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Buying Guide: The 5 Best LED-Backlit Laptops
Typing in the dark is a pain. You're in a meeting, taking notes on your laptop, and then the lights dim for a PowerPoint presentation or a video. Or maybe you're trying to get some work done on a late cross-country or international flight, but the cabin is darkened to let people sleep. Once in the dark, you're pretty much out of options. You can plug in a goofy USB light, or try angling the screen down enough to see what you're typing, but neither option is all that great. With a backlit keyboard on your laptop, there's no need to fear the dark, because you can keep typing right along, even when the lights go out.
But not every laptop offers a backlit keyboard. The backlight is seen by most manufacturers as one of the bells and whistles used to distinguish premium products from the budget and mainstream product lines, meaning that it's one of the first features to disappear when you start looking for bargains. You can still find affordable laptops with LED-backlighting, but you will need to look a little harder.
And not all glowing keyboards are created equal. While the nicest options feature individual backlighting for every key, others illuminate multiple keys at a time, and many designs have a significant amount of light leakage, seeping out around the keys. Though there's no functional difference, excess light leakage can be distracting as well as aesthetically displeasing.
The keys themselves may also be different. Laser-etched or engraved keycaps are made primarily of translucent plastic, with an opaque topcoat of plastic or paint. The letter is then engraved or etched, removing the topcoat in the shape of the letter so that the backlight will glow through the transparent plastic. Different keyboards will use slightly different coatings and etching processes, so the keyboard on one laptop will differ from another model. When in doubt, try to get some hands on (and eyes on) time with whatever model you're thinking of purchasing.
Among the dozens of laptops that we've tested and reviewed in the PCLabs, these five are some of the best, and also offer excellent backlit keyboards. But these aren't the only ones on the market, so keep an eye on other reviews here on PCMag.com.
FEATURED IN THIS ROUNDUP
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (Retina Display)
$1,999 list
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The Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (Retina Display) is the best way to carry the pixels of a large-screen monitor with you on the road. It's ideal for people who make their living with visuals.
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Dell Latitude 6430u
$1328.00 list
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With its slick design, excellent keyboard, and great battery life, the Dell Latitude 6430u is an easy choice for those who want productivity for work without having to settle for a drab, utilitarian business ultrabook.
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Razer Blade (2013)
$1999.99 list
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The oh-so-portable 14-inch Razer Blade has got you covered when you want to take your gaming on the road, with an Intel Haswell processor and the latest Nvidia graphics.
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Dell Inspiron 15z (I15Z-4801SLV)
$829.99 list
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Tipping the scales at the thick and heavy end of the ultrabook specifications, the Dell Inspiron 15z (I15Z-4801SLV) gives you extra features to justify its bulk. It's a good pick for the traditional laptop user who wants a new, fast laptop.
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