440) IPS Type Display with 100% DCI-P3
RAM	32GB DDR5 4800MHz
Storage Space	1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performance SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	Ethernet, HDMI, Audio
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎13.94 x 10.2 x 1.07 inches
Weight	‎5.07 pounds
Advantages	Performance, Storage, Screen Quality
Disadvantages	Expensive

Alienware m17 Gaming Laptop 2023 Newest, 17.3 360Hz Display, AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX Processor, AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT
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CPU	AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
GPU	AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT
Display Size	17.3 inches
Display Resolution	1920 x 1080
RAM	32GB DDR5
Storage Space	2TB SSD,
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x SD card reader, HDMI 2.1, 1x Headset Jack
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎15.64 x 1.05 x 11.76 inches
Weight	7.3 pounds
Advantages	Good performance
Disadvantages	Average display

ASUS Flagship ROG Zephyrus M16 Gaming Laptop 16 QHD+ IPS 240Hz 13th Gen Intel 14-core i9-13900H
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CPU	13th Gen Intel 14-core i9-13900H Processor
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 8GB
Display Size	16" QHD+
Display Resolution	(2560x1600) IPS
RAM	32GB DDR5 SDRAM
Storage Space	1TB Solid State Drive
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	1 x Thunderbolt 4, 1 x USB-C 3.2, 2 x USB-A 3.2, 1 x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Dimensions (L x W x H)	9.69 x 13.98 x 0.88 inches
Weight	‎4.64 pounds
Advantages	Lightweight, Good performance, Quality Display
Disadvantages	Price

Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop 12th Gen Intel i7-12700H GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU 17.3 Full HD 144Hz 3ms IPS Display 16GB DDR5 512GB Gen 4 SSD
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CPU	12th Gen Intel i7-12700H
GPU	GeForce RTX 3060
Display Size	17.3"
Display Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
RAM	16GB DDR5
Storage Space	512GB Gen 4 SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	1 - USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (Thunderbolt 4 and USB Charging), 2 - USB 3.2 Gen 1 (One With Power-off Charging), 1 - USB 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1 with HDCP support, Mini Display Port 1.4, Headphone/Speaker/Line-out Jack, Ethernet (RJ-45), DC-in for AC Adapter
Dimensions (L x W x H)	15.72 x 11.63 x 1.09 inches
Weight	6.61 lbs
Advantages	Performance
Disadvantages	Storge

ASUS ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop 16 FHD+ 165Hz (Intel 13th Gen Core i7-13650H, 64GB DDR5 RAM
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CPU	13th Gen Intel Core i7-13650HX
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB GDDR6
Display Size	16" FHD+
Display Resolution	1920 x 1200) IPS Anti-glare
RAM	64GB (32GB x 2) DDR5 4800MHz RAM
Storage Space	1TB PCIe M.2 SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort / power delivery / G-SYNC, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, Thunderbolt 4 support DisplayPort, HDMI 2.1 FRL, 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, Ethernet Port RJ-45; Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Triple band) 2*2 + Bluetooth 5.3
Dimensions (L x W x H)	13.9 x 0.89 x 10.39 inches
Weight	5.51 pounds
Advantages	Very good performance, Quality display, Good build
Disadvantages	Quite heavy for some people

Dell G16 7630 Gaming Laptop - 16-inch (2560 x 1600) QHD+ 165Hz 3ms Display, Intel Core i9-13900HX
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CPU	Intel Core i9-13900HX
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 8GB
Display Size	16 inches
Display Resolution	‎2560 x 1600 pixels
RAM	16GB DDR5
Storage Space	TB SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	HDMI, USB, Ethernet, Audio
Dimensions (L x W x H)	11.37 x 14.05 x 0.98 inches
Weight	‎6.01 pounds
Advantages	High performance, Quality display, Reasonably priced
Disadvantages

MSI Vector GP76 17.3 FHD 360Hz Gaming Laptop Intel Core i9-12900HK RTX 3080 32GB 1TB NVMe SSD
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CPU	Intel Core i9-12900HK
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU
Display Size	17.3 inches
Display Resolution	1920x1080 pixels
RAM	32GB
Storage Space	1TB NVMe SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	USB, Ethernet, Audio
Dimensions (L x W x H)	22.32 x 4.25 x 15.31 inches
Weight	9.52 lbs
Advantages	Outstanding performance
Disadvantages	Weight

GIGABYTE A5 X1 - 15.6 FHD IPS Anti-Glare 240Hz - AMD Ryzen™ 9 5900HX - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU 8 GB GDDR6 - 16 GB Memory - 512 GB PCIe SSD
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CPU	AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX Mobile Processor
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU 8 GB GDDR6
Display Size	15.6 inches
Display Resolution	FHD 1920x1080 IPS-level
RAM	16 GB DDR4
Storage Space	512 GB PCIe SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	1 x HDMI 2.0 (with HDCP), 1x mini DP 1.4, 1x DisplayPort 1.4 (Type-C) over USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1 ‎x USB 2.0 (Type-A), 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-A), 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A)
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎10.15 x 14.21 x 1.36 inches
Weight	4.68 pounds
Advantages	Outstaning performance
Disadvantages	Storage Space

ASUS TUF Gaming 17.3 FHD 144Hz Laptop, Intel Core i5-11260H (Beats i7-8750H), 32GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, RGB Backlit Keyboard, GeForce RTX 3050
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CPU	Intel Core i5-11260H
GPU	GeForce RTX 3050
Display Size	17.3 inches
Display Resolution	FHD 144Hz Laptop
RAM	32GB
Storage Space	1TB PCIe SSD
Operating System	Windows 10
Ports	3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A, 1x USB Type C, 1x Headphone jack, 1x HDMI, 1x LAN RJ45. Wireless-AX + Bluetooth, Eclipse Grey. Bonus 32GB SnowBell USB Card.
Dimensions (L x W x H)	15.72 x 10.59 x 0.98 inches
Weight	5.73 pounds
Advantages	Large display, Good performance
Disadvantages	Quite heavy

HP OMEN 17t 17.3 240Hz 2K QHD IPS Gaming Laptop 13th Gen (Intel i9-13900HX 24-Core, 64GB DDR5
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CPU	Intel i9-13900HX 24-Core
GPU	GeForce RTX 4090 16GB
Display Size	17.3 inches
Display Resolution	Quad HD (2560x1440)
RAM	64GB DDR5
Storage Space	2TB PCIe NVMe SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	HDMI, Audio, Ethernet, USB
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎10.32 x 15.65 x 1.5 inches
Weight	‎6.2 pounds
Advantages	Very good performance, Good display, Large storage
Disadvantages	Might be heavy for some people

Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gaming Laptop, 16 WQHD IPS 165Hz Display, GeForce RTX 4070, Intel 13th Gen i9-13900HX
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CPU	13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900HX
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (8GB GDDR6)
Display Size	16-inch
Display Resolution	2560 x 1600)
RAM	64GB DDR5 SDRAM
Storage Space	2TB + 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	2 x USB Gen 2 Type-C, 4 x USB Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ-45, 1 x Headphone/microphone combo
Dimensions (L x W x H)	14.31 x 10.25 x 1.06 inches
Weight	‎5.6 pounds
Advantages	Good performance, Quality display
Disadvantages	N/A

HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop, 15.6 Full HD 144Hz Screen, AMD Ryzen 5 5600H Processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
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CPU	AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics
Display Size	15.6"
Display Resolution	diagonal Full HD Display (1920 x 1080), 144 Hz, IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare
RAM	16GB
Storage Space	512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	1 x USB 3.0 Type-C; 1 x USB 3.0 Type-A; 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A; 1 x HDMI; 1 x RJ-45; 1 x Media Card Reader; 1 x AC smart pin; 1 x headphone/microphone combo
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎14.17 x 10.12 x 0.93 inches
Weight	‎7 pounds
Advantages	Good performance, Quality display
Disadvantages	Quite heavy

GIGABYTE AORUS 17 XE4 (17.3 FHD 360Hz, Intel 14-Core i7-12700H, 32GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, GeForce RTX 3070Ti)
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CPU	12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H (14 cores 20 threads, base clock speed 2.3GHz, max turbo to 4.7GHz, 24MB L3 Cache);
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti 8 GB GDDR6
Display Size	17.3 inches
Display Resolution	Full HD (1920x1080) IPS-level Anti-glare, 360Hz, 72%NTSC Display; Rise your gaming performance via 360Hz Refresh rates, Backlit keyboard,
RAM	32GB (16GB x 2) DDR4 3200MHz
Storage Space	1TB PCIe SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	2 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (Supports DisplayPort and Power Delivery), 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x RJ-45 (2.5Gbps), 1 x 3.5mm Audio Combo Jack; Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (Gig+) + Bluetooth 5.2
Dimensions (L x W x H)	15.70" x 10.00" x 1.10"
Weight	5.95 lbs
Advantages	Good performance, Quality display
Disadvantages	Expensive

GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR XD - 17.3 UHD 4k IPS Anti-Glare, Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR6, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
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CPU	11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H (2.3GHz~4.6GHz)
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU 8 GB GDDR6
Display Size	17.3 inches
Display Resolution	UHD 4k 3840x2160, IPS Anti-glare Display LCD (VESA DisplayHDR 400, 100% Adobe RGB), X-Rite Certified, per unit factory calibrated & Pantone Validated Color Accuracy​
RAM	16GB
Storage Space	1TB SSD
Operating System	Windows 10- Upgradable
Ports	Ethernet, Audio, USB
Dimensions (L x W x H)	10.6 x 15.6 x 0.85 inches
Weight	5.50 lbs
Advantages	Display performance
Disadvantages	None

MSI GP66 Leopard Gaming Laptop 15.6 144Hz Full HD+LCD Display (Intel i7-11800H 8-Core, 64GB RAM, 2TB PCIe SSD, RTX 3080 8GB
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CPU	Intel i7-11800H 8-Core
GPU	RTX 3080 8GB
Display Size	15.6"
Display Resolution	Full HD (1920x1080) 144Hz Refresh Rate
RAM	64GB DDR4 SODIMM
Storage Space	2TB PCIe SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	3 USB 3.2 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 mini Display Port, No Optical Drive, Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎14 x 10.5 x 1.2 inches
Weight	4.73 pounds
Advantages	Good performance
Disadvantages	Quite pricy

Dell XPS 17 9720 Laptop17.0-inch UHD+ (3840 x 2400) Touchscreen Display, Intel Core i9-12900HK, 32GB Memory, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
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CPU	12th Generation Intel Core i9-12900HK (24MB Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 14 cores)
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB RAM
Display Size	17.0-inch
Display Resolution	UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflecitve 500-Nit Display
RAM	32GB 4800MHz DDR5
Storage Space	1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	Ethernet, USB, Audio, HDMI
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎9.76 x 14.74 x 0.77 inches
Weight	‎5.34 pounds
Advantages	Good performance
Disadvantages	Quite expensive

Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15 Gaming Laptop 15.6 FHD 165Hz IPS (DC dimmer, 100% sRGB, 300nits) AMD Octa-core Ryzen 7 5800H 16GB RAM 1TB SSD GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
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CPU	AMD Octa-Core Ryzen 7 5800H (Base Clock 3.2GHz, Max Boost Clock Up to 4.4GHz, 16MB L3 Cache, 16 Threads)
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6
Display Size	15.6"
Display Resolution	FHD (1920x1080) IPS 165Hz Anti-glare (300nits, 100% sRGB, Dolby Vision, Free-Sync, G-Sync
RAM	16GB
Storage Space	1TB SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	2 x USB-C 3.2 (Data transfer, Power Delivery 100W, DisplayPort 1.4), 2 x USB-A 3.2 (One always on), 1 x Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm), 1 x Card reader
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎9.92 x 14.02 x 0.74 inches
Weight	‎4.18 pounds
Advantages	Good performane, Large storage, Lightweight
Disadvantages

Dell G15 5511 Gaming Laptop - 15.6 inch FHD 120Hz Display - Intel Core i5-11400H, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6
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CPU	Intel Core i5-11400H
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6
Display Size	15.6 INCHES
Display Resolution	1920 x 1080 Pixels
RAM	8GB DDR4
Storage Space	512GB SSD
Operating System	Windows 10
Ports	USB, Ethernet, Audio, HDMI
Dimensions (L x W x H)	10.71 x 14.06 x 0.98 inches
Weight	5.37 pounds
Advantages	Good performance
Disadvantages	Storage

MSI Katana GF76 17 Gaming Laptop I 17.3” FHD IPS 144Hz I 11th Gen Intel 8-Core i7-11800H I 64GB DDR4 2TB SSD I GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB Graphic
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CPU	11th Generation Intel 8-Core i7-11800H I Base Frequency 2.3GHz, Max Boost Frequency Up to 4.6GHz, 24MB Smart Cache, 16 Threads
GPU	Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB
Display Size	17.3 inches
Display Resolution	Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS 144Hz Thin Bezel Display
RAM	64GB DDR4 SDRAM Memory
Storage Space	2TB Solid State Drive
Operating System	Windows 10
Ports	2 x USB-A 3.2, 1 x USB-C 3.2, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI (Support 4K 60Hz), 1 x Ethernet RJ45, 1 x Audio Combo (1/8")
Dimensions (L x W x H)	10.75 x 15.67 x 0.99 inches
Weight	5.07 pounds
Advantages	Large storage, good performance
Disadvantages	Might be heavy for some people

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